Scarlet Phoenix Domain, Nimbus City.

The four domains of the Firmament Star were incredibly vast, and they each had up to thousands of prefectures.

The Nimbus City of Scarlet Phoenix Domain was situated right inside a prefecture named the Amber Gale Prefecture and could be considered one of the larger cities inside the Amber Gale Prefecture.

There were three dominant forces that were the strongest in Nimbus City. They were the Shang branch clan, the Bai branch clan, and the Ancient Water Sect.

These three forces had Nimbus City's economy and various cultivation resources firmly in their control. They too had sage orthodoxies backing them.

Nonetheless, the Shang branch clan did not have the sunniest of days of late.

Nimbus City Shang clan, inside the great hall.

Shang Long was having a meeting with a few of the elders, their expressions extremely solemn.

“Today, Eunuch White came to report that our shop has been wrecked by people from the Bai clan again. They've destroyed quite a few stuff.”

“On top of that, that soulstone ore vein up north has also been occupied.”

“If this goes on, we'll soon be doomed.”

“The day before yesterday, people from the Bai family came to propose marriage again.”

“D*mn it, these fellows are really thick-faced. They've done so much despicable stuff, yet they still have the guts to come here and propose marriage.”

“Sigh, the Shang clan's direct line was. .h.i.t by misfortune and the people from Bai family are taking this opportunity to kick us when we're down. Can't say that we didn't expect this.”

The few elders offered their opinions, but it made Shang Long's head hurt a little.

Following the news of the Shang clan's heavy downfall, the Shang branch clans of various places had been affected to a varying degree.

To be honest, Shang Long himself did not have much sense of belonging to the Shang main clan. In fact, one could even say that he resented them.

Those from the main clan only knew how to remain in their territories and enjoy their riches and freedom of cultivating. They would toss whatever dirty work to the branch clans, while they oppressed and exploited their counterparts with their more superior strengths.

Although both the main clan and the branch clan were part of the Shang clan, their positions of power were worlds apart.

Shang Long had even once sinisterly imagined that if these main clan people were to encounter some misfortunes someday, he would surely be the first to jump in joy and celebrate.

However, those were just thoughts. He knew very well that although the main clan constantly oppressed them, as their branch clan, they would not be much better off either if the main clan were to get hit by a disaster.

Who knew that his thought would turn into reality in just a few days. After what Chu Kuangren had done to the Shang main clan, they were now heavily wounded. The various forces who despised the Shang clan had begun to slowly reveal their claws and teeth, wanting to chew off a big chunk of the Shang clan.

“Sigh, if this ensues, I'm afraid there will soon be no place for us Shang clan to live in Nimbus City.” After discussing the matters with the few elders, Shang Long remarked rather helplessly and slumped back exhaustedly into his chair.

From behind, a lovely woman walked up to him and ma.s.saged his temples gently. “What's the matter, are you hit with a rough patch?”

“Bai family keeps pressuring us, while the Ancient Water Sect is eyeing us from the side. These two clans intend to tear us Shang clan into half and devour us!”

Shang Long gulped.

“Dear husband, if worse comes to worst, we can always leave Nimbus City.”

“Let's stay on for a while longer and see what happens. I don't mind leaving, but there are several thousands of branch clan disciples in Nimbus City. What do you suppose I do with them?”

Shang Long could not bear tossing so many of his people behind.

“It's all that Chu Kuangren's fault.”

At that moment, the lovely woman said rather resentfully, “If it were not for the destruction that Chu Kuangren had caused to the Shang clan, the Bai family and the Ancient Water Sect wouldn't have attacked us so lawlessly.”

“Shang Han took the ancient sword that was pa.s.sed down from your family, then Chu Kuangren killed him and destroyed the Shang main clan. You even praised him last night for helping you take it out on them.”

Shang Long smiled gently.

“But I was oblivious to the extent of damages he had caused. I mean just look, he has exhausted you so much,” the lady said hurtfully.

“I'm fine.”

Shang Long patted on the back of the lady's hand and a.s.sured her.

“Clan Leader, it's not good. People from the Bai family are here again. This time, the Bai family's young master is here personally.”

Just then, one of the servants hastily walked in and said.

After that, a handsome young man donned in a silk robe was seen entering the door, and he walked into the great hall with a few guards closely behind him.

Among them was an old man, who stood beside the young man. Although they had not made a move, Shang Long was already terrified the moment he saw them.

“Young Bai Clan Leader, what's the meaning of this?”

Shang Long raised an eyebrow at him.

“Shang Clan Leader, I'll cut straight to the point. My purpose of coming here today is to take Qingxue back with me so I can marry her.”

The young man, who was the Young Bai Clan Leader said.

The Shang clan's young lady's good looks were famed all over Nimbus City. She was regarded as the most beautiful lady in all of Nimbus City, and he had admired her for a very long time.

However, he had never had the chance all this while, but this time, because the Shang clan was. .h.i.t with an unprecedented crisis, his chance was finally here.

“Qingxue will never marry you. Please go back to where you came from.”

Shang Long said with indifference.

“Shang Clan Leader, Qingxue will come with me today no matter if she's willing to or not. I will not leave here without her.”

“I'd like to see you try.”

A feminine voice came from outside the door.

A lady in a long white dress who had delicate facial features and a fair-as-snow skin complexion walked into the great hall, her expression emotionless.

This was the Nimbus City Shang clan's young lady, Shang Qingxue.

Upon seeing her, a fiery pa.s.sion appeared in Young Bai Clan Leader's eyes. He then said, “Qingxue, I'm sure you know of your Shang clan's current situation. Only you'll be able to salvage your clan now.”

“As long as you follow me back and marry me, from hereon, the Shang clan will forge a marriage alliance with us Bai family. And all your clan's troubles will naturally be solved.”

Young Bai Clan Leader proposed confidently.

His desire for Shang Qingxue was resolute.

Upon hearing what he had said, a struggle flashed across Shang Qingxue's eyes. She was well aware of her clan's troubles since she had witnessed it for the past few days.

However, marrying the Young Bai Clan Leader was definitely against her wishes.

She knew very well that the person was only yearning for her body.

“No way! Even if I have to fight you Bai family to the last breath, I, Shang Long, will never sell off my daughter for pride.”

Shang Long was extremely furious by now. He slammed the table, stood up, and looked angrily into Young Bai Clan Leader's eyes. “Bai Feng, get the h.e.l.l out of Shang clan!”

Young Bai Clan Leader still remained his cool despite that, while the old man beside him took a step forward and said calmly, “Our Young Clan Leader wishes to take Shang Qingxue with him today. No matter who you are, you're not going to stop us.”

“Senior Elder Bai, this is Shang clan's property. Unless you intend to shed blood here?” Shang Long scoffed coldly.

He might have sounded intimidating, but in his gaze, there was a certain degree of fear.

Shang Long knew that the Bai family's Senior Elder was the strongest amongst all of Bai family — a whole notch stronger even when compared with him, and few from the whole of Nimbus City could match his strength.

Nevertheless, they were in the Shang clan now, and the Shang clan themselves had many elites. Bai family's Senior Elder may be strong, but he would not be able to overcome their strength in numbers.

“Shang Long, it seems to me that you still don't quite understand the predicament here.”

Bai family's Senior Elder let out a chuckle.

A few of the Shang clan's elders suddenly walked out at this moment.

“Clan Leader, just agree to this marriage.”

An elder said after taking a deep breath,

“Yeah, Clan Leader, why don't you just accept it?”

“Only with that can we Shang clan overcome this crisis.”

Looking at the few elders standing right before him, Shang Long's face was full of disbelief.

“What do you guys mean!”

“Clan Leader, this situation is out of our control and we can't fight force with force. It's about time that Young Lady Shang makes some contribution to the Shang clan.”

One of the elders said calmly.

“Haha, Shang Clan Leader, look, even the few elders are seeing things more clearly than you are. I suggest that you conform obediently and have Qingxue marry me. In the future, I might even greet you as 'dear father-in-law'.”

Young Bai Clan Leader laughed.

“Forced marriage? No way. I've only just arrived and you're already cooking up such a corny plot.” Just then, a voice came from outside the door.