Chapter 437: The most difficult time comes
Sigma Sigma
"Shi Yan?" Yang Mu arched his eyebrows, showing a puzzled look as he was astonished. Yang Zhu, Yang Xue, and Li Feng, the future pillars of the Yang family, were also startled, looking at Yang Zhuo with strange faces.
"Yes, it is Shi Yan," Yang Zhuo confirmed with a nod. "That year, your Great Grandpa had foreseen that the Yang family would encounter a great change in the future, and Shi Yan would show up when the Yang family is in the most difficult time. He will help us cross the storm."
Actually, Yang Zhuo was not really sure about it, but to raise up everyone’s spirits, he had to tell them the truth. However, he had no affirmation about whether it could turn out like Yang Tian Emperor’s reading or not.
"Would Great Grandpa make a misreading?" Yang Zhu hesitated for a moment and then shook his head with a wry smile. "I admit that Shi Yan was exceptional. Although he hasn’t been in the Endless Sea for a long time, his ability is not little. His progress is what makes people admire him. I could never believe that he could break through that fast."
After pausing for a moment, he continued. "Anyway, Shi Yan has just come to the Endless Sea for not too long a while, and his cultivation base is far lower than those who have been dominating the Endless Sea for many years. I know that he’s strong, and his potential is endless. But saying that he can help us overcome the most difficult time is somehow unbelievable, isn’t it?"
Yang Mu and Yang Xue also nodded, as they obviously didn’t believe it and felt that Yang Zhuo’s words were more to comfort their spirits.
"That year, Shi Yan and we entered the Chasm Battlefield, and before entering the next spot, we were separated. Three years later, we got out from the battlefield and immediately came to Barren City on the seabed. We don’t know what happened to him during this time, and we’re not sure if he’s still alive or dead. He didn’t show up or come to Barren City. Hence, saying that he will appear at the most difficult time is a little bit unrealistic, isn’t it?"
Li Feng knitted her eyebrows tightly, unable to help but remember Shi Yan’s performance in the Chasm Battlefield. She had recognized Shi Yan’s potential and knew that if he were still alive, and after such a long time of cultivation, his realm should not below, even reaching the Nirvana Realm was possible.
She couldn’t imagine that in such a short period of time, Shi Yan had crossed the Nirvana Realm and entered the Sky Realm.
With the integration of the Ice Cold Flame, the Holy Spirit God, and the Earth Flame, he had used the mysterious sword to cut off one arm of the Demon Master Mo Qi Ta. Moreover, he had even wakened up the Ten-thousand-year King Corpses’ consciousness, making Gu Shao, Qing Ming, and the other masters of the Endless Sea lose their faces.
As the Yang family had been staying in Barren City for a long time, they basically had no connection with the Endless Sea, and thus, didn’t know the situation inland.
One year ago, Shi Yan had shown his ability at the Yuanluo Sea and carried out the slaughter everywhere. However, only leaders of big forces knew about it. Since Shi Yan had humiliated Gu Shao, Yu Qin, and Qing Ming, and also cut off Mo Qi Ta’s arm, the Demon Dwellers and leaders in the Endless Sea all felt disgraced.
They obviously would not want this kind of insult to be spread out, and tried to block it totally. Therefore, only a minimal number of high-level leaders had the information about Shi Yan. Ordinary warriors might not have ever heard about it.
If Yang Zhuo knew that Shi Yan had stirred up the Endless Sea like that, giving the Demon Dwellers and the masters of the Endless Sea sleepless nights, perhaps he would have believed in Yang Tian Emperor’s words more.
However, currently, they definitely would not entrust their lives to Shi Yan.
"We will take a good care of these materials." Yang Zhuo said nothing more about Shi Yan, contemplated for a while before instructing Yang Mu. "You will continue to send people out of Barren City to visit the Xia family in the Vault of Heaven Sea Area first. We’ll explain them our situation here to see whether they still remember the good relation in the past and send their men here to help us stabilize the situation in Barren City."
Yang Zhuo continued, "Yang Zhu and Yang Xue, you guys instruct people of our family that they should not act recklessly in Barren City. As for the four forces that are provoking us in the city, we don’t need to care about them. As long as they don’t really attack here, we won’t care. However, we need to pay attention to their actions. Remind our people outside. If they carry out a large-scale movement, we must know it in advance."
Yang Zhu, Yang Mu, and the others all nodded.
Yang Zhou slammed his brows together, contemplated for a moment, and said while looking at Yang Ke, "You go and see if there’s any good news from the Naga Tribe. They used to have a harmonious relationship with us. If the matriarch of the Naga Tribe, Li Sha, can come out, I think that those four forces will not be too arrogant."
Yang Ke revealed dark eyes, let out a sigh and gently shook his head.
"You have nothing to say?" Yang Zhuo looked at Yang Ke and asked, "If they don’t even want to show up, they should at least say something. Doesn’t the matriarch Li Sha care about the relationship we had in the past?"
Yang Ke was responsible for this matter. He silently sighed hearing Yang Zhuo’s question and then said, "Those who were sent there couldn’t see the matriarch of the Naga Tribe. A Naga elder asked our people to leave and told them that their matriarch didn’t want to see them. Since the Yang family has declined, the Naga Tribe stopped the relationship with us, and that matriarch of the Naga Tribe couldn’t wait to break all connections with us. So, why should they care about our difficult situation?"
"Hmm..." Yang Zhuo looked very upset. He beamed a wry smile. "People are unexpected. The Yang family has done many things for the Sea Tribes, but when we decline, they immediately forget what we’ve done for them. It seems that we can’t rely on the Naga Tribe."
"We can’t count on anyone except for ourselves." Yang Mu wore a glum face and gritted his teeth. "Wait until one day when our Yang family revitalizes its glory, I will definitely make those people regret, teaching them what they will get when they offend the Yangs."
"No need to say these words for now. Instead, we should think about how to deal with the difficulties." Yang Zhuo waved his hand powerlessly. He depressively looked at the colorful materials in the chamber. He thought about how much effort the Yang family had spent to gather these materials, and how soon they would lose them. There seemed to be a big rock pressing on his heart, making him unable to breathe.
Tinkling tinkling.
A hanging wind chime suddenly produced a crisping sound.
Yang Zhuo and the others were startled, revealing worried faces. They stopped talking and immediately mounted the ladder to get out of the chamber.
The big conference hall of the Yang family’s building complex was above the chamber. Right now, at the center of the hall, a Yang family’s deacon was standing there with a worried face.
Yang Zhuo and the others went out in line.
"Li Yu, you hastily called us to come. What happened?" Yang Zhuo looked calm, standing in the hall with a serious complexion.
"The situation is not good," Li Yu whispered while walking over, bent down and continued, "The four forces suddenly stopped the war, not fighting against each other nor competing for territory anymore. The entire Barren City has quieted down. I have received the news that the leaders of those four forces seem to begin to talk and cooperate with each other."
As soon as his words came out, the faces of the all the Yangs in the hall changed simultaneously.
In Barren City, when the Yang family still presided the situation, no other forces existed, and the warriors in Barren City all acted decently. After the Yang family declined, some high-class warriors in Barren City started to have wicked intentions, starting to fight to take control of the city.
In just a few years, many small forces appeared in Barren City. Some high-realm warriors gathered a group of extraordinary warriors to challenge the dominating status of the Yangs. They secretly confronted the Yangs and refused to pay any fees.
When challenging the authority of the Yang family, these forces also fought against each other for the control of the four major areas.
After several years of engaging in war, there were now four most influential forces in Barren City, which stayed in the eastern, western, southern, and northern areas respectively. They occupied these areas, taking taxes from the businessmen who wanted to have their protection.
These four forces took over the Yang family’s dominating position. Except for the central city, these forces continuously fought each other to occupy pieces of territory.
And so, Barren City recently became chaotic. Fighting even occurred in some business areas. After such a long war, the four forces had a deep hatred towards each other, and thus, the chance of them shaking hands was nearly impossible.
But now, they suddenly stopped fighting, so there could be only one possibility. They now shared a common interest, which was the rich cultivating materials that the Yang family was keeping.
The faces of Yang Zhuo and the others all paled. From the news that the four forces had ceased the war, the Yangs realized that something was bad.
"Only for some great interests can those four forces stop fighting and agree to cooperate with each other. Of course, their target is our cultivating materials." Yang Zhuo took a deep breath, contemplated for a moment, and then ordered immediately. "Put forth all things to defend. From now on, no one is allowed to leave. We have to operate all barriers and defensive formations we used to set up. If they dare to come in, even if we cannot resist, we have to make them pay a painful price."
Everyone’s face suddenly became brutal.
The Yangs were never afraid of death. In this difficult moment, they would be even more united.
After setting the path, Yang Zhuo immediately began to prepare. On one hand, he called all the warriors outside to come back. On the other hand, he activated all defensive barriers in the buildings, readying to cope with the incoming war.
"Although these four forces have the protection of Sky Realm warriors, if we really have to fight, we will not be afraid of them," Yang Zhuo grunted, coldly sneered and said. "The Yangs can always find a way to defeat the stronger ones. Our Immortal Martial Spirit can help enhance our strength greatly. Moreover, no matter whether it’s a secret treasure or top martial techniques, we will find some defensive solution. We also have better conditions than they do. So, defeating them isn’t impossible."
Yang Zhuo constantly encouraged everyone.
None of the Yang family warriors showed any fear. They all had a determined look, ready for the incoming bloody battles.