Chapter 74: Zhang Wu

What kind of existence was the Wenxian Sect?

It was one of the top cultivation sects in the Southern Region, and Sect Master Liu Qingtian was one of the foremost figures among Nascent Soul Stage experts, with unfathomable strength!

In front of the Wenxian Sect, the Qinglan Sect wasn't even fit to carry their shoes!

Let alone a lowly Elder of the Qinglan Sect like himself; even the Sect Master of the Qinglan Sect likely wouldn't even count as an ant before the Wenxian Sect!

And this young man before him was actually Liu Qingtian's Personal Disciple?!

He seemed to have been clamoring to exterminate the other's entire Family just moments ago… Recalling this now, Zhang Wu's hair stood on end. A bone-chilling cold instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, then swept through every pore of his body!

*Thud!*

Without any hesitation and disregarding all dignity!

Zhang Wu's knees buckled, and with speed faster than lightning, he prostrated himself, kneeling heavily onto the bluestone floor!

*Thump! Thump! Thump!*

Zhang Wu slammed his forehead against the ground with such force that blood immediately began to flow, not even using his protective Qi!

"Mercy! Fellow Daoist Zhou… Senior Zhou, have mercy!!"

Zhang Wu's voice trembled uncontrollably. Despite his advanced age, he addressed Zhou Chen as Senior, looking quite ridiculous.

"It's… it's because I was blind! My dog eyes were sightless, and I offended Senior! Zhou Ming… that beast Zhou Ming deserves to die! How dare he offend Senior and your esteemed father; his death is not enough to atone for his crimes!"

"It was I… I was blinded by that beast! I beg for Senior's mercy! Spare this lowly one's wretched life! Spare the lives of the ignorant Disciples of the Qinglan Sect! My Qinglan Sect is willing to devote its entire strength to serve at Senior's command! I beg for Senior's mercy!!"

He spoke incoherently, no longer possessing even a fraction of his previous arrogance, only kowtowing repeatedly for mercy.

This impactful reversal once again shocked everyone present.

The Qinglan Sect was already a top-tier power in Luo City, able to make all other major forces submissive with a single word.

Now, the high-and-mighty Qinglan Sect Elder, a great expert at the Nascent Soul Six Layer, was so terrified by the identity Zhou Chen revealed that he knelt on the spot and kowtowed like a pounding pestle, simply begging for his life!

Those clan Elders who had originally supported Zhou Ming were even more terrified, their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. Some even fainted directly; whether it was a real or fake faint, no one cared.

However, they finally understood what a terrifying existence the Zhou Chen before them was!

Zhou Chen looked coldly at the repeatedly kowtowing Zhang Wu, his gaze showing no fluctuation.

He knew in his heart that this was the absolute suppression brought by strength and status.

Zhang Wu wasn't kneeling to him, Zhou Chen; he was kneeling to his strength, to Liu Qingtian, and to the Wenxian Sect.

"Scram."

Zhou Chen uttered only one word, his eyes icy.

As if receiving a great pardon, Zhang Wu's body went limp, nearly collapsing from exhaustion. He hurriedly kowtowed heavily several more times.

"Thank you, Senior, for your mercy! Thank you, Senior, for your magnanimity!"

He didn't dare stay for a second longer, not even stopping to wipe the blood from his forehead. He scrambled to his feet and fled.

Like a stray dog, he fled toward the Zhou Family's main gate in a pathetic state, fearing that if he were a second slower, he would lose his chance.

What face of the Qinglan Sect? In the face of life and death, it was all bullshit!

Zhou Chen could have wiped out the Qinglan Sect with a single word, but he didn't.

Mainly because it wasn't necessary; the situation hadn't reached the point of slaughtering an entire sect.

Moreover, the cultivation world wasn't just about fighting and killing, but also about social graces and worldly wisdom.

The Zhou Family had developed in Luo City for generations. If he destroyed the Qinglan Sect over a single disagreement, who would dare cooperate with the Zhou Family in Luo City in the future?

Even if there were, most would likely be outwardly compliant but inwardly disobedient, and the Zhou Family would inevitably face a backlash once they fell on hard times in the future.

Having dealt with Zhang Wu, Zhou Chen turned his gaze toward those clan Elders below the high platform whose faces were ashen and whose bodies were shaking like sieves.

Grand Elder Zhou Yuanze, Second Elder Zhou Yuanfeng, Third Elder Zhou Yuanhai, and the others felt as if they were being stared at by a prehistoric beast the moment they met Zhou Chen's gaze. They knelt one after another with thudding sounds, tears and snot flowing as they kowtowed incessantly for mercy.

"Young Family Head, have mercy! We… we were blinded by greed!"

"It was Zhou Ming… no, it was that beast Zhou Ming and that poisonous woman of the Chen Clan who bewitched us!"

"Family Head! Family Head! For the sake of being the same clan, for the sake of our past relationship, spare us!"

"We were wrong! We won't dare do it again! We beg the Family Head for mercy! We beg the Young Family Head for grace!"

The pleas for mercy and sounds of weeping merged into a chaotic mess.

Zhou Chen didn't look at them again. Such fence-sitters weren't worth killing; he'd just let them keep kneeling for now.

He walked toward the high platform and reached out to support Zhou Yuanshan, who was trembling with excitement and nearly unable to stand. His voice carried a hint of warmth.

"Father, your son has arrived late."

"Not late… not late! Chen'er… you… you really have… grown up."

Zhou Yuanshan looked at the extraordinary and calm Zhou Chen before him, so moved that he was speechless.

All his previous worries vanished into thin air at this moment.

"Greetings, Family Head! Greetings, Young Family Head!"

Sixth Elder Zhou Yuanyang was instantly filled with excitement, old tears streaming down his face as he was the first to bow down.

Other clansmen who hadn't participated in the rebellion also snapped out of it and knelt, shouting in unison.

"Greetings, Family Head! Greetings, Young Family Head!"

The voices echoed through the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall square; no one dared to harbor any more treacherous thoughts.

Zhou Chen steadied his father and had him sit back in the main seat.

Then, he looked at those clan Elders kneeling and begging for mercy, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Zhou Chen raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly curved.

In an instant, several grey runes as thin as silk threads sank into their foreheads.

The several people trembled violently, not daring to resist. Grey marks appeared on their foreheads and then faded away.

"This is the Divine Soul Restriction of the Wenxian Sect. Your lives are now within a single thought of mine. If anyone has objections, you may raise them now."

Zhou Chen handed a jade talisman that controlled the slave seals to Zhou Yuanshan.

The Grand Elder and the others looked ashen-faced, bowing their heads as they said tremulously, "We shall obey the Family Head's orders!"

"Disperse."

The people on the square gradually dispersed.

Everything that happened today was destined to cause a sensation in Luo City.

Inside the Zhou Family main hall.

Zhou Chen took out a storage ring and handed it to Zhou Yuanshan.

"Father, inside are a hundred Qi Gathering Pills, enough for you and the Sixth Elder to Cultivate to Core Formation. There are also several Earth Rank High Grade Spiritual Artifacts, several Medium Grade Spiritual Artifacts, and five thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones to serve as resources for the Family's development. Tell me if it's not enough; if you encounter difficulties, you can send a message to me."

"Chen'er, this… this is too much! It's not easy for you in the Wenxian Sect either; keep them for your own use!"

Zhou Yuanshan looked at the resources in the ring, his eyes filled with shock.

Even if all the cultivation families in Luo City combined their accumulations over hundreds of years, they wouldn't be able to produce so many resources!

Zhou Chen could certainly have given more resources, but he understood the principle that 'an ordinary man is innocent, but treasuring a jade ring makes him guilty.'

If he gave too many resources without the ability to protect them, it would only bring disaster upon the Zhou Family.

"Father, Sixth Elder, take these two Medicinal Pills now; I will protect you."

Zhou Chen took out two more Medicinal Pills from the storage ring and gave them to the two.

The two swallowed them without hesitation. The pure medicinal power continuously seeped into their nearly exhausted Meridians.

With several sounds of joints popping, their withered auras were swept away, and their Qi surged explosively.

Both broke through to the third layer of Foundation Establishment!

"The matter here is settled; it's time to leave."

Zhou Chen nodded to himself. Although Zhou Yuanshan's strength wasn't very high, with the addition of the enslaved clan Elders, completely controlling the Zhou Family wouldn't be much of a problem.

"As for clan affairs, Father, you may decide for yourself. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay long," Zhou Chen said to the two.

"Alright, son, you must take care!"

"Chen'er, take care!"

The two solemnly bid farewell to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen waved his hand, and in the next moment, he turned into a streak of light and vanished.

The next day, the events that occurred at the Zhou Family Ancestral Hall spread throughout every street and alley.

The Sect Master of the Qinglan Sect even personally brought Zhang Wu to apologize, compensating the Zhou Family with several valuable Mineral Veins and many properties within Luo City.

The Zhou Family also took this opportunity to leap forward and become the number one clan in Luo City, becoming the envy of others.