Chapter 54: Bixia Sect
Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Bixia Sect
At the head of the room, in the seat of honor, sat an old man. His aura was as deep and vast as the ocean; simply by sitting there calmly, he seemed to be the center of the entire space.
This was the Zhou Family’s Stabilizing Needle, Grand Elder Zhou Chengyue, respectfully addressed by everyone in the family as "Elder Ancestor." His contributions were the primary reason the Zhou Family had been able to rise from an ordinary Foundation Establishment Clan over the past two hundred years.
Seated below him was the solemn-faced Zhou Xianmo. His brows were currently furrowed, his gaze as sharp as a blade as he scrutinized Chu Yongming.
"Rise," Zhou Chengyue said, his voice level, betraying no emotion. "Young friend of the Chu Family, why have you appeared in this place of conflict?"
Chu Yongming straightened up and replied, neither servile nor overbearing, "Senior, this junior was acting on my family’s orders to handle some miscellaneous affairs in Celestial County. While passing near this area, I happened to encounter the conflict between your esteemed family and the Zhao Family. In the chaos, I was swept into the Marketplace and have been trapped there until now."
"Fortunately, I was rescued by your family’s Cultivators. I have already sent a message back to the Chu Family, and I believe my uncle, Ninth Elder Zeyu, will arrive in a few days to escort me home. I ask that you two seniors accommodate me and avoid any misunderstanding."
He deliberately mentioned the name "Ninth Elder Chu Zeyu" to emphasize his special status.
"Chu Zeyu?" A cold glint flashed in Zhou Xianmo’s eyes, and his tone was filled with undisguised frost. "So, you’re a descendant of Ninth Elder Chu. The Chu Family’s intelligence network is certainly impressive. My Zhou Family just pulled out the thorn that was the Zhao Family Marketplace, and a Chu Family Elder is already set to ’arrive in a few days’?"
Chu Yongming frowned slightly, seemingly displeased with Zhou Xianmo’s tone, but he didn’t lash out. "Senior Xianmo, you exaggerate. Uncle Zeyu is only coming to pick me up, not to interfere in your family’s affairs."
Zhou Xianmo was about to speak again, but Zhou Chengyue gently raised a hand to stop him. The Zhou Elder Ancestor’s gaze rested on Chu Yongming for a moment before he said slowly, "Since it was all a misunderstanding, you may rest easy on this ship for a few days, young friend. When Ninth Elder Chu arrives, I will naturally see you off. Take him down to rest."
"Yes, Elder Ancestor." A Zhou Family Cultivator standing by immediately stepped forward.
Seeing that Zhou Chengyue had spoken, Chu Yongming knew that saying more would be pointless. He bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Senior." Then, he followed the attendant out of the cabin.
The moment the cabin door closed, the suppressed anger on Zhou Xianmo’s face finally erupted. He slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair. "They’ve gone too far! Elder Ancestor! The Chu Family is clearly using this as a pretext to stir up trouble! Last time, they pressured us and forbade our Foundation Establishment Cultivators from interfering in the Marketplace conflicts below. This time, one of their own ’happens’ to show up in the Zhao Family’s main stronghold. What are they planning? Are they trying to pressure us again?"
A faint, inscrutable smile finally appeared on Zhou Chengyue’s otherwise impassive face. "Xianmo, be patient. I’m afraid the Chu Family is bound to return disappointed this time."
Zhou Xianmo was taken aback. "What do you mean, Elder Ancestor?"
"Did you think I was merely holding down the fort without making any preparations?" Zhou Chengyue picked up the Spirit Tea beside him and took a gentle sip. "I have already made a personal trip to Bixia Mountain."
"The Bixia Sect?"
Zhou Xianmo’s eyes widened, but his expression quickly turned to one of confusion. "But the Bixia Sect has always had strict rules. Unless a war of annihilation breaks out between subordinate clans or a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is killed, the Sect’s upper echelon is not to intervene directly. The Chu Family used this very rule to pressure us last time, preventing our Foundation Establishment Cultivators from acting. Could it be that you’ve asked the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall to step in, Elder Ancestor? But... that would be against the rules!"
"Not quite." Zhou Chengyue set down his teacup, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "The person I invited was not from the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, but a Patrol Steward representing the Bixia Sect’s Precepts Hall—Meng Changhe."
"A Patrol Steward from the Precepts Hall?" Zhou Xianmo sucked in a sharp breath. The Precepts Hall held a special status within the Bixia Sect, exclusively responsible for policing wrongdoing within the Sect and its subordinate clans. A Patrol Steward might not have an exceptionally high Cultivation, but he represented the authority of the Sect itself!
"Exactly." Zhou Chengyue’s tone turned cold. "Over the years, the Chu Family, relying on that Fake Core Ancestor of theirs, has grown increasingly arrogant. They frequently interfere in the internal affairs of other clans under various pretexts, and have even secretly intercepted resource shares that were meant to be handed over to the Sect. This has long drawn the dissatisfaction of many Hall Masters within the Sect."
"It’s just that no one was willing to be the first to stick their neck out, given the Chu Family’s power. This time, I presented Steward Meng with all the evidence of the Chu Family’s interference in our Changfeng County’s affairs over the years—especially their clandestine support of the Zhao Family and their attempt to disrupt our Zhou Family—as well as some leads on their interception of Sect resources. The Bixia Sect needs an opportunity to discipline the Chu Family. And our Zhou Family is the one handing them the blade."
Wild joy instantly spread across Zhou Xianmo’s face. "So that’s how it is! The heavens are on our side! Elder Ancestor, you are brilliant! With the Bixia Sect’s Precepts Hall involved, even Chu Zeyu will have to bow his head when he arrives! Let’s see how arrogant they can be now!" The pent-up frustration in his heart vanished, replaced by a feeling of triumphant vindication.
"A reprimand is just a reprimand. The Chu Family’s foundation is still intact, so we cannot be careless," Zhou Chengyue reminded him, then changed the subject. "What about the arrangements for Pingyuan?"
At the mention of Zhou Pingyuan, Zhou Xianmo’s expression grew solemn. He lowered his voice. "Rest assured, Elder Ancestor, it has all been arranged. The story we’ve put out is that Pingyuan’s injuries were too severe and damaged his foundation. Even with all the family’s resources, he couldn’t be cured, and he has no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment. Disheartened, he left a letter three days ago, stating that he was going to search for a healing opportunity on his own and would not return if he couldn’t find one. Only a few Foundation Establishment Elders and the Cloud Pattern Cavalry Commander know the truth. There is absolutely no risk of a leak."
After speaking, Zhou Xianmo couldn’t help but frown again, a deep worry in his eyes. "Elder Ancestor, is it too risky to send a child like Pingyuan deep into the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range all alone, just for the ethereal inheritance of the ’Changfeng Master’?"
"He’s only at Late-stage Qi Cultivation, and that’s a place where even Foundation Establishment Cultivators sometimes perish! What if..." He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear. Zhou Pingyuan was a once-in-a-century genius and the hope for the Zhou Family’s future rise. If he were to die on this journey, the price would be far too great.
Zhou Chengyue was silent for a moment, his gaze turning to the churning sea of clouds outside the cabin window. His eyes were deep and unfathomable. "Who else could it be, when the ’Celestial Cloud Pendant’ that unlocks the inheritance happened to fall into Pingyuan’s hands in the family’s secret vault? This is his destiny, and it is also the Zhou Family’s greatest opportunity to break free from our shackles and advance! It is a gamble worth taking!"
His voice suddenly sharpened. "By what right did the Chu Family produce a Fake Core Ancestor? By what right do they lord over so many other Foundation Establishment Clans? Isn’t it just because their Elder Ancestor was lucky enough to obtain a portion of Master Jade Wave’s legacy?"
"The inheritance left by a Master, even just a part of it, is enough to create a Fake Core Clan!"
"If our Zhou Family wants to truly establish a firm foothold in the Northern Border of the Chen Country and no longer live at the mercy of others, we must obtain the inheritance of this Changfeng Master!"
"Pingyuan... he carries our Zhou Family’s destiny. His talent and temperament are of the highest caliber, and with the Celestial Cloud Pendant to guide him, success is not impossible! This matter is not open for discussion!"
The cabin fell silent, leaving only the soft whistle of the Flowing Cloud Ship as it cut through the layers of clouds. Zhou Xianmo watched the Elder Ancestor’s determined profile and finally swallowed all his worries, but as he gazed in the direction of the Celestial Cloud Mountain Range, the anxiety in his eyes only deepened.