Chapter 166: The Feng Family's Response, Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger

"Fairy, if you don't have enough spirit stones, you can exchange with spirit medicines, ores, secret techniques, techniques, and such." Xu Mingyuan smiled lightly.

"Fellow Daoist is truly stingy."

This coquettish complaint made countless surrounding male cultivators swallow their saliva yet not a single person dared approach.

Because she was the daughter of Guangling Commandery's Feng family head, suspected to have an innate charm body, and had true spiritual root immortal cultivation aptitude.

Her future was almost already decided.

"Three crystal blue diamonds, one blood soul stone, one Pure Heart Flower of one hundred fifty years."

"Sufficient."

Feng Yuzhen quietly stared into Xu Mingyuan's eyes. After a moment, she said, "What a boring man."

Then her slender jade fingers swept over her storage bag, leaving behind the items she'd just mentioned. She collected both the brooch and jade hairpin together and left with a swaying gait.

Seeing there was no more excitement to watch, everyone dispersed.

Xu Mingyuan looked at Xu Deling, "Second Uncle will keep the spirit medicine. You can keep these artifact refinement materials and spirit stones yourself."

"Thank you, Second Uncle!"

"Worthy of being Second Brother. Three low-grade magical artifacts, yet he sold them for nearly a hundred spirit stones." Xu Mingshu gave a thumbs up.

"These three magical artifacts are all quite good, and they're women's magical artifacts. We just happened to meet a big spender. Otherwise, selling them for sixty to seventy spirit stones would have been quite good."

Xu Mingyuan explained with a smile, then continued, "Alright, let's go find an inn to stay at."

However, before long, Xu Mingshu sensed someone following them and transmitted this to Xu Mingyuan.

"Have your spirit insects go monitor them. See who's following us. In the market, they shouldn't dare act recklessly."

"Got it, Second Brother."

Several people stayed at the Floating Life Inn. Not long after, Xu Mingwei also arrived.

Soon, Xu Mingshu gathered everyone in one room and activated the room's restrictions, "The ones watching us are a group of rogue cultivators."

"Seems my scattered pill sales were still noticed." Xu Mingyuan said indifferently.

"According to the divine sense I attached to the spirit insects, there are five total, all at the seventh layer of Qi Refining or above. The highest one, I can't estimate precisely, either eighth or ninth layer of Qi Refining."

"Not weak." Xu Mingxuan also commented indifferently, not taking them seriously at all. Then he asked, "Big Brother, Second Brother, what do you say?"

"Then let's try out rogue cultivator methods." Xu Mingyuan looked at Xu Mingwei, "Big Brother, you handle the one with the highest cultivation. After killing him, watch over us. It's rare to encounter opponents with similar strength. It's good for us to gain some sparring experience."

"No problem." Xu Mingwei nodded, "But you all can't be careless either. Release attack and defense magical artifacts as soon as battle starts. You've all cultivated the Nine Flames Formula and reached the Two Thoughts as One level, able to perfectly control two magical artifacts. This gives you an advantage."

Xu Mingshu nodded, "Indeed. Father's secret technique is truly remarkable. Methods to temper divine sense, I imagine many immortal cultivators have never even heard of."

"Father said that reaching Three Thoughts in the Nine Flames Formula can basically be achieved through hard cultivation. Starting from Four Thoughts requires some comprehension. Cherish it well. Having Father's personal cultivation experience to teach from can also speed up cultivating this secret technique."

"Yes, Big Brother (Father)."

"Second Brother, you make the action plan."

At the same time, in the market.

A piece of news reached the Feng family's ears regarding the Dan Hall chief disciple's personal student, Wei Dao.

Xu Mingwei had worn a hood at the time, displaying ninth layer Qi Refining cultivation, and casually mentioned matters of the imperial city in the Feng family's pill shop.

For a rogue cultivator of his cultivation level, having been to the imperial city wasn't strange.

Just the Dan Hall chief disciple's personal student and the name Wei Dao were enough to make the Feng family think of many things.

Who told them their old rival was the Wei family?

At this time in the Feng family, the Feng family head, Grand Elder, and a few others gathered together to discuss the matter of Wei Dao.

"Family Head, we should still send someone to make a trip to the imperial city. If that Wei Dao truly is from the Wei family, then we need to make early decisions. The future Dan Hall chief, how strong his appeal might be is hard to predict."

As the Feng family head pondered, another person said, "Then I'll personally make the trip."

"If Second Elder is willing to go, that would be best. With your Qi Refining peak strength, you probably won't encounter too many risks."

"Please rest assured, Family Head. This elder will definitely investigate clearly. Otherwise, our Feng family's hearts won't be at ease."

The Grand Elder also said, "Yes. Just as the Wei family's pill refining grandmaster perished and our Feng family could suppress the Wei family for decades to a century, now this change has occurred. This is no longer about mutual suppression, but whether our Feng family can have a place in Guangling Commandery in the future."

After Second Elder and the others left.

Only the Feng family head and Grand Elder remained in the study.

"Go find the Old Ancestors." The Feng family head said.

The Feng family Grand Elder nodded slightly.

In the Feng family's clan territory.

There was a Green Jade Peak, five to six hundred zhang tall.

It rose from the ground like a giant green jade hairpin piercing the sky. From halfway up, the mountain body was wrapped in light clouds and mist.

At the mountain base were mostly oil pines and camphor trees. Midway up, nan bamboo and cold fir interlaced. New leaves and old branches layered upon each other. When wind passed, it stirred waves of green in varying shades.

Most peculiar were ancient thousand-year banyan trees drilling out from rock crevices, their roots like golden serpents coiling around stones. Their canopies spread to form jade-green brocade pavilions covering half a mu, with ibises rising and falling among them, like floating red agate.

On the north side of this peak, large expanses of gray-white rock walls were exposed. After years of wind erosion and rain carving, the layered rock formations stood vertically like unsheathed sharp swords.

There were also whole reddish-brown boulders diagonally inserted into the mountain, their surfaces covered with honeycomb holes that would emit mournful sounds during new moons.

This place was the Feng family's forbidden ground. Only a few had the qualifications to freely ascend and pay respects.

Other Feng family disciples, without being summoned, must not trespass on this peak.

The Feng family head and Grand Elder flew on swords to outside the great hall at Green Jade Peak's summit.

Inside the great hall sat a white-haired but youthful-looking old man and a middle-aged man on meditation cushions.

The spiritual energy on this peak was the most abundant in all of Guangling Commandery.

"Old Ancestor, Wande requests an audience."

"Come in."

Though the hall doors were open, without the Old Ancestor's permission, the two dared not directly enter.

"Thank you, Old Ancestor."

The Feng family head and Grand Elder entered the hall and immediately bowed respectfully to the two.

"What matter? Speak directly." The old man with completely white hair and beard spoke indifferently.

"Today our Feng family received a rumor that someone from the Wei family was taken as a disciple under a certain pill refining grandmaster in the imperial city."

"This news is from two years ago, right?"

"Yes, but what we learned today is more specific. That Wei family disciple was taken under the tutelage of the imperial city Dan Hall chief, Daoist Yunding."

As these words fell, the other Foundation Establishment cultivator who appeared middle-aged also instantly opened his eyes, revealing an incredulous expression, blurting out, "Is this true?!"

"We've already sent a clan elder to the imperial city to verify. We should have news in seven to eight days."

"Could it be the Wei family deliberately creating a smokescreen, spreading false rumors?"

The Feng family head shook his head, "Probably not. If the Wei family spread it, most of Guangling Commandery would probably already know. This news came from the imperial city, learned from a ninth layer Qi Refining rogue cultivator passing through our Guangling Commandery. He even mentioned that Wei family disciple's name, called Wei Dao."

"Wei Dao? Could he not be from the Wei family's direct line, but a distant branch?" The Foundation Establishment elder asked doubtfully.

"It sounds like there really is such a thing. If so, even if only a collateral branch, he's still ultimately a Wei family disciple."

The middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator said, "I remember Senior Daoist Yunding is also quite old. Taking a disciple now should mean taking a personal disciple, right? How terrifying must this Wei Dao's pill refining talent be?"

The great hall suddenly quieted. The air itself seemed to radiate a heavy feeling.

"Let's wait for news first." The Foundation Establishment elder spoke faintly.

"What if the news is true?" The middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator's brow seemed to carry a trace of anxiety.

"Xiuyuan, you've also lived over a hundred years. When encountering matters, why do you still have this impetuous feeling?"

Hearing this, the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator seemed ashamed and immediately calmed his spirit, cupping his hands, "Old Ancestor, I was too hasty."

"Even if the news is true, so what? This Wei Dao will need at least sixty to seventy years to mature. And Daoist Yunding doesn't have that much lifespan left to teach. At most forty-some years."

"Forty years, with Daoist Yunding's cultivation, is enough for him to grow to the realm of assaulting Foundation Establishment."

"Indeed, but don't forget, what Daoist Yunding wants is a pill Dao successor. To reach Daoist Yunding's pill Dao level in forty years would be wishful thinking. Therefore, the Dan Hall chief position won't necessarily belong to that youngster, or rather, won't belong to him in the short term."

"Let's not even discuss whether he has any sense of belonging to the Wei family. Even if he does, my Feng family is not afraid of the Wei family. After confirming the news is true, I'll make a trip to the Wei family and force them to make an oath not to use Wei Dao to influence the war between our two families. If they refuse, I'd rather not want my remaining lifespan and will drag the Wei family's young Foundation Establishment cultivator down with me, or strike to exterminate the Wei family's younger generation and sever their inheritance."

"Old Ancestor, this..." Both the Feng family head and Grand Elder showed shocked expressions.

"My lifespan only has ten-some years remaining anyway. If I can exchange it for my Feng family's long-term peace and security, it's worth it no matter what. Of course, this is also the last resort of mutual destruction."

After saying this, he looked at the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator and smiled lightly, "Xiuyuan, though the family path is difficult, there's not only one road of fighting to the death and mutual annexation. You must remember, unless it reaches the final moment, don't fight the Wei family to the death. If one day our Feng family's defeat is already determined, then preserve the family's strength and withdraw from Guangling Commandery. As long as we manage well, if our Feng family could rise once, we can rise a second time."

"Xiuyuan will remember Old Ancestor's teachings for life and dare never forget!" Feng Xiuyuan stood and bowed respectfully to him.

The Feng family Old Ancestor looked at the Feng family head and continued, "Wande, you may also withdraw. When there's news, come report again. Remember not to act rashly, and don't leak the news."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Feng Wande cupped his hands respectfully, then withdrew from the hall with the Grand Elder and flew back on their swords.

"Grand Elder, you also understand Old Ancestor's meaning. Have everyone who knows of this matter not speak of it externally. Otherwise, the family will definitely impose heavy punishment."

"Yes, Family Head."

The next day, Xu Mingwei's group pretended to leave Guangling Commandery's market, heading all the way toward the depths of nearby mountain ranges.

As prey, how could the hunters allow them to escape from their grasp?

Almost immediately, five people followed closely.

"Daoist Qinghe, these people are truly fat sheep. Just spirit stones alone, there are probably two to three hundred. The other traded materials and spirit herbs are also considerable. Who knows, it might even be enough for a superior-grade magical artifact."

A thick-browed, wide-eyed bald man grinned.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, this poor daoist knows what you mean. You want a larger share to gather enough spirit stone resources for a superior-grade magical artifact. This poor daoist can't make this decision. I'd need to ask the other Fellow Daoists' opinions."

A middle-aged Daoist nun said indifferently, "Distribution according to merit is most fair."

"I think whoever kills gets it!"

Before even seeing the people, several were already discussing how to divide the spoils.

Mainly it came down to one word.

Poor!

They had all planned to change to a different commandery to see if there were any gains. However, Xu Mingwei and his group's arrival made their eyes light up.

Rogue cultivators and such didn't have much profit. Unless they were at the eighth or ninth layer of Qi Refining, perhaps they'd have some possibility of having superior-grade magical artifacts.

However, sparring at this level was mostly perilous.

While disciples from other commandery families traveling, with at most a seventh layer Qi Refining elder beside them, were their favorite.

"Stop arguing. Everything will be decided after we kill those family members first."

"Then we'll listen to Daoist Qinghe."

Daoist Qinghe had the highest realm and strength among them, at the eighth layer of Qi Refining peak. They'd cooperated many times, and he received the most resources.

Therefore, he already had a superior-grade magical artifact in his hands.

His strength had grown even more formidable.

For rogue cultivators to grow, without advantages, they could only rely on opportunities. Without opportunities, they could only take the path of plunder.

If they chose neither, then they could only depend on families or sects.

Their forms were like fleeting shadows, shuttling through the dense forest. Before long, they caught up with Xu Mingwei's group.

The bald man held a middle-grade magical artifact long blade and grinned as he stepped forward, "Fellow Daoists, you're also leaving Guangling Commandery? Why not travel together?"

"Different paths, no common plan." Xu Mingshu snorted coldly.

The middle-aged Daoist nun raised her hand, and a red light shot from her Daoist robe, directly toward Xu Mingshu's heart.

Clang~

A small, delicate shield suddenly appeared, instantly expanding and blocking this red light.

The red light retreated, its glow fading to reveal a short sword.

The black iron shield took the impact, causing Xu Mingshu to retreat several meters.

Her defensive magical artifact activated so quickly, as if she'd prepared in advance.

"Middle-grade defensive magical artifact. No wonder you could block my strike. But a mere early sixth layer of Qi Refining, I'd like to see how long you can hold out."

Daoist Qinghe's brow furrowed slightly. A warning rose in his heart, but his face remained calm, "They seem to have prepared in advance. I'll take the seventh layer Qi Refining one. The rest of you quickly resolve this to avoid accidents."

"I'll take the two little ones at the fourth and fifth layers of Qi Refining." A thin, tall middle-aged man said, "Such vibrant lives. I most enjoy torturing family genius disciples to death."

Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling's eyes showed disgust, with a trace of red light flashing from the depths.

The remaining two each found Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan.

However, as soon as battle started, Daoist Qinghe instantly fled. Under his feet was a pair of magical artifact long boots that made his speed seem as if he'd used a Divine Movement Talisman, leaving only an afterimage in place.

"Daoist Qinghe?!"

The middle-aged Daoist nun and the others were all stunned. However, Xu Mingshu and the others all took out superior-grade magical artifacts from their storage bags and rapidly closed in.

They'd witnessed the power of superior-grade magical artifacts many times and immediately recognized them.

"Superior-grade magical artifacts?"

"All of them?"

"Could you be from second or third-rank families of the imperial city?"

But no one answered them.

Among Xu Mingshu's group, only Xu Deling had cultivated from childhood. The rest had all entered the Dao through martial arts. With the advantage of magical artifacts, close combat gave them the upper hand.

"You all be careful. Don't be careless. I'll chase that Daoist."

After speaking, Xu Mingwei's figure became like a black lightning bolt, shuttling through the mountain forest.

In moments, he arrived before Daoist Qinghe.

Seeing this, Daoist Qinghe's pupils constricted. He patted his storage bag and a talisman flew out.

He instantly activated it. A green light blessed his body, making him light as a swallow.

If Daoist Qinghe at this moment was like a clear breeze, then Xu Mingwei was lightning.

His speed was even superior.

In a flash, he overtook him again.

"How is this possible? This poor Daoist didn't see you use Divine Movement Talismans or such, nor any wind-element magical power fluctuations. How can your speed be this fast?"

"Daoist, when the great battle just started, you wanted to escape in the chaos. That's not righteous."

"Righteousness? Better a dead Fellow Daoist than a dead poor Daoist. Being careful and cautious is the reason I, Daoist Qinghe, have survived in the cultivation world until now."

He carefully examined Xu Mingwei. Seeing he truly was only at the early seventh layer of Qi Refining, he patted his storage bag. A flying sword and an earth-yellow shield flew out, floating before him.

The fly whisk in his hand gently swayed. His expression became ruthless, "Since Fellow Daoist won't let this poor daoist leave, then I can only kill Fellow Daoist."

Facing threatening words, Xu Mingwei was unconcerned. Without another word, the Ink Flood Dragon Bow and arrows flew from his storage bag.

Nine arrows spread in a fan shape, suspended behind him.

His five fingers gripped the bowstring like a golden eagle seizing a rabbit as he held the Ink Flood Dragon Bow.

In that instant, his entire aura seemed to become a sharp arrow, the arrowhead pointing directly at Daoist Qinghe's brow center.

A sense of mortal crisis rose in Daoist Qinghe's heart.

That treasure bow and arrows' auras were perfectly unified. He couldn't help but cry out, "A superior-grade magical artifact set?!"

An arrow was nocked on the bowstring.

"Go!"

The arrow burst with a rumbling sound, shooting forth.

Daoist Qinghe also hastily controlled his superior-grade flying sword to stab out. However, its power simply couldn't match the arrow and was directly knocked flying.

Then came the earth-yellow magical artifact shield.

Clang~

Crack~

Cracks directly appeared where the shield was struck, and it violently impacted Daoist Qinghe's chest.

That force was like a small mountain colliding, making his internal organs feel on the verge of shattering.

Pfft~

"Didn't pierce through? Indeed, I need to use magical power to reach fine-quality magical artifact attack power. However..."

Xu Mingwei formed hand seals, his index and middle fingers together like a sword finger, gently circling.

The arrow blocked by the shield, its power weakened, seemed to gain sentience. It suddenly curved around the shield and from the side, pierced through Daoist Qinghe's head in one strike.

Daoist Qinghe's eyes widened in disbelief.

Himself, a late eighth layer of Qi Refining cultivator with a superior-grade magical artifact, middle-grade shield, and speed-boosting magical artifact boots and Divine Movement Talisman in hand, couldn't withstand one strike from a seventh layer Qi Refining cultivator.

What kind of monster was this!

In an instant, his world became only pitch black.

Xu Mingwei thought about it, then controlled the arrow to strike his heart once more. Seeing no reaction, he stepped forward to loot the corpse.

That fly whisk was also a middle-grade magical artifact, and those three thousand silver threads seemed to have binding effects.

The shield already had cracks, nearly pierced through. However, among them was Xu Deling, who should be able to repair it.

Additionally, there was a superior-grade flying sword and a pair of low-grade magical artifact long boots.

In the storage bag was also a Divine Movement Talisman, a Red Flame Talisman, over twenty spirit stones, and three technique manuals.

"Control Artifact Formula, Wind Control Technique, Divine Wood Formula. The first two are quite good. The clan doesn't have them either. Divine Wood Formula should be an immortal cultivation technique. Our Xu family currently doesn't lack these, but it can also be collected in the Dao Repository Tower."

After Xu Mingwei saw there were no other items on him, he directly formed seals and cast a fireball technique, burning the corpse to ash before transforming into lightning and heading to the battlefield.

When he returned, the thin, tall middle-aged man who had boasted about dealing with Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling was already a corpse on the ground.

After all, among the Xu family members present, Xu Deling had the highest realm. She was just short of some accumulation before reaching the late seventh layer of Qi Refining peak, then she could take pills to enter the eighth layer.

Seventeen years old at the early eighth layer of Qi Refining, even in the imperial city, she'd be considered top-tier.

Sufficient to stand shoulder to shoulder with the imperial clan and the three first-rank families' prodigies.

With Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling's assistance, the other three rogue cultivators were also quickly resolved.

When Xu Mingwei returned, the five were jointly besieging that middle-aged Daoist nun.

She was at the late seventh layer of Qi Refining peak and had a decent middle-grade defensive magical artifact, so she'd been able to hold on until now.

However, facing five people's encirclement with five superior-grade magical artifacts all unleashing their power, the middle-aged Daoist nun only persisted for a moment before unwillingly perishing.

"Father, you're back." Xu Deling was first to notice Xu Mingwei.

Xu Mingwei nodded slightly then several people cleaned the battlefield, looted corpses, burned them, and tallied the gains.

The five rogue cultivators together had over a hundred spirit stones, seven middle-grade magical artifacts, one superior-grade magical artifact, and various technique manuals.

Most useful to the Xu family were the Control Artifact Formula and Wind Control Technique.

"Ling'er, this Control Artifact Formula should be very useful to you. You can cultivate and see."

"Thank you, Father."

"There's also this damaged magical artifact. See if you can repair it. If not, bring it back for Elder Wu."

Xu Deling immediately took Daoist Qinghe's earth-yellow shield.

"Uh, a middle-grade magical artifact nearly pierced through by one arrow. Father, your attack is truly incomparably powerful." Xu Deling exclaimed in shock. After examining it briefly, she continued, "It's fine. The problem isn't big. Your daughter should be able to repair it."

"Then I'll leave it to you." Xu Mingwei smiled and nodded. After looking around, he continued, "Let's return to Guangling Commandery city."

For several consecutive days.

Everyone quietly cultivated in the inn or occasionally went out to wander the market.

Xu Mingyuan no longer traded pills or magical artifacts.

Xu Deling rented the Feng family's artifact workshop in the market and spent over half a day repairing the earth-yellow shield.

Everyone had sufficient magical artifacts, all possessing superior-grade attack magical artifacts and middle-grade defensive magical artifacts.

This trip was primarily led by Xu Mingyuan, so most of the items obtained from killing and plundering rogue cultivators were in his storage bag for convenient arrangements.

As for those low-grade wind boots, they were bestowed upon Xu Dezhao, but then borrowed by Xu Deling to research, including that middle-grade fly whisk.

The rest were all standard magical artifacts. Even superior-grade ones weren't regarded by Xu Deling.

Time flashed by.

The Feng family's Second Elder returned from the imperial city.

He hurried back, and immediately upon returning went directly to find the Feng family head.

"Second Elder, you've returned. How was this trip?" The Feng family head asked.

He saw his expression was grave as he said in a heavy voice, "What that rogue cultivator said was true. Several years ago, Daoist Yunding returned from travels and brought back a youth named Wei Dao. It's rumored he not only has true spiritual root aptitude but also possesses a Wood Spirit Bloodline, making him an excellent candidate for the pill Dao. Unfortunately, the Dan Hall almost never lets him meet with family members. I also had no chance to meet and communicate with him, so I don't know what his feelings toward the Wei family are like."