Dragon Abyss Marsh, Lu Ran.
As these five words left Zhou Daoyi's mouth, Zhou Mingde and Zhou Chun instantly understood his meaning.
Indeed, compared to asking for help from other Purple Mansion Phase Cultivators who were on good terms with the Zhou Family, Lu Ran, the former Protector of the Red Dragon from the Dragon Transformation Sect, was indeed the best candidate for assistance.
Firstly, Lu Ran now harbored intense hatred for the people of the Dragon Transformation Sect and would have absolutely no qualms about surrounding and killing a Protector of the sect.
Secondly, Lu Ran would not care how the Zhou Family came to know that the Dragon Transformation Sect was targeting Zhou Chun, nor would it matter to him, and he couldn't use this knowledge to plot anything.
Lastly, after Lu Ran helped with the killing, he wouldn't even compete with the Zhou Family for credit, the merit of slaying a Protector of the Dragon Transformation Sect would belong entirely to the Zhou Family!
"Lu Ran is indeed a very good helper, but if we want him to come over and assist, we can only take that underground river channel. If we do so, wouldn't we be letting an outsider know about our secret passage?"
Zhou Mingde slightly frowned and voiced his worry.
The underground river channel was crucial to the Zhou Family's future ascent.
If the existence of the channel were leaked, the Zhou Family would no longer be able to monopolize the convenience provided by the underground waterway.
However, Zhou Daoyi calmly stated, "Given Lu Ran's current state, even if he knew about the existence of the underground river channel, at most it would just make it convenient for him to come to Lanzhou to reminisce and experience the life of the Human Clan."
"As long as our Zhou Family cooperates with him sincerely, unless he is foolish, he knows that revealing the underground waterway's existence would bring him no benefit!"
Lu Ran was now a member of the Scale Frog Alien Clan, an unchangeable fact no matter what.
Body-snatching is an opportunity every Cultivator has only once, at least that's what Zhou Chun knew.
Therefore, whether or not he considered himself human, he couldn't possibly continue to blend into the Cultivation World under the identity of a Human Cultivator.
This he was very clear about himself.
Also, given his past identity as the Red Dragon Protector of the Dragon Transformation Sect, if he dared to reveal his whereabouts in Jingguo Country, Green Lotus Temple would likely be the first to capture him and force out every piece of information he knew about the Dragon Transformation Sect and Dragon Abyss Marsh.
This he was also fully aware of.
It was precisely for these reasons that Zhou Daoyi believed even if Lu Ran knew about the existence of the underground river channel, it would not affect the Zhou Family's use of the underground river channel to expand into the Wasteland Territory.
"Daoyi, what you say does indeed make some sense!"
"If we can use this opportunity to deepen Lu Ran's trust in our Zhou Family, and initiate deeper cooperation, it would be extremely beneficial for the family's future development in the Wasteland Territory!"
Zhou Mingde nodded thoughtfully, indicating his agreement with Zhou Daoyi's suggestion.
After discussing in detail, Zhou Daoyi quietly left the Zhou Family home and went to Dragon Abyss Marsh to invite Lu Ran.
A few days passed, and Zhou Daoyi, who was outside, sent a secret message through a Flying Eagle -- he had already hidden Lu Ran at the designated location.
At this time, Zhou Chun no longer had any concerns and immediately left the Jiufeng Ridge family gates alone, flying off towards the southeast.
A pair of eyes observing from the dark had just witnessed this scene.
Afterwards, the owner of the eyes glanced once more at the Zhou Family gates, then quietly departed from near the Zhou Family gates, secretly following Zhou Chun.
As Zhou Chun left the family gates, he maintained a steady and unhurried pace in his flight, looking like a regular traveler.
He did not know if the Protector from the Dragon Transformation Sect who took up the bounty would fall for it, but he had plenty of patience to outlast the other party.
Even if the other party didn't take the bait this time, he still had other moves to play.
So his mindset was very stable.
However, Zhou Chun seemingly overestimated the patience of that Protector from the Dragon Transformation Sect.
Or one might say, he overvalued his own standing in the eyes of the opponent.
In the eyes of that Protector from the Dragon Transformation Sect, capturing him, a Cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, didn't necessitate being so cautious.
He would simply go for it!
Thus, Zhou Chun had barely left his family's territory by less than three hundred miles when he suddenly noticed a black figure swiftly flying towards him from behind.
Seeing this, Zhou Chun's expression changed, and he quickly raised his voice to shout, "I am Zhou Zhengchun, Vice Clan Leader of the Jiufeng Ridge Zhou Family. May I ask which senior is behind me?"
As he spoke, he collected the green-colored Flying Boat under his feet and summoned the "Profound Spirit Gold Bell" Magic Artifact above his head, looking warily towards the approaching black figure.
While he observed, the black figure simply raised a hand, sending a black water snake several zhang long flying straight towards him.
Zhou Chun's face went pale, and he quickly reached into his bosom to grab a Talisman emitting a faint green light and activated it.
In an instant, the Talisman radiated a brilliant green light, transforming into a large green lotus phantom that encased Zhou Chun within it.
The black water snake slammed against the lotus phantom, like waves crashing against a dam, and shattered into splashes on impact.
"Huh, it's a third-tier superior Defensive Talisman!"
An astonished voice came from the sky. The black figure, a Cultivator in a black robe wearing a mask, looked at Zhou Chun with eyes full of surprise.
Zhou Chun, meanwhile, glared at the masked Cultivator with an expression of shock and anger, shouting, "Who are you, senior? Why are you attacking me without any provocation?"
Hearing this, the masked Cultivator's voice grew dark as he said, "That must be one of the benefits given to you by Green Lotus Temple for infiltrating our sect!"