Chapter 598: Standing Up for Justice and Wu Ju's Appearance
"Grand Elder Kun Yuan…"
At this moment, within the Wu Realm, countless experts from the Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan and invited leaders of various factions were gazing solemnly at the elderly silver-haired man. Their eyes were filled with deep respect and awe.
The old man had silver hair cascading down, and though clearly aged, his skin was smooth like a baby's. His slightly closed eyes emitted flashes of sharp brilliance, and every subtle movement of his seemed to ripple with immense Yuan energy.
This person was none other than Kun Yuan, the Great Elder of the Kunpeng Clan.
Everyone present now bore serious expressions.
Although in terms of personal strength, Kun Yuan and Wu Qian, the Great Elder of the Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan, were at the same level, both having touched upon the Reincarnation stage, Kun Yuan's prestige far exceeded Wu Qian's.
After all, Kun Yuan was backed by the Kunpeng Clan, one of the supreme overlords of the Demonic Beast Realm. In contrast, Wu Qian's Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan was merely one among the Eight Great Royal Clans. The disparity between the two sides was apparent to anyone.
Seeing Kun Yuan, Wu Qian's expression grew somewhat tense. He spoke in a heavy voice, "Great Elder Kun Yuan, while your Kunpeng Clan is renowned for speed and stealth, arriving uninvited today seems inappropriate."
"Haha, although I came uninvited, there is good reason," Kun Yuan replied calmly, glancing meaningfully at Jin Wu. "Wu Qian, regarding the son of those sinners—this is not something your Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan can decide alone. Our two clans had an agreement back then to never privately bring the children of those sinners back into your clan. Are you trying to break our agreement now?"
Hearing these words, Wu Qian's expression immediately darkened.
Because Jin Wu possessed the rare Nine Evil Black Golden Crow bloodline, Wu Qian inwardly did not oppose, and indeed was secretly pleased, with Jin Wu's return.
However, the biggest obstacle to Jin Wu's return was not the Lin Branch nor the Fire Branch, but rather the Kunpeng Clan itself!
Since ancient times, the Kunpeng Clan and the Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan had never seen eye to eye. Although their relationship gradually grew distant over the years due to the latter's decline, the issue resurfaced violently due to Wu Ju's stubbornness, nearly sparking war between the two clans once again.
If not for Wu Qian's compromise and imprisonment of Wu Ju, the Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan might not even have retained its status as a Royal Clan.
Even then, the Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clan had paid dearly, one price being their agreement never to accept the sinners' children back into the clan, letting them live or die on their own.
Remembering this history, Wu Qian sighed and looked pleadingly at Kun Yuan, "Great Elder Kun Yuan, can't we reconsider? It's been many years; the two children are innocent. Allowing their return wouldn't harm your Kunpeng Clan in any way."
"Wu Qian, do you think I cannot see through your intentions?" Kun Yuan sneered coldly. "Your insistence on welcoming back that sinner's son is mostly because of his Nine Evil Black Golden Crow bloodline, isn't it? You probably hope to support him as your clan's next Patriarch and, under his leadership, perhaps even challenge my Kunpeng Clan, reclaiming your former glory!"
Wu Qian's face froze, his intentions exposed. He finally sighed helplessly, "Great Elder Kun Yuan, regardless of all else, Jin Wu and Shuang Wu are still your—"
"Shut up!" Kun Yuan shouted furiously before Wu Qian could finish. His aged face was contorted with anger, and a terrifying aura swept out, suffocating the entire area.
All present fell silent under the overwhelming pressure, deeply aware of Kun Yuan's terrifying strength. Without a true Reincarnation-stage expert present, no one could withstand him.
Even Wu Qian reluctantly swallowed his words, holding back. What he feared wasn't Kun Yuan himself, but the powerful Kunpeng Clan behind him—a clan with true Reincarnation-stage experts.
Kun Yuan's anger slowly dissipated, and his aura receded. He then looked toward Jin Wu and Shuang Wu, his eyes complicated, whispering softly, "I never expected Ling'er's children to have grown this much already. They do somewhat resemble her."
"They are Aunt Ling'er's children?" Beside Kun Yuan, the silver-haired woman in red was briefly stunned upon hearing his words. Her beautiful eyes gazed curiously at Jin Wu and Shuang Wu.
Her "Aunt Ling'er" had been Kun Ling, a peerless genius and once the most favored daughter of Kun Yuan, as well as a top-ranked talent among the Kunpeng Clan decades ago.
Kun Ling had been stunningly beautiful and exceptionally gifted, drawing admiration from countless geniuses within the clan. Yet she was proud, dismissive of her peers, and had been an extraordinary Talisman Master, achieving the level of a small Symbol Grandmaster at a young age. The silver-haired woman had idolized her aunt during her childhood.
Unfortunately, Kun Ling had eloped with an outsider, enraging Kun Yuan. Both the Kunpeng and Seven Evil Black Golden Crow Clans hunted them down within a year. By then, Kun Ling was already pregnant.
Kun Yuan, furious and humiliated, imprisoned his daughter and abandoned Jin Wu and Shuang Wu, leaving them to their own fate.
Recalling this, Kun Ling sighed quietly, her cold features softening slightly in sympathy. "Aunt Ling'er's children truly have suffered greatly..."
...
Lin Langtian, hearing the brief conversation between Wu Qian and Kun Yuan, guessed at some of the truth, pondering deeply, "So Jin Wu's mother has a complicated background indeed. It seems she has a significant connection with Kun Yuan himself."
Although Lin Langtian had not directly realized Kun Yuan was Jin Wu's grandfather, deducing any of this based on a few exchanged words was already remarkable.
Lin Langtian shook his head slightly, looking toward Kun Yuan, "Great Elder Kun Yuan, I have something to say, though I don't know if it is appropriate."
"Who are you?" Kun Yuan asked, slightly frowning.
"I am Jin Wu's sworn brother, Lin Langtian," he replied steadily. "In the recent battle among branches, I defeated the leaders of the Fire and Lin Branches, thus earning the right to speak for Jin Wu's return. If not for your interference, this matter would already be settled."
"Brother? Lin Langtian? Defeated the Fire and Lin Branch leaders?"
Kun Yuan was momentarily stunned by this introduction, gazing incredulously at Lin Langtian. With his profound strength, he immediately saw Lin Langtian's true cultivation—a mere half-step to Samsara stage.
Yet, this young man had defeated two seasoned Samsara-stage branch heads. Kun Yuan found it difficult to believe until Kun Jian nodded discreetly in confirmation, and the embarrassed faces of Wu Yan and Wu Xiu confirmed it further.
Kun Yuan finally restrained his disdain, looking seriously at Lin Langtian, "Do you intend to stand up for that sinner's child?"
Lin Langtian smiled calmly, "It's not about standing up; I'm simply seeking justice for my brother. He grew up abandoned and alone. Without my help, it's uncertain if he'd even be alive today." Lin Langtian's voice grew colder as he continued.
Hearing Lin Langtian's words, Kun Yuan's expression darkened. Though anger flashed across his aged face, he remained silent.
In truth, after initially abandoning Jin Wu and Shuang Wu, Kun Yuan had felt regretful. He had privately searched for them, but without results, had eventually given up. Yet despite his guilt, he would never openly admit to wrongdoing.
He stared coldly at Lin Langtian, "Your strength alone isn't enough to seek justice. Rules are rules—if you wish to defy them, you must first pass through me!"
Kun Yuan paused, glancing at Jin Wu and Shuang Wu, then said coldly, "Blame your parents! Their foolishness and recklessness damaged our clans' honor. They should never have brought you into this world, leading to this irreparable disaster!"
"All this is your parents' fault!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Suddenly, an enraged shout exploded forth. Jin Wu's handsome face twisted with fury, eyes burning as he glared defiantly at Kun Yuan.
"Do not insult my parents! No matter their mistakes, as their son, I will defend them with my life!"
"Insolent!" Kun Yuan's expression darkened. His voice boomed with wrath, and powerful black-and-white Yuan energy surged forth in the form of a giant palm, aimed directly at Jin Wu.
Just as Lin Langtian was about to intervene, he sensed something and stopped abruptly, gazing thoughtfully behind Jin Wu.
At that very instant, space behind Jin Wu ripped apart, and a tall figure stepped out. A cold, middle-aged voice resonated with suppressed fury:
"My dear father-in-law, to think you'd strike even your own grandson!"
As the voice echoed, a black-and-white shield appeared above Jin Wu, effortlessly blocking Kun Yuan's powerful palm strike.
This sudden clash stunned everyone present, eyes widening in disbelief. Who had easily countered Kun Yuan's attack?
Countless gazes shifted toward the figure behind Jin Wu—a disheveled, middle-aged man in a green robe emerged. His scruffy face hinted at past handsomeness.
Gasps rang out from the crowd:
"It's… It's Wu Ju! How did he escape?!"
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