noffsinger Chapter 45 The Feud Between Noble Families
Chapter 45 The Feud Between Noble Families
Just as he stepped out, he was stopped again by the old rogue cultivator Chen Boyuan.
"Fellow Daoist, I am Chen Boyuan. I was astonished to see you refining pills just now." The old man clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his face full of admiration. "Although I am a few years older, I am far inferior to you. The younger generation is truly formidable!"
Zhang Lin returned the greeting: "Fellow Daoist Chen, you flatter me. I was just lucky."
"Luck?" Chen Boyuan laughed heartily. "In the art of alchemy, there is no such thing as luck. The timing of the fire, the addition of the medicine, and the condensation of the pill—each step requires true skill. Fellow Daoist, you are too modest."
He patted Zhang Lin on the shoulder and said, "In the future, we will be fellow disciples, and I hope you will not hesitate to give me your guidance."
"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. I will certainly answer all your questions without reservation."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Boyuan took his leave.
Zhang Lin watched him leave, and he had a good impression of the old man.
This person is frank and open-minded, unlike Zhou Mingyuan who is so calculating.
The sun was setting in the west, and dusk was beginning to fall.
The shops along the street gradually lit up, and the orange glow cast long shadows on the bluestone pavement.
Zhang Lin emerged from the Danxia branch altar, his steps unhurried.
The first volume of "The Secret Transmission of Danxia" has been obtained, and the identity of the outer disciple has been settled. All the objectives of this trip have been achieved.
He planned to return to Qingyun Town early the next morning to say goodbye to his fellow disciples at Shangqing Temple, and also to go home to settle the karma left behind by the original owner.
As they were walking, they heard hurried footsteps behind them.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait."
Zhang Lin paused and turned to look.
Zhou Mingyuan turned out from the street corner, followed by two attendants, both of whom were at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
His expression was calm, with a faint smile on his lips, exactly the same humble demeanor he had shown at the branch altar.
But Zhang Lin noticed that his gaze had changed.
The look in his eyes no longer held the submissive demeanor he had shown in front of others; instead, it was one of scrutiny.
Looking down at him with the arrogant gaze of a scion of a powerful family looking down at a poor boy who didn't know his place.
Zhang Lin turned around, his expression calm: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, what can I do for you?"
Zhou Mingyuan stepped forward and stood three feet in front of Zhang Lin.
He looked Zhang Lin up and down, his gaze sweeping over his low-grade magic artifact attire before finally settling on the storage bag gleaming with spiritual light, and smiled slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang's alchemy skills are superb, I admire them." He cupped his hands in a respectful manner, but then abruptly changed the subject, "However, Fellow Daoist is new here and may not know the rules of Qingxuan City."
"What rules?" Zhang Lin asked, his expression unchanged.
Zhou Mingyuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the shops lining the street, and said casually, "Although Qingxuan City is a small place, it still has its rules."
"The Alchemy Competition is held every three years and has always been a stepping stone for the scions of the noble families in Qingxuan City. Fellow Daoist, an outsider, took first place. Have you ever thought about...?"
He paused, then looked away and stared directly at Zhang Lin.
"Some seats are not for outsiders, and some things are not for just anyone to take."
After hearing this, Zhang Lin understood a bit more.
This is a protest.
The Zhou family has been rooted in Qingxuan City for generations, and in this small border town, they are already one of the most powerful forces.
The alchemy assembly is held every three years, and the Zhou family disciples have always been among the best, using this opportunity to enter the Danxia Sect, build connections, and solidify their foundation.
Now that an outsider has taken first place, the Zhou family has lost face and is naturally unwilling to accept it.
Zhang Lin looked at Zhou Mingyuan, his expression still calm: "The Dharma Assembly selects talents based solely on their abilities. If Fellow Daoist Zhou has any objections, he may appeal to the branch altar master."
Zhou Mingyuan's smile froze for a moment.
Appeal to the branch leader? The branch leader will personally evaluate and announce the results in public. If he were to appeal, wouldn't he be humiliating himself?
He stopped smiling, and his gaze turned somber.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, let's not beat around the bush." His voice lowered, carrying a hint of coldness. "The Zhou family has been operating in Qingxuan City for generations, and they also have some connections in this Danxia branch altar."
"Fellow Daoist, you have won first place today, which is certainly glorious, but it may not be so convenient for you to do things in Qingxuan City in the future."
Zhang Lin understood the threat in his words.
"Is Fellow Daoist Zhou threatening me?"
"I wouldn't dare." Zhou Mingyuan shook his head, a smile returning to his face, but with a hint of mockery. "I was just kindly reminding you, fellow Daoist."
"The path of cultivation is long. Fellow Daoist, you have obtained this opportunity today, but you will still need to establish yourself in the Danxia Sect in the future. More friends mean more paths, more enemies mean more opportunities..."
He didn't continue speaking, but just looked at Zhang Lin meaningfully.
Zhang Lin was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
The smile was faint, yet it carried something indescribable—not contempt, not disdain, but a kind of superior composure.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, I have a word of advice to offer." Zhang Lin looked at Zhou Mingyuan, his tone as calm as still water, "The path of cultivation relies on one's own foundation, not on the power of one's family."
"If Fellow Daoist Zhou had focused more on alchemy, today's first place might not have been something an outsider could have taken."
The smile on Zhou Mingyuan's face finally disappeared completely.
His gaze was terrifyingly gloomy, like a poisoned blade, fixed intently on Zhang Lin.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, take care of yourself."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, then turned and left, followed closely by two attendants whose footsteps were hurried and heavy, echoing through the empty street.
Zhang Lin watched the three leave, his smile gradually fading.
He stood there, watching Zhou Mingyuan's figure disappear around the street corner, his brows furrowed slightly.
Zhou family.
There was a ranking of aristocratic families in China, which the original owner of the body had studied.
The noble families of the Nine Provinces are divided into five ranks: the Five Great Surnames (first rank), the Twelve Elite Families (second rank), the Forty-Six Famous Families (third rank), the Two Hundred Prosperous Clans (fourth rank), and the Three Thousand Humble Clans (fifth rank).
The Zhou family was ranked last among the twelve great families. The original owner thought they were just ordinary high-ranking officials and nobles, but now, looking back, it turns out they were all families of cultivators.
Although the Zhou family of Qingxuan City is not the main family, they have a deep foundation in Qingxuan City. Zhou Mingyuan is a humble man on the surface, but he is actually narrow-minded. He must be holding a grudge for being the first to be snatched away by him today.
Zhang Lin secretly became wary.
He wasn't afraid of Zhou Mingyuan, but he had to be wary of the Zhou family.
Powerful families have always been ruthless in their methods.
He is not afraid of open attacks, but he is impossible to guard against if attacked in secret.
It seems I need to leave Qingxuan City soon.
Zhang Lin withdrew his gaze, quickened his pace, and headed towards the inn.
The inn where he stayed was in a quiet alley in the west of the city.
The inn is small, with only two floors and about ten guest rooms. Its advantage is that it is quiet and does not attract attention.
Pushing open the door, the lobby was deserted, with only two or three guests drinking and chatting in a corner.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man at the early stage of Qi Refining, with a round face and slightly plump. When he saw Zhang Lin come in, he bowed and scraped to greet him.
"Young master is back. Would you like some dinner?"
"No need." Zhang Lin shook his head and walked straight upstairs.
As he reached the top of the stairs, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at the shopkeeper.
"Shopkeeper, has anyone inquired about my room today?"
The shopkeeper's expression changed slightly, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.
"This..." He rubbed his hands together, stammering, "Young master, this..."
Zhang Lin took out five spirit stones from his storage bag and placed them on the counter.