Painting of the Nine Immortals

Tianzhou is wide and limitless. It is divided into five sections that are named: the East Domain, the South Mountain, the West Sea, the North Desert, and the Central Grassland.

The Wen Clan was located in the most isolated area, the North Desert.

Just like its name suggests, the majority of this section of the land is desert. It is extremely inaccessible and remote. The only areas without much sand are tightly dominated by several different forces.

The Wen Clan is one of them. The Wang Clan, who is using arranged marriage as a title to try and absorb the Wen Clan, is also one of them.

Currently, the Sun was hanging high. It was noon exactly.

The Wen and Wang Clan were having a gathering to discuss the upcoming wedding.

The Wang Clan was appearing extremely energetic and very pleased.

The Wen Clan on the other hand, was looking sullen. All of them hung their heads low and were silent.

They didn’t want Ru Yu to marry off to the Wang Clan. They were also all very aware of what the Wang Clan was planning. But what could they do? Recently, the Wen Clan got into some trouble and had to borrow some strength from the Wang Clan.

Second of all, the Wang Clan was used to being overbearing and they didn’t hide the fact that they were forcing this marriage onto them.

Normally speaking, of course the Wen Clan wouldn’t agree to this. So the worst that could happen was for them to fight. Their capabilities were similar in level and they could put up a fight.

But the Wen Clan was in trouble and not only do they not have any ability to fight against the Wang Clan right now, they also have to seek help from the Wang Clan.

Therefore, the Wang Clan decided to pull this stunt and expressed their desire to arrange a marriage between the eldest Wang Clan son and the Wen Clan Leader’s daughter, Ru Yu.

Of course the Wen Clan didn’t want to comply. But because of their situation, they had to accept despite their unwillingness. They had to accept even though they were all aware that the Wang Clan’s final intention was to absorb the Wen Clan.

But at least in a short period of time, the Wen Clan can take a breather.

To consider the entire Clan, the Wen Clan Leader had to agree to this and ended up choosing to sacrifice Ru Yu.

“Haha, I came today because I have two things to discuss with the Wen Clan Leader.”

A middle aged man erupted into laughter. He was ecstatic and excited. He was the current Clan Leader of the Wang Clan, and he was at the advanced stage of the original level.

Hearing this, the Wen Clan Leader silently sighed and forced a smile, “Wang Clan Leader, please do speak of it.”

“First of all, I want to discuss our children’s upcoming wedding. After all, we have both agreed to it, so let’s settle it sooner rather than later.”

The Wang Clan Leader chuckled. “You don’t even know. Ever since that son of mine heard about what we agreed upon, he had turned into someone who ignores his meals because he misses your daughter. I am worried that if I let it drag on any longer, he would get sick and never get better.”

Hearing this, the Wen Clan Leader knew it was all for show. His goal was to finalize this whole thing so the Wen Clan has no way of regretting this. Regarding this, he was unwilling, but was helpless.

What could he do? The Wen Clan’s trouble was starting to burn its pantleg and he naturally wanted to finalize this so the Wang Clan can send their soldiers to help.

Therefore, the Wen Clan Leader sighed. “Then we will do things your way. I wonder what the second order of business is?”

“About that…”

The Wang Clan revealed an eerie smile and his fingers thumped on the table rhythmically. He smiled, “I am thinking… since Ru Yu is your daughter, then her dowry cannot be too shabby. How about you guys bring us the Tree of the Warming Soul as her dowry. What do you think?”

The greeting hall silenced at those words.

The Wen Clan was first a little stunned. Then everyone revealed their anger. If logic didn’t bind them, they would’ve started a fight already.

What a joke!

The Tree of the Warming Soul is the Wen Clan’s roots and is a heavenly object passed down by their ancestors. Even their last name, Wen, was named after the Tree of the Warming Soul*. This item is extremely meaningful to the Wen Clan. How could they give it up as dowry?

Even though the Wen Clan knew very well that the Wang Clan’s intention was to take the Tree of the Warming Soul and then absorb the Wen Clan, Wen Ru Yu hasn’t even married and they were already asking for it. Their gluttony was starting to look disgusting.

“Wang Clan Leader, this is overstepping it a little.”

The Wen Clan Leader suppressed his anger, “The Tree of the Warming Soul is extremely meaningful to the Wen Clan. Though the tree has dried up and died, it cannot be used as a dowry.”

“It cannot be used?”

The Wang Clan mockingly grinned. He knew his greediness was showing, but so what? He never planned on hiding his insatiability, he just wanted to act arrogant until the end!

“If the Wen Clan Leader isn’t willing, then I don’t see a need for this marriage.”

The Wang Clan Leader played with his teacup and threatened, “After all, it’s a possibility that your entire Clan is wiped out by tomorrow. To arrange a marriage with your Clan is risky business for me after all.”

At those words, the greeting hall once again silenced.

Everyone from the Wen Clan was furious. They knew that the Wang Clan Leader was scamming the Wen Clan, and was threatening them.

Therefore, why wouldn’t they be furious? However, they remained helpless.

The Wen Clan felt the same. He knew that without the Wang Clan’s help, the Wen Clan will for certain be destroyed.

When that happens, not only will they not be able to protect their Tree of the Warming Soul, the hundreds of members of their Clan will all die as well.

Therefore, the Wen Clan Leader exhaled deeply, “Oh well, then we will do as you say.”

“Hahaha, great! Amazing!”

The Wang Clan laughed loudly with excitement and happiness.

The other Wang Clan members did the same. Their laughter echoed and stabbed back into the Wen Clan members’ hearts like knives.

Every single member of the Wen member subconsciously tightened their fists as they felt a wave of humiliation like never before.

But for survival, they need to earn some time to breathe and they had to endure this!

“I have agreed to both of your suggestions. I wonder when the Wang Clan Leader will help us get past our crisis?” The Wen Clan Leader asked tentatively.

“We can discuss that easily. Since we are now in-laws, naturally I have to help you.” The Wang Clan Leader smiled. His words brightened the Wen Clan Leader’s face.

What he said next, however, darkened his expression again.

“But, both of our original leveled cultivators are in isolation. So we have no choice but to send a completion leveled cultivator to help you.”

Those words darkened the Wen Clan Leader’s face.

Others of the Wen Clan reacted the same.

The enemy they were encountering this time is very powerful. Only an original leveled cultivator is of any use. Completion leveled powerhouses will only end up being sacrificed. For the Wang Clan Leader to say he can only send a completion leveled cultivator indicated that he was playing with the Wen Clan!

The Wang Clan had all the advantages, the beauty and the treasure. Yet the Wang Clan refuses to give anything in return!

They were bullies!

The Wen Clan members boiled in anger. If they didn’t see the Clan Leader’s gesture for them to stay put, they all would’ve ran up there and fought that bastard.

“Wang Clan Leader, doing so is overstepping it a little.” The Wen Clan Leader pushed down on his rage. The chair under his hand was crushed.

“Overstepping?”

The Wang Clan Leader taunted and laughed out loud, “Haha, yes I am taking it too far. But what can you do about it? You have agreed to my requests after all. If you regret them, then I will form an alliance with your enemy and destroy your Wen Clan.”

Then, he stood up. Ignoring the furious Wen Clan members, he headed for the doors. As he walked, he guffawed, displaying his raw arrogance.

This enraged the Wen Clan and made them feel extremely humiliated.

Just as the Wang Clan members starting to laugh, a calm and cold statement traveled in from outside.

“He agreed to your conditions, but I did not.”