164 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

**Chapter 154: The Zhu Lineage** On their journey back to the mountain, Xiang Shi Yan, taking a detour with Lian Long, visited the secluded place where Ji Zi Ming used to reside. In the cultivation world, death is not heavily mourned since souls dissipate quickly, and as individual cultivators, they have no disciples to pass on their legacy. Thus, the resting place of a cultivator from the Mahayana stage is often nothing more than a small mound of dirt. With a casual wave of her hand, Lian Long excavated a plot of land beside Ji Zi Ming’s grave, lowering the coffin into it. As she filled the soil back in, she asked Xiang Shi Yan with piqued interest, “Have you ever thought about turning into a mere handful of yellow earth like this one day?” “I am still young and can’t quite grasp your melancholy musings,” Xiang Shi Yan replied, her gaze fixed on the uneven soil, lost in thought. “Is that so?” Lian Long responded lightheartedly, then carefully set up a concealed enchantment around the graves to prevent anyone from attempting to rob them. Though the graves appeared simple, the remains of two Mahayana stage cultivators held more value than treasures accompanying a mortal emperor into the afterlife. “You are already five hundred years old,” Xiang Shi Yan remarked solemnly. “Hahaha. Time flies... more than three hundred years gone in the blink of an eye.” Hearing Lian Long’s laughter, Xiang Shi Yan’s tightly pressed lips quivered slightly, “I thought they were your friends.” Lian Long turned with a face still bearing a calm smile, puzzled by the remark. “Do you think I should mourn those two merciless executioners?” The once warm courtyard was now desolate from years of neglect. Lian Long stood as if detached, making Xiang Shi Yan wonder if she remembered the women who had once been her friends. Disappointed, Xiang Shi Yan spoke, “I know you incited her to steal Elder Ji's soul to reincarnate.” Lian Long offered no denial to Xiang Shi Yan’s accusation. Instead, she challenged, “Why would you think that?” “Four years ago, I sent you a message revealing the truth about Senior Gong Ning's death. I thought you’d be angry, seek retribution against the Zhu family, but you did nothing. When I sought your aid, I never believed you would truly come. You didn’t come to help us; you came to witness her demise.” Otherwise, how could Lian Long, who remained indifferent to the death of her most cherished disciple, bother herself with events totally unrelated to her? With one move, she awakened Ji Zi Ming’s dormant consciousness, not without having planned for such results over a century. While others might regard it as demonstrating the terrifying power of a deity, Xiang Shi Yan immediately saw it was the product of painstakingly cultivated magic. “Master, stop using such methods to cultivate. I don’t know what you once persuaded Sister Yu Ming to do, but her heart demon still entangles her, hindering her progress in cultivation. You initially chose Senior Gong Ning as your successor, but hearing that Li Huai had someone he fancied, you changed your mind immediately and bound him to the Jade Mountain... Does toying with us make you happy?” “Toying? I have never underestimated any of you.” Though initially listening to her disciple’s reprimands with a blank expression, Lian Long could not help but laugh when she heard the word. “I didn’t teach you these methods just for you to judge me.” Xiang Shi Yan had heard from an elder that Lian Long used to be much like herself. Thinking back, the woman who brought her back from the mortal world was indeed colder than the one standing before her now, yet imagining the transformation Lian Long had undergone was still difficult. Utterly exasperating. Lian Long looked down at Ji Zi Ming’s gravestone. The words she had carved long ago had been smoothed and blurred by centuries. Perhaps reminiscing over something humorous, she said, “Do you know why Ji Zi Ming achieved the Mahayana stage at just over two hundred yet died young?” Xiang Shi Yan instinctively frowned, a foreboding feeling rising within her. “Like Li Huai’s disciple, she had the physique of a heavenly being. I believe that child’s name was Huai Ye... Ah!” Her words abruptly halted as Xiang Shi Yan pinned her by the neck against a tree. “Don’t get any ideas about her.” “Cough, cough...” Lian Long easily extricated herself, “You are naturally gentle and indecisive. I warned you about forming attachments.” “What do you plan to do to her?” “Experiencing emotions firsthand is unbeneficial to one’s spiritual insight. I recall you agreed with me on this in the past.” The conversation hit a deadlock, with Xiang Shi Yan grabbing Lian Long's collar, “Who knows what you—” Before she could finish, she coughed up blood, staining Lian Long’s clothes. Lian Long caught her weakening disciple as if indifferent to Xiang Shi Yan’s anger, gently soothing her. “You’ve gained an epiphany from witnessing life and death, haven’t you? But such opportunities are rare. We cultivate through emotions—more intense, deeper, and even darker ones are better. That’s the story I wish to see, do you understand?” Lian Long softly asked in her ear, as if convinced Xiang Shi Yan wouldn’t comprehend her. Perhaps it was because of their differing philosophies that drove them down divergent paths. Xiang Shi Yan found it difficult to breathe, a metallic taste in her mouth, a pressure in her chest, leaving her limbs powerless. Lian Long had disrupted her with spiritual energy after a grueling battle, leaving her feeling as if all her internal organs had shattered. “Don’t be enraged. Having reached this level of the Path of No Emotion, even a slight mistake could backfire painfully,” Lian Long’s words drifted farther away as Xiang Shi Yan fell unconscious. “You two should be wary of that grandmaster,” He He advised gravely. Zhu Yu looked confused at He He’s rarely seen serious demeanor. “Grandmaster? I've heard of Daoist Lian Long’s reputation, supposedly quite similar to our master—like an immortal from the heavens.” Always assured, it was the first time He He expressed wariness for someone, causing Zhu Yun some concern. If others had any ill intentions toward the two powerless girls, it was either due to their inheritance or their rare constitutions. But if Lian Long harbored ill will, Xiang Shi Yan would never expose such a secret. Zhu Yun shook her head, understanding the weight of the situation. “About what we discussed earlier...” She spoke carefully, her voice trembling slightly, her neck flushed with excitement. She coughed to find her composure. “Xu You Qing has already sent the message through the Xu family’s connections,” Zhu Yu assured, pouring tea for Zhu Yun. “The Xu family seems enthusiastic, but their reliability remains to be seen.” “Us gaining control of the Zhu family would help the Xu patriarch consolidate his position too. Not to mention the long-term relationship, with favors to be traded favorably.” Despite her assurance, Zhu Yu uneasily brushed her sister’s finger with her pinky. Years ago, He He had killed the masterminds, linking the three great families of Huaian City to the Zhu family’s covert business dealings. This act not only affected Huaian City but altered the power dynamics across the cultivation realm. The inherent limitations of noble families curtail their advancements beyond sects. Yet, over recent centuries, by devouring other declining families, some houses managed to reserve several seats among the Thirteen Seats of the Immortal Sect, wielding broad and robust influence. Such malice left the three Huaian families disgraced, their adversaries swarming like hyenas to seize benefits amidst the chaos, diminishing the standing of these families among the Thirteen Seats, leaving them practically non-existent. Even without external interference, the internal strife among the three was severe. Previously stable, all three families lost their leaders in the upheaval, with sides scrambling for power, unable or unwilling to shield against external predators, further depleting their strength in the conflicts. The Zhu family’s patriarch and elder both passed, leaving Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu, the last of the mainline blood. As young females potentially controlled by Jade Mountain, the branch lines felt it their duty to seize power for the family's survival. The Bai family faced similar, if not worse disarray, having relied on Bai Jing Huan’s alliance with Tai Xu Sect. Yet, after losing patriarch and heir, followed shortly by Bai Jing Huan himself, the sect quickly abandoned the Bai family as a burden, plunging them into an unprecedented decline. Now, a bastard son of the former patriarch runs the Bai family, brutally suppressing internal dissent while trying to salvage its fortunes with some modest success. The Xu family offering aid to the Zhu family stems for two reasons. Currently, the Xu patriarch, Xu You Qing’s father, originally sidelined as an unfavored second son, had no apparent claim to leadership. Being gentle and kind, he couldn’t eliminate his elder brother’s sons, so he seeks external support. Additionally, the Bai family, though weakened, remains formidable; he needs another faction to join the fray to balance the tensions between the Xu and Bai families. The plan was well-conceived, but the crux lay in whether the two sisters could wrest control of the Zhu family’s assets and management from the rest of their kin. This wasn't too daunting a task; as long as Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu opened their mouths, Xiang Shi Yan and the forces of Jade Mountain would undoubtedly lend their full support, with the Xu family assisting in smoothing things over. However, Xiang Shi Yan’s arrival in Huaian City had stirred numerous troubles, causing the three main families to suspect her of foul play and watch her warily. Back when Zhu Cheng faced an accident, Xiang Shi Yan took the opportunity to whisk away the Zhu family heir before his funeral was even concluded. Though the Zhu clan was powerless to stop her, they spread rumors that Jade Mountain intended to annex the Zhu family, tarnishing Xiang Shi Yan’s once commendable reputation in the cultivation community. While Xiang Shi Yan remained indifferent to this, Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu cared deeply. Beyond assisting their master, avenging their past was an obsession for the twins. Though Zhu Yun had left Huaian City years ago and seldom reflected on the past as frequently as before, she still awoke occasionally from nightmares filled with the distorted faces and laughter of adults. Xiang Shi Yan may have severed the stream of corruption, yet its poison lingered silently within the young girl’s heart. Zhu Yun understood that she would have to cut off this lingering threat with her own hands one day—an expectation shared by Xiang Shi Yan, who wouldn’t allow them to retain the troubling family name otherwise. He He had once overheard a conversation between Xiang Shi Yan and Li Huai. Upon learning about Gong Ning’s fate, Li Huai was infuriated, demanding that even if the matter couldn’t be made public, the Zhu family should pay secretly. Yet, Xiang Shi Yan calmly insisted it wasn’t urgent. Li Huai, known for his fiery temper, knew well that Xiang Shi Yan’s restraint stemmed from her desire for Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu to ultimately seize the Zhu family, delivering the best form of retribution to Zhu Cheng, who treated them as mere pawns. Still, he found it unbearable, his anger only quelled by thoughts of Gong Ning. “The surname Zhu... won't linger on them for long,” Xiang Shi Yan had remarked. She must have foreseen future events, perhaps knowing how Zhu Yun and Zhu Yu’s lives would unfold, giving her the confidence in her choices. As rightful heirs often obstructed merely due to their gender, changing their surname seemed a formidable challenge under the Zhu family's influence, where they'd go to great lengths to wrest the leadership from them. Initially, He He’s interest in the sisters was purely opportunistic, but curiosity soon grew, leading him to offer the young women some aid. Things were certainly becoming more intriguing. Picking up his teacup, He He smiled slyly, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of those nuisances.” **Author's Note:** Thank you to the dear readers who voted or provided support with nourishing elixirs between 2022-09-14 00:17:08 and 2022-09-15 35:58:17. Special thanks to those who contributed nourishing elixirs: Hotpot Boiled Egg 30 bottles. I am truly grateful for your support, and I will continue to work hard! This site has no pop-up ads. Permanent domain (xbanxia.com)