The seven-colored glow burst forth, instantly shattering the Zhao Family Ancestor’s battle armor’s defense, decapitating his head, which was filled with terror.
“Ancestor!”
Inside White Tiger Mountain, members of the Zhao Family, who were managing the formation, witnessed this scene and all screamed in shock and fear.
At that moment, some cried out loud, some screamed in terror, some showed faces of regret, and some even knelt down pleading for mercy.
They all knew that their family was finished, White Tiger Mountain was finished!
“Roar!”
Beside them, Lu Quanzhen commanded a Second Rank Puppet and the Nine Netherhound battling the Howling Cloud Tiger, causing the tiger to scream in anguish.
“Pfft!”
Lu Changsheng, seeing this, showed no mercy and used the Taichi Talisman to slay the aged Howling Cloud Tiger with a sword stroke.
“Boom!”
Moments later, the power of the Fierce Tiger Encircling Mountain Great Formation slowly dissipated, and the mountain gate opened.
Lu Changsheng retrieved Jin Zan’s life-bound spiritual artifact.
Holding Lu Miaoge’s hand, they descended from the air like a celestial couple, arriving at the gate.
At this time, all cultivators of the Zhao Family had knelt down.
Yet, a few still refused to submit, severing their heart veins and killing themselves.
The leading Zhao Family Patriarch looked at the celestial couple before him, fear evident in his eyes, and said, “Zhao Family Patriarch Zhao Mingwei greets Lu Mountain Lord, Lu Ancestor.”
“Please spare our Zhao Family, Lu Mountain Lord, Lu Ancestor. I am willing to dissolve the Zhao Family and give White Tiger Mountain and all our properties to Blue Lake Mountain as compensation.”
“Our Zhao descendants are adept in vein exploration, purification, and artifact forging. If Lu Mountain Lord requires, we are at your disposal, without any second thoughts…” The Zhao Family Patriarch and several family elders immediately said with sobbing faces.
Faced with this situation, even though they felt immense anger, they could not muster any will to resist.
They could only plead for mercy, begging Lu Changsheng to spare their lives and preserve their family lineage.
“Ha, did you really think I came here to forcibly take over your Zhao Family’s spirit land and properties?”
“You Zhao Family plotted against my daughter, coveted the mines of my Blue Lake Mountain, and even called on Golden Dragon Ridge, seeking to use power to overwhelm and frame us. It is due to these actions that I intervened,” Lu Changsheng snorted.
While he did have his eyes on White Tiger Mountain, the pretext was still avenging his daughter.
“Absolutely, absolutely, I spoke out of turn.” The Zhao Family Patriarch quickly nodded in agreement, slapping himself, utterly servile.
“Since you truly and sincerely seek to offer reparations and apologize, I naturally won’t slaughter all of you.” Lu Changsheng’s expression softened slightly.
“Thank you, Lu Mountain Lord, thank you!”
Hearing this, the Zhao members showed mixed expressions of grief and joy, promptly voicing their thanks.
However, there were still many Zhao descendants who kept their heads down, clenching their fists, daring to be angry but not speaking out.
After all, such an act was utterly disgraceful!
“Which Zhao Family elders and descendants plotted against my daughter Ruyi?”
Lu Changsheng surveyed the Zhao members and spoke.
After a short while, three bodies were dragged over.
These three knew that others might live, but they had no chance of survival.
Better to end their lives by suicide than to later beg for life without being able to die.
Lu Ruyi stepped forward, glanced at them to confirm they were the ones who had captured her, nodded in acknowledgment, her heart filled with myriad emotions.
“Since the primary culprits are eliminated, and the grudges resolved, let us put this matter to rest for now,” Lu Changsheng, seeing this, spoke in a calm and mild tone: “Now that your Zhao Family no longer has Foundation Establishment Cultivators to guard, it’s hard to defend White Tiger Mountain. Does the Zhao Patriarch have any plans?”
The Zhao Family Patriarch, hearing this, appeared stunned.
Then, with a face full of sorrow and tears, he displayed a respectful and flattering demeanour: “The Zhao Family is willing to be a vassal to Blue Lake Mountain, completely at the disposal of the ancestor!”
“Hm.”
Lu Changsheng nodded.
He indeed didn’t have the intention to annihilate them completely.
On one hand, ending this small matter with full slaughter wouldn’t look good on the surface, and rumors would sound unpleasant, deterring and displeasing surrounding families.
On the other hand, his family currently couldn’t spare manpower to oversee White Tiger Mountain.
The Zhao Family lacked Foundation Establishment Cultivators now, but they could still serve as guards.
Besides, with so many Spiritual Root cultivators in the Zhao Family, it would be a pity and a waste to just kill them all.
They would indeed be useful, whether sent to mine, refine artifacts, or other tasks.
“Father.”
At this moment, Lu Quanzhen transmitted a message to Lu Changsheng.
“Hm? What is it?”
Lu Changsheng looked at his son.
“The child has some thoughts…” Lu Quanzhen immediately aired some of his ideas and suggestions for the Zhao Family arrangements.
“Okay.” Lu Changsheng briefly pondered, replying with one word.
Others at the scene saw Lu Changsheng not speaking, unknowing of what he was considering, but no one dared to inquire further.
“Zhao Patriarch, since your Zhao Family is willing to become vassals to my family, we are all one family now.”
“This significant matter still requires Uncle to notify any Zhao cultivators outside to come back, so we can all get acquainted.”
“By the way, from now on, the matters of White Tiger Mountain will be under my management. My name is Lu Quanzhen, and Uncle Zhao can just call me Quanzhen,” Lu Quanzhen stepped forward, his clean-cut cheeks showing a smile, his eyes narrow, and he bowed.
“To ensure better future relations between our families without conflicts, if there are people in your family who do not wish to stay on White Tiger Mountain and want to leave, my Lu Family will not insist nor proceed with total annihilation.”
“Just swear an oath of the Dao Heart that you will not use the Zhao name of White Tiger Mountain to harbor ill intentions against my Blue Lake Mountain Lu Family in the future, and I will let you leave now. Whether you become Loose Cultivators or rebuild a family, my Lu Family will not interfere.”