"Hmph, a disloyal cur that bites the hand that feeds, colluding with outsiders to plot against your own kin! Do you admit to these charges?"
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Chongxiao's pupils shrank, and the smile on his face instantly stiffened, his heart filled with immense shock and fear.
In a Cultivation Family, colluding with outsiders to harm one's own kin was an unforgivable and heinous crime. Anyone who committed this crime would be executed, but what was more terrifying was that they would often be denied a quick death.
"Second Grandpa, what are you talking about? Your grandson is completely confused," Zhao Chongxiao still harbored a sliver of hope, pretending to be bewildered and at a loss.
Seeing that the other party was still hoping for a chance, Zhao Sheng stepped forward, produced evidence, and asked, "Tell me, is the Qixia Conference this year on the first or the fifteenth of July? Why did you have me carry Insect Powder from the Shadowless Insect on my shoulder?"
As soon as Zhao Chongxiao heard this, his facial expression collapsed instantly.
He thudded to his knees and immediately started sobbing like a dog.
At the same time, he clutched Zhao Jinding's thighs tightly, sobbing with tears streaming down, pleading:
"Second Grandpa, I was forced to do it! I didn't want to! But they placed a Corrosive Blood Gu on me. If I don't follow their orders, the Gu Worm will act up and eventually turn me into a puddle of rotten blood."
Zhao Jinding kicked him away with a foot and sternly demanded, "Who are they? Why did they make you do this? Tell me everything you know!"
Zhao Chongxiao scrambled back to his knees, his face showing fear as he replied, "Grandson truly doesn't know who they are, only that they are three individuals who call themselves the Wushan Three Immortals.
Seven days ago, I was accidentally captured by them and was inflicted with the Corrosive Blood Gu. Then they ordered me to lure Zhao Chong and Chongwei out."
Having said this, he looked at the three of them with eager eyes.
Seeing this, Zhao Jinding impatiently urged, "What else?"
Before the words had even finished, Zhao Chongxiao suddenly began to kowtow desperately, his head bleeding from the impact,
"I admit my wrongdoing, and I beg Grandpa and Uncle Qin to spare my life. I swear I will never dare to do it again!"
Zhao Chongxiao knew that if he did not take this opportunity to beg for mercy, he would surely die.
Zhao Jinding kicked him to the ground again, and with a sneer, rebuked: "Humph, you deserve to die!"
Seeing this, Zhao Sheng's eyes flashed and he suddenly spoke up: "Second Grandpa, Zhao Chongxiao was also compelled, since he has acknowledged his wrongs, and he has not caused any serious consequences. Why not spare his life, would that be acceptable?"
Zhao Keqin, upon hearing this, also persuaded, "That's right! Chongxiao did not intend to do it. Now the family is short on manpower, so why not let him redeem himself through meritorious service?"
As he spoke, his tone turned harsh, and he forcefully questioned, "Chongxiao, tell the truth, what was their plan? If we wanted you to draw them out, could you do it?"
Seeing the lifeline thrown to him, why wouldn't Zhao Chongxiao grab it?
He was overjoyed, quickly spilling everything he knew. In the end, he even volunteered to act as bait to lure the other party into a trap.
Having heard what he said, Zhao Jinding's anger slightly cooled. After discussing with Zhao Sheng and Zhao Chongxiao, they decided to set a trap to catch the enemies all at once.
A day later, at noon.
Outside the Zhao family's residence by Dragon Carp Lake, three Green-Scaled Jiao Horses over three meters tall and with smoke rising from their hooves, constantly shook their manes on the open ground. Occasionally, they snorted, and a puff of green smoke would burst from their nostrils.
Green-Scaled Jiao Horses are a common type of Beast Taming in the Cultivation World, specifically bred by the Beast Taming Sect. They are said to have a trace of Dragon Serpent blood, allowing them to travel a thousand miles in a day and to race continuously for three days and nights.
Next to the Jiao Horses, Zhao Jinding solemnly handed two blood-red soft armors to Zhao Sheng and Zhao Chong.
Zhao Sheng inspected the soft armor and saw it was covered with fine crimson scales, with countless runes flowing and flickering on them.
He exclaimed in surprise, "Spiritual Artifact Red Scale Armor!"
"No, this is too precious!" Zhao Sheng hastily declined.
The Red Scale Armor was a treasured heirloom of the Zhao family. It was made from the reverse scales under the necks of five hundred and eighty century-old Red Carps, its defensive power was twice as strong as that of a similar grade Spiritual Artifact,
The Zhao family had been established near Dragon Carp Lake for nearly three hundred years, and had only managed to accumulate four pieces of Red Scale Armor.
Two of them had already been sold, and aside from being worn by the clan's Foundation Establishment Ancestors, the two pieces in the hands of Zhao Sheng and the others spent most of their time hidden away in the family's treasure vault, away from prying eyes.
Zhao Jinding pushed the Red Scale Armor back to Zhao Sheng and said very seriously, "Put it on! Are your lives not worth more than a mere object?"
Seeing this, Zhao Sheng had no choice but to put on the Red Scale Armor and cover it with his robe. Zhao Chongwei beside him followed suit.
Zhao Chongxiao watched this scene with eyes red with envy and jealousy.
At this moment, Zhao Jinding turned his head to look at him and scolded with a cold tone, "Be smart about it! Even if you die, you cannot let these two suffer any harm. Otherwise, don't blame me for personally expelling your branch of the family from the clan."
"Yes, Second Granduncle, I understand," replied Zhao Chongxiao.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Chongxiao's body shook violently, and he rapidly nodded in agreement.
In the Cultivation World, being expelled from the family clan was akin to betraying the clan, and almost certainly meant death. This punishment was extremely cruel and ruthless.
Before leaving, Zhao Jinding took out a Second Order Trapped Dragon Talisman from his Storage Bag and handed it to Zhao Sheng, instructing, "Chong and, when you encounter the enemy, do not hesitate to throw the Trapped Dragon Talisman. We will be secretly following behind you. Just delay them momentarily, and we will arrive immediately. Do you hear me?"
"I heard you! I will be careful,"
Zhao Sheng solemnly nodded and then mounted his horse.
Go!
Shortly after, with the sound of a whip, three Green-Scaled Jiao Horses suddenly pranced, their majestic forms instantly leaping into the air, and then rapidly dashing along the straight path towards the horizon amidst the clouds.
"Let's go as well!"
After watching the three of them disappear into the distance, Zhao Jinding took out a two-zhang-long magic artifact wooden kite made of light spirit wood from his Storage Bag.
At the same time, Zhao Keqin, Zhao Jingge, and the other four Qi Refinement Late Stage individuals also took out similar magic artifact wooden kites.
The Zhao family was truly incensed by this affair and had dispatched five Qi Refinement Late Stage individuals at once, each equipped with a Second Order True Talisman.
It's worth noting that even the lowest grade Second Order True Talisman had power equivalent to a full-strength strike from an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. A single one would cost at least a few hundred Spirit Stones.
Two breaths later, the wooden kites, under the control of the five individuals, roared into the sky.
Soon, the wooden kites turned into specks and disappeared into the clouds.
On the other side, Zhao Sheng and the others, riding on the Green-Scaled Jiao Horses, rode at full speed towards Qixia Peak.
Zhao Chongxiao was not clear about the Wushan Three Immortals' plan. He had only received an order to bring Zhao Sheng and the other to Qixia Peak.
Whether the Wushan Three Immortals planned to make their move on the way or at Qixia Peak, Zhao Chongxiao was unaware.
Therefore, as the three of them galloped on their horses, they had to remain vigilant at all times.
Such constant vigilance was truly exhausting!
Three hours later, when the Sun dipped toward the horizon, Zhao Sheng and the others, surprisingly, did not encounter any mishaps along the way and arrived at Qixia Mountain quite smoothly.