Xu Zhenzi, whose tongue had been crippled by Ye Kunlun, had surprisingly recovered most of it overnight.
However, his complexion remained somewhat pale when he appeared, and he nodded at Zhou Lie.
Seeing Xu Zhenzi's presence, Zhou Cen's expression turned somewhat unsightly. He glanced outside the ancestral hall, looking for any sign of Ye Kunlun.
He withdrew his gaze with disappointment, feeling unwilling.
Xu Zhenzi was from Qintian Lou. Even with ten thousand times the courage, Zhou Cen wouldn't dare to offend him.
"Haha."
Zhou Lie burst into laughter. "Immortal Master Xu, you've come at the perfect time. Second brother, you've heard it too. Immortal Master Xu is from Qintian Lou. You should believe his words, right?"
"Since my destiny and Ah Kun's are compatible, from today onwards, he is my grandson."
Zhou Cen opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.
Zhou Lie put away his smile and knelt before the memorial tablets in the ancestral hall. "Ancestors, I, Zhou Lie, today adopt Zhou Lingkun as my grandson, to compensate for the deficiency in my lineage and to fulfill my filial duty to the ancestors..."
"Great Uncle."
Just then, Zhou Lingyang, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?" Zhou Lie turned to look at Zhou Lingyang, this useless descendant of the Zhou family.
"Great Uncle, according to the family rules, if eldest brother is adopted by Great Uncle, he will lose his qualification to inherit the position of family head."
Zhou Lingyang said neither subserviently nor arrogantly.
The Zhou family's ancestral teachings stated that those in the military lineage were not allowed to hold the position of family head.
Reminded by Zhou Lingyang, Zhou Cen also recalled this point and quickly said, "Elder brother, what the younger second brother said is correct."
Zhou Cen looked at Zhou Lingkun. "Ah Kun, have you thought it through?"
Zhou Lingkun glanced at Zhou Lie, then replied, "Grandfather, Great Uncle is alone and lonely in the capital. Ah Kun is willing to fulfill this filial duty."
As he spoke, Zhou Lingkun gave Zhou Lingyang a deep look, his gaze somewhat sharp. "Second brother, I heard you've been meeting many martial artists recently."
Zhou Lingyang replied with a smile, "Compared to eldest brother meeting those Japanese, it's nothing."
Zhou Lingyang and Zhou Lingkun were in direct confrontation. "Since eldest brother has chosen to join Great Uncle's lineage, I wish eldest brother a bright future."
"Presumptuous! Even if I join Great Uncle's lineage, I am still your elder brother."
Zhou Lingkun's gaze was sharp; he hadn't expected Zhou Lingyang to speak to him with such a tone.
Clap, clap, clap—
At this moment, a round of applause came from outside the ancestral hall.
Ye Kunlun clapped his hands and walked over. "I didn't expect the Zhou family to have such an interesting matter, snatching people on the ancestral worship day. Truly interesting."
Xu Zhenzi's face changed when he saw Ye Kunlun.
The events of yesterday flashed in his mind. He was no match for Ye Kunlun, and he hadn't expected to run into him again here.
For a moment, Xu Zhenzi felt an urge to flee.
Ye Kunlun looked at the calm-faced Zhou Lie and asked sternly, "Zhou Lie, was it you who sent people to hunt down my Ye family's lineage ten years ago?"
Zhou Lie let out a cold snort. "Presumptuous! This is my Zhou family's ancestral land. Seize him!!"
Swish, swish—
After Zhou Lie spoke, several figures lunged at Ye Kunlun.
The people who came were all masters brought from the capital by Zhou Lie, each a Wudao Grandmaster. With several of them attacking simultaneously, their power was naturally not to be underestimated.
Ye Kunlun, however, let out a cold snort, and a terrifying aura instantly dispersed, forcing back the attackers.
The residual energy flowed into the ancestral hall, causing everyone to gasp for breath!
"Zhou Lie, don't you want to obtain the item my grandfather left behind? If you admit that you were responsible for what happened back then, I will naturally tell you where the item is."
Ye Kunlun looked at Zhou Lie indifferently.
Zhou Lie was not the least bit worried by Ye Kunlun's strength.
Instead, upon hearing Ye Kunlun's words, a sharp glint appeared in his eyes. "It seems you really know what your grandfather left you."
"Of course."
Ye Kunlun chuckled. "So, were you the one orchestrating things behind that incident back then?"
"So what if I was?" Zhou Lie simply admitted. "Ye Kunlun, you should be fortunate that I didn't kill you back then. You shouldn't have returned."
"But it's good that you returned; only by your return can I find that item."
Zhou Lie narrowed his eyes and confronted Ye Kunlun. "You are too self-important. I know everything you've done in Qingcheng. You think you can do whatever you want and seek revenge just because you're a cultivator?"
Zhou Lie laughed heartily. "You are too naive."
Saying that, he withdrew his smile, his gaze turning cold. "Hand over that item, and I can grant you a whole corpse."
Ye Kunlun looked at the straightforward Zhou Lie, and a hint of coldness appeared in his indifferent eyes. "It's not impossible for me to hand the item over to you, but you have to tell me the reason."
"Reason?"
Zhou Lie glared at Ye Kunlun. "You are not qualified to discuss reasons with me!"
Saying that, Zhou Lie looked at Xu Zhenzi and respectfully said, "Immortal Master Xu, please make a move and apprehend this person!"
Xu Zhenzi wished he could die.
If he had known earlier that Zhou Lie wanted him to deal with Ye Kunlun, he wouldn't have come this morning.
Ye Kunlun glanced at Xu Zhenzi indifferently.
Xu Zhenzi shivered and said to Zhou Lie, "General Zhou, Qintian Lou's rules state that we do not participate in secular disputes. I am powerless to help in this matter!"
Zhou Lie thought he had misheard.
Zhou Cen and the others in the ancestral hall also thought they had misheard.
In their eyes, Xu Zhenzi was brought by Zhou Lie for support.
The reason Zhou Lie dared to turn against Zhou Cen directly and admit everything to Ye Kunlun was because Xu Zhenzi was present!
But Xu Zhenzi actually said he wouldn't participate in secular disputes?
This sudden change caught everyone off guard.
Zhou Lie recovered and quickly asked, "Immortal Master Xu, please don't joke. We had already agreed in the capital that after the matter was settled..."
"General Zhou."
Xu Zhenzi flicked his horsetail whisk, interrupting Zhou Lie. "I am only here to help you with feng shui and discuss the matter of relocating graves."
"You!"
Zhou Lie was furious. Xu Zhenzi had actually switched sides, leaving him isolated and helpless.
Facing the grim-faced Zhou Lie, Xu Zhenzi could only focus on himself.
Seeing this, Zhou Cen burst into laughter. "Elder brother, stop making it difficult for Immortal Master Xu."
Ye Kunlun walked closer to the ancestral hall, his indifferent gaze falling on Zhou Lie, and asked, "So, do I have the qualifications to discuss reasons with you now?"
Zhou Lie didn't know why Xu Zhenzi had suddenly switched sides, but he was certain it was related to Ye Kunlun.
"Ye Kunlun."
Zhou Lie met Ye Kunlun's gaze. "Do you really want to know the reason?"
Ye Kunlun remained silent.
"I can tell you the reason you want, but you have to promise me one condition."
Zhou Lie offered his terms. "Otherwise, even if you kill me today, you won't get a single word from me."
"Speak," Ye Kunlun said sternly.
Zhou Lie breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Help me move the Zhou family's ancestral graves to the capital, and I will tell you everything you want to know!"
As soon as these words were uttered, Zhou Cen's expression changed drastically.
Ye Kunlun pondered, his gaze falling on the memorial tablets of the Zhou family.