Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1429: 770: Do You Know, the Red Dragon Son Is My Child

The hall descended into utter chaos right then.

Liu Dushi's declaration sparked a massive uproar, akin to a rock thrown into still waters; the Zhao Family could no longer contain their boiling rage, and they fired back at him with fierce shouts.

For a moment, thunderous roars filled the hall, with endless echoes of rebukes and furious oaths bouncing off the walls.

“Hmph!”

A sharp cold huff exploded suddenly, resembling thunder crashing in a drought-stricken sky, and it quelled every bit of clamor in the hall at once.

All at once, the Zhao Family members froze as though their pressure points had been sealed, plunging into total silence together.

Liu Dushi lightly snapped his fingers with nonchalance, then drawled lazily, “Your anger shows I've struck true; why else would you react so frantically?”

Zhao Xiandu's face grew gravely stern, and he bellowed, “Taoist Liu, your claims are utterly ridiculous. You're baselessly defaming my Zhao Family—how could we not challenge such lies? Though our clan dwells in isolation with limited power, we won't tolerate these unfounded attacks.

Liu Dushi, take back your statements at once. Otherwise… hehe!”

“Otherwise what? It's baffling to Mr. Liu how you'd threaten us. Planning to draw arms and trap us here? What gives you such boldness? Your ancestor, whose strength has faded? Resorting to violence when arguments fail—you're truly daring!” Shockingly, Liu Dushi displayed no dread, countering instead with a barrage of piercing retorts full of defiance.

The Zhao Family, witnessing this man's twisting of truths, seethed with injustice and nearly exploded in wrath.

Zhao Xiandu's cheeks flushed crimson with ire, yet he held back from lashing out. His hasty words had trapped him in a bind, leaving him fumbling without recourse.

“Liu Dushi, I spoke too hastily before. That wasn't my aim. I beg your forgiveness and ask you to overlook it. Soon, my clan will offer a lavish gift as our sincere remorse.”

Thinking of the broader implications, Zhao Xiandu opted to seek truce on his own initiative.

“What, attempting to buy me off? How laughable! Mr. Liu stands firm in integrity and justice. To sway me with trifling riches into wrongdoing—you're deluded!” Liu Dushi proclaimed with soaring moral fervor.

Without letting Zhao Xiandu respond, he pressed on: “Hear this one final time. Honoring Elder Xianglong, I'll grant you an hour's wait.

Once it's up, we'll depart without delay. But should we return, it won't be just our small group fetching the captive—it'll be the All Heaven Twelve Fiend Gods.

I've laid it out plainly; decide for yourselves whether to surrender him or not!”

With that, Liu Dushi shut his eyes, feigning a relaxed repose.

One had to concede, his barbs cut deep and landed squarely.

Suddenly, the Zhao Family fell into disarray, as myriad Divine Thoughts collided in hushed fury, even whipping up a tempest of Divine Thoughts overhead from the heated clashes.

To yield or shield the captive—this choice tied directly to the clan's very survival!

In the Zhao Family, the Red Dragon Son had always held unparalleled status, solely because he carried the last bloodline of the Ancestor.

Should the Ancestor have perished already, the dilemma would simplify. Yet if he lived and came back to discover the Red Dragon Son gone… the fallout would defy imagination!

Moments ticked away steadily, splitting the Zhao Family into two fierce factions that couldn't sway one another.

Still, facing the stark peril, the side pushing to deliver the person slowly seized dominance.

After all, the Ancestor had vanished for centuries, his fate a mystery of life or death.

Right now, safeguarding the family's heritage mattered most; no matter how vital the Red Dragon Son was, he couldn't outweigh the worth of the millions of lives across the entire clan!

This notion of the “higher cause” tipped the scales toward those advocating surrender.

Just as opinions began to coalesce and the hour drew to a close, a lean, towering silhouette materialized abruptly in the hall's midst.

Liu Dushi detected something off, snapping his eyes open to spot the “trespasser” right away.

“Ah?!”

Someone's startled cry cut through the ongoing quarrel instantly.

Right then, several Zhao Family elders gaped in shock, blurting out uncontrollably, “Ancestor?!”

“It's really the Ancestor!”

“Hahaha, the Ancestor is back at last!”

Beholding the Ancestor, absent for hundreds of years, emerge so unexpectedly, all those gathered brimmed with ecstatic delight.

The sharp ones, such as Zhao Xiandu, sprang up at once to prostrate deeply, proclaiming, “This junior Xiandu greets the Ancestor's glorious return!”

His cue sparked the rest into action, rising swiftly to offer proper salutes.

In a flash, the whole hall brimmed with those on their knees.

“Rise, all of you!” Zhao Sheng offered a gentle smile and a kind nod.

The Zhao clansmen stood, then parted to the flanks, clearing a path for the Ancestor to take his seat.

At that, Zhao Sheng drifted upward, settling onto the exalted Jade Chair at the head, assuming his position with elegant poise.

Only then did Liu Dushi jolt alert, as if rousing from slumber, scrambling from his seat to kowtow before Zhao Sheng. “Fifth-generation disciple of Taiyi Spirit Palace, Liu Tonghe, honors Senior Zhao. This junior extends congratulations on your homecoming to Taiyi Heaven.”

Zhao Sheng gave a cool nod, then declared abruptly: “Do you know, the Red Dragon Son is my son?”

These words hit Liu Tonghe like a blow, his heart plummeting as sweat beaded on his brow; he rushed to clarify, “Senior might not realize, but the Red Dragon Son has turned into a Fallen Demon. By the Immortal Venerable’s order, we Qintian Guards must bring him in for judgment. This is set in stone—please don't hinder our duty.”

A resounding smack sent Liu Tonghe hurtling back, slamming into the hall's wall with a crash before tumbling down.

Thud!

Liu Tonghe hauled himself up from the floor, coughing up a gush of bloody froth that included scores of knocked-out teeth.

His features ballooned and twisted right before their eyes, morphing into a swollen hog's visage in seconds.

“You… you woo woo… have to let us… breaking celestial laws…” Liu Tonghe glared at Zhao Sheng with fiery eyes, mumbling through mangled speech.

Though his mutterings garbled, the intent rang crystal clear to all.

The squad of crimson-garbed Qintian Guards watched their chief get thrashed, stirring restlessly, but not one stepped forward.

To challenge a Half-Immortal of the Void? That would be like courting death with reckless abandon—truly overstepping one's lifespan!

After the strike, Zhao Sheng growled menacingly: “Hmph, I'll handle my own son's upbringing—no outsiders meddle. I struck you today as a warning. If you're unsatisfied, summon your higher-up to face me himself.”

“Senior's message, Mr. Liu will relay fully to the leaders… we're withdrawing!”

Liu Tonghe forced a veneer of calm, uttering a few formalities, before pivoting sharply and striding out of the hall in haste.

The red-clad Qintian Guards trailed silently, slinking away from the chamber.

Watching the Qintian Guards scatter in panic, Zhao Xiandu fretted deeply and glanced at Zhao Sheng with caution, venturing, “Ancestor, these Qintian Guards serve Taiyi Spirit Palace; they've long been overbearing and unchecked. Offending them today might bring grave repercussions.”

“Worry not—since I acted, I have my plans in place.” Zhao Sheng brushed it off with a wave, then commanded, “Disperse now; I'll go visit Hong’er first.”

Fresh from his arrival, Zhao Sheng's Divine Thought had already swept through the Zhao estate entirely, pinpointing exactly where Zhao Hong (the Red Dragon Son) remained confined.

Seeing this, Zhao Xiandu quickly interjected, “Ancestor, the Red Dragon Son is locked in the Bitter Prison for contemplation. Allow this junior to guide you there.”

“Unnecessary; I'll proceed solo.”

No sooner had he spoken than the Ancestor's form vanished from sight before them all.