Chapter 474 - 636 : Cao family wants it!
Within his voice, there was both violent anger and an unconcealable trace of fear toward the flood dragon’s might. Even his voice trembled slightly.
Wentian quietly looked at him, his expression unchanged. His fingertips gently brushed over his storage ring as he said calmly, "If your Cao family wants it, my Jianyi family will accompany you to the end!"
His tone was calm and unruffled, yet carried an unquestionable dominance.
When his words fell, the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard growled again. Moyue also cooperated by swinging his tail and striking the air. As cyan radiance flowed, the pressure grew even stronger.
The surrounding cultivators all held their breaths and watched.
Cao Jiyi swept a glance over Wentian and the others, and his calm voice rang out. "The last time I saw you, you were still at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Now that I see you again, you have actually reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!"
Whether the Cao clansmen or the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the surrounding aristocratic families, all their expressions turned horrified.
"It has only been fifteen years, and he rose from the fourth level of Foundation Establishment to the ninth level?!"
"On average, one realm every three years?"
"Should the speed of cultivation increase not become slower and slower in mid Foundation Establishment and late Foundation Establishment?"
Everyone found it hard to believe.
Then they heard Cao Jiyi continue, "Four peak fourth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators, and two fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivators."
The last, Jianyi Dewen, was directly ignored.
"Jianyi Mingwei and the others are actually like this too?!"
"Does that not mean that in another ten or twenty years, the Jianyi family will have at least six more cultivators at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment or even Foundation Establishment completion?!"
The crowd erupted in astonishment, discussing one after another.
"Senior Cao, why do all of you like exposing things so much? Is it not better to leave some room for each other?"
"You must know, probing into others’ secrets is a very dangerous matter!"
Wentian narrowed his eyes slightly. Looking toward Cao Jiyi, his gaze showed no fear at all.
Then he turned, his gaze sweeping around. "Do all of you also wish to investigate my Jianyi family’s secrets?"
When everyone heard this, their expressions changed. None dared meet his eyes.
"Speak. Why have you come to my Cao family?" Cao Jiyi said.
"Senior Cao is straightforward!" Wentian smiled faintly. "First, several months ago, Great Jin’s Sima family and Xue family openly led large groups of cultivators to besiege my Jianyi family. Why did your Cao family do nothing?"
Cao Jiyi looked at Wentian. Seeing his expression, he knew it was useless for the Cao family to deny it.
Thus, he said, "It was a private grudge. My Cao family could not conveniently interfere. Moreover, with the Sima and Xue families joining hands, my Cao clan was powerless to stop them."
"What fine private grudges!" Wentian chuckled. "As Great Wei’s ruler, it is normal for the Cao clan not to interfere in grudges between Great Wei’s various aristocratic families.
"But the Sima and Xue families are demonic cultivators of Great Jin. Has your Cao clan forgotten the order you once issued?"
"In the immortal cultivation world, strength ultimately speaks. My Cao family cannot start a war with two great Golden Core aristocratic families because of your Jianyi family. That would only cause more aristocratic families to suffer harassment from demonic cultivators."
"What a fine ’strength speaks’!" Wentian smiled slightly, then said again, "But from the mouths of the Sima and Xue families, I learned that this matter seemed to have received your Cao family’s tacit approval.
"Including the matter afterward, when the Xue family’s Golden Core ancestor came to plunder my Jianyi family.
"If my Jianyi family did not have a few trump cards, I fear our entire clan would already have been exterminated."
Everyone did not find it surprising. After all, with a third-rank flood dragon protecting the clan, the newly advanced Golden Core of the Xue family naturally would not dare go too far.
"Since your Cao family does not wish to protect my Jianyi family, then from today onward, my Jianyi family is no longer a vassal of Great Wei. And of Great Wei’s twenty-two commanderies, my Jianyi family wants half!
"This includes Taiyuan and Langya Commanderies!
"Senior Cao, do you have any objection?"
Cao Jiyi’s gaze was cold as he said calmly, "Fine!"
"Ancestor!" The Cao Foundation Establishment cultivators shouted one after another.
"All of you shut up. The current Jianyi family has this qualification!"
The Cao disciples all lowered their heads and eyes. No one responded.
The watching Foundation Establishment cultivators of the various families were not surprised in the slightest. Instead, they whispered in groups of two or three, their expressions calm.
"It seems Ancestor Cao had already expected this scene and made his decision. After all, the Jianyi family has a third-rank flood dragon and can even invite the Zhao family’s clan-protecting spirit beast to assist."
A gray-robed old man nodded in agreement. "The Jianyi family will not easily go to war with the Cao family either. An old Golden Core aristocratic family, and one with a third-rank clan-protecting grand formation, how could it be broken through easily?
"However, the unresolved case of the Xue family from some time ago can now be concluded. It should have been done by the Jianyi family!"
No few people nodded.
"Second, my Jianyi family has come here today to settle previous grudges with the Cao family. If the grudges are cleared, then from now on, each of us guards one side and does not interfere with the other."
"What grudges?" Cao Jiyi’s brows furrowed slightly.
"Cao Shengming schemed to kill my Jianyi clansmen. Cao Jinyan plotted to frame my Jianyi family’s reputation. Cao Defeng ambushed this Jianyi and sent people to attack my Jianyi family’s vassal.
"Cao Yulong forcibly married Ye Xuehua, a genius of the Zhou clan, my Jianyi family’s vassal, causing her death."
"My Jianyi family never provokes others, but if others offend us, we will repay it tenfold." His tone was calm, yet it rolled across the plaza like thunder. "I want the lives of the corresponding members of your Cao clan, as well as forty elite late Qi Refining disciples of the Cao clan, to repay the lives of my grandson and great-grandson!"