People from the Huang Clan Arrive

Because Zhou Dashan had fled hardship at a young age and wandered destitute before arriving in Baixi Village, he possessed few memories of his parents.

Zhou Ping therefore decided to begin the clan genealogy with Zhou Dashan, marking him as the first ancestor of the Zhou family. He also planned to construct the ancestral hall upon the summit of Chi Peak.

Since Zhou Chang'an was currently in Nanyang Prefecture City attending the provincial examination, compiling the genealogy was not a pressing matter.

Soon after, Zhou Ping walked toward the Golden Vine Pond at the mountaintop, intending to carefully study two techniques within the stone chamber. Zhou Changhe, meanwhile, returned to his own courtyard.

As the Zhou family flourished, Ming Peak underwent immense changes.

Tall trees had been planted at the summit, veiled in wisps of curling mist that lent the peak a profound, mysterious air. Below the summit, extending halfway down the mountain, numerous houses and courtyards had been built in encircling tiers. Pavilions and corridors connected these buildings, giving the area a unique elegance.

Every night, the mountainside of Ming Peak was brightly lit. From afar, it was a resplendent and dazzling sight.

Looking west, the folks of the four surrounding villages could naturally see this immortal mountain. As the years flowed by, they gradually grew accustomed to the Zhou family's rule. Many even yearned to live on the immortal mountain, sharing in the joy of the immortal clan just like Old Man Chen.

Currently, the mountain housed not only the young and old of the Zhou family but also the servants belonging to each branch and lineage, the groundskeepers tending the flora across the four peaks, and outsiders like the Chen family and Wang Dashan. Altogether, nearly a hundred people resided on Ming Peak.

Even so, the villagers below were exceptionally enthusiastic about the prospect of climbing the mountain to serve the Zhou family.

After all, if they pleased the main family, they might be rewarded with immortal rice, which was rumored to extend one's lifespan. Once they returned down the mountain, they could also be assigned a decent position. The several stewards currently managing Zhou Family Town, for example, were all former Zhou family guards.

However, a few years ago, Zhou Changhe had dispatched men to take in numerous orphans. He raised them on the mountain, bestowed the Zhou surname upon them, and cultivated them into fiercely loyal adopted sons-a move that ultimately dashed the hopes of the local villagers.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. At the easternmost edge of the Zhou family's territory, two visitors arrived. Dressed in splendid robes and riding pure, graceful steeds, their extraordinary bearing made it clear they were no ordinary mortals.

Huang Zhengqi looked at the curling smoke rising from the eastern village in the distance, turned his head, and smiled. "Cousin, this Zhou family manages their territory quite well."

Huang Zhenghua's expression remained calm. Gazing toward Baixi Mountain in the distance, a faint, dark glimmer flickered in his eyes. He caught sight of the pavilions and buildings upon the peak, while the rest was obscured by clouds and mist. As the spiritual light in his eyes faded, he nodded slightly. "To achieve such a scale after only five or six years of establishing their clan is indeed impressive."

"Come, let's go meet that aunt of ours."

...

Zhou Ping had not been in Secluded Cultivation for long before he was called out by Zhou Changhe. Upon hearing his grandson's report, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Distant nephews of my mother?"

Just moments ago, two Spirit-Awakening cultivators from the Pingyun Huang Clan had suddenly come calling. They claimed to be the nephews of his mother, Madam Huang, which left him thoroughly bewildered.

Zhou Ping pondered for a moment before saying, "Changhe, have Minghu bring them up, and then go invite your grandmother here. I want to see exactly what tricks this Pingyun Huang Clan is playing."

Zhou Changhe agreed and set off toward Madam Huang's courtyard.

Following behind Zhou Minghu, Huang Zhengqi and Huang Zhenghua curiously took in their surroundings. Seeing the flora and trees, as well as the small patches of spiritual fields occasionally revealed along the path, they sighed in admiration. Although the Spiritual Qi within the Zhou family's Dao grounds was somewhat thin, the plants and flowers were quite pleasing to the eye, even if few were actual spiritual objects.

They also sized up Zhou Minghu walking ahead. Though neither his cultivation nor his leadership was particularly outstanding, taken together, he was the sort of steady pillar that could preserve any clan's foundation.

Rumor also had it that the Zhou family's eldest grandson, Zhou Changhe, despite being a mortal, possessed remarkable administrative methods, keeping the mortal forces firmly under his control.

As long as the Zhou family's Qi Condensation cultivator did not Perish, having these two men meant the Zhou family would undoubtedly continue to prosper for decades to come.

The two exchanged a glance, a hint of joy flashing in their eyes. The brighter the Zhou family's prospects, the more beneficial cooperation would be for their Huang Clan.

Before long, the group arrived at the Zhou family's main hall.

"Junior Huang Zhengqi pays respects to Senior."

"Junior Huang Zhenghua pays respects to Senior."

The two bowed respectfully toward Zhou Ping, who sat in the seat of honor, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

"No need for such formalities. Sit down."

Zhou Ping waved his hand, and a gentle, formless breeze lifted the two men upright. This subtle display of power caused their hearts to tremble, making their demeanor even more humble.

Zhou Ping asked doubtfully, "You claim to be my mother's nephews. Where does this come from?"

Back then, Madam Huang had wandered far and wide before finally settling down with Zhou Dashan to start a family. Decades had passed without a whisper of any relatives, yet now the Pingyun Huang Clan had suddenly come looking. It was rather peculiar.

Huang Zhenghua smiled humbly. "Junior would not dare deceive Senior. I have brought the clan genealogy as proof. Aunt, please take a look."

As he spoke, he retrieved a thick, worn ancient book from the bundle on his back.

Madam Huang was already puzzled. The Huang Family Village she hailed from lay north of Qingshui County and had been wiped out by a bandit disaster long ago. She had never heard of any connection to the Pingyun Huang Clan.

After obtaining Zhou Ping's permission, Huang Zhenghua trotted forward subserviently, crouched before Madam Huang, and pointed to a portrait within the ancient book.

"Aunt, look. This is the portrait of Great-Uncle Dalin. Decades ago, he took his branch to settle in Baima Town, where he fathered several uncles like Baizhou..."

As Huang Zhenghua spoke, Madam Huang grew increasingly agitated. She caressed the ancient pages, tears welling in her eyes.

"Yes, it is so... Uncle Baizhou even saved my life once."

Her aged, cloudy eyes looked at Huang Zhenghua as she asked with a trembling voice, "You truly are my nephew?"

Huang Zhenghua's own eyes grew moist as he cried out, "Aunt!"

This caused Madam Huang to break down in tears. She clutched Huang Zhenghua's arm in a surge of emotion, sobbing and choking on her words.

Watching this touching scene of aunt and nephew recognizing each other, Zhou Ping and the others maintained calm expressions.

From what Huang Zhenghua had just said, they had already gleaned a few clues. The Dalin lineage was likely a fallen branch of the Huang family, perhaps ostracized by the other factions and forced to leave their ancestral home to settle north of Qingshui County.

Otherwise, why would the main Huang Clan have completely ignored the Huang Family Village when it was destroyed?

Yet now that the Zhou family had established a foothold in the region, the Pingyun Huang Clan suddenly managed to trace the clues and claim kinship. To send two cultivators acting with such humility-they were undoubtedly plotting something significant.

It was only after the two had reminisced for quite some time that Madam Huang gradually calmed down, though she continued to stroke the ancient book through tear-blurred eyes.

Huang Zhengqi then stepped before Zhou Ping and bowed deeply.

"Senior, our purpose in coming today is not solely to visit our aunt, but to seek a path of mutual benefit for both our clans."

Zhou Ping sneered inwardly. This fellow was certainly direct, immediately revealing the hidden dagger.

"Oh? What sort of mutual benefit?"

"Our Huang Clan is willing to gift a first-grade spiritual plant to Senior, adding to the foundation of your esteemed family."

Zhou Ping and the others were momentarily stunned. Zhou Minghu even blurted out in excitement, "A first-grade spiritual plant?!"

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