Chapter 1223: Chapter 367: Heaven-Sent Opportunity, No Time to Lose, See You at the Usual Place!
Upon hearing Zhao Muye’s words, a flash of understanding passed through Zhou Qing’s eyes.
As Sikong Yan had said, the structure of the Cultivation Realm determined the cultivator’s vision.
In the Holy Martial Dynasty, everyone worried about how to obtain good Heavenly Dao Qi, how to condense a Nascent Soul, and how to comprehend the Divinity Transformation Intent Realm.
Yet, the Zhao Family had long since been paving the way for the Spirit Severing Realm, avoiding the hidden threat of the Heart Demon from the very start of cultivation.
"So," Zhao Muye suddenly shifted the conversation, somewhat embarrassed, "Outsiders all say that Zhao Family members are simple-minded, with developed limbs, all reckless brutes not caring about consequences!"
He looked at Zhou Qing with a burning gaze, "But you’re different, Brother Zhou. As a young Level 4 Array Master, staying in this small place is really a waste of your talent."
As he spoke, he even stood up solemnly and clasped his hands in a greeting: "I, Zhao Muye, on behalf of the Zhao Family, sincerely invite you to join our Zhao Family as a Tributary. How about it?"
Zhou Qing was momentarily stunned.
This was too sudden.
Shen Yunzhou then continued the sound transmission with a hint of teasing: "He speaks the truth, the Zhao Family’s musclemen really can’t play the twists and turns of other families."
"But they have an astonishing perseverance, coupled with their ancestral Secret Technique for Body Refining..."
He paused, "Indeed, the number of Spirit Severing Realm practitioners far surpasses other families."
"To stand firm among the power struggles of noble families and to avoid being used as pawns, the Zhao Family has become smarter over the years."
In a playful tone, Shen Yunzhou’s sound transmission continued, "They specifically look for people like you—those with exceptional talent but clean backgrounds, not entangled with other noble families."
"Now, you’ve caught the attention of this brute."
Zhou Qing: "..."
He slightly furrowed his brows, responding via sound transmission: "I’m with you now, doesn’t that mean I’m already involved with the Shen Family?"
"This..." Shen Yunzhou was momentarily speechless, then laughed indifferently, "Who knows? Maybe he just finds you particularly likable?"
A hint of slyness flickered in his eyes, "But this might be a good thing. If you join the Zhao Family, you’ll have a powerful backing."
"In the future, when you pursue my sister, those monsters from the Shen Family who might want to trip you up will have to think twice."
Seeing Zhou Qing silent, Shen Yunzhou added enthusiastically, "You haven’t seen how the Zhao Family shields their own! When a group of over a dozen late-stage Spirit Severing Realm musclemen roll up their sleeves and storm in."
"The scene is like a herd of mad ancient bulls trampling a field, leaving even the ground peeled three feet deep."
Zhou Qing’s mouth twitched; he was at a loss for words.
Suddenly, Shen Yunzhou, as if remembering something, shook his head repeatedly: "No, no! Staying in Nanhuang State is still too close!"
He muttered to himself, "If she were to marry, it’d have to be far away, to prevent my sister from running back all the time..."
At this moment, Ghost Mastiff and Luo Lingling turned their eyes toward Zhou Qing, full of shock and anticipation.
Being so respectfully invited by a powerful late-stage Spirit Severing Realm cultivator, such an opportunity was unprecedented in the entire Holy Martial Dynasty.
To know that Zhao Muye’s display was just the tip of the iceberg of the Zhao Family’s strength.
If they could join, the Taiqing Sect would truly gain confidence in both offense and defense.
At that time, with the support of two Lu Family ancestors and their master, and a behemoth like the Zhao Family as backing.
Lu Yaoyao, however, appeared a bit hesitant.
Mainly because she really didn’t understand any of this.
In her memory, her father, always with a face full of vicissitudes, almost never mentioned these matters except for smiling when he saw her eating pastries when he took her to the city.
At this moment, she looked at Zhou Qing, her heart rippling with emotions.
Was all this originally destined to happen, or was it a variable introduced by her presence?
Feeling everyone’s gaze, Zhou Qing hurriedly helped the solemnly saluting Zhao Muye up: "Brother Zhao, actually I..."
"Don’t rush to refuse!" Zhao Muye laughed heartily, waving his calloused hand, "I understand, better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix!"
In this fourth-level Cultivation Country, Zhou Qing was a Level 4 Array Master admired by tens of thousands, and even the Xuanyuan Royal Family had to show some respect.
But if he went to Nanhuang State, the Zhao Family did offer a broader stage, though the competition would also be fierce.
Those ’smart people’ they recruited were no pushovers.
Seeing Zhou Qing deep in thought, Zhao Muye patted his shoulder: "If one day you change your mind, you can come to the Zhao Family in Nanhuang State and just mention my name, Zhao Muye, how about it?"
Seeing his sincere and eager demeanor, Zhou Qing, after much weighing in his heart, finally nodded slowly.
In such a situation, refusing the invitation of a late-stage Spirit Severing Realm powerhouse outright would be quite disgraceful, and might invite unnecessary trouble.
Seeing this, Zhao Muye’s rugged face bloomed into a radiant smile.
"Great!" His voice boomed like a bell, his fan-like hand giving Zhou Qing’s shoulder another hearty slap, "Then I’ll be waiting for your honored arrival at the Zhao Family!"
The slap made Zhou Qing’s shoulder ache, but it also made everyone present heave a sigh of relief.
Just then, an earth-shattering elephant call suddenly resounded through the sky.
Zhao Muye’s eyes gleamed with light, his face showing joy: "I’ve found that Yama guy!"
He clasped his hands to the crowd with a smile: "Alright, I won’t disturb you any longer, everyone, until we meet again!"
Before his voice fell, his figure flickered and disappeared from sight.
Zhou Qing dashed to the window and opened it, only to see all the cultivators on the street looking up with shocked expressions.
"Aaaargh—"
Another elephant call shook the window frames.
Above the clouds, a massive bronze elephant, the size of a small mountain, stood in the air, with tusks over a yard long entwined with blood-red lightning patterns, with each swing of its trunk causing ripples in space.
The most terrifying was the Spirit Severing Realm pressure it emitted, making all the cultivators on the street pale-faced.
