The Glory of the Tribe

On March 16, in the back mountains of the Jiang Tribe’s Earth City.
"This breakthrough by Wei Chengshan has shattered the century-old record in Flying Snow City. At 92 years old, he passed through the Great Heavenly Tribulation. His body, tempered by the tribulation, has revived with new vitality. They say he looks like he’s thirty years younger. Add to that his unparalleled combat experience…"
Dressed in a delicate white dress, Chen Yuanxuan leaned against a tree as she spoke, sharing the intelligence from Flying Snow City.

This detailed information came from the Chen family’s intelligence network. Over ten Chen family guards had stayed in Earth City, handling various tasks for Chen Yuanxuan. Whenever something significant happened in Flying Snow City, they would receive the relevant information and pass it on to her.
"Looking at this, the Wei family’s combat formation, made up of several Heavenly Tribulation experts, wouldn’t have been a match for Lord Lei Hong before. But now, Wei Chengshan alone is already on par with Lord Lei Hong. Though in a spar, he might not surpass him, at 92 years old, he can’t be more enduring than someone in their prime. However, in a life-or-death fight, even if Lord Lei Hong could kill him, he may not be able to survive the battle himself."
Jiang Xuan sat cross-legged on a fur rug, his eyes closed, not responding to Chen Yuanxuan’s words.

"A Heavenly Tribulation expert at the end of their life, yet more vital than a normal elder, is the most terrifying kind of existence."
Chen Yuanxuan, holding a sword in her arms, glanced at Jiang Xuan, "Even our Chen family is considering repairing our relationship with the Wei family, at least to restore things to what they once were. Although we have two Heavenly Tribulation experts in our family and at least three more who are expected to reach the Great Heavenly Tribulation in the next twenty years… We’re not afraid of the Wei family, but we also don’t want to be misunderstood by them, to avoid trouble."
"The Wei family’s previously precarious position among the Four Major Families has now been stabilized."

"Dear."
Jiang Xuan opened his eyes, his expression calm, "Speak your mind, what do you really want to say?"
"Hubby!" Chen Yuanxuan sighed. "I know you’ve been worried about your mother and sister, since… oh, I should say, now I should refer to them as our mother and our sister."

Chen Yuanxuan’s face looked a bit strange.
It had been only two days since her marriage to Jiang Xuan, but the private titles "husband" and "wife" had already become more natural for her. Her feelings for Jiang Xuan had subtly changed once again.
"Since you went to Lord Lei Hong this morning and heard about Wei Chengshan’s breakthrough, you’ve been lost in thought, not saying a word." Chen Yuanxuan said, "What I want to say is, whatever decision you make, I’ll support you. You’ve already done so much, some things can’t be changed by you alone."

Jiang Xuan suddenly turned to look at Chen Yuanxuan, narrowing his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Jiang Xuan asked. "Is there something you haven’t told me?"
"I…" Chen Yuanxuan began to speak.

"Little Xuan! Little Xuan!" An urgent shout came, accompanied by the sound of footsteps approaching rapidly. "The Wei family… the Wei family has sent people!"
Jiang Xuan immediately stood up, his brows furrowing tightly.
He understood what Chen Yuanxuan had meant by her earlier words.
The Wei family had sent a team of more than ten people, neither too low-key nor overly ostentatious. The leader was a young man named "Wei Shaoce," a member of the Wei family, under thirty years old, at the middle stage of Innate Realm. He also held another "unique" identity — Jiang Xuan’s cousin.

Wei Shaoce’s father was the older brother of Wei Baiyun, Jiang Xuan’s maternal uncle.
Jiang Xuan "received" them. Since his mother and sister were still in the Wei family’s hands, he wouldn’t make things difficult for the "envoys" sent by the Wei family. Even in a war, envoys were not to be killed.
In the great hall.

"Speak quickly!" Jiang Xuan strode in, taking his seat in the main position.
"Clan Leader Jiang…" Wei Shaoce, who had just cupped his fists and saluted, froze for a moment. He quickly recovered, smiling cheerfully. "Clan Leader Jiang is straightforward and heroic, very admirable!"
Jiang Xuan couldn’t help but look Wei Shaoce over carefully.

He wasn’t one to strike at a smiling face, and Wei Shaoce was indeed rare in his good temper, showing no embarrassment at all. However, the middle-aged man in brown clothes next to him, dressed like a guard, had a sullen expression. Even the way he looked around at the hall’s decorations was full of disdain and contempt.
"I’ll give you a cup of tea’s worth of time. Say everything you want to say, then take your people and get out of Earth City!" Jiang Xuan said, his gaze cold as he looked at Wei Shaoce.
Wei Shaoce, seeing Jiang Xuan’s attitude, didn’t want to waste time.

"Clan Leader Jiang, may I speak with you alone?" He asked.
"Everyone, leave." Jiang Xuan motioned.
The servants and maids at the door, as well as the tribe’s guards outside, all left, closing the door behind them. Only Jiang Xuan, Wei Shaoce, and the middle-aged man in brown clothes remained in the room.

"Clan Leader Jiang, I’ll speak directly. The head of our family wants you to return to the Wei family and take the Wei surname," Wei Shaoce said, "This was the result of internal discussions within the family. Clan Leader Jiang, your talent is extraordinary. As long as you’re willing to return to the Wei family, the family will fully support you! We can even train you to be the next family head. Your mother, my aunt Wei Baiyun, will also gain great respect in the family due to your status. Once your sister marries into the Dong family, you’ll also receive the full support of the Dong family… You have the God Demon Physique…"
"Enough!"
Jiang Xuan interrupted coldly, his gaze mocking as he looked at Wei Shaoce. "What you mean is, you want me to give up my tribe, abandon my ancestral surname, and recognize your Wei family as my ancestors?"

"That’s not exactly what I meant…" Wei Shaoce said, bracing himself. "Clan Leader Jiang, you have half Wei family blood, after all. And you don’t need to worry about the issue of life-or-death battles. The Wei family is one of the Four Major Families, with many privileges. Changing your registration to the Wei family and leaving the tribe is not against imperial law. You would no longer be considered a tribesman…"
Jiang Xuan was laughing in anger.
He understood the Wei family’s goal now: they wanted him, Jiang Xuan, to join the Wei family, and then… nothing would change! His sister would still be forced to marry a middle-aged man, and Jiang Xuan would have to change his surname and leave the tribe entirely. This would obviously lead to the direct annihilation of the Jiang tribe.

And the Wei family didn’t care about that.
They didn’t even mention it.
The Wei family only wanted Jiang Xuan himself, with the only promise being sufficient resources for cultivation.

"You Wei family really don’t take me, Jiang Xuan, seriously! Not even a little bit! You don’t see me as anything!" Jiang Xuan stared at Wei Shaoce. "Who proposed this ridiculous idea? Was it Wei Chengshan? Go back and ask him if he was struck by lightning and went crazy?!"
Wei Shaoce’s face changed drastically.
"And you!" Jiang Xuan sneered. "You’re sent by the Wei family! Given your age, you’re at the middle stage of Innate Realm. Though you’re a direct member of the family, I doubt you’re part of the core, are you?" Jiang Xuan mocked, "The Wei family really cares about me, sending such a fringe member of the family like you to negotiate with me! You must be the kind of person who’s easy to bully. They sent you because you wouldn’t dare talk back if I insult you. Is that why they sent you to convey this absurd decision?"

Wei Shaoce’s face changed again, irritation flashing in his eyes.
"You think there’s even the slightest chance I’ll agree? Give up my people and watch them die? Am I even human anymore?" Jiang Xuan shouted. "Get out, now! Go back and tell Wei Chengshan to take good care of my mother and sister! If a single hair on their heads is harmed, one day, I’ll make the Wei family pay the price!"
"Jiang Xuan! Don’t be so arrogant!"

The middle-aged man in brown clothes shouted angrily, glaring at Jiang Xuan. "I advise you to think carefully! With your tribe’s resources, not only will you never become a god or demon, but even reaching the Great Heavenly Tribulation realm will be difficult! You will waste your talent! The family is offering you an opportunity! You must learn to appreciate it! Without the Wei family, you’ll be nothing! This is your only chance!"
Jiang Xuan turned his gaze to the middle-aged man, his eyes cold as ice.
"Your tribe? A bunch of barbarians! What do their lives and deaths matter?" Jiang Xuan sneered. "A wise man knows when to submit. If you give up on them, not only will no one blame you for being cold-hearted, they’ll praise you for knowing how to assess the situation! I advise you not to overestimate your worth! For a bunch of barbarians, you’d abandon them—do you dare?!"

The middle-aged man’s angry roar was abruptly cut off.
It was Jiang Xuan, slapping the sword on the table!
The sword flashed!

A terrifying arc of light cut through the air, and the middle-aged man in brown, at the peak of Innate Realm and having comprehended the unity of man and sword, only had time to place his hand on the hilt before the deadly arc closed in on him. In an instant, his entire body froze, and all his thoughts and movements halted.
Pfft!
Half of his head flew off, and blood splattered on Wei Shaoce’s face. Wei Shaoce didn’t even see Jiang Xuan draw the sword; he only felt the killing intent rush past him as Jiang Xuan slapped the sheath.

The middle-aged man’s skull flew away with half his face!
Wei Shaoce froze in fear, feeling like he had walked through the gates of hell. He didn’t even dare wipe the blood from his face, standing there with his eyes wide open, full of terror.
Jiang Xuan’s power shattered his understanding of the Innate Realm.

"Get out!" Jiang Xuan coldly ordered.
Wei Shaoce seemed to use all his strength to move his stiff body, taking two steps back before stumbling and fleeing the room.
Crash! He stumbled and fell as soon as he crashed through the door, rolling on the ground.

The guards waiting outside in the courtyard all had their faces change drastically.
"Young master!"
"Whose blood is this? Mr. Zhu was killed?"

The bodyguard accompanying Wei Shaoce was a well-known Innate Realm expert from the Wei family.
"Go! Hurry up! Tell the clan leader! Go!" Wei Shaoce scrambled to his feet, shouting in terror.