Chapter 261: A Mere Gang Force Dare Claim the Title of Celestial Pride?

The road was paved with bluestone, flanked by all sorts of flowers and plants, all trimmed neatly.

Exquisite patterns were carved into the corridor pillars. The upturned eaves and glazed tiles gleamed in the sunlight.

After passing through several archways and courtyards, the guard led them to the front of a compound.

“This is the place. You may go in.”

With that, the guard turned and left.

Zhong Wangji took a deep breath, straightened his robes, and then strode into the courtyard.

Zhang Su followed behind him.

The courtyard was arranged with great elegance.

In the center stood a living hall with green bricks, black tiles, and intricately carved doors and windows.

A few stalks of emerald bamboo were planted before the entrance.

Zhong Wangji led Zhang Su into the living hall.

The furnishings inside were simple. A landscape painting hung in the center, depicting a Jiangnan water town with a serene and profound mood.

Several chairs were placed on either side, each covered with a silk cushion.

Zhang Su also noticed a beautiful woman in her thirties.

The woman wore a light purple dress, her hair done up in a bun and held in place by a golden buyao hairpin.

Her features bore a slight resemblance to Meng Shouzhen’s, especially her eyes, which were bright and full of spirit.

“Elder Zhong!”

The woman spoke.

Her voice was clear and carried a hint of warmth.

“Xiaoyun, has it really been twenty years in the blink of an eye…”

Zhong Wangji clearly knew the woman as well.

This woman must be Meng Yun, the daughter of the Sect Leader, Meng Shouzhen.

Zhong Wangji looked at Meng Yun, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

“Elder Zhong, and this is…”

Meng Yun’s gaze fell upon Zhang Su, sizing him up.

“Zhang Su pays his respects to Lady Yao.”

Zhang Su spoke first, bowing to Meng Yun.

Zhong Wangji smiled and said, “Xiaoyun, this is Zhang Su, a Celestial Pride of the Guiyuan Sect’s Inner Sect. He has come this time to ask for your help…”

Zhong Wangji then briefly explained the situation with the Jingyuan Sect and the Three Sects Alliance.

After hearing him out, Meng Yun’s expression darkened.

“The Jingyuan Sect has some nerve!”

Meng Yun also held the Guiyuan Sect dear to her heart.

After all, she had grown up in the Guiyuan Sect; it was her maternal home.

If she were in charge, how would a mere Jingyuan Sect dare to cast a covetous eye on the Guiyuan Sect?

Unfortunately, although she was the lady of the Yao Family’s Fifth Branch, she couldn’t make decisions for the entire Yao Family.

The Fifth Branch was not one of the more powerful branches of the Yao Family.

Her own influence as the lady of the Fifth Branch was even more limited.

“An Inner Sect Celestial Pride, and only eighteen years old. Truly a peerless talent with a boundless future!”

Meng Yun praised.

Her gaze lingered on Zhang Su for another moment, filled with admiration.

“Lady Yao, this is a letter from the Sect Leader for you.”

Zhang Su took out a letter and handed it to Meng Yun.

The envelope was inscribed with the words “For Meng Yun’s Eyes Only” in Meng Shouzhen’s handwriting.

Meng Yun accepted the letter and recognized her father’s handwriting at a glance.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she broke the seal.

The paper was thin and covered in script.

Meng Yun read it word by word, very carefully.

After she finished, she folded the letter, placed it back in the envelope, and carefully put it away.

She now basically understood her father’s intentions.

“This is a bit tricky. The Elder of Mixed Element Peak is actually the Third Ancestor. But if you want to ask the Third Ancestor for help, my words won’t carry much weight.”

Meng Yun shook her head.

Her tone was tinged with helplessness.

Although she was indeed the lady of the Yao Family’s Fifth Branch, she had no standing to speak before the Yao Family’s Third Ancestor.

The Third Ancestor was one of the Yao Family’s old patriarchs and an Elder of Mixed Element Peak, holding a revered status within the family.

A mere lady of the Fifth Branch like herself didn’t even have the right to speak in his presence.

“Xiaoyun, the Sect Leader naturally understands your predicament. You don’t need to persuade Elder Yao, you just need to arrange for him to meet with us.”

Zhong Wangji said.

He knew it was unrealistic to expect Meng Yun to directly convince Elder Yao to help.

But as long as Elder Yao was willing to see them, they could present the Three-Thousand-Year-Old Ice Lotus.

Then, there would be hope for Zhang Su to secure a position as a Named Disciple.

Meng Yun thought for a moment and finally agreed.

“If it’s just a matter of getting the Third Ancestor to meet you, that shouldn’t be difficult. However, he enters a period of deep cultivation every day, and no one dares to disturb him. His cultivation session will end in about an hour, so you’ll have to wait.”

Meng Yun said.

“No matter. We can wait.”

Zhong Wangji immediately sat down.

He found a chair, picked up a cup of tea from the table, and took a sip.

It had been a long time since Meng Yun had been back to the Guiyuan Sect, and she missed it dearly, so she kept asking about how things were there.

“Elder Zhong, is my father in good health?”

“The Sect Leader is robust and in high spirits.”

“Has anything interesting happened in the Guiyuan Sect recently?”

“There have been quite a few interesting things, actually…”

Zhong Wangji then selected some recent events from the Guiyuan Sect to tell Meng Yun about.

For example, the Three Sects exchange conference, Zhang Su winning first place at the Heroes Gathering with his Embracing Pill Cultivation, Zhang Su slaying Zhou Dingshan with a single sword strike, and Zhang Su becoming the fourth Inner Sect Celestial Pride in the Guiyuan Sect’s history.

Meng Yun listened with great interest, her eyes filled with pride.

Zhang Su sat to the side, silent.

He sat on a chair in a corner of the living hall, his gaze sweeping across the room as he took in the decor.

The hall wasn’t large, but every item was exquisite.

The landscape painting on the wall was finely detailed with a profound mood, clearly the work of a master.

The blue-and-white porcelain vase on the table had a gentle glaze and intricate patterns, making it quite valuable.

Even the rug on the floor was woven from the finest wool, featuring complex patterns and vibrant colors.

“Yu’er, this is Zhang Su’s first time visiting the Yao Family. Why don’t you take him for a look around.”