When Ma Xiaotong heard Tian Ji's words, he broke out in cold sweat and cursed inwardly, The ancestor has ruined our entire clan!

"Lord, our ancestor is currently in seclusion. He is unaware of your visit. Xiaotong hereby apologizes on his behalf," said Ma Xiaotong humbly.

The Ma Clan had made the wrong choice twice and had paid considerably for what they had done. If they continued threading down the wrong path, they would probably suffer so much damage that they ceased being a tier-6 organization.

"Is your ancestor's seclusion more important, or is welcoming the young sect master more important?" questioned Tian Ji with a frown.

Ma Xiaotong wiped his cold sweat and said, "I-I'll go inform the ancestor."

"Forget it. Let me personally invite him out," said Green Ghost with a sneer as he grabbed in a certain direction. A massive palm formed in the sky and pressed down, flattening the Ma Clan ancestor's cultivation room. When the dust settled, a person helplessly being grabbed in a palm appeared before everyone's eyes.

"A-ancestor," the Ma Clan people exclaimed in alarm upon seeing that figure.

Their ancestor had always been their source of confidence. But such an individual had been lifted out like he was a harmless puppy. One could only imagine just how big the gap between their clan and the sect was.

The Ma Clan ancestor had the appearance of a middle-aged man. Surprisingly, he was actually a first-stage Saint. It was no wonder that he was too proud to come out and welcome Xiang Shaoyun. With him being lifted like a little puppy, his face turned red from shame. He tried struggling against the hand, but he found himself completely helpless. Eventually, he panicked.

"Hiding in your room and refusing to greet the overlord? You're courting death!" said Green Ghost. With his powerful senses, he had long detected the Ma Clan ancestor. With a roar, he tightened his grip, instantly causing the ancestor's skin to split open as a lot of blood sprayed out. A miserable wail rang out and reverberated throughout Zhuma City.

The Ma Clan and the people in the city witnessed this scene in its entirety. Fear gripped their hearts, causing some of them to drop onto their knees. The fury of a Saint was enough to create countless corpses. The gap between the Ma Clan and the Ziling Sect was too big. They didn't even have the strength to look straight at the Ziling Sect.

As Green Ghost was about to crush the ancestor to death, the Ma Clan people hurriedly knelt down and pleaded, "Lord guardian elder, we beg you to spare our ancestor's life!"

If their ancestor was really killed today, their entire clan would probably be erased mercilessly as well.

Xiang Shaoyun waved his hand at Green Ghost and said, "The Ma Clan shall hand over three years of your income to the sect. Any disobedience will be met with death."

"Yes, young sect master. I'll get it done immediately. The Ma Clan will be forever loyal to the Ziling Sect," said Ma Xiaotong.

All the Ma Clan members remained on their knees. They were so fearful that they no longer knew what to do. After this event, they no longer dared to think of disloyalty. Instead, they would do all they could to show their devotion.

"Words are pointless. Prove your loyalty with your actions. Send 20 disciples from the Ma Clan's direct line of descent to the sect. They shall be learning and cultivating in the sect," said Xiang Shaoyun. He then signaled to Green Ghost to release the Ma Clan ancestor.

"What a fool," said Green Ghost with a cold snort as he tossed the Ma Clan ancestor toward the ground.

Too ashamed to face anyone, the ancestor directly fainted. Xiang Shaoyun then ignored the Ma Clan and continued heading toward the Dragon Society with his 108 followers. Only when Xiang Shaoyun's group vanished from their vision did the Ma Clan members dare to stand up. This was the most difficult day they had ever faced.

"Gather 20 of the most talented disciples of the clan and send them over to the Ziling Sect," commanded Ma Xiaotong.

He knew very well that the 20 disciples would be Xiang Shaoyun's tool to control the Ma Clan. If the clan showed more disloyalty, the 20 talented disciples would be the first ones to die. However, Ma Xiaotong also saw more than that. If the 20 disciples could rise to power in the Ziling Sect, it might bring their clan more opportunities.

After all, the stronger the Ziling Sect became, the better it would be for the Ma Clan as a subordinate organization. In fact, they had only rebelled previously due to the weakness the Ziling Sect had displayed.

Now that the Ziling Sect had grown strong enough to launch an invasion toward the Dragon Society, the Ziling Sect would definitely become a tier-8 organization upon conquering the Dragon Society. Things had become completely different than before.

...

Dragon Society, a peak tier-7 organization located atop a series of dragon veins. This was an organization that had existed for almost 10,000 years. No regular tier-7 organizations could contend against them.

They occupied nine dragon veins that ran through 99 mountains in total. Ancient buildings were erected on the peaks of the 99 mountains, and their entire headquarters was filled with dense draconic aura, lush vegetation, spiritual birds, and hanging waterfalls. From afar, the Dragon Society's headquarters was akin to a palace of the gods.

The nine dragon veins beneath them weren't exactly massive, but they were more than enough for a tier-7 organization. It was all thanks to the nine dragon veins that the Dragon Society had prospered for 10,000 years.

At the spot where the nine veins converged was a steep mountain, the Dragon Society's main mountain. Both their audience hall and their society master's residence were located atop this mountain.

At present, their society master, Long Jun, was seated atop the main seat. He looked to be about 40 years old and had a dragon crown on his head. His expression was resolute, and his eyes were vigorous. Dressed in a robe emblazoned with a dragon insignia, he looked like someone born to be a ruler.

He was a peak eighth-stage Heaven Battling Realm cultivator only a step away from becoming a Great Saint. Despite not being a Great Saint, he definitely had the strength to contend against Great Saints.

Seated at the lower seats were the old lady, Long Qianqiu the deputy society master, Jin Junyi the deputy society master, the first prince Long Yugang, and some other elders. All in all, about 40 people were gathered in the hall.

"Society master, the Ziling Sect's Xiang Shaoyun has just passed through the Zhuma City with a group of 108 cultivators. They are heading toward the Soaring Dragon Province," reported one of the elders.

"Society master, please allow me to lead our army into battle. I will return with Xiang Shaoyun's head," said Jin Meng, the previous number one Sovereign of the Dragon Society.

He once suffered defeat under Xiang Shaoyun's hands. Since then, he had entered seclusion and had successfully reached the Heaven Battling Realm. He was now a peak first-stage Heaven Battling Realm cultivator.

"Stand down, Jin Meng!" said Jin Junyi. He then looked at Long Jun and said, "Society master, you are definitely aware of Xiang Shaoyun's feats. He is definitely here to settle the scores with us. He might even be planning to conquer the Dragon Society. I beg you to make a decision on what to do with him."

Everyone looked at Long Jun sitting atop his throne, awaiting the answer of this society master who had not fought anyone for years.

Slowly tapping on the armrest, the society master said, "Fight!"