5: The clan chief's first meeting with the Chu ancestor

Upon hearing this voice, Chu Jingyu's eyes instantly turned vigilant as he scanned his surroundings, trying to locate the source of the sound.

A palm-sized, beetle-like beast appeared on his shoulder. The two large pincers in front of its head glinted with a chilling cold light, ready to launch an attack without hesitation the moment a target was spotted.

The expressions of the other Chu Family Members also became somewhat bewildered. Chu Shengyuan looked toward the book on the square table and asked curiously, "Grandfather, the voice came from the Origin Artifact. Could it be that an old grandfather is living inside?"

The little guy's eyes were filled with curiosity, while his elder brother, Chu Shengfan, pulled him away from the square table, clearly feeling that the Origin Artifact might be dangerous.

Reminded by Chu Shengyuan, Chu Jingyu turned his gaze toward the Origin Artifact on the table, his eyes becoming grave.

He raised his hand and waved it backward, instructing his children and grandchildren, "You all retreat first."

Seeing such a guarded scene from the Chu Family Members, Chu Mu's mouth twitched, and he looked quite helpless.

Under normal circumstances, a Origin Artifact would not contain anyone's Soul. Instead, after a Divine Soul connection is established, the control of the Origin Artifact is handed over to the Clan Chief.

However, since Chu Mu resides within the Origin Artifact and has merged with it, the control is firmly held in Chu Mu's body.

Clearly, Chu Jingyu has some understanding of the situation regarding Origin Artifacts. With such an unexpected event occurring now, he could not help but be cautious.

Chu Mu sighed. Holding the book, he used the Divine Soul connection to directly target Chu Jingyu's consciousness, summoning him into the internal space of the [Nameless Book].

Colorful threads connected between Chu Jingyu and the book. Then, it was as if Chu Jingyu had been hit by a immobilization spell; he stood rooted to the spot, motionless.

Sensing Chu Jingyu's stiff state, the [Golden Jade Beast] on his shoulder crawled back and forth between his shoulders in confusion, occasionally using the back of its pincers to touch his cheek, trying to wake him from his frozen state.

Inside the book's internal space, within a pavilion.

Upon appearing, Chu Jingyu didn't have time to examine his surroundings; his attention was instantly fixed on Chu Mu, who was sitting in front of the table.

He wore wide-sleeved robes, dressed quite luxuriously, which seemed somewhat at odds with his rather gentle features.

"Who are you, Your Excellency? And where is this place?"

After a brief glance, sensing a somewhat familiar and kind aura from Chu Mu, his initial nervousness gradually dissipated. He cupped his hands and asked.

Chu Mu poured two cups of hot tea on the table and gestured toward the seat opposite him, saying, "Please, sit."

Chu Jingyu frowned inwardly. Unable to figure out Chu Mu's identity, he could only suppress the urgency in his heart and sat down opposite him.

He took a sip of the hot tea and commented, "The tea is light. Can you answer my question now, Your Excellency?"

Chu Mu pointed a finger upward and said in a faint, eerie tone, "I am the Spirit of the Source Artifact. Naturally, this is the internal space of the Origin Artifact your Family worships."

A flash of confusion crossed Chu Jingyu's eyes. A spirit inside a Origin Artifact? This was something he had never heard of in his half-lifetime, even when the Family was still prosperous.

"I am not an ignorant person from the countryside. I have truly never heard of a Origin Artifact being able to give birth to a spirit."

Chu Mu did not mind his skepticism at all. "Even if you come from a fallen noble Family, how much of the world's affairs can you truly know? Just because low-grade Origin Artifacts cannot give birth to spirits does not mean high-grade ones cannot. Since we have already signed a contract, it means that you and the Chu Family share honor and disgrace. Therefore, we need to trust each other and build the Family up as quickly as possible."

Seeing Chu Mu's sincere expression, a look of contemplation flashed in Chu Jingyu's eyes, though it was unclear how much of Chu Mu's words he believed.

Suddenly, he showed a slightly kindly smile toward Chu Mu. "It is still my shallow knowledge that failed to confirm the identity of the Origin Artifact lord. I do not know how we, the Chu Family, should address you."

From the suspicion just moments ago to the respectful admission of error now, Chu Jingyu's change in expression was very natural.

Chu Mu's eyes flickered. In the end, he did not say [Nameless Book], but instead told him his name from his previous life: "Chu Mu."

Chu Jingyu's eyebrows twitched a few times, and he smiled as he said, "Addressing your name directly would be disrespectful. From now on, we Chu Family Members will call you Ancestor Chu, so that we may serve you with devotion."

It was just a form of address, and Chu Mu did not care much, so he nodded in agreement.

Chu Jingyu lowered his gaze. "I wonder, Ancestor Chu, could you perform Spirit Opening for the younger generation of the Chu Family?"

The probing had begun. Chu Mu understood this in his heart. He could understand Chu Jingyu's psychology: on one side were his own blood relatives, and on the other was the unknown, strange Chu Mu, who claimed to be a Spirit of the Source Artifact.

Chu Jingyu had to be cautious. By calling Chu Mu "Ancestor Chu," he hoped, firstly, that such an intimate form of address would make Chu Mu view the Chu Family Members as his own people, so that even if there were any unknown intentions, he would not immediately target the Chu Family Members as a threat.

Chu Mu said indifferently, "Three days from now, at the hour of Chen, I can perform Spirit Opening for one person."

Hearing Chu Mu agree, Chu Jingyu's expression relaxed slightly. Perhaps, as Chu Mu said, he really was a Spirit of the Source Artifact and not some other unknown entity.

He cupped his hands toward Chu Mu, "Thank you, Ancestor Chu, for the blessing."

"It is only right, no need to thank me. In these three days, I ask the Clan Chief to select a candidate. I think Chu Shengfan is suitable in both age and Heart-Nature."

Although Chu Mu was more grateful to the little guy, Chu Shengyuan, who had brought him out of the deep mountains, for the sake of the Family's rapid development, he could only compensate him more later when the Family grew.

Moreover, the reason why Spirit Opening could only be performed in three days was that he currently did not have enough Source Spirit. Performing Spirit Opening for one person required ten points, and he currently only had four. Furthermore, this unranked Family only restored two points per day.

Hearing Chu Mu's words, Chu Jingyu's expression faltered slightly. His original plan had been to choose his son, Chu Qinhui.

However, since Chu Mu had spoken, he had to make a choice. After all, this current decision would determine the priority between the Clan Chief and the Spirit of the Source Artifact in the future.

Suppressing the various thoughts in his heart, Chu Jingyu looked at Chu Mu. "I wonder, Ancestor Chu, is there anything you need? The Chu Family will certainly do our best to find it."

Chu Mu chuckled and said, "There is nothing needed at the moment. If there is in the future, I certainly will not be shy to ask."

"The Clan Chief has stayed here long enough. If you do not return, your Family will start to worry."

Chu Jingyu stood up and bowed to Chu Mu. Chu Mu waved his hand gently, and Chu Jingyu's spiritual body slowly faded and dissipated in the pavilion in the blink of an eye.

In the main hall of the Chu Family.

Looking at the few grandchildren surrounding him and their worried gazes, Chu Jingyu revealed a reassuring smile. "Nothing is wrong. Just now, it was a summons from the Spirit of the Source Artifact. I discussed some matters with him."

"Lord Spirit of the Source Artifact, what is that?" Chu Shengyuan, whose curiosity was the strongest, tugged at Chu Jingyu's sleeve and asked eagerly.

Chu Jingyu picked up Chu Shengyuan. "Little Lucky Star, the Lord Spirit of the Source Artifact is the person living in that book. In the future, remember to call him Ancestor Chu when you see him."