293: All passed! (asking for monthly ticket)

At this moment, outside the Xuntian Great Hall, the wind and snow howled.

Two Councilor Lang Jiangs, holding ceremonial tablets, stood on either side of Chen Yuan.

Three Piaoji Generals, with one hand on their waists, stood with drawn blades before the hall.

Below, over a hundred Heavenly Gates from various major and minor forces in Jinguancheng bowed in reverence.

Outside the hall, at the four cardinal positions of Yunding Peak, the Four Cities Garrison This Generals, each holding a large seal, stood majestically in the wind and snow. Their eyebrows were frosted white by the elements, yet their gazes were like tigers, intently watching the movements within the great hall. Should there be any slight disturbance, they would activate the grand formation.

At the head of the hall, Chen Yuan, seated on a large chair, his eyes like an eagle, swept over the Heavenly Gates below. Then, his gaze shifted to the side, and he asked,

"Is everyone here?"

The Councilor Gao Yu, standing beside him, immediately bowed slightly. "Reporting to This General, everyone is here!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan nodded. Then, with one hand resting on the armrest of his chair, he gently waved it.

Gao Yu’s expression tightened, and he immediately raised the ceremonial tablet with both hands, reciting loudly to those below. His voice was slow, steady, and powerful.

"By This General’s command!"

"On the Yinchou Day of the Jiazi Year, the six families of Wang, Qian, Zhao, and Sun conspired with Human Demons, intending rebellion and subversion of the Fushi. They shall be annihilated across three generations to uphold justice!"

"The purpose of summoning all families today is to have you bear witness!"

"It is noon!"

"Execute!"

As these words fell in the great hall, the entire edifice boomed, its sound piercing through the wind and snow outside.

Immediately following, amidst the wind and snow outside the hall, urgent commands from men and horses echoed.

"Execute!"

"Execute!"

"..."

The sounds traveled down the mountain, becoming increasingly vast and distant.

At this time, below Yunding Peak, on the vast training ground, figures in thin white prison uniforms knelt in the snow. Their hair was disheveled, their expressions varied, and a cacophony of noise filled the air.

They were once from wealthy, noble families, now reduced to prisoners.

"Mercy, I don’t want to die!" someone wailed.

"Haha, my Wang Family hasn’t been wiped out yet; they will surely avenge us!" someone laughed loudly, their eyes filled with resentment. Indeed, besides the Qian family, people from the other families, disturbed by the commotion, had fled early. Many were hiding within the vast Jinguancheng and had not yet been caught.

"Chen Yuan, you Devil King, you will not die a good death!" someone else cursed.

"..."

Until from the mountain, one after another, vast voices sequentially sounded, merging in the wind and snow, like the call of death, majestic and grand.

"Execute!"

At this moment, the execution ground suddenly erupted, with cries of anguish soaring to the heavens.

The next second,

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The sound of swords being drawn rang out in unison.

Behind each of these figures in prison uniforms, armored soldiers drew their swords, raising them high. The cold gleam shimmered on the snow, then descended sharply.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

Heads rolled to the ground, and warm blood splattered onto the snow, a glaring crimson.

The noisy world suddenly became quiet.

At this moment, within the Xuntian Great Hall, as the cries from the wind and snow abruptly ceased, the expressions of many among the various Heavenly Gates changed, and their bodies couldn't help but tremble.

Some, who had connections with the six families, felt an even greater, uncontrollable fear in their hearts.

It was precisely then that a faint voice was heard.

"This General guesses that someone must be cursing This General as an executioner in their hearts right now!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the Heavenly Gate experts tightened.

"This General has fought for Shu Land, leading the Ninth Mountain to battle against Demons. His Karma is immeasurable. On that day, at Weiyuan Pass, how many common people witnessed your might and felt your grace?"

"The six families are traitors, plotting evil and colluding with Human Demons. They deserve to be killed."

"All those implicated should also be imprisoned and their identities verified, lest they become confused and harbor resentment towards This General."

From the crowd below, a clear voice was heard.

It was Liu Tianming, the head of the Liu Family, the first person on the left in the Heavenly Gate queue. He cupped his hands, his expression emotionless, his demeanor righteous and awe-inspiring.

As soon as he spoke, some behind him frowned, their eyes flashing with displeasure. Many of the families in Jinguancheng were interconnected, with intermarriages and alliances. If one were to count, there were many more families connected to the six families. This Liu Tianming wanted to condemn a whole group with a single sentence; he was truly a mad dog.

And the Heavenly Gates of the families directly affiliated with the six families changed even more, cursing Liu Tianming in their hearts.

But they dared not speak at this moment. Five Treasures Mountain was already flowing with blood, and now, below the mountain, the blood of the six families’ people was still warm.

At the head of the hall, Chen Yuan’s gaze swept around, observing the changing expressions of these people. A smile touched the corner of his lips, then his gaze fell upon Liu Tianming in front, revealing a hint of appreciation. He slowly spoke:

"Patriarch Liu, you are indeed a man of profound righteousness!"

"Not bad."

He paused here, stirring the emotions of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over each face, some showing a hint of panic. His eyes narrowed slightly as he finally said:

"However, This General has always been lenient towards those who turn from darkness to light. The principal offenders of the six families directly involved in colluding with Human Demons shall be killed as they deserve. As for the other implicated families who have already shown This General their understanding of right and wrong, This General will naturally not make things difficult for them."

"Currently, Demons are rampant in the world. All of you present are outstanding members of our Human Race in Shu Land. Every loss of one person is a loss to Shu Land!"

As Chen Yuan made this statement, many people within the hall immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Unbeknownst to them, a sense of gratitude towards this Ninth Mountain Zhonglang General arose in their hearts.

From yesterday to today, many people connected to the six families had been unable to eat or sleep, fearing that the Ninth Mountain's butcher knife would fall upon them. They had been terrified and on tenterhooks. Now that Ninth Zhonglang had publicly stated his position, it was considered a turning point, thus shifting their mindset.

However, many others could discern the deeper meaning within this.

It seemed that this was all a tactic of this Ninth Zhonglang.

Those people down the mountain were killed for them to see, and with Liu Tianming's assistance, many were pardoned. This 'carrot and stick' approach, combining both grace and might, would likely win over many hearts.

However, this was a matter of course.

This was an open and aboveboard scheme that no one could criticize; on the contrary, they had to thank this Ninth Zhonglang for not pursuing it further.

Otherwise, if he truly killed you, confiscated your property, and annihilated your Family, what could you say?

"Thank you, This General. My Liu Family never imagined being implicated by these villains. This General is magnanimous. If you do not disdain us, my Liu Family will surely support This General in the future." Someone immediately stepped forward to express their allegiance. This person was precisely the head of a second-rate Family who had knelt outside Xuntian Hall yesterday, carrying a thorny branch on his back.

"Yes, yes, yes, This General..."

Many voices rose, quickly echoing in agreement.

The atmosphere in the hall also relaxed somewhat.

Chen Yuan sat at the head, seeing the effect. Golden light flickered in his eyes, and feeling that the time was ripe, he slowly stood up, his gaze commanding.

"Good!"

"Since all of you are willing to acknowledge This General as your Zhonglang!"

"Then This General will get straight to the point."

"This General knows that many people have been spreading rumors lately, saying that This General's repeated actions are to make all of you present listen to This General, that This General wants to be the local emperor of Jinguancheng, and that even the chaos of the six families was forced by This General."

As these words were spoken, many people below had flickering eyes.

Chen Yuan snorted coldly,

"This General knows that many of you think this way."

"Since This General took office, Demons have breached the pass, ravaging Shu Land. This General accepted the order, fighting in the north and south. But my Fa Shan Army has been wiped out, and countless common people have died. Life is no longer life. All of you are the Human Race Heavenly Gates of Jinguancheng; are you just going to watch?"

"This isn't appropriate, is it!"

Saying this, Chen Yuan shouted loudly, his voice like thunder, awe-inspiring and startling.

"By This General’s command!"

"All Heavenly Gate Family forces must send more than ten direct descendants to participate in front-line support, departing tomorrow!"

"There must be a Heavenly Gate leading the team!"

"If you disobey, there will be no next time."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall immediately erupted in an uproar.

The Demon Battlefield, that was a meat grinder; how many people had died there? To send them there, they might never return.

Many people’s expressions flickered rapidly, quickly pondering, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly tightened.

"My Guan Family is willing to go!"

A voice was the first to emerge.

It came from an unremarkable Heavenly Gate Dao Seed in the back row, his expression stern.

As soon as these words were spoken, no one paid attention to who spoke first, but soon some people reacted.

"The Liu Family is willing to accept This General’s order!"

"The Murong Family Family..."

"The Xia Family..."

The few families who had first pledged allegiance to Chen Yuan, although their scalps also tingled a bit, knew that if they didn't step forward first at this moment, everything would be for naught.

He believed that Ninth Zhonglang would kill them, and more ruthlessly than others.

Then, this momentum was like a tide, wave after wave. Many people, even if they were unwilling in their hearts, had to agree in this environment. Otherwise, they would absolutely not be able to leave this great hall today.

Because even if Ninth Zhonglang didn't care, others would consider you a thorn in their side. Why should my Family send people, but you refuse?

Therefore, in the end, without any surprise, this order was unanimously passed by everyone present!

Chen Yuan looked at the faces that wanted to smile but couldn't, and he smiled with satisfaction.