Chen Xia ascended to the heavens in just three steps.
The first was to lift his foot.
The second was to touch the ground.
The third was to straighten his sleeves.
He had reached the middle layer of the boundary, with a few scattered cultivators flying past him.
A gentle breeze blew.
Chen Xia reached out his hand.
A passing cultivator instantly appeared before him, looking bewildered, unsure of what was happening.
"Where is the Zhang Family?" Chen Xia asked.
The cultivator, realizing that the person before him was someone he couldn't afford to offend, judging by his extraordinary abilities, likely the legendary Heaven Mending Realm ancestor, didn't dare to delay. He quickly explained the directions to Chen Xia and even took out a map from his storage treasure, handing it over with both hands.
"The Zhang Family is still quite far from here. I'm afraid my directions might not be comprehensive enough, leading you astray. So please take this map."
"No need," Chen Xia shook his head, pinching his fingers, and suddenly flicked, a pure blue glowing pill landed in the cultivator's hand.
"A small gift, consider it as your reward for guiding me," Chen Xia said, waving his hand again.
The cultivator disappeared instantly, reappearing at his original position.
His face filled with astonishment, he hastily looked at the pill that was burning in his palm, first stunned, then ecstatic, unable to help but exclaim,
"A top-grade Dao Medicine!"
The cultivator quickly hid the pill away and hurriedly left, his earlier speculations about the Heaven Mending Realm now overturned. To be able to casually give away a top-grade Dao Medicine, this person must be an incredibly powerful figure.
He dared not think further.
Meanwhile, the powerful figure remained in place, using his left hand to draw a map. After pinpointing the location of the Zhang Family in the middle layer of the boundary, he lightly tapped with his right hand, his entire figure blurred and gradually dissipated.
He appeared outside a massive door.
Inside the door, voices clamored incessantly.
"Family Head, why don't we just fight them? It's better to die fighting than to suffer humiliation until death! We should go out and fight them, even if it's one against one, we'll take down a Banyan Realm cultivator!"
"..."
Thousands of Zhang Family members were filled with fervor.
The second ancestor of the Zhang Family sat at the main seat, holding his head, lips tightly pressed, full of emotion yet shaking his head slightly.
He couldn't lead the Zhang Family to their death, even if there was no hope, he had to create a glimmer of it.
"Hush, quiet down." A calm voice echoed, not particularly loud, yet it silenced the noisy crowd.
A figure in a cyan robe stood in the center of the room, directly facing the second ancestor of the Zhang Family.
The cultivators were startled, not knowing when this person had appeared. Some cautious ones had already activated their magical techniques, preparing to strike.
The second ancestor of the Zhang Family paused for a moment, recognizing Chen Xia, and pointed at him, excitedly saying,
"You're the one by Dao Ming's side... Chen... Chen Xia!"
As he spoke, Zhang Feiyu, who was standing beside him, also became emotional, unexpectedly seeing the ancestral master!
"Yes, I'm here at Old Zhang's request. He passed away some days ago, and I've come to fulfill his last wish. If the Zhang Family wants to live, then listen to my command," Chen Xia spoke.
Zhang Feiyu's face froze for a moment, overwhelmed with sorrow, unable to hold back his tears, he could only cover his face with his sleeve.
"Alright, as long as you can save the Zhang Family, we'll follow your lead," the second patriarch of the Zhang Family nodded with a hearty expression.
"Not just save," Chen Xia interjected, then gestured towards the second patriarch of the Zhang Family.
"Firstly, you step down, and I'll take your place."
"Huh?" The second patriarch of the Zhang Family looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"
"It means that I am now the head of the Zhang Family, and everyone must obey me," Chen Xia replied.
"But... but you're not a member of the Zhang Family," the second patriarch of the Zhang Family retorted.
Below, thousands of members of the Zhang Family were also discussing amongst themselves.
"It doesn't matter," Chen Xia raised his hand and lightly pressed downwards.
The entire hall suddenly felt heavy, an immense pressure descended like stars crashing to the ground, forcing everyone present to kneel and bow their heads, unable to look up.
The second patriarch of the Zhang Family fell directly outside the main seat, still kneeling.
Chen Xia walked slowly forward, taking his place at the main seat, and calmly said, "You don't need to concern yourselves with whether I am part of the Zhang Family or not. You only need to obey my words. I will not only save you all but also elevate the Zhang Family to unprecedented heights, reaching the highest level of the realm and ascending to the heavens."
"Of course, this isn't because the Zhang Family is exceptional or powerful, but because of Old Zhang, because of Zhang DaoMing. Remember that."
After finishing his words, Chen Xia retracted the pressure, allowing the members of the Zhang Family to stand up again, then asked, "Who is Zhang Feiyu?"
"I... I am," Zhang Feiyu from the back hurriedly replied.
Chen Xia glanced over.
"Respects to Chen Ancestor!" Zhang Feiyu bowed deeply.
"Very well, you are now the deputy head," Chen Xia nodded.
Zhang Feiyu looked slightly stunned, a mix of joy and apprehension on his face, but he knew his own capabilities and declined, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, but Feiyu's cultivation is low, and my talents are lacking. I fear I cannot bear this heavy responsibility."
"It's fine, in my eyes, all of you are useless, I just want to pick someone I find agreeable," Chen Xia replied.
"Alright... alright," Zhang Feiyu agreed.
Chen Xia then turned to the second patriarch of the Zhang Family and asked, "Can you tell me the current situation of the Zhang Family?"
The second patriarch of the Zhang Family wore a bitter expression and said, "The great war has lasted for thousands of years, and more than ninety percent of the Zhang Family members have been killed or injured. Now, only a few of us are hiding in the main hall formation, barely clinging to life. It won't be long before the formation is broken, and we meet our end."
Chen Xia shook his head and asked again, "I didn't ask about that. I asked which families are attacking the Zhang Family?"
"The most ferocious attackers are Xianyun Mountain, Jiamu Sect, and the Purple Dragon Clan. There are also some other sects involved, but we don't know who they are," the second patriarch of the Zhang Family replied.
"Hmm, how often do they attack the city?" Chen Xia inquired further.
"At first, it was once every fifty years, then every ten years, and now it's once a year. Currently, it's once a month," the second patriarch of the Zhang Family answered.
"It might not be once a month anymore," Chen Xia suddenly said.
The second patriarch of the Zhang Family looked puzzled and asked, "Why?"
"Because they're already here," Chen Xia said with a light laugh as he rose and gestured to the crowd, smiling.
"Let's all go outside and see why I can sit in this position."
All the thousands of members of the Zhang Family in the main hall appeared outside.
Chen Xia stood at their height, with Zhang Feiyu beside him.
"Chen... Chen Ancestor!" Zhang Feiyu looked astonished and couldn't help but exclaim.
"Lao Zhang mentioned you before he passed away, saying you were a decent person. Though not a standout talent, you were a good child, and he liked you a lot," Chen Xia said softly, her hands clasped behind her back.
At the mention of Zhang DaoMing, Zhang Feiyu couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he forced them back, nodding in agreement.
"Mingzu treated me well. I'm unfilial; I couldn't even be there for his final moments. It's my lack of filial piety!"
"He said he didn't want to disturb you, wanting you to focus on developing in the Zhang Family," Chen Xia replied, shaking her head before changing the subject, her gaze fixed ahead.
There, looming on the horizon, was a mass of dark clouds.
As they drew closer, it became apparent: an army of thousands, clad in golden armor and wielding iron weapons, all cultivators!