《I Have Infinite Attributes》 Chapter 1 C1 ¨C Bone Root Rebirth! Pain! An agony that seemed to prate to the marrow flooded Zhou Jibo¡¯s entire being, rendering him nearly incapable of coherent thought. Is this what being dead feels like? But hadn¡¯t I already died? Just then, a young man¡¯s voice reached him, ¡°He¡¯s not going to wake up, is he?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Holy Son. The only risk with this soul-severing elixir is death from an overly potent dose. There¡¯s no chance he¡¯ll regain consciousness,¡± a woman¡¯s soothing voice replied. Who are they? ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± the young man responded. ¡°Zheng Xunqin, by bringing me here to take Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root, you¡¯ve proven the Zheng family¡¯s genuine desire to align with me.¡± ¡°I am pleased, and so will be the Shrine of Astral Radiance.¡± ¡°In three months, an emissary will escort you into the Holy Land.¡± ¡°Yes, Second Pce Holy Son!¡± Zheng Xunqin eximed, her voice tinged with excitement. ¡°The Zheng family pledges its allegiance to the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Our loyalty will be unwavering!¡± ¡°Very well, that¡¯s what I like to hear.¡± The Second Pce Holy Son chuckled with satisfaction and discreetly departed. Only after an incense stick had burned down did Zheng Xunqin¡¯s sigh echo in the room. ¡°Zhou Jibo, if you¡¯re looking for someone to me, curse your own bone root. Though I am your betrothed, I am also Zheng Xunqin of the Zheng family.¡± ¡°Your Earth Spirit low-grade bone root made you superior to me. Without it, you¡¯ll never surpass me again. Once I enter the Shrine of Astral Radiance, the chasm between us will only widen.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think me heartless. Your past affections were nothing more than your own presumption!¡± With those final words, Zheng Xunqin too left the room. Silence enveloped the space. Zhou Jibo, eyes still firmly shut, silently balled his fists. Memories came flooding back, and piecing together the earlier conversation, he finally grasped what had transpired. As a patient, he had died in the modern world, yet here he was, miraculously alive in this strange realm ruled by martial prowess, in the body of another young man also named Zhou Jibo! In this world, martial arts reign supreme, with the strongmanding respect and the weak facing scorn. Cultivation aptitude is categorized into four bone root types: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, each further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower grades. Meet Zhou Jibo, a sixteen-year-old youth and the eldest son of the Zhou family patriarch. He possesses a low-grade Earth Spirit bone root. The one who spoke earlier was none other than his betrothed, Zheng Xunqin. Also sixteen, she was destined to be his wife and boasts a medium-grade Profound Spirit bone root. The Zhou and Zheng families have been allies for generations, and the engagement between Zhou Jibo and Zheng Xunqin was once celebrated by all. Yet, within the Zhou household, Zhou Jibo fell victim to a scheme by his own fianc¨¦e. Zheng Xunqin drugged him and had outsiders extract his bone root, rendering him incapable of cultivation¡ªa broken man. Betrayal¡¯s bitter taste swirled with the sweetness of young love in Zhou Jibo¡¯s memories, prompting a stifled groan. Zheng Xunqin! Despite feeling nothing for her now, Zhou Jibo recognized the cruelty in her actions. She had ruthlessly severed her fianc¨¦¡¯s bone root, obliterating his martial arts future. He had barely set foot in this world before losing his cultivation rights. Such terrible luck! As Zhou Jibo pondered his next move, a faint sound caught his attention. ¡°The Universal Attribute Point System is now active.¡± ¡°You have received a Newbie Gift Bag.¡± Stunned, Zhou Jibo wondered: A system? Universal Attribute Points? Then, an attribute panel materialized before him. ¡°Zhou Jibo.¡± ¡°Age: 16.¡± ¡°Cultivation: Acquired, fifthyer.¡± ¡°Bone Root: Damaged low-grade Earth Spirit bone root (recoverable).¡± ¡°Cultivation Method: Zhou Family¡¯s Heart Technique (Yellow Rank, medium grade, upgradeable).¡± ¡°Martial Skill: Gravel Palm (trained to the firstyer, upgradeable).¡± ¡°Assistive Skill: None.¡± ¡°Do you wish to open the Newbie Gift Bag?¡± Upon seeing the prompt, Zhou Jibo didn¡¯t hesitate and decided to open the Newbie Gift Bag. ¡°Congrattions on opening the Newbie Gift Bag. You have been awarded a trillion attribute points, and your attribute points are now maxed out.¡± ¡°To prevent your body from copsing, as someone at the fifthyer of the Acquired realm, you will receive 500,000 attribute points. From now on, you will gain additional attribute points with each advancement in your realm.¡± Zhou Jibo was taken aback: Could the newbie gift bag really contain so many attribute points? Even though he had only received five hundred thousand, that was still an enormous sum. Why not try using these attribute points? He had barely given it a thought when a notification sounded, ¡°One hundred thousand attribute points have been deducted. Bone root restored.¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root attribute now read: Earth Spirit Low-Grade Bone Root (Upgradeable). His bone root was healed! The intense pain that had racked his body vanished, reced by a soothing warmth. Could he enhance his bone root further? Zhou Jibo pondered once more, ¡°I want to use one hundred thousand attribute points to elevate my bone root to Earth Spirit Medium Grade!¡± Earth Spirit Medium Grade Bone Root (Upgradeable). The journey of improvement must continue! ¡°Two hundred thousand attribute points have been deducted, upgrading to Earth Spirit Top-Grade Bone Root!¡± Earth Spirit Top-Grade Bone Root. With only one hundred thousand attribute points remaining, he couldn¡¯t afford to boost his bone root any further. Yet, his bone root had ascended from a damaged Earth Spirit Low-Grade to a Top-Grade, climbing two whole levels. Zhou Jibo felt an all-epassingfort throughout his body. Possessing an Earth Spirit Low-Grade bone root was enough to be deemed a cultivation prodigy. With an Earth Spirit Top-Grade bone root, he was undoubtedly even more formidable! Zhou Jibo then noticed ¡°Gravel Palm (Upgradeable)¡± and the ¡°Su Family Mental Cultivation Method (Upgradeable).¡± After a brief contemtion, he opted to enhance the Gravel Palm first. ¡°I will spend one hundred attribute points to advance my Gravel Palm to the secondyer.¡± Scenes of his arduous training with the Gravel Palm shed before Zhou Jibo¡¯s eyes. Instinctively, he clenched his fist, feeling as though he had been practicing the Gravel Palm for years. Gravel Palm Technique (Second Layer, Upgradeable) Without any hesitation, Zhou Jibo pressed on to enhance his Gravel Palm Technique. Two hundred Universal Attribute Points were deducted, and his Gravel Palm Technique advanced to the Third Layer. Four hundred pointster, it reached the Fourth Layer. Upon the deduction of eight hundred points, it ascended to the Fifth Layer. Zhou Jibo¡¯s entire skeleton resonated with a chorus of cracks and pops. Visions of countless winters and summers spent in grueling training shed through his mind. The palm technique had be second nature to him; he could effortlessly shatter stones with a mere flick of his wrist. Gravel Palm Technique (Fifth Layer, Upgradeable) Studying the description, Zhou Jibo was taken aback. He remembered the Gravel Palm Technique¡¯s apex was the Fifth Layer, yet it seemed he could push it even further? As he attempted to upgrade again, it was as if Zhou Jibo had forgotten the Gravel Palm Technique entirely. He learned several new moves beyond the original ten, as if he had crafted the technique himself. ¡°Deducting two thousand Universal Attribute Points, the Gravel Palm Technique is now elevated to the Yellow Rank, Medium Grade Mountain Splitting Palm Technique.¡± When Zhou Jibo regained his focus, the martial skill section of his attribute panel had transformed: Mountain Splitting Palm Technique (Yellow Rank, Medium Grade, Second Layer, Points Addable) The once ungraded Gravel Palm Technique had leaped to the status of a Medium Grade Yellow Rank martial skill¡ªthe Mountain Splitting Palm Technique¡ªwith all fiveyers of the original technique epassed within the first twoyers of its new form. A notation (Points Addable) followed the Mountain Splitting Palm Technique. He persisted in allocating more attribute points. Two thousand, three thousand, and four thousand points were sessively deducted, propelling the Mountain Splitting Palm Technique to the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Layers, respectively. Continuing the process, after ten thousand points were deducted, Zhou Jibo felt a wave of vertigo. The sensation of forging a new martial skill washed over him once again as the Mountain Splitting Palm Technique morphed into a Low Grade Profound Rank skill, reaching the Third Layer of the Mountain Suppressing Palm Technique. After three more iterations, he ultimately mastered the Mountain Suppressing Palm Technique, surmounting the Fourth and Fifth Layers to achieve the Sixth Layer. The Mountain Suppressing Palm, a Profound Rank low-grade martial skill, was decidedly intricate. Even at the sixthyer, it had not yet reached its full potential. Zhou Jibo¡¯s mastery of the palm technique resonated within him. Rising to his feet, he fluidly executed the Mountain Suppressing Palm with effortless grace, without a moment¡¯s hesitation. With over ten thousand attribute points remaining, he could no longer advance the bone root, the Zhou family¡¯s mental cultivation method, or the Mountain Suppressing Palm. Zhou Jibo now grasped why the system had allocated only five hundred thousand attribute points to him upon reaching the fifthyer of the Acquired Realm. Any further points might have overwhelmed him, unable to control the surge in insight and power. He could only handle further enhancements once he had limated to this newfound understanding and strength, and after breaking through to the sixthyer of the Acquired Realm. Just then, a mor erupted from outside: ¡°Young Master Zhou,e out!¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s brow furrowed as he opened the door to peer into the courtyard. A portly steward was bellowing arrogantly in the center of Zhou Jibo¡¯s courtyard, nked by four stern-looking Zhou family guards. Curious onlookers gathered at the courtyard¡¯s entrance, whispering among themselves. This stout man was Kong Chuyang, the steward appointed by the Zhou family¡¯s Great Elder, Zhou Qian. An outsider who had found favor with the Great Elder, he now wielded considerable influence within the family. ¡°Young Master Zhou, atst, you show yourself!¡± Kong Chuyang remarked with a hint of mockery. ¡°I was beginning to think youcked the courage to face us!¡± No sooner had Kong Chuyang finished his taunt than Zhou Jibo retorted sharply, ¡°Silence!¡± Hismand startled Kong Chuyang into silence, his follow-up words lost. Regaining hisposure, Kong Chuyang snapped back, ¡°Young Master Zhou, what is this? Are you admitting guilt?¡± ¡°And who might you be?¡± Zhou Jibo asked with a coldugh. ¡°I am the steward, Kong Chuyang.¡± ¡°Kong Chuyang? You¡¯re not even of the Zhou lineage,cking even our family¡¯s surname, and yet you have the audacity to raise your voice in my courtyard? Do you truly believe you have that right?¡± Zhou Jibo advanced towards him, pressing the question with imposing presence. Kong Chuyang involuntarily stumbled backward, struggling to find his words. ¡°Speak! Who sent you?¡± Zhou Jibo demanded. Without thinking, Kong Chuyang blurted out, ¡°Young Master Zhou Leng.¡± But then he snapped out of it. Why should he fear Zhou Jibo? He quickly followed up, ¡°Young Master Zhou Leng just purchased some Element Gathering Powder and it¡¯s gone missing. Someone imed they saw you take it.¡± Before he could finish, the sound of a p cut through the air. Zhou Jibo¡¯s hand, now slowly withdrawing, left a swollen red imprint on Kong Chuyang¡¯s cheek. ¡°It seems you didn¡¯t grasp what I said earlier. You have no right toe here and make demands!¡± ¡°How dare you?¡± Clutching his face, Kong Chuyang yelped in astonishment, pointing at Zhou Jibo with a venomous hiss, ¡°This isn¡¯t over! Young Master Zhou Leng and the Great Elder will back me up!¡± With those final words, he scrambled away in disgrace, his four guards hastily scattering after him. Zhou Qian and his son, Zhou Leng, had long been adversaries of the Patriarch¡¯s direct lineage, and their visit was clearly malicious. The Patriarch¡¯s son used of stealing Element Gathering Powder meant for an Acquired Warrior¡¯s cultivation? How could they make such an outrageous im? They must have concocted a thorough scheme to make such an absurd usation. Yet, Zhou Jibo was brimming with the confidence to show them that he had grown far beyond his past self. Chapter 2 C2 ¨C Pure ¡°Young Master.¡± Once Kong Chuyang and the guards had departed, the majority of the servants by the courtyard gate had quietly slipped away. A timid maid approached. After addressing Zhou Jibo, she added, ¡°I trust that you wouldn¡¯t take Zhou Leng¡¯s Element Gathering Powder, Young Master.¡± Zhou Jibo remained unfazed. If Zhou Qian had already sent Kong Chuyang to stir up trouble, surely he had more tricks up his sleeve. Clearing his own name wouldn¡¯t put an end to this, nor would the maid¡¯s belief change the oue. As expected, within half an hour, a servant approached Zhou Jibo with a message. ¡°The Great Elder has called a family meeting at the ancestor temple. Young Master Zhou, please make haste.¡± Zhou Jibo let out a coldugh. ¡°Just as I thought.¡± Crossing the Zhou family courtyard, he arrived at the ancestor temple. A crowd of Zhou family members had already assembled at the entrance, many murmuring about the unfolding events. At Zhou Jibo¡¯s nce, the whispers ceased. They were trying to frame him, to make him an outcast, weren¡¯t they? Zhou Jibo scoffed internally. Such petty schemes were hardly worthy of consideration. Armed with a Profound Rank low-grade martial skill and an Earth Spirit top-grade bone root¡ªtreasures previously unknown to the Zhou family¡ªZhou Jibo had no fear of these ordinary folk, despite being only at the fifthyer of the Acquired. With a smile, he stepped into the ancestor temple. Inside, over a dozen Zhou family youths stood, including Zhou Leng from the Great Elder¡¯s line, Zhou Tong from the Third Elder¡¯s, Zhou Zheyan from the Fourth Elder¡¯s, and others from various branches. As Zhou Jibo met their gaze, smiles broke out among them. Enemies surrounded him, not allies. His memory served him well. His father, Zhou Kaile, might be the patriarch, but the Great Elder and others held significant sway over the family¡¯s power. He wasn¡¯t free to make unteral decisions. The family conve, traditionally convened by the patriarch within the Zhou¡¯s ancestor temple, was now being orchestrated by the Great Elder. As Zhou Jibo stepped into the courtyard, a furious voice erupted from the ancestor temple¡¯s main hall: ¡°I don¡¯t agree!¡± Instantly, the main hall fell silent, and the murmuring Zhou family members ceased their furtive movements. Recognizing his father¡¯s voice, Zhou Jibo headed towards the main hall. ¡°Zhou Jibo, the elders are deliberating in the ancestor temple. What business do you have there?¡± Zhou Leng, the Great Elder¡¯s son, spoke with a mix of smugness and mockery. Zhou Jibo gave him a dismissiveugh and strode into the main hall. Zhou Leng¡¯s smirk stiffened as he barked, ¡°Zhou Jibo! You dare to ignore me?¡± But Zhou Jibo paid no heed to his outburst and took in the scene before him. The Great Elder, Zhou Qian, sat at ease on the upper left, savoring his tea, nked by a row of chairs upied by the Third and Fourth Elders and two venerable Elders of the previous generation. On the upper right, Zhou Jibo¡¯s father, Zhou Kaile, sat opposite a lone Elder. His face was flushed with anger from just having mmed his palm on the table, locking eyes with the Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, who had issued the earlier shout. Zhou Kaile¡¯s surprise at his son¡¯s entrance furrowed his brow. However, Zhou Zhenbo chuckled, ¡°Perfect timing! The suspect arrives!¡± The Great Elder and the Fourth Elder couldn¡¯t hide their glee. With calm detachment, Zhou Jibo inquired, ¡°Is this grand assembly convened on my ount?¡± ¡°Indeed, it concerns you!¡± the Third Elder confirmed, then added, ¡°But it¡¯s not solely about you.¡± ¡°As the Patriarch¡¯s son, you¡¯ve stooped to theft, stealing Zhou Leng¡¯s Element Gathering Powder. Though the powder may not be worth much, your conduct is deplorable. It¡¯s evident you¡¯re unfit to be the rightful heir of the Zhou family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely why we¡¯ve convened this meeting¡ªto deliberate on this issue and to strip you of your rightful son¡¯s status. We intend to expel you from the Zhou family to prevent any further disgrace!¡± ¡°I object! Zhou Jibo possesses a low-grade Earth Spirit constitution. He has no need to resort to such actions!¡± Zhou Kaile rose to his feet, his voice booming in protest. Witnessing his father¡¯s staunch defense, memories flooded back to Zhou Jibo, prompting him to interject, ¡°Father, please, there¡¯s no need for such fury. Allow me to rify things.¡± Zhou Kaile cast a skeptical nce his way. The Great Elder let out a soft chuckle, while the Third Elder openly scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re far too young to understand anything!¡± ¡°My knowledge may be limited, but it certainly surpasses yours,¡± Zhou Jibo responded coolly. ¡°Even someone as young as I knows that usations require proof. Third Elder, aren¡¯t you aware of this?¡± The Third Elder¡¯s face turned beet red with indignation. ¡°You show no respect! Your arrogance knows no bounds!¡± With a serene smile, Zhou Jibo replied, ¡°The highest authority in our Zhou family isn¡¯t you¡ªit¡¯s the Patriarch.¡± ¡°You overlook the Patriarch¡¯s role and rush to judge me. Who is truly the arrogant one here¡ªyou or me?¡± The Third Elder was left speechless, seething with anger. Zhou Jibo continued, ¡°You have no rebuttal, do you? You im that I, an Acquired fifthyer Warrior with an Earth Spirit constitution, stole a batch of Element Gathering Powder. Where is your proof?¡± ¡°Evidence?¡± Caught off guard, the Great Elder feltpelled to interject. He sighed, seemingly with reluctance, ¡°Zhou Jibo, there¡¯s no point in denying it any longer. We have all the necessary witness testimonies and physical evidence. Bring forth the evidence.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Zhou Jibo dismissed with a wave of his hand. ¡°That evidence was conveniently prearranged by you, wasn¡¯t it?¡± He pressed on, ¡°Element Gathering Powder typically sells for ten taels of silver, correct?¡± Zhou Qian, unsure of Zhou Jibo¡¯s angle, responded uncertainly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the going rate.¡± ¡°And what if someone purchased it for twenty taels?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired further. ¡°That would make him quite the fool,¡± Zhou Qian replied, growing impatient. ¡°What are you driving at?¡± ¡°I aim to demonstrate that I am not the thief of the Element Gathering Powder, and to highlight the absurdity of the Great Elder¡¯s premeditated scheme,¡± Zhou Jibo addressed the assembly. ¡°I have but two conditions. First, everyone must remain silent. Second, I will summon Zhou Leng for questioning.¡± Zhou Qian¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, his voice tinged with unease, ¡°This has nothing to do with Zhou Leng.¡± Zhou Jibo chuckled, ¡°If you¡¯re panicking, then just concede and confess that you¡¯ve lied.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just being obstinate!¡± Zhou Qian eximed. ¡°Well, let¡¯s put it to the test with a couple of questions for Zhou Leng,¡± Zhou Jibo proposed. He strode to the entrance of the hall, beckoning Zhou Leng inside. Without mincing words, he asked, ¡°Zhou Leng, I was told by the witness that you purchased the Element Gathering Powder for twenty taels of silver. Is that true?¡± At the question, the Great Elder let out a gasp of shock, attempting to prevent Zhou Leng from responding. ¡°Be careful!¡± Hearing that the statement came from the witness, Zhou Leng promptly nodded in agreement, ¡°Yes.¡± Only after his response did he catch the Great Elder¡¯s cautionary words and turned, bewildered, to face the assembly inside the ancestor temple. What¡¯s wrong? Unbeknownst to him, his simple affirmation had just punctured a hole in the Great Elder¡¯s web of deceit. His meticulously crafted scheme unraveled in an instant, leaving him with no way to justify his actions. Chapter 3 C3 ¨C Attack ¡°You¡¯re trying to trick me into telling the truth?¡± Zhou Leng snapped back to reality, ring at Zhou Jibo with fury in his voice. Zhou Jibo offered a slight smile and said, ¡°The Great Elder himself dered that only a fool would pay twenty taels of silver for Element Gathering Powder. It appears you¡¯re that fool.¡± The Great Elder, Zhou Qian, looked displeased, and his supporters wore simrly sour expressions. Zhou Leng recalled Zhou Jibo¡¯s previous disregard for him and how Zhou Jibo had just attempted to coax the truth out of him. Embarrassment mixed with rising anger within him. ¡°Zhou Jibo, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Zhou Leng bellowed, unleashing his Gravel Palm technique as he lunged at Zhou Jibo. Zhou Jibo merely nced up, seeing Zhou Leng¡¯s effort as nothing more than a child¡¯s feeble attempt to strike. It wasughable. With a simple raise of his hand, Zhou Jibo effortlessly slipped through the missed gap in Zhou Leng¡¯s palm, seizing his arm and twisting it behind his back. To the onlookers, it was as if Zhou Leng¡¯s palm strike was child¡¯s y for Zhou Jibo, who nonchntly navigated through the attack and subdued Zhou Leng with ease. Was this the might of an Earth Spirit with a low-grade bone root? Zhou Jibo, only a notch below Zhou Leng at the fourthyer of Acquired, had been so easily overpowered? Zhou Kaile, the Great Elder, and the rest watched in astonishment. The Elders¡¯ stares were even more prating, as they discerned a deeper issue: with that single move, Zhou Jibo¡¯s Gravel Palm technique was at least on par with the fourthyer, if not verging on the fifthyer of the Acquired Stage! Only with such skill could Zhou Jibo wlessly navigate the most precise gap and exploit Zhou Leng¡¯s vulnerability, capturing him in an instant! Zhou Jibo¡¯s aptitude for learning martial skills was frighteningly impressive. The hearts of the two Elders, previously aligned with the Great Elder, wavered. Weighing the potential of the next generation, Zhou Leng¡¯s swift defeat suggested that Zhou Jibo¡¯s prospects were far more promising. ¡°Release me!¡± Zhou Leng¡¯s arm was firmly grasped by Zhou Jibo, who shouted in anger. ¡°At this point, it¡¯s time for the truth,¡± Zhou Jibo stated. ¡°How did you n to set up the evidence and witnesses?¡± Zhou Leng turned to face him, his voice rising in fury, ¡°I said, let go!¡± ¡°Forget it! I won¡¯t retract my statement. You¡¯re nothing but a thief who stole my Element Gathering Powder!¡± ¡°Your reputation is destroyed! Once the Zheng family hears of this, especially Zheng Xunqin, your beloved, any hopes for marriage will be dashed!¡± ¡°To be perfectly honest, Zheng Xunqin doesn¡¯t mean that much to me,¡± Zhou Jibo spoke with a dismissive tone. ¡°I¡¯ll simply have to rify a few matters with her in the future.¡± ¡°And as for you¡­¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s eyes grew icy as he spoke, and with a sudden surge of strength in his palm, a sharp crack echoed. Zhou Leng hit the ground, his scream piercing the air as his arm twisted unnaturally behind him. ¡°You use me, you sabotage me¡ªdid you think there would be no consequences?¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s voice was a cold de. ¡°You vile creature! How dare you harm Zhou Leng!¡± The Great Elder, Zhou Qian, witnessed Zhou Leng¡¯s injury and bellowed in rage, leaping towards Zhou Jibo. His palm sliced through the air, unleashing the Gravel Palm technique directly at Zhou Jibo! The attack came without warning, catching Zhou Kaile off guard, his face draining of color. He sprang to intervene but was intercepted by the Third Elder. ¡°How dare you!¡± Zhou Kaile¡¯s anger was palpable as heshed out at the Third Elder. ¡°Out of my way!¡± But the moment¡¯s hesitation was all Zhou Qian needed to close in on Zhou Jibo. Zhou Qian¡¯s ninthyer Acquired Realm strength,bined with decades of mastering the fifthyer of Gravel Palm, could pulverize a stone to gravel. His loathing for Zhou Jibo was bone-deep; he aimed to end Zhou Jibo¡¯s life with a single blow! However, Zhou Jibo saw Zhou Qian¡¯s swift approach with rity. To him, the fifthyer of Gravel Palm was no match for his own Mountain Suppressing Palm¡ªa sixthyer, low-grade Profound Rank martial skill that made the difference between babbling and walking. In terms of explosive power, technicalplexity, or the depth of martial arts, there was noparison between the rudimentary Gravel Palm and the Profound Rank¡¯s low-grade Mountain Suppressing Palm. In Zhou Qian¡¯s gaze, as his palm was about to strike Zhou Jibo, there was no reaction from Jibo. It was as if he couldn¡¯t even muster the speed to evade. Had Zhou Jibo resigned himself to his fate? Was he ready to ept death? Zhou Kaile watched the scene unfold with rising fury, unable to contain himself, he bellowed, ¡°Zhou Jibo, strike now!¡± Zhou Leng red at Zhou Jibo, a smug gleam in his eyes. But in the blink of an eye, Zhou Kaile was dumbfounded, Zhou Leng was taken aback, and the faces of the Third Elder, Fourth Elder, and the three other Elders were frozen in shock. They witnessed Zhou Jibo nimbly sidestep the edge of Zhou Qian¡¯s Gravel Palm, pivoting to deliver a palm strike of his own. ¡°How could you possibly evade my attack?¡± Zhou Qian, who had painstakingly honed his Gravel Palm to the fifthyer¡¯s peak, couldn¡¯t fathom how a warrior under twenty, at the fifthyer of Acquired strength, could dodge his blow. Incredulous, Zhou Qian cried out as he met Zhou Jibo¡¯s seemingly effortless palm. Their palms collided in a sh. ¡°Mountain Suppression!¡± Zhou Jibo spoke calmly, his figure shifting subtly as he stepped back. Zhou Qian, rooted in the hall of the ancestor temple, found himself involuntarily retreating a step as well. This time, the two were evenly matched. ¡°This can¡¯t be!¡± Zhou Qian¡¯s face contorted with disbelief as he red at Zhou Jibo. ¡°It¡¯s impossible! We¡¯re both using Gravel Palm. How could you withstand my technique? I am a ninthyer Acquired Warrior!¡± Zhou Jibo chuckled, ¡°Curious, aren¡¯t you? Too bad, I have no intention of exining.¡± As Zhou Qian bristled for another outburst, his heart sank. The standoff between him and Zhou Jibo had shifted the dynamics within the Zhou family¡¯s Ancestor Temple. The two Elders who had initially chosen to sit on the left, signaling their support for him, now joined another Elder, positioning themselves closer to the Patriarch, Zhou Kaile. They had reconsidered their stance. Now, only three individuals stood by Zhou Kaile, with his remaining supporters being merely the Third and Fourth Elders. The Great Elder¡¯s faction had lost its absolute edge and was currently on the back foot. The catalyst for this upheaval was none other than Zhou Jibo, the protagonist of today¡¯s unfortunate scheme. They hade prepared with both physical evidence and witnesses, yet who could have predicted that he wouldn¡¯t seek to clear his name in the usual manner? Instead, he showcased a level of strength that was nothing short of astonishing. Not even Zhou Qian could best him. At such a young age, Zhou Jibo had already shown immense potential. His prospects in the martial arts world were promising, which exined why the two seasoned Elders swiftly shifted their loyalty to the n Leader. I must eliminate Zhou Jibo without dy. Darkness and a deadly resolve filled the Great Elder¡¯s eyes. He recognized that today¡¯s tide had turned, and the opportunity to eliminate Zhou Jibo had slipped through his fingers. Without a word, he assisted his son to his feet and, alongside the Third and Fourth Elders, began to exit the grand hall. It was then that a taunting voice echoed from behind. ¡°You¡¯ve ndered me, and now you think you can just walk away?¡± ¡°What do you propose?¡± the Great Elder asked, his voice heavy with gravity. ¡°Turn back and bow before the n Leader. Admit to him that you were wrong, that you¡¯ve wronged me,¡± Zhou Jibo stated calmly, his voice carrying an unwavering certainty. Click?? Click???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 4 C4 ¨C A Genius of a Family Apologize? Upon hearing the challenge, the Great Elder spun around, jabbing a finger at Zhou Kaile and bellowed, ¡°You expect me to apologize to Zhou Kaile and address him as Patriarch? Not in a million years!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± ¡°Will we?¡± With a faint smile, Zhou Jibo stepped forward, his hand resting on Zhou Leng¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not going to give you the luxury of time. If today¡¯s grudge is to be settled, let¡¯s settle it today.¡± ¡°If you refuse to recognize my father as the Patriarch today, then your son, Zhou Leng, can remain here in the ancestor temple. We¡¯ll follow the family rules and discipline this disobedient youth!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Zhou Qian roared in fury. ¡°And why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s grip tightened, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from Zhou Leng. ¡°Release my son!¡± The Great Elder, ovee with rage, looked ready to strike. But Zhou Kaile, Zhou Jibo¡¯s father, along with three Zhou family elders, had already stepped forward to stand behind Zhou Jibo. Any attempt to snatch his son would surely result in Zhou Leng¡¯s harm. With bitter resentment, he conceded, ¡°Fine, I lose! But it¡¯s not to you¡ªit¡¯s to your son, Zhou Jibo!¡± He bowed to Zhou Kaile, conceding, ¡°Patriarch, my mistake.¡± He then lifted his head, taking Zhou Leng with him as he quickly departed, his pride clearly unyielding. The Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, and the Fourth Elder, Zhou Chaide, followed suit, their bows tinged with mixed emotions. They mumbled a hasty acknowledgment to Zhou Kaile before rushing off in the wake of the Great Elder. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? How can they show such disrespect to the Patriarch?¡± As the group dispersed and the Zhou family members began to head home, an elder murmured in dismay at the unfolding scene. Zhou Jibo nced at him, a knowing smile on his face. He mused to himself, ¡°Weren¡¯t you and the Great Elder just as dismissive of the Patriarch moments ago? If I hadn¡¯t intervened to reverse the tide, today would have seen not just my expulsion but the election of a new Patriarch.¡± But there was no need to spell it out. Now that he had realigned with the Patriarch, this elder was an asset. Zhou Jibo decided to leave him in his father¡¯s capable hands. Although Zhou Jibo thwarted the Great Elder¡¯s scheme today, it¡¯s clear that the Great Elder had already swayed a majority of the Zhou family members to his side. Zhou Kaile still has a long road ahead before he can wield the full authority of the Patriarch. Zhou Kaile burst intoughter. ¡°This is the first time since I assumed the role of Patriarch that I¡¯ve seen Zhou Qian yield and address me as such! Zhou Jibo, you¡¯ve done splendidly!¡± The other Zhou family elders joined in the praise for Zhou Jibo. Aside from Elder Zhou Chng, who initially backed Zhou Kaile, Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu had clearly recognized Zhou Jibo¡¯s exceptional talent at such a young age. His mastery of the Gravel Palm Technique was impressive, and his possession of a low-grade Earth Spirit bone root only added to their admiration. They were generous with their praise. Zhou Jibo, however, remained indifferent to their ttery. He knew that their allegiance could shift with the tides of power. Only time would tell if their loyalty was genuine. ¡°Zhou Jibo, has your Gravel Palm Technique reached the fifthyer?¡± Zhou Kaile, basking in the elders¡¯ des for his son, inquired eagerly. Zhou Chng subtly shook his head in response. Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu also smiled and shook their heads. Misinterpreting their gestures, Zhou Kaile ventured, ¡°So, your Gravel Palm hasn¡¯t hit the fifthyer yet? I thought you were close. Since I¡¯ve mastered the technique to the fourthyer, I¡¯ll take it upon myself to teach you soon.¡± ¡°Patriarch, you¡¯ve got it wrong!¡± interjected Zhou Chng, unable to hold back. ¡°With your fourthyer Gravel Palm, what makes you think you¡¯re qualified to instruct Zhou Jibo? Even if we three spent our entire lives practicing, we¡¯d barely surpass the fifthyer, maybe just outdoing Zhou Qian. But do you realize the extent to which Zhou Jibo has developed his martial skill?¡± Zhou Kaile shook his head, his mind reeling at the thought. ¡°Could he really be that formidable? It¡¯s hard to believe. Zhou Jibo is only sixteen, after all.¡± ¡°Do you realize why we unhesitatingly joined you in the fight against Zhou Qian?¡± Zhou Shuang remarked, ¡°Zhou Jibo¡¯s disy of prowess is a testament to his potential and talent. He¡¯s the prodigy who will lead our Zhou family to its former glory and secure our position as the preeminent family in Icefair City!¡± Such lofty praise? Zhou Kaile was stunned. Even though Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root was of the lower Earth Spirit grade and he was always seen as a prodigy, he had never beenuded to this extent! ¡°Is that true? And his Gravel Palm Technique?¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s beyond what you could even imagine. His Gravel Palm Technique has reached a new, unparalleled level!¡± Zhou Shuang dered earnestly. Zhou Shu chimed in, ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, it¡¯s no longer a run-of-the-mill technique, but rather one of the Yellow Rank, low grade!¡± Overwhelmed with excitement, Zhou Kaile nearly passed out. He clutched Zhou Jibo¡¯s hand, eximing, ¡°This is fantastic! My son, Zhou Jibo, has independently elevated the technique to the Yellow Rank, low grade. Truly, the Zhou family is blessed with a remarkable son!¡± Zhou Jibo, observing his father¡¯s excited, stuttering state, suppressed a chuckle. This is merely a Yellow Rank, low-grade martial skill, and yet they¡¯re this thrilled. If I were to reveal that it¡¯s actually a Profound Rank skill, a full grade higher, they¡¯d probably be ecstatic beyond belief. In his fervor, Zhou Kaile hurriedly led Zhou Jibo out of the ancestor temple¡¯s grand hall, eager to spread the joyous news to the rest of the family. Soon, only two younger family members remained in the courtyard, with a mere handful of people left at the temple¡¯s entrance. Zhou Kaile¡¯s jubtion quickly faded. He sighed softly, murmuring to himself, ¡°Am I truly unfit to be the patriarch?¡± Turning to Zhou Jibo, he advised, ¡°You¡¯ve done well today. Go find Xunqin and enjoy the city together. Among all families in Icefair, it¡¯s the Zhengs and the Zhous who share the closest bond. You¡¯re talented, yes, but don¡¯t be a womanizer. Xunqin is a fine young woman; don¡¯t take her for granted.¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s face took on a puzzled look: Zheng Xunqin, a fine young woman? The Zhou and Zheng families have the closest bond? What on earth are you talking about? He finally understood why his father was ill-suited to lead as the patriarch¡ªit was ack of sharpness. His father¡¯s disposition was certainly beneficial as a parent, but it left him ill-equipped to contend with a master maniptor like the Great Elder, to say nothing of the deceitful Zheng family and Zheng Xunqin. Zhou Jibo refrained from saying too much to his father, Zhou Kaile, whose warm heart did not mask ack of cunning. Revealing too much could lead to unintended slip-ups. With a nomittal response, Zhou Jibo quickly exited the ancestor temple and began to wander the streets. Despite his memories remaining intact, he had yet to experience this world firsthand. Should he extend an invitation to Zheng Xunqin as Zhou Kaile suggested, she would likely be astounded. Especially since just this morning, she and the Second Pce Holy Son from the Shrine of Astral Radiance had pilfered Zhou Jibo¡¯s low-grade Earth Spirit bone root! Given the opportunity, Zhou Jibo was determined to exact his revenge, not just on the Zheng family but also on the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Click?? Click???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 5 C5 ¨C Conspiracy In the northern reaches of Icefair, the Zheng family resided over ten miles from the Zhou family¡¯s ancestral temple. Zheng Xunqin had just returned and was briefing the Zheng family members on the details of their recent mission. ¡°The Zhou family is riddled with discord due to a power struggle between their patriarch and elders. Our spies easily smuggled me and the Second Pce Holy Son into Zhou Jibo¡¯s courtyard undetected.¡± ¡°Zhou Jibo was unconscious. After administering the Soul-Shattering Medicine, the Second Pce Holy Son extracted his bone root without raising any suspicion among the Zhou n.¡± Zheng Huai, the patriarch of the Zheng family and father to Zheng Xunqin, listened as the elders nodded in approval. ¡°Xunqin, you¡¯ve done well. Our family has now pledged allegiance to the Holy Land, joining the ranks of many families in service to them.¡± An elder sighed with a hint of regret, ¡°Our Zheng family has had a longstanding friendship with the Zhou family. We¡¯ve wronged them this time.¡± Zheng Huai responded icily, ¡°In this world, there¡¯s no owing or being owed¡ªit¡¯s the strong whomand respect. Since the Zhou family lost their status as the preeminent family in Icefair City forty years ago, they¡¯ve fallen behind us. The current infighting over the patriarchal title is just an opportunity for us to im a bone root and secure the future of the Zheng family.¡± All members of the Zheng family nodded in agreement. Witnessing the scene, Zheng Xunqin reflected inwardly: ¡®Zhou Jibo¡¯s low-grade Earth Spirit bone root has united our family in allegiance to the Shrine of Astral Radiance. This was thest value of his life.¡¯ An elder then inquired, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Second Pce Holy Son visited the Zheng family?¡± With a knowing smile, Zheng Huai replied, ¡°Consider the prestige of the Shrine of Astral Radiance and the stature of the Second Pce Holy Son. Were it not for the specific usefulness of Zhou Jibo¡¯s low-grade Earth Spirit bone root, would we even have had this chance?¡± The elder burst into heartyughter, ¡°Zhou Jibo is incredibly fortunate. He was born with an Earth Spirit bone root, a rarity in Icefair not seen for over a decade. Without Zhou Jibo¡¯s stroke of luck, where would the Zheng family¡¯s fortune of finding sanctuary with the Shrine of Astral Radiancee from?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± The Zheng family members couldn¡¯t contain theirughter. Amidst their mirth, a rush of horse hooves approached from outside. A subordinate dismounted and hurried in, announcing, ¡°Patriarch, I bring news from the Zhou family!¡± ¡°What news? They didn¡¯t catch on to Miss Xunqin¡¯s visit, did they?¡± Zheng Huai inquired. The subordinate quickly replied, ¡°The Zhou family is unaware of Miss Xunqin¡¯s visit. They¡¯ve been preupied with a bit of internal strife. The Zhou family¡¯s Great Elder, Zhou Qian, has falsely used Zhou Jibo of theft, seeking to expel him and strip him of his rightful ce as the eldest son.¡± ¡°As long as our Zheng family isn¡¯t implicated, that¡¯s what matters,¡± Zheng Huai remarked. ¡°Poor Zhou Jibo, to lose his bone root and be cast out all in one day. We needn¡¯t bother with revenge against the Zhou family now; they¡¯re self-destructing. I doubt anyone¡¯s even concerned with Zhou Jibo¡¯s fate anymore.¡± ¡°Patriarch,¡± the informant said, a peculiar look crossing his face, ¡°there¡¯s something amiss here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s amiss?¡± Zheng Huai pressed, ¡°You did say the Zhou family was oblivious to Xunqin¡¯s visit, right?¡± ¡°Zhou Jibo has shown up, seemingly unharmed,¡± the subordinate reported. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Zheng Xunqin interjected firmly, ¡°I personally witnessed Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root being extracted! Surely he¡¯s pale and needing support?¡± The subordinate shook his head, ¡°No, Zhou Jibo appeared healthy, moving about with ease. He even engaged Zhou Leng and Zhou Qian inbat, defeating Zhou Qian with a single move.¡± Zheng Huai gasped, turning to look at Zheng Xunqin, while the rest of the Zheng family members were equally taken aback. Zheng Xunqin was utterly astounded, her disbelief evident as she eximed, ¡°How is this possible! The Earth Spirit¡¯s low-grade bone root was already imed by the Second Pce Holy Son. How on earth did Zhou Jibo manage to recover?¡± ¡°I need to see what¡¯s happening for myself!¡± He was on the verge of heading out after speaking. ¡°Hold it right there,¡± Zheng Huaimanded, halting her in her tracks. ¡°Regardless of the peculiarities surrounding Zhou Jibo¡ªwhether he¡¯s forcing a facade or there¡¯s some trickery afoot¡ªthe Zheng family must only concern itself with its own affairs.¡± ¡°The Second Pce Holy Son has given his recognition to our Zheng family. In three months, envoys from the Shrine of Astral Radiance will escort Zheng Xunqin to the Holy Land. All we need to do is wait these three months out, peacefully.¡± ¡°But this issue¡­¡± Zheng Xunqin was reluctant, the desire to investigate still burning within her. ¡°Once the Second Pce Holy Son departs, our Zheng family won¡¯t have a significant ally. I won¡¯t stir trouble with the Zhou family for the time being,¡± Zheng Huai dered. ¡°Your journey to the Shrine of Astral Radiance will mark the Zheng family¡¯s rise to power in Icefair. By then, the Zhou family will be inconsequential.¡± With that, Zheng Xunqin reluctantly abandoned her intention to visit the Zhou family and check on Zhou Jibo. Indeed, in three months¡¯ time, the die would be cast. Meanwhile, in the Zhou family¡¯spound, a woman dabbed at her tears softly as Zhou Lengy on the bed, writhing and unleashing a torrent of curses and groans. ¡°Zhou Jibo! I¡¯ll see to his demise!¡± ¡°The pain is unbearable!¡± The Great Elder, Zhou Qian, entered the room, his expression turning icy as he surveyed the scene. ¡°Zhou Kaile, you usurped the role of Patriarch that was rightfully mine, a betrayal I¡¯ve not forgotten for twenty long years! Now that Zhou Jibo has injured Zhou Leng, do you truly think I¡¯ll swallow this affront?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make you experience the agony of losing a son, and then I¡¯ll reim my rightful ce as Patriarch!¡± ¡°Someonee here!¡± Zhou Qian¡¯s call echoed. Steward Kong Chuyang hurried in, the imprint of a p still visible on his face, ¡°Great Elder, would you like me to summon a physician for Young Master Zhou Leng?¡± Zhou Qian seethed with anger, ¡°I want his life!¡± Kong Chuyang jumped, startled. ¡°Whose life?¡± ¡°Every few days, Zhou Jibo makes his way to the Zhengs to ingratiate himself with their daughters,¡± Zhou Qian stated icily. ¡°Keep a close watch on Zhou Jibo. Inform me the next time he visits the Zheng family.¡± Zhou Jibo? The prospect of vengeance lit up Kong Chuyang¡¯s face with glee. ¡°Absolutely, Great Elder. I¡¯ll have someone monitor Zhou Jibo right away!¡± Zhou Qian dismissed him with a wave and turned to Zhou Leng. ¡°Do you feel any better?¡± ¡°Once you¡¯ve dealt with Zhou Jibo, propose to Zheng Xunqin for me! I want to marry her,¡± Zhou Leng dered, the pain in his body momentarily forgotten. Zhou Qian¡¯s brow creased in concern. ¡°Zheng Xunqin? She seems overly cunning to me. You¡¯ve seen how she¡¯s yed Zhou Jibo. And you still wish to marry her?¡± Zhou Leng eagerly nodded. ¡°Yes, Father. I want her to be my wife!¡± Zhou Qian was reluctant, his resolve wavering. ¡°Father, once Zheng Xunqin is my wife, what will her petty schemes amount to before you?¡± Zhou Leng quickly ttered. A chuckle escaped Zhou Qian. ¡°Always the charmer with your words. Very well, after I take care of Zhou Jibo, you shall have your wish to marry Zheng Xunqin.¡± ¡°Thank you, Father!¡± ted, Zhou Leng rose to express his gratitude but copsed back onto the bed, wincing in agony. Zhou Qian¡¯s expression turned grim once more. ¡°Zhou Jibo, your end is imminent!¡± Click?? Click???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 6 C6 ¨C Mental Cultivation Method Zhou Jibo strolled back to his residence within the Zhou family¡¯s courtyard, a string of candied fruits in hand, having finished his shopping for the day. The quaint, antique charm of the streets had initially piqued his curiosity, but he soon grew ustomed to it. What really grabbed his attention were the items for sale that catered to cultivation. For instance, the Element Gathering Powder, priced at ten taels of silver, was steep for the average civilian, yet for Warriors, it was merely a consumable to marginally enhance their cultivation level. Cultivation manuals, on the other hand, demanded at least five hundred taels of silver¡ªa sum beyond the reach of a civilian family, even if they were to pool a lifetime of savings. Without the backing of a major n or a formidable force, the path of martial arts formoners was limited to scraping together only the most rudimentary of skills. ¡°The fabled pills ranging from first to ninth grade, and weapons of heaven, earth, ck, and yellow ranks, are nowhere to be found in all of Icefair City. Despite being home to the Zheng, Zhou, and the even more formidable Yu family, it remains a modest city at best.¡± With this newfoundyer of understanding, Zhou Jibo marveled at the expansiveness of the world and the wonders of martial arts cultivation. Savoring thest piece of candied fruit, he delighted in the pure, natural vors¡ªthe honey ze was particrly delectable. ¡°Young Master.¡± Ninghe, the young maid, peeked in through the doorway, concern in her voice. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Tossing the bamboo stick aside, Zhou Jibo greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Ninghe, what brings you to ask?¡± ¡°Young Master?¡± Ninghe responded, her expression one of confusion. She didn¡¯t grasp his meaning. ¡°Besides my parents, there are only three people who have free ess to my quarters¡ªFangyin, Ninghe, and my guard, Zhou Xiuyun. Where did you all disappear to this morning?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired with a calm detachment. How could they have allowed Zheng Xunqin to so easily waltz in and take his bone root? And Kong Chuyang to barge into his yard and create amotion without anyone intervening? Hearing his question, Ninghe quickly exined, ¡°Zhou Xiuyun mentioned that the rouge shop had received a shipment of high-quality cosmetics. He¡¯d managed to save up some money to buy some for Fangyin and me. We had to go early, or they would have been sold out.¡± Cosmetics? Zhou Jibo¡¯s innate potential was squandered due to a duplicitous guard and two naive, foolish maids who had ventured out to purchase makeup. ¡°Where are Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin? Summon them,¡± Zhou Jibomanded. ¡°I don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve gone. They were just with me a moment ago,¡± Ninghe replied, bewildered. From her response, Zhou Jibo pieced it all together. It turned out that Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin were the traitors; they had fled. Ninghe, left behind, was clueless¡ªstill unable to grasp the situation. The Zhou family¡¯s circumstances were dire. ¡°Request two trustworthy aides from my father to secure my courtyard. From now on, no one is to abandon their duty. Understood?¡± Zhou Jibo directed Ninghe. Ninghe might not have been sharp, but she waspliant. She promptly carried out his orders. Shortly thereafter, she returned with two guards, and together they bowed before Zhou Jibo. He instructed them to vigntly watch over the courtyard before he retreated to his room to focus on his cultivation. In today¡¯s sparring with Zhou Qian, Zhou Jibo had demonstrated superior martial skills. Yet, Zhou Qian¡¯s ninthyer Acquired realm prowess significantly outmatched Zhou Jibo¡¯s own fifthyer, in both reflexes and strength. Despite Zhou Jibo targeting his weaknesses, Zhou Qian managed to hastily adapt, leaving them at a stalemate. Zhou Qian was formidable, but his expertise was acknowledged only within the Zhou family. In Icefair City, he was merely a notch below those of the Innate realm. And Icefair City itself was a minor locale; the true martial arts masters never showed themselves here. Just how powerful was the Shrine of Astral Radiance that the Zheng family had allied with? And the Second Pce Holy Son? These thoughts pressed on Zhou Jibo, the urgency of time weighing on him. He had a staggering hundred million attribute points to im, yet diligent cultivation was essential. Only by advancing his cultivation level could he ess those points incrementally, steadily amassing strength. He was determined to bolster his power without dy! Within three months, Zhou Jibo needed to resolve his feud with the Zheng family before the arrival of the Shrine of Astral Radiance¡¯s emissary. To settle the score with the Zhengs, he first had to stabilize the tumultuous state of the Zhou family and rally everyone together. His sole method to achieve this was to enhance his martial prowess and eliminate those who defied him. Zhou Jibo channeled the Zhou family¡¯s medium-grade Yellow Rank mental cultivation method, with his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root amplifying its effects. Vitality converged within him, as if he were immersed in the soothing embrace of a warm spring. This rate of cultivation was nearly double that of his previous Earth Spirit low-grade bone root, producing vitality that was purer and devoid of any impurities. His original Earth Spirit low-grade bone root was a sign of genius Icefair City hadn¡¯t witnessed in over a decade. Now, his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root significantly outperformed the lower grade in his cultivation efforts. As the night swiftly passed, Zhou Jibo effortlessly advanced to the next cultivation level by dawn of the following day. Simultaneously, he received a notification from the system. ¡°Congrattions on reaching the sixthyer of the Acquired Stage. You have been awarded 100,000 attribute points.¡± With his cultivation ascended by oneyer, his physique became noticeably more robust and his internal vitality more substantial, enhancing the might of his Mountain Suppressing Palm technique. Should Zhou Jibo engage inbat with Zhou Qian as he did the day before, he was confident he would outmatch him. Yet, these were not his only rewards. Upon reaching the sixthyer of the Acquired Stage, he gained an additional 100,000 attribute points, adding to the 500,000 he had at the fifthyer. This meant that with each advancement in the Acquired Stage, he would gain 100,000 attribute points. ¡°Factoring in the previous 10,000 points, I now possess over 110,000 attribute points,¡± he reflected. After a brief contemtion, Zhou Jibo decided, ¡°Allocating 110,000 attribute points to bone root alone won¡¯t suffice. But if I invest them into the Zhou family¡¯s mental cultivation method and the Mountain Suppressing Palm, that should do the trick.¡± He then decided to enhance the Zhou family¡¯s mental cultivation technique first. His cultivation progressed remarkably quickly, thanks to his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root. Yet, merely employing the Zhou family¡¯s mental technique at the medium Yellow Rank wasn¡¯t sufficient to fully harness the vitality umted by his superior bone root. Clearly, this was an inadvertent squandering of his innate cultivation potential. ¡°Deducting 30,000 attribute points, the Zhou family¡¯s mental technique is now elevated to the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method, a low-grade Profound Rank technique.¡± A low-grade Profound Rank Dawn Mental Cultivation Method? Apletely new and more intricate mental technique materialized in Zhou Jibo¡¯s mind. This Dawn Mental Cultivation Method could more efficiently utilize the vitality amassed by the Earth Spirit top-grade bone root, bolstering Zhou Jibo¡¯s physical strength and vitality for a moreprehensive and detailed cultivation experience. He noticed a note indicating the possibility of further martial skill enhancements. Zhou Jibo opted to invest additional attribute points. ¡°Deducting 60,000 attribute points, the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method is now advanced to the Frost Mental Cultivation Method of the top-grade Profound Rank.¡± A top-grade Profound Rank Frost Mental Cultivation Method? A surge of tion washed over Zhou Jibo as he assimted the new technique¡¯s cirction method and effects from his mind. The Frost Mental Cultivation Method had such astonishing capabilities! Click?? Click???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 7 C7 ¨C Love from Parents Whether it was the medium-grade Yellow Rank Heart Cultivation Method of the Zhou family or the lower-grade Profound Rank Dawn Mental Cultivation Method, both could enhance the flow of vitality throughout his body. He could nourish his body with this vitality, which could be stored and circted within him. Without practicing a mental cultivation method, the vitality would fail to umte and be useless. If the method he practiced was of too low a quality, the utilization of vitality would be limited. Even with an excellent bone root, such as Zhou Jibo¡¯s top-grade Earth Spirit, his cultivation speed would be hard to improve when paired with a medium-grade Yellow Rank method from the Zhou family¡ªa ssic case of a high-level bone root mismatched with a low-level method. Now, the Frost Freezing Mental Cultivation Method not only made efficient use of the vitality gathered by Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root, but it also surpassed the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method in effectiveness. Additionally, this method had a new and unexpected function. When his vitality made contact with an enemy¡¯s body, it disrupted the flow of their vitality, causing their body and energy to stagnate as if encased in ice. Facing a sixthyer Acquired Warrior, if Zhou Jibo could maintain contact for ten breaths ornd more than ten strikes, he couldpletely immobilize the opponent¡¯s body with his vitality. The top-grade Profound Rank Frost Mental Cultivation Method granted him a formidable attack capability beyond his martial skills. It was clear that a superior mental cultivation method could overpower an inferior one. Zhou Jibo was ecstatic. He activated the Frost Freezing method and ced his hand on the teapot on the table. Vitality emanated from his palm, and within moments, the teapot was coated with ayer of frost. ¡°It requires time to take effect and direct contact with the enemy¡¯s body. This must be the extent of a top-grade Profound Rank mental cultivation method,¡± Zhou Jibo mused. Given the opportunity, he was eager to elevate his method further and discover the potent additional abilities that a higher-level mental cultivation method could offer. Regrettably, Zhou Jibo found himself with only a little over 20,000 attribute points remaining, which meant he could no longer enhance his Frost Freezing mental cultivation method. His only option was to allocate points to his Mountain Suppressing Palm technique. Zhou Jibo proceeded to assign the points. ¡°You have been deducted 14,000 attribute points. Your Mountain Suppressing Palm has advanced to the seventhyer,¡± announced the system notification. With this upgrade, Zhou Jibo gained a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the Mountain Suppressing Palm, refining his proficiency in the technique he already knew well. Should Zhou Qian engage Zhou Jibo inbat using his Gravel Palm again, Zhou Jibo was confident that not only could he expose more of Zhou Qian¡¯s weaknesses, but he could also employ the Frost Freezing method to diminish his opponent¡¯s strength. Thus, in a head-to-head confrontation, Zhou Jibo felt he could now match Zhou Qian blow for blow. Nevertheless, Zhou Jibo recognized that his power was still insufficient, as Zhou Qian wasn¡¯t even among the ranks of the truly formidable. Zhou Jibo¡¯s ambitions extended far beyond the immediate horizon. In the expansive world of martial arts, innumerable masters awaited, and a myriad of thrilling upheavals were bound to unfold. Icefair was merely a small city; how could its minor turbulence possibly hinder his progress? With his attribute points dwindling to under 10,000, Zhou Jibo, now at the sixthyer of the Acquired Realm, could no longer allocate points, yet his strength had more than doubled in just one day. He limbered up and opened the door, where his maid, Ninghe, promptly entered with hot water to assist him with his morning ablutions. Noticing her reddened, swollen eyes, Zhou Jibo inquired, ¡°Have you heard about what happened?¡± Choking back tears, Ninghe replied, ¡°Yes, Young Master. Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin fled the Zhou family yesterday to join others. I never imagined such a thing could happen. Just the day before, we were all cracking melon seeds and chatting together.¡± Despite her emotional state, Ninghe efficiently tended to Zhou Jibo¡¯s needs. Zhou Jibo wasn¡¯t taken aback by the news. The conversations with Ninghe and Zheng Xunqin¡¯s recent actions had already hinted at the betrayal. He got up and made his way to the front courtyard to greet his father, Zhou Kaile, and his mother, Qian Jiajia. They were both delighted and proud to witness their son, who had undergone a remarkable transformation in temperament and revealed an exceptional talent for martial skills just the day before. ¡°You¡¯ve done an excellent job, making your father proud for once! It¡¯s just that your father isn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed. Hecks talent, which is why he was overpowered by those three scoundrels.¡± As soon as Qian Jiajia saw him, she took Zhou Jibo¡¯s hand and urged, ¡°No more martial arts training today. Go spend the day with Xunqin.¡± Zhou Jibo felt a sense of resignation upon hearing this and thought to himself, ¡°Now I see why the original Zhou Jibo was so poor at martial skills. His days were consumed with trying to please Zheng Xunqin. His mother¡¯s overindulgence is to me.¡± ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s something else.¡± Zhou Kaile interjected as Qian Jiajia was about to send Zhou Jibo off to enjoy his day. ¡°Yesterday, you sent Ninghe to ask for my protection. After questioning Ninghe and investigating further, I discovered two traitors in your household. Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin may have fled, but I¡¯ve apprehended two other traitors based on their associations.¡± ¡°One refuses to confess, but the other has spilled everything. His story is quite preposterous, and you might not take kindly to it.¡± At that, Zhou Jibo asked, ¡°Preposterous? Is it about Zheng Xunqin?¡± Zhou Kaile¡¯s frown deepened at his response. ¡°Could it be that the spy¡¯s ims are actually true?¡± Qian Jiajia, overhearing this, couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s happening here? Weren¡¯t these spies sent by Zhou Qian? How does this implicate my future daughter-inw, Xunqin?¡± ¡°Future daughter-inw?¡± Zhou Jibo scoffed. ¡°Mother, you¡¯re unaware? Just yesterday, Zheng Xunqin and a Second Pce Holy Son from the Shrine of Astral Radiance infiltrated our Zhou family with the help of those spies. The Holy Son himself assured Zheng Xunqin that in three months, the Shrine¡¯s envoy would escort her to the Holy Land, as she now deems me unworthy of her.¡± ¡°What?¡± Qian Jiajia mmed her hand on the table, fuming. ¡°How dare Zheng Xunqin scorn my son like this! The Zheng family and the Holy Land conspire together and now they want to break off the engagement? Have they no sense of shame? They sought my son¡¯s hand in marriage because of his low-grade Earth Spirit bone root!¡± ¡°No, I must visit the Zheng family.¡± ¡°Hold off on going for now!¡± Zhou Kaile soothed Qian Jiajia, his face darkening with fury. He murmured, ¡°Something about the traitor¡¯s words struck me as odd. How could Zheng Xunqin possibly slip into my son¡¯s courtyard with a man? It¡¯s inconceivable. Now it all makes sense!¡± He spoke through gritted teeth, his fists tightening as he turned to Zhou Jibo, ¡°That woman is despicable! If you had ended things amicably, the men of our Zhou family wouldn¡¯t face obstacles in marrying in the future. Yet she dared to bring a man from the Holy Land to unt in our faces. We cannot stand for this!¡± Zhou Jibo felt deeply moved by his parents¡¯ rage. The love of parents is always so warm and pure, no matter the world. With a firm tone, Zhou Jibo reassured them, ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about me. I will resolve this issue within three months.¡± Qian Jiajia bit her lip, her concern evident, yet she held back her words. She feared that this ordeal might alter her son¡¯s disposition, causing him harm. Zhou Kaile spoke with resolve, ¡°I realized just yesterday that our son hase of age. We¡¯ll entrust this matter to him. Should he falter, there will still be time for us to step in.¡± Click?? Click???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 8 C8 ¨C He Wanted to Take Revenge First After hearing Zhou Kaile¡¯s words, Qian Jiajia refrained from trying to dissuade Zhou Jibo. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but repeatedly caution him against acting impulsively or taking unnecessary risks. Zhou Kaile had another piece of news for Zhou Jibo. Perhaps to demonstrate his loyalty, Zhou Shu, along with a few loyal aides, had pursued the fleeing Zhou Xiuyun and Fangyin through the night. Zhou Jibo was taken aback by this revtion. Zhou Shu¡¯s actions spoke volumes about his belief in Zhou Jibo¡¯s potential. Zhou Shu was a seasoned elder whose tactics were shrewd and calcted. Seeing histest move, Zhou Jibo found it hard to hold onto any grudges, even if Zhou Shu had previously aligned with Zhou Qian. ¡°He¡¯s quite the sly one,¡± Zhou Jibo remarked with a chuckle. ¡°But he¡¯s indeed valuable to us, so let¡¯s keep him around.¡± Both Zhou Kaile and Qian Jiajia smiled in agreement, nodding their heads. Until now, no one had shown such overt allegiance to Zhou Kaile. Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden uproar outside. A person burst in, panting, ¡°Patriarch, the elder has returned wounded!¡± Zhou Kaile and Zhou Jibo hastened to the front courtyard, where they found Zhou Shu holding his chest. He reported to Zhou Kaile, ¡°The traitors got away. I followed them close to the Zheng family¡¯s territory when two of their elders blocked my path and even inflicted these injuries on me! Why would they intervene like this?¡± ¡°The Zheng family?¡± Zhou Kaile eximed through gritted teeth. ¡°Not the Zheng family again! I¡¯ve had enough of their interference.¡± ¡°Take it easy,¡± Zhou Jibo interjected, ¡°We¡¯ll handle this methodically. Given the Zheng family¡¯s actions, I n to exact our revenge gradually over the next three months. With them united and us facing internal strife, a direct confrontation would be ill-advised.¡± Curiosity piqued by the mention of a n, the injured Zhou Shu inquired, ¡°What happened?¡± After learning about Zheng Xunqin and the Zheng family¡¯s betrayal, Zhou Shu¡¯s face flushed with fury. ¡°They¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll summon Zhou Chng, Zhou Shuang, and Zhou Qian immediately,¡± he dered, his voice seething with resolve. ¡°I refuse to believe that a united Zhou family can¡¯t overpower the Zheng family!¡± Zhou Jibo spoke with a grave tone, ¡°Elder Zhou Shu, if you¡¯re willing to trust me, please remain patient. There¡¯s no need to inform Zhou Qian and the rest; I¡¯m confident I can handle this situation.¡± Zhou Shu¡¯s expression was serious as he clutched his chest, ¡°Zhou Jibo, are you truly certain?¡± ¡°Absolutely. I haveplete confidence,¡± Zhou Jibo assured him withposure. Biting down on his resolve, Zhou Shu conceded, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll trust you this once. But my patience is limited. If you don¡¯t seed, we¡¯ll have to rally the entire Zhou family to confront the Zhengs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I question your abilities. I have no doubts about your potential. But this issue affects more than just your betrothed¡ªit¡¯s about the honor of our Zhou family!¡± ¡°If we lose face, the Zhou family could fall to the level of a non-influential n. When I pass away, I wouldn¡¯t be able to face our ancestors with such a disgrace!¡± Zhou Jibo remained silent, simply bowing in respect to Zhou Shu. After Zhou Shu left to tend to his injuries, Zhou Kaile was still seething with anger. With a smile, Zhou Jibo suggested to Zhou Kaile, ¡°Though it¡¯s not yet time to strike at the Zheng family, we can still release some steam. Father, here¡¯s what you can do.¡± Zhou Kaile, all ears, brightened up at the n. ¡°Excellent, let¡¯s proceed with that!¡± With a smile, Zhou Jibo departed from the mansion. Zhou Kaile and Qian Jiajia huddled together, plotting eagerly. Soon after, the Zhou family¡¯s servants sprang into action. A contingent departed from the Zhou residence, making their way toward the Zheng estate. Strolling down the street with a smile, Zhou Jibo was unperturbed by the Zhou family¡¯s unresolved internal strife or the malicious Zheng family. He felt as though he had everything firmly in his grasp. His serene and detached air allowed him to navigate the bustling marketce with an unhurried rhythm. Hurried passersby instinctively gave him room, as if he and theposed young master existed in separate realms. Indifferent to themon wares of the shops, Zhou Jibo briefly surveyed the street before arriving at Icefair¡¯srgest martial arts emporium, Glorious House. The shop boasted an array of goods, including mental cultivation methods, martial skills, Element Gathering Powder, and weaponry. The shop didn¡¯t stock any first-grade pills or weapons, yet it offered Element Gathering Powder, Bleeding Control Powder, and a variety of sharp weaponry. The most expensive mental cultivation method avable was the Low-Grade Yellow Rank ¡°Green Snake Heart Technique,¡± tagged at five thousand silver. Lesser mental cultivation methods ranged from five hundred to two thousand silver. Martial skills were simrly priced between five hundred and two thousand silver. Not a single Yellow Rank martial skill graced the shelves here. Zhou Jibo mulled over his options: The mental cultivation method wasn¡¯t immediately necessary. I can simply use my attribute points to enhance my mental cultivation level. Martial skills amounted to mere hand techniques. Could theyck sufficient power at times? Maybe I should look into a martial skill that incorporates weaponry. Abruptly, an angry voice from upstairs caught his attention, ¡°I¡¯ll purchase this knife to deal with Zhou Jibo. Let¡¯s see if he can keep up his smugness after that!¡± This was followed by a chorus of snickering. Zhou Jibo¡¯s eyebrows quirked. Zhou Zheyan and Zhou Tong? As sons of the Third and Fourth Elders, what could possibly fuel their animosity towards him? If Zhou Qian could defeat the Patriarch in a duel, he would assume the role of the new Patriarch. Zhou Leng, as the legitimate eldest son of the new Patriarch, was poised to be the next in line. Both were elder¡¯s sons; where did such deep-seated resentment and conflicts of interest stem from? With a smile, Zhou Jibo ascended the stairs. Upstairs, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, along with Zhou Tong¡¯s brother Zhou Xunshi, and sister Zhou Youqing were all present. They were chuckling as they brandished a slightly curved long knife, seemingly deliberating which part of Zhou Jibo to target. ¡°Have you made your selection?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired, grinning. Zhou Tong spun around, dropping the long knife to the floor, ¡°Zhou Jibo? What brings you here? When did you arrive?¡± ¡°Right when you were plotting to give me a taste of that knife,¡± Zhou Jibo replied, still smiling. The faces of Zhou Tong, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Xunshi, and Zhou Youqing darkened. ¡°Cat got your tongues?¡± Zhou Jibo prodded. With a huff, Zhou Tong retorted, ¡°We¡¯re leaving!¡± The group of four was on the verge of departing when a voice called out. ¡°Hold on.¡± It was Zhou Jibo speaking. Zhou Tong halted. ¡°What¡¯s up? You got something else?¡± ¡°Pick up the knife you tossed aside. Glorious House needs to keep doing business,¡± Zhou Jibo said, a smile ying on his lips. Zhou Tong retorted with irritation, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? I won¡¯t do it!¡± He was ready to lead the others out when Zhou Jibo stepped forward, his palm striking Zhou Tong¡¯s shoulder with deceptive speed. Zhou Tong tried to evade, but to no avail. His cultivation was only at the fourthyer of Acquired, and he had mastered just the firstyer of Gravel Palm. He couldn¡¯t fend off Zhou Jibo¡¯s move. In a calm tone, Zhou Jibomanded Zhou Tong, ¡°Follow my instructions.¡± Click?? Click???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 9 C9 ¨C Conquer the Same Generation Zhou Tong was tempted to talk tough, but he couldn¡¯t ignore the creeping chill on one side of his body. Zhou Jibo¡¯s calm tone sent a shiver of danger down his spine. With his younger siblings close by, Zhou Tong grumbled under his breath, refusing to concede. He retrieved the knife, ced it back in its spot, and massaged his icy shoulder. Then, he turned to leave. ¡°Stop,¡± Zhou Jibomanded. ¡°What now?¡± Zhou Tong snapped back, irritation in his voice. Zhou Jibo offered a smile. ¡°Come over here. Let¡¯s talk, heart to heart.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing to discuss with you,¡± Zhou Tong began, but the icy shift in Zhou Jibo¡¯s gaze made him reconsider mid-sentence. Fear still gnawing at him, he amended his approach, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen. What¡¯s there to talk about?¡± ¡°We actually have nothing to discuss,¡± Zhou Jibo said with a slight smile. ¡°I just want to make it clear to you: don¡¯t follow in our father¡¯s misguided footsteps and lead yourself astray.¡± What? Anger flushed Zhou Tong¡¯s face, and Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Xunshi, and Zhou Youqing all mirrored his reaction. Zhou Jibo was outright dismissing their fathers¡¯ beliefs right in front of them. How could they not seethe with rage? ¡°Zhou Jibo, don¡¯t think you can strut around just because you¡¯re more advanced in your cultivation!¡± Zhou Tong yelled. Zhou Jibo chuckled. ¡°Sorry, but it¡¯s precisely my higher level of cultivation that allows me to be so assertive.¡± Zhou Tong was taken aback, not expecting such a brazen admission. He found himself at a loss for words. In a world where strength ruled, if the powerful couldn¡¯t dominate the weak, what was the point of striving for power? Zhou Jibo knew they didn¡¯t grasp his point, and their dumbfounded silence was satisfying. ¡°Why do I say your father is mistaken?¡± Zhou Jibo pressed on. ¡°Firstly, whether they seed or fail, they remain the Third and Fourth Elders, and you are their offspring. None of you are in line to be the Patriarch. What exactly are you plotting? Are you all just blindly following Zhou Qian¡¯s lead?¡± ¡°Secondly, if your fathers refrain from causing trouble, the Zhou family remains strong, and you stand as the proud children of the Third and Fourth Elders. But if they stir up chaos, the Zhou family weakens, and they be the Elders of a diminished n, with you as their less esteemed children. Tell me, is there any honor in that?¡± In the end, what have you achieved? A fragmented Zhou family riddled with weakness and internal conflict, and a status that invites nothing but disdain from others.¡± ¡°Sure, Zhou Qian unleashed his fury when he took over as patriarch, but how does that affect you? Your only gain is a diminished and scorned Zhou family.¡± Initially seething with anger, Zhou Tong, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Xunshi, and Zhou Youqing gradually fell silent, exchanging bewildered nces. Could it be true? Is that really the situation? Had they truly erred in backing the Great Elder? Zhou Jibo refrained from furtherment and casually wandered the second floor of the Glorious House. It wasn¡¯t much different from the first¡ªjust a bit tidier, with many of the same items on offer. Uninterested in mental cultivation methods and finding no first-grade pills or weapons, Zhou Jibo resolved to select a martial skill suitable for the weapons he envisioned wielding in the future. Wolf Fangs? A massive cleaver? Those seemed excessively crude. He pondered the inconvenience of such bulky armaments. Sword techniques, on the other hand, or even spear skills, were more his style¡ªeasy to carry and capable ofpensating for his limited attack range. Though these martial skills were hardly top-tier, Zhou Jibo was unfazed. With his astronomical attribute points as a foundation, he could elevate these basic techniques to advanced levels in time. Meanwhile, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and the others lingered, murmuring among themselves, ¡°He might have a point.¡± ¡°Our families really haven¡¯t benefited from siding with the Great Elder.¡± ¡°We¡¯re at a loss too. Let¡¯s discuss this with our father when we get home.¡± Zhou Youqing, the youngest at thirteen, had initially shared her brothers¡¯ stance. But now, she approached with a hint of uncertainty, ¡°Jibo, you seem to be onto something. What are you nning to buy today?¡± ¡°Find a martial skill book for weapon use,¡± instructed Zhou Jibo. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t in a mocking mood, Zhou Youqing smiled, gestured for Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and Zhou Xunshi to join them. The three of them initially felt somewhat uneasy, but as the conversation flowed, they warmed up to each other. Being peers of a simr age, the initial chilliness soon melted away. Before they knew it, all four had gathered around Zhou Jibo, engrossed in discussing the merchandise at the Glorious House. After some time, Zhou Youqing spoke up, ¡°Jibo, you¡¯re not the conceited person Zhou Leng made you out to be. You didn¡¯t mock our bone root. I actually think you¡¯re quite decent. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Previously, Zhou Tong and the others would have disagreed, but now they paused, reflecting, and nodded in assent. Their recent amiable exchange had given them a new perspective on Zhou Jibo, casting doubt on the negative things they¡¯d heard from Zhou Leng and others. The more they pondered Zhou Jibo¡¯s earlier words, the more their opinions shifted. ¡°By the way, Jibo, why aren¡¯t you and Zheng Xunqin out on a date today?¡± Zhou Youqing inquired further, ¡°It¡¯s been three years since your engagement; surely the wedding is just around the corner?¡± Married? Zhou Jibo chuckled, ¡°I won¡¯t be marrying her. We¡¯ve gone our separate ways.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Youqing gasped, taken aback, and Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and Zhou Xunshi were equally stunned. Everyone in Icefair knew of this couple; Zhou Jibo¡¯s profound affection for Zheng Xunqin was no secret to the Zhou family. How could they have suddenly parted ways? ¡°You¡¯re not pulling our leg, are you, Jibo?¡± Zhou Youqing asked, still half in disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Zhou Jibo assured her. ¡°But why? Would the Patriarch approve?¡± Zhou Youqing pressed for an exnation. ¡°She was overly maniptive, nting spies in our Zhou family. Her intentions were not pure. So, I informed my father and ended things with her,¡± Zhou Jibo exined. Hearing this, Zhou Youqing and the others exchanged bewildered nces. They had always known Zheng Xunqin to be the epitome of grace and gentleness; they never imagined she had such a duplicitous side. And Zhou Jibo, he wasn¡¯t known for being so resolute, was he? As the four were deep in conversation, a wave of mor spilled in from outside. Zhou Youqing peered out and saw the Zhou family members returning from the Zhengs. After some familiar faces inquired about the situation, they erupted into astonished uproar. Within moments, the news that the Zhou family had issued a letter of divorce to the Zhengs spread throughout Icefair City. ¡°Is it really true? Jibo, you have my utmost admiration!¡± Zhou Youqing called out. Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and Zhou Xunshi all voiced their respect in turn. They wouldn¡¯t dare to do something as bold as disrupting a marriage alliance between two families. Seeing their reactions, Zhou Jibo allowed himself a slight smile. With this, only the most stubborn of the Zhou family¡¯s internal strife remained¡ªthe toughest nut to crack. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 10 C10 ¨C The Reactions of the Various Parties Zhou Qian and Zhou Leng were steadfast in their pursuit of the Patriarch¡¯s position, making them utterly upromising. Simrly, Zhou Zhenbo and Zhou Chaide proved difficult to sway, having long stood by Zhou Qian¡¯s side as wary and seasoned warriors. Today, Zhou Jibo impressed the offspring of both the Third and Fourth Elders, hoping they would ry his message to their respective parents. These children, having no deep-seated interests tying them to Zhou Qian, chose to follow Zhou Jibo, who disyed a willingness to let bygones be bygones. Thus, they found no reason to maintain their unwavering loyalty to Zhou Qian. In a mere two days, thanks to Zhou Jibo¡¯s decisive actions, the Patriarch¡¯s faction had seeded in isting the Great Elder, Zhou Qian. Now, their focus shifts to rallying the Zhou family¡¯s strength for a confrontation with the Zheng family. The letter of severance they issued was nothing short of a preemptive deration of war. Leading a group of five, Zhou Jibo lingered at the Glorious House, still undecided on the martial skill he needed. It was then that the beaming shopkeeper approached them briskly, announcing, ¡°Esteemed Zhou family guests, Ie bearing great news!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± inquired Zhou Tong. ¡°Our Glorious House has sessfully persuaded the Myriad Treasure Auction House to host an auction here in Icefair City, right in our establishment, just three days from now!¡± the shopkeeper dered with excitement. ¡°There will be auctions for first-grade pills and weapons, Yellow Rank mental cultivation methods and martial skills, and even items of the Profound Rank!¡± ¡°Profound Rank items?¡± Zhou Tong¡¯s excitement was palpable. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely be there to witness the spectacle and broaden my horizons!¡± Turning to Zhou Jibo, he suggested, ¡°We should go together, don¡¯t you think?¡± Zhou Jibo nodded in agreement, ¡°Sure.¡± He then pondered aloud to the shopkeeper, ¡°This news will reach all the major and minor families in Icefair City, won¡¯t it?¡± The shopkeeper chuckled, ¡°Indeed, Icefair City seldom witnesses such a grand asion. I¡¯ve already notified the Yu, Zheng, Han, and Zhou families. By now, they should be well aware of it.¡± ¡°You have a knack for looking after all the families, shopkeeper. You¡¯re quite the savvy businessman.¡± Zhou Jibo remarked offhandedly before he, along with Zhou Tong and the other three, made their way back to the Zhou residence. Given the uing auction, he wasn¡¯t in a rush to acquire martial skills here. He preferred to wait and explore superior martial skills at the auction event. At the Zhou estate¡¯s entrance, the messengers who had delivered the annulment to the Zheng family were still present, animatedly discussing the day¡¯s thrilling events. Zhou Jibo nced at them with a hint of disinterest and said, ¡°What¡¯s the gathering for? Get back to your duties.¡± The group quickly responded, ¡°Yes, Young Master Zhou!¡± and scurried off to attend to their tasks. Following Zhou Jibo, Zhou Tong and the others couldn¡¯t help but marvel at his effortlessposure and inherent authority, which naturallymanded obedience from the servants and guards. They wondered, how could Zhou Jibo seem even more formidable than the Patriarch himself? After returning to their respective branches, Zhou Tong and the others didn¡¯t linger and promptly sought out their fathers. The Third Elder, upon hearing the day¡¯s ount from Zhou Tong, Zhou Xunshi, and Zhou Youqing, appeared concerned. ¡°Do you really prefer to follow Zhou Jibo¡¯s lead?¡± ¡°Yes, Zhou Jibo seems more capable, and he¡¯s a decent person too,¡± Zhou Youqing exined. ¡°Zhou Leng is always bad-mouthing Zhou Jibo when he¡¯s with us. Yet, when Zhou Jibo is with us, he never speaks ill of the Great Elder or Zhou Leng.¡± Zhou Tong and Zhou Xunshi nodded in agreement. Still undecided, the Third Elder mused, ¡°Zhou Kaile isn¡¯t one for cunning, but his son is quite astute and carries himself with distinction. I¡¯ve been close with Zhou Qian since our youth, and now Zhou Jibo has ended his engagement with the Zheng family. Without their backing, can his household maintain the Patriarch¡¯s seat?¡± On the other side, the Fourth Elder gazed at his son, Zhou Zheyan, finding himself equally trapped in a difficult position. Between Zhou Qian, Zhou Kaile, and the exceptionally talented Zhou Jibo, whose side should he take? Meanwhile, in a different wing of the Zhou family estate, Zhou Qian was hearing out Kong Chuyang¡¯s report. His eyes narrowed, emitting a frosty gleam. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that Zhou Jibo, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and the others returned all smiles?¡± ¡°Yes, Great Elder,¡± Kong Chuyang replied, ¡°I never had the opportunity to act while Zhou Zheyan and the rest were present, which is why I didn¡¯t report earlier.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now.¡± Zhou Qian¡¯s voice was icy as he spoke to the visibly shocked Kong Chuyang, ¡°Their loyalty is no longer my concern. They are my brothers, and I never imagined they would waver.¡± ¡°An Earth Spirit of low-grade bone root, mastering the Gravel Palm technique even better than I¡ªdo you all really rate Zhou Jibo¡¯s talent so highly?¡± His tone wasced with an unmistakable intent to kill, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then it¡¯s you who have forced my hand!¡± ¡°If you favor him, then I will see him destroyed, and the Zhou family with him. What I cannot have, I would rather see in ruins.¡± ¡°Great Elder.¡± Kong Chuyang shuddered, a chill running down his spine. What exactly was the Great Elder nning? ¡°We¡¯ll pay a visit to the Yu family. As the current leading family of Icefair City, I¡¯m curious to know what they¡¯ll think about a new genius emerging from the once-dominant Zhou family.¡± With a sneer, the Great Elder strode out, his mind made up. They had driven him to this! In the Zheng family¡¯s grand hall, located in the northern part of Icefair City, everyone¡¯s faces were grim, their eyes fixed on the divorce decree in Zheng Huai¡¯s grasp. The shame was unbearable! The Zheng family, on the verge of bing an affiliated family to the Holy Land, had been publicly humiliated by the Zhou family! Zheng Xunqin, now the woman scorned by divorce, would henceforth carry a blemish on her reputation throughout Icefair City. ¡°Father!¡± Zheng Xunqin¡¯s frame shook as she bit down on her teeth, ¡°I cannot stand for this!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± cried the other members of the Zheng family. Zheng Huai spoke with an icy tone, ¡°If you can¡¯t stand it, neither can I. Fellow nsmen, in three months¡¯ time, when the emissary from the Holy Land arrives, it will mark the end of the Zhou family!¡± ¡°I will utterly decimate the Zhou family!¡± ¡°Exactly! We¡¯ll decimate the Zhou family!¡± The Zheng family members were seething with rage as they shouted. Zheng Xunqin joined in the outcry, but inexplicably, the image of Zhou Jibo surfaced in her mind once more. That same Zhou Jibo who always gazed at her with a vacant, goofy smile, who was always eager to go shopping with her. Zhou Jibo, it was I who wronged you first. Yet, since you¡¯ve shamed me to this extent, the only way I can cleanse the stain from my honor is to end you. Why did you have to act this way? You were already stripped of your bone root by me, doomed to be nothing more than waste. Why did you have to emerge and block my path to sess? Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 11 C11 ¨C Increase the Points of Element Gathering Powder ¡°Wee back, Young Master,¡± greeted Ninghe as Zhou Jibo stepped into the small courtyard. ¡°Elder Zhou Shuang has sent over five batches of Element Gathering Powder for your cultivation needs.¡± Zhou Shuang? Zhou Jibo allowed himself a wry smile. Another shrewd elder. If he could win over the Third and Fourth Elders, forgiving their hesitations was trivial. The Zhou family¡¯s unity was paramount; minor schemes were inconsequential. The five batches of Element Gathering Powder, worth fifty silver taels, were a decent token indeed. After changing and dining, Zhou Jibo turned his attention to the Element Gathering Powder. As he picked up a batch, the system chimed in, ¡°Element Gathering Powder increases ten days¡¯ worth of vitality from cultivation. It contains impurities, which are detrimental to the bone root over time.¡± Points could be added to this too! What a pleasant surprise. He wondered why there had been no such notifications at the Glorious House. Then it dawned on him: those items weren¡¯t his, hence unrecognized by the system, and without notifications. Now, owning these five batches of Element Gathering Powder, he could enhance them. ¡°Add points,¡± Zhou Jibo resolved to test the effects. With fewer than ten thousand attribute points remaining, he was unsure how often he could do this. ¡°One hundred attribute points deducted. Element Gathering Powder is now Premium Quality, with impurities removed, posing no threat to the bone root, and doubling the vitality yield to twenty days.¡± The impurities were gone, the bone root safe, and the benefits improved. His eyes lingered on thebel ¡°Add attribute points¡± on the Premium Quality Element Gathering Powder. He proceeded. ¡°Five hundred attribute points deducted. Premium Quality Element Gathering Powder is now upgraded to a First Grade Acquired Stage Essence Gathering Pill. When utilized by someone in the Acquired Stage, it enhances two months¡¯ worth of vitality from cultivation.¡± The Element Gathering Powder had transformed into a pale yellow pill, exuding a medicinal scent. It was a first-grade Acquired Essence Gathering Pill, the first of its grade that Zhou Jibo had ever encountered. At the sixthyer of the Acquired Stage, this was the most potent pill Zhou Jibo could safely use. Adding more attribute points might yield better pills, but the overwhelming medicinal power could prove too much for him to handle. Zhou Jibo enhanced four more sets of Element Gathering Powder to first-grade Acquired Essence Gathering Pills using attribute points. Consuming one, hemenced his cultivation. The pill¡¯s warm, surging power gently unfolded within him, as Zhou Jibo¡¯s Earth Spirit top-grade bone root began to amass vitality, all while he practiced the Profound Rank top-grade Frost Mental Cultivation Method. Aided by the pill¡¯s strength and a rush of vitality, Zhou Jibo¡¯s progress in mere moments surpassed that of many days of arduous cultivation. After several hours of dedicated practice, Zhou Jibo felt a significant increase in his vitality. Except for some residual medicinal power yet to be fully absorbed, he had reached the day¡¯s cultivation peak. Having nothing else to do after a night¡¯s rest, Zhou Jibo used up the remaining medicinal power from the previous day and ingested another Acquired Essence Gathering Pill, digesting a substantial portion of its strength. Pushing his cultivation to the brink, Zhou Jibo realized that the past two days of continuous consumption and digestion of the Acquired Essence Gathering Pills,bined with his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root and the relentless application of the Profound Rank mental cultivation method, amounted to the equivalent of months of intense training. Without realizing it, he had pushed his sixthyer of the Acquired Realm to its limit and was on the cusp of breaking through to the seventhyer. The convergence of his talent, cultivation method, and the pill had an unexpectedly formidable effect. This revtion was a delightful surprise, bolstering Zhou Jibo¡¯s confidence in his forting endeavors. The Zhou family¡¯s dispatch of a divorce letter to the Zheng family had be the talk of Icefair City. To address this looming issue, Zhou Jibo knew he needed to achieve a higher level of cultivation. Another day had passed, and Zhou Jibo was in his room practicing a top-grade Profound Rank mental cultivation method. He channeled vitality throughout his entire body, feeling it cleanse and strengthen him with each cycle. Meanwhile, his vitality steadily increased. Before he knew it, he had reached the pinnacle of the Acquired Realm¡¯s sixthyer. With another cirction, his vitality shattered a certain barrier, propelling him into a new minor realm¡ªthe firstyer of the seventh. Zhou Jibo had ascended to the Seventh Layer of the Acquired Realm. Simultaneously, a voice announced, ¡°Congrattions on reaching the Seventh Layer of the Acquired Realm. You have earned 100,000 attribute points.¡± With these 100,000 attribute points, Zhou Jibo could enhance his bone root, but it wouldn¡¯t be sufficient. He could upgrade his mental cultivation method once, and his Mountain Suppressing Palm martial skill several times. Yet, Zhou Jibo had his own strategy and wasn¡¯t rushing to allocate his points. The auction at Glorious House was set for tomorrow, and he nned to select a martial skill that resonated with him. There would be time to assign points afterward. Now, with the Frost Mental Cultivation Method and the seventhyer of the Mountain Suppressing Palm, Zhou Jibo could match Zhou Qian of the ninthyer inbat. Still, to achieve the dominance he envisioned, he needed a broader attack range¡ªa weapon and a corresponding martial skill that would give him an overwhelming edge over Zhou Qian. With this in mind, Zhou Jibo decided not to rush with his points, opting to save the newly acquired 100,000 attribute points for future use. After a full day¡¯s cultivation, Zhou Jibo solidified his mastery of the seventhyer and honed his Mountain Suppressing Palm technique. In the courtyard, Zhou Jibo stepped and swung his palms with agility and vigor. Caught up in the thrill of practice, he summoned two fifthyer Acquired Realm guards for a sparring session. The guards, unaware of Zhou Jibo¡¯s recent breakthroughs, assumed he was still at the fifthyer and approached the bout with caution. But as the fightmenced, they quickly realized they were outmatched. Zhou Jibo seemed to anticipate every weakness in the Gravel Palm technique as if he knew it inside out. With a casual raise of his hand, he struck effortlessly, hitting their vulnerabilities with ease. The two guards exerted their full strength in their Gravel Palm, yet Zhou Jibo¡¯s strikesnded with rxed precision. ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re incredibly skilled!¡± Ninghe cheered, watching in awe from the sidelines. The guards stepped back, gasping for breath as they conceded to Zhou Jibo, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re formidable. We stand no chance against you!¡± In the midst of their conversation, Zhou Kaile and Qian Jiajia just so happened to walk by the courtyard entrance. Witnessing the scene, Zhou Kaile felt the urge to test his skills. ¡°Zhou Jibo, I¡¯ve yet to fully witness your palm technique. Allow me to experience what sets apart the low-grade Yellow Rank Gravel Palm Technique!¡± With a smile, Zhou Jibo engaged in a friendly exchange of moves with his father, neither using their vitality. Zhou Kaile maintained a smile initially, but after only three moves, his expression turned to one of astonishment. Following two more exchanges, his face mirrored the shock of encountering the inconceivable. Taking a step back, Zhou Kaile halted the sparring session. ¡°Does this low-grade Yellow Rank palm technique truly possess such formidable power? Every time I initiate a move with my Gravel Palm, it¡¯s preempted and countered, targeting the weak points. How can this be?¡± Internally, Zhou Jibo chuckled. The Mountain Suppressing Palm was a seventhyer Profound Rank martial skill, evolved from the Gravel Palm Technique. He knew the Gravel Palm so thoroughly thatplete suppression was only logical. Zhou Kaile was about to speak again, but Qian Jiajia couldn¡¯t stand by any longer. She quickly pulled him away to leave. They couldn¡¯t possibly reveal Zhou Jibo¡¯s cultivation secrets to others. Qian Jiajia vividly remembered the incident with the traitor close to Zhou Jibo! Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 12 C12 ¨C Auction Early the next morning, Zhou Youqing and hispanions, Zhou Xunshi, Zhou Tong, and Zhou Jibo, headed to the Glorious Martial House to attend the Myriad Treasure Auction House event. As they reached the entrance, they were joined by Zhou Zheyan, the son of the Fourth Elder. Together, they made their way to the Medicine Merchant House. Icefair City was quite small, and since all five were young Acquired Stage Warriors, they opted to walk, chatting andughing as they went. They arrived at the Glorious House without feeling the least bit weary. Upon entering the Glorious House, Zhou Jibo caught sight of a familiar face¡ªKong Chuyang, the Great Elder¡¯s manager, who was watching him intently. When Kong Chuyang noticed Zhou Jibo looking back, he quickly averted his gaze and disappeared into the crowd. Zhou Jibo¡¯s instincts kicked in. Kong Chuyang¡¯s scrutiny could only mean that the Great Elder himself was keeping tabs on him. The recent events, where he had influenced the Elder, Third Elder, and Fourth Elder to reconsider their stance, must have left the Great Elder restless. Zhou Qian, the Great Elder, was gearing up for a move. If not for Zhou Jibo¡¯s recent breakthrough, which had honed his senses, he might not have noticed the surveince. ¡°Have the Great Elder and Zhou Leng sought you out in the past couple of days?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired of Zhou Tong and the others. They shook their heads. ¡°No.¡± No? Did the Great Elder not feel the need to secure the Third and Fourth Elders¡¯ loyalty? Where was his confidenceing from? Zhou Jibo was puzzled but pressed on, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with the Third and Fourth Elders?¡± ¡°My father hasn¡¯t mentioned anything,¡± replied Zhou Youqing. Zhou Zheyan added, ¡°The same goes for my father.¡± Their silence was telling. They had neither opposed nor endorsed the recent developments, signaling a shift in their stance. ¡°Actually,¡± Zhou Zheyan interjected, ¡°my father mentioned yesterday that the Great Elder¡¯s actions were not honorable. How can we justify using the Yu family¡¯s influence for our n¡¯s internal matters?¡± The Yu family? The current leading family in Icefair City? Zhou Jibo let out a coldugh. He now understood the source of the Great Elder¡¯s confidence¡ªhe had secured such a powerful ally. ¡°It seems our Zhou family has be a tempting morsel, with everyone eager to take a bite,¡± Zhou Jibo remarked coolly, etching the matter in his memory. He then led Zhou Tong and the other three into the Glorious House. The Glorious House had transformed since three days prior. The vendor stalls were gone, reced by elegant decorations. Tables and chairs were arranged across the first, second, and third floors, awaiting the arrival of guests. The first-floor hall was open to all visitors and buzzed with activity. The second and third floors catered to those of certain standing in Icefair City. Ordinary merchants, minor families, and local officials gathered in the designated auction area. Members of Icefair City¡¯s prominent families and affluent merchants observed the auction from the third floor. Unlike the guests below, they simply had to signal the Glorious House attendants to ce their bids. Any hesitation could mean missing out on desired items, as bids from the first and second floors were processed slower than those from the third, despite offering the same price. The separation by floors was an epted disy of one¡¯s social rank, an unspoken understanding among the attendees. Zhou Jibo and hispanions ascended to the third floor, where they found a familiar figure seated in the Zhou family¡¯s designated area¡ªElder Zhou Chng. Zhou Chng rose with a weing smile upon their arrival. Zhou Jibo was taken aback to find him alone. Once seated, Zhou Chng spoke softly, ¡°To bid in the auction, we¡¯d need substantial funds. But our Zhou family is in disarray, and the whereabouts of our money is unknown. The patriarch, for one, has very little to his name.¡± ¡°Therefore, it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t appear interested. You five youths should simply observe. As it stands, weck the resources to acquire these prized items.¡± Zhou Jibo gave a nod of acknowledgment. He had his own means to acquire martial skills and didn¡¯t need to rely on the Zhou family¡¯s wealth. Zhou Youqing, listening in, couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity. ¡°Elder Zhou Chng, has our Zhou family really be that impoverished?¡± ¡°We¡¯re beyond impoverished. We¡¯re weak and riddled with infighting,¡± Zhou Chng whispered. ¡°Your father is stubbornly siding with Zhou Qian, challenging the patriarch. Our family is on the brink of losing ess to the third floor, relegated to mingling with the lesser families on the second.¡± Zhou Youqing, Zhou Tong, and the others felt a chill at the thought. This was a scenario they desperately hoped to avoid. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to our father as soon as I return. We must put the family first,¡± dered Zhou Tong, his voice firm. Zhou Zheyan nodded in agreement. ¡°I will too.¡± Zhou Chng and Zhou Jibo exchanged a knowing smile, nodding in approval. Zhou Qian was now thoroughly ostracized within the Zhou family. Just then, a man with a dark expression led ten maids, each holding items concealed by red cloth, to the group. Surveying the third-floor crowd, he announced, ¡°My name is Yan Yuanlu, at the secondyer of the Innate Stage. I am in charge of today¡¯s Myriad Treasure Auction House proceedings here in Icefair City.¡± At his words, a murmur rippled through the crowd. Zhou Youqing whispered in awe, ¡°He¡¯s an Innate Stage master.¡± Yan Yuanlu¡¯s deration quickly reached the ears of those on the first and second floors, stirring up a buzz of excitement. ¡°An Innate Stage master!¡± ¡°We only have two Innate Stage masters in all of Icefair City!¡± ¡°Both the casten and the Yu family patriarch are Innate Stage as well.¡± Yan Yuanlu looked on with a hint of scorn. To him, this ce was pitifully provincial. In the capital, those of the Innate Stage were merely elite guards for the great families, ordinary disciples in the sects, and in the Holy Land, they wouldn¡¯t even qualify as ordinary disciples. ¡°Also present at today¡¯s auction is the esteemed Forgemaster, Elder Wang Sibo. His mastery in refining is unparalleled, capable of crafting Profound Rank weapons and other mystical items. Furthermore, he is a Soul Separation Stage expert.¡± Yan Yuanlu spoke once more, bowing respectfully to a particr seat before him. A Soul Separation Stage expert! Had Icefair City ever witnessed a master of such caliber? This time, even the distinguished individuals on the third floor found themselves unable to remain seated, their gazes collectively drawn to that figure. Seated there was an elder in a green robe, his short beard graying, yet he made no move to rise and acknowledge the assembly. Next to him sat a young girl in white, her face round and her eyesrge, exuding liveliness and charm. She stood with a beaming smile, surveyed the room, and then settled back down to yfully tease the Forgemaster, Wang Sibo. ¡°Grandpa, you cut such an imposing figure.¡± Wang Sibo simply pinched his beard andughed in response, offering no words. ¡°The Casten has arrived!¡± A voice rang out from the first floor, silencing the crowd momentarily. Within moments, the bustling noise resumed, and Lang Shen made his entrance. Yan Yuanlu and Lang Shen exchanged a customary gesture of respect. Wang Sibo rose and offered a slight nod in acknowledgment. Once the Casten was seated, Yan Yuanlu stepped aside. A quick-witted auctioneer took center stage, dering themencement of the auction. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 13 C13 ¨C Purchase ¡°The first item up for auction is a medicinal pill, a first-grade Acquired Essence Gathering Pill.¡± ¡°This pill possesses several times the potency of the Element Gathering Powder and won¡¯t impact one¡¯s bone root with impurities, making it ideal for the Acquired Warriors of Icefair.¡± The auctioneer unveiled a pale yellow pill beneath the red cloth on the tray. For Lang Shen, the Innate Stage Casten of Icefair, the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill was of no use. But for the others, it was undoubtedly a wondrous medicine, especially for the many warriors in Icefair who had never beforeid eyes on such a legendary pill. ¡°Bidding starts at one hundred taels of silver. Please ce your bids,¡± announced the auctioneer. No sooner had he spoken than bids began to fly. ¡°Two hundred taels of silver!¡± called out a voice. ¡°Three hundred taels of silver!¡± came another. The bidding was a cacophony ofpeting offers until, momentster, the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill sold for eight hundred taels of silver. Zhou Chng, ever the well-informed, shared some insights with Zhou Jibo and the others. ¡°Typically, this Acquired Essence Gathering Pill retails for no more than three to four hundred taels of silver in the capital¡¯s pill shops. The fact that it fetched eight hundred taels here is a testament to the auction¡¯s fervor and the novelty of the pill to many in Icefair¡­¡± ¡°The recent bids were from the Yu family¡¯s Third Elder and a steward from the Zheng family. Though both families are present at the auction, their Patriarchs did not attend.¡± Zhou Jibo listened intently, his eyes scanning the Zheng and Yu families. The Great Elder had tasked Kong Chuyang with watching him, his ill intentions clear as day. The Zheng family was a confirmed adversary, and the Yu family¡¯s stance was still unclear, but likely also hostile. It was clear to him that he needed to utilize his 100,000 attribute points soon to bolster his strength. ¡°Coming up next, we have a mental cultivation method, the top-grade Yellow Rank Fallen Leaf Technique!¡± The auctioneer¡¯s voice boomed, stirring up a fresh wave of excitement across all three floors of the Glorious House. Zhou Jibo, however, was hardly intrigued. He rose from his seat amidst the din of bidding and made his way to the edge of the crowd, where he quietly spoke to the Glorious House¡¯s shopkeeper. The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Jibo gave a firm nod. Without hesitation, the shopkeeper strode over to Yan Yuanlu at the Myriad Treasure Auction House and whispered something into his ear. Yan Yuanlu approached with a skeptical frown, eyeing Zhou Jibo critically. ¡°You¡¯re looking to sell martial skills and mental cultivation methods?¡± Again, Zhou Jibo nodded. ¡°I have the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method, a low-grade Profound Rank, and the Mountain Splitting Palm, a medium-grade Yellow Rank martial skill. What kind of offer can you make?¡± Zhou Jibo had acquired these skills while enhancing his own abilities, but they were now surplus to requirements since he had obtained the higher-grade Frost Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Suppressing Palm. It was the perfect opportunity to trade them for more useful martial skills and weapons. ¡°Do you truly possess a Profound Rank mental cultivation method?¡± Yan Yuanlu asked, his skepticism palpable. The Glorious House shopkeeper wisely stepped aside, giving them space. Zhou Jibo recited a few lines from the mental cultivation method and the palm technique from memory. Yan Yuanlu¡¯s demeanor shifted from lukewarm to fervent in an instant. His earlier disinterest, born from the belief that nothing remarkable coulde from such a backwater, vanished at the prospect of this unexpected windfall. ¡°Young man, to have a Profound Rank mental cultivation method and a Yellow Rank martial skill at your age is quite impressive. What¡¯s the quality of your bone root?¡± ¡°Earth Spirit, low grade,¡± Zhou Jibo replied. Yan Yuanlu inhaled sharply, clearly impressed. ¡°My young friend, your aptitude is remarkable! You¡¯d be hailed as a genius in the capital, and even in the Holy Land, you¡¯d be ranked just below the Holy Son and Saintess.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a real shame for someone of your caliber to be in the modest town of Icefair City!¡± It was no wonder he possessed such exceptional skills and talent; investing more in his development would certainly be worthwhile. After a moment of contemtion, Yan Yuanlu offered, ¡°The low-grade Profound Rank Dawn Mental Cultivation Method is worth approximately fifty thousand silver, while the medium-grade Yellow Rank Mountain Splitting Palm is worth about ten thousand. Young man, you show great promise, and I¡¯d like to befriend you. If you¡¯re willing to sell directly to me, I¡¯m prepared to offer seventy thousand silver.¡± ¡°If you choose to auction through the Myriad Treasure Auction House, you¡¯ll incur a 10% transaction fee. What are your thoughts on that?¡± This mental cultivation method and martial skill could be a treasured family heirloom for a smaller city¡¯s n. So, while sixty to seventy thousand taels of silver may seem steep, in the context of a family¡¯s legacy, it¡¯s not excessive. Yan Yuanlu estimated that these two items could fetch at least a hundred thousand taels of silver at auction. Zhou Jibo reflected briefly before responding, ¡°I¡¯m not particrly interested in silver. I¡¯m looking for a martial skill and a weapon, both of a certain caliber, toplement each other.¡± Yan Yuanlu nodded in understanding. ¡°That¡¯s a reasonable request and not hard to fulfill.¡± ¡°Since we don¡¯t have a Myriad Treasure Auction House branch here, I¡¯m unable to provide a selection of various cultivation treasures on short notice. Therefore, your choices are limited to the items I¡¯ve brought with me this time.¡± ¡°Within the eight items up for auction, there are a couple that should meet your criteria. The Cool Breeze Sword Technique, a Yellow Rank medium-grade martial skill, and the Blood Stripe Sword, a Yellow Rank low-grade weapon, are collectively valued at forty thousand taels of silver. Would you be willing to trade your mental cultivation method and martial skill for these two items plus thirty thousand taels of silver?¡± Are you referring to the sword technique? After a moment¡¯s thought, Zhou Jibo agreed, ¡°Yes, that exchange works for me.¡± ¡°Then we have an agreement.¡± Yan Yuanlu summoned a scribe and secured a private room. Zhou Jibo recited the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Splitting Palm, which the scribe diligently transcribed. Simultaneously, he instructed his staff to deliver two items shrouded in red cloth to the room. This move instantly drew the gaze of all those gathered. Lang Shen, the Casten of Icefair, inquired, ¡°Mr. Yan, the Myriad Treasure Auction House has prepared ten treasures for our bidding. With only the second item sold and the third yet to start, why are you withdrawing two items so abruptly?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you nning to auction off these two treasures anymore?¡± Yan Yuanlu responded, ¡°These two items have already been purchased for a hefty sum in advance, so I¡¯ve had to withdraw them from the auction. Today, we¡¯ve auctioned off two treasures and sold two others. That leaves us with just six treasures remaining. Please, everyone, continue to ce your bids.¡± He then respectfully bowed to Lang Shen and added, ¡°Please don¡¯t be offended, I¡¯m simply conducting business and didn¡¯t mean to dampen your spirits.¡± Lang Shen replied, ¡°I¡¯m not upset. I¡¯m merely curious about who in Icefair City offered a price that even the Myriad Treasure Auction House couldn¡¯t turn down. And what exactly was that price?¡± Yan Yuanlu smiled and said, ¡°In our line of work, we must respect the privacy of our clients. That¡¯s a rule we cannot break.¡± Just then, someone stood up and called out, ¡°Mr. Yan, is the bidder you¡¯re referring to Zhou Jibo from the Zhou family?¡± The crowd on the third floor was puzzled upon hearing the name Zhou Jibo. Zhou Chng, Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, and the rest of the Zhou family rose to their feet to see who had spoken. Upon identifying the shouter, Zhou Chng couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°What a despicable character.¡± Chapter 14 C14 ¨C He Was Very Dignified The speaker was none other than Zheng Hongyi, the Zheng family¡¯s manager, who was in attendance at the auction. After his outburst, he smugly prepared to sit back and enjoy the unfolding drama. Though the usations were baseless, steering suspicion toward the Zhou family and Zhou Jibo was undoubtedly advantageous for the Zhengs. Ideally, the Zhou family and Zhou Jibo would be the focus of scrutiny, the targets of collective disdain. As Zhou Chng¡¯s cry of ¡°Shameless!¡± rang out, Zheng Hongyi¡¯sughter grew more triumphant. ¡°Shameless? This is strategy.¡± But before he could take his seat, a firm hand mped onto his shoulder. ¡°Do you really think you cane to the Myriad Treasure Auction House and cause a scene, you country bumpkin?¡± It was Yan Yuanlu, livid with rage, who had marched over and seized him. Zheng Hongyi¡¯s smirk instantly stiffened as he hastily pleaded, ¡°Mr. Yan, I beg your pardon.¡± ¡°Save your excuses!¡± Yan Yuanlu barked, ¡°Shopkeeper! Who is this man?¡± ¡°He¡¯s from the Zheng family of Icefair,¡± replied the shopkeeper of Glorious House. ¡°Good! I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Yan Yuanlu said, dropping Zheng Hongyi to the floor, still seething. ¡°Throw him out! The Zheng family is henceforth banned from the Myriad Treasure Auction House and the Glorious House!¡± The Glorious House shopkeeper responded promptly, ¡°Understood. From now on, Glorious House will cease all dealings with the Zheng family. Furthermore, no shop in Icefair will sell any cultivation-rted items to the Zhengs.¡± Zheng Hongyi scrambled to his feet, his voice filled with panic, ¡°How can this be?¡± Yan Yuanlu scoffed, ¡°An ignorant man like you couldn¡¯t possiblyprehend the reach of the Myriad Treasure Auction House. You tried to exploit the auction for your own squabbles; now you¡¯re paying the price!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just you and your Zheng family; the Zhou family and Zhou Jibo you mentioned are in the same boat!¡± Zheng Hongyi¡¯s eyes bulged as he copsed in despair. Was this the might of the capital¡¯s major powers? By merely stirring up a trivial issue, he had brought cmity upon the Zheng family! What would the Patriarch and the elders do to him when he returned¡ªy him alive? Yan Yuanlu turned to the Glorious House¡¯s shopkeeper and said, ¡°Have youmitted to memory what I told you? The Zheng and Zhou families are barred from entering here, no exceptions.¡± The shopkeeper hesitated, ¡°Mr. Yan, we still need to discuss the Zhou family¡¯s situation.¡± Zhou Chng, along with Zhou Tong and others, quickly approached and bowed deeply to Yan Yuanlu. ¡°Mr. Yan, the Zhou family is innocent! We¡¯ve been wronged by the Zheng family, our adversaries, who have deliberately set us up¡­¡± Yan Yuanlu cut him off with a gesture, ¡°Save your breath! If the Myriad Treasure Auction House doesn¡¯t set an example, how will you understand the consequences? The Zhou family is no exception to the rules!¡± Zhou Chng, Zhou Tong, and the rest were dumbfounded. How could the Myriad Treasure Auction House be so domineering and irrational? Were they to suffer a grave injustice at the hands of the Zheng family today? They were torn between their deep resentment towards the Zheng family¡¯s dishonor and their sense of hopelessness in the current predicament. But with Yan Yuanlu dismissing their pleas, what were they to do? The Glorious House¡¯s shopkeeper leaned in and whispered to Yan Yuanlu once more, ¡°Mr. Yan, please reconsider the matter with the Zhou family.¡± Yan Yuanlu grew more irritable, ¡°What¡¯s the issue? Are you involved with them? Or is the Zhou family beyond my reach?¡± The shopkeeper quickly assured him with an apologetic smile, ¡°Neither is the case!¡± ¡°Then follow my instructions,¡± Yan Yuanlu dered decisively. As Yan Yuanlu¡¯s frustration mounted, the shopkeeper urgently added, ¡°However, the two items earlier were indeed delivered to Zhou Jibo of the Zhou family!¡± Yan Yuanlu paused, surprised. ¡°The youngster with the Earth Spirit low-grade bone root, that¡¯s Zhou Jibo of the Zhou family?¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Yan, that¡¯s him,¡± confirmed the shopkeeper of the Glorious House. ¡°How shall we proceed?¡± Regaining hisposure, Yan Yuanlu decided, ¡°We¡¯ll only take action against the Zheng family. Leave the Zhou family out of this.¡± After a moment¡¯s contemtion, recognizing Zhou Jibo¡¯s exceptional bone root and his unique mental cultivation method, it was clear that his future aplishments would transcend the Innate Stage. Determined to eradicate any lingering doubts, he made his decision. Yan Yuanlu offered a respectful bow to Zhou Chng, saying, ¡°I apologize for my earlier misunderstanding. The Zhou family is certainly meless. I ask for your forgiveness. Please ry to Young Master Zhou that my actions were driven by necessity.¡± Innocent? Driven by necessity? The attendees were well aware that these were merely formalities. Yan Yuanlu¡¯s earlier behavior had been domineering, dismissing any attempt at exnation, intent on reprimanding the meless Zhou family¡ªa fact witnessed by all. Yet, upon hearing Zhou Jibo¡¯s name, his demeanor softened to one of courtesy and politeness. He referred to him as ¡°Young Master Zhou¡± and even addressed Zhou Chng as ¡°Old Sir.¡± Was this truly an apology borne from recognizing the Zhou family¡¯s innocence? Zhou Jibomanded respect! The families and merchants on the third floor were inwardly astounded. Zheng Hongyi, the Zheng family¡¯s steward, was filled with despair. Who could have predicted that the Myriad Treasure Auction House from the capital would show such deference to Zhou Jibo of the Zhou family? Apart from Zheng Hongyi, the Yu family elder was equally taken aback: the Zhou family had produced such an exceptional figure! It appeared that themitment made to Zhou Qian by their Patriarch was no longer feasible. They needed to extricate themselves quickly and avoid offending Zhou Jibo at all costs. Zhou Chng was ttered beyond measure, his initial rm turning to delight. Thanks to Zhou Jibo¡¯s influence, he too had been addressed as ¡°Old Sir¡± by an Innate master¡ªa tremendous honor indeed! He repeatedly affirmed Yan Yuanlu¡¯s words with a series of ¡°Okay,¡± his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the private room. Yan Yuanlu chuckled, ¡°Zhou Jibo is presently engaged in a transaction with our Myriad Treasure Auction House. Please, join us in the private room for tea a bitter.¡± ¡°Yes, of course!¡± replied Zhou Chng. With his curiosity piqued yet contained, he led Zhou Youqing and Zhou Tong back to their original seats. As the auction was about to rmence, Lang Shen, the Casten of Icefair, spoke up, ¡°Mr. Yan, could you disclose the offer made by Zhou Jibo thatpelled the Myriad Treasure Auction House to amodate his request?¡± Yan Yuanlu offered a smile and said, ¡°Lord Lang, you jest. One of our core principles at the Myriad Treasure Auction House is to ensure our clients¡¯ confidentiality. Our earlier slip-up in revealing a client¡¯s identity was a serious breach of that trust. We absolutely cannot disclose anything further.¡± Despite Lang Shen¡¯s persistent curiosity, Yan Yuanlu reiterated his warning, ¡°Young Master Zhou possesses an Earth Spirit bone root. He¡¯s destined to reach at least the Soul Separation Stage. I must ask, is it worth it for the families of Icefair to risk offending a future master over trivial gains?¡± Realizing his intentions had been exposed, City Lord Lang Shen chuckled awkwardly and chose to remain silent. The others harboring ill intentions inwardly took heed. Yan Yuanlu¡¯s words rang true; it would be foolish to incur the wrath of a potential Soul Separation Stage master for mere short-term benefits. Chapter 15 C15 ¨C Forgemaster! As the crowd¡¯s astonishment at the Zhou family and Zhou Jibo began to subside, a voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Yan Yuanlu.¡± Who would dare address the formidable and domineering Yan Yuanlu so directly? All eyes turned to see Wang Sibo, a Forgemaster at the Soul Separation Stage, standing and fixing his gaze on Yan Yuanlu. Yan Yuanlu quickly responded with a smile, ¡°Elder Wang, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°The two items you presented to Young Master Zhou earlier, was one of them the special piece?¡± Wang Sibo inquired. Yan Yuanlu, catching his drift, nodded, ¡°Yes, it was indeed that piece.¡± ¡°What kind of person is Young Master Zhou?¡± Wang Sibo probed further. Reflecting on their brief interaction, Yan Yuanlu replied, ¡°He possesses an extraordinary foundation and has a clear purpose. He¡¯s amiable in his dealings.¡± Wang Sibo¡¯s face lit up with a satisfied smile. ¡°That¡¯s reassuring. I would like to meet him.¡± ¡°Certainly, Elder Wang. I will apany you.¡± With that, Yan Yuanlu took the lead. Wang Sibo and his granddaughter, along with the Glorious House¡¯s shopkeeper, followed him toward the private room. Once they departed, the auction resumed. Although the attendees on the third floor continued to participate, their attention was divided, their nces drifting towards the private room from time to time. Previously, Zhou Jibo of the Zhou family was merely recognized for his genius. Now, he had caught the attention of the Myriad Treasure Auction House, and even Soul Separation Stage masters sought an audience with him. The Zhou family was poised for a resurgence! It seemed inevitable that no one in Icefair City could halt the Zhou family¡¯s ascent! And Zhou Jibo was the linchpin in this revival. He was set to be the true cornerstone of the Zhou family for decades toe. ¡°We must report this to the Patriarch immediately!¡± dered a Yu family elder, rising and hastily exiting with his entourage. Zheng Hongyi, the Zheng family steward, was unceremoniously escorted out by the Glorious House guards. He cast ast, disgruntled look at the establishment, his thoughts mirroring the others¡¯. They needed to inform their Patriarch without dy! Inside the private room, Zhou Jibo had finished reviewing the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Splitting Palm. The scribe who had transcribed the techniques had already taken his leave. Zhou Jibo then carefully examined the items Yan Yuanlu had sent, now unveiled from beneath the red cloth. To the left, there was the Cool Breeze Sword Technique, a medium-grade Yellow Rank martial skill consisting of twelve sword moves across six distinct levels. To the right, a sword stretched about five feet in length. While typical sharp swords measured three to four feet, this one stood nearly as tall as a twelve-year-old child, its surface etched with intricate blood traces that clearly gave rise to the name Blood Stripe Sword. This low-grade Yellow Rank treasure swordcked the biting chill or gleaming sharpness one might expect, resembling more an ornamental piece than a weapon of war. Zhou Jibo grasped the hilt, musing to himself, ¡°A five-foot sword is exactly what I need for my desired attack range. A three-foot de would be too short, but this is just right.¡± With an effortless swing, he sliced off a corner of the table as if it were tofu. Zhou Jibo was thrilled. A weapon of the first grade possessed such formidable power! Without aparable weapon, Acquired stage warriors would struggle to withstand such force. This significant boost to his attack power and range gave Zhou Jibo greater confidence for the challenges ahead. As he pondered this, a knock sounded at the door. Zhou Jibo sheathed the Blood Stripe Sword and rose to answer it. Yan Yuanlu, Wang Sibo, and the proprietor of the Glorious House stood waiting. ¡°Do you need something else? Is there an issue with the mental cultivation method and martial skill I sold you?¡± ¡°Not at all¡­¡± Yan Yuanlu made introductions between Zhou Jibo and Wang Sibo, then said, ¡°The Blood Stripe Sword was crafted by the esteemed elder. It holds special significance, which is why the elder made a point of meeting the sword¡¯s new owner.¡± Zhou Jibo was puzzled and turned to Wang Sibo. ¡°Can¡¯t a Forgemaster craft Profound Rank weapons? Why such concern for a low-grade Yellow Rank weapon?¡± Noticing Zhou Jibo¡¯s confusion, Wang Sibo rified, ¡°Though the Blood Stripe Sword is indeed a low-grade Yellow Rank weapon, it¡¯s one I remember most fondly. I wish for it to find a worthy home.¡± ¡°Young Master Zhou, what do you intend to do with this Blood Stripe Sword?¡± Zhou Jibo replied, ¡°I purchase weapons to use them. I can¡¯t be preupied with other concerns. If you expect me to store it away and meticulously care for it daily, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s beyond my capacity.¡± Yan Yuanlu let out a soft gasp. Was Zhou Jibo truly unaware of his fortune? Master Wang had expressed his desire for the Blood Stripe Sword to find a worthy owner, and yet Zhou Jibo had spoken so candidly. Wang Sibo¡¯s face took on aplex expression upon hearing Zhou Jibo¡¯s words. After much deliberation, he came to a sense of peace. ¡°Personally, I would like you to cherish and maintain this Blood Stripe Sword every day. But the fact that I¡¯ve put it up for sale means I¡¯ve resolved to let go of a chapter in my life.¡± ¡°The Blood Stripe Sword should resume the destiny it was meant to have as a weapon.¡± His eyes reddened as he spoke. ¡°Grandfather, perhaps we shouldn¡¯t sell the sword?¡± Wang Xun, standing by his side, suggested anxiously upon seeing his distress. Wang Sibo shook his head gently. ¡°No. It¡¯s time for me to part with it. It¡¯s time for me to stop dwelling on past glories and grievances.¡± ¡°This sword was forged forty years ago. In my darkest hour, I crafted it with my own blood. I finally managed to forge a weapon of the first grade. This Blood Stripe Sword embodies my resolve, my desperate struggles, and a piece of my history.¡± He regarded Zhou Jibo with gravity. ¡°Young Master Zhou, your frankness just now is a testament to your upright character. I entrust this sword to you.¡± After speaking, he handed over a worn book to Zhou Jibo. ¡°These are some insights from my days as a forgemaster. I entrust them to you as well. I hope you¡¯ll value them.¡± Touched by his genuine emotion, Zhou Jibo understood the deep significance the Blood Stripe Sword and the worn book held for him. Decided, he hoped Zhou Jibo would ept them. Therefore, Zhou Jibo epted the offer without hesitation. Wang Sibo gazed at the Blood Stripe Sword, lost in thought for a moment, before exhaling a deep breath. ¡°Very well, Young Master Zhou, may your martial journey be ever prosperous! I shall take my leave now.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind words,¡± Zhou Jibo responded. Wang Sibo gave a nod and turned to Wang Xun, ¡°Xun, it¡¯s time for us to depart. My goal has been achieved, and now I must return to my craft of weapon forging.¡± Wang Xun acknowledged with a nod and proceeded to follow Master Wang outside. Yan Yuanlu, along with the proprietor of Glorious House, attempted to convince Master Wang to linger, but he was resolute in his departure. He swiftly boarded an opulent carriage and was whisked away. Zhou Jibo shut the door behind him and contemted the Blood Stripe Sword, a wave of sentiment washing over him. It undoubtedly held tales within its de. Yet, now that it hade into Zhou Jibo¡¯s possession, its destiny was set to soar to new heights of honor, far surpassing the humble status of a low-grade Yellow Rank. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 16 C16 ¨C Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique ¡°The Cool Breeze Sword Technique, a medium-grade Yellow Rank skill, can be learned using attribute points.¡± ¡°The Blood Stripe Sword, a low-grade Yellow Rank weapon, also requires attribute points to master.¡± These were the two treasures Zhou Jibo had acquired in exchange for the Dawn Mental Cultivation Method and the Mountain Splitting Palm, along with thirty thousand pieces of silver. The booklet given to Zhou Jibo by Forgemaster Wang Sibo contained valuable insights from his time crafting the Blood Stripe Sword. Once the system had scanned the booklet, it indicated: ¡°Wang Sibo¡¯s Refining Insights, low-grade Yellow Rank, can be learned with attribute points.¡± Refining was a supportive skill. If Zhou Jibo chose to, he could instantly learn to be a low-grade Yellow Rank Technomancer and even craft weapons of the same rank. The prospect excited Zhou Jibo. In time, Zhou Jibo could refine weapons that suited him perfectly, using this skill to acquire resources for his cultivation. However, Zhou Jibo¡¯s billion attribute points were allocated based on his level of cultivation, leaving him with just over one hundred thousand points for now. With the Zhou family¡¯s precarious situation, he had to prioritize using his points to bolster his strength. Setting the refining texts aside, Zhou Jibo began to study the Cool Breeze Sword Technique. ¡°A thousand attribute points have been deducted to learn the Cool Breeze Sword Technique.¡± In a sh, Zhou Jibo mastered all twelve moves of the technique. He moved as if he had been practicing the Cool Breeze Sword Technique for years, each action precise and correct. Zhou Jibo handled the Blood Stripe Sword with expertise, transforming into a formidable warrior. After investing another ten thousand attribute points, Zhou Jibo¡¯s mastery of the Cool Breeze Sword Technique ascended to the sixthyer. It was as if he had devoted over a decade to these twelve moves, knowing every detail intimately. The Blood Stripe Sword became an extension of Zhou Jibo¡¯s arm. Indeed, Zhou Jibo had be adept with the long sword, capable of wielding any de to maximize the potential of the Cool Breeze Sword Technique. Zhou Jibo had be a master of swordsmanship through years of dedicated practice. He invested an additional 10,000 attribute points, elevating the Cool Breeze Sword Technique from a medium-grade Yellow Rank to the thirdyer of the Cool Breeze Waning Moon Sword Technique at the lower Profound Rank. Immersed in the insights of various sword techniques, Zhou Jibo¡¯s understanding of the long sword deepened. He gazed at the sword in his hand, feeling a mix of unfamiliarity and an intense sense of recognition. Zhou Jibo had ascended to a remarkably high level, a level typically only reached by those who have devoted decades to the art of the sword. The surprise was undeniable for Zhou Jibo; he hadn¡¯t anticipated that adding attribute points would lead to such profound experiences and revtions. Upon allocating more points, he advanced to the fourthyer of the Profound Rank Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique. The transition from ¡°Waning Moon¡± to ¡°Bright Moon¡± was subtle, just a single word, but Zhou Jibo knew it signified a significant elevation in the sword technique¡¯s essence. The Cool Breeze Waning Moon Sword Technique, a lower-grade Profound Rank, consisted of twelve intricate moves. In contrast, the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Techniqueprised only six moves: Cool Breeze Blowing and Cool Breeze Invisible to start, followed by Moon Falling In Water and Moon Shining in the middle, and culminating with Moon Falling and Wind Blowing. These six moves of the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique painted an exquisite portrait of moon appreciation. The cool breeze, the bright moon, and I. The Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique¡¯s sophistication and depth had far surpassed both the Cool Breeze Sword Technique and the Cool Breeze Waning Moon Sword Technique. By this point, Zhou Jibo had expended nearly 30,000 attribute points. Refocusing on the low-grade Yellow Rank Blood Stripe Sword, he decided to further enhance it with his points. ¡°10,000 attribute points will be deducted to raise the Blood Stripe Sword to the top-grade Yellow Rank.¡± ¡°20,000 attribute points will be deducted to raise the Blood Stripe Sword to the Medium Grade Profound Rank.¡± The blood stripes on the Blood Stripe Sword came to life, pulsating as if breathing. The sword, once as wide as a palm, had now slimmed down. As Zhou Jibo grasped the medium-grade Profound Rank Blood Stripe Sword, he could feel his vitality flowing freely within it. The cold energy from the Frost Mental Cultivation Method easily permeated the sword¡¯s de, making it a formidable tool for wounding foes. He had 40,000 attribute points remaining, insufficient for enhancing his mental cultivation method, bone root, or other martial skills. Zhou Jibo¡¯s options included the low-grade Profound Rank Mountain Suppressing Palm, the top-grade Profound Rank Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique, the low-grade Yellow Rank technomancer insights from Wang Sibo, and the Blood Stripe Sword itself, a middle-grade Profound Rank weapon. He wasn¡¯t eager to delve into the technomancer¡¯s insights. The other three choices were all means to bolster his power. ¡°Let¡¯s upgrade the Blood Stripe Sword,¡± Zhou Jibo resolved. ¡°Deducting forty thousand attribute points. The Blood Stripe Sword is now upgraded to a low-grade Earth Rank weapon!¡± Subsequently, the blood stripes on the sword began to pulse, their patterns growing more intricate and forming enigmatic, ancient runes. These runes interconnected, subtly creating a more potent formation. Holding the Blood Stripe Sword, Zhou Jibo sensed a fundamental difference between Earth Rank and Profound Rank weapons¡ªa revtion. Some runes enhanced sharpness, others toughness; some channeled power, while others could even make the Blood Stripe Sword levitate. Together, these runes constituted a formation that caused the original runes to resonate, doubling theirbined effect. For now, Zhou Jibo needed to wield the Blood Stripe Sword to tap into its potential. Once he reached the Innate Stage and harnessed his true essence, he would be able to fully unleash the might of this low-grade Earth Rank weapon. Activating the Frost Mental Cultivation Method, a chill emanated from the sword. In moments, fine ice crystals formed on the de, and a piercing coolness filled the room. Zhou Jibo was astounded. Had the Blood Stripe Sword truly magnified the Frost Freezing effect of the Frost Mental Cultivation Method to such a degree? With a light tap of the sword¡¯s tip on the table, he pierced it effortlessly, leaving behind a patch of frost at the point of contact. Imagine such a wound on a human body¡ªhow horrifying would that be? Zhou Jibo, witnessing the scene, finally allowed himself a sigh of relief. Armed with the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique and the low-grade Earth Rank Blood Stripe Sword, his cultivation might have been at the seventhyer of Acquired, but he no longer had to engage in prolonged battles with warriors at the ninthyer. In Icefair, no one beneath the Innate Warrior could withstand a single blow from him! Satisfied, Zhou Jibo sheathed the Blood Stripe Sword and strode out, sword in hand. Upon opening the door, he was surprised to find Zhou Chng, Zhou Youqing, and four others waiting outside. It struck him as odd. ¡°Why are you all here? Weren¡¯t you at the auction?¡± ¡°The auction¡¯s over,¡± Zhou Chng replied with a smile. ¡°Moreover, the talk of Icefair City today isn¡¯t the auction¡¯s treasures¡ªit¡¯s you!¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 17 C17 ¨C Intercepting the Trap! Upon hearing the news, Zhou Jibo was taken aback. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Before Zhou Chng could respond, Zhou Youqing eagerly recounted the recent events in rapid session. Zhou Jibo listened intently, his gaze sharpening. Zheng Hongyi of the Zheng family had stirred up trouble, attempting to ensnare me. Are the Zhengs really that eager to settle ounts with me? Little did Zheng Hongyi know that I had indeed finalized a deal with the Myriad Treasure Auction House. He had inadvertently spilled the truth. What Zheng Hongyi failed to anticipate was Yan Yuanlu of the Myriad Treasure Auction House¡¯s cordial treatment towards me. He had no desire to cross me. Regarding the Zheng family, he wielded his influence decisively, ensuring that all the shops in Icefair City that sold Element Gathering Powder, weapons, mental cultivation methods, and martial skills ceased all sales to the Zhengs. Clearly, Zheng Hongyi gained no advantage, only loss. ¡°Jibo, there¡¯s no need to be upset with him. The Myriad Treasure Auction House has already dealt with the Zheng family,¡± Zhou Youqing said, noticing the change in Zhou Jibo¡¯s demeanor. Concerned he might be upset, she quickly tried to console him. Zhou Jibo offered a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t give the Zheng family a second thought. Let¡¯s head out.¡± Leading the way, Zhou Jibo and hispanions made their way out of the Glorious House. The auction had concluded, and the Glorious House had emptied of nearly all its patrons, though a significant number still lingered. Zhou Jibo navigated through the crowd to the entrance, pausing as he sensed something and looked up. A figure was hastily making an exit¡ªit was Kong Chuyang, the steward of Great Elder Zhou Qian. Was he lying in wait for me to stumble into his trap? With a smile, Zhou Jibo turned to Zhou Chng. ¡°Elder Zhou Chng, I have a task for you. Zhou Tong, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Xunshi, and Zhou Youqing, I¡¯d like you four to join him in this endeavor.¡± ¡°Please, instruct us,¡± Zhou Chng replied. The others nodded in agreement. ¡°In addition to the items I acquired from my transaction with the Myriad Treasure Auction House, they still owe me thirty thousand silver taels. Elder Zhou Chng, with your extensive experience, take Zhou Tong and the others to the Glorious House. Purchase some goods and bring them back for the Zhou family.¡± ¡°First, to honor my parents with filial respect. Second, to purchase some essential cultivation items for our younger generation. And third, to scout for any items that might assist the Zhou family in advancing to the Innate Stage.¡± Zhou Chng was taken aback. Zhou Tong, puzzled, inquired, ¡°Thirty thousand taels of silver?¡± ¡°Exactly, thirty thousand taels. Go ahead and make your selections,¡± Zhou Jibo said, smiling. It was then that Zhou Chng snapped out of his daze. ¡°Heavens, Zhou Jibo, what on earth did you trade with the Myriad Treasure Auction House? You managed to get two treasures and thirty thousand taels of silver?¡± The entire collection of the Zhou family¡¯s mental cultivation methods and martial skills wouldn¡¯t fetch that sum. It¡¯s no surprise Yan Yuanlu holds Zhou Jibo in such high regard. Having brokered such a significant deal, it¡¯s only natural he would go to great lengths to safeguard him. Zhou Chng sensibly refrained from delving deeper. The issue was beyond the scope of what he could further inquire about. Still reeling from the shock of Zhou Jibo¡¯s windfall, Zhou Chng, along with the equally astounded Zhou Tong and the rest, returned to the Glorious House to pick out their items. Zhou Jibo had initially intended not to spend the thirty thousand taels of silver that day, but when he saw the steward, Kong Chuyang, hurrying to deliver a message, he realized the enemy was ready and could strike at any moment. With that in mind, he decided to send Zhou Chng, Zhou Tong, and the others away. While Zhou Jibo couldn¡¯t be certain of their unwavering loyalty, he needed to do everything in his power to protect them. Take Zhou Youqing, for instance, still just a child; Zhou Jibo couldn¡¯t stand by and watch her get caught in the crossfire. Should the situation take a turn for the worse, they could hinder him or, worse, betray him. It was better to distance them early on and concentrate on facing the enemy by himself. He strode through the bustling streets. Here and there, individuals would turn and slip away, quickly moving in a particr direction. After noticing this several times, Zhou Jibo pinpointed the likely spot where Zhou Qian intended to strike. It wasn¡¯t on the main street, nor close to the Zhou familypound. It was likely to be within the confines of a quiet, out-of-the-way alley. His sole condition was to lure Zhou Jibo into the alley beforehand. While pondering, Zhou Jibo couldn¡¯t help but sh a scornful grin. Zhou Qian believed he was stronger than both the n leader and Zhou Jibo. So why the need for such underhanded tactics against Zhou Jibo? Why not confront them openly, defeat Zhou Kaile and Zhou Jibo, and then im the title of Patriarch? Thisck of grandeur was precisely why he was unfit to be the Patriarch. He might seem cunning, but hecked the true presence required of a Patriarch. By now, their motives were clear, and the chance to y any hidden aces was gone. Zhou Jibo was under no illusion that the trap he¡¯d meticulously prepared would spare him any mercy. Thus, Zhou Qian¡¯s own chances of survival were also gone. Lost in thought as he walked, a voice suddenly called out from a nearby alley, ¡°Young Master!¡± Zhou Jibo halted. A group of muscr Warriors stealthily closed in behind him, blocking any escape. The one calling him ¡®Young Master¡¯ was a heavily made-up young girl, not a stranger but the maidservant ¡°Fangyin¡± from Zhou Jibo¡¯s past. She was the one who had fled to the Zheng family with Zhou Jibo¡¯s bodyguard, Zhou Xiuyun. So it wasn¡¯t just the Zhou and Zheng families after me, but the Yu family too? The three major families have banded together against me. They must really value me. Upon seeing Zhou Jibo stop, Fangyin hurriedly eximed, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I was taken by Zhou Xiuyun against my will, I never intended to betray you.¡± She finished her plea with a bowed head, tears streaming down as she sobbed. Zhou Jibo chuckled dismissively and turned away. Resting his hand on the hilt of the Blood Stripe Sword, he looked up and called out boldly, ¡°Zhou Qian, members of the Yu and Pang families, show yourselves!¡± ¡°This alley is too dim for a proper meeting, so I¡¯ll stay out here. If you¡¯re intent on harming me, thene out and face me. You¡¯re all ready to strike; what¡¯s the fear in revealing yourselves now?¡± Upon hearing this, Fangyin was startled and let out a loud cry. The muscr Warriors standing behind Zhou Jibo were momentarily at a loss. Two figures emerged from the alley. One was Zhou Qian, his face etched with murderous intent, and the other was Zheng Kang, an Elder of the Zheng family. Zheng Kang possessed the ninthyer of the Acquired Stage and was a cornerstone of the Zheng family. Four men in ck, armed with daggers, appeared atop the alley¡¯s eaves. At that moment, Fangyin also raised her hand, concealing a small crossbow in her sleeve. Together with the Warriors behind him, they had the strength to take down any Acquired Warrior in Icefair City. ¡°Zhou Jibo, I had intended to make you a fool. But since you¡¯re so eager for rity, you might as well just go ahead and die,¡± Zhou Qian dered icily. Zhou Jibo appraised him and responded with a grin, ¡°What about the Yu family? Didn¡¯t they show up? After all, you¡¯ve thrown in your lot with them.¡± At that, Zhou Qian retorted frostily, ¡°They were intimidated by the renown of the Myriad Treasure Auction House and didn¡¯t dare to make a move against you. For all their status as Icefair City¡¯s premier family, that¡¯s the extent of their bravery.¡± ¡°Once I take over as head of the Zhou family, I will certainly usurp them.¡± Chapter 18 C18 ¨C Counterattack! Upon hearing his words, Zhou Jibo couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You certainly have a lot of nerve.¡± Zhou Qian responded with a cold sneer as he advanced menacingly. ¡°I had no intention of killing you in the street, as it would be problematic if the casten found out. But given the chaos you¡¯ve stirred up today, it seems I have no choice but to eliminate you.¡± Grasping the hilt of the Blood Stripe Sword, Zhou Jibo spoke deliberately, ¡°Your ambition is for the Patriarch¡¯s seat. The Zheng family acts out of old grudges, and the Yu family, purely for profit. None of this has anything to do with their bravery.¡± ¡°You¡¯re missing the point. With such blindness, you¡¯re fated never to im the Patriarch¡¯s title.¡± Zhou Qian paused, mulling over the words, and it dawned on him that there might be some truth to them. But his reflection quickly turned to rage, and he bellowed, ¡°Eloquent as you are, if we were to follow your reasoning, your father is nothing but a block of wood, far less capable than me. So why did he be the Patriarch and not I?¡± Zhou Jibo offered a wry smile. ¡°That¡¯s just how fate works. His was simply better than yours.¡± Zhou Qian nearly choked with fury. ¡°You¡¯re spouting utter nonsense! Should I just resign myself to fate¡¯s whims? Your words are downright malicious.¡± Meanwhile, Zheng Kang had been silent from the start, observing the scene. Atst, he fixed his gaze on Zhou Jibo and demanded, ¡°How did you manage to recover? This is a serious matter, and Xunqin wouldn¡¯t lie about it.¡± Zhou Jibo let out a weary sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it yet? The truth is, I never cared for Zheng Xunqin¡ªit¡¯s she who¡¯s been pining for me. She imed to have taken my bone root, but how could she ever bring herself to harm me?¡± Zheng Kang¡¯s expression soured, his breath catching in his throat. Was Zhou Jibo spewing madness now? Zheng Xunqin in love with him? Impossible. Yet, seeing Zhou Jibo unscathed, doubt crept into Zheng Kang¡¯s mind. Could it be that Zheng Xunqin would jeopardize the entire Zheng family¡¯s scheme for the sake of her own heart? ¡°In truth, I deceived you,¡± Zhou Jibo confessed earnestly to Zheng Kang. ¡°How could you dare to deceive me?¡± Zheng Kang¡¯s emotions erupted. With a curse, heunched his fist at Zhou Jibo. The Zheng family¡¯s Rolling Rock Fist, though considered a lesser martial skill, had been perfected by Zheng Kang over many years. When executed, his punches cascaded with increasing force, each one more powerful than thest, culminating in a blow that could shatter boulders. Zhou Qian quickly joined the fray, both men intent on ending Zhou Jibo¡¯s life. But in that instant, Zhou Jibo¡¯s Blood Stripe Sword shed from its sheath. With the ¡°Cool Breeze Blowing¡± technique, he effortlessly bypassed Zheng Kang¡¯s barrage of fists and thrust the sword into his throat. A chilling frost spread, forming ice crystals upon Zheng Kang¡¯s neck. A sudden coldness enveloped Zheng Kang¡¯s throat, and before pain could register, his head tumbled to the ground. Zhou Qian, witnessing Zhou Jibo im Zheng Kang¡¯s life with a single sword strike, was rooted to the spot in shock. How could this be? Wasn¡¯t Zhou Jibo merely at the fifthyer of Acquired strength? How had he in a ninthyer Acquired Warrior with one blow? Was this a nightmare? Snapping out of his daze, Zhou Qian made a desperate attempt to flee, but a five-foot sword, radiating cold and edged with frost, was already at his neck. ¡°Great Elder, Zhou Qian¡­¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s voice was calm, detached. ¡°Do you have anyst words?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± In a sudden twist, Zhou Qian lunged at Zhou Jibo. Zhou Jibo let out a coldugh, easily reading the Gravel Palm technique that Zhou Qian employed. With a swift motion, Zhou Jibo countered with the seventhyer of the Mountain Suppressing Palm, targeting Zhou Qian¡¯s vulnerability and striking him in the ribs. By the time Zhou Qian realized his peril, it was toote. Struck by the palm, he copsed, blood streaming from his mouth and nose. ¡°This can¡¯t be happening!¡± ¡°How are you so strong?¡± he cried out in disbelief. Zhou Jibo, however, ignored his astonishment. Brandishing his long sword, he cut down the remaining Warriors attempting to flee. Then, turning to Fangyin and the four ck-d men on the rooftop, he dered, ¡°Come down. The first to run will be the first to die.¡± Fangyin, witnessing his decisive actions, set her crossbow aside and stood at the alley¡¯s entrance, head bowed. The four men in ck exchanged nces before leaping down from the rooftop to join her. Zhou Jibo then approached Zhou Qian, sword in hand. ¡°How did you arrange the trap?¡± Zhou Qian clenched his teeth. ¡°I have nothing to say. Just kill me!¡± ¡°Killing you is easy,¡± Zhou Jibo stated calmly. ¡°For your actions today, death is certain.¡± Zhou Qian closed his eyes, remaining silent. With a slight shake of his head, Zhou Jibo lifted the Blood Stripe Sword and ended his life. He had been the catalyst for the Zhou family¡¯s strife, constantly stirring unrest. Without his demise, there could be no peace or unity within the family. Turning to the five individuals before him, Zhou Jibo inquired, ¡°Do you four belong to the Zhou or Zheng family?¡± ¡°We serve as guards for the Zheng family,¡± the men in ck answered. ¡°Do any of you have families?¡± Zhou Jibo continued. ¡°Yes,¡± they all responded. Zhou Jibo nodded. ¡°I¡¯m offering you a chance. Take your families and flee from the Zhengs. Warn everyone you care about to do the same.¡± ¡°The Zheng family¡¯s downfall is imminent. I have no desire to take more lives than necessary.¡± Relieved, the guards expressed their gratitude and hastily departed. Finally, Zhou Jibo¡¯s gaze settled on Fangyin. ¡°You seem contemtive. How do you feel about what I¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly remarkable!¡± Fangyin eximed. ¡°With Zhou Qian and Zheng Kang gone, you¡¯ll be the sole voice of the Zhou family. You¡¯ll even bring down the Zhengs. You¡¯re incredibly powerful!¡± ¡°And?¡± Zhou Jibo pressed. Fangyin hesitated, struggling to find her words. What more was there to say? ¡°Please, Young Master, spare my life. I had no choice. Zhou Xiuyun took me hostage, and the Fang familymanded me. Icked the strength to resist; I could only follow their orders.¡± Zhou Jibo shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s not the right answer. Tell me, how did I handle the situation just now?¡± ¡°You were incredible!¡± Fangyin eximed, her realization dawning upon her. ¡°You released those four from the Zheng family, causing them to shake the very confidence of their own n. It¡¯s brilliant to incite internal chaos within the Zhengs!¡± Zhou Jibo remained terse, lifting the Blood Stripe Sword. His primary motive had been one ofpassion, with calctioning second. Fangyin, however, only perceived the calction, revealing her impure heart andck of genuine kindness. Besides, her ims of being coerced were evidently false. Fangyin was taken aback, pleading for her life. Unmoved, he raised his sword and ended hers. Surveying the area, he noted its emptiness; it was sparsely popted before, but now, utterly deserted. Zhou Jibo set off toward the Zhou family home. Today marked the day the Zhou family would reunite and stand together once more. Chapter 19 C19 ¨C Recover! Before Zhou Jibo had even approached the Zhou family¡¯s courtyard, a beaming servant hurried to greet him. ¡°Young Master Zhou, hello!¡± The servant then spun around, joyfully announcing, ¡°Young Master Zhou has returned!¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s grip on the hilt of his Blood Stripe Sword tightened instinctively. Could this be an ambush? It quickly dawned on him that there was no danger; his newfound fame from the auction had reached home, turning into a cause for celebration within the Zhou family. Having recently dealt with Zhou Qian, Zheng Kang, and others, Zhou Jibo remained on guard. At first, he could only think of potential threats, but he soon realized the true reason for the excitement. As expected, the members of the Zhou family emerged from the house, their faces alight with happiness, and made their way toward Zhou Jibo. Zhou Kaile and Qian Jiajia wore expressions of joy and pride. Their son¡¯s reputation had sent ripples through Icefair, earning him respect from the Myriad Treasure Auction House and Soul Separation Stage masters alike. The punishment of the Zheng family paled inparison to this triumph. Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu couldn¡¯t help but smile with satisfaction, pleased with their foresight. Zhou Jibo¡¯s impressive disy and potential affirmed their decision to shift their allegiance. Other Zhou family members also appeared, signaling Zhou Jibo¡¯s growing influence and the dissolution of the widespread discontent with the family head. Among them, the Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, and the Fourth Elder, Zhou Chaide, stood with mixed emotions. Reluctant to make a public stance yetpelled by the presence of their own children who now followed Zhou Jibo, they had no choice but toe forward, lest they incur Zhou Qian¡¯s resentment. Having won over their children, Zhou Jibo left them with little choice but to join the gathering, albeit reluctantly. Under the watchful eyes of the family, the servant led Zhou Jibo forward, his long sword in hand. He cut a dashing figure. Qian Jiajia¡¯s eyes welled up with emotion as she watched him. ¡°My son has grown into such a fine young man. It feels like just yesterday he was still a child!¡± Zhou Kaile acknowledged that his fortunes had improved immensely, all thanks to his son. Before he knew it, his son had blossomed into a promising young man. ¡°Young Master Zhou!¡± Servants and maids bowed respectfully as they greeted him. Members of the Zhou family approached Zhou Jibo, offering their joy and praise. Zhou Jibo acknowledged them with a nod, but his attention was quickly drawn to the steward, Kong Chuyang, who was conversing with the Third and Fourth Elders. He raised his hand to silence themendations from Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu, announcing, ¡°I have another matter to attend to today.¡± All eyes followed Zhou Jibo¡¯s gaze. The Third and Fourth Elders shifted ufortably, stepping back and leaving Kong Chuyang exposed under the scrutiny of the crowd. Kong Chuyang¡¯s heart raced with anxiety, and he instinctively sought to retreat. Zhou Jibomanded, ¡°Get back here and kneel!¡± Kong Chuyang¡¯s knees buckled, and he copsed to the ground, turning to prostrate himself before Zhou Jibo, too frightened to move or speak. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Kaile inquired in a hushed tone. Zhou Jibo replied, ¡°Father, I will exinter.¡± ¡°Please summon the rest of the Zhou family. Today, all members muste together here!¡± ¡°Anyone absent today will no longer be considered part of the Zhou family.¡± Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu were taken aback. Was Zhou Jibo intending to use his clout to forcefully assert control over the family? But with Zhou Qian¡¯s backing, who would heed the call? Was he truly prepared to expel nearly half of the family? Wouldn¡¯t that effectively split the Zhou family in two? After a brief pause, they exchanged nces with Zhou Jibo, yet hesitated to act. Zhou Jibo dered, ¡°Zhou Qian is no more; proceed without concern.¡± What? At his words, Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu gasped in astonishment. The Third and Fourth Elders quickly stepped forward, while Zhou Kaile and Qian Jiajia urgently asked, ¡°What do you mean? Zhou Qian is dead?¡± Zhou Jibo confirmed with a nod, ¡°Indeed, Zhou Qian has perished. He conspired with the Zheng family to target me. Moments ago, he and Elder Zheng Kang met their end at my hand.¡± Zhou Jibo raised his hand, pointing at Kong Chuyang sprawled on the ground, ¡°I was right, wasn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Young Master, please spare my life!¡± Kong Chuyang pleaded through his tears. His reaction instantly confirmed the truth of Zhou Jibo¡¯s words. ¡°Big brother?¡± The Third Elder eximed in shock, nearly fainting, while the Fourth Elder, ashen-faced, steadied him and looked on at Zhou Jibo with terror. We¡¯ve given him trouble before. He wouldn¡¯t kill us too, would he? Not just them, but even Zhou Shu and Zhou Shuang hadn¡¯t anticipated the situation turning so dire. Zhou Qian had conspired with the Zheng family to take him out, only to be killed directly by Zhou Jibo. The Zhou family¡¯s internal conflict had escted to a deadly level ¨C this was a serious turn of events! It made sense now why Zhou Jibo had decreed that absence would mean expulsion from the family. He was determined to assert his dominance and unify the Zhou family under his leadership. Zhou Shuang was quick to respond, addressing Zhou Jibo, ¡°We¡¯ll gather all the members of the Zhou family immediately!¡± With that, he grabbed Zhou Shu and hurried towards the Zhou familypound to summon the n. The mood, once celebratory in weing Zhou Jibo, turned grave. Zhou Kaile sighed deeply and closed his eyes. He was at a loss for words. After years of enmity with Zhou Qian, any familial affection had long since eroded, each wishing the other dead. Yet now that Zhou Qian was actually in by Zhou Jibo, Zhou Kaile was struck by an inexplicable sense of mncholy. Qian Jiajia, on the other hand, was less contemtive. She quickly approached Zhou Jibo, examining him anxiously, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Once assured that Zhou Jibo was unharmed, Qian Jiajia breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay. Zhou Qian¡¯s alliance with the Zheng family to target you was unforgivable. They got what they deserved!¡± Approaching with grim expressions, the Third and Fourth Elders faced Zhou Jibo. The Third Elder spoke up, ¡°Zhou Jibo, you¡¯ve killed our elder brother. This was your battle, not ours. We¡¯ll stay out of it.¡± ¡°However, both the Fourth Elder and I are innocent. You were with their children today¡ªwhere are they now?¡± ¡°They¡¯re shopping at the Glorious House and should return shortly,¡± Zhou Jibo replied. ¡°There¡¯s no need for concern. I have no desire to perpetuate our internal conflicts. Nheless, today marks the end of the Zhou family¡¯s turmoil. The Patriarch and the elders must fulfill their responsibilities. Everyone must strive for the family¡¯s welfare and not hinder its progress for personal gain.¡± Relieved to hear their children were unharmed, the Third and Fourth Elders visibly rxed. Approaching Zhou Kaile, they addressed him as ¡°Patriarch,¡± reaffirming their allegiance. Zhou Kaile, regaining hisposure, sped their arms. ¡°Let¡¯s put the past behind us. With Zhou Jibo¡¯s presence, our Zhou family is poised for a resurgence. I ask for your support¡ªfor me and for Zhou Jibo. Together, let¡¯s revitalize the Zhou family andmand the respect we deserve!¡± The Third and Fourth Elders exchanged nces and nodded in agreement. With the Great Elder Zhou Qian gone, they had to move forward, and the current circumstances were more favorable than expected. As Zhou family members, they were, of course, eager to witness its revival! Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 20 C20 ¨C Exterminate Zhou Qian! Members of the Zhou family gradually gathered at the entrance of the Zhou estate. An hourter, Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu returned with updates. ¡°In the Zhou family genealogy, there are a total of 460 men. Fifty-three have left to start their own families.¡± ¡°Out of the remaining 407, three are ill, and twenty-four were unable to return today due to othermitments.¡± ¡°As for the remaining 380, aside from Zhou Qian¡¯s son, Zhou Leng, 350 have arrived. There are 29 who refuse to heed our call.¡± Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu briefed Zhou Jibo on the family¡¯s current state. Aside from the 29 dissenters, the rest showed no signs of resistance. Initially, the majority would only follow Zhou Qian¡¯s lead. Now, they were increasingly willing to follow Zhou Jibo, which was beyond his expectations. ¡°How is Zhou Leng doing?¡± inquired Zhou Jibo. ¡°His wounds have healed. He¡¯s under guard,¡± replied Zhou Shuang. ¡°Zhou Jibo, there¡¯s no need for you to concern yourself with this. You¡¯re still young. You killed Zhou Qian in self-defense; there¡¯s no reason for you to get further involved.¡± Zhou Shu added, ¡°The Zhou family ising together again, as it should. We¡¯ll assist the patriarch in restoring order. Let the patriarch handle those 29 men who won¡¯te.¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s frown eased, and he responded with a respectful gesture, ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll leave it in your hands. Let¡¯s avoid any further errors.¡± ¡°We intend to,¡± assured Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu, with the Third and Fourth Elders echoing theirmitment. Zhou Jibo nodded, then retreated to his own courtyard to focus on his cultivation, distancing himself from the matter. He understood the elders¡¯ true intent. They weren¡¯t after power; they aimed to preserve his reputation. Zhou Jibo¡¯s act of self-defense was justified. If he were to relentlessly pursue Zhou Leng and the remnants of Zhou Qian¡¯s followers, it would be seen as excessive for someone his age. Zhou Jibo might not be concerned with such matters, but a tarnished reputation could hinder the n¡¯s wholehearted support for him. Zhou Shu and Zhou Shuang willingly stepped in to manage the situation, their advanced age freeing them from concerns about their own reputations. Additionally, there was no need for Zhou Jibo to further involve himself in these affairs. He had no desire to be the patriarch of Icefair. Zhou Kaile watched the unfolding scene with concern. The readypliance of Zhou Shu, Zhou Shuang, the Third Elder, and the Fourth Elder suggested they had preemptively selected the next patriarch. If Zhou Jibo agreed, they were prepared to elevate him to the role immediately. The thought was somewhat daunting, yet Zhou Jibo was his son, and that filled him with joy. Zhou Kaile beamed, his smile broad as he and the others deliberated on how to manage the consequences of Zhou Qian¡¯s death. The Third and Fourth Elders took responsibility for retrieving Zhou Qian¡¯s body, while Zhou Shuang led the guards to deal with the twenty-nine men. Zhou Shu joined Zhou Kaile in examining the Great Elder¡¯s financial records, thoroughly scrutinizing the family¡¯s ounts to rify all financial matters. Within half a day, the Zhou family had undergone a transformation. With unanimous support, Zhou Kaile ascended to the position of family head, now able to direct any member of the Zhou n. It was at this juncture that Zhou Chng, Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, Zhou Xunshi, and Zhou Youqing joyfully returned from Glorious House. They were taken aback by the drastic changes within the n. The Great Elder had been in by Zhou Jibo? And now the family was purging all traces of the Great Elder¡¯s influence? How had things changed so dramatically while they were merely out shopping? After their discussion, both Zhou Chng¡¯s group and Zhou Kaile¡¯s were equally astounded. What kind of treasure had Zhou Jibo traded with the Myriad Treasure Auction House? He had managed to secure two treasures and still retained thirty thousand taels of silver? ¡°Per Zhou Jibo¡¯s instructions, we purchased Element Gathering Powder, Body Nourishing Powder, Body Strengthening Powder, and other cultivation supplies, spending a total of twelve thousand taels of silver. This will provide enough resources for every warrior in the Zhou family to use two or three times over,¡± Zhou Chng exined. ¡°We have twenty thousand taels of silver remaining, avable for withdrawal or to purchase additional items from Glorious House whenever necessary.¡± Zhou Kaile spoke urgently, ¡°We need to withdraw some money, and fast!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Chng inquired, puzzled. With a wry smile, Zhou Kaile exined, ¡°For years, Zhou Qian has been iming credit for the cultivation items the family distributed, making it seem as if they came from him. He¡¯s gone to great lengths to swindle the family¡¯s assets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why he has so much support. All the praise he¡¯s received is because of this!¡± ¡°Now that we¡¯ve reconciled the ounts, it¡¯s clear he¡¯s embezzled the funds. The Zhou family is now saddled with a debt of ten thousand taels of silver. If it weren¡¯t for our annual ie, the shortfall would be even greater. Why has the Zhou family been weakening? Over the past twenty years, we¡¯ve had no profits, only a loss of ten thousand taels of silver. He¡¯s used all that money to buy people¡¯s loyalty.¡± Zhou Chng was stunned. He eximed, ¡°That scoundrel, he should pay with his life!¡± Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu were equally astonished. ¡°The audacity! If he were to be the patriarch, would the Zhou family not be doomed to even greater losses?¡± The Third and Fourth Elders remained silent. They had been aware of the situation but had been indifferent, believing Zhou Qian would eventually take over as patriarch. Yet, they hadn¡¯t anticipated that Zhou Qian would embezzle such a vast sum and plunge the Zhou family into ten thousand taels of debt. They were also in the dark about Zhou Qian¡¯s collusion with enemies to eliminate Zhou Jibo. Only now did they realize the extent of Zhou Qian¡¯s misdeeds and his consistent failure to achieve his ambitions. Perhaps he trulycked the caliber to be patriarch. Zhou Kaile might have had his ws, but he had a son. In recent days, Zhou Jibo had decisively taken control of the situation. Since then, he¡¯d been focusing on his cultivation, steering clear of external affairs. Although not the patriarch, he was the one the three senior elders and two other elders genuinely backed to lead the Zhou family to greater heights. Inparison to Zhou Jibo, Zhou Qian fell woefully short. Zhou Qian¡¯s past efforts now seemed utterly inconsequential. Within days, word of the Zhou family¡¯s dramatic transformation had spread throughout Icefair City, reaching every n and organization. Most were adopting a wait-and-see approach, with only a handful experiencing new developments. The Zheng family kept silent about the Elder¡¯s passing, biding their time for the envoy from the Shrine of Astral Radiance to arrive. They nned to annihte the Zhou family then; the Yu family was gearing up to offer Zhou Jibo some advantages to defuse his animosity; meanwhile, others were itching to take action. Zhou Jibo was destined to be a Soul Separation Stage master in the future, but his time had not yete. Until he reached his full potential, he would not ascend to the ranks of a Soul Separation Stage expert. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 21 C21 ¨C Eighth Layer of Acquired! Zhou Jibo no longer had to concern himself with the Zhou family¡¯s affairs. Upon returning to the courtyard, he unsheathed the Blood Stripe Sword and began to limber up, practicing his swordsmanship. Though he had a deep understanding of the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique, having reached its fourthyer, he hadn¡¯t had much opportunity to practice it. As an invisible breeze stirred and the moon¡¯s reflection danced upon the water, Zhou Jibo felt the essence of the cool breeze and the bright moon. Executing the sword techniques one by one, his movements were in harmony with the refined aesthetic of enjoying the breeze and the moonlight. The Blood Stripe Sword became an extension of his arm, his palm, as his insight and experience grew increasingly profound. After just two repetitions, he had mastered the sword-wielding instincts honed over many years. After sheathing the Blood Stripe Sword, Zhou Jibo practiced the Mountain Suppressing Palm technique twice more. He instructed Ninghe and the guards to keep a vignt eye on the courtyard while he dedicated himself to further cultivation. For several days, Zhou Jibo¡¯s time was consumed by cultivation, with only necessary breaks for rest and nourishment. Despite iming to possess a low-grade Earth Spirit bone root, he actually had a top-grade one, just shy of the Holy Spirit bone root, teeming with vitality. Yet, his Profound Rank top-grade Frost Mental Cultivation Method was somewhat insufficient for absorbing all this vitality. Zhou Jibo would practice until he could no longer refine vitality, then he would stretch and drill into his sword and palm techniques. As for the Zhou family¡¯s significant matters, Zhou Kaile would send updates. Unless there was an emergency or an attack from the Yu or Pang families, Zhou Jibo had no intention of stepping away from his focused cultivation. Zhou Zheyan, Zhou Tong, and others had visited twice, expressing their gratitude for Zhou Jibo¡¯s decisive actions that put an end to the Zhou family¡¯s internal conflicts. They were also thankful for the thirty thousand taels of silver he had provided for the n¡¯s young and old to acquire cultivation resources and settle debts. The younger generation, in particr, revered Zhou Jibo as their leader and role model. Zhou Jibo mused that this respect was likely due to Zhou Shuang and others deliberately safeguarding his reputation, ensuring he wasn¡¯t overly burdened with n affairs. Zhou Jibo had yet to inquire about the fate of the Great Elder¡¯s son, Zhou Leng. He was also in the dark about the specific arrangements for the twenty-nine Zhou family men who remained loyal to the Great Elder. Nheless, he had a hunch that their oues were grim. Had Zhou Jibo taken it upon himself to handle their situation, his standing within the Zhou family would have suffered. He would have been regarded as a devil in the eyes of his kin. Then there was Zhou Youqing, the thirteen-year-old girl who had grown close to him. She affectionately called him ¡°Jibo¡± and had be his constant shadow. Daily, she checked whether he was leaving the house, eager to apany him on his outings. But recently, Zhou Jibo was preupied with his cultivation and had no intention of venturing out, leaving her repeatedly disappointed. Without realizing it, Zhou Jibo had consumed three Acquired Essence Gathering Pills in his training. With the aid of the pills and days of rigorous practice, his cultivation level neared the eighthyer of the Acquired Realm. One clear morning, as he resumed his cultivation, he effortlessly broke through the barrier that had held him back. Upon reaching the eighthyer of the Acquired Realm, the system rewarded Zhou Jibo with another 100,000 attribute points. This time, without any hesitation, he allocated the points to his mental cultivation method. His Frost Mental Cultivation Method, though a top-grade Profound Rank and unmatched in Icefair City, fell short whenpared to his Earth Spirit top-grade bone root¡¯s ability to harness vitality. The pills¡¯ potency only highlighted the sluggish pace of his energy cirction, and the overall enhancement of his body was somewhat insufficient. If the warriors of Icefair City were to learn of his discontent, they¡¯d likely be astounded. For them, a higher-level mental cultivation method wasn¡¯t always better. Their own bone roots often precluded them from practicing more intricate methods, as theycked the necessary vitality to sustain them. But for Zhou Jibo, with his inexhaustible vitality from his bone root and the additional support from pills, such grievances were nothing short of luxurious. ¡°You¡¯ve already used up 90,000 attribute points, which means you¡¯re advancing from the top-grade Profound Rank Frost Mental Cultivation Method to the medium grade Earth Rank Six Yin Heart Technique.¡± A more intricate mental cultivation method flowed into Zhou Jibo¡¯s consciousness, immersing him in the understanding of this new technique. The Frost Mental Cultivation Method represented the pinnacle of the Profound Rank top-grade techniques, pushing the cirction of vitality to its limits. Its ability to harness coldness to thwart an enemy was considered the most formidable among its rank. In contrast, Earth Rank techniques focus on refining one¡¯s own abilities through the condensation of vitality, a standard enhancement among mental cultivation methods. By this measure, the Frost Mental Cultivation Method was nearly on par with Earth Rank techniques. So, what was the nature of the Earth Rank low-grade Six Yin Heart Technique that Zhou Jibo had acquired? Practicing the Six Yin Heart Technique, Zhou Jibo¡¯s vitality would surpass that of warriors at the same level. Moreover, he could effortlessly channel his vitality into an adversary¡¯s body, freezing them solid or even to death. Such was the power of the Six Yin Heart Technique. He no longer needed to depend on the Blood Stripe Sword; his palms alone, channeling vitality, could achieve this formidable effect. Upon reaching the Innate Stage, Zhou Jibo¡¯s vitality would coalesce into true essence. Once released, this true essence would be even more versatile, eliminating the need for palm contact to incapacitate his foes. A mere release of true essence would suffice to invade and immobilize an enemy¡¯s body. With the Six Yin Heart Technique under his belt, wielding the Blood Stripe Sword would amplify his offensive power exponentially. Zhou Jibo wasted no time and began practicing the Six Yin Heart Technique. His Earth Spirit top-grade bone root gathered vitality, which the Six Yin Heart Technique then drew into his system. He proceeded to navigate the vitality through an intricatework of meridians. By enhancing his absorption and digestion of vitality just a step beyond the Frost Mental Cultivation Method, he would significantly strengthen his physique. After several days of practice, feeling he had maxed out his vitality absorption for the day, he stood up to take a break. Just then, he heard faint voices outside. Rising to his feet, Zhou Jibo opened the door to investigate. Several individuals were gathered at the courtyard entrance, conversing in hushed tones. Among them stood the Patriarch, Zhou Kaile, the Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, the respected Elder Zhou Shu, and Zhou Zhenbo¡¯s youngest daughter, Zhou Youqing. The maidservant Ninghe and two guards stood before them, heeding their directives. This likely stemmed from the recent discovery of a spy in Zhou Jibo¡¯s quarters. As Zhou Kaile and the others happened by, they took a moment to caution the maidservant and the guards. Upon exiting his room, Zhou Jibo was met with the collective gaze of the assembly. Zhou Kaile beamed, ¡°How is your training progressing? Would you like to take a half-day break? Your mother is eager for you to rest and is looking forward to preparing your favorite meal.¡± Having achieved a recent breakthrough, Zhou Jibo felt no urgency to resume his cultivation and thus epted the offer. Both the Third Elder and Zhou Shu acknowledged Zhou Jibo with a nod. Chapter 22 C22 ¨C Training! Ninghe, the maid, approached Zhou Jibo with swift steps and whispered, ¡°Young Master, would you like to freshen up with a bath first?¡± Zhou Youqing¡¯s face lit up with excitement. ¡°Jibo, you¡¯re finally taking a break. I¡¯ve been looking forward to going out and having fun with you!¡± The Third Elder spoke with a mix of indulgence and resignation, ¡°All you think about is ying. Jibo has be so formidable, yet he doesn¡¯t even consider ying.¡± Curiosity piqued, Zhou Youqing inquired, ¡°Just how formidable is Jibo? I¡¯ve heard that his bone root is the Earth Spirit and his martial skill talent is exceptional, allowing him to defeat a ninthyer Acquired Warrior with ease. What level has Jibo reached now?¡± The Third Elder, Zhou Shu, and Zhou Kaile all shared the curiosity. But the Third Elder quickly regained hisposure and advised Zhou Jibo, ¡°The Zhou family has only just settled its internal turmoil, and we haven¡¯t rooted out all the spies. It¡¯s best not to disclose your level to her, lest the Zheng family and other enemies catch wind of it.¡± Zhou Kaile nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly.¡± Zhou Shu couldn¡¯t help but reflect, ¡°The Zhou and Zheng families have long been friends. When our family was the premier n in Icefair City, the Zhengs were our staunch allies. Their recent actions have been truly unforeseen.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed,¡± echoed the Third Elder. Zhou Jibo responded coolly, ¡°Maybe the Zhou family never fully grasped the Zheng family¡¯s true nature. When we were strong, they were utterly devoted. When we showed weakness, they shifted their allegiance to those more powerful. Their actions are not entirely unjustifiable. If they had been more adept in their dealings, they wouldn¡¯t have made so many enemies.¡± ¡°But they¡¯ve taken the one path they should have avoided.¡± Noticing Zhou Youqing¡¯s lingering curiosity, Zhou Jibo added, ¡°Demonstrating my strength can help stabilize the Zhou family¡¯s situation. Still, some of my techniques must remain unknown to outsiders.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Shu suggested, ¡°Behind the ancestor temple, there¡¯s arge hall used for formal family gatherings. It¡¯s spacious and private, perfect for martial arts practice.¡± Zhou Jibo nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have three senior elders, two elders, and a few of our most trusted individualse and assess Zhou Jibo¡¯s current abilities and his potential for the future,¡± Zhou Kaile proposed. ¡°Having a clear goal and hope for the future is essential for the Zhou family¡¯s progress and for reiming our status as the preeminent family in Icefair City.¡± He knew he shouldn¡¯t speak such words, but that was the stark reality they faced. Zhou Kaile, who had been unable to defeat Zhou Qian, had nheless secured his role as the Patriarch,rgely thanks to his son, Zhou Jibo, whose decisive actions had swiftly brought an end to Zhou Qian¡¯s challenge. The family¡¯s support had shifted; they now favored Zhou Jibo over Zhou Qian. Zhou Jibo¡¯s willingness to demonstrate his capabilities was a boon, fostering unity and strengthening the family¡¯s core. The stronger Zhou Jibo became, the brighter the future appeared to the Zhou family, and the more united their efforts became. This was the true significance of Zhou Jibo showcasing his strength to all. Half an hourter, Zhou Jibo, d in a moon-white robe, made his way to the ancestor temple. The temple grounds were already teeming with the Zhou family¡¯s guards and young disciples. To keep Zhou Jibo¡¯s abilities confidential, Zhou Kaile and the others had ensured that only the most trustworthy guards were on duty. Nearly ten days had passed since hisst visit to the ancestor temple, and the Zhou family had undergone a remarkable transformation. As Zhou Jibo entered the temple once more, he was met with fervent and reverent looks from those around him. He strode through the courtyard and the grand hall, arriving at the expansive hall at the rear of the temple. There, Zhou Kaile, two elders, and three senior elders awaited him. In addition to them, a few young people were in tow: Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, and Zhou Zheyan. Each senior elder had brought along a younger family member. Undoubtedly, they were presenting their heirs to Zhou Jibo, the Zhou family¡¯s eldest son. These young members would be the ones Zhou Jibo could rely on in the future. Among the group, there was an unexpected presence¡ªa young man whose attendance surprised Zhou Jibo. It was Zhou Qian¡¯s son, Zhou Leng. Now, Zhou Leng¡¯s demeanor was devoid of his former arrogance. He regarded Zhou Jibo with a vacant stare, a stark contrast to his past self-assurance. ¡°He¡¯s not inherently evil; he¡¯s just been spoiled by his father, who was fixated on usurping the role of the Patriarch,¡± Zhou Chng exined to Zhou Jibo. ¡°In recent days, I¡¯ve taken care of his father¡¯s funeral arrangements and settled him and his mother outside the Zhou family estate. I¡¯ve also handled the loyal followers of Zhou Qian.¡± ¡°Zhou Qian no longer has any sway over the Zhou family. Today, you have the authority to decide Zhou Leng¡¯s fate.¡± Zhou Jibo was taken aback by Zhou Chng¡¯s approach. Their reluctance to take a life due to the bonds of kinship was clear. Now, the question of whether Zhou Leng would live or die hinged on whether he harbored resentment or could prove to be an asset to the Zhou family. Zhou Jibo made a mental note of the situation and decided not to intervene further. However, should Zhou Chng and the others be too lenient with Zhou Leng, allowing him to be a future threat to Zhou Jibo, it would signal that the Zhou family needed to undergo an internal purge to strengthen their unity. In such a case, Zhou Jibo would bepelled to act himself. With ample space cleared, Zhou Jibo began to practice his palm technique. He started with the Gravel Palm, earning nods of approval from Zhou Kaile, the three Zhou family Elders, and two other elders. Zhou Jibo¡¯s ability to refine and innovate the Gravel Palm was evident. His foundation was solid, and he had mastered the techniquepletely. Zhou Tong, Zhou Zheyan, and others watched in awe. Zhou Jibo¡¯smand of the Gravel Palm far surpassed their own. He was truly formidable. Zhou Youqing¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nearly burst into apuse, but a stern look from the Third Elder caught her eye, and she restrained herself. The Third Elder was particrly fond of her, and she was here only because she had pleaded with him for the chance. She knew that pping might lead to her being sent away. Meanwhile, Zhou Leng watched intently, his mind not filled with hatred but withparisons of his father¡¯s Gravel Palm to Zhou Jibo¡¯s technique. Zhou Jibo¡¯s palm technique was indeed superior to his father¡¯s, almost as if this was the true essence of the Gravel Palm. However, if Zhou Jibo had merely mastered the Gravel Palm to this level, it¡¯s unlikely he could have defeated two warriors at the ninthyer of the Acquired Stage. Lost in thought, he watched as Zhou Jibo executed the final move of the Gravel Palm. In an instant, Zhou Jibo¡¯s stance transformed, exuding a newfound ferocity. With a deft twist of his wrist, it became clear to the onlookers that he had transitioned to an entirely different palm technique. This new technique bore a resemnce to the Gravel Palm, yet it was significantly more potent. Chapter 23 C23 ¨C Shocking Strength Is this the new palm technique that Zhou Jibo developed from the Gravel Palm? Zhou Kaile, the three senior Elders, two other Elders, Zhou Youqing, Zhou Tong, and others were filled with shock and awe. Zhou Jibo truly possessed boundless potential. To think he could transform the unrefined Gravel Palm into a more formidable technique! Zhou Chng and the other two senior Elders exchanged nces, their eyes reflecting their astonishment. This technique appeared to have ascended to the first grade. Zhou Leng watched as Zhou Jibo practiced the Mountain Splitting Palm. Was this the very technique Zhou Jibo used to y his father? And now he had innovated yet another new technique? How could one even begin to describe his frightening talent and potential? All eyes were fixed on Zhou Jibo. Havingpleted the Mountain Splitting Palm, he transitioned to the low-grade Profound Rank Mountain Suppressing Palm. Instantly, his presence surged to a whole new level! A faint chill emanated from Zhou Jibo¡¯s palms as frost began to form. The spacious hall was suddenly enveloped in a coolness. Those standing near Zhou Jibo could distinctly feel the cold, and they saw the white frosty mist rising from his hands. Zhou Kaile watched, utterly baffled by the spectacle. The Third and Fourth Elders were struck dumb, while Zhou Youqing, Zhou Tong, and the others looked on with curiosity. How, on such a sunny and balmy day, could he conjure frost? Zhou Leng waspletely dumbfounded. This disy of martial prowess was beyond hisprehension and imagination. What an oddity! It¡¯s no wonder Zhou Qian was dispatched in mere moments! Their amazement paled inparison to the seasoned Zhou Chng, Zhou Shu, and Zhou Shuang. Zhou Chng¡¯s body shook, and Zhou Shu and Zhou Shuang had tears streaming down their reddened eyes. ¡°Atst, the Zhou family is poised to reim its status as the premier family of Icefair City!¡± Zhou Chng dered, his voice quivering as he captured the attention of all present. ¡°Zhou Jibo will be the pivotal figure to revitalize our entire n and lead us to a new era of prosperity.¡± ¡°Esteemed Elders, what exactly is happening here?¡± Zhou Kaile inquired, ¡°Zhou Jibo¡¯s palm technique is undeniably impressive, but since when can palm techniques manifest ice and snow?¡± ¡°The reason for that is Icefair¡¯s limited scope,¡± Zhou Chng exined. ¡°If you had more opportunities to venture out, you¡¯d realize just how feeble Icefair¡¯s ninthyer Acquired Stage warriors are, and how absurdly inadequate an Innate Stage warrior is inparison.¡± ¡°The palm technique demonstrated earlier has already attained the Yellow Rank, and the current one might have reached the upper echelon of the Yellow Rank, perhaps even the lower tier of the Profound Rank.¡± What? Profound Rank¡¯s lower tier? Zhou Kaile and the rest were dumbfounded. It had never crossed their minds that Zhou Jibo¡¯s palm technique could potentially be a Profound Rank martial skill! Zhou Leng was utterly shell-shocked. In that instant, he fully grasped the undeniable fact of his father¡¯s defeat. Zhou Chng shook his head, remarking, ¡°What significance does a low-grade Profound Rank martial skill hold? You should be contemting the implications of Zhou Jibo¡¯s ability to manifest frost and snow.¡± ¡°In this world, those of ordinary talent can only hope to wield a naturally potent attack through years of arduous cultivation and a less-than-ster mental cultivation method.¡± ¡°Conversely, individuals of genius caliber, endowed with an exceptional bone root and a supremely advanced mental cultivation method, can harness natural forces through their vitality and true essence, even during the Innate and Acquired Stages.¡± ¡°The fact that Zhou Jibo can conjure frost and snow signifies not only his exceptional bone root but also that his mental cultivation method is of extraordinary caliber. It¡¯s at least of the Profound Rank, if not soaring to the Earth Rank.¡± With that, Zhou Chng cast a profound nce at Zhou Leng and chose to say no more. Confronted with a figure whom the entire Zhou family revered and who was destined for great things, what path would Zhou Leng take? Zhou Leng¡¯s father, Zhou Qian, had conspired with enemies, bringing turmoil to the family¡ªhis actions tantamount to courting death. Would Zhou Leng opt to follow in his father¡¯s doomed footsteps, or choose to survive? Shaken to his core, Zhou Leng was engulfed in despair and confusion: He had finallye face to face with Zhou Jibo¡¯s strength. Yet, vengeance now seemed like a distant dream. Even in his naivety, he recognized the futility of seeking revenge now or in any future. What was his next move? Upon hearing Zhou Chng¡¯s ount, Zhou Kaile was ecstatic. The Third and Fourth Elders, among others, were astounded. They were left with a mix of awe and joy. With Zhou Jibo in their midst, the Zhou family was bound to grow stronger and more prosperous. It was no surprise that Zhou Qian and Zheng Kang, two warriors of the Acquired ninthyer, were effortlessly in by Zhou Jibo. We¡¯ve witnessed Zhou Jibo¡¯s talent, yet we never realized he was a genius of this caliber! Zhou Jibo ceased his Gravel Palm technique and, with a flick of his wrist, drew the five-foot Blood Stripe Sword,mencing his sword practice. As he demonstrated, the sword¡¯s ice crystals shimmered, filling the hall with a chilling mist. Not only were Zhou Chng and the two Elders dumbstruck, but the Third and Fourth Elders, along with everyone else, were also taken aback. Zhou Leng¡¯s eyes grew dimmer, and even Zhou Kaile¡¯s joy was supnted by astonishment. My heavens! His palm technique wasn¡¯t even his peak; it could be stronger still! Zhou Jibo¡¯s most formidable martial skill wasn¡¯t his palm technique, but his swordsmanship! The Earth Rank low-grade Blood Stripe Sword, the Earth Rank medium-grade Six Yin Heart Technique, and the Profound Rank top-grade Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique¡¯s fourthyer. Each of these items was a rarity in Icefair City, unheard of by many. Even in the capital, they were treasures hard toe by, coveted by major sects and Holy Lands alike. Yet here they were, all converging in Zhou Jibo¡¯s hands, working in unison. In the enveloping cold, it felt as though they had stepped into a frigid night. They could almost see the moon above, feel the gentle breeze, and watch the moonlight cascade down upon a lone figure brandishing his sword. Suddenly, Zhou Jibo sheathed his sword, standing alone with only the cool breeze and bright moon forpany. Before them stood only the breeze, the moon, and the swordsman. A wave of cold washed over them, causing Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, and the others to shiver uncontrobly. Even Zhou Kaile couldn¡¯t suppress a sneeze, snapping everyone back to reality. Emerging from the midst of the chilling mist with a sword in hand, Zhou Jibo approached with a smile gracing his lips. ¡°How do you all feel?¡± Silence fell upon the group; they were at a loss for words. Given Zhou Jibo¡¯s formidable prowess, they had no ce to critique him! Zhou Leng dropped to his knees, bowing deeply before Zhou Jibo. ¡°All I desire is to care for my mother and ensure her twilight years arefortable.¡± Zhou Jibo regarded him with a serene gaze and gave a slight nod. ¡°This is your final opportunity. Make sure you value it.¡± With profound respect, Zhou Leng bowed his head again. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve understood, Young Master Zhou.¡± Chapter 24 C24 ¨C The Reason for This Matter The entire room snapped back to attention with Zhou Leng¡¯s unequivocal surrender. Once Zhou Jibo sheathed his sword, the warmth from outside began to chase away the hall¡¯s lingering chill. Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, Zhou Zheyan, and the youths brought by the Elder all held Zhou Jibo in high regard. Zhou Jibo¡¯s swordy had been ethereal, like a gentle breeze under a bright moon, yet tinged with the bite of frost. It was a spectacle they had never witnessed before. In all of Icefair City, only Zhou Jibomanded such mastery of the de. The once haughty Zhou Leng had renounced his im as a direct heir and his thirst for vengeance. His deference to Zhou Jibo as ¡®Young Master¡¯ was a testament to Zhou Jibo¡¯s formidable strength. Following the Elders¡¯ expressions of astonishment, Zhou Tong, Zhou Youqing, and the other young members of the n gathered around Zhou Jibo, showering him with congrattions. Zhou Kaile, though delighted, couldn¡¯t help but harbor a trace of doubt as he observed Zhou Jibo. Despite possessing a low-grade Earth Spirit bone root and seemingly average skills in mental cultivation and martial arts, Zhou Jibo¡¯s power had surged remarkably in such a short time. What level had his cultivation reached? Pondering this enigma, Zhou Kaile watched as Zhou Jibo raised his hand, prompting Zhou Tong and the others to clear a space for him to speak. Zhou Chng and the rest turned their attention to him, anticipating his words. Zhou Jibo began, ¡°As of now, the Zhou family has atste together in unity, poised to forge ahead. Patriarch, Elders, you are all diligently cultivating talent, striving to fortify our n.¡± ¡°However, there is something crucial I must share with you all. I intend to alter our standard training regimen and the developmental trajectory of the Zhou family.¡± Zhou Kaile, Zhou Chng, and the others were taken aback. Given Zhou Jibo¡¯s prowess, only the two Innate Stage experts¡ªthe Yu family Patriarch and Icefair¡¯s Casten, Lang Shen¡ªwere beyond his concern. Clearly, Zhou Jibo was broaching no trivial matter. ¡°What is it you¡¯re referring to, Zhou Jibo?¡± inquired Zhou Kaile. Zhou Jibo replied, ¡°It began ten days ago when Zheng Xunqin from the Zheng family, apanied by the Second Pce Holy Son from the Shrine of Astral Radiance, entered my courtyard.¡± As the conversation began, Zhou Chng and the other two elders were visibly stunned. They eximed in unison, ¡°The Shrine of Astral Radiance?!¡± The Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Zhou Tong, and others were equally taken aback. What was this all about? Was there another reason behind Zheng Xunqin¡¯s divorce from Zhou Jibo? Zhou Youqing turned to Zhou Chng and inquired, ¡°Elder Chng, what exactly is this Shrine of Astral Radiance? And who is this Second Pce Holy Son?¡± The look of astonishment lingered on Zhou Chng¡¯s face as he regarded Zhou Jibo with disbelief. In a hushed tone, he exined, ¡°In this world, every ce is known by a different title. There are families, castens, sects, and nations. In some ces, families hold more power than castens, and in others, castens outshine families. Sometimes sects are mightier than nations, and at other times, nations surpass sects.¡± ¡°But no matter the circumstance, Holy Lands surpass all these entities. Families, castens, sects, and nations will always be inferior to the Holy Lands.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain how many Holy Lands exist in the world, but in my youth, when I ventured out, I came across the names of two: the Sunburnt Sanctuary and the Shrine of Astral Radiance. An emperor was deposed simply for showing disrespect to the Sunburnt Sanctuary.¡± ¡°And when the inhabitants of a city ridiculed the Holy Son of the Shrine of Astral Radiance, the retribution was swift and brutal. The Shrine¡¯s people annihted the entire city, sparing no one.¡± With his voice shaking, he turned to Zhou Jibo and asked, ¡°Has the Zheng family sought the protection of the Shrine of Astral Radiance?¡± Zhou Jibo gave a slight nod. ¡°That means you¡¯ve divorced Zheng Xunqin,¡± Zhou Tong managed to say, swallowing hard. In essence, Zhou Jibo had crossed the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Our entire Zhou family could be doomed. ¡°The Shrine of Astral Radiance is that merciless,¡± Zhou Kaile remarked, astonished. ¡°To think they wiped out an entire city!¡± Zhou Chng nodded gravely. ¡°Indeed, the Shrine of Astral Radiance is merciless. To them, the number of lives taken is inconsequential. What truly matters is the Holy Land¡¯s prestige and honor.¡± With a serious gaze fixed on Zhou Jibo, Zhou Chng pressed, ¡°Zhou Jibo, what exactly happened here? How did this situation escte to involve the Shrine of Astral Radiance? What is the connection between the Zheng family and the Shrine? We need you to tell us everything, and quickly.¡± ¡°Given that this issue is tied to the Holy Land, it could very well lead to the destruction of the entire Zhou family. We can¡¯t underestimate the gravity of this situation.¡± Zhou Jibo understood the crux of Zhou Chng¡¯s numerous inquiries. He responded, ¡°Are you trying to find out if there¡¯s any chance to de-escte this situation? Are you wondering if it¡¯s possible to avoid a confrontation with the Shrine of Astral Radiance?¡± Zhou Chng didn¡¯t beat around the bush. He nodded earnestly and said, ¡°Exactly. The Holy Land is a behemoth that could effortlessly crush us to smithereens. It¡¯s in our best interest to avoid antagonizing it; otherwise, we¡¯re facing a cmity.¡± Zhou Jibo gave a reassuring shake of his head, ¡°Rest assured. Even though I might end up in a contest with the Shrine of Astral Radiance, I won¡¯t let the Zhou family fall to ruin because of it.¡± What was really happening here? Zhou Chng and the others gazed at Zhou Jibo, their minds racing with thoughts. Aware of their growing impatience, Zhou Jibo started to rify, ¡°To begin with, we need to address the Zheng family¡¯s ambitions. They¡¯ve had ill intentions for quite some time. It¡¯s not just about them regretting their marriage alliance after climbing the socialdder, as my parents believed. Even before they pledged allegiance to the Shrine of Astral Radiance, they were ying both sides¡ªarranging a marriage with me while simultaneously nting spies within the Zhou family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear that, had they not aligned with the Shrine of Astral Radiance, the Zheng family would have gradually devoured our internally weakened Zhou family, aiming to be an even more powerful n.¡± ¡°The Zheng family is outrageously audacious!¡± The Third Elder eximed in fury. Zhou Kaile felt a chill run down his spine, ¡°The Zheng family is truly ruthless. We¡¯ve always had amicable rtions with them. How could they harbor such schemes?¡± Zhou Chng replied icily, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you brothers stirred up internal conflicts and sapped the Zhou family¡¯s vitality? That¡¯s why we became an easy target for their schemes. Had Zhou Jibo not quelled the infighting, the Zhou family would have been torn apart by your discord!¡± Zhou Kaile, the Third Elder, and the Fourth Elder all looked visibly embarrassed. Zhou Leng, still kneeling on the ground, felt his face burn with shame. The Zhou family¡¯s internal turmoil was partly their own doing. ¡°Next came the issue of the Zheng family¡¯s allegiance to the Shrine of Astral Radiance,¡± Zhou Jibo exined. ¡°Their loyalty was proven by extracting my bone root to be handed over to the Shrine¡¯s Second Pce Holy Son for their use.¡± ¡°On that day, the Zhou family¡¯s traitors lured Zheng Xunqin and the Second Pce Holy Son to my courtyard with the sole intent of carrying out this act.¡± ¡°What?¡± For everyone present, including Zhou Kaile, this was startling news. They were taken aback by the Zheng family¡¯s and Zheng Xunqin¡¯s cold-bloodedness, and the Holy Land¡¯s actions filled them with dread. There was no chance for a reconciliation with the Zheng family; they were hell-bent on obtaining Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root by any means necessary. It wouldn¡¯t be shocking if their ultimate goal was topletely annihte Zhou Jibo and the entire Zhou family. Chapter 25 C25 ¨C Destroy the Zheng Family! Zhou Kaile gritted his teeth in fury, eximing, ¡°I once believed Zheng Huai and Zheng Xunqin of the Zheng family were merely vain, but they¡¯re nothing short of monsters! To think they would stoop so low as to harm my son!¡± Zhou Chng and the others were simrly incensed. Over recent days, it had be clear to them that Zhou Jibo was the true linchpin of the Zhou family¡¯s stability and unity, as well as the beacon of hope for their future prosperity. His exceptional abilitiesmanded the respect of every Zhou family peer. And yet, the Zheng family sought to ruin him just to ingratiate themselves with the Shrine of Astral Radiance? Their malice was beyond measure! The perpetrator was none other than Zhou Jibo¡¯s betrothed, Zheng Xunqin. Their malevolence was nothing short of sinful. Zhou Jibo had survived that perilous encounter, which might very well have been the catalyst for his burgeoning strength. They knew better than to pry further into the matter. Zhou Chng spoke inly, ¡°The Zheng family¡¯s scheme has clearly backfired. It seems to be unrted to the Shrine of Astral Radiance now. Given this, the Zhou family can focus on thriving in peace for the next few decades. Or perhaps once Zhou Jibo reaches the Innate Stage, we can eliminate the Zheng family¡¯s able-bodied men and expel the weak from Icefair City!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that excessively harsh?¡± the Fourth Elder interjected softly. ¡°For their actions, they must face the consequences!¡± Zhou Shuang retorted, ¡°Besides, the Shrine of Astral Radiance isn¡¯t backing them. We have nothing to fear.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Jibo shook his head slightly, ¡°You¡¯re all mistaken. The Shrine of Astral Radiance has already consented to make the Zheng family a subordinate race.¡± The revtion left the Zhou family members stunned, all eyes turning to Zhou Jibo. After a heavy silence, Zhou Chng finally spoke, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, how can we ensure the Zheng family doesn¡¯t hold this against us?¡± Despite the Zheng family¡¯s contemptible actions, the Zhou family¡¯s survival was at stake,pelling them to swallow their pride. Zhou Kaile was overwhelmed with the urge to unleash a roar of anger, yet he knew it would be futile. The Third Elder couldn¡¯t contain his rage, ¡°The Zheng family and the Shrine of Astral Radiance have gone too far.¡± ¡°Zhenbo!¡± Zhou Chng closed his eyes, a pained expression crossing his face. ¡°In this world, the strong are revered, and the weak are scorned. Haven¡¯t you realized that after all these years?¡± The Third Elder heaved a deep sigh and fell silent. They had once brimmed with hope and joy for Zhou Jibo, but now they were consumed by an equal measure of pain and loss. In an instant, the Zhou family¡¯s dreams of ascension had vanished. With the Shrine of Astral Radiance coveting Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root, it seemed inevitable that he wouldn¡¯t escape their grasp. Despite knowing the Zheng family¡¯s malice, they might still find themselves pleading for their mercy. It was a bitter pill to swallow. In the midst of this, Zhou Jibo offered a reassuring smile and turned to Zhou Leng. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Zhou Leng, kneeling on the ground, shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I just want to return to my mother¡¯s side. My only wish is for the Zhou family to weather this storm.¡± Seeing the honesty in Zhou Leng¡¯s eyes, Zhou Jibo nodded. ¡°Go back. The Zhou family will be alright. Keep today¡¯s events to yourself.¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master Zhou.¡± Zhou Leng rose and departed in silence. Zhou Kaile, fraught with urgency, blurted out, ¡°How can you be concerned with him at a time like this? Are we truly powerless against the Zheng family and the Shrine of Astral Radiance?¡± Zhou Jibo remainedposed. ¡°Not at all.¡± A solution still existed? Zhou Kaile was taken aback, while Zhou Tong and the younger generation brightened with hope. However, Zhou Chng, the Third Elder, and the rest harbored skepticism. What could possibly be done now, facing the might of the Shrine of Astral Radiance, a force capable of annihting an entire city? Zhou Jibo rified, ¡°There¡¯s no need for such fear of the Shrine of Astral Radiance. The Zheng family is merely the most expendable among their vassal houses. They¡¯re cornered, having relied solely on the sale of my bone root to forge a tie with the Shrine. It will be over two months before an envoy arrives to escort Zheng Xunqin there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the sole link between the Zheng family and the Shrine. Given how insignificant and feeble the Zhengs are, is the Shrine of Astral Radiance truly going to concern itself with pursuing this matter?¡± Upon hearing his words, the tension in the room eased somewhat. If things were as Zhou Jibo described, they wouldn¡¯t be nearly as frightening. Yet Zhou Chng was still shaken, ¡°But we¡¯re talking about the Shrine of Astral Radiance!¡± Zhou Jibo offered a reassuring smile, ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve got this. If they truly won¡¯t back down, then my bone root is what they¡¯ll be after.¡± Zhou Chng froze, instinctively shaking his head. How could they possibly surrender Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root? His expression soured with the thought. If it came to that, they¡¯d be out of options. He prayed it would nevere to that. ¡°For the moment, let¡¯s set aside the threat from the Shrine of Astral Radiance.¡± Zhou Jibo pressed on, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on the dynamics within Icefair City, between the Zhou and Zheng families. How many in Icefair can withstand my swordsmanship?¡± Zhou Chng replied with conviction, ¡°I can¡¯t speak for the Yu family patriarch or the Icefair city lord, both Innate Stage masters. But apart from them, no one can match my sword.¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring,¡± Zhou Jibo said. ¡°Is there any chance of reconciling the feud between the Zhou and Zheng families?¡± ¡°None,¡± Zhou Chng dered. ¡°The Zhengs are underhanded and cruel. Even if the Zhous were to bite their tongues and endure, those vile people wouldn¡¯t introspect. They¡¯d only harbor deeper resentment towards the Zhous for killing Zheng Kang, cutting off their ess to cultivation resources in Icefair.¡± Zhou Jibo nodded, ¡°Exactly. We can¡¯t afford to be lenient or hopeful. We mustn¡¯t delude ourselves into thinking they¡¯ll stand down and see the error of their ways.¡± At this, Zhou Chng looked horrified. ¡°You intend to wipe out the Zhou family?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Jibo confirmed gravely. ¡°But they¡¯ve been acknowledged by the Shrine of Astral Radiance!¡± Zhou Chng protested. ¡°Does the Shrine of Astral Radiance really know Icefair City that well? Do they care so much about the Zhengs?¡± Zhou Jibo asked with a hint of a smile. ¡°Facing the Zhengs¡¯ threat either way, keeping them around would only allow them to leverage the Shrine¡¯s influence against the Zhou family.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take the offensive and wipe them out before they can act,¡± I suggested decisively. ¡°But¡­¡± Zhou Chng, Zhou Shuang, and Zhou Shu were visibly uneasy. Zhou Jibo spoke with authority, ¡°You will follow my lead. Should we face any troubles ahead, I¡¯ll handle them. Don¡¯t wait until we¡¯re in deep crisis and it¡¯s toote for regrets.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ready to obey mymand and join me in taking down the Zheng family?¡± No sooner had Zhou Jibo¡¯s words faded than Zhou Kaile spoke up, ¡°I¡¯ll follow your lead, of course. The Zheng family has targeted my son; I can¡¯t let that slide.¡± ¡°Jibo, count me in too!¡± Zhou Youqing called out eagerly. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 26 C26 ¨C A Cmity Was Approaching! ?After Zhou Kaile and Zhou Youqing made their positions clear, Zhou Tong, Zhou Zheyan, and the rest followed suit, aligning with Zhou Jibo¡¯s decision. The Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, and the Fourth Elder, Zhou Chaide, shared a wry smile, feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu from when Zhou Jibo had previously won over their children. With their children taking a stand, they couldn¡¯t just oppose them and risk severing the father-son bond. Young Master Zhou was indeed a sly fox, holding their fates in his hands and leaving them no choice but toply. ¡°We¡¯ll follow Zhou Jibo¡¯s lead,¡± dered the Third and Fourth Elders. Zhou Chng, seeing everyone¡¯s acquiescence to Zhou Jibo¡¯s decision, sighed deeply in resignation. ¡°Well, it¡¯s all quite risky. But you may as well give it a try.¡± Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu shared simr sentiments. Despite agreeing to Zhou Jibo¡¯s ns, they were still filled with trepidation. The Shrine of Astral Radiance was a source of deep anxiety for them. Yet, inaction didn¡¯t seem right either. They decided to support Zhou Jibo in taking a bold risk with the Zhou family. Zhou Jibo gave a light p of his hands. ¡°With that settled, the Zhou family is united in our approach.¡± ¡°In half an hour, the Zhou family members and guards will make a beeline for the Zheng household. Once we¡¯ve encircled them, you¡¯ll handle the Zheng warriors below the sixthyer of the Acquired Stage. Leave those above the sixthyer to me.¡± ¡°Half an hour?¡± Zhou Kaile, Zhou Chng, the Third Elder, and the others were taken aback by the urgency. ¡°Why the rush?¡± they wondered. Zhou Jibo exined, ¡°Remember, the Zheng family has spies among us. Can we be certain we¡¯ve rooted them all out? And who¡¯s to say there aren¡¯t spies from other families as well? Speed is of the essence; they won¡¯t have a chance to react. That¡¯s the only way to ensure our ns don¡¯t leak.¡± ¡°Fine, but are you sure you can take on all the Zheng warriors above the sixthyer of the Acquired Stage?¡± Zhou Kaile asked, concern evident in his voice. Zhou Jibo responded with a confident smile, patting the sword sheath at his side. The sight of the Blood Stripe Sword and the memory of Zhou Jibo¡¯s masterful swordy reassured everyone of his capabilities. As the group prepared to rally their forces, Zhou Youqing suddenly spoke up, ¡°Jibo, what¡¯s our n for dealing with Zheng Xunqin? Are we going to kill her?¡± Zhou Jibo replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to spare her deliberately. If she refuses to surrender, we¡¯ll take her life. If she does, we¡¯ll decide her fate at the end.¡± Everyone nodded in understanding. Zhou Youqing gave a resolute nod and started to follow them out, but the Third Elder stopped her. ¡°I¡¯ve indulged you enough by bringing you to the ancestor temple today. Don¡¯t get involved in this danger. Go home.¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Youqing made her way back home. Half an hourter, over three hundred Zhou family men had assembled at the ancestor temple. They were predominantly Acquired Realm warriors, mostly under the fifthyer, with only a rare few who had not trained in martial arts. Zhou Kaile, Zhou Chng, and others handed out swords and weapons to the group. Then, amid the stir they caused in Icefair City, they marched straight to the Zheng family¡¯s northern estate. By the time the Zheng family got wind of their approach, the Zhou family had already reached their doorstep andid siege. ¡°The Zhou family dares toe knocking?¡± Zheng Huai, the Zheng family patriarch, was seething with anger. He quicklymanded his family to rally and brace for the confrontation. He also led the Zheng family elders and the Elder out to parley with the Zhou family. The Zheng family had resolved to annihte the Zhou family before the Holy Land¡¯s envoy arrived and had secretly informed other powers to share in the spoils. Yet, they hadn¡¯t anticipated a preemptive strike from the Zhou family. ¡°I¡¯m eager to see what the Zhou family intends to do.¡± In his rush, he summoned a close aide, instructing, ¡°Go invite the City Lord and the Yu family forces.¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious to see whether today will spell trouble for the Zheng family at the hands of the Zhou family, or if it will be the Zheng family who eradicates the Zhou family!¡± The trusted aide dashed to the gate, but as it swung open, a sh of cold light burst forth. A five-foot-long Blood Stripe Sword, its de etched with crimson, impaled his chest. Zhou Jibo, d in his white robe, sheathed his sword and regarded Zheng Huai and hispanions with a detached gaze as a subtle chill permeated the air. ¡°Zhou Jibo!¡± Zheng Huai cried out in rm. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s me,¡± Zhou Jibo confirmed. Zheng Huai eyed the Blood Stripe Sword in Zhou Jibo¡¯s grasp, which radiated an icy aura, and scrutinized his expression and physique. It appeared that his bone root had not been extracted. ¡°Xunqin was supposed to take the Holy Son and remove your bone root. How is it that you¡¯re still able to train in martial arts, and even more, your martial prowess has significantly advanced?¡± Zheng Huai asked, his voiceced with suspicion. Zhou Jibo¡¯s expression remained impassive. ¡°I have no intention of revealing my secrets. I¡¯d rather let you and the entire Zheng family perish in your curiosity.¡± ¡°You¡¯re set on annihting the Zheng family?¡± At first taken aback, Zheng Huai quickly scoffed, ¡°You clearly have no grasp of the enormity of the Shrine of Astral Radiance to all of Icefair City. The Zheng family is now a vassal to the Shrine. If you dare move against us, the Shrine will surely eradicate your lineage! And Icefair itself won¡¯t stand for any affront to the Holy Land!¡± ¡°Remember, the majesty of the Holy Land is not to be trifled with.¡± His confidence swelled as he spoke, and he pointed an using finger at Zhou Jibo. ¡°Regardless of how you managed to preserve your bone root or continue your training, the one line you should never have crossed was provoking the Zheng family!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Jibo let out a coldugh, the Blood Stripe Sword in his hand resonating as he advanced. Where the sword¡¯s tip touched, frost crystals began to form, and a mist of cold air started to swirl upwards. A deep chill settled in the hearts of Zheng Huai and the Zheng family elders. Could Zhou Jibo truly be fearless of the Shrine of Astral Radiance, bold enough to persist in his assault on the Zheng family? As the cold gleam intensified, Zhou Jibo let out a derisive snort and brandished his sword. An Elder of the Zheng family was the first to react, desperately gathering his vitality into his fists to meet the onught of Zhou Jibo¡¯s Blood Stripe Sword. He emitted a dull thud. The icy vitality generated by Zhou Jibo¡¯s Six Yin Heart Technique had frozen all his wounds solid. Even now, at the brink of death, the Zheng family Elder remained incredulous. ¡°Do you truly dare to defy the Shrine of Astral Radiance?¡± ¡°The Shrine of Astral Radiance?¡± Zhou Jibo withdrew his sword, watching the body copse. He dered, ¡°Fear is not in my nature.¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 27 C27 ¨C Attack! ¡°He¡¯s too arrogant.¡± ¡°He¡¯s lost his mind!¡± These thoughts repeatedly surfaced in the mind of Zheng Huai, the Patriarch of the Zheng family. A lunatic bold enough to im he wasn¡¯t afraid of the Shrine of Astral Radiance. If he wasn¡¯t insane, what else could he be? Then, witnessing Zhou Jibo y the Zheng family Elder with a single sword strike, a shiver of dread crept through Zheng Huai. Just over ten days ago, Zhou Jibo was merely a fifthyer Acquired talent with some potential. What transformation had he undergone in such a short span? He had issued a letter of divorce to Zheng Xunqin. He had astonished the crowd at the Icefair auction. He had in Zhou Qian and Zheng Kang, swiftly settling the strife within the Zhou family. Zheng Huai had harbored doubts that Zhou Qian and Zheng Kang¡¯s deaths were a collective effort by the Zhou family. Now, seeing Zhou Jibo¡¯s prowess, he was convinced that it was Zhou Jibo himself who had personally dispatched the two ninthyer Acquired Warriors. At what level was Zhou Jibo¡¯s cultivation now? Without hesitation, Zhou Jibo brandished his sword once more. The Zheng family elders and the Zhou family Elder, some enraged, some terrified, charged forward with roars. Their cultivation ranged from the seventh to the ninthyer of the Acquired Realm. They were met with a series of chilling, icy sword glows. The youth in the moon-white robe executed his swordy, his attacks imbued with an enigmatic depth they couldn¡¯t decipher. He murmured softly. ¡°Cool Breeze Blowing.¡± The breeze was gentle, invisible. ¡°Moon.¡± The moon dipped into the water, its reflection shimmering. Finally, the Blood Stripe Sword imed thest two guards. ¡°I.¡± I witness the breeze, I witness the moon. Zhou Jibo calmly rested his sword on the quivering shoulder of Zheng Huai. The surrounding Zheng family elders and guardsy scattered, lifeless. Only Zheng Huai remained alive before Zhou Jibo. A mist of pale white frost swirled endlessly around them. ¡°What sword technique is this?¡± Zheng Huai¡¯s voice quivered as he inquired, ¡°How can there be such a fearsome sword technique?¡± ¡°I can answer that question for you,¡± Zhou Jibo stated. ¡°Thanks to the Zheng family¡¯s treachery, I was fortunate to acquire this sword technique. It¡¯s a top-grade Profound Rank martial skill called the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique.¡± ¡°A top-grade Profound Rank martial skill?¡± Zheng Huai gasped in shock, unable to utter anything beyond his astonishment. Such a divine technique was beyond his wildest dreams! Even with the Zheng family¡¯s allegiance to the Shrine of Astral Radiance and their status as a vassal, he never imagined witnessing such a formidable skill. ¡°Surprised?¡± Zhou Jibo asked, eyeing him with a steady gaze. ¡°Is it typical for the Zheng family to be so heartless? Many of your elders have perished, yet the others are scrambling to flee. You don¡¯t seem to be concerned about them at all. What about your daughter, Zheng Xunqin? Does she not care for you either?¡± Zheng Huai snapped out of his daze, his face ashen as cries of agony and mercy filled the air. Was the Zheng family facing annihtion today? ¡°Zhou Jibo,¡± he pleaded, attempting to persuade the Zhou family to cease their assault. But Zhou Jibo¡¯s icy stare extinguished any hope of that possibility. How could they possibly relent? Surely, they would seekplete vengeance. Despair took hold as he realized the futility of his situation. He yelled defiantly, ¡°You won¡¯t find Xunqin. You can¡¯t kill her. As long as she lives, the Zheng family will endure. You, the Zhou family, have provoked the Shrine of Astral Radiance¡ªyou¡¯re doomed.¡± ¡°The Zhou family will suffer a fate far grimmer than ours.¡± His words were cut short by a furious bellow from outside: ¡°Zhou family, restrain yourselves! Do you really think you can massacre another family within Icefair City without consequence? Am I just for show?¡± Following the outcry, a figure was hurled through the Zheng family¡¯s main entrance, crashing to the ground, spewing blood, and losing consciousness. It was Zhou Zhenbo, the Third Elder of the Zhou family. Almost immediately, another voiceced with amusement rang out: ¡°The Zhou family is not only reckless, but they¡¯ve also got some nerve. The Zheng family is under the Shrine of Astral Radiance, and yet the Zhous dare to strike. They must have a death wish.¡± As the voice echoed, a pained cry from outside followed. Clearly, another Zhou family warrior had been wounded. Overhearing the voices, Zheng Huai was ecstatic. Disregarding the Blood Stripe Sword at his throat, he called out, ¡°Lord Lang! Goodman Yu! You must defend our Zheng family! Zhou Jibo and his people are out to annihte us!¡± Apanied by dozens of warriors, two figures entered the courtyard. The leader was none other than Lang Shen, the Casten of Icefair. The man beside him, marked by a red mole and looking to be in his fifties, was Goodman Yu. Both were Innate Stage masters within Icefair. Their arrival, clearly forewarned of the Zheng family¡¯s new status, was to aid them against the Zhou family. Witnessing the scene, Zhou Jibo grasped the situation atst. The Zheng family had been busy, spreading word of their allegiance to the Holy Land. Icefair¡¯s powers now rallied around the Zhengs as their nucleus. It was evident that if the Zhou family continued to bide their time, they would face a siege from all of Icefair¡¯s forces! Leveraging the Holy Land¡¯s influence, the Zhengs could easily obliterate the Zhous without lifting a finger. It appeared his timing was impable. If he didn¡¯t take down the Zheng family now, he¡¯d soon be at odds with the entire city. Fearless though he was, for the Zhou family¡¯s sake, it was imperative to avoid such a confrontation. ¡°Zhou Jibo?¡± Casten Lang Shen approached swiftly, eyeing Zhou Jibo and the Blood Stripe Sword he wielded. His gaze greedily swept over the sword before he rebuked, ¡°I¡¯m here now. Do you still dare to be so brazen? Release the Zheng patriarch immediately and kneel to confess your wrongdoing.¡± The Yu family patriarch, an Innate master himself, couldn¡¯t help but smile as he spoke. ¡°I must admit, Zhou Jibo, your talent is truly enviable. Both the superb martial skill and the weapon havee into your possession. Had I not learned of the Zheng family¡¯s situation a few days ago, I would have been tempted to send you a gift, currying favor with a future expert of the Soul Separation Stage.¡± ¡°Regrettably, the Zhou family has made an enemy of the Shrine of Astral Radiance.¡± ¡°In the presence of myself and Lord Lang, don¡¯t even entertain the thought of resistance. Kneel and await your fate!¡± Zhou Jibo regarded them, his lips curving into an unexpected smile. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m out of options?¡± Did Zhou Jibo have any other choice? Lord Lang regarded him with contempt, but Goodman Yu of the Yu family was taken aback. His eyes scanned the surrounding pale white fog, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. ¡°And what if I insist on refusing?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired, the smile still ying on his lips. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 28 C28 ¨C Zhou Jibo Killed Zheng Huai! As Zhou Jibo spoke, Lang Shen, the casten, barked sharply. ¡°Not only will the Shrine of Astral Radiance not spare you, but I will be the first to show you no mercy!¡± Zhou Jibo challenged, ¡°So if I concede now, will anyone spare the Zhou family? Will you all refrain from meddling?¡± Lang Shen gave him a frosty stare but offered no reply. Goodman Yu, the Yu family patriarch, said with a grin, ¡°Zhou Jibo, if you surrender now and await your fate, perhaps the Shrine of Astral Radiance will only execute you, sparing the rest of the Zhou family. But if you continue to resist, not one of you will survive.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand the wisdom of sacrificing the few for the many?¡± Zhou Jibo smiled faintly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± The smile vanished from Goodman Yu¡¯s face. Was Zhou Jibo being unreasonable? ¡°Lord Lang, this young fool is oblivious to the consequences. There¡¯s no need for further talk; we should just take him down!¡± he dered. Lord Lang nodded in agreement, ¡°Zheng family head, just a moment. I¡¯ll dispatch this youngster and soothe your anger.¡± At that moment, Zheng Huai, seeing the tide had turned, was visibly ted. ¡°Lord Lang, Goodman Yu, I will never forget the favor you¡¯ve done for me today.¡± He then red at Zhou Jibo with a chilling gaze. ¡°Zhou Jibo, by now you should realize that neither the Shrine of Astral Radiance nor the Zheng family are forces you can provoke. You ought toy down your sword and plead for mercy.¡± Yet, in his heart, he was resolute in his intent to torment Zhou Jibo beyond the brink of endurance. Zhou Jibo¡¯s voice remained even as he said, ¡°It seems my earlier words fell on deaf ears. So, I¡¯ll just proceed with my actions to make my stance clear.¡± With a swift motion, he flipped the Blood Stripe Sword and made a diagonal cut, a spray of blood arching through the air. Zheng Huai¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief before his head tumbled to the ground. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± Both Casten Lang Shen and Goodman Yu cried out, reaching out with their hands. Casten Lang Shen extended his hand, channeling his true essence toward Zhou Jibo, ready to strike him down. His avarice had been unshakable ever since the Glorious House learned of Zhou Jibo¡¯s valuable treasure days earlier. The Yu family patriarch extended his hand in an attempt to prevent Zhou Jibo from executing Zheng Huai. His visit was intended to curry favor with both the Zheng family and the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Who else in the Zheng family could take up the mantle of leadership if Zhou Jibo were to y their head? With Zheng Huai¡¯s head already severed and lying on the ground, the situation was irreparable. Goodman Yu sighed in resignation and withdrew his hand. Lang Shen, on the other hand, showed no signs of relenting. His true essence surged relentlessly towards Zhou Jibo. Zhou Jibo sprang from his spot, his sword shing behind him. As the true essence met Zhou Jibo¡¯s Blood Stripe Sword, it dissipated a fraction of the icy vitality clinging to the de. Zhou Jibo¡¯s mental cultivation method was of Earth Rank, his icy vitality nearly supreme within the Acquired Stage, yet it was effortlessly diminished by the overwhelming true essence of the Innate Stage. The dominance of Innate Stage true essence over Acquired Stage vitality was starkly evident. Had it been ordinary vitality struck by true essence, it would have shattered into nothingness on impact. This disparity was precisely why victory seemed unattainable. The inherent nature of true essence and vitality dictated one¡¯s strength, making reversal of fortunes a daunting challenge. The residual true essence from Zhou Jibo settled on the Blood Stripe Sword, scattering what was left of the icy Six Yin vitality. By the time Zhou Jibo regained his footing, not a trace of vitality remained on his sword. Vitality flowed anew onto the Blood Stripe Sword, its de once again exuding a chilling presence. With a grave look, Zhou Jibo confronted Lord Lang, ¡°Are you determined to stand against me today?¡± ¡°Is it I who opposes you?¡± retorted Lang Shen with a cold scoff. ¡°Do you truly believe you¡¯re worthy of my deliberate attention?¡± He then unleashed two sessive waves of true essence, aiming them directly at Zhou Jibo. Lang Shen¡¯s body coiled like a spring, muscles swelling as he infused his fists with true essence, poised to deliver a lethal strike to Zhou Jibo. Witnessing the unfolding drama, Goodman Yu mused to himself, ¡®Lord Lang is going to great lengths; he must be after the advantages Zhou Jibo holds. It seems my intervention is unnecessary.¡¯ However, in the blink of an eye, he couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of surprise. Zhou Jibo evaded a st of true essence, then caught another. Lang Shen lunged at him, fists flying toward Zhou Jibo. Yet, Zhou Jibo¡¯s sword, etched with crimson patterns, parried the blows. Zhou Jibo was forced back several steps, but he had sessfully fended off the assault. This clearly indicated that Lang Shen would struggle to defeat Zhou Jibo quickly on his own. With his exceptional swordsmanship and a first-grade weapon, Zhou Jibo could just about hold his own against an Innate master. It must be acknowledged that the Myriad Treasure Auction House had keen insight. Had Zhou Jibo survived, he was destined to be a Soul Separation Stage Warrior, perhaps even advancing further on the martial path. Regrettably, his destiny was cruel. He had crossed the Shrine of Astral Radiance before he had the chance to mature. Goodman Yu¡¯s legs surged with true essence as he prepared to employ the Yu family¡¯s low-grade Yellow Rank leg technique to swiftly eliminate Zhou Jibo. At that moment, Zhou Jibo sheathed his sword and stood firm, a coldugh escaping him. ¡°So, the Yu family patriarch is ready to join the fray? I¡¯m curious, what do you stand to gain by killing me and wiping out the Zhou family?¡± Lang Shen held his tongue, though his thoughts were clear: ¡®Why not? Your treasures will be mine.¡¯ The Yu family patriarch shared the sentiment. Still, he had his pride. Seeing Zhou Jibo cease his attack, neither he nor Lang Shen made a move. He spoke up, ¡°Maybe there¡¯s no direct benefit to us, but it spares us from a disadvantage. We have no desire to inexplicably provoke the Shrine of Astral Radiance.¡± ¡°You fear the Holy Land, but do you not fear me?¡± Zhou Jibo asked, a smirk on his face. Lang Shen scoffed, ¡°Why should we fear you?¡± Zhou Jibo met their gaze steadily, ¡°Have you considered how I acquired these weapons and the cultivation techniques I wield? Does Icefair City possess such things? What makes me stand out to the Myriad Treasure Auction House?¡± ¡°Have you both really thought this through? Can you truly kill me, appease the Holy Land, and then just split the spoils without consequence?¡± The Zheng family¡¯s courtyard fell into an abrupt hush. Lang Shen and Goodman Yu simultaneously wore expressions of rm. In their eagerness to consider the advantages and the Shrine of Astral Radiance, they had overlooked the peculiarities afflicting Zhou Jibo! Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 29 C29 ¨C Fear and Worry Within the walls of Icefair City, how could anyonee across such an abundance of treasures without any apparent reason? The Yu family patriarch practiced a top-grade Yellow Rank mental cultivation method and wielded the low-grade Yellow Rank Fallen Leaf Kick martial skill. His attainment of the Innate Stage was due to his medium-grade Profound Spirit bone root, coupled with the unwavering support of his family. The Yu family possessed a single Yellow Rank weapon, a treasure not to be wielded unless the family faced existential peril. Icefair¡¯s casten, Lang Shen, was once a banished member of a prominent family. He had wed his way up to his current status and cultivation level through sheer determination. Even in his former great family, the Langs, the most prized treasure was a medium-grade Profound Rank item, and the highest cultivation technique was of the Profound Rank. Lang Shen and the Yu family patriarch had been blinded by the potential gains from Zhou Jibo¡¯s demise, giving little thought to the consequences. Zhou Jibo¡¯s pointed reminder had sent a jolt of fear through them. Where on earth had Zhou Jibo acquired his treasure trove? Who stood behind him? What kind of power did they wield? Only a master of the Soul Separation Stage could have effortlessly bestowed such items. No, it seemed unlikely even for them; the benefactor might well be a practitioner of the Body Leaving Stage, a level beyond the wildest dreams of ordinary folk. The realization that they might have crossed such a formidable individual or power was chilling. Even if they sought to ingratiate themselves with the Shrine of Astral Radiance, their survival was far from assured. For such a person, eliminating them would be trivial. With this sobering thought, Lang Shen¡¯s face underwent a series of transformations. Ultimately, he curbed his avarice and addressed Zhou Jibo, ¡°The dispute between the Zhou and Zheng families is not our ce to meddle. Harmony should be your guiding principle. I advise against provoking the Shrine of Astral Radiance that stands with the Zheng family.¡± The Yu family patriarch abandoned his initial intentions, speaking to Zhou Jibo, ¡°We see no need to intervene in your family¡¯s conflict. However, we ask the Zhou family to assure us of one thing.¡± ¡°The wrath of the Shrine of Astral Radiance must not extend to the innocent of Icefair City. Should the Zhou family fail to ensure this, and the Shrine seeks retribution, we will bepelled to act in defense of the Zheng family.¡± Zhou Jibo spoke calmly, ¡°Rest assured, this is a private matter between the Zheng and Zhou families. The innocents of Icefair City will not be involved.¡± Lang Shen and the Yu family patriarch exchanged nces. Despite their lingering doubts, they chose to step back, considering the potential power behind Zhou Jibo. ¡°Under those circumstances, we¡¯ll stay out of the Zhou and Zheng families¡¯ dispute,¡± Lang Shen dered, then quickly led his men away. The Yu family patriarch bid Zhou Jibo farewell with a simple, ¡°Goodbye.¡± As they prepared to depart with their followers, the remaining Zheng family members desperately sought help. ¡°Lord Lang! Please, save the Zheng family!¡± ¡°Goodman Yu, help us! The Zhou family won¡¯t spare us!¡± Lang Shen didn¡¯t break stride; he continued outside and strode away with his entourage. Goodman Yu hesitated briefly, sighed, and then followed suit with his own followers. They were deeply cautious of the force behind Zhou Jibo and Zhou Jie, not daring to act rashly at the moment. Once they were gone, Zhou Jibo turned to the pleading Zheng family member and said with detachment, ¡°You know why the Zhou family won¡¯t let the Zheng family off. Come, tell me about it.¡± The man stumbled forward, bowing and scraping before Zhou Jibo. ¡°Please, have mercy on me!¡± Zhou Jibo rested his sword against the man and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to save the elders and children of the Zheng family.¡± The man was taken aback, momentarily forgetting his pleas. What did Zhou Jibo mean? ¡°Wait here. I¡¯ll have someone gather all the Zhengs. You¡¯ll exin to them the whole story behind the Zhou and Zheng families¡¯ feud. Identify those who acted against the Zhou family. I won¡¯t kill those who are innocent,¡± Zhou Jibo stated. ¡°Are you willing to do this?¡± ¡°Will you really spare my life?¡± the man from the Zheng family asked, fraught with anxiety. ¡°I¡¯ve spared many; sparing you is no challenge. However, there will be a cost,¡± Zhou Jibo replied coolly. ¡°Will you report the Zheng family¡¯s future actions to me?¡± Did he really want him to be a spy? The man grasped the gravity of what was asked of him and exhaled deeply. ¡°Yes, Young Master Zhou, I understand,¡± he affirmed. Zhou Jibo gave a nod and gestured for him to rise. In a flurry of distress, Zhou Kaile, Zhou Chaide, Zhou Shuang, and others burst into the Zheng estate, seeking answers from Zhou Jibo. ¡°What was that about? Why did Lord Lang and Goodman Yu suddenly make their move?¡± ¡°And why have they left so abruptly?¡± ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re no longer to assault the Zheng family?¡± Zhou Jibo sheathed his Blood Stripe Sword, raised his voice reassuringly, ¡°Everyone, remain calm. All is well.¡± Hisposure brought a wave of relief to Zhou Kaile, Zhou Chaide, and Zhou Shuang, who slowly regained theirposure. ¡°What exactly transpired earlier?¡± Zhou Kaile inquired. ¡°Lang Shen and the Yu family sought to thwart me, but I managed to fend them off,¡± Zhou Jibo exined sinctly. ¡°How did we fare against the rest of the Zheng family? Did anyone manage to escape?¡± Zhou Shuang reported, ¡°Until the moment Zhou Chng and Zhou Zhenbo were wounded, we had everything under control. But after that, confusion set in. Even though Zhou Shu has the Zheng estate surrounded, there¡¯s unease among our ranks. I fear we might not prevent some from slipping away.¡± Zhou Jibo wasn¡¯t taken aback by this revtion. Despite the Zhou family¡¯s united front under hismand, they were far from the disciplined military force he envisioned. Chaos was not unexpected. ¡°Assist Elder Zhou Chng and the Third Elder to a ce where they can heal. Look after the other injured members of our family,¡± Zhou Jibo instructed. ¡°Everyone else, bring the Zheng family members to me. It¡¯s time to address this situation.¡± With Zheng Xunqin absent and the brief interference from Lang Shen and the Yu family, some of the Zhengs had escaped. It was no longer feasible to eliminate the entire family at once. Moreover, Zhou Jibo was not one to harm innocent women and children, so for now, he would only take action against a portion of the Zheng family. As for the future, Zhou Jibo was determined to grow ever stronger, strong enough to cast a shadow of despair over all who opposed him. The quest for vengeance was nowhere near its end! Zhou Kaile and his associates, acting on Zhou Jibo¡¯smand, herded the majority of the Zheng family into the front hall of their expansive courtyard. Yet, a sense of ease eluded them. They had failed to eradicate a lingering threat. What strategy should they employ against the Shrine of Astral Radiance? With Lang Shen and the Yu family momentarily diverted, what tactics would they use to confront themter on? These concerns weighed heavily on their minds. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 30 C30 ¨C The Person Who Betrayed His Master The Zheng family was herded into the courtyard by the Zhou family, fear etched on their faces, some tinged with anger. They couldn¡¯t grasp the full story, so they felt the Zhou family¡¯s actions were excessively cruel. First, they inexplicably forced Zheng Xunqin into a divorce. Then, they murdered the Zheng family elder, Zheng Kang. Now, they seemed intent on annihting the Zhengs. Was there no justice left in the world? The sight of their patriarch, Zheng Huai, and the bodies of other senior and regr elders only deepened their fear and rage. Zhou Jibo remained silent. Once the entire Zheng family was present, he signaled to the defector who had sought his protection to step forward and speak. ¡°Fellow Zhengs, I am Zheng Linghan, son of Zheng Shuidong. I¡¯ve been aware of the feud between our families from the start. Today, I will reveal everything and identify those who have wronged the Zhou family.¡± ¡°Whether you curse or strike me is of no consequence. Young Master Zhou has assured me that he will only execute those who have wronged his family. No one else will be harmed.¡± ¡°The Zheng family members who were killed died because they resisted; it was never the Zhou family¡¯s desire to do so.¡± As he spoke, looks of loathing were cast his way. The Zhengs, though fearful of death, found themselves united in their hatred for Zheng Linghan, who seemed even more despicable than the Zhous. But then, Zheng Linghan exposed their own family¡¯s treachery: their defection to the Shrine of Astral Radiance, Zheng Xunqin leading the Second Pce Holy Son to extract Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root, Zheng Kang¡¯s failed assassination attempt on Zhou Jibo, and Zheng Hongyi¡¯s provocations leading to their business ostracization in Icefair. Many Zhengs were left in disbelief. Had their family reallymitted such vile acts? It was no surprise the Zhou family had retaliated! Naturally, some had been privy to these deeds from the start. Even with the truthid bare, their hatred for the Zhou family persisted. Loyalty to one¡¯s n is not easily swayed by revtions or regrets. Zhou Jibo observed their reactions closely, his gaze settling on Zheng Linghan. What decision would Zheng Linghan make? Whom would he single out? As Zhou Jibo had stated, this was both an opportunity and a test. The test was twofold: it gauged Zheng Linghan¡¯s choices and probed the attitudes of certain Zheng family members. Should Zheng Linghan resort to deceit, the Zheng family would forfeit a chance. And if hostility towards the Zhou family ran high, Zhou Jibo would spare no one. The moment of choice for Zheng Linghan had arrived. He identified several individuals bearing grudges against the Zhou family. Zhou Jibo scrutinized their demeanor closely, sensing no scapegoats among them. It was likely that some Zheng family members, previously uninvolved in conflicts with Zhou Jibo, now bore ill will. Essentially, Zheng Linghan had included those whose enmity could incur Zhou Jibo¡¯s displeasure. Zhou Jibo handed over the individuals Zheng Linghan had indicated to other members of the Zhou family for handling, but he retained two. One was Zheng Hongyi, the Zheng family¡¯s steward, who had sought trouble with him at the Myriad Treasure Auction House within the Glorious House. The other was a man who had fled to the Zhengs and was now apprehended: Zhou Xiuyun, Zhou Jibo¡¯s former bodyguard. Zheng Hongyi, kneeling, frantically begged for mercy. When Zhou Jibo inquired about Zheng Xunqin¡¯s whereabouts and received no answer, he executed him without hesitation. Wiping the blood from his de, Zhou Jibo turned to Zhou Xiuyun. ¡°Zhou Xiuyun, you were an orphan taken in by the Zhou family, who never wronged you. What drove you to betray us?¡± With eyes ame, Zhou Xiuyun retorted, ¡°Yet you never fulfilled my desires. Fangyin and I are in love. Without betraying you, how could we ever afford a decent life?¡± ¡°Since your engagement to Miss Zheng, we¡¯ve been siphoning the Zheng family¡¯s wealth. To date, we¡¯ve amassed four hundred taels of silver.¡± ¡°Four hundred taels?¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°Quite the ¡®steep¡¯ price indeed.¡± With a swift turn of his sword, Zhou Jibo plunged the de into Zhou Xiuyun¡¯s neck, then withdrew it, ending the betrayal. Zhou Jibo had disengaged from the Zhou family¡¯s affairs, no longer concerning himself with how they managed their people and wealth. He made his way to the Zheng family¡¯s storeroom. His intent was clear: to punish only those whom Zheng Linghan had identified as guilty, without unnecessary bloodshed. However, he had no ns to leave any assets for the Zheng family. Upon entering the Zheng family¡¯s storeroom, Zhou Jibo was taken aback by the meagerness of its contents. The weapons were subpar, apanied by a modest collection of Element Gathering Powder, Bleeding Control Powder, a small cache of gold and silver, and Yellow Rank mental cultivation methods and martial skills. To Zhou Jibo, who was versed in Earth Rank mental cultivation and Profound Rank martial skills, these Yellow Rank techniques were utterly useless. His own skills, along with his bone root, could be swiftly enhanced through the use of attribute points; he had no need for such inferior items. Moreover, squandering attribute points on such trivialities would be pointless. Despite having a sufficient supply, Zhou Jibo was not one to waste them thoughtlessly, especially since his body had its limits on how much it could handle in terms of attribute enhancement. But the scarcity of gold and silver puzzled him. He pondered the Zheng family¡¯s recent attempts to ingratiate themselves with the Shrine of Astral Radiance, Zheng Xunqin¡¯s current absence, and the recent refusal of Icefair City¡¯s shops to conduct business with the Zhengs. Then it dawned on him: the Zheng family had been incurring significant expensestely. Likely, Zheng Xunqin had taken the wealth to other cities in pursuit of cultivation resources. It appeared that Zhou Jibo¡¯s gains from this venture would be modest at best. Nheless, Zhou Jibo nonchntly gathered over a dozen packets of Bleeding Control Powder. With a discreet use of attribute points, he enhanced the powder into Acquired Bleeding Control Pills and administered them to Zhou Zhenbo, Zhou Chng, and other injured members of the Zhou family. These individuals had battled valiantly for the Zhou family and served Zhou Jibo loyally; they did not deserve to perish so easily. ¡°Is this a pill?¡± Zhou Zhenbo, Zhou Chng, and the others gaped in astonishment. The opportunity to consume such fabled medicine was beyond their wildest dreams. After taking the pills, their injuries noticeably healed quickly. Initially unable to move, they gradually found themselves able to sit up and exchange a few words. Zhou Jibo nonchntly used over a dozen pills, leaving not only the Zhou family in awe but also drawing astonished looks from the Zheng family members. Could the Zhou family really afford to produce more than ten pills? How much silver must that have cost? Zheng Linghan, who had just identified members of his own Zheng family, shuddered at the thought. He had been holding onto hope that the arrival of the Holy Land¡¯s emissary might turn the tide. However, it was bing clear that Young Master Zhou was far from straightforward. The situation wasplicated. It would be best for him toply willingly; any underhanded resistance would surely lead to dire consequences. Filled with gratitude and respect for Zhou Jibo, the Zhou family members resumed their tasks with renewed vigor. Zhou Jibo walked out, his recent actions against the Zheng family having brought no significant gains, nor had they eradicated the underlying threats. With Zheng Xunqin absent, he found no reason to linger. Just then, a disheveled woman burst forth. Falling to her knees before Zhou Jibo, she implored him, ¡°Please, I beg of you! Help me, Young Master Zhou!¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 31 C31 ¨C Pill Book Zhou Jibo halted and turned to face the woman. ¡°Why should I help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Zheng Fanshuang. You¡¯ve shopped with Xunqin before, and I¡¯ve always been there with you. I¡¯m her cousin!¡± The disheveled woman was, in reality, just a fourteen-year-old girl. He couldn¡¯t fathom how she had ended up in such a state. Zhou Jibo was certain that Zhou Kaile and the others were honorable men. With their strict supervision, the Zhou family¡¯s disciples and servants wouldn¡¯t force themselves upon a woman. So how had shee to be this way? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired. ¡°The Zhou family won¡¯t kill you. You¡¯re not the one Zheng Linghan pointed out. Just go on with your life. The Zhou family might not leave you any inheritance, but if you sell some of your jewelry, you should be able to get by.¡± ¡°Do you have any other concerns?¡± In a hushed tone, Zheng Fanshuang asked, ¡°Will you sell us to a brothel?¡± Zhou Jibo replied with scorn, ¡°I deal with my enemies, but the Zhou family doesn¡¯t degrade people like that. What do you take us for?¡± ¡°Xunqin and my brother have told me about families that lose their feuds, and how the women end up in dire straits, some notsting even a day,¡± Zheng Fanshuang spoke up, her voiceced with fear. Hearing this, Zhou Jibo felt a chill. It was outrageous, the brutality of these family conflicts. He realized he could not afford to lose. A single defeat could plunge the Zhou family into a nightmarish abyss. The Zhou family upheld basic human decency, something the Zheng family seemingly disregarded. In future confrontations with such ruthless families, they would need to be harsher, demanding blood for blood. They couldn¡¯t afford to let them off easily. With this in mind, Zhou Jibo asked, ¡°Has the Zheng family ever resorted to such measures?¡± After pondering, Zheng Fanshuang answered, ¡°Not even once. They¡¯ve only cautioned us about the savagery of family struggles, warning us not to rely on luck.¡± Zhou Jibo nodded, taking the lesson to heart. Since the Zheng family hadn¡¯t engaged in such acts, there was no need for him to scrutinize them further. With this thought, Zhou Jibo no longer lingered and prepared to depart. ¡°Young Master Zhou.¡± As he was about to leave, Zheng Fanshuang quickly prostrated herself and called out to him. Zhou Jibo turned back with a frown. ¡°What is it? You don¡¯t believe what I¡¯ve said?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t believe you!¡± Zheng Fanshuang eximed, ¡°Young Master Zhou, can you spare my brother¡¯s life?¡± ¡°Your brother?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right over there.¡± Zheng Fanshuang gestured toward a group of Zheng family men under strict surveince by the Zhou family, ted for execution. The Zheng men red at the Zhou family members with eyes full of hatred, one of whom was now watching Zhou Jibo and Zheng Fanshuang converse. Zhou Jibo¡¯s demeanor grew icy. ¡°Impossible. Your brother harbors deep hatred. He¡¯s chosen to oppose me and the Zhou family. His death today is inevitable.¡± Despite Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s pleas, Zhou Jibo refused to listen any further and strode towards the exit. ¡°I know of a secret book in the n leader¡¯s study. Could that secure my brother¡¯s life?¡± Zhou Jibo halted. ¡°Zheng Fanshuang, your brother conspired against me. His fate is sealed today.¡± Zheng Fanshuang broke down in tears, overwhelmed by despair. Zhou Jibo continued, ¡°The secret you¡¯ve mentioned has indeed eluded the Zhou family. As a reward, and for your protection, you will apany me to the Zhou family today.¡± This only deepened Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s despair. ¡°You promised you wouldn¡¯t harm me.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t take you with me today, do you really think you¡¯d survive? You¡¯ve divulged the Zheng patriarch¡¯s secret. The Zheng family has myriad ways to ensure your life is a living hell,¡± Zhou Jibo stated. Hearing this, Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s gaze drifted helplessly around her, meeting the fearful, hateful, and scornful eyes of her kin. She tried to speak, to exin, but words failed her as tears streamed down her face. Zhou Jibo, however, didn¡¯t afford her the opportunity to wallow in her misery. He escorted her into the Zheng patriarch¡¯s study, and with her direction, retrieved a wooden box hidden behind a painting on the wall. Inside the boxy two books: ¡°Xu¡¯s Medical Book¡± and ¡°Exnation on Alchemy.¡± One was a tome of medicine, the other, a treatise on alchemy. The cover of the books bore dark brown stains of dried blood, a grim testament to their dubious provenance. It was likely that the Zheng family had in the books¡¯ previous owners. This thought diminished Zhou Jibo¡¯s already scant pity for the Zheng n. Were it not for his adherence to basic moral principles, he might have deemed their total eradication justified. With the two books in hand, Zhou Jibo, apanied by Zheng Fanshuang, approached the Zheng family¡¯s main gate amidst the resentful stares of its members. On the threshold of departure, he turned to issue his final decree. ¡°Henceforth, Zheng Linghan shall lead the Zheng family. Let there be no further trouble, or I will ensure you are watched.¡± Zheng Linghan hastily concurred, his emotions a tangle of relief and trepidation. His ascension as family head was cause for celebration, yet under the circumstances, was he truly fit for the role? With Zheng Xunqin or an envoy from the Holy Land possibly arriving, his fate hung in the bnce. It appeared he had no alternative but to heed Young Master Zhou and safeguard the Zheng family. From this day forward, his fate was intertwined with Young Master Zhou¡¯s¡ªshared glory and shared downfall. Zheng Linghan, now facing the same icy stares that had greeted Zheng Fanshuang, was undeterred. Assuming the mantle of leadership, he began tomand with authority. They hadn¡¯t gone far from the Zheng estate when a series of agonizing screams echoed from behind. Tears streamed down Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s face as Zhou Jibo led her away. She nced back intermittently, fearing that her brother¡¯s voice might be among the cries. As they continued and the streets grew crowded, she bowed her head, weeping silently, too distraught to speak. Upon their arrival at the Zhou residence, a concerned Qian Jiajia rushed to meet Zhou Jibo and the tearful young girl in his care, eager to understand what had transpired. Upon hearing that all was well, she quickly raised her hands to the sky in a gesture of deep gratitude. She gave thanks to the heavens for safeguarding her husband and son and for their triumphant sess. Qian Jiajia, upon recognizing the woman as Zheng Xunqin¡¯s cousin, Zheng Fanshuang, turned to Zhou Jibo and inquired, ¡°What will you do with her? Will she be a concubine or a servant in your household?¡± Zheng Fanshuang, stricken with fear, protested, ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡± Zhou Jibo dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. She can keep Ninghepany. I brought her here to spare her life, lest the remaining members of the Zheng family seek retribution for her giving me the book collection.¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 32 C32 ¨C Auxiliary Skill Pill Refining ¡°Do you really need to go to such lengths?¡± Qian Jiajia asked dismissively. ¡°Anyone who dares toy a hand on me will simply meet their end by my hand.¡± ¡°But what if they¡¯re the underdogs?¡± Zhou Jibo countered. ¡°They¡¯re innocent right now. It wouldn¡¯t be right for me to ughter them without cause. Yet, on the other hand, the Zheng family wouldn¡¯t find it hard to target a not-so-clever girl.¡± ¡°What if Zheng Fanshuang were to die because of this? Should we then kill those Zheng family members who didn¡¯t deserve death?¡± Qian Jiajia was left speechless by the question, and it also scared Zheng Fanshuang. In that moment, Zheng Fanshuang came to a sobering realization amidst her sorrow. She recognized that Zhou Jibo¡¯s intentions weren¡¯t driven by lust, but rather because she had given him the books, he was doing everything in his power to prevent her from meeting a tragic end. He truly was a man who clearly understood the difference between debts of gratitude and vengeance. The brutal events Xunqin had described didn¡¯t actually ur within the Zheng family. Only those who opposed Zhou Jibo were executed. Why did Xunqin and the Patriarch seek to harm Zhou Jibo in the first ce? Weren¡¯t the Zheng and Zhou families supposed to be on good terms for generations? Zheng Fanshuang never got the chance to voice this question, as Zhou Jibo had already entrusted her to Qian Jiajia before heading back to the courtyard alone. After another round of questioning from Qian Jiajia, Zheng Fanshuang was left in the care of an elderly maid. Eventually, she settled in with Ninghe, the young maid in Zhou Jibo¡¯s courtyard. By evening, the rest of the Zhou family members had returned from the Zheng estate, led by their Patriarch, Zhou Kaile. They brought back with them the majority of the Zheng family¡¯s wealth. Only four warriors in the Zheng family had reached beyond the sixthyer of the Acquired Realm. Among them was the new Zheng family Patriarch, Zheng Linghan, who had sided with the Zhou family. The remaining Zheng family members, predominantly the elderly, the weak, women, and children, had gone from being one of the prominent families in Icefair City to teetering on the brink of ruin. News rippled through Icefair City, sending tremors of shock through numerous families and powers. The Zhou family¡¯s recent annulment of a marriage alliance had already stirred up quite themotion. Now, with the Zhou family nearly obliterating the Zheng family, many wondered how such deep-seated enmity could erupt between two ns that had been allies for generations. The circumstances surrounding Zheng Linghan¡¯s ount slowly becamemon knowledge among the Icefair families. Word also got out that Casten Lang Shen and Yu family patriarch had intended to intervene but were dissuaded by Zhou Jibo. Icefair City was outwardly calm, yet beneath the surface, it seethed with unrest and spection. The revtions were startling: The Zheng family had aligned with the Shrine of Astral Radiance? They had resorted to such measures against Zhou Jibo of the Zhou family? And Zhou Jibo himself had a contingency in ce, managing to intimidate two warriors of the Innate Stage? Both the Zheng and Zhou families had significant support and were not to be underestimated. With these two powerhouses at odds, the other families and forces were left to wonder what their ce was. Would they even dare to get involved? In a discreet move, Glorious House quietly removed restrictions on the Zheng family¡¯s remaining members. The Myriad Treasure Auction House, despite its formidable presence across several nations, chose not to provoke the Holy Land. Days passed, and the Zheng family clung to their pride without invoking the Holy Land for retribution; the Zhou family refrained from further aggression. To the casual observer, Icefair City seemed unchanged. Yet, those with a keen sense of the undercurrents could sense a storm brewing. In response, many families discreetly dispatched their younger members and offshoots to leave Icefair City, preparing for any unforeseen events. The Zhou family, meanwhile, basked in their recent triumph. Despite the lingering concerns of Zhou Kaile and others, they ultimately pinned their hopes on Zhou Jibo. Within Zhou Jibo¡¯s courtyard, Zheng Fanshuang, now limating to her role as apetent maid, gingerly carried a basin of hot water. Her hands, unustomed to menialbor, were tinged pink from the heat. It was a stark revtion of the life she had once known, where she was the one attended to, not the attendant. Zheng Fanshuang carried the steaming water into the room and nced up to see Zhou Jibo engrossed in a book. She nearly called out to him with the familiar ¡°Jibo,¡± but caught herself, opting for a more formal address. ¡°Young Master, would you like to freshen up now?¡± Zhou Jibo set aside the ¡°Exnation on Alchemy¡± and proceeded to wash his hands and face before returning to his reading. ¡°Zheng Fanshuang, do you find medical and alchemy texts to be of much use?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired. Startled by the question, Zheng Fanshuang wondered if he was truly speaking to her. Hadn¡¯t he previously shown little interest in her thoughts? Why the sudden engagement? ¡°I believe they hold significant value. Though physicians may not be highly esteemed, their skills are essential for healing and saving lives. Alchemists, on the other hand, enjoy a lofty status as warriors seek them out for their pill-making abilities. Technomancers are also held in high regard,¡± Zheng Fanshuang replied thoughtfully, unsure of Zhou Jibo¡¯s intent. ¡°You have a point. Since it doesn¡¯t require much effort on my part, I might as well build a foundation in both areas,¡± he mused. Zheng Fanshuang couldn¡¯t quite grasp the meaning behind Zhou Jibo¡¯s words. Seeing that he had no further requests, she took her leave. Her emotions were a tangled web. The feud between the Zhou and Zheng families originated with her own kin, yet the Zhou family had taken many lives from the Zhengs. Zhou Jibo had brought her to his family¡¯s home, effectively saving her life. Whether to harbor resentment towards Zhou Jibo and his family was a decision Zheng Fanshuang had yet to make. As Zhou Jibo had pointed out, she did sometimes feel like a not-so-clever young girl; otherwise, she would have reached a conclusion long ago. After Zheng Fanshuang departed, Zhou Jibo arranged three books before him: ¡°Xu¡¯s Medical Book,¡± ¡°Exnation on Alchemy,¡± and ¡°Experience on the Crafting.¡± ¡°Xu¡¯s Medical Book¡± was considered a fringe text in the medical world, essible for 300 attribute points. ¡°Exnation on Alchemy¡± was categorized as a low-grade Yellow Rank tome, detailing fundamental alchemical knowledge and forms for the Acquired Essence Gathering Pill and the Bleeding Control Pill, requiring 1,000 attribute points to master. The ¡°Art of Forging¡± is apendium of insights from Forgemaster Wang Sibo, chronicling his journey from a cksmith who couldn¡¯t craft weapons of any notable rank to bing a skilled Technomancer. He, too, was of the lower Yellow Rank, requiring a thousand attribute points to master the technique. At this moment, Zhou Jibo had more than 8,000 attribute points at his disposal, insufficient for enhancing his other attributes. However, this amount was more than enough to learn these new skills. ¡°Learn them all,¡± Zhou Jibomanded inwardly. The system promptly deducted 2,300 attribute points. There was no change to his mental cultivation method, martial skill, or bone root, but three new abilities now appeared among his auxiliary skills: the firstyer of Xu¡¯s Medical Book, the firstyer of alchemy, and the firstyer of forging. As these vast memories flooded Zhou Jibo¡¯s mind, he felt overwhelmed, almost to the point of dizziness. It took some time before he could sift through the influx of information and make sense of it all. The knowledge from Xu¡¯s Medical Book epassed the body¡¯s meridians and acupoints, the preparation of herbal medicine and medicinal soups, and the diagnostic techniques of observation, scent, and palpation. The secrets of alchemy included the art of harvesting and preserving spiritual herbs, mastering the pill furnace¡¯s mes, and the mental techniques for controlling fire. The wisdom of forging revealed the essence of heaven and earth¡¯s precious metals, the various types of spirit ores, and the superior qualities of spirit steel and spirit iron, as well as the methods for refining and tempering them. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 33 C33 ¨C Ninth Layer of Acquired Physicians, alchemists, and technomancers. For the average person, mastering just one of these disciplines could take years of rigorous training to reach the introductory firstyer. Attempting to learn all three could mean not even reaching the firstyer after a decade, or perhaps only just scraping that level in a lifetime. For Zhou Jibo, a mere two thousand attribute points were all it took to fully grasp these fields of knowledge, with the option to invest more points to enhance these auxiliary skills even further. Reflecting on this, Zhou Jibo marveled at the sheer potency of the system¡¯s attribute points. With enough points at his disposal, he could defy the natural order, achieving feats once deemed impossible! He invested more attribute points into Xu¡¯s Medical Book. Deducting six hundred points, he ascended to the secondyer of the text. Next, he allocated points to alchemy. With two thousand points subtracted, he reached the secondyer of alchemical mastery. He did the same for forging, and upon the deduction of another two thousand points, he attained the secondyer in that discipline as well. A flood of insights on healing, alchemy, and forging filled Zhou Jibo¡¯s mind, leaving him slightly overwhelmed. Elevating Xu¡¯s Medical Book to the secondyer meant Zhou Jibo¡¯s expertise now extended beyond treating simple injuries andmon ailments to tackling tuberculosis and chronic diseases. Having advanced alchemy to the secondyer, he was ready to start pill refinement, confident in his ability to produce first-grade pills and, with further practice, potentially even second-grade ones. By raising forging to the secondyer, he was assured enough spirit steel to craft low-grade Yellow Rank weapons, though he was not quite certain he could forge medium-grade ones. Now capable of refining first-grade pills and forging low-grade Yellow Rank weapons, Zhou Jibo found the sensation quite extraordinary. He wished to allocate more points to alchemy and forging, but his attribute points were running low. His only option was to continue investing in the less prestigious Xu¡¯s Medical Book. Xu¡¯s Medical Book¡¯s thirdyer: Enhanced Detoxification. The fourthyer of Xu¡¯s Medical Book covers treating illnesses, detoxifying, and addressing gues. Zhou Jibo found himself with scarcely any attribute points remaining, rendering him unable to further enhance the Xu¡¯s Medical Book. Despite its status as an unranked medical text, and without an upgrade in grade, Zhou Jibo held the book in high regard. With the added attribute points, the book represented the zenith of medical knowledge for a non-Warrior,plete with skills in poison identification, gue treatment, tuberculosis care, and the management of chronic illnesses. Even the most advanced Warriors might not match the efficacy of such ¡°unconventional¡± medical techniques in treating ailments and injuries. Zhou Jibo stepped outside, stretching in the courtyard before returning to his room to continue his cultivation. He had made bold promises to Goodman Yu and Lang Shen; he needed to quickly gain the strength to stand toe-to-toe with Innate Warriors. The envoy from the Shrine of Astral Radiance was due to arrive in Icefair City soon. Zheng Xunqin was still present, as were members of the Zheng family with grudges to bear. To eliminate these threats and face the colossal Shrine of Astral Radiance, Zhou Jibo knew he needed to rapidly bolster his cultivation. At his current Acquired Stage, eachyer brought him 100,000 attribute points. Once he ascended to the Innate Stage, he anticipated even greater gains. He was on the path to bing significantly more powerful. Vitality, drawn together by the Earth Rank bone root and directed by the medium-grade Six Yin Heart Technique, was mostly transformed into Zhou Jibo¡¯s own vital energy, with a fraction used to refine and enhance his physical attributes. With each session of cultivation, his strength, agility, and constitution incrementally improved. Time seemed to slip away from Zhou Jibo as he delved deeper into his practice, only pausing when his meridians and body signaled their limit. The following day, he resumed his rigorous routine. After ten days, Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s initial astonishment had shifted to detachment, which then blossomed into admiration. For the moment, she set aside the feud between the Zhou and Zheng families, her respect for Zhou Jibo growing ever stronger. Zhou Jibo today is a far cry from the Zhou Jibo she once knew. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the diligently training Zhou Jibo: If Xunqin hadn¡¯t inflicted such deep wounds on him, would he be in this state now? He used to love shopping with Xunqin, and it was clear how much joy it brought him back then. But now, he¡¯s changed so drastically. Xunqin, you¡¯ve made a grave error. Zhou Jibo devoted himself to cultivation daily, enhancing both his vitality and his physical quality. Meanwhile, others were far from serene. In the dense woods just outside Icefair City, a group found respite in the shadows, each face etched with grief. Among them were a few members of the Zheng family who had fled the city, along with many who had followed Zheng Xunqin and Zheng Congyang to Basinpond, two hundred miles away, in search of cultivation resources. They had been lingering outside the city for quite some time, spending many days hidden in this forest, quietly gathering intelligence on the Zheng family¡¯s plight. The family head, the Elder, and other senior members had all been in by the Zhou family. Those who resisted the Zhou family werergely killed, and Zheng Linghan, once a servant, had risen to be the new head of the Zheng family. Every incident within the Zheng family fueled their animosity towards Zhou Jibo. They were itching to storm the Zhou residence and eradicate everyst one of them. Zheng Xunqin, d in her form-fitting warrior¡¯s garb, seemed lost in thought. These past days, the core belief that had anchored her was wavering: She considered herself a valiant woman among her peers, having covertly manipted many in the Zhou family and deceived Zhou Jibo, who possessed an Earth Spirit bone root. She harbored no regrets for exploiting Zhou Jibo¡¯s profound affection for her, even going so far as to remove his bone root. She was convinced that despite her medium-grade bone root, her mental fortitude was second to none. She was merely one opportunity away from greatness. If only she could gain entry to the Shrine of Astral Radiance, she would soar like a phoenix in flight. But what of Zhou Jibo now? How had he quelled the Zhou family¡¯s internal discord, in a ninthyer Acquired Warrior, and repelled an Innate master, nearly obliterating the Zheng family in the process? How strong and exceptional could he possibly be? How had I not sensed even the slightest hint before? Was he truly the one I had deceived? Could I actually measure up to him? These thoughts swirled uncertainly in her mind, but her gaze slowly hardened with resolve: I am not mistaken! This is all merely temporary! Once the envoy from the Shrine of Astral Radiance arrives, all of Zhou Jibo¡¯s actions will prove to be mere illusions. She clung to this belief with unwavering conviction. Day in and day out, Zhou Jibo diligently practiced the Six Yin Heart Technique. Once he reached his limits, he would switch to refining his skills with the Mountain Suppressing Palm or the Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique, or he would revisit his knowledge of medicine, alchemy, and forging as a way to unwind. Over ten days passed, and he finally achieved a breakthrough, reaching the ninthyer of the Acquired Stage. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 34 C34 ¨C Wang Xun Zhou Jibo possessed a top-grade Earth Spirit bone root, a trait that, whenbined with the medium-grade Earth Rank mental cultivation method, enabled him to cultivate at a speed unmatched by the warriors of Icefair. Even beyond the borders of Icefair City, an Earth Spirit bone root was a coveted asset for cultivation, which is why the Second Pce Holy Son from the Shrine of Astral Radiance made a special trip to im Zhou Jibo¡¯s bone root. Simrly, Earth Rank mental cultivation methods were exceedingly rare. Within the entirety of Icefair City, no one but Zhou Jibo had managed to cultivate a method beyond the Profound Rank. Despite the city¡¯s rtive poverty, high-grade mental cultivation methods were inherently scarce. Zhou Jibo alone had transcended this limitation by evolving his bone root, mental cultivation method, and martial skills with attribute points. ¡°I¡¯ve finally reached the ninthyer of the Acquired Stage, just one step shy of the Innate Stage,¡± Zhou Jibo murmured to himself. He anticipated that reaching this level wouldn¡¯t take too long. The system rewarded Zhou Jibo with another 100,000 attribute points. His initial instinct was to hasten his cultivation by allocating points to his bone root and mental cultivation method. Regrettably, both now required more than 100,000 points. His only option seemed to be enhancing the Blood Stripe Sword, Mountain Suppressing Palm, Cool Breeze Bright Moon Sword Technique, and auxiliary skills such as medical practice, alchemy, and forging. After a moment of contemtion, Zhou Jibo refrained from using any attribute points. He was certain that whether it was weapons, martial skills, or auxiliary abilities, any enhancement would benefit his cultivation. In a less pressured environment, with an abundance of attribute points, he could indeed gradually improve his own cultivation level. But considering his enemy was at the Innate Stage, such incremental improvements wouldn¡¯t significantly narrow the gap in their strength. ¡°I need to ascend to the Innate Stage as quickly as possible to achieve a substantial increase in my power,¡± Zhou Jibo resolved, beckoning the maidservant waiting by the door. Zheng Fanshuang and Ninghe entered together, greeting him in chorus, ¡°Young Master!¡± ¡°Check with the family on how much Element Gathering Powder we have left, and bring me ten portions,¡± Zhou Jibo instructed. Zheng Fanshuang acknowledged the request and was about to head out when Ninghe interjected, ¡°Young Master, I¡¯m afraid there isn¡¯t much Element Gathering Powder remaining. The family distributed a significant amount to the promising youths just a couple of days ago.¡± With a chuckle, Zheng Fanshuang responded, ¡°Ninghe, you¡¯ve got it wrong. If the Young Master needs Element Gathering Powder, the Zhou family will spare no effort to procure it for him immediately. He¡¯s the linchpin of our family; we won¡¯t let him run short of it.¡± Zhou Jibo, listening to their exchange, gained an indirect insight into the Zhou family¡¯smitment to nurturing its younger members. As Ninghe fell silent, Zheng Fanshuang prepared to fetch the Element Gathering Powder, but Zhou Jibo, with augh, stopped her, ¡°Zheng Fanshuang, don¡¯t bother. Since they¡¯re willing to purchase it for me, I¡¯ll go buy it myself.¡± After donning his sword, Zhou Jibo took a couple of steps and turned to Zheng Fanshuang, ¡°Come with me.¡± Zheng Fanshuang hesitated, a mix of delight and anxiety crossing her face. She gestured dismissively, ¡°Miss Zhou has already sought you out for shopping trips several times. It would be perfect for you to apany her.¡± Zhou Jibo gave a slight shake of his head and gestured for her to keep up, ¡°We¡¯re leaving now.¡± Zheng Fanshuang nced down at her attire, a bit self-conscious, but ultimately held her tongue. She followed Zhou Jibo, head bowed, as they quickly departed. They withdrew some money from the Zhou family¡¯s ounts and left the estate, one after the other. Their first stop was a shop specializing in Element Gathering Powder, where they purchased twenty portions. Strolling leisurely through the streets of Icefair, Zhou Jibo led the way with Zheng Fanshuang in tow. Icefair wasn¡¯t arge city, and Zhou Jibo had be a figure of considerable interest there over the past month. It wasn¡¯t long before they were recognized, prompting people to dismount their horses or step out of their carriages to exchange pleasantries. Initially, Zhou Jibo exhibited patience, but as time wore on, his tolerance waned. He headed straight for the Swan Goose Inn and requested a private room he frequently visited. The waiter brought him steaming tea and a selection of fruits and pastries. Zhou Jibo stood at the window, hands sped behind him, gazing outward. ¡°Have you been adjusting well these days?¡± he inquired. Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s cheeks flushed with color as she nodded. She had been both startled and frightened earlier when others greeted Zhou Jibo, worried about being recognized, hence her reddened face. Once a youngdy of the prestigious Zheng family, she and Zhou Jibo were scions of influential ns. Now, she found herself in the role of Zhou Jibo¡¯s maid, a thought that filled her with mortification. Zhou Jibo let out a soft chuckle, turned, and took a seat, gesturing for her to join him. ¡°You¡¯re not like any ordinary maid. Please, take a seat. I mean no disrespect, nor is it my intention to force you into servitude,¡± he assured her. ¡°But given that you¡¯re a woman and I¡¯m a man, I can¡¯t ensure your safety if you¡¯re left elsewhere. That¡¯s the reason behind my decision.¡± Zheng Fanshuang looked at Zhou Jibo, taken aback. ¡°Does that mean I don¡¯t have to address you as Young Master? I¡¯m not expected to wait on you as Ninghe does?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not obligated to,¡± Zhou Jibo replied. ¡°But you must realize, from the moment you revealed the Zheng family patriarch¡¯s secret, you became a traitor in their eyes. Your former status as the Zheng family¡¯s youngdy no longer applies to you.¡± ¡°I saved your life and took you away from the Zheng family over those two books, but I can¡¯t look after you indefinitely. Staying by my side is for your protection, ensuring you¡¯re not harmed by the Zheng family or anyone else with malicious intent.¡± ¡°And as for any whims or fits of temper, I believe I¡¯m under no obligation to indulge you, am I correct?¡± The color drained from Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s face as she bit her lip, absorbing the harsh truth Zhou Jiboid bare: she was no longer the Zheng family¡¯s youngdy but a traitor. Zhou Jibo would offer his protection, yet he wouldn¡¯t pamper her as if she were still a cherished daughter of wealth¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t stand for her temper. She remained silent, simply stepping up beside Zhou Jibo to pour him a steaming cup of tea. Zhou Jibo had intended only to watch her behavior carefully. Now that she was aware of her predicament, he saw no need for further conversation. The private room at the Swan Goose Inn had once been a resting spot for Zheng Fanshuang and Zhou Jibo during their shopping excursions. Zheng Fanshuang had visited it on several asions. Yet, as Zhou Jibo and Zheng Fanshuang found themselves in this familiar setting once more, the dynamics of their rtionship had shifted dramatically. Zhou Jibo was indifferent, but Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s eyes darted about, betraying her growing conviction that Zhou Jibo¡¯s demeanor was the result of emotional wounds inflicted by love. Without touching his tea, Zhou Jibo lingered briefly before escorting Zheng Fanshuang out of the room, ready to head back to the Zhou household. No sooner had they exited the private room than a young girl approached them. Zhou Jibo did a double-take, recognizing something familiar in her features. The girl approached with a beaming smile, eximing, ¡°Zhou Jibo! I¡¯ve heard about yourtest feat. Are you doing well?¡± Caught off guard, Zhou Jibo nevertheless identified the girl. She was Wang Sibo¡¯s granddaughter, Wang Xun. Their acquaintance was slight, having met just once before, and he wondered at her forwardness in greeting him so warmly. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 35 C35 ¨C Jiao Lexin ¡°So it¡¯s Miss Wang,¡± Zhou Jibo said with a slight lift of his hand. ¡°Has Master Wang returned to Icefair City?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Wang Xun had a charming presence, her bright smile radiating an inexplicable charm that was utterly infectious. Even Zheng Fanshuang, who was currently entangled in a web ofplex emotions, found herself disarmed by the sight of the delightful young girl, and a smile naturally graced her face. ¡°Then I shall go and pay my respects to Master Wang,¡± Zhou Jibo dered. ¡°Miss Wang, would Master Wang have a moment to see me?¡± Upon hearing this, Wang Xun¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a sullen expression. ¡°He¡¯s avable. You can follow me to meet him.¡± Zhou Jibo gave her a puzzled look, but before he could voice his questions, Wang Xun preemptively shared her concerns. It turned out that Master Wang was in another private room, not only with another scion from the Family of Forgemasters but also with Yan Yuanlu from the Myriad Treasure Auction House. Their visit was prompted by the discovery of an iron mine in Osobron Mountain, a hundred kilometers south of Icefair City. Yan Yuanlu was there to secure the iron mine for the Myriad Treasure Auction House, while Wang Sibo, who had deep ties with the auction house, was assessing the mine¡¯s potential value, including the presence of other rare metals and the feasibility of extracting spirit steel or spirit iron. The young master from the Family of Forgemasters, however, had simply tagged along with Wang Xun, much to her dismay. ¡°I¡¯m not a beauty; there¡¯s no way he¡¯s pursuing me,¡± Wang Xun stated indignantly. ¡°He¡¯s obviously trying to take advantage of my grandfather.¡± Zheng Fanshuang couldn¡¯t suppress a chuckle at the girl¡¯s candidness. Both Wang Xun and Zheng Xunqin were teenagers, around fourteen or fifteen, with a refreshing naivety and an absence of guile. Zhou Jibo, though young himself, had the advantage of wisdom from two lifetimes, enabling him to respond astutely to any situation. Zheng Xunqin, on the other hand, harbored a cruel streak, possessing a cunning that was uncharacteristic of most youths. ¡°Is your maidservant mocking me?¡± Wang Xun asked, her mood still clouded. ¡°Are you allughing at my expense?¡± Zhou Jibo offered a smile and said, ¡°I think you¡¯re selling yourself short. There are many forms of beauty in this world, and to me, your looks are certainly one of them.¡± Wang Xun¡¯s cheeks warmed with a blush. ¡°Really? Do you truly think I¡¯m beautiful?¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s words were sincere. In contrast to those traditionally beautiful women with their elegant figures, Wang Xun¡¯s charming personality and looks were a beauty of their own, far surpassing that of the average beauty. Seeing Zhou Jibo¡¯s confirming nod, Wang Xun¡¯s spirits lifted, her earlier concerns vanished, leaving only a faint blush on her face. ¡°Thank you. Let¡¯s go see Grandfather now!¡± They approached the door of a tastefully appointed room, and Wang Xun pushed it open. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m back!¡± Inside, a man in his early twenties rose to his feet, greeting her with a smile, ¡°Xun,e, have a seat.¡± His smile wavered upon noticing Zhou Jibo behind her. He scrutinized Zhou Jibo for a moment before asking, ¡°And who might this be?¡± ¡°Zhou Jibo,¡± he introduced himself, stepping into the room and giving a respectful nod to Wang Sibo at the head of the table. ¡°Master Wang, Mr. Yan, it¡¯s good to see you both again.¡± Yan Yuanlu stood, hisughter ringing out warmly. ¡°I¡¯ve only just returned to Icefair and already your name has reached my ears. It¡¯s quite the surprise ¨C our humble Icefair catching the eye of the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Your talents are indeed exceptional.¡± His praise was effusive, yet he carefully avoided any mention of the potential influences or powers that might be backing Zhou Jibo, as well as the possible pursuit from the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Wang Sibo gave a subtle nod, his gaze drawn to the Blood Stripe Sword at Zhou Jibo¡¯s side. His expression turned from one of reminiscence to a shadow of concern, his demeanor darkening. Seizing the moment, the young man from the Family of Forgemasters interjected, ¡°Zhou Jibo? You¡¯re the celebrated young prodigy of Icefair, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m Jiao Lexin from the Jiao family of Basinpond, with a bit of knowledge in the art of forging.¡± Zhou Jibo acknowledged him with a nod, a silent but polite greeting. Jiao Lexin pressed on, ¡°Zhou Jibo, do you possess an Earth Spirit root bone? Your fianc¨¦e and the Holy Land¡¯s people are after it, wanting to extract it from you?¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s eyebrows lifted subtly, sensing Jiao Lexin¡¯s intent to provoke. If not, he wouldn¡¯t persist with such impolite questioning. Was this because of Wang Xun? Jiao Lexin was acting like a rabid dog. If he was interested in Wang Xun, why provoke others? Zhou Jibo lost all respect for Jiao Lexin and, ignoring his question, countered, ¡°How many masters does the Jiao family boast?¡± Caught off guard, Jiao Lexin blurted, ¡°What?¡± ¡°How many masters are there in the Jiao family?¡± Zhou Jibo repeated. Jiao Lexin¡¯s face, which had lost its smile, now soured. ¡°The Jiao family is Basinpond¡¯s most prominent n and a renowned Family of Forgemasters across hundreds of miles and several cities. We have four Innate Experts and over a thousand Acquired Warriors.¡± He spoke with a hint of pride. ¡°Our family¡¯s prestige is recognized even in the vast Iphaseon Empire, unlike the so-called families of Icefair.¡± Zhou Jibo smiled, probing further, ¡°Only four Innate Experts in your family. Is your family resilient enough to endure the disasters you¡¯re inviting upon it?¡± Jiao Lexin¡¯s face reddened with rage as he red at Zhou Jibo, ¡°You!¡± Zhou Jibo¡¯s words had reduced him to a do-nothing, troublemaking noble scion. Jiao Lexin, who always held himself in high regard and considered himself aplished, saw this as the ultimate scorn and disrespect. With a coldugh, Jiao Lexin found his retort, ¡°I¡¯m nothingpared to you, who has managed to antagonize the Shrine of Astral Radiance!¡± ¡°You are trulycking manners!¡± Wang Xun interjected, then turned to Zhou Jibo, ¡°Don¡¯t bother with him. Please, continue your conversation with my grandfather.¡± Witnessing this exchange, Jiao Lexin¡¯s anger surged. ¡°She previously dismissed me, and now she sides with Zhou Jibo? It seems my suspicions were correct; she does have a connection with Zhou Jibo, who is indeed a significant hindrance in my quest to extract the secrets of refining from Wang Sibo!¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 36 C36 ¨C He Secretly Spected After Wang Xun¡¯s interjection, Jiao Lexin found himself unable to continue interrupting the exchange between Zhou Jibo and Wang Sibo, resigning himself to silently harbor resentment for the time being. Wang Sibo¡¯s attention returned to the sword by Zhou Jibo¡¯s side, his displeasure evident to all. Not only did Zhou Jibo notice, but so did Jiao Lexin, Wang Xun, Zheng Fanshuang, and Yan Yuanlu. Was Master Wang truly dissatisfied with Zhou Jibo? Jiao Lexin¡¯s spirits lifted, sensing an opportunity on the horizon. Yan Yuanlu and Wang Xun, however, were confused. Master Wang had previously spoken of Zhou Jibo as a courageous youth, noting that even with backing from other powers, challenging the Holy Land was a bold move. So why did he now seem so displeased? ¡°Grandfather, what seems to be the problem?¡± Wang Xun inquired without overthinking it. Wang Sibo let out a soft sigh, fixing his gaze on Zhou Jibo. ¡°Logically, once the Blood Stripe Sword was sold via the Myriad Treasure Auction House, I shouldn¡¯t have intervened.¡± ¡°However, I did express my hope that you would take good care of the Blood Stripe Sword and even provided you with a book on my own insights into weapon refining.¡± ¡°Zhou Jibo, you didn¡¯t bring the Blood Stripe Sword with you today, but instead another sword. This disappoints me.¡± It was then that Zhou Jibo realized the root of the displeasure. Master Wang held a deep affection for the Blood Stripe Sword. ¡°Master Wang, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The sword I have with me is indeed the Blood Stripe Sword, not a different one,¡± Zhou Jibo rified. Wang Sibo dismissed the exnation with a gesture. ¡°Remember, I am a Technomancer. I possess an almost intuitive sense of a weapon¡¯s quality. The sword you¡¯re holding is of Profound Rank, correct? I can tell just by observing the vitality and spirit light that surrounds it.¡± Zhou Jibo internally conceded that it was no surprise Wang Sibo was mistaken. The Blood Stripe Sword¡¯s true potential would only be unlocked once he reached the Innate Stage and could harness his true essence. Until then, it wouldn¡¯t disy the characteristics of an Earth Rank weapon. Indeed, Zhou Jibo had not perceived any vitality or spirit light emanating from the Blood Stripe Sword. Naturally, if a Technomancer couldn¡¯t perceive the subtle changes in the weapons they crafted, they wouldn¡¯t be capable of producing superior artifacts. Wang Sibo had crafted innumerable devices, so his keen insight was nothing short of expected. A Profound Rank weapon? Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s heart leapt: Could the weapon in Zhou Jibo¡¯s possession be of the Profound Rank? Surely no other family in all of Icefair City had such an artifact. Both Wang Xun and Yan Yuanlu were taken aback: Zhou Jibo had a Profound Rank weapon? Jiao Lexin was equally astounded. What kind of backing did Zhou Jibo have? Even the Jiao family only possessed a single ancestral weapon of that caliber. Zhou Jibo offered a smile, drew the Blood Stripe Sword, and presented it to Wang Sibo. ¡°Please take a look. Is this not the Blood Stripe Sword you forged?¡± Upon inspection, Wang Sibo abruptly rose to his feet, reaching for the sword. He recognized the intricate patterns etched upon the de; though they were now many times moreplex, it was unmistakably the low-grade Yellow Rank Blood Stripe Sword he had once created. The Blood Stripe Sword appeared unassuming, yet its edge was iparably keen, leaving a trail of blood upon Wang Sibo¡¯s palm with a mere touch. Ovee with surprise and tion, he turned to Zhou Jibo. ¡°Have you truly elevated the Blood Stripe Sword to the Profound Rank?¡± Before Zhou Jibo could reply, Wang Sibo bowed deeply in gratitude. ¡°My thanks to you, Young Master Zhou! My final regret has atst been lifted.¡± Wang Xun, puzzled, interjected, ¡°Grandfather, you said the Blood Stripe Sword¡¯s w was something you could never rectify in your lifetime. How then has it been raised to the Profound Rank?¡± With unfeigned admiration and fondness, Wang Sibo bowed again to Zhou Jibo, who gestured for him to refrain from further thanks. Zhou Jibo then rified for the group, ¡°I believed my own skills in alchemy and my financial resources were insufficient for such a task.¡± ¡°It¡¯s generally unthinkable for a weapon¡¯s rank to be elevated. To illustrate with the Blood Stripe Sword, the precious minerals and metals required to enhance a low-grade Yellow Rank to the Profound Rank are not merely a matter of adding a bit more. It¡¯s far from the simplicity of procuring the minerals for an ordinary Profound Rank weapon.¡± ¡°The rare minerals required to craft a Profound Rank weapon are five to ten times more costly than the weapon itself. Moreover, I need a Forgemaster capable of refining a top-grade Profound Rank weapon to meticulously repair and forge it.¡± ¡°The cost I incurred was several times higher than that ofmissioning a top-grade Profound Rank weapon.¡± Upon saying this, he bowed again in gratitude to Su Ze, ¡°The Blood Stripe Sword has long been an indelible regret in my heart. Young Master Zhou, you have managed to push it to its ultimate potential. My thanks are boundless! Please forgive my earlier narrow-mindedness!¡± Jiao Lexin stood there, ck-jawed. Yan Yuanlu and Wang Xun were equally astonished, while Zheng Fanshuang felt as though lightning had struck her, leaving her mind utterly nk. Wang Sibo¡¯s statement was crystal clear. After purchasing the low-grade Yellow Rank Blood Stripe Sword, Zhou Jibo astonishingly chose to spend a fortune, several times the cost of a top-grade Profound Rank weapon, to have a Forgemaster forcefully enhance the Blood Stripe Sword¡¯s quality, elevating it to the Profound Rank! This implied that Zhou Jibo, and the force behind him, possessed a Forgemaster even more formidable than Wang Sibo. They could effortlessly produce the exotic minerals needed to refine top-grade Profound Rank weapons! What magnitude of power could this be? Such strength seemed beyond the reach of any single family. Even with the necessary resources and manpower, such privileges were typically reserved for sect leaders or the emperor himself. What then was the nature of the power backing Zhou Jibo? Could it be another Holy Land? In the modest town of Icefair, did two seemingly insignificant families each have the backing of a Holy Land? The mere thought seemed wildly improbable to Yan Yuanlu and the others. Countless esteemed families and major sects longed for the opportunity to align with a Holy Land, yet here were the Zhou and Zheng families¡ªwhat stroke of fortune had they encountered? ¡°Master Wang, there¡¯s no need for such formality. Regarding the Blood Stripe Sword, perhaps you haven¡¯t examined it closely enough. I suggest you take another look,¡± Zhou Jibo prompted Wang Sibo. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 37 C37 ¨C A Noble and Terrifying Identity Could he have been mistaken? Surely not? Wang Sibo scrutinized the Blood Stripe Sword with a puzzled frown. It was unmistakably a Profound Rank weapon, no longer of the Yellow Rank. Where had he gone wrong? As Wang Sibo inspected it closely, his expression shifted to one of increasing astonishment. The vitality and spirit light emanating from the Blood Stripe Sword were extraordinarily rich. It wasn¡¯t just a low-grade Profound Rank weapon, but a top-grade one? The leap from a low-grade Yellow Rank to a low-grade Profound Rank was already the utmost limit of Wang Sibo¡¯s prior conjectures. This new revtion nearly made him exim in shock once more. How many precious minerals had Zhou Jibo expended, and which masterful Forgemaster had hemissioned to aplish such a feat? The cost was astronomical, far exceeding tenfold what Wang Sibo had previously anticipated! This was truly a masterpiece! Never in his life had Wang Sibo crafted a top-grade Profound Rank weapon. Yet today, he beheld the very weapon he had forged at the milestone of bing a Technomancer, now surpassing his own barriers to reach the upper echelons of the Profound Rank. Wang Sibo¡¯s inner turmoil of excitement was indescribable. This was not merely a case of enhancing the Blood Stripe Sword; it was a transformation. It swept away any lingering regrets in his heart, recing them with a newfound hope and aspiration. ¡°I must keep pace with the Blood Stripe Sword¡¯s evolution. I must learn to forge top-grade Profound Rank artifacts,¡± Wang Sibo resolved. Then, his gaze locked onto a particr blood stripe. He questioned whether his eyes deceived him, as he thought he detected faint traces of runes and formations within it. Wang Sibo¡¯s hands shook, and his knees felt weak. Could this be the subtle hallmark of an Earth Rank weapon? It seemed impossible, didn¡¯t it? If it were true, who exactly was Zhou Jibo? Wang Sibo couldn¡¯t bear to let his imagination run any further. What sort of formidable force couldvish such vast resources on a low-grade Yellow Rank weapon, employing an immensely skilled Technomancer to do so? And to think that Wang Sibo could recognize it as the Blood Stripe Sword he himself had once crafted! If it weren¡¯t for Yan Yuanlu and Jiao Lexin¡¯s presence, if there wasn¡¯t the fear that revealing Zhou Jibo¡¯s hidden, exalted, and formidable identity might bring deadly consequences upon Wang Sibo himself, Sibo would have been inclined to kneel and pay homage to Zhou Jibo right then and there. Not even the Holy Son or Saintess of the Holy Land could marshal the resources required to transform a Yellow Rank weapon into an Earth Rank one. This indicated that Zhou Jibo¡¯s status was exceedingly higher than anything Sibo could have envisioned. Drawing upon his extensive experience as a Forgemaster to steady his nerves, Sibo¡¯s heart continued to pound fiercely, his thoughts a whirlwind of chaos. The Blood Stripe Sword, now a weapon of Earth Rank, had frightened Sibo to his core. It implied the involvement of a master Forgemaster, substantial resources, a vast power, and an incredibly distinguished identity for Zhou Jibo¡ªall of which filled Sibo with dread. Eventually regaining hisposure, Sibo lifted the Blood Stripe Sword with both hands and respectfully offered it back to Zhou Jibo, ¡°Young Master Zhou, you have shown great kindness to this Blood Stripe Sword, and thus you have my gratitude. Should you require my services in the future, simply summon me, and I shall hasten to your side without dy!¡± Yan Yuanlu¡¯s eyes spasmed uncontrobly, and Jiao Lexin¡¯s mouth seemed on the verge of tearing. They were well aware of Wang Sibo¡¯s prowess¡ªa Forgemaster of the Soul Separation Stage with exceptional skill in crafting Profound Rank artifacts. A figure of renown throughout the Iphaseon Empire, Sibo could effortlessly establish a prominent family or sect. Should he align with any faction, his expertise would be met with both respect and high regard. Despite his strength, Sibo¡¯s demeanor towards Zhou Jibo was one of utmost deference, almost as if he were content to serve under Zhou Jibo. Could the force behind Zhou Jibo be so fearsome? It was highly probable that it was one of the Holy Lands. A cold fear gripped Jiao Lexin. Having previously wronged Zhou Jibo, he wondered if Zhou Jibo was the type to hold a grudge. Zhou Jibo reimed the Blood Stripe Sword and, led by Wang Sibo, took the seat of honor. In that private room, he effortlessly assumed the role of host. Jiao Lexin recoiled and fell silent. Wang Sibo and Yan Yuanluvished him with deliberate ttery. Wang Xun, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the nuanced shifts in the group¡¯s dynamics and status. She simply sat next to Zhou Jibo, herughter and smiles radiating charm that delighted all who saw her. Zhou Jibo was indifferent to thepliments. He was more taken with Wang Xun¡¯s natural charm and unaffected cuteness, so he nonchntly offered her a piece of pastry. Wang Xun nibbled at it and set the pastry aside with a look of distaste. She turned to Zhou Jibo and said, ¡°The quality here leaves much to be desired. Next time you¡¯re in the capital, I¡¯ll show you where to find the tastiest treats.¡± Wang Sibo gasped, hastily interjecting, ¡°Xun, that¡¯s no way to behave. Young Master Zhou gave you that pastry; you should finish it.¡± Zhou Jibo just smiled and gestured dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. When I¡¯m next in the capital, I¡¯ll be sure to join you for some snacks.¡± Wang Xun¡¯s smile was so wide her eyes crinkled. ¡°Deal!¡± she eximed. At Zhou Jibo¡¯s smile, Wang Sibo finally rxed. Turning to business, Zhou Jibo inquired, ¡°Is there really an iron mine in Osobron Mountain? What¡¯s the situation there?¡± Yan Yuanlu, having also surmised Zhou Jibo¡¯s identity as no ordinary one, reported with due respect, ¡°Young Master Zhou, the iron ore information was acquired by a branch of the Myriad Treasure Auction House during a purchase. They¡¯ve verified its authenticity and are now assessing the site.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fortunate,¡± Zhou Jibo mused, ¡°that Master Wang and I were nearby when the news arrived. The task fell to me, and I¡¯ve asked Master Wang to apany me to the mine. We¡¯ll oversee the mining for a month to determine the true quality of the ore.¡± Wang Sibo nodded his confirmation, adding, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s the case.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zhou Jibo acknowledged with a slight nod, then turned to Jiao Lexin with a probing gaze. ¡°And what brings you here? How do youe to be in thepany of the Myriad Treasure Auction House staff?¡± Jiao Lexin, despite his earlier realization of Zhou Jibo¡¯s significant status, couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of resentment upon confronting his youthful arrogance. No matter how different his status may be, at the end of the day, he¡¯s just an immature young kid. Why should I feel intimidated? Do I really need to treat him with such deference? With that thought in mind, Jiao Lexin spoke up, ¡°The Jiao family has a long-standing reputation as Forgemasters, and our coboration with the Myriad Treasure Auction House spans many years. It¡¯s only natural for me toe and see what¡¯s happening. Besides, I¡¯m fond of Xun, and that affectionpelled me to follow. That¡¯s perfectly normal too.¡± His tonecked any semnce of courtesy, bordering on nosiness. Yan Yuanlu¡¯s brow furrowed, yet he held back from voicing his stance. Wang Sibo, on the other hand, addressed the issue head-on, ¡°Jiao Lexin, your disrespect towards Young Master Zhou is uneptable. There¡¯s no need for you to remain here. Please leave and return to the Jiao family.¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 38 C38 ¨C Golden Pistil Needle ¡°What?¡± Jiao Lexin stared at Wang Sibo, his disbelief palpable. What in the world was happening? So Zhou Jibo might have a powerful backer, but he was still just a kid. Was I really going to be thrown out just for criticizing him? ¡°Our Jiao family has had dealings with the Myriad Treasure Auction House for years, and we¡¯ve known Master Wang for just as long. Are we truly inferior to someone like Zhou Jibo, with his murky origins and background? Can a small ce like Icefair really connect with such a powerful force? Is he truly that valuable?¡± As Jiao Lexin spoke, he turned his gaze back to Yan Yuanlu and Wang Sibo, hoping against hope that he could persuade them to weigh the significance of the Jiao family against Zhou Jibo. But Wang Sibo¡¯s expression was resolute. He gestured dismissively and dered, ¡°Jiao Lexin, if it weren¡¯t for my past acquaintance with your family, I¡¯d do more than just send you away today. You¡¯ve insulted Young Master Zhou and brought trouble upon the Jiao family.¡± ¡°You heard what Young Master Zhou said. Your family might boast four Innate Warriors, but you¡¯re still out of your league trying to take him on!¡± Jiao Lexin¡¯s anger red. He had been furious when Zhou Jibo first made those remarks, but now Wang Sibo was openly dismissing him to his face, leaving him utterly humiliated. Do you really take me for a spoiled fool? How dare you underestimate me? With a roar, Jiao Lexin bellowed, ¡°The Zhou family is nothing but a minor n in a small town, without a single Innate Warrior among them. I refuse to believe they have any significant backing!¡± No sooner had he spoken than his palm flipped, revealing a glittering golden flower from his sleeve, aimed directly at Zhou Jibo. ¡°You scoundrel!¡± Wang Sibo eximed, leaping to his feet in rm. Jiao Lexin, having opted for a surprise attack, was ready for Yan Yuanlu and Wang Sibo¡¯s counter. The moment he brandished the golden flower, he triggered its mechanism with a surge of vitality. Beams of golden light burst forth, streaking straight toward Zhou Jibo. Jiao Lexin¡¯s move was swift. Zhou Jibo, spotting the golden flower, dodged just in time. The golden light grazed past his face, narrowly missing him by mere inches. Almost in the blink of an eye, a cry of pain echoed through the air. Zheng Fanshuang clutched her shoulder and copsed to the ground, while Jiao Lexin was firmly seized by Wang Sibo, rendered immobile. ¡°Jiao Lexin, have you lost your mind?¡± Wang Sibo bellowed. Jiao Lexin retorted, ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s gone mad, Wang Sibo! Sure, Zhou Jibo has some talent, but does he hold a candle to the Jiao family? You, a Soul Separation Stage Warrior and a Forgemaster, are treating him as if he were the Holy Son of the Holy Land. You¡¯re utterly senile!¡± Wang Sibo didn¡¯t bother to counter the usation. He simply stated, ¡°You¡¯re so shortsighted. It¡¯s your actions that could bring the Jiao family to ruin.¡± With that, Wang Sibo channeled his true essence into Jiao Lexin¡¯s body, effectively imprisoning his vitality. ¡°Young Master Zhou, this man is of no consequence to us. Please, handle him as you see fit.¡± Zhou Jibo nodded for Wang Sibo to keep Jiao Lexin under control and then turned his attention to Zheng Fanshuang. Her shoulder had been struck by a streak of golden light, and now ck blood seeped through her clothing, her lips pale as death. ¡°Is this poison?¡± Zhou Jibo addressed Yan Yuanlu and Wang Sibo, ¡°Do either of you carry any antidotes? Serpent gall, Lysimachia christinae Hance, endive, bezoar¡ªany such remedies would do.¡± He was well aware, with his Xu¡¯s Medical Book now at the fourthyer, that these antidotes could only gradually neutralize toxins and were not suitable for immediate crises. Nevertheless, Zheng Fanshuang had ced her life in his hands, and he had vowed to save her. In this critical moment, he had no choice but to use his attribute points to enhance the efficacy of an antidote to preserve her life. Yan Yuanlu hastily produced a small packet and offered it, ¡°Young Master Zhou, this Detoxification Powder is what I carry for unforeseen emergencies.¡± Zhou Jibo epted the powder and gently lifted the now-unconscious Zheng Fanshuang. He strode swiftly towards a private room, clearly intent on treating her wounds and purging the poison. Wang Xun snapped out of her daze and yelled at Jiao Lexin, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Did you really coat your hidden weapon with poison?¡± Jiao Lexin¡¯s face was a picture of misery as he remained seated, frozen in ce. Wang Sibo observed Jiao Lexin with a slight shake of his head. Zhou Jibo was of extremely high status, and Jiao Lexin¡¯s actions were tantamount to digging his own grave, dragging the Jiao family down with him. Sibo had previously urged him to leave in an attempt to defuse Zhou Jibo¡¯s anger on behalf of the Jiao family. But Jiao Lexin¡¯s stubbornness to strike at Zhou Jibo, and with such ferocity, meant that now no one could save him. Yan Yuanlu asked in a low voice, ¡°Master Wang, does Xun stand a chance?¡± Wang Sibo, reflecting on the earlier exchange of jokes between Zhou Jibo and Wang Xun, felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she did have a chance? Jiao Lexin, however, was filled with trepidation at the thought of Zhou Jibo¡¯s potential connections, and the reality that behind each of the two minor families in Icefair City stood a Holy Land. With the influence of two great Holy Lands, a city or a sect could be wiped out. Was being caught in this massive maelstrom really a good thing for him? He didn¡¯t voice his thoughts but instead diverted the conversation. ¡°That was the Golden Pistil Needle, wasn¡¯t it? What poison was used on it?¡± Yan Yuanlu gazed toward Basinpond with a sense of loss, ¡°The Jiao family, a renowned Family of Forgemasters allied with the Myriad Treasure Auction House for years, is in jeopardy. Regardless of the poison, even if Young Master Zhou¡¯s maid survives, the family¡¯s fate hangs by a thread.¡± Jiao Lexin shuddered at these words, struggling to maintain hisposure. ¡°You¡¯re being rmist. Does Zhou Jibo really possess such power?¡± Yan Yuanlu, seeing his continued denial of the inevitable, shook his head and sighed, ¡°Fool!¡± Inside the private room, Zhou Jibo pressed his palm onto the detoxification powder. With a thousand attribute points added, the powder transformed first into a premium detoxification powder and then into a first-grade detoxification pill, capable of neutralizing a hundred poisons. Given Jiao Lexin¡¯s proficiency at the Acquired Stage, the poison he selected likely wouldn¡¯t surpass what a Detoxification Pill could handle, right? Zhou Jibo then tore open Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s blouse, revealing a darkened wound on her pale shoulder. At the center of the wound was a slender golden needle embedded deep within her flesh¡ªone of the golden rays that had burst from the flower earlier. The needle was poisoned and the attack nearly a sneak assault. Zhou Jibo¡¯s expression turned icy; this wasn¡¯t mere jealousy driving Jiao Lexin¡ªit was a genuine attempt at murder. Carefully using the torn fabric, Zhou Jibo extracted the needle. He pressed on the wound, causing trickles of ck blood to ooze out. Zheng Fanshuang let out a soft groan,ing to consciousness. ¡°Jibo, am I dying?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to die,¡± Zhou Jibo assured her. ¡°It might be better if I did,¡± Zheng Fanshuang murmured, seemingly oblivious to Zhou Jibo¡¯s reassurances. ¡°I¡¯ve been so foolish. I failed to save my brother and even divulged the Zheng family¡¯s secrets to you. They¡¯re going to want me dead. Even if I stay with you, I¡¯ll be nothing more than a maid.¡± ¡°I might as well be dead.¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 39 C39 ¨C You Really dare to Kill Him Upon hearing her words, Zhou Jibo grasped the gravity of the situation. Despite facing death, Zheng Fanshuang couldn¡¯t shake off a lingering sense of unwillingness. The deep-seated animosity between the Zheng and Zhou families had led to her brother¡¯s demise, and her return to the Zheng family seemed impossible. Thus, she remained with the Zhou family, relegated to the role of a maid. ¡°I didn¡¯t protect her adequately this time. Her injury is my responsibility, so I¡¯ll ensure she receives better treatment,¡± Zhou Jibo resolved, as he administered the detoxification pill to Zheng Fanshuang. The pill¡¯s effects took hold, and color returned to Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s cheeks. An hourter, ck blood oozed from her wound, followed by fresh red blood, signaling theplete eradication of the poison. Fully conscious again, she awkwardly expressed her gratitude to Zhou Jibo, adding, ¡°Young Master, please disregard my earlier ramblings. You¡¯ve saved my life once more, and serving you as a maid is the least I can do in return.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that,¡± Zhou Jibo replied. ¡°You were injured on my ount. From now on, just call me Jibo. You¡¯re no longer a maid but an ordinary member of the Zhou family. It¡¯s neither advantageous nor detrimental, but you must stay by my side and not venture out on your own.¡± Hearing this, Zheng Fanshuang¡¯s spirits soared. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s wonderful! Jibo!¡± After all, she was the Zheng family¡¯s daughter and had never truly adapted to a servant¡¯s life. ¡°Are you able to walk?¡± Zhou Jibo inquired. Zheng Fanshuang nodded, stretching her limbs. Apart from a slight tingling, she felt no difort. Zhou Jibo escorted her back to the room where Wang Sibo had been. Wang Sibo, Yan Yuanlu, and Wang Xun were pleasantly surprised to see Zhou Jibo and Zheng Fanshuang return unharmed. Jiao Lexin eximed in disbelief, ¡°How is this possible? The detoxification powder shouldn¡¯t neutralize the Golden Thread Snake¡¯s venom!¡± Impatiently, Wang Sibo snapped, ¡°Quiet, fool! Don¡¯t you realize the trouble you¡¯ve caused? Young Master Zhou only needed the detoxification powder to temporarily contain the poison. He has other, more sophisticated means of detoxification beyond yourprehension.¡± Upon hearing those words, Yan Yuanlu¡¯s face lit up with sudden understanding, while Wang Xun gazed at Zhou Jibo with eyes full of admiration. ¡°Zhou Jibo, you¡¯re incredibly skilled!¡± Zhou Jibo acknowledged them with a slight nod and turned his attention to Jiao Lexin. ¡°I warned you from the start that your behavior would bring disaster upon the Jiao family. You don¡¯t truly care for Wang Xun; you¡¯re only after the benefits from Master Wang. Why not simply ask Master Wang to take you on as a disciple instead of resorting to these extremes?¡± ¡°If your aim was to win Wang Xun¡¯s favor, and you had known when to stop, that would have been one thing. But to lose your senses and contemte murder? Jiao Lexin, your arrogance is your downfall. You¡¯ve made it clear that you no longer deserve to live.¡± Jiao Lexin, still in disbelief, responded, ¡°You¡¯re not seriously suggesting you want to kill me, are you? The Zhou family doesn¡¯t even boast a single Innate Stage Warrior, yet you dare to threaten me? We have four Innate Stage Warriors in the Jiao family.¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Jibo drew his sword, resting the tip at Jiao Lexin¡¯s crown. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiao Lexin¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°You truly intend to kill me? Over an injured servant?¡± Zhou Jibo saw no remorse in Jiao Lexin, only defiance. With a swift extension of his sword, a chilling aura enveloped the de. Ice crystals formed on Jiao Lexin¡¯s face, his eyes zed over, devoid of life. Zhou Jibo sheathed his sword as Jiao Lexin¡¯s wound crystallized, leaving behind no trace of blood. ¡°Kindly have the Myriad Treasure Auction House return the body to the Jiao family,¡± Zhou Jibo instructed. ¡°And inform them that should they seek vengeance, they can find me in Icefair.¡± Yan Yuanlu rose to his feet promptly. ¡°Certainly, Young Master Zhou. I will ensure it is taken care of.¡± With a nod of acknowledgment, Zhou Jibo took his leave from Wang Sibo, Wang Xun, and Xiang Yongming. Apanied by Zheng Fanshuang, he departed with the twenty sets of Element Gathering Powder he had purchased that day. Wang Sibo remarked after his departure, ¡°The Jiao family would be wise not to pursue revenge. Young Master Zhou¡¯s restraint is nothing short of generous.¡± Yan Yuanlu suddenly spoke up, ¡°Master Wang, is it possible that you¡¯ve misjudged the situation? Upgrading a Yellow Rank weapon to Profound Rank is difficult, but not entirely impossible. Could it be that the Holy Land is backing Zhou Jibo?¡± ¡°It might not necessarily be the Holy Land,¡± Wang Sibo replied gravely, ¡°but perhaps something even more formidable. It¡¯s certainly beyond what we can imagine.¡± ¡°That sounds a bit rmist, don¡¯t you think?¡± Yan Yuanlu responded with a hint of skepticism. Wang Sibo offered a cryptic smile. ¡°I assure you, I¡¯m not being rmist. However, there are more secrets I¡¯m not at liberty to disclose.¡± Privately, Wang Sibo mused, He didn¡¯t just enhance a Yellow Rank weapon to Profound Rank, but to Earth Rank! I can¡¯t reveal this secret so casually; otherwise, you¡¯d hold Young Master Zhou in even higher regard than I do. Yan Yuanlu was taken aback and grew more doubtful. He reassured himself, Regardless, our Myriad Treasure Auction House stays out of such conflicts. My role is simply to convey Zhou Jibo¡¯s message to the Jiao family. Beyond that, it¡¯s not my concern. Whether his background is formidable or not, what bearing does it have on the Myriad Treasure Auction House? From the side, Wang Xun chimed in, ¡°Grandpa, what¡¯s the secret about Zhou Jibo? You can tell me!¡± With a smile, Wang Sibo answered, ¡°A secret wouldn¡¯t be a secret if I shared it, now would it? By the way, what¡¯s your impression of Zhou Jibo?¡± Blushing slightly, Wang Xun demurred, ¡°He¡¯s quite nice. He evenplimented me on my looks.¡± A glimmer of realization crossed Wang Sibo¡¯s eyes. So that¡¯s why Young Master Zhou and Xun seemed so jovial together¡ªhe genuinely finds her attractive. Yet inwardly, he cautioned himself, We should still keep our distance for the time being. Zhou Jibo¡¯s mysterious background and the Zheng family¡¯s powerful patron¡ªthe Shrine of Astral Radiance¡ªare not to be underestimated. They¡¯ve been known for heinous acts like decimating entire cities. Getting entangled in a conflict at that level could have grave repercussions. He decided to bide his time. An hourter, the Glorious House¡¯s shopkeeper burst into the Swan Goose Inn with seven or eight men, setting off a wave ofmotion and spection both inside and outside the establishment. Shortly thereafter, a cold, rigid body was carried out, and word spread like wildfire. At the Swan Goose Inn, Zhou Jibo had in Jiao Lexin, the heir of the powerful Jiao family from Basinpond! The news sent shockwaves through the entire Icefair, jolting all the Warriors who heard it. The Jiao family was a formidable force capable of leveling Icefair City itself, boasting four Innate Experts¡ªmore than all the Innate Experts within the citybined. And yet, Zhou Jibo had brazenly killed their scion? Some spected that Zhou Jibo had lost his mind, recklesslyshing out as he faced imminent destruction after crossing the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Others argued that it was a bold disy of confidence; if Zhou Jibo didn¡¯t fear the Shrine of Astral Radiance, why would he fear the Jiao family of Basinpond? Amidst the uncertainty, Lang Shen, the Casten of Icefair, and the Yu family Patriarch convened a special meeting to deliberate over the incident. Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? Chapter 40 C40 ¨C Star Sect ¡°Is he truly without fear, or has the Shrine of Astral Radiance driven him mad?¡± Lang Shen mused aloud. The Yu family patriarch wore an expression of uncertainty, his mind teeming with doubts due to Zhou Jibo¡¯s audacious actions. What could possibly be the background of Zhou Jibo? ¡°The Jiao family boasts four Innate Warriors, each more formidable than the two of us together,¡± the patriarch remarked. ¡°Their response to Zhou Jibo will be very telling.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point, and there¡¯s no need for us to test him further,¡± Lang Shen concurred. ¡°Whatever his angle, the Jiao family¡¯s reaction will speak volumes.¡± With a tinge of regret, Lang Shen added, ¡°His weapon alone is worth a small fortune in silver.¡± The Yu family patriarch kept his silence, a sense of unease gnawing at him. Lang Shen¡¯s greed seemed boundless. As the preeminent family in Icefair City, the Yus had to consider: if Lang Shen felt confident enough to challenge them, would he see them as his next target? It was prudent for the Yu family to exercise caution and keep their wealth under wraps. Two days on, at the southern reaches of Icefair, Wang Sibo, Yan Yuanlu, and Wang Xun approached Osobron Mountain, only to be met not by the Myriad Treasure Auction House¡¯s overseer and miners, but by a group of people with vacant stares and smeared with blood. ¡°Something¡¯s gone terribly wrong!¡± eximed Yan Yuanlu, with Wang Sibo echoing his rm. The bloodied group, panic-stricken, cried out, ¡°There¡¯s been a horrific event in the mine!¡± Meanwhile, in the woods beyond Icefair, Zheng Xunqin, Zheng Congyang, and the Zheng n had been in hiding for over twenty days, their presence inadvertently discovered by local hunters. Those hunters had since been silenced permanently. Yet, this was no sustainable strategy; the families of the hunters might suspect the presence of wild or Strange Beasts, potentially drawing even more scrutiny. Should theye to the attention of the Zhou family and Zhou Jibo, the consequences would be dire. Recently, their spies in the city had returned with rming news: Zhou Jibo had taken another life¡ªJiao Lexin, the scion of the Jiao family from Basinpond. Zheng Congyang and the others were convinced that Zhou Jibo had lost his mind. The Jiao family boasted four Innate Experts, and traditionally, both the Zhou and Su families would have to act subserviently in their presence. Yet, Zhou Jibo dared to kill a member of the Jiao family? Surely, the Jiao family would retaliate by sending someone to assassinate Zhou Jibo and wipe out the entire Zhou family! That was their prediction. But as seven or eight days passed since the incident, there was no sign of the Jiao family seeking vengeance. The Zheng family members were deeply disappointed. What was happening with the Jiao family? Why hadn¡¯t they sought revenge? ¡°It looks like the Jiao family won¡¯t take any action. If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no use in holding out hope,¡± Zheng Xunqin dered solemnly. ¡°In less than two months, the emissary from the Holy Land will arrive, and then we will take our revenge with our own hands!¡± Zheng Congyang agreed, nodding emphatically. ¡°Indeed, personal revenge is the most gratifying!¡± Their words bolstered the morale of the other Zheng family members. Amidst their discussions, an Acquired Warrior from the Zheng family arrived on horseback, speeding into the forest. He approached breathlessly, his face beaming with excitement, ¡°There¡¯s great news from Basinpond!¡± Zheng Xunqin perked up. ¡°Has the Jiao family finally lost patience and decided to act?¡± He continued with a smile, ¡°Even if the Jiao family strikes, it would only hasten our chance for revenge. It¡¯s just regrettable I won¡¯t get to kill Zhou Jibo myself.¡± Zheng Congyang chimed in, ¡°Then let¡¯s settle for killing Zheng Linghan to satisfy our thirst for vengeance!¡± The returning scout from Basinpond shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not the Jiao family. The Star Sect ising to Icefair to lend aid to the Zheng family.¡± The Zheng family members queried, ¡°What is the Star Sect?¡± Upon hearing the scout¡¯s report, Zheng Congyang burst intoughter. ¡°Atst, they¡¯ve arrived.¡± Zheng Xunqin also smiled broadly. ¡°This is indeed fantastic news.¡± He went on to enlighten the Zheng family members, ¡°The Star Sect is one of the sects under the Shrine of Astral Radiance, situated on Shercester Hill by the coast of the Iphaseon Empire. The sect¡¯s Master is a Soul Separation Stage Warrior, and within the sect, there are seven experts of the Innate Stage. Their arrival is undoubtedly at the behest of the Second Pce Holy Son, who hasmanded them to assist the Zheng family.¡± ¡°Are they emissaries from the Shrine of Astral Radiance?¡± someone inquired. Zheng Xunqin¡¯s frustration vanished in an instant, reced by an eager thirst for vengeance. ¡°No, they are not the Shrine¡¯s envoys. The Shrine sends only one representative at a time. The Star Sect has merelye to assist the Zheng family,¡± she rified. ¡°The Shrine wouldn¡¯t arbitrarily back a minor family in a small city. With the Star Sect¡¯s arrival, the Zheng family¡¯s stature will soar, and soon the entire Iphaseon Empire will recognize us as a vassal family to the Shrine of Astral Radiance.¡± ¡°In time, when the Shrine¡¯s true emissary graces us with their presence, everything will progress in the most favorable way.¡± Realization dawned on the crowd. Zheng family scouts quickly added, ¡°Exactly, the Star Sect will reach Icefair in seven days. As the sister has mentioned, there¡¯s already buzz in Basinpond about the Zheng family¡¯s allegiance to the Shrine of Astral Radiance.¡± A look of satisfaction crossed Zheng Xunqin¡¯s face, and Zheng Congyang, with a smile, praised her, ¡°Xunqin, you truly are the beacon of hope for our family. You¡¯ve seen right through the heart of the matter.¡± ¡°Indeed, Miss is quite remarkable,¡± echoed the others. With a serene and self-assured smile, Zheng Xunqin thought of Zhou Jibo. ¡°Zhou Jibo, this time, I will show you the true meaning of a fate worse than death.¡± Her heart brimmed with barely containable excitement. ¡®In seven days, upon the Star Sect¡¯s arrival, your agony will begin.¡¯ ¡°In times like these, we must exert our utmost effort,¡± she dered. ¡°Elder Zheng Congyang, I entrust you to keep a vignt eye on Zhou Jibo and the Zhou family. Ensure they have no opportunity to flee.¡± ¡°Furthermore, we must reach out to our allies within the Zheng family to prepare a united front against the likes of Zheng Linghan and Zheng Fanshuang, the traitors among us.¡± ¡°This time, it¡¯s not just about vengeance. We will show the Iphaseon Empire that the Zheng family stands as a proud vassal to the Shrine of Astral Radiance, and they will never underestimate us again.¡± Click to read?? Click to visit???? OR download the app directly?? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!