Chapter 836: Zhou Daoping, a death well-deserved

In Nanzhou, within a market town at the foot of Mount Yunlong.

On this day, a somewhat short, elderly man in yellow robes walked with hurried steps to the exterior of a restaurant. After glancing up at the prestigious signboard above, he entered the establishment with a look of displeasure.

Guided by a waiter, the yellow-robed elder soon arrived outside a private room on the second floor and gestured for the waiter to knock on the door.

"I haven't shorted you on spirit stones, why are you bothering me again? Get lost!"

Hearing the angry rebuke from inside, the waiter, who was in the middle of knocking, was startled. He froze, then looked helplessly at the yellow-robed elder beside him.

Seeing this, the elder waved his hand slightly to signal the waiter to withdraw, then pushed the door open and walked straight in.

The private room was decorated quite lavishly; ornate palace lanterns swayed, and brocade embroidered with exquisite patterns covered the walls, presenting a scene of refined luxury.

The moment the elder stepped inside, he heard the crisp, pleasant sound of a zither, though the music came to an abrupt halt following his sudden intrusion.

Not far away, a handsome man lying on a wooden chair with his legs crossed looked at the intruding elder. First, a look of surprise appeared on his face, then he sighed helplessly and said, "Sixth Great-Uncle, I was just bored on the mountain and came down to steal a moment of leisure. How did you find me here?"

Hearing the man speak, the elder did not acknowledge him first, but instead waved his hand at the several musicians in the room who were still stunned.

Once everyone else had left the room, the elder carefully set up a formation at the door before turning to rebuke the handsome man:

"This is the Li family's territory! If people find out you're running around in a place like this, aren't you afraid it will affect your reputation?"

"Sixth Great-Uncle, isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? I've only come here to taste some spirit wine and listen to some music I enjoy. Why make it sound so terrible?

Besides, I am someone preparing to marry into another family; what kind of reputation could I possibly have in the cultivation world from now on? Sixth Great-Uncle, please don't worry yourself over me.

While we still have a chance to chat, why not have a drink with me? I might not have many opportunities to return to Mount Huanglong in the future."

Hearing the elder's rebuke, the young man appeared completely indifferent. He laughed, responded, and picked up the wine cup on the table again.

The elder sighed upon hearing this, then spoke with a solemn expression: "Daoping, I know you are angry about the family's arrangements, but you must understand that the family is doing this for your own good.

Our Zhou family has only been a Nascent Soul family for less than a thousand years; how can our foundation compare to the other Nascent Soul powers in the surrounding area?

The family has already decided to put all its efforts into supporting your Third Uncle's Core Formation; there is simply no spare energy to support you in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.

If you stay in the family, I fear it will be difficult for you to achieve the Nascent Soul Dao, and you will only end up wasting your life in the Golden Core realm like your Sixth Great-Uncle.

Sending you to the Li family, aside from the family's considerations, is actually for the sake of your future path.

The Li family has already promised us that once you and Li Xuanyi complete the dual cultivation ceremony, they will pass that technique on to you. It will at least increase your chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm by ten or twenty percent.

These are decisions made after deep deliberation by the Ancestor. Although you are currently feeling wronged, once you successfully form your Nascent Soul, no one in either the Li family or the Zhou family will dare to gossip about you.

You should know these things in your heart without me having to say more. Do not misunderstand the Ancestor's good intentions."

"Hmm! The Ancestor has considered things thoroughly! You know, I just like to talk; I haven't actually opposed this matter.

I have been devoted to the Dao my whole life, and apart from my love for music, I have no other hobbies. As long as the Li family's young lady doesn't mind that I am marrying above my station, it will be fine.

Besides, I've already come here, so what else are you worried about? Sixth Great-Uncle, don't always keep such a stern face."

"As long as you know that, hurry back with me! The Li family's young lady just sent word that she will be coming to visit in person shortly."

"Eh? I haven't even paid my customary visit yet; why is she so impatient to see me?"

Zhou Daoping, who had just taken a sip of wine, immediately looked confused upon hearing the elder's words.

Hearing this, the elder also shook his head and said, "I don't know why she is coming to see you either. Perhaps she just wants to meet you first. You'll find out once you see her." —— A few months later, a streak of azure light flew in and landed directly outside "Yunlong Market," transforming into a young man in green robes with an ordinary appearance.

The man in green scanned the unfamiliar market town before him, then strode forward and soon arrived at the entrance.

Seeing that Song Qingming, who was approaching from not far away, possessed extraordinary cultivation, a Qi Refining late-stage cultivator guarding the gate immediately stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"This junior greets you, Senior. May I ask your honorable name? Are you heading to Mount Yunlong?"

Hearing the inquiry, Song Qingming smiled and asked with some confusion: "I have only come here for the first time; how did you know I was going to Mount Yunlong?"

"Uh! Did this junior misunderstand you, Senior? Please forgive me!

It just so happens that one of our Ancestors on Mount Yunlong is holding a joyous event, so there are many guests coming and going. Seeing that your cultivation is extraordinary, Senior, and that you are a stranger, I assumed you had also come from afar to offer your congratulations on the mountain."

"Oh! So that's it. It is quite a coincidence that I arrived today!

I wonder which Ancestor on the mountain is having the joyous event? I'll see if I can join in the fun later and have a cup of wedding wine!"

Hearing Song Qingming's inquiry, the gate-guarding cultivator immediately replied with a hint of pride: "Hehe! Senior is right. This dual cultivation ceremony for Ancestor Xuanyi is a grand event that our Li family hasn't seen in a hundred years.

It would truly be a pity if you missed it, Senior."

"Wait! Are you talking about that Ancestor of yours?"

"It is Ancestor Xuanyi. Senior, could it be that you know her?"

Seeing the sudden look of surprise on Song Qingming's face, the gate-guarding Qi Refining cultivator asked curiously.

Hearing this, Song Qingming immediately regained his composure, shook his head at the cultivator with a calm expression, and walked straight into the market.

After parting ways with his Master, "Daoist Lingxu," that day, Song Qingming had originally intended to return to the Floating Cloud Mountain Range. However, before leaving, there was one more thing he had not finished, so he took a detour to "Mount Yunlong" in the western part of Nanzhou.

"Mount Yunlong" was the immortal mountain and spiritual vein of the Li family, a Nascent Soul family in Nanzhou, and also the cultivation family where his Senior Sister, Li Xuanyi, resided.

The reason Song Qingming came here was precisely to see this Senior Sister who had always taken good care of him in the past.

He never expected that just as he arrived at the foot of the mountain, he would hear the news that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi was about to be married, which left him feeling quite shocked.

"Senior Sister suddenly left the sect; could it be because of this?"

Having been in the "Grand Void Gate" for many years, Song Qingming was naturally very clear about the sect's rules.

Because of the sect's rule of avoiding the world, all inner sect disciples, once they joined the sect, could no longer have too many entanglements with other cultivation forces in the outside world.

When he first heard from his Master, "Daoist Lingxu," that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi had suddenly and voluntarily withdrawn from the sect, Song Qingming had always been very confused and puzzled by it.

If Senior Sister Li Xuanyi wanted to return to her family to get married, then her giving up her status as an inner sect disciple and choosing to withdraw from the sect was indeed within reason.

It was just that Song Qingming had known Li Xuanyi for many years, and in his heart, she had always been a person who acted according to her own will and had a distinct personality.

Suddenly hearing the news that Li Xuanyi was getting married, Song Qingming felt strange for some reason.

Walking and pondering the doubts in his heart, it was not until he unknowingly reached the end of the market street that Song Qingming suddenly came to his senses. He couldn't help but shake his head, turn around, and walk into a restaurant nearby.

The next day, Song Qingming, who was truly unable to suppress the restlessness in his heart, arrived at the foot of "Mount Yunlong" early in the morning and sent a message requesting to see Senior Sister Li Xuanyi.

The result, which Song Qingming did not expect, was that the Li family's mountain-guarding cultivators, upon hearing that Song Qingming wanted to see Li Xuanyi, went to report it, but soon rejected him directly on the grounds that their Ancestor was not in a position to receive guests.

This immediately left Song Qingming feeling quite depressed. He did not know if the other party was unwilling to help pass the message, or if Senior Sister Li Xuanyi had really changed so much that she didn't even have time to see her fellow sect friend of many years.

After nightfall, the dim moonlight slowly climbed into the sky, and there were few pedestrians left on the streets of "Yunlong Market."

At this moment, a figure suddenly flipped down from the second floor and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Not long after, in a residence in the northwest corner of "Yunlong Market," a middle-aged man in yellow robes had just returned from outside and was about to return to his cave dwelling to meditate and cultivate.

Unexpectedly, just as he walked into the residence, he saw that everything outside his room was pitch black, without even a single lamp lit, and he couldn't help but feel angry:

"Where have these servants died off to? This is becoming more and more outrageous!"

After the middle-aged man in yellow robes rebuked them, he was just about to go find the servants in his residence when he felt a cool breeze blow past him. Looking up, he discovered that a mysterious person wearing a bamboo hat had already arrived silently by his side.

"You... who are you?"

The middle-aged man in yellow robes had just asked the question when he saw a flying sword pressed against his forehead, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

"If you still want to live, you had better not ask who I am!"

"Senior... Senior, spare my life! This junior dares not speak more. Whatever instructions you have, Senior, please speak directly!"

Hearing the extremely cold tone from the other party and the powerful aura emanating from them, the middle-aged man in yellow robes nodded in terror, fearing that the flying sword in the other party's hand would move even a fraction of an inch forward.

The mysterious person in the bamboo hat showed a look of satisfaction upon hearing this and continued: "Next, I ask and you answer. If the answers satisfy me, not only will you not have to die, but these spirit stones will also be yours."

After speaking, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat moved their spiritual light and threw a bag of spirit stones into the hands of the middle-aged man in yellow robes.

Seeing the full bag of spirit stones in his hand, which contained at least a thousand, even though the middle-aged man in yellow robes was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator with some small achievements, a flash of temptation still crossed his eyes.

But before he could be happy for long, the next cold words from the mysterious person in the bamboo hat brought him back to reality: "If you dare to deceive me, not only will you not get the spirit stones, but I fear you will find it very difficult to leave this place alive. You had better think carefully before you answer; don't miscalculate!"

"Senior, please rest assured! As long as it is something this junior knows, I will certainly not dare to deceive you!"

Facing such a mysterious person in a bamboo hat whose cultivation was much higher than his own, the middle-aged man in yellow robes knew he did not have many choices. As if recognizing reality, he nodded quickly.

"Are you a member of the Li family of Mount Yunlong?"

"This junior is Li Quansheng, a cultivator of the Li family of Mount Yunlong!"

"Can you find a way to see the Li family's Golden Core Ancestor, Li Xuanyi, in person?"

"What? Ancestor Xuanyi? This..."

Seeing the middle-aged man in yellow robes looking hesitant, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat's gaze swept over instantly, and they said sternly: "As long as you are honest and tell the truth, I will not make things difficult for you otherwise."

"Yes! Senior.

Ancestor Xuanyi is currently cultivating beside several Supreme Ancestors at the top of the mountain. On normal days, unless the Ancestor is willing to receive guests, it is very difficult for us to get close to that place. This junior is not sure if I will have the opportunity to see her. I ask for your understanding, Senior."

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"If you can't see her, that's fine. You just need to help me deliver a letter to her. If you can handle this well, I have more rewards!"

After the mysterious person in the bamboo hat finished speaking, they lowered the flying sword that had been pressed against the other party's forehead. With a movement of spiritual light in their hand, a letter and a small azure jade bottle appeared, which they handed to the middle-aged man in yellow robes.

"Senior, please rest assured! This junior will definitely do my best to handle this!"

At first, the middle-aged man in yellow robes thought that because the other party was dressed so mysteriously, they might be someone with a grudge against his family who had come to cause trouble and inquire about family secrets.

He never expected that after all the questioning, the other party only wanted him to deliver a letter to the mountain, which instantly made him feel a sense of relief.

After wiping the sweat from his forehead caused by nervousness, the middle-aged man in yellow robes nodded with a smile and was about to turn and leave.

However, just as he thought he was about to escape danger, a voice from behind stopped him.

"The contents of that bottle are prepared for you. Take one pill first before you go and handle the task for me!"

"May I ask, Senior, what is this?" Looking at the azure jade bottle in his hand, the middle-aged man in yellow robes became nervous again.

Seeing this, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat explained: "This is a special poison. After taking it, you must come back to find me within three days to get the antidote, otherwise, you will never have another chance.

This poison was concocted by my own hands. Even if a Nascent Soul cultivator were to intervene, I fear it would be difficult to remove it in a short time. I think you should understand what you need to do!"

"This... Senior... I..."

"Of course, if you want to die now, it's not that I can't fulfill your wish.

It's just that I have no great grudge against you, and this trip is just to handle some matters. I don't need to say more for you to see that.

How you choose, why don't you decide for yourself!"

Hearing the "well-intentioned" reminder from the mysterious person in the bamboo hat, Li Quansheng's face turned pale. Trembling, he opened the jade bottle in his hand, gritted his teeth, and poured the pill inside into his mouth.

Afterward, Li Quansheng bowed to the mysterious person in the bamboo hat, then quickly left the residence and disappeared into the night.

After Li Quansheng left, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat slowly took off the hat that had been covering their face, revealing a very ordinary face.

It took less than half a day, and before the sky had even brightened, Li Quansheng ran back quickly and met Song Qingming, who was pacing in the residence.

"Senior! This junior did not fail the mission; I saw Ancestor Xuanyi.

The Ancestor... the Ancestor asks you to wait for a moment and then follow me outside the market to see her!"

Hearing the hurried words from Li Quansheng, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat showed a look of satisfaction, then nodded at him and said:

"Good! Take these spirit stones first. Once I see her later, the antidote will naturally be given to you."

After the mysterious person in the bamboo hat finished speaking, they threw another bag of spirit stones to Li Quansheng, causing a rare look of joy to appear on his face.

More than an hour later, seeing that the sky was already bright, Li Quansheng came to the mysterious person in the bamboo hat again and whispered a reminder: "Senior, the time is almost up!

We had better hurry over, lest we keep Ancestor Xuanyi waiting too long!"

"Very well, lead the way!"

In order not to attract attention, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat did not choose to walk side-by-side with Li Quansheng but followed far behind him.

After the two left the market one after the other, they soon followed a small path with nice scenery not far away and stepped into a bamboo forest.

After traveling several hundred feet through the bamboo forest, the sound of "swishing" water suddenly came from ahead, and soon a small river more than ten feet wide appeared before them.

Upon reaching the riverbank, Li Quansheng immediately stopped, pointed to a two-story pavilion not far away by the river, and bowed to the mysterious person in the bamboo hat:

"Senior, Ancestor Xuanyi is waiting for you in the pavilion ahead. The Ancestor has given orders not to let me disturb your conversation, so I will not take you over there."

Hearing this, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat looked at the "two-story pavilion" not far away, and after a long while, replied: "Hmm! Thank you for your trouble. You may go back first!"

"This! Sen... Senior, you haven't given me the antidote yet?"

Seeing Li Quansheng looking at him nervously, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat smiled and shook his head directly: "I said that if you handled the task well for me, I would give you the antidote, but you insisted on being clever. This cannot be blamed on me."

After the mysterious person in the bamboo hat finished speaking, they moved their body, flashed into a streak of light, and left the spot directly, ignoring Li Quansheng, who was still standing there in a daze.

At this moment, in the "two-story pavilion" by the river not far away, a man and a woman hiding in the dark were shocked to see this scene and couldn't help but blurt out: "Eh! Why did this guy turn around and run? What's going on? Could it be that he saw through something?"

"I say, my dear lady, the person has already run away, why are you still asking this? Let's chase him!"

After the two finished speaking, they flew out of the "two-story pavilion" and headed straight in the direction where the mysterious person in the bamboo hat had disappeared.

Watching the several streaks of light flying away in the sky, only Li Quansheng stood there in a daze, holding his forehead in regret.

"It was clearly just a little bit away, how could it fall short of success? Could it be that this is truly my fate?

Forget it! Anyway, I am a person with no hope for the Dao in this life. Being able to sacrifice for the family is a death well-deserved, and the family will not treat my descendants poorly in the future."

Not long after leaving the bamboo forest, the mysterious person in the bamboo hat suddenly discovered two streaks of light of different colors chasing after them from behind. After looking back at the other party, they increased their speed even further.

Just as the mysterious person in the bamboo hat was about to shake off the two people behind them, a streak of golden light suddenly flew in from the front, blocking their path, and transformed into a burly man in yellow robes with a rough face.

"Since you, fellow Daoist, dare to come to my Mount Yunlong as a guest, why be sneaky and threaten my family's junior to pass a message for you? Why not take off the bamboo hat and meet us openly and honestly?"

Facing the obstruction of the burly man in yellow robes, a flash of surprise crossed the eyes of the mysterious person in the bamboo hat. After a moment of silence, they took off their bamboo hat directly.

"Fellow Daoist Li, it has been many years, I hope you have been well!"

"Fellow Daoist Song, so it was you."

Seeing that the other party recognized him, Song Qingming quickly explained:

"Song's trip here was only to see Fellow Daoist Xuanyi. Because I couldn't find a way in and was anxious, I resorted to this inferior strategy. It was my rudeness, and I hope you will forgive me.

Before, I just wanted to ask that young friend to help pass a message. What I gave him to take was just an ordinary pill, and I had no intention of harming him. I hope Fellow Daoist Li will not misunderstand."

"Oh! So that's it. Fellow Daoist, you really gave us a fright yesterday. Fortunately, it was just a misunderstanding."

Hearing Song Qingming's explanation, Li Xuanfeng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then asked: "Fellow Daoist, is your trip here only to see Xuanyi?"

Song Qingming nodded directly upon hearing this: "Exactly!"

"I don't know the reason, but I sent a message to the mountain yesterday, yet I gained nothing. Fellow Daoist Xuanyi and I can be considered old friends; logically and reasonably, it shouldn't have been like this."

"Fellow Daoist Song, although I don't know your identity very well, I can guess a thing or two.

Xuanyi has indeed had some trouble here, but some things involve my family's secrets, so it is not convenient for me to tell you directly here.

If Fellow Daoist Song wants to inquire about Xuanyi's affairs, why not come with me to the mountain to see our Ancestor? You will naturally understand everything then."

"Oh! Then thank you, Fellow Daoist Li!"

Previously, hearing that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi was about to be married, Song Qingming had been thinking about how he should congratulate her when they met again.

He never expected that in less than a day, he would hear that Senior Sister Li Xuanyi was in trouble. Song Qingming was also unable to grasp the situation for a moment, and a look of worry appeared on his face. Without thinking too much, he nodded quickly.

Led by Li Xuanfeng, the two arrived at the foot of "Mount Yunlong" together, passed through the formation, and entered the Li family's mountain gate. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 837 =====