Chapter 468

Chapter 468: The Invitation

In Qingyuan Immortal City, Zhou Luo was unaware that a tremendous event awaited him.

At this moment, he found himself completely overwhelmed.

Somehow, word had leaked out that Long Yunshuang and her brother had returned to Qingyuan Immortal City.

Although their exact location wasn’t known, everyone’s attention naturally fell upon Zhou Luo and Manager Jin of Tian Xia Restaurant.

Especially Zhou Luo.

He had previously personally investigated information about these siblings.

Now, countless agents of Long Yu flooded the city, searching desperately for the slightest clue.

Fortunately, Long Yunshuang and her brother had been relocated to the secret chamber by Zhou Luo early on.

Located within the Immortal City’s core sector, it was impossible for anyone to sneak in undetected.

Moreover, Zhou Luo had arranged multiple Second Level formations at Zhou Fu, with Little White standing guard.

But this meant his plans for Wang Lang to find materials had to be put on hold.

Returning to Zhou Fu, Zhou Luo sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, his brows deeply furrowed.

After instructing the two children, Ye Qian came to his side.

"Husband, perhaps we should send them away?" Ye Qian had also learned of this startling news. To avoid drawing trouble, she offered her suggestion.

"No. I am closely watched right now. Any move would be rash." Zhou Luo immediately refused.

Now, whenever he stepped outside Zhou Fu, untold numbers of eyes secretly watched him.

There were even people who personally came to the residence to fish for information.

These included that Pill Master Sun, a second level Pill Master, and also Hong Xiu – all familiar acquaintances.

Clearly, they had all been arranged by Long Yun.

After all, the importance of Long Yunshuang and her brother to him was equivalent to his own life.

No precaution seemed too excessive in this case.

The only course now was to wait, wait for this situation to gradually subside.

He even contemplated creating a distraction elsewhere.

But then he reconsidered; such a deliberate tactic, if discovered, would be utterly self-defeating.

So he dismissed that idea.

Just as he felt vexed, a servant hurried over: "Master, there’s a letter sent from the family."

Zhou Luo raised an eyebrow, accepted the letter, and opened it.

The handwriting inside belonged to Lin Xi.

According to her, for unknown reasons, the family businesses were suddenly under attack by some force. Not only that, but even the family cultivators were suffering mysterious ambushes. Though there were no casualties yet, the situation was clearly very unusual.

Reading this, Zhou Luo’s expression darkened, a flash of anger in his eyes.

Indeed, Long Yu would not just wait to be cornered.

Although he hadn’t made a move himself, to pressure him, the other party had already begun threatening him with his family.

In a certain sense, the Lin Family had now become the Zhou family.

Though the Zhou family held considerable power in the Qinyuan Domain, second only to the Qinyuan Sect in strength,

compared to Long Yu, they still lagged far behind.

If the other party intended to act against him, he truly had few countermeasures.

Just as he pondered what to do,

the servant who had left and returned reappeared: "Master, there is another letter for you."

Zhou Luo’s gaze turned cold as he opened the letter, which revealed an invitation from Long Yu himself.

He invited Zhou Luo to meet at Tian Xia Restaurant.

Indeed, this guy had already deployed people outside Zhou Fu for relentless surveillance.

So, the moment Lin Xi’s letter arrived, his own invitation followed close behind.

This was also a form of warning.

Zhou Luo’s index finger twitched slightly. With a whoosh, flames engulfed the letter, turning it to ash.

"Soldiers come, block them; water comes, cover it. I shall go see what he wants." He rose and walked towards the exit.

Ye Qian sounded uneasy: "Shall I go with you?"

"No need. You should remain here to guard against intruders," Zhou Luo refused, shaking his head.

As long as the other party remained uncertain about Long Yunshuang’s presence here, they wouldn’t dare act openly.

After all, he was no longer the worthless forced son-in-law of the past.

He himself was now a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Moreover, many of his children served as elders in the Qinyuan Sect. Not to mention, one wife was a Mountain Master of the Wan Gu Sect, and he shared ties with a genius from the Biquan True Sect.

Even if Long Yu truly moved against him, the Qinyuan Sect wouldn’t stand idly by.

Where else could they collect their annual contribution of spiritual stones if the Zhou family perished?

As long as he stayed within Qinyuan Immortal City, under the watchful eye of that Master Xuan Ying, the other party likely wouldn’t strike.

Zhou Luo exited Zhou Fu and strode calmly towards the inner city.

Soon, he arrived at Tian Xia Restaurant.

Manager Jin received him.

Though Long Yu was now the Ninth Prince, he still couldn’t influence Tian Xia Restaurant’s decisions.

"Pill Master Zhou, apologies. I’ve dragged you into this," Manager Jin said with regret.

Unaware that Long Yunshuang’s group was already at Zhou Fu, he believed Zhou Luo suffered an unjust disaster.

"No matter."

Zhou Luo followed him to a room.

Upon opening the door, the sight that greeted him was a middle-aged man clad in golden armor, radiating authority.

His piercing eyes regarded Zhou Luo with unspoken severity, his voice thick and resonant like thunder: "You are Zhou Luo?"

The words carried a subtle aura pressure, causing a sharp pain in the eardrums, yet Zhou Luo remained completely unaffected.

The other sought to intimidate him. Ignoring the provocation, Zhou Luo deliberately took a seat on a large nanmu chair.

"May I know your honorable name, friend?" he asked in a deep voice.

"I am Long Ming, the Imperial Guard Captain of the prince’s residence!" The other looked at him with arrogant bluster.

These words prompted a cold laugh within Zhou Luo’s mind.

The Imperial Guard Captain? Wasn’t that merely Long Yu’s lackey?

His expression remained placid as he slowly replied, "So it is Captain Long. And what business brings you to me?"

"Is Long Yunshuang within your residence?" Long Ming demanded bluntly. Coupled with his mid-level Foundation Establishment aura, the question felt intensely aggressive.

Frowning, Zhou Luo displayed not a trace of fear. "Captain Long, one should speak with proof. Though I once cooperated with Manager Long, that was purely a business relationship."

"Now that she has defected from the prince’s residence, how would I know her whereabouts?"

"Even if she truly came to Qinyuan Immortal City, I absolutely wouldn’t dare shelter her."

As Zhou Luo spoke, he grew increasingly animated, wholly adopting the demeanor of one wrongly accused.

This caused Long Ming’s brow to furrow tightly. Sharply, he declared, "Who doesn’t know Zhou Luo is a lecher? You covet Long Yunshuang’s beauty! With her delivered to your door, you’d refuse?"

"Captain Long!"

Before the words fully faded, Zhou Luo pounded the table and stood up, blazing with fury. The pressure of his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation erupted outward.

He glared at Long Ming, his voice thick with outrage: "Captain Long, I honored you as the Imperial Guard Captain of the prince’s residence, showing you repeated courtesy. But you, a mere mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, slander me further? Even if it costs me my life, I, Zhou Luo, will fight for my dignity!"

His words, amplified by his late-stage Foundation Establishment power, tore through the air like a gale, causing Long Ming’s face to blanch in shock.

He never imagined Zhou Luo would dare confront him like this, leaving him momentarily flustered and at a loss.