That night, many people didn’t sleep.
When Dongfang Qingtian returned, he found the other eight inheritance sequences had gathered at his residence.
Dongfang Qingtian looked at them with confusion.
None of the eight said anything. They simply looked at him with regret in their eyes.
Dongfang Qingtian felt an ominous premonition.
The next moment, a coffin appeared in front of each of the eight.
“The Dongfang Clan does not allow a second voice.”
“Since you failed in the struggle, then you should have the courage to accept defeat.”
“Your underhanded moves were too many. The clan tolerated you only for Ninth Elder’s sake.”
After hearing Dongfang Cangqiong’s words, Dongfang Qingtian felt a chill all over his body.
Just then, his protector appeared.
“You don’t understand the meaning of sheltering under a great tree?”
“Ninth Elder gave you so many chances. He even gave you a chance to assassinate him.”
“Ninth Elder owes you nothing. You think it’s guilt, but that’s just reality.”
“You blame Ninth Elder for arriving late when your mother died, but did you ever think that in all these years, did you ever truly face danger?”
“And now that you’ve gained strength, you’ve become arrogant, and that arrogance is what got your mother killed.”
“Ninth Elder brought you back so you could cultivate and avenge your mother, but what have you been doing instead?”
“Your hatred should not be directed at the Dongfang Clan. Think about it—if you hadn’t provoked everyone, would your mother really have died?”
“You thought hiding your name and changing your appearance would protect you, but don’t forget—this is the cultivation world. There are countless means to uncover the truth.”
“Even the mighty Dongfang Clan doesn’t claim to understand every trick within the Hongmeng Immortal Domain. Where did your confidence come from?”
“I watched you grow up. From the moment your physique awakened and you gained strength, I helped you secretly resolve nine crises. Ninth Elder personally resolved another nine for you.”
“The Dongfang Clan owes you nothing.”
“Your mother had another identity. After her death, did the Zhang family ever appear? Only recently did they approach you, right?”
“The reason you exist is because your mother drugged Ninth Elder.”
“So why are you blaming Ninth Elder for her mistakes?”
“Why should Ninth Elder be the one held responsible?”
“You really think the Dongfang Clan didn’t know that the Zhang family approached you?”
“Some of those who tried to kill you were from the Zhang family. They saw you as a disgrace because your physique hadn’t awakened then.”
“After approaching you, they put on a show and killed a few of the attackers to win your trust, and you believed their sincerity. You forgave them.”
“But Ninth Elder was also one of the victims. What right do you have to hate him?”
“You, Dongfang Qingtian, are the one least qualified to hate anyone.”
With that, the protector turned and left.
Dongfang Qingtian stood frozen in place.
“You’re all lying. I don’t believe you.”
The other eight inheritance sequences looked at him with disappointment. This was his second chance.
The divine son hadn’t appeared until now. This was the second opportunity—one offered to Dongfang Qingtian.
But after seeing him like this, they felt pity. Anything that exceeded his worldview, he refused to believe.
But the truth was right before him.
“You may all leave.”
At that moment, a figure appeared behind the eight inheritance sequences.
Hearing this voice, all eight changed expressions, bowed, and silently left.
In Ninth Elder’s palace, when he saw Dongfang Wudao appear, he withdrew his spiritual awareness.
What needed to be done had been done. Now, he had no more regrets.
He had ultimately been moved by compassion.
Not long after, the eight elders and Dongfang Beichen arrived. Each held a jug of wine.
“Hanyang, we’ve come to drink with you.”
“Patriarch.”
“Today, there is no patriarch. We are only brothers who grew up together.”
“Alright.”
Ninth Elder nodded, his eyes touched. His grief was eased a little.
…
Elsewhere, Dongfang Wudao approached Dongfang Qingtian.
“Slap!”
Dongfang Wudao slapped Dongfang Qingtian hard across the face.
A bright red palm print appeared on Dongfang Qingtian’s cheek.
He quieted down, dazed and rooted to the spot.
“Walk with me.”
Although filled with anger, Dongfang Qingtian still followed Dongfang Wudao.
Dongfang Wudao said nothing, walking at a steady pace through the various places in the Dongfang Clan.
Dongfang Qingtian followed him silently, finally taking a good look at the Dongfang Clan.
He had never observed it this closely before. Only now did he realize how vast it truly was.
“What do you feel?” Dongfang Wudao asked.
“Vast. Grand.”
“Heh.” Dongfang Wudao sneered.
“First of all, I’ve wanted to kill you from the beginning.”
“Dongfang Wudao, then what do you see?”
“Why do you think the Dongfang Clan is so powerful?”
“Because it has powerful experts guarding it.”
Dongfang Wudao kept walking forward until they arrived at a graveyard.
“What do you see?”
Dongfang Qingtian responded, “There are eighty-one such graveyards in the Dongfang Clan.”
“Although I wasn’t home for those three years and hadn’t heard of you, the moment I saw you, I knew your heart was not with the Dongfang Clan.”
“You’re just a battle physique. There are many like you buried in these tombs, but they were contributors to the Dongfang Clan. You are not. Even if you one day reach the Supreme Realm, you are not worthy to be buried here. The question I asked you—go ask the other Dongfang Clan disciples tomorrow. Or ask those who cannot cultivate at all.”
Dongfang Wudao walked away.
Dongfang Qingtian stood where he was, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions.
The next day, Dongfang Qingtian left his residence.
Though he hadn’t slept all night, he didn’t appear tired.
He left the Dongfang Clan and headed toward the marketplace under the Dongfang Clan’s control.
Looking at the people on the road, he felt truly lost for the first time.
He had once wanted to revive his mother and resented Ninth Elder, but all the reasons that had kept him going had crumbled.
There were people hurrying along the streets, people filled with sorrow, and people exuding menace—clearly not to be provoked.
Dongfang Qingtian walked into a tavern and casually found a seat.
The waiter came over and looked at him with surprise.
“Why has someone from the inheritance sequence come to such a common place?”
“Greetings, Inheritor Qingtian,” the waiter said.
Dongfang Qingtian looked at him in astonishment. “You know me?”
“I do.”
Dongfang Qingtian looked at the waiter. He had no cultivation, and his expression showed no particular emotion.
“You’re also from the Dongfang Clan, aren’t you?”
“Yes!”
“What do you think of the current Dongfang Clan?”
“Vast and magnificent,” the waiter replied with a smile.
Dongfang Qingtian chuckled.
“But that’s only the surface. As someone from the Dongfang Clan, you should know. The greatness of the Dongfang Clan is built upon the corpses of its ancestors.”
“Others only see the glory, but we in the Dongfang Clan know that it’s constructed from the blood and bones of our forebears. That is the reason the Dongfang Clan remains so united.”