Chapter 266: Plotting (In honor of Alliance Leader Tianxing Wuxie)

The Mu family ancestral hall.

The family head Mu Wanlv, the Jin Dan elder Mu Wan Qing, Mu Wandao, Mu Qingfeng, and several False Jin Dan deacons were all present.

The Mu family had been on a downward trajectory for the past few years, with no new Jin Dan cultivators appearing.

On the contrary, quite a few False Jin Dan deacons had been lost.

At this moment, Mu Wanlv, dressed in a golden dharma robe, sat in the main seat, his appearance majestic.

Yet, between his brows, there was much sorrow.

Only after becoming the family head did he realize that this position was like sitting on a volcano; conflicts between the various branches and pressure from external forces came one after another...

Even though Mu Wanlv prided himself on having countless schemes, he was still left battered and exhausted.

"If it were a family in its rising phase, the benefits obtained would be enough to smooth over the dissatisfaction of the various branches... but the family now is on a downward path... Fortunately, Mu Wanlong conceded everything, and by cutting the flesh of his own faction, he could barely maintain the family's superficial harmony, but it won't last long..."

Mu Wanlv scanned the room and asked, "For this family council, was Elder Wanlong invited?"

After the previous family head abdicated, he automatically assumed the position of family elder.

"A sound transmission talisman has already been sent."

Mu Wan Qing replied.

He also found it strange in his heart; clearly, Mu Wanlong's soul lamp had been like a candle in the wind for the past few years, yet he simply wouldn't die, always occupying the Rank 4 cave dwelling.

That was the cave dwelling with the best spiritual energy on Mount Baihua!

Could it be... that he intended to occupy it until he died of old age?

However, the other party had previously shown high moral character, voluntarily giving up a large amount of benefits, and even personally cutting off one of his own arms to kill the Diviner Banxian.

Throughout the Mu family, no one dared to say anything more.

On the contrary, if he dared to reach out again, he would certainly be stabbed in the spine; after all, this was a family, not a criminal gang!

Even within a gang, one had to talk about righteousness on the surface.

"Cough, cough..."

Not long after, 'Mu Wanlong', looking aged, with graying hair, and coughing from time to time, walked into the ancestral hall: "Sigh... an eventful autumn, to think it would even disturb this old bone of mine..."

"Please, Elder, take the seat of honor."

Mu Wanlv stood up to show respect to Fang Xing.

He was a smart man who knew his position as family head came from Fang Xing's legitimacy.

Therefore, to sit firmly, he had to at least pay attention to superficial filial piety and righteousness; this was the best way to maintain family cohesion.

"Hmm."

Fang Xing sat down shakily, listening to Mu Wan Qing speak, recounting some of the troubles the Mu family had recently encountered: "That Bai He Sect seems determined to fight us to the death... The Bai He Sect's Supreme Elder, 'Master Bai He', has now broken through to the late Jin Dan stage, which is very worrying..."

"A mere late Jin Dan cultivator is not enough to make us discuss it so solemnly..."

Mu Wanlv said: "According to the latest family intelligence, both the righteous and demonic paths intend to... initiate a Great Wasteland Reclamation!"

"Great Wasteland Reclamation?"

Fang Xing blinked, thinking of those years in the raw wasteland, and then revealed a trace of trance: "How many years has it been since the fighting stopped, and yet they want to conduct a reclamation war again?"

"Originally, we should have been recuperating, but it's all the fault of that damned 'Master Feng'... He alone occupied four Divine Infant Fruits and killed many demonic Jin Dan cultivators; the righteous path also lost Hunyuanzi, and the key is that a main batch of ingredients for the 'Infant-Condensing Pill' cannot even be gathered."

Mu Wanlv had no good expression when mentioning Fang Xing.

"Aren't there still two Divine Infant Fruits left?"

Fang Xing blinked.

"One of those two Divine Infant Fruits was obtained by the demonic path's Marquis Xiaoyao, who has long since disappeared without a trace, presumably to find a secret place to form an infant... and that body cultivator has even less news."

Mu Wandao replied: "The experts of both the righteous and demonic paths have almost turned the cultivation world upside down and still can't find them... And that Master Feng, according to the investigation of many experts, is confirmed to be an outer-realm cultivator who has long since left Dajing..."

"Damn it!"

A trace of hatred appeared on Fang Xing's face: "That skulking person who impersonated Master Feng, this old man will definitely not let it rest with them!"

"Sigh, how can we still have the energy to take revenge on a Nascent Soul Great Zhenjun now?" Mu Wanlv gave a bitter smile: "Even those Meng sisters, as well as Madam Die Rui and others, are still alive and well..."

"Why?" Fang Xing looked ferocious.

"Sigh, isn't it just fearing the rat to spare the vase? A few early Jin Dan female cultivators are nothing... but if it brings about Nascent Soul retaliation, it's ultimately not good."

Mu Wan Qing said: "What's more... it is said that a demonic Nascent Soul took action against the women, performing the 'Heart-Questioning Technique'... The result was confirming that the real Master Feng was already dead, and they didn't even know the true face of that Nascent Soul... Those female cultivators were played for nothing, which is quite unjust..."

Fang Xing snorted coldly, but his heart stirred.

'Sure enough... I, a Nascent Soul Great Zhenjun with nothing to lose, still have quite a deterrent effect.'

'Even the demonic Nascent Soul didn't dare to use the Soul-Searching Technique, which causes great damage to the soul, but instead used the 'Heart-Questioning Technique'... This speaks volumes about their attitude.'

'The more this is the case, the less I can show my face... A missile is most deterrent when it hasn't been launched yet.'

"Alright, back to business... This time, both the righteous and demonic paths are jointly opening up the raw wasteland, each choosing a major direction. Our Mu family will of course follow the righteous path, and at that time, we should be assigned to the jurisdiction of the Qiankun Dao... For this reclamation, our Mu family must send at least three Jin Dan True Persons; this is the intention of the Upper Sect..."

Mu Wanlv spoke.

"After the great war between the righteous and demonic, they don't rush to recuperate, but choose to reclaim the wasteland, and both sides agree... Could it be..."

Fang Xing stroked his beard, his eyes brightening.

"What did Brother Wanlong think of?"

Mu Wandao's eyes lit up.

"It is rumored that the Infant-Condensing Pill formula has been modified many times, and there is a version that can use the essence pill of a Rank 4 Transformation Demon King to replace the 'Divine Infant Fruit'... It's just that the 'Infant-Condensing Pill' refined this way has slightly inferior efficacy, and the success rate is also much lower."

Fang Xing said: "Now both the righteous and demonic paths need to cultivate Nascent Soul seeds, so they are preparing to go to war with the Transformation Demon Kings of the raw wasteland... For this reclamation, I'm afraid at least several Transformation Demon Kings must be killed to meet the demand. It's just that the raw wasteland is extremely dangerous, with Rank 4 mid-grade and even Rank 4 high-grade Transformation Demon Kings active... Rumor even has it that in the depths of the Great Wasteland, Rank 5 ancient wasteland beasts are still sleeping..."

"Reclamation is of course extremely dangerous, but when our ancestors crossed the sea to come here, breaking through thorns and thistles to open up many cultivation worlds... it is said that there were also Spirit Transformation Venerables from the Hanhai cultivation world who came forward and reached an agreement with the Lord of the Great Wasteland... Existences above Spirit Transformation will not take the initiative to attack low-rank cultivators."

Mu Wanlv smiled: "Besides, the area we occupy, even counting the one about to be opened, is but a drop in the ocean of the Great Wasteland, and it's impossible to disturb the Spirit Transformation Venerables..."

"Even so, even if we encounter just one Rank 4 demon beast, it would be enough to smash us to pieces..."

Fang Xing shook his head: "We are risking our lives, can we be rewarded with an 'Infant-Condensing Pill'? This is a losing business... using our blood and that of the loose cultivators to fill the Upper Sect's appetite."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the Jin Dan True Persons present were very ugly.

Although the rewards for this kind of reclamation are generous, the Mu family is already a Jin Dan family; the Qiankun Dao would have to be stupid to support the Mu family. This time, fighting to the death, at most they would be granted newly reclaimed Rank 3 spiritual land, plus a 'Golden-Condensing Pill', and nothing more.

If the war merit is insufficient, they might not even get Jin Dan spiritual items!

"That may be so, but the order of the Upper Sect cannot be disobeyed..." Mu Wan Qing looked worried: "How about... the old rules?"

The so-called old rules are naturally to send a group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, and they can also temporarily recruit loose cultivators to make up the numbers.

"Cough, cough..."

Fang Xing, at this time, began to cough violently: "This old man has suffered serious injuries, I'm afraid if I go out again, I will die halfway... I'm afraid I can't contribute to the family anymore."

The old, weak, sick, and disabled?

Isn't that talking about 'Mu Wanlong'?

If it were the real Mu Wanlong, he might really risk it for the family and die in the reclamation.

But Fang Xing would have to be stupid to go.

He still needs to continue his secluded cultivation and strive to break through to the late Jin Dan stage within ten years!

'Old scoundrel! Relying on his age to act shamelessly!'

Mu Wan Qing cursed inwardly, but when Mu Wanlong really acted shamelessly, he had no good way to deal with it.

He couldn't force the previous family head to go die, could he?

This is what it means to be invincible when one has no shame.

"Since that's the case, Brother Wanlong and Wan Qing, please stay behind to guard the family. For this mobilization, I will lead the team personally, with Wandao and Qingfeng accompanying."

Mu Wanlv looked at Fang Xing; although he was a bit disappointed, Mu Wanlong's cowardice was another major blow to his prestige, which was somewhat beneficial to him.

Plus, the other party had already fully retreated, and there was the old favor from before, so he decided to tolerate it this time.

However, Mu Wanlv still guarded against one hand, transferring away Mu Wandao, who was relatively close to Mu Wanlong, and Mu Qingfeng, who was neutral, leaving Mu Wan Qing, who was on his own side, just right to keep an eye on the other party.

Mu Wanlong was still at the early Jin Dan stage, and it was clear his injuries were difficult to recover from.

Mu Wan Qing, however, had deep magic power, so dealing with an injured Mu Wanlong was not a big problem.

"Then thank you. This old man is refining a batch of healing spiritual pills, so I must go back to check the heat. With Wan Qing at home, I am at ease."

Fang Xing cupped his hands, turned into a stream of light, and left directly.

After the several Jin Dan cultivators in the ancestral hall left one after another, only Mu Wanlv and Mu Wan Qing remained.

"Mu Wanlong has really changed... If it were before, he would definitely have gone without a word."

Mu Wan Qing was a bit puzzled.

"This is also human nature; the older one gets, the more one fears death... In the cultivation world, there are so many old seniors with a righteous appearance; once their lifespan is nearing its end, in order to extend their lives, they will do anything—dual cultivation, practicing demonic arts, transforming bloodlines... We possess the power to move mountains and fill seas, and can maintain the vitality of our bodies before the true pill collapses, free from illness and disaster, with endless joy... Who would want to die?"

Mu Wanlv was very calm, accepting the reality that people are constantly changing.

Otherwise?

Could it be that this Mu Wanlong is fake?

If he were fake, his bloodline would certainly have been discovered the moment he entered the ancestral hall!

A Nascent Soul family like the Mu family still has a way of distinguishing their own bloodline.

"Please rest assured, Family Head, during my time in the family, I will definitely keep an eye on that old guy!"

Mu Wan Qing guaranteed.

"Brother Wanlong has already given up the position of family head, and his faction has been beaten into a sorry state... As long as we spread the situation of today's discussion truthfully, the evaluation of being cowardly will be unavoidable... Such a Mu Wanlong, what threat does he still pose to you and me? Wan Qing, one must look at the long term; our opponents have always been those wolves outside. A Mu Wanlong like the current one can instead be won over a little..."

Mu Wanlv said earnestly.

Mu Wan Qing looked indifferent, not knowing if he had listened.

A few days later.

A desolate mountain.

The mountain wilderness was desolate, with the occasional bird call.

A thin mist appeared, covering the mountainside.

Not long after, a green light flew in and fell directly into the mist.

On the mountainside, on a huge blue rock, someone appeared.

They were wearing a pure white crane cloak, with a youthful face and white hair, and two long white eyebrows hanging down, with a red mole between the brows, quite immortal and elegant.

This person stood with hands behind their back, and beside them was a white crane, its crown cinnabar red, its feathers like swords, standing in the stream, using its long beak to stab at fish for fun.

The green light fell, revealing a cultivator shrouded in green light, who first bowed: "Greetings, Master Bai He!"

"Hehe, little friend, being able to abandon darkness for light... is a great merit to my Bai He Sect. This old man guarantees that your lineage will absolutely not be affected, and there will be endless immortal blessings..."

Master Bai He twisted his white eyebrows and laughed: "This old man can sign a Rank 3 spiritual contract with you first..."

"Thank you, Master."

The figure in the green light bowed, then raised a hand.

A ball of green light wrapped around a jade slip and fell into Master Bai He's hand.

"Good, good, good! It really is the formation map of the Ten Thousand Flowers and Thousand Illusions Great Array! Hmm? And the travel dates and routes of Mu Wanlv and his party?"

Master Bai He looked at the figure in the green light in surprise.

"If you're going to do it, do it thoroughly... Is it possible that you, Master, are not prepared to ambush Mu Wanlv and the others?"

The figure said as a matter of course.

"This... this old man is naturally prepared to take action, it's just that they are your relatives after all, so doing this still makes this old man feel a bit shocked..."

Master Bai He sighed.

"In a big family, there are many unsavory things, so I've made you laugh, Master... I have no problem here at all. As long as you, Master, can kill Mu Wanlv, and then attack the Ten Thousand Flowers and Thousand Illusions Great Array, you and I will work from inside and outside, and closing this array will be no problem... At that time, the Mu family will be left with only a bunch of useless rabble."

The figure in the green light looked at the exotic spirit crane playing in the water: "I haven't congratulated you yet, Master. This spirit beast has probably reached the Rank 3 high-grade, right? No wonder you dare to plot against a Rank 4 spiritual vein... It's just that it still needs the recognition of the Qiankun Dao."

Yunzhou belongs to the sphere of influence of the Qiankun Dao, so such a major event naturally cannot be bypassed.

Otherwise, the anger of a Nascent Soul sect is not something any Jin Dan cultivator can withstand.

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, my own great-granddaughter has already married the Qiankun Dao's 'Five Elements Child' as a concubine... This old man personally visited the Qiankun Dao Master, and having sacrificed this old bone, the Qiankun Dao Master has tacitly agreed... After all, I have two late Jin Dan combat powers here, which is very beneficial to the reclamation, and what is left of the Mu family?"

Master Bai He smiled.

"Then it seems... the Mu family is ultimately going to be destroyed."

The figure in the green light spoke indifferently, unable to hear joy or anger.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 267 =====