C19 Surrendered

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The indifferent words of Su Li struck Su He like a bolt from the blue.

In a desperate bid for survival, he repeatedly slammed his head against the ground, pleading with Su Hai, "Master, I admit my mistake. Please, save my life! I've served the Su family for many years, enduring hardships without much recognition..."

But before Su He could finish, he felt his body suddenly become weightless as he was sent flying backward.

Pfft!

Blood spurted out.

Su He's life force plummeted to an icy low.

Whoosh!

Witnessing Su Li's resolute action, the faces of the patriarchs from Suuton City's three major families turned ashen.

After all, Su He had been the Su Family's Great Elder.

If even he could be so forcefully slain, it was clear that their fates would be equally grim.

Plop! Plop!

In a heartbeat, all three patriarchs knelt down, declaring in unison, "We are willing to merge with the Su Family and will henceforth obey the Su Family's commands! We will brave any danger without hesitation!"

At that moment, the patriarchs were in utter turmoil, filled with regret.

Had they known it would come to this, they never would have naively attacked the Su Family.

They had assumed that with the backing of the royal family and the Mo Family, the Su Family was doomed.

But who could have predicted?

The royal family's crown prince was taken captive, and Mo Lin, the Second Elder of the Mo Family, met a grisly end.

In this dire situation, their only hope for survival was to surrender unconditionally to the Su Family.

Only with such abject submission could they cling to a thread of life.

After all, they had not laid a hand on the Su Family's warriors; from the start, their battle had been with the Death Monarch.

"Your lives will be spared, but punishment is inevitable," Su Li mused for a moment before declaring, "You have half an hour to deliver all the resources from your families to the Su Family. This will ensure your families' survival. As for yourselves..."

He paused, momentarily uncertain.

Truth be told, Su Li's initial stance towards the leaders of the three great families had been unequivocal—he had intended to execute them.

Upon reflection, Su Li considered that sparing their lives might better serve to control their families.

After a moment's thought, Su Li added, "For now, you'll stay with the Su Family as hostages."

"Thank you, thank you for sparing our lives!"

The leaders of the three great families quickly expressed their gratitude, then instructed their kin to return home immediately to gather resources and deliver them to the Su Family.

As Su Li was handling these matters, Yan Hui of the Coldhammers stood by silently, not uttering a word.

Yan Hui was well aware that he had come seeking Su Li's assistance, and thus, he knew better than to rush.

Haste wouldn't get him anywhere.

The Profound Opening Scroll was exceedingly valuable, and what he had brought paled in comparison.

Once Su Li had finished with Su Hai and the three great families, he turned to Yan Hui and said, "I have a pretty good idea of why you're here. You're after the Profound Opening Scroll, aren't you?"

Yan Hui nodded, confirming, "You're probably aware of the difficulties Coldhammers is facing. My visit is primarily to acquire the scroll, as it's the only solution to our current predicament."

"There's actually another option," Su Li remarked, glancing at Yang Qian, who had been beaten to a pulp. "Yang Qian is currently in my possession. You just need to spread the word, and I suspect that the royal family and Coldhammers will shift their focus to me first."

At those words, Yan Hui felt a jolt of apprehension.

Su Li's suggestion was indeed an excellent strategy.

Yang Qian was a figure of considerable importance in the Mollukya Empire.

Should the royal family learn he was detained at the Su Family, they would surely strike here first.

In such a scenario, the Mo Family's power alone would pose no threat to Coldhammers.

Yet, Yan Hui was no fool.

He quickly realized that Su Li was testing him.

If he appeared eager, Su Li would likely refuse to hand over the scroll.

With a deep breath, Yan Hui sidestepped the issue and produced a golden box from his chest, giving it a little shake as he said, "Inside is a peak Celestial River stage demonic beast core, twenty peak third-grade medicinal pills, and a fourth-grade Spirit Accumulation Pill."

Su Li's brow furrowed slightly.

Yan Hui had presented many items of considerable value, yet Su Li was acutely aware that they fell short of what was needed to trade for the Mystic Insight Scroll. This scroll held the power of a full-force strike from an early Mystic Insight Realm warrior. When used adeptly, it could even slay a peak-level Celestial River Realm fighter.

Truth be told, with the Mystic Insight Scroll and Yang Qian at his side, Su Li could face an invasion by the royal family and the Mo Family with confidence.

Su Li was well-informed. Both the ruler of the Mollukya Empire and the head of the Mo Family were late-stage Celestial River Realm practitioners. Despite their formidable strength, rescuing Yang Qian from under Su Li's watch would be an insurmountable challenge.

These were his bargaining chips. Yang Qian and the Mystic Insight Scroll were essential to Su Li's rise in power. With them, he could secure several days for cultivation.

"We must leave immediately and relay this information to the Patriarch!"

Mo Wentian had been keeping a close eye on Yan Hui, recognizing him as a powerhouse from Coldhammers. Yet, he doubted Yan Hui could persuade Su Li. The shift in Su Li's demeanor, however, sent a wave of panic through him. Su Li might not be the strongest in combat, but possessing the Mystic Insight Scroll made him a force to be reckoned with. Should Yan Hui return to Ouismouth with the scroll, the fallout would be catastrophic.

In a subtle rustling motion, Mo Wentian seized the moment of Su Li's contemplation to slip away, blending into the crowd.

"Manager Mo, where do you think you're going?" Did Mo Wentian think he could escape unnoticed by Su Li's keen senses?

Now, only four figures remained from the royal and Mo Family forces: Tan Qing, Mo Wentian, Lin Xiong, and Yang Qian. Yang Qian was under control, Tan Qing was under Yan Hui's watchful eye, and Lin Xiong was shaking with fear.

Mo Wentian thought he could sneak away amidst the chaos, but it wouldn't be that easy.

"Uh, I was just about to expedite the three major families in delivering their resources," Mo Wentian replied, his eyes darting about as he spoke.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," as the saying goes.

Su Li no longer paid any attention to Mo Wentian. Addressing Yan Hui, he declared, "Our Su Family, the Imperial Family, and the Mo Family have been locked in a relentless conflict. Therefore, I concur with your earlier suggestion—we shall forge an alliance with the Coldhammers."

"Thank you!"

Yan Hui quickly bowed with his fists clasped and inquired, "How may I be of service to you?"

Aware that Su Li possessed the Mystic Insight scroll, Yan Hui understood that Su Li's status was comparable to that of the Coldhammers' pavilion master.

Now that he was seeking a favor from Su Li, he was naturally more courteous.

"I would like you to assist my father in sealing off Suuton City. No one is to enter or exit without my permission," Su Li instructed.

With those final words, Su Li turned and made his way back to the Su Family compound.

Boom!

The moment Su Li vanished, Yan Hui unleashed his formidable presence.

The only person present with a higher cultivation level than him was Tan Qing.

To seal Suuton City, Yan Hui knew he had to subdue Tan Qing.

This was Su Li's challenge to him.

If he could successfully detain Tan Qing and contain the news, then Su Li would accompany him to Ouismouth.

"Everyone, remain still. Any violators will be executed on the spot!" Yan Hui bellowed with a menacing tone. "Tan Qing, will you surrender willingly, or must I come and take you down?"

"I choose to surrender."

After a mere three seconds of contemplation, Tan Qing proactively surrendered.

As the deputy captain of the Earth Dragon Guard, Tan Qing was no ordinary individual.

Leaving aside his chances of escaping Yan Hui's pursuit, even if he managed to survive, his prospects were grim.

He was the personal guard of Crown Prince Yang Qian, responsible for the prince's safety.

If the Crown Prince was captured and he managed to escape unscathed, what would the reigning monarch think of him?

Thus, surrendering was unequivocally his best option at the moment.

With Tan Qing's surrender, Mo Wentian, who was merely at the early stage of the Oceanic Wheel Realm, posed no threat.

In no time at all, Yan Hui, along with the Su family, had effectively sealed off Suuton City. Each of the city's four grand gates was guarded by one of the Three Heroes of Wind, Thunder, and Lightning, with the Death Monarch taking up post at the remaining gate.

Thanks to Yan Hui's assistance, tranquility was swiftly restored throughout Suuton City. Nevertheless, the events that unfolded at the doorstep of the Su family residence sent shockwaves through the city's martial community.

The capitulation of the three major clans, the capture of the royal heir, the tragic demise of the Mo Family's Second Elder—these incidents and more were bound to be the subject of conversation for a long time to come, fueling discussions over many a meal.