"You damn fool! You think the family is actually going to covet a junior’s property?

Have you no sense? Aren’t you afraid of outsiders making a mockery of us? Hurry up and greet the Ancestor." Qu Xiaojun snapped, revealing Qu Qingxian’s identity.

Qu Qizhong’s expression froze for a moment, his gaze wavering. Only then did he turn to look at the legendary Qu Family Ancestor, whom he had never met before.

Qu Qizhong glanced at Qu Xiaojun. Since the man’s identity had been revealed, he said no more and stepped forward to offer a formal greeting. "This grandson pays his respects, Ancestor!"

Qu Qingxian studied Qu Qizhong for a long while before speaking. "This shop’s name... you chose it?"

Qu Qizhong’s head shot up. He looked at Qu Qingxian, his gaze wavering.

’What does he mean by that?’

"What are you spacing out for? The Ancestor asked you a question," Qu Xiaojun piped up from the side.

Qu Qizhong snapped back to his senses. "To answer the Ancestor, I did indeed choose it on a whim."

"Why did you think of a name like that?" Qu Qingxian asked casually.

Qu Qizhong’s gaze flickered, his heart in turmoil. After a moment, he said, "My father’s... incident... affected the shop’s business.

I wanted to keep the business running, so I changed the name. As for why I chose this one, it was really just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"A whim, you say? It’s a good name. Very good," Qu Qingxian said, his voice laden with meaning.

Qu Qizhong froze, cautiously raising his eyes to glance at Qu Qingxian.

He was met with Qu Qingxian’s faint, almost imperceptible smile and a profound gaze.

Qu Qizhong’s heart clenched, as if he had been seen through completely. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again.

"You’re planning an event?" Qu Qingxian asked again.

"Yes. Business has been good, so I plan to hold a small in-store auction in three days," Qu Qizhong replied.

"Well done. You have potential. The Seventh Branch hasn’t amounted to much these past few years, but producing someone like you is a good sign," Qu Qingxian said.

Qu Qizhong paused, saying nothing in response.

"You’re holding an event, but you don’t have any family elders here to oversee it.

From now on, you’ll be the Steward. I’m idle and have nothing to do, so I thought I’d play Shopkeeper for a few days," Qu Qingxian said nonchalantly.

Qu Qizhong was stunned. ’Was I just demoted?’

’Is the Ancestor trying to seize my property?’

’No, that’s not right. Strictly speaking, any property recorded in the family registry belongs to the Ancestor anyway.’

"Alright, it’s settled. I’ll be staying here at the shop for the time being.

Come find me directly if you need anything. Otherwise, don’t disturb me."

After giving a few instructions, Qu Qingxian went up to the third floor and occupied the master bedroom.

After a long moment, it finally dawned on Qu Qizhong: the Ancestor had personally come to back him.

And from the orders he had just given, it seemed to be purely for support, with no intention of seizing profits.

At least, not for now.

’I just wonder if he’ll be tempted once he finds out the shop’s actual income?’

’He probably will. After all, the shop’s income is likely greater than the Qu Family’s entire regular surplus!’

Although this turn of events was sudden and had left Qu Qizhong stunned, it wasn’t a bad thing at this critical juncture. In fact, he couldn’t have asked for a better situation.

’As for everything else, I’ll deal with it after I get through this.’

Besides, during their conversation earlier, the sudden mention of "Blue Sky" had unsettled his Heart Spirit and made him lose his composure.

But now, after a moment to think it over, Qu Qizhong realized there was something strange about it all.

The Ancestor could have come to support him at any time, earlier or later, but he chose this exact moment. Qu Qizhong couldn’t help but wonder about the timing.

A rather absurd guess suddenly surfaced in his mind.

’Could the Ancestor also be...?’

Three days passed in a flash. The shop’s sudden change in strategy, from keeping a low profile to operating with great fanfare, completely shattered the so-called joint blockade.

A small, private auction held inside the shop made the Blue Sky Branch completely famous throughout Celestial Spirit City.

That night, after a busy day, the Blue Sky Branch fell silent.

On the third floor, the Qu Family Ancestor, Qu Qingxian, who had been in Meditation, abruptly opened his eyes.

His brows furrowed slightly as he opened the window, leaped onto the roof, and scanned the surroundings.

A moment later, Qu Qizhong also leaped onto the roof.

"Ancestor."

Qu Qingxian ignored Qu Qizhong’s greeting. A faint light shimmered in his eyes as he stared into the surroundings for a long time.

"I wonder which friend is playing such a joke on me?"

As he spoke, a faint water vapor began to spread from his body.

The vapor had just finished spreading around the shop when a dome-shaped Energy shield slowly materialized.

"Qu Qingxian, I’d heard you had a breakthrough, but I didn’t believe it.

But judging from the Spirit Nurturing Bead auction during the day and your Cultivation, it seems your Qu Family really has managed to get in good with a Spirit Nurturing Master."

A man completely shrouded in black smoke slowly stepped through the dome-like barrier.

’This aura is...?’

"Zhou Zhicheng, what is the meaning of this?" Qu Qingxian demanded.

Zhou Zhicheng, still shrouded in black smoke, didn’t seem to care at all that his identity had been exposed with a single sentence.

To be precise, he had never intended to hide his identity. The smoke was just a formality, not meant to fool Qu Qingxian.

He looked at Qu Qingxian and said, "Heh, what’s the meaning of this? You mean you don’t know?

Hand over the contact information and make an introduction for the rest of us. You should be well aware of the Qu Family’s standing here in Celestial Spirit City.

Before, when you were selling two or three a day, everyone could tolerate it.

After all, if you get in good with a Spirit Nurturing Master and they use their spare time to get you a few items, we can let that slide.

But this past month, you’ve sold over two hundred Spirit Nurturing Beads. And yesterday, you even managed to procure a Mastery Level Tier Two Spirit Nurturing Bead."