Martial Cultivator
chapter-364

As the ancestral hall, which enshrined the ancestors of the Xia Family throughout generations, was flattened by the Lord Warden Commander's stomp, countless cries erupted instantly. The Xia Family Head dragged his heavily injured body, and watched the scene with a lifeless face, his eyes filled with gloom. The Xia Family had risen countless years ago, becoming one of the prominent families of the Great Liang Dynasty. If they had not done anything outrageous, they would have remained stable until the downfall of the Great Liang Dynasty.

However, as one of the numerous prominent families of the Great Liang Dynasty, the Xia Family also had its aspirations. They aimed to advance further and become a first-rate family like the Wei and Xie families. To achieve this, they did not hesitate to take an unconventional path. If everything had gone smoothly, their status in the Great Liang Dynasty would naturally be higher, and their influence more significant. However, deviating from the right path naturally carried risks.

In truth, the Xia Family Head had considered the possibility of his actions being exposed one day. However, considering the Xia Family's influence over the years, he believed that even the Great Liang Emperor would not dare to uproot them easily. Yet, he underestimated the Great Liang Emperor's decisiveness. A single journey north was enough for him to dare to do something that could shake the foundations of the Great Liang Dynasty.

If he had known this day would come, back when the Great Liang Emperor rose in rebellion, the Xia Family should have fully supported the deposed emperor and stopped the current Great Liang Emperor outside the Divine Capital, preventing him from seizing the throne.

But now, it was too late for regrets.

Looking at the half-broken memorial tablet that had rolled to his feet, the Xia Family Head trembled as he squatted down and picked it up. Faintly visible on it were the words of his deceased grandfather's memorial tablet. Seeing this tablet, a mix of emotions surged within the Xia Family Head. Back when he was just a young man, his grandfather often took him alone to the ancestral hall. In his capacity as the head of the Xia Family, he imparted to him how to manage a colossal entity like the Xia Family. It was known that the Xia Family Head had shown remarkable talent early on.

The struggle for the position of family head in that generation had actually ended long before, and even his father's ascension to the position of Xia Family Head was largely due to having a capable son. In those days that could hardly be called carefree, the Xia Family Head had actually asked his grandfather an interesting question. He had asked if there was any way to pursue a great endeavor if circumstances did not allow it.

At that time, his grandfather who already had a head full of white hair, looked at his promising grandson and gently stroked his head before saying softly, "To achieve great things, one needs the right timing, geographical advantage, and human relations. But if you really want to do something, you can actually give it a try if you possess one of these three conditions. Right timing, geographical advantage, and human relations... how can it be so easy to gather all three?" "Kid, there's a saying that man's will can triumph over the heavens. If you're really determined to do something, then go for it. Don't worry too much, even if there's no turning back. But before you act, think carefully about how much certainty you have. Otherwise, if things don't work out, you won't even know how you'll die."

Thinking of this, the Xia Family Head set down his grandfather's memorial tablet and looked towards the dilapidated Xia Family residence in silence. He realized that everything he had done over the years was wrong. The words spoken when the foreign lands got someone to contact him, upon reflection, made no sense at all. They were all empty promises, but at that time, all he could see was advancing the Xia Family and elevating his own memorial tablet to a higher position after his death. In truth, it was his own selfish desire which ultimately led to the collapse of the great building. However, he no longer had the ability to stop the impending disaster.

In a daze, the Xia Family Head seemed to see an old man with white hair staring at the now dilapidated ancestral hall for a long time before slowly turning around to look at him, disappointment filling his eyes.

The old man was utterly disappointed in his grandson.

The Xia Family Head stared at his grandfather, whom he had always considered a role model, his face filled with anguish. Finally, he murmured, "Grandfather, your grandson has been unfilial."

The old man did not respond, just looked at him like that, and then seemed to disappear along with the crumbling of the ancestral hall, never to be seen again.

The Xia Family Head burst into tears, covering his face, and began to cry loudly, disregarding everything around him.

Right now, there were many crying sounds in the Xia Family, and no one could distinguish whose cries were whose.

The Xia Family Head who was sitting amidst the ruins finally raised his trembling hands and then smacked his own forehead. Blood flowed down his face, and he breathed his last.

"Family Head!"

The Xia Family descendants who witnessed this scene were filled with anguish. None of them had expected that at this moment, the Xia Family Head would have no other choice but to choose to follow the Xia Family into death.

With the family head dead, could the Xia Family still be preserved?

……

……

Over at the Lord Warden Commander's side, after smashing that previously irritable middle-aged cultivator to death with one punch, he turned to the old man who seemed to be in a trance. Without mercy, he approached the old man and threw his clenched fist. He directly smashed his head open, killing that old man.

As for the remaining cultivators, seeing this scene left them feeling ashen and hopeless.

No one had ever expected things to turn out this way.

A few of them exchanged glances, and the shock was evident in each other's eyes.

However, the Lord Warden Commander ignored them. He simply walked through the Xia Family with his hands behind his back, looking at the Xia Family members who were still resisting.

At the same time, Song Lian and a group of Heavenly Imperial Institution cultivators had already stormed in. Many of the retainers in the Xia Family had already lost their will to fight long before. They were not Xia Family members; they stayed with the Xia Family only because of the resources provided. Now, with the Xia Family on the brink of collapse, they no longer resisted. Some even joined the Lord Warden Commander's side upon surrendering. However, Song Lian had always looked down on such individuals. He swiftly struck down one of the opportunistic cultivators who had been slaughtering Xia Family members, saying icily, "Drop your weapons and wait where you are! If you make any unusual movement, you'll be killed without amnesty!"

With these words, those cultivators who had been harboring thoughts of redeeming themselves through their actions instantly dared not make a move.

Song Lian fought all the way in until he confronted the few foreign cultivators who were already frightened out of their wits. Song Lian had long reached the Great Beyond Realm and had further honed his skills in the Northern Frontier. With his solid cultivation base, these cultivators were simply no match for him. In a matter of moments, he disposed of these cultivators, leaving only the Junior Brother Liang who had surrendered long ago.

The bloody battle had pretty much come to an end at this time.

Song Lian approached the Lord Warden Commander and inquired, "Your Excellency, shall we hold the trial overnight? Or should we make another round to see if there are any other cultivators lurking in other families?"

Looking at the chaos within the Xia Family, the Lord Warden Commander shook his head and replied, "While there may still be cultivators in the Divine Capital and others colluding with these foreign cultivators, this trip here will suffice. If we uproot all of these people, tomorrow's Divine Capital might be in a precarious situation."

Song Lian was puzzled. "Since we've already uprooted even a major spy like the Xia Family, why do we still care about that?"

The Lord Warden Commander did not elaborate and just said softly, "The Xia Family might be a major spy, but not necessarily the biggest. As for the rest, His Majesty has his own plans. Why are you worrying about it?"

Song Lian gave an "oh" but still felt somewhat puzzled.

Suddenly, the Lord Warden Commander asked, "Can your Left Guard's office handle the Xia Family's members?"

Song Lian pondered for a moment and then shook his head. "That's not under this commoner's jurisdiction."

The Lord Warden Commander smiled as he looked at Song Lian.

Resignedly, Song Lian sighed and asked, "How much more do I have to work?"

The Lord Warden Commander frowned slightly, saying with some displeasure. "Just because this official delayed you from meeting that girl, you, Song Lian, became like this?"

The Lord Warden Commander's words exposed the secret thoughts in Song Lian's mind. Song Lian did not say a word and just chuckled.

Having endured a solitary life for so long, finally finding affection for a woman, and now facing a long-awaited reunion, how could he let it be delayed any further?

Completely not understanding at all, no wonder he had been alone for so many years.

Perhaps the only one in the entire Divine Capital who dared to secretly criticize the Lord Warden Commander to his face was Song Lian.

Seeing through but not exposing it, the Lord Warden Commander said, "There shouldn't be any problem with people being held in the Left Guard's office. Now that His Majesty has returned to the Divine Capital, no one dares to do anything in the Divine Capital."

With His Majesty holding down the fort in the Divine Capital, versus when His Majesty was absent, they were two completely different Divine Capitals.

"Detaining them in the Left Guard's office, are we in no rush to interrogate them?"

Song Lian was somewhat puzzled. In his view, this sort of thing should be dealt with promptly.

But the Lord Warden Commander kept it vague, just smiling and saying, "Detaining them in the Left Guard's office, you'll have to stay here and guard the Xia Family. Without my orders, no one is allowed in."

With this, Song Lian became even more doubtful.

The Lord Warden Commander felt a headache, "Is there no evidence of collusion with the foreign lands among the Xia Family members? You lock up some people, but what can you get from interrogating them overnight? They know that speaking out will only lead to death. Even a fool knows to keep their mouth shut. Now, if we find evidence and go back to them with irrefutable proof, won't they open their mouths?"

Song Lian's eyes gleamed as he looked at the Lord Warden Commander before him, saying with admiration, "Your strategies are flawless, Your Excellency. This lowly commoner admires you."

Hearing the amusing self-reference as "lowly commoner," the Lord Warden Commander said bluntly, "Song Lian, you've been with me for so many years. Do you really think I'd give the position of Left Guard Commander to that kid? Besides, with your abilities, coming here to test me, don't you feel embarrassed? I certainly do."

Scratching his head sheepishly, Song Lian said, "This lowly official is about to get married. If I don't have an official title, I really feel uncertain. Let this lowly official clarify first, I'm not reluctant to give the position to that kid!"

The Lord Warden Commander chuckled and said, "Well, if that's the case, I'll give it to him?"

Song Lian hurriedly waved his hand. "Your Excellency, you can't be serious, right?"

Rubbing his forehead, the Lord Warden Commander changed the subject, "Speaking of which, why didn't that kid show up tonight? If he were here, would I need to waste my saliva on you?"