520: bad news

"Tailai, have you gained any insights?"

Looking at Zhou Tailai, who now possessed Golden Core cultivation, Zhou Liyue asked with a touch of curiosity.

Outside of his secluded cultivation, Zhou Tailai either studied the methods of destiny calculation or came here to contemplate the stone tablet.

After so many years without any results, there was finally a slight change today.

"Reporting to Ancestor Yue, I have indeed gained something."

"I have named it the Thousand Spirit Transformation..."

Hearing Zhou Liyue's inquiry, a sense of pride appeared on Zhou Tailai's face, and he immediately explained this secret technique and Dao formula in detail.

"Once I have finalized the specific cultivation method, I will hand it over to the Family to be recorded in the Cultivation Manual Tower."

Zhou Tailai added at the end.

This was naturally the expected course of action, yet the Family never forced such things; the Opportunities of the Family Disciples were all left to the Disciples to handle as they saw fit.

"There is no rush for this; this technique is not simple, and the risks involved are extremely high."

After hearing this, Zhou Liyue and Zhou Xiutong's expressions grew somewhat grave. Incorporating the essence blood or Aura of ten thousand Yao Beasts into one's body was truly a reckless act. If one were not careful and lost the balance within, they would sooner or later explode and die due to these various Yao Beast essence bloods.

"Just because you can cultivate it, does not mean the rest of the Cultivators in the Family can."

Zhou Xiutong nodded and agreed.

She was aware of Zhou Tailai's Luck; only with such Luck was it possible to cultivate such a dangerous technique.

"This..."

Zhou Tailai's excited expression faltered; he had not considered so much.

He only knew it was a supreme mystical technique realized from the Dao Lord, but he had never considered the hidden dangers within.

"Be careful yourself."

Zhou Liyue instructed, though she did not stop him.

"Yes, Ancestor Yue."

"There is one more thing."

Zhou Tailai also mentioned the technique for concealing Luck that the Black Demon Dao Lord had taught him, but he did not mention the specific content.

The current relationship between the Black Demon Dao Lord and the Zhou Family could not be summarized in a single word, so without the Black Demon Dao Lord's consent, he could not hand this technique over to the Family.

"It should be effective; try it out first."

Zhou Liyue glanced at the stone tablet in the distance and said to Zhou Tailai.

That was Uncle Xuan's Magic Treasure, so this technique must have already been known to Uncle Xuan, meaning it should be safe and effective.

"Then I will take my leave."

Zhou Tailai bowed and then headed down the mountain peak.

"Third Paternal Grand-Aunt, I am leaving as well."

After Zhou Tailai left, Zhou Xiutong stood up; she needed to enter secluded cultivation to prepare for her Breakthrough.

"First Holy Son, Xi Hong..."

Zhou Xiutong looked into the distance, a thought flashing through her mind, and then she vanished from the top of Qingyang Peak.

Zhou Liyue, sitting cross-legged, gently flicked her sleeve, putting the tea set on the Dao platform into her Storage Pouch. Her figure drifted into the secret chamber at the peak, and the door to the chamber closed. On the top of Qingyang Peak, there was only the blowing breeze, the interlacing shadows of leaves, and the towering stone tablet.

On Qingyang Peak, at Elder Beihai's Immortal Cave.

"Wife, if a matter cannot be accomplished, do not force it."

Elder Beihai, dressed in green robes with a tall figure and handsome face, looked at the beautiful woman beside him with a hint of concern in his eyes.

"Husband, I know."

Fairy Qing Ruo felt somewhat speechless; she was only preparing for secluded cultivation to achieve a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage, so why did it sound like a life-and-death separation in her husband's words?

"Wife..."

The look of reluctance in Elder Beihai's eyes deepened, and he wanted to say more.

Fairy Qing Ruo's heart trembled. Before Elder Beihai could finish, a wave of cringeworthy emotion rushed straight to her mind. Fairy Qing Ruo could not stand it, cast a sharp look at Elder Beihai, and her figure vanished. Deep within the Immortal Cave, a secret chamber slammed shut.

"Hehe."

Hearing the sound of the secret chamber closing, Elder Beihai turned from worry to joy. Now that his wife was in secluded cultivation, he could finally have some leisure time. It was the perfect Opportunity to give himself a vacation. Elder Beihai subconsciously pressed his hand to his waist, preparing to step out of the Immortal Cave to find Qi Dade. But just as he took a step, he paused.

"Old Qi, that old fellow, seems to have gone into secluded cultivation as well."

"Why does it feel like my wife and Old Qi agreed on this..."

Elder Beihai recalled what Qi Dade had said some days ago—that he was also preparing for secluded cultivation to achieve a Breakthrough.

Boom!

The gate of Elder Beihai's Immortal Cave slammed shut.

A month later.

Outside Gui Zhou Island, on Luoying Island, tens of thousands of miles away.

The figures of Zhou Yunxing and Zhou Yunqi appeared in a marketplace on Luoying Island.

Luoying Island was a small island under the jurisdiction of the Zhou Family, where the Zhou Family had established a marketplace for traveling Cultivators to trade.

"Why did you have to drag me along for such a simple task?"

Zhou Yunxing complained. It was just delivering a batch of resources, yet Zhou Yunqi had to drag him along. It was so close to the Family, with no danger at all and low returns; he would rather be in the Family studying ancient texts.

"You are going to study yourself silly. If I didn't drag you out, you wouldn't even know what the outside world is like, would you?"

Zhou Yunqi glared at Zhou Yunxing.

Ever since they left that small island and learned the name of the Goddess of the South Sea, Hai Ruoli, Zhou Yunxing had become obsessed, unable to stop. He was determined to find more records about the Goddess of the South Sea, Hai Ruoli, from various ancient texts. Zhou Yunqi could not stand it anymore, so she found an excuse to drag Zhou Yunxing out of his Immortal Cave.

"I cannot win against you."

Zhou Yunxing knew he was in the wrong and turned his head away.

"Hmm? Isn't that...?"

Zhou Yunxing's footsteps faltered.

"Yunqi, is that your amulet?"

Zhou Yunxing felt a sense of foreboding in his heart.

Zhou Yunqi did not understand; her amulet had long been given to Qi Yiyu on that small island, so how could it appear here?

Following Zhou Yunxing's gaze, there was a small stall set up by an Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

On the stall were various dilapidated objects with unremarkable Auras. Among these dilapidated objects was an amulet made of sandalwood with a small corner missing.

"This..."

Zhou Yunqi's heart jolted. Although a small corner was missing, Zhou Yunqi still recognized it as the amulet she had worn since childhood and eventually given to Qi Yiyu.

Zhou Yunqi and Zhou Yunxing exchanged a glance, and with a movement of their figures, they flashed in front of the small stall.

The stall owner felt his vision blur, and suddenly a handsome man and beautiful woman with extraordinary Auras appeared.

"Two Fellow Daoists..."

"Where did this object come from?"

Zhou Yunqi's expression was heavy as she summoned the broken amulet into her hand and asked the stall owner.

"Business!"

The stall owner felt a surge of joy, ready to boast extensively and inflate the value of this unknown amulet.

"Ahem~ This object..."

The stall owner coughed lightly, but before he could finish speaking, he saw the young man in front of him gently flick his waist, revealing a snake-patterned zhou character token.

"People from the Zhou Family!"

"Two Seniors, this little one picked this up at Bi Shui Bay, a thousand miles away. I do not know its purpose; if you two Seniors need it, please feel free to take it."

The stall owner's heart was shaken violently. His mouth was faster than his brain; while his mind was still in a daze, he had already honestly spilled out the entire origin of the amulet.

"Many thanks."

After Zhou Yunqi said this, she left five Low-Grade Spirit Stones and departed with Zhou Yunxing.

"Phew~"

"My mouth, oh my mouth, I haven't wasted my care on you all these days..."

The stall owner collapsed on the ground, looking at the Spirit Stones in his hand, muttering to himself.

A thousand miles away from Luoying Island, in Bi Shui Bay.

The figures of Zhou Yunxing and Zhou Yunqi appeared.

"Fellow Daoist Qi and Miss Qi may have been murdered..."

Zhou Yunxing said with difficulty; there were no clues here.

With this broken amulet appearing here, there was only one possibility.

"How is that possible? The old woman was so powerful..."

Zhou Yunqi reflexively retorted, but she suddenly stopped.

It was likely that not only were Qi Yifei and Qi Yiyu dead, but everyone on that small island, including the old woman, might have met with misfortune. It was just that they could not find that small island and could not confirm what exactly had happened.

"That may not be the case, hopefully..."

Zhou Yunxing sighed; he could not even convince himself of that faint hope.