Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao soon entered the Xie Family's residence and met the Xie Family ancestor, who was sitting in a wicker chair outside the ancestral hall.

The old man, who had once served as a Minister of the Six Ministries, now looked every bit his age. Sitting in the wicker chair, he seemed unable to rise no matter how hard he tried.

His time was running out.

Seeing how frail he had become, Chen Chao felt a pang of sadness.

The current state of the Great Liang Dynasty was, while directly forged by successive emperors, only able to reach where it was today because of the support of these veteran ministers.

Among them, this old ancestor of the Xie Family had contributed immeasurably, after all, he was the helmsman of one of Great Liang's two great families.

From beginning to end, he had never once thought of hindering the Great Liang Emperor and Chen Chao's steps.

The Xie Family ancestor opened his clouded eyes, looked at the young man before him, moved his lips, and said with some effort, "There's nothing to be sad about. Everyone reaches the end eventually, it's only a matter of sooner or later."

"Although this old man is about to reach the end, I keep telling myself to slow down, slower still, because this old man truly want to see you reclaim the thirty thousand miles of the desolate north, slaughter every last demon of the northern demon race, and ensure that the human race never again suffers even the slightest calamity from the demon race."

The Xie Family ancestor said softly, "The great chaos of the Great Jin Dynasty nearly caused the Divine Continent to sink, and left the human race of later generations unable to hold their heads high from the moment they were born. When this old man was young, I loved reading history the most, but whenever I came to that part, I would invariably break down in tears."

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chao ultimately chose not to utter grand words to comfort this Minister Xie, and instead said with a bitter smile, "It won't be easy just to hold the line, Minister Xie, you..."

The Xie Family ancestor waved his hand and smiled. "In this regard, you're far inferior to that girl Nandu. She certainly sees it clearly. This time, the demon race is marching south with the strength of their entire race because they are determined to the utmost. But such things have always been double-edged swords. By gathering all their strength and marching south, there is naturally a very good chance they can wipe out the Great Liang Dynasty entirely. But if they fail to accomplish that, they will have to suffer the consequences themselves. If we rise and launch a northern campaign, there is a very good chance we can directly overturn them."

Chen Chao was stunned. He truly had never considered this point before. But after his brief surprise, he said indifferently, "It's not a problem. As long as she's over there, I can be her foot soldier."

The Xie Family ancestor glanced at Chen Chao and teased, "A peerless martial artist of the Fuyun Realm being ordered about like this, I'm afraid no Great General has ever enjoyed such an honor."

Chen Chao smiled and did not speak.

The Xie Family ancestor coughed several times. "Cough, cough... This old man has long known why you've come. The Lu Family has plenty of money, so they should contribute more. The Xie Family doesn't have that much money, but we'll still provide both men and funds. Once my Xie Family takes the lead, the rest will have to follow and pay up. There's no need for you to worry about this sort of thing. This old man has dealt with that bunch for an entire lifetime, so I naturally know how to talk to them. You can rest easy and concern yourself with other matters."

Chen Chao nodded. His late-night visit to the Xie Family had indeed been for this very matter. Since the Xie Family ancestor had spoken, things would be much easier.

The Xie Family ancestor waved his hand and smiled. "Go on. I know you're a busy man. Don't stay here keeping this old man company."

Chen Chao cupped his hands in salute and was about to take his leave.

The Xie Family ancestor suddenly remembered something else and asked with a smile, "Kiddo Chen, when are you going to marry that girl Nandu?" "Don't wait too long. These old bones of mine won't be able to hold on much longer."

Chen Chao turned around with a smile. "Then Minister Xie will have to wait a little longer. I still have to prepare a betrothal gift that no one else under heaven could possibly produce."

The Xie Family ancestor smiled and said nothing more, merely waving his hand.

Chen Chao strode away in large strides.

......

......

As Chen Chao left the Xie Family manor, many people also departed from the manor at the same time, taking advantage of the cover of night to head for the various great families of the Divine Capital. They carried invitations bearing the seal of the Xie Family Ancestor. Presumably, no one who received such an invitation would think of refusing the Xie Family Ancestor, who now stood unrivaled after the fall of the Wei Family.

The Great Liang Dynasty was still far from the point of teetering on the brink, and there was no reason yet to think about a change of dynasty. Thus, when the heads of the great families received the invitations, none of them hesitated, and that very night they hurried to the Xie Family.

However, when carriage after carriage arrived before the Xie Family residence, they were astonished to discover that the Xie Family was brightly illuminated tonight, with its main gate standing wide open!

This caused the arriving family heads to exchange bewildered glances. They all knew that for a first-rate aristocratic family like the Xie Family, the main gate would never be opened lightly. Over the years, aside from His Majesty the Emperor, only the previous and current Lord Warden Commander had ever been welcomed through the Xie Family's main gate.

Now that the Wei Family had fallen and the Xie Family stood alone at the pinnacle, it was even less likely for the main gate to be opened.

None of the heads of the great families believed that their arrival warranted such a grand reception from the Xie Family.

They merely assumed that the Xie Family had another distinguished guest in attendance.

As for who that distinguished guest might be, there was hardly any need to think about it.

It could only be that young Lord Warden Commander.

Thinking of this, they became even more eager to see the young Lord Warden Commander who, according to the rumors from a few days ago, had fought the Demon Emperor and even driven him beyond the borders of the realm. But after waiting for quite some time, all they saw was an aged figure slowly appearing before the Xie Family's main gate, carrying a lantern.

Taking a closer look, everyone instantly recognized who it was and immediately greeted him with cupped hands, "Greetings, Minister Xie!"

When addressing this leader of the Xie Family, everyone still preferred to call him simply "Minister Xie."

The Xie Family Ancestor raised his head and opened his turbid eyes to look at the assembled family heads before saying bluntly, "There's no need to speculate. The Xie Family has opened its main gate today not for anyone else, but for all of you."

"I wish to discuss an important matter with all of you. It is not for any individual, and so today, all of you are worthy of entering through my Xie Family's main gate."

The Xie Family Ancestor swept his gaze across the crowd before laboriously beginning to bend at the waist, "This old man offers my thanks to all of you in advance."

Seeing the Xie Family Ancestor bow in this manner, although he had yet to say what the matter was, the family heads had already guessed much of it. They all bent at the waist as well and replied in unison, "We dare not refuse!"

......

......

Meanwhile, Chen Chao had already entered the palace and met His Highness the Crown Prince.

The night was deep. There were probably no officials who could enter the palace without first reporting their arrival, nor any officials who could wake His Highness the Crown Prince from his bed without earning his displeasure.

But there were always exceptions.

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