C4 A Genius of a Family

Apologize?

Upon hearing the challenge, the Great Elder spun around, jabbing a finger at Zhou Kaile and bellowed, "You expect me to apologize to Zhou Kaile and address him as Patriarch? Not in a million years!"

"We'll see about that!"

"Will we?"

With a faint smile, Zhou Jibo stepped forward, his hand resting on Zhou Leng's shoulder. "I'm not going to give you the luxury of time. If today's grudge is to be settled, let's settle it today."

"If you refuse to recognize my father as the Patriarch today, then your son, Zhou Leng, can remain here in the ancestor temple. We'll follow the family rules and discipline this disobedient youth!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Zhou Qian roared in fury.

"And why wouldn't I?" Zhou Jibo's grip tightened, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from Zhou Leng.

"Release my son!" The Great Elder, overcome with rage, looked ready to strike. But Zhou Kaile, Zhou Jibo's father, along with three Zhou family elders, had already stepped forward to stand behind Zhou Jibo.

Any attempt to snatch his son would surely result in Zhou Leng's harm. With bitter resentment, he conceded, "Fine, I lose! But it's not to you—it's to your son, Zhou Jibo!"

He bowed to Zhou Kaile, conceding, "Patriarch, my mistake."

He then lifted his head, taking Zhou Leng with him as he quickly departed, his pride clearly unyielding.

The Third Elder, Zhou Zhenbo, and the Fourth Elder, Zhou Chaide, followed suit, their bows tinged with mixed emotions. They mumbled a hasty acknowledgment to Zhou Kaile before rushing off in the wake of the Great Elder.

"What's the meaning of this? How can they show such disrespect to the Patriarch?" As the group dispersed and the Zhou family members began to head home, an elder murmured in dismay at the unfolding scene.

Zhou Jibo glanced at him, a knowing smile on his face. He mused to himself, "Weren't you and the Great Elder just as dismissive of the Patriarch moments ago? If I hadn't intervened to reverse the tide, today would have seen not just my expulsion but the election of a new Patriarch."

But there was no need to spell it out. Now that he had realigned with the Patriarch, this elder was an asset. Zhou Jibo decided to leave him in his father's capable hands.

Although Zhou Jibo thwarted the Great Elder's scheme today, it's clear that the Great Elder had already swayed a majority of the Zhou family members to his side. Zhou Kaile still has a long road ahead before he can wield the full authority of the Patriarch.

Zhou Kaile burst into laughter. "This is the first time since I assumed the role of Patriarch that I've seen Zhou Qian yield and address me as such! Zhou Jibo, you've done splendidly!"

The other Zhou family elders joined in the praise for Zhou Jibo.

Aside from Elder Zhou Chulang, who initially backed Zhou Kaile, Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu had clearly recognized Zhou Jibo's exceptional talent at such a young age. His mastery of the Gravel Palm Technique was impressive, and his possession of a low-grade Earth Spirit bone root only added to their admiration. They were generous with their praise.

Zhou Jibo, however, remained indifferent to their flattery. He knew that their allegiance could shift with the tides of power. Only time would tell if their loyalty was genuine.

"Zhou Jibo, has your Gravel Palm Technique reached the fifth layer?" Zhou Kaile, basking in the elders' accolades for his son, inquired eagerly.

Zhou Chulang subtly shook his head in response.

Zhou Shuang and Zhou Shu also smiled and shook their heads.

Misinterpreting their gestures, Zhou Kaile ventured, "So, your Gravel Palm hasn't hit the fifth layer yet? I thought you were close. Since I've mastered the technique to the fourth layer, I'll take it upon myself to teach you soon."

"Patriarch, you've got it wrong!" interjected Zhou Chulang, unable to hold back. "With your fourth-layer Gravel Palm, what makes you think you're qualified to instruct Zhou Jibo? Even if we three spent our entire lives practicing, we'd barely surpass the fifth layer, maybe just outdoing Zhou Qian. But do you realize the extent to which Zhou Jibo has developed his martial skill?"

Zhou Kaile shook his head, his mind reeling at the thought. "Could he really be that formidable? It's hard to believe. Zhou Jibo is only sixteen, after all."

"Do you realize why we unhesitatingly joined you in the fight against Zhou Qian?" Zhou Shuang remarked, "Zhou Jibo's display of prowess is a testament to his potential and talent. He's the prodigy who will lead our Zhou family to its former glory and secure our position as the preeminent family in Icefair City!"

Such lofty praise?

Zhou Kaile was stunned. Even though Zhou Jibo's bone root was of the lower Earth Spirit grade and he was always seen as a prodigy, he had never been lauded to this extent!

"Is that true? And his Gravel Palm Technique?"

"Indeed, it's beyond what you could even imagine. His Gravel Palm Technique has reached a new, unparalleled level!" Zhou Shuang declared earnestly.

Zhou Shu chimed in, "From what I've seen, it's no longer a run-of-the-mill technique, but rather one of the Yellow Rank, low grade!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, Zhou Kaile nearly passed out. He clutched Zhou Jibo's hand, exclaiming, "This is fantastic! My son, Zhou Jibo, has independently elevated the technique to the Yellow Rank, low grade. Truly, the Zhou family is blessed with a remarkable son!"

Zhou Jibo, observing his father's excited, stuttering state, suppressed a chuckle.

This is merely a Yellow Rank, low-grade martial skill, and yet they're this thrilled. If I were to reveal that it's actually a Profound Rank skill, a full grade higher, they'd probably be ecstatic beyond belief.

In his fervor, Zhou Kaile hurriedly led Zhou Jibo out of the ancestor temple's grand hall, eager to spread the joyous news to the rest of the family.

Soon, only two younger family members remained in the courtyard, with a mere handful of people left at the temple's entrance.

Zhou Kaile's jubilation quickly faded.

He sighed softly, murmuring to himself, "Am I truly unfit to be the patriarch?"

Turning to Zhou Jibo, he advised, "You've done well today. Go find Xunqin and enjoy the city together. Among all families in Icefair, it's the Zhengs and the Zhous who share the closest bond. You're talented, yes, but don't become a womanizer. Xunqin is a fine young woman; don't take her for granted."

Zhou Jibo's face took on a puzzled look: Zheng Xunqin, a fine young woman? The Zhou and Zheng families have the closest bond? What on earth are you talking about?

He finally understood why his father was ill-suited to lead as the patriarch—it was a lack of sharpness.

His father's disposition was certainly beneficial as a parent, but it left him ill-equipped to contend with a master manipulator like the Great Elder, to say nothing of the deceitful Zheng family and Zheng Xunqin.

Zhou Jibo refrained from saying too much to his father, Zhou Kaile, whose warm heart did not mask a lack of cunning. Revealing too much could lead to unintended slip-ups.

With a noncommittal response, Zhou Jibo quickly exited the ancestor temple and began to wander the streets.

Despite his memories remaining intact, he had yet to experience this world firsthand.

Should he extend an invitation to Zheng Xunqin as Zhou Kaile suggested, she would likely be astounded. Especially since just this morning, she and the Second Palace Holy Son from the Shrine of Astral Radiance had pilfered Zhou Jibo's low-grade Earth Spirit bone root!

Given the opportunity, Zhou Jibo was determined to exact his revenge, not just on the Zheng family but also on the Shrine of Astral Radiance.