In just a few short sentences, the members of the main house had already seen which way the wind was blowing.
It seemed that the reinforcements they had asked for were not allies but unwelcome guests!
The people of the main house were dumbfounded, as was the blood-spitting Zhao Jinding.
At that moment, Wei Chengwo, unwilling to be left out, stepped forward with a friendly tone, "I didn't expect Mr. Chen to be so close to the second house. I am Wei Chengwo, related by marriage to the second house. It would seem that we are not strangers to each other."
Chen Zichuan gave Wei Chengwo a look and immediately engaged in pleasantries with him.
In the time it takes to exchange a few words, the two had subtly drawn closer together.
Seeing Chen Zichuan going off track, the old crone intentionally reminded him, "Mr. Chen, we must attend to the pressing matter at hand!"
Chen Zichuan nodded, ceased talking about other matters, and then said to Zhao Jingang, "Let me introduce him. This is Senior Wei from the Fulong Wei Family of the West Desolate Continent, a high-level individual in the late stage of Foundation Establishment."
"Senior Wei, greetings!" Zhao Jingang hastily bowed in salute.
Chen Zichuan continued, "Senior Wei is here today for his nephew Jinfu, to be precise, to take his nephew back to the Wei Family to recognize his ancestry and return to his clan."
What?
Recognize his ancestry and return to his clan?!
Isn't Zhao Jinfu one of us from the Zhao family? How has he suddenly become a member of the Wei Family?
The Zhao Family Members in Unity Hall were all confused.
However, the elders, such as those from the 'Jin' and 'Ke' generations, had all turned pale at this point.
This matter touched upon a highly secretive and shameful incident within the Zhao family, unknown to the younger members, but crystal clear to them.
It was said that, back in the day, the Central Pavilion Ancestor Zhao Zhongge had a granddaughter named Zhao Changzhi who was extremely favored by the old Ancestor.
But what she did that year brought shame upon the family.
Zhao Changzhi went out for half a year.
Upon her return, it was discovered she was pregnant; worse still, the child was illegitimate,
Everyone asked her who the father was, but Zhao Changzhi refused to speak a word about it to her death.
That year, because of this incident, Zhao Zhongge flew into a furious rage. After Zhao Changzhi gave birth, she was married off far away.
From then on, she became a taboo subject in the Zhao Family, not to be mentioned by anyone.
If someone were to ask, the reply would merely be that she died in childbirth.
What no one anticipated, however, was that this illegitimate child would be born with a Spirit Root and possess exceptional Talent, intelligence surpassing that of ordinary people.
"No good, could it be that Jinfu's father is someone from the Wei Family?"
With this realization, a foreboding feeling arose in the hearts of those who knew the truth.
At this time, Zhao Jinding struggled to his feet from the ground, rushed forward, and argued loudly, "You're mistaken! Jinfu is a direct descendant of my Zhao family, he could not possibly belong to your Wei Family."
The old crone sneered, "The old woman has already tested him with a third-tier Bloodline Talisman. He definitely has the blood of my Wei Family—and the blood relation is very close to that of our family Ancestor. Could a third-tier Bloodline Talisman make a mistake?"
A Bloodline Talisman, of course, couldn't be wrong—especially not a third-tier one.
Zhao Jinding was rendered speechless but still held onto a sliver of hope as he looked towards Zhao Jinfu.
"Jinfu, you—"
Zhao Jinfu abruptly interrupted his next words and spoke with an indifferent tone, "My father has the Wei surname, so naturally, I also carry the Wei surname. I don't need this Zhao surname. From today on, I shall rename myself Wei Fu and have nothing more to do with you Zhao Family folks."
"You beast! Where has the Zhao Family wronged you over the years, you…"
Zhao Jinding shook with rage. While the old Ancestor's body was still warm, Zhao Jinfu heartlessly cast aside the grace of being raised by the Zhao Family and went off to seek refuge with the so-called Wei Family.
Pah, did the Wei Family ever feed you a single meal, a drop of milk!
"You beast!" Zhao Jinding rushed forward, intending to beat him up, not caring about anything else.
The Zhao family members were filled with righteous indignation, wishing they could kill this ungrateful beast.
Well, except for Zhao Sheng.
He, on the other hand, thought this was a good opportunity, perhaps a chance to be reborn into the Wei Family.
From Chen Zichuan's unusually respectful attitude towards the old woman, it was clear that this so-called Fulong Wei Family was no simple matter!
Zhao Chongwei also wept, murmuring in complaint, "Jinfu, you are a descendant of the direct lineage of the Zhao family's main house! How could you, how could you... change your surname!"
"Hmph!" With a flick of her sleeve, the old woman who seemed eager to rush up and hit someone, once again sent Zhao Jinding flying far away with a slap, tumbling seven or eight times on the ground, blood pouring from all seven orifices.
Zhao Jingang, however, remained very calm, thought over his words, and asked, "Jinfu, what's so good about the Wei Family, that even if the Wei Family is stronger than the Zhao family, you are still the Zhao family's direct grandson? Once you reach Foundation Establishment, the Zhao family will eventually be passed on to you."
A hint of mockery crossed Zhao Jinfu's face as he said with resentment, "The Zhao family!? Look at the two branches of the Zhao family members, fighting and scheming against each other over a mere Foundation Establishment Pill, colluding with outsiders!"
Pointing at the plaque with the words 'Unity Hall' written on it, he said, "Hmph, Unity Hall. What a joke! The Zhao family, I despise! To be of the Zhao family, I refuse!"
He pulled out a Storage Bag, "These are the things that the Zhao family has given me over the years, today I will return them double to you all!"
Zhao Jinfu's gaze passed over each member of the main house and also landed on the calm-looking Zhao Sheng.
He was surprised; he hadn't expected such a person to exist in the main house.
After observing his appearance, Zhao Jinfu suddenly remembered that this man seemed to be called Zhao Chonghe.
After a moment's thought, he made a decision in his heart, saying, "The Zhao family is rotten to the core, there's only one person who is barely acceptable in my eyes. Today, I will entrust these things to him to handle."
With that, he tossed the Storage Bag into Zhao Sheng's arms.
"From now on, I have nothing to do with the Zhao family of Dragon Carp Lake!"
Having said this, Zhao Jinfu turned and walked away without a hint of nostalgia, striding out of Unity Hall.
"Heh, the Zhao family!"
The old woman from the Wei Family laughed coldly and followed Zhao Jinfu out.
In her eyes, the Zhao family, which didn't even have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was simply a joke, not even worthy of carrying the Wei Family's shoes.
Wei Chengwo watched the Wei Family's old woman leave, thinking that this farce should also come to an end.
So, he gave Zhao Jingang a look.
Zhao Jingang understood and nodded slightly.
He walked up to Zhao Sheng and demanded, "Hand it over!"
Zhao Sheng took a step back and said nothing.
Because he didn't need to speak, the people of the main house exploded first.
"Pah, old thing, if you want to rob the Storage Bag, you have to ask if we, the main house, agree."
"Jinfu is one of our main house's own, the Storage Bag was also given to our main house. Naturally, we should handle it."
"Chonghe, come here quickly! Guard the items well, don't let them be taken away."
All the Zhao family members knew how many resources the family had invested in Zhao Jinfu over the years.
It was enough to buy another Foundation Establishment Pill and still have plenty to spare, let alone double that amount.
Cultivation people are extremely pragmatic, knowing that Zhao Jinfu had his heart set on severing ties with the family.
Since the situation was irretrievable, most family members quickly shifted their thoughts, turning their attention to Zhao Sheng.
Their eyes were full of greed, longing, and jealousy.
Don't blame them for being shallow and clumsy in their behavior.
They have had enough of those years of hardship.
Those days when they wished they could split a Spirit Stone in half to make it last, they were truly fed up with.