In the council hall on the west side of the ancestral hall of the merchant fort.

The three elders of the merchant sat solemnly, with a solemn look on their faces. Because, Grandma Shang specially invited them here, and there must be something important to say.

Grandma Shang sat on the throne of the lord of the castle, glanced at the three elders, and finally slowly spoke: "The three elders are the venerable ones of my merchant fort, although they have always ignored mundane affairs, but after all, they are the clansmen of my merchant fort. Everyone's fate is intertwined. Therefore, the old man took the rare opportunity to get together today and asked the three elders to give me a way out in the future. ”

The three elders thought that Grandma Shang was going to talk about Shang Xiaodie, but they didn't expect her to ask such a question, and they were all quite surprised, and they couldn't help but exchange glances with each other.

One of the old men said puzzledly: "Although our merchant fort is weak, it can be regarded as a local power in the poor and remote area of Xianju Town. As long as we don't take the initiative to provoke the big forces, we will be able to live in peace for a long time. Our Shang family has been here for more than 100 years, and successive castle owners have been working hard to develop in a low-key and cautious manner, which has led to today's situation. We only need to follow the clan system and stay together, so how can we show the way out? Could it be that the castle lord has any new plans?"

Another old man's eyes flashed, and he immediately asked, "What big force does the Lord of Mo Fei want to attach to?"

The old man's words immediately aroused the alarm of the other two elders.

The eldest elder hurriedly said: "If your own strength is not enough, it is the most unwise to rely on the big forces. Because, since they are a big force, how can they care about a weak family like us? We are of no great use to them. Who really cares about things that have no value? Therefore, we do not have the conditions to attach ourselves to the big forces, and even if we succeed, we will not be able to get any substantial benefits from them. On the contrary, when there is a war between the big powers, we will become their cannon fodder. ”

The other two elders hurriedly chimed in: "That's right. ”

Grandma Shang was in a very complicated mood at this time, she secretly destroyed Li Qingshan's Manmen last time, but she didn't find the Linggen Pill, and she failed to complete the secret mission assigned by the elders of the Immortal Sect. This made her obviously feel the coldness and dissatisfaction of the Immortal Sect towards her. And Li Qingshan is a member of the Cloud Gate Sect after all. The Cloud Gate Sect categorically would not care.

Originally, if she could successfully find the Linggen Pill, she would be able to officially merge into the Immortal Sect. Once it is really merged into the Immortal Sect, there is no need to be afraid of the Cloud Gate Sect. But now the door of the Immortal Gate is not open to her, and the pursuit of the Cloud Gate Sect will definitely come. Although she did it very secretively, what if the Cloud Gate Sect found out? Every time she thought of this, Grandma Shang couldn't help but shudder.

And in this merchant fort, the three elders of the merchant are the highest in cultivation, and they are extraordinary, but they are very stubborn. If we can get their help, we may be able to resolve this crisis. Therefore, Grandma Shang wants to take the opportunity to probe their tone today. According to her estimates, if the three elders can quit the seclusion state and return to the merchant fort, then the strength of the merchant fort will increase greatly. At this time, she went to attach to the Immortal Gate, and she believed that the Immortal Gate should have no reason to refuse it.

However, as she expected, her temptation was blocked before it could be exited.

However, Grandma Shang did not give up, and said cautiously: "Three months ago, there was a massacre in Lijia Village. Li Qingshan, a disciple of the Cloud Gate Sect, was also tragically destroyed. ”

The three elders of the merchant did not know about this, and when they heard about it at this time, they were all shocked. Because, although they have lived in seclusion for many years and don't know who Li Qingshan is, the Cloud Gate Sect does. The destruction of the disciples of the Cloud Gate Sect is definitely not a trivial matter. So, how can you not be surprised when you hear it?

One of the elders immediately looked shocked and asked, "Then where is Lijia Village?"

Grandma Shang said: "A small mountain village about thirty miles north of Xianju Town. ”

The old man became more and more surprised, and said, "So it's in the sphere of influence of my merchant fort?"

Grandma Shang wanted this effect, and she was secretly relieved in her heart, but her face showed a sad expression, and she said, "Yes, it is rumored that the thieves committed the crime. After all, this area belongs to the sphere of influence of our merchant fort, so the destruction of Li Qingshan's family will inevitably involve us, and once the Cloud Gate Sect comes to investigate, we will bear the brunt. The three elders should know that in the face of a force like the Cloud Gate Sect, how can we have the qualifications to defend ourselves? Perhaps they will not listen to our defense at all, and they will directly destroy us. As the castle owner, he has been anxious about this for a while. I really don't know what to do, so I took the opportunity to consult the three elders today and wanted to ask the three elders for guidance. ”

This is indeed a big problem.

The three elders quickly exchanged glances with each other, and then they all buried their heads in thought.

They really need to think carefully and not jump to conclusions, after all, this is a matter of life and death for the merchant fort.

Grandma Shang waited patiently for a while, and then cautiously probed, "Although the Cloud Gate Sect will not necessarily be angry with our merchant fort. But what if? We can't gamble with the lives of our whole people. Therefore, during this period of time, after thinking about it, I felt that it was better to rely on a big force. In that case, even if the Cloud Gate Sect wants to move us, it will have to weigh it. At least give us a chance to prove our innocence. ”

One of the elders nodded slightly and said, "Our Xianju Town has a special location, between the two major forces of the Cloud Gate Sect and the Qi Immortal Sect. If you really want to do this, it seems that only the Immortal Gate can be attached to. However, we have never had any contact with the Immortal Gate, but we are afraid that this way will not be easy to find for a while. ”

Grandma Shang was secretly happy, and was about to speak, but the eldest elder said, "It's not appropriate." The old man still insisted that he could not be attached to any big force. Especially at this time. The tragedy of the Yunmen Sect's disciples destroying the sect had nothing to do with us, so why should we bother to make a mess of ourselves? At this time, to attach ourselves to the Qixian Sect will bring a signal to the Yunmen Sect, we have a problem, we are afraid, so we go to seek the protection of the Qixian Sect. Then what are we afraid of? Isn't this the same as not recruiting oneself for the Cloud Gate Sect? Those who didn't doubt it in the first place will also doubt it because of this. ”

"Yes, yes. ”

The other two elders nodded hurriedly in agreement.

This old stubborn!

Grandma Shang secretly cursed in her heart, and knew that she couldn't achieve her goal today, so she had to give up.

The old man continued to say to Grandma Shang: "The three of us are all hermits, so it is not appropriate to take care of the affairs of the merchant fort anymore. But since the lord of the castle is inquiring today, and it is indeed a matter of survival of the merchant fort. Therefore, the old man will take a responsible position with you. I do my own thing, not attached or not attached, is the principle of my business fort to do things safely. I hope the castle owner will not doubt himself. ”

Grandma Shang is a person who has always been decisive in killing, and since she knows the attitude of the three elders, she will no longer dwell on it too much, so she let go of the matter and said, "Thank you to the three Venerables, the old man knows it in his body and mind. ”

The three elders all nodded in satisfaction.

"Then let's talk about Fluttershy's little girl. The eldest suggested with interest.

Grandma Shang bowed slightly, then sighed and said, "The three Venerables don't know that this little Fluttershy girl is the old man's family ugly, and the old body will lift this fig leaf today. ”

The three elders couldn't help but be moved, and they all looked at Grandma Shang with puzzled eyes.

Grandma Shang smiled wryly and said, "In this merchant castle, everyone thinks that Fluttershy is Haotian's widow. Actually, no, she is a wild seed brought by Nan Dieyi from outside. Haotian also died because of her. ”

"Oh, is that true?"

The three elders all looked at Grandma Shang with incredulous eyes.

Grandma Shang continued to say expressionlessly: "Of course it's true. It is for this reason that the old body has no good impression of this girl. ”

"So you kicked her out of the merchant fort?" asked one of the elders.

Grandma Shang shook her head and said, "This girl didn't drive her away in person, she couldn't stand the bullying of others and left by herself." ”

The eldest elder suddenly understood, and said, "So, the red-clothed ghost in the altar is the Nan Dieyi?"

Grandma Shang gritted her teeth and said: "Yes, this slut killed Haotian, how can the old body tolerate her? Later, the old body found out her background, it turned out that she came to a mysterious place called the Ghost Domain, and she was also the holy daughter of the Ghost Domain. In the ghost realm, the saint has a very high status, but the constraints she is subject to are also extremely harsh. One of them is not to marry for life, and you must guard yourself like jade. ”

However, Nan Dieyi did not abide by the rules of the domain and became pregnant with others. In the Ghost Realm, the Holy Maiden will be punished inhumanely for committing a foul and will be supposedly burned alive. Nan Dieyi escaped because of this, and met Haotian. ”

Grandma Shang paused slightly when she said this. It can be seen that until now, she still can't calmly face the past more than ten years ago.

After a long while, Grandma Shang continued: "Haotian's death, only the old body knows the real reason, in order to maintain Haotian's dignity as the first heir of the merchant castle, the old body did not reveal the background of Fluttershy's girl, and also concealed the identity of Nan Dieyi, a slut. Secretly imprisoned her in the altar. ”

In order to protect her evil seed, Nan Dieyi negotiated conditions with the old body. She said that the Holy Maiden of the Ghost Realm had the ability to control her resentment. She said that the blood pool we used to cultivate the Bloodthirsty Demon Sutra had accumulated a lot of resentment. This kind of resentment will go over and more, and then it will get out of control, bringing us a strong backlash. For this, the old body naturally knows about it, and has been worried about it. Since she has this ability and takes the initiative to put it forward, the old body naturally has no reason to refuse. Make an agreement with her about this. ”

"Let the old man save Fluttershy's life, while Nan Dieyi sacrifices herself to have her soul guard the altar and protect the blood pool of resentment for us. ”