Chapter 1175: Elder Yuan Zhou
"Elder Yuan Zhou actually came to the Hidden Dragon Hall in person. Could it be to see if I truly suffered severe injuries?"
Zhang Ruochen indeed had no favorable impression of Shangguan Xianyan, but as a Divine Son, there was no reason to refuse entry to a Saint Elder.
Given Elder Yuan Zhou's cultivation level, even if Zhang Ruochen pretended to be injured, he could not possibly fool the elder's Saint Eyes.
Since he couldn't hide it, he wouldn't bother trying.
"This might be a good opportunity to test this Elder Yuan Zhou."
Zhang Ruochen instructed the maid to invite Elder Yuan Zhou and Shangguan Xianyan in, while he himself sat beneath the waterfall, taking a ten-thousand-year sacred medicine from his Space Ring and placing it on the stone table.
"Tap, tap."
Footsteps sounded. Led by the maid, Elder Yuan Zhou entered, dressed in a green robe with white beard and hair, giving off an impression of a ruddy complexion despite his age.
Seeing Gu Linfeng sitting there perfectly fine, Elder Yuan Zhou remained unruffled and smiled. "The Divine Son's physical condition seems quite good. It doesn't look like you're injured at all."
Zhang Ruochen stood up, clasped his hands, and bowed slightly to Elder Yuan Zhou, smiling. "To keep up appearances, please forgive me, Elder, for not coming outside to welcome you."
Elder Yuan Zhou asked, "Keep up appearances? Why keep up appearances?"
In truth, Elder Yuan Zhou was more curious about why Gu Linfeng had publicly announced he was severely injured. The Hidden Dragon Hall must be hiding many secrets, and this Gu Linfeng was clearly not as simple as he appeared.
"This matter is of great importance. Let's sit down and discuss it slowly."
Zhang Ruochen made a gesture of invitation.
Shangguan Xianyan stood behind Elder Yuan Zhou, but from start to finish, Zhang Ruochen did not glance at her, nor did he offer her a seat.
Elder Yuan Zhou, however, was not the least bit reserved and sat down opposite Zhang Ruochen.
Soon, his gaze fell upon the ten-thousand-year sacred medicine on the stone table, and he let out a light exclamation: "This is a Wind-Seeker that has grown for at least seventeen thousand years—an extremely rare sacred medicine. How did the Divine Son obtain it?"
The Wind-Seeker grew in the wind, had no roots, drifted with the breeze, and grew with the wind. It was extremely prone to death, making it quite rare. A Wind-Seeker surviving for seventeen thousand years was nothing short of a miracle.
Zhang Ruochen had acquired the treasury of the Azure Dragon Dynasty, so naturally, he had obtained many sacred medicines, including this Wind-Seeker.
"I obtained it in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm."
Zhang Ruochen did not elaborate further. He held the Wind-Seeker between his hands, and two flames surged from his palms. Soon, the Wind-Seeker was refined into drops of sparkling, crystalline sacred medicine liquid, filling an entire flask.
The entire courtyard was filled with the fragrance of medicine.
The maids in the Hidden Dragon Hall, even just inhaling the medicinal vapor, gained tremendous benefits. Some even broke through to a new realm.
"Clatter."
Zhang Ruochen picked up the jade flask containing the sacred medicine liquid, first filled a cup for Elder Yuan Zhou, then poured one for himself. He raised the cup and said, "I've heard that consuming Wind-Seeker allows one to automatically comprehend the rules of the Wind Path and greatly increase one's speed. I wonder if that's true or false?"
Elder Yuan Zhou stared at the sacred medicine liquid in his cup, saliva forming at the corners of his mouth.
Sacred medicine was incredibly precious. Even with Elder Yuan Zhou's cultivation and status, he would never dare to refine sacred medicine into liquid just to drink it.
Elder Yuan Zhou did indeed have over a dozen sacred medicines planted, but he guarded them all like treasures. How could he waste them like this?
"I won't stand on ceremony!"
Elder Yuan Zhou raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp. Immediately, his body radiated dazzling sacred light, manifesting a pair of massive wind wings behind him.
Zhang Ruochen drank the sacred medicine liquid, and all one hundred and thirty-five of his acupoints opened simultaneously, forming one hundred and thirty-five points of light, each condensing into a small vortex.
"Boom."
The one hundred and thirty-sixth acupoint opened, rapidly undergoing sanctification.
Zhang Ruochen was one step closer to achieving physical sainthood, with only eight acupoints remaining.
Shangguan Xianyan's eyes narrowed, and she drew in a cold breath. She thought to herself, So Gu Linfeng is already infinitely close to physical sainthood. No wonder he's so powerful.
At this moment, Shangguan Xianyan deeply regretted her scheming during yesterday's Elder Council meeting. She had only created a powerful enemy for herself for no reason.
Elder Yuan Zhou refined the medicinal power of the Wind-Seeker and then got down to business. "The reason I came to the Hidden Dragon Hall this time is mainly for two matters. The first is to resolve the conflict between the Divine Son and Xianyan."
"Xianyan is still young and made some mistakes. I hope the Divine Son can forgive her this once."
Zhang Ruochen's expression hardened. "Elder Yuan Zhou should be well aware of how dangerous yesterday's situation was. The Saintly Virgin clearly knew that Wei Longxing had sent someone to kill me, yet she pretended not to know, nearly causing my death."
"This was indeed Xianyan's fault. I personally apologize to the Divine Son. Additionally, I have prepared a gift, hoping the Divine Son will accept it."
Elder Yuan Zhou gave a slight signal, and Shangguan Xianyan brought forward a two-foot-long black iron box, handing it to Zhang Ruochen with a soft voice. "Divine Son, I truly made a mistake this time. I hope you will accept this gift and forgive my error."
Elder Yuan Zhou and Shangguan Xianyan both adopted a humble posture, which instead made Zhang Ruochen somewhat uncomfortable, unable to guess their true intentions.
Zhang Ruochen remained expressionless, glanced at the black iron box, and his gaze penetrated the iron layer to see the vessel inside.
It was a Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact shaped like a dagger, clearly of a higher grade than the Seven Kill Fist Gloves, and undoubtedly worth a great deal.
Zhang Ruochen said, "A mere Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact? I could take out ten or eight of them. I don't lack yours."
Elder Yuan Zhou nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood, feeling that Gu Linfeng's tone was too arrogant. Did he think Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifacts were as common as cabbages?
But thinking about it, this kid could refine sacred medicine into liquid and drink it casually, so he let it go.
He probably really did have a large amount of cultivation resources at his disposal.
In truth, Zhang Ruochen was doing this entirely to test Elder Yuan Zhou.
If Elder Yuan Zhou was a sleeper agent of the Undying Blood Clan, upon discovering that he had sanctified one hundred and thirty-six acupoints and possessed a large amount of cultivation resources, he would surely attack and kill him immediately.
Zhang Ruochen had already communicated with the Blood Moon Ghost King, who was ready to fight at any time, so he had no fear of Elder Yuan Zhou.
Elder Yuan Zhou said, "In that case, the Divine Son may name a condition. As long as it's not too excessive, I can agree to it."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "I'm very curious about one thing. Given Elder Yuan Zhou's status and the strong background of the Shangguan Clan, why would you compromise with a junior like me who has no backing or strength? Wouldn't it be more straightforward to just kill me?"
Elder Yuan Zhou was slightly taken aback, not expecting Gu Linfeng to be so blunt. He shook his head with a light laugh. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you, boy. To tell you the truth, the Elder Council has unanimously decided to support you as the next Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect. Elder Yuanxing has great faith in you, believing you to be the Blood God Sect's last hope."
"Since you are destined to become the next Sect Leader, I naturally want to do my best to resolve the conflict between you and Xianyan. After all, the day you become Sect Leader is the day Xianyan marries you. A marriage alliance between the Shangguan Clan and the new Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect is far better than mutual hostility."
Zhang Ruochen had not expected Elder Yuan Zhou to have such thoughts.
The Divine Son becoming the new Sect Leader would indeed require marrying the Saintly Virgin as a Dao companion to jointly manage the Blood God Sect.
Marry Shangguan Xianyan?
That was absolutely impossible.
Zhang Ruochen said, "In truth, I also do not wish to be at odds with Elder Yuan Zhou and the Shangguan Clan. Resolving the conflict between our two sides would be for the best."
Elder Yuan Zhou was slightly delighted. "Has the Divine Son accepted Xianyan's apology?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Since Elder Yuan Zhou has personally interceded on her behalf, I have to give you face. However, I have one condition."
Zhang Ruochen took the black iron box from Shangguan Xianyan's hand, stared into her eyes, and said, "I want you to serve tea and water in the Hidden Dragon Hall as a lowly maid. Are you willing?"
A cold glint flashed in Shangguan Xianyan's eyes. She felt that Gu Linfeng was completely humiliating her.
She was the Saintly Virgin of an ancient sect, a proud daughter of a medieval aristocratic clan, admired and adored by countless cultivators. How could she serve as a lowly maid for him?
"Since you made a mistake, you should indeed be punished. It's decided!"
Without asking whether Shangguan Xianyan agreed, Elder Yuan Zhou accepted first.
Zhang Ruochen said, "In that case, why don't you immediately clear away the wine vessels on the table and wash them clean?"
Though a thousand unwilling thoughts churned in her heart, Shangguan Xianyan ultimately swallowed her pride, not daring to defy the will of Zhang Ruochen and Elder Yuan Zhou. She nodded gently and said softly, "Yes."
As long as she could endure until Gu Linfeng took over as Sect Leader, she would immediately become the Sect Leader's wife. Who would still treat her as a lowly maid then?
Even if she had to endure some grievances now, it was entirely worth it.
In truth, Shangguan Xianyan's appearance was definitely of the kind that could topple kingdoms—elegant yet alluring, her skin as sparkling and translucent as immortal jade. If she could be more obedient, Zhang Ruochen might spare her life and keep her as a maid, at least something pleasing to the eye.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Elder Yuan Zhou, what is the second matter for which you came to the Hidden Dragon Hall?"
"The second matter is that I intend to reside long-term in the Hidden Dragon Hall until the Divine Son cultivates to the Saint Realm."
"Is that also a decision of the Elder Council?"
"Correct."
Clearly, Elder Yuan Zhou's long-term stay in the Hidden Dragon Hall was entirely to protect his safety, preventing him from being assassinated again.
Zhang Ruochen tapped his fingers lightly on the stone table. After careful thought, he decided to reveal some of what he knew about the Undying Blood Clan.
After all, Elder Yuan Zhou would eventually discover those secrets while living in the Hidden Dragon Hall.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Let me tell you something important as well."
Elder Yuan Zhou's heart stirred. "Is it related to what you mentioned earlier about keeping up appearances?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded, took out a list, and tossed it onto the stone table. "The Blood God Sect members recorded on this list are, for the most part, sleeper agents of the Undying Blood Clan. Would Elder Yuan Zhou like to take a look?"
Elder Yuan Zhou was somewhat surprised. He opened the list and looked at it. The next moment, his eyes nearly popped out in shock. The list alone contained as many as fourteen Saints.