NOVEL NEXT Chapter 197: Controlling the Situation
Yue Qing and Yue Tiande both died, instantly changing the entire battle situation.
Ji Tianhong's mental state shook, while Chen Jiuzhen burst into a wild laughter, growing more ferocious, and within a few moves, he had made Ji Tianhong spit up blood.
Yuwen Kang also became anxious.
Initially, Wen Jingyun and Gu Tianzhi were somewhat unable to stop him, but as soon as they saw the deaths of Yue Qing and Yue Tiande, they suddenly erupted with a burst of power.
Wen Yanqing, sitting in his wheelchair, laughed loudly, but as he laughed, he began to weep.
This hatred had been hidden in his heart for so many years, and now that he had finally taken his great revenge, even he, usually so restrained, was somewhat unable to maintain his composure.
Han Zheng swallowed an elixir to recover his True Yuan, and when his True Yuan had recovered somewhat, he turned his gaze toward Ji Tianhong.
Sensing Han Zheng's gaze, Ji Tianhong quickly retreated and shouted, "I am willing to submit! I only ask Mr. Han to spare my Xuanyuan Cave!
From now on, my Xuanyuan Cave will follow Mr. Han's lead without question; if Mr. Han says 'one,' my Xuanyuan Cave will absolutely not dare to say 'two!'"
There were plenty of spineless people, but someone as spineless as Ji Tianhong was rare to see.
Right now, he hadn't even been defeated yet, but as soon as he saw that things were amiss, Ji Tianhong, who had been the loudest in his bluster before, immediately chose to surrender, doing so with startling decisiveness.
If Yue Qing were alive to see him in such a state, he would probably be infuriated enough to spit blood again.
Chen Jiuzhen looked at Han Zheng, his glance inquiring whether to spare him or not.
Han Zheng gave a slight nod.
Xuanyuan Cave had more than just Ji Tianhong as a Xuan Gang Realm martial artist; at this moment, there was another Xuan Gang Realm Middle Stage Elder garrisoning the sect.
Of course, this was not the main danger; keeping Ji Tianhong around was also to show others that Han Zheng was not a bloodthirsty person. As long as you were sensible and cooperative, naturally your life would be spared.
Chen Jiuzhen looked at Ji Tianhong with disdain and spat.
What trash.
But Ji Tianhong didn't care about Chen Jiuzhen's attitude at all and quickly bowed to Han Zheng, "Thank you, Mr. Han, for your mercy!"
Saying this, Ji Tianhong immediately ordered the disciples of Xuanyuan Cave to stop fighting and turned to attack the disciples of the Yue Family instead.
Han Zheng then turned his gaze to Yuwen Kang and said indifferently, "Family Head Yuwen, do you still wish to continue fighting?"
Upon hearing this, Yuwen Kang immediately ceased hostilities and sighed, "Mr. Han's divine might and strategic prowess are beyond my match.
With the Yue Family dead, the so-called alliance of Smoke Wave Prefecture no longer exists.
I previously said that if other families are willing to cooperate with Mr. Han, my Yuwen Family would naturally cooperate as well.
Now, my Yuwen Family is also willing to follow Mr. Han's lead; those spiritual fields and ore veins, the Demon Cleansing Bureau can take them at will."
Han Zheng shook his head and said, "Family Head Yuwen, as I said before, I am not trying to forcibly take those spiritual fields and ore veins, but rather, I want to work with everyone for mutual benefit.
Sadly, the lords of Smoke Wave Prefecture were unwilling to cooperate with me, so I had no choice but to adopt this last resort and choose a few forces that were willing to cooperate with me.
Right now, I don't need the Yuwen Family to hand over all the spiritual fields and ore veins; just as I previously proposed, it's sufficient for everyone to develop them together."
Yuwen Kang looked at Han Zheng with a hint of surprise.
At this moment, with the two great Xuan Gang Realm experts of the Yue Family dead, Xuanyuan Cave's Ji Tianhong changing sides at the first sign of trouble, Tuoba Feng maintaining neutrality, and both the Wen Family and Black Water Gang standing on Han Zheng's side,
it could be said that Han Zheng currently held an absolute advantage. Even if he were to reclaim all the spiritual fields and ore veins, no one would oppose him, including himself.
But Han Zheng was still willing to leave them some room to maneuver. Was Han Zheng really so kind-hearted?
However, Han Zheng then continued, "The Yue Family acted arrogantly and domineeringly, deceitful and ruthless. They previously caused the son of the Wen Family, Wen Yanqing, to lose his cultivation, and now they instigated many forces to attempt to eradicate the Black Water Gang, causing chaos in the martial world of Smoke Wave Prefecture, their ambition and ruthless nature merit universal condemnation!
Though Yue Tiande and Yue Qing have met their end, the Yue Family still remains. I wonder if Family Head Yuwen is willing to exert effort to help eradicate the Yue Family?"
At this point, the previously scholarly demeanor of Yuwen Kang twisted, and he convulsively twitched his lips.
Han Zheng was so venomous!
He originally thought Han Zheng just wanted the Yuwen Family to capitulate and was only after those spiritual fields and ore veins, no problem—the Yuwen Family would provide them.
Having endured for hundreds of years, the Yuwen Family had seen all manner of things. Bowing their heads in submission was not something new to them.
When Guiyuan Sword Pavilion rose to power initially, the Yuwen Family too had earnestly bowed their heads in submission, proactively offering up their spirit farmlands and mineral veins, and refrained from opposing Guiyuan Sword Pavilion.
Now that Han Zheng had the upper hand, Yuwen Kang thought he could replicate the strategy, but he hadn't anticipated that Han Zheng would aim to destroy the reputation of his Yuwen Family!
For many years, the Yuwen Family had always been cultivating an image of being above worldly concerns. Although they didn't engage in the conflicts of the Martial World, no force could afford to overlook the Yuwen Family, and everything had to be done with consideration for the interests of the Yuwen Family.
This was how the Yue Family had operated before. Although the Yue Family had the semblance of the Alliance Hierarch, in reality, everything they did was with the Yuwen Family's permission.
Now, by ordering the Yuwen Family to eliminate the Yue Family, Han Zheng was destroying this unworldly stance and the reputation of the Yuwen Family!
Soon, the entire Martial World of Smoke Wave Prefecture would say, 'Before, everyone was allies, and now isn't your Yuwen Family aiding Han Zheng in destroying the Yue Family as well?'
'All the same, what pretense is your Yuwen Family putting on?'
Others might not know, but Ji Tianhong was now looking at Yuwen Kang with a peculiar gaze, waiting for his response.
A bead of cold sweat slid down Yuwen Kang's forehead as he whispered, "Mr. Han, the matter of destroying the Yue Family requires me to return and report to our ancestors as I've brought too few people with me and won't be much help."
Han Zheng squinted his eyes and nodded, "That's fine, but you only have half a day.
Everyone has just gone through a big battle; it's a good time to rest here. But I hope, Family Head Yuwen, that you make a quick trip there and back."
Yuwen Kang hastily bowed and departed, even leaving behind the disciples of the Yuwen Family he had brought along.
Ji Tianhong, eager to please, smiled at Han Zheng and quickly said, "Mr. Han, I'll immediately get the disciples of Xuanyuan Cave ready, so we can strike and exterminate that detestable Yue Family at any moment!"
Wen Jingyun, pushing his son forward, came up to Han Zheng and gave a deep bow, his eyes reddened as he said, "Thank you, Mr. Han, for avenging my son!
From now on, my Wen Family is willing to go through fire and water for Mr. Han, and we will not hesitate!"
Han Zheng waved his hand, "Family Head Wen, there's no need for such courtesy. The reason you could take your revenge is that you acted decisively.
If you had shrunk back entirely, I couldn't have killed Yue Qing and Yue Tiande.
These achievements, they are all won by you, Family Head Wen."
Han Zheng hadn't expected the Wen Family's performance, and Wen Jingyun even gave him a surprise.
Before Han Zheng had set out to provoke the Wen Family, he had already prepared for the worst-case scenario, which was to plant a thorn between the Wen Family and the Yue Family to drive a wedge in their relationship—he never really expected the Wen Family to make a move publicly.
Who would have thought that, although Wen Jingyun seemed somewhat reserved on a normal day, once he knew the truth, he dared to risk it all and openly sided with Han Zheng against the Yue Family.
And the Netherworld Killing Needle was an unexpected joy, almost directly crippling Yue Tiande.
Without that Netherworld Killing Needle, Han Zheng might have had to risk his life to even stand a chance to kill the two Yue brothers.
Tuoba Feng approached with a complicated expression and said, "Mr. Han, I didn't make a move today, I wonder if what you said before still stands?"
Now Tuoba Feng was somewhat regretful.
It wasn't that he regretted helping Han Zheng, but that he regretted not directly siding with him.
Tuoba Feng had originally thought that at most, Han Zheng could only force the alliance to retreat, but who could have imagined that Han Zheng would directly topple the Martial Arts Forces alliance of Smoke Wave Prefecture and was even planning to destroy the Yue Family.
So now Chen Jiuzhen and the Wen Family were openly standing on Han Zheng's side, but his own Breaking Extreme Sect was merely watching from the sidelines, which gave him the uncomfortable feeling of being out of place.
He wasn't sure whether Han Zheng, now in control of the big picture, would settle accounts with the Breaking Extreme Sect.
"Sect Master Tuoba, you keep your word, and I, Han Zheng, am also known for holding true to my promises.
You can rest assured, what I had promised the Breaking Extreme Sect, I will not go back on, and even if your sect does not get involved with the Yue Family matter, there's no problem.
I said the Breaking Extreme Sect could remain neutral, so it has the right to stay neutral."
Upon hearing this, Tuoba Feng instantly sighed in relief.
With Han Zheng's strength and the current favorable situation he controlled, even if he forced the Breaking Extreme Sect to bow down, Tuoba Feng would have no choice but to agree.
His personality might be a bit stubborn, but he wasn't foolishly inflexible; Tuoba Feng knew when to soften up.
But Han Zheng's lenience and magnanimity also touched Tuoba Feng.
"Thank you, Mr. Han, for your understanding. I have long been disgusted by the Yue Family, so count in a share for my Breaking Extreme Sect in their downfall!"
Tuoba Feng bowed firmly and declared.