Undying Life

Chapter 1029: Granting You Your Wish

"None of this matters. What truly matters is that under your leadership, the Kong family has lost its identity. That's why I've come today! You are unfit to be the family head!" Kong Xuan declared, staring directly at Confucius.

You are unfit to be the family head!

With those words, Kong Xuan made his intentions clear—he had come to reclaim the position of family head.

The citizens of Xianyang, who had begun to raise their heads and observe the confrontation, looked at the green-robed man with admiration. While sages were typically revered as the most noble beings in the world, they were not viewed as such by the people of Qin, particularly the Hongru Sage, who was far from respected.

In their hearts, the citizens of Xianyang favored the green-robed man.

And who was this man? Kong Xuan!

Those who knew history understood who Kong Xuan was. He was a fearsome figure, once daring to challenge even sages. Historical records described him with the phrase:

Kong Xuan, born with an indomitable spirit, set his sights high, praised as: The world is vast, yet there is one who can walk alone within it!

The world is vast, yet there is one who can walk alone within it! What kind of pride and grandeur did that statement represent?

Aside from the sages, Kong Xuan had long been a role model for many powerful figures. Even among the guests of Qin, countless people admired him.

Now, Kong Xuan had reappeared, and with his presence, he had temporarily quelled the conflict between Qin and the Confucian Sect. And now, he stood against the Hongru Sage.

A figure of such caliber was on par with any sage!

After tens of thousands of years, Kong Xuan had returned to challenge the Hongru Sage. What kind of spectacle would this create? Some were so excited that they trembled at the thought. This confrontation promised to be even more thrilling than the previous battle of Ancestral Immortals.

"I am the family head of the Kong family. How dare you, Kong Xuan, attempt to overthrow the Kong family? I can expel you from the family this very moment under the family rules!" Confucius retorted sternly.

"Hahahaha!"

Kong Xuan laughed loudly, then turned to Confucius with a fierce gaze.

"Expel me from the family? Hmph, so what if you're a sage? The Kong family has become your pawn, and you are unfit to be the family head. Elders, don't you agree?" Kong Xuan turned to the Four Elders.

Kong Xuan was seeking the support of the Four Elders to remove Confucius from his position as family head.

The Four Elders exchanged glances, showing signs of hesitation but not outright refusal.

Confucius glanced at the Four Elders and said calmly, "The Kong family was in decline until I took over and restored its name to greatness. Who in the Great Thousand World does not know the Kong family now? I have elevated the Kong family to its highest point. I am deserving of this role. As for this former family head, who seeks to overthrow the family's authority and sow discord within the Kong family, do you not have a duty to remove this traitor from our ranks?"

Confucius's words further deepened the Four Elders' frowns.

The other members of the Kong family, despite their high status—even those who were Ancestral Immortals—dared not speak up, for they lacked the authority to do so.

The Four Elders floated together, creating a soundproof barrier as they engaged in a heated discussion. It was clear that their deliberation was intense.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the barrier was removed, and the Four Elders seemed to have reached a consensus. Their faces were tinged with complexity as they looked between Kong Xuan and Confucius, struggling to find the right words.

On the other side, Zai Wo, a member of the Confucian Sect, grew increasingly anxious. He had waited for the others to finish their discussion, hoping to speak up, but now it seemed he could no longer hold back.

"Master, hurry, save Zilu! It was Zhong Shan—Zilu was devoured by Zhong Shan's beast! If we don't act now, Zilu will truly die!" Zai Wo shouted urgently.

Zai Wo's outburst immediately shifted the focus to Zhong Shan, drawing the attention of everyone present. Even Confucius glanced in Zhong Shan's direction. Despite Zhong Shan's formidable willpower, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. The mere gaze of a sage held a terrifying power that was impossible to ignore.

Meanwhile, Kong Xuan, who had been waiting for the Four Elders of the Kong family to speak, was interrupted by Zai Wo's desperate plea. A flash of anger crossed Kong Xuan's eyes as he turned sharply, directing a fierce glare at Zai Wo.

"Does a mere disciple of the Confucian Sect have the right to interrupt when the Kong family speaks?" Kong Xuan's voice was cold and menacing.

Kong Xuan's words were echoed by the Four Elders, who cast disdainful looks at Zai Wo. To them, the Kong family would always be paramount, while the Confucian Sect was secondary. The issue of the family head was of utmost importance to the Kong family, and yet a mere disciple of the Confucian Sect dared to interrupt? Such disrespect was intolerable!

The Four Elders directed their anger toward Zai Wo as well.

"But... but you were talking, and my senior brother is about to die!" Zai Wo stammered, summoning the courage to protest.

In Zai Wo's mind, as long as his master, Confucius, was present, no one would dare to act against him. Saving his senior brother, Zilu, was paramount.

"What's your name?" Kong Xuan asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Zai Wo," he replied, trying to muster his confidence.

"Then let me grant you your wish!" Kong Xuan's voice was icy.

With those words, Kong Xuan flicked his sleeve, and a stream of five-colored divine light shot forth.

The Four Elders, however, suddenly stepped in front of Confucius, shielding him from what might follow.

Boom!

Zai Wo's body was obliterated by Kong Xuan's five-colored divine light.

It was an incredibly ruthless move—Kong Xuan had killed a disciple of the Confucian Sect right in front of Confucius.

Zai Wo died in disbelief. How could this be? He had died in front of his master, Confucius? He could hardly believe it as he drew his last breath.

The Four Elders stood firm, blocking Confucius. Confucius, meanwhile, remained still.

Confucius knew that Zai Wo, his disciple, had overstepped his bounds and provoked the Four Elders. By standing in front of him, the elders had shown where their loyalties lay. If Confucius had intervened, it would have confirmed their worst fears—that he had abandoned the Kong family in favor of the Confucian Sect. The Four Elders would then have fully aligned themselves with Kong Xuan.

Thus, Confucius held back.

But the impact of this event was earth-shattering.

Everyone, without exception, was stunned by what they had just witnessed. Kong Xuan had killed Zai Wo in front of Confucius? How brazen was this Kong Xuan?

Even the disciples of the Confucian Sect were shocked and outraged. Why hadn't Confucius saved Zai Wo? Why?

Sekong, sitting at the back, was also wide-eyed as he observed the scene. A fierce man, indeed. This guy is too overbearing! He dares to kill a Confucian disciple right in front of Confucius? Then again, Zai Wo's name was asking for it. Now that feeling is getting stronger. I need to find a way to escape, and fast!

Kong Xuan had intentionally killed Zai Wo, testing whether Confucius would respond. When Confucius held back, Kong Xuan turned to him, recognizing the depth of his restraint.

"Four Elders, what is your stance on today's matter?" Kong Xuan asked in a grave tone.

"Four Elders, please speak," Confucius echoed, nodding slightly.

At this moment, the elder who had previously repelled Tathagata with the seven-colored divine light stepped forward. He looked at Confucius and then at Kong Xuan before saying, "In the past, the Kong family was still relatively unknown when our family head, Kong Xuan, entered the Shang dynasty as a servant to repay the debt owed to Di Jun. Kong Xuan was the head of the family during those troubled times. Since then, under Kong Qiu's leadership, the Kong family has grown significantly, reclaiming some of the grandeur of our ancient ancestors. Though the distinction between the Confucian Sect and the Kong family has become blurred, there's no denying the strength that Kong Qiu has brought to the family."

The elder's words were fair, acknowledging both Kong Xuan as the "Head of the Family in Troubled Times" and Confucius as the "Head of the Family in Prosperity." The Kong family had a difficult choice to make: which leader did they need more?

One had endured great hardship for the sake of the family, while the other had led the family to strength and prominence. Without this direct comparison, either could have been seen as a rightful family head. But now, the Four Elders were faced with a tough decision.

"Choosing one over the other would be a loss for the Kong family, but the family cannot have two heads. We, the Four Elders, have decided to follow the ancient laws of the Kong family: to preserve the strength of the family, neither of you shall use the family's resources in your struggle. You must contend with each other, and the stronger of you will return to lead the family," the elder declared.

A contest of survival of the fittest? A direct confrontation? It seemed fair on the surface, but Confucius was a sage—how could Kong Xuan possibly contend with him? Yet, this was the rule of the Kong family: if Kong Xuan couldn't win, it would simply mean he lacked the capability.

"Do either of you have any objections?" the elder asked.

"None," Kong Xuan responded, his tone relaxed and confident.

"Neither do I," Confucius agreed, having anticipated this decision.

"In that case, please hand over the family scepter to us, and we will return it to the rightful head in due time," the elder said solemnly.

Confucius nodded, handing the scepter to the elder.

"Kong family disciples, hear my command!" the elder, holding the scepter, called out.

"Yes!" responded the five Ancestral Immortals from the Kong family.

"From this day forward, the position of the family head is vacant. Neither Kong Qiu nor Kong Xuan shall command you until the family is reunited under a single head," the elder decreed.

"Yes!" the five Ancestral Immortals replied in unison.

Zhong Shan, observing from afar, took in the scene. This was the might of a powerful family—ten Ancestral Immortals and a sage within a single lineage. Truly, the Kong family was worthy of being called one of the world's top families.

"Come, let us return home," the Four Elders commanded.

"Yes," came the collective response.

With that, the Kong family members, save for Confucius and Kong Xuan, all departed. Those who remained knew it was best to leave the area, as the coming conflict would be difficult to avoid.

Kong Xuan continued to watch Confucius intently.

"Kong Xuan, you've proven yourself quite capable," Confucius said, his voice steady.

As he spoke, the Great Confucian Way manifested around him, stretching from heaven to earth. The radiant white light that enveloped the area was far more powerful than the Great Confucian Way formed earlier by the Confucian disciples. The sky filled with vast Confucian scriptures, their presence overwhelming.

The remaining Confucian disciples quickly retreated. Sekong, however, didn't just retreat—he bolted. He wasn't looking for a safer vantage point; he was fleeing from Xianyang entirely, running as fast and as far as he could until he disappeared from sight.

"Chirp—!"

Kong Xuan let out a long cry, and a vast azure Heavenly Dao appeared, stretching from earth to the heavens. This was Kong Xuan's Heavenly Dao, the very same one Zhong Shan had seen in the East Sea.

"Chirp—!"

With another cry, the azure Heavenly Dao began to transform. From it, massive peacock feathers emerged, encircling the entire Heavenly Dao. The sky filled with the images of countless peacocks, each with resplendent tail feathers in five vibrant colors. These peacock phantoms were fierce, their presence overwhelming as they painted the sky in hues of blue.

Kong Xuan had fully revealed his terrifying power.

A Peacock Plume Dao? Zhong Shan wondered, furrowing his brow. Was this a unique Dao that Kong Xuan had created—a Dao of Peacock Plumes?

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