I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

These words immediately caused an uproar below.

Despite prior speculation.

From the disheveled appearance, ashen faces, and trembling expressions of the surviving members of the Zhao family when they returned last night, discerning people had already seen through the deception.

But when these words actually came out of Lin Che's mouth, it was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves.

The Zhao family members lowered their heads and remained silent.

In the crowd, someone clenched their fist, their knuckles turning white;

Some people clenched their teeth, their cheeks tensing into hard lines;

Some people's eyes flashed with resentment, humiliation, and anger.

But in the end, not a single person dared to stand up and say "no".

Meanwhile, the independent cultivators and scouts watching from afar all gasped in shock.

"The Zhao family... has truly submitted!"

"My God, that's the Zhao family! A long-established Foundation Establishment family in Chuyang City!"

"Master Lin has... completely taken control of the situation!"

"It's more than just control; it's like having the entire territory of Chuyang City firmly in its grasp!"

Whispers rose and fell, but no one dared to speak too loudly, only whispering in hushed tones, afraid of being overheard by the being standing in mid-air.

Their eyes held shock, awe, envy, and a complex mix of emotions that were hard to define.

Lin Che ignored the comments.

He slowly turned around, his gaze passing over the low eaves of the Zhao family estate, over the throngs of onlookers, over the rolling hills and fields, and looking into the distance.

That's the direction of Chuyang City.

He knew that at this moment, countless eyes were fixed on him.

Golden Core spies from the City Lord's Mansion, informants from various families, busybodies among the rogue cultivators, and possibly even spies from within the pass or from some behemoth...

Everyone was watching—watching how the Lin family dealt with the Zhao family, watching how Lin Che would handle the situation, and watching how a new order would be established on this land.

That's exactly the effect he wanted.

The declaration of vassalage was never just for the Zhao family's benefit.

This is for the entire Chuyang City area to see.

He wanted everyone to know that from now on, the Lin family would be in charge on this land.

……

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Chuyang City within just half an hour.

Teahouses and taverns, market streets, cultivation caves, family council halls.

Everyone is talking about the same topic.

……

The Zhou family's land.

Zhou Wanhong stood alone by the window, motionless.

Outside the window was his familiar courtyard, the family business he had built up over many years, but at this moment he couldn't see anything.

Behind him, the scout knelt on one knee, having just finished reporting the news from the Zhao family.

silence.

A long silence followed.

Zhou Wanhong slowly raised his hand and waved.

The scout felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quietly slipped away.

He remained standing, gazing out the window.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his round face, casting an uncertain interplay of light and shadow on his usually smiling face.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh.

In that breath, there was relief, lingering fear, and a hint of exhaustion from surviving a disaster.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness we knew what was good for us."

He muttered to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

"If only we had acted like the Zhao family back then..."

He didn't continue, nor did he dare to.

But his slightly trembling hand betrayed the fear deep within him.

……

The Li family's land.

Li Guanhai sat in his study, oblivious to the fact that the spirit tea beside him had long since gone cold.

The thin face was turned towards the window, the gaze fixed on the direction of the Zhao family's residence, and remained silent for a long time.

Several clan elders sat at the lower end, looking at each other, none daring to speak.

Finally, Li Guanhai slowly withdrew his gaze and turned around.

His gaze swept over each of the clan elders present, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve:

"From this day forward, the affairs of the Lin family are the affairs of my Li family."

He paused, then said, word by word, "Did you all understand?"

The clan elders rose one after another, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed, saying, "We will obey the patriarch's command!"

No one raised any objections, and no one dared to raise any objections.

……

The Sun family's land.

Sun Zhiyuan sat in his specially made, large chair, a complex expression on his rugged face.

He scratched his head, then scratched it again, and finally couldn't help but mutter something under his breath:

"Damn it, this Master Lin... he's really ruthless."

The clan elder standing nearby asked cautiously, "Patriarch, then what should we do...?"

"Us?" Sun Zhiyuan rolled his eyes.

"We already submitted, what else can we do? We'll just follow the Lin family! It's better than being wiped out, right?"

He waved his hand impatiently, shooing them away: "Alright, alright, go do what you're supposed to do. Remember, be polite to the Lin family from now on!"

The clan elders responded in unison and filed out.

Sun Zhiyuan sat there alone, gazing out the window, when suddenly he grinned.

That smile contained a hint of relief, a touch of relief, and a hint of self-deprecation.

And those smaller families, those independent cultivators who depend on various families, those merchants who make a living in Chuyang City, those passersby who travel between the various markets...

Everyone is talking about the same name:

Lin.

……

Chuyang City, City Lord's Mansion.

Inside the Guanyun Pavilion at the highest point, Yan Shuming stood motionless by the window with his hands behind his back.

The setting sun slanted in from the west, casting a pale gold hue over his plain white robe.

He just stood there, gazing into the distance.

That place is in the direction of the Zhao family's territory, the place where that announcement just took place.

Zhang Mo stood three steps behind him, head bowed, having just finished reporting the message from the scout.

After he finished speaking, he waited quietly, even lowering his breathing, not daring to disturb his master's contemplation.

a long time.

As time went by, the setting sun outside the window sank further, and the light inside the room gradually dimmed.

Yan Shuming finally spoke slowly:

"Lin Che...impressive tactics."

His voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

But beneath that calm, Zhang Mo detected a faint hint of admiration? Or perhaps apprehension? He couldn't tell.

But he knew that there were very few people in the entire Chuyang City who could elicit the words "good methods" from his master.

Yan Shuming slowly turned around and looked at Zhang Mo.

The last rays of sunset outside the window were reflected in those deep eyes.

"The Golden Core cultivator hidden in the Zhao family, he just subdued him like that?"

Zhang Mo nodded: "According to our scouts, that Golden Core cultivator from the Zhao family is currently following Lin Che, behaving respectfully, which seems genuine. Moreover... the remaining two branches of the Zhao family are also safe and sound, except for the direct line..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Yan Shuming remained silent for a moment.

Suddenly, he chuckled softly.

The laughter was soft and faint, yet it startled Zhang Mo slightly.

"From this day forward, there will truly be no more voices opposing the Lin family in this Chuyang City."

Yan Shuming spoke slowly, his gaze turning back to the window.

"Besides our city lord's mansion, Lin Che is the true ruler of this land."

Zhang Mo lowered his head and remained silent.

……

The Zhao family's territory.

The event was declared over, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Those scouts, independent cultivators, and busybodies who had been observing hurriedly left with their own news, spreading what they had seen and heard that day to all directions.

The clamor subsided into silence.

Lin Che stood motionless on the high platform with his hands behind his back.

He looked down at the Zhao family members who were silent as cicadas in fear.

They hung their heads and hunched over, none of them daring to look up at him.

Looking at the crowd gradually dispersing in the distance, and watching the setting sun dye the horizon blood red.

Zhao Changkong stood three steps behind him, still bowing his head and remaining silent.

Dusk enveloped his aged figure; his face was expressionless, except for a complex light that occasionally flashed deep within his eyes.

Lin Che did not turn around.

He simply gazed into the distance, his voice soft and distant:

"From today onwards, you should know what the Zhao family should and should not do."

Zhao Changkong trembled slightly, lowered his head, and said in a hoarse but respectful voice, "Yes."

Lin Che paused for a moment, then continued:

"As for the plans of the Demon Palace of Rebellion—"

Zhao Changkong's body tensed for a moment.

"Continue with the original task assigned to you." Lin Che's voice was calm and composed, revealing no emotion.

"Don't go out of your way to investigate, don't reveal any clues, just wait for them to give you the specific plan. You know better than I do what needs to be done."

Zhao Changkong was silent for a moment, then lowered his head deeply:

"Yes."

That single word contained obedience, helplessness, and a complex emotion that was difficult to describe.

Lin Che did not speak again.

He just stood there quietly, gazing into the distance.

The setting sun cast his tall figure long and thin, projecting it onto the ground of the Zhao family estate, like an insurmountable boundary.

Behind him stood the subjugated Zhao family.

Ahead lay the vast territory of Chuyang City.

From this day forward, the Lin family will be the true power holders on this land.

At least, that's how it appears on the surface.