As the Du family members saw the old man leading the way, their expressions changed drastically.
Even Du Tianen was no exception.
The old man wore a simple cloth robe, his gaze steady, his demeanor calm and serene. Yet, with every step he took, there was an air of unparalleled dominance, a majestic aura that seemed to disdain the world and exalt himself alone.
This was the Royal Path aura!
The old man's name was Feng Zhan, the former patriarch of the Feng family from the provincial capital.
Feng Zhan merely glanced casually at the Du family members, and they were immediately overwhelmed by a terrifying sense of suffocation, accompanied by an instinctual urge to prostrate themselves in reverence.
"Du Tianen greets Elder Feng!"
Du Tianen stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute towards the old man, and greeted him respectfully.
However, his words conveyed neither subservience nor arrogance.
His salute was merely out of respect for an elder, devoid of fear.
"Late stage Martial Sect! If you were given another ten years, there would be a chance of impacting the Royal Path!" A hint of appreciation flashed in Feng Zhan's clouded eyes.
Du Tianen's ancient martial arts talent was indeed exceptional.
But! Alas!
"The Royal Path... has no connection with me!"
Du Tianen replied indifferently.
Feng Zhan naturally understood the implication of his words.
The Du family was currently in a weakened state. Even if they survived, it would be as dependents. In such a predicament, Du Tianen's Dao heart would inevitably be damaged, leaving no room for the Royal Path!
Therefore, Feng Zhan felt a sense of pity.
"I am here today, and I assume you know my purpose!" Feng Zhan saw no point in idle chatter and went straight to the point. "Therefore, I require your answer!"
Upon hearing this, Du Tianen's body trembled slightly.
What was inevitable had arrived.
"Regarding selling my daughter, I must respectfully decline!" Du Tianen stated firmly and resolutely.
He could not agree to marry into the Feng family and become their dependent.
"Oh! Is that so?"
Feng Zhan's gaze shifted past Du Tianen, looking towards Du Yuemian, who was not far behind him.
However, upon seeing the bloodstains on Du Yuemian's neck and her frail state, he appeared puzzled.
"What happened to little Du?"
As Feng Zhan spoke, a young man from behind him suddenly stepped forward. With a flash, he transformed into a streak of light and appeared before Du Yuemian.
"Yuemian, what… what happened to you?"
Looking at the pale beauty before him, the young man's eyes were filled with heartache.
The man had a gentle demeanor, with well-defined features and eyes as clear and soft as water, making him an exceptionally handsome individual.
Just as Feng Ziliu was about to step forward to support her, Du Yuemian suddenly raised the Twin Moons in her hands, her blade pointed at him, and said indifferently,
"Young Master Feng, please respect yourself!"
Seeing this, Feng Ziliu quickly retreated two steps, fearing that Du Yuemian might become agitated.
He then took out a medicine bottle, placed it gently on the ground, and said softly, "Alright! I won't come any closer. Will you take this medicine first?"
After speaking, he quickly added, "Don't worry, this is just a pill to help you recover your true qi. It has no side effects!"
Feng Ziliu watched Du Yuemian anxiously, fearing she might collapse from exhaustion.
Du Yuemian retracted her weapon and plunged it into the ground again, using it to steady herself.
As for the pill on the ground, she had no intention of taking it.
She remained silent.
Seeing this situation from afar, Feng Zhan frowned slightly and looked at Du Tianen, displeased. "My grandson has been nothing but sincere towards little Du. What reason does your Du family have to refuse?"
At this moment, Du Tianshang, who was behind Feng Zhan, also stepped forward and looked at his elder brother, stating calmly, "Marrying into the Feng family is our Du family's only option! Elder Brother, I hope you can recognize reality! Moreover..." He glanced at Feng Ziliu in the distance. "Moreover, Ziliu truly cares for Yuemian, isn't that a good thing?"
Hearing this, Du Tianen's eyes turned cold, and he reprimanded, "Shut your mouth! You wretched fellow colluding with outsiders! My Du family has no traitor like you!"
"Presumptuous!"
As Du Tianen finished speaking, Feng Zhan's expression darkened. He flicked his sleeve, and a forceful surge of true qi sent Du Tianen flying back.
Du Tianen managed to stabilize himself after retreating nearly ten meters. However, the blood and qi within him were still churning, unable to calm down for a long time.
Puff!
But ultimately, he couldn't hold back, and a mouthful of blood spurted from his lips.
Feng Zhan's casual strike had inflicted internal injuries on Du Tianen.
This demonstrated the terrifying gap between a Martial Sect and a Martial Emperor.
"Hmph! Ignorant fool!"
Feng Zhan said coldly, "If my grandson hadn't pleaded with me several times, would your Du family still be standing today?"
Seeing this, Du Tianshang quickly stepped forward to pacify him. "Elder Feng, please forgive me. Allow me to speak with my elder brother, and I will surely give you a satisfactory answer!"
"I am giving you one last chance!" Feng Zhan's tone remained cold.
"Yes! Thank you, Elder Feng!"
Following this, Du Tianshang turned to Du Tianen and the other members of the Du family and said sternly, "Everyone, our Du family is currently in a weakened state. If we continue to resist, our Du family will inevitably face utter annihilation! Do you all truly wish to make a meaningless sacrifice?"
After Du Tianshang finished speaking, everyone fell into silence.
Because!
No one wanted to die, or rather, no one was willing to make a futile sacrifice.
"Second Master, will marrying into the Feng family truly bring peace to our Du family?"
Someone asked.
"Of course!" Du Tianshang pointed to Feng Ziliu in the distance and said with a pleased tone, "You have all seen how attentive Ziliu is to Yuemian. How could he neglect our Du family?"
Du Tianshang's words immediately offered a glimmer of hope to all the Du family disciples.
"Yes! Young Master Feng has always shown great favor towards the Miss. If our two families can form a marriage alliance, the Miss will absolutely not be harmed!"
"Indeed! Not only that, but our Du family can also be spared the calamity of extinction!"
"Right, right! Perhaps our Du family can even use the Feng family's influence to return to our peak!"
"..."
Hearing the discussions, Du Tianen's expression gradually darkened. He realized at this moment that the majority of the Du family members were leaning towards compromise.
There was no desire to fight back.
"Patriarch, are you truly willing to watch us clansmen make a meaningless sacrifice?"
"Yes, Patriarch! If resisting offered even a sliver of hope, we would naturally be willing to fight to the end. But now, we..."
"Exactly! At this point, we can only bide our time in the green hills, and there will surely be opportunities to rise again in the future!"
"Please, Patriarch, consider all the clansmen and give up the resistance!"
"Please, Patriarch, consider all the clansmen and give up the resistance!"
"..."
At this time, among the Du family disciples, only a handful remained silent.
Among them was even Du Gongchen!
He was no longer angry about his father's actions.
Because he also understood that his father's decision...
Was not wrong!
It must be remembered that the Du family was currently facing not only the Feng family but also the Zhong family, who had been observing from the sidelines.
If the Du family were to stubbornly resist at this point, the outcome was predictable.
However, in Du Gongchen's heart, he was still unwilling to abandon the persistence he held.
Better to die standing than live kneeling!
But Du Tianen, at this moment, seeing the pleas of his clansmen growing louder and louder, began to waver.
A single thought from him determined the life and death of all his clansmen.
Agree to the marriage alliance, and the Du family will survive!
Refuse, and the Du family will perish!
After a long period of contemplation, he slowly turned around and looked at Du Yuemian, who was using her blade for support.
At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.
In fact, as the patriarch of the Du family, Du Tianen had no choice from the very beginning.
For the sake of the family!
He had only one path to choose!
Agree to the marriage alliance!