Fatherly Love and Filial Piety

In Qingxuan City, at the Zhao Family residence.

After Shen Yi revealed his identity, he was immediately invited into the courtyard.

The Zhao Family patriarch was already waiting. Upon seeing Shen Yi, he respectfully offered him a cup of tea.

"Patriarch Zhao, there's no need for such formality. Time is of the essence, please tell me the situation in detail."

The Zhao Family patriarch sighed deeply before speaking.

"My Zhao family are all mortals. It's only because we have considerable wealth that we annually offer much to the Qingxuan Sect, thus enjoying their protection. In recent years, as the sect has grown stronger, my Zhao family has also prospered. Half a month ago, my useless son didn't return all night. I initially thought it was a trivial matter, but later received a letter demanding that I hand over my wealth in exchange for my son's safety. It was then I realized my only son had been abducted by villains."

As he spoke, the butler presented a letter. Shen Yi opened it and confirmed it was as Patriarch Zhao described. The letter also contained a lock of hair, clearly placed there by the villains as a threat.

"When I received the letter, how could I dare refuse? I immediately gathered gold and silver and delivered it to the designated location. Who would have thought that the next day, I'd receive another letter stating the sum of money was insufficient and demanding more. I had no choice but to comply, but all I received was another letter, still demanding more money."

Patriarch Zhao sighed, "This happened five times. I followed the villains' demands, and my family's fortune has been depleted by more than half. I truly had no other recourse, so I decided to seek help from the sect. I implore the immortal master to intervene!"

Shen Yi picked up the other letters. They all contained the same message and mentioned a location: Qingqiu.

"May I ask where this Qingqiu is located?"

"It's northeast of the city, there's a dilapidated temple there. Each time, I personally delivered the valuables and waited in secret for a long time, but I never saw the villains."

Shen Yi bid farewell to Patriarch Zhao, deciding to investigate personally. He felt that the matter was not as simple as it seemed.

"There are traces of spiritual energy remaining."

Upon arriving at the dilapidated temple in Qingqiu, Shen Yi found no sign of mortals or any secret passages. Sensing the residual spiritual energy fluctuations in the air, he concluded that cultivators were involved. However, he couldn't understand why they only wanted gold and silver, not Spirit Stones.

Concealing his presence, Shen Yi hid among the vegetation, waiting patiently.

For three consecutive days, there was nothing unusual at the dilapidated temple in Qingqiu. Not even mortals were seen, let alone cultivators. Shen Yi began to suspect that Patriarch Zhao had deceived him.

Just as he was about to give up, he heard sounds in the distance. Someone was approaching. Shen Yi saw five figures cautiously making their way to the dilapidated temple. They knocked three times on the temple door, and then, from a nearby mass of graves, two figures emerged.

"My son, you've worked hard. These are the last of the valuables. Tonight, take these and leave first. Once I've made proper arrangements, I will find you."

Judging by the voice, it was Patriarch Zhao. The thin figure opposite him was likely his son, Zhao Xiaotian. As for the person behind Zhao Xiaotian, their aura was long and steady, suggesting they were a cultivator.

Zhao Xiaotian heard this, stepped forward, and rummaged through several bags. Suddenly, he roared, "That's not right! Old man, you're still hiding something!" As he spoke, a cold glint flashed before him, and he lunged towards Patriarch Zhao.

"Well, you little beast! I've suspected you were up to no good for a long time. So you really are a scoundrel who would kill his own father for family fortune!"

Patriarch Zhao also erupted, kicking the dagger from Zhao Xiaotian's hand. His eyes widened as he cursed.

Shen Yi, hidden nearby, couldn't help but feel a sense of irony at this scene of filial piety.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Before Shen Yi could make a move, he saw the person behind Zhao Xiaotian clapping enthusiastically. A surge of energy stirred up a gust of wind, sending the father and son tumbling into each other, dazed and disoriented.

"Zhao Ye, what are you doing!"

Patriarch Zhao and Zhao Xiaotian shouted in unison, questioning the cultivator named Zhao Ye.

Then, the two men looked at each other and finally understood. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Zhao Ye intended to be the oriole.

"Zhao Ye, my Zhao family is protected by the Qingxuan Sect. Don't you forget that. If something happens to me, you won't escape either!"

"That's right! Don't forget, who sent you to the Qingxuan Sect and helped you achieve Foundation Establishment?"

The Zhao father and son spoke sternly, but their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Mortals facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator were like ants at his mercy.

"The sect? Weren't you also planning to have me kill the sect cultivator who came to help you, and then silence me? If I kill you both, I'll be the Zhao Family patriarch. Do you think the Qingxuan Sect will care about the lives of a few mortals?"

Zhao Ye sneered, ruthlessly shattering the Zhao father and son's illusions. Their hope extinguished, their faces turned ashen.

"You two harbored rebellious intentions, wanting to break free from the sect's control. I, Zhao Ye, will not let you have your way. With the Zhao family's resources, I can advance further. Once I have the Great Elder's support, the Zhao family will enjoy a thousand years of protection, which would be a great honor for your Zhao family!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Shen Yi leaped out, shielding the Zhao father and son behind him, and looked at Zhao Ye with a playful expression.

"It's just that you wanted to rely on Wang Shangren!"

"Old man, I didn't expect the Qingxuan Sect to actually send someone. But with your Qi Condensation cultivation, you're no different from an ant I can crush before my Foundation Establishment."

A flicker of panic flashed in Zhao Ye's eyes. Seeing that Shen Yi was only at the Qi Condensation realm, he immediately relaxed.

Shen Yi remained silent. The Coiled Dragon Halberd gleamed with dark light, releasing a chilling killing intent as it lunged towards Zhao Ye.

Seeing this, Zhao Ye also drew his longsword, a spirit artifact, to block Shen Yi's attack. Although shocked, his greed consumed him, and he wanted to kill and seize the treasure. After all, it was a top-grade spirit artifact.

Shen Yi's offensive intensified. Dark light danced, sparking against Zhao Ye's sword. He used all his might to barely fend off Shen Yi's assault. Zhao Ye felt fear and wanted to escape, but Shen Yi wouldn't give him the chance. The Coiled Dragon Halberd once again smashed down towards his face.

The dark light collided with the longsword, and a burst of light erupted in the air. The sword instantly turned to dust. The halberd split downwards, piercing his chest. Blood gushed out like a spring. Zhao Ye died with his eyes wide open.

The Zhao father and son, witnessing such a scene, trembled uncontrollably, almost fainting. After a long while, they both knelt before Shen Yi, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for their lives.

"Take the valuables and never return."

Shen Yi felt a surge of anger. He had been used by the Zhao father and son, almost becoming their sacrifice to escape the Qingxuan Sect. However, he decided to let them go, unwilling to incur karma by a cultivator killing mortals.

The Zhao father and son expressed their profuse gratitude, saying they had no way to repay him and could only offer their properties in the city as compensation and thanks for the day.

Shen Yi watched the Zhao family leave. He took Zhao Ye's storage ring and pondered how to report the mission to the sect.

Just then, three killing intents struck, forcing Shen Yi to brace himself as if facing a formidable enemy.