Zhu Fenxiang was not raised by her parents but by her grandmother.

Dwelling on the reasons from the past holds no practical meaning now. The reality facing Zhu Guizhi is that the relationship between mother and daughter is quite strained. If Zhu Guizhi intervenes forcefully, it would almost certainly lead to failure.

“She might even rebel, dig in her heels, and deliberately go against me, becoming even more determined to choose Ning Zhuo!” This was a possibility that deeply worried Zhu Guizhi.

So, ever since she first learned of this shocking news, she had been trying to suppress the matter, while also forcing herself to calm down and find a more reliable method to solve the current problem.

However, once the news leaked from the Internal Affairs Department, many in the family began to pay attention. Zhu Guizhi then realized that this matter had to be resolved quickly!

The political situation compelled her to address it.

Otherwise, if this joke escalated, it would be even harder to manage, causing significant losses for her personally and for her faction.

Because Zhu Fenxiang had broken the rules and done something wrong. Of course, she might not fully grasp the gravity of it, thinking it was no big deal.

But this matter truly was different!

Zhu Fenxiang was the face of the Zhu family in the Foundation Establishment stage, and her every action represented the family’s honor. Her sudden teaching of the family’s Spirit Invocation Art to an outsider meant that she intended to unite with that person.

This could be one of the most significant events in a person’s life.

If they were childhood sweethearts, or if there had been prior arrangements and the whole family had expectations, the matter would be easier to discuss.

But now, Zhu Fenxiang’s sudden move directly showed everyone that her emotions were intense, and she had easily fallen in love with an outsider. This was a very immature display. The family’s Foundation Establishment representative should not be so immature!

If she were coerced by an outsider, then she should even less have directly taught the family’s Spirit Invocation Art.

Because the Zhu family’s Spirit Invocation Art was the foundation of their standing!

Of course, Zhu Fenxiang had only taught the first level. Even if widely known, it would not shake the Zhu family’s foundation in the slightest.

But when such matters involve politics, they can be either major or minor.

On a small scale, it’s a case of two people falling for each other, a moment of passion, typical of young people. On a large scale, it means disregarding the family for personal feelings or interests!

It was precisely because this matter could be “major or minor” that Zhu Guizhi had to resolve it quickly.

If she handled it well, it would be seen as minor. If she failed and it escalated, it would be seen as major.

By then, Zhu Fenxiang would not only be removed from her position, but Zhu Guizhi’s lineage would also suffer greatly!

Zhu Guizhi paced back and forth, her brows furrowed, pondering deeply for a long while. She envisioned many solutions, then discarded most of them. Finally, she sighed deeply and finalized her action plan.

She knew she absolutely could not immediately send a flying message to question her daughter.

Impulse and anger would not solve the problem.

“I must handle this myself!” She made an immediate decision, setting aside her current tasks, pushing open the door, activating her escape light, and leaving the area.

A moment later, Zhu Guizhi’s figure appeared outside a side hall of the sect’s treasury.

Zhu Guizhi entered the hall and saw He Yong.

He Yong was on duty there, guarding the family’s treasury.

He was dressed in a simple green robe, with a gentle and somewhat timid expression, carefully checking jade slips in front of a bookshelf.

Noticing the newcomer, he immediately turned around, with a slightly awkward smile: “Guizhi, why have you come?”

He was Zhu Guizhi’s husband and Zhu Fenxiang’s father.

Once, he was also among the first batch of talented cultivators who emerged from the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s Xingyun minor trial. But he was mild-mannered, disliked conflict, and lacked ambition.

A hundred years passed, and his cultivation stagnated at the early Golden Core stage, making no further progress. He was content to manage miscellaneous affairs in the treasury, accepting his fate with optimism. In Zhu Guizhi’s eyes, he was synonymous with “incompetence” and “mediocrity.”

Zhu Guizhi was too bothered to exchange pleasantries with him and directly stated her purpose: “I’ve come to collect some treasury materials, preferably magical artifacts or elixirs that can nourish the soul and stabilize the foundation. Fenxiang has found a good match, and according to family rules, as her mother, I must show my appreciation and go see this future ‘son-in-law’!”

Upon hearing this, He Yong’s awkward smile faded. He carefully observed Zhu Guizhi’s expression, hesitated, then whispered, “Guizhi, I also heard the news. Although I haven’t seen that Ning Zhuo with my own eyes, I hear he is a talented young man who has recently emerged in the sect, winning first place in the Xuanjia Cave minor trial, and passing the three questions of the Punishing Evil Hall, showing an upright character.”

“Shouldn’t we trust Fenxiang more? She has a stubborn personality, but her judgment has always been excellent. The young man she fancies must be an outstanding individual.”

“Outstanding individual?” Zhu Guizhi scoffed, as if she had heard the biggest joke, and directly interrupted him.

Then, she pointed a finger at He Yong’s nose, her voice filled with long-suppressed contempt and resentment: “Back then, wasn’t I blind too, thinking you were among the first batch of talented cultivators in the Myriad Manifestations Sect with boundless prospects? What was the result?”

“Poor temperament, lack of responsibility, on this path of cultivation, no matter how much talent, one will only become mediocre! How much trouble have you caused me, how many scornful looks have I endured all these years?”

The angrier she got, her voice rose a few octaves: “Some people are just outwardly brilliant, appearing to have boundless prospects, but in reality, they are gilded on the outside and rotten on the inside!”

“Choosing a husband is a lifelong matter, how can it be treated lightly? I have long made arrangements for Fenxiang, and the candidate I have chosen for her must be from a well-matched family and a distinguished scion who has stood the test of time!”

“Who is that Ning Zhuo? An outsider! Unclear origins, unknown background, with no powerful backing within this country! Is he truly worthy of Fenxiang? What is his character like? Is he sincere or does he have ulterior motives? All these need my personal and rigorous investigation!”

He Yong was left speechless by his wife’s barrage of accusations and dared not argue further.

Seeing his submissive manner, Zhu Guizhi became even more enraged and snorted: “I have my own plans for this matter. You just allocate the resources according to the rules. I absolutely cannot let my daughter repeat my mistakes and jump into a seemingly beautiful but ultimately disastrous fire pit!”

Ban Family.

Deep within the ancestral temple.

Fine spiritual pivot sliders ran along intricate tracks, emitting faint, rhythmic “click-clack” sounds. Spiritual light shimmered like water between the nodes of the chains.

And on the hanging secret-patterned bronze bells, invisible ripples spread, trying their best to glimpse the trajectory of destiny.

Many Supreme Elders held their breath, gathered around the Family Fate Pivot Chain, observing the renewed surge of Ning Zhuo’s destiny.

It was still that ethereal, semi-solid destiny arm.

But compared to the last time, the sense of crisis pervading the scene was even deeper.

The crimson thorny vines wrapped around the arm had become even thicker and more grotesque. The barbs were deeply embedded in the arm, and the ring finger was almost constricted out of shape.

The ink blots spilling from the pages suspended above the arm were no longer raindrops; they had almost formed dense ink lines, constantly eroding the arm.

Most of the “flesh” on the arm had been corroded into pages, showing a dangerous tendency to detach from the arm bone.

“The crisis has intensified, and Ning Zhuo is completely unaware!”

“It seems we don’t even need to intervene; just by watching, we can witness him fall into distress and head towards defeat?”

“No, there must be an antidote herb near a venomous snake. Ning Zhuo, by chance, what he is doing now is precisely the answer to resolving these two crises.”

Amidst a discussion, the Supreme Elders observed carefully and saw that the destiny arm was still continuously absorbing frost energy and integrating it into itself.

At this time, a thin, transparent layer of ice armor had quietly condensed and formed on the surface of the arm. This ice armor appeared fragile, but when ink drops fell, it exhibited a slight defensive power, effectively slowing down the penetration of the ink color.

At the same time, the coldness of the ice armor was also working, reducing the binding force of the thorny vines.

“The pages and ink drops, their destiny forms highly match Zhao Hansheng and Gu Qing. Zhao Hansheng has obtained the position of Shanzhang, which is puzzling. Gu Qing is also no ordinary individual, but why are they so detrimental to Ning Zhuo?”

“But what about these thorny vines? Where do they come from?”

“And what exactly is Ning Zhuo doing, that it happens to be the correct solution to the crisis? Should we try to disrupt it?”

Ban Ji, naturally, had done thorough intelligence work concerning Ning Zhuo.

They detected that Ning Zhuo had been secluded recently, seemingly in retreat. However, the specifics of his actions were difficult to ascertain.

The group discussed again and finally rejected the suggestion of intervention.

In the words of the Supreme Grand Elder: “Our Ban family’s fate is already closely linked with Ban Ji’s royal destiny. If we directly intervene against Ning Zhuo, it would be akin to the royal destiny personally retaliating.”

“Previously, we fully activated the Family Fate Pivot Chain, drawing assistance from the royal destiny, which already stimulated Ning Zhuo’s destiny.”

“This child is currently at a time of strong destiny. Forcibly intervening might backfire, not only failing to stop him but possibly helping him break through his predicament faster! There are many examples of such self-defeating actions recorded in family history; how can we repeat them?”

This statement met with widespread agreement.

Another elder added: “Furthermore, to overcome a human tribulation and activate royal destiny, it is best for the person bearing the royal destiny to act personally. Only then can the potential of the royal destiny be maximized and its sharpness honed. Acting on behalf of others is ultimately inferior and does not benefit Ban Ji’s growth.”

Overcoming human tribulations and activating royal destiny were never two separate things, but one!

Everyone reached a consensus, their gazes once again turning to the vision of destiny.

The arm continued to absorb frost energy, and the ice armor slowly thickened, but the entanglement of the thorns and the erosion of the pages and ink drops were clearly greater than the speed of the ice armor’s condensation and its defensive capabilities.

“Ning Zhuo’s destiny is so vibrant, yet he is still tightly entangled by these two great crises. This shows how fierce the opponent’s momentum is and how deep their foundation.”

“That is natural. Ning Zhuo’s backing has a destiny-suppressing treasure, but does Gu Qing not? He was already famous throughout Huazhang Country. If placed in the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s current Xingyun minor trial, he would certainly be among the first batch of outstanding, even top-tier, individuals!”

“Whether he is top-tier is yet unknown. Only by truly establishing himself and gaining a firm footing in the Xingyun minor trial at the Martial Arts Hall can he be called top-tier. Currently, including Ban Ji, there is a lack of verification, no public recognition!”

The Supreme Elders successively stopped infusing their spiritual power.

The truth of destiny revealed by the Family Fate Pivot Chain also quickly dissipated.

Mountainside pavilion.

A gentle breeze wafted through, and bamboo shadows swayed.

Bai Jiyun leaned against the railing, the bamboo slips of his poetry holder at his waist gently clinking in the mountain breeze, making soft, pleasant sounds.

Gu Qing, sitting opposite him, was composed, his fingertips lightly tapping a scroll of poetry spread out on the stone table: “I have read Brother Bai’s poetry manuscript and am deeply moved. It brings to mind a line of poetry: ‘Snow falls on plum branches, white; spring arrives, grass naturally green.’ The heart of seeking the Dao and the joy of nature can be integrated. Despair is not the end, but a new opportunity. Does Brother Jiyun’s poetry, written during his travels, convey this meaning?”

A glint flashed in Bai Jiyun’s eyes. He was accustomed to viewing landscapes, but rarely had his inner feelings been so perfectly articulated in a single sentence.

Bai Jiyun clapped his hands and sighed lightly: “Brother Gu’s words truly resonate with my heart! What a good line of poetry! Compared to those meticulously crafted but truly uninspired works, such naturally profound and meaningful lines are truly superior poetry, expressing the joy of a carefree wanderer, yet subtly aligning with the principles of the cycle of heaven—I am impressed, deeply impressed! Gu Qing understands me!”

A surge of excitement, born from finding a kindred spirit, rippled through Bai Jiyun’s heart.

Inside the calligraphy quiet room, only the scent of ink permeated the air.

Liu Fushu’s tall, slender figure, like a bamboo pole, stood ramrod straight. He was intently watching Gu Qing, whose wrist was suspended as he wielded the brush.

Gu Qing’s brushwork did not solely pursue structural perfection but focused more on “intent” and “momentum.” As the brush tip flowed, it was at times like a perilous solitary peak, at times like a surging river.

Gu Qing put down the brush: “Brother Fushu’s characters have formed their ‘bones,’ but the ‘qi’ is somewhat stagnant. For example, this ‘na’ (a specific stroke in Chinese characters) should not merely be pushed out with force; it needs a ‘zhe’ (a hook or turn) intention, like a knife cleaving or an axe chiseling, with inner sharpness but unstoppable momentum.”

Liu Fushu watched the entire process without blinking, then immediately cupped his hands and sincerely praised: “Brother Gu’s insight! Listening to your words for a moment is better than studying for ten years! All my previous practices now feel as if I haven’t truly entered the gateway—”

Around the Platform of Pure Conversation, there were a few scattered listeners.

Ten-year-old Kong Ran, wearing an apricot-yellow short jacket, his small face taut, striving to maintain a composure beyond his age, sat opposite Gu Qing.

The two had been discussing the content of the “Classic of Rites” for about half an hour.

At this moment, a conclusion had been reached.

Kong Ran stood up and bowed very solemnly to Gu Qing: “Mr. Gu’s discourse has enlightened and inspired me, making Kong realize profound truths.”

Gu Qing immediately humbly stated that besides being stable and profound, the “Classic of Rites” also has aspects of “comprehension” and “change.” It is not a rigid dogma but a way of life and cultivation filled with agility and wisdom.

And, he added, this was just his humble opinion.

Kong Ran exclaimed, “I really should introduce Mr. Gu to my father to discuss the ‘Classic of Rites’!”

At the same time.

In the study, Gu Qing’s main body was reciting classics.

He smiled slightly, dividing himself into a dozen clones simultaneously for social interactions, directly subduing others with his profound Confucian foundation—this was merely a trivial matter!

Azure Stone Cave Mansion.

Gongsun Yan was fully absorbed, immersed in the world of artifact refining. The heart fire he controlled flickered slightly.

“Let’s rest for a bit,” Ning Zhuo observed this and decisively called a halt.

“Ah?” Gongsun Yan was initially reluctant, but after obeying the command and stopping, he immediately realized his own poor state.

He looked at Ning Zhuo, a feeling of surprise and admiration swirling in his heart: “Young Master Ning Zhuo actually understands my true condition better than I do?!”

The upgraded Xue Shu Yu Xie was mostly completed.

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