The Fourth Calamity: My Sect Has Countless Prodigies

Chapter 48 Premeditation

Inside a teahouse on Qingzhu Mountain, the aroma of tea fills the air, its fragrance refreshing and invigorating.

Zhou Qinghe glanced at the man in coarse cloth kneeling on the ground and asked coldly, "Speak, what did that young man in blue buy from you more than a month ago?"

Zhou Qinghe's tone was calm, yet it subtly conveyed a sense of intimidation, causing a thin layer of sweat to bead on the forehead of the man in coarse cloth.

The head steward usually seemed amiable, but for some reason, he was unusually serious today.

The man in the coarse cloth robe lowered his head, not daring to look Zhou Qinghe in the eye, and said in a trembling voice, "Master Steward, a young man in blue bought a map from me..."

"At that time, he was looking for a first-tier spiritual vein. The map happened to mark the location of the ruins of the Yunshan Sect, which happened to be a first-tier spiritual vein. I saw that it matched his description and sold it to him."

After listening to the rough-clothed man's story, Zhou Qinghe's face remained calm, but a slight ripple flashed in his eyes.

Ruins of Yunshan Sect.

In the past, he might have thought these were just ordinary, dilapidated sect ruins.

But now things are very different. Zhou Qinghe has become the head steward and has some knowledge of some of the family's secrets.

This includes the real reason for the destruction of the Yunshan Sect.

"Alright, you can go now."

Zhou Qinghe waved his hand.

The man felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and hurriedly stood up, about to leave.

But the next moment, a sweet, metallic taste suddenly surged up on his neck.

The man's eyes widened, and he slowly lowered his head. A long sword pierced straight through his throat, its tip tinged with crimson and trembling slightly.

Zhou Qinghe walked slowly over, holding a bottle filled with corpse-dissolving powder. He sprinkled it lightly, and the man's corpse quickly turned to ashes.

"Yunshan Sect..." Zhou Qinghe murmured to himself.

He couldn't understand why Zhou Yi, an ordinary rogue cultivator, would be searching for a first-tier spiritual vein, and why, by such a coincidence, he found the Yunshan Sect.

Just then, the sound of a door being pushed open rang out, and the light footsteps disrupted Zhou Qinghe's original thoughts.

Zhou Qinghe looked up and saw that the person outside the door was wearing a red dress; it was his daughter, Zhou Yunqiao.

"Father, is there any progress on this matter?"

"There's a bit of progress. Zhou Yi is currently in the ruins of the Yunshan Sect."

"The ruins of the Yunshan Sect?"

Zhou Yunqiao let out a gasp, a hint of surprise flashing in the depths of her eyes.

She had previously learned about the past of the Yunshan Sect from Zhou Qinghe, and now that she knew Zhou Yi was in the Yunshan Sect, she was naturally extremely surprised.

"Yunqiao, what do you think about this?"

Zhou Qinghe asked in a deep voice.

He knew that although his daughter's talent for cultivation was average, she was extremely perceptive and had a very meticulous mind.

To be fair, Yun Qiao deserves a lot of credit for my becoming the head steward.

Zhou Yunqiao took a deep breath and remained silent, her mind racing as she pondered the connection.

Judging from the timeline, Zhou Yi did not immediately leave the Zhou family within a week of learning about the ruins of the Yunshan Sect.

This suggests that at that time he had not yet discovered the hidden secrets there, and probably had not received any opportunities.

"A week..." Zhou Yunqiao's gaze narrowed slightly, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Father, has Zhou Yi shown any unusual behavior this past week?"

Zhou Qinghe was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

Something unusual? That's hard to say.

However, in order to explore the secrets of the Book of Changes, he calmed down and carefully recalled that week.

A moment later, Zhou Qinghe suddenly had a flash of inspiration and hurriedly said, "That's right, Zhou Yi went out once during that period. From what he said, it seems that he went to Liuye Town to buy things."

"Later, I sent people to investigate secretly, and it was in Liuye Town that I obtained the information from there. Although it was not conclusive, it was enough to prove that Liuye Town was indeed involved with them."

Zhou Yunqiao nodded gently.

After learning this information, she already had two plans in mind.

But which one to use? She had one last question to confirm.

"By the way, Father, what level has Zhou Yi reached?"

"Realm level? It's just the fourth level of Qi Refining."

Zhou Yunqiao nodded slightly, a surge of joy in her heart.

She knew her opportunity had arrived.

"Father, you recently took the family's Breakthrough Pill and broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining. Why don't we just make our move this time?"

In the world of cultivation, the key is to act swiftly and decisively. If the opponent's cultivation level is low, then taking things slowly and giving the enemy time to breathe is actually a poor strategy.

Moreover, Zhou Yunqiao herself possesses the strength of the mid-stage Qi Refining realm, making her fully capable of dealing with Zhou Yi.

But after hearing this, Zhou Qinghe's expression became somewhat complicated, and he pondered for a moment before saying:

"Yun Qiao, this matter involves the ruins of the Yunshan Sect, which is a major family affair. Would it be inappropriate for us to handle it ourselves?"

Zhou Yunqiao was stunned, clearly not expecting her father to say such a thing.

Subconsciously, she never considered reporting this matter to her family. After all, the Yunshan Sect ruins were extraordinary, and the opportunities gained there were immeasurable.

Silence fell over the room.

Zhou Qinghe looked at the clan emblem on his robe, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

As a member of the Qing generation in the clan, although he was not very talented and eventually became a menial steward, he did enjoy a lot of benefits under the protection of the family.

Zhou Qinghe's current achievements are inseparable from the cultivation of his family.

On the other hand, Zhou Yunqiao did not rush to speak.

Many things cannot be rushed.

She knew she needed to give her elderly father, who had served the family for so long, some time to adjust.

Outside the window, birds fluttered past, startling a few fallen leaves in the courtyard into a rustling swirl before falling back down.

Zhou Qinghe stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze passing over the eaves to the distant, layered mountains, vast and boundless. The wind ruffled his robes, carrying a hint of loneliness.

After a long while, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhou Yunqiao beside him, saying earnestly, "Qiao'er, although you have four spiritual roots, cultivation is not easy. However, your father has now been promoted to chief steward and has some authority. If I want to help you reach the late stage of Qi Refining, it is not too difficult."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunqiao slowly shook her head, her eyes as firm as a rock: "Father, Qiao'er's mind is made up. The path of cultivation is long, and I do not wish to stop here in this life."

Zhou Qinghe gazed into his daughter's clear eyes for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.

He knew all too well that Yun Qiao was no ordinary person. The path she pursued was far more expansive than the late stage of Qi Refining.

"Very well..." Zhou Qinghe's voice deepened slightly. "Since you've made up your mind, then quickly pack up your personal magical artifacts. Don't let the clan find out; the sooner the better."

Zhou Yunqiao's eyes suddenly lit up, a smile bloomed on her lips, and she stepped forward to take her father's arm: "Father is the best."

That smile was gentle, yet like a newly blossoming flower in the mountains, carrying a rare joy.

The path to immortality is long and arduous, fraught with thorns; only the lingering attachment in one's heart can sustain one step by step, traversing countless mountains and rivers.