Chapter 342: Zhou Tian’s Warning

"Mhmm." Zhou Tian nodded in a satisfied manner, seeing Yi Chen’s actions as he reached next to Zhou Fei a few moments later.

’It’s only been a few months, but the air around him has changed greatly...’ Zhou Tian thought while glancing towards Yi Chen.

The next second, he turned towards Zhou Mei, whose expression had turned a little uncomfortable since the moment he entered the dining hall, and said, "These ancient tombs and ruins aren’t playgrounds which just anyone could enter freely.

Just entering them requires one to have sufficient cultivation base. It is the basic requirement, and only when this requirement is met is one allowed access inside the tomb.

What’s worse is the fact that even if you’re allowed inside, it doesn’t mean anything.

More dangers lurk inside the tomb than opportunities, so the chances that one will make it back alive after entering the tomb have always been dismal."

As he said those words, he pointed at Yi Chen and asked while taking his seat, "Tell her, Yi Chen, how many from the people who had entered the same tomb as you were able to make it back alive in the end?"

"Uhm...I can’t be very sure but among the ones that entered the tomb which amounted in hundreds...I think our group was the only one that managed to make it back alive." Yi Chen answered after a brief thought.

"You hear that?" Zhou Tian asked while directing his gaze back towards Zhou Mei, "You’re still too inexperienced to be thinking of such things, so just focus on your cultivation and gaining battle experience for now, you understand?"

"...Yes, father,"

Zhou Mei answered in a low voice with her eyes directed toward the table.

"Dear, you didn’t need to lecture her like this. It’s only natural for Mei’er to not know a lot about tombs at her age," Zhou Fei said with a slight furrow.

"It’s better to extinguish foolish thoughts the moment they arise rather than waiting for them to set ablaze," Zhou Tian replied with a meaningful glimmer, which made Zhou Fei purse her lips.

"..."

Feeling the sudden spike in tension in the room, Yi Chen couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

Glancing towards Zhou Mei, who was carrying a somewhat bitter expression, Yi Chen patted her back a few times.

"What’s with that dull look? Were you really looking forward to entering a tomb or what?" he asked with a chuckle and continued, "How about this then? When you’ve entered the Qi Absorption Stage, we can explore a tomb together. By that time, you’ll definitely be strong enough to protect yourself."

"I can really?!" Zhou Mei snapped her neck towards Yi Chen the very next second and asked with excitement brimming on her face.

"Well...if Madam Fei and Master Tian have no problems with that, then we can definitely do that." Yi Chen stated while turning to face her parents the next second.

Zhou Fei held a little contemplative expression on her face, a little worried about Zhou Mei’s safety.

Meanwhile, Zhou Tian just thought over it briefly and nodded, "Sure, I don’t mind. If she’s accompanying you, then I can rest assured."

Seeing that Zhou Tian was alright with it, Zhou Fei too gave her acknowledgement the next second with a sigh, "Well...I’m a little worried, but I too believe that with Yi Chen by her side, it would be a great learning experience for her."

"Yes! Then it’s a deal! Brother Chen cannot go back on his words later, you understand?" Zhou Mei exclaimed with joy evident on her face.

"Sure." Yi Chen answered with a chuckle as the expressions on the Zhou couple’s faces also turned softer.

"Oh, the food’s here." Zhou Fei muttered, seeing the door to the room opening as delicious warm food soon made its way inside on trolleys and was laid down on the table by the staff.

Their mouth-watering smell naturally filled the entire room the very next second, making Yi Chen swallow a large gulp of saliva with anticipation clearly written on his face.

A smile formed on Zhou Fei’s expression seeing this as she said the next second while gesturing towards the table, "Eat to your heart’s content. Knowing how much you’re into Qi-enriched food, I had specially instructed the chef to prepare a lot of different varieties of dishes for you."

"Madam Fei has my thanks then," Yi Chen answered with a smile and with a green signal from her, he launched himself at the dishes.

"Haha, that’s how a healthy man should be eating," Zhou Tian commented while watching Yi Chen eat as the entire family began to eat as well.

"So, how’s your training for the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect’s entrance test going on?" Zhou Fei asked a few moments later, seeing that Yi Chen’s eating pace had decreased considerably.

"Uhm...I have been too busy with tomb exploration and travelling in the last few months, so I didn’t particularly train for those tests separately... So, I think I’ll start preparing from today onwards." Yi Chen answered while scratching his cheek.

"Yes, you definitely should." Zhou Tian said with a nod and continued, "Although with your strength and cultivation you shouldn’t be very worried about being selected, it’s always recommended to get as familiar with the test pattern as possible.

Especially for you, as in case you perform exceptionally well in the entrance test, then you might just be able to attract the attention of one of the Nine Peak Masters."

"Peak masters?" Yi Chen asked with confusion evident in his eyes, as this was his first time hearing about them.

"Yes, they have the most say among the sect’s elders, with each of them having their cultivation at the Third Core Building Stage. If you’re able to win their favour because of your performance, then it would help you a lot in the future."

Zhou Tian answered the next second.

"So that’s how it is..." Yi Chen nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, a glimmer appeared in Zhou Fei’s eyes as she suggested the next second, "How about learning together with Mei’er? She’s been diligently preparing for the entrance tests separately apart from her regular cultivation.

I’m sure she’ll be of great help to you. In return, you can spar with her and give her some pointers."

"This..." Yi Chen couldn’t help but feel embarrassed when he heard this and said, "Madam Fei jests. I’m still only at the Meridian Refinement Stage, so compared to the experts which the Zhou Clan have how could I be in a position to give Zhou Mei pointers?"

Hearing Yi Chen’s humble answer, Zhou Fei couldn’t help but smile and said while shaking her head, "While that might be true... but Mei’er is a special case. I think she’ll learn more from you than her teachers at this point."

"Yes, mother’s right!" Zhou Mei exclaimed the very next instant, "I’m tired of listening to those old foggies telling me I’m doing it wrong each and every time. I’ll much rather learn something from Brother Chen than them."

As she finished those words, she rolled her eyes.

"As you can see..." Zhou Fei gave a knowing smile at Yi Chen and said, "This is how things are at the moment."

"I...understand." Yi Chen nodded with an awkward expression and said, "Then I’ll do just as Madam Fei suggested."

"Mhm, that would be good." Zhou Fei nodded with a pleased smile, and Zhou Mei too was carrying a similar expression on her face.

A while later, they were all done with the main dish and were savouring the dessert that had just been served to them.

"Now that I recall, I’ve yet to congratulate you for your performance at the Inter Clan tournament. You did great, and words of your performance have reached many noble clans, with even the Imperial family taking notice of you." Zhou Tian stated a few moments later.

"Thank you, Master Tian. I’ll continue to put in more effort and get better." Yi Chen answered with a smile.

"That’s definitely something you should be doing," Zhou Tian answered with a pleased smile, seeing that Yi Chen didn’t take the compliment to his head and continued, "However, I didn’t just mention this to congratulate you. Your performance has naturally also attracted great attention from people with whom you should be wary."

"Wary?" Yi Chen asked with a subtle frown.

’Did I make enemies by doing nothing? I haven’t even begun to start slapping the faces of those Young Masters yet...’ Yi Chen thought in a speechless manner.

"Indeed." Zhou Tian nodded and continued, "Zhou Ding, my younger brother, has still not returned to the clan, so it’s obvious that the ambush attempt on Zhou Mei was his doing.

Moreover...after digging around in the last few months, we were able to find some information about Zhou Ding’s frequent contacts with the Huo Clan’s members."

As Zhou Tian said that, a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. "Since the Huo Clan has decided to play dirty, I’ve ensured that Zhou Mei is always guarded by trusted people.

However, there’s still a chance that they might take action against you, as you were the one who had soiled their earlier plan. Moreover, with you on Zhou Mei’s side, they’ll eventually try to make things difficult for you as well."

"The Huo Clan..." Yi Chen’s eyes also couldn’t help but narrow when he heard the name which he could never forget.

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