That night, black clouds veiled the moon, the stars lay dim and hidden, the cold wind cut like knives, and all was silent, without a soul in sight.
Outside the Zhou Family residence at Lot Six, Changhe Ward, in Lingwu's inner city, a narrow path wound through deep shadows, while fiery red lanterns shone with dazzling brilliance.
Dressed head to toe in black, Meng Zhao blended perfectly into the darkness. A black veil covered his face, and he stood on the tip of a withered branch like a night owl.
With winter approaching, the tree's leaves had long since fallen under the harsh, killing cold, leaving only bare branches behind. When spring arrived next year, the old tree would sprout anew, and dead wood would meet spring once more.
It was now the hour when all sounds had fallen still. Aside from places like pleasure quarters, which remained as lively as ever, most areas had sunk into silence, just like the Zhou residence before him.
Meng Zhao had been here for a full quarter of an hour. He had first circled the outside, learned the patrol routes of the Zhou Family guards, then climbed back over the wall. Activating the Emperor's Qi Gazing Technique, purple light bloomed in his eyes, containing threads of golden radiance, and he thought,
"The Zhou Family occupies a fine piece of land. The earth qi is abundant, vital energy gathers here, and the spirit is clear and elegant. This should be a node of the earth veins.
"For someone in the Innate Realm, living here may not bring any obvious benefit to daily cultivation, but over time, there will still be gains. Ordinary people who live here can prolong their lives, suffer fewer calamities and illnesses, while children will be clever and robust.
*"Though it