118: Chapter 118 The Zhao Family

"Tenth Uncle, have you felt that the Zhao Family has been very strange lately?" After the two discussed the Dao, Chen Changyue asked.

"The Zhao Family?" Chen Yuanwen was pensive.

After several major battles, two of the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Zhao Family had died, and the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators were now either old and weak or sick and disabled, greatly reducing their strength.

In contrast, the Chen Family advanced triumphantly all the way; not only did they not lose any Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but over the years they also added several more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, practically becoming the top Family in Qinghe County.

Now, among the Foundation Establishment Families in the entire Qinghe County, apart from the three veteran families of the Chen, Li, and Zhao Families, a new Foundation Establishment Family had emerged: the Liu Family.

Back then, the Liu Family was the first to support the Chen Family, naturally receiving the Chen Family's care, so in the great war to resist the Yao Race they repeatedly received the protection of the Chen Family, and during this period they also made many military merits, successfully exchanging for a foundation establishment pill—Liu Wuxie relied on this foundation establishment pill to successfully achieve Foundation Establishment.

However, even though Liu Wuxie achieved Foundation Establishment, he still closely followed behind the Chen Family; this was not only because of the development of the Chen Family over the years, but even more so because of Chen Changqing, a Genius at only the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment who could go toe-to-toe with the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment.

As for the Wang Family and the Zhou Family, these two families had completely declined, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of both families all died at the hands of the Yao Race, though they had also accumulated quite a bit of military merit; if their descendants achieved Foundation Establishment via the foundation establishment pill obtained through military merit, they might still be able to preserve their status.

Otherwise, if another ten years passed and these declining families lost the protection of the Yuxu Sect, they would face the crisis of clan annihilation.

Fortunately, both the Wang Family and the Zhou Family defected to the Chen Family, with the Wang Family exchanging the Water Spirit Fruit Tree for the Chen Family's protection.

As for the Zhou Family, they directly submitted as subjects; as a subordinate Family of the Chen Family, they offered up all resources that the Zhou Family could offer with both hands, except for that foundation establishment pill, and furthermore made a Heart Demon blood oath: if any clansmen of the Zhou Family achieved Foundation Establishment, they must do three things for the Chen Family regardless of morality, and if no one in the Zhou Family achieved Foundation Establishment, they would willingly obey the Chen Family and henceforth follow the lead of the Chen Family.

Both families relied on interests to bind themselves to the Chen Family's thighs. Of course, doing so might also lead to annexation by the Chen Family, but currently the Chen Family had not done anything yet, perhaps because they no longer had any treasures worth the Chen Family's regard.

Zhou Ziye's cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and in a few years he might be able to attempt Foundation Establishment; even if he successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, the Zhou Family must still do three things for the Chen Family to shake off the Chen Family's favor. All in all, the Chen Family was not at a loss.

"The Zhao Family has kept a very low profile all these years; even their Old Ancestor Zhao Yuangang has never appeared. I even suspect that he died long ago," Chen Yuanwen continued.

"Tenth Uncle, I remember Zhao Yuangang's last appearance was over fifty years ago, right? At that time, he was already two hundred years old. If there were no accidents, his Lifespan should have been exhausted, and he would have perished." Chen Changyue pondered for a moment and spoke his mind.

Chen Yuanwen shook his head. "It is hard to say. You were born late and do not understand Zhao Yuangang very well. When he was still around, his high talent made many Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Qinghe County feel ashamed.

Of course, he could not compare with Chen Changqing and the others, but at that time, at the age of less than one hundred and fifty, he had cultivated to the Ninth Layer of Foundation Establishment. According to reason, if he were given a chance, within the next hundred years, as long as there were no problems, he would have a considerable chance of achieving the Purple Mansion.

However, decades ago, he somehow offended someone outside and was severely beaten, after which he returned to the Family and went into secluded Cultivation and never came out."

"There is such a thing?" Chen Changyue was surprised.

Chen Yuanwen nodded.

"Although that Zhao Yuangang is arrogant and the most unconvinced person in his life, he would not casually conflict with people unless there was a treasure that made even his heart flutter. Moreover, according to rumors circulating at that time, he seemed to have obtained a Lifespan fruit. I do not know if it is true or false, but it is close to ten."

"Right, after a while, Qinghe Market will have another auction. This time, a Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine will appear. Although Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine is not as good as a foundation establishment pill, our Family happens to be lacking one, and we need you, Changyue, to make a trip there," Chen Yuanwen proposed.

"A Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine? Alright, Tenth Uncle."

The Zhao Family Ancestral Hall.

Ever since the Zhao Family made their clansmen keep a low profile a few years ago, the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators had not appeared either. The reason they came out of seclusion together today was because the Family needed them.

Over the years, they had been secretly upgrading the Family's Spiritual Vein and spent a considerable price to buy a Tier 3 Formation. The reason for doing so was precisely because Old Ancestor Zhao Yuangang was about to Breakthrough to the Purple Mansion Stage.

If the Old Ancestor succeeded in his Breakthrough, their Zhao Family would also be a Purple Mansion Family in the future.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators breaking through to the Purple Mansion required a massive amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and needed Heaven and Earth spiritual items for assistance. The reason Zhao Yuangang returned heavily injured decades ago was because he was severely wounded by other Foundation Establishment Cultivators while fighting for a Heaven and Earth spiritual item, which caused him to recuperate for a full several decades.

If he had not taken a Lifespan fruit back then to increase his Lifespan by twenty years, he would have long since perished.

Of course, as for why the Zhao Family had enough Spirit Stones to upgrade the Spiritual Vein and buy a Tier 3 Formation, they were unaware of this point, only knowing that this was prepared by the Old Ancestor many years ago.

"It has begun," Zhao Qiming said excitedly, as he could feel that all the Spiritual Qi of the Family was heading towards the back mountain.

Zhao Huaiyi also nodded.

At this time, all members of the Zhao Family felt the decrease in surrounding Spiritual Qi, and many clansmen panicked. A portion of the Cultivators joined forces to head to the ancestral hall to demand an explanation, but all of them were stopped by the Clan Chief.

"Rest assured, Sixth Uncle and the others are Cultivating in the back mountain. You just need to take charge of your own duties and do not ask too much about other things," Zhao Qichen appeased them.

Hearing this, the unease in everyone's hearts gradually diminished, and they then dispersed.

Although they did not know what the Family was doing, at the very least, they would definitely not harm them.

Not far from the Zhao Family's ancestral mountain, several figures manifested.

"Master, how high do you think Zhao Yuangang's chances of Breakthrough are?" a purple-robed young man asked.

"Less than twenty percent, right? Although he has a High Grade Dao Foundation, Innately having a ten percent success rate, plus that Tianyuan Fruit adding another ten percent, however, he himself is already over two hundred and fifty years old, and no one knows how much Qi and blood are left in his body.

But as long as he successfully advances to the Purple Mansion, he will be a major battle force for our Anti-Immortal Alliance this time," that elderly-looking Cultivator slowly said, and it could be seen that he very much hoped Zhao Yuangang would become a Purple Palace Cultivator.

And the Anti-Immortal Alliance in his mouth was precisely jointly created by several False Core Cultivators to break the long-standing Rank restrictions of the Yan Country's cultivation world.

Among them, some were Old Ancestors of certain Sects, some were Loose Cultivators, and some were Cultivators from other countries.