The Zhu family’s messenger was completely undisguised, his voice amplified by magic, forming rolling sound waves that swept in all directions.

Immediately, Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong saw Situ Xing fly out.

Situ Xing frowned tightly, staring at the newcomer and sneering, “How daring! Has Zhu Fenxiang become foolish from believing in gods? Does she actually think she can defeat me?”

“Hehehe, very good, very good.”

“Since she is so overconfident, I accept this challenge!”

Situ Xing had no choice but to accept.

The Zhu family and the Situ family were mortal enemies. Among the cultivators from both families participating in the Feiyun Grand Assembly, Situ Xing and Zhu Fenxiang were both the leading figures of the Foundation Establishment stage.

If Situ Xing avoided the battle, it would inevitably tarnish his family’s reputation. From his position, he could not shy away from a fight, allowing the world to look down on him and the Situ family, bringing shame upon his clan.

The messenger slowly pushed, watching as the flying letter landed in Situ Xing’s hand.

He turned around expressionlessly and flew away directly.

Situ Xing’s spiritual sense quickly scanned the challenge letter. The content was very simple, expressing Zhu Fenxiang’s anger and strong desire for battle.

But even now, Situ Xing couldn’t figure out why the other party had suddenly become furious and wanted to confront him.

“Zhu Fenxiang and I have fought many times, with mixed results.”

“This time, she’s coming after me. Does she have some new confidence?”

Situ Xing pondered this while looking at Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong.

Shen and Lin slowly flew in front of Situ Xing.

Lin Jinglong said with a worried expression, “Fellow Daoist Situ, since you have accepted Zhu Fenxiang’s challenge, then postpone the dispute with Ning Zhuo.”

“There’s no need to fight on two fronts and increase the risk unnecessarily.”

Situ Xing snorted coldly, “Zhu Fenxiang and I exchanged our stone tokens in the same batch. Her sudden challenge this time is not to be underestimated. Ning Zhuo is lucky! I’ll let him off for now.”

Situ Xing had to change his focus and concentrate on dealing with the formidable enemy who had come knocking.

He pressed his lips together, showing an unwilling expression, remained silent for a few breaths, then narrowed his eyes, secretly thinking, “What madness has possessed Zhu Fenxiang? To interfere just when I was about to deal with Ning Zhuo?”

“First, I must find out the reason!”

Situ Xing’s plan was precisely Shen Xi’s plan.

After bidding farewell to Situ Xing, he immediately dispatched his subordinates to investigate the reason behind Zhu Fenxiang’s sudden challenge.

Zhu Fenxiang had never made any secret of it; the messenger’s delivery of the letter was done with great fanfare.

Shen Xi quickly found out the reason.

Lin Jinglong chuckled at this, “Fellow Daoist Situ paid a price for his true nature, haha.”

Situ Xing also fell silent upon learning the reason.

He hadn’t expected that Zhu Fenxiang was coming after him because of a poem he had written.

He did remember that poem.

It was after he won first place in the third Xingyun Minor Test and confirmed he could exchange for a stone token. He had been drinking in a restaurant, and inspired by the mood, he wrote a poem on the wall.

A line in the poem, “Ancient scabbard still bears traces of night flames, new blade thirsts for the glow of the galaxy,” had violated a taboo, enraging Zhu Fenxiang, who happened to be at the same restaurant. She immediately struck out and destroyed the wall.

Zhu Fenxiang had even angrily declared on the spot that she would make Situ Xing pay.

“It seems it has nothing to do with Ning Zhuo.” Realizing that he was the cause of the trouble, Situ Xing could only accept his bad luck. “For now, I can only deal with Zhu Fenxiang first, and then take care of the threat of Ning Zhuo.”

Lin Jinglong felt he had watched a good show.

Shen Xi, however, harbored some suspicion and secretly dug deeper for information, thoroughly investigating the situation that night.

He discovered that a waiter at the restaurant had loudly recited the poem, enthusiastically proclaiming to the surrounding diners how Situ Xing had written the poem while drunk, and publicly recited it.

Zhu Fenxiang herself was in a private room and hadn’t seen the poem. Hearing the commotion outside, and the waiter proudly celebrating Situ Xing’s poem, she burst out of the room and angrily destroyed the wall.

“Investigate that young waiter from the restaurant,” Shen Xi secretly ordered.

Chiyu Peak.

In the quiet room of a cave dwelling, statues and spirit tablets of “Yudun Leigong” were enshrined.

Wisps of green smoke curled from the incense burner, and the light was dim.

The blind old man, in simple hemp clothes, knelt on a prayer mat, his withered hands clasped before his chest, murmuring in devout prayer.

After a moment, the blind old man stopped murmuring and raised his voice, “You’ve been standing at the door for quite a while. If you have something to say, come in.”

Immediately, a man and a woman, both middle-aged, pushed the door open and entered.

“Father,” the middle-aged man and woman said in unison.

They were the blind old man’s biological children.

The son asked, “Father, I heard you want to agree to Ning Zhuo, to let him participate in our Xingyun Minor Test midway?”

The blind old man did not change his posture, still kneeling on the ground, facing the divine statue.

His children, seeing no response from their father, immediately understood and both knelt down behind the old man.

Only then did the old man speak, “Indeed. This child Ning Zhuo has passed the three Heart-Probing Questions of the Zhuoxie Hall, and passed the test of Qinghuangzi, already accumulating four first places. His reputation is well-deserved, and he is full of righteous qi. If such a good talent can obtain the Blind Foolish Divine Art, it would also be a testament to the glory of our God.”

“Isn’t the purpose of our family holding the Xingyun Minor Test to spread the name of the God above?”

“The stronger Ning Zhuo becomes in the future, the greater our God’s influence will be.”

Hearing this reply, the children quickly exchanged glances, both looking worried.

The son’s body tensed, and he took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound steady and earnest: “Father, this matter requires careful consideration.”

“Ning Zhuo is indeed exceptionally talented and currently at the height of his fame, but – Ban Ji is no mediocrity!”

“Ban Ji has faithfully participated in our Xingyun Minor Test since the first round, diligently cultivating, solely to gain the favor of our God.”

“Ning Zhuo cutting in now would be the greatest injustice to Ban Ji!”

“Ning Zhuo publicly refused Ban Jie’s mediation, showing how impetuous and arrogant he is. His reputation is now soaring like a raging fire; a slight misstep could lead to self-immolation.”

“He is from outside the country; how can he contend with the Ban family?”

“With those two strong contenders, there’s no need for us to get involved, Father.”

Before the blind old man could speak, his daughter immediately interjected, leaning forward slightly: “Big brother is absolutely right! Father, rules are the foundation of our existence. If we, as hosts of the Xingyun Minor Test, make an exception for one person, how will outsiders view our family in the future?”

The blind old man was silent for a moment: “Anything else?”

The son gritted his teeth, his tone becoming low: “Father, you often admonish us to plan for our descendants, to plan for ‘Banshan’!”

“Our clan has generations of blood feuds, and the road ahead is fraught with thorns. What we need is not to make enemies everywhere, but to build good relationships and accumulate every potential strength! The Ban family, even if they cannot become allies, must never become enemies!”

The blind old man: “Then how do you know that Ning Zhuo and the forces behind him are weaker than the Ban family? If I reject his request, won’t I also be making an enemy?”

The daughter’s face was grim: “Father, the Ban family is right here in our country. No matter what family or sect is behind Ning Zhuo, they are beyond their reach. And besides—”

At this point, the daughter switched to spiritual transmission: “Father, even if you want to spread the name of our God, there’s no need to involve our entire family.”

“The Yudun Leishen has indeed helped our clan greatly and is a huge asset to the ‘Banshan’ grand plan. But—”

“He has only recently become a god, still possessing much of his human nature, and he still cherishes old sentiments due to a slight blood connection with our family.”

The daughter paused, then gathered her courage and continued, “Divinity is eternal, but human nature is fleeting! What about after years and decades pass?”

“Once human nature dissipates, only indifferent divinity will remain. Will Yudun Leigong still help our clan against the Mountain God?”

The son also interjected, sending a spiritual message with a generous spirit: “Father, in my opinion, to truly ‘move mountains,’ to fulfill the unfinished ambition of our ancestors, it ultimately cannot rely on the blessings or whims of a deity, but on the continuation of our family’s bloodline!”

“It relies on the resilience, planning, and never-giving-up struggle of generation after generation!”

“By introducing Ning Zhuo to spread the divine name, will it help our clan’s grand plan?”

“Making an exception for Ning Zhuo and offending the Ban family, to put it lightly, is reducing our family’s development space. To put it seriously, it is self-destructing the family’s foundation!”

The blind old man, his back to his children, felt a vein throb on his forehead.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that a thick layer of ash accumulated on the incense in the censer.

His children, in this tense atmosphere, no longer dared to speak.

Only heavy breathing remained in the quiet room.

“Heh.” The blind old man suddenly chuckled, his laughter dry and desolate, like withered branches rubbing in the cold wind.

He still didn’t turn around, only transmitting spiritually: “You two grew up under my nose. How could you have such awareness?”

“Speak, what benefits did the Ban family give you?”

The son and daughter both trembled.

The daughter swallowed hard, speaking with difficulty, “Father—”

The son, however, immediately prostrated himself heavily, his voice choked, crying and pleading, “Father! We—we did accept benefits. We dare not hide it from you!”

“But, we are also truly thinking for the family.”

“How many years has our Yu family been relocated within the Wanxiang Sect? Living under others’ roofs, the family has always had little development.”

“The Ban family is powerful, and their envoy’s tone was—not very friendly.”

“Father! You are the sky of our family! If you are here, the Ban family still has some scruples. But, but once you ascend—our Yu family will be like a broken house without a main beam, swaying precariously! The Ban family only needs to give a gentle push—what, what can we use to resist?”

Upon hearing this, the blind old man’s expression froze.

The daughter also started crying loudly: “Father! Please, for the sake of our ancestors, for the sake of the ‘Banshan’ grand endeavor, give us, your unworthy descendants, a way to survive! We—we cannot oppose the Ban family at this time!”

The blind old man’s straight back, at this moment, was crushed by an inch.

His hollow eye sockets, “looking” in the direction of the incense altar, at this moment also revealed a sense of bewilderment and bitterness.

The statue of Yudun Leigong looked down on him indifferently. The green smoke from the incense burner curled before him, like his scattered and cold emotions at this moment.

He was silent for a long time, finally letting out a sigh.

This sigh was long and heavy, as if it had drained all his vital energy and spirit.

The sigh echoed in the quiet room, making the already dim interior even more obscure.

“With children like this, how can the family prosper?” The blind old man’s words made his son and daughter blush with shame.

“Never mind, I truly don’t have much time left. The family’s future will be in your hands. This matter will be as you wish.” The daughter’s sobbing subsided significantly.

The son’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he uttered with difficulty, “Father—”

Several hours later.

Qingshi Cave Dwelling.

Chen San’s hands were pressed tightly against the seams of his trousers, his upper body slightly bowed, and he faced Ning Zhuo respectfully with his head down.

His report had just concluded.

He brought Ning Zhuo a piece of good news and a piece of bad news.

Ning Zhuo mused, “The blind old man refused my invitation. It seems that Ban Ji will definitely take first place in his Xingyun Minor Test.”

“In that case, he will also have accumulated three first places and can exchange for a stone token.”

Chen San hastily said, “Even so, Ban Ji is still late and is no longer recognized as part of the first wave. He cannot be compared to you, Young Master.”

Ning Zhuo shook his head, “Ban Ji’s strength and talent are definitely first-rate; there’s no doubt about that.”

Chen San immediately interjected, “Still, Young Master, your methods are superior. You kicked him out of Qinghuangzi’s Xingyun Minor Test. I tried my best but couldn’t even meet the blind old man. I have failed your trust, Young Master, and handled things poorly. I am truly ashamed. Please punish me, Young Master!”

Ning Zhuo couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “Chen San, you’re from a rogue cultivator background, why are you so reserved?”

Chen San didn’t miss any opportunity to flatter: “For an ordinary person, I do have some sloppiness. But in front of you, Young Master, I don’t know why, but I am utterly convinced and dare not be negligent in the slightest.”

Ning Zhuo raised his hand, “Alright. Am I someone who doesn’t know the gravity of things? The matter with the old man is not your fault; it must be that the Ban family acted preemptively to block it.”

“Just as I preemptively guarded against Situ Xing.”

Chen San looked up, “bravely” meeting Ning Zhuo’s gaze, so that Ning Zhuo could see his face full of admiration: “Young Master, you strategize from afar and win battles a thousand li away. I followed your instructions, which made Zhu Fenxiang angry and go entangle Situ Xing. You are truly brilliant, so brilliant!”

Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, then looked intently at Chen San: “I merely gave you an order. How to execute it specifically was entirely up to your on-the-spot improvisation.”

“You did well this time, being able to incite the restaurant waiter to recite the poem at the appropriate moment. With a gentle push, you accomplished this matter with minimal traces. Speak, what reward do you want?”

Chen San immediately knelt down on one knee: “Young Master, your subordinate dares not claim credit. The idea of using Situ Xing’s poem came entirely from your guidance on several usable points when you gave the order. This poem was one of them!”

“Your subordinate merely ran errands and easily succeeded by following your command.”

“How could your subordinate dare to ask for any reward? To continue serving under your command is the greatest reward!”

Chen San’s glib words were quite smooth and came in a stream.

He then changed his tone, showing hesitation: “It’s just that the waiter at that restaurant, because he recited the poem, was knocked unconscious by Zhu Fenxiang in public. The restaurant suffered losses and dismissed him. Now he is seriously injured and bedridden, which is a good time to act—”

Ning Zhuo immediately became serious, his voice turning cold and hard: “No.”

“I am from a righteous sect; how can I do such a sinister thing?”

“Arrange for this waiter to leave. Send him out of the Wanxiang Sect’s main mountain gate, preferably out of the country. I will cover the expenses; there’s no need to have any concerns in that regard!”