16: Chapter 16 Oppression from Foundation Establishment Families

"Stop!" The voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone looked in the direction the voice came from, where a youth in a black robe was slowly floating mid-air, a white cloud pattern embroidered on his black robe.

"That is?" Chen Changqing asked with doubt.

"That is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Baiyun Mountain Zhao Family! Rumor has it that Foundation Establishment Cultivators can fly without the aid of a flying Magical Artifact, and seeing it now, it is indeed true." Chen Changtian on the side explained.

"Why is the Zhao Family stopping us?" Chen Changyun slowly said. Her injuries were very severe, and she could only be supported by Chen Changling.

"The territory where our several families reside is controlled by the Zhao Family. Although the Zhao Family does not openly oppose the Qi Refining Families below fighting each other, whenever casualties become too heavy, the Zhao Family will step in to mediate." Chen Changtian said.

"However, don't think it's out of the Zhao Family's kindness; they are merely doing it for their own interests." Chen Changling took over the conversation and continued to explain.

"The territory where Qinghe County is located is closest to the Monster Mountain Range. If the families under the Zhao Family suffer massive losses, they will need to bear greater pressure when the beast tide breaks out.

Moreover, every year our Qi Refining Families must also hand over a portion of resources to supply them. If we were completely left to kill each other off, the Zhao Family's income would also suffer a significant loss. After all, such a vast territory is something the Zhao Family cannot completely swallow up on their own, so they can only hand it over to us Qi Refining Families to manage while they collect some benefits from the middle."

"I see." Chen Changqing and Chen Changyun both nodded.

Their gazes looked toward that handsome youth.

"Senior Zhao, the Chen Family has offended our Wu Family and slaughtered many Cultivators of our Wu Family. We hope Senior will uphold justice for our Wu Family."

"Bullshit! It was clearly you Wu Family members who killed my Chen Family people, and now you still have the nerve to make false accusations first." Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin cursed at Wu Linfang in a fit of rage, feeling that this person was utterly despicable.

"Senior, this Wu Linfang has always been treacherous and cunning. We hope Senior will not be deceived by him." Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin looked at the handsome youth before him and said respectfully.

To be honest, Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin was much older than this youth. However, in the immortal cultivation world, the capable are respected; age does not matter, only cultivation level does. Whoever had a higher cultivation level was qualified to receive others' respect.

"Is there any evidence for this matter?" The handsome youth asked with a smile at the corner of his mouth, looking at Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin.

Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin was momentarily stunned, not knowing what medicine the youth was selling in his gourd, so he had to tentatively say: "Reporting to Senior, many people in our clan can testify. Ten days ago, the Xu Family and the Wu Family sent people to ambush and kill a Talisman Master within our clan. That Wu Linchen was one of them, and at that time, one of his arms was severed by my clan member Chen Yuanshan."

"Hmm, I did hear that your clan members Chen Yuanshan and Chen Yuanping were ambushed and killed in different places. Is there such a thing?" Zhao Huaiyi, the handsome youth, said with a forced smile.

As soon as these words came out, Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin realized that the youth before him seemed to have a very big opinion against the Chen Family.

"Indeed, there is such a matter."

"Very well, even if your clan member Chen Yuanshan was besieged and killed by the Zhao Family, how can you prove that Chen Yuanping was besieged and killed by those two families?" Zhao Huaiyi asked back so blatantly.

These words falling into everyone's ears tasted of a certain meaning. As long as they weren't fools, anyone could see that he was here to find trouble with the Chen Family.

Anger and dread filled the eyes of all the Chen Family Cultivators.

"Senior Zhao, I wonder where our Family has done something not quite right. We hope Senior will point it out." Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin lowered his posture and spoke submissively. There was no other way; if their Chen Family truly offended the Zhao Family, then there would be no need to establish themselves in Qinghe County anymore.

Seeing this scene, all the Chen Family Cultivators felt boundless shame in their hearts, yet they dared not do anything. Indeed, the terror of a Foundation Establishment Family was deeply rooted in people's hearts.

As for that group of Wu Family Cultivators, their hearts were extremely excited at this moment. Although they didn't know why Zhao Huaiyi was making things difficult for the Chen Family, as long as he caused trouble for the Chen Family, it was helping them take revenge, and it would be best if the Chen Family could be wiped out. All the Wu Family Cultivators watched with eager anticipation.

"Not really." Zhao Huaiyi said indifferently.

"Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin, do you have anything else to say? If there is no evidence, then we must deal with the matter on its own merits." Zhao Huaiyi continued.

"Nothing more." Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin wore a bitter expression. Since Zhao Huaiyi insisted on targeting their Chen Family, he had no other choice and could only accept all punishments.

"Since you have nothing to say, let's talk about the good deeds your Chen Family did today!" Zhao Huaiyi smiled and said.

"Your Chen Family violated the rules of Qinghe County, this is the first mistake; your Chen Family initiated a war by visiting uninvited and even openly wanted to exterminate another clan, this is the second mistake. Am I right? Does your Chen Family acknowledge this or not?" Zhao Huaiyi bit down extremely hard on the last few words.

"We, the Chen Family..."

Pressured, Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin wanted to admit his mistake, but the guilt in his heart made it truly difficult for him to speak. If he spoke up to admit the mistake, what would happen to those dead clan members? They had died for the Family after all.

All the Chen Family Cultivators were filled with unwillingness at this moment. Even Chen Changqing could only clench his teeth and watch, his eyes splitting with rage. Perhaps this was the sorrow of a Qi Refining Family.

Seeing that Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin was still hesitating, the Foundation Establishment aura radiating from Zhao Huaiyi's body swept outward, suppressing all the Chen Family Cultivators suspended in mid-air.

Such terrifying might!

Chen Changqing's gaze remained fixed over there, watching as those clan members were pressed down so hard they couldn't straighten their backs. His fists were clenched tightly, his five fingers sinking into his flesh, and fresh blood flowed down from his palms as his entire body trembled.

The few people beside him like Chen Changtian were much the same.

"It seems your Chen Family..." Zhao Huaiyi's gaze grew increasingly cold, a flash of murderous intent passing through his eyes.

Feeling that terrifying murderous intent, Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin hurriedly spoke, "We, the Chen Family, acknowledge it! I beg Senior not to harm my clan members." As soon as Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin said these words, his entire person seemed to age by decades in an instant, and his backbone completely bent at this moment.

"Hehe! To know one's mistakes and be able to correct them is the greatest virtue. However, my Zhao Family cannot let your Chen Family off so easily either; otherwise, how can we make the families under our command convinced?" Zhao Huaiyi continued to speak.

"How about this! Ten years from now, the beast tide will arrive once more. At that time, your Chen Family will act as the vanguard, and any Family member who reaches sixteen years of age must participate in the battle.

Also, within these ten years, the tribute quota of your Family will be increased by another twenty percent, and you must produce two thousand Spirit Stones to compensate the Wu Family and the Xu Family. Do you have any objections?" Zhao Huaiyi's tone was filled with unquestionable certainty. However, he wasn't driving the Chen Family to a dead end either, otherwise the Chen Family would have no meaning left to work for their Zhao Family.

This was the method of a Foundation Establishment Family, sucking the marrow and scraping the bones of the families below them. However, there was also a limit, which was to ensure that these Qi Refining Families could continue to develop for a long time.

After all, if these Qi Refining Families were really driven to a dead end, these families would rather go back to being Loose Cultivators than be oppressed by them. Furthermore, above the Foundation Establishment Families, there were still Purple Mansion forces in control.

For instance, the territory where Qinghe County is located was controlled by the Xuantian Sect. To them Foundation Establishment Families, the Xuantian Sect was high and mighty, just like the Foundation Establishment Families were to the Qi Refining Families.

"No objections." Clan Leader Chen Xuanlin's tone sounded as if his strength had been completely drained away.

Then, he paused, and color reappeared in his eyes.

"That is not quite right!" Yet another voice came over.