Chapter 220: Xu Family Auction, Families Arrive

Xu Chuan could guess why Wei Dao had come here.

The Cao family must have promised him something, such as a Foundation Establishment Pill but since he had made his choice, he was the Xu family's enemy.

However, given Daoist Yunzhong's kindness, as long as Wei Dao's hands weren't stained with Xu family blood, he could be spared.

If he came to his senses and returned to the right path, he could even be recruited into the Xu family.

His pill Dao talent was above Yunding's and not inferior to Xu Mingqing's. He also had a chance of reaching Daoist Yunzhong's level.

As for surpassing him, that was indeed possible too.

There was no helping it. Xu Chuan owed Daoist Yunzhong a debt of gratitude in this lifetime.

Calling him half a master wasn't an exaggeration.

Another half month passed.

Moreover, they did indeed receive considerable benefits in the form of superior-grade pills from the Wei and Feng families.

Xu Chuan sent disciples out for training every few days.

Outside the clan grounds were quite a few informants from other families. Whenever Xu family disciples went out, they would notify the Feng family.

The Feng family would then send people to ambush and kill them.

Each time they dispatched a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Unfortunately, Xu Chuan had long used Daily Divination to predict these outcomes in advance.

Whenever the Feng family sent Foundation Establishment cultivators to ambush, Xu Mingwei would bring the Xu family disciples back before they even set out.

Two or three consecutive times ended in failure but when only Qi Refining cultivators were sent, without exception, they all died outside.

Xu Chuan used this to estimate whether the Feng family had other Cao family Foundation Establishment cultivators hidden away.

If they were hiding a late Foundation Establishment cultivator as a trump card, the Xu family would have to endure for now.

After all, Xu Chuan couldn't possibly have all dozen-plus Xu family Foundation Establishment cultivators mobilize just for the Feng and Wei families.

If they truly exposed this trump card, the Cao family would absolutely not care about face.

After several attempts, the Wei and Feng families stopped sending people to ambush and instead learned from the Xu family to set lures.

Xu Chuan scoffed at this.

Every time he precisely ambushed them, never stepping into traps!

This made both families suspect whether they had Xu family informants within their ranks but after multiple investigations that caused quite a commotion, there were no results.

Finally, Xu Chuan sent out Ren Xiaoyao, Xu Mingwei, and Xu Mingxuan as bait. After consideration, the three Cao brothers all went out to ambush them.

Even if they failed, with their strength they wouldn't be in danger.

Meanwhile, Xu Chuan personally went to the Feng family clan grounds and activated his top-grade Phoenix Furnace to burn the grand array.

A second-rank array formation, even an inferior one, couldn't be easily destroyed by a fourth layer Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Only continuous, unceasing attacks had any possibility.

After a tea's time, Xu Chuan returned to the branch clan grounds.

He was eighty to ninety percent certain that only those three were sent by the Cao family to support the Feng family.

If the Xu family truly only had Xu Chuan at fourth layer Foundation Establishment, this lineup would indeed be about right.

A sixth layer Foundation Establishment peak cultivator would require at least five first layer Foundation Establishment cultivators to withstand. A fifth layer Foundation Establishment could also hold off one fourth layer and one first layer Foundation Establishment.

As for the remaining third layer Foundation Establishment peak cultivator, blocking two first layer Foundation Establishment cultivators posed no major problem.

Adding in the Wei family's Wei Changkong, it could be said that in others' eyes, the combined strength of the Wei and Feng families exceeded the Xu family by a considerable margin.

As for Qi Refining cultivators, the two families' manpower was only greater than, not less than, the Xu family's.

Half an incense stick's time later, the three returned.

They hadn't engaged in combat at all. Once Xu Mingwei detected them, he turned and fled, even leading them in circles.

In terms of speed, there was no concern at all.

The three sharing a superior-grade flying boat weren't any slower than middle Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The three Cao brothers couldn't possibly let Cao San go alone.

If he were surrounded and killed, this competition with the Xu family would put them at a disadvantage.

The three originally thought this would be a prolonged war of attrition.

However, several days later, the Xu family sent out invitations to hold a grand auction in Guangling Commandery.

Almost all Foundation Establishment families in every commandery received invitation letters, including the Jiang, Lei, and Lin families from the Imperial City, as well as the five major second-rank families.

Xu Chuan couldn't guarantee everyone would come, but most definitely would.

After all, this auction would feature an auxiliary pill that increased Foundation Establishment probability by nearly ten percent—the Jade Sprout Pill.

This pill was refined using five-thousand-year Earth Heart Jade Marrow Mushrooms combined with other spiritual herbs.

There would also be superior-grade Divine Sense Pills, Void Breakthrough Pills, Jade Sprout Pills, Harmonizing Qi Pills, and top-grade artifacts.

None of these weren't items Foundation Establishment cultivators desperately desired.

…

Longjiang Commandery, Liu Family.

"This Xu family is truly interesting. Being targeted and suppressed by the Cao family, yet still having the mind to hold a grand auction."

"However, the Jade Sprout Pill with efficacy comparable to inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, plus the second-rank breakthrough pill Void Breakthrough Pill, the healing sacred item Jade Sprout Pill, the Harmonizing Qi Pill suitable for late Foundation Establishment, and top-grade artifacts."

"Notify Wuqing. Have him go to Guangling Commandery together seven days from now to attend the Xu family auction."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

...

Yunshan Commandery, Feng Family.

The Feng family only had one Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he had less than sixty years until his lifespan ended.

Naturally, he was anxious to cultivate a successor.

Unfortunately, although Feng Qingyang had survived returning from the Wuhua Secret Realm last time, his gains weren't great.

Now seeing hope, even if it would draw the Cao family's displeasure, he had to resolutely attend the Xu family's auction.

"Qingyang, go to Guangling Commandery with me seven days from now."

"Old Ancestor, what are we going to Guangling Commandery for?" Feng Qingyang asked puzzled, "The Wei and Feng families there are fiercely competing with the Xu family. Our Feng family isn't going to get involved, are we?"

"You'll know when you read this invitation letter."

Feng Qingyang took it and looked.

"A Jade Sprout Pill comparable to Foundation Establishment Pills?!"

"And a Void Breakthrough Pill for breaking through Foundation Establishment bottlenecks?!"

"How can the Xu family bear to auction these off? Could it be a trap?"

The Feng family old ancestor glanced at him, "No matter whether there's a pit of fire ahead, this is our Feng family's last chance. If we can bid for the Jade Sprout Pill, with Qingyang's qualifications, your Foundation Establishment probability will increase considerably. Your talent and comprehension are stronger than mine, and you're still young. If you break through to Foundation Establishment, reaching middle Foundation Establishment in the future won't be a problem. If opportunities arise, reaching late Foundation Establishment isn't without hope either. That way, you could cultivate even more Foundation Establishment cultivators for our Feng family."

"Qingyang understands!" Feng Qingyang nodded, "Regardless of whether I can bid for that Jade Sprout Pill this time, I will attempt Foundation Establishment and give it my all!"

The Feng family old ancestor nodded.

…

Imperial City, Lei Family.

Lei family head Lei Yunzhao looked at the Xu family auction invitation, falling into contemplation.

"It's not strange for this Xu family to produce these things. With Xu Chuan's pill refining mastery, as long as there are materials, he can refine them. It's just, why hold an auction at this particular time?"

Lei Yunzhao ultimately convened a clan council to discuss this matter.

Finally, the Lei family old ancestor made the decision, "Send several people to Guangling Commandery five days from now. Even our Lei family lacks Void Breakthrough Pills and Harmonizing Qi Pills. And Jade Sprout Pills too. Heyang just returned from the Azure Sea Forest several months ago with his divine consciousness injured. Divine consciousness injuries are extremely difficult to recover from. Having him recuperate on his own would probably take several years or even over a decade. With damaged divine consciousness, his combat strength will decrease considerably during that time. Therefore, we must bring back at least one Jade Sprout Pill."

Although Lei Heyang was only fifth layer Foundation Establishment, he was the most promising person of the He generation and had hope of reaching Foundation Establishment perfection in the future.

If he wasted over a decade due to divine consciousness injuries, it would be a major loss for the Lei family.

"Yes, Old Ancestor. Yunzhao will arrange suitable people to go," Lei Yunzhao said.

The Jiang and Lin families were also hesitating whether to attend.

After all, Void Breakthrough Pills, Harmonizing Qi Pills, and Jade Sprout Pills were quite tempting.

They also summoned Foundation Establishment elders for discussion.

In the end, most elders agreed to attend.

It was just attending an auction, not getting involved in the dispute between the Cao family and Xu family.

As for the so-called Wei and Feng families, they weren't taken seriously at all.

They were merely puppets the Cao family used to suppress the Xu family.

Regardless, they would ultimately just be sacrifices.

…

Cao Family Imperial Palace.

"What a fine Xu family. Holding an auction yet deliberately not inviting my Cao family."

Upon learning news of the Xu family auction, Cao Shengming was quite furious.

"Want to secretly contact people from other families to help your Xu family?"

"I'd like to see who dares step forward then!"

Cao Shengming immediately arranged for people to go to Guangling Commandery five days later to attend the Xu family auction.

After all, what the Xu family was offering this time held genuine appeal for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

As long as the benefits were great enough, there would naturally be Foundation Establishment cultivators who were tempted.

This one auction drew the attention of all Foundation Establishment families in Great Wei.

Five days passed in a flash.

Families farther from Guangling Commandery, such as Imperial City families, all set out.

For places like Longjiang Commandery, which was only an hour or two from Guangling Commandery, leaving on the day itself was fine.

During these days, since the Xu family was preparing for the auction, they paid no attention to the Wei and Feng families.

All necessary probing had been completed.

They were just waiting for the grand show to begin.

The day before the auction, Xu Mingshu, Xu Mingxian, Xu Deling, and Xu Deyue quietly arrived.

Those who would take action this time, besides the publicly known Xu Chuan, Ren Xiaoyao, Xu Deling, Xu Mingxuan, Xu Mingshu, and Xu Mingxian, would be Xu Mingwei and Xu Deyue.

The others wouldn't appear.

Only Xu Mingqing would remain to guard Dongxi.

Oh no, there was also an old flood dragon taking care of youngsters.

The next day, as dawn light broke, Foundation Establishment families from all over arrived in Guangling Commandery.

Some families met halfway and traveled together.

Outside the Xu family merchant operation, it was extraordinarily lively.

Resounding voices rang out one after another.

"Yuehu Commandery Zhou family arrives—"

"Yunshan Commandery Feng family arrives—"

"Longjiang Commandery Liu family arrives—"

"Tongshan Commandery Cao family, Qin family arrive—"

"Taiyuan Commandery Li family arrives—"

"Imperial City Lei family arrives—"

Foundation Establishment cultivators from various commanderies entered the Xu merchant operation one after another.

Before the auction began, the Foundation Establishment cultivators chatted with each other.

An incense stick's time passed in a flash.

"Great Wei imperial family, Cao family arrives!"

A voice suddenly rang out at the entrance. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators turned to look.

The Cao family sent Cao Jinyan, at fourth layer Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Xu Chuan immediately approached with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Cao's arrival truly brings radiance to my Xu family. Please, take the seat of honor."

Cao Jinyan glanced at Xu Chuan, a cold smile rising at the corner of his mouth, "The Xu family truly made grand gestures, inviting so many Foundation Establishment families. Why deliberately not invite my Cao family? Could it be you harbor resentment toward my Cao family?!"

Hearing this, many Foundation Establishment cultivators showed surprised expressions.

"This Xu family actually didn't send the Cao family an invitation?"

"Fellow Daoist Cao jests. Our Xu family naturally holds the utmost respect for the Cao family. But this isn't exactly some high-end auction. Those attending are just Foundation Establishment families. The Cao family is a Golden Core family. How could they regard these things? So how could our Xu family have you condescend to come here?"

Xu Chuan was a master of passive aggression.

"Ah, if I'd known the Cao family regarded our Xu family so highly, I would have had someone send the most honorable invitation long ago. However, next time I'll definitely remember."

Cao Jinyan's face turned green with anger but with so many Foundation Establishment cultivators at the auction venue, so many eyes watching, Cao Jinyan naturally wouldn't lose the Cao family's face.

"Then Fellow Daoist Xu must remember next time!"

"Understood. Fellow Daoist Cao, please take your seat quickly."

Xu Chuan ascended the high platform.

"Fellow Daoists have probably all heard that Guangling Commandery hasn't been very peaceful lately. The Feng family that my Xu family previously drove away has returned and allied with the Wei family to compete with my Xu family. Given this chaotic time, I'm extremely grateful you all could come."

Lei Hekong smiled, "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Xu. We're only here to attend the auction and won't get involved in your Guangling Commandery disputes."

"I must also thank the Cao family for granting autonomy to us Foundation Establishment families in each commandery. If families from other commanderies could casually interfere, I'm afraid my Xu family would have been annihilated long ago."

A Liu family Foundation Establishment cultivator said, "Aren't you joking, Fellow Daoist Xu? Now your Xu family is also a third-rank family with deep foundations. Looking at the families present, how many dare claim they could annihilate your Xu family?"

Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "Fellow Daoist Liu, you're mistaken there. Our Great Wei is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers."

"The Feng family recently recruited three supreme elders—three Foundation Establishment cultivators no less. Among them, two are fifth and sixth layer Foundation Establishment cultivators respectively. They're all rogue cultivators. If not for them, the Feng family would be gone already."

Speaking thus, Xu Chuan looked at Cao Jinyan, "Fellow Daoist Cao, those people all seem to be surnamed Cao."

Cao Jinyan's expression froze. He rebuked, "What do you mean by that? Are you implying those people are Foundation Establishment cultivators from my imperial Cao family? Ridiculous! Great Wei has so many people surnamed Cao. Not all come from my Cao family!"

"Just like all of Great Wei doesn't only have your Xu family with the surname Xu and Foundation Establishment cultivators, right?"

"But have you Fellow Daoists ever encountered rogue cultivators in Great Wei with such formidable strength?"

"Rarely heard of."

"But no one can guarantee there definitely aren't any."

"Perhaps they're ascetic cultivators!"

Quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators spoke up.

Cao Jinyan said impatiently, "Fellow Daoist Xu, Cao can guarantee those people in the Feng family are absolutely not from my imperial Cao family."

"In that case, I'm relieved," Xu Chuan breathed a sigh of relief. "I was afraid they were Brother Cao's clansmen. If we accidentally killed them during conflict, wouldn't that offend your Cao family to death?"

A group of newly Foundation Establishment cultivators wanting to kill fifth and sixth layer Foundation Establishment peak cultivators?!

Cao Jinyan sneered inwardly, saying disdainfully, "My Cao family has never interfered in internal disputes within each commandery. If you truly have the ability, kill them if you can. But if any of your Xu family's Foundation Establishment die in conflict, don't expect my Cao family to intervene either. If we can't be fair and just, how can my Cao family rule Great Wei and govern all families?"

Xu Chuan immediately cupped his fists, "The imperial Cao family is truly a model for us families!"

Cao Jinyan raised his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone with disdain.

At this moment, the Feng family old ancestor said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, enough idle chat. Let's get to the main topic."

"Fellow Daoist Feng makes a good point," Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "This auction will be personally hosted by me. If there's any inadequate hospitality, please be understanding, Fellow Daoists. Then I declare, the Xu family auction..."

Suddenly, a Qi Refining perfection cultivator rushed into the auction venue, shouting loudly, "Grand Elder, this is terrible! The Feng and Wei families have struck against our Xu family. More disciples have been killed. Elder Xiaoyao and the others couldn't contain their anger and have already gone to attack the Feng family clan grounds!"