Chapter 378: The Sun Clan

As Mo Hua extended his spiritual sense to probe, inside the most lavish mansion in Qianjia Town, a middle-aged cultivator with a stern face and gaunt frame suddenly opened his eyes, his expression slightly startled.

He frowned and ordered:

"Bring Ze'er here."

The servant bowed and left; soon after, a young man with flippant eyes and brows entered, speaking casually:

"Father, what is it?"

The middle-aged cultivator was surnamed Sun, named Yi, and was the head of the Sun Clan.

The youth was surnamed Sun, named Ze, and was the Sun Clan's legitimate eldest son.

Sun Clan head Sun Yi frowned: "A cultivator is probing with spiritual sense."

Sun Ze also exclaimed in surprise: "A Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

Sun Yi nodded: "This spiritual sense is extremely subtle and profoundly deep—it swept past lightly. Had I not been absorbed in deciphering an array, and focused my own spiritual sense, I might not have noticed it at all."

Inside the carriage, Mo Hua's eight disciples exchanged glances, then all turned toward Master Zhuang.

Sun Ze frowned and rebuked: "Say more of that kind of sensible talk! A true man knows when to yield and when to advance—what's wrong with speaking loudly?"

Mo Hua and his senior brother were lying under the bed, speaking loudly.

"Offering unsolicited favors…"

The Puppet Elder spoke again, calmly: "What is it?"

"If you have no need, just tell the Elder—your Sun Clan will do its utmost to fulfill it."

……

One room was for Master Zhuang and the Puppet Elder; the other was for Mo Hua's eight children.

Logically, that white-robed cultivator most resembles a Foundation Establishment cultivator—but if I were Foundation Establishment, I could conceal my aura so completely that I'd sense nothing at all.

The Sun Clan's hearts trembled.

Even the driver, an old man, was so strange; the cultivator outside the carriage must be even more complex.

Master Zhuang revealed a faint, faint smile:

……

Little White dragged the carriage, strolling slowly down the streets of Qiandeng Town.

"That Master Zhuang, with his immortal aura and noble bearing—he's no ordinary man, not some petty fraud…"

"Too cold-hearted, harboring ulterior motives."

Sun Ze raised an eyebrow, set down his teacup, and said urgently:

Beneath Qiandeng Town.

"No matter what he does, we treat him with courtesy—avoid provoking him if we can, and send him on his way as soon as possible."

"We apologize for the disturbance."

The one who had boarded the carriage earlier was a great cultivator with cloudy eyes and refined features.

Sun Yi led the way; the Puppet Elder drove the carriage, swiftly entering the Sun Clan's modest gate amid the astonished glances of passersby.

Master Zhuang said calmly: "I am surnamed Zhuang."

"The only road into Qiandeng Town is this one."

"Which Sun?"

"Honored guests arrive—forgive us for not greeting you at the gate."

"Both look like villains."

Sun Yi walked ahead; Sun Ze still frowned, his thoughts unsettled, his gaze gradually warming: "I hope he's not here to cause trouble…"

Sun Yi scoffed: "If there's no Foundation Establishment cultivator, you're wasting your time—why are you speaking so loudly? Do you even deserve to?"

The two muttered among themselves; Bai Zi Xi had no way to cultivate, so he opened his autumn-water-like eyes and looked at them helplessly.

But now that they had come to greet us, I couldn't possibly drive them away—and I couldn't deny I'd misread them either.

"What do we do next?"

"Take some people to meet them, invite them in as guests, and don't offend them."

Sun Ze frowned.

Bai Zi Xi sat in meditation, elegant and serene.

"One father, one son…"

That driver, who looked like a piece of wood, always gave me a faint sense of oppression.

First came a tall young man with sword-like brows and star-like eyes; then a delicate young lady with a lovely face.

The Sun Clan prepared two small guest rooms for Mo Hua and the others.

It's clear now—he's not an impostor.

Sun Yi rebuked: "What do you know? Foundation Establishment and Foundation Establishment are entirely incomparable. Our Sun Clan is tucked away in a corner—we must cultivate connections with other cultivators carefully, and even then, we must know why they've come, and never offend them."

Sun Clan head Sun Ze personally came to greet them.

But the cultivator who stepped out of the carriage surprised them greatly.

The Puppet Elder's expression was blank; he said calmly: "Who are you?"

Sun Ze shook his head: "I haven't figured it out yet."

"Moreover, this Foundation Establishment cultivator likely has a formidable background."

Was there truly no Foundation Establishment cultivator probing?

Though called small guest rooms, they were plainly furnished—with porcelain, screens, incense burners, and wisps of sandalwood smoke curling gently.

The great cultivator supported another figure—a white-robed cultivator who looked noble and ethereal, yet emitted no aura whatsoever, not even resembling a cultivator.

Master Zhuang gave a slight nod.

Among that group of cultivators, even if some haven't reached Foundation Establishment, their status would still be extraordinary…

Sun Ze was overly trusting, but still smiled and said:

Sun Yi's gaze lingered for a moment on the servant boy's waist before moving away, then nodded in agreement:

Before settling Master Zhuang and the others, Sun Ze returned to the parlor, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

Master Zhuang's tone remained cool and detached:

After a while, several cultivators appeared from the road ahead.

"This person is undoubtedly a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" Sun Yi declared firmly.

"Observe for a few days—it'll surely cause trouble. Treat him with courtesy…"

"Which Sun is it?"

I could only force myself to say, "I don't know this cultivator's surname…"

"No need to be so formal," Sun Ze bowed respectfully.

Sun Ze also furrowed his brow:

The dry voice made Sun Yi feel uneasy, and he was inwardly displeased.

At the front was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in brocade and fine robes, with a frivolous face but pretending solemnity.

Sun Ze sat down, and a beautiful servant girl came forward to serve tea. He took a strong sip, pondered for a moment, then hurriedly added:

"Meeting is fate; travelers from afar are guests. If you're displeased, stay a few days at our Sun household—I'd be honored to offer what little hospitality I can."

The strong man bowed and asked, "Honored guests, may I ask what brings you here?"

Sun Ze was startled—it was an uncommon surname, sparing with words, yet carried the bearing of a high-ranking person.

The puppeteer halted the carriage.

Seven or eight beds were placed side by side, each covered with a soft, plush carpet.

Sun Yi, reprimanded, could only obediently reply:

Earlier, Sun Ze had arranged for everyone to stay, and said coldly:

The middle-aged cultivator bowed, his face wearing a smile:

The carriage stopped.

"No, the smile's too fake."

He then ordered, "This Foundation Establishment cultivator, using spiritual sense to scout—likely an outsider."

Mo Hua looked merely a bit more well-behaved, but still caught Sun Yi's eye.

That voice was as dry as dead wood—clearly human, yet not quite human.

"The driver, that elderly man; the tall, imposing fellow; and that handsome young Miss—all have extraordinary qi…"

Yet the surrounding houses were uneven, the formation crude, and nothing to admire.

"This Sun doesn't look like a bad person."

"Do you think you can provoke them?"

That spiritual sense filled him with deep wariness.

The puppeteer remained silent.

Sun Yi asked him, "Father, who is Foundation Establishment?"

Mo Hua leaned forward to observe, studying the formations around.

Sun Ze muttered inwardly.

Sun Yi counted them all—except Mo Hua.

Sun Yi respectfully said, "Qianjia Town is humble; we fear we may offend honored guests. If you're not averse, please come to our Sun household—I'd be honored to offer what little hospitality I can."

Among these people, who is Foundation Establishment?

Unless he's above Foundation Establishment—a Jin Dan cultivator.

Sun Yi pondered for a moment, then slowly said:

"Alright, Father, I'll follow your lead."

It made him even more curious—who exactly were the people sitting inside the carriage?

But matters had come to this; there was no point dwelling on it anymore.

"Why would a Foundation Establishment cultivator come to Qianjia Town?"

He was usually the one asking questions, rarely had anyone spoken to him in such a cold tone.

The puppeteer inside the carriage nodded and said, "Alright."

The Sun household parlor was lavishly decorated.

"Father," Sun Yi leaned forward and said loudly:

But his father had given prior instructions—he dared not disobey.

Sun Yi also smiled.

Sun Yi quickly said, "I am Sun Yi, eldest son of the Sun family of Qianjia Town."

For some reason, Sun Yi sighed in relief.

The puppeteer cracked pine nuts and drove the carriage.

…

Yet a Jin Dan cultivator would never come to such a remote, backwater region as this seventh-rank prefecture.

Sun Ze complained, "Why go through all this trouble? Let him come if he wants, leave if he wants—why should we care?"

Whose spiritual sense was this that was probing?

"Could it be… you misread it?"

"A smile that doesn't reach the eyes."

If there really are no Foundation Establishment cultivators here, this is even more someone I can't afford to offend.

Sun Ze looked sturdy, his gaze slightly evasive, "... I'll have to entertain you properly."

"Just passing through your area, resting for a few days."

Sun Ze was momentarily dumbfounded.