A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 91 - 88: Chaos Erupts in the Zhou Family

Seven days later, in the morning, Yuqing Mountain Peak, residence of Zhou Family’s Main Branch.

In a quiet room, a jade pearl was glowing brightly, casting a hazy image on the white wall. Zhou Chao was carefully watching the record with several reliable core disciples.

In the image, there were several graceful women, naturally endowed with charm, looking pitiful and tearful, recounting the grievances they’ve suffered over the years, embellished with exaggerations.

Zhou Chao had no interest whatsoever in those petty affairs of jealousy and household trivialities, yet since most of these women were indulging in such nonsense, he had to force himself to pay attention lest he misses any valuable information among them.

Finally, one woman sniffled and said, "On that day at the banquet, Zhou Ang gave Zhou Yong a Red Pearl Lingzhi, with a red skin, round like a small ball. At that time, I saw it looked peculiar, picked it up to have a look, unexpectedly he slapped me hard... Patriarch, you must stand up for me..."

Zhou Chao’s face turned grim and instructed the cultivators beside him to record the matter.

This Red Pearl Lingzhi was something he had purchased at a high price for alchemy, intended to heal his father’s injuries. But only after using twice it was already consumed completely; he had originally thought the loss of elixir was large, but never expected it was swapped stealthily and ended up in the hands of Third Elder’s nephew, Zhou Ang!

If it weren’t for the private banquet where Zhou Ang presented it to Grand Elder’s son Zhou Yong, witnessed by the woman, he might still be kept in the dark.

Zhou Chao felt both heartache and shock; now his notebook was thick with records, all verbal accounts from these women.

This was the inspiration he drew from Lu Qian’s planning. Since there were no suitable breakthroughs from the servants, he started with the confidants of those power holders in the branch lines!

Such as this individual who just testified about the Red Pearl Lingzhi, was Zhou Yong’s concubine.

These concubines all shared a common trait: they were originally mortal women from the main family, with their families living in the main branch. They were married as concubines merely due to their outstanding appearances, caught the eye of some powerful figures in the branch lines.

Although they were called concubines, they were essentially playthings, required not only to cater to every whim at various occasions but even to serve guests. Regularly facing bullying, eagerly seeking escape from the so-called husband’s side.

Originally such affairs were never meddled with by main branch cultivators led by Zhou Chao. He even once thought intermarriages between main and branch lines were beneficial to familial unity.

Unexpectedly, it was from these women he found the breakthrough point.

To establish contact with them, Zhou Chao painstakingly organized. First by holding a clan martial arts tournament under pretenses of training and strengthening unity, gathering almost all cultivators of main and branch lines for performances. Seizing this chance, he sent confidants to infiltrate several branch residences and established contact with these women.

Upon hearing the inquiry from the Patriarch himself, afraid of implicating their families if they refused, promised protection and being well settled after the deed without further humiliation, even offered life-extending elixirs, these women switched allegiance to the main branch.

They knew in their hearts, being mere mortals, aging and losing beauty would be a blessing, might suffer a terrible fate any day. Over the years, vanished sisters in the courtyard weren’t few.

Ultimately, under the record of the Memory Pearl, these women divulged one by one the events they witnessed and heard serving beside the power figures in the branch lines, brought back and systematically recorded by the main branch.

Up till now, all valuable clues had been completely noted by Zhou Chao.

He collected the Memory Pearl, collapsed into his chair, eyes glazed over, staring blankly at the void wall.

After half an hour, a cultivator beside him handed over a booklet; this contained the sorted accounts of various materials secretly handled by each branch line based on these women’s testimonies over the last several days.

Zhou Chao gritted his teeth, and upon glancing through, his heart sank completely.

Ridiculous, ridiculous!

Over these three years, he believed the decline of the family and depletion of savings were solely because of treating father’s wounds. In reality, over forty percent of the materials were disguised under various pretenses by branch elders and pocketed by themselves!

Moreover, this was merely what those concubines saw and heard; what they haven’t encountered yet is unknown!

Pitiful, pitiful!

I for Zhou Family’s survival, toiled day and night without respite, only to be regarded by these trusted family elders as a tool, a fool, a joke!

Ancestors, is this what "discord breeds adversity, harmony breeds prosperity" means?

Zhou Chao gazed steadily at the booklet, beyond sorrow surged an overwhelming fury.

He sprang up and shouted loudly, "Now evidence is conclusive! Summon the two Honored Guest Elders immediately, and gather all main branch cultivators with me to apprehend the family traitors!"

The spirit vein of Yuqing Mountain Main Peak is somewhat akin to Spirit Snake Peak, also inside the mountain’s belly. Those two Honored Guest Elders usually, when idle, would practice at the spirit vein inside the mountain.

The cultivators beside him responded loudly, and the group exited the room, heading towards the courtyard.

Just at this moment, a cultivator rushed over flustered, upon seeing Zhou Chao, shouted loudly, "Young Master! It’s bad, four elders brought many cultivators and surrounded the entire main branch residence!"

What?!

Zhou Chao was both surprised and enraged, what is happening now? I clearly had already pacified them! Could it be my secret investigation leaked and they really chose to confront me?

"Impossible!" He couldn’t help but shout, "My father is still here, how dare they act so?"

With my father still well, and the two Honored Guest Elders following my command, how dare several branch elders act rashly?

The situation was critical, Zhou Chao ignored etiquette and instantly activated the Communication Talisman, notifying the Feathered Scholar to come here. Simultaneously signaling to those around, "Gather all main branch cultivators immediately!" Saying so, he released the Flying Spiritual Artifact, leaped up.

But just as the artifact rose, several more artifacts flew swiftly to Zhou Chao’s presence. Four elders arrived without missing one, each accompanied by a few elite clan members.

"Uncles, what do you mean by this? Intend to openly split and rebel, harm the main branch?" Zhou Chao shouted angrily; he saw from the sky numerous escape lights illuminating around, already encircling the entire main branch residence.

Why haven’t the two Feathered Scholars reacted yet? Zhou Chao was anxious; could it be the communication talisman was affected inside the mountain’s belly, and the message couldn’t go through? Impossible!

However, at the time, main branch cultivators were already assembled, Zhou Chao still felt confident. Though overall weaker than four branch’s alliance, capturing him was indeed no simple feat. Moreover, even if the communication talisman failed, should massive conflict erupt, the two Honored Guest Elders would sense the abnormality and come to aid.

Grand Elder spoke leisurely, "Chao, why are you always so impulsive? Who wants to split and rebel? You misunderstood; we’re here to offer condolences."

Zhou Chao noticed the four elders were all in white robes, his heart jolted, shouted, "Condolences? To whom?"

Then Third Elder spoke with a face full of sorrow, "Zhou Family Patriarch, my cousin Zhou Bing has passed, we’re here to offer condolences."

Zhou Chao hearing this, found it ludicrous and shouted angrily, "What nonsense are you blabbering? When did my father pass away? I’ve been beside him, yet I’m unaware?!"