Chapter 18: A huge conspiracy

Zhan Chen's attention shifted towards the biggest palace inside the divine general's estate. There was an arched gateway before the majestic looking palace. 'Supreme general' was inscribed on top of the arched part.

He had heard that this palace was built to honour the acheivement of his grandfather and it was prepared for him by the old king of the Red cloud kingdom.

His gaze crossed the arched gateway and moved towards the central hall within it. It was a beautifully designed hall with a air of aloofness around it.

Currently, there were five people gathered in the central hall. Zhan Chen knew that only the topmost matters concerning the future of kingdom and Zhan family were discussed here.

Zhan Chen looked around the hall. Among the five, three were extremely familiar to him as they were his aunts but other two persons were foreign to him. One of them was a sickly looking old man and the other one had covered his face in a black hood.

"Liu Mang, how is it? Have you managed to find out some clues?", Zhan Chen's first aunt looked towards the black hooded person. "Young lady, it is rather difficult this time as the enemies have concealed their tracks but I have still managed to obtain some clues", the hooded person answered in a hoarse voice.

Zhan Chen felt interested and scanned the hooded person who had covered his entire body in black. "Peak stage True essence realm", Zhan Chen exclaimed in his mind. His curiousity grew and he scanned the sickly looking old man. "A second stage Core Condensation realm expert!", Zhan Chen felt amazed by this discovery.

"Speak, what did you find out?", his eldest aunt asked in a grave voice. A solemn atmosphere appeared in the central hall as everyone's gaze focused on Liu Mang.

"Young lady, has someone from the Zhan's estate offended any sect member recently?", Liu Mang looked towards his eldest aunt.

"No, why are you asking. Are the enemies from some sects?"

"I am not sure. When I used my tracking beetles, it led me towards a restaurant. What surprised me the most is the fact that the culprits are two peak stage true essence realm experts. Their auras are vigorous and they are two young looking men. Such experts should not be from such a puny kingdom".

A heavy atmosphere appeared in the central hall after Liu Mang finished speaking his part. Everyone fallen silent after listening about the culprits.

"Senior Zhen, what do you think?", the eldest aunt of Zhan Chen asked the sickly looking old man respectfully.

"Looks like I have to go outside for a while", the sickly looking old man laughed.

"How long has it been since I exercised my muscles?", he murmured to himself.

"Ok, little girl. No need to worry for me. I will come back after a while", the sickly old man looked at the concerned eldest aunt of Zhan Chen. Then he walked towards the outside.

Soon, Liu Mang also dismissed himself. There were only three aunts of Zhan Chen remained in the hall.

"Looks like We still have some reserves to face the enemies. Speaking of this, it is rather surprising that enemies have such patience against us.

The fact that grandmother can't fight is known to major families. Then why are they still not attacking? It is most be due to apprehension towards these unknown experts", Zhan Chen analyzed inside his mind.

He thought about the hidden enemies of his Zhan family and a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

"I need power. With my current cultivation I can't even protect myself. Forget about battling True essence realm experts and there are even some Core Condensation realm experts.

Looks like I can't rely on normal cultivation anymore. Tomorrow after ceremony, I will find myself some women", Zhan Chen muttered to himself.

He thought to find a weapon for himself before the arrival of Zhan Qingyue. He walked outside and went towards the weapon house of the estate. A old soldier was incharge of the weapon house.

He greeted him upon seeing him but Zhan Chen could notice the hidden scorn in his eyes. He didn't mind his gaze as he scanned the weapon house of the estate.

"Grandpa, Can you show me some good swords?", Zhan Chen asked the old man politely. The old man nodded his head and went inside. After sometime, he came back with few swords in his hand. Zhan Chen looked at the swords and a disappointment look appeared in his eyes.

"Grandpa, can I check the swords myself?", Zhan Chen asked him again. "Young master, please don't make my job difficult. I have no say in this matter", the old man replied with a helpless look in his eyes.

"Damn it! Have I unknowingly walked upon shit this morning? How come this useless silk pant is looking for me", the old man cursed the god of luck inside his mind.

Zhan Chen didn't know what he was thinking but he knew why this old man was so reluctant to let him enter the weapon storage of Zhan family's estate.

"I need a ordinary sword for myself. I will not touch any spirit weapon, I promise. Moreover you will be there to watch over me", Zhan Chen urged the old man.

A helpless look appeared on the eyes of old man as he allowed Zhan Chen to come inside. "Remember your words. Don't touch any spirit weapons. Otherwise I will allow you inside again", the old man warned Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen nodded his head as he didn't have any intention to touch the spirit weapons kept in this storage.

Weapons were of two categories in this world. Ordinary weapon and spirit weapon. In the Red cloud kingdom, most of the people used ordinary weapons. Spirit weapons were a rare kind of weapons which only people with background possessed.

Only experts above Meridian opening realm could use spirit weapons efficiently as warriors of lower realms didn't have enough essence energy to activate the might of a spirit weapon.

Zhan Chen looked around as different types of swords came to his view. Short swords, long swords, falchions, heavy swords, needle swords, the weapon storage had many types of swords. "This is more than enough considering the size of our family", Zhan Chen murmured to himself.