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

The Mu family ancestral hall.

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

The Mu family had been on a downward slope 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 dignified.

Yet, between his brows, there was a great deal of sorrow.

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

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

"If it were a family on the rise, the benefits obtained would be enough to soothe the dissatisfaction of the various branches... but the current family is on a downward slope... Fortunately, Mu Mu Wanlong retreated entirely, 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 glanced around and asked, "For the family council, was Elder Mu Wanlong invited?"

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

"The sound transmission talisman has already been sent."

Mu Wanqing replied.

He also found it strange; clearly, Mu 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 Mount Baihua!

Could it be... he intends to occupy it until he dies of old age?

Alas, the other party had previously shown high moral character, voluntarily yielding a large amount of benefits, and even personally cutting off his own arm to kill the Half-Immortal Gua.

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 pointed at behind his back; after all, this is a family, not a criminal gang!

Even within a gang, one must superficially speak of righteousness.

"Cough, cough..."

Before long, 'Mu 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 express his respect to Fang Xing.

He was a smart man who knew that 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; this was the best way to maintain family cohesion.

"Hmm."

Fang Xing sat down tremblingly, listening to Mu Wanqing speak, recounting some of the troubles the Mu family had recently encountered: "That White Crane Gate seems determined to fight us to the death... The White Crane Gate's Supreme Elder, 'Master White Crane', 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 sides intend to... launch a Great Reclamation!"

"Great Reclamation?"

Fang Xing blinked, thinking of those years in the Raw Wilderness, and then a trace of trance appeared: "How many years has it been since the fighting stopped, and yet another reclamation war is to be waged?"

"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 side also lost Hunyuanzi. The key is that the main ingredients for a furnace of 'Infant-Condensing Pills' cannot even be gathered."

Mu Wanlv mentioned Fang Xing without any good expression.

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

Fang Xing blinked.

"Of those two Divine Infant Fruits, one was obtained by the demonic side's Marquis Xiaoyao, and its whereabouts are unknown; he should be seeking a secret place to condense his Nascent Soul... And that body cultivator has no news at all."

Mu 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... As for that Master Feng, according to investigations by many experts, it is confirmed that he should be an outer-realm cultivator and has long since left Dajing..."

"Abominable!"

A trace of hatred appeared on Fang Xing's face: "That hidden-headed, tail-showing person who impersonated Master Feng, this old man will definitely not let it rest!"

"Sigh, what strength do we have left now to retaliate against a Nascent Soul True Monarch?" Mu Wanlv smiled bitterly: "Even those Meng sisters, as well as Madam Die Rui and others, are still living well..."

"Why?" Fang Xing looked ferocious.

"Sigh, isn't it because of fear of the rat? A few early Jin Dan female cultivators are nothing... but if it provokes Nascent Soul retaliation, it will ultimately be bad."

Mu Wanqing said: "What's more... it is said that a demonic Nascent Soul attacked those women, using 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, quite unjustly..."

Fang Xing snorted coldly, but his heart stirred.

'Sure enough... I, this Nascent Soul True Monarch with nothing to lose, still have quite a deterrent effect.'

'Even a demonic Nascent Soul didn't dare to use the Soul-Searching Technique, which causes greater damage to the soul, but 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 before it is launched.'

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

Mu Wanlv spoke.

"After the Great War between the righteous and demonic, not rushing to recuperate, but choosing to reclaim, and both sides agree... Could it be..."

Fang Xing stroked his beard, his eyes brightening.

"What did Brother Mu Wanlong think of?"

Mu Mu Wandao's eyes lit up.

"In rumors, the Infant-Condensing Pill formula has been modified many times; there is a version that can use the essence pill of a Rank 4 shapeshifting demon king to replace the 'Divine Infant Fruit'... It's just that the 'Infant-Condensing Pill' refined this way has slightly worse 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; this is preparing to go to war with the shapeshifting demon kings of the Raw Wilderness... For this reclamation, I fear at least several shapeshifting demon kings must be killed to meet the demand. It's just that the Raw Wilderness is extremely dangerous; Rank 4 mid-grade and even Rank 4 high-grade shapeshifting demon kings are active... It is even rumored that in the depths of the Great Wilderness, there are Rank 5 ancient wild beasts sleeping..."

"Reclamation is naturally extremely dangerous, but when our ancestors crossed the sea to come here, hacking through thorns and thistles to open up many cultivation worlds... it is said that there were also Transformation Spirit Venerables from the Hanhai cultivation world who came forward and reached an agreement with the Lord of the Great Wilderness... Existences above Transformation Spirit will not actively 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 Wilderness, and it is impossible to disturb the Transformation Spirit Venerables..."

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

Fang Xing shook his head: "If we sell our lives, can we be rewarded with an 'Infant-Condensing Pill'? This is a losing business... using our blood and that of 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 such reclamation are generous, the Mu family is already a Jin Dan family; the Du 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 one 'Golden Condensation Pill', and nothing more.

Even if the war merits are insufficient, there might not even be Jin Dan spiritual items!

"That may be so, but the order of the Upper Sect cannot be disobeyed..." Mu Wanqing 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 also temporarily recruit loose cultivators to make up the numbers.

"Cough, cough..."

Fang Xing, at this time, coughed violently: "This old man is seriously injured; I fear that if I go out again, I will die halfway... I fear I can no longer contribute to the family."

The old, weak, sick, and disabled?

Isn't that talking about 'Mu Mu Wanlong'?

If it were the real Mu Mu Wanlong, he might really go all out 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 sell his age!'

Mu Wanqing cursed inwardly, but when Mu Mu Wanlong really became shameless, he didn't have any good way to deal with it.

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

This is what it means to be shameless and invincible in the world.

"Since that's the case, please, Brother Mu Wanlong and Wanqing, stay behind to guard the family. For this conscription, I will lead the team personally, and Mu Wandao and Mu Qingfeng will accompany me."

Mu Wanlv looked at Fang Xing; although a bit disappointed, Mu Mu Wanlong's greed for life and fear of death was another major blow to his prestige, which was somewhat beneficial to him.

Coupled with the fact that the other party had already retreated entirely, and there was the old favor from the past, he decided to tolerate it this time.

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

Mu Mu Wanlong is still in the early Jin Dan stage, and it is clear that his injuries are difficult to recover.

Mu Wanqing, however, has profound Dharma power, and dealing with a seriously injured Mu Mu Wanlong is not a big problem.

"Then thank you. This old man is refining a furnace of healing spiritual pills and needs to go back to check the heat. With Wanqing 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 Wanqing remained on the spot.

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

Mu Wanqing was somewhat puzzled.

"This is also human nature; the older one gets, the more one fears death... In the cultivation world, there are so many senior predecessors with dignified appearances who, once their lifespan nears its limit, will do anything to extend it—harvesting yin to supplement yang, practicing demonic arts, transforming their bloodlines... they will do anything! We possess the power to move mountains and fill seas, and we can maintain our physical vitality until our True Dan collapses, living without illness or disaster, enjoying boundless happiness... 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 Mu Wanlong is fake?

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

A Nascent Soul family like the Mu family still has quite a set of methods for distinguishing their own bloodline.

"Please rest assured, Family Head. During the time I am in the family, I will definitely keep a close eye on that old fellow!"

Mu Wanqing guaranteed.

"Brother Mu Wanlong has already yielded the position of family head, and his faction has been beaten into a mess... As long as we spread the news of today's discussion truthfully, the evaluation of being greedy for life and fearing death cannot be escaped... Such a Mu Mu Wanlong, what threat does he still pose to you and me? Wanqing, one must look at things from a long-term perspective. Our opponents are always those wolves outside. Like the current Mu Mu Wanlong, he can instead be won over..."

Mu Wanlv said earnestly.

Mu Wanqing looked indifferent, not knowing if he had listened.

A few days later.

A desolate mountain.

The mountain wilderness was desolate, and occasionally a few bird calls could be heard.

A thin mist appeared at some point, covering the mountainside.

Before long, a green light flew over and fell directly into the thin mist.

On the mountainside, on a huge green rock, another person appeared at some point.

He was 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 his brows, quite like an immortal.

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

The green light fell, revealing a cultivator shrouded in green light, who first bowed: "I have seen Master White Crane!"

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

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

"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 White Crane's hand.

"Good, very good! Sure enough, it is the formation map of the Ten Thousand Flowers and Thousand Illusions Great Formation! Hmm? And the travel dates and routes of Mu Wanlv and his party?"

Master White Crane looked at the figure in the green light in surprise.

"If you don't do it, you don't do it; if you do it, you do it thoroughly... Master, are you not preparing to ambush Mu Wanlv and the others?"

The figure said as a matter of course.

"This... this old man is naturally preparing to take action, but they are your relatives after all. Doing this still makes this old man feel a bit shocked..."

Master White Crane sighed.

"In a large family, there are many kinds of dirty things, so I have made you laugh, Master... I have no problem here at all. As long as you can kill Mu Wanlv and then attack the Ten Thousand Flowers and Thousand Illusions Great Formation, you and I will work from inside and outside, and closing this formation will be no problem... At that time, the Mu family will only be left with a group of clay chickens and pottery dogs."

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

Yunzhou belongs to the Du Qiankun Dao's sphere of influence; 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 great-granddaughter has already been married to the Du Qiankun Dao's 'Five Elements Child' as a concubine... This old man personally visited the Du Qiankun Dao Lord, and even though I gave up this old bone, the Du Qiankun Dao Lord still tacitly approved... After all, I have two late Jin Dan combat powers here, which is of great benefit to the reclamation, while the Mu family, what is left?"

Master White Crane smiled.

"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)