Chapter 141: The Yan Clan's Conspiracy [Two Chapters in One, Please Subscribe]

This time going to the market, Xia Daoming did not ride Cloud-Treading Black, but chose to walk.

Halfway there, he first found a hidden place where no one was around and took out the remaining Dragon-Pattern Purple Blood Ginseng, gnawing off half of it.

After the four-hundred-year-old Dragon-Pattern Purple Blood Ginseng was bitten open, its juices would emit a very rich fragrance.

Cultivators have keen senses, and this Dragon-Pattern Purple Blood Ginseng was obtained from Lu Weiwen's hands. Those powerful figures in the Lu Clan of Jin Guifeng must be relatively familiar with the scent of Dragon-Pattern Purple Blood Ginseng.

Taking it in the Jin Guifeng valley would ultimately be risky; it was safer to take it in the wilderness.

After putting away the remaining Dragon-Pattern Purple Blood Ginseng and sucking the juice off his fingers, Xia Daoming sat down on the spot to absorb and refine the medicinal power.

Half an hour later, Xia Daoming's meridians were strengthened to sixty-five percent of the third level, and his spiritual sense had increased slightly again.

Another half hour passed.

Xia Daoming arrived at the Shi Zhu Forest market once again.

However, this time, he was completely covered in a wide cloak, not letting outsiders see his face or true physique.

Most people coming to the market were dressed normally, but there were quite a few like Xia Daoming.

Xia Daoming's purpose for coming this time was very simple.

To purchase elixirs suitable for his continued growth in blood, energy, and strength, and for strengthening his meridians.

He was still only at the tenth-rank realm. Even if he ate all the remaining Dragon-Pattern Purple Blood Ginseng, his meridians would only be strengthened to the fourth level.

Because of the system, he still had a lot of room for improvement on the path of martial arts.

Since he couldn't afford the Awakening Elixir and the Qi Refining introductory cultivation technique now, he would focus all his efforts on improving his own strength.

The stronger his strength, the easier it would naturally be to earn spirit stones.

Xia Daoming carried sixty-five spirit stones on him, as well as some elixirs, medicinal herbs, magic treasures, and talismans that he didn't need for the time being.

This time, Xia Daoming prepared to exchange as much as possible for elixirs or medicinal herbs suitable for his own consumption, hoarding them so he could slowly consume them when he went to Cold Star Valley to garrison.

Xia Daoming headed straight for the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion opened by the Spirit Ba Dao Men.

Although there is a suspicion that a large shop might bully its customers, at the very least, it shouldn't be too exploitative.

Xia Daoming was new to the cultivation world and hadn't figured out many of the market's ways. If he went to a small shop, nine times out of ten he would be treated as a sucker and slaughtered again and again.

The Heavenly Pivot Pavilion was a big shop; many items should be clearly priced, and they had to care about their reputation. Even if they slaughtered customers, there would be a limit; at least they shouldn't cheat him.

Under that thick stone pillar of the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion, that old Daoist was still there.

At this time, he was driving a simple magic treasure, sending a ninth-rank Grandmaster up.

A ninth-rank Grandmaster's internal energy could take form, and he could also glide at low altitude for a distance, but this stone pillar was nearly twenty zhang high, and a ninth-rank Grandmaster still couldn't climb up directly by internal energy.

Unlike cultivators, even low-tier cultivators could use true Qi and magic power to perform spells, leveraging the heaven and earth spiritual energy around them, turning it into a whirlwind to support them as they slowly ascended.

This time, Xia Daoming was rarely high-profile, leaping forward directly, whipping up a gust of wind, his toes tapping on the stone pillar several times in succession, *ceng ceng ceng*, with a few leaps, he surpassed the flying magic treasure in the blink of an eye and landed lightly on the top of the stone pillar, looking very dashing and elegant.

Of course, relative to his true strength, it was actually still very low-key!

"A tenth-rank Grandmaster!" On the simple magic treasure, the ninth-rank Grandmaster revealed a look of yearning.

"A tenth-rank Grandmaster is still very powerful," the old Daoist revealed a look of awe.

"Grandmaster, please come in. The Heavenly Pivot Pavilion has various spirit elixirs and spirit medicines suitable for Grandmasters to consume, as well as top-tier weapons suitable for Grandmasters to use." At the top of the stone pillar, just as Xia Daoming landed, a seventh-rank Great Wu Shi immediately stepped forward to welcome him respectfully.

Xia Daoming didn't humble himself, just waved his hand and let the seventh-rank Great Wu Shi lead the way.

An hour later, Xia Daoming left the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion and didn't stay in the Shi Zhu Forest market any longer, leaving directly.

The harvest from the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion this time was great.

He not only purchased the Earth-Hidden Blood-Returning Elixir recorded in the secret recipe Liu Qiaolian gave him back then, but also the Dragon-Tiger Blood-Strengthening Elixir, the Heavenly Steel Body-Hardening Elixir, the Nine-Turn Force-Gathering Elixir, and the Blood Phoenix Bone-Strengthening Elixir—a total of five types of fierce medicines suitable for Grandmasters to consume.

Among them, the Heavenly Steel Body-Hardening Elixir and the Blood Phoenix Bone-Strengthening Elixir had the most fierce medicinal power. According to the seller, if one didn't have a special constitution, the medicinal power generally required an eleventh-rank Grandmaster to be able to withstand it.

Xia Daoming was tempted as soon as he heard this.

Of course, the prices of elixirs suitable for Grandmasters to consume were not cheap.

Xia Daoming bought four to five of each type, spending a total of three hundred spirit stones.

Xia Daoming didn't have that many spirit stones, so he sold a large portion of the elixirs, medicinal herbs, magic treasures, and talismans he had on hand. After raising enough spirit stones, he still had thirty spirit stones left on hand for backup.

Among the items sold, the shield magic treasure used by Lu Weiwen was the most valuable, worth two hundred spirit stones.

The shield magic treasure was not a special magic treasure and was quite common in the market, so Xia Daoming didn't have to worry about anyone being suspicious.

As for a golden flying sword magic treasure, Xia Daoming kept it for the time being and didn't sell it.

Using things obtained from looting corpses to exchange for spirit stones, and then exchanging them for elixirs, Xia Daoming didn't feel a bit of heartache; on the contrary, he felt a sense of having made a huge profit.

"Speaking of which, looting corpses is indeed the fastest way to make money. Otherwise, with my system's gold-swallowing nature, how long would it take to raise enough spirit stones for the expenses to cultivate to the limit of the Great Grandmaster realm, plus the high prices of Awakening Elixirs and cultivation manuals!"

"Originally, hunting down wanted criminals was a good business that earned money from both ends, but unfortunately, the world is vast, and wanting to catch a wanted evil cultivator is too difficult; it requires a very powerful intelligence network."

"Forget it, forget it, don't think so much. Better to return to Jin Guifeng first. In the great battle between the Lu Clan and the Yan Clan, perhaps I can also reap some benefits from it."

"At the very least, I can take the opportunity to let Lu Ziying stand out and have a certain say in the Lu Clan. As a martial artist, I am ultimately an outsider to the cultivation world, and it is inconvenient for me to come forward to do many things, but Lu Ziying is different."

"With Lu Ziying, in the future, I can also sell some elixirs refined by Wenyue and spirit rice grown by myself through the shops opened by the Lu Clan in the Shi Zhu Forest market. By the way, I can also inquire about news of Awakening Elixirs and cultivation manuals."

Xia Daoming left the Shi Zhu Forest market, thinking as he walked in the opposite direction of Jin Guifeng, preparing to wander around a few small circles before returning to Jin Guifeng.

While wandering around, no accidents occurred.

While Xia Daoming felt relieved, he was also inexplicably a bit disappointed.

Jin Guifeng, Seeking Immortal Cliff.

"You broke through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining? How old are you this year? Do you usually cultivate in Jinxiu Valley? I seem to have rarely seen you," Clan Elder Lu Sanxia looked at Lu Ziying and said, looking very surprised.

"Replying to the Clan Elder, this junior is seventeen years old this year. I only cultivated at the Immortal Fate Hall of Seeking Immortal Cliff for half a year before, and then I was sent back to Jinxiu Valley. Since then, I have only had one chance every two years to come to Jin Guifeng for deep cultivation for one month," Lu Ziying replied respectfully.

"Seventeen years old and already at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and usually cultivating mostly in Jinxiu Valley!" Lu Sanxia was greatly surprised in her heart, but on the surface, she just nodded and said, "That's very good. Since you are already at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, you are qualified to move to Seeking Immortal Cliff to live and cultivate."

"Let me see which house at Seeking Immortal Cliff is empty. Hmm, Lingyun Hut is currently empty. You move to Lingyun Hut! In addition, you can go to the Luyuan Pavilion today to receive the reward for your promotion to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. You can get three spirit stones and five catties of spirit rice at once."

"In the future, you can receive one spirit stone and two catties of spirit rice from the Luyuan Pavilion every month for daily cultivation. As for extra resources, you will need to exchange them with merit."

"Thank you, Clan Elder!" Lu Ziying still bowed respectfully, then took her leave.

"She is a good seedling!"

Watching Lu Ziying leave, thinking that she had cultivated to the mid-stage of Qi Refining at only seventeen years old while spending most of her time cultivating in the secular world, and that she had been very calm when hearing about the reward just now, unlike some other disciples who were basically so excited that they lost their composure, Lu Sanxia couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

How could Lu Sanxia know that Lu Ziying had just taken two Phoenix-Crying Pills worth twenty spirit stones combined last night, and had harvested ten spirit stones this morning? To her, this reward from the family was no longer considered big money.

Otherwise, given her previous impoverished situation, how could she have remained calm when this reward from the family came down?

"It's a pity, the timing is bad. Such a good seedling, in normal times, even if she were from a side branch of a minor sect, she could obtain extra cultivation."

"But now, even the excellent disciples of our Great Sect will soon be sent to Cold Star Valley. Even if your talent is good, what can you do?"

Soon, Lu Sanxia shook her head repeatedly, looking regretful.

——

West of Jin Guifeng, there is a mountain. The mountain is shaped like a dragon, lush and dripping with green, as if a verdant dragon is coiled among the mountains. It is named Green Dragon Peak.

This mountain peak is exactly where the Yan Clan's immortal cave dwelling is located.

The sun set, and the evening mist rose everywhere.

Green Dragon Peak, Dragon Head Rock, which is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, in an ancient house.

On a table lay a heart that had been gnawed away for the most part, emitting a disgusting bloody scent.

Behind this table, a big-headed man with a sallow complexion was listlessly drooping his eyelids and hands, with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, lying on a cushion and dozing off as if he were drunk.

In front of this table stood an old man in white clothes, clean-shaven, with a wide nose, thick lips, looking quite honest and kind, and even carrying a hint of scholarly temperament.

The old man looked at the dozing man behind the table, his brows couldn't help but wrinkle slightly, and he said, "Didn't I tell you not to go out and act recently, to avoid revealing your tracks and falling short of success? If you really have an unbearable inner demon, like fire burning your heart, I will arrange it for you."

"Uncle, what are you saying? Haven't I been staying here all these days? However, the hearts of these mortals are truly tasteless, and they also have a fishy smell that rushes to the nose. Tomorrow, you get me the heart of a Qi Refining cultivator or a Martial Arts Grandmaster to change the taste." The big-headed man with a sallow complexion raised his eyelids, slightly revealing a bloodthirsty gaze like a wild beast, and lightly wiped the corner of his mouth with his hand.

"You didn't go out? Then who was it that attacked the Lu Clan Elder Lu Weiwen?" The old man felt a slight shock in his heart and blurted out.

"Damn it, someone killed Lu Weiwen? This person is the most hateful. I had several conflicts with him back then. What I wanted to eat most was his heart!" The big-headed man seemed to have finally woken up, his eyes opening wide, and inside them was actually a sea of blood.

"Since it wasn't you who did it, then who could it be? Could it be that there is a second person in this Wanluo Immortal Mountain who has cultivated the Heart-Devouring Old Demon's Blood Nether Heart-Devouring Scripture?" The old man said with a look of doubt on his face.

"Impossible, the Heart-Devouring Old Demon was injured, his demonic arts backfired, and he was killed by me. His Blood Nether Heart-Devouring Scripture is right here with me. Even if others want to learn it, they can't!" The big-headed man shook his head and said.

"According to what is recorded in this scripture, can you really borrow the Cold Star Valley's Nether Yin Earth Vein to gather and condense the blood of a large number of Lu Clan clansmen to help you build your foundation?" The old man looked at the big-headed man, hesitated for a moment, and asked.

"If Uncle doesn't believe it, you can take this Blood Nether Heart-Devouring Scripture to observe and comprehend." As the big-headed man said this, a scroll emitting wisps of bloody and cold aura appeared in his hand, and he handed it to the old man.

The old man looked at the scroll handed over by the big-headed man, a look of burning heat appearing in his eyes. Only when his peripheral vision swept over the heart on the table that had been gnawed away for the most part and was emitting a disgusting smell, he felt as if he had been doused with a basin of cold water.

There are gains and losses. On the path of demons, early cultivation is often fast, but the methods are often strange and cruel, and one's temperament can even change drastically, becoming unable to control oneself.

This nephew of his accidentally killed the injured Heart-Devouring Old Demon and couldn't resist the temptation of the demonic sect's arts. As a result, although his cultivation base advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through from the eighth layer of Qi Refining to the perfection realm in a short time, he also became neither human nor ghost. If he didn't eat a heart raw for a few days, his heart would feel like it was burning with fire.

Although the old man was insidious and vicious, and not a good person, he didn't want to become neither human nor ghost himself.

"Forget it, as long as you can borrow the Cold Star Valley's Nether Yin Earth Vein and the blood of a large number of Lu Clan clansmen to succeed in Foundation Establishment. We can sit on the Nether Ice Stone mine that has associated Dark Nether Ice Stones, and we can also take the opportunity to annex Jin Guifeng. Uncle, I will also have hope for Foundation Establishment."

"At that time, our Yan Clan will have two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even the Xie Clan will have to be polite to us, unlike now, where we still need to curry favor with them in every way," the old man said, a look of anticipation and longing appearing in his eyes.

Seeing that the old man didn't take the scroll, the big-headed man didn't force it. He put the scroll back into his storage bag, grabbed the unfinished heart on the table, and asked while eating, "When should we launch the attack on Cold Star Valley?"

The old man endured the nausea of wanting to vomit and said, "This time, Lu Weiwen and a Lu Clan disciple had an accident. Although it wasn't done by you, it is equivalent to helping us."

"How so?" The big-headed man asked while chewing.

"It is said that this time, Lu Weiwen was originally bringing a heavy gift to ask Hou Li to come forward and put pressure on the Xie Clan. As a result, once Lu Weiwen died, it is estimated that the Lu Clan won't be able to prepare another heavy gift so easily for a while."

"As long as Hou Li doesn't come forward, with the Xie Clan's support, we can naturally fight openly without any scruples. Facing our offensive, the Lu Clan can only continuously send more manpower."

"The faster the Lu Clan sends more manpower, and the more manpower gathered in Cold Star Valley, the closer the opportunity for you to make a move will be!" the old man replied.

"Haha! At that time, I will pretend to be the Heart-Devouring Old Demon and start a massacre. Not only will I be able to build my foundation, but afterwards, Uncle can just take the opportunity to take over Cold Star Valley and annex Jin Guifeng. It can truly be said to be killing two birds with one stone!" The big-headed man laughed, his mouth full of blood.

"Haha, you said it wrong. At that time, we will throw out the Heart-Devouring Old Demon's head, and our Yan Clan can also get a good reputation and collect a reward. It can be said to be killing four birds with one stone!" The old man also laughed loudly upon hearing this. At this moment, he seemed to have completely forgotten the disgusting and bloody appearance of the man opposite him.

——

At dusk, Xia Daoming arrived at the Jin Guifeng valley.

Before reaching the valley entrance, Xia Daoming saw Lu Ye and his wife looking around anxiously.

"You finally came back!" Lu Ye and his wife felt greatly relieved when they saw Xia Daoming.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Xia Daoming asked.

"You pack your things first, move to Lingyun Hut at Seeking Immortal Cliff, and then I'll tell you slowly," Lu Ye said.

"Move to Seeking Immortal Cliff?" Xia Daoming was slightly startled.

"Miss Ziying broke through to become a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Now she is qualified to move into Seeking Immortal Cliff. We are the people around her, so naturally, we will follow," Lu Ye explained.

"So that's it!" Xia Daoming nodded, returned to his room to pretend to pack for a while, then led Cloud-Treading Black and followed Lu Ye and his wife toward Seeking Immortal Cliff.

On the way up the mountain, Lu Ye and his wife couldn't help but speak like bamboo tubes pouring beans, one sentence after another, telling the story of Lu Weiwen and Lu Chengtian being killed by the Heart-Devouring Old Demon.

Xia Daoming listened in a daze.

That's not right. When did I become the Heart-Devouring Old Demon?

And I only used the Dragon-Tiger Claw to open Lu Weiwen's chest, but I didn't dig out the heart. It must have been dug out and eaten by some wild beast!

"I didn't expect the cultivation world to be even more dangerous than the secular world, actually having evil demons who specialize in digging out and eating human hearts!" Lu Ye said.

"Yes, yes, I really didn't expect the cultivation world to be so dangerous. I thought it was a place of no contention, carefree and dashing. If I had known, I wouldn't have let Jin Er cultivate immortality!" Lu Huiyun said.

"This news only came out at noon, and the whole Jin Guifeng is in a state of panic. After hearing it, your sister-in-law and I didn't even have the heart to cultivate. We were really afraid that you would run into this perverted and cruel Heart-Devouring Old Demon on the way to the market!" Lu Ye said.

"Yes, yes, you must not go to the market again tomorrow. It is said that Clan Elder Lu Weiwen and Lu Chengtian went to the Spirit Ba Dao Men yesterday, and they took that road to the market," Lu Huiyun followed up and said.

Watching Lu Ye and his wife singing in harmony, persuading him not to go to the market again, fearing that he would also have his chest opened and heart dug out, Xia Daoming couldn't help but be dumbfounded.

How much would he have to be unable to think straight to open his own chest and dig out his own heart?

"Daoming, we know you are very powerful, but it is said that the Heart-Devouring Old Demon is very powerful and has escaped from the encirclement of Foundation Establishment Ancestors several times," Lu Ye said, seeing Xia Daoming's indifferent expression, and couldn't help but increase the weight of his tone.

"Actually escaped from the hands of Foundation Establishment cultivators!" Xia Daoming's expression finally became a bit grave upon hearing this.

Xia Daoming didn't know exactly what strength Foundation Establishment cultivators had, as he hadn't clashed with them head-on.

However, from the information he had collected so far, Xia Daoming knew that in the Great Ming, only a very small number of particularly powerful Great Grandmasters could barely rival Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The vast majority of Great Grandmasters were no match for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

And the Foundation Establishment cultivators referred to here were only early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Therefore, Xia Daoming had carefully weighed it in private and believed that the strength of most Great Grandmasters should be about the same as that of perfection-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

Only a very small number of Great Grandmasters with extraordinary talent and special constitutions had strength that barely reached the threshold of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Heart-Devouring Old Demon being able to escape from the encirclement of Foundation Establishment cultivators was clearly very powerful.

But soon Xia Daoming smiled dashingly.

What Heart-Devouring Old Demon? Lu Weiwen and Lu Chengtian were killed by him in the first place.

While talking, the three of them and one horse arrived in front of Lingyun Hut.

Lingyun Hut was located on the edge of Seeking Immortal Cliff, with half of it protruding from the giant cliff, built in mid-air, with clouds and mist swirling around the edges. It truly lived up to its name.

When the three arrived at Lingyun Hut, Lu Zhengqin was kneeling on one knee in front of the courtyard gate.

However, the courtyard gate was tightly closed, and no one paid any attention to him.

Seeing Xia Daoming and the three arrive, Lu Zhengqin hurriedly stood up, squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying, and bowed repeatedly to the three, begging, "Sister Huiyun, Brother-in-law Lu Ye, Martial Arts Master Xia, it was all my fault. It was my ghost-obsessed mind. Please, please help me plead with Miss Ziying. Next time, I will never dare to do it again!"

Xia Daoming looked at Lu Zhengqin's humble and pitiful appearance, remembered his arrogant and domineering appearance when he followed Lu Chengtian yesterday, curled his lip slightly, said nothing, led the horse, and pushed open the door with Lu Ye and his wife, walking into Lingyun Hut.

A new emperor, a new court!

Lu Chengtian died unexpectedly, but Lu Ziying, who was only seventeen, became a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator. The branch she belonged to in Jinxiu Valley would certainly rise with her and hold power in Jinxiu Valley.

Even if Lu Ziying continued to grow, the position of the Lu Clan head in Jinxiu Valley would very likely change hands.

Lu Zhengqin had sold his master for glory before, which was a great evil. How could he not be afraid that Lu Ziying would settle scores after the autumn, and even liquidate his family in Jinxiu Valley?

So seeing Lu Zhengqin here, Xia Daoming was not surprised.

It's just that for such a villain and petty person, no matter how humble and pitiful he appeared, Xia Daoming would not feel pity and help him plead.

"Alright, you go to the valley and wait for orders! Miss said, disasters do not extend to family members. You are you, and Miss will not implicate your family in Jinxiu Valley because of you," Lu Zhen walked out when Xia Daoming and the three entered, and said to Lu Zhengqin with a blank face, then turned and returned to the house.

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhengqin finally let out a long sigh of relief, turned around, and walked slowly down the mountain.

"Junior Uncle!" As soon as Xia Daoming entered the door, he saw Especially Especially Lu Yunjin jumping toward him.

"Eh, why aren't you cultivating at the Immortal Fate Hall? Why did you run here?" Xia Daoming picked up Especially Especially Lu Yunjin and asked with a smile.

"I cooked some spirit rice porridge, thinking of improving Jin Er's constitution and enhancing his sensing of heaven and earth spiritual energy, so I brought him over and let him eat a little," Lu Ziying took over the conversation before Especially Especially Lu Yunjin could answer.

When Lu Ziying said this, Lu Ye and his wife subconsciously looked at Xia Daoming, a look of gratitude appearing in their eyes.

They knew very well that the spirit rice porridge was for their son to eat, but if it weren't for Xia Daoming, let alone their son, even Lu Ziying would rarely get to eat it.

"So you came here for an extra meal!" Xia Daoming smiled and lightly scraped Especially Especially Lu Yunjin's nose, but felt a strange emotion in his heart.

This is what it means not to let the child lose at the starting line!

"I cooked a little more. Daoming, you come and eat some too," Lu Ziying said.

"That's fine. Have Senior Brother, Sister-in-law, and Old Lu eaten yet? If not, let's eat together," Xia Daoming smiled and nodded.

Speaking of which, since going to Jinxiu Valley, he hadn't eaten spirit rice porridge for days, and he truly missed the light and fragrant taste of spirit rice porridge.

Of course, Xia Daoming wasn't reluctant to eat it.

His family was a big grain-growing household; eating a little spirit rice porridge was nothing.

It was just that he was worried that the smell of cooking spirit rice porridge would attract the attention of the Lu Clan people.

PS: The two chapters today are not separated, directly combined into one chapter of over six thousand words. Today's update is finished. Continue to ask for monthly tickets, and also earnestly ask book friends to support genuine subscriptions as much as possible. Old Duan's books basically rely on this little income from subscriptions. Thank you.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 142 =====