Chapter 426

The Mount Yuting Guard rushed down. Chen Mu-feng's expression was gloomy. Li Li Chengliao sipped his tea and spoke:

"Garrison Commander, what happened?"

Chen Mu-feng turned back and said respectfully:

"Returning to Young Master, it is just some trivial matter... allow me..."

Li Li Chengliao happily poured him a cup of tea and said softly:

"There are no trivial matters; they are all family affairs."

Chen Mu-feng's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said:

"It is just that Miss Liu... has a childhood sweetheart, who is the young master of a family in the town, surnamed Xu, with some family business... His ancestor was a town manager. The Liu family originally thought of using Miss Liu to climb this branch, but who would have thought they would be favored by the family head, and they changed their minds immediately... causing some trouble..."

"Oh?"

Li Li Chengliao laughed in realization, saying somewhat jokingly:

"It seems I have become the playboy in the storybook who steals a wife!"

Chen Mu-feng felt embarrassed and said in a low voice:

"Just now, the mansion sent two people to invite Miss Liu... they were beaten out by that person. Although these two have cultivation, they were no match for him."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Li Chengliao's smile disappeared in an instant. He stared at the middle-aged man in front of him and said softly:

"On my Li family's territory, with my lineage in charge, I sent people to invite her, and she dared to beat them out? What does he take my family for!"

"Whether she marries or not, I have never forced her. It is a matter of one sentence; why make it so embarrassing!"

Chen Mu-feng was silent, lowering his head:

"This subordinate has already sent the Mount Yuting Guards over..."

"Wait."

Li Li Chengliao frowned and replied:

"I finally came down the mountain; don't make a big scene. Several of the clan uncles do not like these commotions, so don't attract their attention; it really wouldn't look good."

Chen Mu-feng nodded repeatedly. Li Li Chengliao said:

"You call two Mount Yuting Guards, and I will go take a look myself."

He straightened his brocade robe. Chen Mu-feng accompanied him down, saying in his mouth:

"This Young Master Xu is also strange. In the past, he could not speak and was trapped at the second level of Tai Xi for many years. He only broke through in recent months and even started speaking. Everyone praises him for his thick accumulation and thin hair..."

Liu family courtyard.

Although the Liu family had been in decline for many years, they had once been glorious. Although the courtyard was gray and old, it occupied a large area. The bricks and stones were cyan-gray, and the stone table in the courtyard was exquisite. A woman was standing leaning against the stone table, her face full of worry.

Her face was beautiful, and her temperament was cold, but her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, revealing a trace of sorrow. On the other side stood a sturdy youth, handsome and dashing, with an astonishing amount of blood energy.

"Fifth Brother... you are too impulsive... The Li family's power is strong and deeply rooted, and they have geniuses cultivating in the sect. Marrying into an immortal clan, why did you offend them like this?"

"When they came to the door, I could have just found an excuse to deal with them. You beat those two out; wouldn't that make a big scene!"

Xu Xu Wulang crossed his arms and shook his head, sneering:

"You don't understand. How many times can you deal with them by finding excuses? As long as that eldest young master still covets you, he will eventually send people to pester you. The Liu family will not let go of the opportunity to climb a high branch. I just want to make a big scene so he knows to retreat!"

"The Li family cares about face and has strict rules. I am only afraid that the scene won't be big enough!"

Liu Liu Lingzhen shook her head slightly, saying in a low voice:

"You haven't left the courtyard for many years, and you couldn't speak before, so you don't know the Li family's power..."

"Don't worry!"

Xu Xu Wulang laughed loudly, proudly saying:

"I have already broken through to Qi Refining! The Great Dao is right before my eyes!"

"What!"

Liu Liu Lingzhen lost her composure instantly, both surprised and happy:

"It's only been a few years! You've broken through again!"

She paused, then said regretfully:

"It's just a pity that it's two years too late. You are already twenty-five years old, and that portion of heaven and earth spiritual energy was given to your eldest brother by the Xu family..."

"No matter."

Xu Xu Wulang raised an eyebrow, disdainfully saying:

"I don't even look at that thing! It's just a mere portion of 【Cave Spring Clear Qi】; I used something better."

"It's just that I broke through too quickly and cannot be revealed to others yet. Although I have secret techniques to cover it up, it's hard to guarantee that the Li family doesn't have some pupil technique that can see through it. Let's wait a few more years..."

His tone changed, and he sneered:

"I'm just waiting for that group of running dogs to come to the door. If they dare to lay a hand on you in broad daylight, what use is it even if he, Li Li Chengliao, is the eldest young master? The people in the Clan Justice Court are eyeing them covetously and can report directly to Mount Qingdu. He will have plenty of trouble!"

Liu Liu Lingzhen calmed down a lot after hearing his words, saying in a low voice:

"I'm only afraid the Clan Justice Court will shield them..."

"Hahaha."

Xu Xu Wulang said with great certainty:

"I checked the records these past few days. The Clan Justice Court has always promoted itself by impeaching the powerful... If there is a fault, they will definitely punish the powerful first."

He sneered:

"As long as you and I don't lose our footing, the Mount Yuting Guards can't do anything to you and me! Above them, there is still the Immortal Sect watching, upholding justice. They will definitely not let you and me suffer!"

Liu Liu Lingzhen nodded in a daze, listening to her sweetheart's words. Xu Xu Wulang's spiritual sense moved, and he said in a deep voice:

"Someone is coming!"

Sure enough, a flattering voice from a Liu clan elder came from outside. The courtyard gate was knocked open suddenly, and there were two creaking sounds. The voice of Liu's mother came from outside:

"Zhen'er! Open the door quickly!"

Liu Liu Lingzhen lost her composure instantly, pulling Xu Xu Wulang to tell him to leave, but Xu Xu Wulang remained motionless, saying coldly:

"It's too late. I assume he can't see through my cultivation; just let him come in!"

Liu's mother didn't wait for her to open the door either. With a creak, she pushed the door open and entered. Leading them was a youth dressed in light-colored dharma robes, carrying a spear on his back. His gaze swept across the faces of the two, and he waved his hand.

The middle-aged man behind him actually had a cultivation base of the fifth level of Qi Refining. With just a push of his hand, he pushed out the group of Liu clan elders and uncles. The door slammed shut tightly. This youth had a very heroic spirit between his eyebrows, only saying:

"Li family's Li Li Chengliao, greetings to Fellow Daoist."

Liu Liu Lingzhen fell into an ice cellar instantly. Xu Xu Wulang was also shocked for a moment, not expecting Li Li Chengliao to come to the door himself, and forced himself to say:

"Xu family's Xu Xiao, greetings to Young Master."

Li Li Chengliao just saw the two of them exchanging glances and understood immediately. The smile on his face did not diminish, and he said softly:

"Young Master Xu truly has a good bearing. A prominent surname of the Xu family has finally produced a heroic figure."

Li Li Chengliao's words hit Xu Xiao so hard that a belly full of wording couldn't be used. Liu Liu Lingzhen was even more caught in a dilemma. Xu Xiao was stunned for two moments, and Li Li Chengliao had already continued:

"Previously, it was the Liu family who reported the young lady's name; it was truly a foolish thing to do! Those two servants even took money from the Liu family, busy inviting the young lady over. Fortunately, Young Master Xu stepped in to stop it, almost causing a misunderstanding!"

He said in a gentle and pleasant manner:

"This time, it was the mansion's lack of strict discipline. I have taken a quota on the peak to compensate the Xu family and the young lady, and have already sent people over. I have come to the door specifically to apologize; I hope the young lady will not blame the mansion for its unintentional mistake."

Not to mention how Xu Xiao felt, Liu Liu Lingzhen was stunned for two full breaths, her face showing joy, and she glanced at him with great favor, bowing to thank him. Xu Xiao lowered his head to echo, and Liu Liu Lingzhen was beaming with joy.

Li Li Chengliao stared at him with a strange gaze, then left decisively. A group of Liu clan elders and relatives surrounded him to hold him back and cry.

This group of people were playboys when the Liu family was in power, and now that they were old and in charge, they were even more of a mess. Li Li Chengliao walked out of the courtyard, shook off the crying and holding back of the group of Liu family members, and went far away with Chen Mu-feng.

After Li Li Chengliao went out, Chen Mu-feng seemed to have many words held in his heart. Until they landed in the main hall, the middle-aged man leaned close to his ear and said in a low voice:

"That Xu Xu Wulang... is really at the third level of Tai Xi."

Li Li Chengliao's smile also disappeared, revealing a look of doubt, and he said softly:

"The Liu family is a mess, not to mention that Liu Liu Lingzhen is indeed a stupid thing with a rotten interior. It's fortunate that the engagement wasn't set, otherwise there would be trouble sooner or later."

"As for Xu Xiao... this person rose suddenly, which is quite strange."

Li Li Chengliao pondered for a breath and asked:

"Tell me in detail about the news of Xu Xu Wulang before and after!"

Chen Mu-feng also understood the seriousness of the matter and hurriedly said:

Li Li Chengliao calculated and said doubtfully:

"Could it be that this person had some fortuitous encounter?"

Doubts arose in his heart, and he turned back to ask:

"I remember the Liu family head... is a miscellaneous Qi cultivator, right?"

"Exactly."

Li Li Chengliao heard his answer, gently put his hands behind his back, and said thoughtfully:

"You send someone to recruit him, spend some spiritual objects to bribe him, and let him go and test this Xu Xu Wulang."

Chen Mu-feng was stunned for a moment, feeling that Li Li Chengliao's move was overly cautious and somewhat disapproving. However, Li Li Chengliao's status was noble, so he still nodded and went to handle it, leaving Li Li Chengliao standing in the hall, looking at the tea that had long since turned cold in the wind:

"I want to see if it's some monster making trouble."

Liu family courtyard.

The Li family had just gone out. Liu Liu Lingzhen said happily:

"He doesn't have the airs of a noble family! He is truly a good person!"

'A good person?'

Xu Xiao sighed in his heart. Li Li Chengliao's response was completely beyond his expectations. He thought hatefully:

'What a good move to turn an enemy into a friend! No wonder the Li family can cover the sky with one hand on the lake, monopolizing spiritual fields, forcibly collecting taxes, squeezing out every bit of spiritual rice, and then relying on relationships to monopolize quotas, so that only their noble family disciples can enter the Immortal Sect to cultivate... and sit firmly in this noble family position!'

'That young master is polite on the surface, but who knows if he is holding a grudge in his heart? It seems I cannot stay here for long. I should leave early, go out to explore, and wait until I have cultivated an Immortal Foundation and Divine Abilities before returning to overthrow this hegemon...'

He said in a low voice:

"Zhen'er, once you break through to Qi Refining, you and I will go out to explore!"

This matter was originally something Liu Liu Lingzhen and he had been thinking about, but at this moment, the woman was somewhat hesitant, saying in a low voice:

"But... but now he has given me a position to cultivate on the mountain... The demonic disaster is raging outside, isn't it good to receive a salary in a safe place? The Li family is also quite good... they never kill people to take blood energy."

Xu Xiao sneered, transmitting his voice with dharma power:

"Such a behemoth, just thinking about it, must have some unspeakable deeds. Li Li Ximing can refine so many elixirs, and his cultivation doesn't fall behind. Perhaps it's because of demonic arts and blood energy... secretly hiding from the Immortal Sect to kill people. Where could they be any better? If the Immortal Sect finds out, they will definitely not have a good end!"

Liu Liu Lingzhen thought about it carefully and felt it made sense, looking at her sweetheart with admiration. Xu Xiao continued:

"Once you and I either roam the world or enter the Immortal Sect, and both return as Purple Mansion cultivators, and then replace them, wouldn't that be a beautiful thing? By then, let alone this little salary, the entire South Bank will be yours and mine."

His body was overflowing with strong confidence, making Liu Liu Lingzhen very intoxicated. Compared to this, the Li family young master's politeness and unwillingness to cause trouble just now seemed inferior. She giggled and nodded forcefully.

Xu Xiao paused, feeling that things were somewhat difficult to handle. Li Li Chengliao's performance was too far beyond his expectations. He could only flip his hand and take out a pill, saying in a low voice:

"You go and break through in seclusion now, take this medicine, don't wait for Qi Refining. Once you reach Yujing, you and I will set off."

Liu Liu Lingzhen became excited instantly, doubting:

"But where did you get this... don't go stealing from home..."

"Rest assured."

Xu Xiao said softly.

Sending Liu Liu Lingzhen into the backyard, Xu Xiao stepped forward to leave. The news of his breakthrough to Qi Refining was still being hidden and could not be told to others, so he didn't drive the wind to leave. He had just walked out of the room when he saw an old man standing in front of him with a ferocious expression.

"Liu family head."

Xu Xiao looked down on him in his heart, but for Liu Liu Lingzhen's sake, he still asked a question. He didn't expect the old family head to come up and scold him:

"You base fellow without a mother, seducing the girl of my family!"

A fierce look suddenly surged on Xu Xiao's face, and he said viciously:

"I respect you as an old thing for your daughter's sake, but don't be ungrateful!"

The old Liu man was waiting for him. At that moment, he buckled over with one palm, muttering and scolding. Xu Xiao buckled his arm with one hand, restraining his hand like iron pincers. The old man couldn't pull his hand back, so he used his other hand to draw the precious sword at his waist.

Xu Xiao sneered, his other hand quickly pinching the precious sword like thunder. With a pull and a push, his two lips opened, and he spat out a black, shining fire.

The old Liu man felt a stinging pain in his chest and hurriedly drew two talismans, but they were all burned clean in front of this fire. He only felt his whole body go weak, and his cultivation seemed to be burned dry.

He gasped and called out, seeing that he was about to lose his breath. Xu Xiao didn't intend to make a big scene, so he sucked lightly, sucking the fire back into his abdomen, and said coldly:

"If you dare to come and find trouble again... I will make sure you don't have a good death."

He flipped his hand, and a small black talisman appeared in his hand, slapping it onto the old Liu man's chest, warning:

"If you dare to reveal my news, as long as you open your mouth, this fire will burn you clean!"

"Heh! Demon... demonic cultivator!"

The old Liu man had never seen the world. Seeing this dharma spell so black, gloomy, and strange, he was scared out of his wits, calling him a demonic cultivator directly, and closed his mouth under the fierce gaze of the other party, collapsing to the ground.

Xu Xiao sneered and walked away. The old Liu man climbed up timidly, spat a mouthful of venom, quietly slipped to the backyard, and knelt to the ground with a thud, sobbing and not daring to speak.

A Mount Yuting Guard also landed in the courtyard, his appearance quite similar to Chen Mu-feng's, his eyes full of shock, muttering:

"Just this one move... just this one move..."

That black flame, let alone the old Liu man, even he, at the second level of Qi Refining, felt a thick sense of threat, losing his composure:

"Could it be some reincarnated person, or did he obtain some immortal inheritance! Chen has never seen such a genius!"

Just as the Chen-surnamed Court Guard finished speaking, he saw a figure leaning in front of the backyard door. It was Xu Xiao, who had returned. The black flame in the youth's hand was burning fiercely, looking at him very gloomily:

"Garrison Commander Chen... why bother to meddle in other people's business..."

I'm going home to pack up during this period, so I'll be very busy tomorrow. I'll save a draft tonight, and I should be able to update three times in two days.

This plot is something I've always wanted to do—to look at the protagonist favored by destiny from another angle.

(End of chapter)