Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

"Chonghe!"

"Family Head!"

"Eh, he's actually returned!"

"Hehe, when the family needed him the most, he vanished. Now that everything has been set, he suddenly shows up. Truly worthy of being Zhao Chonghe, too clever by half."

Zhao Sheng turned a deaf ear to the clan's discussions.

Due to their limited vision, these Zhao Family members were completely unaware of the immense efforts the Family Head had invested for the future of the entire Zhao Family.

Of course, Zhao Sheng didn't mind these murmurs at all. They were all his descendants, and the Ancestor had the capacity to be inclusive.

Zhao Sheng walked up to Zhao Jinding and said with composure, "Second Grandpa, we've come back!"

Zhao Jinding looked at Zhao Sheng and then at Zhao Jinjian, whose features had greatly changed, and instantly seemed to realize something.

His expression was stirred, and his voice trembled as he said, "Jinjian, he has... succeeded!"

Zhao Sheng nodded with a smile,

Then Zhao Jinjian stepped forward, unleashing the aura of the Foundation Establishment Realm as he said, "Second Brother, thank you for your concern! With the blessings of our Ancestor, I have not disappointed you."

Buzz!

As the sound of a sword cry resonated, the Spiritual Artifact, Red Rainbow Sword, soared into the sky. Its radiant light surged to three feet in length, and in an instant, it circled the area three times as fast as lightning, before finally hovering above Zhao Jinjian's head.

Spiritual Artifact!

Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

"Good heavens, could it be...!"

Witnessing the scene before them, the hearts of the Zhao Family members trembled with indescribable excitement.

At the critical moment of the Zhao Family's survival, a Foundation Establishment Clan Member had emerged.

The Ancestor has shown his grace!

At that moment, Zhao Jinpeng suddenly rushed over to Zhao Jinjian with a flushed face, crying out excitedly, "Cousin? You're my cousin, Zhao Jinjian?!"

At this instant, Zhao Jinpeng was unspeakably thrilled.

After all, he and Zhao Jinjian were the closest of cousins, their fathers being siblings by blood.

Zhao Jinjian looked at the excited old man before him and then remembered that he was indeed his cousin, Zhao Jinpeng.

So, he nodded and said, "So it's Lao Liu! We brothers haven't seen each other for decades! Once this matter is settled today, let's catch up properly."

"Yes, Cousin, you're right," Zhao Jinpeng agreed repeatedly, and instantly stood even straighter than before.

Cough cough!

Zhao Jingang suddenly coughed twice and squeezed a smile onto his face, then addressed Zhao Jinjian, "Fourth Brother, when did you ascend to the Foundation Establishment? Such great news, why didn't you inform the family sooner?"

Zhao Jinjian's expression became more reserved as he calmly replied, "Third Brother, compared to big matters like the clan's relocation to Shattered Star Sea, my Foundation Establishment is hardly worth mentioning."

At these words, Zhao Jingang faltered, and he found himself unable to say anything more.

With just one statement, Zhao Jinjian had clearly defined his position.

It had to be said that as the Zhao Family's sole Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Zhao Jinjian's words carried too much weight.

Just that one sentence instantly swayed the standing of many.

Within the crowd from the second branch, Chen Zichuan ceased his conversation with Zhao Keqin and looked towards Zhao Jinjian. He didn't take the lead himself but instead gave Zhao Keqin a meaningful glance.

Seeing this, Zhao Keqin inwardly sighed and, with some reluctance, stepped forward.

No choice!

For the sake of the Foundation Establishment Pill promised by Chen Zichuan, he had to give it his all, especially since he still had an ace up his sleeve.

He walked to the center of the main hall, looked directly at Zhao Jinpeng, performed a courtesy, and said with joy, "Congratulations to my Fourth Uncle on advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. It's perfect timing for your return, as you are to preside over the major matter of the family's relocation."

Zhao Jijian let out a chuckle and said, "Keqin, it's been decades since we last met, and you still like to play your little tricks as you did when you were a child. When did I ever agree to this?"

Seeing this, Zhao Keqin hurriedly explained, "Fourth Uncle, you might not be aware of the situation with the Dragon Carp—"

"Hmph, there's no need to say more, I am well aware of all the causes and consequences. Although the family has to move away from Dragon Carp Lake, it's not necessary to go to the Shattered Star Sea."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Keqin's face drastically changed, and he demanded, "What do you mean by that?"

Zhao Jijian disdained to explain. He turned his head to look at the Family Head, then took a step back.

With that single step back, he suddenly highlighted Zhao Sheng.

It was the same step back that clearly indicated who was the leader and who was the follower between the two.

At this time, none of the Zhao family members present in Unity Hall were fools.

From just this action alone, they saw numerous clues, and precisely because of this, they were all profoundly shaken, their gazes towards Zhao Sheng instantly changed.

Zhao Sheng smiled faintly, took a step forward, and said in a clear voice, "Let the Purple Sun Sect take back Dragon Carp Lake if they wish. Our Zhao family will not be left homeless. Because we have already acquired a new spirit land in the Southern Border."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an immediate sensation in the hall.

Among the Zhao family members, some were overjoyed, some were half-convinced and dubious, and others were furiously embarrassed.

Zhao Jingang's eyes bulged with rage as he pointed at Zhao Sheng and challenged, "Nonsense! How could I not know about such a matter? You, a mere brat, dare to spout such nonsense. If you delay the important affair of the family, you, Zhao Chong, and your descendants will not be forgiven even if you die a thousand times!"

Seeing the other's loss of composure, Zhao Sheng thought to himself, "There's so much you don't know! When I was born, you didn't even know where you were. I, as the Ancestor, am magnanimous, but—"

Slap!

A bronze token was thrown onto Zhao Jingang's face.

"Open your old eyes and see what this is," said Zhao Sheng coldly.

The Hundred-year Tokens of the Purple Sun Sect and the Elixir Cauldron Sect were slightly different in details but consistent in general.

Moreover, the Hundred-year Token was personally crafted by a Golden Core Level Artifact Refining Master, and it was absolutely not fake.

Zhao Jingang took one look at it in his hand, then touched it, and his heart suddenly sank.

The material and texture of this token were exactly the same as the one enshrined in the ancestral hall.

"So, he... he actually didn't lie."

In that moment, Zhao Jingang suddenly recalled the compromises he had made over the years, the large amounts of Spirit Stones he had personally sent away.

At that moment, he felt almost mad.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Zhao Jingang gripped the Hundred-year Token tightly, the veins in his hands bulging, and his old face involuntarily twisted into a terrifying expression, looking like a fierce ghost.

Seeing this, Zhao Keqin suddenly felt a thud in his heart, which then sank rapidly.

Meanwhile, Chen Zichuan noticed that the atmosphere was off and shook his head privately, cursing to himself, "What a bunch of incompetents! Looks like I'll have to take matters into my own hands."

He pushed through the people blocking his way and strode over to Zhao Sheng and Zhao Jijian.

After a slight smile, Chen Zichuan said warmly, "First, I would like to congratulate Taoist Zhao on advancing to the Foundation Establishment. The Zhao family has gained another two hundred years of Qi Fortune. Truly a joyous and congratulatory occasion!"

"I dare not! Mr. Chen is a distinguished disciple of the Purple Sun Sect and a senior in the Foundation Establishment. I, Zhao, do not dare to accept your congratulations!" As he heard this, Zhao Jijian's expression changed slightly, and he responded by clasping his hands together in a bow.

Chen Zichuan did not respond to that but went straight to the point, "The Zhao family acquiring a new spirit land in the Southern Border is indeed great news. However, I have a few words on my chest that I must express. I wonder if you are willing to hear me out."

"Senior Chen, please feel free to speak," Zhao Sheng said with a smile.

He had long figured out that the person behind encouraging the second branch to move to the Shattered Star Sea, besides the scheming Chen Zichuan, was nobody else.

But... this action somewhat coincidentally aligned with one of his own plans.

In a flash of thought, numerous ideas surfaced in Zhao Sheng's mind.