189: Chapter 188 Nine Luminaries Ancestor

The expression on Xuanyuan Yao's Face stiffened for a split second.

But it vanished so quickly that no one saw it clearly.

He put his hands behind his back, puffed out his chest, and spoke with a tone of natural confidence:

"Management? Hmph, the position I hold is extremely important."

"Let me put it this way: the daily operations of the Sect cannot function without me."

"In fact, the security of the entire Sect falls within the scope of my responsibilities."

This wasn't technically a lie; he woke up every day before dawn to sweep the Sect grounds.

Rain or shine, he didn't miss a single fallen leaf.

He had even worn several brooms down to the nub.

The Sect was kept spotless every day—could its operations really function without him?

As for security, when the ground is clean, people are naturally less likely to trip and fall.

The Elders had no way of knowing this. Hearing the Old Ancestor speak with such certainty, they were instantly filled with respect.

"As expected of the Old Ancestor! To think you could become part of the management even at an Immortal Sect!"

"When the Old Ancestor takes action, the results are truly extraordinary!"

"I knew it! With the Old Ancestor's Middle Stage Great Emperor cultivation, how could the Immortal Sect not put him in an important position!"

The Elders chimed in with their flattery, each more excited than the last.

His old Face turning slightly red from their praise, Xuanyuan Yao quickly gave a dry cough and waved his hand:

"Enough, enough. None of that is important."

He paused, his tone softening,

"How has the Family been during the time I was away?"

As soon as he said this, the excitement on the Elders' Faces vanished instantly.

The leading Elder said with a bitter Face:

"Old Ancestor, you know that our Tiangu Province only has two Emperor-level powers: our Xuanyuan Clan and the Jiuyao Divine Palace."

"That Ancestor Jiuyao is only at the Early Stage of the Great Emperor Realm. Back when you were here, although there was friction between our two houses, we maintained Face on the surface."

"But ever since word spread that you died at the Taixuan Sect, the Jiuyao Divine Palace changed its tune. First, they tested us at several mineral veins, then they moved on to blatant robbery. They've even poached several of our subordinate forces."

Another Elder took over the conversation:

"What's even more outrageous is that a few days ago, the Jiuyao Divine Palace sent their Vice Palace Master to our ancestral land. In front of all the subordinate forces, he claimed that since the Xuanyuan Clan no longer has a Great Emperor presiding over it, we should just hand over the rest of our territory in Tiangu Province to save them the trouble of taking it by force."

"Old Ancestor, if you had returned a few days later, we might not have even been able to protect our ancestral land."

After hearing this, Xuanyuan Yao's Face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot:

"Damn it, that old ghost Jiuyao? Back then, he was crying and begging for me to guide his Cultivation. Now, how long have I been gone before he dares to shit on my people's heads? He's absolutely revolting!"

Just as the leading Elder was about to speak, a powerful aura suddenly pressed down from the sky above the ancestral land.

Immediately after, Ancestor Jiuyao's voice echoed throughout the entire Xuanyuan ancestral land:

"People of the Xuanyuan Clan! This Ancestor has arrived in person. Why haven't you scrambled out to welcome me!"

The Faces of the Elders in the hall changed slightly. The leader instinctively moved to rush outside.

He muttered, "This is bad, this is bad. Ancestor Jiuyao has come in person."

Another Elder beside him grabbed him and said unhurriedly:

"What's the rush? Our Old Ancestor is sitting right there. What the hell are you afraid of?"

The Elder froze, looked at Xuanyuan Yao, his Face still showing a hint of daze.

Right, the Old Ancestor has returned.

He sheepishly retreated to his original position.

Xuanyuan Yao, who was holding back a stomach full of fire with nowhere to vent, heard Ancestor Jiuyao's voice outside and laughed out of pure rage:

"Damn it, perfect timing. I was just thinking about settling the score with him, and he delivers himself right to my door."

At this moment, throughout the Xuanyuan ancestral land, the ordinary clansmen did not yet know that their Old Ancestor had returned.

They only felt the Great Emperor's imperial might descending from the sky and heard that overbearing ultimatum.

Their Faces turned pale, and the palms of the young Disciples were soaked with cold sweat.

The Great Emperor of the Jiuyao Divine Palace had arrived in person, while the Xuanyuan Clan couldn't produce even a single Great Emperor. How could they fight this battle?

Ancestor Jiuyao stood with his hands behind his back amidst the clouds, looking down at the Xuanyuan ancestral land below, his heart filled with self-satisfaction.

Back when Xuanyuan Yao was still around, he was one minor Realm lower than Xuanyuan Yao.

He had always been a step behind.

Later, Xuanyuan Yao had caused trouble at the Taixuan Sect's Disciple recruitment ceremony and was captured on the spot.

The entire Central Region knew that the Xuanyuan Clan had offended the Taixuan Immortal Sect.

Initially, he hadn't been in a rush to strike. He simply slowly encroached upon the Xuanyuan Clan's territory—occupying a few mineral veins today, poaching a few subordinate forces tomorrow.

He had to keep up appearances, after all.

But things were different now.

The Taixuan Sect wanted to unify the Desolate Ancient Realm. Anyone who didn't submit within three days would die. He asked himself, what could he, an Early Stage Great Emperor, do to stop them?

Therefore, he hadn't even considered resisting.

Submission was mandatory. But before submitting...

If he wiped out the Xuanyuan Clan, seized their territory and resources, and then brought this 'merit' to submit to the Taixuan Immortal Sect, wouldn't that be wonderful?

He had run these numbers over and over in his head, and the more he calculated, the more he felt like a Genius.

"Listen up, all members of the Xuanyuan Clan!"

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, and his voice rose a few notches,

"Your Old Ancestor died long ago; no one is coming to save you! Today, this seat shall trample the Xuanyuan Clan into the dust."

Behind Ancestor Jiuyao, a figure saw the opportunity and stepped forward, cupping his hands:

"Old Ancestor, for a mere Xuanyuan Clan with no Great Emperor to guard it, why should you need to act personally? This subordinate is willing to lead the vanguard for the Old Ancestor!"

This person was the very same Vice Palace Master who had come to the Xuanyuan ancestral land to deliver the message a few days ago. Back then, he had dared to slam the table while alone; now, with Ancestor Jiuyao at his back, he was even more arrogant, his nose pointed toward the sky.

Ancestor Jiuyao laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Good! You shall be the one!"

The Vice Palace Master took a step forward in the air, his Quasi-Emperor cultivation aura exploding without restraint as he swung a palm toward the mountain gate of the Xuanyuan ancestral land below.

The Xuanyuan clansmen below watched the descending palm print.

The color drained from their Faces, and only one thought remained in their minds—why haven't the Elders appeared yet?

Just as the palm was about to land, a voice rang out from the direction of the Ancestral Hall:

"A mere Quasi-Emperor shows such audacity. On the territory of my Xuanyuan Clan, is it your turn to be so rampant?"

Immediately, an even more terrifying power erupted from the direction of the Ancestral Hall, directly shattering the palm print into dust.

The residual force did not dissipate but headed straight for the Vice Palace Master.

The arrogance on the Vice Palace Master's Face instantly turned to terror. He frantically retreated while screaming hoarsely:

"Old Ancestor, save me!"

Ancestor Jiuyao frowned and raised a hand to block the residual force of the counterattack.

He withdrew his hand, his expression darkening as his gaze fell toward the Ancestral Hall.

A figure slowly rose into the air from the Ancestral Hall, followed by several Elders.

Xuanyuan Yao stood in mid-air with his hands behind his back, his Middle Stage Great Emperor pressure spreading out without reservation.

In the ancestral land below, the clansmen who were previously in despair looked at the familiar figure. There was a deathly silence at first, followed by an explosion of earth-shattering joy.

"It's the Old Ancestor!"

"The Old Ancestor isn't dead!"

"The Old Ancestor has returned!"

Ancestor Jiuyao stared at Xuanyuan Yao, his Face shifting through various emotions.

Xuanyuan Yao isn't dead? How is that possible?

The Taixuan Sect didn't kill him?

Ancestor Jiuyao took a deep breath and stared at the figure, his voice low:

"You actually didn't die."

Xuanyuan Yao stood with his hands behind his back, not even lifting his eyelids:

"What, are you very disappointed?"