I Can See Your Combat Power

Xiao Jinlin was utterly calm, his aged and raspy voice steady and unrushed: “Whether it’s an alliance or a union, the only criterion is who needs who more. Once upon a time, both the Tang and Mi clans needed the Xiao Family, hence the Xiao Family was in a position to sell at their own terms. Now, do you think the Tang Family needs the Xiao Family more, or does the Mi Family?”

“Absurd!” Xiao Zheng found Xiao Jinlin’s argument ludicrous, as if he was pushing the Mi Clan to its doom: “The Mi Clan needs the Xiao Family because the power of the Tang Clan has become unstoppable. Even if we unite with the Xiao Family, victory is still a fifty-fifty chance. However, if we unite with the Tang Clan to annihilate the Mi Clan, our chances of winning are seventy percent or even higher. If you can’t even see this, you are unfit to be the Clan Head of the Xiao Family!”

As the Clan Head of the Xiao Family, he held no hope for Xiao Zheng. But as his father, Xiao Jinlin wanted to teach his son one last lesson: “It is precisely because the Tang Clan can surely overpower the Mi Clan that the Xiao Family must join forces with the Mi Clan.”

The infuriated Xiao Zheng was shaken by these words.

Xiao Jinlin looked at Xiao Zheng with deep regret. Immersed in a life of pleasure and owning a fortune worth billions, this once promising eldest son had completely turned into a businessman, and a businessman could never become a Clan Head again.

Since a businessman makes decisions based on profit, they can comfortably become vassals the moment there seems to be a decline, because becoming a vassal seems like the most advantageous decision. After all, there is no need to fight to the death.

However, there is no constant in the balance of power in the world, and throughout history, there has only been one way for the weak to fight against the strong – they must stake their lives on it!

Only those who are brave can triumph when meeting on a narrow path – even if they know they are outmatched, they must unsheathe their swords. This is true for warriors and for noble families alike.

“Once the Tang Clan has defeated the Mi Clan and rules over Xiling alone, what then?” Xiao Zheng’s eyes seemed to hold an endless desolation, as if he could see through the long river of time: “There will be no Xiao Clan, only the Tang and Xiao Family.”

Joining with the stronger to oppress the weaker does seem like a good strategy in the short term. It can help you preserve a considerable amount of strength, and even give you the illusion of sharing a boundary with the strong during the oppression of the weaker.

But when there is such a suppression, it is ultimately for the sake of domination. The so-called domination means allowing only one voice within the scope of power. By then, what the Xiao Family has lost can never be reclaimed, even if they stake the lives of the whole family.

Xiao Zheng was deeply shaken. He wanted to refuteXiao Jinlin¹ swords, but deep down, a voice seemed to be telling him that the man standing in front of him could see a future far beyond his own. However, the thought of having to battle with the Tang Clan, which had gained a huge amount of secret tactics and Soul Jades, if he allied with the Mi Clan, sent him trembling: “Why must we ally with the Mi Clan? Would it not be better to seek a fresh start elsewhere?”

“Ha, businessman.” Xiao Jinlin was truly disappointed and said no more.

This attitude further infuriated Xiao Zheng. Pointing at Xiao Jinlin, he cursed: “You are just reluctant to give up the power in your hands and the prosperity of Xiling. With the power of our Xiao Family, we could establish a new city anywhere in Longzhou apart from Xiling. Why must we battle to the death with those two bandit clans in Xiling?”

Given the current strength of the Xiao Family, we could potentially dominate any city in the central region of Longzhou. Why do we have to linger in this city of Xiling? A tree can die if moved, but a person can thrive! Shouldn’t we prioritize the survival of the family?

All the clans in Longzhou have been here for no more than a thousand years because they were the losers from various areas a thousand years ago and had to move their entire clans to Longzhou. If we need to move for survival once again, why not? Xiao Zheng truly did not understand.

“That’s why you, who don’t practice martial arts, don’t understand anything.” Xiao Jinlin said disdainfully: “Only the warriors who know what they are fighting for can demonstrate their greatest strength. The roots of the Xiao Family are in Xiling. Their ancestral graves are here in Xiling too. That’s why the warriors of the Xiao Family are so strong. Look at those families who moved to Xiling. They are just as you said. They are constantly being driven to different cities.”

“They certainly are not afraid of the Tang and Mi clans’ power. Once the situation is unfavorable, they will move their entire clans. You are well versed in history. Have you ever seen these clans showing their might? When a warrior learns to run away, he forgets the meaning of fighting to the death. When a clan learns to run away, it loses a strong foundation. Is this the future you’re promising the Xiao Family?” Xiao Jinlin’s eyes were full of disappointment. From his back, a dark dragon shadow rose, formed by spiritual energy. The dark, evil dragon bit Xiao Zheng and lifted him into the air.

Xiao Zheng, who was in the dragon’s shadow, felt mad with rage. He would never forget this scene. It happened thirty years ago, when Xiao Jinlin came to his mansion in the middle of the night and wrapped him in a dragon shadow, carried him into mid-air, and slaughtered all his servants and guards. All his drunken friends were killed. His entire collection was shattered. Finally, with the force of the Fierce Realm, he shocked his beloved to death.

Thus, when Xiao Zheng was again wrapped by the dragon shadow, he was completely mad. It was as if he had returned to that helpless night thirty years ago. His body was held by the dragon and he couldn’t move. He exerted all his strength trying to break free. His neck was straining and his face turned red from the rush of blood, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t affect the dragon shadow.

“It seems that you didn’ t take in a single word of what I said to you back then. Even after thirty years, you are still that useless individual.” Xiao Jinlin looked at Xiao Zheng struggling powerlessly in the dragon shadow and said calmly.

“Useless!? Ha ha ha ha!” Xiao Zheng’s eyes were bloodshot with laughter: “Who is truly useless? Now my followers control all the business of the Xiao Family. Three-quarters of the Xiao Family’s business is connected to me. If you don’t kill me today, I will halt all these businesses. I would love to see if you can still hold onto your position as the Clan Head of the Xiao Family without all those revenues!”

The economic lifeline of the Xiao Family was in Xiao Zheng’s hands. If he were to cut off the revenues, the entire Xiao Family would be filled with complaints within two months. If he were even more ruthless and sold all these businesses at a loss, the Xiao Family would be in a financial crisis and have no chance of developing. This was the biggest reason he dared to curse at Xiao Jinlin today.

“Foolish son.” Xiao Jinlin had a smile in his eyes and was not moved by Xiao Zheng’s words at all: “The war is about to begin. When you tear off the mask of false peace, you will see the true Xiling. Here, fierce tigers can survive, jackals can survive, but a coward like you can’t.”

“Years ago, you sold the spiritual armor to exchange for a mansion and beautiful women, countless collections. Every day, you’d surround yourself with friends, indulge in music, chess, calligraphy, paintings, drinking, and merry making. You thought those were your best days and you even painted a picture for me.”

“That painting of a tiger descending the mountain was beautiful, especially the eyes of the tiger, murderous but hidden, it stole my heart,” Xiao Jinlin continued.

“Do you remember when I asked you, ‘What would you do if one day a strong man barges into your mansion, kills your guards, tears up your collections, and humiliates your wife and daughters in your presence’? Would you say to him, ‘Hey! Look, my painting of the tiger is very beautiful.¹“