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

"Patriarch Zhao, please forgive me for not being able to grant your request. After all, we only met because of the family's mission, and I don't believe that the Zhao family won't involve me if they encounter trouble in the future."

"After all, if I agree to this, the Zhao family will be completely in the same boat. If any other family or force wants to deal with the Zhao family, I will probably be the first one to be eliminated. Otherwise, how could they let their guard down against the Zhao family? I believe you understand that being a guest elder is not as simple as just talking."

In front of the Zhao family members, Cui Ying transmitted these words in a telepathic manner.

“I know these conditions make it difficult to bind Fellow Daoist Cui to the Zhao family’s small boat. However, since Fellow Daoist has lofty ambitions to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I have something here that may satisfy you.”

Zhao Wang coughed twice and immediately transmitted his thoughts in this way. Cui Ying smiled faintly and did not respond.

"You all go out for a moment. I need to speak with Fellow Daoist Cui alone."

Upon seeing this, Zhao Wang did not continue to transmit his voice. Instead, he waved to the Zhao family members and Zhao Yunbo in the room and gave them instructions.

"Yes, master."

Although all the Zhao family members were puzzled, they quickly agreed to leave. Zhao Yunbo glanced worriedly at the weak Zhao Wang one last time, but still agreed and left as well. After the door was closed, only Cui Ying and Zhao Wang remained in the room.

"Patriarch Zhao, you can speak frankly now."

Cui Ying stared at the old man and spoke slowly.

"Fellow Daoist Cui, why are you in such a hurry? I have something here. Let's take a look first."

Zhao Wang smiled slightly, then took out a glass bottle from his storage bag at his waist. After looking at it for a few moments with a reluctant expression, he handed it to Cui Ying.

Cui Ying wasn't worried that Zhao Wang might tamper with the glass bottle. After taking it, she simply shook it gently, opened the lid, and peered inside. Her expression immediately changed, and she gasped in surprise:

"True malevolent energy from the earth's veins?! Your Zhao family actually possesses such a spiritual object!"

Cui Ying was genuinely surprised, but then she continued with some doubt, "But this quantity is far too small, less than a third of a serving."

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Cui is indeed very knowledgeable. The contents of this bottle are not only True Fiend Qi, but also the rather famous Li Xing Di Sha among True Fiend Qi. My grandfather obtained it by chance. It's just that the quantity is indeed a bit small."

Zhao Wang explained with a solemn expression.

"If it is indeed a rare and precious item, then what use would it be to me if it is only one-third of the original.

Cui Ying stared at the glass bottle in her hand for a moment before frowning again and asking.

"Please rest assured, Fellow Daoist Cui, this True Star Essence is merely an advance payment and a token of my trust in you. If you are willing to protect our Zhao family for the next few years, I, Zhao, am willing to truthfully reveal the location of the Fiend Pit where my ancestor obtained this item. According to my grandfather's last words, although the Fiend Pit is located in a remote area, the remaining True Star Essence is more than enough to form another Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object."

Zhao Wang, clutching his bleeding wound, spoke with some difficulty.

"Humph!"

"If such benefits were truly available, wouldn't your Zhao family have already taken all the true evil energy? Why would you be so kind as to leave it until now?"

After a thousand thoughts raced through her mind, Cui Ying gave a cold snort and said...

"I, Zhao, don't want to embellish my own reputation. It's just that the location of that evil pit is not only difficult to find, but also extremely dangerous. My grandfather discovered that the evil pit when he was already at the peak of Qi Refining. He accidentally stumbled upon it while searching for Foundation Establishment spiritual objects and paid a great price to obtain such a small amount of True Evil Star."

"Later, our Zhao family also organized people to go there several times to seize the remaining true evil energy, but we didn't even reach the evil pit before we were killed in accidents along the way."

"It is precisely because of this that my Zhao family has declined again and again, and has completely lost the chance to rise again. In the more than 100 years since then, the clan has not dared to send anyone to look for that evil pit. In fact, this is our Zhao family's greatest secret and wealth."

Zhao Wang's face turned ashen. Seeing that Cui Ying no longer refused, he immediately cut to the chase and continued:

"As long as Fellow Daoist Cui is willing to become a guest elder of my Zhao family and assist Yunbo in successfully ascending to the position of family head, I, Zhao, will present the map of the Sha Pit with both hands."

"Of course, I must first explain that the area around that evil pit is extremely dangerous. Even if Fellow Daoist Cui goes there, he may not be able to escape unscathed. Cough cough~ Therefore, whether or not to make this deal is entirely up to Fellow Daoist Cui."

Zhao Wang coughed violently a few times, his mouth asking questions, but his face was full of certainty.

"Hehe, as long as Fellow Daoist Zhao's grandfather is truly at the peak of Qi Refining, I will naturally have no fear. Therefore, I will accept the entrustment of Patriarch Zhao and become a guest elder of the Zhao family. However, I can only serve as a guest elder of the Zhao family for a hundred years, not even a day more."

Cui Ying glanced at Zhao Wang a few times, then looked at the glass bottle in her hand, and suddenly sneered.

"A hundred years!? A hundred years is barely enough for our Zhao family to produce a few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators and regain our footing. Alright, let's do as Fellow Daoist Cui says."

Zhao Wang was no fool; on the contrary, he was farsighted and shrewd. He valued Cui Ying's talent and wanted to invest in the family early on. After a moment's thought, he gritted his teeth and agreed, looking at Cui Ying with anticipation.

Cui Ying was taken aback at first, but then she understood and smiled slightly, and made a vow to Heaven.

With the agreement now in effect, Zhao Wang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After discussing it for a while, the two summoned the Zhao family members again and announced that a clan meeting would be held the next day, asking the rest of the family to go and prepare.

Half a day later, Zhao Wang returned severely injured and intended to pass on the position of family head to Zhao Yunbo, who was at the fourth level of Qi Refining. The news quickly spread throughout the entire Zhao Family Village.

Back then, Zhao Wang's half-brother Zhao Yong advocated for a division of the family property, but when that failed, he forcibly seized half of the Zhao family's assets and left home. Ten years ago, he returned to his ancestral home in Camel Peak with his entire family.

At this moment, Zhao Yong's faction was gathered in the room, with two rows of large rosewood chairs arranged in two rows. In the very center, at the head of the table, lay reclining, but it was the young Zhao Kai who was sitting there.

Zhao Kai was furious. In fact, with his abilities, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to wipe out the entire Zhao family village.

However, this would prevent him from obtaining the tokens of the Lei family, who were vassals of the Zhao family, and from requesting the main family to relocate. Even if he killed the entire Zhao family now, it would be useless.

"What a useless idiot who's good for nothing and good for making things worse!"

Zhao Kai suddenly stood up from his seat and kicked Zhao Yong a long distance away. The force was so great that Zhao Yong's chest and abdomen immediately caved in. Zhao Yong roared furiously:

"He's usually so shrewd and calculating, but he just couldn't see things clearly in this matter. He insisted on settling a personal score, causing such a huge commotion. Now look what's happened, my Gu worms have been killed, and all my years of hard work have been for naught! He deserves to die!"

Zhao Yong was also a centenarian with white hair and beard. Although he was a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining, he was about to faint after being kicked by him.

Zhao Kai hated his uselessness, but he couldn't let him die at this critical moment. He immediately gave a signal to the others, and someone rushed over, pinched Zhao Yong's mouth and nose, and quickly fed him a pill. Then, he used spiritual energy to dissolve it, and Zhao Yong slowly opened his eyes.

"At the clan meeting tomorrow, follow my orders and do not make any more mistakes!"