Chapter 653: Turn Against Them

Qi Clan...

"You fool!" A furious roar echoed, shaking the surroundings.

Qi Mu's face was grim, and he dared not speak nor raise his head as he stood in the great hall of the Qi Clan.

A middle-aged man dressed in luxurious robes was glaring at Qi Mu with unmasked anger. The middle-aged man was none other than the leader of the Qi Clan, Qi Ling.

"You felt that the young man had an extraordinary background, so it wasn't strange that you refrained from making a move against him. However, you absolutely should have let that young man kill Old Zhao—no when he invited you to join him in dealing with the Dao Market, you should have accepted it. However, you refused his offer to kill Old Zhao... You're simply a fool! You're a stupid pig!"

Qi Ling was so mad that his lungs felt like they were going to explode. If Qi Mu had immediately withdrawn upon learning of the young man's extraordinary background, it would have been a wise choice.

However, Qi Mu didn't leave. Not only did he refuse the young swordsman's offer, but he even attempted to lure the young swordsman into attacking Old Zhao. It was like making two enemies at once.

The more Qi Ling thought about it, the angrier he became, and he continued his tirade, "You're a foolish pig—no, even pigs aren't as stupid as you!"

Qi Mu's face turned ashen from the scolding, but he dared not speak. He knew that he had made a grave mistake, and he needed the protection of the Qi Clan because Old Zhao would definitely not let him go for what he had done.

Qi Ling took a deep breath, and his figure emanated a terrifying aura as he did.

The Qi Clan originally had many choices, but Qi Mu had chosen the dumbest choice. He was truly a dumbass!

After a while, Qi Ling asked, "You said that that young swordsman has the First God's inheritance?"

Seeing that his clan leader's anger had subsided a little bit, Qi Mu hurriedly nodded and replied, "Yes."

Qi Ling's eyes flickered in contemplation.

Qi Mu froze at the sight.

Is the Clan Leader thinking of taking that inheritance away?

"C-C-Clan Leader, he has an extraordinary background..." Qi Mu stammered.

"What else can we do at this point? Should I kill you to make it up to him?" Qi Ling asked.

Qi Mu fell silent, not daring to speak. Indeed, the Qi Clan and Ye Guan had already become sworn enemies. Unless they swallowed their pride and apologized, no one could guarantee that the young swordsman wouldn't attack them in the future.

Of course, Qi Mu knew that his clan leader was not worried about whether Ye Guan would retaliate against their clan or not. He was actually coveting the First God's inheritance. After all, the First God was an extremely powerful individual with a hundred percent divinity!

The divine artifacts left behind by someone like that were bound to be remarkable. The number of Ancestral Veins alone was tempting.

Just then, an elder walked into the hall. He bowed respectfully toward Qi Ling and said, "Clan Leader, Old Zhao from the Dao Market is here."

Qi Ling glanced coldly at Qi Mu before saying, "Invite him in."

The elder bowed slightly and left.

Shortly afterward, Old Zhao entered the hall with five top-tier supreme elites. One of them was even a Divine Dao Realm cultivator.

Qi Ling immediately got up and approached Old Zhao with a smile, saying, "Old Zhao, you..."

Old Zhao pointed directly at Qi Mu and said, "Old Ling, he

must

die."

Qi Ling's expression froze. Qi Mu's face darkened, and it was difficult to deduce his thoughts through his expression.

Old Zhao said, "Qi Ling, I'm a straightforward person when it comes to grudges. His actions do not represent the intentions of the Qi Clan, so I only want him dead."

Old Zhao was willing to compromise over anything else but this. He wouldn't be able to sleep and eat peacefully until Qi Mu was dead.

After a moment of silence, Qi Ling said, "Old Zhao, he had made a mistake, but isn't it too much to kill him for that?"

Of course, Qi Ling couldn't let Qi Mu die in Old Zhao's hands. Otherwise, the Qi Clan would suffer a massive blow to their reputation.

Even if Qi Ling wanted Qi Mu dead, he still wouldn't hand him over to Old Zhao so easily.

Old Zhao's gaze turned cold. "So, there's no room for negotiation?"

Qi Ling sighed and said, "Old Zhao, this matter is my clan's fault. How about this? We are willing to offer three hundred strands of Ancestral Origin to make it up to you. Let's put this matter behind us and maintain peace between our clans."

Old Zhao scoffed and said sarcastically, "Three hundred strands of Ancestral Origin? Do you really think that I lack Ancestral Origin?"

Qi Ling frowned, and his gaze turned cold as well. "Old Zhao, are you really not going to let this slide?"

Old Zhao thought for a few moments before saying, "It seems that the Qi Clan is not willing to hand him over. Since that's the case..."

Old Zhao abruptly threw a punch toward Qi Mu.

Boom!

A terrifying wave of energy erupted, reducing the entire hall to rubble.

Qi Ling and Qi Mu were both caught off guard by Old Zhao's sudden attack, and Qi Mu was sent flying thousands of meters away.

"How dare you!" Qi Ling roared. Old Zhao's audacity to attack Qi Mu under his eyes meant that Old Zhao had completely disregarded Qi Ling's status and reputation.

"Guards!" Qi Ling yelled, and the supreme elites of the Qi Clan rushed to the scene.

However, Old Zhao remained undaunted as he charged at Qi Mu while his companions fought the Qi Clan's reinforcements. Old Zhao was truly determined to kill Qi Mu.

They had agreed to join forces against Ye Guan, so Old Zhao was truly caught off guard by Qi Mu's betrayal. Not only did Qi Mu renege on their agreement, he even wanted him to die. Old Zhao couldn't let this slide at all.

Qi Mu was startled to see Old Zhao running toward him.

"Old Zhao, have you lost your mind?! This is the Qi Clan's territory, you—"

Boom!

Qi Mu was blasted away, and every inch of spacetime around him shattered into innumerable pieces. Despite being a powerful Divine Dao Realm cultivator, he was still no match for Old Zhao.

Meanwhile, the reinforcements from the Qi Clan were increasing, and the people that Old Zhao brought with him were starting to get overwhelmed.

Just as Old Zhao was about to strike again after sending Qi Mu flying, Qi Ling stood in his way, glaring at him. "Old Zhao, do you know what you're doing right now?"

The expression on Old Zhao's face became fierce as he retorted, "Of course, I know what I'm doing! Let me tell you, I will not let the Qi Clan off the hook!"

With that, he charged at Qi Ling.

Qi Ling's expression turned grim, and he charged at Old Zhao as well.

Just like that, a fierce battle ensued between Old Zhao and the Qi Clan.

Even though Old Zhao's reinforcements were being completely suppressed, the Qi Clan couldn't kill Old Zhao at all. Divine Dao Realm cultivators were so strong it was hard for them to die.

The battle raged on for half a day, causing widespread devastation and countless casualties. The longer they fought, the fiercer the battle became; Old Zhao's relentless fighting style posed a significant challenge to Qi Ling.

Meanwhile, Qi Mu was shocked. He didn't expect that Old Zhao would be so determined to kill him and that he'd be so bold to fight the Qi Clan without any regard for their status.

When the battle was about to reach its climax, a furious roar echoed from the Qi World, "Stop!"

Old Zhao halted and turned around to see a white-robed old man.

Old Zhao immediately frowned. "Old Gu!"

"Old Zhao, have you forgotten the Palace Master's instructions?" Old Gu asked, sounding solemn.

"Of course, I haven't forgotten the Palace Master's orders. I'm just here to handle this matter first before carrying out the Palace Master's orders."

Old Gu said, "Old Zhao... The Palace Master has told me to tell you that you must temporarily set aside the matters concerning the Qi Clan."

"What?!" Old Zhao exclaimed and frowned. "Set this aside?"

Old Gu nodded. "The Palace Master wants us to keep the bigger picture in mind."

Old Zhao's expression darkened, but he remained silent.

Old Gu added, "I know you're angry, but you should also understand that you won't be able to kill anyone important here. Furthermore, the Palace Master intends to cooperate with the Qi Clan..."

Cooperate with the Qi Clan?!

Old Zhao's face immediately became extremely ugly. He didn't expect that the Palace Master would even think about working together with the Qi Clan.

Old Gu advised, "Old Zhao... you should let go of this matter for now."

Old Zhao pointed at Qi Mu and exclaimed, "He has tried to kill me multiple times at this point, and you want me to let him go? How can I let him go?!"

"These are the Palace Master's orders," Old Gu replied," Old Zhao, that young swordsman has a divine treasure that is incredibly important to the Palace Master, so... forgive me for being blunt, but... which do you think is more important? This issue of yours or the Palace Master's orders?"

Old Zhao chuckled. He was truly caught off guard by the Palace Master's decision to make him abandon the matter, albeit temporarily.

Old Zhao was disheartened, and to make matters worse, the Palace Master had chosen not to support him, too. Old Zhao had toiled for many years for the Dao Market, so he truly didn't expect to receive such a treatment.

"Old Zhao, I know you don't like this, but—"

"Forget it," Old Zhao interrupted with a wave of his hand. The reinforcements that he had brought here were all working for the Dao Market. The Palace Master had already given his orders, so they would no longer help him fight the Qi Clan.

"I'll go find Ye Guan," said Old Zhao before turning around to leave. His gaze became extremely cold as he left the Qi World.

Damn it! If this is how the Dao Market is going to treat me after so many years, I might as turn against them and jump onto Ye Guan's ship!