Su Muyan, the Penglai Islands' Balance of Power

When he heard that they wanted to help him choose a Cultivation Partner, Zhang Xuanbing's expression did not change in the slightest.

Because he had been the one to bring this matter up to his father in the first place.

Three days ago, when Little Brother had gone to Qingniu Town to eavesdrop... he had known every detail.

He simply felt that Little Brother had grown up, but since his elder brother still had no Cultivation Partner, Little Brother had been too embarrassed to bring it up to their father.

Moreover, when Little Brother was twelve, he had persuaded their father to implement a policy encouraging childbirth, having the clansmen marry and bear children to strengthen the Zhang Clan.

At the time, he had been at a critical juncture in cultivation and had not taken part in the matter.

Now that he had emerged from seclusion, he naturally ought to respond to the policy Little Brother had pushed so vigorously.

If Zhang Xuanchen knew what Zhang Xuanbing was thinking, he would surely cry out that he had been wronged.

He had truly gone down the mountain only to retrieve that egg.

"Big Brother is looking for a Cultivation Partner? Hahaha, that's wonderful! With Big Brother taking the lead, those uncles, Eldest Brother, and Second Brother surely won't be able to find excuses to put it off any longer.

"Given Third Brother's talent, the children he fathers will certainly be extraordinary!"

Upon hearing that Zhang Xuanbing was looking for a Cultivation Partner, Zhang Xuanchen was even more excited than if he were choosing one himself. He immediately sat beside him, threw an arm around his shoulders, and beamed.

Seeing Little Brother so excited, Zhang Xuanbing revealed a long-lost smile. It seemed he had guessed correctly.

Zhang Guangli's first reaction upon hearing that Zhang Xuanbing wanted a Cultivation Partner was disbelief.

But when he noticed the indulgent look Zhang Xuanbing gave Zhang Xuanchen, realization instantly dawned on him.

He was clearly doing it to help his younger brother.

Still, this was also a good thing for the Lineage. Zhang Guangli said with a smile, "It is a good thing that Xuanbing wishes to find a Cultivation Partner. After all, the higher one's cultivation, the harder it is to produce descendants.

"Since Xuanbing has such intentions, he truly should find a Cultivation Partner as soon as possible.

"However, as the foremost genius of our Zhang Clan, he cannot be careless in choosing one."

Hearing this, Zhang Xuanchen nodded repeatedly and looked at Zhang Xuanbing. "Yes, yes, Big Brother. With your talent, at the very least, you need a woman with a Dual Spirit Root as your Cultivation Partner. Someone with a Triple Spirit Root simply cannot keep pace with you.

"Tell your little brother—which family's young lady have you taken a liking to? Hehehe."

As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Xuanbing with a mischievous grin.

Though he was acting flippant now, he truly attached immense importance to the matter in his heart.

Ever since childhood, Zhang Xuanbing had always protected him. Whenever danger arose, he would always stand in front of him at the first possible moment.

When their parents confined him and forcibly made him enter seclusion, forbidding anyone from disturbing him, Zhang Xuanbing would even secretly bring him his favorite Black Horn Green Ox meat.

Zhang Xuanbing pushed the Spiritual Tea on the jade table before Zhang Xuanchen, then poured a cup each for Zhang Hongzhan and Zhang Guangli.

Turning to Little Brother, he chuckled. "As long as it benefits the Lineage and is someone you like, then I like her.

"I'll listen to you."

At those words, Zhang Xuanchen nearly sprayed out the Spiritual Tea he had just swallowed.

What did he mean, whoever I like, you like?

Was that right?

Am I choosing a Cultivation Partner, or are you?

What virtue or ability did I possess to have such an actual older brother?

In his previous life, he had seen an elderly woman suddenly collapse on the street. Having just graduated from university and knowing nothing of society's dangers, he had stepped forward without the slightest hesitation to help her up, only to be suddenly grabbed.

Then several burly men had appeared and surrounded him.

Only then had he realized that someone was trying to frame him for compensation.

Overcome with fury, his heart disease had suddenly flared up, and he had died on the spot.

Yes, it must have been because doing a good deed had brought him no good reward that he had been reborn into the Zhang Clan in this life.

That had to be it.

"Um, Big Brother, you're the one choosing a Cultivation Partner, not me."

"I know. But I don't understand the Lineage's situation as well as you do. You've been smart since childhood, and I trust your judgment."

Those words left Zhang Xuanchen speechless.

He rubbed his chin as he considered their current situation.

The Penglai Islands covered a vast expanse.

They possessed four Third Stage Spirit Veins.

The Zhang Family of Xuanxiao Mountain, the Su Family of Liuyun Mountain, and the Bihai Immortal Sect of Xuanling Mountain each occupied one as Golden Core powers.

As for the final Third Stage Spirit Vein, the three parties had jointly established Yunhua Immortal City upon it.

The Zhang Clan and Su Clan each dispatched a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator to guard the Immortal City. Meanwhile, because the Bihai Immortal Sect had one Late Golden Core cultivator

and two Early Golden Core cultivators, it dispatched a Golden Core True Person to guard the Immortal City.

Accordingly, of Yunhua Immortal City's yearly profits, the Bihai Immortal Sect claimed fifty percent for itself.

The Zhang Family and Su Family divided the remaining fifty percent equally.

One had to know that Yunhua Immortal City had one Third Stage Spirit Vein, several Second Stage and First-grade Spirit Veins, and a prohibition against fighting within the city.

It was deeply favored by Rogue Cultivators from the South Sea Immortal Continent. Rogue Cultivators from every corner came here to trade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, rare treasures, and unusual stones.

Even outside Golden Core powers, and even Nascent Soul powers, came here to conduct business.

The Bihai Immortal Sect's annual profits were easy to imagine.

But its fists were harder. There was nothing they could do.

In the hundred years since the first Ancestor's passing, it had secretly bought over many of the Zhang Clan's Affiliated Families, using them to nibble away at the Zhang Clan's industries.

Its wolfish ambitions were plain for all to see.

Like the Zhang Clan, the Su Clan had only one Golden Core Mid Stage Ancestor holding the fort.

In his recollection, the Su Clan Ancestor had only around twenty years of lifespan remaining. His days were numbered.

There was not a single Dual Spirit Root among the younger generation of the clan. The one with the highest talent, and around Zhang Xuanbing's age, was Su Muyan, the great-granddaughter of the Su Family Great Elder.

She possessed water, wood, and earth Triple Spirit Roots, with no conflict between them. She was considered superior among those with Triple Spirit Roots. Zhang Xuanchen had met her several times in Yunhua Immortal City and spoken with her on a few occasions.

Her appearance and figure naturally left nothing to be desired, and she had none of a spoiled young lady's temper. She was good in every respect.

But in the end, she only had a Triple Spirit Root. The gap between that and a Heavenly Spirit Root was far too great.

He said, "Father, Big Brother, I think Wang Ruoyan of the Wang Family on Fentian Island and Fairy Qin, Qin Chuxue of the Xuandan Sect on Lingxi Island, are both good choices. They are both Dual Spirit Root geniuses.

"Although our Zhang Family would certainly have to pay a considerable amount of its foundation to marry either of them, we cannot wrong Big Brother. Moreover, we could gain the goodwill of either the Wang Family or the Xuandan Sect, so it would not be a loss."

Hearing Zhang Xuanchen's words, Zhang Hongzhan said with a smile, "Why not Su Muyan of the Su Family?

"Three years ago, your brother saved her life from Evil Cultivators.

"Not only that, he even carried her all the way to Liuyun Mountain."

"Exactly. Back then, their clothes were in disarray. If not for the bloodstains all over them, the Su Family elders would have directly taken your brother down." At the mention of this matter, Zhang Guangli beside them could not help laughing as well.

Zhang Xuanchen froze. "Holy shit! I didn't know about this at all! No wonder whenever I saw Fairy Su in Yunhua Immortal City, she always asked whether Brother Bing was there.

"When I said he was in seclusion, her expression would become a little strange.

"I didn't understand it then, but now I finally do. Big Brother, you kept me in the dark so bitterly."

When Su Muyan was mentioned, something was visibly off with Zhang Xuanbing's expression. His face had actually reddened slightly.

That would naturally have meant nothing if it had happened to someone else, but the person blushing was Zhang Xuanbing.

"You were confined in your room by Mother for seclusion at the time, so I didn't tell you. Besides, this matter... there was nothing much to tell."

Zhang Xuanbing scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed beneath the gazes of the three of them.

To say that he liked Su Muyan would not really be accurate. The two of them had only met twice from beginning to end.

It was only that during their second meeting, Su Muyan had been drugged with an aphrodisiac by those Evil Cultivators. Though nothing had happened between them, an accident had occurred during that time.

He had seen something he should not have seen.

After killing those Evil Cultivators, he had used the pure Ice Attribute Spiritual Power in his body to temporarily suppress the aphrodisiac inside her, then escorted her to Liuyun Mountain.

Compared with a woman entirely unknown to him, Zhang Xuanbing was still more inclined to marry Su Muyan.

Spirit Root aptitude and such things were not important.

Seeing this, how could Zhang Xuanchen still not understand? Big Brother clearly had some feelings for Fairy Su.

Yet he had still asked him to choose a Cultivation Partner for him. It showed just how much he doted on his younger brother.

Now that he knew, he naturally could not play the villain. He had to let lovers finally become united!

He immediately apologized, "Big Brother, sorry. Your little brother didn't know about what happened between you and Fairy Su before."

"You and Fairy Su are mutually in love. Naturally, I want you to marry Fairy Su as your Cultivation Partner. Although she has a Triple Spirit Root, with your help, Big Brother, I believe her achievements will not be low.

"As for the Lineage, there is even less need to worry. Ancestor is in the prime of his life, and within twenty years, Big Brother, you will surely break through to the Golden Core Realm. By then, even if the Su Clan Ancestor passes away and no new Golden Core cultivator emerges, our Zhang Family will not fear the Bihai Immortal Sect!

"I believe Father and the elders think the same way."

Zhang Hongzhan and Zhang Guangli exchanged a glance, each seeing satisfaction in the other's eyes.

He cared for the Lineage, valued the feelings of his clansmen, and understood how to unite them. He was the only choice for the future Clan Leader.

"Hahaha, our Zhang Family has not fallen so low that we need a junior's marriage alliance to secure our footing.

"Besides, that Su Muyan is not as simple as she appears. Look."

As he spoke, Zhang Hongzhan took a letter from his Storage Ring and handed it to Zhang Xuanchen.

Not as simple as she appeared?

With a puzzled expression, Zhang Xuanchen accepted the letter and swept it with his Spiritual Sense.

He said in shock, "Fairy Su has a Dual Spirit Root!"