Chapter 28
Zan Wei stood in the main hall with a stack of scrolls in his hands, his expression now fully serious.
Zan Yunxiao had already sat on the patriarch seat again, while Xueyun and Jin Feixue rested calmly on the side, listening.
Zan Wei bowed slightly.
“Father. I will report the situation of the past twenty years.”
Zan Yunxiao nodded lightly.
“Speak.”
Zan Wei opened the first scroll.
“First… your grandchildren in the imperial capital have all stepped away from court positions.”
He paused for a moment, then added with a faint sigh.
“Unexpectedly, no one dared to stop them.”
Zan Yunxiao raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Why?”
Zan Wei scratched his head.
“Because… rumors spread.”
“The entire empire now believes the Zan Family is an immortal clan.”
The hall went quiet for a second.
Zan Yunxiao didn’t react much, because he expected this to happen in the future.
Zan Wei continued.
“At first, it was just rumors from merchants and soldiers who came here.”
“But later, it was proven.”
He glanced slightly toward Zan Yin and Zan Moxuan’s direction.
“There was an incident where some imperial officials tried to pressure Zan Yin in court.”
Zan Yunxiao looked up slightly.
“And?”
Zan Wei’s tone became a bit amused.
“He released his spiritual pressure.”
The hall became silent again.
Zan Wei shrugged.
“The officials fainted on the spot.”
“After that, no one questioned the Zan Family again.”
Zan Yunxiao calmly nodded.
“…Good use of pressure.”
Zan Wei continued.
“Second, your great-grandchildren have already begun forming families.”
“One of your great-granddaughters even married into the imperial royal family the prince of the empire.”
Xueyun blinked slightly.
“Oh my…”
Jin Feixue smiled faintly.
“That escalated quickly.”
Zan Yunxiao only hummed softly.
“Let them be.”
Zan Wei flipped to the next scroll.
“Third… Shenyuu.”
At the mention of her name, Zan Yunxiao looked slightly more attentive.
“She has essentially become the external Elder of the Zan Family.”
“She oversees discipline, training, and cultivation routines.”
Zan Wei sighed lightly.
“The disciples are terrified of her, but… they improve very quickly.”
Zan Wei closed the scroll.
“That’s all the major reports.”
He exhaled.
“The clan is stable. Expansion is ongoing. The name of the Zan Family is now known throughout the empire.”
Zan Wei closed the final scroll and looked toward the patriarch seat.
“So, Father…”
“What are your next orders?”
Before Zan Yunxiao could answer.
Several servants suddenly hurried into the main hall and respectfully bowed.
“Patriarch!”
“The imperial family has arrived.”
“They are currently waiting in the guest lounge.”
The hall immediately quieted slightly.
Even Zan Wei blinked in surprise.
“The imperial family?”
He instinctively looked toward Zan Yunxiao.
Clearly, even he had not expected the emperor himself to suddenly visit the Zan Clan.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao remained calm as usual, though his eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
“Interesting.”
Zan Wei immediately straightened himself.
“I’ll personally greet them.”
Without delay, he left the main hall and headed toward the guest lounge.
Moments later, Zan Wei arrived at the reception area.
Several imperial guards stood outside with disciplined expressions, though their eyes carried visible nervousness while standing within the Zan Clan grounds.
And at the center.
An old man calmly sat while drinking tea.
Despite his aged appearance, his posture remained dignified and imposing.
The Emperor of the Crimson Empire.
The moment Zan Wei arrived, the emperor immediately stood up with surprising politeness.
“Haha, Elder Wei.”
“Sorry for the sudden visit.”
Zan Wei narrowed his eyes slightly.
The emperor’s attitude was extremely humble.
Far too humble for a ruler.
Still, Zan Wei maintained proper courtesy.
“Your Majesty honors our Zan Clan with your presence.”
The emperor smiled warmly.
“No it is my honor and I came because I wished to discuss several matters with your clan head personally.”
At the emperor’s words, Zan Wei inwardly thought,
“This old emperor is too straightforward…”
Usually, rulers liked to speak in circles, testing intentions back and forth before revealing their true purpose.
But this emperor directly stated he wanted to meet the clan head.
Zan Wei looked at him calmly and replied,
“Your Majesty, you can tell me first.”
The emperor smiled faintly, though his eyes carried seriousness.
At the same time, inside the main hall of the Zan Clan.
Zan Yunxiao sat on the patriarch seat in his favorite position, lazily resting one arm against the armrest.
Then suddenly.
The familiar mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
[DING!]
[Mission Issued]
[Option 1: Kill the Demon King in the Northern Region]
[Reward: 100 years cultivation]
[Option 2: Take the Emperor of the Crimson Empire as a disciple]
[Reward: Trip to Another World]
Zan Yunxiao’s calm expression immediately paused.
“…Another world?”
That reward alone instantly caught his attention.
Even the tempting hundred years of cultivation lost its attraction.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he remembered something the system mentioned long ago.
The materials needed for the Reconstruction Pill…
Existed in another world.
At that realization, Zan Yunxiao immediately understood.
“This material might connected to that world…”
For a brief moment, he fell silent in thought.
Option 1 was tempting.
A hundred years of cultivation was enough to greatly strengthen his Golden Core Realm.
But.
Dangerous. Very dangerous.
The system repeatedly issued missions related to the Demon King, yet every single one carried extreme risk.
Zan Yunxiao was not arrogant enough to believe he could casually challenge such an existence simply because he reached Golden Core Realm.
And more importantly.
His thoughts shifted toward his sons.
Zan Tianming.
Zan Wei.
Both were already old.
Neither possessed spiritual roots strong enough to naturally enjoy long immortal lifespans.
If he failed to find the Reconstruction Pill materials…
Then eventually.
They would die.
And, Zan Yunxiao’s usually calm eyes showed genuine determination.
“…I won’t let that happen.”
He had already watched too many years pass.
He refused to watch his own children disappear while he continued living alone.
Without hesitation, Zan Yunxiao chose.
“Option 2.”
The system immediately responded.
[DING!
Host has chosen Option 2.
Mission Accepted.]
Eventually, Zan Yunxiao stood up from the patriarch seat and disappeared from the hall.
A moment later, his figure appeared near the guest lounge like a silent gust of wind.
Inside, the emperor and Zan Wei were still discussing matters when the atmosphere suddenly changed.
The surrounding spiritual energy subtly trembled.
Zan Wei immediately stood aside.
Meanwhile, the emperor’s pupils shrank slightly.
Before he even fully reacted.
Zan Yunxiao had already appeared before them.
The emperor instantly stood up in shock and hurriedly bowed deeply.
“Greetings, Senior!”
Even the royal guards behind him quickly lowered their heads in panic.
Zan Yunxiao looked slightly confused by the emperor’s overly respectful reaction.
“…Why are you acting like this?”
He had heard before that the emperor himself was also a cultivator.
At the very least, he should possess some dignity.
Yet the old emperor was acting more nervous than even ordinary officials.
Zan Yunxiao calmly spread his spiritual sense toward him.
In an instant, the emperor’s condition became clear.
9th Qi Refinement Realm.
But unstable.
His spiritual energy was thin and weak, almost exhausted.
And more importantly.
His lifespan was nearly depleted.
Zan Yunxiao immediately understood.
“So that’s why…”
The emperor had reached the end of his immortal path.
Without a breakthrough.
Death was inevitable within a few years.
The emperor slowly raised his head and looked toward Zan Yunxiao with deep respect.
“Senior’s aura is vast like the heavens themselves.”
“This junior naturally dares not act presumptuous.”
Zan Yunxiao silently stared at him for a moment.
Then finally sat down calmly nearby.
“Speak.”
“What matter brought the emperor of the Crimson Empire here personally?”
The emperor hesitated briefly before speaking honestly.
“Senior…”
“…this junior wishes to seek guidance.”
His voice carried exhaustion.
“I have been stuck at the 9th Qi Refinement Realm for decades.”
“My lifespan is nearly exhausted.”
“I know my talent is mediocre.”
“But…”
The emperor slowly clenched his fists.
“…I do not wish to die yet.”
Silence filled the guest hall.
Because for cultivators.
The closer death approached, the more terrifying it became.
Especially after tasting even a fragment of immortality.