Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 161 Turning Point, Birth of a Dragon [Please Subscribe]

Lanzhou, Biyanze.

It was that deserted island again, and Zhou Mingde came once more to wait for the people from the Hualong Sect to arrive for the transaction.

Now, after several transactions, he is no longer as worried about it as he was at the beginning.

Especially with the imminent outcome of Zhou Daoyi's Azure Cloud Python transforming into a dragon, his confidence grew stronger.

What made Zhou Mingde's expression change slightly was that the Hualong Sect cultivator who came to trade with him this time was no longer Lin Yan, the middle-aged woman he had dealt with several times before, but an old man in red.

"What's going on over there? Why did you suddenly change people without any prior notice? Don't you even respect my existence?"

On the island, Zhou Mingde appeared, glaring at the old man in red and giving him a stern rebuke, clearly displeased.

Faced with his reprimand, the old man in red hurriedly bowed and explained, "Senior, please forgive me. Instructor Lin was injured recently and is unable to carry out this mission. Therefore, the Dharma Protector had no choice but to temporarily send me to carry out the mission."

After saying that, she added in a low voice, "Furthermore, the Dharma Protector specifically instructed me to convey a message to you, Senior: she will personally come here to meet you next time. She hopes that the goods you prepare next time will be of even better quality!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingde's expression changed drastically, and he angrily said, "What does she mean? What exactly does she want to do? Didn't we agree that she wouldn't personally intervene?"

The old man in red was puzzled by his anger. He couldn't understand why he was so angry about Lin Hongyu's personal visit when they were making such a secret deal.

Despite his confusion, the red-robed elder looked apprehensive and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "This junior was unaware; I was merely relaying a message from the Dharma Protector. Please forgive me, senior!"

"Hmph, then next time we meet, I will definitely discuss this matter with her personally!"

Zhou Mingde snorted coldly, still angry, and took the item from the red-robed elder before leaving the island.

Upon returning to his family, he specifically summoned Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun to his cave dwelling to discuss this unexpected event.

"You two tell me, what's her real intention behind this sudden change?"

Inside the cave, Zhou Mingde recounted the entire transaction process in one breath, then looked at Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun and asked for their opinions.

Upon hearing his words, the two of them fell silent for a moment, both frowning in deep thought.

After a long while, Zhou Daoyi slowly spoke, "Although that witch has a violent temper, we cannot underestimate her wisdom because of that. The fact that she sent someone to inform us of this matter a year in advance means that she may need to rely on the power of our Zhou family to do something big."

After saying that, he asked himself a question tinged with self-doubt: "But what significant things can our Zhou family do for her? Surely she can't think that just because she has something on us, she can force our entire family to join the Dragon Transformation Sect, can she?"

"Could it be related to internal matters of the Dragon Transformation Sect?"

Zhou Chun suddenly interjected.

Upon hearing this, both Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi's gazes sharpened.

Then Zhou Mingde looked at Zhou Chun and asked, "What do you mean? Zheng Chun, what came to mind?"

"I just feel that, for that Crimson Dragon Protector, the only thing our Zhou family can do for her in Jingguo is to send people and intelligence, like we are doing now."

"As long as our Zhou family doesn't clearly show any intention to break ties with her, she wouldn't be foolish enough to force us to do things that could easily destroy our family and clan."

"But if it's for internal matters of the Dragon Transformation Sect, and she wants to use us to help her eliminate dissidents, then this is still feasible. Moreover, if done well, both sides can benefit!"

Zhou Chun cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the two elders and solemnly stated his guess.

After hearing his speculation, both Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi looked thoughtful.

Then Zhou Daoyi nodded and said, "Upon closer reflection, what Zhengchun said makes sense."

"There are many factions within the Dragon Transformation Sect. They are generally distinguished by the attributes of the dragon spirit blood they have absorbed. There are definitely conflicts of interest between the various factions."

"But with the leader and deputy leader above them keeping things in check, no matter how fiercely they fight amongst themselves, they probably won't dare to really fight each other and cause any deaths."

"In that case, if it really comes to the point where it's absolutely necessary to eliminate a certain opponent, the only option is to use outsiders to eliminate dissidents through a 'borrowed knife to kill' method!"

At this point, Zhou Daoyi couldn't help but look at Zhou Mingde.

Then, with a worried look, she said, "But if it's really to eliminate dissidents, I'm afraid the opponent she wants to eliminate will definitely be a protector-level being. In that case..."

The protectors of the Dragon Transformation Sect have all cultivated the "Dragon Transformation Secret Manual" to the third level.

With this secret technique at their disposal, every protector of the Dragon Transformation Sect will be quite powerful.

This is also the advantage of some powerful forces. The powerful inherited secret techniques they possess can ensure that the strength of the cultivators in their sect is stronger than that of most ordinary cultivators of the same level from smaller forces.

Although Zhou Mingde is quite strong, he would probably have to pay a huge price to kill a protector of the Hualong Sect.

It's just a possibility!

But Zhou Mingde's eyes gleamed, and he said in a low voice, "If she really uses us to eliminate her dissidents, then that's actually a good thing!"

"That way, we'll have leverage over her, and we won't have to worry about her suddenly turning on us and exposing our existence!"

"She can even cancel those risky deals from before!"

The current cooperation between the Zhou family and Lin Hongyu is entirely due to their being forced into this situation because the other party has leverage over them.

If we could also find something to hold against Lin Hongyu, then we could have something to talk about with her.

In Zhou Mingde's view, this was safer than secretly killing Lin Hongyu.

After all, no one can guarantee that Lin Hongyu hasn't already prepared a backup plan. If she were to die, this plan would be triggered, exposing the Zhou family's secret deal with her.

As for the cost of killing a protector of the Hualong Sect.

Zhou Mingde immediately looked at Zhou Daoyi and said, "Daoyi, if your Azure Cloud Python can successfully transform into a dragon, with its help, killing a protector of the Dragon Transformation Sect is not impossible!"

Hearing this, Zhou Daoyi was slightly taken aback.

Then, with a complicated expression, he muttered to himself, "So that witch foresaw this too?"

Ok?

There's a story behind it!

Upon hearing Zhou Daoyi's words, Zhou Chun's eyes flashed, as if he had discovered something.

He could tell that Zhou Daoyi's tone was unusual, and his way of addressing the Crimson Dragon Protector was also rather strange.

Even though Zhou Chun was clever, he couldn't fathom how close Zhou Daoyi and Lin Hongyu's relationship truly was at this point.

They could only secretly speculate that this clan leader might have some unusual grudges and entanglements with that Crimson Dragon Protector.

Zhou Mingde then waved his hand and said, "In any case, although these are just our guesses, it's always good to be prepared. Let's prepare according to these guesses for now!"

But only he could make these preparations.

Zhou Chun couldn't intervene in that level of combat at all; he could only offer advice and suggestions.

So in the following period, Zhou Chun was handling family affairs while making final preparations for switching cultivation techniques.

A year has passed quickly.

Zhou Mingde went to the small island of Biyanze as promised and met Lin Hongyu as promised.

After he returned to his family, he summoned Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun to his cave dwelling.

"Masayuki was right!"

"She came to see me this time to ask our Zhou family to help her eliminate a rival, and one of them is even a Crimson Dragon Protector from her own faction!"

"Furthermore, she promised me that as long as our Zhou family can help her eliminate this competitor, she will no longer require us to provide her with manpower, as long as we maintain information sharing and cooperate to pursue our respective interests!"

Inside the cave, Zhou Mingde excitedly told Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun about his gains from the trip.

Clearly, he was genuinely happy with the result.

As he spoke, he reached into his storage pouch at his waist, took out an item, and handed it to the two of them to look at.

"This Poison Dragon Cone artifact was prepared by her specifically for the success of our operation. It was forged from the fangs of a third-tier Poison Dragon."

"If we can find an opportunity to inject this into the body of that Crimson Dragon Protector, the poison of the venomous dragon alone will be enough to condemn her to eternal damnation!"

she?

Zhou Chun keenly understood the implication in Zhou Mingde's words.

He immediately asked, "Was the Crimson Dragon Protector whom Protector Lin asked us to deal with also a female cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingde immediately nodded and said, "Yes, according to Lin Hongyu, that female cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Sect is currently her biggest rival in the Crimson Dragon lineage. Not only does she also possess the mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivation, but she is also the favored concubine of a certain Crimson Dragon elder of the Dragon Transformation Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoyi frowned deeply and said in a low voice, "Since the target is the favored concubine of a Golden Core cultivator, who also possesses mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivation, can our Zhou family really kill her?"

"Even if we could kill her, wouldn't that mean we'd also offend that Golden Core cultivator?"

This is also Zhou Chun's concern.

The two immediately turned their gazes to Zhou Mingde, wanting to hear his insightful opinion.

Facing their gazes, Zhou Mingde calmly said, "According to Lin Hongyu, the target will have a chance to be alone in six months. That will be the best time for us to make our move!"

"As for whether we can actually kill her, we'll have to see if the Poison Dragon Cone talisman that Lin Hongyu gave us is as effective as she claims."

"Even if the assassination attempt fails, we now have leverage over Lin Hongyu, and we won't be subject to her control or coercion anymore!"

At this point, Zhou Mingde said in a deep voice, "As for offending the Golden Core cultivators of the Dragon Transformation Sect after killing someone, there's nothing to worry about."

"Let's not even talk about whether that Golden Core cultivator could investigate our Zhou family. Even if he did know about it, he wouldn't risk personally venturing into Jing Kingdom to deal with our Zhou family for a mere concubine. At most, he would just send his subordinates to protect us!"

"As long as Lin Hongyu informs us in advance, why would we be afraid of harassment from a mere one or two Dragon Transformation Sect protectors behind enemy lines!"

After he finished speaking, both Zhou Daoyi and Zhou Chun fell silent.

Both of them knew that these were just the best-case scenarios Zhou Mingde had described.

The worst-case scenario is that not only will they fail to kill the Crimson Dragon Protector of the Dragon Transformation Sect, but they may also be killed by the enemy because they are deep in enemy territory.

The Zhou family suffered enormous losses at that time!

However, both of them also understood that this opportunity was indeed a great chance for the Zhou family to get out of their previous predicament.

If successful, the Zhou family will no longer be subject to others, and will be able to gain great benefits by exchanging information and spiritual items with Lin Hongyu.

The key point is that they actually have no choice now.

Lin Hongyu still holds the upper hand over them and can expose them at any time, plunging them into utter ruin!

"Six months should be enough time for Qingqing; I can feel it undergoing a transformation!"

Zhou Daoyi muttered to himself, which was tantamount to acknowledging Zhou Mingde's words.

Zhou Chun did not voice any further objections.

Almost three more months passed, and finally, the matter of Zhou Daoyi's spirit pet, the Azure Cloud Python, transforming into a dragon came to a conclusion.

On this day, suddenly, wind and clouds gathered above Jiufeng Ridge, forming dense dark clouds in the sky.

Meanwhile, a fierce wind howled and swept through the mountains of Jiufengling, causing many trees to fall.

This unusual phenomenon instantly attracted the attention of all the Zhou family cultivators.

Then, the patriarch Zhou Daoyi's majestic and powerful voice soon resounded throughout the Zhou family's mountain gate.

"All clansmen, listen to my command! From this moment forward, everyone must immediately enter a state of war. All non-Zhou family cultivators, please leave the Zhou family's mountain gate immediately!"

These words immediately caused an unusually busy period to begin at the Zhou family's mountain gate.

First, all the rogue cultivators who were cultivating at the Zhou family were awakened, and all the rogue cultivators guarding the "Pure Spirit Pavilion" were replaced. They were sent out of the mountain gate as quickly as possible, and their cultivation fees and task requirements for the day were waived.

Immediately afterwards, one by one, the Zhou family cultivators, following wartime standards, went to the various base points of the mountain-protecting formation to guard the key locations.

In less than an hour, only members of the Zhou family and their Daoist partners and relatives remained inside the Zhou family's mountain gate.

At this moment, Zhou Chongshan, the second elder of the Zhou family, also personally took action, mobilizing the power of the great formation to dispel and suppress the strange phenomena in the heavens and earth.

A colorful, luminous canopy enveloped the entire Zhou Family Mountain Gate, making it difficult for the strong winds from the outside to blow inside.

At the same time, a powerful five-colored beam of light shot into the sky, hitting the thick dark clouds in the sky and instantly blasting away most of them.

"What happened? Are powerful figures attacking the Zhou family?"

Outside Jiufeng Ridge, the dozens of rogue cultivators who had been driven out by the Zhou family stared at the scene in astonishment, still not understanding what had happened.

At this moment, they could neither see nor hear a single sound coming from inside the Zhou family's mountain gate.

Inside the mountain gate, the Zhou family cultivators, who were initially equally clueless, now witnessed a scene that shocked them beyond belief!

Second update today!

(End of this chapter)