C26 How Many People Have Died??

Qiao Hou usually paid little attention to Qiao Hee, but Qiao Hee was his only son.

"Dad, Qiao Mao truly deserves to die," Qiao Hou said through clenched teeth. If he could have caught Qiao Mao by now, he would have already killed him.

After a moment's thought, Qiao Hou suggested with a malicious tone, "Father, why don't we kill Qiao Shen and then spread the word? I refuse to believe that won't draw out Qiao Mao."

"Qiao Shen has been struck by the Black Jade Purple Yin Poison and won't survive the day. Killing him makes no difference," Qiao Guang replied coolly. "Your actions today have been a profound disappointment to me."

Qiao Hou attempted to argue, but Qiao Guang cut him off.

"Qiao Hee is nothing but a failure. What can he possibly achieve? All he does is drink all day. If I were to bring him into the clan, he'd surely sabotage my plans," Qiao Guang said with a dismissive snort. "Moreover, his son is dead; he can always have another. But if you continue to be this rash, how will you ever accomplish anything significant?"

"I'll keep that in mind," Qiao Hou responded, his anger simmering, but he recognized Qiao Guang's point. After hearing his father's words, he readily agreed.

"This situation provides us with the perfect pretext. We can now eliminate them openly," Qiao Guang said, his eyes flickering with a dark gleam. "Send some men to join the Qin family in hunting down Qiao Mao. Also, take a team to pursue all members of Qiao Dou's lineage. Should anyone resist, kill them without hesitation."

Despite Qiao Dou's departure to Fallen Cloud Valley, he was once the family head, and many within the clan remained fiercely loyal to him. Rash killings by Qiao Guang and his faction could provoke severe backlash.

Thus, even though Qiao Guang sought Qiao Mao and the others, he had to act covertly. But now, he could use the pretext of Qiao Mao's killing to openly seize control of the Qiao family in Martial Sun City.

"Understood," Qiao Hou replied, his excitement palpable. Starting today, they would truly command the Qiao family in Martial Sun City. Soon, they might successfully join the larger clan. Yet, Qiao Hou paused before adding, "However, Father, if we aim to enter the Ancestral Land, we may need the key that Qiao Shen possesses. I propose delegating the task of capturing Qiao Mao and the others, while I personally oversee Qiao Shen."

Within the Qiao Family Ancestral Land lay an item of great importance, shrouded in secrets. The key to this land, however, was not held by Qiao Guang and his associates but was safeguarded by the descendants of Qiao Dou, passed down through generations.

Qiao Hou had learned that before departing for Fallen Cloud Valley, Qiao Dou had entrusted the key to Qiao Shen. Consequently, they poisoned Qiao Shen to gain control of it.

Qiao Hou was certain that before his demise, Qiao Shen would entrust the key to someone else. This presented an opportunity for him to seize it.

Once he had the key, the endgame would be in sight.

Qiao Guang remained silent, offering only a nod to signal his consent.

Swiftly, the Qiao family saw a seismic shift. Many of Qiao Dou's loyalists were apprehended, some sustaining grave injuries in the process.

Furthermore, the Qiao and Qin families formed an alliance, using the alleged murder of Qiao Mao as a pretext to relentlessly pursue him.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Tianbei stood anxiously outside the secret chamber. But Qiao Mao had instructed not to be disturbed until he emerged.

As the chamber doors swung open, Qiao Mao stepped out. Zhang Tianbei approached him quickly, his voice laced with urgency, "I was about to break in if you hadn't come out."

"What's happened?" Qiao Mao asked, his brow furrowed.

Zhang Tianbei relayed the events to Qiao Mao, adding, "Qiao Guang is accusing you of killing Qiao Hee and is now hunting down your father's former comrades, claiming they've been harboring you."

"Have there been any casualties?" Qiao Mao's eyes reddened, a surge of bloodshot rage fueling his icy tone.

"No one has died yet, just a few severely wounded. But this is only the beginning. If things continue this way, they'll surely kill all of your father's men," Zhang Tianbei explained.

Qiao Mao hadn't anticipated that in the two hours he spent refining medicine in the chamber, Qiao Guang would have already launched his assault. Thankfully, there were no fatalities.

"Qiao Guang, had you not provoked me, you might have enjoyed a few more days of peace. But now, that's no longer an option," Qiao Mao declared with a cold huff.

"Qiao Mao, what should we do now?" Zhang Tianbei inquired. The Qiao family and the Wang family had openly allied themselves, and they would surely shift their focus to target the Zhang family.

Despite being one of the Three Great Overlords, the Zhang family couldn't withstand the combined forces of Qiao Guang and the Qin family. The Zhang family faced certain destruction.

Zhang Tianbei couldn't bear the thought of the legacy his elders had worked so hard to establish vanishing into thin air.

"Patriarch Zhang, please stay calm. Prepare for an attack at home and await my message," Qiao Mao instructed before disguising himself as a man in his twenties, ready to visit Qiao Shen's home.

"Qiao Mao, please be careful," Zhang Tianbei cautioned. He had pinned all his hopes on Qiao Mao.

Acknowledging with a nod, Qiao Mao dashed out the door, transforming into a streak of black light and vanishing from Zhang Tianbei's view.

Once outside, Qiao Mao headed to the bustling streets of Martial Sun City. Qiao Guang's forces and those of the Qin family were everywhere, searching for him, having nearly taken control of the city.

But Qiao Mao ignored these underlings; they were mere lackeys and posed no threat. He suspected that Qiao Guang's primary target might be his uncle.

Yet, Qiao Mao wasn't overly concerned. Having uncovered the secret of the Celestial Yin Nether Arts in Fire Cloud Valley, he had a plan forming in his mind. He was aware that Qiao Guang's ultimate objective was to obtain the Celestial Yin Nether Arts stored in the Qiao Family Ancestral Land.

To gain access to the Ancestral Land, Qiao Guang needed a special key. As long as Qiao Shen withheld it, they wouldn't dare to kill him outright.

Qiao Mao made his way swiftly to Qiao Shen's residence, a vast estate surrounded by towering walls, yet marred with bloodstains.

These were the remnants of a fierce battle where Zhen Gui and Qiao Shen had fought their way out to rescue Qiao Mao. Two days on, the stains remained, a stark and harrowing reminder.

Qiao Mao surveyed the scene silently, his heart still seething with an unspoken desire for vengeance. He swiftly masked his power and made his way into the house with haste.

"Qiao Hou," Qiao Mao sensed almost immediately upon entry, detecting a subtle yet unmistakable presence. It was the oppressive aura of Qiao Guang's son, Qiao Hou.

Beyond that, Qiao Mao was aware of several formidable individuals nearby. Each one possessed a formidable level of cultivation, with the least among them having attained Mortality Transcending Level Six Heaven.

"Qiao Hou, you've certainly spared no expense in recruiting these masters. However, today I'm eager to see who will come out on top," Qiao Mao thought to himself, his eyes narrowing with a frosty resolve. He then stealthily infiltrated further into the depths of the house.