Chapter 379

Chapter 379: The Enraged East Sea King, the Regretful Xun Family Cultivator

"If I attack Mu Lin, will he retaliate? Could this bring disaster to our family or sect?"

The instant this question arose in their minds, elders from Shuiyue Sect, Wei family, and Jinyin Gate had their answer.

"He would!"

"If we strike first, Mu Lin will certainly fight back… He doesn’t fear even the East Sea King who rules an entire kingdom. Why would he hesitate against mere powerful clans and mid-sized sects?"

Once they realized this, they started calculating potential losses from Mu Lin’s counterattack.

The conclusion came swiftly.

"Catastrophic losses… We can’t possibly recall every family member to our strongholds."

Powerful clans maintained vast influence through numerous members and servants – all requiring constant resources.

Mines, spirit fields, merchant stalls… Their far-flung operations needed constant supervision. Temporary withdrawal? Impossible. Other clans would snatch abandoned assets overnight. Closing doors meant surrendering ninety percent of their interests, like ancient sects bleeding themselves dry during seclusions.

Yet keeping their forces spread thin left them vulnerable to Mu Lin’s vengeance. Worse still, their initial bullying meant no sympathy would come from outsiders. People would cheer their downfall and even join the assault.

Faced with this grim reality, Wei family, Jinyin Gate and Shuiyue Sect found themselves stuck. Reluctance grew against obeying the East Sea King’s orders.

"Mu Lin’s ruthless unpredictability makes him too costly to confront."

"Why sacrifice our kin and reputation for no gain? We never clashed with him directly."

"With seven sons, nine daughters, and countless grandchildren, why risk annihilation for someone else’s feud?"

Without personal stakes, attacking Mu Lin offered only losses. Earlier confidence had crumbled since witnessing his clan-destroying retaliation. What seemed an easy favor for the East Sea King now reeked of deadly consequences.

The exterminated clan served as chilling proof – provoke Mu Lin, face total eradication.

Humans only respect strength they feel firsthand. These clans had dismissed polite negotiations until Mu Lin demonstrated his destructive power. Now suddenly eager for truce talks, Jinyin Gate, Shuiyue Sect and Wei family desperately wanted to signal their neutrality.

Unfortunately, in the martial world, one cannot always control their own fate.

Sometimes, even if you wish to stay out of trouble, circumstances force your hand.

…

When news of Mu Lin’s destroyed household arrived, the observing elder of Jinyin Gate fell into deep contemplation. The Transformation cultivators who had attacked Mu Lin earlier turned deathly pale, overwhelmed by grief and… crushing regret.

They began questioning their involvement in this affair.

But apart from them, the East Sea King also stood in that grand hall.

Unlike the others, the East Sea King showed no sorrow—only burning rage.

The fury of having his dignity trampled.

Born a prince and having clawed his way to power, he harbored immense arrogance.

Even this chaotic era didn’t intimidate him. Like Mu Lin, he saw it as his chance to seize the imperial throne and rule the Nine Provinces.

With such grand ambitions and a kingdom under his command, the East Sea King always viewed himself as above all others.

Yet now, this lofty ruler had been publicly humiliated.

Struck across the face by someone as insignificant as Mu Lin.

How could such an insult not enrage him?

"Fine! Fine! Splendid! A lawless, father-defying traitor like you dares act so boldly!"

After this mockery of praise, the East Sea King’s venomous gaze swept over the Wei family, Shuiyue Sect, Jinyin Gate, and… Advisor Xun.

A cold voice cut through the chamber:

"A king’s dignity is inviolable!"

"Before dawn breaks tomorrow, hunt down every one of Mu Lin’s clones in Tianhai City. Capture or kill them all."

No request—only a tyrannical decree.

The elders of Shuiyue Sect and Jinyin Gate tasted bitterness in their mouths.

A Jinyin Gate elder ventured cautiously, "Your Highness, preparing the Five Directions Inquiry Technique requires—"

An obvious stalling tactic. The East Sea King cut him off:

"Your problem, not mine. Eliminate Mu Lin’s presence in Tianhai City before sunrise… Don’t test my patience."

Under the king’s dangerous glare, reminded of his overwhelming power versus Mu Lin’s vulnerability, the sect elders reluctantly nodded.

The Wei family responded faster.

They saw risks, but also opportunity:

‘That insolent brat angered the king. But if we excel in hunting him down, our family will become the king’s trusted allies.’

Bowing deeply, they declared:

"Your shame is our command, Your Highness. We’ll drag Mu Lin here to kneel in apology!"

"Go."

Thus, after the failed ambush, the East Sea King’s second assessment to capture Mu Lin began.

However, before leaving the East Sea King’s manor, the elders of Jinyin Gate and Shuiyue Sect found their moods growing even darker.

A servant came running in from outside.

After questioning him, they were chilled to learn Mu Lin hadn’t stopped after the first extermination – he kept attacking anyone involved in the operation.

The other Transformation cultivators, being far weaker, had already been mostly wiped out during that first strike.

This time, Mu Lin’s main targets were members of the Xun family.

Yes, the relatives of Advisor Xun himself.

Alongside promising youths, dozens of Xun family stewards and caretakers had been slaughtered.

When Advisor Xun finally returned home, over a hundred Xun family cultivators lay dead.

"You bastard! Look what you’ve done!"

Losing so many elite members dealt a crippling blow to the Xun family.

While they hated Mu Lin bitterly, their resentment also turned toward the source of this calamity – Xun Zhi.

"Give my son back!"

"If you hadn’t meddled, our family head would still be alive…"

"My Yu’er… my poor Yu’er…"

The wails and hate-filled stares left Xun Zhi reeling.

He’d never imagined that opposing Mu Lin for the East Sea King would cost his family so dearly.

Truth be told, Xun Zhi now regretted his actions. Had he known the consequences, he’d have stayed silent.

Yet being the East Sea King’s advisor meant Xun Zhi wasn’t without ability – he simply hadn’t anticipated Mu Lin’s ruthless efficiency.

Shaking off his daze, Xun Zhi insisted, "Blaming me won’t help. We must survive this calamity."

"Survive? Our younger generation’s gone! Even if Mu Lin spares us, rival families will finish us off!"

"Enough deaths! Let’s seal our gates and withdraw!"

The fearful voices of parents filled the hall.

Xun Zhi cut them off. "Fight and we survive. Surrender and we perish. The King can’t let us fall completely – others would lose faith in him."

"If we yield, Mu Lin might spare us, but the King’s wrath won’t. Our only hope is to kill Mu Lin!"

His logic fell on deaf ears:

"How? He’s unstoppable!"

"Nonsense! The King’s resources guarantee victory if we endure."

"Endure? He’ll wipe out every Xun below Transformation level!"

As panic spread, Xun Zhi frowned deeply. "How? Mu Lin’s barely entered Transformation himself. These are likely just clones, not his true body. How did he find and slaughter so many elites so quickly?"

…

This same question haunted Jinyin Gate, Wei family, and Shuiyue Sect. Though their elders believed the East Sea King would ultimately prevail, Mu Lin’s brutal efficiency forced emergency meetings.

Normally, they’d crush insignificant foes without thought. But Mu Lin’s retaliatory strikes made them hesitate.

While leaning toward supporting the King, they urgently investigated Mu Lin’s methods – both to gauge if the King’s favor was worth the risk, and to prepare defenses.

Their findings horrified them. Mu Lin’s rampage exceeded all predictions. The Xun family’s adults now faced near-total annihilation alongside their youths.

"What’s happening? How is he doing this?"