Chapter 166 : Spear King Zhang Xiu
Chapter 166: Spear King Zhang Xiu! Wen Clan’s Wen Pin! Wan City’s Probe!
The Wen Clan, the Deng Clan, and the Han Clan.
These were the Three Great Families of New Wan City.
Their outward appearances varied in age.
But in truth, the patriarchs of all three families had already lived for over a hundred years.
When the world changed drastically and the Abyss descended, all of space-time was dragged into the Abyssal Nightmare. While all living beings endured endless disasters and suffering, it also allowed people to continuously cultivate, extend their lifespan, and even approach immortality.
Aside from cultivation, the Abyssal Plane also contained many methods, treasures, and rare resources that could extend life or even preserve eternal youth.
Living for several hundred years was entirely possible.
Of course, living too long was not necessarily a good thing.
The longer one lived, the more likely one was to perceive the Abyssal Will.
Without sufficient fate fortune to protect oneself, it was inevitable that one would eventually fall into corruption under the whispers of the Abyssal Will—becoming an Abyss-corrupted being or an even more terrifying monster.
“Brother Deng, Brother Wen, it has been many days since we last met. Have you both been well?”
The white-haired elder holding a bone staff swept his deep gaze over the middle-aged man carrying a great bow and the armored giant. He greeted them calmly and warmly.
The bone staff elder was Han Ji.
He was the patriarch of the Fangcheng Han Clan.
The Fangcheng Han Clan had a long history and deep foundation and was a prestigious clan of Nanyang Commandery.
Their ancestor was Han Xin, one of the non-imperial feudal kings of the Western Han Dynasty.
However, this Han Xin was not the famous “Military Sage” Han Xin.
In the early Western Han period, there were two individuals named Han Xin.
One was the Marquis of Huaiyin, the well-known Military Sage Han Xin.
The other was the ancestor of the Fangcheng Han Clan—King Han Xin.
His fame was far lesser.
King Han Xin traced his lineage to Han Cang, grandson of King Xiang of Han.
This alone showed the depth of the Han Clan’s heritage.
They were descendants of kings and nobles.
With the powerful protection of the clan’s fate fortune, Han Ji not only comprehended numerous secret techniques from the Abyss but also led the clan through many hardships to continued growth.
Today, the Han Clan had become one of the Three Great Families.
The other two clans were no less formidable.
The two individuals before Han Ji possessed personal strength that was not inferior to his own.
Some were even stronger.
For example—the middle-aged man carrying the great bow.
He was Deng Zhi, patriarch of the Deng Clan of Xinye.
The Deng Clan might not match the Han Clan’s ancient heritage, but it was far from a minor family.
Their ancestor was Deng Yu, one of the Twenty-Eight Generals of Yuntai who helped found the Eastern Han Dynasty.
They were truly a family of generals.
For hundreds of years, the clan had produced many brilliant military figures.
Deng Zhi slightly cupped his fists toward Han Ji before speaking.
“What is there to say about being well? At our age, the influence of the Abyss grows deeper with each passing day. We merely cling to life.”
He then glanced toward the armored giant.
“Brother Wen’s aura, however, grows stronger with every meeting. Your strength must have reached an even higher level.”
The gazes of Han Ji and Deng Zhi finally landed on the armored man.
This armored giant was Wen Pin—the patriarch of the Wen Clan, one of the Three Great Families.
During the old era, the Wen Clan had some reputation.
But Nanyang Commandery was filled with outstanding talents and noble families.
Compared with clans like the Han Clan and Deng Clan, the Wen Clan was originally only a second- or third-rate family.
However—
Because of Wen Pin, whose fate fortune was extraordinarily strong, the Wen Clan later rose rapidly.
Now they had become the leading clan of New Wan City.
Wen Pin’s strength had grown extremely quickly.
He was now widely acknowledged as the strongest among the Three Great Families.
There were even rumors that Wen Pin’s personal strength rivaled that of the City Lord Zhang Xiu.
He had become the representative figure of New Wan City’s clan forces.
“Let us first pay respects to the City Lord.”
Wen Pin’s entire body was covered in heavy armor.
His face and expression could not be seen.
Only a deep, powerful voice echoed from within the armor.
That voice alone caused those around him to feel pressure.
“Very well.”
Wen Pin walked in front.
Deng Zhi and Han Ji followed half a step behind.
As for the other clan members and attendants, they remained outside the gates of the City Lord’s Mansion.
Inside the mansion—
Rows of soldiers stood on both sides.
Each soldier wore black armor with a tar-like texture.
They held blood-red tiger-head spears.
Their faces were hidden behind black iron masks.
Every one of them radiated violent energy and oppressive presence.
They resembled wild beasts chained in place—ready to erupt into madness at any moment.
These were soldiers of the Blood Spear Camp.
Zhang Xiu was originally from the Western Liang region—not a native of Nanyang.
For him to dominate this land during the Abyssal Nightmare Era, forcing all local clans to acknowledge him as City Lord, reputation alone was not enough.
Even the title “Northern Spear King” and his personal strength were insufficient.
There were two main pillars supporting his rule.
The first—Jia Xu.
Jia Xu was Zhang Xiu’s fellow townsman.
Unlike most Western Liang men, he was not rough or crude.
Instead, he possessed near-demonic intelligence.
Even in the old era, he served as Zhang Xiu’s strategist.
It was through Jia Xu’s schemes that Zhang Xiu established dominance over Wan City and ruled as a regional warlord.
After the Abyss descended, Jia Xu’s strength advanced rapidly.
He even founded the Path of Extreme Yin.
It was Jia Xu who established the Sixfold Fate Formation, which protected this Sanctuary Zone.
Without that formation, New Wan City could never have been established.
Nor could its people have resisted the terrifying Demonized Dian Wei.
In recent decades, however, Jia Xu had grown increasingly mysterious.
He rarely appeared in public.
Rumors claimed he had fallen into madness after absorbing too much forbidden knowledge from the Abyss.
But as long as he still lived, no clan dared disrupt the balance of power in Wan City.
The second pillar—Blood Spear Camp.
Zhang Xiu personally trained this terrifying army.
Every soldier wore demonic armor and wielded a blood spear.
They were trained directly by Zhang Xiu in spear techniques.
Each soldier could fight ten or even one hundred enemies.
More importantly—they were absolutely loyal to Zhang Xiu.
They existed to intimidate the other clans.
In New Wan City, power was essentially divided into two factions.
One faction consisted of the local clan alliance represented by the Wen Clan, Deng Clan, and Han Clan.
The other faction consisted of non-clan forces—namely the Extreme Yin Sect and the Blood Spear Camp.
The three clan leaders were escorted into the main hall.
Soon, Zhang Xiu arrived with two subordinates.
The famous Northern Spear King did not appear imposing.
Instead, he was a thin elderly man with white hair.
From appearance alone he even seemed somewhat frail.
But his eyes were sharp like a hawk.
Over the years, many clans had questioned Zhang Xiu’s ability.
Many powerful challengers attempted to overthrow him.
Yet the old spear king repeatedly proved them wrong—with blood.
Not only had he not grown weaker—
His strength continued to increase.
Standing beside him were two trusted subordinates.
Hu Che’er.
Zhang Hong.
Hu Che’er stood nearly three meters tall.
His body was covered in bulging muscles and swollen veins.
His skin was an unnatural crimson color.
His weapon was a giant spiked club.
He wore a beast-like muzzle and radiated savage energy.
He was the most powerful warrior under Zhang Xiu.
After a century under Abyss influence, his mind had nearly vanished and his body had mutated.
Yet his loyalty to Zhang Xiu had never wavered.
He was a terrifying figure feared by all.
Zhang Hong was nine feet tall.
He was the commander of the Blood Spear Camp.
His appearance resembled the other soldiers—black iron mask, black armor, and a tiger-head spear.
His mother was Zou Shi, widow of Zhang Xiu’s uncle.
Zhang Xiu raised him as his own son.
He personally taught Zhang Hong the Hundred-Birds Homage to the Phoenix Spear Technique.
Zhang Hong was now known as the Little Spear King.
He was absolutely loyal and served as Zhang Xiu’s right-hand man.
“Greetings, City Lord.”
No matter what they thought privately, the three clan leaders remained respectful.
“Brother Wen, Brother Han, Brother Deng—why such formality between brothers?”
Zhang Xiu took his seat.
Hu Che’er and Zhang Hong stood behind him.
“Without the assistance of the Three Great Families, I could never have held this position as City Lord—or repelled Demonized Dian Wei.”
Wen Pin spoke first.
“We came today because the Day of Absolute Darkness will arrive in a few days. We do not know whether Demonized Dian Wei himself will descend this time, but we must prepare.”
Han Ji added,
“The Sixfold Fate Formation arranged by Master Jia Xu has weakened.”
Deng Zhi then asked,
“Master Jia Xu has not appeared for many years. Rumors are spreading among the people. Perhaps he should appear personally this time to stabilize morale.”
Zhang Xiu shook his head.
“The Master is in secluded cultivation, comprehending the Great Dao. Unless the city faces destruction, there is no need to disturb him.”
The three clan leaders exchanged doubtful looks.
Rumors in the city claimed that Jia Xu had fallen into madness and sealed himself.
Was that rumor true?
Before the topic could continue—
Zhang Xiu asked suddenly,
“Have you found any clues regarding the Divine Physician?”
Han Ji replied,
“No one has seen Divine Physician Zhang Zhongjing in the past four or five years.”
Zhang Xiu said in a deep voice,
“Alive or dead—we must find him. The Divine Physician is extremely important to us.”
The clan leaders nodded.
“We will do our best.”
The discussion soon returned to the Day of Absolute Darkness.
These disasters occurred every two or three months.
For a hundred years they had become a routine catastrophe.
Zhang Xiu remained calm.
“Repelling enemies during the Day of Absolute Darkness is not difficult.”
“The difficulty lies in eliminating the threat permanently.”
Wen Pin immediately asked,
“Does the City Lord have a solution?”
Zhang Xiu replied,
“According to my latest information, a force of Starsea Lords has descended upon this world.”
“Only the Starsea forces possess the power to purify and eliminate Abyssal corruption.”
The three clan leaders were shocked.
Although Wan City had never directly contacted Starsea forces, some individuals had glimpsed forbidden knowledge through their cultivation and contact with the Abyss.
Thus the news did not confuse them.
Instead—
They were ecstatic.
“Is this true?”
Zhang Xiu nodded.
“I confirmed it with Master Jia Xu.”
Han Ji quickly asked,
“Where is this lord located?”
Zhang Xiu answered,
“A Starsea army was recently active in the Death Wasteland in the west.”
“They even fought a Thousand-Legged Demonic Dragon.”
The Death Wasteland was located in the far west of the Wan City Region.
This region formed after the Abyss descended and contained many powerful Abyss creatures.
Han Ji spoke solemnly.
“If that lord can fight the Thousand-Legged Demonic Dragon, his strength must not be weak.”
Deng Zhi said,
“That may not be a bad thing.”
“A powerful Starsea Lord could be useful.”
Wen Pin said,
“But if this Starsea Lord is too powerful, he may become a greater threat.”
Zhang Xiu nodded.
“That is why I summoned you.”
“We should contact this Starsea force.”
“If the lord is strong, we will ally with him against Demonized Dian Wei.”
“If he is weak—we will control or eliminate him.”
Wen Pin stood up.
“I will personally go.”
Zhang Xiu immediately agreed.
Soon after—
The meeting ended.
Wen Pin mounted his war mount and rode toward the Death Wasteland.
Toward Luoshui Main City.