Chapter 331

Chapter 331: Great Worries

The proposal for collaboration from Tian Xia Restaurant came suddenly, but if it could be properly utilized, it brought absolute benefits with no harm at all for Zhou Luo.

Zhou Luo planned to entrust these matters to Wang Lang.

Considering the reputation of Tian Xia Restaurant, it should not resort to any schemes or tricks in this affair.

However, when the time came, he would still keep a close watch.

As he was about to leave, Manager Jin produced a golden token.

"Pill Master Zhou, this token represents Tian Xia Restaurant’s supreme membership. As long as you possess this token, no matter your location, you can lodge at the restaurant for free and enjoy all privileges befitting a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the restaurant."

Manager Jin was a businessman and knew that sincerity must be demonstrated for cooperation, so he brought out this token.

Hearing those words, Zhou Luo’s eyes lit up, and he took the token over.

This token was cast from pure gold, stamped with the emblem of Tian Xia Restaurant and some twisting red lines that seemed disordered but carried an inexplicable power.

As a spiritual appraisal master, Zhou Luo recognized at a glance that this token was actually a Supreme Qi Refinement magical artifact that could be activated to confront foes.

"Then thank you, Manager Jin." He did not refuse the other party’s goodwill.

"A pleasant cooperation." Manager Jin smiled faintly.

"A pleasant cooperation."

After leaving Tian Xia Restaurant, Zhou Luo went to Yao Yuan Pavilion and informed the anxious Wang Lang about this matter.

On hearing it, Wang Lang slapped his thigh and said, "Master Manager, this is perfect. We can partner with Tian Xia Restaurant and surely make huge profits."

His voice showed some excitement as he began imagining the future blueprint.

His recent study of business seemed to awaken his unique talent in this field; his sharp instincts made him realize immediately that this venture held great promise.

"Hmm, this affair will be in your hands going forward. With my backing behind you, do not let yourself be pressured by Tian Xia Restaurant—maintain your own judgment." Zhou Luo reminded.

After all, Tian Xia Restaurant wielded more power and had deeper backing than Yao Yuan Pavilion.

He worried Wang Lang might be exploited by them in the subsequent cooperation.

"Rest assured, Master Manager. This time, they proactively sought cooperation. I am aware." Wang Lang spoke confidently.

According to Zhou Luo, the initiative lay with them, so there was no cause to shrink back.

"Good."

After relaying these orders, Zhou Luo passed a batch of potions to the other and then returned to Zhou Fu.

In the days that followed, Zhou Luo spent most of his time instructing the children within the mansion.

Meanwhile, outside, with the addition of Tian Xia Restaurant’s staff, the industries set up by Wang Lang gradually came into play, their influence slowly spreading across the entire Immortal City.

…

In the inner gate district of Qinyuan Sect.

Presently, Zhou Chang Le and Zhou Shiling had entered the inner gate, gaining access to better heaven and earth spiritual energy and perks, even the right to have individual small courtyards.

Amid some mist-wreathed, immortal peaks, Zhou Shiling, draped in a gorgeous blue-green gown, sat hugging her knees beneath a tree, her pretty eyes gazing steadily at the nearby grasses.

In the grassland, spirit deer were lowering their heads chewing spiritual grass, beside them pure white spirit rabbits were hopping about, and farther away, spirit birds soared in the sky, forming a harmonious scene.

But on Zhou Shiling’s delicate, fair face, there was a trace of worry, and a hint of vexation between her brows.

Her originally bright eyes were also clouded with gloom, seeming hesitant, unknown what she was thinking about.

Soon after, Zhou Chang Le walked from behind and sat himself down beside her.

“Still vexed about Jiang Tao’s matter?”

He gazed in the direction his sister was looking, his brows that resembled Zhou Luo’s carrying a touch of concern.

“Brother, what do you think I should do?” Zhou Shiling turned her head, a flicker of confusion on her lovely face.

Now she had blossomed into a graceful beauty, her appearance slightly famous in Qinyuan Sect, and there were many suitors pursuing her.

And among them was an Inner Sect disciple named Jiang Tao.

This Jiang Tao’s cultivation was also at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

After Zhou Chang Le and Zhou Shiling entered the sect, Jiang Tao deeply fell in love with this young woman and launched a wild pursuit.

However, Zhou Shiling did not like this guy and had even rejected him face to face before.

But Jiang Tao remained unrelenting, persistently harassing her.

If it were any other time, judging by Zhou Shiling’s temper, she probably would have slapped him long ago.

Yet this Jiang Tao was somewhat special in the Inner Sect.

He was the direct disciple of a Golden Core master in the Inner Sect, bearing a high-level bloodline.

In Qinyuan Sect, apart from distinguishing disciples as Outer Sect and Inner Sect, the master-disciple relationship and the nominal disciples previously mentioned by Quan Chunzhi were similar.

Like Zhou Chang Le and Zhou Shiling, they were initially entry-level disciples. Later, owing to their master’s favor, they had become inner disciples, but a vast chasm still separated them from direct disciples.

This chasm was not so easy to cross.

Because in Qinyuan Sect, all direct disciples possessed various different bloodlines.

These bloodlines originated from their elders, and those elders were all high-ranking members of Qinyuan Sect.

It could be said that Qinyuan Sect resembled a larger "family," with different factions within that family.

These factions were bound by bloodline ties and remained enduring.

The bloodline of each faction could be passed down to the next generation, and these bloodlines allowed the children of their faction to cultivate faster, achieve higher quality, and even crush their peers in battle.

One could say the controllers of these factions were the elders of Qinyuan Sect’s "family."

But formal disciples like Zhou Chang Le and Zhou Shiling were at best like sons-in-law married into the "family." Though they enjoyed "family" privileges, compared to the "family" children, their status still differed.

Direct disciples were like "family children," while formal disciples were like "wedded-in sons-in-law." The gap between the two was not small.

So facing Jiang Tao’s relentless harassment, Zhou Shiling really couldn’t do much.

Zhou Chang Le was also aware of this issue, but he too felt powerless.

Because earlier he had already reported the matter to his master.

Originally, he thought that since their master cherished them siblings so much, he would surely step in. Even if not, a verbal warning shouldn’t have been a problem.

To his surprise, the master simply ignored it completely, saying that as long as Zhou Shiling undertook Closed-Door Training with diligent cultivation, she needn’t worry about being disturbed.

Ostensibly, the strongest in Qinyuan Sect was a Nascent Soul cultivator, and below the Nascent Soul cultivator were the Golden Core masters.

Qinyuan Sect had as many as a dozen Golden Core masters; some were the Sect Leader, some were Inner Sect elders, and some were protective elders.

And each Golden Core master represented a faction.

The factions restrained and balanced one other, collectively maintaining Qinyuan Sect’s equilibrium.

Of course, overt and covert struggles weren’t lacking among these factions, for after all, the power pie was only so big—if some took more, others got less.

Zhou Chang Le’s master was surely wary of the faction behind Jiang Tao, which was why he avoided meddling in such affairs.

Faced with his sister’s turmoil, Zhou Chang Le sighed, "For now, you should enter Closed-Door Training and cultivate diligently. Perhaps later he’ll lose interest in you."

Zhou Shiling pursed her lips, looked up at the azure sky, her face bitter, "It must be so. I just hope he won’t bother me."