Killing the people of the Elder Council and making such a big scene.
If the Elder Council remains indifferent, how will other noble families view it?
Moreover, the family to which Director Xu belongs is part of the Elder Council. Even if the other members of the Elder Council want to let things slide, the Xu Family is unlikely to agree.
"For now, we are still relatively safe."
Shi Tao suddenly said.
"Huh?"
Several people looked puzzled.
Shi Tao shook his head.
Before Chen Fan left, he told him something.
As long as Chen Fan was fine, the people of the Jiangnan Martial Arts Association would also be safe.
However, if Chen Fan got into trouble.
Their fate would be ten times, a hundred times worse than before.
...
Baijiang City.
The Song Family, which boasts three Celestial Realm Martial Artists and has been around for a thousand years, resides here.
At this moment, the entire family was in chaos.
The events in Jiangnan City spread like a virus, one person telling ten, ten telling a hundred, and soon the entire upper echelon of Yan Country knew.
Even at the mid-level, countless people had heard the news.
"What should we do? What should we do?"
In the family hall, someone paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan, completely at a loss.
That was still an understatement.
Many people were already slumped in their chairs, their minds blank.
In this battle in Jiangnan City, their Song Family suffered the worst.
Two grand elders, both the former and current patriarchs, were all killed.
As for the missing Seventh Ancestor, there had been no news for so long, he was surely dead as well.
The Song Family was done for.
Setting aside whether that guy named Chen Fan would come for revenge.
Even other families in the city wouldn’t pass up such a good chance to carve them up.
If you put yourself in their shoes, if a major family declined, wouldn’t the Song Family also pounce to take a big bite?
"In my opinion, we should just divide the family property and each return to our own homes," someone suggested.
As his words fell, many people looked over.
The middle-aged man continued, "We are just True Essence Realm Martial Artists, and to be honest, we’ve been living in luxury. If a real fight breaks out, we’d struggle even against those of the same realm. Gathering together here makes us a sitting target. We’d be better off dividing the family’s assets to avoid them falling into others’ hands."
Hearing this, the others were tempted.
Yes, the patriarchs were dead, but the family’s inheritance was still immense, at least to them.
Especially that spatial treasure.
And most likely, the grand elders had hidden the Divine Demon-level Martial Arts in the secret realm.
In truth, that would be a hot potato—whoever got it would be inviting trouble.
But if they thought differently, they could immediately transfer it to other families, or even the Elder Council.
It would both shift the risk and bring significant benefits.
In an instant, everyone began to argue, their voices rising, as if whoever was the loudest made the most sense.
"Shut up!"
At that moment, someone slammed the table and stood up.
"If anyone dares mention dividing the heritage again, don’t blame me for expelling them from the Song Family!"
The crowd was startled and looked at the man in his sixties or seventies.
They instinctively showed fear in their eyes.
For he was the brother of the former patriarch. Even the current patriarch, Song Tian, would address him respectfully as uncle.
But the times had changed.
The Song Family was nearing its end.
Did these things even matter anymore?
"Uncle."
The middle-aged man who first proposed dividing the inheritance raised an eyebrow and said, "If we don’t divide it now, are we supposed to wait for other families to carve us up? Better to keep it within the family."
"Brother Yong is right. Our grand elders’ deaths are surely known by now. If we don’t act fast, it will be too late."
Several voices chimed in to agree.
They were also True Essence Realm Martial Artists. In the past, they might not have stood out in the Song Family, but times had changed, and now they were a cut above the rest.
As for their uncle, with his waning strength, even as a True Essence Realm Martial Artist, he no longer scared them.
"You!"
The old man was so angry that he slammed the table repeatedly, pointing at the speakers:
"Do you think taking the family’s assets will ensure your safety? Dream on! No matter how much you take, you’ll have to spit it out, and even then, your lives will be at stake! And you—just the same!"
The old man scanned the room, "Need I explain that taking something without being able to keep it isn’t worth it?"
Most people bowed their heads.
On closer thinking, it seemed true.
Other families wouldn’t be fools. Once they find out, they would capture everyone who knows and extract the information.
Even Song Yong and his group hesitated.
If the Beast Tide hadn’t erupted, they could hide in a smaller city after taking some assets. It wouldn’t be so easy to find them.
But with the Beast Tide, only three mega cities and a dozen large cities remained. If someone wanted to track them, it would be easy.
"Uncle, then what should we do?"
Someone asked with a bitter face, "Song Yong is right. With the patriarchs dead, other families will bleed us dry. Eventually, outsiders would benefit."
"Yes, yes."
Everyone nodded repeatedly.
"What else can we do?"
The old man sighed, "Instead of waiting for others to rob us, we should be honest and give it away."
"What!"
The Song Family members stared in disbelief.
Did they hear correctly?
The uncle suggested giving the assets away?
This?
"Treasures, elixirs, cultivation techniques, even wealth—these are external possessions. Our safety is the most important. If we die, what good is having more assets?"
The old man glanced at them.
"Better to give these things to the Elder Council. With these assets, they might protect our Song Family. Even if other families have intentions, they won’t dare act openly. But that’s just on the surface."
The old man shook his head and continued:
"Just the secret realm and the two Divine Demon-level Martial Arts won’t be enough. We must make other families recognize that our Song Family has no more benefits. Properties and the like must also be given away to ensure our survival."
Hearing this, the Song Family members looked at each other.
It’s easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go back.
Having been used to luxury, they now learned that they needed to give away the wealth, meaning a significant drop in their living standards.
"No way!"
At that moment, Song Yong was the first to oppose.
"Uncle, you’re old and confused. The Elder Council shares the blame for our grand elders’ deaths. If it wasn’t for them, would our grand elders have gone there? The Elder Council should be protecting us, not making us give them the secret realm and the Divine Demon-level Martial Arts."
"Exactly! If we must give something, not everything. We’d starve without assets."
"If need be, give the patriarchs’ assets. We have little. Giving it away makes no difference."
Voice after voice followed.
Everyone was agitated.
"Shut up!"
The old man, furious, smashed the table with a slap, "You don’t even listen to me anymore. Do you still recognize the Song Family? Even now, you’re thinking of your little stakes. Are you even..."
His voice trailed off.
The room fell silent.
All eyes turned to the young man who suddenly appeared.