The Path to Immortality: Starting with the Growth of Bubble Fruits from the Ground

Zhou Mu hadn't expected to run into Zhou Ye at the market. He was filled with thoughts, unsure whether the Zhou family had been preparing for this or if it was just a coincidence.

As for the Eighth Uncle mentioned by Zhou Ye, Zhou Mu will naturally meet him, but how he meets him is up to him.

Zhou Mu immediately said, "It's fine if Uncle Ba wants to see me, but only here."

The sect's headquarters was protected by arrays, so no one dared to make a move here. Zhou Ye and his eighth uncle were both far more powerful than Zhou Mu, so Zhou Mu felt at ease only when they met here.

"Hmph! Cowardly as a mouse."

Zhou Ye sneered, then pointed to the second floor and said, "Uncle Ba is waiting for you upstairs, so hurry up and leave."

"Xiao Zhou, how about..."

"Old Wang, no need."

Zhou Mu waved his hand, declining Lao Wang's offer to come along. Lao Wang had taken good care of him, and Zhou Mu didn't want to involve him.

"Alright, but don't worry, if they dare to make a move, they won't live."

Old Wang deliberately spoke very loudly, and many spirit farmers and stewards in the main hall on the first floor looked over.

Zhou Mu smiled and followed Zhou Ye, whose face was dark, up to the second floor, and together they entered one of the rooms.

The room was simply furnished, with a wooden table by the window. A middle-aged man looked at Zhou Mu; it was his eighth uncle, Zhou Ze.

"Zhou Mu, come and sit down, let your Uncle Ba take a look at you."

Zhou Ze smiled at Zhou Mu and pointed to the seat opposite him. This was the first time Zhou Mu had seen his eighth uncle's smiling face. His relationship with most of the family members was that of strangers.

Zhou Mu sat calmly opposite him, and some spirit farmers could be seen walking towards them from the street outside the window.

"Uncle Ba, just say what you have to say."

Zhou Mu was too lazy to be polite and hypocritical. His conflict with the Zhou family was irreconcilable. The Zhou family wanted to use him as a stepping stone and make him live in the mud for the rest of his life.

This was something Zhou Mu couldn't accept at all. His path to immortality was cut off; it would be better to just kill him.

"Zhou Mu, what am I supposed to say to you, Eighth Uncle? You know the difficulties the family is facing. As a member of the Zhou family, you should take it upon yourself to strengthen the family. How can you go against the family? You… sigh!"

Zhou Mu felt like vomiting at the sight of Zhou Ze's disappointed expression.

"Uncle, I understand the family's difficulties, but I also need to cultivate myself. I do not accept the family's actions."

Zhou Mu's expression was serious, and his answer was crisp and direct.

"You..." Zhou Ze was furious, pointing at Zhou Mu and unable to speak for a moment.

At this moment, Zhou Ye couldn't hold back any longer and immediately said, "Zhou Mu, what kind of aptitude do you have? You only have four spiritual roots, yet you still want to cultivate. You really don't know what you're talking about."

Before Zhou Ye could speak, Zhou Ze released his pent-up frustration and said, "Zhou Mu, your third brother's words may be harsh, but that's the reality."

"Accept your fate!"

Zhou Ze poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Zhou Mu.

"Accept my fate? I will never accept my fate!"

Zhou Mu pushed aside his teacup, stood up, and walked outside.

"Zhou Mu, you stop right there."

Zhou Ye shouted angrily, but Zhou Mu pretended not to hear and walked out on his own. However, Zhou Ye's next words made him stop in his tracks.

"Zhou Mu, you don't think that just because you're hiding in the sect, the Zhou family can't do anything to you, do you?"

Zhou Mu turned around and stood by the door, looking at him coldly.

Zhou Ye sneered and sat down in the seat that Zhou Mu had been in before: "Let me tell you, many families within the sect do the same thing. If you go against the Zhou family now, you are going against all the families that are affiliated with the Myriad Paths Sect."

"This includes some Foundation Establishment families; they have inner disciples and sect deacons within their sects."

"I'm here with Uncle Ba to give you one last chance. Otherwise, prepare to face the wrath of the family alliance."

After speaking, Zhou Ye picked up his teacup and stared at the storage bag at Zhou Mu's waist with a cold smile.

"Then I'll wait... *bang*..."

Zhou Ye originally thought Zhou Mu would give in, but he didn't expect Zhou Mu to make such arrogant remarks and slam the door and leave, completely disregarding his threats.

"Uncle Ba, look at him..."

Zhou Ye was trembling with anger. He had just been thinking about where to spend the spirit stones he got from Zhou Mu.

"Never mind, let's go back and report to the head of the family."

Zhou Ze was quite calm at this moment. He had already completed his mission and given Zhou Mu the opportunity. As for what Zhou Mu would do in the future, that was Zhou Mu's own business.

Zhou Mu slammed the door shut and slowly walked down the stairs, his mind racing with thoughts.

Family alliances, Foundation Establishment families, inner disciples, sect deacons—Zhou Mu never imagined that the Zhou family could be involved in such a wide range of matters.

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Mu suppressed these thoughts, and by the time he reached the first floor, his face had returned to calm.

"Xiao Zhou, are you alright?" Old Wang asked immediately upon seeing Zhou Mu.

"Old Wang, are you familiar with the Clan Alliance?"

"This...this is a bit complicated. Everyone's here now, I'll explain it to you in detail when we get back."

Zhou Mu nodded and joined Lao Wang in the Lingnong group, heading out of the market.

After another long journey, Zhou Mu and Lao Wang finally returned to their sect's residence as dusk fell.

Old Wang first stuffed the spirit stones he had sold that day into Wang Ping's hands, then transferred the sect points to him, whispered a few words to him, and then urged Wang Ping to leave.

Only after Wang Ping's escape light completely disappeared did Old Wang turn to Zhou Mu and say, "Come with me."

The two sat facing each other in Old Wang's courtyard. Old Wang spoke first, saying, "I knew this day would come sooner or later, but I didn't expect your Zhou family to be in such a hurry."

"You know?"

Zhou Mu was a little surprised. He had never revealed his background to Lao Wang, so how did Lao Wang know?

Old Wang scoffed, "I've lived for so many years, what haven't I seen? I could tell the first time you came."

"Then why are you with me...?"

Zhou Mu couldn't understand why Old Wang would still be willing to befriend him, even though he knew Zhou Mu was a nuisance.

"It's nothing, I just find you pleasing to the eye, old man."

These words left Zhou Mu speechless.

"What should I do now? Do you have any ideas?"

"There's definitely a way, but it depends on your ability," Old Wang smiled, then continued, "Let me tell you about the family alliance first."

Old Wang put down his teacup, drew a circle on the table with his finger, and said, "The Wandao Sect has been established for three thousand years. Its disciples have been passed down from generation to generation. They will eventually start families and establish careers. Once they start families, they will have a clan."

"In order to gain more influence within the sect, these families naturally banded together, forming what is known as the family alliance."

Zhou Mu asked, "Don't the sects care?"

"Manage?" Old Wang laughed. "How? Some of the elders are from their own families; do you expect them to manage themselves?"

Zhou Mu fell silent.

Seeing Zhou Mu's grim expression, Old Wang added, "On the surface, you've offended the Zhou family, but in reality, you've slapped a whole group of people in the face. They won't stand up for the Zhou family, but they won't allow anyone to break the rules."

"If you don't accept your fate today, someone else will. They won't let this bad trend go unchecked."

"Then what should I do?"

"Don't panic," Old Wang picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The Myriad Paths Sect isn't ruled by just one family line. Just find someone to back you up."

"A powerful backer?" Zhou Mu looked up. "Who? It's not you, is it?"