Chapter 95

This hilltop, in fact, was just a large flat area, roughly the size of a few acres. It was unclear whether it was naturally formed or leveled by later generations using magic.

In the center of the hilltop stood the ancestral hall of the Zhu family, covering an area of about several thousand square meters. Outside was a courtyard, inside were green pines and cypresses, and at the center was a grand hall for the ancestral worship, spanning several hundred square meters.

Of course, this time Zhu Lingwu and his companions did not come to the ancestral hall but to the Martial Arts Academy, located dozens of meters to the left of the hall.

This Martial Arts Academy was not very large, divided into two courtyards, front and back. The front courtyard was where the elders on duty taught martial arts and explained techniques. The back courtyard, however, was a more important place—the scripture repository of the family, where various cultivation techniques, alchemy formulas, and secret arts collected by the Zhu family were stored. These were the most precious things in a noble family.

Especially those cultivation techniques, which were the foundation for the family's descendants to embark on the path of cultivation and immortality. Unfortunately, they only covered the stages from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment. Beyond Foundation Establishment was not something a noble family could possess.

If they obtained high-level techniques, it might even bring disaster to the family, potentially leading to its destruction.

The elders on duty at the Martial Arts Academy, besides teaching and answering questions for the younger generation, also had the important task of guarding this scripture repository.

Otherwise, which high-level Qi Cultivator or Foundation Establishment cultivator would have the leisure to stay here? They would rather use their time to cultivate themselves.

Of course, serving here also earned them contribution points within the family, which could be accumulated to exchange for items they needed from the family treasury.

Today, there were three elders on duty at the Martial Arts Academy, all Qi Cultivators of the tenth level or higher, sitting cross-legged in three side rooms in the front courtyard.

When family descendants came to ask questions, the Zhu family servants in the Martial Arts Academy would inform and arrange for the appropriate elder to assist. If an elder was free, they would be approached, or the elder most skilled in the specific area of the question would be chosen.

When Zhu Lingwu and his three companions arrived, it was already late afternoon (around three o'clock). There was no one in the courtyard.

Therefore, all three elders were free. Upon hearing from the servants that four young family members were looking for them to witness a bet, they all curiously came out of their rooms.

These three elders were all senior members of the various branches of the Zhu family, though they had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage. They were of the same generation as Zhu Lingwu's great-uncles.

The leading elder among the three was a man in his fifties from the fourth branch of the Zhu family, currently at the eleventh level of Qi Cultivation. He was said to be the most likely to become a Foundation Establishment elder in the family.

Of course, this was what Zhu Junyu had told Zhu Lingwu on the way. Now, after coming out, this elder scanned the group of children, including Zhu Lingwu and Zhu Junyu. He already knew what they were betting on and felt that these children were just being silly.

"So, you four want to make a bet and have us three great-uncles as witnesses? Heh, that's quite interesting! But, Junyu, have you thought this through? You're betting a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills against the fifth grandson of the seventh branch. Oh, right, this little grandson hasn't even been named yet, according to family rules, he can only be officially named at ten years old! You three, bullying a child like this! Stop being silly and go home!"

This elder knew the significance of the bottle of Qi Condensation Pills to Zhu Junyu and felt that the three young boys were bullying the nine-year-old Zhu Lingwu.

"Great-uncle, we're not being silly. It's fine, they're not bullying me. We made a bet. I'm betting a bottle of Water Forest Pills, a bottle of Stone Skin Pills, and three Yellow Crane Talismans, given to me by the three ancestors of my branch, against a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills. If I can cultivate to the first level of Qi Cultivation within a year, I win, and Junyu will give me the bottle of Qi Condensation Pills. I'm afraid they won't keep their word, so I came to you great-uncles for witness!"

Zhu Lingwu had finally convinced Zhu Junyu and the others to bet with him and was not about to back down. He knew the elders were trying to protect him, but he had to continue acting silly.

"Silly, how can you talk like that! What do you know at your age! Zhu Junyu, you three should be ashamed, betting with a child who doesn't know any better! Humph!"

The elder did not take Zhu Lingwu's words seriously and instead scolded Zhu Junyu and the others. After all, a nine-year-old child who hadn't even been officially named couldn't be expected to keep his word.

Another elder, who looked to be in his forties, whispered to the first elder, "Forget it, forget it. Do you recognize this child from the seventh branch? He's the one who was deemed to have the lowest potential, despite showing promise as a child. I wonder what the three ancestors of the seventh branch were thinking, giving him those pills and talismans. Isn't that a waste? A child doesn't even know how to use those pills and talismans. Let them bet. Junyu is the most talented child in the main branch. Perhaps this is a chance to put those pills and talismans to good use!"

The third elder, listening to the conversation, stroked his beard and observed Zhu Lingwu with interest. He did not intervene, treating it as an entertaining spectacle.

"That's right, great-uncle. It's not that we're encouraging the little cousin. It's the little cousin who is forcing us to bet! If we don't, he won't agree! Little cousin, right?"

The boy named Tianrun quickly chimed in, then added a nudge to Zhu Lingwu.

"Exactly! We have to bet! No choice!"

Zhu Lingwu naturally joined in, determined to make a scene. Otherwise, his earlier act would be for nothing.

The leading elder, seeing Zhu Lingwu and the three boys not listening to his advice, and hearing the words of the other elder, was somewhat hesitant.

The key issue was that the items they were betting on were not cheap. To be honest, he was somewhat tempted.

Thinking about the pills in the children's hands, which were bestowed by the family's Foundation Establishment ancestors, he realized that no matter who won or lost, if the ancestors behind them did not agree, they, as witnesses, could also be implicated.