Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 598: Chapter 506 This is Your Majesty’s will, it is not a matter of discussion with everyone, it is just to inform everyone._2

In addition, there are four Innate Martial Artists who are independent of any Sect forces.

As well as the Minister of Martial Arts Temple, Marquis Jianchang Zhang Luan.

Including Yang Zhenshan, there are now eighteen Innate Martial Artists present.

Such a gathering of Innate Martial Artists is a rare occurrence in Da Rong, unseen in a century.

Watching the group of Innate Martial Artists, some seated, some standing, with varied expressions, Yang Zhenshan also did not get stage fright. He stepped forward and walked up to the group.

”Young Yang Zhenshan pays respects to all the seniors!”

He first bowed deeply.

Isn’t that so?

Here, he is the youngest.

For instance, Zhang Luan is already in his seventies, and Princess Ming Xi is also past her sixties this year. Besides Yang Zhenshan, the youngest would be Princess Ming Xi.

Yang Zhenshan is now fifty-three years old, too.

Elsewhere, he can call himself an old man; here, he can only call himself a junior.

The group of Innate Martial Artists seemed very distant. When Yang Zhenshan paid his respects, they merely nodded slightly as a response.

That is normal; here, in terms of age and seniority, Zhang Ye, Granny Meng, Xuanzhen, and Li Shouning of Yangtian Sect are the oldest.

These four are martial artists of the same era, all over one hundred and thirty years old.

Right now, with these four not speaking, it also was not appropriate for others to speak.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t mind whether others responded or not, and continued, ”Thanks to His Majesty’s trust, I am appointed to oversee the matter of the Star Origin Fruit!”

”However, before dealing with the Star Origin Fruit, there is another matter I need to discuss with all the seniors!”

The people below were unresponsive, neither picking up the conversation nor adding anything, akin to a group of wooden stakes.

Yang Zhenshan scanned over the crowd, a faint smile hanging on his face, ”By His Majesty’s decree, from today onwards, all Innate Martial Artists of Da Rong will be regarded as royal retainers, holding a position equivalent to First Rank!”

Now, the expressions of the Innate Martial Artists finally changed.

Those who were already informed could still sit still, such as Xuanzhen, Li Zhen.

Those uninformed either frowned or had a grim expression.

Clearly, they were not fond of the title of royal retainer.

At that moment, Master De Zhao of Tibet’s Da Zhao Temple stood up, ”Amitabha, may I ask, Mr. Yang, are there any restrictions upon becoming a royal retainer? Does it require staying in the Capital City?”

”Master De Zhao!” Yang Zhenshan bowed in response, smiling, ”No, being a royal retainer is merely a title, and it will not forcibly require the seniors to stay in the Capital City or other places. However, if the court faces difficulties, and His Majesty decrees, it might be necessary for the seniors to lend their strength!”

”I see!” Master De Zhao nodded slightly, then sat down.

The title of royal retainer was not something he cared much about, but if it was Emperor Yanping’s decree, he would still comply.

Because Da Zhao Temple and Dacheng Temple have a lineage connection, Dacheng Temple is a royal temple, whereas Da Zhao Temple, although not a royal temple, is in essence part of it.

Thus, he was not resistant to the title of royal retainer.

”What if we refuse?”

Just after Master De Zhao sat down, someone suddenly spoke.

Yang Zhenshan looked towards the voice, his face immediately wearing a cold smile.

The speaker was none other than Jing Mingzhou from Lingxiu Villa.

Jing Mingzhou, the Manor Master of Lingxiu Villa, eighty-two years old this year, reached the Innate Realm over thirty years ago and is also the grandfather of Jing Changyuan.

Clearly, Jing Mingzhou had already heard about the death of Jing Changyuan before coming here.

However, what he cared about was not the life or death of Jing Changyuan, but Yang Zhenshan’s words.

He has many grandsons; losing one or two doesn’t weigh heavily on his heart.

But Yang Zhenshan’s threat to exterminate the Lingxiu Villa was something he had to keep in mind.

Since he arrived in Cui Xia Valley and saw Yang Zhenshan, he had not shown a pleasant face towards Yang Zhenshan.

”Refuse, huh, Senior Jing, are you sure you want to refuse?” Yang Zhenshan looked at him with a seemingly amused gaze.

Jing Mingzhou stared at him, his gaze as if laced with poison.

Yang Zhenshan’s words had put their Lingxiu Villa on the fire.

While he couldn’t be sure if Yang Zhenshan could make decisions, he couldn’t help but worry.

If Yang Zhenshan truly could influence the court’s decision, then their Lingxiu Villa indeed would face a catastrophe.

Jing Mingzhou, after all, had lived for more than eighty years and naturally wouldn’t be as arrogant and complacent as Jing Changyuan.

He would not underestimate the court, but he could not show weakness.

Especially when he is not facing the court, but just Yang Zhenshan, he cannot show any signs of weakness.

”How can refusal help?” Jing Mingzhou said in a deep voice.

Yang Zhenshan narrowed his eyes slightly, ”Refusal means disrespecting the imperial edict and resisting orders, which is a crime punishable by death!”

Jing Mingzhou’s face slightly changed, his expression extremely solemn, ”Even if you want to charge me with a crime, it should be done by His Majesty himself, you are not qualified!”

Yang Zhenshan shook his head, straightened his back, and swept his indifferent gaze over the group of Innate Martial Artists.

”You seniors might have misunderstood something!”

”Imperial honor, equal to First Rank, this is His Majesty’s will, it is not a matter of discussion, but simply informing you.”

”If anyone is unwilling to accept the honor, it is considered resisting orders!”

”The choices before you seniors are only two: become an imperial honor, or resist orders!”

Upon hearing this, many Innate Martial Artists’ expressions turned even uglier.

Even Ji Zhen frowned.

Isn’t this forcing them to make a choice?

Becoming an imperial honor, Ji Zhen did not resist, it was just a title after all, not something to take too seriously.

However, Yang Zhenshan’s words carried a forceful tone, pushing them to make a choice.

Everyone here is an Innate Martial Artist, all strong figures in the worldly society, possessing great personal martial power, not necessarily lofty, but certainly prideful.

Using such compelling language naturally made them uncomfortable.

Ji Zhen glanced at Yang Zhenshan, thinking to himself, ”What is he trying to do?”

Today’s behavior from Yang Zhenshan certainly did not match Ji Zhen’s impression of him.

Too arrogant, too forceful.

Although always addressing himself as junior, he always gave off the feeling of standing above others.

And usually, Yang Zhenshan’s impression on Ji Zhen was of being generous, righteous, not sweating the small stuff.

Comparing the two, Ji Zhen felt like the Yang Zhenshan today was like a completely different person.

”You seniors, there’s no need for a junior like me to spell out how you should choose,” Yang Zhenshan said lightly.

The scene suddenly became silent, the atmosphere immensely tense.

An invisible authority spread, causing nearby soldiers to involuntarily step back a few steps.

Yet Yang Zhenshan seemed unaware, casually taking a sip of his tea.

Jing Mingzhou stared coldly at Yang Zhenshan.

Li Zhen and Zhang Luan exchanged glances, subtly sipping tea from the table.

On the edge of the area, An Yuxing leaned against a wooden stump, gulping down his drink sip by sip.

In the front row, Granny Meng was dozing off; Zhang Ye, meanwhile, pinched his beard looking at his own palm, as if he expected his hand that looked like chicken claws to sprout flowers.

Xuanzhen followed one cup of tea with another, finishing off a whole pot by himself.

And there was Li Shouning from Yangtian Sect, dressed in a loose black robe, holding a black longsword, eyes closed in meditation, not opening them from beginning to end.

The atmosphere grew even stranger and more tense.

These are Innate Martial Artists, expecting them to sit still and upright even if Emperor Yanping himself was present is impossible.

And under such an odd atmosphere, the Innate Martial Artists who were frowning quickly calmed their aura, their expressions becoming serene.

About half a quarter hour later, Yang Zhenshan finally slowly raised his head.

”Do you seniors have a decision?”

”Tiger Sect agrees!” Li Zhen raised the knife in his hand and said lightly.

”Hengdao Sect agrees!” Ji Zhen, not wanting to be left behind, spoke up.

Always prudent, Ji Zhen knew well what was beneficial and what was harmful.

Against the court?

Don’t joke!

Not to mention whether they could defeat the court, what good would opposing the court do for them?

No benefit whatsoever!

The worldly society is not about fighting; Innate Martial Artists also don’t think about fighting all the time.

If Innate Martial Artists liked fighting that much, they wouldn’t all be thinking about hiding deep in the mountains and forests.