Early in the morning, Chu Nan left the Demon Blood Pavilion and headed for the Ancestral Land of the Zhi Family.

In recent days, he had heard some rumors about him being a martial artist of the Slaughter Emperor Sect, which he found amusing.

But those speculations were not entirely unreasonable; in the entire Celestial Crossing Realm, there were only a few forces that dared to challenge the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall, and the Slaughter Emperor Sect was one of them.

Most importantly, the Slaughter Emperor Sect was different from other forces; most of its powerful members had another public identity for disguise besides being martial artists of the Slaughter Emperor Sect.

They might be insignificant vendors, or the patriarch of a martial arts family, or the sect leader of a sect.

Even a Ninth Realm cultivator from a strong race could be possible.

Because martial artists from the Slaughter Emperor Sect were all assassins with special identities, they often hid their identity from outsiders.

Perhaps an old neighbor you've lived beside for decades could be a Slaying Emperor from the Slaughter Emperor Sect.

Chu Nan's public identity was a loose cultivator in Qingxuan Province, but this did not rule out him being a martial artist of the Slaughter Emperor Sect.

Chu Nan neither admitted nor denied this; he too needed such a formidable identity to invoke fear and gain leverage.

Soon, Chu Nan arrived alone at the entrance of the Zhi Family's Ancestral Land, and Lu Yao kept close in his storage bag as a precaution.

After all, besides Zhi Family martial artists, there were strong members of the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall looking covetously in the Zhi Family Secret Realm.

Although Ge Bai and Hai Wujie's clones were dead, the cooperation between the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall and the Zhi Family continued.

Zhi Qingyu, with utmost sincerity, delved into the Great Desert, reached the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall, crossed the Qin Kingdom's border, and brought back the new hall master of Blood Spring Hall to maintain the current collaboration.

Due to the pressure brought by Chu Nan, the speed of constructing the Blood Array accelerated, nearing completion, immersing the entire Zhi Family Secret Realm in a joyous atmosphere, subtly tinged with anticipation.

Just as Chu Nan arrived at the entrance of the Zhi Family's Ancestral Land, a Zhi Family martial artist appeared and respectfully asked, "Are you Chu Nan, Young Master Chu?"

Chu Nan nodded without speaking.

The Zhi Family martial artist immediately showed utmost respect and said, "I am ordered by the Third Patriarch to take you to the main hall of the ancestral land."

Quickly, under the guidance of the Zhi Family martial artist, Chu Nan arrived at the main hall of the ancestral land, where he saw the strong members of the Zhi Family at a glance.

The city lords and deputy city lords of the East, South, West, and North cities were all present; the elders with some status in the ancestral land emerged one by one, and the outstanding family descendants of the Zhi Family stood respectfully behind their respective elders.

Chu Nan also saw the current young master of the Zhi Family, Zhi Qingyu, who tried his utmost to conceal his hostility towards Chu Nan, but the occasional fierce glint in his eyes revealed his desire to eliminate Chu Nan swiftly.

After all, Chu Nan is brought by Zhi Qingge, Zhi Qingyu's mortal enemy, and the biggest stumbling block for Zhi Qingyu in becoming the patriarch of the Zhi Family!

The Third Patriarch, Zhi Changmei, sat at the main seat, overlooking everything from above.

With the other three patriarchs entangled in trivial matters, the entire Zhi Family Secret Realm was now under the control of the Third Patriarch, Zhi Changmei.

"Greetings, senior." Chu Nan politely greeted Zhi Changmei.

Zhi Changmei slightly nodded and then gestured with his hand, saying, "Young friend Chu Nan, get acquainted with my Zhi family's elders and city lords."

The elders and city lords stood up one after another, most of them looking at Chu Nan with a mix of eagerness and friendliness.

Chu Nan had met most of them before since, after the opening of the Demon Blood Pavilion, they were its biggest customers.

After some brief exchanges, Zhi Changmei said, "Chu Nan, as per the agreement, today you must rescue the Second Patriarch, Zhi Changgeng of my Zhi Family; are you confident?"

Currently, the Zhi Family has four patriarchs, all Ninth Realm cultivators.

But aside from Zhi Changmei, the other three were almost tormented by the Demon Blood ailment; the First Patriarch and the Fourth Patriarch were both in seclusion, suppressing the possible outbreak of Demon Blood at any time.

The Second Patriarch, Zhi Changgeng, had fallen into madness, sealed within the ancestral land, ready to escape at any moment.

Only the Third Patriarch, with his Third Stage Blood Martial Intent, could temporarily suppress the Demon Blood ailment, allowing him to act freely and become the current decision-maker in the Zhi Family.

But Zhi Changmei had never given up on saving the other three.

Among them, the First Patriarch and the Fourth Patriarch could rely on the Blood Array to suppress the Demon Blood ailment, but only the maddened Second Patriarch, Zhi Changgeng, required Chu Nan's intervention to save.

Upon hearing Zhi Changmei's inquiry, Chu Nan replied without hesitation, "Rest assured, senior, I have prepared adequately; as long as you temporarily suppress Patriarch Zhi Changgeng, I guarantee he can regain clarity."

Upon this affirmation, all the Zhi Family martial artists showed relaxed expressions; if Zhi Changgeng could awaken, it would alleviate so much pressure on the Zhi Family.

With a firm answer received, Zhi Changmei slowly stood up, ready to lead Chu Nan to treat Zhi Changgeng.

However, at this moment, Zhi Qingyu stepped forward, saying, "Hold on, Third Patriarch, junior has something to say!"

Zhi Changmei slightly frowned and then said, "Zhi Qingyu, what do you have to say? Saving Zhi Changgeng is the priority now."

Zhi Qingyu's gaze fell on Chu Nan, and he couldn't help but display a cold smile before ceremoniously saying, "Junior took the liberty to invite the new hall master from the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall's Blood Spring Hall for a discussion."

"He has something to say to you, Third Patriarch."

Upon hearing Zhi Qingyu's words, Zhi Changmei's expression turned unhappy, and others were also secretly displeased.

Although there was cooperation between the two parties, the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall's interference was becoming more and more extensive.

Before Zhi Changmei could agree, a series of footsteps approached the main hall.

Chu Nan furrowed his brows tightly, turning to see a pale-faced, feminine youth in a blood-red robe leading a few martial artists in yellow robes slowly entering.

Upon spiritual sense investigation, Chu Nan was somewhat alarmed.

That feminine youth, though seemingly very young, possessed a cultivation of the Fifth Realm in the Sea of Clouds Realm, with an aura at least three times stronger than Ge Bai's!

As soon as he saw Chu Nan, hostility was undisguisedly revealed in his eyes.

The feminine youth then ignored Chu Nan, directly addressing Zhi Changmei, "Junior Hai Tianshang, greetings, senior."

Zhi Changmei glanced at Hai Tianshang, with undisguised disgust in his eyes, coldly saying, "Hai Tianshang, why aren't you supervising the Blood Spring Hall martial artists constructing the Blood Array? What are you doing here?"

"This is the Zhi Family's sacred ground, not somewhere anyone can just come."

Facing Zhi Changmei's questioning, Hai Tianshang said, "Senior, junior isn't here randomly but comes with my father's directive; he has something to discuss with you and the entire Zhi Family."

"What is it? Speak quickly!" If given a choice, Zhi Changmei wouldn't even consider cooperation with the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall.

In the Great Desert, the reputation of the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall was far worse than the Qin Kingdom's; without the Blood Array, Hai Tianshang wouldn't tread into the Zhi Family Secret Realm.

Chu Nan silently distanced himself from Hai Tianshang, sensing a familiar aura from him and profound hostility.

Indeed, Hai Tianshang glanced at Chu Nan and subsequently declared emphatically, "The Ninth Hall Master of the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall, Hai Wujie, my father, has instructed me to convey this message."

"If the Zhi Family wishes to continue cooperation with the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall and use the Blood Array to remove the Demon Blood ailment from Zhi Family martial artists, they must first kill Chu Nan and hand his corpse to the Desolate Ancient Holy Hall!"

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