Chapter Twenty: Overthrowing the Yin Family

“Lord Yin is indeed ruthless, displaying such stern justice even against his own kin—truly admirable! But if Lord Yin believes that severing ties this way will free him from consequences, he is sorely mistaken!” Liao Chen sneered coldly at his opponent and continued, “From what I know, the Yin family, having governed Wanxiang City for years, has handled affairs without earning the people's favor. Therefore, I hereby declare that from this day forward, the Yin family is expelled from Wanxiang City!”

Yin Tianxiong tried to resist, arguing, “Sect Leader Liao, the Yin family was personally appointed hereditary lords of this city by the Empress of the Dayong Dynasty. You have no authority to expel us! If you forcibly erase the Yin family, the Empress herself will not let this slide.”

Facing Yin Tianxiong’s final trump card, Liao Chen showed no fear of the Dayong Empress’s reprisal. Instead, he gave a contemptuous smile and ordered, “All disciples of the Morning Light Sect, obey my command—eliminate all direct descendants of the Yin family. Not a single collateral branch shall be spared!”

“Yes, Sect Leader!” The disciples responded promptly and began besieging the Lord’s Manor.

One by one, the collateral branches of the Yin family were slaughtered, the air within the manor thick with the scent of blood. The Jiang family members, witnessing the scene, felt a stir of emotion. Yet, recalling how the Yin family had previously allowed the Su family and the Shura Sect to besiege the Jiang clan, nearly wiping them out, they harbored no sympathy for the Yin’s plight.

Soon the battle ended. Apart from the direct lineage of the Yin family, all others lay dead in pools of blood. Liao Chen then appointed Jiang Fuyan, head of the Jiang family, to take over the Lord’s Manor. Standing before the immortal stone statue in Wanxiang City, he declared, “From this day forth, the Jiang family officially assumes control of this city. To oppose the Jiang family is to oppose the Morning Light Sect. Those who dissent may come to the Wan Yao Mountain Range and challenge the Morning Light Sect.”

Upon hearing “Wan Yao Mountain Range” and “Morning Light Sect,” all noble families finally understood the source of the sect’s confidence in expelling the Yin family so decisively. Though the Yin family had the backing of the Dayong Dynasty, the Jiang clan had the Wan Yao Mountain Range as their trump card. The strongest in the Dayong Dynasty was at the Great Sage Realm, while the most formidable demonic cultivator in Wan Yao Mountain Range was an Emperor Realm powerhouse—though slumbering and unseen for a hundred thousand years, its fearsome reputation still cast a shadow over the Qianyuan Continent.

More importantly, the Qianyuan Continent was not ruled by the Dayong Dynasty alone; there were the Tianhai, Daliang, and Lihuo Dynasties, among others. Even if Liao Chen offended the Dayong Empress, other dynasties would surely seek to ally with the Morning Light Sect. Thus, the Empress would not jeopardize relations over a minor family like the Yin.

Watching their kin slaughtered to near extinction, Yin Tianxiong and the others burned with rage. “Why? Why? The Yin family never provoked the Morning Light Sect! Why do you seek our complete annihilation?”

Yin Tianxiong fixed his gaze on Liao Chen, desperate for answers, but Liao Chen ignored him. Turning to Jiang Fuyan, he ordered, “Clan Leader Jiang, imprison all surviving members of the Yin family under strict guard. Thoroughly interrogate them to uncover their hidden misdeeds, then make their crimes public knowledge throughout the city.”

“Yes, my lord!” Jiang Fuyan accepted the command respectfully.

Liao Chen then led the sect’s members out of the Lord’s Manor, leaving behind the Four Great Demon Kings—Tong Tian, Blood Shadow, Crimson Flame, and Golden Fur—to serve the Jiang family temporarily. With these four demon kings stationed there, no one else could exploit the situation to gain favors at the manor.

Jiang Fuyan had intended to hand over the Yin family’s accumulated wealth to the Morning Light Sect but was stopped by the Four Great Demon Kings. They kindly warned that although the Yin family’s treasures were numerous, none met their sect leader’s discerning standards. After all, their sect leader casually possessed top-grade spiritual artifacts and medicinal pills of the fourth tier or higher; the Yin family’s modest collection was insignificant.

Dismissed of petty concerns, the Four Great Demon Kings advised the Jiang family to swiftly rebuild the Lord’s Manor—not just structurally, but also in personnel organization. They had already received orders from Liao Chen to assist the Jiang family in becoming the premier noble house of Wanxiang City.

Soon, the Jiang family announced recruitment for city lord guards with excellent benefits: ten lower-grade spirit stones monthly, along with Foundation Establishment Pills and Primordial Spirit Pills as rewards. Within days, they attracted five thousand capable guards, and Wanxiang City’s operations normalized rapidly.

Elsewhere, Liao Chen led a large contingent of the Morning Light Sect to the gates of the Shura Sect. The Shura Sect immediately heightened security, activating their protective array. Sect Leader Ye Tiance was thrown into panic. His cultivation was merely at the third level of the Imperial Extreme Realm—far inferior to Wanxiang City’s Yin family ancestor, Yin Zhiping, who had reached the seventh level of the same realm, a full four realms above him. Yet, even Yin Zhiping could not withstand the Morning Light Sect’s leader for more than a moment. How could he possibly stand against such a formidable foe?

Ye Tiance’s pressure mounted exponentially, as did that of the elders and disciples within the Shura Sect. Several elders asked Ye Tiance how he planned to confront this crisis. Ye Tiance had no strategy left; only two options lay before them.

The first was to lower the sect’s protective array and surrender wholly to the Morning Light Sect, submitting as vassals.

The second was to awaken their ancient ancestor—a Saint Realm powerhouse who had slumbered for millennia. This might save the sect temporarily but would rapidly drain their ancestor’s life force, leaving the Shura Sect vulnerable and without foundation against other major powers.

Ye Tiance preferred awakening their ancestor over surrender but feared opposition from the elders. Thus, he feigned indecision and addressed the elders, “You all know my cultivation is far weaker than that of Yin Zhiping from Wanxiang City. Even if I risk everything, I am no match for the leader of the Morning Light Sect. If any among you have other plans, I urge you to speak now, so we may vote as one.”

The Chief Elder furrowed his brow and agreed, “If the sect leader has no solution, what can we do?”

The Second Elder added, “Since the Morning Light Sect has come knocking, our Shura Sect is doomed. Rather than march to our deaths, surrendering might be the wiser choice.”

The Third Elder conceded, “Second Elder speaks harsh but true. Sect Leader, perhaps surrendering to the Morning Light Sect offers a slim chance of survival.”

The remaining five elders opposed surrender, citing the damage it would do to the sect’s reputation—tantamount to digging their own graves.

Ye Tiance turned to the Chief Elder and asked, “Chief Elder, some elders favor surrender, others wish to fight to the end. What is your view?”

He deflected responsibility onto the Chief Elder, ready to absolve himself of blame for whatever happened next. The Chief Elder, not a fool, paused before saying, “Sect Leader, I believe we should let the disciples decide. After all, we elders have lived long enough. The sect’s future lies with the younger generation. If they choose to fight the Morning Light Sect to the death, we shall stand with them. If they opt for surrender, we shall follow their lead.”

“Since the Chief Elder speaks thus, we shall proceed accordingly,” Ye Tiance nodded, clearly acquiescing to the proposal.