Chapter 326: 325
Imperial Capital Zhang Family.
Zhang Xiaozheng, the father of brothers Zhang Yunlong and Zhang Yunqing, sat slumped in his chair, his expression one of sorrow and his face tormented, completely unable to accept the terrible news he had just heard.
Having an innate father and two exceptionally talented sons, although Zhang Xiaozheng himself had only attained the Middle Third Grade in the Energy Transformation Realm, his status in the Zhang Family was extremely high, and he generally had the final say in all family matters.
However, this usually decisive manager of the Zhang Family now appeared spiritless and somewhat desperate.
Not long after, the body of Zhang Yunqing was brought home.
Seeing his son’s body, Zhang Xiaozheng wept uncontrollably, overwhelmed by grief.
"Ah!"
A cry interwoven with sorrow and anger erupted as Zhang Xiaozheng furiously said, "Yang Fei, Qin Yanyang, my Zhang Family will never rest until you are dead, never..."
Soon, an elegantly preserved lady who appeared to be in her forties rushed in hurriedly, and upon seeing Zhang Yunqing’s body on the floor, she immediately threw herself down wailing, "Ah, my son, wake up, my son. What ruthless beast dared to kill you? I will make whomever it was have no place for burial, their entire family will join you in death."
Then, the lady looked up at Zhang Xiaozheng in anger and said, "Where is Yunlong? I heard that he was captured; how could this happen?"
Zhang Xiaozheng replied, "I also do not know how it could have turned out like this. Yunlong said he had planned everything carefully, and today he was going to show the Qin Family a lesson, expecting to put them in an awkward position, but... but he never expected both brothers to fail."
"Weren’t Luo Yong and Wang Chengcuo with him? Plus, with Yunlong, we had three Innate Realm powerhouses on our side. How could such a big mistake happen with these so-called National Guardians—are they useless, just trash?" the lady angrily retorted.
Zhang Xiaozheng’s expression darkened as he reproached, "Be silent. You cannot insult such Innate Realm powerhouses in this way. Times have changed; we must show enough respect and consideration for these National Guardians."
The lady’s expression turned stern, and she opened her mouth but did not argue.
Although irrational from the events concerning her two sons, upon her husband’s reminder, she immediately calmed down.
The Zhang Family was indeed flourishing, but they had not yet reached the dominance of being the sole ruling power.
Moreover, after today’s events, if Yunlong could not return unharmed, the Zhang Family would only have the old master left in the Innate Realm.
Even though the old master’s combat power was the strongest among the Innate, he was old after all. He could live at most another twenty years, but what then?
If the Zhang Family had no younger generation to step into the Innate Realm, how could they establish themselves in the Divine Continent in the future?
Thus, toward other Innate Realm powerhouses, the Zhang Family had to show sufficient respect.
"Xiaozheng, Yunlong’s safety concerns the future survival of the Zhang Family. You must go and ask the old master for help. As long as the old master comes out of seclusion and brings Yunlong back safely, the Zhang Family will still be the Zhang Family, otherwise...," said Wang Yun, the lady.
Zhang Xiaozheng nodded somberly and said, "Father is currently in deep seclusion; he mentioned his time of emergence is still over a month away. Now... Regardless, the matter is urgent, I must go and seek an audience."
Having lost one son, he truly did not know how he could bear the pain of losing another.
Besides, Yunlong’s potential far exceeded Yunqing’s. He must not die. Otherwise, the future of the Zhang Family would truly be bleak.
In the backyard of the Zhang Family, within a secret chamber,
Zhang Wenfeng had already entered the Divine Travel Realm more than a month ago, but at that time his realm was unstable. He had only briefly demonstrated his power and suffered some backlash.
Having spent nearly two more months in seclusion to meditate, the injuries from the backlash had healed, and his power and realm had since stabilized and solidified.
He planned to remain in seclusion a bit longer until he fully stabilized this realm before venturing out.
Once he went out, his first task would be to find Qin Huai’an and personally ask him why his talented grandson, a scion of the Zhang Family, was deemed unfit for his granddaughter.
And that fat man too!
Thinking of that fat man, Zhang Wenfeng’s eyes flickered with intense murderous and hateful intent.
If it hadn’t been for that man, the Zhang Family would have risen to the pinnacle long ago, making all martial artists in the world bow their heads to them.
But that didn’t matter now.
The fatty should no longer be his match.
Moreover, having stepped into the Divine Travel Realm, he had become a true cultivator and could go to the Hidden Sect to seek further development. Under his leadership, the Zhang Family would ultimately become a more powerful clan.
While pondering, Zhang Wenfeng suddenly felt something.
With a thought, he directly used the divine skill of the Divine Travel Realm to release his Divine Sense.
Instantly, it was as if he had activated the Heavenly Eye, capturing every scene within hundreds of meters.
Huh?
Zhang Wenfeng suddenly exclaimed as his Divine Sense spotted his second son, Zhang Xiaozheng, and his daughter-in-law, Wang Yun, hurriedly approaching his retreat area, both with faces full of sadness.
The couple was hastening, their expressions filled with sorrow and urgency, and Zhang Xiaozheng was even holding someone in his arms.
Upon focusing his ’gaze’, Zhang Wenfeng’s expression drastically changed.
He saw that the person in Zhang Xiaozheng’s arms was one of his beloved grandchildren, Zhang Yunqing.
What frightened and angered him was that there were absolutely no signs of life wave on Zhang Yunqing’s body!
Outside, when Zhang Wenfeng scanned the area with his Divine Sense, Zhang Xiaozheng immediately felt a sense of alertness, as if being watched.
He cautiously looked around and, finding nothing, hastened his steps forward.
"Xiaozheng, what happened to Yunqing? Who dared to kill my beloved grandson?"
Just then, a fierce voice reached the ears of Zhang Xiaozheng and Wang Yun.
Hearing this familiar voice, Zhang Xiaozheng and Wang Yun felt a chill in their hearts, merely the sound alone giving them a feeling of suffocation.
Such a strong oppressive force.
At the same time, both were relieved, their father (father-in-law) had grown stronger again.
With him around, the Zhang Family would not fall, and Yunlong might also be rescued.
Zhang Xiaozheng immediately knelt on the ground, tearfully saying, "Father, I am an unfilial son, I am useless, I failed to look after the two children properly, causing the Zhang Family to suffer such a great and shameful insult today. Please punish me, Father."
"Enough talk, tell me, who killed my grandson Yunqing?" Zhang Wenfeng’s cold voice came again, filled with a terrifying intent to kill.
Zhang Xiaozheng’s heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, "It was Yang Fei, that kid Yang Fei did it."
He then briefly explained how Zhang Yunqing had stepped into the Energy Transformation Realm Ninth Grade, blatantly issued a Life and Death Platform challenge to Yang Fei, and then how Yang Fei had agreed to duel today, along with what happened at the Life and Death Platform.
"Father, I shouldn’t have disturbed your retreat, but this is a matter of great importance, I couldn’t delay any longer. Yunlong was abducted by those Alien Practitioners, his life and death are unknown. Now several experts from the Martial Alliance have gone to track them but to no avail. If Father personally comes out of retreat, perhaps Yunlong can be rescued. Father, Yunlong is the future of our Zhang Family. I have already lost one son, I absolutely cannot bear to see Yunlong in trouble..." At the end of his speech, Zhang Xiaozheng was sobbing.
The body of his younger son in his arms was already cold, and his elder son had also been abducted. Although he was a martial artist, his heart was in turmoil.
"Useless, all of you are useless!"
An angry voice echoed in the sky, and the next moment, a loud bang was heard from the Zhang Family’s seclusion chamber as Zhang Wenfeng broke out of his retreat ahead of schedule.
He didn’t even glance at Zhang Xiaozheng and Wang Yun, his figure flashed, walking on air like an immortal, and in a blink, he disappeared above the Zhang Family.
How dare they kill his beloved grandson and even abduct his most cherished elder grandson.
The two young ones who had just stepped into the Innate Realm were already so conceited. Today, he, Zhang Wenfeng, would emerge from seclusion to make the entire Imperial City tremble, to have the entire Divine Continent Martial World prostrate at his feet.