Eternal Heavenly Emperor-Chapter 393 - 383: Archenemy

Chu Hao had no particular interest in the position of the He Family Head, but since one had to become the heir to the Family Head without changing their surname in order to enter the Ancestral Pool, he didn’t mind claiming the spot.

In this regard, he was confident because even Su Wanyue, a true demon, said that even if she had been baptized in the Ancestral Pool, her Ancestral Blood might not be as pure as his.

Although their Ancestral Blood was completely different.

Having possessed "Chu Hao," he promised to live a life with this identity and therefore had no intention of changing his surname, even if he truly had to inherit the He Family. When a suitable candidate arose, he would relinquish the position.

With his strength, he would be able to start his own sect in the future. He didn’t need to rely on the He family’s legacy. However, during his growth, he didn’t mind borrowing external forces. For instance, Han Shan and Yue Wu Jian, the two War Gods often mentioned by Madam Yun, were ordinary people who got the vigorous support of one or several forces during their growth.

It’s not to say that without the support of these forces, both of them couldn’t have become War Gods, but it might have taken them several decades or even a hundred years longer.

At least for now, Chu Hao felt no sense of belonging to the He Family; on the contrary, he had a major enemy here.

He Lingtian had no time for idle talk and soon let Chu Hao leave, as he had already announced a general election for the Family Head position. Now he could not possibly cancel it. Everything depended on Chu Hao’s performance over the next half-month.

He Luo led Chu Hao out of the hall, and as they crossed the garden, they saw a 60-something-year-old lady coming towards them, accompanied by a 40-something-year-old man.

Although the old woman’s face was wrinkled, her demeanor was dignified, and the contours of her beauty were still visible, indicating that she must have been a great beauty in her younger days. The middle-aged man, with a wide frame and a burly figure, should have been full of tyrant’s presence, but he now followed the old woman timidly, like a child.

Chu Hao immediately noticed that this middle-aged man bore a resemblance to He Lingtian.

In fact, just by looks alone, there was at least 70% similarity. But when factoring in temperament, it could only drop to 30%.

—He Lingtian was full of tyrannical confidence, but this middle-aged man didn’t possess that kind of assertiveness, incomparable to him.

"Greetings, Mansion Master’s Wife!" bowed He Luo slightly.

Indeed, this old woman was one of the many legal wives of He Lingtian, the great enemy who had killed his mother! And this middle-aged man had to be the only living offspring of He Lingtian, He Shilong.

No wonder He Lingtian was reluctant to pass the position of the Family Head to this only son. His character was indeed too timid. Who could believe he could lead an Emperor Level family clan, especially an Ancient Clan with lineage from Ancient Times and a heritage far surpassing ordinary Ancient Clans?

If He Shilong were to take on the position, it would be as good as handing it over to Gao Zhen, which in turn meant giving it to the Gao Family.

With Chu Hao’s strength, he shouldn’t have been able to gauge Gao Zhen’s strength, but he had already heard from He Luo that Gao Zhen was a War King, and He Shilong also had the cultivation of a War King. He Luo, being a War Venerate, needed to give her the courtesy due to her as the Mansion Master’s Wife, but naturally did not have to kneel.

Gao Zhen must be over 300 years old by now, having reached the lifespan limit of a War King, but with the existence of life-extending Spiritual Medicine, living another few hundred years should pose no problem.

"Hmm," Gao Zhen gave a soft grunt through her nose and then turned her gaze towards Chu Hao, saying, "He Luo, who is this child?"

Feigning ignorance.

Chu Hao immediately thought to himself. She had sent someone to assassinate him just half a year ago; how could she not know who he was? Just keep pretending.

"This is Chu Hao, the authentic grandson of our Family Head!" He Luo stated solemnly.

"Oh? And what proof do you have?" Gao Zhen spoke indifferently, but her gaze sharpened as she said, "This is the He Family, not some place any Tom, Dick, or Harry can waltz into, nor is it somewhere bastards of unknown parentage can impersonate at will. Why haven’t you thrown him out yet?"

"Mansion Master’s Wife!" He Luo’s face changed color at once, the targeting was too obvious. But after all, being from a collateral line, he was weaker compared to the main branch, and even weaker still before the Mansion Master’s Wife.

Chu Hao, however, burst into loud laughter, his face seething with anger, and said, "Old hag, be more polite when you speak!"

Old, old hag?

Gao Zhen instantly exploded with anger; since she married He Lingtian, who dared to insult her to her face?

"Mother, he insulted you!" said He Shilong, timidly.

Isn’t that stating the obvious?

Gao Zhen glared at her son, whose martial arts talent was mediocre and character excessively weak, disappointing her greatly. But she had no choice; he was the only son she had and relied on him to carry on the He Family.

She snorted and said, "He Luo, you heard him clearly. This child dared to insult me. According to our family rules, what should be done with him?"

"This—" He Luo hesitated because even if Chu Hao was the authentic grandson of He Lingtian, insulting the Mansion Master’s Wife was still a grave crime.

"Hahaha!" Chu Hao laughed heartily, shaking his head. "Old hag, save your efforts! My last name is Chu, not He. Your family rules shouldn’t be applied to me!"

He Luo immediately felt relieved. Even the Family Head had allowed Chu Hao to keep the surname Chu, using that identity to vie for the position of heir to the Family Head.

"Oh, not a member of the He family?" Gao Zhen sneered. "Since that’s the case, He Luo, throw out this impudent guest who dares to insult his hosts!"

Chu Hao’s smile remained as he said, "Since when did the He Family take orders from outsiders? I have obtained the express permission of the He Family Head to stay here for about half a month. What right do you have to drive me away? As a lady of the house, you should uphold women’s virtues, not meddle in matters of power!"

"How audacious!" Gao Zhen’s eyes glinted ominously.

"There is nothing audacious about it—just the plain truth," Chu Hao waved his hand dismissively. "Gao Zhen, some matters are merely unspoken among us all, but they surely cannot be pretended as if they never happened! Moreover, this is the He Family, not the Gao Family. You would do well to remember your place!"

Enraged, Gao Zhen wondered which youth of the He Family dared to speak to her in such a manner. She glanced at He Luo but immediately changed her mind; he was clearly not someone who would help her take down Chu Hao.

She turned to her son and commanded, "Shilong, capture him!"

"Yes!" Gao Shilong hurriedly agreed, panic-stricken despite being an esteemed War King and the direct son of the Family Head. He lacked any confidence and only followed Gao Zhen’s orders unquestioningly.

However, soft as his character may be, he still possessed the cultivation of a War King. Even if he had been artificially elevated to that level, he was still a War King. With the pressure of two major realms at his command, Chu Hao should be no match for him!

Gao Zhen sneered. Would He Luo dare to hinder her son? If he interfered, it would be an act of insubordination. How could a member of a cadet branch dare to offend the son of the Family Head?

Yet, Chu Hao simply waved his hand and said, "By seniority, you are my uncle. Would an elder bully a junior?"

He Shilong was taken aback. He feared his mother, but he was even more afraid of his imposing and tyrannical father. What kind of scolding would he face from He Lingtian if he knew that he had bullied his nephew? With his timid nature, he overthought the situation, revealing his weakness, torn with indecision, and was at a loss whether to advance or retreat.

Gao Zhen cursed in her heart, saying outwardly, "At this moment, you wish to acknowledge kinship?"

"Whether I return to the He Family is one matter, but the connection of blood is another!" Chu Hao shook his head. "Some facts cannot be changed, nor can certain individuals alter them."

Well, he managed to say what needed to be said, both directly and indirectly.

In short, he may not belong to the He Family, yet he is indeed He Lingtian’s grandson. Therefore, the He Family rules could not govern him, and the He Family members could not bully him because he was a true scion of royalty.

He Luo had already turned his head away, barely holding back a laugh. He hadn’t expected Chu Hao to be so articulate. It looked like the Mansion Master’s Wife was about to suffer a setback.

However, this was precisely the capability that a qualified Family Head should have—domineering, confident, always in control of the situation.

This Young Master is the key to leading the He Family back to glory!

As an absolute member of the Pro-emperor faction, He Luo was utterly devoted to Chu Hao. He had but two choices: to protect He Shilong or to support Chu Hao; choosing between the two was naturally simple for him.

Gao Zhen took a deep breath to suppress her anger, conceding that indeed some matters, as Chu Hao said, must not be revealed and could only play out behind closed doors. She said calmly, "In half a month, I will personally see you swept out the door!"

Chu Hao simply smiled faintly and asked He Luo, "I’m a bit tired; Uncle He, could you escort me back?"

"Certainly, Young Master!" He Luo eagerly complied.

"Mother, is he really my nephew?" Watching Chu Hao and He Luo leave, He Shilong approached Gao Zhen to ask.

Slap, Gao Zhen immediately rewarded her son with a slap across the face.

"Mother, why did you hit me?" He Shilong asked weakly, without a trace of anger.

"That person is your rival for the position of Family Head. Remember that!" Gao Zhen said viciously.

"Oh," He Shilong nodded.

"Now go and beg your father to change his decision, to pass on the position of Family Head to you!" Gao Zhen swiftly changed the subject.

"But mother, father will scold me!" He Shilong said fearfully. To him, He Lingtian was like a lofty mountain, leaving him with naught but admiration.

"So what if he scolds you a bit? You’re his only son. If the title doesn’t pass to you, who else could it go to, an outsider?" Gao Zhen huffed, her face filled with resentment.

Ever since she married into the He Family, she had been scheming tirelessly to secure her son’s rise to power, only to be thwarted by He Lingtian’s unexpected move.

"Oh!" He Shilong nodded reluctantly and followed Gao Zhen into the grand hall, though his back involuntarily bent, trailing half a step behind R8

In truth, he had no love for martial arts or power struggle; he preferred a leisurely and carefree life filled with tea drinking and painting. Why had his father forced him to pursue cultivation as a child, and now in adulthood, his mother pushed him to vie for power? Why were they always compelling him to do things he disliked?

After just a short time, Gao Zhen stormed out of the grand hall, her expression dark as thunder.

Clearly, He Lingtian had rebuffed her again.

"In any case, that little bastard must be dealt with first!" Gao Zhen thought to herself, "At least half of the He Family consists of old fogeys who believe that only the legitimate line can inherit the position of Family Head.

"As long as that little bastard is out of the picture, even if Shilong’s bloodline is not the purest, the stubborn old man would have to pass the position to Shilong unless he wants to see the He Family fall apart!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly passes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)