People are the trees, and their reputation is the shadow!
No one dared to ignore a Foundation Establishment Cultivator once they revealed themselves.
The two great clan elders nearly stopped their quarreling at the same time and turned their attention to Wei Chengwo.
Satisfied with the reaction, Wei Chengwo nodded and spoke, "Listen to me, both of you. You are all descendants of the Zhao family, and blood is thicker than water. There really isn't any deep-seated hatred among you, so don't let a single Foundation Establishment Pill ruin your harmony."
Having said that, he turned his head to Zhao Jinding and persuaded him, "Jinding, you were also one I watched grow up. As your in-law and senior, let me speak a word of justice. Over the past hundred years, has the second branch of the Zhao family ever received even one Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"That is—"
Just as Zhao Jinding started to argue, he was suppressed by Wei Chengwo's Foundation Establishment might.
"So, in my opinion, it is now the second branch's turn for the Foundation Establishment Pill. It just so happens that Jingang has ascended to the Qi Refining Great Perfection Realm. Giving him the pill to use would not be a waste at all."
At these words, the people of the second branch were ecstatic, while the members of the main branch were all extremely dejected.
At this moment, Zhao Jinding suddenly let out a muffled grunt, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
By self-harm, he broke free from Wei Chengwo's constraint, saying angrily, "This is a family matter of the Zhao family. Senior Wei, by overstepping your boundaries like this, you have broken the fairness of the Cultivation World."
Hmph!
At this, Zhao Jingang suddenly snorted coldly, "You still have the nerve to speak of fairness. Fairness resides in the hearts of the people! Ancestor Wei couldn't stand your main branch any longer and thus spoke a word of justice. What his excellency said is right, it is indeed our second branch's turn this time."
"How audacious, Zhao Jingang! You actually defied the ancestral teachings by allowing outsiders into the Unity Hall. Do you even have the ancestors in your eyes? When you die, how will you explain this to the ancestors?" Zhao Jinding said, burning with rage.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng thought, "The ancestors are watching here, what's there to explain. With your embarrassing behavior, it's like rats giving birth to a litter, each generation worse than the last."
Zhao Jingang sneered, about to say something.
But just then, suddenly, three people walked into the Unity Hall from outside.
The one walking in the middle was a middle-aged cultivator wearing a purple robe embroidered with a small golden sword.
This person had fiery red hair and a golden complexion, his powerful physique not the least bit concealing his strong Foundation Establishment presence.
On his left side was an old woman with chicken-skin and crane-hair, and on his right was a young man, good-looking and suave with a sunny and cheerful disposition. However, his long, narrow fox-like eyes slightly marred his cheerful demeanor.
"A Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Purple Sun Sect!"
"It's great, Jinfu has brought people to save us."
"Yes, with Jinfu here, let's see how the second branch can continue to act so arrogant."
The main branch, like water hitting hot oil, immediately erupted, and everyone soon showed looks of excitement, lifting their heads and puffing out their chests.
The reinforcements they had been desperately waiting for had finally arrived!
In contrast, the people from the second branch looked as if they were in mourning.
Zhao Sheng, upon seeing the timely arrival of the young man, also heaved a sigh of relief. After observing the reactions of Zhao Jingang and Wei Chengwo, his heart tightened again.
For good reason!
The two were too composed, showing no signs of panic.
The one to know was named Zhao Jinfu, indeed a member of the main branch of the Zhao family and the direct descendant of Zhao Zhongge of the Foundation Establishment realm. There was no need to question his allegiance.
Zhao Jinfu was born with Metal, Fire, and Wood three spirit roots, with the Metal Spirit Root accounting for seventy percent of his talent—a talent unmatched in the three hundred-year history of the Zhao family.
Six years ago, he was accepted into the Purple Sun Sect. At merely twenty-eight years old, he had already reached the Qi Refining Seventh Level Realm.
With an excited expression, Zhao Jinding waved his hands saying, "Jinfu, you've finally arrived! Is this senior someone you invited?"
As he spoke, he looked toward the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Purple Sun Sect with a reverent expression.
However, there was not a trace of a smile on Zhao Jinfu's face.
He asked coldly, "The Ten Thousand Miles One Line Talisman is only to be used in the most dangerous of times. Each family has only one, and yet you dared to use it for such a trifling matter. It seems I was right! The Zhao Family is rotten to the core."
"Jinfu, what... what do you mean by that?" Zhao Jinding asked in astonishment and confusion upon hearing this.
Zhao Jinfu raised his voice and said word by word in front of everyone, "I said the Zhao Family is rotten to the core, this family is not worth staying in!"
As soon as these words were uttered, there was an uproar among the crowd, including the second branch of the family.
Quarrels are quarrels, fights are fights! In truth, within the entire Zhao Family, Zhao Jinfu was the only one most likely to achieve Foundation Establishment,
The reason the Zhao Family had been living so frugally over the years was largely due to the massive investment of cultivation resources into Zhao Jinfu.
Despite the two clan elders nearly coming to blows over the Foundation Establishment Pill, it was uncertain if either of them could achieve Foundation Establishment, as no one in the Zhao Family had any certainty.
After all, a ten percent success rate for Foundation Establishment is too low, and not everyone is as "lucky" as Ancestor Yu Jie.
At this point, Zhao Jingang suddenly stepped in to try to smooth things over, "Jinfu, what are you saying? You are the direct descendant of the Central Pavilion Ancestor; if not the Zhao Family, where else could you go?"
That was when the old crone with her chicken-skin and crane-hair suddenly spoke up, her voice in stark contrast to her appearance, strikingly crisp and clear.
"He can come back to the Wei Family with me!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinding immediately burst out in a thunderous rage, shouting, "Who are you? This is our Zhao Family's private affair. What right does an outsider have to intervene?"
Smack!
Before his words had even finished echoing, a giant earthen-yellow palm flashed by, and Zhao Jinding was abruptly slapped away, falling to the ground and spitting blood repeatedly.
"A Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"
Nobody had expected this unremarkable old crone to also be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
"Presumptuous!" The old woman uttered those two words coldly.
Silence instantly fell upon Unity Hall.
Heh heh!
At that moment, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Purple Sun Sect suddenly chuckled twice, stepped forward, and cheerfully said, "I received a sect mission, which was originally for rescue. Before I came, I thought the Zhao Family was almost done for. Now it seems it's all just a farce!"
He then continued, his tone suddenly turning icy, and scolded harshly, "What foolishness! Is this what my Purple Sun Sect's Ten Thousand Miles One Line Talisman is to be used for?
The Zhao Family has been a great disappointment. For you worthless bunch, Grandmaster Han exhausted all his connections and favors to renew the lease of Dragon Carp Lake for your family for another two hundred years. Now, it appears he was completely mistaken!"
"May I ask Senior, what is your relationship with Grandmaster Han?" Zhao Jingang asked, still uncertain and bewildered.
Zhao Jinfu took the opportunity to introduce him, "Junior Master Chen's master is Sword Obsession Daoist."
When the Zhao Family heard this, they instantly understood.
Sword Obsession Daoist was Grandmaster Han Xuanwu's foremost disciple and had a good relationship with the Zhao Family back in the day, especially, more precisely, with the second branch.
Zhao Jingang's face brightened with joy, and he happily said, "So it's our own people! Senior Chen, this junior, Zhao Jingang, is from the second branch of the Zhao Family. My apologies for earlier."
This "Junior Master Chen" swung his hand, launching a streak of sword light, stopping Zhao Jingang from performing the kowtowing gesture.
At the same time, he spoke in a mild tone, "Grandmaster Han is the man I, Chen Zichuan, respect the most. You of the second branch carry his bloodline, so spare the formalities."
Zhao Jingang's expression grew even more excited, and he promptly withdrew his kowtowing gesture.