Chapter 44: Let's Watch Him Host His Guests.

Xing Yuanzhi arrived at the entrance of the Cheng residence, looking at the scene where half of the street was blocked, feeling a bit sighful and melancholic.

Across the river in Pukou District, the roads were not as spacious as in the main city area. The congestion only blocked half of the street for guests and visitors, which was already a sign of decline for the Cheng family, a fifth-grade aristocratic family in Shendu.

[T/N: Actually here "fifth-grade aristocratic family" means the highest powerhouse in the family is a fifth-grade supernatural. The five great familys are the third-grade aristocratic familys.]

Of course, it was well-known that the Cheng family of Shendu only had one fifth-grade powerhouse, the former patriarch Cheng Benhe, who was now eighty-three years old and in poor health, relying on expensive medical treatments to sustain his life.

Apart from this old patriarch, there was currently no Cheng descendant recognized in the genealogical records who could potentially break through to the fifth grade in the future.

In other words, once Cheng Benhe passed away, the Cheng family of Shendu would face the danger of slipping into obscurity because there were no supernaturals of fifth grade or above in the family.

In fact, Cheng Benhe's youngest son, Cheng Qinghe, had the potential to reach the fifth grade before he even turned thirty.

However, he was later expelled from the family for defying the family's wishes and marrying a commoner woman...

When you think about it, it's quite absurd.

The Cheng family, with its limited talent, had only one person with the opportunity to break through to the fifth grade, and yet he was snuffed out due to internal political struggles?

Well, political struggles really are unreasonable like that.

After pondering for a moment, Xing Yuanzhi headed towards the side entrance.

This time she wasn't as lucky as Cheng Xinnan; she was intercepted by Cheng family members before getting close.

However, Xing Yuanzhi carried the reputation of the Xing family's Qingfeng, and many of the Cheng family members recognized her, some even being her fans, so they respectfully approached her to inquire about her business.

"I'd like to observe the Cheng family's ancestral ceremony," Xing Yuanzhi calmly stated.

The Cheng family members exchanged glances. Under normal circumstances, considering the close relationship between the Cheng and Xing families, they could have opened the door for her.

However, just moments ago, the clan leader suddenly ordered a secret lockdown of the clan grounds, so they couldn't simply let Xing family's Qingfeng in.

After a brief discussion, they decided to seek approval from their elders.

Not long after, the command came down again: she could be allowed in but couldn't wander around freely.

Guiding Xing Yuanzhi was the clan elder's daughter, a young girl named Cheng Yuexian, who had been friends with her since childhood.

Inside the clan grounds, Xing Yuanzhi casually asked, "It seems a bit tense inside your clan today. Has something happened?"

"Not really," Cheng Yuexian smiled, "It's just that the ancestral ceremony is of great importance, so the clan intends to proceed with caution."

"I see," Xing Yuanzhi replied, noticing her reluctance to elaborate, and decided not to ask further.

Continue forward, suddenly seeing two people seemingly arguing ahead.

"Who is that person?" Xing Yuanzhi just wanted to ask, but upon seeing one of them wearing sunglasses, exuding a distinctly flashy aura, she coldly remarked, "So it's that fool, Zhu Xinchu..."

"Who are you calling a fool?" Zhu Xinchu erupted in anger, taking off his sunglasses.

"Hah! So it's Xing family's Qingfeng! Don't think my Zhu family's Xuan Niao(Vermillion Bird) will be afraid of you!"

Xing Yuanzhi: .....

Cheng Yuexian: .....

"Xing family's Qingfeng" is the title bestowed upon Xing Yuanzhi by the head of the Xing family. Although there's suspicion of self-praise within the family, Xing Yuanzhi has a good reputation in the aristocratic circle, and with her potential to reach at least sixth grade in the future, this title isn't entirely unfounded.

Zhu Xinchu is a genius from the Zhu family, also identified with a potential of at least sixth grade, with qualifications to challenge fifth grade. His bloodline growth potential is even slightly higher than Xing Yuanzhi's.

Upon hearing about Xing Yuanzhi being dubbed "Xing family's Qingfeng," this guy even gave himself the title of "Zhu Family's Xuan Niao," becoming the laughing stock of the circle for a while.

It's one thing for others to praise you, but who names themselves? Do you know how to write the words "shameless"?

Xing Yuanzhi didn't have the patience to say much to him. She was eager to find her fiancé, intending to continue forward with Cheng Yuexian.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Xinchu shook off the Cheng family juniors around him and shamelessly followed along:

"Yuanzhi, you're quite familiar with the Cheng family of Shendu. Let me ask you: Do you know if there's a very cool sister in the Cheng family? Around twenty-something, wearing sunglasses, with an extremely hot and exaggerated figure..."

"What's wrong?" Xing Yuanzhi casually replied, "The Cheng family is here, why don't you ask them instead of asking me?"

"The temperament of the Cheng family, you know it well!" Zhu Xinchu exclaimed angrily, "As stubborn as stones, so stubborn! I've talked until my mouth is dry, and all they give me is 'no comment'!"

Cheng Yuexian's eyes grew cold, she covered her mouth and chuckled, "What stone-like temperament? I think you, Brother Xinchu, are the one with a stone-like head. They've already said 'no comment,' and yet you keep asking. Do you think our Cheng family rules are lax, with loopholes to exploit, or what?"

"Sorry, Yuexian," Zhu Xinchu quickly apologized, "I just wanted to know the identity of that elder sister and get to know her."

"What's the use of getting to know her?" Cheng Yuexian teased, "You, Zhu family's Xuan Niao, can you decide on your own marriage? Why don't you go back and ask your father if he has arranged a marriage for you... Maybe you already have a beautiful fiancée."

Xing Yuanzhi remained silent on the side. With her cold demeanor, she didn't particularly like dealing with the lively Zhu Xinchu.

Meanwhile, Zhu Xinchu actually believed her words, stroking his chin, he said, "Hmm, that makes sense! With my exceptional talent, the clan must consider arranging a marriage for me. Oh no, looks like my elder sister is out of the picture."

He muttered to himself, while Cheng Yuexian quickly led Xing Yuanzhi away, laughing on the way, "Zhu Xinchu is really a bit clueless. His father originally named him 'Xinchu,' meaning 'his flame burns brightly.' But he thought the strokes were too many and difficult to write, so he insisted his father change his name. Isn't that amusing?"

[T/N: Chinese characters with the same pronunciation but different spelling.]

Xing Yuanzhi smiled faintly, still thinking about Cheng Jinyang's situation.

Since the Cheng residence has begun to tighten security, something must have indeed happened...

It's likely the result of Cheng Xinnan bringing Jinyang into the clan's territory.

"By the way," Xing Yuanzhi asked casually, "I remember there was a segment about admitting members from humble backgrounds after the ancestor worship ceremony. How many people from the Cheng family were admitted this year? Are there any particularly talented individuals with great potential?"

"Haha, although the numbers in previous years were not impressive, we indeed have some promising talents this year," Cheng Yuexian replied, noticing her interest.

"Why don't you come to the testing site after the ancestor worship ceremony? I'll show you around."

"I haven't seen the introductory test for the gravitational ability of the Cheng family," Xing Yuanzhi smiled faintly, exuding an ethereal charm that impressed Cheng Yuexian.

"If you're willing to come, forget about those from humble backgrounds," she said with a smile.

"Even if they are from the Cheng family, knowing that the famous Xing family's Qingfeng is watching the collective test, they will probably perform at 120% of their ability."

Collective testing? Isn't it just the introductory test for those from humble backgrounds? Xing Yuanzhi was momentarily surprised, but quickly understood.

The once prestigious Cheng family of Shendu, now unable to fill the streets with guests during the ancestor worship ceremony, has an unmistakable sense of decline. Even an outsider like me can see it, can't the elders of their clan see it?

Not limited to those from humble backgrounds who want to be admitted, but also including the collective testing of the younger generation within the family, it was to showcase the outstanding talents of the Cheng family's younger generation to the outside world, demonstrating how promising the future of Shendu's Cheng family is - it's also considered the final struggle of a prestigious family before its decline.

She looked towards the depths of the clan's territory, where amid the densely packed residential buildings, lay a garden green space composed of layered pavilions, water pavilions, and pavilions, showcasing the heritage and temperament of the prominent clans.

However, no matter how elegant and magnificent the clan's territory was, without pillars of leadership to support its status, how long could it remain prosperous and thriving?

For a moment, Xing Yuanzhi, a member of the Xing family, which is as famous as the Cheng family of Shendu, couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow and despair.