121: Chapter 121 The Zhao Family Seeks Support!

...

When Elder Rat arrived, Shi Jian was gnawing on an ape paw.

The ape paw belonged to a Sea Ape Beast; it had been cured for half a month and was being slow-roasted with Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. The skin was charred and the meat tender, with juices sizzling as they dripped onto the bluestone slab.

The flesh of the Sea Ape Beast was highly nourishing. Shi Jian couldn't bring himself to finish it all at once, so he saved a portion to savor slowly in the future.

"Old Ancestor, news has arrived."

Elder Rat stood on his hind legs, his narrow eyes darting around. He was clearly gauging the Old Ancestor's current mood. Once he confirmed it was safe, he waddled over to Shi Jian and waited cautiously.

Shi Jian didn't even look up. "Speak."

"Regarding the Yun Clan, Great Elder Yun Tianfan has taken over the Meeting Hall. He sent out a message today, telling the Sun Clan to behave themselves and not to use their influence to bully others."

Elder Rat paused. "The words were polite, but the blade wasn't well-hidden."

"This is a deliberate warning."

Shi Jian bit off a piece of meat and chewed it twice.

Great Elder Yun Tianfan.

A Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator and the Grand Elder of the Yun Clan. He was as shrewd as an old fox; though he didn't have much talent, he knew the rules better than anyone.

"What about the Sun Clan?"

"Sun Mao received the news and immediately called Sun Lin for a private discussion that same day."

"A few of my scouts overheard the gist of it. It seems Sun Lin plans to plant some people in the Array Hall and the Talisman Hall soon."

"This has caused dissatisfaction within the Yun Clan. From the looks of it, the two families are engaged in a remote struggle, secretly competing with each other."

Shi Jian tossed aside the clean bone and dusted off his palms.

Sun Mao's strength was his loyalty, but his weakness was also his loyalty. Although he had a sharp mind, he was occasionally a bit too straightforward.

However, it was precisely because of this that he was easy to control.

"What else?"

Elder Rat twitched his whiskers, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes.

"The Zhao Clan's side... is getting interesting."

Only then did Shi Jian glance over.

"Zhao Yanshan, the current head of the Zhao Clan, has been moving around frequently in private lately. First, he went to visit Great Elder Yun Tianfan, but it seems they couldn't reach an agreement."

"Later, he quietly tried to sound out Sun Mao, but Sun Mao ignored him."

Elder Rat paused for a breath. "Last night, he sat alone on the summit of Artifact Refining Peak, staying awake the entire night."

"And then?"

"Then, after freshening up this morning, he put on a high-quality green silk Daoist robe he’d been saving and started heading toward our Zixiao Peak."

After finishing, Elder Rat pulled in his neck and squinted at Shi Jian with a half-smile.

"Old Ancestor, he's likely at the foot of the mountain by now, presumably seeking an audience with you."

Shi Jian said nothing.

He picked up another bone and silently scraped off the remaining bits of meat. His expression was calm, as if he were deep in thought, or perhaps thinking of nothing at all.

The Zhao Clan.

Once the founding lineage of White Cloud Temple, they had now dwindled to the weakest of the three factions, with three second-grade Spiritual Veins and three Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

They also held the position of Peak Master of Artifact Refining Peak. It sounded prestigious, but in reality, they were even worse off than the Sun Clan.

Zhao Yanshan visited Great Elder Yun Tianfan and failed; he sounded out Sun Mao and was ignored.

Now he was making his way to Zixiao Peak.

Following this pattern showed that the man was quite clear-headed. He knew who the true chess player was on the board of White Cloud Temple.

Shi Jian had already anticipated this.

The Sun Clan followed him now, and while they were loyal, it was only because they relied on him as their great backer.

If one day the Sun Clan felt they had grown strong enough and no longer needed him...

Shi Jian had seen and experienced much of this. He didn't trust anyone's sentiment, only the binding of interests. After all, humans and demons walked different paths.

No matter how close they were, there would always be a limit.

One chess piece wasn't enough; he needed two. By having them keep an eye on each other, they wouldn't have the spare energy to plot against the Old Ancestor.

"Very well."

"Let him come up."

Elder Rat gave an affirmative grunt and vanished, flying toward the foot of the mountain. Judging by his nimble movements, he seemed quite happy.

It was likely that the lad Zhao Yanshan had secretly offered a tribute to Elder Rat.

That was why he was using Elder Rat's mouth to convey the message.

Shi Jian didn't care at all. Some small gestures themselves represented his will. If Elder Rat dared to accept a benefit,

It meant that behind the scenes, Shi Jian himself might have such an inclination.

...

Zhao Yanshan was a little over a hundred and seventy years old, in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He had a thin face and a short beard on his chin.

His robes were neat, and his pace was steady and disciplined.

When he reached the summit of Zixiao Peak and stood before the entrance of the Immortal Cave for a moment, he performed a standard formal bow...

"Junior Zhao Yanshan pays his respects to Ancestor Shi!"

Shi Jian lay on the stone platform of the Immortal Cave. He swept his Divine Sense over him casually, and a wave of Golden Core pressure instantly caused the heavens and earth to tremble.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed within the clouds above Zixiao Peak!

Thousands of lightning bolts gathered, and a storm surged, forming an eye of the storm in the sky, with countless more bolts erupting.

With just a single thought, he could change the weather.

The might of a Golden Core was revealed at this moment, making Shi Jian appear even more extraordinary!

"Come in."

Zhao Yanshan stepped inside and scanned the furnishings of the Immortal Cave...

Bluestone walls, lightning patterns, the eye of a storm, and a mural of ten thousand beasts!

In the corner hung the complete skeleton of a Sea Ape Beast, emitting a faint demonic glow that made it look incredibly mystical.

His expression showed no obvious change. He stopped three steps before the stone platform and cupped his hands again.

"I am grateful that the Old Ancestor is willing to grant me an audience despite being so busy."

"Seeing the Old Ancestor's true form today, I am struck with awe. May the Old Ancestor flourish for thousands of years and protect this vast region!"

This fellow Zhao Yanshan certainly had a way with words.

But as the saying goes, flattery never goes out of style. Although the flattery was mediocre and felt a bit stiff, the words were pleasant to hear!

Shi Jian propped his head up with a claw and said nonchalantly:

"You went to see Great Elder Yun Tianfan first, then sounded out Sun Mao, and only then came here. You aren't very bold, but your head is clear enough."

Zhao Yanshan showed no panic. Meeting Shi Jian's gaze, he replied calmly:

"Grand Elder Yun is the guardian of the Sect's rules. If I could seek protection within those rules, it would naturally be the most secure path."

"The head of the Sun Clan is the Old Ancestor's confidant. If I could go through him, it would be a shortcut."

"Since both paths were blocked, I could only come here in person."

"You're quite blunt."

Shi Jian's lips twitched slightly, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. "Then continue to be blunt. What do you want from me?"

"I want a backer, and an opportunity for the Zhao Clan to rise again."

When Zhao Yanshan said this, his voice was steady, without a hint of pleading. It sounded more like a statement of fact. He certainly had backbone!

Shi Jian fell silent for a moment.

He had seen many people come to beg him—some cried, some knelt, and some desperately emphasized their sincerity. Only this Zhao Yanshan spoke as if he were negotiating a business deal, clean and without any unnecessary fluff.

This point made him think a bit more highly of the man.

...