156: Chapter 156 Sign it or die!

Shi Pojun's face turned pale and then flushed with anger as he listened to the discussions.

He wanted to stall for time and wait for the Shi Family's Old Ancestor to arrive and save the day, but he knew in his heart that distant water could not quench a nearby fire.

Although Canglang Mountain was not far from Tianshi City, even if the Old Ancestor set out now, it would take at least an hour to arrive.

One hour?

That was enough time for the Shen Family to kill him ten times over!

"Shen Yuanshan, you are making an enemy of the entire Tianshi City!" Shi Pojun gritted his teeth, attempting a final struggle. "Though my Shi Family is at a disadvantage today, Tianshi City still has the Liu Family and the He Family! They will not sit idly by while your Shen Family humiliates us like this!"

"Oh?" Shen Yuanshan raised an eyebrow, his tone remaining indifferent. "Then call them over."

Shi Pojun's face froze.

Call them?

How could he?

Given the current situation, those two great families likely wouldn't offend the unfathomably powerful Shen Family for the sake of the Shi Family.

Right then—

An aged voice came from the crowd.

"What, the Shi Family can't afford to lose?"

Before the voice had even faded, a figure slowly stepped out from the crowd.

He had white hair and a lean face, wearing a dark blue robe. His pace was steady and unhurried, and his aura was as deep as an abyss.

It was the Shen Family's Second Grand-Uncle—Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang.

With his hands behind his back, he walked up to Shi Pojun and looked down at him, a kindly smile playing on his lips.

But in Shi Pojun's eyes, that smile was even more chilling than Shen Yuanshan's sneer.

"Would you like this old man to personally visit Tianshi City and have a talk with that old fellow of your Shi Family?"

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang's tone was as light as a breeze.

But Shi Pojun could clearly feel a sense of oppression emanating from this seemingly kind old man that made his very Soul tremble.

That aura was actually just like their Shi Family's Old Ancestor!

The Peak of the Void Piercing Realm!

It was the Peak of the Void Piercing Realm!

"You... you are—"

Shi Pojun's voice was trembling.

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang looked down at him, the kindly smile still on his face.

"I am Shen Haocang of the Shen Family!"

Shi Pojun's entire body went stiff, cold sweat pouring from his forehead like rain and dripping onto the ground with faint sounds.

Shen Haocang?!

As a high-ranking member of the Shi Family, he naturally knew something about the Shen Family.

Shen Haocang was one of the Shen Family's Old Ancestors who hadn't appeared for many years.

He hadn't expected that Shen Haocang's strength could already rival their own Shi Family's Old Ancestor!

An internal battle raged within him as countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Sign?

Don't sign?

If he signed, the Shi Family's Origin Qi would be greatly damaged, setting them back at least several hundred years.

If he didn't sign—

He looked up at Shen Yuanshan and Shen Yuanhe, then at the hunched old man and the unfathomable Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang.

If he didn't sign, they really would die here today.

Shi Pojun took a deep breath and closed his eyes, a deep sense of humiliation and resentment welling up in his heart.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, gritted his teeth, and raised his right hand, pressing his index finger onto the contract.

Blood seeped from his fingertip and merged into the contract.

A faint golden light flashed and vanished; the contract was in effect.

Shen Yuanshan reached out and summoned the contract back, patting it in his hand as his lips curled into a satisfied arc.

"Elder Shi, wouldn't it have been simpler if you'd just done this from the start?"

Shi Pojun said nothing, only staring at him fixedly, a flash of fury in his eyes.

"Let's go."

He gritted his teeth and forced out the word.

Several Shi Family attendants hurried forward to help up the four Elders slumped on the ground, and the group left the market dejectedly.

Their retreating figures were pathetic in the extreme; where was there even a hint of the prestige of Tianshi City's number one Family?

The market was deathly silent.

Everyone watched the Shi Family group's departure, speechless for a long time.

A moment later—

"The Shen Family is mighty!"

Someone shouted, and the market suddenly erupted with earth-shattering cheers.

"The Shen Family is awesome!"

"Tianshi City's Shi Family? They're nothing special!"

"From today on, the Shen Family of Guangnan City is the number one Family of the Three Great Cities!"

Shen Yuanshan stood with his hands behind his back, a slight arc forming at the corner of his mouth as he listened to the cheers around him.

The Cultivators of Guangnan City were all flushed with excitement, their eyes filled with the joy of finally being able to hold their heads high.

They had been oppressed by Tianshi City for too many years.

At every Canglang Mountain Assembly, Guangnan City was at the bottom, receiving the fewest resources and being mocked by the people of Tianshi City and Qingmu City.

But now—

The Shen Family had stepped up!

Two Void Piercing Realm experts, plus an unfathomable white-haired old man—

Such strength was absolutely number one among the Three Great Cities!

From now on, who would dare look down on Guangnan City?

Shen Qingyuan had his hands tucked in his sleeves, his gaze directed toward a certain spot deep within the market.

Luo Qingyue looked where he was gazing and saw several Cultivators in green robes hurrying away in the depths of the market, their retreating figures looking somewhat panicked.

People from Qingmu City.

Shen Qingyuan withdrew his gaze and turned around lazily.

"Let's go, it's time to head back."

Luo Qingyue nodded and followed behind him, her white clothes as pure as snow and her steps light.

The two moved through the bustling crowd toward the Shen Family's temporary residence.

The Old Turtle hunched his body, following closely behind.

Shen Yuanshan and Shen Yuanhe also began walking back. Shen Yuanhe glanced back at the direction the Shi Family group had gone, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Third Brother, the Shi Family has suffered such a huge loss; they certainly won't let this go."

Shen Yuanshan nodded, the smile fading from his face as he said in a low voice, "I know."

He paused, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I provoked them on purpose just now. After being agitated like that, they definitely won't be able to just swallow their pride, right? When they come for revenge, we'll..."

He grinned and made a throat-slitting gesture.

A look of shock appeared on Shen Yuanhe's face. "Third Brother, you're planning to wipe out the Shi Family?"

"Who said that?" Shen Yuanshan shook his head. "I just want to find some company for the Zhao and Chen Families."

Hearing this, Shen Yuanhe understood immediately.

He wanted to drag the Shi Family into doing hard labor as well.

It was actually a good idea. The Xuantian Secret Realm was simply too large; it was impossible to fully utilize it relying only on those two families.

It was time to add more people.

Just as they returned to the courtyard, they saw Shen Quan and Shen Chong walking in side-by-side, both with looks of excitement on their faces.

"Third Elder! Sixth Elder!" Shen Quan rushed up to Shen Yuanshan in a few quick steps, his eyes shining. "You guys are amazing! One punch for each Void Piercing Realm expert!"

Shen Yuanshan glanced at him, a smile touching his lips. "Cultivate well, and you'll be able to do it too in the future."

Shen Quan grinned and nodded heavily.

Shen Chong stood to the side, his gaze falling on Shen Qingyuan.

Shen Qingyuan seemed to sense his gaze and glanced back at him, his lips curling slightly.

"Cultivate well."

Four words, spoken nonchalantly.

But Shen Chong's whole body shook, and he quickly bowed. "Yes, Ninth Elder."

Shen Qingyuan withdrew his gaze and, with his hands tucked in his sleeves, walked lazily into the inner courtyard.

Luo Qingyue followed behind, her white clothes like snow.

The Old Turtle followed along with his hunched posture.

The three figures disappeared into the depths of the inner courtyard.

Shen Quan stared in that direction, his face full of adoration. "Even though Ninth Uncle didn't make a move today, he was still incredibly cool!"

Shen Chong nodded in deep agreement.

Shen Yuanshan looked at the two juniors' worshipful expressions and couldn't help but shake his head.

"Alright, alright, stop standing around here. Everyone go back and rest. There's a tough battle ahead at tomorrow's Canglang Mountain Assembly."

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