Chapter 225: 225. Chapter 222: Subduing the Min Clan

225. Chapter 222: Subduing the Min Clan

He slowly opened the specially treated box, took all the documents out of it, and laid them on the table one by one.

These documents include not only the meridian flow chart of the Filthy Flame Yin Lotus, but also the Shura Killing Codex left by a previous‑generation Shura divine heir that Li Xuan obtained in the Killing Treasure Vault, as well as some issues Li Xuan had noted during his usual cultivation, and various ideas he had seen in books.

Li Xuan set the other documents aside, picked up the Shura Killing Codex, which is the core of his current study of the technique.

The Shura Killing Codex is divided into the Divine and the Soul parts; the Divine part condenses a Killing Domain by absorbing special energy from the depths of the Xiuluo Blood Sea, while the Soul part refines soul power, a technique created by Shura divine heirs that cultivates far faster than normal methods.

Li Xuan will now study the soul‑power‑refining portion, hoping to use this technique to create a new method.

After obtaining the technique, Li Xuan skimmed it once and concluded that it requires absorbing blood to accelerate cultivation.

Indeed, cultivation speed would increase considerably, but the soul power would become ragged and useless for breaking bottlenecks or enhancing combat ability.

Therefore, after acquiring the technique, Li Xuan only cultivated the Killing Domain portion and never touched the soul‑power‑refinement part at all.

Now Li Xuan happens to have free time, so he can deeply analyze the meridian flows in the Shura Killing Codex; after all, it is a mature technique and should still have many merits.

Opening the Shura Killing Codex, Li Xuan sipped Enlightenment Tea while carefully reading it, extracting the meridian flow charts and pulling out the useful parts.

……

After more than ten hours, Li Xuan rubbed his swollen eyes and glanced at the hourglass.

"Fourteen hours have flown by; time really flies. The Shura Killing Codex might be better than I imagined—techniques that can create a Killing Domain are certainly not simple," Li Xuan said, putting down his papers and giving the codex a serious look.

After careful study, Li Xuan found that the Shura Killing Codex is indeed an excellent technique.

The technique requires blood absorption, but it also includes methods for purifying soul power and strengthening the heart's pumping ability—elements Li Xuan can incorporate into a new method.

At this point Li Xuan further admired the creator of the Shura Killing Codex.

Li Xuan glanced at the books on the table and then left the space of the Heaven‑Grasping Vessel.

Just after exiting the Heaven‑Grasping Vessel, Li Xuan saw Bang Chui sleeping in his study.

"Hm? Bang Chui, why are you sleeping here? If you're sleepy, go back to your own room; it's uncomfortable to sleep here," Li Xuan gently woke Bang Chui, speaking softly to him.

"Brother! You're out!" Bang Chui snapped awake, rubbed his eyes, and recognized Li Xuan.

"Brother, I have something for you. The Clan Leader Bai He of the Min Clan just arrived and invited you to a banquet tomorrow, saying it's a matter of reciprocal courtesy and wants to treat you to a meal." After perking up, Bang Chui immediately told Li Xuan this and handed him an invitation.

"Bai He is treating me to a meal? Good news!" Li Xuan's eyes lit up at Bang Chui's words, thinking Bai He must have finally understood.

That old man Bai He is quite proud, still insisting on treating me, though it's unclear what the Min Clan can muster for a feast.

Nevertheless, the Min Clan's offer to treat me doesn't prove they'll join me, but it does show they bear no ill will toward me.

"Go back to sleep; the lounge chair isn't uncomfortable," Li Xuan said irritably to Bang Chui.

"Hehe, brother, I'll go back now," Bang Chui jumped down from the chair and left the study for his own room.

"I should also rest early; tomorrow I'll see what the Min Clan actually wants," Li Xuan mused, then returned to his own room.

By then Li Xuan's room had been tidied; it seemed Bai Chuan's people had already arranged the City Lord's Mansion that afternoon.

Li Xuan freshened up briefly and went straight to bed.

The Min Clan's attitude was rather vague, and Li Xuan didn't know what Bai He wanted to tell him this time.

A total refusal? Or acceptance? During today's meal, Bai He's stance was truly unclear.

Li Xuan lay on the bed and quickly fell into dreamland; the continuous meridian analysis had left him exhausted.

……

Early the next morning, Li Xuan rose, washed up, changed into clean, crisp clothes, and set out for the Min Clan's residence to see what Bai He had prepared for him.

This time Li Xuan took Bai Chuan and Bang Chui with him.

The three walked together for almost twenty minutes and arrived at the gate of a large mansion in the northeast corner of Wusi City.

"Welcome, Young Master Ande." A middle‑aged man spotted Li Xuan's party and called out to them.

Immediately, Bai He emerged from the mansion with several Min Clan members and approached Li Xuan to greet him.

"Young Master Ande, welcome to the Min Clan's base!" Bai He looked at Li Xuan warmly, stepped forward, and grasped his hand.

"Grandpa Bai He, you're being overly courteous; the Min Clan isn't affluent—why treat me to a meal?" Li Xuan said with a smile, making small talk with Bai He.

"It's the principle of reciprocity. Come, let's go inside and talk." Bai He said, leading Li Xuan into the Min Clan's base.

"To thank Young Master Ande for yesterday's warm hospitality, the Min Clan has prepared some food for you today. It's a bit modest, so I hope you'll forgive us," Bai He said with a smile.

Soon Li Xuan reached the center of the Courtyard, where only a single table stood, mostly set with plain vegetables and one or two plates of meat. "Grandpa Bai He, you're being too courteous; you must have another reason for inviting me," Li Xuan said with a smile, noting he had no interest in the vegetarian fare.

"Alas… you've seen it yourself; the Min Clan now has few youths left, the rest are mostly the elderly, weak, women and children. If Young Master Ande is still willing to accept us, we would like to join your domain," Bai He said, standing up with a bitter expression.

The Min Clan is truly in a dire situation; persisting would greatly affect the children, unable to guarantee basic nutrition, let alone cultivate soul power.

"Grandpa Bai He, you're too kind. The core of my domain is simply to earn money, so I don't need Min Clan members to become soldiers; doing odd jobs will earn wages enough to feed the children. Moreover, I'll focus on the gifted children in the Min Clan. I still have plenty of wine‑sac of the Wine‑God Flower, enough for each child's cultivation." Li Xuan quickly stood before Bai He and made the promise.

"If that's the case… the Min Clan wishes to join Young Master Ande's domain, sharing life and death with you!" Bai He pounded his chest and bowed to Li Xuan.

After a night of contemplation, Bai He decided the Min Clan would defect to Li Xuan. "Grandpa Bai He, you've truly humbled me; please rise, please rise!" Li Xuan's eyes brightened. Though his heart raced, he quickly suppressed the excitement and helped Bai He to his feet.

Successfully securing the Min Clan, Li Xuan was very pleased.

"Bai Shu, gather the Min Clan members; today we'll host a grand banquet, everyone will have wine to drink and meat to eat!" Li Xuan said loudly to Bai Chuan after helping Bai He up, and tossed a Soul Guide Device filled with food and wine to Bai Chuan.

"Yes, Young Master!" Bai Chuan securely took the Soul Guide Device, then, with Bang Chui, began setting the banquet, and the adult members of the Min Clan started helping.

Half an hour later, the spacious Courtyard was filled with tables and chairs, and the Min Clan members were seated, ready to eat.

Min Clan women of all ages, seeing the colorful, fragrant dishes on the tables, couldn't help but swallow saliva.

But without Bai He speaking, no one dared to start eating.

"I, Bai He, as the Clan Leader of the Min Clan, feel ashamed before the ancestors and the clan members for letting the Min Clan fall… To continue the family and nurture the next generation, I now wish to lead everyone to join Young Master Ande's domain, becoming his subjects. Today's meal is offered by Young Master Ande; let us first thank him."

"Thank you, Young Master Ande!" the Min Clan members rose and said in unison to Li Xuan.

Taking advantage of the moment while everyone was standing, Li Xuan carefully observed the Min Clan's population.

Indeed, as Bai He said, the Min Clan has only a few young adults, many children—dozens—and the rest are mostly the elderly, weak, women and children with little combat ability.

"That battle back then was truly brutal; all the youths are gone," Li Xuan muttered with a frown, knowing he must not let Bai He hear that.

"Everyone, no need to be formal; my territory won't easily stir up trouble, so you needn't worry about combat missions. Normally there are only patrols and message‑delivering jobs, plus other tasks like brewing and farming. As long as you work, you can earn enough wealth to support yourself and your family!" Li Xuan stood up, raised his cup, and said to those present.

"Thank you, Young Master Ande!" Everyone, after hearing Li Xuan's words, excitedly performed another salute to Li Xuan.

Since the great war between the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall, the Min Clan has been in decline, impoverished and hungry, bullied by the Spirit Hall and other Soul Master Family clans; they have endured far too much.

They wandered, displaced, and only finally settled in Wusi City, yet remained very poor, though life had become much more relaxed.

Now that Li Xuan can take good care of these children, the Min Clan can also take refuge under Li Xuan, and the Min Clan will not be at a loss.

"Let's eat!" Bai He shouted, and then began to eat.

The others also immediately sat at the table and started eating.

Li Xuan took out ten pouches of Hundred‑Year Wine God Flowers, handed them to Bai Chuan, and asked Bai Chuan to distribute them to the Min Clan's children.

"Thank you, Young Master Ande, this… this is too precious." Bai He looked at the ten wine‑god‑flower pouches, their face instantly flushed, and they looked at Li Xuan with excitement.

Its value is truly too high! "Haha, joining my territory naturally comes with benefits! This is just a pre‑meal snack; when you reach Ladi Canyon, there will be even more advantages." Li Xuan said to Bai He with a bright laugh.

Then Li Xuan and Bai He kept raising their cups, and the meal lasted all the way into the afternoon.

At that moment, the Min Clan members in the courtyard were basically drunk, and Li Xuan told Bai Chuan to have his subordinates escort the Min Clan people back to their rooms.

"The Min Clan is finally in our grasp; next up is the Po Clan; victory is just around the corner." After leaving the Min Clan's base, Li Xuan let the soul power circulate, the alcohol in his body instantly dissipated into the air, and he smiled, saying to Bai Chuan behind him.

Though today was lively, Bai Chuan didn't touch a drop of wine, ate only a little, and then fell silent.

"Young Master, the Min Clan has a total of 149 people: fifteen prime‑age adults, the highest soul‑power level is 46, ninety‑two children, all with decent talent; the best have already reached level 18, the rest are the elderly, weak, women and children, basically with no soul power." Bai Chuan walked out of the Min Clan's camp with Li Xuan and then briefed Li Xuan on the Min Clan's specifics.

Although Bai Chuan didn't eat, he had thoroughly investigated the Min Clan's details.

"Hmm, no wonder Bai He, even when impoverished to the point of having no food, still raises the next generation; that old fellow is far‑sighted. As long as they get through these few years, the Min Clan can revive, though it still needs time, and the Min Clan doesn't have much time left." Li Xuan stroked his chin and said to Bai Chuan.

"Young Master, what shall we do next?" Bai Chuan asked Li Xuan.

"Go home to rest; tomorrow morning I'll come again to study with Bai He how to send these people back to Ladi Canyon. That will wrap this up." Li Xuan thought for a moment and said to Bai Chuan.

"Alright, Young Master." Bai Chuan nodded, then fell silent.

After Li Xuan returned to the City Lord's Mansion with Bai Chuan, Li Xuan went straight to the study, entered the space of the Palm‑Heaven Vessel, took a quick shower, and then resumed dissecting the meridian flow patterns in the Shura Killing Codex.

Since the Min Clan has already been secured, the remaining issue of relocating the Min Clan needs to be studied with Bai He; as a former branch of the Clear Sky Sect, they may have their own method.

If the Min Clan has no solution, Li Xuan also has many ways; moving some people is still easy.

Shaking his head, Li Xuan brushed the chaotic thoughts from his mind, then settled down to continue analyzing the technique. (End of chapter)