Internal Strife

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That night, after all the guests had left, a group of people quietly gathered together. Most of them were young members of the Huo Family, and the one leading them was Huo Yan, an expert who had reached the Spirit Bone Realm.

Huo Yan was nearing thirty. This was his last chance to take part in the competition. His luck had been good; together with several people assigned to him by the Lineage, he had finally earned some points and could even bring one person with him into the academy.

But the points Huo Hai had produced, along with the rumors that later spread about him, filled Huo Yan with envy. Why? Was it simply because Huo Hai belonged to the direct line, so every condition he received was better than his own? In what way was he inferior to that amnesiac idiot? Was it all because of birth, that whether it was resources or slots, those direct-line members always received priority?

"No, absolutely not." Huo Yan's eyes reddened slightly. Looking at those he had summoned, he smiled sinisterly.

Within the Huo Family, the direct line was very weak, or at least small in number. Compared to collateral branches like theirs, their strength was simply insufficient. Now that they had gathered together, they had to force the family head to submit no matter what. They absolutely could not let this go.

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Huo Yan said loudly, "Everyone came here for the same reason. The Lineage has such a powerful Hidden Weapon Technique, so why not hand it over and let everyone learn it? Huo Hai could master it so quickly even after losing his memories. Are we all idiots, then?"

Those words immediately struck a chord with everyone, and they began discussing it one after another. Before long, the matter drew the attention of the Huo Family's higher-ups. So many people gathering within the Huo Family—if they still did not know about it, that would truly have been strange. They had only just finished dealing with the outsiders, and now these people were causing trouble within the Lineage. Huo Kai was somewhat irritated.

"What are all of you doing? Why are you gathered here? Hurry back and cultivate. Aren't you ashamed to show off such pathetic strength?" The Huo Family placed great importance on individual martial strength, because it had originally been a Lineage founded through force.

The other elders also frowned. What exactly was going on? Why had these people gathered together? Yet they could not say much, because many of those present were their own descendants.

"Family Head, we demand that the Lineage reveal the Hidden Weapon Technique and let all of us learn it. Something so powerful can greatly raise the overall strength of the Lineage. Why can only Huo Hai learn it while we cannot?" Flame questioned loudly, as though he had ample confidence. Those words immediately changed Huo Kai's expression.

"Hmph, all of you want to learn the Hidden Weapon Technique?" Everyone nodded. As the saying went, the law did not punish the masses. With so many people gathered here and leaders among them, they naturally echoed the demand. It was something that would benefit them.

"Hmph. With your temperament and strength, you want to learn advanced techniques? What do you take the Lineage for? Do you think it has to listen to you?" Huo Hai wondered whether he had been too accommodating toward them in the past. These people had actually dared to join forces and make trouble.

Huo Kai shouted again, "Family Head, you cannot say that. Huo Hai has only been awake from his amnesia for such a short time, yet he could learn it. Could we not learn it too? Or are you keeping it so that only the direct line can learn it, using it to suppress the collateral branches? You do not trust us. Everyone knows that our Huo Family is the most united." That part was indeed true.

But the Huo Family's unity was not because its members had no selfish thoughts. Rather, among the top families, the Huo Family had been established for the shortest time and had the fewest people. If they did not stand united, it would be easy for other families to seize an opening.

Now, however, as the Huo Family's strength continued to grow—especially after this incident—the thoughts in many people's hearts began to surface. These young descendants in particular were fiercely competitive, and none of them believed themselves inferior to others.

Huo Kai's face turned livid. Huo Yan's words were a heart-piercing accusation. After Huo Yan spoke, the other elders began to ponder as well, and greed showed in some of their eyes. That was right. Huo Hai had learned it so quickly, and according to the rumors outside, the Hidden Weapon Technique Huo Hai used was impossible to evade even for someone at the Spirit Bone Realm.

If they could use it themselves, then would there not be few people in the entire Western Frontier capable of standing against them? At that point, the Huo Family would become the first family in name and reality. They could even leave the Huo Family and establish a new family of their own.

As long as they possessed the secret art, they would have nothing to fear. The gazes of several elders began to change. They even subtly moved away, putting some distance between themselves and the Lineage. Several elders loyal to the Lineage seemed to notice the signs, their expressions turning ugly as they faintly shielded the family head in their midst. Could the Huo Family's flourishing age truly end today?

"Yes, Family Head, they are right. Such a good thing should be shared. This is not some Battle Spirit Art, merely an ordinary technique. It should not be something only the direct line can learn, should it?" In truth, there was not much of a boundary between the Huo Family's direct line and collateral branches.

An elder beside them said with a smile, "They make a great deal of sense. Something so good should be available for the entire Lineage to learn. You have hidden it far too well. For so many years, even elders like us have never learned it. We did not even know the Lineage possessed such an exquisite technique. Once we learn it, who would dare say that our Huo Family does not use hidden weapons?"

The Huo Family had built itself on martial prowess, so it naturally disdained things like hidden weapons. Everyone outside knew this: the Huo Family did not use hidden weapons. Yet Huo Hai's actions this time had completely shattered that belief.

Not only did the Huo Family use hidden weapons, it used them with tremendous power. Even these family elders themselves had not known. Over the past few days, outsiders had continuously come to visit, keeping them so busy that they had not had the mind to consider this matter. Today, they could use it to force Huo Kai to submit. Once they got what they wanted, even if they truly could not remain, they could leave the Lineage.

Huo Kai's expression grew increasingly ugly. "Good. Very good. I never expected our Huo Family to be no worse than the He Family, producing scum like you. Let alone the Huo Family having no Hidden Weapon Technique—even if it did, I would not hand it over to you."

The elders' expressions began to darken. How could there be none? Then what had Huo Hai used? Could it all have been fake?

"Family Head, that is not right. Rumors are spreading outside, and many people have seen it. Even the wounds on their bodies were inflicted by special hidden weapons. If you say there is nothing, who among us would believe you? You should hand it over. Otherwise, no one will look good."

Huo Kai immediately flew into a rage. "You want to fight? I'll accompany you. Even if I die, I'll drag you down as burial offerings. I said there is none, so there is none. The Hidden Weapon Technique was created by Xiao Hai himself. If you dare use force, whoever makes a move, I'll destroy them." Huo Kai had truly gone mad. He even drew the sword at his waist, releasing the killing intent and spiritual power pressure around him without the slightest concealment.

Several elders loyal to the Lineage beside him also showed faint signs of making a move. Only then did everyone remember that Huo Kai was no ordinary person—he was an expert of the Spirit Practitioner Realm. None of those harboring ambitions had reached the Spirit Practitioner Realm.

If they truly fought here, even combined, they would be no match for Huo Kai. Besides, the former family head was in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough. If they drew that old man out, things would become troublesome.

They all knew how explosive the old family head's temper was. Huo Kai might restrain himself from attacking, but the old family head would absolutely not hesitate to strike and wipe them all out. At this moment, even Huo Yan sensed that something was wrong.

He had originally believed that gathering so many people would force Huo Kai to submit. Who would have thought that Huo Kai would be so unyielding? He would rather turn against them and kill them all than hand over the Hidden Weapon Technique. As for the claim that Huo Hai had created it himself—who would believe that? If it were so easy to create, would they not have created one long ago? Deep in his heart, Huo Yan had always looked down on Huo Hai, a member of the direct line.

"Family Head, calm down. We were merely anxious, that is all. These are all misunderstandings. Look, since it is a technique Xiao Hai created himself, why not bring it out and let everyone help study and perfect it?"

Hearing that elder's words, Huo Kai, whose anger had already eased somewhat, was enraged once more. For so many years, he had refrained from putting them in their place for the sake of the Lineage's greater good. Did they truly think he was easy to talk to?

With a sweep of his sword, a blade of spiritual Sword Qi burst forth from his body. The sharp Sword Qi made the elder who had just spoken feel every hair on his body stand on end as an immense sense of danger engulfed his heart in an instant. Fortunately, he too was an expert of the Spirit Bone Realm, and his reaction speed was exceptionally fast. Moreover, Huo Kai had not used his full strength in that strike. He threw himself to the side and evaded most of the Sword Qi.

The remaining portion grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep wound there. "Ah!" With a scream, the elder who had just been speaking staggered back, his face pale. No one had expected the family head to truly attack.

Without hesitation, without mercy. If they dared continue like this, the family head might truly purge the Lineage. Since the Huo Family had been established, it had never undergone an internal purge. It was time to clean things up.

"Family Head, calm down, calm down. How can you attack an elder of the Lineage... Fine, fine, we'll leave now." Seeing that the family head intended to attack again, and knowing no one present was his match, they could only retreat helplessly. This matter would have to be considered over the long term. If the family head refused to speak of it himself, probably few people would know.

Before absolute strength, all schemes and tricks were but phantoms. Facing the family head's pressure, these people could only retreat in helplessness. But the contradictions within the Lineage had already been laid bare, and this matter would not end so easily.

"Hmph, this is infuriating. No, I need to tell Father about this. Also, Xiao Hai's side must be protected. These bastards—the Lineage truly needs a thorough purge." Though he was unwilling, it had to be done. Every family, from its founding to its rise at the summit, had gone through countless internal purges, continuously uprooting those bad shoots before they could grow.