Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 397 - 236: Liu Ying Ziyi: Have You Found Any Trace of Ling Changqing?

As the current Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Zhongqi naturally wanted to accomplish great things.

He had personally witnessed his father betray the Zhao Family to establish his own clan, so there was no chance of his hatred for the Zhao Family ever dissolving.

Bribing and turning the Third Rank Alchemist, Zhao Hua, was a major strategic move personally orchestrated by Qin Zhongqi, and it had achieved quite impressive results.

Thanks to this traitor’s actions, the Zhao Family had suffered immense losses. It would likely take them decades to recover, making it impossible for them to continue contending with the Qin Family.

Once the Zhao Family’s elderly Nascent Soul True Monarch passed away from old age and no new Nascent Soul True Monarch emerged in time, the Qin Family could become even more aggressive, further squeezing the Zhao Family’s room for survival.

Under the current circumstances, the Qin Family’s upper echelon’s strategy was to gradually devour and eliminate the Zhao Family’s vital forces through a series of small-scale conflicts and battles, continuously weakening their influence.

There was nothing wrong with this plan. As long as the Zhao Family’s Core Formation Cultivators were continuously injured or killed in the endless conflicts, with no new blood to replenish their ranks, the Zhao Family’s decline would be inevitable.

However, the situation now seemed to have changed, rendering this strategy less effective.

Not only was the Zhao Family able to heal those Core Formation Cultivators, but they even had new Core Formation Cultivators emerging, and the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators was also increasing.

It was important to remember that Core Formation Resources were not cheap. Even a Nascent Soul power could not afford to squander them wantonly.

"...Immediately arrange for our elite personnel to investigate and find out what’s going on!"

Qin Zhongqi said coldly, "At a critical juncture like this, I don’t want any more surprises! And those two girls—have someone keep a close eye on them too!"

"Yes, Patriarch!"

Qin Wuyan replied with a solemn expression.

Those "two girls" were, of course, the Zhao Wanyi sisters. After all, their cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Peak. It was possible they might have a chance to break through to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm in the future.

If that happened, the Qin Family’s schemes would mostly come to nothing. How could Qin Zhongqi tolerate that?

After Elder Qin Wuyan took his leave, Qin Zhongqi let out a breath. He frowned in thought for a moment before hearing the sound of light footsteps.

A Golden Core Cultivator with a fair complexion, dressed in exquisite and luxurious robes, and with handsome features walked in. After bowing, he called out respectfully:

"Patriarch, you summoned me?"

Qin Zhongqi looked up, a smile gracing his face. "Ah, Elder Zhao Hua. Have a seat, let’s talk."

This was the man who had betrayed the Zhao Family: the Third Rank Alchemist, Zhao Hua.

In the Qin Family, Zhao Hua had leveraged his skill in the Alchemy Dao to not only be appointed by Qin Zhongqi as the Vice Hall Master of the Pill Hall and a family Core Elder, but he also married two of Qin Zhongqi’s daughters from concubines and received a great deal of wealth as a reward.

Because the Qin Family already had a High grade Third Rank Alchemist whose skill surpassed Zhao Hua’s, the position of Pill Hall’s Hall Master was not given to him.

Of course, with the status and authority of a Core Elder, Zhao Hua was quite satisfied. This was treatment that even the Zhao Family had never given him.

Zhao Hua cupped his hands in thanks and then sat down in a nearby chair.

"Tell me, how many elixir resources does the Zhao Family have left in their storehouses? How large is their Spirit Stone reserve?"

Qin Zhongqi didn’t beat around the bush, asking point-blank, "They’ve suffered such a huge loss; their finances must be close to depleted, right? Why has the situation changed now?"

"Well..."

Zhao Hua looked slightly taken aback. He thought for a moment before saying, "As far as I know, the Zhao Family does still have some reserves. If they’re frugal, holding out for another three to five years won’t be a problem.

Moreover, they can also purchase resources from outside sources to partially alleviate their predicament. After all, their Nascent Soul True Monarch is still alive, so the various merchant guilds won’t make things difficult for them for the time being."

Although the Zhao Family had suffered a loss due to a moment of carelessness, their past prestige and influence remained. With their Nascent Soul True Monarch still around, the merchant guilds would mostly maintain a neutral, wait-and-see attitude and naturally wouldn’t trouble the Zhao Family.

"That’s true,"

Qin Zhongqi nodded. "For the next three years, you don’t need to do anything else. Just focus on refining the Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pill with Elder Xu Hui, alright?

Our family needs more Core Formation Cultivators, so all other alchemy plans can be postponed."

"Yes, Patriarch."

Zhao Hua nodded in agreement.

"Work hard. When we overthrow the Zhao Family in the future, you’ll be the Qin Family’s greatest contributor. There will be no shortage of rewards for you!"

Qin Zhongqi said in a deep voice.

In his heart, he actually held this cheap son-in-law in low regard. He was merely keeping him around with a few benefits because he still found him useful.

Zhao Hua agreed, then after a moment’s thought, he mustered his courage and asked, "Patriarch, if the Zhao Family is finished in the future... could that pair of twin sisters be left to me?"

"Hehe, of course, that’s no problem. When the time comes, you can take your pick of any of the Zhao Family’s women, young or old!"

Qin Zhongqi felt even more contempt inwardly, but he wore a cheerful smile on his face as he spoke.

"That’s wonderful! I thank you in advance for your generosity, Patriarch!"

Zhao Hua said, overjoyed.

’He still couldn’t forget the Zhao Wanyi sisters. Once the Zhao Family’s foundation is destroyed, I’ll turn them into my slaves, lock them in a secret room, and have my way with them, tormenting them properly.’

...

「Northern Yuzhou.」

For safety reasons, Ling Changqing had not returned to the Changqing Continent. At this moment, he had already changed his appearance and was now in the territory of a Sect called Danyang Valley.

Traveling by a Top grade Treasure Level Flying Ship, this place was also over a year’s journey from the Zhao Family’s home.

However, with a heavy artifact like the Bian Wujian Gate in his possession, Ling Changqing naturally didn’t need to travel in such an arduous manner. With a single thought, he could arrive in an instant.