165: Chapter 165 You're telling me to back down? Who told you to back down?!

After successfully being promoted to Executive Elder, Patriarch Fang Hong became much more proactive in his actions. It wasn't just him; all the Elders of the Fang Family were the same.

Stimulated by abundant divine power points and resources, no one could remain calm. Over a thousand new shops, from leasing to renovation and opening, took less than three days.

The other families and forces in Anping County originally thought the Fang Family intended to expand their armor business. Naturally, they didn't pay much attention, but that changed after the Fang Family's new shops opened.

Upon seeing that the shops were selling products that were originally their monopoly, none of the families or forces could remain calm.

Under the absolute temptation of a 20% discount, the Fang Family's thousand-plus shops were an instant hit upon opening!

It was almost a recreation of the grand queues at Lin Xiao's Commission Temple, and other families and forces naturally received the news immediately.

Within the Chen Family, the patriarchs, influential Elders, guild masters, and powerful patrons of Anping County's various prominent families gathered.

Patriarch Fang Hong and a group of influential Elders from the Fang Family became the target of public criticism.

The Hu Family patriarch took the lead in the confrontation, staring viciously at Patriarch Fang Hong with an expression even uglier than if his own son had died.

"Patriarch Fang Hong! Is your Fang Family trying to make enemies with all the families and forces present here?!"

At this moment, Patriarch Fang Hong and the group of influential Fang Family Elders showed not a hint of nervousness about being surrounded by the other families and forces.

As for the feeling of 'lying flat'... it was simply wonderful!

No longer having to scheme for those few divine power points, no longer having headaches over the cultivation of descendants due to insufficient resources.

The originally tense relationships among the Elders were greatly eased. Even if there were conflicts among their descendants, everyone could sit down and resolve them calmly.

Apart from needing to focus on the tasks assigned by their superior, the Fang Family even became remarkably nonchalant about their original Family businesses.

Hearing the Hu Family patriarch's questioning, Patriarch Fang Hong calmly took a sip of the tea in his hand. He frowned slightly: The Chen Family really didn't know how to treat guests.

How could they be embarrassed enough to serve tea and fruits with such thin Spiritual Qi to guests?

"What is the Hu Family patriarch saying? I don't quite understand. I wonder what heaven-angering and people-resenting thing my Fang Family has done to be treated as an enemy by everyone?"

"Patriarch Fang Hong! Don't play dumb here! Do you not know what is being sold in those newly opened shops of yours? What business can be done and what cannot, are you acting as a patriarch for the first time?! If you don't want the Fang Family to be erased from Anping County, go back and honestly close those shops! Otherwise..."

Hearing the undisguised threat from the Hu Family patriarch, the smile on Patriarch Fang Hong's Face faded.

"Otherwise, what will you do? Since these shops are open and business is so booming, there is no reason for my Fang Family to close them. If everyone feels that doing business is being an enemy to you, then my Fang Family has nothing to say. Since our ancestors established this business, my Fang Family has never provoked anyone, but we have never been afraid of trouble either! If anyone dares to harbor evil intentions against my Fang Family, don't blame my Fang Family for not considering our thousands of years of friendship!"

"It seems we are not welcome here. In that case, there is no need for us to be an eyesore here..."

As soon as Patriarch Fang Hong finished speaking, the group of influential Fang Family Elders stood up, intending to leave.

"Patriarch Fang, let's talk this over. Isn't the purpose of inviting you here today to resolve the misunderstandings between us?"

Ever since their previous patriarch was mysteriously murdered while out, the Chen Family had been keeping a low profile. If it weren't for the Second-order Grand Elder suppressing the situation within the clan, the Chen Family might have completely fallen into a third-rate force like the Li Family of several hundred years ago.

Without strength, they naturally couldn't speak firmly. It could be said that the current Chen Family hoped more than anyone else that the county wouldn't fall into chaos.

[Are you guys colluding? It hasn't been chaotic for thousands of years, and now that something has happened to my Chen Family, you all come up with this? Is today's gathering meant to deal with the Fang Family, or is it a feint to attack my Chen Family?!]

It's no wonder the new Chen Family patriarch was so paranoid; after all, their Chen Family was at its most vulnerable in thousands of years. How could he be careless at a time like this?

"I appreciate the good intentions of the Chen Family patriarch. You might have come with an attitude of solving problems, but as for the others, who knows what intentions they came with. We are all heads of families; what is this look of judgment they have? My Fang Family has not yet fallen to the point where we are ridden over by others and still have to greet them with a smile!"

Listening to Patriarch Fang Hong's appearance of having suffered a huge grievance, the various patriarchs, Elders, guild masters, and patrons almost vomited blood in anger.

[Who the hell is riding over whom! The rules of Anping County for thousands of years, and your Fang Family broke them just like that! And now you're acting like a victim?! Your Fang Family is declining? Which declining Family jumps up and slaps all the other families and forces in the Face?! You call this declining?!]

Under the mediation of the new Chen Family patriarch, the Hu Family patriarch finally climbed down from the ladder. However, his Face still wore an unkind expression.

This was certain, after all, the Fang Family's current actions were undoubtedly digging at the Foundation of their Hu Family!

If the Fang Family were doing business properly, he might not have been so angry. After all, the Hu Family had also been deeply cultivating in their own Domain for thousands of years. With similar price and quality, he still had confidence in his own business. But the disgusting thing about the Fang Family was exactly this: they started a price war right from the beginning. This kind of thing had no winners for operators like them.

Even if their Hu Family ultimately won, it would only be a pyrrhic victory. Who knew how long it would take to earn back the losses.

"Patriarch Fang Hong, I don't know if you've lost your mind or if you've been instigated by someone. Starting a price war with all of us at the same time, how long do you think the Fang Family can hold out? It's fine if you want to do business, but you have to follow the rules, right?! Starting a price war right off the bat, is this your so-called being bullied? Who exactly is bullying whom here?! My Hu Family is willing to take a step back. If your Fang Family wants to do business in Talismans, then do it. But you cannot engage in malicious competition! Let's set a unified price, and let the business depend on ability!"

The Fang Family's approach of wanting to perish together with everyone made them all secretly suspicious.

After all, even if that old thing Patriarch Fang Hong had lost his mind, surely all the Fang Family Elders wouldn't be crazy along with him, right?

They were all old foxes of thousands of years. Before figuring out the backing behind the Fang Family, the attitude of all families was actually conservative.

Even the Hu Family patriarch was the same; otherwise, why would he climb down from the ladder just because a First-order Chen Family patriarch persuaded him? Could it be that he really gave Face to this First-order Deity?

Seeing the Hu Family's submissive appearance, all the Fang Family Elders secretly shook their heads. Fang Yuanming even wore an undisguised look of regret on his Face.

He had come today prepared to cause a huge scene, preferably one that would lead to a direct fight! Even if he had to Face other patriarchs who were Second-order Deities, at the cost of serious injury, he wanted to show off!

It was a pity that the families, who used to argue until their Faces turned red for a little bit of profit, had suddenly changed their temperament today for some reason.

They were bullied to the point of having it done to their Faces, and yet they actually wilted and took a step back? Retreating? What about your Thunder? Who told you to retreat? Show your Aura! You are a Second-order Deity! You are the Hu Family patriarch!