Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

When Zhao Sheng returned to Hongyang State, three months had already passed.

Upon learning of his friend's return, Zhou Zhongyu was exceptionally delighted and immediately rushed over, shouting about giving Zhao Sheng a welcome-back feast.

Zhao Sheng couldn't refuse and simply went along with his friend's wishes.

The best chefs in Zhou City were all in the Zhou family, so the feast was directly hosted at Zhao Sheng's residence.

At the banquet, not to mention the delicious food, Zhao Sheng's brewed Spiritual Wine was indispensable.

Halfway through the banquet, Zhao Sheng finally realized that Zhou Zhongyu wasn't there just for the welcome-back celebration; clearly, he had something on his mind.

Zhao Sheng was puzzled but decided not to expose it and just accompanied his friend in drinking and chatting.

After the third round of drinks and the fifth dish was served, Zhou Zhongyu appeared seven parts drunk.

Taking advantage of his inebriation, he suddenly asked, "Brother Zhao, I want to ask you something honest. Among all your apprentices, who do you favor the most?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng's hand clutching his cup paused, and a hint of coldness flashed through his eyes.

Although Zhou Zhongyu seemed to be rambling drunkenly, asking which apprentice he favored most, what was the real intention?

The real intention was to probe Zhao Sheng's thoughts!

What thoughts?

Naturally, it was to subtly inquire through his drunkenness about whom his possessions would be left to after he passed away.

Do not forget, Zhao Sheng didn't have much time left, and superficially, he was a "childless" Foundation Establishment Practitioner.

Zhao Sheng's return trip alarmed some people in the Zhou family.

They thought that after Zhao Sheng's death, his inheritance would undoubtedly belong to the Zhou family.

Now it wasn't so certain.

Perhaps Zhao Sheng had already left his inheritance in his homeland to his kin or some "fortunate person."

Keep in mind that Zhao Sheng was a highly skilled Second Order Talisman Master, his possessions far richer than the average Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Such a large inheritance, if it fell into the hands of "outsiders," certain people in the Zhou family would definitely be infuriated.

Therefore, as soon as Zhao Sheng returned, Zhou Zhongyu hurriedly came over under the guise of hosting a welcome banquet, but in reality, he came to gather information.

Looking at his "dear friend" with misty drunken eyes, Zhao Sheng put down his cup, pondered for a moment, and smiled, "Since my younger brother asked, I might as well chat casually. Out of my sixteen apprentices, in terms of talent and understanding, Zhou Qingwu is the best."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhongyu's face showed delight.

However, Zhao Sheng changed the topic, "But... when it comes to diligence in cultivation, Qingwu is not as good as Zhou Qingli. And when it comes to the reverent awe for talismans, Qingwu is far less than Zhou Yunmin."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhongyu became somewhat anxious, "Brother Zhao, do you really not favor Qingwu, your grand-nephew?"

"Not at all, not at all! Qingwu is the Qilin'er of your Zhou family. I certainly value him highly. But to say who should inherit my mantle, he is not the most suitable candidate."

Having said that, Zhao Sheng picked up his cup again and said with a smile, "Let's not talk about these things anymore. Let's drink!"

Zhou Zhongyu's face flashed with a hint of gloom, and he quickly lifted his cup as well, shouting, "Right, let's drink! Here's to you, Brother Zhao!"

Clang!

The two porcelain cups gently clinked together, the Spiritual Wine in them slightly rippling, much like their thoughts at that moment.

After the welcome-back banquet, Zhao Sheng visited several important figures over the next few days.

This was a ceremonial act, indicating his return.

After several days of frequent socializing, Zhao Sheng finally had some "free time."
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Seven days later, he appeared at a Spirit Wine Shop in the West City Market of Zhou City.

The shop, named "Baili Su," was superficially a venue for selling Spiritual Wine, but it was actually an intelligence point set up under the Black Ice Platform.

The Black Ice Platform was a secret service organization, tasked with monitoring the internals of the Dayong Dynasty; establishing dedicated intelligence points for the "princes" within the dynasty was fairly typical.

Zhao Sheng could confirm that in Zhou City, there were far more than just one such intelligence point.

Upon entering the shop and revealing his identity, Zhao Sheng was quickly led into the shop's underground secret chamber, where he saw He Ying, who was on the brink of death, Third Master He!

"Fourth Master, where are the other two?" Zhao Sheng asked with some curiosity.

He Ying liked to use his age to command respect and also enjoyed being called Fourth Master.

Zhao Sheng "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," had no intention of fussing over this trivial matter, so he too called him Fourth Master.

"Wu Dazi and Bao'er both have urgent matters to attend to."

He Ying did not elaborate but simply found an excuse.

Indeed!

Zhao Sheng nodded, showing no interest in prying further.

His visit today was twofold, first to establish a contact and second to report on the recent movements of the Zhou family members.

Taking the Intelligence Jade Disc handed over by Zhao Sheng, He Ying flipped through it casually, seemingly unconcerned.

Zhao Sheng was not surprised at his reaction.

There's a saying,

Sometimes those who know you best aren't yourself, but your enemies!

Three months ago, when he was first taken to the secret archive in Black Ice Platform and saw the intelligence about the Zhou family, which filled up a full twenty large rooms.

Zhao Sheng had already realized that the little tricks he played were not likely to catch Mo Shengxuan's eye.

It was only because his cultivation was high enough that he had caught Mo Shengxuan's attention.

In other words, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage practitioner in the war to annihilate the Zhou family could still be considered a powerful combatant.

Logically speaking, it wouldn't be too difficult for the Mo family to annihilate the Zhou family.

Not to mention, having a Nascent Soul Ancestor was enough to suppress all foes.

However, the rules of an Immortal Dynasty weren't played out like that.

Being the rule maker, the Mo family had to abide by the rules to gain the greatest benefit.

If they trampled the rules arbitrarily, the greatest harm would always be to the Royal Family itself.

Thus, for the Mo family to annihilate the Zhou family, they had to occupy the moral high ground, only by being just and proper could they convince the masses, otherwise it would cause panic within the Dynasty and destabilize the foundation of the Dynasty.

Zhao Sheng had already understood this.

While intelligence was important, it wasn't the most crucial—timing was!

The Mo family was waiting for the Zhou family to "make a mistake."

This was like a spider waiting in its web for an insect to misstep, eventually falling into the trap.

After reviewing the intelligence, He Ying nodded, casually stowed away the Jade Plate, then said, "Brother Zhao, you have just joined Black Ice Platform, and might not understand the internal situation. We have actually already placed many scouts within the Zhou family. Some agents have been in the Zhou family for nearly a hundred years; some span several generations in hiding..."

Speaking to this point, He Ying probed, "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Zhao Sheng nodded, "I very much understand, Fourth Master."

He Ying smiled contentedly, then continued, "So I say, our primary task isn't there but in Boiling Spring Valley!"

Upon hearing Boiling Spring Valley, Zhao Sheng suddenly realized, so that was it!

If the Zhou family were to cultivate the Golden Ring Spirit Earthworm, they would inevitably choose Boiling Spring Valley.

Because Boiling Spring Valley was the most core and secretive location of the Zhou family as well as the hiding place for the Patriarch of Zhou Family.

The defense of Boiling Spring Valley was extremely strict, perennially enveloped by a third-tier Defensive Array, never open to the outside.

Not to mention outsiders, even the general Qi Refining Clan Members of the Zhou family had no right to step inside unless you advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm or were favored by the Ancestor.