Seven Mysterious Spaces: My Rise to Power in the Cultivation World

Zhuang Xiong stepped into Zhuang Yu's courtyard with a gloomy expression, followed by a group of solemn-faced elders.

Zhuang Yu thought to himself, "Here he comes, old dog." But on the surface, he bowed respectfully, "Elder, what brings you here?" Zhuang Xiong snorted coldly and tossed out a piece of paper covered in tiny writing: "New family rules, read them yourself!"

Zhuang Yu took a look and exclaimed, "Good heavens!"

This isn't a family rule; it's clearly a "Zhuang Yu restriction order" targeting him!

They are forbidden from entering the family's core training ground, forbidden from accessing advanced cultivation techniques, and even their monthly cultivation resources have been drastically reduced!

Zhuang Yu almost couldn't hold back and started yelling. This old man was really trying to push him to his death!

Taking a deep breath, Zhuang Yu forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Elder, isn't this... a bit..."

"What is it?" Zhuang Xiong interrupted him, his tone icy. "This was a decision made jointly by the family elders. If you have any objections, you can appeal to the family head." Family head?

It's just a mascot!

What's the point of appealing!

Zhuang Yu cursed inwardly, but dared not show it on his face.

He cupped his hands and said, "I will heed the teachings of the Grand Elder." Once those old fogies left, Zhuang Yu crumpled the tattered paper into a ball and threw it hard on the ground: "You old bastard, trying to play dirty tricks, huh? I can do that too!"

Not long after, Zhuang Wen shamelessly showed up again, this time carrying a palm-sized golden incense burner that emitted a strange fragrance.

"Nephew, look, this is the 'Spirit Gathering Incense Burner.' With it, your cultivation speed will increase at least threefold! So, have you made up your mind? Join our Second Elder's faction, and this treasure will be yours!"

Zhuang Yu rolled his eyes inwardly. This piece of junk actually thinks it can bribe him?

This is just to fob off a beggar!

He pretended to be delighted as he took the incense burner, sniffed it under his nose, and exclaimed, "Good stuff! Good stuff indeed! But..." He deliberately dragged out his words, looking troubled.

Seeing this, Zhuang Wen assumed Zhuang Yu was still hesitating and quickly added, "Nephew, as long as you join us, the Second Elder will fully support you in becoming a core member of the family! Then, won't you be able to use all the family resources at your disposal?" Core member?

Zhuang Yu sneered inwardly. This old fox was really making a big promise!

He toyed with the incense burner in his hand, then suddenly looked up and gave Zhuang Wen a meaningful smile: "Uncle Wen, I have a better idea..."

Zhuang Yu's eyes darted around, and a plan came to mind.

"Uncle Wen, your sincerity isn't enough! Talk is cheap, you need to show some real results." He put down the incense burner and looked at Zhuang Wen with a half-smile. "How about this, at the family meeting, you put in a good word for me and get the ban on that training ground lifted first, okay? If this is done, I'll immediately join your Second Elder's faction, and I won't back out!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Wen hesitated.

This is no small matter; if the Grand Elder finds out...

But then he thought again, and realized that it was worth taking a risk to win over Zhuang Yu, this "potential stock"!

"Alright!" Zhuang Wen gritted his teeth. "Don't worry, my dear nephew, I will do my best!"

When the news reached Zhuang Xiong's ears, he was so angry he almost exploded on the spot.

"You little brat, how dare you mess with me!" He slammed the teacup in front of him to pieces. "Guards! Go to the training ground! Teach that arrogant brat a lesson!"

The atmosphere at the family training ground was heavy.

The surrounding disciples whispered among themselves, all waiting to see what would happen.

"Zhuang Yu is doomed this time! The Grand Elder has sent out his personal guards, all of whom are Foundation Establishment stage experts!" "That's right! I heard the Grand Elder is truly enraged this time. Zhuang Yu is going to suffer a terrible fate!"

Several men in black appeared silently in the training ground and surrounded Zhuang Yu, each exuding a murderous aura.

"Boy, the Grand Elder has ordered you to suffer!" Before the words were even finished, several people attacked simultaneously, their fierce attacks raining down on Zhuang Yu like a storm.

"It's over, this kid can't escape now!" The onlookers shook their heads and sighed.

However, the expected screams did not occur.

The men in black were stunned. All their attacks missed their mark, and there was nothing in front of them. Where was Zhuang Yu?

"Where is he?" Just as they were wondering, a cold voice came from behind them: "Want to know where I am?"

Zhuang Yu had a cold smile on his lips as he moved with ghostly grace, weaving freely among the men in black.

His newly learned "Phantom Step" is no joke; its speed is dazzling. Combined with the explosive power provided by the "Mighty Vajra Pill" he obtained from the mysterious space, it's like adding wings to a tiger!

"That's it? That's it? I thought you were some experts, but you're just a bunch of weaklings!" Zhuang Yu dodged the attacks with ease while making a few sarcastic remarks. "Your Grand Elder sent you here, were you just here to make a joke?"

Enraged, the man in black intensified his attacks, but still couldn't even touch the hem of Zhuang Yu's clothes.

Zhuang Yu seized the opportunity and struck a man in black in the chest with a "Vajra Palm," sending him flying backward, spitting out blood, unable to get up for a long time.

"Who else?" Zhuang Yu looked around, exuding an air of dominance.

The remaining men in black looked at each other, their hearts filled with fear.

This kid's strength far exceeds their expectations; continuing to fight him would only bring them humiliation.

They exchanged a glance, then each made an excuse to slip away, running faster than rabbits.

"Tch, a bunch of trash!" Zhuang Yu curled his lip in disdain, dusted himself off, as if he had just done something insignificant.

The disciples watching were all dumbfounded.

Is this really that good-for-nothing Zhuang Yu?

That skill, that strength, it's simply defying the heavens!

"Awesome! So awesome!"

"Senior Brother Zhuang Yu is awesome!"

In an instant, cheers erupted in the training ground, and Zhuang Yu's reputation spread throughout the entire family.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Zhuang Yu found the old steward and Zhuang the advisor, pulled them aside to a quiet place, and whispered, "Gentlemen, you've both seen it. That old fellow, the First Elder, has no good intentions and is suppressing me at every turn. I'm not doing this for myself, but for the future of the family! Think about it, if I don't get enough resources and my potential can't be realized, what a huge loss that would be for the family!"

The old steward and Master Zhuang exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and contemplation in each other's eyes.

Although Zhuang Yu's words were somewhat arrogant, upon closer examination, they were not without reason.

"Young Master Zhuang Yu, what do you mean..." the old butler asked tentatively.

“My meaning is simple,” Zhuang Yu said with a mysterious smile, “I want those old guys to understand who the family’s true hope is!” With that, he turned and left, leaving the old butler and Master Zhuang in deep thought.

That evening, Zhuang Yu was in her room when she suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

He opened the door and saw a familiar figure standing outside.

"Wang Yao? What's wrong so late?"

Wang Yao held a steaming bowl of herbal medicine in her hands, a hint of worry on her face: "Young Master, I heard about what happened today. Are you alright?"

"It's nothing, nothing to worry about," Zhuang Yu said with a smile as he took the medicine. "You're the one who cares about me the most."

Wang Yao smiled gently and lowered her head: "Young Master, I..." She seemed to have something to say, but hesitated to speak.

Zhuang Yu looked at her, a thought flashing through his mind: "What do you want to say?"

Wang Yao took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked at Zhuang Yu with a determined gaze: "Young Master, I feel... you seem to have changed..."

Zhuang Yu was slightly taken aback, then laughed heartily: "Changed? You've become stronger! Don't worry, I'll protect you." He tilted his head back and drank the medicine in one gulp, a warm current flowing through his body.

Wang Yao looked at Zhuang Yu with a complicated expression.

Zhuang Yu used to be weak and incompetent, bullied by others, but now he is confident and strong, as if he has become a different person.

This change felt unfamiliar to her, yet she also felt a vague sense of anticipation.

"Young Master, please get some rest," Wang Yao said softly, then turned and left the room.

Zhuang Yu watched Wang Yao's retreating figure, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

Of course he has changed, because he is no longer the Zhuang Yu he used to be!

The next morning, Zhuang Yu had just gotten up when he heard a commotion outside the door.

He pushed open the door and saw a group of family disciples gathered in the courtyard, all filled with righteous indignation and making a ruckus.

"What happened?" Zhuang Yu asked.

"Senior Brother Zhuang Yu, you're finally out!" A disciple rushed over. "The Grand Elder is up to his old tricks again! He announced that he's taking back your cultivation resources, saying you're wasting them and don't deserve them!"

"What?!" Zhuang Yu's face darkened. This old guy really is a persistent ghost!

"Not only that, he also said he would expel you from the family!" another disciple added, "saying you have tarnished the family's reputation and are a disgrace to the family!"

"Good heavens, this old man is trying to drive me to my death!" Zhuang Yu sneered. "Looks like I have to teach him a lesson, or he won't know who he is!"

He strode towards the council hall, ready to confront the Grand Elder.

Meanwhile, the Second Elder's faction also received the news, and they gathered together to discuss countermeasures.

"That old man is getting more and more outrageous!" Zhuang Wen said angrily. "He's trying to drive Zhuang Yu to the brink of despair!"

"We can't just stand by and do nothing!" another disciple said. "We must find a way to stop him!"

"But what can we do?" Zhuang Yue asked worriedly. "The Grand Elder's power is too great; we are no match for him at all."

"There's always a way." A glint of shrewdness flashed in Zhuang Wen's eyes. "We can... use someone else to do our dirty work!"

Zhuang Yu arrived at the council hall and saw the First Elder Zhuang Xiong sitting in the main seat with a dignified expression. Several elders and disciples stood below him, all of whom were from the First Elder's faction.

"Zhuang Yu, you've arrived." Zhuang Xiong's tone was icy. "Do you know your crime?"

"What crime have I committed?" Zhuang Yu met his gaze without fear.

"Hmph, you have no respect for your elders, you have committed insubordination, and you have tarnished the family's reputation. Isn't that a crime?" Zhuang Xiong shouted sternly.

"I have no respect for my elders? I am an insubordinate?" Zhuang Yu sneered. "Who attacked me first? Who has suppressed me at every turn? Who wants to kill me? What right do you have to talk to me like that?!"

"You..." Zhuang Xiong was speechless after being rebuked by Zhuang Yu, his face turning ashen.

"Zhuang Yu, you've gone too far!" an elder stepped forward and reprimanded. "How dare you speak to the Grand Elder like that? You're incredibly audacious!"

"I'm being presumptuous?" Zhuang Yu curled his lip in disdain. "I was merely telling the truth. You people, all hypocritical and sanctimonious, secretly engage in despicable acts. What right do you have to lecture me?!"

"You...you're slandering me!" The elder pointed at Zhuang Yu angrily, "What evidence do you have?!"

Zhuang Yu's lips curled into a cold smile: "Evidence? It'll be available soon." He turned to look at the door, saying meaningfully, "There's someone more eager than I am to expose your true colors..."