7: Chapter 7 Elder Sixteen, Zhuge Cong

"However," Clan Head Zhuge Wen's tone shifted again, like riding a rollercoaster, "Spiritual Roots cannot determine everything."

All the youths, including Li Guidai, suddenly lifted their heads, hope reigniting in their eyes.

"Acquired effort, a resilient mindset, and even personal destiny are equally crucial; they can even compensate for deficiencies in Spiritual Roots." Clan Head Zhuge Wen's voice carried an inspiring power.

Then, he made a move that caused all the youths' hearts to skip a beat once more.

He turned slightly to the side, pointing once again to his two peerlessly beautiful daughters, a meaningful smile appearing on his face, his voice carrying a seductive tone:

"Have you seen my two daughters?"

Nonsense! Of course we have! Our eyeballs are almost popping out!

"Do you... like them?"

"Boom!!!"

Once those words were spoken, the breathing of all the youths instantly stopped completely! Their minds went blank! Like? It was far more than just liking! These were fairies that only appeared in dreams! Clan Head, is this... something you can just say out loud?!

They all widened their eyes, staring unblinkingly at the two figures, especially the aloof Zhuge Mingyue. Their hearts pounded wildly, blood rushed to their heads, and a few with poor composure even felt dizzy.

Although Li Guidai tried hard to maintain a calm exterior (mainly because his past life's experiences of social death gave him some insight into facial expression management), his inner heart was already galloping like ten thousand horses, with waves crashing violently!

"Like! I like them so much! The ice-cold goddess is my type! I'm also okay with the sweetheart! Only children make choices, I..." He quickly cut off this dangerous thought, fearing he would be detected by Clan Head Zhuge Wen and slapped to death.

But his body's reaction was honest. He felt his throat go dry and subconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

"Gulp."

The sound was exceptionally clear and loud in this deathly silent square where you could hear a pin drop.

A youth beside him seemed to be reminded by this sound and also swallowed.

"Gulp."

Then, as if triggering a chain reaction, one "gulp" after another rang out.

The aloof Zhuge Mingyue seemed long accustomed to such gazes and reactions; there wasn't the slightest change on her beautiful face, and she remained in her cold, lofty state, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.

As for the adorable Zhuge Xingyue, she was amused by the silly appearance of this group of youths. Especially seeing Li Guidai's comical look, trying to feign composure while unable to stop himself from swallowing his saliva, she let out a soft "pfft" of laughter. She quickly covered her mouth with her small hand, but her crescent-moon-shaped eyes and slightly heaving shoulders betrayed her. She even specifically glanced at Li Guidai again, her eyes filled with teasing amusement.

This smile was like a spring breeze melting ice and snow, making a hundred flowers bloom instantly, causing many youths to stare blankly.

Clan Head Zhuge Wen watched the exaggerated, almost comical reactions of this group of new sons-in-law, a faint, imperceptible satisfaction flashing in his eyes. This was the effect he wanted; only with desire could there be motivation.

"Have you seen enough?" He spoke indifferently, interrupting everyone's reverie.

The youths awoke as if from a dream and hurriedly gathered their thoughts, but the burning heat in their eyes was difficult to completely conceal.

"Very good." Clan Head Zhuge Wen nodded, "Remember their appearance, and also remember my words."

His voice suddenly became serious and full of temptation: "Among you, in the future, whoever can bear the most outstanding offspring with the best Spiritual Roots for the family, whoever can make outstanding contributions to the family, whoever's cultivation can advance rapidly and stand out..."

His gaze swept over Zhuge Mingyue and Zhuge Xingyue once more.

"That person will have the possibility of becoming the husband of one of them!"

"At that time," Clan Head Zhuge Wen's voice seemed to carry magic, "You will no longer just be sons-in-law of the Zhuge Family, but one of the masters of the Zhuge Family! You will enjoy wealth and glory unimaginable to ordinary people, and possess supreme authority and resources!"

These words were like a shot of adrenaline, or perhaps a wildfire, completely igniting the ambition and fighting spirit in all the youths' hearts!

The inferiority previously felt due to the gap in Spiritual Roots was washed away by the immense temptation. Everyone's eyes burned with a flame called "striving," wishing they could immediately go and "expand the family lineage" and "perform meritorious service" for the Zhuge Family!

Clan Head Zhuge Wen was very satisfied with this effect. He said no more, nodded slightly to his two daughters, and then turned around, leaving gracefully with the still-aloof Zhuge Mingyue and Zhuge Xingyue—who looked back every three steps and even made a face at Li Guidai—disappearing into the palace complex at the end of the square.

He left behind dozens of youths with surging hearts and wandering thoughts, standing in place, unable to calm down for a long time.

Just then, an old man wearing a green robe, with graying hair, a gaunt face, looking about eighty years old, and a stern expression as if someone owed him spirit stones and hadn't paid them back, appeared silently before everyone.

He swept his stern gaze over the group of youths who were still lost in their fantasies and snorted coldly: "Hmph! What are you all standing there like idiots for? Haven't you woken up from your dreams yet?"

His voice, like a broken gong, thoroughly startled the youths awake.

"Get moving, follow me." The old man's tone was stiff and unquestionable.

Everyone dared not delay and hurriedly followed.

Li Guidai mixed into the crowd. As he walked, he couldn't help but secretly size up the stern old man, whispering to a youth beside him who looked sharp and clever: "Brother, who is this... which elder? He looks like he's not to be trifled with."

The youth also lowered his voice and replied: "I don't know. Looking at this aura, he's probably an elder, and maybe one in charge of discipline. Look at his face, it's like a door plank."

The green-robed old man walking in front moved his ears slightly, not turning his head, but his broken-gong-like voice clearly reached everyone's ears:

"This old man is Zhuge Cong, the Sixteenth Elder of the Zhuge Family's Outer Court."

He paused, seemingly to deepen the impression, and added: "Foundation Establishment Stage, seventh level."

"Here with me, I don't look at your past. Whether you are a dragon or a worm, whether you've fallen into a dung pit or slept in a pigsty, none of that matters!" (Li Guidai's mouth twitched, feeling like he was being targeted.)

"This old man only looks at your future performance!"

"The family will provide you with basic resources and cultivation techniques, but how far you can go depends on your own fortune."

"But!" He suddenly emphasized his tone, like a thunderclap, scaring a few youths into shivering, "Whoever dares to slack off, stir up trouble, or bring those playboy habits from the mortal world in..."

Elder Zhuge Cong finally turned his head slightly, revealing a cold, hair-raising smile:

"Don't blame me for not warning you, the Zhuge Family's clan rules... are not to be trifled with."

His gaze swept over the group intentionally or unintentionally, and he slowly added a sentence:

"I heard that recently, the Punishment Hall happens to be short of a few 'materials' for testing medicines and new formations."

A chill instantly shot from all the youths' tailbones up to their scalps! Even Li Guidai felt a chill on the back of his neck and subconsciously squeezed his legs together.

This Zhuge Family... the benefits are good, but these clan rules sound very "hardcore"!