My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

Cui Ying is merely suffering from depleted spiritual energy; she will recover completely after a period of recuperation.

Zhao Wangcai was seriously injured and his lifespan was already short. Now, with his limbs damaged, he could not recover easily. In addition, his cultivation level was also greatly reduced, making him look even more emaciated and on the verge of death.

Knowing his own condition, he gave a bitter smile and weakly said to Cui Ying, "Fellow Daoist Cui, I have a favor to ask."

Cui Ying paused for a moment, then finally half-squatted down and reached out to help him sit up: "Please speak, Patriarch Zhao."

"Although family scandals should not be aired in public, I have no reason to be shy about my appearance now."

Zhao Wang was covered in blood, his chest heaving violently. After catching his breath for a moment, he continued, drenched in cold sweat:

"This is a long story. I wonder if you remember the young man standing next to Yunbo on the day you arrived?"

Cui Ying nodded. Because of his handsome appearance and seemingly stronger aura than Zhao Yunbo, she did retain some impression of him.

"Which boy named Zhao Kai is it?"

"It is this person. I believe you also think he is more outstanding than Yunbo."

Zhao Wang coughed twice, veins bulging on his forehead, and he gritted his teeth and said:

"His father is my half-brother. He seized half of the family property and left while I was traveling. Now that the clan is dwindling in talent, he wants to bring his descendants back to seize the main family property. What kind of logic is this!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Ying frowned slightly: since it was a family matter, she shouldn't interfere.

But Zhao Wang continued, "If he truly intends to revitalize the family, I can relinquish the position of family head. However, this man's mind is elsewhere, and he cultivates a set of evil arts outside. How can I entrust the family to him with peace of mind?"

Cui Ying's expression darkened slightly, and she asked with some surprise in her eyes:

"He's going to betray his master?"

For vassal families or independent cultivators to betray their sect's main family is something that everyone in the Immortal Origin Continent utterly despises!

"Over the past few years, I haven't had any real evidence, and I've always been suspicious. But today, this poisonous cicada reminded me of an old story."

Thinking of the bizarre scene of the poisonous cicada emerging from the belly of the four-winged butterfly demon, Cui Ying also remembered something, but she didn't say it aloud immediately. Instead, she asked in a low voice:

"This poisonous cicada's origin is unknown. Has Patriarch Zhao seen or heard of it before?"

Zhao Wang said solemnly:

"When Zhao was young, he traveled to various prefectures and cities. In his early years, he fought with a cultivator of the same level in Qingyang Prefecture. That person used the Yin-Yang Mother-Child Gu, a secret technique of the Five Poisons Sect!"

"Yin-Yang Mother-Child Gu?"

"That's right. It is said that this Gu is made by planting a kind of poisonous insect into the body of a powerful mother. It grows stronger by driving the mother to plunder everywhere. If the mother dies, it will be drained of its flesh and blood and burst out of the body to avenge the mother."

"In that case, this matter is indeed somewhat suspicious."

Seeing that Cui Ying still wouldn't budge, Zhao Wang said helplessly:

"As for whether it is a coincidence or not, I dare not make a judgment. But the Five Poisons Sect has always been a wolf in sheep's clothing. It has stirred up trouble in our Thundercloud City territory many times over the past few hundred years. My Zhao family was once a prominent family in Golden Sand City. At the height of our family's power, we had seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators in our family. However, they all became victims during the battle between the two cities."

"Only three hundred years have passed, yet the Five Poisons Sect is still harboring evil intentions and may be planning to make a comeback. Moreover, the wife of the City Lord of Lotus Hidden City is the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect. Although I don't know why the Five Poisons Sect didn't get involved in the conflict between the Dong and Lei families, I, Zhao, always feel that there is something strange about this matter."

Cui Ying knew this matter involved a great deal of people, and after thinking for a moment, she promised:

"When I return, I will definitely report this matter to my master."

"The Five Poisons Sect will not target only my Zhao family. If our master can become more vigilant because of this, it will be a great achievement for me."

After he finished speaking, he became even weaker, and the last bit of color in his face disappeared. Cui Ying hesitated for a moment, but still fed him a pill to keep him alive.

Fortunately, members of the Zhao family arrived at this time and were shocked to see Zhao Wang's miserable state.

Fortunately, they knew this was not the time to question them, so they escorted the two back to the Zhao family.

When Zhao Wang told his eldest son, Zhao Zhen, everything that had happened that day, Zhao Zhen was naturally filled with lingering fear. Looking at Zhao Wang's empty arm, his eyes were red as he said:

"Father, it's all my fault for being useless."

"At least you're still alive, why are you crying?"

Having lived for over a hundred years, Zhao Wang's gaze was indifferent, having long since disregarded life and death. However, he still found it difficult to sever ties with his children and grandchildren.

Zhao Wang had changed into clean clothes and was now leaning against the head of the table. His murky eyes swept down and took in the postures of everyone below.

Seeing that he had lost an arm, was poisoned, and his cultivation was greatly damaged, they all looked panicked, like stray dogs.

He took over the family when his father was critically ill. Over the past sixty years, he has naturally mentored the younger generation and taken care of the common people and independent cultivators in the manor. He has never slackened in his cultivation. Unfortunately, fate did not grant his wish, and his descendants were all incapable of shouldering heavy responsibilities.

Only Zhao Yunbo, the great-grandson, remained relatively calm amidst the crowd.

Unfortunately, he was too young, and his cultivation was insufficient to protect the family. Zhao Wang, his mind racing, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, softly calling out:

“Yunbo, come here and walk to your great-grandfather’s side.”

"Fellow Daoist Cui, please come as well."

Zhao Zhen's body stiffened, guessing his thoughts, and he hurriedly called out, "Father!"

Just as he was about to say something, Zhao Yunbo, who had come over, stopped him and advised, "The patriarch has his own reasons for what he is doing."

Zhao Wang gripped the teacup tightly with his only remaining right hand, his face full of worry.

"When my Zhao family of Camel Peak was at its peak, we had a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge. But since that incident three hundred years ago, we have gradually declined. The previous patriarch had a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator, but I have stopped at the late-stage Qi Refining stage."

"Now that my lifespan is nearing its end and my cultivation has been greatly diminished, and Yunbo has not yet come of age, I fear that the matter of being born out of wedlock will recur. Therefore, I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Cui to become a guest elder of the family so that Yunbo can smoothly take over the position of family head."

"Homeowner!"

"Patriarch Zhao!"

Two voices rang out at the same time. Regardless of what the Zhao family members thought, Cui Ying herself was unwilling to join a clan casually.

"I know the Zhao family is declining, and I do not wish it to become a burden to you, fellow Daoist. After Yunbo successfully takes over as the head of the family, in addition to the four-tenths of the family's annual income, the Zhao family will also give you two-tenths. Furthermore, I, on behalf of the Zhao family, promise that I will never restrict or spy on your whereabouts. I only hope that when the family is on the verge of collapse, you will do your best to help."

Despite hearing these heartfelt words, Cui Ying remained unmoved.