King of Creation Chapter 1794 - 1779: Hidden Clan of Xio

A wise creature, it is often said, ensures it has multiple escape routes.

The Xio Family, which holds sway over the West Patrol under the command of Xio Qiangu, certainly adheres to this wisdom.

For countless millennia, apart from the customary division of assets among descendants every three generations, the Xio Family has also, through various stratagems and clandestine methods, fostered the creation of numerous concealed lineages.

It's possible the Xio Family foresaw that their entrenched power within the West Patrol and their hold over intelligence concerning the Demon Clan would inevitably provoke retribution from the Imperial Family of Great Zhou.

They remain uncertain how long their current dominance can persist or how long the Xio Family's era of prosperity will endure.

Nevertheless, it is evident the Xio Family had been meticulously preparing for a potential downturn and inevitable reckoning.

This crucial intelligence was acquired by Ye Zhen from Ma Yuanjin, the head of the Inner Affairs Bureau and a trusted confidant of Xio Qiangu within the West Patrol hierarchy.

Even Ma Yuanjin himself had only encountered whispers of this intricate system.

The process for selecting a new Xio Family Head, it is rumored, involves a unique ritual employing the Cultivating Vessels and the Skill of Selecting Generals. Through this, a new Family Head meticulously chooses suitable members from the direct bloodline.

These chosen individuals are then dispatched to the Xio Family’s own Little World.

Within the vast expanse of the Ten Thousand Worlds, a unique dimension exists, governed entirely by the Xio Family's decree; within this Little World, the Family Head reigns as an omnipotent deity.

Under the Xio Family's deliberate manipulation, this Little World is perpetually embroiled in conflict, its entire continent artificially partitioned into various disparate and unequal nations.

The promising young talents of the Xio Family are directly introduced into this Little World, assuming roles according to their lineage and Cultivation level, with initial resource allocations designed to be relatively uniform.

The Xio Family has established an elaborate framework of regulations governing this distribution protocol.

Subsequently, they are compelled to engage in brutal, high-stakes conflicts, employing any means available to achieve dominance.

This grueling period of contention spans one hundred and twenty years, equivalent to two full sexagenary cycles.

Throughout this 120-year span, any descendant of the Xio Family who succeeds in uniting the entire world, by whatever methods necessary, earns the prestigious position of the next Family Head.

Upon achieving this, they are brought forth from the Little World to undergo training, elevating their Cultivation significantly.

However, it's important to note that only a select group, typically seven or eight out of hundreds of descendants in a generation, are candidates sent into this Little World.

Prior to their immersion into the Little World, these aspirants receive counsel from seasoned Elders, well-versed in the arts of military strategy and the nuances of forging alliances.

Consequently, it is a rare occurrence for Xio Family successors to achieve global unification within the stipulated 120 years.

The underlying reason is straightforward: should one faction demonstrate overwhelming superiority, the remaining powers invariably coalesce, forming a united front to ensure their collective survival and a semblance of equilibrium.

More often than not, after the two sexagenary cycles of intense selection, unification remains elusive, with typically one to three or perhaps four successors managing to survive the ordeal.

The individual who has amassed the most significant territory and wields the strongest influence is then designated as the next Family Head. The surviving successors are presented with two distinct avenues.

If a cordial relationship has been maintained throughout the trials, they might be elevated to the status of principal allies to the new patriarch, as their very survival attests to their formidable capabilities.

Conversely, in the absence of such accord, they are compelled to relinquish control of their Divine Soul and inscribe the family's unique secret methodology onto their Innate Divine Soul.

Following this, they must adopt new identities, complete with altered names, surnames, and appearances. The family then provides financial backing, enabling them to forge their own independent destinies.

They have the liberty to pursue careers in the military, engage in political maneuvering, or venture into commerce, with the objective of establishing a smaller, independent family unit within a century.

Only upon the successful establishment of such a subsidiary family within the hundred-year timeframe are they permitted to re-establish contact with the main Xio Family, securing crucial support for continued expansion.

These entities then evolve into a vital reserve force, functioning as clandestine clans under the Xio Family's extensive network.

Should the Xio Family ever face annihilation at the hands of the Imperial Family, these emergent branches serve as a critical safeguard, ensuring the perpetuation of the bloodline and preserving the hope for a future resurgence of the Xio Family's influence.

As a general rule, these hidden clans operate with the utmost secrecy, remaining entirely unknown to the outside world.

Ma Yuanjin, the Chief of the Inner Affairs Bureau, possesses this knowledge because his own Ma Family traces its origins as a hidden clan established five millennia ago.

As the second son of the Ma Family Head, and thus ineligible to inherit the primary estate, he was strategically assigned to the West Patrol by the Xio Family, who required dependable individuals within its ranks.

Ma Yuanjin's discovery of this profound secret occurred serendipitously. While shadowing his elder brother, the family's heir, into a restricted area, he stumbled upon the hidden codex detailing these arrangements.

It was in this casual manner that he conveyed this information to Ye Zhen.

Upon receiving this intelligence, Ye Zhen was seized by an icy dread.

It was no longer a mystery why the Holy Emperor of Great Zhou found himself powerless against the formidable Xio Qiangu and his West Patrol.

The Xio Family's mastery of organizational strategy is truly exceptional, honed over tens of thousands of years, resulting in the proliferation of countless hidden clans.

Even if a new hidden clan were established merely every two to three centuries, and assuming a mere 20% success rate, there would still exist a minimum of twenty distinct Xio Family hidden clans.

Could it be that twenty ancient families, each boasting a heritage stretching back millennia, are all, in fact, clandestine offshoots of the Xio Family?

The sheer magnitude of this concealed power is profoundly chilling.

Fortunately, as Ma Yuanjin proclaimed, this world is teeming with unforeseen occurrences, and the grand tapestry of events often lies beyond the Xio Family's grasp.

Despite natural calamities, conflicts, and societal disturbances leading to the disappearance or obscurity of many hidden clans, the Xio Family still commands the loyalty of several such enclaves.

Among these is the Chii Clan, recognized as the most prominent noble family within Dachi County, located in Lanshan County, Weizhou State – a lineage deeply intertwined with the Xio Family.

This particular hidden clan is the sole confirmed connection Ma Yuanjin has to the Xio Family.

Indeed, the Chii Family boasts an ancient heritage, standing as a venerable hidden clan of the Xio, with a history stretching back at least six millennia.

The current Left Assistant of the West Patrol, Chii Jingshan, himself hails from the esteemed Chii Clan of Weizhou.

Given their deeply entrenched legacy, the Xio Family has long ceased to prioritize stringent secrecy regarding this particular hidden branch.

Not only do they engage freely in commerce across various territories with the Xio Family, but a staggering quarter of the leadership within the Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunter unit of the West Patrol proudly bears the Chii surname.

Certainly, this prevalence is officially attributed to Chii Jingshan, the Left Assistant of the West Patrol.

However, the underlying truth is the Chii Family's status as a significant hidden clan within the Xio lineage.

This very Chii Clan represents the only hidden extension of the Xio known to Ma Yuanjin.

Coincidentally, it also stands as the target Ye Zhen has set his sights on for this evening.

Ye Zhen harbors no illusions about the formidable capabilities of Xio Qiangu of the West Patrol.

Consequently, after orchestrating the annihilation of the Dongxi Clan and the devastation of Dachang Mountain, Ye Zhen, with the exceptional speed afforded by Little Cat, managed to traverse vast distances, covering millions of miles in a single day.

This feat was accomplished even though numerous counties, at least four directly linked to the Xio Family or its affiliates, lay within a radius of six hundred thousand miles surrounding Dongxi County.

However, their proximity posed too great a risk, compelling Ye Zhen to refrain from any direct action.

At present, Ye Zhen finds himself within Weizhou, a state bordering Pingzhou, yet situated approximately one and a half million miles away from the Dongxi County City where his activities took place merely yesterday.

In comparison to the formidable Dongxing Clan, the Chii Clan of Dachi County, while undeniably affluent, is considerably smaller and holds less strategic importance than the latter.

Nevertheless, the Chii Clan's strength lies in its substantial membership, exceeding thirty thousand individuals who have, over the years, strategically infiltrated and secured vital positions throughout the West Patrol.

While the subterranean spirit vein discovered in Dachi County may not be of the highest caliber, its sheer abundance provides an ideal environment for the cultivation of spiritual medicine.

The Chii Family's primary enterprise revolves around this very business of spiritual medicine.

According to information gathered from Ma Yuanjin, the spiritual medicine harvested by the Chii Family is predominantly channeled to Xio Qiangu, facilitating clandestine trade with the Demon Clan, a venture capturing over forty percent of the overall profit margins.

While the ultimate profits may not rival those generated by the Dongxi Clan, they are nevertheless remarkably substantial.

Ye Zhen has been present in Dachi County for the past three hours, during which time he has been actively engaged in discreet operations to acquire pertinent intelligence concerning the county.

Ye Zhen operates with remarkable swiftness and decisiveness; any opponent not yet having attained the Dao Realm presents little challenge. However, the appearance of a Dao Realm expert would necessitate the full deployment of his capabilities, thereby risking the exposure of his true identity.

Therefore, the paramount objective for Ye Zhen, when confronting the Chii Clan, is to confirm the presence, or absence, of a Dao Realm expert safeguarding their operations.

Ye Zhen executed a covert infiltration of the Chii Family's stronghold, apprehending three members to extract vital information through soul-searching techniques.

The intelligence thus obtained confirmed the presence of a Dao Realm expert within the Chii Family, specifically an individual in the early stages of the Dao Realm, currently stationed at their post.

However, more than half a day prior, following the issuance of a directive to enhance security measures, this particular Dao Realm expert from the Chii Family departed with haste and had yet to make a return.

Frankly speaking, this development constitutes positive news.

Yet, it simultaneously heightens Ye Zhen's sense of caution.

The brutal eradication of the Dongxi Clan and the subsequent destruction of Dachang Mountain have likely alerted Xio Qiangu, sparking suspicion. Otherwise, a hidden clan such as the Chii Clan would not have implemented such a drastic increase in their vigilance.

A considerable contingent, numbering as many as eight experts in the Realm King Realm, are actively engaged in nightly patrols.

Nevertheless, in the absence of a Dao Realm expert, the precise number of Realm King Realm experts patrolling the night – be it eight or eighteen – holds no significant consequence for Ye Zhen.

This is primarily due to the formidable presence of his own Demon Soul Army, which boasts a total strength of fifty thousand soldiers.

Previously, during the extensive campaign against the Dongxi Clan, Ye Zhen's Demon Soul Army sustained casualties exceeding sixteen hundred soldiers. The vast majority of these losses, approximately ninety-nine percent, comprised Demon Souls within the Divine Communication Realm.

Four Demon Souls belonging to the Dark Palace Realm perished, with a significant number sustaining injuries. Notably, no officers within the Realm King Realm were killed, though all sustained wounds.

After all, the Realm King Realm experts of the Dongxi Clan were far from negligible adversaries.

For any other military force, the incapacitation of a majority of their commanding officers through injury would typically necessitate a recovery period spanning several days.

However, for the specialized Demon Soul Army, such concerns are rendered moot as long as the War Soul Blood Flag remains within their possession.