With each word Qiao Luan spoke, Qiao Chuting's face grew paler, until finally, she was completely bloodless.

“I don’t want to blame you anymore. This is a hurdle for the Qiao family. We are all in the same boat. We share the same fate, and we share the same fate.”

"If we get through this hurdle, the Qiao family will still be one of the four great families. If we don't, we'll meet again in the netherworld."

Qiao Luan's gaze was cold. Having experienced so many storms, he knew very well that the more serious the situation, the more calm he should be, otherwise it would only have the opposite effect.

Soon, Qiao Luan's orders came down one after another, and he began to use the Qiao family's resources and connections to confront Dingtianque head-on.

Although Dingtianque now controls the entire underground market, the Qiao family is not to be underestimated.

Secondly, they dispatched the Qiao family's elite assassins to carry out a decapitation strike against the high-ranking officials of Dingtianque.

"An army is trained for a thousand days to be used for one day." These elite assassins are worth it if they can kill just one person!

Qiao Luan knew very well that these people were not capable of killing Qiao Suinian, but that did not mean they were not capable of killing the people around Qiao Suinian.

Finally, it is imperative to investigate who among the other three major families is secretly targeting them. Only then can the Qiao family seek allies to form an alliance against Qiao Suinian. After being betrayed by Yang Beini once, the Qiao family has learned its lesson.

With these orders issued, the Qiao family's counterattack officially began.

At this moment, Qiao Suinian had already appeared at the Ji family's door.

He knocked on the door of the Ji family, and soon a servant came out to look him over.

"Who are you?"

"I am Qiao Suinian, looking for your young master Ji Kun." Qiao Suinian introduced himself.

The servant's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

"You're Qiao Suinian? Wait a moment!"

The name Qiao Suinian has recently become a household name in Kyoto; even the lowly servants know about him.

Ji Kun came out quickly, dressed in a black robe, his face resolute.

Compared to their last meeting, Ji Kun was clearly much stronger, his aura unfathomable, standing in front of him felt like facing an abyss.

"Did you need something from me?" Ji Kun asked, looking at Qiao Suinian.

He still remembered this Qiao Suinian; he was insidious, cunning, and extremely powerful—in short, not a good person.

This was Ji Kun's strongest impression of Qiao Suinian after several encounters.

"Young Master Ji Kun, do you think I don't know why I'm here to see you? Of course, I'm here to thank you!"

Qiao Suinian revealed a sunny and cheerful smile, then he took a package from behind his back, revealing the hilt of a sword!

"A fine sword is a hero's gift; no one is more suited to this sword than Young Master Ji Kun!"

Ji Kun's gaze was irresistibly drawn to the sword. As a sword cultivator, he could naturally sense that this sword was no ordinary item.

Upon seeing this, Qiao Suinian's lips curled into a smirk. This sword was something he had gathered by mobilizing the entire underground world of Kyoto. Named Zhanming, it was naturally not an ordinary sword.

He refused to believe he couldn't attract Ji Kun's attention.

However, he underestimated Ji Kun's willpower. Ji Kun only glanced at the sword before turning his head away.

"I cannot accept a reward without merit. Thank you for your kindness, but I cannot accept this sword."

Qiao Suinian raised an eyebrow slightly, but fortunately he had anticipated this situation. He lowered his voice and whispered in Ji Kun's ear.

"Young Master Ji Kun, you don't want to see the human race suffer, do you?"

"What do you mean?" Ji Kun frowned.

"Young Master Ji Kun, haven't you heard the news yet? The alien races of the Abyss Realm are about to be unified by a guy named Mu Xian. At that time, all the alien races will unite, and a war between humans and alien races will be imminent."

Upon hearing this, Ji Kun's pupils constricted sharply. He had been in seclusion cultivating his sword recently and had not paid any attention to news from the outside world.

Is this really true?

"You can ask Marshal Ouyang, Ouyang Mu of the Xuanwu Army. You'll know the truth as soon as you ask."

With a righteous and awe-inspiring expression, Qiao Suinian handed the Zhanming Sword to Ji Kun.

"So, Young Master Ji Kun, I'm giving you this sword not to curry favor with you or anything, but for the sake of all living beings!"

Ji Kun stared at Qiao Suinian without speaking, remaining motionless for a long time.

He reached out and took the sword.

“If what you say is true, I will return this sword to you after we defeat the alien race; if you are fabricating some unfounded information to deceive me, then I will use this sword to kill you.”

"Don't worry, Young Master Ji Kun. I don't have many other merits, but I'm honest and I don't lie," Qiao Suinian assured him, patting his chest.

After Ji Kun accepted the sword he gave him, Qiao Suinian didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

Then he went to the Fang family, one of the four great families, and presented them with a treasure that was no less powerful than the Zhanming Sword.

You can't hit a smiling face, especially one who brings you treasures. Fang Biaoxuan, the head of the Fang family, received Qiao Suinian very happily. The two exchanged pleasantries for a while before Fang Biaoxuan saw Qiao Suinian off.

After Qiao Suinian left, an elder of the Fang family asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Patriarch, Qiao Suinian and the Qiao family are currently at odds. What does it mean that he suddenly sent us a gift?"

Fang Biaoxuan's smile slowly faded.

"It's very simple. He sent the gift hoping that the Fang family would not interfere in his dispute with the Qiao family and would remain neutral."

"Then, patriarch, what if the Qiao family also sends people..." The elder didn't continue, believing that Fang Biaoxuan could influence him.

"As for hospitality, we'll help whoever offers the most incentives; we can make money from both sides," Fang Biaoxuan said.

"The master of the house is wise!"

......

News of Qiao Suinian sending gifts to the Ji and Fang families quickly reached the Qiao family's ears.

Qiao Chuting excitedly found Qiao Luan.

"Dad! We've made progress in investigating the force that's been secretly targeting us!"

"Tell me," Qiao Luan replied without even lifting his eyelids.

“It must be the Qin family!” Qiao Chuting’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, and then she told them that Qiao Suinian had given gifts to both the Ji family and the Fang family.

"Dad, that Qiao Suinian sent gifts to the Ji and Fang families, but forgot to send one to the Qin family. Isn't that like trying to hide something obvious? The Qin family must be the force secretly targeting us!"

Snap!

Qiao Luan stood up and slapped Qiao Chuting across the face.

"You idiot! How could I have given birth to such a stupid thing as you? What's going on in your head?"

Qiao Chuting covered her swollen cheek and looked at Qiao Luan with some confusion.

Qiao Luan pointed at her nose and said with a look of disappointment.

"Why don't you use your pig brain to think? Qiao Suinian could have given it to her privately, so why did she make it so obvious and let the Qiao family find out?"

"Dad, do you mean that Qiao Suinian did this on purpose to show us?" Qiao Chuting suddenly understood.

"Nonsense! His purpose is so obvious—to alienate us from the Qin family! Can't you understand such a simple truth?" Qiao Luan shouted angrily.

“Oh...so not only should we not distance ourselves from the Qin family, but we should also form an alliance with them!” Qiao Chuting’s eyes lit up.

"You're not completely stupid after all. That Qiao Suinian was deliberately misleading us, but unfortunately... I predicted his prediction!"