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

Chen Yi could hear the obvious helplessness and sigh in the tone of the Grand Steward, as if he was feeling sorry for the fate that was destined to befall the Chen family.

This relieved Chen Yi. As long as the Grand Steward still valued the relationship with the Chen family, there was hope.

Without a high-ranking deacon acting as a go-between, it would be much more difficult for him to meet with the higher-ups of the Purple Pill Sect.

However, Chen Yi naturally did not forget the necessary caution. He clasped his hands in a salute to Song Wen, his face showing sorrow, and said, "Great Steward, the Chen family has been cultivating medicinal herbs for over a hundred years. Our ancestors and fathers have worked hard for this all their lives. I do not want the Chen family to decline and perish in my hands. I beg the Great Steward to show the Chen family a way to survive."

Looking at Chen Yi, Song Wen couldn't help but sigh repeatedly. He had a very deep relationship with Chen Yi's ancestors and fathers, and he had even met Chen Yi several times when he was a child.

The decline of the Chen family was not what he wanted, but when faced with a more powerful opponent, the outcome was beyond his control.

After sighing, Song Wen said, "There's really no way out. In fact, I've already pleaded on behalf of the Chen family, but it's had no effect whatsoever. If there were even the slightest chance to save the Chen family, I would do everything in my power to help them, but the current situation is far beyond my control."

He is indeed the Grand Steward of the Sect Affairs Hall, but this position is far inferior to that of the sect's true high-ranking members. Therefore, even if he tries his best, he cannot help the Chen family in the slightest.

Chen Yi remained silent, but immediately muttered to himself, "To determine whether what Song Wen just said is true."

Song Wen just said that he had spoken on behalf of the Chen family. If this is true, then it means that Song Wen can be completely trusted, which is naturally very important.

The system responded immediately, and lines of text appeared before Chen Yi's eyes.

[Authentication Result: Authentic]

Song Wen had a very deep friendship with the Chen family's grandparents and elders, and always took great care of the Chen family.

[You are the only one left in the Chen family. Song Wen knew about your public notice seeking a wife and tried several times to introduce his granddaughter to you. However, his granddaughter is a sword cultivator from another sect and looks down on you, refusing your advances each time.]

Upon learning that the sect would no longer purchase medicinal herbs from the Chen family, Song Wen immediately pleaded with the head of the sect affairs hall and even with the sect's deputy sect leader, but was refused each time.

Because of the Chen family's situation, Song Wen has been warned by the sect's higher-ups that he must no longer protect the Chen family.

After reading the system's assessment results, Chen Yi felt a deep sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection).

He suddenly felt that he was lucky. When he encountered difficulties and the Chen family was in turmoil, his old friends and relatives all chose to stand by his side. He felt that this was the luckiest thing in the world.

Song Wen could have done nothing at all; the Chen family's decline wouldn't have affected him much. But Song Wen had already done everything in his power for the Chen family.

Chen Yi felt grateful. The other party had even tried to introduce his granddaughter to him several times. This kind of protection and care was truly commendable.

"The Chen family will never forget the kindness of the Grand Steward. However, I still want to try and see if I can change the fate of the Chen family. We dare not give up our fathers' legacy lightly. Grand Steward, could you tell me which high-ranking member of the Purple Pill Sect the Zhao family has climbed up to?" Chen Yi bowed to Song Wen again and said.

Song Wendu couldn't help but glare at him, scolding, "You little rascal, how can you be so stubborn at such a young age? As long as you're alive, you can always rebuild. Escaping from here and surviving is more important than any foundation."

After saying that, seeing that Chen Yi was still in the posture of clasping his hands in a salute, he became a little anxious. This little guy really didn't have any intention of listening to advice.

After glaring at him, Song Wen finally sighed and said helplessly, "If you want to know, then I'll tell you. The Zhao family has climbed up to the sect's vice sect master."

"Within the Purple Pill Sect, the Sect Master is naturally supreme, followed by the Vice Sect Master and the three Hall Masters: the Sect Affairs Hall, the Alchemy Hall, and the Sect Protection Hall. Each of the three halls has its own responsibilities and is equally important."

"However, in the past six months or so, most of the sect's affairs have actually been managed by the deputy sect leader. The sect leader has already reached the Great Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage and naturally needs to prepare to break through to the Golden Core stage. Therefore, now, no one can change the decisions made by the deputy sect leader."

At this point, Song Wen couldn't help but sigh again, and looked at Chen Yi as he continued, "Now you know why I said the Chen family's fate is hard to change. Unless we can persuade the sect leader, even if I ask the hall master to intervene, it will be difficult to change the vice sect leader's decision."

After hearing Song Wen's words, Chen Yi finally understood why even a high-ranking deacon like Song Wen couldn't help the Chen family in the slightest.

With a vice sect leader who effectively controls the entire sect, the Zhao family's ability to find such a powerful backer suggests they are determined to acquire the other four families, including the Chen family, who cultivate medicinal herbs.

Thinking of this, Chen Yi felt a sense of doubt and asked, "The Zhao family has produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but is it really worth the Purple Pill Sect's vice sect master going to such lengths to help the Zhao family annex our four families when a cultivator who has just entered the Foundation Establishment stage is just starting out?"

Even if the Purple Pill Sect is small, it is still the most powerful sect within a radius of three thousand miles. There is no reason why the Zhao family should be able to gain the attention of a vice sect leader of the Purple Pill Sect so easily.

Upon hearing this, Song Wen chuckled and lowered his voice, saying, "The sect leader already has the intention to retire. If he can successfully break through to the Golden Core stage, he will most likely abandon the position of sect leader and go to a wider world. With the foundation of the Purple Core Sect, it is impossible to support a Golden Core cultivator."

"Therefore, during this period, the deputy sect master and the three hall masters have been openly and secretly fighting each other, and their relationship is like fire and water. The fact that the Zhao family has produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator is naturally worthy of the deputy sect master's attention."

"However, as you said, I can also see that the Vice Sect Master's attention to the Zhao family is beyond imagination. There must be some hidden reason, but that's not important anymore. There's no turning back now. You should quickly return to your family and take the Chen family members away from this area. Only in this way can you have a chance to survive. As for those medicinal fields and shops, don't worry about them anymore. Staying alive is more important than anything else."

If Chen Yi still doesn't understand how to choose after all this has been said, then it can only mean that this little guy is too short-sighted. Even if he manages to avoid this disaster, it won't last long.

Chen Yi fell into deep thought, not about how to overcome this calamity, but rather about what trump cards the Zhao family possessed that made the Vice Sect Master of the Purple Pill Sect take them so seriously.

He had to consider this, because sometimes a moment of carelessness could lead to serious consequences.

After pondering for a moment without finding a solution, Chen Yi could only put the matter aside for the time being and asked Song Wen, "Grand Steward, do you have the authority to request an audience with the Sect Master? Or rather, do you have a way to see the Sect Master?"

Song Wen raised an eyebrow and asked, "You want to see the Sect Master? What good would it do? The Sect Master is preparing for a breakthrough; why would he concern himself with such a trivial matter?"

Chen Yi revealed a confident expression and said, "Great Deacon, I have something that is enough to make the Sect Master take notice. Whether I can change the fate of the Chen family depends on whether I can meet the Sect Master."

The improved Foundation Condensation Pill formula would certainly be taken seriously if it were revealed, but given the current situation, it could only be given to the Sect Master of the Purple Pill Sect.

Song Wen was somewhat disappointed. Chen Yi was still unwilling to give up. It was true that the Chen family had been cultivating medicinal herbs for over a hundred years, but what could they possibly have that would be worth the sect leader's attention?