Another loss of control? As I thought, Grandpa Zhou Yan's death wasn't an accident. Someone doesn't want the Zhou Family rising again and taking a slice of the pie!
Learning that the lightning power in Zhou Yan's father had also begun to run out of control, Yu Hengqing instantly realized that someone was targeting the Zhou Family.
"Zhou Yan, don't panic! Come with me. There's something I need to tell you."
After calming Zhou Yan down, Yu Hengqing led him to a secluded corner where they wouldn't be disturbed.
"Zhou Yan, don't you think all of this is a little too much of a coincidence? Your grandfather's lightning suddenly ran out of control. Let's set that aside for now."
"Why did your father's lightning suddenly run out of control too? And why just when he'd managed to stabilize the family's situation?"
Yu Hengqing gripped Zhou Yan's shoulder with one hand and looked him in the eye as he asked.
Faced with Yu Hengqing's questions, Zhou Yan wasn't a fool. He caught on immediately and understood what Yu Hengqing was getting at.
"I can't figure out who did it. There are too many suspects, and we don't even know what method the person behind this used. We have no way to investigate."
After running through the possible suspects in his mind, Zhou Yan told Yu Hengqing, discouraged.
"As long as it was done by a person, they'll leave clues behind. And whoever's behind this definitely won't stop at one attempt."
Just moments ago, Yu Hengqing had come up with a bold plan.
Yu Hengqing knew that anyone daring to move against the Zhou Family must have close ties to the imperial family. It was even possible that one of its members was behind this.
That was exactly why Yu Hengqing had no choice but to get involved.
Now that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect were working together, they were bound to attract the imperial family's attention.
The Tiandou Imperial Family would never want a power stronger than theirs to emerge in Heaven Dou City. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to sleep soundly.
If Yu Hengqing could make good use of the Zhou Family as a connection, he could use it to infiltrate—or throw the imperial family into disarray from within.
This would also draw the imperial family's attention away from the two sects, giving their cooperation a chance to deepen.
Once the two sects' cooperation had grown until each was part of the other, even if Ning Fengzhi wanted to pull the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect out, he'd have to think twice.
"Then, Hengqing, come with me to see my father. If you can help stabilize his condition, whoever's behind this will surely panic and make another move."
Zhou Yan quickly understood the situation too. The Zhou Family had become a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. If they didn't fight back, they'd end up on someone else's dinner table.
"Sure. Lead the way! Remember, we're friends. I'm just visiting your home for fun, not for anything else."
Seeing that Zhou Yan had a plan, Yu Hengqing patted him on the shoulder, pleased.
With Yu Yuanzhen at level ninety-seven backing him up, Yu Hengqing had the confidence to take a few bold steps.
Soon, Yu Hengqing rode in Zhou Yan's carriage to the Zhou Family residence.
After decades of growth, the Zhou Family had become a great clan, and its estate covered an enormous area.
The Zhou Family grounds looked rather quiet. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that something had happened to the family.
As soon as Zhou Yan stepped out of the carriage, Steward Zhou, who had heard them arrive, came out to welcome him home.
"Welcome home, young master! And this must be the third young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. A warm welcome!"
Seeing Yu Hengqing behind Zhou Yan, Steward Zhou immediately greeted him enthusiastically.
Steward Zhou knew Yu Hengqing because Zhou Yan had told his father that he and Yu Hengqing were very good "friends."
So, in case Zhou Yan ever brought Yu Hengqing home, Steward Zhou had asked around and learned what he looked like.
"Hello. Sorry for the trouble, but could you let the Zhou Family head know I'm here?"
Seeing how enthusiastic the steward was, Yu Hengqing quickly found an excuse to send him away.
Steward Zhou understood what Yu Hengqing meant. After giving a few instructions to the people nearby, he took his leave of Yu Hengqing and Zhou Yan.
With Zhou Yan as his guide, Yu Hengqing walked through most of the Zhou Family estate.
Unlike the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's imposing extravagance, the Zhou Family residence made Yu Hengqing feel as though he were strolling through an ancient garden.
"Young friend Yu, what do you think of the scenery at the Zhou Family estate? Does it meet with your approval?"
Zhou Yan's father suddenly emerged from a nearby corridor and asked Yu Hengqing with a smile.
"Uncle Zhou, I really like the peaceful scenery here!"
Yu Hengqing smiled back at Zhou Changqing as he approached.
"I'm glad you like it. Then stay a while longer."
Only when Zhou Changqing drew near did Yu Hengqing notice how much paler his face was than an ordinary person's. His breathing was also more unsteady.
Seeing his father's pale face, Zhou Yan felt a pang of heartache. He lowered his voice and explained to Zhou Changqing why Yu Hengqing had come.
"Dad, Hengqing came because of that matter."
At this, Zhou Changqing's expression didn't change. He said calmly, "Young friend Yu must be tired and thirsty after looking around for so long. Zhou Yan, hurry and take him to your room to rest."
Zhou Changqing glanced at Zhou Yan, signaling him to take Yu Hengqing away.
"All right, Dad. Hengqing, come with me. My room is this way."
At Zhou Changqing's instruction, Zhou Yan immediately led Yu Hengqing away from the courtyard.
While Yu Hengqing sat in Zhou Yan's room drinking water, Zhou Changqing came in, pushing open the door with an apologetic look.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, young friend Yu. It took a little time to make sure there was no one else around."
"It's all right, as long as you can ensure that anyone nearby is someone you trust, Uncle Zhou."
With Leiyi's power, Yu Hengqing sensed that most of the people around them had disappeared.
"Uncle Zhou, may I ask what your treatment method is? Zhou Yan only told me the principle behind it, not the method itself."
Yu Hengqing was curious about what method Zhou Changqing had come up with to treat the buildup of lightning power in his body.
Zhou Changqing didn't answer right away. Instead, he flicked six azure beads out of his sleeve and arranged them at his feet in the shape of a hexagram.
"This is the Thunder-Trapping Array. Once the lightning power in my body has been drawn out, the array will absorb it into the beads."
"Of course, the lightning absorbed into the beads won't go to waste. After it's processed, it can be used for cultivation or to build a Mimicry Training Ground."
Zhou Changqing snapped his fingers, and the six beads floated up, circling around him.
To be honest, Yu Hengqing was tempted. These beads were a powerful aid to cultivation!
With them, perhaps Yu Hengqing wouldn't even need to visit Thunder-Fire Hall to increase his cultivation speed.
"Then, Uncle Zhou, what should I do now?"
Yu Hengqing turned his gaze away from the beads and focused on the treatment again.
"Pour all your lightning power into the Thunder-Trapping Array. I'll take care of the rest."
Zhou Changqing raised a finger, activating the Thunder-Trapping Array. It formed a hexagonal prism around him.
At the instruction, Yu Hengqing held nothing back and unleashed all three kinds of lightning power.
Watching the lightning power flow into the Thunder-Trapping Array, Zhou Changqing's heart trembled. Every kind of lightning power Yu Hengqing wielded was higher in quality than his own.
What a terrifying boy. Given time, talent like this is sure to shake the entire Douluo Continent.
From the lightning bursting out of Yu Hengqing's hands, Zhou Changqing glimpsed the rise of a legend.
In less than a few minutes, the six azure beads had all taken on new colors.
Seeing this, Zhou Changqing raised his hand to stop Yu Hengqing. Yu Hengqing's Soul Power wasn't enough to clear all the accumulated lightning from his body in one go. They only needed enough to ease the trend toward losing control.
"All right, young friend Yu. Rest for now. There's enough lightning power for me to begin treatment."
Before you continue