"Prince, I represent the Alchemist Association, and support your decision to take action against the Wen Family!" Liu Wen immediately declared with a stern face.
Now that Xu Dong was dead, naturally, he was the one in charge of the Alchemist Association.
"Good! Chairman Liu Wen, I believe the Alchemist Association will thrive under your leadership!" Zhou Shangyun said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Liu Wen’s demeanor suddenly became more serious.
The Prince had actually called him Chairman. Clearly, the Prince had fully expressed his support for him becoming the President of the Alchemist Association. With Xu Dong dead and now with the Prince’s support, the position of the Association’s President had practically fallen into his lap.
The others also exchanged glances. However, they did not say anything, as it was already a foregone conclusion that Liu Wen would become the President of the Alchemist Association. If they spoke up now, wouldn’t they be offending Liu Wen as well? With Xu Dong dead, Liu Wen was now the strongest Pill Master within Lanqu County City, and crossing him would not bode well for their families.
"Thank you, Prince!" Liu Wen expressed his thanks excitedly.
Zhou Shangyun just smiled and waved his hand.
"I, from Red Lotus Academy, also support the Prince’s decision!" Tong Bao, the Dean of Red Lotus Academy, immediately followed with his stance.
He had little to no connection with the Wen Family. Whether Jing Yan was alive or had astounding strength, or even if Jing Yan was dead or lacked strength, he would support the Prince’s decision regardless. After all, Red Lotus Academy wasn’t going to send anyone to help the Prince eliminate the Wen Family; their support was merely a gesture on the surface.
Seeing that both Dao Yi Academy and Red Lotus Academy, as well as the Alchemist Association, had all shown their support for the Prince, Guan Yue’s face became increasingly grim. Two of the Three Major Academies had made their stance clear, and if Divine Wind Academy did not do so, they would be thoroughly alienating the Prince. Even though offending the Prince wasn’t a matter of utmost gravity for Divine Wind Academy, at the end of the day the academy was still based within the territory of Lanqu County City, and they required the Prince’s support for many things.
For example, when the Three Major Academies held exams to recruit new students, if the Prince Manor had objections to Divine Wind Academy, how many talented students could Divine Wind Academy hope to attract in the future?
After his expression changed several times, Guan Yue had no choice but to express his support too.
All Three Major Academies supported the Prince’s decision to eliminate the Wen Family.
"Prince, I also represent the Extreme Combat Association and support your decision. The Wen Family has indeed gone too far!" The President of the Extreme Combat Association was an old man in a grey robe.
This was the President of the Extreme Combat Association of Lanqu County City, not to be compared with that of Donglin City. In the many cities under the jurisdiction of Lanqu County City, almost every city had a branch of the Extreme Combat Association. It could be said that the power of the Extreme Combat Association was formidable.
The power of the Extreme Combat Association was definitely not inferior to the Three Major Academies, and in terms of Combat Power, it might even be stronger. As for the Great Families, the gap with the Extreme Combat Association was even more pronounced.
The stance of the President of the Extreme Combat Association took Zhou Shangyun by surprise too.
This was because the Extreme Combat Association usually abstained from such decisions, neither supporting nor opposing. In plain terms, they stayed out of the affairs of Lanqu County City.
"Chairman Lin, thank you!" Zhou Shangyun looked at the old man in the grey robe and said in a deep voice.
"Prince, it’s true that the Wen Family is out of line. If everyone did as the Wen Family does, wouldn’t Lanqu County City fall into chaos? Hehe, as the Prince aims to discipline the Wen Family, I plan to lend a hand as well," Lin Qing said with a smile and a wave of his hand.
Upon hearing Chairman Lin Qing’s words, almost everyone present changed their expressions slightly. Even Jing Yan did not expect that Chairman Lin Qing of the Extreme Combat Association would offer such substantial support.
As Jing Yan was assessing Lin Qing, Lin Qing also looked at Jing Yan and nodded.
Feeling Lin Qing’s gaze, Jing Yan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. There seemed to be some other meaning behind Chairman Lin Qing’s look, but after carefully recalling, Jing Yan ultimately couldn’t figure out any connection between himself and Chairman Lin Qing. He had a good relationship with the President of the Extreme Combat Association in Donglin City, but that was just a minor branch.
At this time, the Clan Leaders of the Three Great Families also realized it was impossible to go against the tide. Their opposition now would be pointless. Rather than causing dissatisfaction from the Prince, it was better to swiftly show their support. While they would support, it was unlikely that they would exert any effort.
Thus, the Three Great Families also expressed their stance.
With all these leading forces showing support, the second-tier families and powers naturally did not dare to oppose and all backed Zhou Shangyun’s decision.
"In that case, let’s take action!"
"Chief Mu, make preparations. We will set off shortly!" Zhou Shangyun nodded to Mu Liantian.
"Yes!" Mu Liantian immediately responded and left.
Clan Leader Wen Lan had called together all the elders and key personnel of the Wen Family into the Council Hall.
"What exactly does the Prince intend?"
"Why has the Prince issued the Lanqu Order to the Three Major Academies, to the Lu Family, Yuan Family, Cai Family, and not to our Wen Family?" an elder said with a low, dissatisfied voice.
"Exactly! What is the Prince up to?"
"Our Wen Family is one of the Four Great Families of Lanqu County City, a top-tier power. Prince Zhou Shangyun has issued the Lanqu Order to the other top-tier forces but has notably excluded our Wen Family; there must be a problem."
"Of course, there’s a problem! I just received news that even the second-tier powers have been summoned to the Prince Manor for a council meeting. Yet, our Wen Family has not been informed at all!"
A group of Wen Family elders began to voice their concerns.
"It seems our Wen Family may be in trouble. The Prince may intend to take action against our family," Wen Lan said with a heavy sigh, sweeping his gaze over the people of the Wen Family present as he spoke slowly.
"Why would the Prince take action against the Wen Family?" someone asked with a frown.
"You all should know about the incident of Jing Yan being assassinated by the Dark Night Assassin, right? The Prince and Jing Yan had a close relationship, and the Prince must be extremely angered by Jing Yan’s death," Wen Lan said.
"Clan Leader! Whether Jing Yan is alive or dead has nothing to do with our Wen Family. Even if Prince Zhou Shangyun is furious, he can’t blame Jing Yan’s death on our Wen Family, can he?" an elder said angrily.
Only Clan Leader Wen Lan and a few of the most important elders knew that the Dark Night Assassin hired to kill Jing Yan was employed by the Wen Family. The others were unaware of this.
"Zhou Shangyun is the Prince, and for him, many things do not require a reason. Merely suspecting us is enough. Regardless, we must prepare for the worst, better safe than sorry," Wen Lan said with a fixed gaze.