He believed that no one present would refuse such conditions. The benefits of the Soul Forging Tower were there. With their strength, who would not pursue the path of the peak power? Who would not yearn to one day break through the void and travel into the sky like those legendary strong men?
In the face of such a huge temptation, what does a little old matter mean? Moreover, as a lower-ranking family, loyalty to the main family is a matter of course.
Unfortunately, he forgot that not everyone was as heartless and ungrateful as he was. He also forgot that even if dying for one's master was a natural obligation, the manner of death was crucial. Dying in battle was a great honor, but being murdered by one's own family was too much of a humiliation, a far too worthless death.
After hearing the conditions he offered, only a few family heads showed hesitation, while most people looked sad and angry.
"Hahahaha, a worthy death! So the old patriarch died a worthy death." Patriarch Peng laughed heartily with tears in his eyes. Suddenly, he cut off his robe with a sword and said in a resounding voice, "The old patriarch really died a worthy death. He has repaid all the favors my Peng family owed your Zhu family. From now on, my Peng family no longer owes you the Zhu family. I declare that from today on, the Peng family will break away from the Zhu family and will no longer obey your orders. If the Zhu family dares to make things difficult for my Peng family, we will be irreconcilable with you and fight to the death!"
"My Zhou family has since separated from the Zhu family."
"My Tu family has also separated from the Zhu family."
…
A host of clan heads announced their departure from the Zhu family, even those who had initially hesitated. Their hesitation stemmed from their attraction to the miraculous techniques preserved within the Soul Forging Tower. However, Patriarch Peng's words reminded them that Zhu Xiangchen, for the sake of the Zhu family's cause, had dared to harm even the most loyal of Patriarchs, Old Peng. How could he afford to become the next leader? The conditions offered were merely a temporary solution; it was only a matter of time before he would be abandoned.
"Rebellion, rebellion, do you still dare to be the enemy of my Zhu family?" Zhu Xiangchen said angrily.
"That's right, I want to be the enemy of your Zhu family. You failed to kill me before. Now, it's my turn to take revenge." Yu Ziqi sneered and drew out his sword with a thud.
"Kill him and avenge the old patriarch!"
"Revenge for the Grand Elder!" Several other family heads and elders also drew their swords.
Like the previous head of the Peng family, the previous heads or great elders of several other families were also assassinated by the Zhu family after comprehending the divine arts in the tower. However, unlike the Peng family, they did not owe the Zhu family any favors and only joined the Zhu family under pressure. How could they not avenge their elders?
Seeing this, Zhu Xiangchen panicked. He had only intended to buy time, but he'd predicted disaster could come from his mouth. A single word sparked public outrage, leaving him deserted by everyone. The Zhu family had been able to bring so many clans under its wing, partly due to its own strength, but also because those clans were so disunited. Now that they were united against him, he couldn't handle it.
"Take back what you said just now, and I will let you leave the Soul Forging Tower alive. Otherwise, I will kill you without mercy." At this moment, the great elder of the Zhu family suddenly opened his eyes and said murderously.
He knew that he had to cut the Gordian knot now, otherwise, the Zhu family would be faced with a catastrophic disaster, destroying decades of hard work, even nearly a thousand years of planning. He had to admit that as the Zhu family's eldest elder, his response and decision-making in this crisis were indeed much better than Zhu Xiangchen's.
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