A public notice was posted seeking a wife, and a female saint from the Immortal Sect was found.

When Ning Zhenlu stepped into the Chen family hall, his face was actually somewhat gloomy.

Last time, he came with the head of the family, hoping to take advantage of the steward's death to tear a few pieces off the Chen family. However, he failed to achieve his goal and ended up feeling very angry. Now, he has come again, still seething with anger.

The person from the Zhang family who came was Zhang An, the Zhang family steward, who, like Ning Zhenlu, was at the sixth level of the Qi Refining stage.

As soon as he stepped into the Chen family hall, Zhang An immediately smiled and bowed repeatedly to Chen Yi, who was already seated in the main seat, saying politely, "Zhang An, the steward of the Zhang family, greets the head of the Chen family."

Ning Zhenlu snorted inwardly, but he had no choice but to cup his hands and say, "Ning Zhenlu of the Ning family greets Patriarch Chen."

Chen Yi returned the greeting, then waved for the two to sit down.

He came to see the two men, while Li Changqing went to check on the situation at the herb garden and the shops in Qingfang Market. The Chen family now has very few people left.

"Patriarch Chen, Brother Ning and I have come here to discuss something extremely important. Are you aware of the Zhao family's situation?"

After settling down, Zhang An quickly suppressed his smile, his expression turned serious, and his tone became solemn.

Chen Yi nodded: "But has the Zhao family's Qi Refining Stage 9 peak cultivator already broken through and become a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

Zhang An nodded quickly and said, "That's right. The one from the Zhao family has already broken through, but he is still in seclusion to stabilize his Foundation Establishment cultivation. He will probably be able to emerge from seclusion in about a month."

At this point, Zhang An sighed and continued, "We are all families that cultivate medicinal herbs. Now that the Zhao family has produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, there is no room for us anymore. To be honest, Patriarch Chen, the Zhao family has already begun to make plans. Within this 300-mile radius, there may be no place for us to stand."

Both the Ning and Zhang families suffered from the Zhao family's attacks; otherwise, they would not have set aside their past grievances and decided to join forces.

Chen Yi immediately said, "The Chen family has also encountered difficulties. The Zhao family has indeed gained control of this area for three hundred miles. I wonder how the Ning and Zhang families plan to deal with this?"

"This is precisely the purpose of my visit with Brother Ning. The Ning family and the Zhang family had some disagreements before, but at this moment, it would be best to join forces against the enemy. This is the general trend," Zhang An said.

Ning Zhenlu then spoke up, saying, "That's right, the three families joining forces is my family head's decision. The matter of the Chen family killing my Ning family's steward can be put aside for now."

The Zhao family is currently the biggest threat. We need to get through this first, and we can deal with the Chen family's grudges later.

Hearing this, Chen Yi knew exactly what the Ning family was thinking, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he asked, "Get to the point, how do we join forces?"

Zhang An smiled and said, "Our two families have already discussed this matter. The short-term solution is to hire a Foundation Establishment stage expert to guard the area at a very high cost. This way, we can contend with the Zhao family."

"In the long run, the head of the Ning family and my head of the Zhang family will do our best to try and make a leap forward, and with the help of the three families, attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

"In this way, whether it is the head of the Ning family or the head of my Zhang family, as long as one of them breaks through to the Foundation Establishment stage, they will be able to be fearless of the Zhao family."

This is exactly what they are considering. As long as they can achieve these two things, they can at least be stable for a period of time. All things considered, this is the most suitable option.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Yi asked, "If we join forces, what price will the Chen family have to pay?"

That's the key point; everything else is secondary. Since the two families are here to discuss joining forces, it means they want to gain something from the Chen family.

Zhang An laughed and said, "Patriarch Chen is a straightforward person, so I'll be direct too. Each of our three families will contribute ten bottles of Foundation Establishment Pills and another five hundred bottles of Spirit Condensation Pills. Only in this way can we invite a Foundation Establishment expert. In addition, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage requires a lot of resources. It would be best if each family could contribute some spiritual medicines and treasures to strengthen the body and improve blood circulation."

"Patriarch Chen, this is already the lowest possible price. Whether considering short-term stability or long-term benefits, paying this price is worthwhile."

The Chen family is the weakest of the three families, and the news that the Zidan Sect refused to accept the Chen family's medicinal materials has also reached the ears of the Ning and Zhang families. Given the current strength of the Chen family, they have no other choice but to agree to join forces.

That's precisely why they came; if the Chen family wants peace and stability, they have to pay a price.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi almost laughed out of anger. Ten bottles of Foundation Condensation Pills and five hundred bottles of Spirit Condensation Pills—even if the Chen family's ancestral home, medicine garden, and shop were sold, they would only be worth that much.

Furthermore, the Chen family's enormous sacrifices ultimately benefited the Ning and Zhang families. According to Zhang An, regardless of whether the head of the Ning or Zhang family breaks through to the Foundation Establishment stage, once they do, they will treat the Chen family equally.

That's impossible. At that time, the two families will immediately and completely swallow up the Chen family without the slightest hesitation.

"Please leave, both of you. The Chen family's strength is limited, so we will not participate in this alliance." Chen Yi was too lazy to say anything more and directly refused.

Zhang An's expression changed, his smile vanished, and Chen Yi's words made him snort coldly.

Ning Zhenlu sneered, his tone unfriendly: "Patriarch Chen had better think things through before speaking. The Ning family has indeed not had time to deal with Zhou Fang recently, but one Zhou Fang is not enough to make our two families fear him. The Chen family's refusal to join forces is not a wise choice."

Zhang An's face had turned completely cold. He then said, "That's right, joining forces is the best option. Patriarch Chen, don't make a mistake. However, this matter is of great importance. Patriarch Chen can consider it for three days. After three days, Patriarch Ning and Patriarch Zhang will personally come to discuss it with Patriarch Chen. At that time, Patriarch Chen, please don't disappoint us."

The two families had already decided that they would give the Chen family three days. Although the Chen family was weak, neither family wanted to fight the Chen family at this moment.

The Chen family is currently at its weakest point, which is indeed true. Destroying the Chen family would be easy, but Zhou Fang, who has been hiding for some time, is still a considerable problem.

After considering it, the two families still felt that it would be best to unite. They gave Chen Yi three days to think it over. If Chen Yi did not know what was good for him after three days, then the heads of the Ning and Zhang families would come in person and would not be polite anymore.

Selling the Chen family's ancestral home, herb garden, and shops would greatly alleviate the pressure on both families.

In short, whether it was their initial politeness or their current verbal threats, their meaning was very clear: if the Chen family did not want to perish immediately, they had no choice but to join forces.

Chen Yi suddenly laughed and said, "Oh, you need three days to consider it? Then I'll consider it first. I look forward to the Ning and Zhang family heads visiting in three days. I will definitely give them a proper welcome then."

He will head to the Purple Pill Sect tomorrow. With Li Changqing's pill formula, it shouldn't be difficult to gain the sect's protection for a year.

Of course, nothing is absolute. The most crucial thing now is the trip to the Purple Pill Sect. Whether he can successfully obtain the Purple Pill Sect's protection depends entirely on himself.