"Ah, you mustn't say such things!" Upon hearing this, Du Er was startled and nearly moved forward to cover Zhu Bufan's mouth.

"What's wrong? Why are you so nervous!" Seeing Du Er's reaction, Zhu Bufan's heart sank as he continued to press for answers.

"It seems that Young Master Feng's information is indeed too limited. Zhou Xiaotian, the third son of the Family Head, is extremely mysterious. He does not reside in the Zhou Family, but rather in the Capital. Recently, it's been heard that he's made great military achievements and has been conferred as the Prince of Southtown! His prestige in the clan has even surpassed that of the Clan Leader!" Du Er explained cautiously.

"Good..." Suddenly, an exclamation of approval reached Zhu Bufan's ears, and he couldn't help but look in the direction of the voices.

In the corner of the training field, a very youthful boy, with jade-like features and sword-like brows that reach his temples, exhibiting extreme handsomeness, was practicing his fist technique.

The boy's punches were incredibly slow, each punch silent and without the slightest hint of power, yet the onlookers continued to cheer incessantly.

Zhu Bufan glanced, and immediately understood why everyone was cheering repeatedly.

Turns out this youthful boy, barely twelve or thirteen years old, had already reached the pinnacle of the Postnatal Seventh Rank. The set of fist techniques he was practicing now was precisely for refining the essence and tempering the viscera, and it was the most top-notch Cultivation Technique.

"He's going to break through!" It was unclear who shouted, but everyone's expression changed as they focused their attention even more.

Then they saw the handsome boy suddenly move, transitioning from extreme stillness to extreme motion, every joint in his body cracking loudly, like popcorn popping. Following that, the boy seemed to be enveloped in a steamer, as countless mists rose, and sweat poured down as he moved his fists and feet.

"Gululu..." The handsome boy's throat emitted sounds akin to a toad's call.

This didn't surprise Zhu Bufan, who knew these sounds were also a method for tempering the viscera, called the Golden Toad Call, each inhalation and exhalation purging impurities from the viscera.

This Golden Toad Call didn't last long, probably only about ten breaths. The boy enveloped in fog then emitted clear enticing whistle sounds, drawing countless glances.

"He broke through!" Zhu Bufan thought to himself, and indeed, as soon as the thought arose, the whistle abruptly ceased, then a Gale swept through, dispersing the mist.

Servants who had been waiting by the side immediately came forward, offering steaming, aromatic, brownish liquid.

"Amazing, Young Master Zhengde has broken through to the Postnatal Eighth Rank, surely he can now challenge the superior rooms?"

"Yes, definitely..."

Instantly, a round of sycophantic flattery completely surrounded the boy.

...

"Young Master Feng, take a look, that is the legitimate son of Zhou Xiaotian, Young Master Zhengde!" Du Er whispered while pulling Zhu Bufan.

"Zhengde? Zhou Zhengde?" His heart thudded as he, who had originally not paid much attention, suddenly found his mind in a turmoil, his gaze sweeping past the crowd to the handsome boy. "Is this my half-brother?"

"Young Master Feng, let's go, they're calling us again!"

"Alright, let's go!" Zhu Bufan took one last deep glance at the handsome boy before leaving with Du Er.

...

"Miss, the matters of Panlong Ridge have been settled!" In a lavish room, a gaunt old man stood respectfully in front of a beautiful woman in her thirties.

"Oh, how did it go?" The beautiful woman raised her delicate eyebrow, her expression unchanged.

"The plan failed, Miss. We underestimated the strength of that old Zheng Changde, and in Zheng Changde's possession, there is a Soul Seal Device!" The old man's face showed a trace of shock.

"Soul Seal Device? How could Zheng Changde possess a Soul Seal Device? You know, even in our entire Zijinghua clan, there is only one Soul Seal Device, and it's held by the Family Head, constantly receiving the clan's worship!"

"That being the case, this Soul Seal Device must be bestowed by Zhou Mengjie!" the old man speculated.

"Hmph, definitely so, only she in the entire Zhou Family could do something on such a scale!" A flash of resentment passed through the beautiful woman's eyes.

"By the way, Miss, the people from Nanli City have arrived and are now likely in the inferior rooms!" the old man hurriedly added.

"Oh, really?" A faint smile crept onto the beautiful woman's face, "Indeed, I should give him a good warning!" Saying this, she picked up an animal like a cat and walked outside.

...

The slum district!

Entering the slum district, even Zhu Bufan couldn't help but frown. He really hadn't expected to find a place like a slum in such a lavish area controlled by the Zhou Family. The walls were low and the roofs slanted, the houses tilted and dilapidated. The only difference from a true slum was that this place was slightly cleaner.

At this moment, over a hundred people occupied the open space, practicing fist techniques and cultivation arts.

As soon as Zhu Bufan and his group entered, they attracted everyone's attention.

"Let me introduce everyone, these are from the Nanli City branch!" Du Er loudly announced, pointing at Zhu Bufan's group.

However, out of the hundred or so people, only a few paused, nodding slightly towards Zhu Bufan and his entourage as a greeting. The rest merely glanced at them with no further reaction. Yet, Zhu Bufan noticed a hidden enmity in their eyes.

"The Zhou Family's forces are complex, with eighteen branches, and the strife between the main and side branches is obvious, but the conflict among side branches is just as apparent. Only the top five side branches can exert control over the cities under the Zhou Family's dominion!" Recalling the information provided by Zi Yu, Zhu Bufan understood the hostility in their eyes.

Just then, a stir erupted outside the house.

"Lady Xu is here!"

Outside the door, a clear voice rang out.

"She has arrived!" Upon hearing this, Zhu Bufan's heart stirred. "What was bound to come has finally arrived!" he thought.

Within all of Zhu Bufan's circle, there might be several with the surname Xu, but there was only one who could be called Lady Xu, and that was Zhou Xiaotian's current wife.

Soon, a strange fragrance wafted in, as four maids clad in light blue brocade led the way, each holding a small incense burner, thin tendrils of smoke curling from them, incredibly luxurious.

It didn't take long before a dignified and noble middle-aged woman slowly entered, supported by one of the maids.

As soon as she entered, her gaze fell upon the group from Nanli City.

With just a brief sweep, the beautiful woman locked her gaze onto Zhu Bufan.

"This is Lady Xu. Why aren't you coming over to pay your respects?" Du Er, feeling agitated, wondered how this great presence had been disturbed.

"Greetings to Lady Xu!" Everyone bowed in respect, except Zhu Bufan, who quietly observed the middle-aged beauty, his expression calm and composed, without the slightest movement.

"How dare you!" The maid beside Lady Xu suddenly shouted, "You've seen Lady Xu, yet you do not pay respects. Do you have no manners? What is your name? Kneel down and apologize!" The maid, sharp-tongued and eloquent, seized the opportunity, knowing her master's purpose in coming, and reprimanded unreservedly.

"Swoosh swoosh..." The gazes of these young family members fell onto Zhu Bufan. Someone who recognized Zhu Bufan whispered.

"Zhu Bufan? Hmph..." The maid sneered, continuing her questioning, "Still not kneeling to apologize!"

"Hmph, apologize? Kneel?" Zhu Bufan snorted coldly, feeling a surge of violent energy spring up within him. "Kneel down? Who do you think you are? Just a servant daring to demand that this young master kneels! Are you courting death?" Zhu Bufan's explosive shout, sudden and loud, buzzed in everyone's heads, leaving all dumbfounded, especially Du Er, whose mouth gaped wide, as if he were staring at a monster.

Zhu Bufan's questioning also truly shocked the pretty maid. The scenario she had imagined had not occurred. Used to bossing people around, she was left speechless, her mind in disarray after such a tirade from Zhu Bufan.

"Such impudent youth, showing such disrespect! What nerve you have!" The noblewoman's face turned cold as if covered in frost, as she questioned Zhu Bufan in a low voice.

Upon this reproach, Zhu Bufan immediately felt an inexplicable pressure weighing on his soul.

"This Lady Xu, what an imposing presence. Despite not being skilled in martial arts, she has honed an authority postnatally that can emulate the effect of a martial artist's aura!"

Zhu Bufan was secretly alarmed, realizing such authority must belong to someone long accustomed to power, implying that this 'stepmother,' Lady Xu, was not simple.

"Hmph, I'm disrespectful, you say? I'm at least a direct descendant of the Zhou Family, and she? A mere lowly maid daring to dictate terms to me. Is that respectful? She's devoid of manners, and her master seems to have taught her no better!" Zhu Bufan showed no signs of retreat, instead directly opposing, his words laced with sarcasm and scorn.

"You..." A glint of cold light flashed in the noblewoman's eyes, as anger and an unfamiliar sense of humiliation flared within her.

She had been humiliated by someone she most despised!

Her eyes flickered with killing intent as Lady Xu spoke in a chilling tone, "A direct descendant of Zhou Family? Oh, so you must be Zhu Bufan?" feigning ignorance of Zhu Bufan.

Zhu Bufan's eyes were full of mockery. "Pretending not to know me? Hmph, then why come looking for trouble with me from the start, even going as far as sending people to kill me?"

Seeing the mocking derision in Zhu Bufan's eyes, despite Lady Xu's composure, she couldn't help but explode, discreetly exerting force in her hand, pinching the languid cat-like creature in her arms.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.