Chapter 750: Guardianship

Deep within the dense, shadowed forest.

Qiu Ji sat cross-legged beneath a large tree, his face grim, his gaze fixed on the distant camp where lights flickered.

“Steward Qiu, what do we do now? Yi Qiushui is already on guard against us and won't let us get close anymore,” someone whispered beside Qiu Ji.

“The crucial thing is that the young master is dead… It will be difficult to explain this to the patriarch when we return.”

A flicker of annoyance crossed Qiu Ji’s brow. He had never imagined their plan would end up like this.

They had gone to great lengths to lure Yi Dong’er away from Yi Qiushui. As long as the young master secretly abducted the girl, Yi Qiushui would be under their control.

Unfortunately, all their plans were utterly ruined by a scoundrel who fell from the sky!

What’s more, that scoundrel even crushed Qiu Yang to death! Although Qiu Yang wasn't particularly strong, he was still at the Ninth Heaven of the Grand Beginning Realm! His death was utterly ignominious.

“We cannot allow Yi Qiushui to reach Xuanzhou City safely,” Qiu Ji said coldly.

“Our patriarch has mobilized all forces to pin down the Yi family’s experts in Xuanzhou City, so this is our best opportunity. If we fail here, Yi Qiushui’s protection will become even tighter once she arrives in Xuanzhou City.”

“At that point, our Qiu family’s plan to seize the position of State Master will become far more troublesome.”

“However, Yi Qiushui’s current security is also quite strong, and she is very clever. For this journey to Xuanzhou City, she deliberately spread rumors, attracting young masters from other families who admire her.”

“With her current forces, our single team probably can’t handle it,” said the person beside Qiu Ji.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Ji merely smiled faintly. “My Qiu family has been entrenched in Lesser Xuanzhou for over a century. Our operations here are not comparable to the Yi family’s, who have only been here for a few years.”

A sinister gleam flickered in his eyes as he stared at the distant camp.

“Hmph, even the Yi family patriarch died in Lesser Xuanzhou. What can a mere young girl do?”

“And that inexplicable brat who crushed the young master to death—once he falls into our hands, he will learn what it means to wish for death!”

A large carriage, pulled by a horse-beast whose hooves emanated Genesis Qi, galloped along the main road at tremendous speed. A closer look would reveal that the entire carriage was hovering a foot above the ground, gliding like a low-flying cloud.

Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged inside the carriage, his eyes closed. A faint glow emanated from his body, indicating the Xuan Saint Body was actively circulating.

The blood within him surged with a boiling sound, and some internal injuries were gradually being washed away and cleansed by the flowing blood.

Genesis Qi from the heavens and earth continuously poured in, eventually transforming into wisps of mist that flowed into Zhou Yuan’s body with each breath.

After roughly an incense stick’s time, Zhou Yuan's eyes slowly opened.

A luster emerged in his pupils, making his eyes sparkle like jewels. Moments later, the glow faded, and his eyes returned to normal.

A faint smile touched Zhou Yuan’s lips.

After several days of cultivation, his physical injuries had largely healed. His previously dim Divine Dwelling was also gradually radiating light, a sign that Genesis Qi was once again gathering within it.

Although he had not yet fully recovered, he no longer needed to worry about facing enemies at the early Divine Dwelling stage. He now possessed some ability to protect himself.

However, the injuries he sustained this time were truly severe. Under his spirit perception, many parts of his body were still in a fractured state. Even with his cultivation of the Xuan Saint Body, self-recovery for these injuries would be much slower.

It was then that Zhou Yuan truly began to understand the potency of the Grand Yi Green Wood Mark. If he hadn't fully depleted the Green Wood Marks within him during the spatial turbulence, his current injuries would likely have healed long ago.

“If only I had some Ancient Wood Essence…” Zhou Yuan scratched his head in frustration. With Ancient Wood Essence, he could absorb its vitality and condense more Green Wood Marks.

Unfortunately, his treasured possessions in his Cosmos Bag had already been destroyed in the spatial turbulence.

As for the Divine Dwelling spiritual medicines he had painstakingly acquired, not a single one remained; they were crucial cultivation resources for the Divine Dwelling stage.

Even with Zhou Yuan’s temperament, these losses still pained him, a feeling that had yet to subside.

As Zhou Yuan felt a pang of heartache, he suddenly noticed the carriage rapidly slowing down. He glanced at the sky and knew that Yi Qiushui and her group were preparing to set up camp and rest.

Many people emerged, and soon a camp appeared in the forest. Campfires blazed, and the camp became lively.

Beside a bonfire in the center of the camp stood Yi Qiushui, dressed in a pale yellow gown. Her lithe figure appeared exceptionally slender and graceful, and her fair skin glowed with a faint rosy hue in the firelight.

Beside her, a group of men and women chatted and laughed. All of them possessed an extraordinary aura, clearly indicating their distinguished status.

However, as they conversed, most of their gazes subtly drifted towards Yi Qiushui. Clearly, she was the center of attention.

“Qiushui, are you still worried?” a tall, well-built young man with a handsome face smiled. He hesitated before saying, “Qiushui, I think you might be mistaken about the Qiu family. They might not have intended to abduct Dong’er.”

“Also, try to understand Qiu Ji. Qiu Yang died mysteriously, and he’ll certainly be held accountable when he returns.”

Some of the other men and women subtly nodded. Their families also had some foundation in Lesser Xuanzhou, but there was still a gap compared to the Qiu family, who had been entrenched there for a century. Thus, they didn’t want Yi Qiushui to have a falling out with the Qiu family, as it would cause trouble for them if they were caught in the middle.

Yi Qiushui furrowed her willow-like brows slightly. “I’ve investigated thoroughly, Brother Muchao. There’s no need to say more.”

The young man named Muchao’s eyes flickered, and he smiled faintly. “Qiushui, in my opinion, we should just hand over that person from the other heaven realm to Qiu Ji. As long as they stop bothering us, we should be able to reach Xuanzhou City smoothly.”

“There’s no need to fall out with them now for someone of unknown origin.”

These words immediately drew agreement from several young men. They had already learned from Yi Qiushui that Qiu Yang had been crushed to death by a man who had fallen from the sky, having been teleported from another heaven realm.

The crucial point was that Yi Qiushui had been quite attentive to this stranger these past few days, which secretly displeased them. After all, in their eyes, someone from another heaven realm was no different from a common peasant from the countryside.

If they could now throw that person out to divert Qiu Ji’s hatred, it would be making the best use of him.

“How can you say that! Brother Zhou Yuan saved me!” Dong’er, who was beside Yi Qiushui, immediately cried out upon hearing this.

Muchao smiled slightly. “Dong’er, it wasn't him who saved you; it was you who saved him. If you hadn’t brought him back, he would have died in the wilderness long ago.”

Dong’er pouted, ready to retort.

Yi Qiushui gently patted her little head and smiled faintly at Muchao. “Thank you, Brother Muchao, for your consideration. However, my Yi family has always been clear about its grievances and favors. We absolutely would not do such a thing.”

“Besides, I don’t believe Qiu Ji is capable of doing anything.”

Muchao chuckled and shrugged. “Of course. Qiushui, you are a prodigious talent who has opened eight Divine Dwellings. Your reputation is considerable, not just in Lesser Xuanzhou, but even among the younger generation across our entire Tianyuan Region.”

“Given time, once you enter the late Divine Dwelling stage, you might even secure a place on the Hunyuan Heaven Divine Dwelling Ranking.”

Yi Qiushui gently shook her head. Her oval face, illuminated by the bonfire, appeared especially captivating as she chuckled softly. “Forget about the Divine Dwelling Ranking; it’s full of monstrous talents. Those who have opened eight Divine Dwellings are everywhere.”

No sooner had she spoken than Yi Qiushui’s bright eyes suddenly moved, and her pretty face registered a slight surprise as she looked not far away.

Muchao and the others also turned their heads and saw a young figure standing there—it was Zhou Yuan.

Muchao frowned slightly, unsure how long Zhou Yuan had been standing there or if he had overheard his earlier words. However, he quickly gave a nonchalant smile, not caring much.

He was just an unknown kid from outside their heaven realm, with no strength and no background. What could he do even if he heard?

If he truly angered them, they could simply crush him to death.

“Zhou Yuan, why are you out? How are your injuries?” Yi Qiushui asked, looking at Zhou Yuan.

“Quite lively, isn’t it?”

Zhou Yuan walked over, smiling. He merely glanced at Muchao and the other imposing men and women, then withdrew his gaze. There was no anger on his face, even though he had indeed overheard their earlier conversation.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan’s demeanor, a hint of disdain flashed in Muchao’s eyes. He evidently believed that Zhou Yuan was swallowing his anger, which he took as a sign of incompetence.

Several young women, though not as beautiful as Yi Qiushui, were still quite comely. They looked at Zhou Yuan with curiosity, as his act of crushing Qiu Yang to death was certainly a feat that would likely be talked about in Lesser Xuanzhou for a long time.

However, to their slight disappointment, while Zhou Yuan appeared rather handsome, there was nothing particularly special about him.

Noticing the way everyone was looking at Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui felt a little helpless. She then pointed her fair finger at the roasted meat over the bonfire and said, pursing her lips, “Would you like something to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it for you.”

Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Miss Yi, on our journey to Xuanzhou City, will the Qiu family send experts at the Heavenly Sun stage?”

Yi Qiushui was a little surprised by the question. She immediately shook her head and replied, “Heavenly Sun stage experts are considered elder-level within the Qiu family. It’s unlikely they can leave Xuanzhou City at present.”

Zhou Yuan nodded subtly.

“What’s wrong?” Yi Qiushui asked, sounding a little curious.

Zhou Yuan looked at Yi Qiushui’s face, which appeared soft and alluring in the bonfire’s glow, and said, “If we won’t encounter Heavenly Sun stage experts, I can escort Miss Yi to Xuanzhou City. However, the prerequisite is that Miss Yi can provide me with one hundred portions of Ancient Wood Essence, each aged five hundred years or more, right now.”

When Zhou Yuan spoke these words, the low murmurs around the bonfire instantly ceased.

Amused and derisive gazes were cast upon Zhou Yuan, whose expression remained unchanged.

Even Yi Qiushui’s pretty face registered astonishment at this moment.