Chapter 574

"You... you..." Yun Waitian and Yun Duanshui trembled with rage. Although they knew this was a deliberate attack by the Seven Guardian Families, they found themselves utterly speechless, unable to offer any rebuttal. The sin of losing the Demon Emperor Seal had burdened the Yun family like a crushing mountain for the past century, still so heavy that it stole their breath.

Compared to Yun Che's identity, this was the Yun family's true vulnerability. It was an inescapable nightmare that had tormented them for a century. Unless the Demon Emperor Seal was recovered someday, they would be condemned to bear this heavy burden for generations to come.

No matter how formidable the Yun family appeared today, or what geniuses had emerged and what achievements they had accomplished over the past century, they could not escape this fundamental weakness that other families could exploit at will.

"Enough!" The Little Demon Empress rose, flicking her sleeve. Her voice was cold: "The Yun family's loss of the Demon Emperor Seal was not intentional. They have already endured a severe penalty for a century, and I have ceased to pursue the matter. When did it become your place to repeatedly question and condemn them?"

"Little Demon Empress, how can such an egregious crime by the Yun family be atoned for by a mere century of punishment!" Helian Kuang cried out, his face contorted in anguish. "What the Yun family lost was the Demon Emperor Seal... the Demon Emperor Seal! What they forfeited was the very future of the Demon Emperor lineage! For a crime of this magnitude, even exterminating the entire clan would not be excessive. A paltry century of punishment doesn't even begin to cover it... Furthermore, the punishment the Yun family has endured over this century merely involved resource restrictions. How can that possibly be considered a 'severe penalty'?"

Jiufang Kui declared, "Patriarch Helian is absolutely correct! And this sentiment undoubtedly echoes the hearts of all citizens in Demon Emperor City for the past century. The Yun family's crime is too immense, and the Little Demon Empress has shown too much leniency, consistently treating the Yun family with tolerance for a hundred years. When such a grave offense is tolerated to this degree, who in the realm could accept it? The Little Demon Empress may be unwilling to impose truly severe punishment or expel the Yun family, and we can only comply with her wishes. However, to bestow this 'Tyrant Emperor Pellet' upon the Yun family... my Jiufang clan simply cannot accept it!"

No sooner had Jiufang Kui finished speaking than Nangong Zhi added, "We are by no means coveting this Tyrant Emperor Pellet. It's simply that since the Little Demon Empress ascended the throne a century ago, countless individuals have diligently assisted her and achieved great feats. Yet, the Little Demon Empress now intends to bestow this Tyrant Emperor Pellet upon a family that committed such a monstrous crime... As Guardian Families, we naturally must obey the Little Demon Empress's command, but even if we were to accept, if word of this spreads, the Illusory Demon Realm would surely be engulfed in public uproar, drawing countless grievances and accusations. This would also severely tarnish the Little Demon Empress's sacred reputation and authority... We earnestly implore the Little Demon Empress to consider this carefully."

"Our actions are solely for the sake of the Little Demon Empress and the continued prestige of the entire Demon Emperor lineage!"

One after another, the seven patriarchs from the eastern seats offered their admonitions, each word aimed at the Yun family, yet spoken with a forceful, righteous conviction. In their narratives, the Yun family was already an unforgivable clan, and if the Little Demon Empress were to bestow the Tyrant Emperor Pellet upon them, she would be seen as an "unenlightened ruler" who provoked the ire of the entire realm.

If only one family had objected, the Little Demon Empress could have easily quashed their dissent. However, it was clear that the seven families had secretly colluded; they stood united, their words and demeanor unyielding. Even those seated in the far corners of the Demon Emperor Hall, completely oblivious to the situation in Demon Emperor City, could distinctly feel a heavy, oppressive force.

Patriarch Xiao Xifeng of the Xiao family declared in a loud voice, "Our twelve Guardian Families have collectively safeguarded the Demon Emperor lineage for ten millennia, only to have it nearly destroyed by the Yun family. If the Tyrant Emperor Pellet were bestowed upon anyone else, our Xiao family would not voice the slightest objection. But if it is granted exclusively to the Yun family, our Xiao family will be utterly disheartened... And countless others across the realm will also feel a deep chill, believing that the Little Demon Empress, as the Emperor of Illusory Demons, exercises such poor judgment in rewards and punishments, bringing solace to the guilty while disheartening the meritorious. This Tyrant Emperor Pellet absolutely must not be given to the Yun family!"

"Moreover, the individual who lost the Demon Emperor Seal all those years ago was Yun Canghai, the previous patriarch of the Yun family! The Former Emperor had honored him with the title of King, held him in the highest esteem, and even entrusted him with the protection of the Demon Emperor Seal. Yet, Yun Canghai betrayed the Former Emperor's trust by recklessly forcing his way into the Profound Sky Continent, ultimately losing the Demon Emperor Seal. His actions were utterly reckless and foolish to the extreme, his crime unforgivable, and he no longer deserves the honor of 'Demon King'! Therefore..."

"Silence! Do not insult my father!!"

"Silence! Do not insult my grandfather!!"

Before Xiao Xifeng could even finish his sentence, two thunderous roars erupted simultaneously. Xiao Xifeng, a level three Emperor, actually shivered from head to toe from the force of these shouts, his heart seizing up. As he turned, he was met with Yun Qinghong's face, dark and terrifying with fury.

These two roars emanated from Yun Qinghong and Yun Che.

When the Little Demon Empress proposed bestowing the Tyrant Emperor Pellet upon Yun Che, both Yun Qinghong and Yun Che had anticipated that Prince Huai would inevitably rally the seven families or the various princely estates to obstruct it. The most opportune reason, of course, would be the Yun family's crime from a century ago. Thus, they were not at all surprised by the concerted opposition from the seven families; they had simply observed with cold indifference, not uttering a single word.

However, Xiao Xifeng's words were an undeniable insult to Yun Canghai... they brutally crossed their fundamental boundary!

Yun Qinghong had revered his father throughout his life, regarding him as his very sky. A month ago, witnessing his father's aged and withered remains, every memory brought an onslaught of guilt, self-reproach, resentment, and pain that felt like a thousand arrows piercing his heart. Yun Canghai was not only Yun Che's grandfather but also the one who saved Yun Che from the Heavenly Punishing Sword with his own life, and whose death had profoundly demonstrated to Yun Che the true meaning of familial devotion.

They could face all matters with composure, but how could they possibly tolerate words that slandered Yun Canghai!

Confronted by Yun Qinghong's fury, Xiao Xifeng's heart involuntarily faltered. Yet, under the gaze of everyone present, he could not afford to lose his composure. He sneered, "Insult? Has a fact known throughout the world become an insult? Did I utter a single incorrect word? If it weren't for Yun Canghai back then..."

"Silence! You are not allowed to insult my father!!" Yun Qinghong's face was ashen. "My father lived a life of unwavering integrity, worthy of heaven and earth, worthy of the Former Emperor, and worthy of the Yun family! A contemptible wretch like you is not even fit to utter my father's name! If you dare to slander my father one more time, I, Yun Qinghong... will personally end your life one day!!"

These overly impassioned words betrayed the profound indignation in Yun Qinghong's heart. Clearly, when the topic of Yun Canghai arose, he had somewhat lost his composure. Yun Che frowned and spoke up, "Father, such treacherous and petty individuals are not worthy of your personal attention! I, however, have a few questions I intend to ask them thoroughly!"

Yun Che stepped forward, his gaze cold as he faced the seven standing patriarchs. He smiled faintly and said, "You seven families are truly united in your efforts to prevent my Yun family from obtaining the Tyrant Emperor Pellet! Indeed... the monstrous crime of losing the Demon Emperor Seal provides such a perfect leverage point! So, let me guess, you have no intention of honoring the Purple Vein Divine Crystals you just lost to my Yun family, do you?"

Yun Che's tone was accusatory, not inquisitive!

The expressions of the seven patriarchs all subtly shifted. They had already communicated among themselves and colluded to absolutely not hand over the Purple Vein Divine Crystals to the Yun family—not five catties, not even a single shred! After successfully preventing the Little Demon Empress from bestowing the Tyrant Emperor Pellet upon the Yun family, their next move was to collectively exert pressure and renege on the five catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals.

Now that Yun Che had exposed their scheme with a single utterance, none of them showed any embarrassment. Instead, they took the opportunity to declare, "Yun Che, you guessed correctly! My Chiyang clan will absolutely not give these five catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals to your Yun family!"

"Our Jiufang family will absolutely not give them either!!"

"Hahahahaha, it seems we all had the same idea! My Nangong family would rather destroy these five catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals than give the Yun family even a single shred!"

"My Lin family feels the same! Forget five catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals; you won't receive even five strands of hair!"

"Your Yun family is laden with crimes; what right do you have to receive Purple Vein Divine Crystals from us, the Guardian Families!!"

What was clearly a blatant, shameless reneging of a promise in front of everyone, yet they each declared it with such elevated spirits and righteous indignation. Evidently, the Yun family's "great crime," known across the realm, was their sole leverage and confidence. Yun Che sneered, "Five catties of Purple Vein Divine Crystals were what you pledged! And you were the ones defeated in the previous duel! Yet now you renege with such self-righteousness. That the esteemed Guardian Families, who have stood for ten millennia, possess such a character is simply ridiculous and profoundly lamentable! Are you not afraid that your ten-thousand-year prestige will become the laughingstock of the Illusory Demon Realm?!"

"So what if we are!" declared Patriarch Bai Yi of the Bai family. "We would rather become the laughingstock of the world than give your Yun family even a single shred of Purple Vein Divine Crystals!"

"The Yun family's crime is unforgivable; even exile would be the mildest punishment, and exterminating their entire clan would not be excessive! Yet for this past century, they have remained on equal footing with us Guardian Families, a fact that has already sparked widespread doubt throughout the realm. If we were to hand over the Purple Vein Divine Crystals to the Yun family, they would inevitably rise in power, while we would surely be weakened as a result... The Yun family is the very clan whose actions nearly destroyed the Demon Emperor lineage! Yet, not only would they fail to receive the punishment they deserve, but they would instead surpass other Guardian Families. If this truly comes to pass, Demon Emperor City will descend into chaos, and the entire Illusory Demon Realm will fall into turmoil! Even the ancestral Demon Emperors in the netherworld would not rest in peace!"

"Compared to widespread chaos in the Illusory Demon Realm and the tarnishing of the Demon Emperor's prestige, what does it matter if we are mocked as faithless turncoats!" Helian Kuang declared with an air of tragic heroism. "For ten millennia, we have remained unswervingly loyal to the Demon Emperor. If it is for the Demon Emperor, we fear no death! What does a damaged reputation truly count for then!"

What was clearly a despicable and shameless act of reneging, under the guise of the Yun family's crime, was now framed as a "grand act" of loyalty to the Demon Emperor and responsibility to the Illusory Demon Realm. This almost caused the Yun family members to explode with rage. Yun Che, however, burst into hearty laughter. "Hahahahaha! What splendid 'unswerving loyalty'! What a magnificent 'fear no death for the Demon Emperor'! Since you few families are so profoundly loyal, willing to discard even your dignity for this 'loyalty'! Then..."

As his laughter ceased, Yun Che's expression abruptly hardened, becoming cold and resolute. He took a step forward, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, and pointed at the seven family patriarchs, his voice like thunder: "A century ago, when the Former Demon Emperor was trapped in the Profound Sky Continent, my grandfather went to rescue him, sparing no effort... But where were you?! Where were you all? Why was it my grandfather, our Yun family, who defied death and desperately fought to save the Former Demon Emperor, and not you families, who proclaim 'unswerving loyalty and fear no death for the Demon Emperor'!!"

"At that crucial time, where were you all? And where was your so-called loyalty then?!"

Yun Che's furious interrogation instantly silenced all the patriarchs who had previously offered such grand and eloquent pronouncements.