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Chapter 261: Willing to Follow the Patriarch to the Death

Once all their cultivation resources and spiritual items were confiscated, the Zhang Clan would essentially cease to exist. Joining the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance would strip them of their current status as local tyrants, reducing them to no more than rogue cultivators in the wilderness.

The complexion of the Patriarch of the Zhang Clan, Zhang Liusheng, also extremely unsightly. Seeing that the Grand Elder, Zhang Yuanliu, and the other clan members were looking towards him, he pondered for a moment before stepping forward and speaking in a grave tone, "Esteemed Spirit Master of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance, don\'t you think these terms of submitting are a bit too harsh?"

Qin Ming\'s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Zhang Liusheng, with your half-step Primordial Spirit stage cultivation base and as a Patriarch in your own right, you should be able to comprehend the benefits and reasoning behind this. Besides, these rules are set by the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance. We are merely the executors and have no power to alter them."

The Grand Elder, Zhang Yuanliu, and Zhang Liusheng exchanged glances, then turned to Qin Ming, "May we have some time to consider?"

Qin Ming seemed somewhat disappointed with their response and sighed softly, "It seems I won\'t be able to claim all the merits on the Daoist Ranking for myself. Let them consider it; we should return."

"Yes, Spirit Master Qin." The dozens of people beside him quickly retreated, following Qin Ming back up to the celestial turtle, showing no regard for the Zhang Clan members below.

“Grand Elder, Patriarch, this won’t do! If we really agree to these harsh conditions, how would it be different from our Zhang Clan meeting its end?!”

“The strength of these people from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance seems average at best. Only that celestial turtle has a somewhat higher cultivation base. The person leading them is only an ordinary peak Divine Core stage cultivator!”

“Grand Elder, we should just exterminate these dogs of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance right here and now, then flee the Dawndusk Territory as fast as we can!”

The Zhang Clan members were all ablaze with indignation. Hearing the demands of Qin Ming and his group and seeing their apparent lack of strength, their awe of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance diminished significantly. Evil thoughts arose in their hearts, and they began to consider annihilating them on the spot!

Only Xu Shouxing, an external elder of the Zhang Clan, looked solemn as he bowed to Zhang Liusheng and Zhang Yuanliu. He said gravely, "Grand Elder, Patriarch, I believe this situation isn\'t as straightforward as it seems. Firstly, those people are likely not the full extent of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance\'s power sent to our Zhang Clan. There might be others atop the celestial turtle. Secondly, even if we were to annihilate them here, escaping the Dawndusk Territory would be difficult. A wrong decision could spell irreversible doom for our clan!"

Though he was an external elder, Xu Shouxing had grown up in the Zhang Clan\'s Flowing Water City and had long considered himself a true member of the Zhang Clan.

Zhang Liusheng frowned deeply, looking at the bickering people before him, and shouted, "Silence!"

His rebuke quieted everyone, and they looked at him with various expressions.

"If only the people we just saw are on the celestial turtle, then it wouldn\'t be difficult to annihilate them, with our Zhang Clan\'s two half-step Primordial Spirit stage and over ten Divine Core stage cultivators," Zhang Liusheng seemed to have thought of something and looked at Zhang Yuanliu, "Grand Elder, how are the repairs going on that broken ancient teleportation array in our ancestral land?"

Upon hearing the words "teleportation array," the eyes of the Zhang Clan members lit up with uncontainable excitement and anticipation as they stared fixedly at Grand Elder Zhang Yuanliu.

"I personally worked on the repairs for several years, and it\'s now barely operational," Zhang Yuanliu said, no longer concealing the existence of the ancient teleportation array as he considered the gravity of the situation. His gaze turned inexplicably solemn, "However, the ancient spirit source within it is irreplaceable. From my estimates, it can only support one activation, and moreover…"

"And moreover, what?" Zhang Liusheng\'s face darkened as he grew apprehensive of the words he surmised would follow.

"It can only accommodate a dozen people below the Primordial Lord realm. If only Divine Core stage cultivators use it, thirteen can leave. If replaced with Dao Foundation stage or Sea of Qi stage cultivators, it can transport a few dozen."

Zhang Yuanliu\'s words shattered the beautiful illusions in the minds of the Zhang Clan members, bringing them back to the reality of their dire situation.

Meanwhile, atop the celestial turtle…

Qin Ming, accompanied by several Divine Core stage cultivators, landed at the most esteemed chariot at the center of the celestial turtle. Upon landing, he bowed deeply to Xu Disheng and reported in an extremely respectful tone, "Supreme Spirit Master, the Zhang Clan says the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance\'s terms are too harsh and requests time to consider."

He reported the Zhang Clan\'s words verbatim, without any deceit.

Upon hearing Qin Ming\'s words, Lu Xiuzhu and the other peak Divine Core stage Spirit Masters stood silently beside Xu Disheng. Their gazes held excitement, but they didn’t speak as they waited for his response.

Xu Disheng was clad in a snow-white Daoist robe that emitted a mysterious moon white halo. His aura was vast and deep, resembling a dragon lurking in the abyss; anyone who witnessed its pressure felt fear stirring in the depths of one\'s soul.

Ceasing his cultivation, Xu Disheng\'s long eyelashes fluttered as he opened his resplendent eyes. His gaze was as calm as a still pond as he looked towards Qin Ming and the others.

Seeing that Xu Disheng hadn\'t spoken, Lu Xiuzhu took the initiative, "Supreme Spirit Master, since the Zhang Clan hasn\'t agreed outright, we may consider them as refusing to submit. Besides… if we completely cleanse the Zhang Clan\'s cities, you would gain far more merits on the Daoist Ranking than merely having them submit."

Daoist Ranking merits were a coveted prize for the Supervising Spirit Masters!

It was also somewhat of an unspoken contest among these genius cultivators. Whoever could dominate the Daoist Ranking would step out from the ranks of their peers and rise meteorically within the newly established Dawndusk Daoist Alliance to become a renowned figure in the Central Region.

Xu Disheng did not react to Lu Xiuzhu\'s mention of the Daoist Ranking merits. Instead, he stood up from his seat in the chariot and said indifferently as he radiated the aura representing his identity as a Supervising Spirit Master, "If they refuse to submit, then follow the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance\'s rules and put them down completely."

"Yes, Supreme Spirit Master!" Lu Xiuzhu and the other Divine Core stage Spirit Masters were visibly excited.

With twenty Divine Core stage Spirit Masters brought from the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance, including Lu Xiuzhu, there were only five at the peak of the Divine Core stage. The rest were ordinary Divine Core stage Spirit Masters, mostly from small and medium forces that had already submitted to the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance. When it came to their true strength, they were just slightly stronger than rogue cultivators, but still far inferior to the ordinary Divine Core stage cultivators of the Shangqing Sacred Sect in the Eastern Region.

As the celestial turtle descended, looming over the Flowing Water City\'s walls, its massive shadow even blocked out the moonlight above.

When Zhang Liusheng and the others saw numerous colored beams of light flying out from the celestial turtle, their expressions changed drastically!

Especially striking to them was the youth leading them, wearing a snow-white Daoist robe. His demeanor was cold, enveloped in two distinct layers of spiritual essence. Not only did it highlight his noble status, but it also emanated a terrifying aura that slowly expanded outwards!

"Grand Elder, we can\'t delay. You and the other Elders must take Zhang Yuexi and the three geniuses in training at the ancestral land to the teleportation array and leave immediately!" Zhang Liusheng called out upon seeing the twenty Divine Core stage Spirit Masters and over a hundred Dao Foundation stage cultivators.

Realizing resistance was futile, Zhang Liusheng abandoned any thoughts of counterattacking. His half-step Primordial Spirit stage cultivation burst forth, no longer concealed.

The Zhang Clan\'s peak strength wasn\'t weak, with two top half-step Primordial Spirit stage cultivators and eleven Divine Core stage cultivators. Had it been just the twenty Divine Core stage Spirit Masters, a desperate fight might have been feasible.

But the Zhang Clan couldn\'t take this fight!

Setting aside that youth leading them that instilled fear in Zhang Liusheng’s heart, if a battle ensued, the Zhang Clan would be at a distinct disadvantage.

Backed by the enormous power of the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance\'s eight top-level forces and the overlord sects that had already submitted, Qin Ming, Lu Xiuzhu, and the others had nothing to worry about. In contrast, the Zhang Clan was fraught with vulnerabilities!

The slightest misstep could lead to total annihilation!

Rationally weighing their options, Zhang Liusheng made the best decision for his clan—to stall the Dawndusk Daoist Alliance himself, along with a few Divine Core stage cultivators, while Grand Elder Zhang Yuanliu was tasked with taking the yet-to-mature geniuses like Zhang Yuexi away. They were to use the ancient teleportation array to escape far from the Dawndusk Territory. This was to preserve a sliver of hope and a chance for revenge for the Zhang Clan.

With the situation so urgent, there was no time for debate. The Zhang Clan members could only silently watch Zhang Liusheng, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Zhang Yuanliu, bursting forth with his half-step Primordial Spirit stage cultivation, flew towards the ancestral land in the center of Flowing Water City, his voice fading, "All Elders of the Council of Elders, follow me!"

The several Elders, feeling as if they had received a pardon from death, hurriedly flew after Zhang Yuanliu without a second thought.

The seven ordinary Divine Core stage cultivators of the Zhang Clan left at the site bore extremely grim expressions. They lacked the spirit of Zhang Liusheng, who was willing to sacrifice himself for the clan. Apart from a desperate resistance, they had no other choice!

Flee? There was nowhere to escape!

Fight? Without the Grand Elder, a half-step Primordial Spirit stage cultivator, and other Elders, they were hopelessly outnumbered and facing certain death!

Only Xu Shouxing, an external elder, surged with fighting spirit, laughing boldly, "Xu is willing to follow the Patriarch to the death!"

The other Divine Core stage cultivators of the Zhang Clan, now without options, clenched their teeth, drew out their treasures, and steeled their resolve. They shouted in unison, "We are willing to follow the Patriarch to the death!"

Zhang Liusheng glanced around. Numerous members of the Zhang Clan were still gathering, including those at the Dao Foundation stage, Sea of Qi stage, Cleansed Meridians stage, and even Xiantian martial artists.

Looking guiltily at these members of the Zhang Clan around him, Zhang Liusheng felt an inexplicable surge of emotion and called out loudly, "The Zhang Clan has thrived for thousands of years, experiencing both prosperity and decline. Now, as we face a formidable enemy and our clan is in peril, are you all willing to join me in this battle?!"

“““We are willing to follow the Patriarch to the death!”””

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