Chapter 17: Fearing the Strong While Bullying the Weak

Here are the questions with the grammar corrected:

1. What do you think the population of a large-sized city in the Gu world is?

2. How old was Fang Yuan when he became a venerable?

3. If Love Gu could allow someone to damage Fate, do you think Hatred Gu could do the same?

Zhao Wen POV

Observing as Xie Long and Elder Luo were organizing the squad of rank 2 Gu masters, Zhao Wen contemplated the recent interaction he had with Xie Long.

[Hmm, it didn't seem like he wanted to grasp my throat and choke me to death. No, he seemed more… ambivalent?]

Frowning slightly, Zhao Wen observed Xie Long's attitude and mannerisms as he interacted with the Mo Zu squad and with Elder Luo.

After observing for a time, Zhao Wen eventually turned his head to look at Elder Du, asking, "Elder, I have a question. Does the young clan leader act this cold with everyone, or was his attitude like that because of my previous actions?"

Hearing Zhao Wen's question, Elder Du shook his head slightly, saying, "No, Xie Long has been like this ever since the old clan leader died and the Xie Branch started facing more and more pressure from the old guard. He has been facing a lot of pressure as of late. Do you know why?"

Hearing Elder Du's question, Zhao Wen frowned slightly before he started running through all the things he knew that might be the reason for Xie Long's attitude.

Using Elder Du's previous hint, Zhao Wen quickly realized what Elder Du was alluding to.

Answering Elder Du's question confidently, Zhao Wen said, "His failure to reach rank 4 is the thing troubling him."

Turning his gaze back to Xie Long, Zhao Wen continued, "Lord Chen is attempting his breakthrough to rank 5, isn't he? And Chen Wu is also a rank 3 peak stage with similar aptitude to Xie Long. Forget Lord Chen's potential breakthrough; if Chen Wu breaks through before Xie Long, the Xie branch will lose a lot of influence." Coming this far, Zhao Wen frowned and asked, "Why isn't Xie Long then inside the ascension formation attempting his breakthrough? What is he doing here leading this bandit hunt?"

Hearing Zhao Wen's question, Elder Du replied, "There are many reasons, but the two primary ones are prestige and the repayment of a debt."

Hearing Elder Du's answer, Zhao Wen quickly connected the dots, realizing what Elder Du was referring to. Zhao Wen knew that Xie Long was appointed as the judgment hall elder recently; this was probably why he needed the prestige, while the debt was likely because of the Gu refinement Lord Han was going to undergo this month.

Knowing all of this, Zhao Wen became relieved, realizing that under these circumstances, no matter Xie Long's personal feelings about the matter, it made sense for the Xie branch to let bygones be bygones and forgive Zhao Wen's previous actions.

Observing the returning figures of Xie Long and Elder Luo, Zhao Wen couldn't help but ruminate,

[In an organization like the Ye clan, one person's feelings do not matter in the face of the big picture. Xie Long, no matter if you hate me or not, you will still need to cooperate with me if you want to preserve your Xie branch's position in the clan.]

As Elder Luo and Xie Long rejoined the group, Xie Long stepped forward, catching Zhao Wen's attention before saying, "Elder Luo has informed me about your circumstances. I understand why you would be worried about this matter, considering you will be accompanying me on a long expedition, but you have nothing to fear. Our Xie faction and your Han faction are allies after all. Furthermore, we are all elders of the Ye clan, and we all represent the clan. How can we keep our heads held high if we plot against our fellow clansmen for minor youthful mistakes?"

Throughout Xie Long's speech, he held a formal attitude and tone, showing no emotion about the matter.

Having said his piece, Xie Long waited for Zhao Wen to absorb his speech before moving on to the next matter.

"Now we need to decide on our route and our combat roles," saying this, Xie Long looked around, seeing no disagreement. He continued, "Firstly, I'd like an introduction to your skillset, Elder Zhao. I know about your Zhao Family inheritance, but I was informed you now cultivate Phantom Fiend's Phantom Path inheritance? We need a basic introduction to your abilities so that we can plan how you will fit into our formations. Secondly, I'd like you all to have a look at my planned route and make appropriate suggestions on how to improve it."

Seeing all the Elders look at him expectantly, Zhao Wen started introducing his new skillset. He had already known that he would need to reveal this information anyway, so this did not come as a surprise.

Replying to Xie Long with a smile, Zhao Wen said, "Young Clan leader is indeed well-informed. After my accident where I almost lost my life, I switched from cultivating my family's strength path inheritance to cultivating Phantom Fiend's inheritance. This inheritance focuses on evasion and explosive bursts of power, making it ideal for conducting ambushes and assassinating unaware opponents."

Saying this much, Zhao Wen started activating his rank 3 Turn Phantom Gu, slowly becoming ethereal as he became a Phantom.

Demonstrating how a phantom interacted with its surroundings, Zhao Wen continued explaining,

"As you can see, while I am in this state, I am basically untouchable, capable of moving through solid matter and ignoring most attacks of rank 3 and below. For example, I can move through the ground at high speeds, emerging behind an opponent and striking them when they least expect it. And if I use the Dark Limit Gu I received as my reward for reaching rank 3, I can lurk undetected on the battlefield, emerging only when an opportunity to strike arrives."

Finishing his demonstration, Zhao Wen slightly inclined his head towards the group of elders as if he were a student waiting for a teacher's evaluation.

The first one to speak up was actually Elder Song, who until now had been observing the others' interactions from the side.

With a slight frown, he asked, "How come it takes three breaths of time for you to enter that phantom state? I remember fighting a phantom beast some years ago, and it could change from material to immaterial seemingly at will."

Hearing Elder Song's question, Zhao Wen nodded slightly in agreement as he said, "Elder is very perceptive. It indeed takes longer for me to turn phantom as my strength path foundation is holding me down. I will also tell the elders that the primeval essence expenditure I face when using my Gu is quite high. Ideally, I should fight with my physical strength only until an opportunity to decapitate the enemy leader or their support structure arrives."

Having watched Zhao Wen's demonstration and listened to him explain his capabilities, the group quickly decided on how he would fit into the combat formation.

In the front, acting as scouts and as the vanguard, was half of the rank 2 Gu masters, supported by a hundred beast king Sand Gull and some ordinary sand gulls as well.

Behind them was Elder Song, riding a hundred beast king Sand Gull, acting as a mobile response force capable of reinforcing the vanguard or retreating to the center.

In the center, Xie Long was acting as the guard to Elder Luo and Elder Du, one the healing Gu master of the group, the other the enslavement path gu master and key battle strength of the group.

Along with them were also the remainder of the rank 2 Gu masters and the remaining 3 hundred beast king Sand Gulls. With Zhao Wen being mixed in with the rank 2 Gu masters, the plan was to use Dark Limit to conceal him as a rank 2, allowing Zhao Wen to wait for an opportunity to strike.

With the group having decided on a formation, they quickly moved on to deciding on the route. Zhao Wen, not being experienced with these sorts of things, listened quietly to the conversation, trying to learn as much as possible from the interactions.

Once the route was decided on, the group of Ye clan Gu masters started moving out, mounting their Sand Gulls and taking to the air, flying towards the area frequented by the bandits.

The group had been informed that this bandit group had recently moved in and started raiding caravans moving through the western trails leading to Fang Clan city. This area was mainly controlled by the Ye clan as it was the only large-sized force in the area.

Because of this, it became the Ye clan's responsibility to clear out these bandits. If they were allowed to continue raiding caravans, then all of the land-bound caravans would avoid this area, potentially crippling the Ye clan's ability to sell their goods and purchase vital materials.

While other clans also called this region home, they were all either tributaries of the Ye clan or affiliated with it via political marriages and the like.

This state of affairs was a relic from the era of the previous Ye Clan leader, who suppressed these small to medium-scale clans and forced them under the umbrella of the Ye clan.

In those days, the Ye clan controlled the surrounding clans with an iron fist, with its influence rivalling some weaker super clans. Unfortunately, this all came to an end with the old clan leader's failure to break through to rank 6.

The current Ye clan was overextended, desperately trying to hold on to the gains made during the previous clan leader's reign.

"Sigh, an old lion truly makes all of the hyenas gather. Thirty years ago, no demonic path scoundrels would have dared to attack our caravans in fear of our retaliation."

Hearing Elder Du's comment and remembering the information about the Ye clan's current political situation both internally and externally, Zhao Wen couldn't help but feel the precarious position the Ye clan found itself in.

The group had landed next to a tiny watering hole, allowing the Sand Gulls to drink and eat the sparse grass in the area.

Zhao Wen had been speaking with

 the other members from time to time, trying to get to know them better. He was spending more time with Elder Du, as if he got injured, it was Elder Du who would be healing him.

Replying to Elder Du, Zhao Wen asked, "Elder, is the clan's precarious external situation the reason why we are recruiting these lone and demonic cultivators? I'm asking because I will be in charge of the Hong Mo troop in the future."

Hearing Zhao Wen's question, Elder Du confirmed, "You're right. We recruit those lone and demonic Gu masters into the Mo Zu, where they take on the most dangerous missions we are unwilling to have Ye clansmen complete. Then, after ten years, they need to marry into the Ye clan or have their descendants marry into the Ye clan. Once they have done that, they will be given the Ye surname and become full Ye clansmen."

Nodding in confirmation, Zhao Wen looked around before saying, "Thank you for the clarification. I now know what attitude I will have towards the Mo Zu. We should get going; I see that Elder Luo has already started calling back the Sand Gulls."

Like this, the group continued their hunt for the bandits, steadily approaching the area where the bandits were active.