Chapter 97

The second update has arrived.

Upon hearing Xu Ziyan’s words, the faces of everyone in the grand hall turned extremely ugly. Almost none of them had ever seen a fifth-grade talisman, but the pressure emanating from the talisman was enough to make even a fool realize that this talisman was more powerful than the previous one. The previous one was a third-grade talisman, so wouldn’t this one be at least a fourth-grade talisman? Realizing this, everyone’s faces became even uglier. Imagine, if it weren’t for Xu Haoliang’s unreasonable demands, wouldn’t Xu Ziyan now be serving the family? With such a powerful ally, wouldn’t the family have an additional layer of security?

It must be understood that these people were all high-ranking members of the Xu family, and their descendants lived here. If the Xu family were exterminated, their descendants would undoubtedly die as well. In such a situation that directly affected their own interests, even those who were in the same camp as Xu Haoliang couldn’t help but feel resentment towards him. At this moment, everyone was only thinking about how to win back Xu Ziyan’s heart, to make her abandon the idea of leaving the Xu family. Even if they had to pay a high price, they were willing to do so. They had completely forgotten their earlier anger towards Xu Ziyan, who, as a first-layer Qi Cultivation disciple, dared to look down on them, the elders. Now, they felt that Xu Ziyan, with such abilities, should be treated as an equal.

As the head of the family, Xu Haoran was even more regretful, regretting not stopping Xu Haoliang from the beginning. He recognized that the talisman Xu Ziyan released was a top-grade fifth-grade talisman, and there were thirty of them. With these thirty top-grade fifth-grade talismans, one could buy a small family. With these thirty top-grade fifth-grade talismans, Xu Haoran felt that if the Canglang City and Nanlin City families acted alone, and the Huayang Sect did not intervene, the Xu family could already stand invincible.

Looking at the top-grade fifth-grade talismans slowly rotating around Xu Ziyan, Xu Haoran’s eyes were full of regret. He closed his eyes in pain, and when he opened them again, his gaze had returned to calm. He did not speak to Xu Ziyan but turned to look at Xu Haoliang, whose expression kept changing, and asked in a deep voice:

"Ninth Brother, what do you have to say?"

"I..."

Xu Haoliang’s expression kept changing. He wanted to kill Xu Ziyan, but he didn’t have the strength. Moreover, he knew that even those in his camp would not follow him to oppose Xu Ziyan. First, even if they were willing to join forces with him, they might not be a match for Xu Ziyan. Second, at such a critical moment for the family, Xu Ziyan was undoubtedly a savior. To make them risk their descendants’ lives to kill Xu Ziyan, who might save their descendants, if he were in their position, he wouldn’t agree either.

Moreover, he had a son living here, and Xu Ziyan was undoubtedly the hope for the family’s survival. Thinking of this, Xu Haoliang deeply regretted his words. What was the point of his interference? Why not let the head of the family handle it? In the end, he not only made himself look bad but was also defeated by a junior in front of everyone. Who would follow him in the future? What could he use to compete with his elder brother? Sighing, he raised his head to meet Xu Haoran’s gaze and said bitterly:

"Let the elder brother decide."

Seeing that Xu Haoliang had lost all his fighting spirit, Xu Haoran knew he had lost his ambition for the head of the family position, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy. However, he still maintained a serious expression and nodded at Xu Haoliang. Then he turned to Xu Ziyan, and his face immediately showed a warm smile, and he said in a slightly reproachful tone:

"Ziyan, when you made your decision, did you consider your parents? Do you want your elderly parents to wander around without a fixed home?"

"I can buy a house for my parents and hire some servants to take care of them," Xu Ziyan replied without hesitation.

"Yes, I believe you can do that with your abilities. But what about their safety? Who will ensure their safety when you leave home to train?" Xu Haoran looked straight at Xu Ziyan.

Xu Ziyan was silent. She knew what Xu Haoran was saying. In this world, strength was paramount. When she was not at home, her parents would become easy targets for bandits. If they stayed in the Xu family, such things would not happen, and it would indeed solve her worries. Just as she was silent, she heard Xu Haoran continue:

"Moreover, even if you can solve the safety issue for your parents, will they be happy?"

"Yes, will my parents be happy?" Xu Ziyan’s heart ached. "Father was forced to leave the family at the age of fifteen. Now that he has finally returned with dignity, the smiles on his face in recent days have been more than the sum of the past ten years."

Xu Ziyan knew the importance of the family to her father. He had always longed to return to the family with dignity. Now, because of her, he could finally hold his head high and return to the family. No one in the family dared to look down on him anymore, and since returning, his cultivation had accelerated. If she left the Xu family, would her father agree? Even if he agreed, would he be happy in the future?

"Ziyan, stay. It was just a misunderstanding. No matter what, he is still your Ninth Uncle, and his blood runs with the Xu family. Do you want to quarrel with your elders? Your parents will be well taken care of in the family. You can see that they are very happy and content. Do you want to destroy their happiness with your own hands? Moreover, the family is not without help for you. No matter what situation you encounter in the future, the Xu family will always stand behind you."

Xu Ziyan sighed lightly in her heart, knowing that she had been convinced by Xu Haoran. Moreover, because of her concern for her parents, she did not want to completely sever ties with the Xu family unless absolutely necessary. Now, seeing Xu Haoran’s sincere words and Xu Haoliang’s defeated demeanor, and the earnest gazes of the other elders, she said:

"Alright, I will stay."

Xu Ziyan gathered the talismans surrounding her body and put them back into her storage bag, looking calmly at Xu Haoran. The crowd, hearing that Xu Ziyan had finally agreed to stay, collectively sighed in relief. A collective "Phew~" echoed in the grand hall.

"But..." Xu Ziyan said coldly, "I will still only be a guest elder of the Xu family. I will not become a disciple of the Xu family for the time being. I will live with my parents and will not go to the inner hall of the Xu family or the Xu family’s treasury. Of course, as a return for the Xu family taking care of my parents, I will help the Xu family defend against external enemies."

"Then... the method of making talismans?" Xu Haoran naturally wouldn’t mention the cultivation technique again, but when he heard that Xu Ziyan hadn’t mentioned the talisman-making technique she had promised, he became anxious.

"That belongs to me. Why should I give it to the Xu family?" Xu Ziyan said coldly.

"But... you promised just now."

Xu Ziyan stared at Xu Haoran, thinking, "Do you still have the nerve to bring it up now?" After a long time, until Xu Haoran felt uncomfortable, she said coldly:

"I’ve changed my mind."

Seeing that Xu Haoran wanted to say something, Xu Ziyan coldly interrupted him, looking around at everyone and said:

"I think our current priority is how to deal with the external enemies. Let’s discuss this matter."

"Alright."

Xu Haoran knew that he couldn’t force Xu Ziyan now and could only try to gradually win her over in the future. Everyone rearranged the scattered chairs and sat down. Xu Ziyan also sat down in her chair.

"Ziyan, you may not fully understand the current situation of the family. Let me explain it to you again."

After finishing, Xu Haoran detailed the current situation and strength of the family to Xu Ziyan, and then narrated the plan that everyone had discussed. Finally, he asked:

"Ziyan, do you have any good ideas?"

Xu Ziyan thought for a moment. Since she had decided to stay in the Xu family, and the head of the family and others, including Xu Haoliang, had shown her kindness, she naturally had to respond. She said seriously:

"Uncle, I can’t help with the big issues, but I can help the family in my own way."

"What way?" Xu Haoran’s eyes sparkled, looking hopefully at Xu Ziyan.

Xu Ziyan took out the sixty top-grade fifth-grade talismans from her storage bag, stood up, walked to Xu Haoran, and handed them to him with both hands:

"These are the talismans given to me by the female immortal who taught me the cultivation technique. There are sixty of them. I hope they can help the family."

"Great, Ziyan, this will be a huge help to the family."

Xu Haoran excitedly took the talismans from Xu Ziyan. How could he not be excited? Top-grade fifth-grade talismans, which the Xu family did have, but only five, were considered family treasures. When he saw Xu Ziyan display thirty top-grade fifth-grade talismans in the confrontation with Xu Haoliang, his heart was filled with excitement. Thinking that if Xu Ziyan handed these thirty talismans to the family, it would greatly strengthen the family. Now, seeing that Xu Ziyan not only handed over the fifth-grade talismans but sixty of them, how could Xu Haoran not be excited? He stood up and said loudly:

"Everyone, I have something to say..."

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