Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

All that could be heard was hurried footsteps, thumping loudly on the wooden stairs.

Within moments, a young man dressed in Han family attire rushed up to the second floor. His face was deathly pale, and his breathing was uneven. He didn't even bother with formalities and said urgently:

"Grand Ancestor, something terrible has happened! People from the royal palace...people from the royal palace have come again!"

They said they wanted to check Li Yan's cultivation level and age!

Upon hearing this, Han Chengzong's withered fingers gripping his cane tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning white.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging shock and anger within him, and asked in a deep voice:

"How could this be? Didn't we already send them away the day before yesterday?"

The young clansman's face showed resentment, and he gritted his teeth, saying:

"It was Han Gui! I saw him with my own eyes hiding behind a group of armored soldiers! He must have secretly gone to the palace to report to the Grand Preceptor in order to curry favor with him!"

"evil creature!"

Han Chengzong squeezed out two words through gritted teeth, his chest heaving violently with anger.

He had long known that some people in the clan were restless, but he never expected that someone would be so blinded by greed that they would insist on pushing the younger generation of the clan into a pit of fire!

Han Chengzong took a deep breath and said in a deep voice to Han Liyan beside him:

"Yan'er, stay upstairs and don't come down no matter what."

The girl's face paled slightly. She bit her lower lip and nodded emphatically, "Great-grandfather, be careful."

The old man, leaning on his cane, walked steadily out step by step.

The clansmen had already gathered in the courtyard, all with expressions of fear. Han Chengzong's gaze swept over them, but he couldn't see Han Gui's figure, and his heart sank.

The atmosphere outside the Han family mansion was tense and somber.

The leader, dressed in a brocade robe and with a fierce face, was none other than Qiu Peng, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and a retainer of Aolai Kingdom.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, sweeping over the slightly dilapidated gate of the Han family, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

Behind him followed several cultivators of considerable skill, as well as a squad of armored palace guards wielding halberds, exuding a chilling aura.

The group made no attempt to conceal their presence, causing the neighbors to close their doors and windows tightly, and the street to fall silent.

Upon seeing Han Chengzong emerge, Qiu Peng did not approach, but merely raised his chin slightly, his voice carrying a hint of condescension:

"Fellow Daoist Han, how have you been?"

Han Chengzong noticed that Qiu Peng was the leader of the team, and his heart sank.

Qiu Peng was a man who followed the lead of the True Man Chixia of Qixia Temple and relied on him in many of his actions.

However, since the Jade Brocade Immortal took over the royal court and was honored as the National Preceptor, he used both kindness and power within a few months, and seized control of the court and the country.

This late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qiu Gongfeng, immediately began to follow the lead of the Jade Brocade Immortal.

The old master is gravely ill, while the new master is powerful. Now, he is running around serving the emperor, but he is more diligent and respectful than before, and he has become a trusted advisor to the emperor.

Such behavior may be looked down upon by outsiders, but they cannot really criticize it. On the path of spiritual practice, knowing how to assess the situation is a natural thing.

Han Chengzong stood in the courtyard, leaning on his cane, and said calmly:

"Honorable Master Qiu, what brings you here? May I ask what brings you here?"

Qiu Peng said with a forced smile:

"I dare not presume to offer guidance. However, this selection of disciples in the palace is a great honor, as it allows them to listen to the great Dao and pray for the country's well-being."

I've heard that the Han family has a daughter who has come of age and is of exceptional talent. Why have you repeatedly declined her offer?

"Please come out and meet us today."

Han Chengzong calmly met Qiu Peng's gaze and slowly said:

"Master Qiu, I already made it clear the other day that the younger generation in my family is of dull talent and too old to meet the requirements."

"I apologize for the wasted trip you all made."

"Oh?"

Qiu Peng rolled his eyes and his gaze swept over Han Chengzong's face:

"Is that so? But I've heard that your household has a young lady named Han Liyan, who is of good age and has just begun her journey on the path of cultivation. She is exactly the kind of talented and virtuous woman the Imperial Preceptor is looking for."

He spoke slowly, but every word carried pressure:

"Fellow Daoist Han, could it be that you wish to keep something to yourself, unwilling to let the younger generation of your clan serve the Imperial Preceptor and share His Majesty's burdens?"

As he spoke, the auras of the surrounding cultivators and guards subtly intensified, and the air seemed to freeze slightly.

Inside the Han family courtyard, faint, suppressed gasps and gasps of the clansmen could be heard.

Han Chengzong stood upright, meeting Qiu Peng's piercing gaze, and said in a deep voice:

"The information about the offerings is probably incorrect."

My great-granddaughter is indeed of mediocre talent and has yet to achieve Qi cultivation. She dares not presume to become a disciple of the Imperial Preceptor, lest she become a laughingstock.

"This news must be a slanderous attack on my Han family by a despicable person!"

"Stain?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Peng laughed heartily, then his expression suddenly darkened, his aura sharpened, and he said sternly:

"Han Chengzong! Do you think I'm a three-year-old child, someone you can fool?"

"Han Gui, come out here and have a word with your ancestor!"

The crowd behind Qiu Peng parted, and a gaunt man walked out timidly.

Han Gui dared not meet his ancestor's cold gaze, lowered his head, and stammered:

"Grandfather...please, please don't blame your grand-nephew..."

The Imperial Preceptor possesses boundless magical power. If Li Yan could gain his favor, it would be a great honor for our family... You cannot ruin her future, nor can you ruin our Han family's future..."

"Han Gui! You!"

Han Chengzong trembled with rage, slamming his cane heavily on the ground. A Foundation Establishment aura emanated from him, but it was easily suppressed by Qiu Peng's even stronger aura.

Qiu Peng laughed wildly, took a step forward, and released his late-stage Foundation Establishment power without reservation, sweeping across the entire Han Mansion.

"Han Chengzong! The evidence is conclusive. Do you still intend to deceive the Imperial Preceptor and disobey the imperial decree?"

Today, you have to hand over this man, whether you like it or not. Don't blame me for razing your Han mansion to the ground!

The atmosphere instantly became tense, and the Han family members turned pale, filled with despair.

Han Chengzong stood alone in the courtyard, facing powerful enemies and traitors. His aged figure appeared even more lonely under the immense pressure, yet it also carried an unyielding stubbornness.

Up in the attic, Han Liyan looked down through the crack in the window, her small hand tightly covering her mouth, her eyes already filled with tears.

Seeing that Han Chengzong wouldn't budge an inch, Qiu Peng's eyes flashed with cold light, and his voice suddenly rose several decibels, piercing the ears of every member of the Han family present like an ice pick:

"Han Chengzong! Are you really going to disregard the lives and property of more than a hundred people in your clan for the sake of a girl?"

If we truly anger the Imperial Preceptor, a Golden Core cultivator, and he unleashes his thunderous wrath, the Han family's centuries-old foundation will likely vanish in an instant!

His cold gaze swept over the pale-faced members of the Han family behind Han Chengzong, his voice softening but becoming even more menacing:

"Dear members of the Han family, you should think this through carefully."

"Is it better to follow your ancestor down a dark path, resulting in the destruction of the entire clan and ruined futures, or to sacrifice one person for the peace of the whole clan, or even...wealth?"

Upon hearing this, some of the younger members of the Han family showed signs of bewilderment and wavering, their eyes darting away, not daring to meet the gaze of their ancestor.

Some people even glanced furtively at the inner courtyard pavilions, their eyes filled with complex emotions. The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became subtle and oppressive.

Han Chengzong's chest heaved violently, his gray beard trembling slightly. Did he not know Qiu Peng's malicious intentions?

Just as he was about to reprimand them sternly to calm people down...

The sound of light, hurried footsteps could be heard from the corridor leading from the inner courtyard to the attic.

Everyone looked over and saw that Han Liyan had come down from the small building at some point and was walking quickly toward the door.

Although the girl's face was pale, her eyes held a resolute calm. She walked to Han Chengzong's side, facing Qiu Peng, her voice clear but slightly trembling:

"There's no need to make things difficult for my great-grandfather and his clansmen. I'll go with you."

Upon hearing this, many members of the Han family in the courtyard trembled, and someone exclaimed in a low voice, "Li Yan!"

No sooner had Han Liyan finished speaking than a withered but unusually strong hand suddenly pressed down on her shoulder.