A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 43: Chapter 42: Seeking the Spirit Vein

As soon as the matter with Zhou Chao arose, the industry investigation had to be put on hold.

Lu Qian asked Lin Le to go back and rest, noting down his address and promising to find him once things were settled.

Lin Le bowed, reluctantly leaving with frequent glances back.

On the way back to Xianhe Tower, Zhou Chao couldn’t wait any longer. He chattered on, revealing every detail about the Yuqing Zhou Family.

The governance of a region is the responsibility of the local sect.

Dominating a province, reigning high above, are the giant sects of the state and the large sects that surround them.

The specific rulers of the counties under a province are the medium-sized sects with a Golden Core Master.

If medium-sized sects are chess pieces, then small sects with only Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars and micro-sects with only Qi Cultivators are but stones and sand that can be casually kicked aside.

County policies are entirely decided by the medium-sized Golden Core sects. As long as a medium-sized sect doesn’t degenerate into massacring mortals, the giant and large sects will not interfere.

They only mediate disputes among medium-sized sects and above, maintaining the general stability of a province.

Thus, order begins with medium-sized sects. If one does not reach the Golden Core, they are but an ant.

Therefore, within a county, the survival of small and micro-sects depends entirely on the ruling Golden Core sect.

Unfortunately, the jurisdiction of Chongming County, where the Yuqing Zhou Family is located, is overseen by a belligerent sect—the Xuanguang Sect.

The Xuanguang Sect’s attitude towards the small and micro-sects in the county is survival of the fittest, advocating for internal competition. You’re free to fight and annex each other; the victors will follow me in conquering other county mansions, while the vanquished will be left to perish.

Thus, the flames of war never cease in Chongming County. Micro-sects have no independent space and must rely on small sects. Small sects, on the other hand, are mutually hostile and frequently clash.

The Yuqing Zhou Family is a cultivation clan that grew in such an environment.

Five generations of effort, despite ups and downs in fortune, have allowed the Zhou Family to continuously occupy Yuqing Mountain and possess three vassal micro-sects.

Until the era of the current Patriarch, Zhou Bing, where the situation rapidly deteriorated.

”Grandfather unexpectedly fell, and the position of Patriarch passed to my father. However, my uncle, also in the Foundation Establishment stage, had major disagreements with my father over the position of Patriarch.” Speaking of the circumstances, Zhou Chao’s sadness was endless, ”Originally, our family had both my father and uncle at Foundation Establishment, along with a Foundation Establishment Honored Guest. But disputes between my father and uncle grew worse, leading to a split, with each occupying a Spirit Vein. That Honored Guest, unable to bear it, left.”

Each occupying a Spirit Vein? Lu Qian’s heart stirred, and he sympathized, ”Your family has two Spirit Veins? With such conditions, how did it come to this?”

Zhou Chao was filled with despondency, ”Exactly. One is a Second-Level Mid-Tier Spirit Vein, and the other is a First-Level High-Tier Spirit Vein, which is decent among small sects in Chongming County. This was the foundation laid by our ancestors, but, unfortunately, the descendants are unworthy...”

”And then?” Lu Qian interrupted his reminiscences.

Zhou Chao continued, his face even more bitter. After the split, the conflict between his father and uncle not only did not mend but deepened. Finally, three years ago, they came to blows, escalating into a serious fight.

His uncle died on the spot, and his father was injured at his Origin, bedridden and unable to move. Three years have drained the family’s savings, merely sustaining his life, but his condition has been continuously worsening, on the brink of collapse.

Chaosheng Sect, always firmly suppressed by the Zhou Family, submissive, couldn’t let the opportunity slip. From initial covert probing to gradually consuming, they have now begun openly attacking the Zhou Family’s cultivators.

Zhou Chao himself was spotted by Chaosheng Sect-hired cultivators on his way to the Marketplace, nearly losing his life.

”Your whereabouts were leaked,” Lu Qian pointed out sharply. ”Otherwise, how would they know you were coming to the Marketplace?”

Zhou Chao sighed deeply: ”Fellow Daoist is right. I thought that by not bringing any family members, and acting alone, I could avoid detection, but it turned out even worse. Now, not only is there unrest at home, but the three vassal sects of my family are almost in a semi-independent state.”

”So, to summarize, external threats, internal discontent, isolated and helpless,” Lu Qian concluded.

Zhou Chao nodded, looking at Lu Qian with hopeful eyes: ”Fellow Daoist Qi, is there any way to save us?”

Lu Qian countered, ”I need to confirm one thing: you just mentioned your uncle’s lineage; as the Young Master of the Zhou Family now, can you truly take charge?”

Zhou Chao replied without hesitation: ”My uncle had no descendants. After his death, the cultivators who followed him returned to the main family. After my father’s severe injury, he entrusted all authority to me. I have been in charge of all family matters for the past three years.”

”That is promising,” Lu Qian smiled slightly, ”Let’s discuss more at the inn.”

By the time they reached the inn, it was already 1:00 PM, and everyone’s stomachs were growling, so they asked the innkeeper to prepare some fruit and snacks to be delivered to the room. They set up a Silence Talisman and sat down together.

Zhou Chao watched Lu Qian expectantly, waiting for him to reveal a good plan. But Lu Qian remained unhurried, inviting everyone to eat first.

”Fellow Daoist Qi...” Zhou Chao said anxiously.

”No rush, no rush, an empty stomach leads to an empty mind.” Lu Qian smiled, picking up a piece of snack, ”Fellow Daoist Zhou, let’s eat first; only when full can we think clearly.”

Master Xuan Ji and Qingfeng Baitao knew Lu Qian must have had his reasons, so they cooperated with his methods.

Zhou Chao couldn’t bring himself to eat. Watching Lu Qian and the others eating and drinking leisurely, his anxiety was building up to an explosion.

He even thought several times about getting up and leaving, but with Lu Qian being his only lifeline, how could he abandon it?

His anxiety was accumulating, making it hard for him to sit still.

Seeing the situation was about right, Lu Qian stopped, and Zhou Chao’s gaze immediately fixed on him.

Lu Qian finally spoke: ”If I help the Zhou Family through this crisis, how will the Zhou Family repay me?”

The accumulated emotions suddenly peaked, and Zhou Chao hurriedly said, ”Whatever my family has, if Daoist friend fancies, take it.”

”I have little interest in other things,” Lu Qian said calmly, ”but there is one thing I fear Brother Zhou cannot give.”

”What is it? I will give it!”

Lu Qian slowly uttered two words: ”Spirit Vein.”

The words were like a sudden thunderclap, shocking everyone present!

Zhou Chao stood up abruptly, exclaiming, ”No, the Spirit Vein is absolutely not an option! It is the foundation on which my family stands, how can it be given away?”

”Your family?” Lu Qian swirled his teacup, ”Your family is about to be destroyed, so what foundation are you talking about?”

Zhou Chao stood there dumbfounded, but his heart ultimately still leaned towards the Spirit Vein. Just as he was about to refuse, Lu Qian said, ”You seem to misunderstand; I don’t want your Spirit Vein, just to borrow it.”

”Borrow the Spirit Vein?” Zhou Chao’s heart eased instantly, and the balance shifted, ”How so?”

Lu Qian smiled, ”I have important matters to handle in Cangzhou, and it’s not good to be without a base. So I want to borrow your First-Level High-Tier Spirit Vein as a base of operations. Borrow it for a hundred years and return it when due.”

Seeing Zhou Chao’s struggling expression, Lu Qian continued, ”Don’t worry about a tail too big to shed; I will only borrow an area of ten miles around the Spirit Vein, and I guarantee that during the rental period, I will not expand buildings or increase structures, keeping everything unchanged to show my sincerity.”

The room fell into complete silence, and even Baitao held her breath.

Zhou Chao stared at Lu Qian intently, while Lu Qian remained calm, as if merely discussing trivial matters.

Finally, Zhou Chao slowly asked, ”Does Fellow Daoist really have a way to save my Zhou Family from this calamity?”

Lu Qian laughed inside; the deal was done!