426: Chapter 426 Fanning the Flames

Liu Qingtian, sitting at the very top, merely watched all of this calmly.

There was even a hint of a smile on the corners of his mouth.

That smile didn't look like anger; it looked more like... watching a farce.

Of course, he wouldn't be angry.

Killing people?

Slaughtering everyone?

It wasn't as if the Liu Clan hadn't considered it.

In fact, this plan had been proposed within the Liu Clan several times, and each time, many people were in favor—after all, they were just ants; crushing them would be easy and save trouble.

But it was rejected in the end.

Not because of a soft heart, but because someone had given a heads-up.

Certain top-tier forces had sent word—going too far wouldn't look good.

The Liu Clan could be strong, but they couldn't be too unseemly.

Although the Immortal Domain was a place where the strong preyed on the weak, appearances still had to be maintained.

Otherwise, if word got out and their reputation was ruined, who would dare to venture into the Liu Clan's territory in the future?

That was why there was this Hongmen Banquet today.

Courtesy first, force later.

Giving enough Face, letting you choose for yourselves.

If you choose wrong, then don't blame the Liu Clan for being heartless.

Even if the Liu Clan didn't openly exterminate them, the Black Armored Guards and secret guards had plenty of ways to make certain defiant forces disappear without a sound.

As for the Nine Heavens Heavenly Palace?

Emperor Yan certainly supported the Liu Clan.

He needed a blade, a blade sharp and obedient enough to help him handle matters he found inconvenient to deal with personally.

Furthermore—Emperor Yan's Dao Companion was Liu Tianxing's younger sister, Liu Xuerong.

With this connection, the Liu Clan's Foundation in the Nine Heavens Heavenly Palace was much deeper than outsiders imagined.

Of course, the Liu Clan didn't truly want to wipe everyone out.

They needed manpower.

Although there were many members of the Liu Clan, they couldn't waste them all on trivial matters like maintaining the operation of Ziyang Star, right?

Who would Cultivate the spirit fields?

Who would mine?

Who would manage the shops?

Who would do all those odd jobs?

They couldn't expect the Liu Clan Disciples to do these things.

Liu Clan Disciples had to Cultivate, had to achieve Breakthroughs, and had to support the future of the Liu Clan.

Therefore, the Liu Clan needed some people to stay behind and honestly work like beasts of burden.

These people didn't need to be at the Soul Transformation or Void Refining stages—Nascent Soul was enough, or even Golden Core would do.

As long as they were obedient and willing to work, they could live.

As for those who refused...

Liu Xuanyin stood on the high ground, looking down at the agitated crowd below, and spoke slowly once again.

He raised his hand and pressed it downward.

The noisy clamor gradually died down.

"Everyone." He smiled, his tone even carrying a hint of friendliness, "If you are unwilling, the Liu Clan is not an unreasonable group."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire venue: "You are all free to leave Ziyang Star and seek another place."

As his voice fell, the square went silent for a moment.

Immediately, the expressions of those who had been clamoring just a moment ago became complex.

Leave?

Where could they go?

This Ziyang Star was their root; all their Foundations, connections, and resources were here.

Leave?

Take tens of thousands of Disciples, run to an unfamiliar star, and start all over again?

That was easy to say.

Which Star Continent hadn't already been carved up?

If an outside force tried to intervene, they would inevitably be suppressed by the local forces working together.

But if they didn't leave, they had to stay and work like beasts of burden.

Hand over seventy percent.

What could thirty percent do? It was barely enough to survive.

For a moment, the entire square was terrifyingly quiet.

Those who were agitated, angry, and clamoring were all silent now.

No one spoke.

Only the wind blew by, making the flags flutter loudly.

Everyone was looking around at each other, their eyes darting about, and secret voice transmissions were constant.

None of these people were stupid.

Having lived for over a thousand years, what kind of situation hadn't they seen?

Whoever stuck their neck out first would be the one to get the blade.

They couldn't be the first bird to fly; they understood this principle better than anyone.

Exchanging voice transmissions back and forth, they discussed for a long time, and finally, everyone's gaze fell simultaneously on the three people in the most prominent positions—

Sword Nameless, Old Immortal Myriad Spirits, and Child-Old Lady Tianyin.

You sat upright in the elegant seat, watching all this with a smile, holding a teacup in your hand and sipping slowly.

Behind you, Duan De leaned in, his voice extremely low, but his excitement could not be hidden:

"Sect Leader, Sect Leader, this is a huge opportunity! If those big forces are driven away by the Liu Clan, then our Tai Xuan Sect... Heh, we will be the big School on this Ziyang Star!"

As he spoke, his voice began to tremble.

Luo Jing nodded vigorously beside him, his Face flushed red, unable to speak clearly, just rubbing his hands there.

You ignored them, your gaze falling upon those three Old Ancestors.

The three of them had solemn expressions, their lips moving slightly; they were clearly also using voice transmissions.

Just at this moment—

Behind Old Immortal Myriad Spirits, a person suddenly stood out.

It was a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance. He bowed to the four directions and said in a loud voice:

"Everyone, I dare to say a word—regarding how things will proceed today, it still depends on the will of our three Old Ancestors."

As his voice fell, Old Immortal Myriad Spirits was slightly stunned.

Immediately, a faint smile appeared on his Face; he did not stop him, nor did he speak.

This person was named Du Hong, a member of the Nine Heavens Heavenly Palace, who had been lurking in Wanling Valley for a long time.

For Du Hong to stand out at such a time, he naturally was not afraid of Old Immortal Myriad Spirits turning hostile.

"Senior Brother Du is right!"

Another female cultivator walked out from behind Child-Old Lady Tianyin, her voice crisp: "The future of our Ziyang Star still requires the three Old Ancestors to make the decision."

This female cultivator was named Tang Yao.

Child-Old Lady Tianyin didn't even lift her eyelids, as if she had long known that she was a person from the Nine Heavens Heavenly Palace.

All major forces were aware of such lurking individuals. To some extent, it was actually safer to keep such people within the Sect.

"Senior Brother Du, Senior Sister Tang—"

A third female cultivator walked out from behind Sword Nameless, bowed to the two Seniors, and then turned to Sword Nameless and bowed deeply: "I beseech the Old Ancestor to consider the future of Ziyang Star and make the decision for us!"

This person was Lan Yuting.

Sword Nameless also just smiled faintly, too lazy to even speak.

With these three standing out, the atmosphere of the entire venue changed instantly.

Those who had been hesitant and watching each other just a moment ago now seemed as if they had been injected with chicken blood, speaking up one after another:

"Yes! We will listen to the three Old Ancestors!"

"If the three Seniors say the word, we will follow!"

"At worst, we'll fight the Liu Clan! Who's afraid of whom!"

"Exactly! Isn't the Liu Clan just a stray dog? Why should they come to our Ziyang Star to throw their weight around?"

The voices grew louder and increasingly chaotic.

Some were truly excited, some were just joining in the clamor, and others—it was unknown if they were arranged by the Liu Clan—were specifically there fanning the flames.

But regardless of sincerity or pretense, with things having reached this point, the three Old Ancestors were already being roasted on the fire.