Chapter 469 3: Talent

"By Supreme Decree, I deliver your lonely soul. May all ghosts and demons, and all four forms of life, receive this grace..."

"Whether you died in the open or in secret, wronged and maligned; whether by creditor or foe, or by those who came to claim your life. Kneel before my altar as the Eight Trigrams shine. Rise from the Kan and depart, to be reborn in another place..."

A Daoist in ornate robes shook a Copper Bell and a Scripture Banner, chanting a Spell to guide the soul of the departed.

Several members of the Zhu Family's younger generation, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt on straw mats, kowtowing in thanks to those who came to pay their respects.

The mourning hall.

"Young Master Zhu."

Shopkeeper Lin from the coffin shop was bowing and scraping, his face plastered with a fawning smile.

"This coffin is one I specially prepared for myself. It's exquisitely crafted from the finest Spirit Wood, and an expert even inscribed a Rebirth Spell on it. Paired with the other funerary items, it's only eight hundred taels of silver in total."

"It's an absolute bargain!"

"Hn." Zhu Ju knocked on the coffin lid and gave a slight nod.

"Steward Liu, take Shopkeeper Lin to settle the bill."

"Yes."

Steward Liu bowed in assent and led Shopkeeper Lin away, leaving only family in the mourning hall.

The wives from the second and third branches knelt on the floor, a few young girls beside their respective mothers with lost expressions on their faces.

Their lives had depended on Master Zhu, and now that he was gone, their hearts were filled with both grief and uncertainty.

The future.

What would become of them?

Aunt Liuu of the third branch glanced at Zhu Ju, forcing a placating smile onto her tear-streaked face.

'Regardless of the past, Zhu Ju is the master of the Zhu Mansion now.'

"Zhu Ju."

Aunt Zhou of the second branch, her face deathly pale, spoke in a low voice.

"Zhu Ji is timid. Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare make a move against you. There must be another side to this story."

"Aunt Zhou." Zhu Ju's expression was cold and stern.

"My affairs can wait. The priority right now is to handle Master Zhu's funeral. We must first lay him to rest."

"As for Zhu Ji..."

"We'll discuss it later!"

In the Divine Dynasty, the hierarchy of status was strict. Once a family's gates were closed, the head of the household held virtual power of life and death over its members.

As for the second branch's maternal family...

Since she was only a concubine, she naturally wouldn't have any powerful backing.

In other words.

Once the funeral was over, Zhu Ju could find any excuse to make their lives a living hell.

If it was discovered that Zhu Ji had truly participated in the plot to kill him, no one would say a word even if he had the boy beaten to death in public.

Aunt Zhou went limp and collapsed to the floor, hugging her six-year-old daughter and wailing uncontrollably.

It was unclear if she was crying for her husband, or for her own child.

*

*

*

「A few days later.」

The funeral at the Zhu Mansion concluded, but some matters were only just beginning.

A strange atmosphere filled the courtyards, and many people wore anxious expressions, as if waiting for a disaster to befall them.

「The Zhu Mansion's study.」

"According to the investigation."

"On the day of your... incident, Young Master Zhu, Zhu Ji was with Wang Xiaoliu of South City. He received a message claiming the second branch had paid several thugs to abduct you, and one of your bracelets was sent as proof."

"Zhu Ji provided a cart and horses for those men, and he witnessed one of them strike the back of your head with a pickaxe..."

At this point, Steward Liu subconsciously glanced at Zhu Ju and swallowed hard before continuing.

"The second branch claims to know nothing of this."

"When Aunt Zhou left to visit her relatives, Father was still fine. She couldn't have predicted the future, nor could she have found someone to kill me the very instant Father's incident occurred. Even if she had the audacity, she doesn't have that kind of ability," Zhu Ju said.

"So..."

"Zhu Ji was framed by someone with ulterior motives. He was misled into believing it was his mother's plan, and that's why he got involved."

"Yes," Steward Liu nodded.

"That's what Steward Guo Jie said as well."

"Hmph!" Zhu Ju snorted lightly.

"Even so, the fact remains that he aided those villains. He participated in the attack, and his intent to kill me was genuine."

"According to the laws of the Divine Dynasty, how should he be dealt with?"

"For aiding an assault, the law dictates fifty lashes and exile of three thousand li. For killing a father or brother, however, the crime is three degrees more severe..." Steward Liu said in a low voice.

"The punishment is death!"

"Then hand him over to the Law Enforcement Hall to be dealt with according to the law." Zhu Ju stood up.

"Aunt Zhou of the second branch has failed in raising her son. Move her out of the Zhu Mansion. For Xiaonan's sake, let her reside on Narrow Clothes Lane."

"Cut the third branch's monthly allowance in half and strictly audit all their expenditures. Furthermore..."

"The servants and guards who were with me that day are to each receive thirty strokes of the cane and be expelled from the Zhu Mansion!"

"..." Steward Liu's heart trembled, but he replied with the utmost respect.

"Yes."

'If it weren't for the examination by the expert from the Qingyi Gang, I probably would have thought Zhu Ju's body had been seized by another soul.'

'He's only fifteen or sixteen, and he spent his childhood studying literature and playing with pet birds, never once managing family business. To think he could be this capable.'

'Everything was orderly and handled with a perfect sense of proportion.'

'Killing Zhu Ji, disregarding years of brotherly affection, was nothing short of ruthless.'

'Expelling Aunt Zhou, yet leaving her a chance to survive for the sake of her daughter, showed that he was thorough and prudent, leaving no room for criticism.'

'Suppressing the third branch... that must be because he suspects the third branch is involved but lacks evidence.'

'Caning and expelling the servants and guards was a move to establish his authority and cement his position as the new master of the Zhu Family.'

Understanding all this wasn't difficult.

What was difficult to grasp was his methodical execution and the emotionless way he issued commands. That commanding aura he possessed was even stronger than Master Zhu's had been, compelling Steward Liu to obey instinctively.

After Steward Liu left, Zhu Ju pondered for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes.

'This transmigration was incredibly dangerous—I barely survived. Thankfully, I've finally found a place to recover.'

'I can't be bothered with the Zhu Family's problems right now. Restoring my Cultivation and strength is the most urgent matter.'

'Because of the Immortal Array, my Physical Body was almost completely destroyed when I broke through the dimensional barrier, and my Primordial Spirit was grievously wounded. Only a few fragments of my Essence-blood and bone managed to merge with this body.'

'Now I've reshaped this Physical Body and taken it over, but the new form is exceedingly weak.'

"What do I have left..."

Muttering to himself, Zhu Ju gently rubbed the spot between his eyebrows. His Physical Body trembled slightly as a certain awareness surfaced in his mind.

Name: Zhu Ju

Age: 15 (163)

Cultivation: Ungraded

Talent: Formless Seal (Remnant), Venerable Immortal Bone (Remnant), Five-Colored Divine Light, Life Soul and Seven Spirits Entering the Body

'The Eye of Insight had long since fused with my flesh and blood. While it wasn't like one of those 'Systems' that provides a permanent, static assessment, it allowed me to clearly 'see' my own attributes.'

'Although the Five-Colored Divine Light is powerful, I can't use it right now.'

'Even though the Formless Seal is a remnant, it can still reflect the Ten Thousand Laws. With the boost from my Celestial Impact and Spiritual Wisdom spirits, learning Martial Arts and Magic is a breeze. I can even grasp profound and Mysterious Methods after just a few viewings. If I wanted to, I could easily pose as an exceptionally talented prodigy of both Martial Arts and Magic!'

'The Venerable Immortal Bone holds a vast amount of Essence and can continuously nourish and temper my Physical Body. Even without active Cultivation, I could become a top-tier expert just by living long enough.'

'A genius...'

After some thought, Zhu Ju gently shook his head.

'The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be blown down by the wind. I came to this world to find a path forward, so I don't need to stand out so much.'

'However, I can't just hide away completely. I'll need to reveal some of my Talent to get easier access to top-tier Cultivation Techniques. The key lies in finding the right balance.'

"Young Master."

A cautious inquiry came from outside the door.

"The Martial Arts Masters have arrived."

"Oh!"

Zhu Ju's eyes lit up.

"I'm coming right now."