Forming a secret guard

Zhang Zhentian looked at the Cultivators, his eyes flashing with excitement and an evil smile appearing on his face. "Very good, Grand Elder. From now on, you will be the greatest contributor to our Zhang Family."

Suddenly, a strong sense of unease rose in Zhang Hong's heart, and he asked, "Clan Chief, what do you plan to do with these Cultivators?"

"They are to help me Cultivate, of course," Zhang Zhentian said crazily.

As he spoke, a slit opened in Zhang Zhentian's chest, and a red blood bead flew out. The bead emitted a nauseating stench, and a wave of Devilish Qi spread out.

"Clan Chief, you... you are actually a Demon Cultivator!" Zhang Hong's eyes widened, filled with terror, and his body involuntarily retreated several steps.

One must know that in the Beginningless Realm, Demon Cultivators were beings that everyone hunted down. Their cultivation methods and means were far too cruel to be tolerated by the public.

Once discovered, they would be besieged by the forces of the Righteous Path. However, there were still some who slipped through the net and hid in the shadows.

"So what if I am a Demon Cultivator?" Zhang Zhentian sneered, controlling the demon bead to begin absorbing the Life Qi of the Cultivators.

Soon, the Auras of these Cultivators grew weaker and weaker, their eyes filled with deep terror.

In the end, they turned into piles of white bones.

After absorbing the Life Qi of these Cultivators, the demon bead quickly returned to Zhang Zhentian's body.

Instantly, Zhang Zhentian's Aura surged, his cultivation breaking through from the eighth level to the Ninth Level Great Martial Master, and his Aura continued to grow stronger.

"In the end, it's still just a tiny bit short," Zhang Zhentian murmured to himself.

"If there were a few more Martial Master Cultivators, perhaps I could break through to the Martial Spirit Realm." He then turned his head to look at the Grand Elder in the corner.

Seeing this, Zhang Hong's body trembled as he pleaded, "Clan Chief, please do not kill me."

Zhang Zhentian laughed loudly, "Grand Elder, you are a contributor to my Zhang Family. How could I bear to kill you?"

"I just need you to go into the city again tomorrow and capture some Martial Master Realm Cultivators."

Zhang Hong's heart tightened, his expression grim. "Clan Chief, if so many Martial Master Cultivators suddenly disappear from the city, it might attract attention."

In Mo City, Martial Master Cultivators were already the backbone of power. For so many to vanish at once was highly irregular.

Zhang Zhentian pondered for a moment. He needed to maintain a low profile and develop quietly; he absolutely could not expose his identity as a Demon Cultivator.

He had originally planned to join forces with the Lin Family to eliminate the Qin Family, taking the opportunity to absorb the cultivation of the Members of the Qin Family to increase his strength.

But the Lin Family had not agreed, so he had no choice but to risk capturing Cultivators within the city.

Zhang Zhentian's gaze became ruthless as he spoke, "Grand Elder, aren't there some Martial Master Cultivators in our branch families? Go and bring them here."

Zhang Hong's heart shivered as he asked in disbelief, "Clan Chief, do you mean to absorb the cultivation of our own clansmen?"

Zhang Zhentian didn't care at all and countered, "Or should I absorb yours instead?"

Terrified, Zhang Hong waved his hands hurriedly. "No, no, you should absorb the cultivation of the Branch Family members."

Zhang Zhentian nodded with satisfaction. "Do your job well, Grand Elder. When my Zhang Family rules Mo City, there will definitely be benefits for you."

Then his tone suddenly shifted into a threat, "But if you dare to try any little tricks, I cannot guarantee the safety of your wife and children."

A sense of desolation filled Zhang Hong's heart as he quickly promised, "Clan Chief, rest assured, I will definitely carry out my duties with all my heart."

As the Grand Elder walked out of the secret room, he prayed silently that Zhang Zhentian's identity as a Demon Cultivator would not be exposed; otherwise, the Zhang Family would be finished.

At the same time, his heart was full of fear. This Zhang Zhentian was so depraved that he wouldn't even spare his own clansmen. Would he himself one day become his nourishment as well? A night passed at the Qin Family.

Three hundred clansmen had already gathered in Qin Yi's courtyard; they were all there to join the Secret Guards.

Qin Yi scanned the crowd, checking their loyalty levels. None were lower than 95, and some had even reached 100.

Qin Yi nodded with satisfaction and spoke, "The importance of the Secret Guards to our Qin Family is self-evident. We require absolute loyalty and a willingness to sacrifice your lives for the Qin Family."

"If you give up now, you still have a chance to withdraw. But if you become a Secret Guard, your lives will belong to the Qin Family."

After speaking, Qin Yi looked at the crowd, waiting for their final choice.

The three hundred clansmen had determined gazes, and not a single one chose to back down.

Qin Yi spoke with satisfaction, "Very well. From now on, you are members of the Secret Guards. In the future, you will feel honored because of the Secret Guards."

"Qin Feng, I now appoint you as the leader of the Secret Guards. You are responsible for them and will take orders from me alone."

Qin Feng was originally a Deacon of the Qin Family. He was ruthless yet fair, responsible for the Family's disciplinary punishments, and held considerable prestige within the Qin Family.

His cultivation was also the highest present, having reached the Ninth Level Great Martial Master.

"Yes, Clan Chief," Qin Feng bowed and accepted the order.

Subsequently, Qin Yi passed the [Shadow Nether Technique] rewarded by the System to the members of the Secret Guards. The Shadow Nether Technique was the most suitable for the Secret Guards among the five Emperor-grade Cultivation Methods.

The members of the Secret Guards knelt on the ground and said firmly, "Clan Chief, we will certainly do our utmost and swear to serve the Qin Family until death."

Qin Yi saw that the loyalty of all the Secret Guard members had reached 100 and was very satisfied. "You may Cultivate this technique yourselves. Remember, it must not be passed to outsiders."

"Yes, we understand."

After making the arrangements, Qin Yi ordered Qin Feng to be responsible for training these Secret Guards, while also providing them with triple the cultivation resources.

As the Secret Guards were the sharpest blade of the Qin Family, Qin Yi would not be stingy in nurturing them.

At the same time, Qin Yi sought out Grand Elder Qin Shan and told him to customize uniforms for the Secret Guards.

Black Flying Fish Robes, Brocade Sabers, and ghost-face masks—these three items were the standard equipment for the Secret Guards.

"Yes, Clan Chief." After receiving the order, Grand Elder Qin Shan quickly arranged for clansmen to collect Materials and hurry to forge the equipment for the Secret Guards.

Two days later, at the back mountain of the Qin Family.

The Secret Guard members were training, dressed in black Flying Fish Robes and Ghost-face Masks, holding their Brocade Sabers.

Due to practicing the Shadow Nether Technique, the temperament of the Secret Guard members had completely changed. They were like hunters of the night, their gazes incredibly sharp.

Seeing Qin Yi arrive, the Secret Guard leader Qin Feng immediately came forward and bowed, saying, "Clan Chief."

Qin Yi nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Qin Feng. "Not bad, your cultivation has already broken through to the Martial Spirit Realm."

Qin Feng spoke, "It is all thanks to the Cultivation Technique bestowed by the Clan Chief; otherwise, it would have been impossible to break through so quickly."

Now, the lowest cultivation among the Secret Guard members was the first level of the Great Martial Master, and several had reached the Ninth Level Great Martial Master.

Qin Yi said, "From today onwards, the Secret Guards are officially deployed. Send some Secret Guards out to gather information about the situation in the Great Yan Kingdom."

"The rest shall remain hidden within the clan to protect the Family."

Qin Feng and the Secret Guards took the order, "Yes!"

At that moment, a panicked voice came from a distance.

"Clan Chief, this is bad! Zhang Zhentian has brought people to attack our Qin Family!" a subordinate ran over in a hurry.

Hearing this, the eyes of the Secret Guards filled with Killing Intent. To dare attack our Qin Family was simply seeking death.

Ding! The cold voice of the System rang out.

"Detected that the Zhang Family has come to invade the Host's Family."

Option One: Reason with them. Cultivation is not about fighting and killing, but about social graces and worldly wisdom.

Reward: The title 'Invincible Turtle'. Wearing it grants three seconds of invincibility, with a cooldown of one month.

Option Two: Display the Family's powerful strength and slay the incoming enemies. Reward: The Host's cultivation will increase by two minor Realms, and 500,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Option Three: Pull up the roots and kill the incoming enemies, then wipe out the Zhang Family entirely to let others understand that the Qin Family is not to be trifled with.

Reward: The Host's cultivation will increase by three minor Realms, and 1,000,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

"Option Three," Qin Yi chose without hesitation... Outside the gates of the Qin Family, Zhang Zhentian led his people aggressively toward the Qin Family, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

"I heard Clan Chief Zhang's cultivation has broken through. Looking at this formation, I'm afraid he wants to attack the Qin Family."

"Yeah, there's going to be a good show now. A battle between the two great families of Mo City—I wonder who will win."

"The Zhang Family, of course. The Qin Family has offended the Qingyun Sect now, so their internal affairs must have been in chaos for a long time."