Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

At this moment, facing the pressing interrogation of the two, he had no choice but to steel himself and fabricate a lie, "I, I don't know either. I just provided the information to Yu Deguang and handed over the Breath-Seeking Worm tracking girl nineteen, then I didn't manage it anymore!"

However, his words could hardly fool the two experienced old hands of the Cultivation World before him.

Zhou Daoyi immediately responded with a grave voice, "It seems he is unwilling to tell the truth. I'm afraid the reality is much worse than what we have imagined!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingde instantly gave Zhou Zhengkang a cold look and said, "You're unwilling to tell the truth, you say? Then let this old man make you tell the truth!"

After saying this, he waved his hand and knocked Zhou Zhengkang unconscious.

He then reached into his Storage Pouch with a slap and took out a jade box.

As soon as the jade box was opened, a white worm that looked a bit like a maggot, but with two long antennae, squirmed and crawled out from within a piece of honey-like substance.

Accompanied by Zhou Mingde's manipulation of spells, the white worm instantly turned into a white line that flashed and disappeared as it burrowed into Zhou Zhengkang's nostril.

Not long after, the unconscious Zhou Zhengkang became "alert" again.

At this moment, his gaze was dull and lifeless, his pupils unfocused, like a flesh Puppet without consciousness.

Zhou Mingde looked at the Puppet-like figure before him, a flash of otherworldly light in his eyes as he slowly asked, "What has become of Zhou Jiahui now?"

"She's dead."

Zhou Zhengkang's mouth moved as he softly answered Zhou Mingde's question.

Upon hearing this, both Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi's expressions darkened.

Then Zhou Mingde continued to inquire, "How did she die?"

"Killed by my sword piercing her heart!"

Zhou Zhengkang answered every question, seemingly completely unaware of how disadvantageous his answer was to him.

Zhou Mingde at that moment was also forcefully suppressing the anger in his heart, and asked again, "Why did you kill her?"

"Because she discovered I was tracking her and recognized me, I had to kill her to silence her!"

Having said that, Zhou Zhengkang fell back with his head thrown back, once again passing out.

It turned out that Zhou Mingde was too angry to ask any further and had directly recollected the "Soul-Snatching Worm" that controlled his mind.

"Uncle Ancestor, how do you intend to deal with him?"

Zhou Daoyi looked at the unconscious Zhou Zhengkang on the ground and asked the most critical question.

Now that all the truths had been revealed, it was time for reckoning.

"A disloyal beast who betrays us from within, what use is there to keep him? He should be executed in front of all the Clan Members, as a warning to future generations!"

Zhou Mingde's expression was icy as he scanned Zhou Zhengkang and coldly uttered his strategy for dealing with the situation.

The affection he had for Zhou Zhengkang was now replaced with loathing, and all he wanted now was for this fool who had shamed him to atone with his death!

"He indeed deserves to die!"

Zhou Daoyi first nodded in agreement with the decision.

Then he shook his head and said, "However, executing him in front of the Clan Members seems improper. It would not only stir up resentment within the Clan Members towards Spirit Beast Manor and exacerbate the conflict on both sides, but it would also damage your reputation, Uncle Ancestor!"

Having finished speaking, he then respectfully bowed to Zhou Mingde, "In my humble opinion, it would be better to secretly execute him under the pretense that he went missing, and then deliver his body to Yu Jinghua to demand an explanation."

No wonder Zhou Daoyi managed to become the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family!

Zhou Zhengkang's betrayal of his family in collaboration with outsiders would, according to family law, merit a public execution as a deterrent to the Clan Members, serving as a warning.

Especially since the Zhou Family had taken root in Jiufeng Ridge and hadn't yet invoked family law to execute any Clan Member.

If they could carry out a public execution of Zhou Zhengkang, who was once regarded as a promising Foundation Establishment Seed of the family, it would surely serve as an excellent example of "killing the chicken to warn the monkeys."

This would severely deter those who harbored even a slight wavering of loyalty to the family, making them understand the severe consequences of betraying the family.

But the downside of doing so was also quite clear. Zhou Zhengkang, as a descendant of Zhou Mingde, the Supreme Elder, had always been supported by the family's resources.

Now, such a Foundation Establishment Seed upon whom the family had placed great hopes had betrayed them.

This would make those Zhou Family Clan Members who had been dissatisfied with Zhou Zhengkang's special treatment in the past wonder.

How would they view Zhou Mingde, the Supreme Elder?

Could they still trust the judgement of this Supreme Elder in the future?

I'm afraid that the deep prestige Zhou Mingde had accumulated beforehand would be greatly diminished because of this.

This is extremely unfavorable, both for Zhou Mingde himself and for the higher echelons of the family.

Once a crisis of trust arises, it can have almost catastrophic consequences for a power!

Unfortunately, even if Zhou Mingde understood this, as Zhou Zhengkang's great-uncle, he couldn't state this openly to avoid suspicion.

But Zhou Daoyi, as the Clan Leader, the enforcer of the clan rules, was the third party involved.

He could say this, and it would be both reasonable and appropriate.

Thus, after listening to Zhou Daoyi's words, Zhou Mingde hesitated only briefly before nodding in agreement, "Very well, let's do as you say, Daoyi. I will personally carry out the execution of this beast!"

Immediately, he cast a spell to wake the mentally scarred Zhou Zhengkang.

Then, facing the terrified Zhou Zhengkang who had just woken up, he berated loudly, "You scum, for your elder brother's sake, leave the Zhou Family right now, and never set foot in Jiufeng Ridge again!"

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Zhengkang was momentarily stunned, then his face filled with wild joy as he repeatedly kowtowed and responded, "Thank you, great-uncle grandfather, thank you, great-uncle grandfather, I will roll out, I will roll out of the Zhou Family right now!"

After saying this, he hurriedly scrambled toward the exit of the hall, fearing that a slow escape might cause Zhou Mingde to change his mind.

Once outside, he realized that both his Storage Pouch and Spirit Beast Pouch were missing from his body.

This change of events caused his face to pale, and he couldn't help but look back at the "Central Peace Hall" before he bit his lip and rushed toward the gate without saying a word.

Obviously, compared to those external possessions, he knew his life was more important.

Hurrying all the way and leaving Jiufeng Ridge behind, Zhou Zhengkang then made a beeline for Hongya Marketplace.

Even now, his heart felt no remorse; he was lucky enough to think that he would still be welcomed if he went to seek refuge at Spirit Beast Manor.

Little did he know, even if he made it to the Marketplace alive,

having completely lost his usefulness, he would be discarded like chaff.

The chance of being trusted and reused as he fantasized would never materialize.

Of course, he definitely wouldn't have this opportunity.

Because not long after he left Jiufeng Ridge, less than a hundred miles away, a fiery red figure suddenly appeared before him and blocked his path.

"Fire Divine Jackal!"

Confronted by the giant crimson-furred wolf-like beast, Zhou Zhengkang's face changed drastically, and he collapsed on the ground in terror.

"No, great-uncle grandfather, you're breaking your promise! You said you would spare my life!"

He let out a cry of despair, finally realizing the significance of the appearance of the Fire Divine Jackal.

But the reply he received was a fierce flame spewing from the mouth of the Fire Divine Jackal.

A ball of flaming red fire burst forth from the Fire Divine Jackal, landing on Zhou Zhengkang instantly, and in the blink of an eye, the kin-slaying beast was reduced to a pile of ashes.

"Without a body as evidence, it's doubtful that Yu Jinghua would admit to any of this!"

Inside the "Central Peace Hall," watching the Fire Divine Jackal return from its task, Zhou Daoyi gently shook his head with a light sigh of regret.

Zhou Mingde, however, spoke in a cold tone, "It doesn't matter whether Yu Jinghua admits it or not. What's important is that I, indeed, lost a beloved descendant because of their Spirit Beast Manor. If they do not give me an explanation, the Zhou Family will naturally have to give Spirit Beast Manor one in return!"

Zhou Daoyi fell silent then.

He could see that the Supreme Elder's anger had not subsided with Zhou Zhengkang's death; rather, it had grown more intense due to the execution of his own kin.

And since this anger couldn't be vented on the family members within the Zhou Family, it could only be channeled towards outsiders.

Shortly after giving Zhou Daoyi his instructions, Zhou Mingde, filled with immense anger, went to the gates of Spirit Beast Manor alone.