Thunderous Measures, Shaking Hearts

Before Chen Nianzhi could speak, the Wei Clan patriarch stroked his long beard and continued.

"Not long ago, this person came to my Wei Immortal Clan, saying that your Chen Clan had discovered a Darksteel Ore Vein and wanted to sell this information to us."

"Such a person who forgets his ancestors is truly despicable to me."

As Wei Xuyuan spoke, he said righteously, "My Wei Clan and your Chen Clan are both Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan of the Chu Kingdom, so naturally we will not let someone like him run rampant. Therefore, today we have specially sent this person back to your Chen Clan for you to deal with."

Upon hearing this, the members of the Chen Immortal Clan couldn't help but look at Chen Nianxu Chen Nianxu, whose face was as white as paper, revealing a look of despair and fear.

At that moment, everyone understood, their faces turning ashen, revealing expressions of disappointment and frustration.

Chen Nianzhi glanced at Chen Nianxu, calmly signaling everyone to take him away, before inviting Wei Xuyuan to have tea on a nearby mountain peak.

"This Darksteel Mountain Daoist Grounds has just been established, and the conditions are desolate. I hope you will forgive us, fellow Daoist."

"No, no, not at all."

After a few simple pleasantries, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators took their seats. Chen Nianzhi poured Wei Xuyuan a cup of tea before expressing her gratitude.

"It's a misfortune for our family to have such an unfilial descendant. I hope Fellow Daoist Wei will forgive us."

"No, no, not at all."

Wei Xuyuan accepted the tea, took a small sip, and then smiled, saying, "We are all fellow Human Race, and this is what I should do. However, today's events have indeed had a significant impact, and I hope you will take this as a warning."

"As you have pointed out, we will punish this person severely to uphold the family's reputation."

Chen Nianzhi nodded. He didn't show any anger; instead, his expression remained normal, but his calm eyes only made people feel more frightened.

Only the weak enjoy bluffing. As he grew older, a man of his ruthless nature became increasingly adept at concealing his emotions in front of outsiders.

The three Foundation Establishment cultivators chatted happily on the mountaintop. Half an hour later, Wei Xuyuan did not linger and got up to say goodbye to the two.

As they parted, Chen Nianzhi saw them off for a while before smiling and saying, "I, Chen Nianzhi, will remember your kindness today."

"I will definitely pay a visit to Mount Tian'e in the future to express my gratitude."

"Then I will certainly welcome you with open arms."

Wei Xuyuan said with a smile, then turned and transformed into a stream of light, flying into the distance.

After he left, Chen Nianzhi and Chen Qinghao exchanged a glance and quickly flew back to the Darksteel Mountain Daoist Grounds.

Upon returning to Darksteel Mountain, the two met Chen Nianxu in the main hall. Chen Nianxu was bruised and swollen, while his Nian Generation brothers, Chen Nianyong and Chen Nianyang, were panting heavily with livid faces, clearly having dealt with him severely.

Chen Qinghao glanced at it and said with exasperation, "Chen Nianxu, how dare you!"

How dare you?

The Third Elder was so angry that his stomach ached, and his face turned pale.

Chen Nianxu, his face pale, clung to Chen Qinghao's leg, sobbing as he spoke.

"Uncle Qing Hao, I was confused for a moment, please forgive me this time."

"My grandfather was the patriarch of our Lineage. He died in the Beast Turmoil. I beg you, for his sake, please spare me this time."

"How dare you mention Uncle Changming?" Chen Qinghao kicked him away, then slapped him again in anger before saying, "You good-for-nothing, how can you face your grandfather?"

As he spoke, he lunged forward to kick him again, but Chen Nianzhi stopped him.

"Alright, that's enough."

Chen Nianzhi spoke up, standing up and walking to Chen Nianxu, asking calmly.

Why do this?

"I know without you saying it, it's for that Foundation-Building Pill?"

He spoke noncommittally, a murderous intent emanating from his eyes.

Everyone present suddenly felt a chill run down their spines, and a great terror surged into their hearts.

Upon seeing this, the Third Elder's heart skipped a beat, and a thought flashed through his mind, "Chen Nianxu's life is in danger."

Chen Qinghao originally intended to spare Chen Nianxu's life out of consideration for his ancestors and to prevent any disastrous consequences, only crippling his cultivation.

But he knew very well that Chen Nianzhi was now filled with murderous intent, and unless the Old Clan Leader came to persuade him personally, no one could protect Chen Nianxu.

"I admit I was wrong."

Chen Nianxu felt the killing intent emanating from his body and could only grit his teeth and say, "I am already over fifty-four years old. If I miss this opportunity, I may never get another Foundation-Building Pill."

The reason he sent the message to the Feng Clan was to get them to seize the Feng Clan Darksteel Ore Vein, preventing Chen Nianfu from obtaining the Foundation-Building Pill. In that case, he would still be the most suitable candidate for the Foundation-Building Pill.

His plan was well-conceived. The cultivation Immortal Realm of Yu Commandery didn't have much interaction with Yang Province. Even if he told the Feng Clan of Boyang Commandery the information, the Lineage might not be able to find out that he was the one who did it.

He never expected that the Feng Clan, believing the Chen Clan to be a formidable force, would actually capture him and bring him back as a "greeting gift."

"You may all leave."

Chen Nianzhi closed her eyes and suddenly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Chen Nianyong, Chen Niangan, and the others who were standing nearby quickly went outside. Chen Qinghao and Chen Nianzhi exchanged a glance and then also went outside.

Only Chen Nianzhi and Chen Nianxu remained in the main hall, speaking calmly.

"You're not a child anymore. You should understand that there are some things you can't do!"

"Since you betrayed your Lineage, you should understand that there will be a price to pay."

"Nianzhi, I know I was wrong." Chen Nianxu's face showed pain and remorse. "Please forgive me."

"Spare me? How can you expect me to spare you?"

Chen Nianzhi angrily slapped him, sending him flying. She finally couldn't suppress her rage.

He grabbed Chen Nianxu by the collar, his eyes bloodshot, and said, "If I spare you, will everyone follow suit and betray their Lineage for their own benefit?"

"I ask you, in all these years of raising you, has your Lineage ever wronged you?"

"Never."

"I ask you, have you lived up to the kindness of your Lineage in raising you, and have you lived up to the Lineage that taught you cultivation from childhood and sheltered you from the wind and rain?"

"I..."

Chen Nianxu stammered in silence, his pupils somewhat vacant, glistening with tears.

Chen Nianzhi pulled him closer, her anger escalating as she said, "You piece of trash, you've really grown up now, you know how to betray your Lineage?"

"At least Chen Nianfu has made great contributions to the Lineage. What are you? You're just a good-for-nothing who relies on your ancestors' legacy. If you're so capable, go and make even greater contributions to the Lineage. I'll be the first to give you the Foundation-Building Pill."

"The Third Elder already promised you that the next Foundation-Building Pill would be given to your lineage first. What more do you want?"

"You have the guts to betray your Lineage, so why don't you have the courage to Self-Foundation Establishment?"

"In my opinion, Uncle Qinghe and Uncle Qing Meng are a hundred times better than you."

As Chen Nianzhi spoke, he threw him to the ground and said coldly, "This Foundation-Building Pill was left to Uncle Qinghe. He would rather die than use it, so he asked me to bring it to you juniors."

"You grew up with Uncle Qinghe, do you think you've done Qinghe by him?"

"Uncle Qinghe..."

Chen Nianxu's eyes were filled with tears as he recalled how Chen Qinghe had personally guided him in managing Yuyang Market in previous years, treating him like his own son and teaching him by example.

At this moment, he finally lost control, knelt on the ground, and said with tears streaming down his face, "It was my mistake, I have failed my Lineage's expectations."

"Just kill me!"

"You really can't live."

Chen Nianzhi's gaze was cold, and his expression indifferent as he said, "If we keep a traitor like you alive, how can we face the clansmen who fought and died for the Lineage?"

"Should you commit suicide?"

Chen Nianxu gritted his teeth, pulled out a dagger, and said on his deathbed, "I, Chen Nianxu to die. I only beg you not to bring disaster upon my family."

"This is my last request."

"I promise you." Chen Nianzhi nodded.

Seeing that he agreed, Chen Nianxu gripped the dagger and gritted his teeth, aiming it at his throat.

"Bite--"

With a crisp sound, the dagger flew backward. Chen Nianzhi withdrew his finger, turned around, and said coldly.

"Uncle Changming died fighting for the Lineage. You are his last direct descendant. Today, I will spare Uncle Changming's bloodline."

"This..."

Chen Nianxu couldn't believe that Chen Nianzhi, who was usually decisive in killing, would spare his life.

On the other end, Chen Nianzhi's voice was cold, and then he said indifferently, "Remember, Chen Nianxu is dead. You must never return to Border Province."

"As for your mortal family, I will send them to the Meng Clan and entrust them to take care of them."

"Reflecting on this, I realize I was foolish, and I have failed my ancestors."

Chen Nianxu knelt on the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Before leaving, he choked out, "If my Lineage ever faces disaster, I, Chen Nianxu, will return even if it means my own destruction and the loss of my physical body and cultivation, to repay this debt of gratitude for raising me."

"Snort--"

Chen Nianzhi snorted coldly, tossed a porcelain bottle over indifferently, and said with icy eyes, "This item is payment for your Lineage's contribution."

"Take it and get out of here."

With tears streaming down his face, Chen Nianxu took the porcelain bottle and, under the cover of night, went down Darksteel Mountain, looking back every few steps. Then he opened the bottle and saw that it contained a Origin-Gathering Pill.

However, when Chen Nianzhi took some time to refine a batch of Origin-Gathering Pill for Chen Nianfu, she thought of him and casually saved one for him.

Looking at the elixir in the bottle, he knelt down, cupped some soil in his hands, and choked with emotion.

"I, Chen Nianxu, am a fucking bastard!"

"..."

After Chen Nianxu left, Chen Nianzhi used the Purple Sun Truefire Furnace to stage a scene, refining a piece of flesh and blood ashes before summoning everyone in.

As everyone saw Chen Nianxu's ashes, they were suddenly shocked, feeling both relieved and somewhat intimidated.

Glancing at the frightened crowd, Chen Nianzhi continued, "Expel him from the family register, and place his descendants in the Great Wilderness, never to be reinstated into the Chen Immortal Clan."

Everyone's faces turned pale. Over the years, Chen Nianxu taken seven or eight wives and concubines, and his descendants probably numbered over a hundred. These were all mortals, and it would be almost impossible for them to survive after being banished to the Great Wilderness.

After everyone had collected Chen Nianxu's remains and left the main hall, only the Third Elder and Chen Nianzhi remained standing in the hall.

The Third Elder glanced at Chen Nianzhi, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately hesitated and stopped himself from speaking.

Looking at the Vast Expanse Wilderness in the distance, Chen Nianzhi shook his head and said, "Does the Third Elder think my methods were a bit too cruel?"

"Killing Chen Nianxu n't be too much," Chen Qinghao hesitated slightly before saying, "But as the saying goes, one shouldn't bring misfortune upon one's family..."

"I see."

Chen Nianzhi nodded, but then countered, "But traitors must receive the most severe punishment."

"If we cannot intimidate people's hearts, and everyone follows suit for their own benefit, then sooner or later we will bring about the destruction of our Lineage."

"Today we banish Chen Nianxu's lineage, but in the future, we may be saving countless lives of the Chen Immortal Clan."

"Therefore, any traitor must not be tolerated!"

"This..." Chen Qinghao stammered, finally sighing, "Perhaps you understand people's hearts better than I do."

The Third Elder shook his head as he spoke, saying, "When I Qingyuan Mountain, I advised him to wait a little longer, promising that if there were Foundation-Building Pill in the future, I would give his lineage priority in exchanging them. I didn't expect him to still be so muddle-headed."

Chen Nianzhi did not answer, but turned to look into the distance, letting out a soft sigh in her heart.

The Third Elder has been in charge of the Lineage's affairs for many years, but he has a mild personality and always leaves room for others in his dealings.

While this is very useful in resolving conflicts among cultivators within Lineage, allowing everyone to accept resource allocation calmly, it lacks a certain deterrent effect at crucial moments.

Chen Qinghao was indeed speaking kindly and gently. If it were an ordinary matter, or if it were someone else, they might have already been persuaded. However, since it concerned the path of Dao Path, a combination of kindness and firmness was needed. He had to make a promise while also reminding Chen Nianxu not to do anything foolish.