From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 101 Tribulation Cultivator
"What about people?"

A burly man with a full beard, carrying a low-grade magic weapon longsword, chased after Xu Fugui's figure and jumped into the ravine, but a quick glance revealed no trace of him.

His name is Zuo Zhen, and he is at the fifth level of Qi Refining. He ranks second in the Tribulation Cultivation group.

A figure followed closely behind him; it was a fair-skinned scholar-like man.

Lu Hou, with a cultivation level of the fourth stage of Qi Refining, ranks third among the Tribulation Cultivator group.

"Second brother, this is a dead end. He must still be nearby. Let me track his movements."

He made a hand seal and then looked in the direction of the cave.

"Huh? The aura of the spirit seal has disappeared, but it disappeared right in our cave. Could it be such a coincidence that the guy walked right into our trap and hid in our home?"

Lu Hou possesses tracking magic and is responsible for monitoring and tracking people within the bandit gang.

He targeted Xu Fugui in Qingqiu Market because Xu Fugui was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, and he was carrying a bamboo basket, hiding his face and being very cautious, which suggested that he possessed a treasure.

"Hey, this duck has practically delivered itself into our mouths. I'll lead the way, you stay behind and keep watch."

Zuo Zhen said, holding his magic weapon, the long sword, across his chest, and with his other hand forming a golden talisman, he entered the cave with heightened vigilance.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. He wouldn't underestimate his opponent just because they were only in the early stages of Qi Refining.

The entrance to the cave is narrow and hidden.

However, once inside, the view opened up, revealing a completely different world. The cave was about three zhang high and five or six zhang deep, with several luminous pearls hanging on the rock walls, illuminating the interior.

There were few furnishings inside; the surfaces of several raised, flat rocks were polished to a shine, serving as the place where the cultivators usually meditated and practiced.

Gold and silver valuables were piled up in the corner.

This cave is where the band of cultivators recently rested and practiced.

"No?!"

Zuo Zhen was utterly astonished. The cave was so small, completely exposed, with nowhere to hide. He had even checked the few corners that offered a secluded view, but he hadn't seen the person from before.

Lu Hou was also puzzled, as he had clearly sensed that person's presence disappear here. He looked up at the cave ceiling and, still not believing it, began to search around.

"Third brother, stop touching it. How could that person hide in a rock? He must have run away."

"That shouldn't be the case. How could a mere Qi Refining Stage 1 henchman escape right under our noses?"

"In the cultivation world, never underestimate anyone. Who knows what kind of escape technique or secret treasure they might possess, allowing them to instantly vanish thousands of miles away. Let them escape if they want, we'll rest for a couple of days and then look for the next one."

Where did Chu Da go? If he were here, that person wouldn't have escaped.

Just as the two were talking, a sound came from outside the cave, and then someone leisurely floated into the cave.

The man wore a simple gray robe, had white hair and eyebrows, and a long, flowing white beard hanging from his chin, making him appear quite old.

He had a kind face and a benevolent appearance, and on the surface, he seemed to fit the image of a "reclusive immortal" in the common people's perception.

However, the blood-stained package in his hand shattered his otherworldly and dignified demeanor.

Chu Wuyang, at the sixth level of Qi Refining and over one hundred and one years old, is the leader of this "three-person gang" of cultivators.

He entered the cave and casually tossed the package in his hand into a corner, where silver notes and banknotes spilled out.

"Master Chu, you've gone to rob silver again?"

"Master Chu, what do you do at home? How come you need so much gold and silver?"

Lu Hou couldn't help but be curious, since cultivators generally didn't seek gold or silver, but only cultivation resources such as spirit crystals and spirit stones.

Ok?
Chu Wuyang glanced at Lü Hou indifferently, without answering.

They had an agreement not to inquire about each other's family backgrounds or even know each other's names. This was the best way to cooperate.

Those who engage in robbery and cultivation are risking their lives to make money; no one wants their wealth to be coveted by their accomplices after their death.

Of the three, Zuo Zhen and Lü Hou only knew that Chu Wuyang's surname was "Chu" and called him "Chu Da," but they knew nothing else.

Lu Hou, warned by Chu Wuyang's gaze, realized he had misspoke and gave an awkward laugh to change the subject: "Master Chu, if only you were here just now. We finally spotted a sheep, and then we inexplicably lost it."

Chu Wuyang sat cross-legged on a polished rock: "You can't be like the other cultivators when you're a calamity cultivator. You have to spot a fat sheep and make a big profit. Relying on numbers like you two? You'll either be hunted down by the Demon Subduing Division or dealt with by the Lan family."

Upon hearing "Demon Suppression Division" and "Lan Family," Lü Hou's face turned pale with fright: "Forget it, forget it. Anyway, I've already earned some spirit stones. Let's do it two more times and then we'll call it quits!"

"Look at you, you're already a cultivator undergoing tribulation and you're still afraid of death. You can't live without being obsessed. What we're doing is stealing other people's cultivation luck to achieve our own Great Dao!"

"What's the point of cultivating immortality if you're afraid of this and that?"

The one speaking was Zuo Zhen, who was holding a long sword, a magical weapon, and practicing his swordsmanship.

Chu Wuyang closed his eyes and began to cultivate, circulating his internal energy.

Seeing this, Lord Lü also began to cultivate his inner energy.

Such treacherous cultivators are the demonic cultivators hunted down by the imperial court's "Demon Suppression Division".

If the robbery and killing of rogue cultivators near Qingqiu Market becomes too frequent, it will affect the safety of Qingqiu Market and attract the attention of the Lan family of Qingqiu Mountain.

However, it's difficult to find a rogue cultivator elsewhere, but as long as you stay in the area from Puye County to Qingqiu Mountain, rogue cultivators will come to you on their own. Moreover, rogue cultivators who go to the market either spend spirit stones to buy resources or sell treasures for spirit stones, so they always have something to gain.

This is why the three of them risked their lives to become thieves here.

They won't stay here for long; once they've earned enough spirit stones, they'll move to another location or break up.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xu Fugui's internal space.

His "perspective" is centered on the point where he enters the body's internal space, allowing him to observe scenes in all directions.

The drawback is that he can only "see" but not "hear".

"I've actually ended up in a den of thieves."

He thought to himself that he was in for a bad time.

When he was being chased, he hid in a cave. When he saw the scene inside the cave, he realized something was wrong and quickly entered his inner space.

"What should I do now?" There are three Tribulation cultivators outside in the cave. If he goes out, he will surely die.

"Let them cultivate first. There's plenty of spiritual energy here; they won't starve or die of thirst. They can't stay in their caves forever."

Therefore, Xu Fugui also began to cultivate his internal energy.

Just like that a day passed.

Xu Fugui occasionally observed the outside world and saw that the fair-skinned young man went out, while the other two remained.

Half a day later, the burly man with a full beard left, while the elderly man remained in the cave.

"Can I kill him?"

Xu Fugui had this idea in his mind, but then immediately dismissed it.

"No, any cultivator who dares to kill and rob here must be at least in the mid-stage of Qi Refining. As long as I am patient enough, I can ensure my safety and there is no need to take any risks."

He calmed his mind and spent his days practicing Buddhism.

Several days passed, but he couldn't find an opportunity for the three of them to leave the cave at the same time.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Fu family mansion in Tonggu County.

A martial arts arena.

Xu Xiaogou asked his father-in-law, Fu Yuanzhen, about the martial arts he had created.

Fu Yuanzhen is a Grandmaster at the third level, a renowned Grandmaster martial artist in the entire Tonggu County. In his youth, he swept aside his peers and possessed extraordinary martial arts talent.

"Son-in-law, watch carefully!"

With a low shout, he unleashed the Vajra Arhat Fist, his body surface appearing as if covered with a layer of brass-colored metallic luster, reflecting a dazzling light.

Its aura is solemn and dignified. Its Eight Arhat Fist technique, though clearly consisting of two arms, appears to have eight arms.

……

"Hu~~"

After demonstrating a few moves, Fu Yuanzhen stopped: "You're only at the second level of the Innate Realm, so it's very difficult for you to create your own martial arts techniques. If your level isn't high enough, there are some things you can't truly understand and comprehend. At the Acquired Realm level, fist and foot techniques don't seem to differ much; they're just fists, feet, palms, and claws."

However, the difference becomes significant when one reaches the Innate level or even the Grandmaster level.

In the innate realm, internal energy circulates through the meridians. The seven main meridians and twelve branch meridians allow for drastically different effects depending on the pathway of internal energy circulation.

At the grandmaster level, the internal energy merges into the acupoints, becoming even more versatile…

He first explained the basic theory, and then gave Xu Xiaogou some advice: "In fact, as early as the acquired stage of stance training, one can vaguely perceive what type of physical exercise is compatible with stance training."

The three levels of stance training may seem to lack internal strength, but different stance training methods and breathing techniques open the meridians and acupoints in different sequences, which contain the laws governing the circulation of internal strength.

Carefully understanding the connection between stance training and each meridian and acupoint will help you create your own physical techniques and also benefit you in breaking through to the master level.

......"

"Been taught a lesson."

Xu Xiaogou kept in mind what Fu Yuanzhen had just said.

In fact, Fu Yuanzhen had talked about some of these topics more than once, but Xu Xiaogou gained new insights each time as his own strength improved.

Just then, someone rushed over shouting.

"Sect Master, Sect Master, something terrible has happened!"

This person brought devastating news to Fu Yuanzhen: his eldest son, Fu Zhigang, had died!

Fu Zhigang, at the third level of the Innate Realm, is in charge of the escort agency affairs of the Vajra Sect.

Not long ago, a large medicinal herb merchant in the county heard that there were robbers around, so he paid Fu Zhigang a lot of money to escort a batch of precious medicinal herbs to Jiangyan County.

Jiangyan County is located east of Puye County. The route from Tonggu County to Jiangyan County passes through Puye County and Qingqiu Mountain.

Seeing that the price was very high, Fu Zhigang took a few men and set off to escort the goods.

There was nothing wrong when I went there; I delivered the medicinal herbs smoothly, and the herb merchant received payment.

However, on the way back, they encountered robbers.

They then realized that the robbers were Qi Refining cultivators.

The herbal medicine merchant intended to pay to avoid trouble, but the other party only wanted money and had no intention of killing him.

However, Fu Zhigang failed to perceive the other party's profound strength and, in order to protect the reputation of the escort agency, tested the other party.

As it turned out, the opponent only used a spell, and Fu Zhigang died, with his belongings being taken from him.

"Tribulation cultivator, tribulation cultivator! Damn tribulation cultivator!"

Fu Yuanzhen was so angry that his internal energy surged, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

After a moment, he suppressed his immense grief and extreme anger, and looked at Xu Xiaogou with red eyes: "Son-in-law, isn't your elder brother the county magistrate? Ask him to find out what kind of strength that robber has, and whether he has any accomplices?"

Fu Yuanzhen wanted revenge, but knew he couldn't act impulsively.

If the cultivator's strength is too great, he will have no choice but to endure it, no matter how unwilling he is.

"Okay, I'll go find him now."

Xu Xiaogou knew this was a big deal, so he didn't delay and turned to leave the Fu family mansion, heading to Xu Xiaoniu's house.

When he arrived at Xu Xiaoniu's house, he learned that his elder brother was not at home, but was in the county camp where the county magistrate was handling official business.

　Thank you to "Gu Buren" for the generous donation!
　　Thank you to "Gu Buren" for the generous donation!
　　Thank you to "Gu Buren" for the generous donation!
　　Forgive me for being slow to realize this, but this is the first alliance I've ever made. Thank you so much!

　　My first promise ever, thank you so much!

　　My first promise ever, thank you so much!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)