From the fake emperor to the concubine

"Brother, we're probably in big trouble this time." Zhuo Liqun whispered to Zhang Yunfan, his voice trembling slightly.

The atmosphere was incredibly oppressive, and every cultivator present wore a solemn expression, as if covered with a layer of frost.

Those who can appear here are certainly not mediocre.

Whether in terms of aptitude or luck, he is among the strongest of all the independent cultivators.

So soon, everyone figured out the key point.

The leaders of several sects and the representatives of a powerful force went so far as to conceal their identities in order to infiltrate the Zheng family.

It's impossible that they really came to join the Zheng family, as the head of the Zheng family said.

So here's the problem: it's clear this isn't the correct answer.

So many experts appeared at the same time, and they didn't come with good intentions.

Therefore, their purpose is obvious.

Anyone who isn't mentally challenged can think of one thing.

Not long ago, thousands of cultivators launched a surprise attack on the Zheng family, nearly wiping them out.

If it weren't for the crucial moment when the Zheng family patriarch suddenly emerged from seclusion and killed those thieves...

At this very moment, the Zheng family would probably have already disappeared from this world.

There were many people who attacked the Zheng family at the time; according to rumors, there were as many as four or five thousand.

Furthermore, among those who took action were many renowned experts, as well as sect leaders from smaller sects.

In fact, some things simply cannot be hidden from people.

Anyone who knows about this knows that this attack on the Zheng family is definitely not as simple as it seems on the surface.

No matter how down on their luck the Zheng family may be, they are still a family of cultivators with a thousand-year-old lineage, and not just anyone can make a move against them.

Those who dared to take action must have someone pulling the strings behind the scenes.

However, no one can guess who is behind them.

Until today, these few people have appeared.

The truth finally came to light.

At least one thing is certain: those who attacked the Zheng family before must have been connected to these three.

However, after discovering this, the cultivators became even more confused.

Since those people were pushed to the forefront to do the dirty work, they must have ways to extricate themselves from the mess.

The Zheng family patriarch has now emerged from seclusion, and his strength has greatly increased.

Under these circumstances, there was absolutely no need for them to stand up and fight the Zheng family to the death.

If they could all think of it, then it was naturally impossible for Zheng Tianhao, the head of the family, and the other elders of the Zheng family not to think of it either.

"It's you?" Zheng Tianhao's furious voice caused the entire space to tremble violently.

Several cultivators with lower cultivation levels were caught off guard and fell to the ground with a thud.

Ling Xiaoyun and the other two remained unmoved, sneering disdainfully, "Hmph, playing tricks. Today, let this sect master see for himself whether your Zheng family's so-called ancestor is real or fake."

"Show yourself! All laws are formless, Heavenly Mark Blade!" Ling Xiaoyun swung his palm into a blade, and an indestructible blade of light directly cleaved Zheng Tianhao and the others' massive figures.

Zheng Tianhao and the others made no move to resist at all, and their bodies were directly split in two by the huge blade of light.

The endless void behind them also seemed to be unfolded by this blade of light.

That enormous figure was clearly not Zheng Tianhao and the others' true form.

After being cut open, it quickly turned into fragments and disappeared into the world.

This scene left many cultivators speechless.

"My God, as expected of the Master of the Ten Thousand Blades Sect. Even without using a weapon, the blade aura emanating from him alone possesses such terrifying power."

"The Zheng family head and the others should be alright, right?" someone asked worriedly.

Just then, a cultivator scoffed disdainfully, "Why bother caring about these swindlers?"

"Now that things have come to this, don't you understand? We were just summoned by the Zheng family to take the blows for them. From beginning to end, the Zheng family never intended to recruit us rogue cultivators."

"All of this was for today, to divert the attention of these sect leaders."

After saying that, the cultivator quickly ran to Ling Xiaoyun's side, looking ingratiating: "Sect Master Ling, the Zheng family has committed heinous crimes, and I will definitely stand firmly on your side."

Dugu Yunfeng chuckled twice: "In this world, there really is a lack of intelligent people like you who can see the situation clearly."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dugu Yunfeng suddenly flicked her finger, and a burst of energy pierced straight through the cultivator's brow.

Dugu Yunfeng's attack was too fast and without warning. No one probably expected that a master like her would so undignifiedly launch a sneak attack on a junior in the Foundation Establishment stage.

The cultivator didn't even realize what was happening before he died on the spot.

As he fell, his eyes were still filled with disbelief.

He seemed completely unable to understand why, even though he had clearly expressed his feelings and stood on their side, they still killed him without any mercy.

Zhuo Liqun sneered disdainfully, "Idiot, those guys have already revealed their identities. They clearly don't intend for any of us to leave here alive."

"Fellow Daoists, what is there to hesitate about now? If the Zheng family loses today, we will all die without a burial place."

Although his voice wasn't very loud, everyone could hear him clearly.

In fact, they had already realized something was wrong when Dugu Yunfeng made her move.

Zhuo Liqun's words merely confirmed their suspicions.

"Yes, now that things have come to this, none of us will survive unless we help the Zheng family get rid of these guys."

"Damn it, I just wanted to find a place where I could cultivate in peace, how did I end up with this kind of bad luck?"

This complaint resonated with everyone.

Although they came to participate in the Zheng family's apprenticeship ceremony because the legendary ancestor who had been in seclusion for over a thousand years had emerged from seclusion.

Furthermore, they left behind an extremely powerful cultivation technique, which the Zheng family will pass on to any cultivator who joins the family.

Few people doubt this matter.

After all, whether the claim of a thousand years of seclusion is true or not, no one knows for sure, but being able to easily kill so many enemies who attacked the Zheng family is not something an ordinary cultivator could do.

Joining the Zheng family is just a side benefit for most independent cultivators, but that cultivation technique is the envy of everyone.

Every independent cultivator's path of cultivation is incredibly arduous and fraught with thorns.

They didn't expect to pass the Zheng family's apprenticeship ceremony easily this time.

After all, the cultivation techniques left behind by the Zheng family's patriarch would certainly not be passed on so easily. Even if they joined the Zheng family, they would definitely have to undergo numerous trials. However, they never imagined that joining the Zheng family would be so dangerous, and that they would be involved in such a significant event.

Yu Xinghai laughed wildly: "If you want to blame someone, blame the Zheng family. If the Zheng family hadn't insisted on holding this disciple-acceptance ceremony, you wouldn't be here, and if you weren't here, you wouldn't be dead."

"When you get to the underworld, don't forget to tell King Yama who implicated you."

Zhang Yunfan couldn't help but retort: ​​"What you're saying is ridiculous. It was you who wanted to kill us, so why are you blaming the Zheng family? Even if you're shameless, there should be a bottom line."

As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying pressure descended upon Zhang Yunfan, as if it were about to crush him completely.

If it weren't for Zheng Yi within his sea of ​​consciousness, who helped him open a gap in the seal, allowing him to utilize the spiritual energy within, he wouldn't have been able to succeed.

However, the oppressive aura emanating from the other party could probably seriously injure him.

"How dare a mere Qi Refining stage ant speak to me like that? He truly doesn't know his own limitations..."

Yu Xinghai originally thought that Zhang Yunfan would definitely be severely injured by him, but he found that although the boy was pale and looked like he was about to collapse, he was still able to stand firmly in place without moving.

If Zhang Yunfan were a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Yu Xinghai could accept it.

It was surprising that someone at the Qi Refining stage could withstand his oppressive aura.

Zhang Yunfan's insistence immediately enraged him.

"You're courting death!" Having failed to defeat even a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Yu Xinghai's expression immediately turned sour.

His eyes widened, his gaze materializing as he struck Zhang Yunfan.

With just a glance, Yu Xinghai could kill Zhang Yunfan; the gap between them was so vast that it was despair-inducing.

"Don't even think about it!" Realizing something was wrong, Zhuo Liqun rushed in front of Zhang Yunfan, raised his halberd, and tried his best to defend himself.

There was a dull thud.

The halberd was bent by a single gaze, and Zhuo Liqun coughed up blood and fell to the ground.

"Brother Zhuo!" Zhang Yunfan rushed over to catch Zhuo Liqun.

Since the other party was seriously injured while helping him, Zhang Yunfan naturally couldn't just leave Zhuo Liqun alone.

However, as soon as he touched Zhuo Liqun's body, he immediately felt a tremendous force rushing into his limbs and bones, rampaging through his meridians.

In an instant, Zhang Yunfan coughed up blood and was sent flying.

"Idiots, they want to help but don't even know their own limitations," Wei Siling cursed inwardly, but her movements were swift, and she immediately caught the two of them.

"Master, be careful, I'm here to help you." The words she blurted out made her extremely annoyed.

But at this moment, Wei Siling couldn't care less about being shy.

When she caught Zhang Yunfan and Zhuo Liqun, she also felt the surging power emanating from them.

After retreating more than ten meters, he barely managed to dissipate most of his force.

Even so, she felt as if her internal organs were being churned up.

He secretly circulated his internal energy and regulated his breathing for a while before he was able to barely suppress his injuries.

"How terrifying!" Wei Siling thought to herself in alarm.

When facing this person, Yu Xinghai, the master of Flying Eagle Pavilion, felt as if he were facing his own sect master.

That fear was almost etched into the very marrow of her bones.

With just a glance, he easily injured three people. The indignant rogue cultivators suddenly felt as if they had been doused with cold water.

Although these people are all outstanding among independent cultivators, most of them are still too young to compare with established experts like Yu Xinghai.

Although I knew these people were powerful before, it wasn't until now, when I actually saw them make a move in front of me, that I truly realized how strong they were.

Leaving Zhang Yunfan aside for now, Zhuo Liqun's strength is at least among the top three of these people.

Even he couldn't withstand a single glance from the other party.

Unbeknownst to them, Zheng Yi had also secretly intervened, helping Zhang Yunfan deflect a significant amount of the force.

Otherwise, given Zhang Yunfan's current cultivation level, that last strike would have been enough to kill him.

The rogue cultivators were shocked by Yu Xinghai's power, but he himself was very dissatisfied.

Several independent cultivators in the district actually managed to block his attacks twice in a row.

Even though he wasn't serious, it still annoyed him a lot.

It was as if I saw a disgusting bug and casually stepped on it, thinking I could easily crush it.

But when they lifted their feet, they saw the insects hopping and jumping away.

I subconsciously kicked it a little harder, and the bug was still alive.

"Ming is quite tough. I'll see how many times you can withstand this."

Yu Xinghai's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he was about to continue the pursuit when he was suddenly blocked by Ling Xiaoyun.

"Forget about those minor characters, our target is those idiots in the Zheng family."

After the giant figure disappeared, Zheng Tianhao and his family appeared on the other side of the chessboard.

They stood facing Ling Xiaoyun, Yu Xinghai, and Dugu Yunfeng. Even the enormous chessboard, with its seemingly endless expanse, appeared incredibly small, unable to withstand their terrifying aura.

Before either side even made a move, the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators felt like they were having trouble breathing.

At this moment, they really wanted to say something to Zheng Tianhao.

"Clan Chief Zheng, I will not attend your Zheng family's disciple-acceptance ceremony. Can you let us leave now?"

Unfortunately, at this moment, they were unable to make a sound and could only retreat helplessly, trying to get as far away from the center of the conflict as possible.

Zheng Tianhao looked at Ling Xiaoyun with a complicated expression.

"I've thought about many people who are behind this, but I never imagined that you would be one of them."

"I, Zheng Tianhao, can honestly say that I have never wronged you, Ling Xiaoyun, or the Ten Thousand Blades Sect, can I?"

The more he spoke, the sterner Zheng Tianhao's tone became: "Brother Ling, why do you want to exterminate our Zheng family?"

Although he and Ling Xiaoyun were not sworn brothers, they had fought side by side to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path in their early years.

No matter what, we're pretty good friends.

He couldn't understand why the other party would disregard past friendships and relentlessly pursue him, even at the cost of wiping out his entire Zheng family.

Ling Xiaoyun sneered and asked instead of answering, "Zheng Tianhao, do you know what I hate most about you?"

"You hate that I'm handsome?" Zheng Tianhao's puzzled look made everyone realize that he wasn't joking, but genuinely thought so.

Ling Xiaoyun's expression froze instantly, then boundless anger surged across his face. He gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "You still have the mind to joke? It seems you don't realize the seriousness of the matter." (End of Chapter)