Persisting Storm

Persisting Storm . . .

Ouyang Kuangsheng had long grown disillusioned with the Ouyang Ancestor's treacherous ways. The seeds of discord between them had been sown when the Ouyang Ancestor betrayed their alliance. After that bitter dispute, the Ouyang Ancestor had never regarded him with a single benevolent glance. The Ouyang Aristocrat Clan had turned its back on him, stripping his parents and close kin of their status, rendering them insignificant within the clan's hierarchy. Even his own grandfather's brother had cast them aside, washing his hands of any familial connection.

All this, coupled with their attempt to force Jiang Ting into marriage with Ouyang Zicheng and Ouyang Kuangsheng's own imprisonment—when had the clan ever come to his aid? Only now, as the lifeless forms of their two ascendants hung in the balance, did these clan members begin to comprehend the gravity of their actions.

"Do you truly harbor remorse for your deeds?" Ouyang Kuangsheng's voice dripped with cynicism.

"Kuangsheng, you still carry the blood of our Ouyang Aristocrat Clan in your veins. Would you willingly stand by as our clan descends from its pinnacle into ruination?" The man beseeched Ouyang Kuangsheng, his anguish palpable. Though he harbored a deep resentment towards Qin Wentian, he had no choice but to implore Ouyang Kuangsheng at this juncture. How could Qin Wentian, someone of the same generation as Ouyang Kuangsheng, have grown so powerful as to slay Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants? The prospect of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan exacting revenge upon Qin Wentian was nothing short of a delusion.

"When you imprisoned me, did anyone think about the Ouyang blood flowing through my veins?" Ouyang Kuangsheng retorted with a sardonic laugh. His clan members' words reeked of hypocrisy.

"No need to plead with Ouyang Kuangsheng. This old fool is meeting his end today," Qin Wentian declared, his voice sending shivers through all who heard it. As they raised their gazes to the sky, they beheld the Ouyang Ancestor, now besieged on all sides. Despite his considerable strength, he found himself in dire straits, having sustained a heavy blow from the sect leader of the Mystic Moon Hall. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, staining his face pallid.

"Qin Wentian, I'm willing to compromise. Ouyang Kuangsheng may wed Jiang Ting, and the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan will forge an alliance with you. Leadership of the clan shall pass to Ouyang Kuangsheng," the Ouyang Ancestor desperately proposed. Yet, before his words could fully escape his lips, the combined onslaught of Fairy Qingmei and Old Xing hammered into him.

"It's too late. What right does your Ouyang Aristocrat Clan have to join my alliance now?" Qin Wentian responded dispassionately. "Perish!"

With those words, a formidable Grand Nihility Palm Imprint erupted, possessing the power to grasp stars and pluck moons from the heavens. It hurtled toward the Ouyang Ancestor, who raised his palms in defense, retaliating with fervor. Although he shattered Qin Wentian's palm imprint, the assaults from the other Ascendants were swift and unrelenting, tearing into the Ouyang Ancestor with devastating effect.

"Kuangsheng!" The Ouyang Aristocrat Clan's experts turned their gaze toward Ouyang Kuangsheng, expecting to see uncertainty clouding his features. Yet, he remained resolute, watching the aerial battle with a steady resolve that would endure until the Ouyang Ancestor's demise.

When the lifeless body of the Ouyang Ancestor plummeted from the sky, a heavy silence enveloped the surroundings. Today, the transcendent Ouyang Aristocrat Clan, boasting three formidable ascendants, had met its demise. Their predicament mirrored that of the Great Solar Chen Clan in the past.

The distinction lay in the fact that, at that time, the Great Solar Chen Clan had pushed Qin Wentian to the limits, forcing him to employ every means at his disposal, even at the cost of grave injuries. Today, however, Qin Wentian's obliteration of the three Ouyang Aristocrat Clan ascendants appeared almost effortless, devoid of suspense from start to finish.

The conclusion was now inescapable: the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan's demise rendered the marriage alliance a farcical mockery.

Qin Wentian, with his four loyal ascendants by his side, strode onto the wedding stage, his fierce eyes locking onto the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan's experts. A hushed tension filled the air, and as his gaze swept over them, not a single soul dared to meet his eyes.

"Out of my sight," Qin Wentian's voice cut through the silence. His intense stare bore into Ouyang Zicheng, whose trembling figure now stood in stark contrast to the grand wedding he had envisioned. From the start to the end, he had been nothing more than a puppet, a passive observer. But now, those commanding eyes bore into him, commanding him to depart. The humiliation gnawed at him, stoking a raging fire of anger.

"ARRGGHHH!" A guttural roar erupted from Ouyang Zicheng's throat. His fury surged as he lunged toward Jiang Ting, the woman who was meant to be his bride, the woman who belonged to Ouyang Kuangsheng.

"Ouyang Zicheng!" A voice thundered with indignation, and in the blink of an eye, a powerful palm strike landed on his back, causing him to vomit blood and crumple to the ground, devoid of strength. As he turned his head, he saw that the assailant was none other than an elder of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan. A cruel smirk danced in the elder's eyes before Ouyang Zicheng's life flickered out.

It was a grim irony—Qin Wentian led his forces and annihilated the three ascendants of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan, and no one dared to resist. Such was the harsh reality; the victor reigned supreme, and the losers were vilified. Strength dictated all.

With their three ascendants dead, the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan's elders saw no reason to witness the complete destruction of their clan.

Qin Wentian stared at the elder who had killed Ouyang Zicheng but remained silent. It was the elder who spoke first. "The Ouyang Aristocrat Clan is prepared to follow Ouyang Kuangsheng, naming him our clan leader."

"Our ancestor erred, making things difficult for Ouyang Kuangsheng. These are our genuine sentiments," the other clan members added, nodding in agreement. What other option did they have? Seeking revenge against Qin Wentian would only result in their collective demise.

Qin Wentian didn't immediately respond. He turned to Ouyang Kuangsheng and said, "Kuangsheng, when I came here today, I intended to offer congratulations to you and Jiang Ting. I also wanted to invite both of you to my wedding. As for the future of your clan, follow your heart."

Ouyang Kuangsheng hesitated, then asked, "You and Mo Qingcheng are getting married soon?"

"Yes," Qin Wentian replied with a smile, confirming the news that caused a stir in the hearts of those present. Mo Qingcheng, once the pride of the Pill Emperor Hall, was the reason Qin Wentian had split the Pill Emperor Hall in two. And now, she was alive and about to marry him. The Pill Emperor Hall's fate seemed precarious.

"Amazing!" Ouyang Kuangsheng exclaimed, delivering a hearty punch to Qin Wentian's shoulder. Jiang Ting joined in, holding Ouyang Kuangsheng's hand as she smiled at Qin Wentian. "Wentian, thank you for helping us today."

"Hey, Jiang Ting, no need to thank me. I expect you to be my bridesmaid at Qingcheng's wedding," Qin Wentian teased, grinning.

"Deal! I'll be there, ready to serve," Jiang Ting playfully agreed, her heart brimming with gratitude. One sentence from Qin Wentian had spared her Jiang Clan from being swept up in this tumultuous storm.

The two ascendants from the Jiang Clan felt their hearts swell with joy at the close bond between Jiang Ting and Qin Wentian. Witnessing the fall of three ascendants had a profound impact on them, shifting their perception of Qin Wentian from an ordinary junior to an extraordinary figure. To this young man, Grand Xia was far too small.

Ouyang Kuangsheng turned to face the experts of his clan, a resolute glint in his eyes. It was evident he had already made his decision.

Ouyang Kuangsheng's proclamation hung heavily in the air, causing a collective gasp from his clan members. Their expressions danced with a mix of surprise and uncertainty as they tried to grasp the weight of his words. The position of clan leader, the very heart of the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan, dangled in the balance.

But before they could react, Ouyang Kuangsheng continued, his voice infused with an unexpected magnanimity. "You're right," he conceded, "the blood coursing through my veins is Ouyang blood. Despite the clan's past treatment of me, I won't hold onto old grudges. Now that all three ascendants are gone, I don't want lingering hatred among us. Let's let bygones be bygones. As for the leadership, I leave it to my grandfather."

His words brought a fragile sense of peace to the atmosphere, like the first rays of dawn breaking through a stormy night. Despite harboring some lingering thirst for vengeance, Ouyang Kuangsheng recognized the futility of pursuing it. He realized that, for the sake of his family and those who had been kind to him, it was wiser to opt for reconciliation.

Still, he wasn't naïve enough to assume this was the end. Power ruled all, and he'd felt the icy touch of reality before. The Ouyang Aristocrat Clan might continue to exist under the protection of his brother Qin Wentian, but the reins of authority and power would be firmly held by those he trusted. He had resolved to ensure that.

"Very well, we accept your decision with gratitude," the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan members replied, sighing in relief. Life's trials had tempered their hearts, and they now yearned for Ouyang Kuangsheng, linked with Qin Wentian, to lead them into a brighter era. Resigned to let go of past grievances, they looked forward to a future under his guidance.

"Clean up the aftermath," Qin Wentian interjected, directing his attention to Ouyang Kuangsheng and Jiang Ting. "Shall we proceed with your wedding? What are the two esteemed Jiang Clan seniors' thoughts on this?"

"Of course," the two Jiang Clan ascendants agreed, nodding in approval. "Seeing Jiang Ting's happiness brings joy to our hearts."

"Hypocrites," many silently scoffed, but none dared to voice their thoughts aloud. Instead, they turned their focus to Qin Wentian as he revealed another surprising piece of news. His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he announced, "Taking advantage of my brother Ouyang Kuangsheng's wedding today, I have an announcement to make. I, Qin Wentian, am the leader of the Azure Faction and the true palace lord of the Azure Emperor Palace. Consequently, the Azure Emperor Palace in the Azure Continent shall cease to exist. You have two choices: submit or vanish. Spread the word to your sects and make your decisions swiftly."

His words reverberated like thunder, sending shockwaves through the assembled crowd. With the Ouyang Aristocrat Clan now falling from the ranks of transcendent powers, it appeared that the Azure Emperor Palace of the Azure Continent was poised for a similar fate. In its place, the hidden Azure Factions, long overshadowed, would finally step into the spotlight, resurrecting the glory of the Azure Emperor and more.

Fairy Qingmei couldn't contain her smile, her eyes gleaming with approval, while Old Xing trembled with emotion. Had the long-awaited day finally arrived? Under Qin Wentian's leadership, not only would the glory of the Azure Emperor be restored, but it would reach even greater heights.

The re-establishment of the Azure Emperor Palace marked only the first stride in Qin Wentian's grand ambitions. The air buzzed with anticipation as they all understood his true aim: the unification of Grand Xia!

Even the members of the Mystical Maiden Sect, usually so composed, couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The window of opportunity had passed them by, and they knew there would be no second chances.

But Qin Wentian had more to say. His voice, like a clarion call, resonated through the air. "There's one more thing. If there are any representatives from the Pill Emperor Hall here today, I implore you to return to your sect and deliver a message. I once vowed to reduce the Pill Emperor Hall to ruins, and that day is drawing near. The Pill Emperor Hall must prepare to face my wrath."

His words sent ripples of shock and disbelief through the gathered multitude. Was the prestigious Pill Emperor Hall, a pinnacle of power, about to fall from grace and be erased from the roster of transcendent sects?

The return of this audacious young man heralded a tempestuous storm that would sweep across the Grand Xia Empire. The question on everyone's lips was simple but brimming with uncertainty: what kind of upheaval would Qin Wentian unleash upon their world?