Zhu Xiaosuo continued:
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"Mother, you're not a cultivator, so you can't understand the level of focus required during cultivation. You're not a cultivator, so you can't comprehend how rare the Bone Transformation Stage is. You're not a cultivator, so you don't know that the term 'closed death retreat' is not an exaggeration; being disturbed can truly lead to death. All of this is simply because you're not a cultivator."
"So... that's how it is."
"Exactly. If you were even a day into cultivation, you probably wouldn't have shattered this Spirit Energy Pearl. So, although I won this time, it wasn't a fair victory. If it were a direct confrontation, I would surely lose. You've given me a reminder; I'd rather not marry than have a mortal woman by my side, lest she causes trouble."
Madam Feng closed her eyes in pain, tears streaming down her face.
"Pity me, scheming my whole life, ending up with nothing. It should be this way, eating vegetarian and chanting Buddha's name, yet doing things that cut off future generations. The gods and Buddhas are punishing me. Go ahead, Zhu Xiaosuo, give me a dignified end."
Zhu Xiaosuo paused, then began to clap.
"As expected of my mother. You came up with the idea of exchanging your life for mine so quickly! According to Article 27 of the Exiled Immortal Nation's Edict and Article 18 of the Sect Rules, killing one's parents, whether they're cultivators or not, results in being torn apart by five horses. Mother, you must truly hate me! But if you commit suicide, it has nothing to do with me. If you seek death, then do it with dignity yourself."
"You! You! You won't die a good death!"
Madam Feng's plan was seen through, and she was so angry she couldn't speak.
Zhu Xiaosuo stood up, ready to leave.
"You are my mother, and I will provide for you well. Even if not for yourself, think of your children."
Madam Feng was stunned again:
"Children... wasn't my daughter..."
"Fake, just for show. Killing siblings without reason, according to Article 19 of the Sect Rules, would mean I'd face the whip at the Immortal Sect. I only killed some house servants. The sect rules and the local authorities' edicts don't concern the punishment of wicked servants by the head of the house."
After speaking, Zhu Xiaosuo left with large strides.
Madam Feng was left in a daze.
"Fake, it's all fake... Zhu Xiaosuo, what is real? What is real!!"
Zhu Xiaosuo returned to his room, closing his eyes to rest.
He was waiting for someone.
Zhuang Yun.
If Zhuang Yun was still alive, he would surely rush over in a fury.
To kill him.
"According to Article 57 of the Sect Rules, an Immortal Sect disciple who kills a cultivator that hasn't passed the first sect examination must mine for five years without pay. Zhu Xiaosuo, I will trade five years of my life for yours!"
Of course, at this moment, Zhuang Yun didn't know that Zhu Xiaosuo had already broken through to the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer.
It wasn't long before Zhu Xiaosuo's door was shattered.
"Zhu Xiaosuo, Madam Feng has told me everything, I'm here to take your life!"
Zhu Xiaosuo couldn't resist Zhuang Yun at all.
Even if Zhuang Yun's cultivation had fallen to the Rebirth Stage, Eighth Layer.
Zhuang Yun had already grabbed his throat.
But Zhu Xiaosuo released his spiritual energy, smiling slightly at Zhuang Yun.
Zhuang Yun was stunned.
He slowly released his grip.
"Rebirth Stage... Rebirth Stage, Third Layer?"
"Cough, cough, cough, yes. According to Article 56 of the Sect Rules, anyone who kills a cultivator who has passed or can pass the first sect examination without reason must pay with their life. Godfather, you are a late-stage Rebirth Stage cultivator, there's no need to exchange your life with a shrimp like me, right? Why don't we sit down and talk?"
Zhuang Yun was despondent.
"How... how did you know..."
"How did I know the true requirement for the sect examination is the Rebirth Stage, Third Layer? I asked other cultivators."
"Even if you knew the content of the first sect examination, how..."
"How did I know that breaking through from the Rebirth Stage to the Bone Transformation Stage requires a closed death retreat?"
Zhuang Yun nodded woodenly.
"You want to ask, how did I know how to threaten your breakthrough when the Cultivator's Beginner Guide you gave me didn't even define a closed death retreat?"
"…Exactly."
Zhu Xiaosuo opened the Cultivator's Beginner Guide given to him by Zhuang Yun.
"Godfather, even if you wanted to tamper with my Cultivator's Beginner Guide, you should have been more careful. Look, you only changed the table of contents, not the page numbers, making it hard for a diligent child like me not to notice something was off. What you hid must be what you least wanted me to know. So, of course, I borrowed another Cultivator's Beginner Guide from other cultivators to read thoroughly."
Zhuang Yun glanced and realized he had indeed forgotten to change the page numbers.
"Could it be... just because of this page number, I've ended up like this?"
"That's how it is when masters clash. Godfather, one wrong move and the whole game is lost."
Zhu Xiaosuo felt a bit melancholic.
"Just like me, underestimating you led to being caught off guard before you left. I lost my family business, my brothers died tragically, and even a maid dared to show me attitude. As the head of the house, I almost became a stray dog, godfather."
Looking at the haggard Zhuang Yun, Zhu Xiaosuo smiled.
"Godfather, the roles have reversed."
Zhuang Yun closed his eyes in thought.
Zhu Xiaosuo was in no hurry, brewing a pot of tea beside him.
Now, it wasn't his turn to be anxious.
Zhuang Yun said:
"Let's negotiate."
"Negotiate? Godfather, how do we negotiate?"
Zhu Xiaosuo didn't expect Zhuang Yun to mention negotiation.
How to negotiate?
Zhuang Yun failed his breakthrough because of him.
Although he had never broken through a major stage himself.
But whether from his own speculation or from reading web novels in his past life, this should be an irreconcilable enmity.
Zhuang Yun had humiliated him at the Red Pavilion, and he had obstructed Zhuang Yun's path.
Zhuang Yun tried to force Zhu Xiaosuo away before leaving, but failed.
Zhu Xiaosuo tried to make Zhuang Yun fall during his breakthrough, but also failed.
Zhu Xiaosuo was prepared for a long-term struggle.
Of course, this was just Zhu Xiaosuo's thought.
If they could negotiate?
Of course, Zhu Xiaosuo wanted to negotiate.
What good would it do him to be enemies with a late-stage Rebirth Stage cultivator?
What good would it do the Zhu Clan?
But he couldn't be sure how Zhuang Yun felt about the enmity of obstructing his path.
After all, he was the hidden hand behind Zhuang Yun's failed breakthrough.
Could Zhuang Yun put aside this hatred and negotiate?
Zhuang Yun said:
"We fought one round, and I lost. But I only lost this round. If we keep fighting, are you confident you can completely defeat me?"
"Indeed, I'm not. But if you see me as a mortal enemy, what choice do I have but to keep fighting?"
Hearing the helplessness in Zhu Xiaosuo's voice, Zhuang Yun also breathed a sigh of relief.
He was also worried that Zhu Xiaosuo would be relentless.
Zhu Xiaosuo was truly unpredictable, hard to fathom.
It was like a lion fighting a rabbit, only to have the rabbit bite off its ear.
If they continued to fight, even if he won, it would be a costly victory with no gain.