Chapter 223-224: A Clean Sweep!

Before the gates of the Zhang family manor, with the deaths of Xu Tianlong, Leng Yuetian, and Long Aotian, the remnants of the three allied factions suddenly lost their backbone. Their weapons clattered to the ground one by one, and all desire to resist vanished.

As the saying goes, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Without their leaders, these three factions could no longer stir up any trouble. Furthermore, the presence of Yang Yan and the blue beast roaring at the sky nearby instilled a crushing sense of hopelessness in them. Everyone knew that from this day forward, the Xu family, the Jade Sword Pavilion, and the Dragon Imperial Fortress would likely be erased from Jinzhou.

Until now, many who witnessed these events felt as if they were in a dream. It was hard to imagine that the combined strength of three major family factions—a force so formidable that even the powerful Qingxuan Sect would have to treat them with gravity, and enough to sweep away any power in Jinzhou besides the Qingxuan Sect—had been utterly dismantled. What seemed incredible to the onlookers was that the battle, which they had expected to be a one-sided slaughter, had flipped instantly upon the appearance of that once-famous young genius from Jinhuan City. The roles of hunter and prey had reversed, leaving the once-arrogant alliance with their leaders dead, their members slaughtered or wounded, and the rest surrendering. It was truly a sigh-inducing turn of events.

"Father, are you alright?" Seeing that the situation was resolved, Yang Yan quickly approached Zhang Tai and asked with concern.

"I am fine. To think that in just half a year, you have surpassed me by so much—it truly brings me great comfort!" Seeing Yang Yan before him, a smile appeared on Zhang Tai’s weathered face. He reached out a slightly withered hand to stroke Yang Yan’s head.

"Any achievement I have today is inseparable from your teachings and your refusal to give up on me all those years ago," Yang Yan replied with a smile. He meant every word.

During his childhood, when he was unable to cultivate, he had endured scorn and mockery within the Zhang family. His personality had grown isolated as he locked himself away in his own world. Even though they lived under the same roof, he felt as if he and the others belonged to different worlds, and he remained an outsider. If not for Zhang Tai’s unwavering care and cultivation, which provided a glimmer of warmth in the cold, desperate depths of his heart, Yang Yan feared he would have succumbed to self-seclusion, never able to open his heart to others, let alone achieve what he had today.

Watching this touching reunion, Zhang Quan and Zhang Sheng stood to the side with complex expressions in their eyes. Since they were children, they had never liked Yang Yan. They viewed him as an outsider their father had picked up, wondering why he deserved the same treatment as them. This resentment had intensified during the years Yang Yan was considered a "waste," leading to constant mockery and ridicule.

However, half a year ago, the boy had suddenly "opened his mind." Not only did he successfully enter the Spirit Sensing Realm, but he also showed signs of surpassing them. Later, even when the two brothers joined forces at the Qingxuan Sect, they couldn't gain an advantage over Yang Yan. That public defeat was, in their eyes, the greatest humiliation of their lives. For the past six months, even while Yang Yan was missing after being taken by the Snow-Winged Ice Dragon, the brothers had not slacked in their training for a single day.

They believed their progress was commendable; having both broken through the barriers of the seventh and eighth levels of the Spirit Sensing Realm to reach the Spirit Communication Realm in just six months, their talent was considered quite impressive even within the genius-filled Qingxuan Sect. When Yang Yan first appeared, their immediate thought was that they finally had a chance to avenge their previous humiliation.

Yet, Yang Yan’s subsequent performance shattered their expectations. In a mere half-year, he had grown to a height they could hardly imagine. He had defeated Xu Tianlong, a fifth-level Spirit Communication Realm expert wielding a treasure, and even possessed a tamed magical beast at the peak of the Spirit Communication Realm. The crisis that had left the Zhang family gasping for breath under the siege of three major factions had been resolved by Yang Yan with seemingly effortless ease.

Now, they finally understood how ridiculous and childish their thoughts had been. From start to finish, Yang Yan had never even looked at them properly. Perhaps in his eyes, they were nothing more than clowns; no matter how foolish they acted, it wouldn't stir a ripple in his heart. It was a pity, as their relationship could have been like that of true brothers.

After Zhang Tai had brought Yang Yan home all those years ago, the brothers, though young, had felt an instinctive rejection of the child, much like a child fearing someone might steal their candy. As they grew older, they perceived Zhang Tai’s excessive concern for Yang Yan as a threat. Once Yang Yan shed his reputation as a waste and became a disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, their anxiety only deepened, fearing he would one day steal the position of Patriarch. The thought of losing what they considered their birthright to an outsider only fueled their hatred.

Now, that position of Patriarch, which they had once held in such high regard, seemed like nothing but trash in Yang Yan's eyes. It was clear from the strength he displayed that if he wanted to, he could wipe out not just Jinhuan City, but any other powerful faction he pleased. The things they had obsessed over were worthless to him. The brothers exchanged a bitter glance, seeing only regret and helplessness in each other’s eyes.

"Father, how should we deal with the remnants of these three factions?" Yang Yan asked, glancing at the chaotic battlefield.

"The Zhang family’s victory today is entirely thanks to you. As for those fellows, do as you see fit," Zhang Tai said with a smile, his brow unfurrowing.

"Understood." Yang Yan nodded and called over a man who appeared to hold a significant position among the Zhang family guards.

"Third Young Master!" The tall, sturdy man cupped his fists in salute, his eyes filled with undisguised fervor and admiration. During the battle, everyone had seen Yang Yan’s immense combat power and his霸气(dominating spirit) in turning the tide. For the younger, hot-blooded members of the family, their worship of Yang Yan had reached a fever pitch.

"What is your name?"

"My name is Zhao Gao, Captain of the Zhang family guard!" the man replied excitedly.

"Good. For the captives from the three factions: execute everyone from the Xu family. As for those from the Jade Sword Pavilion and the Dragon Imperial Fortress, investigate their backgrounds carefully and absorb them into the Zhang family if appropriate. As for the traitors, drag them away and execute them by a thousand cuts. Sever their heads and hang them at the gates of Jinhuan City for three days as a warning!" Yang Yan’s gaze turned cold as he looked at the Great Elder and his cohorts, who were already trembling with terror. In Yang Yan’s eyes, betrayal by one's own kin was the most intolerable offense; he would not let them die quickly.

"Yes, Third Young Master!" After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Gao answered loudly. He waved his arm, and several Zhang family experts stepped forward to drag the traitors away like dead dogs.

"Third Young Master, please, kill me! Just kill me!" The Great Elder, finally realizing his fate, wailed in agony as he struggled. Yang Yan ignored his pleas and turned back to Zhao Gao.

"Also, spend the next few days reorganizing our forces. Select those who are absolutely loyal to the Zhang family. In three days, we march on the Jade Sword Pavilion and the Dragon Imperial Fortress. I want those two factions erased from Jinzhou!" Yang Yan’s tone was icy.

"Yes, Third Young Master!" Zhao Gao was overjoyed, his face filled with fighting spirit. With the powerful return of the Third Young Master, the entire landscape of Jinzhou's cultivation world seemed poised for a massive shift.

After Zhao Gao left, Yang Yan turned back to Zhang Tai. "Father, do you think this is acceptable?"

Zhang Tai smiled, his eyes showing a hint of complexity, but mostly comfort. In just six months, the boy before him was no longer the fledgling eagle needing his protection. He had acquired strength far beyond his own and developed his own unique judgment. Although the methods used were bloody, Zhang Tai understood that Yang Yan did it for his sake. With Yang Yan’s current strength, even the Jade Sword Pavilion and the Dragon Imperial Fortress in their prime would be nothing in his eyes, let alone these remnants. Whether they lived or died meant nothing to Yang Yan.

However, it meant a great deal to the Zhang family. Knowing Yang Yan’s origins, Zhang Tai understood that the boy would eventually leave Jinhuan City again; he had his own burdens and duties. He also knew that with Yang Yan’s current strength and potential, even the vast Feiyun Empire would not be enough to contain him. Perhaps the boundless Tianyuan Continent was his true stage. The fledgling eagle had grown, and the day for it to leave the nest had finally arrived.

"Good. My Yan'er has finally grown up!" Tears welled in Zhang Tai's eyes. He stroked Yang Yan’s head, his voice trembling. He remembered when he had first found him in the forest—just a few months old, wrapped in swaddling clothes. In the blink of an eye, that fragile infant had grown into someone who far surpassed him. Time was truly a terrifying blade.

"Let’s go, Father. Let’s head back. It’s been over half a year, and I have so much to tell you!"

"Yes, yes, let’s go!" Ignoring the gazes of others, Yang Yan took Zhang Tai’s arm and walked slowly toward the manor.

"So, this is the real him." Qing'er watched the thin silhouette disappearing into the distance, a faint smile gracing her usually cold and beautiful face. In all the time she had known him, she had never seen such genuine joy on his face. It seemed only here, in front of his father, did he show the traits of a person his age, rather than the guarded, cold demeanor he wore while traveling. Perhaps this was the true him.

As the crowd dispersed, a ripple passed through the nearby void, and an old man in luxurious robes appeared. "As expected of the Taiyin True Body. To reach such a level of strength in such a short time... Heh, that is good. The progress of that matter must be accelerated." After the cold, aged voice faded, the space rippled again, and the figure vanished. If Yang Yan had been there, he would have recognized the man as the mysterious elder from the Xu family camp during the inter-clan martial arts tournament.

***

Three days later, under the watchful eyes of all the factions in Jinhuan City, hundreds of Zhang family experts, led by the lean youth, marched toward Hanxiang City in a grand procession.

"Did you see that? That’s Yang Yan, the Third Young Master of the Zhang family! I heard he returned three days ago when the three factions were besieging the manor, and single-handedly killed all their leaders. The heads of the traitors are still hanging at the city gates!"

"He’s that strong? I heard he was a waste who couldn't cultivate. How could he reach this level in just a few years?"

"That’s old news! He long ago shed that reputation. Not only was he accepted as a disciple by the Qingxuan Sect, but he’s also one of their most outstanding members!"

"Is that so? But I heard he isn't Zhang Tai’s biological son—he was found during a trip. Who would have thought he was such a treasure!"

As the Zhang family force marched out, the city was in an uproar. Everyone realized that the cultivation world of Jinzhou was changing because of this youth. Amidst the rumors, the Qingxuan Sect, the hegemon of Jinzhou, remained silent. Their gates were tightly shut, and even disciples on missions were recalled. The entire sect was shrouded in a deathly silence.

While the city was still reeling from the events of the past three days, news arrived within a day that the Jade Sword Pavilion no longer existed. Before that shock could fade, half a day later, another thunderous report surfaced: the Dragon Imperial Fortress had also disbanded. In less than two days, two renowned factions had been erased from the map of Jinzhou by the iron fist of the Zhang family. The name Yang Yan spread throughout the land, accompanied by countless legends, some of which were so exaggerated that even Yang Yan would find them laughable.

It was strange that the Qingxuan Sect, as the overlord, had not intervened. Their eerie silence puzzled Yang Yan. During his time there, the elders had been good to him, and the Sect Master had even shown interest in taking him as a personal disciple. By all accounts, they should have sent someone to assist or intervene during the siege.

"Could it be that the Qingxuan Sect is afraid of something? In this region, they are the masters. What could possibly make them fearful? Could it be...?" A chill ran down Yang Yan’s spine as the realization hit him. "The Xuantian Palace!"

He had held doubts about why three unrelated factions would suddenly unite against the Zhang family. While he had minor grievances with some, they were not mortal enemies. The Xu family’s motive made sense, but the involvement of the others seemed forced. Connecting this to the Xuantian Palace made perfect sense; as a subordinate sect, the Qingxuan Sect dared not interfere.

Yang Yan knew the Xuantian Palace and the Fengyun Pavilion would not easily give up on the Na Ling (Spirit Essence), nor would they allow anyone to challenge the authority of the empire’s three super-sects. He knew they would come for him, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

As cold killing intent filled his heart, he was secretly shocked by the reach of the three super-sects across the Feiyun Empire. Jinzhou, located in the remote northeast, was a border region and not a primary area of activity for them, yet they still managed to coordinate these factions to trouble him in such a short time.

The reality matched his suspicions: after the report of his conflict with Yang Yan, the Palace Master of the Xuantian Palace was furious. However, concerned for the Palace's reputation, he couldn't openly send experts to wipe out the Zhang family. Instead, he had secretly investigated and exploited the existing grudges of the other factions to carry out a plot of "killing with a borrowed knife."

Unfortunately for them, the three factions were not only wiped out, but Yang Yan had survived. As for the Qingxuan Sect, they had naturally received orders from above and were forced to stand by. Xie Xuantian, despite his appreciation for Yang Yan, was the Sect Master and could not risk the entire sect for an impulse.

"It seems that after this is settled, I must pay a visit to the Qingxuan Sect." Yang Yan’s hands clenched within his sleeves. He had hoped to reorganize the Zhang family and plan carefully, but the situation had spiraled beyond his control. As a son, he could not allow hidden threats to endanger his father or his family.

The Xuantian Palace’s underhanded tactics had touched his reverse scale. To him, nothing was more important than family and friends. Any force that tried to hurt them to threaten him would pay a bloody price, even if it was one of the empire’s super-sects.

"Father, the affairs of the clan will need to be handled by you. In a day or two, I must go to the Qingxuan Sect."