29: The Hong family surrenders, and the Zhang family celebrates!

Just as Lu Hao's faint voice drifted over, Hong Tian felt as if all strength had been drained from his body, and he slumped onto the cold ground like a deflated ball.

His eyes were vacant and lifeless as he stared blankly at Lu Hao in front of him, while the thoughts in his mind surged like towering waves on the sea, constantly roaring, churning, and pounding at his nerves.

Hong Tian sat there motionless, his heart already embroiled in a fierce internal struggle that left him in agony and unable to make a decision.

If he chose to submit to the Qingxuan Sect, then the Hong Family's foundation, passed down for hundreds of years, would be destroyed in his hands. How could he face the Hong Family's ancestors?

He would become the Hong Family's sinner!

If he chose not to submit, the young man in front of him would likely not spare the Hong Family, and the outcome would only be more tragic.

In fact, Hong Tian knew very well what he should do. The opponent's strength was overwhelming, and resistance was meaningless.

He just couldn't accept this reality yet.

How could the Hong Family's dominance be suddenly lost in his hands?

He had been forcing himself to accept reality, but it clearly needed some time.

Lu Hao also gave Hong Tian ample time; after all, he wasn't particularly busy, and subduing the Hong Family was just a convenient matter.

It was just that the Hong Family had been harassing the Qingxuan Sect during this time, which had made him a bit annoyed.

“Alas...”

After some adaptation, Hong Tian accepted the reality, stood up, and cupped his fists, saying:

“Senior, my Hong Family... is willing to submit to the Qingxuan Sect.”

Hong Tian practically gritted his teeth as he spoke these words.

Upon hearing this, Lu Hao also showed a satisfied smile. This Hong Tian was indeed very sensible. He then said:

“Haha, Hong Family Leader, your choice is very correct. From today onwards, we are one Family. I am Lu Hao, a Disciple of Ling Tian, the Prefect of Qing Xuan Prefecture of the Qingxuan Sect.”

Lu Hao introduced himself and casually injected a stream of Origin Qi into Hong Tian’s body, and Hong Tian’s injuries instantly recovered.

These words made Hong Tian stunned for a while again.

This young man was actually from the Qingxuan Sect? When did the Qingxuan Sect become so powerful? And he wasn't even the Sect leader?

Hong Tian was completely perplexed.

Hong Tian shook his head, putting those thoughts aside, looked at Lu Hao, and cupped his fists, saying:

“Thank you, Sir Lu Hao, I have an impolite request, I wonder if I can speak it.”

“Speak freely,” Lu Hao said, waving his hand.

“My Hong Family has been stationed here for generations. After submitting to the Qingxuan Sect, can my Hong Family continue to live here? After all, it is our ancestral land, and it is where the Hong Family members have lived since childhood. The Hong Family members have developed a certain attachment to this place. If the Qingxuan Sect has any instructions, the Hong Family will certainly comply.”

“This is but a small matter. If you wish to remain here, then remain here. I will not interfere with your Hong Family's affairs.”

“Thank you, Sir!”

Lu Hao thought for a moment and continued:

“However, there is one more thing. Currently, my Qingxuan Sect is constantly expanding its territory, and we are a bit short-handed. Please send some people over to help. The treatment will be the same as that of my Qingxuan Sect's Disciples, and they can also exchange for Medicinal Pills.”

“Yes!”

“Then I will return to the Sect first. You can handle your Hong Family's affairs yourself.”

Lu Hao turned and left. He had been out for a long time today and was exhausted. He needed to go back and catch up on sleep.

The Hong Family Leader looked at Lu Hao's retreating back, his heart also filled with confusion, unsure of what the Hong Family's future would hold.

“Alas, I can only take it one step at a time,” Hong Tian sighed.

At this moment, he still didn't know that joining the Qingxuan Sect was absolutely the most correct decision he had ever made in his life!

The next day, Hong Tian personally announced in Nansu City that the Hong Family would submit to the Qingxuan Sect and revere the Qingxuan Sect as their superior Sect.

As soon as this news broke, the entire Nansu City became like a stirred hornet's nest, instantly boiling over.

The news came too suddenly, catching everyone off guard!

After all, those who had personally witnessed the grand battle scene at the Qingxuan Sect's entrance were ultimately a minority, and one day was simply not enough for the news to spread throughout the entire Nansu City.

The major powers had seen the great battle, but they hadn't expected the Qingxuan Sect to be able to incorporate the entire Hong Family so quickly.

Inside the New Dao Sect.

Clan Chief Wu Guanghe and the various Elders of the Sect were gathered together, their faces filled with worry, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn.

Wu Guanghe was the first to speak:

“Alas, now that the Hong Family has announced its submission to the Qingxuan Sect, Nansu City has lost a Hong Family but gained a Qingxuan Sect that is much stronger than the Hong Family. How should our New Dao Sect conduct itself?”

An Elder said:

“Clan Chief, that Qingxuan Sect doesn't seem to have much ambition. For the past hundred years, they have never actively expanded, always developing their own territory responsibly. I think their rise to power will definitely be better than the Hong Family's.”

“Fifth Elder, that is incorrect,” the Grand Elder said:

“Previously, the Qingxuan Sect had always been well-behaved likely because their strength was insufficient. They couldn't even provoke our New Dao Sect. Now that they have gained power, and there is even a Soul Transformation Expert guarding their Sect, it's hard to guarantee that they will continue to be well-behaved.”

“The Grand Elder is right. When a force becomes powerful, it will definitely try to expand. The Hong Family is the best example; that Qingxuan Sect directly and forcefully incorporated the Hong Family.”

Wu Guanghe listened to the Elders' discussions and said:

“I think we should actively foster good relations with the Qingxuan Sect. At the very least, we must ensure that our New Dao Sect's centuries-old foundation is not lost. If we end up like the Hong Family, this old man would truly be ashamed to face our ancestors.”

The Second Elder listened to the Clan Chief's words and said:

“What the Clan Chief said makes sense. How about this: later, we will go to congratulate the Qingxuan Sect on incorporating the Hong Family, and take this opportunity to present generous gifts and build good relations with the Qingxuan Sect.”

“Good, let's do that. We'll go to the Clan treasury now to select the congratulatory gifts.”

...

At this moment, all the large and small Sects and Families in Nansu City were discussing the Qingxuan Sect, the future landscape of Nansu City, and their own relationship with the Qingxuan Sect.

They were all afraid of repeating the Hong Family's mistake.

Therefore, almost all Sects and Families, by unspoken agreement, prepared generous congratulatory gifts, ready to go to the Qingxuan Sect to express their goodwill.

Only the Zhang Family was an exception.

At this moment, the Zhang Family, from top to bottom, was permeated with an extremely rich festive atmosphere.

Looking around, everywhere was the beautiful scenery of lanterns and colorful decorations. The vibrant lanterns hung high, like twinkling stars illuminating the entire Zhang Family mansion.

Whether it was the respected Elders or the Qi Refining Disciples who had just begun to Cultivate, all were infected by an invisible joy, and a flush of excitement appeared on everyone's faces.

They were either conversing with each other, their laughter particularly hearty; or busy bustling through the courtyards, meticulously arranging every detail of the mansion.

And the undisguised excitement flowed out from their words and actions like a tide, fully revealed.