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

Zhuang Yu sat cross-legged in the mysterious space, surrounded by spiritual energy, like a dream.

The mysterious voice rang out again, elusive and hard to find, yet like a morning bell or evening drum, it was deafening: "There are three thousand great paths, all leading to the same destination. Now that you have entered this gate, you should strive diligently and not waste this opportunity..."

Outside the main building, inside the council hall, the atmosphere was tense and fraught with danger.

"Elder, this Zhuang Yu is nothing but a good-for-nothing, yet he has repeatedly received preferential treatment from the family's resources. There must be something fishy about this!" The speaker was Zhuang Wen's father, Zhuang Hai, the second elder of the Zhuang family. He looked heartbroken, as if the family's interests had been greatly damaged.

“That’s right, how could a mere Qi Refining stage kid like him obtain so many cultivation resources? I suspect he’s hoarding the family’s treasures!” Another elder chimed in, his words filled with jealousy and dissatisfaction towards Zhuang Yu.

The eldest elder, Zhuang Xiong, sat in the main seat, his face ashen, and he remained silent.

Although he disliked Zhuang Yu, he did not want the Second Elder's faction to take this opportunity to strengthen their power.

The old butler stood aside, secretly anxious.

He knew Zhuang Yu's potential and also understood the sinister intentions of these elders.

He secretly glanced at Zhuang Yue sitting in the corner, and saw that she was clenching her fists tightly, her eyes filled with worry.

"Ahem," the old butler coughed lightly, breaking the deadlock, "Elders, although Young Master Zhuang Yu's cultivation was not good before, he has made rapid progress recently. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Good thing? Hmph, who knows what underhanded tricks he used!" Zhuang Hai snorted coldly, showing no respect whatsoever.

Zhuang Yue could no longer hold back. She stood up and retorted, "Zhuang Wen lost to Zhuang Yu before, why don't you say he lost face for the family?"

"You're just a junior, who gives you the right to speak here!" Zhuang Hai retorted angrily.

"Enough!" Zhuang Xiong slammed his hand on the table, interrupting the argument. "We'll discuss this later, after I've personally investigated the matter."

At this moment, Zhuang Yu slowly walked out of his courtyard, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He had anticipated that these clowns wouldn't give up easily, so he had made preparations long ago.

He walked straight into the council hall, thinking to himself, "Since you want to play, then I'll play along..."

The doors to the council hall were pushed open, and Zhuang Yu appeared before everyone.

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Zhuang Xiong, and he said calmly, "Elder, I've arrived."

Zhuang Yu slowly stepped into the council hall, looked around, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"Wow, it's so lively here, is it a fan meeting?"

Everyone was taken aback by his sudden witty remark, and Zhuang Hai glared at him, bristling: "Zhuang Yu! What kind of attitude is this!"

Zhuang Yu shrugged, looking innocent: "Second Elder, your blood pressure is a bit high. You should take care of your health. I've seen quite a few elders in the cultivation world die suddenly."

"You!" Zhuang Hai was so angry he almost fainted.

Zhuang Yu ignored him and turned to Zhuang Xiong, cupping his hands and saying, "Elder, I heard that you have some questions about the resources I obtained, so I have come today to answer them." As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and a pile of rare and precious materials emitting various colors of light appeared out of thin air, filling the table and dazzling everyone.

“These are all gifts I gave to my family.”

Everyone gasped, and even the usually composed Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Any one of these resources would be enough to significantly boost the family's strength!

Zhuang Yu then took out several ancient cultivation manuals and said calmly, "I'll also offer these cultivation manuals for everyone to share and improve together. It's everyone's responsibility for the prosperity of the family."

The crowd erupted in excitement, their eyes filled with awe and gratitude as they looked at Zhuang Yu.

Zhuang Hai's face turned pale and then red, and he couldn't utter a single word of the speech he had prepared.

Seeing the situation take a sharp turn for the worse, Zhuang Xiong knew he couldn't wait any longer. He suddenly stood up, and a pressure from a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator instantly enveloped the entire hall.

"Zhuang Yu, even if you produce these things, it cannot cover up the fact that you have been hoarding family treasures! Today, I will cleanse the family of its corruption!"

After saying that, he made a hand seal, and a sharp sword aura rushed straight towards Zhuang Yu.

Everyone gasped in surprise, and Zhuang Yue couldn't help but shout, "Brother Zhuang Yu, be careful!"

Zhuang Yu remained completely calm, his smile widening.

He vanished in a flash, reappearing behind Zhuang Xiong, patting him on the shoulder, and whispering, "Elder, times have changed..."

Zhuang Yu's voice seemed to possess some kind of magic, echoing throughout the hall.

Before he finished speaking, spiritual energy surged around him, and a strange energy fluctuation spread out, forming a huge Tai Chi pattern.

This Tai Chi pattern is not simply black and white, but is composed of countless tiny runes that shimmer with golden light and exude a chilling pressure.

Everyone was shocked; this power far surpassed that of the Foundation Establishment stage!

"Elder, times have changed. You're still using outdated tricks. No wonder the family has been stagnant." Zhuang Yu's mocking voice rang out again. He formed a hand seal, and the Tai Chi pattern suddenly began to rotate, creating a powerful suction force that firmly locked Zhuang Xiong in place.

Zhuang Xiong's expression changed drastically. He tried his best to break free, but found himself stuck in a quagmire, unable to move.

"What...what kind of technique is this?!" he asked in shock, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Want to know?" Zhuang Yu's lips curled into a smile. "Too bad, you won't have the chance." With that, the Tai Chi pattern suddenly contracted, enveloping Zhuang Xiong within it.

After a scream, everything returned to calm.

When the light faded, only a bottomless pit remained; Zhuang Xiong had vanished without a trace.

Everyone fell silent, stunned by the terrifying strength Zhuang Yu had displayed.

Zhuang Hai collapsed to the ground, his face deathly pale. The other clansmen who had opposed Zhuang Yu also lowered their heads, daring not to voice any further objections.

The elders of the Zhuang family exchanged bewildered glances. Finally, an elderly man with white hair and beard stood up shakily and bowed deeply to Zhuang Yu: "Nephew Zhuang Yu, we were blind and misunderstood you before. From this day forward, all the family's resources are at your disposal. We only hope that you can lead the Zhuang family to glory!"

Zhuang Yu smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Rest assured, elders, I, Zhuang Yu, will certainly live up to your expectations." He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, "However, I have a little quirk; I don't like being disturbed..." He glanced around, his gaze settling on the trembling Zhuang Hai, "So..."

Zhuang Yu's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, making Zhuang Hai tremble and break out in a cold sweat.

"So, please, take your horde of shrimp soldiers and crab generals, and disappear forever..." He spoke casually, yet it was like the pronouncement of death.

Zhuang Hai's face was ashen. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but found that he didn't even have the strength to speak.

In the end, he could only lower his head in dejection and let Zhuang Yu's confidants take him away.

"As for the others..." Zhuang Yu glanced around, his tone softening slightly, "As long as you behave yourselves, I guarantee you'll still live well in the Zhuang family." He paused, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "After all, what I dislike most is infighting, don't you think?"

Everyone nodded in agreement, afraid that if they were a step too late, they would end up like Zhuang Hai.

Zhuang Yu looked at the fearful and apprehensive expressions on everyone's face and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

These people, who were shouting and threatening to kill me just a moment ago, are now wagging their tails and begging for mercy like lapdogs. It's utterly ridiculous.

However, this is for the best, saving him the trouble of cleaning house.

Next, Zhuang Yu accepted all of the family's resources, including a large amount of spirit stones, pills, cultivation techniques, and so on.

He locked himself in a secret room and began to devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.

He knew that although he had temporarily taken control of the bookmakers, the real challenge had only just begun.

He wants to become stronger, strong enough to meet any challenge.

As time went by, Zhuang Yu's cultivation level steadily improved.

However, just when he thought everything was going in the right direction, an unexpected message arrived...

"Young Master, something terrible has happened!" The old steward rushed into the secret room, his face ashen. "Second Elder... he..."

"What happened to the Second Elder?" Zhuang Yu frowned slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

The old steward swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "Second Elder, he... he's broken through! He's now... at the late Foundation Establishment stage!"

Zhuang Yu suddenly stood up, his face terribly gloomy.

He never expected that Zhuang Wen would break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment in such a short time.

This is not good news for him.

"And..." the old steward hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The Second Elder said... he wants to challenge your position as head of the family!"

"The position of head of the family?"

Ah!

Zhuang Yu sneered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Then let him come. I want to see what he's got that makes him dare to challenge me!"