"Yes, yes... Elder Li, rest assured..."

Zhou Yunqiao was flustered. She immediately swore an oath on her Dao Heart, promising she wouldn’t say anything she shouldn’t.

Then, her knees went weak, and she actually knelt.

"Elder Li, your divine abilities are extraordinary. I beg you to save my Zhou Family."

"Get up. This matter can’t be rushed."

Li Chang’an sent out a strand of Magical Power to carefully examine her body, ensuring no Demon Beast marks remained. While he was at it, he also healed her hidden injuries.

Zhou Yunqiao only felt a warmth spread through her, as if a gentle current was flowing into her body, dispelling all her fatigue and pain.

She didn’t know.

that Li Chang’an had left a Wood Seed inside her.

Although the Wood Seed hadn’t sprouted, a wisp of his Divine Sense was attached to it.

From now on.

Li Chang’an could perceive her every move at any time.

...

A while later.

Li Chang’an stored away the Demon Corpse and cleaned up the entire courtyard.

Zhou Yunqiao had also calmed down considerably and was just barely able to compose herself.

The two sat facing each other in the courtyard.

Li Chang’an asked her, "The Zhou Family’s Old Demon King, the one who’s lived for nearly a thousand years—what’s his current strength?"

The lifespans of Demon Beasts are generally longer than those of Human Race Cultivators of the same tier. It’s not a problem for a Tier Three Demon King to live past a thousand years, but living longer doesn’t necessarily mean growing stronger.

Some Demon Kings in their twilight years become old and frail. They might not even be able to suppress their hidden injuries, and their strength will decline significantly.

Zhou Yunqiao thought for a moment before answering in an uncertain tone.

"Elder, as far as I know, that Old Demon King has always been at the Tier Three Early Stage of cultivation."

"Tier Three Early Stage?"

Li Chang’an was lost in thought.

’Now that the Old Demon King controls the Zhou Family, he’ll probably use every Treasure in the Treasure Vault to increase his strength.’

’The Zhou Family is a Noble Family with a thousand-year history, after all. There must be plenty of Treasures in their vault.’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

That Old Demon King.

’...might be able to break through to the Tier Three Middle Stage.’

"This Demon’s strength is considerable, he’s experienced in Magical Combat, and he controls the Array in the Zhou Clan Territory. He won’t be easy to deal with."

Li Chang’an had no intention of storming the Zhou Family’s estate.

’If I recklessly charge into the Array, I’ll likely end up just like the Spirit Rock Rat King.’

"Yunqiao, rest well for a few days. After your body has recovered, go contact the other Zhou Clan Members who are outside. It would be best if you could find your Elder Patriarch Zhou."

Li Chang’an added a few more words of instruction.

Zhou Yunqiao also understood that this matter couldn’t be rushed. She could only suppress her anxiety and slowly recover.

「A few days later.」

A shocking piece of news suddenly spread from the Zhou Family.

The current Patriarch of the Zhou Family announced that some Zhou Clan Members had betrayed the clan, selling out the Zhou Family’s interests to hostile powers like the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Red Flame Sect.

The Zhou Family would be conducting a full-scale hunt for these traitorous clan members.

Among them were Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yunqiao!

When the news broke, it caused an uproar.

It was baffling that something like this could happen in the Zhou Family, a clan with a thousand-year legacy.

"The Zhou Family has split?"

"I know Fellow Daoist Zhou Sheng. He would never betray the Zhou Family. There must be a hidden story behind this."

Within Yellow Crane Immortal City, everyone was discussing it animatedly.

They discovered.

that the wanted Zhou Clan Members were almost all responsible for the Zhou Family’s external affairs.

"Everyone, look! Even the Zhou Family’s Elder Patriarch, Zhou Yi’an, is on the wanted list!"

Seeing the Elder Patriarch’s name.

the various powers couldn’t help but suspect.

that this so-called betrayal was merely an internal struggle between the new Patriarch’s faction and the Elder Patriarch’s faction.

This kind of thing often played out within the major families—it had even happened in the Mo Family before. But usually, they wouldn’t completely tear off all pretenses, as both sides had to uphold the family’s interests.

"Why is there a Li on the list?"

"Li Chang’an... isn’t that the old turtle from Changqing Mountain?"

"Watch your mouth! What old turtle? My big brother is just cautious!"

In Yuelai Restaurant, Xu Fugui frowned, carefully looking over the Zhou Family’s wanted list.

Among the many names with the surname Zhou.

a Li Chang’an suddenly appeared.

It was incredibly conspicuous.

To this.

the reason given by the Zhou Family was simple.

Li Chang’an had sheltered the Zhou Family’s traitorous disciple, Zhou Yunqiao, and was thus also considered an enemy by the Zhou Family!

"Big brother has always acted cautiously. Why would he suddenly interfere in the Zhou Family’s internal strife?"

Xu Fugui’s expression was grave; he didn’t quite understand.

...

「On Changqing Mountain.」

Li Chang’an was also looking over this so-called list of traitorous disciples.

He suspected.

’Some of the Zhou Family disciples on this list are already under the control of Demon Beasts.’

’The Old Demon King deliberately released this list to lure out Zhou Yunqiao and the others.’

"Some of the Zhou Family disciples on this list must be a trap set by the Demon King for Zhou Sheng and the others."

Li Chang’an mused.

’Zhou Sheng shouldn’t be foolish enough to walk into such an obvious trap, but it’s hard to say for the other Zhou Family disciples.’

’Someone might try to contact the others on the list, attempting to gather more strength, only to be caught in a single sweep.’

Just as he was thinking.

a streak of light suddenly shot across the distant sky.

It was a Jade Scroll, moving at extreme speed, heading straight for Changqing Mountain.

"Freeze!"

With a casual point of his finger, Li Chang’an stopped the Jade Scroll in mid-air and extended his Divine Sense into it.

Inside the Jade Scroll was a wisp of Demon Qi and a single, ice-cold sentence.

"Li Chang’an, you’d better stay holed up on Changqing Mountain. If you dare come to my Zhou Family, you will surely die!"

After hearing this.

Li Chang’an’s expression didn’t change. He casually sent out a strand of Magical Power and shattered the Jade Scroll.

The wisp of Demon Qi inside the Jade Scroll was filled with a chilling intent, clearly from the Zhou Family’s Tier Three Old Demon King.

The Abyssal Water Turtle!

Perhaps the death of the Spirit Rock Rat King had made that old turtle a bit more wary of Li Chang’an.

That was why he had sent this Jade Scroll to warn Li Chang’an.

Regarding this.

Li Chang’an was unconcerned.

He naturally had no intention of going to the Zhou Family right now.

"This matter can’t be rushed. It must be handled slowly and deliberately."