The Cold and Aloof Palace Master's Daily Demon-Slaying Life

The three elders straightened up, but their backs remained slightly bent, maintaining a respectful posture. The people behind them also stood up, hands at their sides.

Zuo Qingqiu's gaze fell on Zuo Xiuxian. Under her calm gaze, this elder of the Zuo family, who was currently the most senior and had the deepest cultivation, felt a long-lost tension, just like when he was a child meeting his stern grandfather.

"Elder Xiu Xian," Zuo Qingqiu began, using a respectful title, but his tone remained calm, "It's late and the dew is heavy; let the clansmen disperse. Now that I'm back, there's no need for such a commotion."

"Yes, yes!" Zuo Xiuxian quickly replied, then turned and waved to the crowd, raising his voice, "Our Ancestor is considerate; you may all step back and perform your duties without causing a disturbance!"

The thousands of clansmen, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, bowed in unison and then began to leave in an orderly and quiet manner.

But as everyone left, they couldn't help but secretly look up one last time at that peerless figure under the moonlight, who seemed like a banished immortal, their eyes filled with excitement and pride.

Soon, only three clan elders, five young Purple Mansion cultivators, and some core deacons remained on the vast plaza.

"Ancestor, you must be tired from your journey. Please move to the 'Ancestral Virtue Hall' to rest. We have prepared spiritual tea and snacks." Zuo Xiuxian stepped aside to lead the way, his posture extremely humble.

Zuo Qingqiu nodded slightly and stepped forward.

Zuo Xiuxian and the others quickly followed, falling half a step behind her, not daring to walk alongside her.

The group crossed the empty square and headed towards the majestic and solemn, brightly lit main hall on the north side of the square—the Zude Hall, the place where the Zuo family discussed important clan matters and received the most distinguished guests.

The moonlight stretched their shadows long, casting them onto the smooth white marble floor. The white figure walking in front was aloof and solitary, as if it might melt into the moonlight at any moment and ride the wind away. The core members of the Zuo family following behind appeared exceptionally respectful, even somewhat... humble.

Zuo Chunqiu followed in the group, looking at the once familiar but now utterly unfamiliar figure in front of him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Ancient Ancestor...

In the Zuo family, this title is used to refer to the family's founders and great contributors who have passed away hundreds or thousands of years ago. Now, however, it has fallen on his cousin, who is younger than him and of a lower generation.

And she accepted it so calmly.

There was no refusal, no modesty, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yes, a Golden Core True Monarch, with a lifespan of ten thousand years and immense supernatural powers, surpassing billions of people. Not to mention the Zuo family, in the entire Central Plains, there are only a handful of people qualified to be her equals.

How could she be compared to these "old guys" who were at most in the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm and whose lifespans were about to end?

That would be a joke.

Rules and etiquette are utterly powerless in the face of absolute power.

Zuo Chunqiu suddenly felt a sense of absurdity and sorrow.

This is the world of cultivation. Naked and real.

-

Inside the Zude Hall, the lights were on.

The main hall was extremely spacious, easily accommodating hundreds of people. The floor was paved with smooth, mirror-like obsidian, and on both sides stood a dozen or so golden pillars with coiled dragons, each requiring two people to encircle it. The golden dragons entwined around the pillars appeared lifelike, their scales and claws seemingly flying under the lamplight. The high ceiling was painted with colorful depictions of the sun, moon, stars, celestial mountains, and auspicious clouds; despite the passage of time, the colors remained vibrant.

At the deepest part of the main hall, atop nine steps, stands a large, carved rosewood throne covered with a bright yellow brocade cushion embroidered with auspicious clouds.

That is the position of the clan chief, and also the main seat when receiving the most distinguished guests.

Normally, only the clan chief or three elders are qualified to sit on it.

But at this moment, under Zuo Xiuxian's invitation, Zuo Qingqiu walked straight up the steps, turned around in front of the throne, and sat down naturally.

The white palace dresses spread out on the bright yellow brocade cushions, creating a striking contrast.

She sat upright with her back straight, without any deliberate attempt to project an air of authority, yet she possessed a profound and majestic presence, as if she were born to sit in this position and look down upon those below.

Three clan elders, five young Purple Mansion cultivators, and several core stewards qualified to enter all stood below the steps, before the throne.

No one thought it was inappropriate.

The True Lord is sitting, you are standing.

It is justified.

If they were to sit as well, that would be presumptuous and disrespectful.

After all, if you sit when the True Lord is sitting, wouldn't that mean you are qualified to sit on equal footing with the True Lord?

The clan elders, who have been immersed in clan etiquette and law their whole lives, would never make such a foolish mistake.

Zuo Qingqiu sat down and calmly swept her gaze over the crowd below.

Eight Purple Mansions—that's all the high-end combat power the Zuo family currently possesses.

The three were very old, their vital energy was depleted, and their path to enlightenment was over. Of the five "young" ones, only Zuo Chunqiu was at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm; the rest were at the early stage, and their foundations seemed... quite ordinary.

This is the foundation of a cultivation family that has been passed down for three thousand years.

Within the vast territory of Cui Weishan, this was considered quite good. But compared to Taihua Gate, which she had just left... it was worlds apart.

"Please sit down," Zuo Qingqiu said, her voice echoing in the hall.

The crowd below looked at each other, none of them daring to move.

In the end, Zuo Xiuxian braced himself and bowed, saying, "Before the ancient ancestor, how can we have seats? We will answer while standing."

Zuo Qingqiu glanced at him and said nothing more.

She was already impatient with these formalities, so if they liked to stand and suffer without any real hardship, then let them stand.

"Our ancestor's ascension to the position of True Lord is a momentous and unprecedented event for the Zuo family!" Seeing that Zuo Qingqiu showed no displeasure, Zuo Xiuxian felt somewhat relieved and began to deliver his prepared congratulatory speech. His aged voice trembled slightly with excitement, "From this day forward, the Zuo family of Cuishan is the lineage of the True Lord! In the family genealogy, a separate page will be dedicated to our ancestor, with his biography recorded, to be worshipped by his descendants for generations to come! This is a great fortune for the entire clan, and our ancestors, if they knew in the afterlife, would surely smile with joy!"

The two clan elders, Zuo Zhaocheng and Zuo Yuxuan, along with the five Purple Mansions below, also spoke up, their words sincere and full of flattery and congratulations.

Zuo Qingqiu listened quietly, her expression calm and composed.

These words of praise were like a gentle breeze passing by her ears.

She's not sitting here today to hear flattery.

After everyone had finished speaking, she said calmly, "Thank you all for your kindness."

His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The three elders exchanged glances.

Zuo Xiu stepped forward and respectfully said, "Ancestor, according to the ancient traditions of our Zuo family, if a clansman achieves extraordinary accomplishments and brings glory to the family, a grand ancestral worship ceremony must be held to comfort the spirits of our ancestors. Your attainment of the Golden Core stage is an unprecedented event, and the ancestral worship ceremony is indispensable. We have discussed that three days from now will be an auspicious day. We can open the central gate of the ancestral hall, hold a grand ceremony, and burn a memorial to inform Heaven and our ancestors of your accomplishments. At that time, clansmen scattered throughout the territory of Taihua Sect can all return to witness the ceremony. What does Your Majesty think?"

He spoke cautiously, observing Zuo Qingqiu's expression as he spoke. The ancestral worship ceremony was a significant event, a ritual that bound Zuo Qingqiu even more deeply to the Zuo family. He feared that this aloof ancestor might refuse outright due to impatience with these "common customs."

Zuo Qingqiu remained silent for a moment.