I Become a Martial Arts God in the Chaotic Demon World

On the way to Bai Family, Han Zheng also inquired in detail about the situation of the entire Cold Water Bai Family.

Changlin Prefecture is the closest to the Cold Water Bai Family, so it is the most knowledgeable about the Bai Family's situation.

As one of the five great families, the Cold Water Bai Family should be the weakest.

This is because the entire Bai Family appeared to lack continuity in leadership, and the Bai Family's system was also somewhat unusual.

Every Martial Arts family has lateral branches and direct lines, main veins and side streams.

It's not about creating different classes, but Martial Arts families prioritize bloodlines, which means a family cannot treat everyone equally and must allocate limited resources to a select few.

This leads to the strength of the direct lineage in a Martial Arts family growing stronger over time, while the lateral branches grow weaker, gradually becoming vassals.

However, the Cold Water Bai Family is different. Historically, there have been multiple instances where the main lineage was too incompetent, leading to power being seized by lateral branches.

After seizing power, these lateral branches did not maintain their positions for long before other branches took control.

So strictly speaking, the current direct lineage of the Bai Family is no longer pure; the blood of all lateral branches and the main vein is quite similar.

Consequently, there is no point in emphasizing the direct lineage anymore, so hundreds of years ago, the Bai Family began joint governance.

All lateral branches qualified to vie for the direct lineage, and if the current direct lineage lacked the strength to control the Bai Family, a family meeting would be called, summoning all branches, and the position of Family Head would go to the capable.

This approach not only prevented the Bai Family from internal strife due to changes in the head lineage but also gave disciples in other lateral branches hope, spurring them to train even harder.

The Bai Family's strategy was quite effective, revitalizing the once declining family for several hundred years.

But by now, the drawback has gradually become evident; the Bai Family has a serious shortage of top-tier fighters.

Other families use their limited resources to support a few martial artists from the direct lineage, naturally nurturing many powerful individuals.

But because all of the Bai Family's branches have the hope of becoming the main lineage, resources naturally become scattered and unfocused.

This has resulted in the Bai Family having more Martial Artists in the Innate and Xuan Gang Realms than other families, but far fewer in the Dan Sea Realm and above, with successful Solidifying Pill being exceedingly rare.

Now, the lifespan of the oldest ancestor of the Bai Family is coming to an end, making the search for the next successor urgent.

Currently, there are few eligible heirs in the Bai Family's main vein; the most favored grandson of the Bai Family's ancestor has succeeded in Solidifying Pill but is far from the Yang God Realm.

Although no one from the other branches has stepped into the Yang God Realm, there are a few who have entered the True Pill Realm, which is stronger than that favored descendant.

In their eyes, even those mediocre from the main vein have been pushed to the True Pill Realm using resources; once they become the main lineage, with even more resources, they are certain they can step into the Yang God Realm!

Because of this, there has been an air of tension in the Cold Water Bai Family recently, with many branches coveting the position of the direct lineage.

After listening to what Jiang Qingping had said, Han Zheng's face showed a pensive expression.

It seems there is ample reason for this Bai Family branch to collude with the Black Mountain Demon.

They want to leverage the Black Mountain Demon's power to defeat their competitors and become the direct lineage.

Chu Xinghe, puzzled, asked, "If this Bai Family branch is colluding with the Black Mountain Demon for this reason, it still seems quite far-fetched.

The head of the Bai Family's thirteenth branch has only just entered the Dan Sea Realm, and he is still far from Solidifying Pill.

Even with the Black Mountain Demon's covert support, can he defeat other Martial Arts Grandmasters who have already Solidified Pill?"

Han Zheng laughed lightly and said, "When looking at issues, don't just consider the surface. What is apparent may not be the truth.

The Bai Family's thirteenth branch lacks the power to compete for the position of Family Head, but other branches do.

They stand out and collude with the Black Mountain Demon due to certain promises or interests, all of which is possible.

The Black Mountain Demon is more troublesome than those Demons that only feed on humans because it knows how to exploit human greed."

Chu Xinghe nodded thoughtfully.

The estate of the thirteenth branch of the Bai Family was vast, taking up an entire street.

Half of the main lineage of the Cold Water Bai Family and some lateral branches were located outside the city, but the other half of the lateral branches were inside Changlin Prefecture and the surrounding State Mansions.

The people from the Demon Cleansing Bureau came in an aggressive manner, and the people from the thirteenth branch of the Bai Family had long since noticed them.

The main gate of the Bai Family was flung open, and a large number of Bai Family disciples burst forth.

Han Zheng took a quick glance and saw that there were as many as thirteen Xuan Gang Realm martial artists, his gaze toward Jiang Qingping instantly filled with a hint of sympathy.

It really wasn't easy to garrison in Changlin Prefecture.

Although Changlin Prefecture was a small State Mansion, the Bai Family was a colossal presence, a branch though it might be, but it still had a martial artist in the Dan Sea Realm, along with thirteen Xuan Gang Realm martial artists.

And the entire Demon Cleansing Department of Changlin Prefecture only had one Demon Sweeping Captain.

No wonder the sacrificed Demon Sweeping Captain didn't dare to investigate the Bai Family's merchant caravan. He probably had to make concessions on a regular basis, perhaps even swallow his pride.

"Mr. Han, that tall and thin middle-aged man leading them is Bai Yuanzhou, the thirteenth house Family Head of the Bai Family. Outsiders all call him Thirteen Master.

He is domineering and ruthless, a person who is extremely difficult to provoke.

In the past, our Lord Cheng always tried to avoid conflicts with this Bai Yuanzhou."

Han Zheng sensed Bai Yuanzhou's aura, nothing more than early stage of the Dan Sea Realm, far from as strong as Sima Chengzong from days gone by.

"The demons have just breached Changlin Prefecture, yet instead of dealing with the aftermath, what business does the Demon Cleansing Bureau have coming to my Bai Family?"

Bai Yuanzhou glanced at Han Zheng and the others and spoke in a tone neither salty nor bland.

Han Zheng looked at Bai Yuanzhou with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "Thirteen Master, is it? If you don't know why we from the Demon Cleansing Bureau are here, why would you call out all the people from your thirteenth branch? Someone who doesn't know might think the Bai Family's thirteenth branch had done some guilty deeds, preparing to take action against us in the Demon Cleansing Bureau."

Bai Yuanzhou's face changed subtly, then he scoffed coldly, "When the Demon Cleansing Bureau shows up at the door, it's never for good. How could I not be prepared?

And who is this dignitary? You don't seem to belong to the Changlin Prefecture Demon Cleansing Bureau."

"I am Han Zheng, Commander of the Kui Character Camp of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department, ordered to investigate the matter of Changlin Prefecture being breached by demons."

Bai Yuanzhou casually said, "Mr. Han, since you're here to investigate the demon siege, why come to my Bai Family? Could it be that you suspect my Bai Family is involved with the demon siege?"

"Master Thirteen is indeed clever; that's what I believe."

Han Zheng clapped his hands, his face full of appreciation.

Bai Yuanzhou's expression suddenly changed dark, and he said with an overcast tone, "Slander! Pure slander!

Mr. Han, is this the way your Demon Cleansing Bureau conducts its affairs? Without evidence, you're accusing my Bai Family of colluding with demons?

My Bai Family is one of the Five Families and Seven Sects, how could we possibly collude with demons?"

"Then why was Changlin Prefecture breached while your Bai Family remained unscathed?"

"That's because my Bai Family has its own formidable presence, which deterred the underlings of Black Mountain Demon from committing audacious acts!"

Bai Yuanzhou proudly stated, "Even sixty years ago, when Black Mountain Demon swept across the Southern Mountain, those villainous demons likewise dared not touch my Bai Family.

Now that the demons have breached the city and bypassed my Bai Family, what's so strange about that?

You people from the Demon Cleansing Department are truly laughable.

It was the demons that breached Changlin Prefecture, not my Bai Family that breached it.

You lack the capability to seek revenge on those demons, yet you only know to trouble my Bai Family. It's simply outrageous!

Do you think my Bai Family is so easily bullied?"

Jiang Qingping and the others all had eyes red with anger, glaring furiously at Bai Yuanzhou.

Han Zheng, however, chuckled lightly, "Master Thirteen got one thing wrong. I don't feel that the Bai Family is easy to bully; I just feel that the people from your thirteenth branch are easy to bully.

Whether you've colluded with demons or not, you know in your hearts. Although I am here today to investigate the demon's breaching of the city, I am also here to demand justice for my Demon Cleansing Bureau."

As his words ended, Han Zheng's expression suddenly darkened, and he shouted sternly, "The thirteenth branch of the Bai Family has colluded with demons, the entire branch shall be executed, to serve as a warning to others!"