Ancestor Coffin

Chapter 42: Ancestor Coffin

Inside the Situ Family's council hall, dark clouds gathered overhead, and many people wore grim expressions.

"First Elder, these past few days, the Wang Family and Wan Family have been like mad dogs, specifically attacking our Situ Family's shops," a servant below reported. "Several of our pill workshops and weapon pavilions have already been forced to close."

"In the past, our three families developed peacefully together. I never expected that the moment Father left, they would be unable to hold themselves back," the eldest son, Situ Bo, said indignantly. "I say we fight them and let them know we are not easy to provoke, so they will restrain themselves in the future."

"Even if we wanted to fight now, we couldn't," the First Elder said without raising his head. "The family head was at the peak of the True Meridian Realm and had always kept the other two family heads in check. Now that he is gone, how are we supposed to fight?"

"Right now, the Situ Family is in a state of panic. I think we should first choose a capable leader," the second son, Situ Yu, stepped forward and said.

"I think Second Brother is right. This younger brother may be untalented, but I have read widely and am willing to lead the Situ Family through this crisis," the third son, Situ Jing, said resolutely.

"Third Brother, you flatter me. As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father. Since Father is gone, as the eldest brother, I naturally have the responsibility to shoulder the burden," Situ Bo hurriedly said.

"I believe the position of family head cannot be decided by age. After all, it concerns the interests of the entire Lineage; it should depend on ability," Situ Yu said neither servile nor overbearing. "This younger brother believes he has some talent."

The First Elder, seated at the head of the hall, frowned and slammed his palm onto the table. "For the sake of the family head's position, you are quarrelling like this? What kind of behavior is this? I will temporarily act as family head for now. We can discuss it again once there is a new candidate."

"First Elder, at least give us a standard. Why don't we hold a competition? Whoever wins may inherit the position of family head," the three brothers said as they exchanged glances and looked at the First Elder.

Though the competition between the three of them was fierce and each was determined to obtain the position of family head, none of them wanted to hand it over to the Third Elder so cheaply.

Situ Yunqing sat silently in the corner. Watching the crowd argue, she could not help feeling sorrow for this Lineage.

A sorrow from the bottom of her heart.

These people all wanted to seize power, yet they themselves had little ability. Moreover, they acted only for selfish desires and would never consider the Lineage's safety.

Situ Yunqing even felt that if the Situ Family were handed over to her, she would manage it far better than these people.

Unfortunately, she had neither power nor influence and could not contend for anything at all.

At that moment, the first person who came to her mind was unexpectedly Xu Zimo.

She had already investigated his identity. It was said that he was a disciple of the True Martial Sacred Sect, and his background was far from ordinary.

Situ Yunqing pondered silently. She did not want to be a mere vase and live out her life in such a bland, ordinary manner.

Three days later, because of the secret clashes among Zhouque City's Three Great Families, everyone in the city felt uneasy. It was like black clouds pressing down upon the city, threatening to crush it; like mountain rain about to arrive, filling every tower with wind.

"Have you heard? Situ Family's eldest young master, Situ Bo, was assassinated the day before yesterday."

Inside the restaurant, people discussed it in low voices. "Tell me about it. The Situ Family is truly plagued by disaster after disaster. I heard their second young master was also assassinated last night."

"How did I hear that their third young master seemed to have been assassinated too?"

The restaurant was filled with people from all walks of life, but most of their conversations were still about the Situ Family.

Many people did not think much of the Situ Family's future either.

"Do you think the Wang and Wan Families did it? They want to take this chance to destroy the Situ Family and change the three-legged balance of power."

"Who knows? Maybe it was the Situ Family's own people. They all want to fight for the position of family head."

Inside a guest room at Linjiang Restaurant, Xu Zimo listened to Xiao Guizi's report, rhythmically tapping the windowsill with his right hand.

"I have already warned the Wang Family and Wan Family. They definitely did not send anyone to carry out the assassinations," Xiao Guizi said. "Those assassination attempts must have been carried out by people within the Situ Family."

"Once everything is ready, arrange for us to close the net tomorrow. There is no need to waste so much more time," Xu Zimo said.

"I understand. I'll make the arrangements now," Xiao Guizi nodded before withdrawing.

The night was enchanting. A few faint dark stars hung sparsely at the edge of the sky, and all of Zhouque City lay asleep.

Early the next morning, while all things were still muddled in sleep and had yet to fully awaken,

the disciples of the Wang Family and Wan Family had already surrounded the entire Situ Family.

Wang Cheng, the Wang Family head, and Wan Cangqiong, the Wan Family head, strolled together to the entrance of the Situ Family.

"Are you trying to start a war with my Situ Family?" The First Elder's furious roar awakened the entirety of Zhouque City, which was still only beginning to wake from its dreams.

"Situ Mang, stop making futile struggles. Today, we will erase your Situ Family from Zhouque City," Wan Cangqiong declared loudly.

The aura of the peak True Meridian Realm radiated from him. The First Elder's expression changed slightly. Though he too was in the True Meridian Realm, he was only at the seventh level and was no match for Wan Cangqiong at all.

"Family Head Wan, Family Head Wang, we seem to have neither grievances nor enmity. Why must you insist on driving us to death?" the First Elder began to persuade them. "Though the Situ Family head is gone, we are not someone just anyone can easily touch. I can guarantee that our Situ Family's pill workshops and weapon pavilions within Zhouque City can yield fifty percent of their profits to your two families."

"Situ Mang, you have roamed the world for decades. Do you still not understand?" Wang Cheng sneered contemptuously. "The victor becomes king and the loser a bandit. Why would we need a reason to destroy your Situ Family? It is merely survival of the fittest."

"If you insist on fighting, then I will accompany you to the bitter end," the First Elder said with a solemn expression. He turned to those behind him. "Invite the ancestors."

Then, a purplish-black coffin was carried out. It appeared to have been stored away for a long time, and red crystals were embedded all around it.

"Have the two of you thought this through? Once I open the Ancestor Coffin, it will be a fight to the death," the First Elder said imposingly.

"Then let us try it. I, too, would like to meet the previous generation's Situ Family head," Wan Cangqiong said. He was not panicked, only somewhat more vigilant.

Lying within this Ancestor Coffin was the previous generation's Situ Family head. In truth, when many powerful cultivators had little lifespan remaining and had no hope of breaking through to a higher level, they would seal themselves away.

The red crystals outside this Ancestor Coffin were called Dust Blood Stones. They could effectively slow the flow of time.

These ancestors sealed themselves inside Ancestor Coffins containing Dust Blood Stones. Under the effects of the Dust Blood Stones, the consumption of their lifespans would be reduced to the lowest possible level.

In other words, if he originally had only five years left to live, then because the flow of time had slowed, he could extend his life to ten years, or even twenty years.

Updates will resume tomorrow, with two to three chapters each day.