87: Chapter 87 The Zhou Family's Escape

"Hmph! These little brats, do they really think this old man is about to be buried?"

Patriarch Ouyang stood on high ground with his hands behind his back.

His gaze swept heavily over the chaotic battle below.

He gently rubbed his chin with his fingertips, lost in thought.

"With such a big commotion, is the Imperial Family really not intervening at all?"

As the head of the Family, it was impossible for him not to know about an internal conflict of this scale.

Yet, at this moment, he chose to watch from the sidelines.

A mature Patriarch would never easily intervene in such disputes.

No matter which side he favored, he would ultimately invite resentment.

Worse, it would shake the Family's Foundation.

Just then, the battle below entered a white-hot stage.

"Boom—!"

The loud noise caused the surrounding air to tremble.

Amidst the swirling dust, the Grand Elder stumbled, retreating several steps before barely steadying himself.

"The Grand Elder actually can't suppress Big Brother?"

Ouyang Changgong's attention was suddenly drawn by the loud noise.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Fifth Master, you must focus during a fight."

The Fourth Elder seized this fleeting opening.

He let out a low shout: "Cold Mountain Palm!"

The palm wind was sharp.

It carried a chill, striking directly at Ouyang Changgong's face.

Ouyang Changgong sensed danger and hurriedly dodged sideways.

But he was still a beat too slow, and his shoulder was grazed by the palm wind.

A bloody gash instantly opened up.

"Fifth Master, losing focus during a fight would cost you your life in a real life-and-death struggle outside."

The Fourth Elder withdrew his palm and stood still.

It was a well-intentioned reminder, but his eyes hid the shrewdness of an old fox.

These Family Elders all had their own allegiances, and the Patriarch had always turned a blind eye.

But if anyone dared to touch his son, that would be crossing the line, leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.

"Fourth Elder, my Big Brother is cruel by nature and extremely harsh toward the Family Disciples."

Ouyang Changgong's brows were tightly locked.

The stinging pain in his shoulder made him increasingly passive.

That momentary lapse just now had already caused him to fall into a disadvantage.

He took advantage of the moment to stall for a few breaths.

"If he is allowed to ascend to the position of Patriarch, the Ouyang Family will sooner or later fall apart!"

If this stalemate continued, the situation would only get worse.

A difference of one move meant a world of difference.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the First Master's methods."

The Fourth Elder shook his head disapprovingly.

"This world is one where the weak are prey to the strong. If you don't work hard to hone yourself on ordinary days, you can only pay with blood when the critical moment arrives. How can delicate flowers raised in a greenhouse compete for resources for the Family outside?"

"Not everyone can withstand such harsh trials."

Ouyang Changgong narrowly dodged an attack.

He retorted in a deep voice, "Within the Family, it is impossible for everyone to become a top expert. The Ouyang Family should have a heart of tolerance and protect every single Disciple."

"Pedantic!"

A cold light flashed in the Fourth Elder's eyes.

His tone suddenly turned cold, "If the Family wants to be strong, it must actively compete and strive with all its might! Those with mediocre Aptitude will only waste the Family's resources in vain. Is this not an iron-clad fact?"

The Fourth Elder struck out with another palm, his momentum even stronger than before.

"Bang!"

The two palms collided, and air waves scattered.

Ouyang Changgong let out a muffled groan.

His footsteps retreated half a step uncontrollably, and his blood Qi surged slightly.

Not far away, Xiang Tian saw this and his brows knitted tightly.

He turned to Ouyang Changlin beside him and said, "Senior, my uncle-in-law's faction seems to have started to fall into a disadvantage."

The situation on the field was indeed not optimistic.

Both the Grand Elder and Ouyang Changgong had fallen into disadvantages.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Changming and the Seventh Elder on their side were only barely holding a draw against their opponents.

They simply couldn't spare the hands to support them.

"Rest assured, they won't die."

Ouyang Changlin shook his head gently.

His tone was flat, "This battle, in the end, is nothing more than an internal struggle for allegiance within the Family."

Moreover, his father, Patriarch Ouyang, had a long Lifespan and would have no problem living for another thousand or eight hundred years.

Ouyang Changqing was making such a big fuss about forcing everyone to take sides.

Was it really just to compete for the position of heir?

Ouyang Changlin's gaze fell on Ouyang Changqing, who was unstoppable on the battlefield.

His brows also gradually furrowed.

"Senior, why is Ouyang Changqing's strength even greater than the Grand Elder's?"

Xiang Tian asked, full of confusion.

"His wife is Princess Yaqian, so logically speaking, he should have the Zhou Family's Legacy Cultivation Technique..."

Ouyang Changlin's tone carried a bit of uncertainty.

He was clearly also somewhat confused.

"Senior, isn't the 'Great Sun Heaven Technique' he is currently using a Zhou Family Cultivation Technique?"

Xiang Tian pressed.

"This Cultivation Technique is indeed powerful," Ouyang Changlin explained.

"As long as one is under the halo of the Great Sun Heaven Technique, the Spiritual Qi within the user's body can surge by several folds. However, this Cultivation Technique does not belong to the Zhou Family; according to him, it was obtained from a Secret Realm."

"A Secret Realm?"

Xiang Tian instantly perked up.

This Great Sun Heaven Technique appeared to be a support-type Cultivation Technique.

In reality, it was comparable to a "blue buff" that could amplify Spiritual Qi.

Its utility was extremely high; if he could learn more about the Secret Realm, he might have some unexpected gains.

"That is indeed what he said," Ouyang Changlin was still not very certain.

"The Zhou Family has never possessed such a Cultivation Technique, so it must have been obtained from a Secret Realm."

When Ouyang Changqing first used this Cultivation Technique, he had only casually explained it to a few core members.

"So it's not from the Zhou Family..."

Xiang Tian rubbed his chin.

As he pondered, he suddenly recalled what the Grand Elder of the Haotian Sect had once said.

He asked casually, "I heard that the origins of the Imperial Zhou Family are very mysterious. I wonder if that's true or false?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ouyang Changlin turned his head sharply to look at Xiang Tian.

"How do you know about this? This is a secret known only to the core members of a few major Families!"

The seemingly ordinary youth before him was actually able to come into contact with secrets of this level; he was definitely not simple!

"So this is actually a secret?"

Xiang Tian blinked, feigning surprise.

He took the opportunity to hide the deep meaning in his eyes.

"The Zhou Family's origins are indeed mysterious."

Ouyang Changlin scrutinized Xiang Tian for a long while.

Seeing that his expression was natural, he slowly began, "It is rumored that they only came to this Lingyun Continent to escape a disaster."

A youth from outside the Imperial City knowing such a secret?

Could it be that he had top experts guiding him behind the scenes?

Ouyang Changlin speculated inwardly.

In reality, as long as one's cultivation reached a certain level and one had slight contact with the continent's top circles, one could know about the Zhou Family's past.

"Escaped here from an outer continent?"

Xiang Tian looked stunned.

"Could it be that our continent is some kind of protected pure land? Otherwise, if enemies really wanted to hunt them down, how could they have escaped?"

"You actually guessed right."

Ouyang Changlin smiled faintly.

"Our Lingyun Continent really does have a layer of secret protection."

"What?"

Xiang Tian's brows locked tightly.

He continued to press, "Could it be that this continent is hiding some incredible treasure?"

"I'm not clear on the specifics."

Ouyang Changlin shook his head.

He added, "I only know that top experts from the outside world cannot freely enter this continent. If they force their way in, their strength will be suppressed below the Saint Realm."

"Even Emperor Realm experts would be suppressed?"

Xiang Tian's eyes were full of shock.

He asked again.

"How would I know? Stop asking, watch the battle first."

Ouyang Changlin directly interrupted him.

He was only at the Martial Emperor Realm; existences at the level of the Emperor Realm were simply not something he could fathom.

Seeing this, Xiang Tian stopped asking and fell into deep thought.

This Lingyun Continent was far more mysterious than he had imagined.

Could his own Rebirth also be related to the secrets of this continent?

He called out to the System in his heart: "System, why did I Rebirth on this continent?"

[If the host wishes to find the answer, why not explore it yourself?]

[With this System escorting you, the host will definitely not die.]

This perfunctory tone clearly indicated that it did not want to reveal anything at all.

"Forget it if you won't say."

Xiang Tian curled his lips and simply gave up on asking.

With his current Martial King Realm cultivation, even if he knew the answer, he would be powerless to change anything; it was better to focus on the present.

The field was already a dazzling white light.

If not for the protective barrier set up by Ouyang Changlin, he would not have been able to see this spectacular battle at all.

"Changqing, are you going to kill this old man here?"

The Grand Elder was beaten back step by step, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth.

"Grand Elder, as long as you are willing to join my faction, we won't need to fight anymore."

Ouyang Changqing had a faint smile on his face.

In the Ouyang Family, as long as he could win the support of the Grand Elder, he would be halfway to successfully competing for the position of Patriarch.

"The Ouyang Family is a whole; it should absolutely not be divided into any factions!"

The Grand Elder said in a deep voice.

"Grand Elder, perhaps I should call you Uncle Yuan."

Ouyang Changqing's tone suddenly became solemn.

"You have worked conscientiously and dedicated most of your life to the Family. I have seen all your contributions. No matter who sits in the position of Patriarch in the future, they will never do you any harm."

"If you truly cared for the Ouyang Family, you wouldn't have instigated this partisan struggle!"

The Grand Elder's brows were tightly locked.