Everyone sighed a breath of relief when Woo Lejia stopped the vibration from the nine-ringed saber, but a clamor was heard outside the hall. Although the noise stopped when someone yelled, nobody knew what happened.

It turned out that Woo Lejia did not control his power well when he unleashed the magic nine-ringed saber’s soundwave attack, causing some disciples, who were carrying out their duties as protectors, to pass out as they were caught off guard.

Fortunately, Woo Lejia did not bring his emotions into the process or the consequence would be several times worse than this.

“Brother Ou, I’m afraid I can’t repay your kindness.” Woo Lejia put down the nine-ringed saber and looked deeply at Ou Yangming. He later expressed seriously, “I’ll set off tomorrow to station myself in Changlong County. Unless the disaster between Changlong County and Linlang County ends, I won’t return to the capital!”

Woo Taiping’s face changed. He was about to speak when he glanced at Ou Yangming and the nine-ringed saber, so he sighed and decided to keep quiet.

Ou Yangming had given Woo Lejia an amazing gift by helping him become a Supreme Great Ancestor in the ring that day.

Woo Lejia was willing to watch over Changlong County for 10 years to repay the kind act, but now that Ou Yangming had also given the Woo family a magic tool, which could be their clan’s heirloom…

As said by Woo Lejia, he could no longer repay the deed.

Even if the spirit beast, which was going to ravage the world, appeared in front of Woo Lejia, he could only sacrifice himself by fighting it with the treasure saber; he was left with no choice.

Needless to say, the treasure saber would certainly be returned to the Woo family and become the clan’s inherited ultimate treasure even if Woo Lejia died in the fight.

Ou Yangming responded with bright eyes. “If that’s the case, thank you, Brother Woo.” Woo Lejia laughed out loud. “Brother Ou, you’re the one who’s being too polite.”

Ou Yangming shook his head and stated after some thought, “Brother Woo, I actually came to ask you for a favor.”

“Brother Ou, let me know what you need. I’ll go through boiling water and tread on fire without furrowing my eyebrows!” Woo Lejia struck his chest without any hesitation.

“You’re exaggerating it, Brother Woo. I only wanted to ask you to deliver a message to your friends; I’d like to meet them as soon as possible.” Ou Yangming could not help but laugh.

Woo Lejia was stunned, but he quickly reacted to the situation. “Brother Ou, don’t worry. It’s a small matter, and I’m sure they’ve been hoping for this chance.”

Ou Yangming naturally meant those who received his grace during the Myriad Treasure Meet and became Supreme Great Ancestors. They had not visited the young fellow due to a certain reason, but given that he gave up on that request, the situation would be entirely different.

The new Supreme Great Ancestors and their respective clans would fawn over Ou Yangming at all costs. Woo Taiping smiled with narrowed eyes and asked all of a sudden, “Master Ou, why are you summoning them? Hehe, our clan is also quite sensible, so we might be able to help you.”

Ou Yangming pondered and replied to the great ancestor, “Thank you for your good intention, senior, but it’ll be better if I announce it myself.”

“Okay, we’ll follow your orders.” Woo Taiping looked deeply at the young fellow.

After having dinner in the Woo residence, Ou Yangming left even though the others fervently asked him to stay. Before he went off, Woo Lejia stood next to his carriage and asked softly, “Brother Ou, aren’t you being too impatient if you summon them now?”

Ou Yangming grinned and thought, ‘Indeed, not one of them is a fool.

‘As long as they’re not dumb, they should’ve guessed my intention after I asked for the favor. In any case, I’m not planning to hide the truth. I’m giving them an option, and the final decision is still up to them.’

“Brother Woo, honestly, I’ve been feeling ill-at-ease lately.” Ou Yangming sighed and looked in the distance. “I can feel that a storm is brewing, so I must instill the same idea in everyone’s mind as soon as possible or I might be caught off guard one day and will regret it for the rest of my life.”

Woo Lejia’s face changed, and he noted sternly, “I understand. Brother Ou, don’t worry, I’ll handle everything for you.”

Ou Yangming nodded and uttered out of the blue, “Brother Woo, you don’t have to go.” “What?” Woo Lejia was baffled. Following that, Ou Yangming entered the carriage and closed the curtains. The carriage started moving and went far away after he gave the order, but it was then that Woo Lejia heard a voice as soft as an insect’s buzz. “Brother Woo, how many powerhouses from your clan are at the peak of Yang Grade?”

Woo Lejia trembled and stared at Ou Yangming’s carriage. His eyes sparkled so brightly that it was shocking.

Once the carriage was completely out of his sight, a figure appeared beside him as Woo Taiping showed up without a sound. The great ancestor asked, “What did Master Ou say?”

“Brother Ou said some words,” Woo Lejia answered after he curbed his thought. He smiled bitterly as he continued, “Based on those words alone, even if the imperial family’s most powerful elder makes an appearance, he won’t be able to stop the clans.”

Woo Taiping had a grave look on his face. “Is Master Ou really going to smith magic tools for the other clans too?”

He figured that this was the only way Ou Yangming could fulfill his wish.

Who knew, Woo Lejia shook his head and said, “Master Ou asked me a question.”

“What?”

“How many powerhouses from the Woo family are at the peak of Yang Grade?” “Hiss…”

Even the mighty Woo Taiping could not help but gasp at the moment. He exclaimed, “Did Master Ou really ask that?” “Yes, and he’s capable of doing that,” Woo Lejia answered firmly.

Woo Taiping’s face twitched, but he finally sighed after some time. “I understand. Master Ou wasn’t asking how many powerhouses at the peak of Yang Grade the Woo family has; he asked… How many of such powerhouses there are in the world.”

“That’s right, so no matter what the imperial family chooses this time, as long as they don’t intend to kill him, they can’t confine him anymore.” Woo Lejia forced a smile.

Woo Taiping looked grim, and he turned around abruptly and instructed, “Do your best to help Master Ou, and you mustn’t delay the matter.”

Woo Lejia nodded and questioned, “What about you?”

“I’m going to enter the palace. I don’t know if Master Ou is indirectly asking us to notify the imperial family, but this can’t be put off any longer,” Woo Taiping spoke helplessly. Subsequently, he flashed and disappeared in the dark.

****

Ou Yangming closed his eyes and rested in the carriage, but he was perturbed because countless thoughts crossed his mind.

He received information during these past few days that the imperial family had been covertly exerting pressure on the new Supreme Great Ancestors and their respective forces. As such, those clans dared not get in touch with him yet. In actuality, any of those clans alone could not be on par with the imperial family but together as one, they could overthrow the family.

Nonetheless, firstly, the imperial family had a supreme powerhouse who could repress the fate of the world, hence the other forces dared not act recklessly. Secondly, Ou Yangming’s request was equivalent to asking those forces to act against their will; none of them were willing to take the risk before the ultimate disaster. Now, Ou Yangming gave up wanting to invite Wu Yuanwei to the immense forest. He shifted his focus back on the newly-advanced Supreme Great Ancestors.

Moreover, he had a last resort. Even if the great ancestors from the aristocratic families refused to help as they treasured their lives, he had a plan to counter the issue.

It was true that the disciples from the aristocratic families were given the best resources, which was why those families had higher chances of having powerhouses. Nevertheless, among ordinary cultivators with more potency, there were likely many more powerhouses at the peak of Yang Grade as compared to all the aristocratic families as a whole.

While the qualities of those powerhouses were uneven, Ou Yangming could surely attract a bunch of followers if he gave sufficient benefits and threats.

Of course, without influential clans behind those powerhouses, it would be toilsome for Ou Yangming to join hands with them unlike cooperating with an aristocratic family, where everything was well-arranged.

Ou Yangming left the carriage when it stopped. Just as he was about to enter the courtyard, a figure appeared in the dark.

The young fellow’s eyebrows twitched, and he was ready to attack at any time. This was because he instantly sensed an enormous pressure, which was enough to prove the person’s identity thought the pressure was only released for a split second.

It was a Supreme Great Ancestor, and an experienced one. The great ancestor was superior to Woo Lejia, who had just broken through.

How could Ou Yangming be careless against an individual like that?

However, Ou Yangming could not help but frown when he saw who it was; he was displeased.

“Senior Zhang Tianshi, why are you here so late at night? Are you planning to kill me?” He sneered.

Zhang Tianshi, whom Ou Yangming had met once, walked out from the corner. He and Cheng Bingyu confronted the young fellow outside the immense forest in the past, and he almost lost his life that day.

“Master Ou, you’re joking. That’s not my intention at all.” Zhang Tianshi turned pale then flushed.

Ou Yangming scorned. “Why have you come then?”

Zhang Tianshi was red with anger because he had never been dressed down before. That said, it was different this time because he did not have the guts to vent his anger in front of Ou Yangming.

He forced a smile and cupped his hands. “Master Ou, please forgive me for visiting you without notice, but I’m here to apologize to you.”

“Apologize?” Ou Yangming was surprised. “Yes. The Zhang family had two unworthy disciples—Zhang Yinli and Zhang Yinfan. They lived on us while secretly helping others, and they framed upright people. Although they were punished accordingly and deserved more than death, the Zhang family is a cultured clan,” Zhang Tianshi explained. Afterward, several men came out when he waved his hand, each of them carrying two big gift boxes, which they placed outside the courtyard.

“Master Ou, these are some modest gifts from the Zhang family as a token of apology. Please kindly accept them.”

Zhang Tianshi then bowed to the ground and left with his men before Ou Yangming could say a word.

Ou Yangming was taken aback when he looked at the gifts. He wondered, ‘The Zhang family converted too quickly, didn’t they?’