Chapter 40 Inside and Out

Zhao Chongxiao saw that Zhao Sheng was a bit puzzled and explained with a smile, "Chonghe, you and Xiao Wei are both over eighteen years old. Naturally, you are eligible to attend the Qixia Conference. I am the leader for our Zhao Family this year and will take you two to ascend Qixia Peak."

After listening, Zhao Sheng seemed contemplative and at the same time, he subtly stepped back to create some distance from Zhao Chongxiao.

It wasn't that he wanted to keep away on purpose, but because Zhao Chongxiao "stank too much".

It wouldn't have been too bad if he hadn't spoken, but once he opened his mouth, a rotten smell wafted out from it.

That smell was hard to describe, as if it was the strong stench that comes from decaying blood.

Zhao Sheng found it very strange; this stench was so prominent, yet Zhao Chongxiao and Zhao Chongwei both behaved very naturally, as if they hadn't smelled anything at all.

Zhao Chongxiao was very sensitive and immediately noticed Zhao Sheng's odd behavior.

He instinctively sniffed around and then asked with surprise, "What's the matter? Is there something wrong?"

Zhao Sheng smiled and spoke naturally, "Nothing's wrong! I just wanted to ask, is this year's Qixia Conference still scheduled for July fifteenth?"

Zhao Chongxiao, relieved, answered smoothly, "It's been moved up this year, set for the first of July,"

"Oh! Then... that means there are only three days left," Zhao Sheng said with a flash of surprise in his eyes, before muttering to himself in a low voice.

At that moment, the still very excited Zhao Chongwei suddenly reminded him, "Don't forget to dress up nicely for the occasion. Also, make sure to bring more Invisibility Talismans. They're in high demand!"

"Mhm, got it! You should also dress up beautifully, maybe you'll find a satisfactory husband at the Qixia Conference."

"Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Zhao Chongwei, her face flushed with shyness, stamped her foot and turned to run away.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng and the others couldn't help but smile.

The Qixia Conference isn't just a gathering for the younger generation of Cultivation Families like Lan, Wei, Zhao, Wang, etc.; it also has a semblance of a matchmaking meeting.

While Cultivation Families certainly prioritize arranged marriages, if the younger generation finds mutual affection, isn't that countless times better than a blind and mute marriage arrangement?

"Don't forget, the first of July," Zhao Chongxiao patted Zhao Sheng's shoulder seriously as he left.

Watching the other party leave, Zhao Sheng touched the shoulder that had been patted, sniffed it, and his expression immediately turned very solemn.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly turned around and entered the Good Deeds Hall again.

Soon, Zhao Keqin and Zhao Sheng left the Good Deeds Hall together with grave expressions and rushed to Chaoxing Garden, where they found Zhao Jinding who was healing.

An hour later, Zhao Sheng and the others left Chaoxing Garden separately.

Subsequently, a slight disturbance occurred within the Zhao Family. Some people were quietly called in for questioning, some subtly changed their positions, and additionally, two teams of scouts were dispatched quickly.

A day later, the personnel of the Zhao Family's external patrol team suddenly doubled, and Dragon Carp Lake quietly entered a state of tightened internal security with a relaxed exterior.

Two days later, in Chaoxing Garden,

Inside the secret room, Zhao Sheng, Zhao Keqin, and Zhao Jinding met again.

No sooner had they settled down than Zhao Sheng eagerly asked, "Uncle Qin, did you find any anomalies?"

Zhao Keqin's expression was dark as he said gravely, "Chonghe, you were right. There is indeed something wrong with Chongxiao. This year's Qixia Conference hasn't been moved forward at all. Chongxiao, he... he lied!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Jinding smashed the table with his palm, stood up, and roared furiously, "Dammit! What is he trying to do? What's his scheme for tricking you and Weiwei out?"

"Damn, there's nothing I hate more in my life than deceitful actions!"

Compared to the furious Zhao Jinding, Zhao Sheng appeared very calm.

He stroked his chin, his words carrying a hint of meaning, "This probably wasn't his own idea. I fear there might be someone else behind the scenes."

Zhao Keqin's expression became solemn as he nodded, sharing the same thought.

Looking at the two elders, Zhao Sheng then said, "Let's not talk about how to deal with Zhao Chongxiao for now. The most important thing is to figure out why the mastermind targeted the two of us, and not someone else?"

"I can probably guess the purpose of the other party. It must be trouble brought on by the Invisibility Talisman." Zhao Keqin immediately continued.

Zhao Sheng's face changed upon hearing this; he hadn't expected the Invisibility Talisman to be the cause.

The cultivators in the Zhao family totaled just thirty...

No, that's not right,

In the past two years, the family has suffered frequent mishaps, losing several members of the Ke generation; now only twenty-seven cultivators remain.

Anyone with a mind to do so could easily find out that the Invisibility Talisman was refined by him and Zhao Chongwei.

Zhao Sheng knew that Invisibility Talismans were in high demand, but he never thought they would be so coveted that someone would go to great lengths to abduct them.

It was also his fault for having too narrow a perspective,

Zhao Sheng not only underestimated his own talent but also the difficulty of refining the Invisibility Talisman.

Even if the threshold for talisman making is low, it still requires a certain talent, especially for talismans of the highest difficulty, which require the most top-notch talent in Talisman Tao.

For the sake of a long-term "meal ticket," Zhao Sheng could hardly imagine what crazy things some people or forces might do.

The incidents that happened to him today were merely child's play in comparison.

Zhao Sheng quickly asked, "Then... how should we handle this matter?"

"What else is there to say, immediately seize that treacherous cur, and reduce him to ashes!" Zhao Jinding declared furiously.

He was becoming more hot-tempered with age, especially after failing at Foundation Establishment, which had him lit at the slightest spark. He was full of pent-up frustration with no outlet, and these unlucky rogue cultivators just happened to cross his path.

Zhao Keqin nodded in agreement, "Without uncovering the mastermind, we won't have peace of mind. There's no logic in guarding against a thief for a thousand days!"

Zhao Sheng, looking at Zhao Jinding, asked, "In that case, shall we play along with their plot, or should we capture Zhao Chongxiao first?"

Zhao Chongxiao belonged to the main branch, and they needed to consult Zhao Jinding's opinion before taking him down.

Unexpectedly, Family Elder Zhao, without a second thought, declared, "We don't need to lure the snake out of its hole with tricks. I want to ask Zhao Chongxiao how the Zhao family has wronged him, that he dared to collude with outsiders to plot against his own!"

"Elder Ding has spoken well! We must be cautious in our actions, and if we have a choice, we should not take risks," Zhao Keqin stated his agreement promptly after hearing this.

Seeing that the two elders had made a decision, Zhao Sheng naturally wouldn't object. After all, he didn't want to risk his own life.

Having discussed and agreed, the three immediately left Chaoxing Courtyard to head to Zhao Chongxiao's residence.

Just half an hour later, Zhao Jinding, with a face full of rage, kicked open the door to the quiet room and saw Zhao Chongxiao cultivating inside.

In the quiet room, Zhao Chongxiao opened his eyes and saw Zhao Sheng and the others bursting in. His expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to normal.

He immediately rose to his feet, about to greet the two elders respectfully with a bow.

But at that moment, Zhao Jinding suddenly flashed by his side, his right palm filled with spirit light, and slapped it on Zhao Chongxiao's Dantian. A surge of powerful Spiritual Power poured in, instantly sealing the other's Dantian energy points.

Zhao Chongxiao's face drastically changed, and he managed a forced smile, "Second Grandfather, why... why have you sealed my Dantian? Have I done something wrong?"

Slap!

Zhao Jinding slapped Zhao Chongxiao across the face, sending blood seeping from his mouth and nose.