Joining with the Alchemy Empress might not be as bad as expected.
Xie Zizhou calculated in his head. Perhaps it might be even better than inviting her to become an elder of the Xie Clan.
Because if she considered the Xie Clan her own people, perhaps she'd create elixirs for the Xie Clan for free.
Representatives of other powers thought the same.
Some wanted to join with Bai Fanxian just as cultivators joined the four great clans. Perhaps in the future, "Bai Clan" might become the fifth great clan.
But before Bai Fanxian needed to act, her fierce followers made them abandon this idea.
The situation inside began returning to normal. The only difference was one additional seat at the front—Xie Zizhou's seat, sent to help Tang Tianjie manage things.
The heads of both clans became close easily. After just a few words, Xie Zizhou was calling the much older Tang Tianjie "Brother Tang" intimately.
Since the Xie Clan no longer needed to compete, representatives of other powers began presenting their own proposals.
But every proposal was rejected. Bai Fanxian wasn't interested in such trifling treasures or wealth.
Liu Yianfei, sitting in one corner, watched the situation ahead. He turned to look at Major General Zhou sitting beside him, calmly sipping water.
Since entering the room, Zhou Haoyun hadn't said anything. His manner surprised Liu Yianfei. Normally, someone like Zhou Haoyun wouldn't behave this way.
Usually he'd use the military's authority or his clan to negotiate already.
Moreover, he seemed to be quietly waiting for something.
"Why are you staring at me, General Liu?" Zhou Haoyun lifted a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Liu Yianfei shifted his gaze away.
"I just think it's strange how well-behaved you're being."
The young man jabbed back once, which made Major General Zhou laugh lightly. He pushed his glasses into place and stared at Liu Yianfei meaningfully.
"...It's just not my turn yet."
The moment he finished speaking, commotion erupted outside the hotel.
The uproar lasted a moment before this reception hall's door burst open loudly. A large, bald man strode into the room with an angry manner. Behind him followed a group holding cameras.
It was Director Wang. He'd been ordered to cover news here because word came that something would happen.
From the pressure emanating from the large man's body, people could immediately tell he was a high-level Martial Master.
Some who remembered turned to whisper to companions beside them.
"Isn't that the An Clan head?"
"Right... Master An was just injured earlier."
"Maybe he's come for revenge for his son."
Liu Yianfei narrowed his eyes. He found this situation rather strange, because he vaguely remembered the An Clan.
If he recalled correctly, the An Clan was at the very south of the country.
But counting the time since Master An was carried out, wasn't the An Clan head's arrival a bit too fast?
Liu Yianfei's thinking was correct. Earlier, Master An had come as his father's representative from the south. He'd spent all night traveling to reach Village Beneath the Clouds. Unlike the Xie Clan, who were closer.
Moreover, why were media like Director Wang's group here too?
"...This is related to you, isn't it?"
Liu Yianfei asked Zhou Haoyun softly. The major general laughed aloud.
"How could that be... but it seems you have work to do, General Liu."
.
.
.
Upon entering, the An Clan head rushed swiftly toward the front of the room. His manner was filled with fury. He stared at Bai Fanxian fearlessly.
"I demand an explanation!"
The An Clan head crossed his arms. He questioned Bai Fanxian.
"What did my son do wrong? He didn't even act yet! But your people injured him like this!"
He spoke while glancing at Zheng Renyi and Xie Suyao. Director Wang, seeing the situation about to escalate, ordered his people to broadcast everything.
Online viewers kept increasing. Learning that multiple Grandmaster-level figures were involved made it even more attractive.
Then what was this man saying?
Who injured whom severely?
Tang Tianjie and Xie Zizhou immediately sensed trouble. If media were involved, this would be far harder to handle.
But before the heads of both clans could stop the livestream, an old man's voice rang out from the doorway again.
"That's right, Grandmaster Bai. We also demand an explanation."
Everyone inside the room and online was stunned. They hadn't expected this man to come.
Because the arrival was another Grandmaster.
Mountain Tiger, Grandmaster Han Junpo!
Grandmaster Han walked forward openly. Though his face was slightly pale, it was filled with confidence. Some who followed were unknown.
But Tang Tianjie knew them very well.
Young Master Yi Clan, Yi Fan.
And Ting Kangming, Elder of the Ting Clan!
They were the group who'd caused trouble at the Tang Clan residence that day!
Though Yi Fan was young master of a famous clan, coming here he was just a small fry. He looked at Bai Fanxian and involuntarily startled while both hands unconsciously clutched the crotch area of his pants.
Ting Kangming was the same, except he didn't show it as clearly as the young Yi Fan. He tried to maintain composure while assessing the situation.
This time, he'd chosen sides clearly.
If Grandmaster Han succeeded, besides saving himself, he might gain great profit.
He'd also seen the Heaven-Defying Revival Pill's properties.
"What do you want..."
Tang Tianjie stepped forward to receive them. Now before cameras, he had to think carefully before acting.
"Tang Tianjie, we're not here to cause trouble."
Han Junpo smiled. He turned toward the filming camera and took the opportunity to cough lightly, producing a clot of blood.
"Cough... I'm just here demanding justice from Grandmaster Bai."
When viewers saw blood and the weak expression of the esteemed Grandmaster Han, the situation immediately became chaotic.
"Grandmaster Han is injured?"
"Looks quite serious..."
"What business does he have with Grandmaster Bai?"
"Earlier he said he'd come demanding justice..."
Online opinions erupted in confused chaos. Before this, there was also that large bald man speaking similarly.
"Grandmaster Han, please think carefully before speaking."
Xie Zizhou stepped forward to block. His expression was cold. Though his cultivation couldn't compare, as head of one of the four great clans, he had enough standing to confront Han Junpo.
Han Junpo was rather surprised to see Xie Zizhou here. Initially he'd only known Xie Suyao was with Bai Fanxian. Why was the Xie Clan head here less than an hour later?
Han Junpo was secretly worried. Xie Zizhou's status was quite high. His northern influence and real capabilities meant he wasn't solving problems with "force," making Xie Zizhou harder to handle than Xie Suyao today.
"I've thought carefully, Clan Head Xie." Han Junpo honored him by using his title. Though Xie Zizhou wasn't a Grandmaster like him, he was head of one of the four great clans.
"...Then why do I think you're here causing trouble?" Clan Head Xie pressed with words. When online viewers saw this northern clan head appear, they got excited again.
"...Where am I causing trouble?"
Han Junpo acted as if deeply troubled. He shifted his gaze to stare at Bai Fanxian and said:
"I'm just representing people who want responsibility from Grandmaster Bai."
His words confused people. The old man stepped forward and patted the An Clan head's shoulder lightly.
"Clan Head An's precious son just broke through to Grandmaster level not long ago. But today he was severely injured by Grandmaster Bai's people—we don't know if he'll recover?"
The old man narrated pitifully. He glanced at the livestreaming camera and sighed lightly.
Han Junpo's words could set the online world ablaze. Beyond the injury matter, another Grandmaster being born became an equally interesting topic.
"...Isn't this too much?"
"Right. Multiple Grandmasters ganging up on one new Grandmaster."
"Are they afraid Master An will surpass them?"
Han Zhendong in the back watched his father's performance with a smile while monitoring online opinions—he'd hired some of his own people to help create negative sentiment.
Clearly it was working. From just a few people, many now followed their opinions. Since Bai Fanxian's side couldn't defend themselves now, the number of people he could manipulate would keep increasing.
Because they didn't know what truly happened before. If mainstream opinion thought one way, they were ready to believe accordingly.
"It's not just Master An alone..."
Han Junpo spoke sadly. He removed his outer robe, revealing chronic wounds on his body that looked equally severe.
"I received these wounds from Grandmaster Bai too."
Viewers both in the room and online stared at the wounds in shock. But before everyone could panic, someone interrupted first.
"Clashes between cultivators are normal. Wounds are unavoidable for cultivators. I hope you haven't forgotten this."
Xie Zizhou glanced at those wounds and spoke coldly. He pulled back the online crowd being influenced by opinions just in time with his credible manner and words. Xie Suyao nodded lightly.
Having her younger brother come today wasn't wasted.
"That's right... we're cultivators."
"Injuries are normal. If we made a fuss every time we got wounded, we might as well become ordinary people."
Because the cultivator world was like this. Though laws existed about bodily harm, mostly if matters were between cultivators, they wouldn't dwell on it unless severe enough to cause disability or death.
Seeing things wouldn't be as easy as expected, Han Zhendong secretly glanced at the Xie Clan head who kept defending Bai Fanxian. This man became a problem as anticipated.
How did Bai Fanxian get such a person as an ally?
Han Junpo understood this problem too. The old man had to proceed with the plan.
He turned to signal. Suddenly several people walked in—not empty-handed. They wheeled in two wheelchairs.
The first held the large man who'd just left earlier—Master An. His body was wrapped in bandages everywhere, especially his arm where the injury was worst.
Liu Yianfei seeing that image suddenly narrowed his eyes.
They treated him that quickly?
This was like having doctors and nurses waiting at the hotel entrance!
But viewers watching through cameras showed shock. This man's condition looked far more severe than what they'd heard.
The next wheelchair held a young girl's body wrapped entirely in bandages. She had her eyes closed unconsciously while her brows knitted as if in pain.
"That's my granddaughter..." Tears welled up at Han Junpo's eyes. He walked over to grasp Han Xiaoyi's bandaged arm with a pitifully touching manner.
"She's just a small 8th-stage Qi Gathering cultivator... gentle and polite."
"But that day when she visited the Tang Clan on my behalf... she was severely injured by Grandmaster Bai!"
The manner in which Han Junpo stared at Bai Fanxian with fury could capture viewers' hearts.
It was as if he truly felt pain for his granddaughter who was like the apple of his eye.
Even his son Han Zhendong hadn't expected his elderly father could act so brilliantly.
This was exactly like a heroine being bullied by the villainess in those trashy dramas!