327: Tianlijiao!

"Boom—!!!"

A muffled, thunderous sound interrupted Duan Hong's wailing!

Duan Tianxiong, seated in the main seat above, had an ashen face and his chest heaved violently. The Spiritual Pressure of the Mid-stage Golden Core contained within him was practically bursting forth, causing the entire Great Hall to tremble slightly.

The desk in front of him, made of Third-tier Sinking Dark Ironwood, was smashed into pieces by his angry palm, sending wood chips flying!

The wailing stopped abruptly. Duan Hong's bandage-wrapped head turned with difficulty, the single exposed eye filled with fear as he looked at the enraged Duan Tianxiong.

He had never seen his father get so angry at him.

Duan Tianxiong wanted to say something, but looking at his son, who was already unrecognizable on the Jade Couch, his lips moved, yet he couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

What misfortune for the Family!

Just think of him, Duan Tianxiong, a dignified Golden Core Middle Stage Immortal Master, considered a notable figure in this Northern Territory!

He had enjoyed glory for most of his life, so why did he have to sire such a worthless thing!

Duan Hong usually acted recklessly, bullying men and women. Duan Tianxiong was not entirely unaware, but he usually just turned a blind eye.

In his view, as long as he didn't cause major trouble or provoke those who shouldn't be provoked, he could be left to his own devices.

Afterwards, at most, he would offer some compensation to those involved, and those people, intimidated by the Duan Family's power, would mostly choose to let the matter rest.

But this time was completely different!

Publicly harassing or even assaulting the Family members of the head of a subordinate power—this could no longer be excused as the behavior of a rake.

This was a blatant trampling of others' dignity in full view of the public, tantamount to placing the Duan Family in a position of cruelty and injustice!

The Family Heads of those few subordinate Families holding back from beating Duan Hong to death on the spot was already a show of mercy out of consideration for the Duan Family!

If Duan Tianxiong himself were in their position, he might not have been able to suppress the killing intent.

What gave Duan Tianxiong an even bigger headache was not Duan Hong's despicable behavior itself, but the chain reaction it triggered!

Those few subordinate Families that took action clearly realized the seriousness of the situation.

They didn't wait for the Duan Family to react and seek accountability. Within a short time after the incident, they moved their entire clans with extreme speed.

They also took all the resources and Family disciples they could carry, vanishing without a trace!

By the time the Duan Family received the news and sent people to investigate, the place was already deserted, leaving behind only some "fixed assets" that couldn't be taken and lower-level servants with bewildered expressions.

This flight meant that the Duan Family lost the regular tribute, resource output, and manpower replenishment from these Families.

This was directly weakening the Duan Family's Foundation!

What was worse, this matter couldn't be covered up; it spread rapidly soon after it happened!

It especially reached the ears of the Duan Family's old rival, the "Qi Family," a Golden Core Family also affiliated with the Qingming Immortal Sect, whose strength was comparable to the Duan Family's.

The Qi Family was recently engaged in open and covert struggles with the Duan Family over the "first prize" birthday gift for a certain Old Ancestor of the Qingming Immortal Sect; the two sides were like fire and water.

Having obtained this "heaven-sent opportunity" to beat a dog while it was down, how could the Qi Family let it go?

The Qi Family went all out to mock them in public, exaggerating and spreading Duan Hong's scandal, and publicly declared:

"The Duan Family Young Lord is so immoral, openly humiliating the Family members of subordinates. This shows that the Duan Family is inept at governing its household and incapable of managing its subordinates! How can such a Family protect a region?

Fellow Daoists, why not change your allegiance sooner and join my Qi Family!

My Qi Family will certainly treat you with courtesy, and such outrageous scandals will absolutely never occur!"

After this series of actions, the Duan Family's reputation and credibility suffered a heavy blow.

The morale of many small and medium-sized subordinate Families that were already wavering began to fluctuate, and their dealings with the Duan Family became hesitant and cautious.

Obvious cracks appeared in the network of influence the Duan Family had managed for years.

This was what truly made Duan Tianxiong feel deeply distressed and most furious!

Duan Hong's despicable behavior not only shamed the Family but also shook the Foundation of the Family's rule!

What was lost were tangible benefits and the long-term future!

As for killing the chicken to warn the monkeys?

Now, the "chickens" have all run away!

Not to mention whether they could find those Families, even if they did, a massive slaughter would only further alienate the other subordinate Families, making them view the Duan Family as cruel and unjust, accelerating their escape or their defection to the Qi Family.

But ignoring the matter was even worse!

That would only make the Duan Family appear weak and easily bullied—if they didn't dare to retaliate even when their own Young Lord was beaten, who would take the Duan Family seriously in the future?

Duan Tianxiong was currently stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to advance or retreat.

He glared fiercely at his son, who was still feigning grievance, and finally let out a sigh full of helplessness.

"Why did you suddenly go mad yesterday?" Duan Tianxiong's voice carried weariness and profound doubt.

He understood his 'good' son.

Duan Hong was a scoundrel, but not a completely brainless idiot.

On the contrary, when it came to bullying the weak and fearing the strong, and assessing the situation, he was smarter than many people.

He truly couldn't understand how he could suddenly lose control of his desires in that setting and do such a foolish thing.

This was highly illogical!

As far as Duan Tianxiong knew, although the "Jade Marrow Nectar" consumed that day had a strong kick, Duan Hong usually held his liquor well and shouldn't have completely lost his mind after just a few cups.

Could there be some hidden motive behind this incident?

Did someone deliberately set up Duan Hong to frame him and thereby strike at the Duan Family?

Duan Tianxiong's brow furrowed tightly; his first suspect was naturally his old rival, the Qi Family.

Judging from the motive and the ultimate benefit, the Qi Family was indeed the most suspicious.

But after careful consideration, he felt it wasn't quite right.

Firstly, although the Qi Family was hostile to the Duan Family, their style of conduct had always been self-proclaimed as upright and dignified, at least on the surface.

Over the years of resource competition, they rarely used such underhanded and malicious tactics.

Secondly, even if the Qi Family truly wanted to use a dirty trick and orchestrated such a "Honey Trap," while it would certainly embarrass the Duan Family and cost them a few subordinate Families, it wouldn't inflict a truly crippling blow to the Duan Family's Foundation.

Given the Qi Family's style, they either wouldn't act, or if they did, they would certainly aim for a greater result. The current small disturbance seemed more like seizing an opportunity to kick someone who was down, rather than a carefully planned scheme.

"But if it wasn't the Qi Family, then who could it be?"

Duan Tianxiong fell into deep thought.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he recalled some scattered rumors circulating in the surrounding region recently.

"Tianli Cult?" Duan Tianxiong whispered the name.

This was a mysterious sect that had quietly emerged in the Northern Territory region recently.

They acted secretively, taking "Eliminate Human Desire, Preserve Heavenly Principle" as their sect's doctrine.

Rumor has it that they are skilled at bewitching minds, stirring emotions, and using this to amplify the desires in a Cultivator's heart, thereby attracting followers.