Storms Gather Unexpectedly

Half a month later, on a certain day, Zhou Ping was in his cave residence, guiding Zhou Chengyuan on how to refine the Jade Rock Green Origin Pill, when he saw Zhou Xuanya sprinting over in a panic.

"Father, Grandmother is dying!"

Zhou Ping felt as if struck by a thunderbolt from a clear sky. His entire being went slack. In a panic, he rode the wind toward Ming Peak, his heart gripped by such profound grief and anguish that his Spiritual Qi faltered and stagnated, nearly sending him tumbling from the sky.

"Mother, I am here, Mother."

Zhou Ping's original purpose in stepping onto the path of cultivation had simply been to survive in this world overrun by demons and monsters, to ensure his family could live in peace and happiness. Now, with Madam Huang hovering at death's door, how could his heart not be wrung with worry and pain?

Zhou Chengyuan hastily cast an art to chase after his uncle, only to find that no matter what, he could not catch up to Zhou Ping.

By the time Zhou Ping rushed into the room, he saw Madam Huang lying on the bed, her eyes closed as her life faded. Zhou Hong knelt before the bed, clutching Madam Huang's withered hand in a death grip, his face streaked with tears and twisted in sorrow.

"Mother, you will be fine. You will be fine."

Zhou Changhe and the others were gathered around as well, watching the old woman in terrified anxiety.

Zhou Dashan leaned heavily on his crutch and shuffled forward, attempting to hold Madam Huang's hand, but she weakly pulled it away.

The matter concerning Zhou Zhuo all those years ago had deeply wounded Madam Huang, and even to this day, she still harbored resentment and could not forgive Zhou Dashan.

Zhou Ping stepped forward, his heart heavy with grief. His robust Spiritual Qi slowly flowed into Madam Huang's body like drawn silk, causing her dying frame to tremble. At long last, she opened her eyes, a faint glimmer of light surfacing in her cloudy pupils.

But Zhou Ping could sense that this was merely a final, fading echo of vitality. Her life had reached its absolute limit; nothing could turn back the heavens.

"Hong'er... Ping'er..."

Madam Huang's frail voice drifted out. Her gaze swept the room, finally settling upon Zhou Qianling in the crowd.

"Ling'er..."

Her voice was impossibly weak. Weeping bitterly, Zhou Ping leaned close to Madam Huang, straining his ears just to hear her. He hastily pulled Zhou Qianling to the front. "Mother, Qianling is here! Qianling is here!"

Madam Huang tremblingly reached out a hand, wishing to stroke Zhou Qianling's face, but her arm dropped like a falling star. It was Zhou Qianling who lowered herself, pressing Madam Huang's hand against her own cheek. The palm was cold and coarse, like the bark of a dead tree, scratching Zhou Qianling and causing a sharp sting.

Among the six brothers of Zhou Changhe's generation, Madam Huang had favored Zhou Changxi the most. He had grown up in the back courtyard, and though he had developed a timid and indecisive temperament, he had been raised by Madam Huang's own hands. Naturally, her affection for him far surpassed that for her other grandchildren.

Now, gazing at this face that bore a resemblance to Zhou Changxi's, the old woman's heart ached with the memory of her grandson who had died too young.

Madam Huang looked at her with deep reluctance before turning her eyes back to Zhou Ping and Zhou Hong, forcing out her next words.

"You are all my own flesh and blood. You must live in harmony. Do not let brothers war within the walls, lest outsiders seize the chance to take our home..."

"You must properly teach and discipline the children. Do not let them run wild and lose their true nature."

"You all-"

Madam Huang's voice grew ever weaker. Tears streaming down his face, Zhou Ping pressed his ear right against Madam Huang's lips, but he could no longer make out a single word.

"Mother, you will surely recover," Zhou Ping sobbed.

Beside them, Zhou Dashan struggled to lean forward and slowly grasped Madam Huang's hand. This time, Madam Huang did not cast him off. Perhaps, at death's door, she had finally forgiven Zhou Dashan, or perhaps she simply lacked the strength to move anymore.

Madam Huang stared blankly at the ceiling, her gaze slowly drifting into an unfocused haze.

"Changxi, Grandmother is coming to keep you company..."

"Mother!"

"Grandmother!"

The entire room erupted into wailing. Everyone wept in heart-wrenching sorrow.

...

The four villages and one town under the Zhou Clan's governance were all draped in white mourning cloth. Thousands of people prayed and offered blessings for Madam Huang. Strips of white cloth blanketed Baixi Mountain, snapping and fluttering in the wind, casting a profound melancholy over heaven and earth.

Zhou Chang'an was still managing government affairs at the county office. Upon receiving the news, he rushed back, collapsing before the mourning hall in bitter tears. Far away in the market, Zhou Minghu also rode through the night, eventually falling to his knees before the coffin to wail in grief.

In the end, Madam Huang was laid to rest on Chi Peak, with Zhou Changxi's grave keeping her company.

The County Magistrate came to see her off, the immortal clan wept, and tens of thousands of commoners prayed for her soul. Madam Huang's funeral drew the deep envy of countless commoners throughout Qingshui County.

"This Old Madam Huang truly had a blessed fate," many elders sighed endlessly upon hearing the news.

What elder did not wish for boundless glory after death, with children and grandchildren filling the hall in filial devotion?

Following Madam Huang's passing, the other three immortal clans of Qingshui County all sent representatives to offer their condolences. The Zhang Clan of Fuyang County even had Zhang Shoucheng come personally to pay his respects.

The Lin and Lu Clans had been established too recently and lacked even a single Spirit Awakening Realm cultivator, so they could only send mortals of sufficient standing.

Only the Huang Clan sent a Qi Condensation cultivator, Huang Zhengqing. It was a show of immense regard for the Zhou Clan.

However, Huang Zhengqing's true purpose was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"Senior, my father is too grief-stricken and heartbroken to properly receive guests. Please forgive the slight, Senior," Zhou Minghu said respectfully, cupping his hands toward Huang Zhengqing.

In terms of age, Huang Zhengqing was only a few years older than Zhou Minghu. But in the cultivation world, strength was revered, so he naturally had to address the man as Senior.

"It is no matter. Fellow Daoist Zhou is overcome with sorrow; I can understand," Huang Zhengqing said with a faint smile, his demeanor refined and gentle, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

Yet, hidden in the palm of Huang Zhengqing's hand, a compass slowly rotated. Two dots of deep white light flickered upon it, alongside six far dimmer points.

This was a Spirit Detection Compass, capable of sensing cultivator auras within a three-mile radius. Even a first-grade formation could not block its probing.

Huang Zhengqing's visit this time was entirely to test whether the Zhou Clan possessed a second Qi Condensation cultivator. But of the two deep white dots on the compass, one was himself, and the other was Zhou Ping. The rest were Zhou Minghu and the other Spirit Awakening Realm cultivators.

"It seems the Zhou Clan truly does not have a second Qi Condensation cultivator," Huang Zhengqing murmured to himself.

"Zhou Ping fought two against one and still managed to forcibly slay one. That Magical Artifact of his is truly formidable."

"As long as we obstruct the younger generation of the Zhou Clan from breaking through, we can plot against them once he grows old and feeble."

Although the Huang Clan had been secretly suppressing the Zhou Clan, they would not resort to armed suppression-at least not yet.

After all, the Zhou Clan was still part of their alliance, and they had never committed any act of defiance against the Huang Clan. In fact, they were the most obedient clan among them all.

If the Huang Clan were to violently suppress them under such circumstances, they could strip themselves of the title of the righteous path's leader. The other immortal clans would feel a chilling threat and unite to resist them.

Ultimately, until the righteous path reached the point of overturning the table, every action had to follow the established rules.

Huang Zhengqing turned his head to gaze at the towering, majestic expanse of Darong Mountain. Feeling its profound aura and imposing terrain, he could not help but sigh in admiration.

"What a fine immortal mountain!"

He quickly withdrew his gaze. Darong Mountain was the territory of the demon race; it was best not to stare for too long.

Although Huang Zhengqing could not wander freely around Baixi Mountain, the Spirit Detection Compass possessed a vast range, just barely covering every region. Still somewhat unwilling to give up, he thoroughly swept his compass over the villages and towns under the Zhou Clan's rule on his way back.

How could Zhou Ping fail to notice such provocative behavior? Yet, he could only forcefully endure it.

Meanwhile, on the cliff west of Baixi Lake, Zhou Chengyuan and Hu Li were staring wide-eyed at one another. Zhou Xuanya stood off to the side, not daring to move, yet feeling incredibly awkward just standing there.

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