From the fake emperor to the concubine

After resolving the issue of Zheng Yun, the traitor, Zheng Yi began to learn about the current situation of the Zheng family.

In short, the situation looks very bad.

Zheng Yi heard almost no good news from Zheng Tianhao.

The strongest expert in the family now is actually Zheng Tianhao himself.

He's only at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Furthermore, his profound cultivation level had little to do with his family's upbringing.

Originally, the heir of the Zheng family was Zheng Tianhao's cousin.

"Ancestor, I'm not bragging, but my cousin's talent for cultivation is absolutely the strongest I've ever seen."

"He's only twenty-six years old, yet he's already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. If he hadn't perished, he might have reached the Crystallization stage by now."

Seeing Zheng Tianhao's longing expression, Zheng Yi felt a little embarrassed to interrupt his fantasy.

At twenty-six, one reaches the peak of Foundation Establishment; it may take until forty or fifty to break through to the Crystallization stage.

Even with the entire family's resources being poured into training him?

Although he didn't think much of it, Zheng Yi didn't question it. After all, the situation is different in each world. Perhaps in this world, the Crystallization stage is already a very impressive level of expertise.

Unfortunately, this talented heir, on whom the Zheng family placed great hopes, perished unexpectedly while exploring the secret realm.

Afterwards, the Zheng family tried to cultivate other heirs, but they always died or were seriously injured for various strange reasons.

As for the younger generation of talented young people, only a few, such as Zheng Tianhao, remained.

To avoid a repeat of the previous situation, the Zheng family had no choice but to choose another path.

They only used various rare and precious materials to improve Zheng Tianhao's cultivation, but did not let him go out to accumulate practical combat experience.

The result was that, although Zheng Tianhao's cultivation level was decent, he had almost no practical combat experience.

Let alone cultivators of the same level as him, he could basically not even defeat those who were a level below him.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have had to go to the place where their ancestor had his nose ring to cry out when faced with a formidable enemy.

Because he really has absolutely no fighting ability.

If even the clan leader is in this situation, how much stronger can the other clan members be?

In the world of cultivation, without strong backing, most resources cannot be protected.

Especially in the last fifty years, there have been fewer and fewer outstanding successors and the family's strength has been declining.

Many mineral veins and hidden gems can only be helplessly handed over to others.

With resources dwindling, it becomes even harder to cultivate outstanding successors, leading to increased vulnerability to bullying and creating a vicious cycle.

However, the Zheng family was once a glorious family and is still quite large today.

They can't afford to offend the larger powers, but compared to ordinary small sects, they can manage to get by.

After talking for more than an hour, Zheng Tianhao finally managed to explain the basic situation of the Zheng family.

For other cultivators, this would be absolutely boring.

Zheng Yi, however, was different. He had been an emperor, and he listened to these messy news with considerable interest.

until……

Zheng Tianming's stomach made a rumbling sound.

Zheng Tianhao said with annoyance, "Oh dear, it was my oversight. I was so busy talking about family matters that I forgot that the ancestor hasn't eaten yet. Someone, quickly prepare the meal."

Soon, many women began setting up the banquet, and the place was bustling with people. The tables were soon filled with food.

The presentation looks quite impressive, but if you look at the dishes on the table...

The green vegetables I've never seen before must have been boiled in water.

It looked oily and shiny, but it was a type of vegetable I'd never seen before.

It's a cold dish, and the greens look about 70-80% like cucumbers.

Although there seem to be many varieties, including frying, stir-frying, cooking, and deep-frying.

Anyone who isn't blind can see how cramped this so-called banquet is.

Zheng Tianhao chuckled dryly, "Vegetarianism is all the rage these days, so we're all laughing..."

Zheng Yi didn't expose him; having cultivated to his level, he didn't value the desire for food and drink as much.

It's just a pity that such a large family is now struggling to even afford food.

After dinner, Zheng Tianhao busied himself preparing a room for Zheng Yi.

To show respect for their ancestors, Zheng Tianhao specially prepared his own room for Zheng Yi to stay in.

"Grandfather, please feel free to ask me anything you need."

After saying that, Zheng Tianhao prepared to leave.

Zheng Yi waved to him, saying, "Don't go yet."

Zheng Tianhao's smile froze instantly, looking like a primary school student being kept after class by the teacher.

After closing the door, Zheng Tianhao cautiously walked up to Zheng Yi, so nervous that he even moved his hands and feet in unison.

"No matter what happens later, do not resist."

Zheng Yi had previously discovered that Zheng Tianhao's aptitude was actually not bad at all.

After all, the Zheng family's resources are not what they used to be. Even if he is the patriarch, he cannot possibly replenish himself to the peak of Foundation Establishment just by using rare and precious materials.

However, Zheng Yi was too busy at the time to check his condition carefully.

Now, he was going to thoroughly investigate Zheng Tianhao's background, to see what his aptitude was and whether there was any hope for him.

Before Zheng Yi could even circulate his internal energy, Zheng Tianhao's face turned deathly pale.

He trembled, looking as if he wanted to run away at any moment: "Um... ancestor, I have a wife and son, haven't you seen them before?"

"?" Zheng Yi was a little puzzled. Why was this guy suddenly talking about his wife and children?
Seeing that Zheng Yi didn't understand his meaning, Zheng Tianhao gritted his teeth and said, "If you are really interested, Ancestor, our Zheng family has a few juniors who are quite good-looking... How about I call them over now?"

If Zheng Yi still doesn't understand now, then he's wasted his time as a transmigrator.

"As the clan leader, is this all you think about all day long?"

Zheng Yi was genuinely puzzled. Although he wasn't exceptionally intelligent, he was certainly not a fool either.

Why would offspring with their own bloodline become like this?

Something is definitely wrong here.

It must be like this.

"Now, shut your mouth. Don't speak unless I tell you to!" Zheng Yi glared at Zheng Tianhao fiercely and said through gritted teeth.

If this guy weren't his own offspring, he would definitely make him know what real hell is like.

He released his spiritual energy and examined Zheng Tianhao's meridians.

Zheng Yi's expression suddenly turned cold.

Just as he had guessed, Zheng Tianhao's talent was definitely not bad. Even if he couldn't compare to those peerless geniuses, he could still be considered outstanding.

However, there is a seal within his bloodline.

The person who placed this seal is extremely powerful, and the sealing technique is exceptionally skillful.

Most importantly, this seal does not completely sever the talent of the sealed person; it only requires the sealed person to put in twice the effort of an ordinary person when cultivating.

It doesn't seem that exaggerated.

However, the path of cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you'll fall behind.

To close that gap, the effort required would be at least several dozen times greater.

Moreover, it was precisely because the path to cultivation was not completely blocked, and the person who devised this method was highly skilled, that it was possible.

If Zheng Yi hadn't personally intervened, probably not many people would have discovered this secret.

The power of this seal lies in its complete secrecy.

Once it is discovered, it is very easy to break.

Zheng Yi simply controlled the spiritual energy to destroy the sealing array, and at the same time helped Zheng Tianhao clear the blockages in his meridians caused by the seal.

Zheng Tianhao, who had been trembling with his eyes closed, suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of comfort the moment the seal was broken.

It's like the feeling of finally finding a toilet after holding in your pee for hours and being able to release it completely.

This made Zheng Tianhao exclaim involuntarily, "Oh... Ancestor... This is so awesome, hahaha!"

The fact that Zheng Tianhao was left behind by the ancestor had already aroused the curiosity of many people.

Although they dared not eavesdrop in the ancestor's room, there was no problem waiting for Zheng Tianhao to come out from a distance.

As a result, they saw that shortly after Zheng Tianhao went in, he suddenly started shouting and yelling.

Moreover, that incredibly pleasurable sound is hard not to make people think of the wrong thing.

The group exchanged glances, each seeing a different meaning in the other's eyes.

Zheng Tianming lowered his voice and said with a wicked grin, "Tell me, what exactly is Zheng Tianhao doing with the ancestor?"

The person next to him asked knowingly, "I can't say for sure, but I think you're definitely thinking something inappropriate."

Zheng Tianming immediately retorted, "Pah! If you don't know what I'm thinking, how do you know I'm thinking something improper? Since you've thought of it too, it means you're thinking something improper as well."

The group thought they were speaking softly, but Zheng Yi heard them clearly.

He was puzzled. Was there not a single decent person in the Zheng family?
Just as Zheng Yi was combing through Zheng Tianhao's meridians.

Thousands of miles away, in a towering, menacing black mountain range.

A black figure who was cultivating at the source of the spiritual vein in the cave suddenly opened its eyes.

Those eyes were devoid of any emotion; just staring into them gave one the feeling that their soul was about to be sucked in.

"Interesting, someone from the Zheng family actually managed to break the seal on the original body."

"Someone come here!" The shadowy figure's voice was unusually hoarse, like the sound of fingernails scraping against glass.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a monster with a human body and a wolf's head appeared in front of the shadowy figure.

"Your Excellency Demon Lord, please give your orders."

A disgruntled voice rang out from the shadowy figure: "Something's happened at the Zheng family's place. Have someone investigate and find out what exactly happened."

"Yes...yes, Your Majesty the Demon Lord."

Seemingly sensing the wolf demon's doubts, the shadowy figure coldly asked, "What's the problem?"

The wolf demon hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, the Zheng family is just an insignificant little family among the human race."

"They may have been very capable in the past, but they are no longer a threat. Why do you still value them so much?"

"If you really don't want to see them anymore, I have many ways to make them disappear from this world completely. Wouldn't that be better?"

The shadowy figure's eyes grew even colder, its pupils as if filled with ice, carrying an unyielding chill.

"You don't understand. I wish for them to disappear, but I don't wish for them to be so easily annihilated."

"I want them to live generation after generation, enduring pain and torment, until they finally disappear completely in endless despair."

The shadowy figure's crazed and ferocious words sent a chill down the spine of even the wolf demon, who never cared about killing.

What kind of deep-seated hatred must there be to drive endless revenge from generation to generation?

"Understood, Your Majesty. I will do it immediately. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will absolutely not let the Zheng family disappear so easily."

"No!" The shadowy figure shook its head again: "If they have truly been wiped out by someone, then let them disappear. Never give them even the slightest help. The Zheng family deserves only despair."

The Zheng family mansion, the patriarch's bedroom...

Or rather, this is now Zheng Yi's bedroom.

Zheng Yi originally planned to create a special cultivation technique for Zheng Tianhao after he finished sorting out Zheng Tianhao's meridians.

However, the guy's strange cries made Zheng Yi completely give up the idea.

Those waiting for the results outside could hear the sound clearly.

Therefore, it's best to get Zheng Tianhao out of the room as soon as possible.

Otherwise, who knows what other gossip might spread.

"All done, get out of here." Zheng Yi kicked Zheng Tianhao out of the room and slammed the door shut as fast as he could.

If Zheng Tianhao knew that his shouting had prevented him from obtaining the cultivation technique created by Zheng Yi immediately, he would probably be filled with regret.

Zheng Tianhao had just gotten up when he was surrounded by a large group of people.

Zheng Tianming asked with ill intent, "Brother, what exactly were you and the Ancestor doing in the room?"

With his meridians flowing smoothly, Zheng Tianhao said with a radiant face, "Let me tell you, the ancestor's methods were truly amazing. I've never felt so good in my life."

He does not mean that.

The way people looked at Zheng Tianhao instantly became strange.

Zheng Tianhao was completely unaware that they had intentionally or unintentionally increased the distance between them.

Inside the room, Zheng Yi kept his eyes tightly closed.

"Don't get angry, don't stoop to the level of these idiots. They're all morons, their brains are all messed up."

He barely managed to suppress the anger in his heart.

But just thinking about how these guys are his great-grandchildren from who-knows-how-many generations ago, with his blood flowing through their veins, is enough to make him realize that they are all his great-grandchildren.

My emotions, which had just calmed down, were instantly filled with anger again.

The next morning, Zheng Yi released his divine sense and roughly searched for the situation of all the members of the Zheng family.

This time, it's not about sorting out the meridians, but about consciously probing a certain seal.

So it was completed with almost no effort.

The Zheng family currently has 457 members still alive, including those with minor and serious injuries. (End of Chapter)