Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

Lin Hongyu left the Zhou Family rather quickly.

From the expression on her face as she departed, it was apparent that she was quite satisfied.

Yet, after Lin Hongyu had left, the two Zhou Family rulers sat with gloomy expressions in the stone pavilion on the mountain top, motionless for a long while.

After sitting in silence for a considerable time, Zhou Daoyi finally let out a heavy sigh, "We shouldn't have agreed to her demands!"

"This is like seeking skin from a tiger!"

"If this matter gets out, our Zhou Family will surely face extermination!"

Having said this, he saw Zhou Mingde across from him heave a gentle sigh, "Of course I know this, but our hands were forced by the circumstances!"

"If we didn't agree to her, whether she caused a big scene at our sect or made public the matter of you obtaining the Green Flood Dragon Inner Pill and being involved with you, the trouble our Zhou Family would face wouldn't be any less severe than if we had agreed to her demands!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoyi fell silent, unable to refute.

He had personally witnessed Lin Hongyu's strength and when she unleashed her secret technique, even the late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators of the Green Lotus Temple had to avoid her sharp edge. Her power was unquestionably beyond what Zhou Mingde could match.

Moreover, her daring to come alone to the Zhou Family this time surely meant she was well-prepared for the encounter.

If she really caused trouble at the Zhou Family, even if the family could suppress her with the power of the Mountain Protection Array, it was unknown how many clan members would die!

Such a consequence was no different from complete family destruction.

But thinking of Lin Hongyu's earlier conditions, Zhou Daoyi's eyelid twitched involuntarily, and he couldn't help but say, "But if we really do as she says, and gather mortal and Loose Cultivator individuals with Spirit Root Aptitude for her, that would truly be aiding the enemy. Just by this alone, once the matter leaks, we won't be able to clear our names!"

"I'm well aware of that!"

Zhou Mingde raised his eyebrows and spoke helplessly, "But for now, our only option is to play along and stall for time!"

As he spoke, a glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes, and he continued, "Besides, aiding the enemy depends on how it's defined. If we can later find a breakthrough with the Dragon Transformation Sect and somehow cause them to suffer a significant loss, then this would not be aiding the enemy but rather 'to receive something, one must first give'!"

After finishing, he concluded, "In short, we should try to delay as much as possible. Delay if we can, and once your Sky Azure Cloud Python succeeds in Transforming into a Flood Dragon, we will have the strength to turn the tables and find a way to eradicate this threat once and for all!"

However, Zhou Daoyi felt that this plan was too risky.

Given the Zhou Family's strength, undertaking such a tightrope-walking venture would lead to family destruction with the slightest mistake!

Thus, he spoke again, "How about we confess to the Green Lotus Temple instead? We could inform the high-level members of the Green Lotus Temple about the situation through Taoist Mingxia and see what their plan is!"

"If they ask about the Green Flood Dragon Inner Pill, we'll just say it's been used. They surely can't justifiably attack our Zhou Family over this!"

However, Zhou Mingde, hearing this, shook his head repeatedly, "That won't work. Firstly, the Green Lotus Temple would definitely find a way to verify the truth of our words. Even if they truly don't pursue the matter of the Green Flood Dragon Inner Pill, by handing over this leverage to them, we would be entrusting the entire clan's life and death into others' hands!"

"You must not forget, our Zhou Family is helping the Green Lotus Temple because our family's foundation is within their sphere of influence; we have no choice but to do so. It's not because our family has any deep connection with the Green Lotus Temple, nor do we bear any deep hatred toward the Dragon Transformation Sect!"

"Speaking candidly, if the Zhou Family has fallen to this state, the Green Lotus Temple is the true instigator of disaster!"

This statement rendered Zhou Daoyi silent.

Indeed, for the Zhou Family, the Green Lotus Temple was not a benevolent entity.

It was the Green Lotus Temple that had dismantled the Sanjue Sect, and at that time, to have these Foreign Cultivators taken in, nearly half of the Sanjue Sect's savings were forcibly offered as a "toll" to the Green Lotus Temple.

With such a barrier between them, proactively handing over leverage to the Green Lotus Temple was indeed tantamount to handing over control of one's life and death!

Unless he was willing to part with the Green Flood Dragon Inner Pill and offer it up as well!

But thinking of the "sacrifice" he had made to acquire that Green Flood Dragon Inner Pill, and the importance of this object to both himself and the Zhou Family,

Zhou Daoyi quickly dismissed the thought.

It was utterly impossible!

"Enough, don't think too much about it. Although this matter carries a great risk, as long as we and Lin Hongyu are both careful and cautious, it may not necessarily be exposed. Besides, the benefits to be gained are not insignificant!"

"The Dragon Transformation Sect has opened up a sizable territory on the Dragon Abyss Marsh, where Demon Beasts run rampant, owning many exotic treasures. If we can obtain some items that the Zhou Family urgently needs through trade with Lin Hongyu, this will clearly enhance the strength of our family!"

"It's better to rely on oneself than on others; as long as our Zhou Family grows stronger and gains the capital to maneuver, whether it's ultimately completely siding with the Dragon Transformation Sect or moving elsewhere, both options remain open!"

Zhou Mingde continued to this point, then waved his hand, "All in all, things have reached this stage, and any choice might lead to the collapse of our Zhou Family; thus, we naturally have to choose the option that can help our family develop faster!"

There are no benefits to be reaped without risk in this world!

Zhou Daoyi, having once managed to benefit as a 'fisherman' in obtaining the Green Flood Dragon Inner Pill but failing to cover his tracks in time, was doomed to pay the price for it.

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