The Qi Cultivation Emperor Who Snatches Brides, do you think you're funny?

Chapter 124 Elder Zhang's Regret (Please read, subscribe, and vote)

Upon hearing Li Xuan's question, Elder Zhang's body trembled violently, as if struck by a bolt from the blue, and the fear in his eyes intensified.

He never expected that the Li family patriarch would know so much about the Piaoyun Dynasty's intentions and Jiang Yu's affairs; this was simply beyond his imagination.

"This...how could you know..." Elder Zhang's voice trembled so badly that he could barely speak. His eyes widened as he stared blankly at Li Xuan, as if he were seeing an incredibly terrifying being. Waves of shock washed over him.

In his original understanding, the Li family was just a small family in a remote place. Even if they had some strength, they could never know about the high-level plans of the Piaoyun Dynasty.

But now, Li Xuan's casual question has shattered all his arrogance, making him realize that his understanding of the Li family was far too shallow, and that the Li family patriarch before him was unfathomable, far beyond his comprehension.

Elder Zhang felt that his legs could no longer support his body weight, and with a "thump," he knelt straight down on the ground.

He ignored the excruciating pain in his knee and his disheveled appearance; all that remained in his heart was fear of Li Xuan and worry about his own fate.

"Ancestor... Ancestor, spare my life!" Elder Zhang kowtowed repeatedly, pleading with a sob in his voice, "I... I was forced into this situation. It was all the order of the Piaoyun Dynasty. I... I dared not disobey!"

He raised his head, his face streaked with tears and snot, his eyes filled with pleading, and his gaze toward Li Xuan was filled with deep awe and fear.

"The truth...the truth is indeed as you said. The Piaoyun Dynasty...the Piaoyun Dynasty learned that Jiang Yu had some connection with the Li family, so they wanted to use the Li family to deal with Jiang Yu. They...they felt that Jiang Yu was a threat and wanted to use the Li family to suppress him, even...even abuse him, so that Jiang Yu would back down, or...or make him infamous in the cultivation world." Elder Zhang said, trembling, each word seeming to have exhausted all his strength.

He knew he had no room for negotiation at this point. Only by telling the whole truth could he perhaps gain a little pity from Li Xuan and leave himself a way out.

"I...I originally thought the Li family was just an ordinary family that I could easily subdue, so I accepted this mission. But...but I never expected the Li family to be so powerful. I...I was truly blind and offended you and the Li family. Please forgive me this time, Ancestor. I...I promise I will never dare to do it again!"

Elder Zhang continued to plead desperately, his body trembling like a leaf in the wind. His pitiful appearance was a stark contrast to his previous arrogance.

The main hall remained silent, with only Elder Zhang's pitiful pleas for mercy and heavy breathing echoing in the air.

The Li family members looked at Elder Zhang kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, their disdain and mockery deepening. They were filled with contempt for this guy who dared to bully the Li family, but they were all waiting for Li Xuan's decision. After all, in the Li family, the ancestor's words were the final decree.

Li Xuan remained calm, simply looking at Elder Zhang kneeling on the ground. His gaze seemed to penetrate Elder Zhang's soul and see through all his thoughts.

After a long while, Li Xuan slowly spoke: "Hmph, your Piaoyun Dynasty and Emerald Valley dare to plot against my Li family? You have quite the audacity!"

Although Li Xuan's voice was not loud, it carried a chilling aura that seemed to instantly lower the temperature of the entire hall.

Upon hearing this, Elder Zhang trembled even more in fear, kowtowing even more loudly while repeatedly begging for mercy, hoping that Li Xuan would show leniency and spare his life.

Just as the atmosphere in the main hall was heavy and Elder Zhang was kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, a figure rushed in like a shooting star and appeared at the entrance of the main hall in the blink of an eye.

Upon closer inspection, everyone recognized the newcomer as Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu's face was gloomy, and his eyes burned with the flames of anger. His overwhelming rage seemed to burn everything around him to ashes.

He had rushed over after hearing rumors of unusual activity from the Li family, fearing they might encounter trouble. However, he never expected to hear Elder Zhang reveal such an outrageous conspiracy as soon as he arrived.

"Well, the Seven Star Immortal Dynasty is really persistent, resorting to such despicable means, instructing the Floating Cloud Dynasty to send Emerald Valley to deal with me at the Li family! My stepmother is truly vicious, not only did she rip out my seven-aperture exquisite heart, but she also wants to torture me?"

Jiang Yu roared, his voice like rolling thunder echoing through the hall, making everyone's eardrums buzz. He strode into the hall, each step seemingly carrying the weight of a thousand pounds, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Jiang Yu walked straight up to Elder Zhang, looking down at the disheveled fellow, his anger growing ever more intense.

"You despicable bunch, do you think you can succeed like this?" Jiang Yu said through gritted teeth. "I, Jiang Yu, have never provoked the Seven Star Immortal Dynasty, nor have I provoked the Marquis of Wu's Mansion, yet you have tried to kill me time and time again, using such insidious tricks. You are utterly shameless!"

Everyone was shocked.

It turns out Jiang Yu has such a past.

Jiang Yu turned to look at Li Xuan, his expression filled with guilt, and knelt on the ground. "Ancestor, this time I have implicated the Li family. I never expected that because of me, the Li family would suffer such a scheme."

Li Xuan shook his head, "It's alright, Jiang Yu. You are a member of my Li family. Since you dare to attack someone from my Li family, I will naturally not let you get away with it."

Li Xuan looked at Elder Zhang.

"Ah."

Li Xuan chuckled.

Elder Zhang was terrified. He never imagined that he would be unwittingly drawn into such a complex and unfathomable vortex of conspiracy while merely following orders.

He originally thought he was just helping the Piaoyun Dynasty subdue a small family and suppress Jiang Yu, but who would have thought that it would involve the Seven Star Immortal Dynasty and its subordinate Wuhou Mansion? How could a mere elder of Emerald Valley like him possibly provoke such a behemoth?

Hearing Jiang Yu's grief-stricken roar and learning of his tragic past, Elder Zhang felt a deep sense of fear and regret.

He knew he had been incredibly blind to accept such a dangerous mission, and now he was caught in a dilemma, hoping only to beg for Li Xuan and Jiang Yu's forgiveness and save his life.

"Thump! Thump!" Elder Zhang kowtowed desperately, with such force that it seemed he was going to knock a hole in the floor of the hall.

With each thud, his forehead struck the ground with a dull thud. Soon, his forehead was covered in blood, but he paid no heed, his eyes filled only with endless terror and pleading.

"Grandmaster, spare me! Young Master Jiang, spare me!" Elder Zhang's voice had become sharp and shrill due to extreme fear, and his tearful pleas echoed in the hall.

"I...I really didn't know things would turn out like this! I was just...just following the orders of the Piaoyun Dynasty. How could I have known there were so many twists and turns behind the scenes, and the schemes of the Seven Star Immortal Dynasty and the Marquis of Wu!"

He raised his face, streaked with tears and blood, his eyes darting frantically between Li Xuan and Jiang Yu. His body trembled violently like a candle flickering in the wind. "I...I know now! This is something I shouldn't have gotten involved in! I was just a pawn being used! I...I was so stupid, I must have been blind to accept such a dangerous task! Please, have mercy on me this time, I...I promise I'll never do it again! I'll immediately go back to Emerald Valley and live a secluded life in the mountains, never to set foot in this place again!"

As he spoke, Elder Zhang began to kowtow frantically again, looking utterly miserable.

He knew in his heart that his life was in the hands of Li Xuan and Jiang Yu. With just a glance from them, he would probably lose his life.

As for the Seven Star Immortal Dynasty and the Marquis of Wu behind them, although they have great power, they cannot be relied on at this moment. After all, in their eyes, he is just a pawn that can be discarded at any time.

(End of this chapter)