32: The Useless Son-in-Law (Thirteen)

The assassination incident and the heavy price paid by the Wang Family swept through the entire Heavenly Fire Imperial Capital like a powerful storm overnight.

The news spread with extreme speed.

"Have you heard? The Wang Family took a huge fall! Of the four Spirit Kings who went to assassinate Su Yun, three fled and one was captured!"

"Then what does that have to do with the Wang Family?"

"The Spirit King who was captured is the Wang Family's Old Ancestor, Wang Li."

"The most ridiculous part isn't that; it's Su Yun! He's not in the Spirit Transformation Realm at all; he reached the Spirit King Realm long ago! Facing three opponents alone, he even captured one of the same rank on the spot!"

"My god, is he even human? How old is he?"

For the first time, Su Yun's name truly sent a chill through all the top powers in the Imperial Capital.

He was no longer a "Genius" to be evaluated, but an already risen "threat."

The Wang Family's misfortune was like a loud slap across the faces of everyone who had once looked down on the Su Family.

Especially for the Li and Zhang Families, who were also among the Upper Four Families, an unprecedented sense of crisis loomed over their hearts.

Deep within the imperial palace, inside a windowless dark hall.

Prince Lie sat in the main seat with a gloomy expression; below him were the current heads of the Li and Zhang Families.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

"What a Su Yun—a teenage Spirit King, holding his own against three opponents." Prince Lie's voice lacked any warmth.

The head of the Li Family said in a deep voice, "The speed at which this boy is growing is too terrifying; we can no longer let him be. The Su Family producing such a Prodigy has already broken the century-long balance of the Imperial Capital."

"Indeed." A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the Zhang Family's head. "This momentum must be nipped in the bud, or the consequences will be endless."

Prince Lie tapped his finger on the table, the sound echoing with particular heaviness.

"Then we join forces."

He made his decision.

"From this day forward, we will use all our power to impose a comprehensive blockade and suppression on the Su Family in all aspects: economic, political, and resources. I want the Su Family to find it impossible to take a single step in the Imperial Capital."

"When necessary..." A murderous intent flashed through Prince Lie's eyes. "We will wipe them out completely, no matter the cost!"

An invisible net targeting the Su Family was thus cast.

The Su Family soon felt the combined pressure from the entire upper echelon of the Imperial Capital.

The Family's caravans in other regions were plundered by mysterious experts, and all goods were lost.

Several core industries within the Imperial Capital had their partnerships unilaterally severed by their partners for various reasons, instantly falling into stagnation.

Even when Family disciples went out for training, they would be deliberately targeted and provoked by disciples from other families.

The entire Su Family seemed to have become a street rat that everyone shouted at overnight.

Su Family residence, the council hall.

The Family's highest-level meeting was being held. All core members were present, their faces filled with gravity and unease.

"Patriarch, 'Baicao Hall' in the south of the city was shut down by the City Guard Office today on the grounds of 'unknown origin of medicinal materials'! That is one of our most important sources of Medicinal Pills!"

"The three Spirit Stone veins in the Western Border have also been forcibly seized by the Li Family, and the people we sent to negotiate were beaten severely and thrown back!"

"We can't go on like this! This is trying to drive our Su Family to death!"

The hall was filled with noise.

Just as the atmosphere was at its most tense and oppressive, an ancient and majestic aura enveloped the entire hall.

The figure of the Su Family's First Ancestor appeared silently on the Patriarch's seat.

He scanned the panicked clansmen but did not speak to comfort them.

In the next moment, his voice, carrying terrifying spiritual power, rang out like thunder from above the Su Family residence, reaching every corner of the Imperial Capital.

"My Su Family is not bellicose, but we do not fear war."

"If anyone wants to destroy my Su Family, feel free to try."

"But I, Su, guarantee that before the Su Family is wiped out, we will exhaust the power of the entire clan to choose one of you and uproot you entirely, leaving neither chicken nor dog alive!"

This "mutual destruction" declaration caused the entire Imperial Capital to fall silent instantly.

Prince Lie in the palace, the heads of the Li and Zhang Families, and all the restless forces heard this undisguised threat.

No one wanted to be the unlucky one dragged down by the Su Family's desperate struggle.

The suppression against the Su Family did not stop, but everyone became cautious, not daring to take too drastic an action.

However, everyone knew this was only temporary. The Su Family's situation remained precarious.

Late one night, three days later.

A figure silently bypassed all the Su Family's sentries and appeared directly outside the council hall.

The Su Family's Old Ancestor and the Su Family Patriarch instantly appeared at the door, as if facing a great enemy.

When they saw the visitor's face clearly, their pupils both constricted sharply.

The visitor was actually Prince Lie!

"No need to be nervous." Prince Lie walked in with his hands behind his back as if strolling in his own backyard. "If I wanted to take action, I wouldn't have come alone."

The Su Family's Old Ancestor stared at him and asked in a deep voice, "To what do we owe the honor of Prince Lie's late-night visit?"

Prince Lie sat down boldly and got straight to the point.

"Over the years, the expansion of the Upper Four Families has been too aggressive, faintly threatening the Foundation of the imperial Family."

His gaze turned toward the door, as if he could pierce through the night to see the young figure sitting cross-legged in the courtyard.

"The imperial Family needs a sharp sword to cut off those hands that reach too far. And Su Yun is the most suitable sword blank."

Prince Lie's meaning was simple and direct.

He wanted to support the Su Family, or more accurately, support Su Yun, to make him a sharp sword in the hands of the imperial Family to restrain and knock down the Upper Four Families among the Eight Great Families of Tianhuo.

The Su Family's Old Ancestor and the Patriarch looked at each other, seeing shock and a hint of humiliation in each other's eyes.

But they had no choice.

"We... agree."

Not long after, another piece of news exploded in the Imperial Capital.

The imperial Family issued a decree to betroth the Eldest Princess, known as the "Number One Beauty of Tianhuo," Princess Long Xi, to the Su Family's peerless Genius, Su Yun.

The whole city was in an uproar.

This was undoubtedly the imperial Family announcing to everyone that from now on, the Su Family was under its protection.

Su Yun had no objection to this marriage.

His sense of belonging to the Su Family was not deep; being able to use the imperial Family's resources to accelerate his Cultivation was exactly what he wanted.

Before the wedding, he also married Lin Nianci; although her status was that of a concubine, it was the best arrangement he could provide under the current circumstances.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

Over these ten years, with the help of the massive resources provided by the imperial Family, Su Yun's cultivation base continued to improve, and he successfully achieved a Breakthrough to the Spirit King Realm Fourth Level.

This cultivation speed was extremely shocking.

Under the protection of the imperial Family, the Su Family not only resolved its crisis but also leaped to become the head of the Lower Four Families, greatly strengthening the Family's power. Of course, behind their backs, the infamy of being "imperial dogs" never ceased.

In ten years, Su Yun also had two children, born to the Eldest Princess and Lin Nianci respectively.

His state of mind became very calm through day after day of Cultivate and reflection.

Until this day.

A piece of top-secret intelligence from the border was delivered to his hand.

"The Tianhuo Empire intends to raise a large army to invade the Shenwu Empire."

Looking at the words "Shenwu Empire" on the intelligence report, Su Yun's eyes, which had been silent for ten years, finally showed a flicker of emotion.