In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

"If that's how you put it, my Zhou family will compensate you with several hundred old hens. The hens will lay eggs, and the eggs will hatch into more hens. Wouldn't that be enough?"

Zhou Hao retaliated in kind, showing no fear whatsoever, "Go ahead and lash out if you want, we'll take it!"

Seeing that the other party quoted such an unreasonable price confirmed his previous suspicion that the Duan family was just looking for trouble, and that the Ye family might also be behind it.

As for the purpose... it was nothing more than to force out their own ancestor who was in seclusion!

"Fifth Brother, don't be impulsive. Our old hen is also a spiritual creature. How can we just give it away?" Zhou Dezheng replied slowly and deliberately.

Ok?

Even the old hen won't be compensated?

The patriarch was right, elder brother... you are indeed suited to be the head of the family!

Zhou Hao was stunned when Zhou Dezheng sneered and laid his cards on the table: "Gentlemen, not a single spirit stone... You can make a scene if you want, but I must remind you, making trouble unreasonably will make you a laughingstock!"

"Zhou Dezheng! You allow your men to hunt down my spirit bird, is that justified?" Duan Ce roared angrily.

"Reason? Fine, then I'll explain the reasoning to you."

Zhou Dezheng stood with his hands behind his back, his aura suddenly rising. "Your patriarch promised that the papaya birds would eat the spirit fish of my Cuiya Lake, and that my Zhou family disciples would be allowed to hunt and kill them. Is that true?"

Duan Ce's eyelids twitched: "Yes! But only disciples below the fourth level of Qi Refining are allowed to participate! Nine hundred birds, can a bunch of rookies kill them all? You must have sent experts!"

"Heh heh, is that so?" Zhou Dezheng said confidently. "Then let me tell you, these nine hundred birds were all killed by a Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator from my Zhou family. Moreover, it was all done by one person!"

The entire room fell silent.

Duan Ce's eyelids twitched: "That's right! But it was clearly stated at the time that only disciples below the fourth level of Qi Refining were allowed to participate; high-level cultivators were not permitted to participate!"

Ok?

When did our Zhou family produce such a remarkable person?

Could it be... him?

That's right, he's someone who can break magical artifacts even in the early stages of Qi Refining!

Zhou Qingrong and Zhou Hao exchanged a glance, feeling reassured.

"Absolutely impossible!" Duan An, who had been silent until now, stepped forward and said, "I'm at the fifth level of Qi Refining, specializing in archery spells, and I can't even do that. It's even more impossible for someone lower than me!"

"That's right! Patriarch Zhou, you're just shooting yourself in the foot!" Duan Ce chimed in.

"Hmph, I knew you wouldn't believe me. Don't worry, I'll show you today!"

Immediately, Zhou Dezheng instructed the steward, "Please invite Young Master Chen over."

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"Fellow Daoist You Ran, I need to relieve myself now. Do you still want to come along?"

"If Brother Chen doesn't mind, then I don't mind either."

"Oh my god, what kind of indecent language is this?"

Chen Changqing was frustrated. Even when there were no birds to hunt, this person still insisted on following him around, like a piece of chewing gum.

The key issue is that, out of consideration for his feelings, he can't openly kick people out.

"Brother Chen, don't you understand her feelings?" Zhou Youran puffed out her chest, her eyes glazed over, as if she were about to confess her love.

"We're not a good match, you should find someone else." Chen Changqing decisively extinguished the flame.

"Impossible! How do you know it's unsuitable if you haven't even looked into it thoroughly?"

Zhou Youran seemed to have caught something incriminating, and her expression suddenly turned strange:

"Brother Chen, is there something you're having trouble saying? If it's like the rumors say... it's alright, you're still young, I can go with you to see the doctor!"

"I'm in great health! My kidneys are even better!" Chen Changqing said with a black line on his face.

"Then, could it be that you really have a crush on my sister?"

At this point, Zhou Youran spoke cautiously, as if afraid that what she said was true.

"And who is your sister?" Chen Changqing was completely baffled.

"Zhou Ruoyun..."

"Why are you bringing her up again? That's not true!"

"call……"

Zhou Youran let out a long sigh of relief, looking as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door: "Young Master Chen, the head of the family requests your presence."

That voice... is it Uncle Jian?

Zhou Youran's heart skipped a beat.

Since Liang Shenggang was injured in the last competition, he and his wife have not been able to conceive. Uncle Jian should not like Brother Chen, so why would he respectfully call him "Young Master"?

Did I hear wrong?

When the door opened, it was indeed Zhou Jian.

Moreover, upon seeing Chen Changqing, he respectfully stepped aside and said, "Please, young master."

Zhou Youran was stunned by this scene.

What's going on?

Chen Changqing knew something was terribly wrong and showed no joy. He immediately transmitted his voice, "You Ran, the Duan family has sent people regarding the papaya bird. I might be in danger. Quickly, go and call everyone who ate the roasted bird! The more the better!"

"What?!"

"I won't let anything happen to you!"

"I'm going to call a lot of people over!"

Upon hearing Chen Changqing's telepathic message, Zhou Youran felt a mix of anxiety, fear, and joy.

After Chen Changqing left, she immediately took action, full of enthusiasm.

After all, she was now certain that Chen Changqing had rejected her just now because he didn't want to implicate her.

On the way, Chen Changqing ran into Li Erniu and repeated Zhou Youran's words to him.

"Sigh, if I had known I would run into Erniu, I wouldn't have bothered that crazy girl."

Chen Changqing secretly grumbled to himself, fearing that Zhou Youran would come up with some shocking plot in her mind again.

"Friend Chen! Have you eaten yet?"

"Young Master Chen, the bird you roasted last time was absolutely amazing! When will you show off your skills again?"

"Hello, Master Chen!"

Along the way, all the Zhou family cultivators he encountered, regardless of age or gender, greeted Chen Changqing with sincere respect in their eyes.

This was a world apart from the ridicule and mockery they received when they first entered the Zhou family as a celestial seedling four years ago.

Chen Changqing simply smiled faintly at this, showing little inner turmoil.

Whether it was killing the ugly woman, hunting the papaya bird, or refusing to accept spirit stones, everything he did was for himself.

As for the fact that these three things were beneficial to the Zhou family, that was merely a coincidence and an afterthought.

In a pavilion not far away.

Standing there was a handsome young man and his servant.

"That's Chen Changqing, who's on the path to immortality. He's quite handsome."

"Yes, young master. This man has almost wiped out all the papaya birds in Emerald Lake."

"Hmph, what's the use? Your talisman-drawing skills aren't even as good as mine, one of my concubines. In four years, you'll be destined to work for the Zhou family, clearing land and risking your life!"

"Young Master, the Duan family has arrived, and it seems they're about to cause trouble."

"Oh?" A hint of schadenfreude flashed in Zhou Guang's eyes. "Come on, lead the way! I love watching a show."

……

"It's him?"

As they approached their destination, Chen Changqing keenly noticed two sharp, hawk-like gazes sweeping over him without restraint.

Those were two late-stage Qi Refining elders from the Duan family. Their eyes met briefly, seemingly in silent communication, before they quickly returned to normal.

"These two must remember me..." Chen Changqing thought to himself. Strangely, he was certain he had never seen these two people before.

Could it be that the elder from the Ye family who was chasing me showed my portrait to the Duan family?

Chen Changqing, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, was adept at reading people and quickly came up with a plan.