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

On the day they set off to return, Zhao Yunbo successfully took over the position of family head.

Despite the many changes in the Zhao family, he fortunately did not develop inner demons; in fact, he matured considerably, acting with composure and no longer resembling a young boy.

"With Cui Keqing's reputation in charge, those families don't dare to make any rash moves. You can go back with peace of mind."

Zhao Yunbo led several clansmen to escort Cui Ying to the outside of Zhao Family Village, and said respectfully.

Cui Ying nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and then instructed, "If you need to convey something, you can use a communication talisman to inform them."

After saying that, she waved to indicate that there was no need to see her off any further, and then took Gu Shiyin on the Dragon Horse Roller Coaster and sped off along the way they had come.

It was four days later when they returned to the territory of Thundercloud City.

After tidying up what she had obtained, Cui Ying first went to the Lei family's mission hall to hand over the mission, then found an inn to settle Gu Shiyin in, before taking out the token and heading to the Siwu Hall.

"I cannot make this decision! Please, Fellow Daoist Cui, come with me!"

After hearing Cui Ying's purpose, Lei Yi's expression also became somewhat solemn. He paced around the hall a few times with his hands behind his back before finally leading Cui Ying towards the City Lord's Mansion, as if he had made up his mind.

The city lord's mansion in Thundercloud City is located on the central axis of the city. It covers a vast area with many palaces and pavilions. The servants who come and go are all dressed in fine silks and satins, with an extraordinary temperament, as if it were the abode of immortals.

Cui Ying's previous residence was several times more luxurious than this, so she only glanced at it indifferently before following Lei Yi to the front of a palace.

Two beautiful maids dressed in red and green, with pink makeup, stood before the palace gate. Upon seeing Lei Yi and Cui Ying, they smiled and said:

"It's so late, Young Master Yi, why aren't you handling official business at the Martial Arts Hall? What are you doing at our City Lord's Mansion?"

The one who spoke was the maid with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped cheeks on the left. Her words were frivolous and showed no respect whatsoever. However, Lei Yi dared not be annoyed in the slightest, because these two gatekeeper maids were highly skilled, reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, which was beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators.

He bowed to the two women and handed them two purses that he had prepared beforehand. Then he said with a smile, "I have something important to report to the Ancestor. Please help me convey this message, sisters."

"Since it is important, we sisters will not take up any more of Young Master Yi's time."

The Foundation Establishment maid took the purse and put it into her storage bag before turning around and saying:

"My master just emerged from seclusion three days ago, and Young Master Yi happened to catch up with him. Please come with me."

Lei Yi nodded in agreement and led Cui Ying behind her, passing through two long corridors and three gates before finally standing in a quiet place surrounded by green bamboo.

"What's the matter?"

In the middle of the bamboo forest, an old man with a youthful face and white hair, dressed in white robes, sat cross-legged on a futon. Lei Yi respectfully stepped forward, bowed his head, and said, "Grandson Lei Yi greets Ancestor."

"Ah."

As a Golden Core cultivator, Lei Yuan didn't open his mouth, only emitting a perfunctory response through his nose, which made Lei Yi, sitting below, dare not raise his head. He continued nervously:

“Grandfather, your grandson and Cui Ying, a member of the family from outside the clan, have important matters to report.”

Lei Yuan's eyes were slightly closed, his expression blank. After a long while, a faint voice finally rang out: "What is it?"

Cui Ying then stepped forward and calmly and methodically explained her purpose:

"My subordinate went to Jinsha City on a mission a few days ago, but I didn't expect to get involved with the Zhao family of Zhao Family Village in Camel Peak Mountain, and the matter of the family succession."

Having said that, she paused and continued:

"It was originally a family feud, and I shouldn't have used it to disturb the city lord's peaceful cultivation. However, I discovered that the culprit who instigated the feud has some connection with the Five Poisons Sect of Qingyang Prefecture. I feel that this matter is of great importance, so I came to report to the city lord."

Lei Yuan appeared calm at first, but when he heard about the internal strife within his family, his brow furrowed slightly, clearly indicating some annoyance. However, upon hearing about the Five Poisons Sect of Qingyang Prefecture, his eyes snapped open instantly.

He glanced at Cui Ying a few times, then said solemnly:

"Is this serious?"

Cui Ying took out a wooden box containing the poisonous cicada and Zhao Kai's token from her storage bag and handed it to the Foundation Establishment maid, saying:

“Everything I have said is true, Lord City Lord.”

The Foundation Establishment maid opened two wooden boxes. Lei Yuan glanced at the poisonous cicada, his face darkening. He then picked up the token, examined it for a moment, and angrily said:

"After hundreds of years, they still haven't given up their wicked intentions!"

He looked at Cui Ying and asked, "Did you kill that cultist?"

"Reporting to the city lord, it is indeed your subordinate."

Cui Ying didn't hide anything and nodded in response.

Lei Yuan nodded slightly, recognizing her powerful aura; she must be one of the best in her realm. His anger vanished in an instant, and he said:

"The methods of the Five Poisons Sect are difficult for ordinary cultivators to resist, and you must have expended a lot of effort. I will give the order later to record this great merit for you."

He gestured for the Foundation Establishment maid to put the things away, his face remaining expressionless, revealing little emotion.

Cui Ying then took out the jade slip that Zhao Wang had given her before his death from her storage bag and respectfully said:

"The head of the Zhao family entrusted his subordinates to present this item, hoping that the city lord would remember the sacrifices made by the Zhao family ancestors during that great battle and show some compassion and assistance."

Lei Yuan accepted the jade slip, but after probing it with his divine sense, he lost interest and simply said:

"What is the current situation of the Zhao family?"

"Reporting to the city lord, the Zhao family has suffered from internal strife. The current head of the family is Zhao Yunbo, the great-grandson of Zhao Wang, who is at the fourth level of Qi Refining. The number of cultivators in the Zhao Family Village under his jurisdiction is sparse, and the family's strength is far less than before."

Cui Ying's words were, in a sense, the truth. As for what decision Lei Yuan would ultimately make, it was beyond her control.

"Very well, then let's send a message to reduce the Zhao family's tribute by 10% every three years."

After saying that, he closed his eyes and refused to say anything more.

Cui Ying knew that this was the greatest mercy Lei Yuan could show.

After leaving the city lord's mansion, she bid farewell to Lei Yi, went to the inn in the city to pick up Gu Shiyin, and then headed towards Shuangling Village.

Meanwhile, in Shuangling Village, with the war between the two cities settled, the Lei family was able to free up their resources to deal with the bandits who were roaming around the area, and the security inside and outside the city was much better than last year.

But the demonic beasts of Phoenix Mountain had no such scruples. Seeing that the spiritual rice and herbs outside several nearby villages were beginning to ripen, they all began to descend the mountain and wreak havoc.

Only six days after Cui Ying left, a fire-breathing sparrow demon appeared outside Shuangling Village and landed right in the Cui family's spirit field. Fortunately, Cui Zhengming also had the cultivation of the fifth level of Qi Refining. With the cooperation of Zhao Sihai, Zhu Chaoyun, and others, they managed to defeat the demon without any major incident.

Wang Rong and Yang Qimei were taking care of Xiao Jia'er on Fengxi Ridge, while Cui Yue and Cui Yan were diligently cultivating. Finally, on the evening before last, they successfully broke through to the second level of Qi Refining. Instead of going to the Gongsun family's Qi Refining Academy, they happily followed Cui Lin down the mountain to exorcise demons.

Zhu Chaoyun methodically arranged for people to drag the sparrow demon to the Songlin Market for sale, and he and Cui Zhengming took turns guarding the spirit field, not getting a full night's sleep for several days.

That evening, he had just killed a rat demon that had come to steal Seven Star Grass by the scent, and was instructing Shen Shuang and Zheng Yang, whom he had adopted, on their magical cultivation by the spirit field when he heard the neighing of a dragon horse coming from the main road outside the village.