Murderous Intent: A Sudden Surge in Power

With a decision made in his heart, Du Chen, ever cautious, inquired, "Chek, you just mentioned that only the Changxi Family showed no signs of avarice or Disturbance. Is that truly normal? Does it align with their family's customary way of doing things?"

Chek, however, evinced no excessive concern, stating optimistically, "This is perfectly normal. The Changxi Family is a minor clan in the northern reaches of the City of Penance—their annual Huhuhu Beast yield barely reaches two thousand. They've always eked out a meager existence, caught between our family and the Kursk family, utterly subservient. Their current Family Head is, moreover, a craven and ineffectual man, devoid of ambition or initiative."

Du Chen nodded. "So, the Changxi Family is quite astute, understanding they can't contend with so many major clans, and simply chose not to participate..."

"That would be the most logical conclusion..."

Du Chen pressed further, "How many troops and High-level Battle Gods do they command?"

Chek curled his lip in disdain. "Their household, all members combined, numbers barely over a thousand. Stripping away the old, the weak, and the infirm, those capable of battle amount to a mere five hundred—and that's including their robust women! As for The Master..." His gaze grew even more contemptuous. "Their Family Head is merely a Seven-Star Battle God. Had they not fortuitously been wedged between our family and the Kursk family, with both of us having use for them, they would have been annihilated long ago!"

"To have survived for so long, caught between two powerful families, they cannot truly be called useless!" Du Chen rubbed his nose.

Chek chuckled. "Rest assured, sir. This time, all the armies are stationed at the periphery; only The Master-level cultivators are attending the gathering. Even if the Changxi Family harbors ulterior motives, do you truly fear a mere Seven-Star Battle God?"

Du Chen offered a self-deprecating smile. "Very well. Have someone prepare the venue. My Eldest Brother and I shall arrive shortly. Once this day passes..." he declared ominously, "Our Brockman family shall be the undisputed leader of the City of Penance, the vanguard against the Huhuhu Beasts!"

"Brockman shall prevail!"

Chek clenched his fist and let out a low growl. Never in his life had he been part of an operation of such magnitude. The excitement and anticipation churning within him, mingled with a faint trace of apprehension, created a complex tapestry of emotions.

No sooner had Chek departed than Steve sauntered into the bedroom. "Ah, the blessed life!" he exclaimed, a lecherous grin plastered across his face. Yet his eyes held a sweet tenderness, and his fingers incessantly rubbed together, as if lingering on a cherished sensation.

Du Chen raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Been caressing Miss Heidi's cheek again, have we?"

Steve snickered. "Indeed! That skin, smooth as water, that otherworldly beauty... tsk, tsk!" His voice suddenly turned cold. "Heidi reports that a portion of the Brockman family's second generation will attend the assembly with us, while another part is at the border to prevent unforeseen incidents. However, those guarding the bunker and protecting the Old Matriarch are... the third generation!" He let out a chilling, sinister laugh. "Francis, how about we leave Xue Ji in the bunker!?"

Du Chen sneered. "Those third-generation heirs, they find me an eyesore. If they see Xue Ji alone in the bunker at this moment, provided they aren't utterly witless, they will surely use her against me, won't they?"

Francis nodded. "If they dare lay a hand on Xue Ji, we'll have legitimate cause to eliminate them and install Heidi as the rightful heir!"

Du Chen remained silent, instead rising to his feet. He stepped out, turned the corner, and knocked on the adjacent door—Xue Ji's bedchamber.

Francis smirked faintly, waiting behind the door for the answer.

A soft creak, and Xue Ji opened the door, smiling. "Mr. Alex, do you have any instructions for me?"

Du Chen smiled. "There's a grand assembly today. Would you be interested in accompanying me to witness it?"

Xue Ji paused, taken aback. "This... Xue Ji would only be a burden to you."

"I hardly think that's an issue!" Du Chen's fingertips coalesced frost and snow, which he then brandished slightly.

Xue Ji, flustered by Du Chen's direct gaze, hastily lowered her head and said, "Then, I shall go prepare myself."

Turning back to his bedchamber, Du Chen offered a faint smile as he observed Francis's slightly bewildered expression. Steve's chilling gaze swept over Du Chen's face, and he sneered, "You're still not ruthless enough... Xue Ji would only be The Bait, her life wouldn't be in danger!"

"Yet, I have no interest in using women as The Bait!"

Steve let out an almost imperceptible sigh, then burst into boisterous laughter, loud enough for Xue Ji in the next room to clearly overhear. "Gods above, what do I behold? My younger brother has invited Xue Ji on a date!"

Du Chen gave a wry smile, "This Eldest Brother of mine..."

The assembly hall was located a hundred li east of the Brockman Bunker. By the time Du Chen, Steve, and Xue Ji arrived, the venue was fully prepared, and most of the guests had already gathered.

On that fateful day, the Ninth-rank sacred artifact had descended from the heavens. Its pervasive watery radiance had carved out a gentle depression nearby. Now, at the heart of this hollow lay the Ninth-rank sacred artifact. Around it, a barrier of Huhuhu Beast bones formed the perimeter of the assembly hall. Such a barrier, however, was little more than a formality; no one truly believed it could impede anything of substance.

Another barrier surrounded the Ninth-rank sacred artifact itself. Encircling the sacred artifact, a ring of Huhuhu Beast hide rugs served as seating for the guests. Du Chen mentally calculated that nineteen families had arrived in total, with approximately a hundred individuals including their retinues. Among them, The Master-level cultivators of Ninth-rank or higher... were a mere three, and even Eighth-rank cultivators numbered less than ten!

Du Chen and Steve followed behind Chek, appearing utterly inconspicuous. Compared to the other common guest consultants of the Brockman family, they seemed like ordinary individuals who would vanish unnoticed in a crowd. However, the moment Xue Ji's breathtaking beauty appeared, it immediately stirred a considerable commotion within the assembly.

Even after Du Chen and Xue Ji had settled onto one of the rugs, countless gazes remained fixed upon them.

Chek leaned in and whispered, "Mr. Alex, do you require me to introduce you to the Family Heads of the various clans?"

Du Chen shook his head. "There's no need. You may proceed with chairing the meeting!" As he spoke, Du Chen's gaze fell upon the Ninth-rank sacred artifact. The sacred artifact, spherical in its raw form, lay serenely at the center of the depression, emitting a faint watery shimmer. Heh, it truly was his own Vanishing Snow Sword!

Immediately, Du Chen's expression shifted.

The Vanishing Snow Sword was here in the City of Penance. Then where was Constantine, who had been with the Vanishing Snow Sword and disappeared with it on that day!?

At that moment, Chek opened the barrier, walked to the sacred artifact's side, and announced loudly, "Esteemed guests! You are all aware of the situation, so I shall dispense with pleasantries. Today, we address two matters: firstly, discussing how to combat the Huhuhu Beasts; secondly, finding a master for this Ninth-rank sacred artifact!"

An elder with hair and beard as white as snow rose opposite him. This was the leader of the Nine-Family Coalition, who spoke calmly, "Before arriving, our Nine-Family Coalition conferred. To simplify, these two matters can be merged into one..." His voice, imbued with battle qi, resounded throughout the hall. Du Chen secretly assessed him: a Ninth-rank mid-stage Battle God. This elder was likely the most formidable presence here.

The elder continued, "Everyone here understands the rules of our City of Penance: the strong command respect. And to combat the Huhuhu Beasts, we must unite. Therefore, whoever can become the master of this Ninth-rank sacred artifact today shall also become the leader of our City of Penance residents. What are your thoughts?"

Immediately, someone chimed in, "Precisely so! My Amdu family approves!"

But another voice protested, "Nonsense! Your Nine-Family Coalition of the Southeast may have deliberated, but besides you, there are ten other major families here today, including the Brockman family! Have you bothered to ask for our opinions?"

The elder glanced at the speaker. "Ah, it is the Crimson Family Head. What, do you hold a differing view?"

"Hmph, you are the strongest here, and the most likely to become the master of the sacred artifact. Your Nine-Family Coalition's proposal is clearly tailored for you alone! I absolutely refuse to agree!"

"If you disagree, then present your own proposal!"

The Crimson Family Head sneered coldly. "My proposal is that, since all of us here today—"

Du Chen was secretly chuckling, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. Suddenly, Francis, who was beside him, gave him a slight nudge. "Below ground!" Du Chen was momentarily startled, but the heightened perception of a Titled Battle God immediately warned him...

Someone was approaching from below ground, and in considerable numbers. One of them was, astonishingly, a Ninth-rank peak Battle God, surpassing even the leader of the coalition!

Just then, a sudden Disturbance erupted! The Crimson Family Head was speaking volubly, when suddenly, the earth behind him surged, forming an earth dragon that shot skyward, then crashed down directly upon him. With a sickening 'thwack,' the Crimson Family Head was crushed into a bloody pulp!

"So your opinion, Crimson... is no opinion at all!"

Thump, thump, the earth cracked open. Several figures suddenly sprang forth from beneath the ground. The foremost among them stepped onto Crimson's corpse and sneered, "Perhaps everyone would prefer to hear *my* Changxi's opinion!"

The coalition leader was the first to react, roaring, "What do you, the Changxi Family, intend to do!?"

"This is Changxi?" Du Chen scrutinized the man before him in astonishment, thinking, *Chek had just sworn that the Changxi Family was a bunch of good-for-nothings, utterly incapable of such machinations. Yet now... how could a Ninth-rank peak Battle God suddenly appear? Wasn't he only a Seven-Star Battle God? Could Chek truly have been so mistaken about such an obvious fact?*

Du Chen cast a cold glance at Chek. Chek hastily rushed to Du Chen's side, "Wha—what's going on? How did that notorious good-for-nothing of the City of Penance suddenly become so powerful?"

"You ask me? Who am I supposed to ask? How exactly do you conduct your intelligence work!?" Du Chen pursed his lips and spoke calmly, "It's not just Changxi. Look at the dozen-plus people behind him..."

"Th-them? I know all of them! See that fat fellow on the left? Two months ago, I beat him to a pulp..."

"But he's now an Eighth-rank mid-stage cultivator! He could beat *you* to a pulp now." Du Chen frowned, observing the suddenly emergent Changxi Family. In the blink of an eye, nineteen figures had sprung from underground; including Changxi, a total of twenty. Among them, Changxi was a Ninth-rank peak Battle God, and of the remaining nineteen, nine were Eighth-rank, and ten were Seven-Star!

The shocked gazes of everyone in the assembly hall conveyed to Du Chen that no one had anticipated the Changxi Family's Sudden Surge in Power. This meant that the transformation of the Changxi clan had occurred only in the last few days!

Could it be...

Du Chen whispered to Duding, "Can your mother's aura cause Violet-Bloods to mutate as well?"

Little Duding was also bewildered. "How is that possible? The waste my mother discards is only enough to mutate Huhuhu Beasts. Violet-Bloods... impossible!"

*Damn it, is there something else in the City of Penance that can cause a Sudden Surge in Power!?*