The Heavenly Prison was deathly silent.
Xiao Zhengfeng's face was gloomy, and Prince Jing, Prince Qi, and the others looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and solemnity.
When they discussed how to deal with Zhang Yuanfeng, the grandmaster of the Zhang family, one of their biggest advantages was that they also had a grandmaster on their side, who could provide a check and balance.
But now, the other side has suddenly produced two Grandmaster who are on par with their Old Ancestor.
Moreover, judging from their demeanor, they clearly have ill intentions.
They couldn't understand what kind of bargaining chips the Duke Qin or the Marquis Yong'an's Estate had offered to get these two to take sides.
In reality, neither the Marquis Yong'an's Estate nor the Duke's mansion could persuade the two Grandmaster to come.
Even after Zhang Yuanfeng broke through to become Grandmaster, he still couldn't be persuaded to leave.
Qin Zhen was able to persuade two Grandmaster and Four Great Lords because he brought information that Zhang Lingyun had become a disciple of East Green Mountain and a direct disciple of the Direct Disciple leader.
East Green Mountain, Sacred Land in the Eastern Domain, is home to Great Grandmaster.
In the Eight Kingdoms of the Eastern Domain, the title of Great Grandmaster is enough to shake everything.
The atmosphere inside the Heavenly Prison instantly plummeted to freezing point upon the appearance of these two Grandmaster' names, becoming so tense it was almost suffocating.
All eyes turned solemnly toward the entrance to the Heavenly Prison.
The first thing that catches the eye is an elderly man dressed in a purple Duke robe, with white hair and beard, and a vigorous face— Duke Qin Zhen of Qin.
The two people walking side by side beside Qin Zhen instantly attracted everyone's attention.
On the left is an elderly monk wearing a yellow robe, Master Huichen, the abbot of Tianlong Temple.
To his right was a middle-aged scholar dressed in a blue Confucian Robe.
This is another Grandmaster was renowned throughout the Wei Kingdom, who roamed the world with his iron sword, and whose temperament was both righteous and wicked— the Iron Sword Madman, Jian Wuwei.
Behind these two Grandmaster were four middle-aged or elderly men dressed in marquis robes, exuding an extraordinary air. They were none other than the four powerful marquises: Marquis Xiping, Marquis Zhenbei, Marquis Dongting, and Marquis Annan.
They all looked solemn, eyes downcast, clearly following Qin Zhen and the two Grandmaster's lead today.
Upon hearing that Qin Xuehua Qin Zhen had invited two Grandmaster, Qin Xuehua's ashen face flushed an unnatural red, and her eyes shone with an astonishing light.
Two Grandmaster! My father actually invited two Grandmaster.
Although she didn't know what price her father had paid or what connections he had used to get these two Martial Dao masters, who almost never meddle in worldly affairs, to come together.
But one thing she was absolutely certain of was that with these two Grandmaster in charge, the Imperial Family would never dare to act as recklessly as before.
How much of Zhang Yu's greatest asset will remain as a deterrent against two Grandmaster?
Qin Xuehua was overjoyed, as if she could already see the glimmer of hope in the face of despair, and the scene of Zhang Yu trembling under the pressure of Grandmaster, and the Imperial Family having no choice but to compromise.
Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning were also trembling with excitement; the joy of surviving the ordeal almost overwhelmed them.
They looked at Qin Xuehua, then at the Duke Qin entourage, their eyes filled with anticipation.
However, they knew the truth in their hearts.
People like Master Huichen and Jian Wuwei would never come simply to "seek justice" or "uphold righteousness" for the Zhang Family, much less to completely break ties with the Imperial Family for the sake of these few juniors.
Qin Zhen was able to get them to step in, most likely at an unimaginable cost, or through some unknown deal or promise.
It's very likely that they'll just be asked to take action once, or to exert pressure by making a statement at a crucial moment.
Therefore, despite their excitement, they dared not be as arrogant and domineering as before.
They understood that the best course of action at this moment was to show weakness, evoke sympathy, and hand over the initiative to the two Grandmaster and the Duke Qin.
An eerie silence fell over the entire Heavenly Prison.
Only the steady footsteps of the Duke Qin and his entourage resonated in everyone's hearts.
He straightened his clothes, bowed to Xiao Zhengfeng, and performed a standard courtier's salute, his voice loud and steady:
"This old minister Qin Zhen, accompanied by the Marquis Xiping, the Marquis Zhenbei, the Marquis Dongting, and the Marquis Annan, and with the humbly requesting Master Huichen and the Jian Wuwei to accompany us to pay our respects to Your Majesty."
I have disturbed Your Majesty's presence; I humbly beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.
He adopted a very humble attitude, but the fact that he was "accompanying two Grandmaster" was his most valuable asset.
Xiao Zhengfeng did not immediately respond to Qin Zhen's visit.
His gaze bypassed Qin Zhen and landed directly on Master Huichen and Jian Wuwei, as he spoke in a deep voice:
"Master Huichen, Jian Wuwei, you two are reclusive masters and Martial Dao arts giants. May I ask what brings you here to this Heavenly Prison today?"
He didn't mention Qin Zhen or the four lords, but focused directly on the two Grandmaster.
Upon Jian Wuwei glanced at Xiao Zhengfeng and said coldly:
It's nothing serious.
I've heard that the Xiao Family, relying on their power, bullied the Zhang Family, a widow and her orphan, and their behavior was rather unethical.
I, Jian, having nothing better to do and being a busybody, dragged the old Huichen over here to 'see' what he was doing."
Hostility!
Undisguised hostility!
The faces of everyone in the Imperial Family, including Xiao Zhengfeng, turned extremely grim.
They had anticipated that the two Grandmaster might have been invited to exert pressure, but they never expected Jian Wuwei to state his position so directly and ruthlessly.
Moreover, he immediately launched into such serious accusations—"abusing his power" and "bullying orphans and widows"!
This is practically a direct accusation that the Imperial Family is unjust and bullies the weak.
This isn't a visit to see what's going on; it's clearly a visit to demand an explanation.
Qin Xuehua, Zhang Heng, Zhang Wanning were utterly astonished, but then overjoyed overwhelmed them.
Their previous guesses were completely wrong. Jian Wuwei's attitude was far more than just simply taking sides.
This is clearly a stance of going all in and supporting them to the very end.
Zhang Heng reacted the fastest.
He was already a skilled performer, and seeing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, how could he possibly hesitate?
He immediately burst into tears, as if he had suffered a great injustice, and crawled half a step towards Jian Wuwei, crying out:
"Senior Sword, please see the truth! Senior Sword, you must stand up for us!"
The Imperial Family... the Imperial Family is going too far.
Zhang Yu used some kind of Demonic Arts to bewitch the Imperial Family, frame my mother, and harm us.
They also intend to cripple our Cultivation, break our limbs, and send us to hard labor camps—they want to exterminate us completely!
Please, Senior, save us! Save the Zhang Family!
Zhang Wanning immediately joined in, covering her face and sobbing.
"We have been wronged... We beg Senior, to uphold justice..."
Qin Xuehua's lips trembled, tears streaming down her face. She looked utterly wronged and vulnerable, her eyes filled with pleading and longing as she gazed at Jian Wuwei.
Seeing the Zhang Family's performance, Jian Wuwei, contrary to his usual aloof and indifferent demeanor, waved his hand and spoke in an almost righteous tone:
"Get up quickly, the Duke Qin and the Marquis Yong'an's Estate are old friends."
Now that we've witnessed this, there's no reason for us to stand by and watch the descendant of a family friend be so humiliated.
"I, Jian Wuwei take care of this matter and will definitely get an explanation for you."
These words shocked everyone present.
To be precise, everyone was stunned.
Family friends?
This is simply a fantasy!
Everyone knows that "Iron Sword Madman" Jian Wuwei aloof and keeps to himself. He has never been friendly to the court officials and Aristocratic Clan families, let alone have any friendship with them.
He has been famous for decades, and there has never been any known close relationship between him and the Duke Qin Estate or the Marquis Yong'an's Estate, let alone any family friendship.
Although Zhang Yuanfeng, the Old Marquis of the Zhang Family, was also a senior expert, he had been guarding the Northern Frontier for many years. He and Jian Wuwei, Grandmaster Rogue Cultivator, were on completely different paths, so how could they have any interaction?
Qin Zhen and Master Huichen knew the inside story, and when they heard the arrogant Jian Wuwei spouting such nonsense about trying to establish a connection, they couldn't help but roll their eyes.
Still family friends?
Qin Zhen's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Are we that close?
That's such a flimsy excuse.
But at this moment, he naturally wouldn't expose it; instead, he had to cooperate, immediately putting on a sorrowful and regretful expression as if "this is indeed the case."
Even Master Huichen, upon hearing Jian Wuwei's words, seemed to subtly lift his lowered eyelids, and the prayer beads he was twirling in his hand paused slightly.
Clearly, they were also somewhat speechless at Jian Wuwei's sudden attempt to establish a romantic relationship.
He didn't lie as casually as Jian Wuwei; he simply murmured a Buddhist chant, "Amitabha."
They neither admitted nor denied it, maintaining an ambiguous attitude.
On the Imperial Family side, Xiao Zhengfeng, Prince Jing, and others frowned, their minds filled with doubts.
Jian Wuwei's behavior is too abnormal!
Given his character and past actions, it is absolutely impossible for him to so openly intervene in this conflict between the Imperial Family and the nobility for some Void family favor.
There must be something fishy going on behind this.
Moreover, Master Huichen's silence is particularly intriguing.
Zhang Yu stood aside, observing everything with a cold eye.