41: Fall

Zhou Kaiding sighed, feeling lost, and after searching in vain, he could only give up.

His heart was filled with worry for Zhou Licheng and Zhou Liyue, so he could only return to Jade Moon Peak as night fell.

When he returned to Jade Moon Peak, Lin Muwan and the siblings Zhou Licheng had not yet returned.

Zhou Kaiding felt a little anxious, but then he remembered that their cultivation levels were low and their speed was slow, so he suppressed the unease in his heart and waited.

Fortunately, after about another half an hour, Zhou Kaiding finally saw the figures of Zhou Licheng and the other person at the foot of the mountain and quickly went to meet them.

Zhou Licheng and the other person were weak, clearly having overexerted themselves, and seeing Zhou Kaiding, he said:

"We searched all along the way, but we didn't see Second Brother."

When Zhou Kaiding saw that only two people had returned, he already knew this would be the outcome, but hearing Zhou Licheng say it, his heart still sank.

"You two go home first and get some good rest."

Zhou Kaiding looked at their pale faces and spoke with a somewhat tired tone.

Clearly, this day's search was not easy for Zhou Kaiding either.

Zhou Licheng and Zhou Liyue, however, did not intend to obey.

Instead, they stood beside Zhou Kaiding and waited.

This wait lasted another hour.

It was already dark, and Zhou Kaiding saw that Lin Muwan had not yet returned.

His heart grew increasingly uneasy; he could no longer wait.

He instructed Zhou Licheng and the other person to hurry home, saying he would go look for Lin Muwan.

Zhou Licheng originally wanted to go with him, but Zhou Liyue interrupted him, pulling him up Jade Moon Peak.

"In our current state, going with him would only be a hindrance to Father, just causing more trouble."

Zhou Liyue said to Zhou Licheng.

Zhou Licheng could only nod silently, allowing Zhou Liyue to lead him back home.

He also understood this truth in his heart; it was just that his urgency earlier had clouded his judgment.

Zhou Kaiding circulated his spiritual power and quickly rushed in the direction of Qianmo Valley.

Feeling anxious, he propelled his spiritual power more intensely, moving several times faster than before.

Finally, after several hours, he saw Lin Muwan's returning figure.

Lin Muwan looked downcast and mentally exhausted.

Clearly, she also had not found Zhou Liye.

It was just that she was unwilling to give up when it got dark, so she continued searching for a long time, which caused the delay.

Seeing Lin Muwan safe and sound, Zhou Kaiding breathed a sigh of relief.

However, his helplessness only deepened.

Zhou Kaiding accompanied Lin Muwan and searched the surroundings for a long time, until the next day.

Every place that should be searched had been, yet still no trace was found.

Zhou Kaiding felt both puzzled and somewhat comforted.

The puzzlement was naturally because he didn't know how Zhou Liye had managed to avoid them; a Mortal's speed was surprisingly so fast.

As for the comfort, it was that since even a Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivator like him couldn't do anything about him, it meant Zhou Liye had good self-preservation abilities.

This way, even if he was alone outside, he could feel much more at ease.

Afterward, the four members of the Zhou Family still didn't give up, searching for several more days, almost digging up the surrounding area three feet deep.

Unfortunately, when someone specifically wants to avoid you, there are indeed ways to prevent you from finding them.

Especially when it's someone who knows and understands you best.

A month later, Zhou Kaiding and his wife finally gave up.

These past few days, Lin Muwan had reread that note repeatedly.

She sighed endlessly, knowing that even if Zhou Liye were found and forced to stay this time, he probably wouldn't be happy.

This way is fine too; she just hoped he could protect himself when he was alone outside.

As parents, the greatest desire is probably for their children's safety and health.

Zhou Kaiding had been comforting Lin Muwan these days; besides his worry for Zhou Liye, he also felt anger.

Leaving without a word like this, wouldn't it cause his Family to be sad and worried? How could this be the behavior of a man?

However, there might also have been a hint of satisfaction for Zhou Liye within him.

It was indescribable, ineffable.

Without Zhou Liye, the Zhou Family seemed to have no changes; after all, without anyone, the world still operates as it does.

However, occasionally from Lin Muwan, who would stare blankly at the note, and from Zhou Licheng and others who would occasionally show worry, one could see that the absence of any one person had an impact on the Zhou Family.

After more than a month.

The Star Origin Fruit matured again, yielding a total of seventy Star Origin Fruit.

This time, Zhou Kaiding did not intend to store them or sell them in Qianye City.

Instead, he chose to place them for sale in the Green Spirit Pavilion, opened by the Zhou Family, in the Lake Heart Island Market.

Now, Zhou Kaiding also had a cultivation base of Qi Refining Level Seven, and Jade Moon Peak even had Mo Xuan overseeing it.

He had a certain level of confidence in both himself and Mo Xuan.

He believed that with the Zhou Family's current strength, even if the fact that the Zhou Family could cultivate xing yuan fruit was exposed, it would not attract the covetousness of petty individuals.

If there truly were such reckless people, then it would just be a gift from heaven and earth.

Little did he know, the six major families of Qingyuan Town all had their own ways of generating wealth, and no one seemed to be plotting against them.

Ultimately, it was still a matter of insufficient strength causing trouble.

Since then, in the Zhou Family's Green Spirit Pavilion in the Lake Heart Island Market, besides qingling rice, another spiritual item was added.

The Star Origin Fruit was quite popular, as whether bought for personal use to refine into pills, or as a reseller to transport and sell elsewhere, it was a good choice.

Therefore, it wasn't long before this year's Star Origin Fruit were all sold out.

The sales were good, and Zhou Kaiding had another idea: it would be even better if he could plant a few more xing yuan fruit trees.

However, although he had been paying attention these past few years, there were no families in the nearby area that could cultivate xing yuan fruit, so naturally, he couldn't buy the saplings.

Thus, he could only try to cultivate them himself, but this would require more exploration.

After selling the Star Origin Fruit, Zhou Kaiding replenished some qingling rice.

Most of this qingling rice, besides being used for the Family's own consumption, was sold, and its reputation had always been good.

Zhou Kaiding traveled between the Market and Jade Moon Peak.

The rest of the Zhou Family also went about their routines, doing their own things.

However, compared to the tranquility of the Zhou Family, Qingyuan Town was much livelier.

In the Market, one could occasionally hear news of various families forming marriage alliances.

Several invitations had also been sent to the Zhou Family.

Originally, Zhou Kaiding didn't need to attend such occasions, but now that Zhou Licheng and the others had low cultivation levels, only Zhou Kaiding could go.

Zhou Kaiding had gone several times, and each time he had to give some Spirit Stone, which made him quite distressed.

However, after going a few times, it lost its appeal.

These marriage alliances and interactions were probably more about the calculations of various families, and had little to do with the people getting married.

Qingyuan Town was momentarily rife with undercurrents.

Several months later, a piece of news spread, instantly turning the turbulent Qingyuan Town into a surging torrent.

Liu Minzhao, the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor of the Liu Family, died from severe injuries.