Qin Ruqing patiently squatted by the lake, waiting for those paying respects to the Ancestor to disperse.

For others, it had been a rare visit, but for her, this place was as familiar as her own backyard.

Apart from her personal courtyard, the Shadow Residence was her second home.

Therefore, Qin Ruqing felt it appropriate to show deference to others.

Qin Ruqing was sensible, and no one in the Qin family dared to overlook her.

Ever since she was allowed into the Family Meeting, most members of the Qin family treated her as if she were an elder.

Thus, upon seeing her, they greeted her one after another.

Someone familiar called out, “Qingqing, my girl,” like the Second Elder Qin Dehao.

He smiled and said, “Hey, Qingqing, why are you squatting there? Why don’t you go and pay your respects to the Ancestor?”

Qin Ruqing sweetly smiled and replied, “Second Uncle, I’ll wait a bit longer, no rush, no rush~”

Everyone knew the Ancestor valued Qin Ruqing.

When she said she wasn’t in a hurry, she truly wasn’t.

However, the Qin Dehao harrumphed, visibly displeased, and walked away.

Even those unfamiliar with her would call out “Qingqing.” Even the Grand Elder nodded slightly when he saw Qin Ruqing.

Once the crowd dispersed, Qin Ruqing finally got to see the Ancestor.

Her first words were, “Ancestor, just now by the lake, I noticed the spirit fish seemed a bit plumper. It seems the Ancestor’s recovery is going well, and even the fish in the lake are benefiting from your aura.”

The Ancestor had a dignified and solemn expression after meeting so many people.

However, when Qin Ruqing spoke, he couldn’t help but smile and shake his head, “You, you’re such a sweet-talker.”

Qin Ruqing chuckled and sat on the round cushion opposite the elder. “Our Qin family members are so serious. It’s a good thing I’m here to add a bit of charm and flavor.”

The Ancestor chuckled.

This shamelessly confident girl indeed had her own unique charm.

Nevertheless, the Qin family’s way of doing things was quite formal.

Someone like Qingqing might actually serve as a mediator.

After the banter, they got down to business.

Qin Ruqing didn’t mention recent events in the clan; the Ancestor would have been briefed.

She focused on the matter of the small note.

“Elder, how many people could recognize Sacred Blood Secret Water? How did the Zhang family happen to have someone who knew?”

Surprisingly, this was what puzzled Qin Ruqing the most.

The Ancestor furrowed her brow.

Clearly, this was unexpected to him as well.

After a moment of thought, She replied, “I can say that in the entire Southern Region, the number of people who can recognize Sacred Blood Secret Water is very limited, not more than a handful. And that includes myself.”

A handful of people, including the elder himself…

That meant, in the entire Southern Region, there were probably no more than four people who knew?

This was the Southern Region, not just Southern County.

The Ancestor sighed and revealed the origin of Sacred Blood Secret Water: “This secret technique was obtained in a mysterious realm while the Qin family was still in Eastern Region, Ying Continent.

It is extremely precious.

Later, when the Qin family relocated to Southern Region, some alchemical formulas were brought out by me, including Sacred Blood Secret Water.”

Eastern Region, Ying Continent… Qin Ruqing shifted slightly but remained silent.

After participating in clan affairs, she had gradually learned that the Qin family’s true origins lay in Ying Continent.

In the Eastern Region’s Ying Continent, the Qin clan was a high-ranking middle-class family, which had once produced a Nascent Soul Ancestor.

The ancestors of the Qin family had indeed flourished, as the current Ancestor had said.

As the Ancestor explained, this alchemical formula had been passed down from a mysterious realm in Ying Continent.

Such precious knowledge…

“In this remote place of Nanling, it’s expected that no one should know.”

Qin Ruqing stood tall and said, “I suspect this person is the Guest elder invited by the Zhang family some time ago.

He previously improved the Revitalization Qi Pill.”

The Ancestor nodded, “This person seems to have a significant background, and his talent in alchemy is also remarkable.”

Qin Ruqing chuckled, “It seems he’s quite interested in getting involved with our Qin family.

While being a fence-sitter isn’t ideal, someone who dares to do so must have confidence. Let’s see what he does next.”

Moving on from this topic, they discussed the potential allies Zhang family might seek.

“Ancestor, are you familiar with the patriarch of the Jin family? Zhang might be trying to get help from them.”

“Jin family,” the Ancestor frowned, “the Jin family of Beiling, also a respected family. We’ve had some dealings before. Jin Xuan, the Ancestor, is at the late Foundation Establishment stage.”

Qin Ruqing stroked her chin, het eyes glinting, “Beiling is much more prosperous than Nanling. I wonder how the old man from the Zhang family plans to persuade Ancestor Jin with what benefits.”

The Ancestor smiled and asked knowingly, “How do you know it’s driven by benefits? Jin and Zhang families are in-laws; based on this relationships, helping each other is reasonable.”

Qin Ruqing smiled innocently, “Ancestor, forgive me, but what relationship in this world is closer than one based on mutual benefit?

Even if Zhang and Jin families are close, could it be enough to make Ancestor Jin charge into battle for Zhang?

It must involve significant gains to move the Jin family.”

The Ancestor’s smile grew broader as he simply said, “Well said.”

As Qin Ruqing suspected, Zhang Xiao, the Ancestor of the Zhang family, was currently in Beiling with the Jin family, trying to appeal to Ancestor Jin with both sentiment and “benefit.”

Senior members of the Jin family gathered together, with Ancestor Jin Xuan sitting at the head, listening to Zhang Xiao’s grievances.

Upon hearing about the plot by the Qin family to kill his son, Ancestor Jin couldn’t help shedding a few tears and said, “Such a pity!”

After Zhang Xiao explained the whole story, he clenched his fists and said with indignation, “The Qin family came from a distant land and act arrogantly despite us being local noble families of the Southern Domain. It’s time to take action!”

Patriarch Jin nodded, “Action should indeed be taken. However, the Jin family is based in Beiling, and it’s not appropriate for us to intervene in matters of Nanling.”

Zhang Xiao frowned disapprovingly, “What’s with this North and South division? Aren’t we all part of the Southern Domain, essentially one family?

Moreover, considering our families’ relationship, the Qin family’s insult to the Zhang family is also a slap in the face to the Jin family.”

The Jin family members nodded in agreement outwardly but sneered inwardly.

This shameless old man was trying to bind them to his cause.

Despite the relationship through marriage—having married Jin family’s second daughter to Zhang Xiao—there was a mountain separating them, making their relationship distant.

However, they couldn’t argue openly.

Zhang Xiao had graciously let them marry his daughter without much fuss, which kept their marriage legitimate.

Seeing the cunning of the Jin family elders, Zhang Xiao nodded in understanding but didn’t respond.

He knew they were not to be trifled with.

Indeed, between noble families, there was little room for sentiment; it all boiled down to interests.

If he wanted Ancestor Jin to act, he needed to offer commensurate benefits.

Zhang Xiao tapped his hand on his knee three times and declared, “I understand.”

“Zhang’s request this time is quite audacious, involving the Jin family of Beiling in our affairs in Nanling, which indeed carries risks. Here’s the deal: I’ll be upfront. If Ancestor Jin agrees to my request, Zhang family will offer three conditions to the Jin family.”

Ancestor Jin listened attentively.

That’s more like it.

Even though your family generously married off a daughter, that alone isn’t enough to persuade my Jin family to take such risks.

“First,” Zhang Xia held up one finger, “if the Jin family intervenes in Nanling affairs, it may draw attention from the Celestial Bureau.

It’s a breach of protocol, but the impact should be minimal.

The Bureau might impose fines in spiritual stones and farmlands, all of which Zhang family will bear.”

The Jin family members smiled but remained silent.

Helping your family and breaking the rules means the fines should naturally be borne by your family.

If Zhang’s three conditions are all like this, then this discussion might as well be over.

Zhang Xia calmly raised a second finger, “Secondly, does Ancestor Jin know about the interdimensional secrets that emerged in Nanling a few years ago?”

Ancestor Jin nodded, “I’ve heard a bit about it.”

… In reality, he had been longing for it for a long time.

Such interdimensional secrets are rare and can’t be sought after.

Even the lowest-level ones are filled with rich treasures.

Unfortunately, this particular one emerged in the remote and obscure Nanling.

Since it’s in Nanling, the noble families of Beiling shouldn’t interfere.

The Celestial Bureau strictly forbids it; otherwise, if secrets like these were known, other noble families from different regions would swarm in, leaving local families with nothing.

It would be chaotic.

Zhang Xia continued, “The Qin family, greedy as they are, not content with owning thirty percent of the development rights in the interdimensional secrets, tried to seize more.

On the day it emerged, they clashed with my Zhang and Han clans.

Qin’s Ancestor, Wenxuan, is a ruthless character who used costly techniques to greatly enhance her strength, injuring the Han family’s Ancestor and forcibly taking half of the development rights of the secret realm!” Zhang Xia clenched his fist, visibly indignant.

In reality, he and the Han family had conspired to drive the Qin family out, but it backfired.

But, of course, that part couldn’t be mentioned.

Whether or not Ancestor Jin believed him, he also looked shocked and said in agreement, “That’s outrageous! If Qin’s Ancestor has such strength to simultaneously force both your Zhang and Han clans back, even with the use of secret techniques, her inherent strength must be formidable.”

This was also a subtle hint that if Qin’s strength was too great, he wouldn’t dare to act.

Zhang Xia immediately retorted, “Qin Wenxuan’s strength is merely propped up by secret techniques.

Her actual cultivation is only at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, and she’s heavily injured.

Even if she recovers, at most, she’ll reach late Foundation Establishment. Could she really be more formidable than you?”

Zhang Xia subtly flattered Ancestor Jin.

Ancestor Jin, with a dignified touch to his beard, said modestly, “You flatter me.”

But by the look of it, he enjoyed the flattery. “But how does this matter relate to the second condition you mentioned?”

Zhang Xia said seriously, “If Ancestor Jin joins me in the campaign against the Qin family, afterward, half of the development rights in the interdimensional secret will belong to the Jin family.”

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Ancestor Jin chuckled and stroked his beard, saying, “It sounds very tempting, but there’s no guarantee of success in this matter either.

Since the Secret Realm is currently occupied by the Qin family, unless that clan is wiped out, how can my Jin family intervene?”

In plain terms, Zhang Xia was offering them a pie in the sky.

While the offer indeed sounded appealing, expecting them to act without absolute certainty was overly optimistic.

Zhang Xia spoke earnestly, “I understand your concerns, However, even if Qin’s Wenxuan recovers, her strength will at most match yours.

You simply need to hold her off while I take out another newly promoted Foundation Establishment member of the Qin family.

With the three of us joining forces, what chance would Qin Wenxuan have left?”

“If both Foundation Establishment members perish, such an outsider family like the Qin’s would collapse immediately.

At that point, wouldn’t the Secret Realm be divided between our two clans?”

Patriarch Jin shook his head with a smile, “The Secret Realm is indeed tempting. However, nothing in life is guaranteed. There’s still risk involved…”

this meant: “Your offer is tempting, but it sounds a bit like a blank check. We would still bear the risk, so we’re looking for more substantial benefits!”

Understanding this, Zhang Xia couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

This old man’s appetite is quite something; isn’t he afraid of overpromising and underdelivering?