The Sect Leader Has Taken in a New Female Disciple

Zhao Muye scratched his head, bowing a bit awkwardly as he said, "Since Uncle brought your nephew here, you must have guessed a few things already."

"But that Yan Family bastard tried to lure me with profit, while I intend to treat you with sincerity. I speak bluntly, so I hope you won’t take offense."

Shen Tianhong shook his head helplessly, but a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

And the White Elephant Demon Emperor, who had been silent from beginning to end, was now staring fixedly at Zhou Qing, his eyes full of confusion and doubt, until...shock.

Noticing the other’s gaze, Zhou Qing smiled faintly and gave him a slight nod.

Only then did the White Elephant Demon Emperor seem to wake from a dream and hurriedly return the greeting.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Qing knew at once this fellow had definitely sniffed something out.

Specialized skill really does make a difference!

Second Granduncle’s Illusion Skills could fool the Spirit Severing Realm, even a Supreme like Shen Tianhong couldn’t see through it, yet it still slipped up in front of this gifted Demon Emperor.

But given the other’s depth of scheming, and the experience of having his Void Crystal Core dug out, he’d surely act more cautiously and wouldn’t be as reckless as Zhao Muye.

"I’ll think about it." Zhou Qing suddenly spoke.

This was obviously meant for Shen Tianhong to hear.

If he wanted to probe the Shen Family’s foundation, he had to give this Family Head a sense of crisis, otherwise he’d be constrained at every turn.

Sure enough, Shen Tianhong’s smile stiffened slightly, then he said heartily, "Master, take your time to consider."

"My Shen Family has always respected talent; we would never delay your future. But as long as you’re willing to stay, feel free to name your terms!"

Zhou Qing smiled without replying.

Then Shen Tianhong warmly invited, "You nephews and nieces have come from afar; as the host, how could I neglect you? Master, why don’t we have a simple meal together?"

Zhou Qing gladly agreed, and took the chance to call Second Granduncle out as well.

Second Granduncle came out of the side hall wearing his little tiger-head cap, pretending to be drowsy. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he followed everyone to the banquet.

...

"Gotta say, life’s been pretty comfortable." After the banquet ended, Yama and the others were arranged to stay over.

Second Granduncle was picking his teeth as he sighed, "All day long it’s either eating or sleeping, and every meal is rare delicacies of the mountains and seas."

Zhou Qing, however, frowned. "It’s a pity that when I tried to subtly probe about Shen Hanyi during the banquet, they all said they knew nothing."

"Relax," Second Granduncle narrowed his eyes, "what could possibly happen to someone at Spirit Slash Realm Perfection? With the Yan Family and Zhao Family both here to fight over her, the Shen Family definitely won’t be able to sit still."

Then he lowered his voice: "My guess is they’re about to play their big card soon. Didn’t you notice not a single person from the second and third branches showed up today?"

Zhou Qing sneered, "It’s nothing but another performance. They want me to be drawn deeper in so my sense of belonging increases. Thinking back on playing along with their act, it’s downright disgusting."

Second Granduncle burst out laughing at that.

But he immediately put away his smile and said solemnly, "Since Miss Shen has already clearly said it was her third aunt who struck with poison, and she’s too isolated and weak to take revenge, why don’t you simply remove that trouble for her yourself?"

A cold light flashed in Zhou Qing’s eyes. "You mean...secretly get rid of Liu Rushuang?"

Second Granduncle narrowed his eyes and slowly nodded. "Exactly. What do you think?"

Zhou Qing knitted his brows tightly and paced back and forth in the room.

A moment later, he suddenly stopped, killing intent blazing in his eyes. "Fine! Rather than waste time and effort investigating in secret, it’s more straightforward to just Soul Search her!"

"When the time comes, every filthy deed she’s ever done will be laid bare."

Second Granduncle gave a slight nod. "No need to rush this, though. The Yan Family and Zhao Family have already sent people today; in a few days other Noble Families might come knocking as well. These benefits delivered to the doorstep, we’d be fools not to take them."

Zhou Qing understood and took out the Storage Bag that Yama had gifted him.

As soon as he opened it, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

Second Granduncle also leaned over for a look, and his eyes immediately bulged. "Good grief! So many Array Materials, and Restriction Jade Scrolls... Huh? Why are they all incomplete and broken?"

"The Yan Family really wants to rope people in yet still guards against them. That’s properly insidious."

Zhou Qing let out a cold snort. "The Yan Family’s been like this all along—generous on the surface, but calculating in every detail."

He suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice. "By the way, Second Granduncle, that Yama has a lamp-shaped Magical Treasure on him that seems to be an imitation Extreme Dao Weapon!"

"What?!" Second Granduncle jerked his head up, a sharp light exploding in his eyes. "You’re sure?"

Zhou Qing nodded gravely, then described in detail how Yama had fought Old Emperor Xuanyuan Chong in the Holy Martial Dynasty.

After listening, a trace of greed flickered in Second Granduncle’s eyes as he clasped his hands behind his back and paced. "An imitation Extreme Dao Weapon... Doesn’t that mean the Yan Family very likely has a genuine Extreme Dao Weapon hidden away?"

Zhou Qing nodded. "That’s what I was thinking too, but something about it feels off."

"What feels off?" Second Granduncle stopped walking.

Zhou Qing mused, "You often say Inscription-level Divine Techniques are incomparably precious; countless Spirit Severing Realm cultivators spend their entire lives without ever seeing one, let alone cultivating it."

"Even if someone’s lucky enough to obtain one, being able to cultivate a single Divine Technique to Great Success within their lifetime is already an immense stroke of fortune."

Second Granduncle nodded. "Correct. Take that Hundred Tribulations Blood Curtain; if your primal yang were still intact..."

He broke off abruptly, then lightly coughed and changed his phrasing. "Being able to condense three thousand Phoenix Patterns would already make one a peerless monster."

Zhou Qing nodded in silence.

After all, with Second Granduncle’s talent, he’d cultivated the Nine Tribulations Thunder Talisman Scripture for so long, yet of the thirty-six Thunder Runes he’d only comprehended fourteen so far.

Even later, when he obtained the rare Divine Technique Daluo Demon Sealing Seal, he chose to pass it on to Zhou Qing so that he could focus on cultivating a single Cultivation Technique to Perfection.

Then Zhou Qing continued, "But you also said that Extreme Dao Weapons are the embodiment of the universe’s origin, each one containing world-annihilating power."

"Even if you gather all the materials, you still might not succeed in refining one. Even a hundred Inscription-level Divine Techniques can’t be traded for a single Extreme Dao Weapon, correct?"