The Sword God of the Universe
Chapter 663: The News Spreads

Chapter 663: Chapter 663: The News Spreads

Until his body was pierced by a Sword Light, Gu Yang didn’t dare to believe it.

He thought he could survive, thought Jing Yan would spare his life. At least, that he could keep his life for a short time.

But he had not expected Jing Yan to kill him so decisively.

Gu Yang’s eyes widened, unable to speak at the moment, but his gaze was full of questions, wanting to know why Jing Yan did not continue to question him about Jing Lunnan. Could it be that he had guessed wrong?

The light in his eyes gradually faded, and Gu Yang finally fell.

Jing Yan then sheathed the blue Dao Artifact Longsword, his figure flashed, and he swiftly passed by the bodies of Gu Yang and the other two, taking all their Sumeru Rings.

In fact, from the beginning, Jing Yan had no intentions of letting Gu Yang go. With Gu Yang active in Donglin City, leading to the deaths of numerous Jing Family Disciples, how could Jing Yan possibly spare him?

Moreover, Jing Yan had obtained the information he wanted, from which he gathered that his father, Jing Lunnan, might still be alive, held captive somewhere by the Gai Family.

Jing Yan made some connections and vaguely guessed some things about the Qiankun Ring.

Perhaps, Jing Lunnan was held captive by the Gai Family because of the Qiankun Ring. It was possible that Jing Lunnan had acquired the Qiankun Ring, and the Gai Family, knowing this, wanted to take the Qiankun Ring from him.

For various reasons, the Gai Family did not get their way, and they also did not know that the Qiankun Ring had fallen into the hands of Jing Yan’s grandfather, Jing Tian, who ultimately handed it to Jing Yan.

If that was the case...

Jing Yan’s gaze sharpened, his eyes flickered, and he felt it was time to ask Tianshui about some matters.

His gaze then swept over to the many adventurers in the distance.

Seeing Jing Yan look at them like that, those adventurers all held their breath.

"You don’t need to guess my identity, I can tell you."

"I am Jing Yan of the Jing Family! Most of you must have heard about me. You might think I’m dead, but I’m not. I’m very much alive."

After leaving behind those words with a smile on his lips, Jing Yan flashed away.

It took a good while after Jing Yan had left for those adventurers to come back to their senses, looking at each other in confusion.

Jing Yan wasn’t dead?

Jing Yan was still alive and had come back? And right upon his return, he had eliminated several prominent figures from the Gai Family!

Heavens...

...

Flowing Light City, Ancient Family Mansion, Life Tree Great Hall!

A black Life Tree withered at a visible rate.

This Life Tree belonged to Gu Yang, the Gu Family’s candidate Patriarch. The withering of the Life Tree signified Gu Yang’s death.

Upon seeing Gu Yang’s Life Tree wither, the guardian of the Life Tree Great Hall from the Gai Family stood frozen on the spot.

More than ten years ago, another guardian, Gu Wen, in charge of the Life Tree Great Hall, was executed by the family when Gu Xinghe’s Life Tree withered. Now, another Life Tree was withering.

"Damn it!"

"How could this happen?"

"Gu Yang’s Life Tree! Ah..." The guardian cried out in horror.

After coming back to his senses, he immediately left the Life Tree Great Hall without informing anyone, and left the Ancient Family Mansion.

He dared not stay.

The fate of Gu Wen was his example. Although the withering of the Life Tree had nothing to do with his role as guardian, reason alone would not save his life in such matters.

Clearly, he didn’t want to die, so he chose to quietly leave the Ancient Family Ancestor’s nest and flee far away. He decided to change his name and never set foot in territory controlled by his family again.

Because the Guardian left quietly, the Life Tree representing Gu Yang withered, and the Ancient Family’s upper echelons did not receive the news immediately. But such matters could certainly not be delayed for long. Just a few hours later, the Clan Leader Gu Jinlan was informed of the news – Gu Yang was dead.

Following close behind, the Ancient Family’s high ranks were enraged!

More than ten years ago, Gu Xinghe, a candidate for Patriarch, had died. Now, another candidate, Gu Yang, had died.

If the Ancient Family was not incensed, that would be strange indeed.

"What exactly happened?" the Ancient Family Ancestor, furious, demanded.

Although Gu Yang was not his biological grandson, he was a candidate for Patriarch of the Ancient Family. Moreover, after Gu Xinghe’s death, it could be said that Gu Yang was the next in line for the position.

"Ancestor, we are investigating this matter, and we should have information within a few days," Gu Jinlan said gravely.

"I suspect Gu Yang’s death is related to the Jing Family. Gu Yang had been active in Donglin City recently, which is controlled by the Jing Family," Gu Jinlan paused for a moment before continuing.

"The Jing Family! Again the Jing Family! Dammit!"

"Find out the truth! If this really is related to the Jing Family, then I will annihilate them. This time, even the Holy Master cannot stop me!" Gu Wanquan was truly furious to the extreme.

Gu Xinghe was killed, and his face, as well as that of the Ancient Family, was shamed. Now, with Gu Yang also dead, how could the entire Continent mock the Ancient Family?

Especially the other Great Families; they would probably celebrate wildly.

If even Gu Yang’s death was connected to the Jing Family, and the Ancient Family didn’t act to annihilate them, would anyone still respect the Ancient Family?

"Yes!" Gu Jinlan responded.

"Ancestor, may I suggest that I go to Donglin City?" Gu Mo, who was sitting to the side, spoke up.

Gu Mo was also one of the Dao Emperor Realm Practitioners of the Ancient Family.

Originally, when Gu Wanquan went into the Despair Abyss to kill Jing Yan, he and Gu Xianlun had gone along.

"Alright, Gu Mo, you need to clarify this matter as soon as possible. If Gu Yang’s death has even the slightest connection to the Jing Family, annihilate them. Who ever interferes, kill them. Even if the officials attempt to stop you, do not hold back," Gu Wanquan’s resolve was clearly very strong.

"I understand," Gu Mo nodded.

Whoosh!

Gu Mo’s body flickered, and he left the room, flying directly towards Lanqu County.

After Gu Mo left, some of Gu Wanquan’s anger seemed to have subsided, and his expression returned to normal.

"Clan Leader, you should quickly nominate a new candidate for Patriarch! The clan rules should not be affected by this matter. In another five years, you must step down from your position as Clan Leader, and the new leader must take over," Gu Wanquan said to Gu Jinlan.

"Yes, Ancestor, I will see to it!" Gu Jinlan nodded as well.

Every Clan Leader of the Ancient Family served for exactly three hundred years. This was a clan rule that was almost never changed.

In fact, this was the case for other families on the Continent as well. It was not that a new Clan Leader was only appointed upon the death of the previous one.

Such clan rules also have many benefits. For families like the Seven Great Families, which were not lacking in outstanding members, it was not as difficult as it was for smaller families to find a successor for the Clan Leader.

Donglin City!

Jing Chengye, alongside several Jing Family Elders, also gathered within the City Lord Mansion.

Upon finding out that Jing Yan was not dead, Jing Chengye and the others were first surprised, then quickly went to the City Lord Mansion. After learning that Jing Yan had left the city to find Gu Yang, they all waited patiently.

They did not wait too long before Jing Yan returned.

"Jing Yan..."

"Young Master Jing Yan, you... you really are still alive!"

"..."