Lin clan's main hall.
Yu Zhongxu watched the Huang family's grandfather and grandson flee in disgrace. He didn't spare them a second glance.
"Your Highness Yang Cheng, it looks like everything here has been settled."
He cupped his hands and said, "I have other urgent matters to handle for the White Fish Society, so I won't be staying any longer. I hope Your Highness understands."
"Elder Yu, thank you for your help today."
Yang Cheng nodded and smiled at Yu Zhongxu.
He knew very well that if not for this titan's timely appearance, completely crushing the alliance of the Lu, Huang, and He families, he might've really had to go on a killing spree today and bathe the Lin clan's banquet hall in blood.
Though the result would've been the same, the process would've been far bloodier—and the aftermath messier.
Now, borrowing strength to crush the opposition and striking with overwhelming force had already drawn blood but was, relatively speaking, a more "peaceful" outcome. It avoided a lot of unnecessary trouble.
"You're too kind, Your Highness. It was my duty."
Yu Zhongxu cupped his hands once more, then turned and strode off. His figure vanished beyond the Lin clan gates in just a few steps.
Outside the gates.
A cold wind blew, carrying a chilling edge.
A middle-aged man in a dark red brocade robe stood with hands behind his back. His eyes were deep as an abyss. Several attendants with restrained auras stood respectfully behind him.
This man was none other than Meng Yan, an important figure from the Meng family.
He had been watching silently all this time, waiting for the perfect moment to enter. His goal was to step in at just the right time and take the greatest benefit with the least cost.
As Yu Zhongxu's figure walked out through the gates, Meng Yan's eyes instantly locked with his.
Yu Zhongxu paused slightly, glanced at Meng Yan, and curved his lips into a faint smile—not quite a smirk—and gave a slight nod.
They exchanged no words. Yu Zhongxu's figure blurred and melted into the night.
One of the trusted attendants behind Meng Yan asked in a low voice, "Master Yan, now that Elder Yu has left, are we still going in?"
Meng Yan stared at the Lin clan gates with a deep gaze. After a moment of silence, he slowly shook his head. "No need."
He had come intending to be the grand finale—the one to reap the rewards.
But everything that happened inside had gone far beyond his expectations. It had wrecked all his calculations.
The strength Yang Cheng showed, plus the overwhelming support from the Chen family and Yu Zhongxu, had completely rewritten the balance of power within the Lin clan.
To go in now?
He would no longer be a "final mediator," but someone walking straight into the heart of the storm.
That went completely against his original intent to sit back and reap the benefits. There'd be no real gain—and possibly massive risk.
A master schemer like Meng Yan would never make such a move.
He gave the Lin clan gate one last long look, then turned away. "Let's go."
The dark red figure and his followers left quietly, as if they had never been there.
Inside the hall.
Ding!
[Host is wise and mighty, managing to gain the support of Yu Zhongxu, the Third Elder of the White Fish Society, also known as the "King of Hell."]
[Yu Zhongxu is a Refining God powerhouse. The White Fish Society has grown rapidly since surviving a great crisis 500 years ago, even leaving the Horn Constellation Realm to expand into the Divine Realm.]
[Under Yu Zhongxu's terrifying pressure, the Huang family and other forces trembled in fear. Host killed He Rongping, and they didn't even dare to be angry. They even apologized. That old fox Huang Guinian gouged out his own eyes.]
[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission. Reward: Three-Star Crimson Dragon Fist Domain.]
System subtitles flashed in front of Yang Cheng, but he ignored them for now and turned his gaze back to Lu Canglan.
Yu Zhongxu's departure clearly showed he believed the remaining Lu and Lin families were no longer a threat to Yang Cheng.
Of course, Yu Zhongxu didn't know the truth. Even if he hadn't shown up, the combined forces of the Huang, He, Lu, Lin—and even the Meng family—still wouldn't have been able to threaten Yang Cheng.
"Your Highness Yang Cheng."
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Lu Canglan slowly raised his head and said with determination, "Our Lu family is willing to offer up our clan-suppressing sacred artifact, the Xuanming Heavy Water Pearl! We beg Your Highness to show mercy."
Clan-suppressing sacred artifact!
Those four words hit everyone like a hammer to the chest.
Even Lin Xiaotian, who had fallen into despair, suddenly jolted, his eyes filled with utter disbelief and shock.
A clan-suppressing sacred artifact was the true foundation and symbol of a family.
Offering it up meant the Lu clan had completely surrendered and thrown itself at Yang Cheng's feet, losing all dignity.
Lu Canglan's move was full-on survival through sacrifice. The price he paid was even more extreme than Huang Guinian gouging out his eyes.
Yang Cheng's face remained calm as ever. He casually raised his hand.
Lu Ting, standing beside Lu Canglan, was deathly pale. His body shuddered, and with obvious reluctance, he took out a jet-black jade bead the size of a fist from his void ring. It radiated a bone-chilling cold.
The moment the jade bead appeared, the surrounding air temperature plummeted. A thin layer of frost even formed on the floor.
Lu Ting walked heavily to Yang Cheng, bowed his head low, and respectfully held up the bead.
Yang Cheng didn't even glance at Lu Ting. With a casual wave, the "Xuanming Heavy Water Pearl" landed in his palm. The icy aura immediately withdrew, becoming docile and calm.
He weighed it briefly, then put it away.
"Get lost."
His voice was flat, emotionless.
Lu Canglan and Lu Ting looked like they'd been granted amnesty. They didn't dare linger for even a moment. Without glancing at anyone else, they fled like beaten dogs.
With that, all external enemies who had opposed Yang Cheng were either suppressed or had paid a heavy price and left.
Only the Lin clan remained inside the hall.
The air felt frozen, suffocatingly tense.
Everyone's gaze was locked on Yang Cheng, full of awe—and deep regret.
Yang Cheng's gaze swept over Lin Xiaotian sitting soulless on the main seat, then over the Lin disciples too afraid to even breathe. Finally, his eyes landed on Lin Shu.
That icy gaze suddenly melted like snow, turning into a gentle question.
Lin Shu understood and immediately followed behind him.
Without looking at anyone else in the Lin clan, Yang Cheng walked straight toward the banquet hall exit as if no one else existed.
His steps were steady and calm. Every footstep on the silent floor felt like a heavy hammer pounding on the hearts of the Lin clan.
Lin Shu followed closely, not once looking back, not showing a trace of attachment.
It was as if her entire world was centered around the man before her.
Only when their figures completely disappeared did that suffocating pressure finally begin to lift.
"Phew…"
No one knew who let out the first long breath, like surviving a disaster.
Then, the entire hall seemed to come alive again as voices broke the silence.
In the very next moment, all the Lin clan's high-ranking members turned their eyes toward Lin Feng and Song Shuyue.
"Clan Head, Shuyue, we really owe you both for this time."
An elder was the first to speak, his face full of uncharacteristic warmth.
"Yes, yes! If it hadn't been for Second Brother and Sister-in-law recognizing Yang Cheng's greatness and forging such a deep relationship with him, the consequences today would've been unimaginable."
Another elder quickly chimed in.
"Shuyue, you warned us many times about His Highness Yang Cheng's extraordinary nature. It was us who were blind and didn't listen. Please don't hold it against us."
Someone else fawned toward Song Shuyue.
In no time, Lin Feng and Song Shuyue were surrounded. Compliments and praises poured in from all sides, lifting them to an unprecedented height.
Lin Hui stood at the edge of the crowd, face alternating between green and white, like a dye shop had exploded on him.
He tried to force a smile, but it looked worse than crying.
The overwhelming shame and sense of failure made him want to dig a hole and disappear.
He'd ridiculed Lin Shu and mocked the couple relentlessly before.
Now, all of that had become a resounding slap across his face.
At the main seat, Lin Xiaotian watched as Lin Feng and his wife were surrounded and celebrated, while his own side had suddenly turned cold and lonely. A mix of emotions swirled in his chest.
He let out a heavy sigh, one filled with endless remorse.
After a while, he slowly shuffled over to Lin Feng and Song Shuyue.
The crowd instinctively parted to make way.
"Feng'er, Shuyue."
Lin Xiaotian's voice carried an unprecedented sincerity. "Today's events were my fault."
Lin Feng and Song Shuyue exchanged glances.
Lin Xiaotian continued, "The heavens showed mercy and gave our Lin clan such a great opportunity to meet a true dragon. Shuyue even advised me repeatedly, speaking earnestly about His Highness Yang Cheng's power and potential."
He shook his head with regret. "I was too stubborn… too short-sighted. I let the so-called reputation of the clan cloud my judgment and failed to recognize the true dragon soaring above the nine heavens. Because of that…"
He couldn't finish the sentence. Everyone already knew what had happened.
Song Shuyue listened to her father-in-law's belated repentance, and a quiet pride welled up in her chest.
Even when Lin Feng became clan head, he never received such an attitude from Lin Xiaotian. But now, because of their daughter and Yang Cheng, she had.
Lin Feng gave a helpless bitter smile. "Father, at this point… what use are these words?"
That line was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the fiery enthusiasm that had just started to burn in everyone.
Yeah… the look in Yang Cheng's eyes at the end—cold and detached—and the way he walked away without hesitation, made it clear how disappointed and distant he now felt toward the Lin clan.
Once again, the hall sank into an awkward silence.
Everyone was engulfed by overwhelming regret and confusion.
If they had never encountered this opportunity with Yang Cheng, it would be one thing. But now that the opportunity had come—and been squandered by their own hands—how could they possibly accept that?
Just then, a crisp female voice suddenly rang out.
"Grandfather, elders, I think… maybe things aren't as hopeless as they seem."