Zhan Zhiming was no ordinary person and quickly regained his composure.
In times like these, the more flustered one became, the worse the situation would get.
"Don't be afraid, the Duan family wouldn't dare to act rashly. With our Ancestor here, they can be kept in check."
Zhan Zhiming hurriedly instructed his servants to notify their Ancestor to come out of seclusion.
At this moment, they could only rely on their Spirit Emperor realm Ancestor to wield the Emperor Armament.
As long as the Ancestor appeared, the situation should be stabilized.
After all, the Duan family had no Spirit Emperors, so they couldn't contend with their Ancestor.
If the Duan family truly intended to wage war against the Zhan family, their Ancestor would wield the Emperor Armament to annihilate the entire Duan family.
As long as the Duan family didn't want a mutually destructive outcome, they shouldn't do anything foolish.
Simultaneously, Zhan Zhiming also asked Elder Fang to send a distress signal to the Luo family for help.
Once the experts from the Luo family arrived, all crises would be resolved.
For now, they just needed to hold on for a while. When the Luo family's experts arrived, it would be the Duan family's demise.
"You unfilial son, look at the mess you've made."
The Zhan family patriarch, Zhan Zhong, was extremely anxious. He summoned Zhan Zhiming and reprimanded him face-to-face.
He had entrusted the Zhan family to Zhan Zhiming's care, and he never expected this unfilial son to stir up such a huge storm.
In the current situation, if things went wrong, the Zhan family might face annihilation.
Moreover, Zhan Zhong had already learned that all of this was for a mere young girl.
Zhan Zhiming confidently said, "Father, there's no need to worry. With our Ancestor holding them back, the Duan family wouldn't dare to act recklessly."
"It's not worth taking such a big risk for a little girl. Listen to me, return her to them immediately."
Zhan Zhong's face was filled with worry, and he didn't want to take any risks.
What if a fight truly broke out? The Zhan family's millennia-old foundation would be destroyed.
There was no need to bear such a risk for a mere girl.
"Father, this is the intention of the Grand Elder of the Luo family. Ah Li absolutely cannot be handed over."
Zhan Zhiming did not hide the truth and revealed the facts.
The person behind him was actually the Grand Elder of the Luo family.
And everything he had done was also at the secret instigation of the Luo family's Grand Elder.
"That little girl's Dao bone was dug out, and she's already a cripple. Why would the Luo family's Grand Elder still insist on her?" Zhan Zhong was very confused.
"The little girl has awakened the Human King bloodline, and the Luo family is currently selecting its next patriarch." Zhan Zhiming explained.
"So that's how it is!"
Zhan Zhong understood instantly.
Ah Li, who had awakened the Human King bloodline, possessed unparalleled noble status and was also a direct descendant of the Luo family. She would undoubtedly be the undisputed choice for the Luo family patriarch.
The Luo family's Grand Elder, for the sake of power, wanted to eliminate Ah Li as a stumbling block. How vicious!
"We absolutely cannot get involved in the Luo family's disputes. If that little girl has truly awakened the Human King bloodline, she is the uncrowned king of the human race. Killing her would bring eternal damnation upon the Zhan family."
Zhan Zhong's face turned pale. He never expected such significant implications. If things went wrong, the Zhan family would truly be finished.
To harm a Human King, once exposed, they would undoubtedly become a public enemy, scorned by the entire human race.
"A six-year-old child awakening the Human King bloodline, as long as no one witnesses it firsthand, who would believe it? Since we have captured Ah Li, we naturally cannot let her go. We also cannot bear the consequences of betraying the Grand Elder. Now, we can only wholeheartedly pledge our allegiance to the Grand Elder. Once the Grand Elder controls the Luo family, our Zhan family will naturally rise in status."
Zhan Zhiming analyzed carefully, revealing the intricate relationships.
Once the arrow was loosed from the bow, there was no turning back. The Zhan family had no retreat.
However, this was merely the surface-level explanation. Zhan Zhiming had deeper calculations that he did not reveal.
He had obtained too many treasures from Ah Li, including the butterfly hair tie imbued with spatial-temporal power, and the willow branch hair hoop that aided in enlightenment, both of which were supreme treasures.
Handing over Ah Li would mean losing these treasures, and he was unwilling to do so.
Those treasures and elixirs were his capital for reaching the pinnacle in the future.
Moreover, he was covetous of the Human King bloodline within Ah Li.
If he could obtain the Human King bloodline and control those two supreme treasures, ascending to immortality would be within reach.
For this goal, any risk was worth taking.
Of course, these were Zhan Zhiming's greatest secrets, which he could never tell Zhan Zhong. In his heart, he only wished to monopolize everything.
After hearing Zhan Zhiming's analysis, Zhan Zhong became uneasy. Ah Li had become a hot potato, truly difficult to let go or keep.
The best choice at the moment seemed to be to follow the Luo family's Grand Elder all the way down this path.
After all, if they betrayed the Luo family's Grand Elder, given his ruthless nature, the Zhan family would likely be annihilated within half a month.
Staring at Zhan Zhiming, Zhan Zhong sighed repeatedly. Perhaps he shouldn't have handed over the Zhan family's power to his ambitious son so early.
Excessive greed was often the original sin, easily leading to self-immolation!
Why did Zhan Zhiming have to ally himself with someone like the Luo family's Grand Elder? That was a jackal who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals!
"I am old. The Zhan family will still be managed by you. After this crisis passes, I will officially pass the position of patriarch to you."
Zhan Zhong was disheartened and ultimately chose to wash his hands of the matter, letting Zhan Zhiming do as he pleased.
"Father, rest assured, your son will definitely lead the Zhan family to glory."
Zhan Zhiming was ecstatic. With this, he could completely control the entire Zhan family.
To ascend to the position of patriarch at such a young age made him feel invigorated, and his ambition soared.
Outside the Zhan family's gate.
The cultivators from the Duan family had arrived and blocked the Zhan family's entrance, but they did not act rashly.
Although they held the advantage in overall strength, they were still wary of the Zhan family's Spirit Emperor.
Fan Jingxing once again called out, demanding Zhan Zhiming hand over Ah Li.
The Zhan family's Ancestor had also come out of seclusion, clad in a resplendent golden armor. He flew into the sky, resembling a radiant sun.
The Zhan family's Ancestor wore an Emperor Armament, and his overwhelming Emperor's might swept across the surroundings, as he coldly looked down at the Duan family's experts.
On the Duan family's side, they were equally unyielding. Thirty-six legendary weapons were activated, their radiant light piercing the sky, confronting the Zhan family's Ancestor.
A great battle seemed imminent!
"That old geezer looks down on people with his nostrils, how arrogant! Should we teach him a lesson and show him how to behave?"
Fan Jingxing's pupils suddenly contracted. With thirty-six legendary weapons attacking simultaneously, they could surely beat the Zhan family's Ancestor to a pulp.
"Do not act rashly. Ah Li is still in their hands."
The Ginseng King quickly intervened, emphasizing that Ah Li's safety was paramount.
For now, they could only intimidate and force the other side to yield. If a battle broke out, Ah Li would undoubtedly suffer. Da Feng Novel Network
Xuan Ao shook his head and whispered, "Did we forget something? That guy Tianpeng, he seems to have been captured by Zhan Zhiming as well."
The few of them suddenly remembered that they had been so focused on Ah Li's safety that no one had paid any attention to the pitiable Tianpeng.
If Xuan Ao were not of the demon race and still felt some concern for Tianpeng, his fellow creature, then perhaps no one would have cared about Tianpeng's fate.
"Why bother with that foolish fellow? If he hadn't taken Ah Li out to play, how would this have happened?" the Ginseng King said irritably.
Huineng also nodded in agreement, blaming the black chicken for not listening to Mr. Ji's words and not staying home to guard the house, but instead taking Ah Li out. He deserved to suffer.
And at this moment, in the Zhan family's dungeon.
The pitiable Tianpeng was suffering inhumane treatment.
Several alchemists from the Zhan family were drawing his demon blood, researching an evil technique.