Xiahou Zhen actually felt quite humiliated. Threatening the Yan Family had been something he, Xiahou Zhen, had personally undertaken. As the Supreme Elder of the Xiahou Clan, he had always held an absolute psychological advantage over the Yan Family. After threatening the Yan Family patriarch, he had firmly believed that the patriarch would carry out his orders to deal with Yan Wanjun.
But now, Yan Wanjun had vanished!
Xiahou Zhen felt that he had been deceived by that bastard of a Yan patriarch. At the very least, that fellow hadn't done as he'd demanded, nor had he met his requirements.
"Everyone, please quiet down. This matter was previously under this elder's responsibility. Since the Yan patriarch has been openly compliant but secretly defiant, then this matter shall be handled by this elder personally."
Starting well and finishing well — that was Xiahou Zhen's personal philosophy.
It was Xiahou Zong who spoke up, his tone indifferent: "Supreme Elder, at this point, going to kill a few members of the Yan Family doesn't seem to serve much purpose."
"How can it not serve much purpose? We must make the Yan Family understand the consequences of disrespecting the Xiahou Clan."
"Zong'er, do you truly think that moving against the Yan Family now is pointless?"
"The Yan Family is nothing more than lambs awaiting slaughter. Whether we kill them or not, they're still there — they can't run. Going to kill a few of them now would only drive the Yan Family straight into the arms of the Eternal Sacred Land. That would have no bearing on the clan's grand plan, but it would still create some degree of disruption."
The Xiahou Clan's grand plan!
At the mention of those words, everyone in the room sobered up.
Xiahou Zhen also fell into thoughtful consideration. Despite being the Supreme Elder, when it came to Xiahou Zong's opinions, he was willing to listen — indeed, he felt obligated to.
"What Young Master Zong says is not without merit. The clan is currently in a phase of expansion. Suppression must be exercised with proper measure — the emphasis should be on intimidation, not outright destruction. If we beat the Yan Family so thoroughly that they have no power to resist, at this stage they will undoubtedly throw themselves without hesitation toward the Eternal Sacred Land!"
"That's true. Our Xiahou Clan may not fear making an enemy of the Yan Family, but the clan has too many great matters to attend to — there's no need to add unnecessary trouble. The Yan Family can be pulled in, and they can be beaten down. In my view, we should give them a beating and then offer an olive branch. That way, they won't dare defect to the Eternal Sacred Land, nor will they drift too far from us."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Xiahou Zhen also gave a slight nod: "In that case, even if I go to make an example of someone, I'll need to exercise proper restraint. Killing one or two, issuing a warning to the Yan patriarch so he understands our Xiahou Clan's stance — that should suffice."
"Precisely so. If we don't crack down on them at all, they'll start thinking our Xiahou Clan is incapable of disciplining them!"
Everyone nodded once more.
Someone then asked: "Young Master Zong, that Shao Yuan from the Eternal Sacred Land has been so brazen. In your estimation, at the Genius Sword Meet, would he dare face you head-on?"
"Hard to say." Xiahou Zong shook his head indifferently. "I actually hope he has that courage. I'd hate to be disappointed. After all these years, the Eternal Divine Kingdom still hasn't produced a single opponent worthy of catching my eye. This Shao Yuan — his alchemy skills do have a certain flair. But as for his martial talent, that's another matter entirely."
"I've heard his martial talent isn't bad either."
"Isn't bad?" Xiahou Zong smiled faintly. "Only 'not bad'? That would truly be disappointing."
In the Eternal Divine Kingdom, there were countless people whose martial talent could be called "not bad." Mere adequacy would certainly not be enough to face Xiahou Zong in head-to-head combat.
"Of course. In the Eternal Divine Kingdom, a genius who can truly match you in martial prowess, Young Master Zong, has yet to appear. Perhaps you'll never find one. The loneliness of the supremely skilled, the chill of being at the summit — we old folks never experienced such feelings in our youth, so we can't truly understand your loneliness, Young Master Zong. Hahaha."
Even the elders of the Xiahou Clan sometimes had to flatter Xiahou Zong.
This spoke volumes about just how lofty Xiahou Zong's standing truly was.
Mid-conversation, everyone's voices suddenly trailed off.
Outside the door, a figure had appeared in the crowd's line of sight. The figure was ethereal and unfettered, drifting in as if carried on a breeze, appearing almost out of thin air.
"Patriarch!"
The room fell deathly silent in an instant.
The patriarch of the Xiahou Clan held a position second only to one and above ten thousand. Within the Xiahou Clan, apart from the Sovereign Primordial Ancestor, the highest-ranking individual was this patriarch.
The patriarch of the Xiahou Clan was named Xiahou Xiaoyao, also known as Lord Xiaoyao.
In the Eternal Divine Kingdom, Lord Xiaoyao was a figure of the very highest caliber. Apart from the few Sovereign-level Primordial Ancestors, Lord Xiaoyao's cultivation could be described as virtually unrivaled.