Conspiracy of the Five Great Families

A day later, the heads of the Lu, Yuan, Shen, and Chen Families were secretly invited by Song Zhong, the Song Family's Supreme Elder, to meet in White Wave Valley!

The heads of the four families sat separately in the reception hall, chatting and laughing merrily.

Amid the laughter, Song Zhong and Song Tianbo entered the reception hall as well, and the heavy wooden doors slowly closed.

At the sight of Song Zhong, the four family heads were somewhat surprised. Yet they immediately rose to their feet and clasped their fists in salute. "Greetings, Elder Song."

Song Zhong was quite pleased with their attitude. Smiling faintly, he spread his hands. "Family Heads, you are too courteous. Please, sit!"

The men returned to their seats, but their hearts grew heavy. This matter seemed far from trivial. Otherwise, this old fossil of the Song Family, who had remained in seclusion year-round, would not have shown himself.

"Family Heads, I invited you to White Wave Valley this time because there is an important matter I wish to discuss with you."

Song Zhong said with a smile.

"Please speak plainly, Elder. We are all ears!"

The men spoke in unison.

Song Zhong stroked his beard and slowly said, "I will not waste words. I invited you here today to discuss the destruction of the Green Maple Li Clan!"

The pupils of the family heads suddenly contracted. The four exchanged glances, and the Yuan Family Head was the first to speak. "Elder, it is not that I refuse to give you face, but the grudge between the Baibo Song Clan and the Green Maple Li Clan is none of our concern. If this is the matter, then we must take our leave."

With that, he rose to leave. With the Yuan Family Head leading the charge, the other three family heads also stood.

What a joke. Your Song Family had a feud with the Li Family, yet you wanted to drag us into the water? Did you really take the rulers of our four families for fools?

At this sight, a trace of gloom surfaced in Song Zhong's cloudy eyes.

"Everyone, you may indeed have no grudge against the Li Family now, but that may not be the case in the future. The Li Family is not a peaceful family, and their head, Li Xinge, is a monstrous genius with ambitions that soar to the heavens."

"Did you think he would be satisfied after destroying the Mangshan Su Clan? Now he has set his sights on my Baibo Song Clan. If my Song Clan falls, how do you know the next ones to be destroyed will not be you?"

Song Zhong's words plunged everyone into silence.

Seeing this, Song Zhong was quite satisfied. He continued, "Of course, my Song Family has shown sincerity in inviting you here. I am willing to give up half of the Song Family's industries for you all to divide equally. Once the Li Family is destroyed, my Song Family will not take a single coin of the spoils! What do you say?"

Hearing the conditions Song Zhong offered, they all drew sharp breaths. To deal with the Li Family, the Song Family had truly spared no expense.

In that instant, the hearts of the four family heads stirred, and they sat back down.

Song Zhong watched it all with contempt in his heart. So long as the price was high enough, let alone people—even ghosts could be made to grind flour.

"Looks like you have all thought it through?"

"We shall follow Elder Song's arrangements in all things!"

"Good. Then late tonight, the five families shall join forces, send out all our experts, and level Green Maple Valley!"

Song Zhong declared with lofty ambition.

Auspicious Cloud Ridge was home to the Chen Family, one of Baihe County's eight great families!

As a newly risen Qi and Blood Realm family, the Chen Family was the weakest among the eight great families.

Upon returning to the Chen Family, the Chen Family Head immediately summoned the three Elders of the lineage and told them how the Song Family had yielded immense benefits to unite the four families in destroying the Li Family.

The Elders were all shocked upon hearing this.

"Family Head, what if we truly destroy the Li Family, only for the Song Family to go back on their word regarding the promised conditions? If they reneged, there would be nothing we could do to them. Besides, I have heard that the Li Family's Second Elder has also advanced into the Qi and Blood Realm. The Li Family now has three Qi and Blood Realm Cultivators in one clan. They will not be easy to deal with."

A Chen Family Elder said with a frown.

"Who said I intended to get involved with them?"

The Chen Family Head sneered.

"But did you not say that you had already agreed to it, Family Head?"

"If I had not agreed first, do you think I would have been able to walk out of White Wave Valley today?"

The Chen Family Head gave a derisive snort.

"If we go back on our word, would we not offend the Song Family? If the Song Family truly joins hands with the other three great families and destroys the Li Family, once they free their hands, they certainly will not spare us."

The Chen Family Elder sighed.

"Of course I know that. Though my Chen Family is called one of Baihe County's eight great families, we were established the most recently, and our strength and foundation are both weak. Barring the unexpected, my Chen Family has no hope of rising to prominence in the near future. So I intend to gamble on this. If this succeeds, my Chen Family's future will be boundless!"

"Family Head, you mean...?"

As though he had thought of something, the Chen Family Elder's eyes widened.

Green Maple Valley.

A figure wearing a bamboo hat took out a calling card and handed it to a Li Family Cultivator guarding the gate.

The cultivator opened the card and glanced at it, his expression changing slightly.

"Please wait! I will report this immediately!"

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea.

The gatekeeper returned. "Honored guest, the First Elder invites you in. Please follow me!"

Under his guidance, the two arrived at the Li Family's reception hall. "The First Elder is waiting inside. I shall take my leave first."

The man in the bamboo hat stepped into the reception hall and removed the hat from his head, revealing his true face.

It was none other than Chen Shuyao, the Chen Family Head.

The First Elder's pupils shrank slightly. He hurriedly rose, offering an apologetic smile. "I did not expect the Chen Family Head to come in person. This old man has been discourteous."

"I came without invitation. I hope the First Elder will not blame me."

Chen Shuyao said with a genial smile.

"How could I? Please sit. May I ask why the Chen Family Head has honored Green Maple Valley with your presence? Do you have some advice to offer?"

The First Elder wore a puzzled expression. The Chen Family and the Li Family had never had much dealings, so the Chen Family Head's personal visit left him deeply confused.

"Is your Family Head present?"

Chen Shuyao asked.

The First Elder shook his head. "The Family Head entered seclusion some days ago. I am currently handling the clan affairs. If the Chen Family Head has something to say, you may speak to me directly."

"What I have to say concerns the life and death of the Li Family!"

The First Elder's pupils shrank slightly. Seeing that Chen Shuyao did not seem to be joking, he called toward the door, "Quickly invite the Second Elder to the reception hall."

"Yes."

A response came from outside.

Before long, the Second Elder hurried over. Having only recently broken through, he could not yet perfectly conceal his aura, and Chen Shuyao sensed it at once.

The rumors were true. The Li Family's Second Elder has also advanced into the Qi and Blood Realm. It seems I truly came to the right place!

Chen Shuyao thought to himself.

"Chen Family Head, you may speak now."

Chen Shuyao nodded, then began to recount in detail how the Song Family had united the four great families and planned to launch a surprise attack on the Li Family tonight.

As Chen Shuyao spoke, the First Elder's expression grew increasingly grave.

The Second Elder, meanwhile, slammed a palm onto the table and said angrily, "I never thought the dignified Baibo Song Clan could be so sinister!"

Chen Shuyao continued, "To be honest, First Elder, I have long admired your Family Head's great reputation, though I have never had the chance to meet him. The Chen Family has no gift worthy of presenting, so tonight, we are willing to turn against them and strike from within, lending the Li Family a helping hand!"

The First Elder and Second Elder were both shaken. Chen Shuyao's declaration showed that he was determined to live and die alongside the Li Family.

Naturally, the Li Family would not refuse. Every additional measure of strength meant another measure of victory. "Chen Family Head, had you not come today to warn us, my Li Family would have been caught completely unprepared by the Song Family. My Li Family will remember this favor. From this day forward, the Chen Family shall be a friend of my Li Family."

Chen Shuyao beamed. He had taken such a great risk precisely to hear those words.

After the three discussed matters in further detail and respectfully saw Chen Shuyao out.

The two men's expressions darkened.

"Come. Quickly summon the Family Head out of seclusion!"