306: Those who understand the times are wise!

"Only those who understand the times are wise. The skies of the Black Sha Marsh changed long ago. Following the Teng Family is the only way for our Hu Family to survive."

Listening to Hu Li's impassioned speech, a flicker of satisfaction finally crossed the eyes behind Shadow's mask.

This Hu Li, though blatantly ambitious, was indeed ruthless, decisive, and obedient enough. He was a very handy blade; the Teng Family's support over the past few years had not been in vain.

At this point, the situation in the main hall had become almost entirely clear.

Faced with the situation where Hu Hai was tightly surrounded by the Teng Family's Shadow Guards, the main branch chose silence. However, sometimes silence represents acquiescence and a choice.

Grand Elder Hu Yan seemed to age ten years in an instant. He slumped back into his chair, closed his eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

After a long while, he let out a raspy sigh, filled with exhaustion and endless desolation.

"Forget it... forget it..."

He opened his eyes, his clouded gaze looking toward Hu Li before sweeping over those black-robed Shadow Guards, his voice dry.

"This matter... shall be handled by you with full authority!"

Then he paused and turned his gaze toward Shadow, a sliver of hope showing in his eyes.

"I only hope the Teng Family can keep the promises made today!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Li immediately flashed a victor's smile, but it quickly vanished as he turned respectfully toward Shadow and bowed.

"My Lord, the entire Hu Family no longer has any objections. Please instruct us on how to proceed next."

Shadow was very satisfied with this scene. He had thought that after Hu Li gained power, his ego would at least inflate a bit, but it seemed the man was very sensible. Thus, he finally felt completely at ease.

The overall situation was settled!

Without delay, he stood up abruptly, first nodding to Hu Yan with the magnanimity of a superior.

"Elder Hu Yan is deeply sensible and has considered the big picture, allowing the Hu Family Bloodline to be preserved and continued."

"Rest assured, my Teng Family is a great Golden Core clan with a Legacy spanning centuries. We value reputation and promises above all. Everything recorded in the Jade Slip today will be fulfilled one by one; we will never let those who submit be disappointed."

Then, his gaze turned toward the ashen-faced and stiff Hu Hai and his group, his tone suddenly turning cold with an unquestionable air.

"As for Hu Hai and his branch's followers, they are obstinate and insisted on colluding with the external enemy, the Liu Family, intending to split the future vassals of my Teng Family. Their crimes are unpardonable!"

He raised his hand slightly, and the swords in the hands of the Shadow Guards surrounding Hu Hai unsheathed half an inch in unison, their cold light biting.

"However..."

Shadow's tone shifted as he struck a pose of "magnanimity."

"Considering that you are, after all, of the Hu Family Bloodline and share the same origin as my future vassals, this seat can show mercy."

"I now give you one last chance. Immediately cease all resistance, hand over your Blood Souls, and swear death-defying loyalty to the Teng Family. Doing so will ensure your lives and a future; otherwise..."

A cold light flashed in his eyes, and all the Shadow Guards stepped forward half a pace simultaneously. Spiritual Pressure like a mountain crashed down!

Hu Hai and the others' bodies shook violently, their faces turning as pale as paper.

He looked around with difficulty, seeing the main branch clansmen avoiding his gaze and other branches lowering their heads in silence. On Hu Li's face was an unabashed sneer of triumph.

His lips trembled, and the last spark of light in his eyes extinguished. He seemed to have his spine removed, instantly hunching over.

"I... we... are willing to surrender!"

These few words seemed to exhaust his entire life's strength as they were squeezed out from between his teeth.

A smile of "everything is under control" finally appeared on Shadow's face. He nodded slightly and said to Hu Li:

"The subsequent integration matters will be left to you to handle in coordination with my Teng Family. Be sure to stabilize the situation and complete the handover as quickly as possible!"

"I shall follow your orders, My Lord!" Hu Li bowed and accepted the command, his posture incredibly submissive.

A great weight was finally lifted from Shadow's heart.

He had thought this trip to the Hu Family would take some effort, but the result was unexpectedly smooth.

Although he felt something was off during the process, revealing a bit of strangeness, he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was.

Fortunately, the outcome was perfect!

This internal power transition within the Hu Family played out exactly according to the script pre-written by the Teng Family, without a single flaw, and was even more efficient.

However, he did not know that from the moment he stepped into this discussion hall, everything he saw was merely a meticulously rehearsed play.

Every expression, every line, every emotional outburst, and even every exchange of glances hit the invisible beats with precision.

Everyone, their emotions and desires at this moment turned into invisible "strings" held firmly in the hands of Murong Jingyang deep within the Hu Family, who manipulated them like puppets to perform the play.

Meanwhile, the members of the Teng Family, who thought they were the masters of everything, remained completely unaware that they were still part of the play.

Over the next two days, Hu Li used thunderous methods to purge the hardliners within the main and side branches and recruited those who were wavering.

Key nodes of the Hu Family's ancestral land, such as the core of the Mountain-Protecting Array, the storehouse, the Pill Refining Room, and the Scripture Pavilion, were all replaced with the Teng Family's Shadow Guards.

At the same time, Shadow sent a signal to the Teng Family: the Hu Family had been brought into the fold, and they could take over.

Thus, on the evening of the third day, amidst the churning gray mist, a giant Flying Boat thirty zhang long and dark cyan in color slowly sailed out.

The Flying Boat was shaped like a giant shuttle-like leaf, its hull carved with dense vine-like formation patterns that were currently flickering with an eerie green spiritual light, emitting powerful spiritual energy fluctuations.

At the bow, a large black flag embroidered with a hideous ancient vine pattern flapped loudly in the wind.

The cabin door opened silently.

Over a dozen figures flew out first and stood in the air; they were all Foundation Establishment Elders of the Teng Family, each with a steady aura and eyes like lightning, coldly scanning the Hu Family members waiting below.

Immediately following them, a figure stepped out as if taking a leisurely stroll.

He wore a simple dark green robe, his long hair tied with a wooden hairpin. His face was lean and refined, looking only forty or fifty years old, save for his eyes, which were deep like ancient pools, with sharp glints flashing as they opened and closed.

It was the Old Ancestor of the Teng Family, the Golden Core True Person—Teng Qianjue!

"Hu Li leads the entire Hu Clan to respectfully welcome Immortal Master Teng's arrival!"

Hu Li was the first to speak, and in the next moment, he knelt down without hesitation.

As he moved, the thousands of clansmen behind him also knelt in unison, kowtowing toward the dark green figure in the sky.

"We respectfully welcome the Immortal Master's arrival!!!"

Nearly a thousand voices converged, piercing the clouds and echoing through the sky.

Teng Qianjue's gaze slowly swept over the dense crowd below, and finally, a flash of unabashed satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Once upon a time, when the Hu Family's Old Ancestor was still alive, the Black Sha Marsh was a tripartite balance between the Liu, Teng, and Hu families, each restraining the others, with none able to overcome the rest.

He had fought overtly and covertly with that Old Ghost Hu for over a hundred years, competing for resources and plotting for territory. Countless times he had wished to eliminate the other, yet he had never succeeded.

Who would have thought that in just three short years, the world would be turned upside down