King of Gods Chapter 1581 - Clan Crisis

Chapter 1581 – Clan Crisis

Inside a somber dwelling in the city lord’s mansion, Zhao Balong abruptly snapped open his eyes. “Dead?”

That killer dispatched to assassinate Zhao Feng had truly perished? Even supposing the assassin slipped up and revealed himself, Zhao Feng merely had Song Tingyu by his side. There shouldn’t have been any cause for his death.

With the assassin now slain, Zhao Balong found it incredibly tough to uncover precisely how the killer met his end.

“Such a waste of a prime asset!” Zhao Balong’s expression turned icy. A peak Divine Transformation Realm powerhouse held immense value for the Zhao Clan.

Zhao Balong pinned the fault squarely on Zhao Feng, vowing to exact revenge someday.

After some time, a ruthless grin crept across his face. “Soon enough, I, Zhao Balong, will seize total dominance over the Zhao Clan.”

A year flew by in the wink of an eye.

One fine day, Song Tingyu visited the Zhao Clan and left alongside Zhao Feng.

“Looks like Feng’er simply disliked his former instructor. He’s far more assiduous these days!” Zhao Tianlong observed it all and flashed a satisfied smile.

Zhao Feng seldom practiced cultivation in the past, yet since Song Tingyu’s arrival, he often ventured out with her for training sessions.

Zhao Tianlong remained oblivious, however, that Song Tingyu had become Zhao Feng’s disciple and their outings were all a facade.

“Who exactly are you?” Song Tingyu inquired after they exited the city lord’s mansion.

Zhao Feng was clearly no typical boy, managing to conceal all his actions from even his parents. Not once did City Lord Zhao Tianlong detect a thing.

“I’m your master!” Zhao Feng proclaimed boldly.

Song Tingyu gritted her teeth right away. Over this past year, she’d failed to lay a hand on Zhao Feng. Instead, she’d endured one reversal after another.

Of course, since Song Tingyu chose to stick around Zhao Feng, she’d earned a tidy profit. Besides, with Zhao Feng plotting to launch branch outlets and business booming steadily, Song Tingyu hesitated to cross him.

They reached Star Peak Auction House, where the bidding events unfolded smoothly.

With ample funds at his disposal now, Zhao Feng had recruited several powerhouses to manage the auction house, leaving him solely to collect the profits.

Yet to guarantee Star Peak Auction House’s trade kept surging upward, Zhao Feng periodically offered some exquisite items he’d crafted himself for the auctions.

The auction wrapped up shortly, and the thronged audience started to trickle away.

The top brass of Star Peak Auction House assembled in the meeting chamber.

Officially, Huo Qingfeng served as the head of Star Peak Auction House, assisted by deputy Song Tingyu. The attending elders oversaw diverse operations.

“Our auction house enjoys widespread fame, but to grow even larger, expansion is key. Any ideas from you all?” Huo Qingfeng questioned.

All these senior members boasted vast expertise, including some dedicated to intelligence gathering.

“In this old man’s view, Sunharbor City stands as the prime spot for Star Peak Auction House to branch out!” An elder rose, clad in violet robes adorned with golden threads. His demeanor stayed composed, eyes gleaming with assurance and arrogance.

“Brother Li, what makes you say that? Word is Sunharbor City ranks middling among big cities, and its ruling Liu Clan pales beside Southcloud City’s Zhao Clan. Isn’t that right?” a squat elder promptly countered.

Since their prosperity hinged on Star Peak Auction House’s fortunes, they all paid keen attention.

The rest fixed their gazes on the violet-garbed elder. Sunharbor City wasn’t particularly thriving, and it lay quite distant from Southcloud City too.

“You all miss the point. True, Sunharbor City lacks prosperity and its Liu Clan holds limited might, but another family there has lately surged to prominence....” Elder Li smirked with satisfaction.

“Spill more details!” urged another high-ranking member.

“Apart from the dominant power, every major city hosts rival groups, and Sunharbor City’s Lu Clan ranks just behind the Liu Clan. Most vitally, the Lu Clan has birthed two prodigious daughters of stunning beauty and exceptional talent, drawing marriage offers from countless nearby clans and sects,” Elder Li laid it all out fluidly.

“This old man caught wind of that too!”

“Rumors say even Azure Net Kingdom’s royals are stirring!”

The elite members buzzed with discussion. With royalty involved, those Lu Clan daughters were undoubtedly extraordinary.

Zhao Feng lingered at the edge, mind adrift as he awaited the meeting’s close. The Lu Clan’s twin prodigies held scant appeal for him.

“These two exceptional girls have spiked visitor traffic to Sunharbor City, mostly nobles and elites. It’s the perfect site for our Star Peak Auction House branch!”

“Tsk, tsk, who’d have thought a pair of girls could reshape Sunharbor City’s fate?”

“One of them excels remarkably in the Destiny Dao. Once she comes of age, her path will be legendary.”

Chatter filled the hall, yet the new branch’s location seemed already settled.

Right then, Zhao Feng’s eyes flashed open. “Destiny Dao...!”

Zhao Yufei and Liu Qinxin had reincarnated nearby, and now these two gifted girls emerged, one versed in Destiny Dao. Piecing the hints together, Zhao Feng felt near-certain.

“Very well, Sunharbor City it is!” Zhao Feng grinned involuntarily.

Nearby, Elder Li furrowed his brow and shot Zhao Feng a look. This was an exclusive gathering of Star Peak Auction House’s leaders, yet this boy always tagged along.

Still, Song Tingyu ranked among the auction house’s key figures. If she insisted on including her disciple, none could object. Huo Qingfeng had approved it too.

“Song Tingyu, next time, leave your disciple outside. This is confidential!” Elder Li snorted frostily.

His standing among the leaders was lofty, and after sharing such crucial intel, his ego swelled, prompting him to assert dominance over Song Tingyu.

But no sooner had Elder Li spoken than a fearsome energy erupted in the hidden chamber. This suffocating force prickled the soul with sharp agony.

“This...” Elder Li stared at Huo Qingfeng in astonishment.

Huo Qingfeng was unleashing this pressure. He’d reascended to the Imperishable Realm, his cultivation towering over all others there.

“Speak of this no more!” Huo Qingfeng declared icily. As his piercing gaze swept Elder Li, it felt like a phantom blade piercing the man’s core.

“Yes!” Sweat soaking his back, Elder Li bowed his head.

He’d never anticipated his remark would provoke such ire from Huo Qingfeng. Song Tingyu nearby appeared unperturbed, and Zhao Feng’s calm indifference baffled him further, though he held his tongue.

The others grew warier and more intrigued by Zhao Feng.

Soon after, the meeting concluded. Sunharbor City was chosen for the new branch. The group scattered.

“Qingfeng, I intend to head to Sunharbor City myself,” Zhao Feng stated gravely.

Only by seeing those Sunharbor City prodigies firsthand could he confirm if they were Zhao Yufei and Liu Qinxin.

The girls hadn’t regained their past-life memories yet, and disaster loomed if some powerhouse, aristocrat, or royal claimed them first.

“Master, do you mean...?” Huo Qingfeng ventured cautiously.

“I’ll check them out, and maybe even propose marriage.” Zhao Feng exhaled. Luckily, the auction house had filled his coffers, providing funds for betrothal gifts.

“What...?” Huo Qingfeng’s mouth hung agape, rooted in shock.

In Huo Qingfeng’s view, Zhao Feng had always been an enigmatic supreme expert. He never dreamed the man would eye two prodigy girls enough to consider wedding them.

That afternoon, Zhao Feng made his way back to the city lord’s mansion.

“Mm?” He instantly sensed irregularity.

Fewer expert presences lingered in the mansion, and his father was absent.

Back at the city lord’s quarters, he encountered the elderly steward, a kindly goateed man.

“Steward, where is Father?” Zhao Feng queried.

“The master headed to the Bloodfiend Sect. Apparently, they seek truce with Southcloud City!” the steward answered promptly.

Near Southcloud City stood the Bloodfiend Sect, an Evil Dao group matching the city’s strength. They’d clashed as foes for a millennium.

Without their mutual draining battles, both sides would have grown vastly stronger by now.

“The master instructed me to relay something to the young master before departing.” The steward drew close to Zhao Feng and murmured softly.

“The master said...”

Yet before the steward could finish, his lips twisted into a sinister, triumphant smirk. Power coalesced in his right palm, forming a razor edge as he lunged.

Abruptly, the elder’s frame quaked and stiffened.

Somehow, Zhao Feng had drawn a petite sword etched with crimson lines. It was already plunged into the steward’s torso.

“Heaven-level top-class...!” The steward’s form withered rapidly, blood and vitality siphoned out until only bones remained.

The steward was merely an early Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, and even Imperishable Realm masters rarely wielded Heaven-level top-class arms. Though Zhao Feng hadn’t activated its full might, the sword’s inherent edge and traits sufficed to slay him instantly.

“Just as I suspected, trouble’s afoot!” Zhao Feng murmured.

He’d detected an odd vibe in the mansion air upon arrival.

Suddenly, as if on cue, mighty auras and murderous intent burst from across the estate. Cries and blood’s metallic tang wafted up from multiple spots. The whole mansion quaked amid the outbreak of combat.

“Zhao Balong, what treachery is this!?” A thunderous roar echoed from the estate’s rear forbidden zone, followed by a white beam streaking forth. It morphed into a white-haired elder glowering at a specific mansion section.

“Grand Elder!”

“Grand Elder, clan rebels have risen up!”

Desperate calls rang out through the estate.

This sudden onslaught had blindsided the Zhao Clan.

“Haha, you old coot, the Zhao Clan belongs to me now!” Zhao Balong burst from a dusky golden hall, radiating overbearing might laced with sinister demonic energy.

“You’ve allied with the Bloodfiend Sect!?” The Grand Elder’s face twisted as he bellowed the charge.

“You’ve realized it far too late!” Zhao Balong boomed with laughter.

A crimson barrier sprang up around the estate, etched with eerie, menacing motifs. “This traitor dies by my hand first!” The Grand Elder surged ahead, a massive saber materializing in his grip. Zhao Balong hovered calmly midair, unfazed.

“Oh no!” Danger prickled the Grand Elder’s senses, forcing a swift pullback.

Boom! Bang!

A ferocious blood-red ghost skull erupted from Zhao Balong’s dwelling, shrieking as it barreled toward the Grand Elder.

The skull’s velocity was blinding, leaving the Grand Elder no chance to evade fully, so it chomped one arm.

The Grand Elder severed the limb without hesitation, his features set in grim determination.

As an Imperishable Realm master, regenerating limbs was simple, but he found a huge chunk of his energy devoured too.

Thwish!

A fiendishly grinning elder in blood robes soared from Zhao Balong’s abode, cackling malevolently. “We cross paths once more!”

“Blood Spirit!” The Grand Elder’s gaze dimmed, igniting with lethal fury.