Having received Chu Zheng's permission, the Song Clan individuals were finally able to enter Taixuan.
Since the day Chu Zheng returned, Geng Yiyang began to close off for cultivation and no longer received visitors.
In other words, as the Saint Heir, Chu Zheng had now invisibly beco the highest ranking person in Taixuan.
The morning sky was thick with dawn's vibrant energy.
Chu Zheng casually picked a remote peak, and in a palace upon it, he t with the visitors from the Song Clan lineage.
Aside from him, Gong Rulong was also present, accompanied by two Supre Elders who had entered the Nine Transformations of Divine Infant.
In the presence of these three, the number of people in the Southern Territory who could harm Chu Zheng was very few.
The Song Clan had brought only three people, one of whom Chu Zheng recognized.
It was Song Xian, whom Chu Zheng had t during his ti in Great Zhou, the sa one who had once had an encounter with Song Lingqing.
"Song Clan, Song Shengming, pays respects to the Taixuan Holy Son."
Song Shengming looked at Chu Zheng and greeted him with clasped hands; as the heir to a holy land, his status was only higher, not lower than Song Shengming's, and he was worthy of this gesture of respect.
"Speak your purpose," Chu Zheng commanded from the head seat, cutting to the chase.
Song Shengming didn't speak but instead turned his head to look at Song Xian beside him.
Seeing this, Song Xian stepped forward without any hesitation, bowed deeply, and then spoke with his head lowered and in a respectful tone:
"During the incident in Great Zhou, Song Xian was unaware of the Saint Heir's status and caused offense. Today, I have specifically co to ask for forgiveness, hoping the Saint Heir can pardon my past transgressions."
Compared to the prideful deanor he had upon their first eting, Song Xian's posture was undoubtedly much lower now.
These scions of age-old families often possess certain instincts uncommon to ordinary people, where the interests of the clan often outweigh personal honor or disgrace.
"It's unnecessary. Disputes are only normal when one is away from ho," Chu Zheng said, devoid of any intention to take the matter to heart and waved his hand dismissively, then looked at Song Shengming with a slightly focused gaze:
"Presumably, this elder has not co for this trivial matter alone. Please, speak frankly."
This act of Song Shengming was clearly a gesture of goodwill, but Chu Zheng was not interested in such overtures; he rarely took such minor frictions to heart, as most of the ti, action led to life or death outcos.
For Song Xian, he had no significant animosity either; with his impressive family background and personal talent, he was entitled to his pride. Furthermore, the lesson that needed to be given had already been delivered last ti.
Seeing Chu Zheng's candid and direct deanor, Song Shengming also felt slightly relieved; at least, this Taixuan Holy Son seed not difficult to deal with.
After a mont of silence, he still chose to be direct: "Has the Saint Heir already been inford of the Song Clan's hereditary Secret Realm?"
"I am aware," Chu Zheng replied without evasion. "I know you are searching for Blood Jade Fragnts, and I indeed have one in my possession."
Song Shengming's brows slightly furrowed; Chu Zheng's overly straightforward attitude made him suddenly feel a bit uneasy:
"What does the Saint Heir desire?"
No sooner had he asked the question than Song Shengming imdiately added:
"This Secret Realm can only be unlocked by my Song Clan's bloodline, and most of the inherited treasures within are prepared by our ancestors for their progeny. Outsiders will find it difficult to enjoy."
The implicit aning was to encourage Chu Zheng to give up on the idea of the Secret Realm. Song Shengming's worry stemd not from Chu Zheng's cultivation but from what Geng Yiyang had said before.
"As long as Chu Zheng desires it, the Taixuan Holy Land will help him obtain it."
This statent's significance was such that Song Shengming had no choice but to take it seriously. With such an ancient faction, one couldn't fathom how many trump cards it might be concealing.
The current Song Clan... was no longer what it used to be.
Hearing what Song Shengming had said, Chu Zheng's mouth curved slightly as he spoke in a smooth voice, "Your Song Clan has its own thods for searching for people. You must already know that within Taixuan, there is soone from the Song Clan, right?"
"When I ca last ti, I had already noticed it. According to your Holy Master, he is a Heretic Cultivator, now within the jurisdiction of the Immortal Alliance, and can no longer be considered as part of my Song Clan."
Song Shengming spoke slowly, scrutinizing Chu Zheng, his gaze gradually sharpening. This matter had already been addressed by Geng Yiyang; there was no need to hide it.
From Chu Zheng's words, he had already discerned a hint of sothing; today's affairs were unlikely to be settled amicably.
"She is my wife."
Chu Zheng nodded slightly, his expression amiable, his eyes carrying a trace of a smile, "I can also be considered a son-in-law of the Southern Territory Song Clan; we're all family here."
"Family..."
Song Shengming chewed over these words, and just as he was beginning to feel relief, the low, casual voice of Chu Zheng reached his ears again:
"Since we are family, there's no need to divide so clearly. I'll take half of all the resources in the family's secret realm, including the Song Clan's Immortal Ascension thod."
Even with Song Shengming's years of political acun, he was astonished by Chu Zheng's audacious demand, exclaiming involuntarily:
"What did you say?!"
Regaining his composure, a surge of Blood Qi rushed to his head, his forehead veins pulsing slightly: "Is the Saint Heir joking?!"
Claiming half of the resources at once, even coveting the Song Clan's Immortal Ascension thod—each of these demands nearly breached the red lines of a True Immortal Noble Family.
Setting aside the secret realm for now, the significance of the Immortal Ascension thod could be inferred from the reactions of the other Holy Lands earlier.
"I am not in the mood for jokes with you; these are my terms."
Chu Zheng stood up, approaching Song Shengming with asured steps, speaking thodically:
"The half of the resources that I want is not for myself, but for the entire Southern Territory Song Clan. I am willing to swear to this."
The condition now presented by Chu Zheng was already a considerable compromise on his part.
With the Fragnt of Remnant Jade in Ling Qing's hands, Chu Zheng could directly restore it to completion through the panel, and then use Ling Qing's own Essence Blood to directly unlock the Secret Realm.
In doing so, he could entirely remove the Song Clan from the ga.
It remained the sa principle; the Secret Realm was, after all, a hereditary treasure of the Song Clan. Coveting such a heritage was considered excessively greedy. He wasn't particularly eager to have it.
The Southern Territory Song Clan has been struggling for survival amidst the mundane world and major Immortal Sects, prepared to go to the extent of having their flesh and blood separated in preparation for various contingencies. To date, who knows how many of their kin are still alive.
The Eastern Territory Song Clan already felt guilt toward this branch in the south; Chu Zheng rely wanted to secure so compensation for them. Even if he did not need it now, Ling Qing would find it useful once she advanced in her Cultivation.
Unlike Lingxue, she practices the Immortal Path and has a long journey ahead in the Cangyun Realm. She needs to make preparations in advance and, moreover, this is rightfully hers.
As for the Song Clan's Immortal Ascension thod, Chu Zheng did indeed harbor so personal desires for it.
The Southern Territory Song Clan needs such a Cultivation Technique, and so does he.
On the other hand, it's uncertain what lies within the Secret Realm; it could well be dangerous. Having the Eastern Territory Song Clan scout ahead would also be advantageous.
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