Zhao Clan's "United Hearts" Hall

The Cultivation World had always been a place where the strong devoured the weak!

The Zhao Family was now beset by internal strife and surrounded by external enemies. With no Foundation Establishment cultivator left to hold the fort, this was precisely the time when its strength was at its weakest.

Aside from the Wei Family, cultivation forces around Dragon Carp Lake, such as the Lan Family and Xiao Feng Valley, were likely eyeing the Zhao Family's fat flesh in secret as well.

The moment they exposed a fatal weakness, the Zhao Family would inevitably face the danger of being carved up and swallowed by the surrounding powers.

Thinking of this, Zhao Sheng immediately asked, "Where are they now?"

"At United Hearts Hall on Crescent Moon Island," Zhao Tai answered without hesitation.

Zhao Sheng froze at those words, his heart abruptly sinking. This is bad.

Crescent Moon Island was the Zhao Family's most vital secret ground, and outsiders had never been permitted to enter.

It was where Dragon Carp Lake's Defense Array was located, as well as the Zhao Family's final escape route should they face the danger of extermination.

Yet the Second Branch had actually brought Wei Family members onto Crescent Moon Island. They were plainly opening the door and inviting wolves inside.

Crescent Moon Island lay east of Dragon Carp Lake, surrounded by water on three sides. A three-li-long Plank Road extended from its fourth side to connect it to the mainland, making it easy to defend and hard to attack.

When Zhao Sheng hurried to the Plank Road, he found two unfamiliar cultivators in Dark Talisman Crowns already guarding the entrance.

"Stop!"

Sure enough, the moment he tried to enter Crescent Moon Island, the two men immediately blocked his path.

Zhao Sheng sized them up and knew they were both from the Wei Family.

The Dark Talisman Crown was the most famous mark of the Wei Family of Li Mountain.

He immediately shouted, "Move aside. I'm going in!"

One of them laughed first. Rather than answering Zhao Sheng, he asked in return, "Do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know?"

"Know what?" Zhao Sheng asked.

The other Wei Family cultivator barked, "You're too late. Go back where you came from."

Zhao Sheng's thoughts stirred, and he called out loudly, "I am a Zhao Clan member. Elder Zhao Jingang is my Third Master. It is only right and proper for me to enter Crescent Moon Island! Besides, I'm going in to lend him a hand. Wasn't your Wei Family invited by my Second Master to back him up? Or do you now intend to stand with the First Branch?"

Zhao Sheng was not lying. Zhao Jingang truly was his "Second Master," though their blood relation was distant enough to be separated by more than seven or eight generations.

"Oh, so you're from the Second Branch. Why didn't you say so earlier? Hurry in. You might even be able to help."

The moment the two Wei Family men heard that Zhao Sheng was a "Second Branch clansman," they hastily stepped aside.

Zhao Sheng cupped his hands to them and said, "You two have worked hard. Whatever you do, don't let anyone from the First Branch enter. Once this is settled, I'll make sure Third Master hears of your merits."

"Not at all, not at all! You flatter us, little brother. We're merely carrying out orders." The two Wei Family men spoke humbly, but the eager looks in their eyes betrayed them.

Zhao Sheng smiled, nodded to them, then swiftly passed between them and entered Crescent Moon Island.

The three-li Plank Road flashed past beneath his feet, and United Hearts Hall, grand as a palace, came into view in the distance.

Seeing that the island-protecting array had not been activated, Zhao Sheng's heart sank, and he immediately quickened his pace.

No one guarded the gates of United Hearts Hall, and Zhao Sheng easily entered the Main Hall.

The moment he entered United Hearts Hall, the sound of two people hurling insults at each other reached his ears.

Zhao Sheng looked over and saw the cultivation clansmen of the Zhao Family's two branches occupying opposite sides of the Main Hall, locked in confrontation.

The First Branch occupied the left side. They had rather few people—only eleven in total including Zhao Sheng. The other six were either stationed at the Market or away and had yet to return.

The Second Branch, on the other hand, not only had all fourteen of its cultivation clansmen present, but also had several unfamiliar cultivators mixed among them.

There was no need to say it; these strangers were all Wei Family members.

At the center of United Hearts Hall, the two Zhao Clan elders were cursing and attacking each other like a pair of shrews, utterly stripped of their usual dignity and authority.

The lean, stern-faced one was Elder Zhao Jinding of the First Branch. He possessed Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivation and was extraordinarily formidable. In his early years, he had once fought two enemies alone and slain two Rogue Cultivators at the Qi Refining Late Stage.

On the surface, Zhao Jingang was a kindly old man with a rosy complexion, pale skin, and a plump build. In truth, he was black-hearted, ruthless, and deeply calculating, having long since forged the Second Branch into a solid slab of iron.

Zhao Sheng suddenly narrowed his eyes, immediately lowered his head, and quickly walked toward the First Branch's side.

At that moment, a gaunt old man in a Blood-Red Talisman Crown behind Zhao Jingang glanced toward Zhao Sheng, then withdrew his gaze and continued watching the two Zhao Clan elders tear into each other with great relish.

At the same time, Zhao Sheng's heart grew exceedingly heavy. Why has Wei Chengwo, the Wei Family's ancestor, come in person? This is bad.

As he entered the First Branch's side, Zhao Sheng saw that a small portion of its clansmen were filled with indignation, while most wore grave expressions and had pale faces.

Anyone with eyes could see that the Second Branch had come prepared; they had even invited the Wei Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

Clearly, they would never let the matter rest until they achieved their goal today.

The situation was now extremely unfavorable for the First Branch! Zhao Sheng slipped into the First Branch crowd like a tiny, unnoticed figure and stood beside Zhao Chongwei at the very back.

"Chong He, how did you get in?" Zhao Chongwei asked anxiously when she saw Zhao Sheng, her face full of worry.

Zhao Sheng waved a hand and said quietly, "Let's not talk about that first. How are things now? What other demands has the Second Branch made?"

Zhao Chongwei said angrily, "The Second Branch not only wants the Foundation Establishment Pill, but also wants us to hand over the treasury, the Scripture Depository, and eight cultivation rooms."

What an appetite! The Second Branch was asking for far too much—weren't they afraid of bursting their bellies?

Of the four great essentials of cultivation—techniques, wealth, companions, and land—the Second Branch wanted to seize three right from the start. They were plainly trying to seize the throne and take power.

The First Branch would absolutely never agree to such excessive demands.

But with the Second Branch holding every advantage, what trump card does the First Branch have left? Zhao Sheng thought.

Zhao Sheng did not care much which of the Zhao Family's two branches held power. After all, they were both his bloodline.

However, he was extremely wary of the Wei Family! Zhao Sheng was not afraid of the Wei Family openly attacking Dragon Carp Lake. So long as the Centennial Token remained in their hands, the Wei Family would not dare act openly.

But if the other side intended to work in the shadows, with the Second Branch's traitors on the inside, the Zhao Family would truly be in danger.

While silently serving as part of the background, Zhao Sheng rapidly considered the Zhao Family's future way out.

Meanwhile, the quarrel between the elders of the two branches gradually escalated, reaching a white-hot pitch.

They truly deserved to be powerhouses with Ding and Gang in their names.

One was truly stubborn, the other truly unyielding! By now, their verbal battle had escalated to the point where they dared expose every scrap of dirt they had on one another.

Seducing daughters-in-law, lining their own pockets, illicit affairs, passing off inferior goods as good ones, embezzlement, framing others—one disgraceful, sordid deed after another.

It made Zhao Sheng's old face darken and his fury surge sky-high!

The descendants are hopeless!

No wonder the Zhao Family's days had grown harder with every passing year. In recent years, they had nearly been unable even to pay the clansmen their spirit stipends.

Yet even as he grew angry, Zhao Sheng also found something strange.

Today's situation was truly suspicious.

From the impressions left by the original owner of this body, Elders Zhao Jinding and Zhao Jingang had always cared greatly about their image. They should not have been so utterly out of control, cursing each other in front of the younger clansmen.

It was strange, as though both men were deliberately stalling for time.

Seeing that they would get nowhere no matter how long they continued arguing, Wei Chengwo, the Wei Family's Foundation Establishment Ancestor, cleared his throat and suddenly stepped forward.