My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

The next day, at the Zhao Family Ancestral Hall.

Cui Ying and Zhao Wang sat at the head of the table, while the Zhao family members below them, led by Zhao Yong and Zhao Zhen, formed a clear and distinct line.

"For matters of great importance to the clan, the patriarch must keep outsiders out."

Zhao Yong had already taken his seat. If you listened carefully, you could hear that he was still a little weak when he spoke, but his eyes were wide open, making him look like he was all bark and no bite.

"Fellow Daoist Cui is a member of the Zhao family from outside the main family, so he is not an outsider. Besides, I wrote to the main family yesterday to invite him to be a guest of the Zhao family, with the right to discuss family matters. Zhao Yong, you are from a collateral branch, so it is normal that you live far away and are a little out of touch with the news."

After a night's rest, Zhao Wang's complexion finally improved slightly, but his words were sharp and pointed at Zhao Yong, who frowned deeply. Zhao Yong retorted sarcastically:

"I don't know when the patriarch became so incompetent. He made such a big decision as appointing guest elders, and no one in the family tried to dissuade him. He did such an absurd thing."

Ultimately, out of fear of Cui Ying's cultivation level, Zhao Yong, despite his displeasure, only dared to vent his anger on Zhao Wang.

Zhao Wang smiled slightly, seeing that he had already achieved half of his goal of inviting Cui Ying as a guest of the family, and didn't bother to argue with Zhao Yong.

He coldly glanced at Zhao Yong's faction members below him and said firmly:

"Whether it's absurd or not, the situation is already set in stone. Besides, it's not your place to interfere in family matters, as a distant relative who isn't even in the family register."

"you!"

Zhao Yong was furious, but he couldn't make a move in front of everyone.

However, Zhao Wang, who was at the head of the table, didn't even look at him, and solemnly announced to the clansmen in the hall:

"I'm sure you all know the purpose of this gathering. Yunbo has been raised by me since childhood, and in terms of talent, temperament, and ability, few in the family can compare. Now that I am getting old and no longer able to manage family affairs, I will pass the position of family head to my great-grandson, Zhao Yunbo. Does anyone have any objections?"

"I disagree!"

Zhao Yong endured for a moment, then slammed his fist on the table and stood up, angrily shouting:

"Although Zhao Yunbo is your direct great-grandson, in terms of kinship, everyone present is of the Zhao family bloodline, and none of them are inferior to the others. Furthermore, in terms of talent and ability, Zhao Kai is far superior to Zhao Yunbo. I'm afraid the patriarch's decision this time will not be convincing to the public."

Although Zhao Wang had long guessed that Zhao Yong would make a fuss about Zhao Yunbo's cultivation level, hearing these words still made his chest heave violently with anger.

His eyes were gloomy, and it took him a long time to recover before he immediately retorted sarcastically without any politeness:

"So you know the difference between close and distant relatives! I thought you were getting old and blind, and had forgotten that when you took advantage of the chaos to separate from the family and escape, I expelled your branch from the clan. If you hadn't cried and begged to come back to erect a monument and observe mourning, I would have reluctantly kept you in the family. Such a person who betrays the bloodline of the family actually wants to compete for a position in the family, what a pipe dream!"

"Patriarch! Please hear what Zhao Kai has to say!"

Just as Zhao Yong's face turned pale and then red, a smiling young man stepped out from behind him. He was Zhao Kai, one of the main characters the two were talking about.

He first bowed respectfully to Cui Ying and Zhao Wang at the head of the table, performing all the proper courtesies, before straightening his back and proclaiming in a clear voice:

“Back then, my betrayal of my family did indeed harm the family. It was precisely because of this that my father regretted his actions and decided to return to the family under the guise of repairing the monument and observing mourning. In recent years, my father has devoted himself to increasing the family’s assets and using our meager abilities to make up for the great mistake he made.”

"Our Zhao family is currently facing internal and external troubles, and we desperately need a powerful and wise leader to guide us in order to revitalize the family. I, Zhao Kai, am not capable enough to guarantee that I can lead the family back to its former glory. However, I, Zhao Kai, promise you all that if I am appointed as the head of the family, I am willing to be recognized as a member of the direct line. Furthermore, I will take the initiative to dedicate all the wealth that my father seized in the past, as well as the profits of the past decades, to the public treasury, so that we can share the resources with our family members."

The ancestral hall erupted in an uproar, with some people even starting to whisper among themselves.

A hint of smugness flashed in Zhao Kai's eyes. He released the fluctuations of his magical power without reservation and continued:

"I am the same age as my nephew Yunbo, and I successfully broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining yesterday! May I ask the patriarch, is the position of patriarch, which is crucial to the continuation and survival of the family, determined by your personal preferences or by the abilities of the younger generation?"

These words caused a stir among all members of the Zhao family.

Cui Ying couldn't help but look at this person with new respect. If the Zhao family had this person leading them, they might actually be able to prosper slowly. But unfortunately, this person was involved with the Five Poisons Sect, which was truly a pity.

Zhao Wang, standing to the side, had a grim face, his mind racing, but he couldn't think of a way to break the deadlock.

Just then, another young man, as upright as a pine tree, stepped forward and said sternly:

"Patriarch, Yunbo is willing to compete with Uncle Zhao Kaitang in magic. The winner will succeed him, and he will never go back on his word!"

In today's struggle for the position of family head, Zhao Wang had also considered having Zhao Yunbo and Zhao Kai fight to determine the winner.

But after sensing the magical energy emanating from Zhao Kai, he immediately gave up on the idea.

Although the difference is only one minor realm, Zhao Yunbo's chances of winning are already slim. If he were to make a move rashly, given Zhao Kai's temperament, he would definitely humiliate Zhao Yunbo on the spot and extinguish his ambition to succeed as the family head.

It is a small matter if he cannot succeed as the head of the family, but if his moral character is damaged, that would be a great regret.

Before Zhao Wang could even voice his denial, Zhao Kai immediately responded with a laugh:

"I'm willing to have a magical duel with my nephew Yunbo!"

To ordinary cultivators, a battle between a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator and a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator is almost a life-or-death situation. Zhao Wang, who was also thinking of this, couldn't catch his breath and slumped into his chair, completely losing his composure.

Outside the Zhao family ancestral hall, there is a ready-made bluestone square, which is also where members of the Zhao family usually practice their magical arts. It would be perfect to use it as a fighting arena at this time.

When Zhao Zhen helped Zhao Wang out, his face was deathly pale, and his aged face was filled with sorrow, as if he could already see Zhao Yunbo's crushing defeat.

But as soon as he sat down at the edge of the square, he saw that Cui Ying next to him looked completely calm, and immediately asked in a puzzling voice:

"Fellow Daoist, you are so calm and composed, have you already come up with a plan?!"

"I'm sorry to disappoint Patriarch Zhao, I don't have any brilliant plan to win."

Cui Ying shook off non-existent dust from her skirt and said with a slight smile.

"But"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wang felt as if struck by lightning. He couldn't help but tremble and close his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, tears were glistening in his eyes, and he murmured:

"So be it... Even Fellow Daoist Cui can't do anything about it. Is it truly the will of Heaven to destroy my Zhao family lineage?!"

A dying man's words are often good. Although Zhao Wang had also offered him benefits, money is a powerful motivator, and Cui Ying was not immune to it.

Moreover, the oath to Heaven had been made, and she was now on Zhao Wang's side. Finally, she sighed and transmitted her voice again:

"Master Zhao, please calm down. Let's observe the situation together before making a decision."