Zhu Guizhi was in the audience, witnessing the entire battle between Gu Qing and Zhu Fenxiang.
She sighed deeply in her heart, almost reaching out to cover her face.
Why did it have to turn out like this?
Offending Gu Qing, what benefit could that possibly bring?
Zhu Guizhi couldn’t understand, but she had no choice. Up until now, Zhu Fenxiang had ignored her, using cultivation and preparation for battle as an excuse to avoid meeting.
"No, after this battle, I must have a good talk with Fenxiang."
Seeing Zhu Fenxiang walk out of the Martial Arts Hall, Zhu Guizhi immediately sent a Divine Sense Transmission, speaking in a serious tone.
Zhu Fenxiang’s heartstrings twitched, and she subconsciously felt annoyed.
However, she also knew she ultimately had to face her mother, so she responded indifferently, "The battle is over, we can talk when we return."
Back at the rented Cave Mansion, Zhu Fenxiang and Zhu Guizhi finally had a private conversation.
Zhu Guizhi shook her head and sighed, "Even though Gu Qing and Zhao Hansheng are foreigners, there’s no need to offend them like this."
"What sort of benefit did Ning Zhuo give you to make you help him like this?"
Zhu Fenxiang shook her head, "Ning Zhuo hasn’t even privately contacted me. This was my own decision."
Zhu Guizhi stared at Zhu Fenxiang.
Those words were too false; she didn’t believe them at all!
Zhu Fenxiang felt bitterness that she couldn’t express.
She actually didn’t want to make an enemy of Gu Qing like this. Having received elite training from a young age, she had worked hard step by step to become the face of the Foundation Establishment for her generation in the Zhu Family, and she possessed significant political acumen.
But, alas...
Alas, Earth Guardian True Monarch insisted on it!
What Zhu Fenxiang truly relied on was this Great God.
Upon learning of the situation, Earth Guardian True Monarch immediately laughed heartily and decided to cooperate with Ning Zhuo in stirring things up.
Unable to twist her arm against the thigh, what could Zhu Fenxiang do? She had to go along with it.
At this moment, she couldn’t tell Zhu Guizhi the truth.
On one hand, the matter involved Earth Guardian True Monarch, and the Great God explicitly demanded confidentiality. Additionally, Zhu Fenxiang didn’t want to appear too weak, impacting her image and reputation.
On the other hand, the relationship between Zhu Fenxiang and Zhu Guizhi was very tense. Zhu Fenxiang didn’t want to see her mother, she wanted to stay far away.
So before, Zhu Fenxiang preferred to directly send a letter to the Household Affairs Office of the Zhu Family rather than notify Zhu Guizhi in advance.
All these reasons led Zhu Fenxiang to finally coldly say one sentence, "This is my business. It has nothing to do with you!"
Zhu Guizhi’s eyebrows shot up instantly, and anger surged in her heart.
From her perspective, her daughter was causing trouble, and she had traveled far and wide to come here and clean up after her. First, she negotiated with Ning Zhuo and faced a setback. Then, she came to Zhu Fenxiang’s Cave Mansion and kept getting brushed off. Seeing Zhu Fenxiang antagonize Gu Qing made her feel disappointed and frustrated.
"Fenxiang! I’m here for you."
"You’ve handled this matter very poorly, and to win over Ning Zhuo, you’ve sacrificed the first layer of our family’s Divine Summoning Technique. You’ve underestimated the significance of this."
"Our political enemies are now widely spreading and promoting this matter. They wish to seize this point to severely strike our faction."
"If we cannot overcome this crisis, your status as the face of the Foundation Establishment could be taken away."
Zhu Fenxiang was slightly taken aback, "Is it that serious? Hasn’t the family sold the first few layers of the Divine Summoning Technique before?"
Zhu Guizhi smiled bitterly and shook her head, "You’re thinking too naively. The Divine Summoning Technique is the cornerstone of our family’s heritage, it’s no trivial matter! How often has it been traded? Every time it’s under special circumstances."
"What does Ning Zhuo count as?"
"He’s merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, with an unclear identity and background, still only at the Mid-stage level."
Zhu Fenxiang immediately shook her head, "No, he’s different too."
Zhu Guizhi was stunned, then suspiciously examined Zhu Fenxiang, "Fenxiang, could it be you have a strong affection for him? Whether it’s the Divine Summoning Technique or your all-out battle with Gu Qing, are these merely your own eager actions?"
Zhu Fenxiang just denied her, affirming Ning Zhuo’s stance with far too much confidence and determination.
It seemed like she had an inexplicable great confidence in Ning Zhuo.
This was very suspicious!
Zhu Guizhi was unaware of the inside story: Zhu Fenxiang’s confidence in Ning Zhuo, and belief in his peculiar nature, stemmed from Earth Guardian True Monarch.
From Zhu Fenxiang’s perspective: if even the Great God regards Ning Zhuo favorably and assists him greatly, clearly showing a stance of goodwill and alliance, how could I not follow suit?
But this matter was not something Zhu Fenxiang could easily express.
Both Ning Zhuo and Earth Guardian True Monarch demanded strict confidentiality.
Thus, Zhu Fenxiang could only reply to Zhu Guizhi with a stern face, "Affection? You could interpret it that way."
"Darn!" Zhu Guizhi’s heart sank to the bottom.
She couldn’t help but make a wrong judgment: Zhu Fenxiang was infatuated with Ning Zhuo, hence she voluntarily offered much help, while Ning Zhuo had no special feelings and didn’t reciprocate Zhu Fenxiang’s interest!
Zhu Guizhi had previously secretly negotiated with Ning Zhuo, determining his attitude.
"Fenxiang, this child, was always so quiet and studious as a child, always striving forward and obedient."
"Alas, I have cared too little for her."
"She’s not encountering Ning Zhuo, an outstanding peer for the first time, but they have mostly been competitors."
"It’s strange, isn’t Ning Zhuo part of the same batch of elite talents, with their own competitive relationship?"
"Perhaps it’s love at first sight."
"That said, what part did she fall for?"
"Big head?"
Zhu Guizhi’s mind wandered. As she thought about it, she couldn’t help but recall Ning Zhuo’s various performances.
The proud posture of him reclining on his chair, the dazzling display of scattering a dozen Ghost Dao Golden Core, and the elegance during the Martial Arts Hall confrontation when Ning Zhuo controlled two Golden Core Puppets to defeat the dual gods in tandem.