From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 103 All-Round
"father?"

Everyone looked at Xu Fugui with puzzled expressions. Was this still their cautious and stoic father?

Xu Fugui couldn't explain the main reason why he wanted to deal with the Jiexiu: the Jiexiu blocked his way to the market to sell spiritual plants and buy spiritual pills.

"This group of cultivators must be eliminated. Let's work together to come up with a foolproof plan. Three mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators are not easy to deal with, so we must not lose any lives."

Upon hearing Xu Fugui's decision, the Xu family members offered their suggestions.

“My father-in-law is a Grandmaster of the third level, my second brother-in-law is a Primordial Master of the third level, and my third brother-in-law is a Primordial Master of the second level.”

This is the strength of the Fu family; Fu Yuanzhen alone is equivalent to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

"I have two capable officers at the first level of the Innate Realm under my command who can assist in the battle."

Xu Xiaoniu was, after all, a county lieutenant with official status, and his men possessed innate fighting prowess.

Aside from outsiders, only members of the Xu family remained: Xu Fugui at the third level of Qi Refining, Xu Xiaoniu at the second level of Qi Refining, and Xu Xiaogou at the second level of the Innate Realm.

If they lay in ambush beforehand and catch the enemy off guard, their chances of winning are extremely high.

"Dad, I want to go too."

Xu Xiaohou, who had recently advanced to the Innate Realm, spoke up, wanting to play his part in the important affairs of the Xu family.

"..."

Xu Fugui thought for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Okay. Safety comes first."

Afterwards, the group discussed the specific plans and details of the ambush.

Not only do they have to join forces with outsiders to deal with the Jie Xiu, but there is also a very important point: Xu Fugui's Qi Refining Level 3 strength cannot be exposed.

To this end, they devised a very thorough plan to ensure that nothing went wrong.

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.

a few days later.

Qingqiu Mountain Range.

The Qi Refining cultivator, shrouded in a black robe with only his eyes showing, carried a bamboo basket and stepped onto Fangshi Mountain.

His inability to look left and right revealed his identity as a novice cultivator.

Following his father's instructions, Xu Xiaohou did not conceal the wisp of spiritual energy within his body, which he had only recently begun cultivating the "Spirit Farmer's Manual," and entered the market.

Since it was his first time here, he didn't need to pretend at all; it was obvious that he was unfamiliar with the market.

Not long after he entered the market, he attracted the attention of Jie Xiu Lü Hou.

"Newbie?"

Lu Hou quietly passed by Xu Xiaohou, sensing his weak aura as he had just entered the first level of Qi Refining, and casually left a spiritual mark on him.

His methods were very subtle; even among cultivators of the same level, only those with an extremely keen sense of qi could detect the marks he had planted.

"Go find Chu Dahe and Second Brother?"

Lu Hou hesitated. As usual, upon discovering the target, he would first inform Chu Da and Zuo Zhen, instructing them to ambush outside Qingqiu Mountain.

"Forget it, he's just a rookie cultivator, my help is enough."

After obtaining the top-grade magic weapon, the Feather Pattern Flying Sword, the three of them showed signs of breaking up.

Rather than sharing the resources of this new rogue cultivator with the two of them, it's better to keep them all for oneself.

He followed Xu Xiaohou at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, keeping a subtle distance so that he was not easily noticed.

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 Xiaohou wandered around the market for a while to observe the situation before entering the Lan family's "Spirit Plant Garden".

After inquiring about the price of the spiritual plant *Dictyophora indicum*, he went to the "Tong Family Spiritual Pill Pavilion".

In the bamboo basket behind him were four spiritual plants his father had given him: two withered leaves and two iron roots, all a little over twenty years old.

The price of withered leaves is higher than that of iron root grass; the price at Lan Family Spirit Plant Nursery is 22 spirit crystals.

Xu Xiaohou sold the withered leaf crow to the Tong family's elixir pavilion for 20 spirit crystals per plant, and the price of two iron root grass plants was the same as last time: 16 spirit crystals.

The four spiritual plants earned Xu Xiaohou a "huge sum" of 72 spirit crystals.

Afterwards, he took the spirit stones and entered the Lan family's "Spirit Talisman Pavilion".

Talismans are the main business of the Lan family of Qingqiu Mountain. They have a lineage of talisman masters, and the talismans they sell are of good quality, inexpensive, and guaranteed in quality.

The "Spirit Talisman Pavilion" sells a limited variety of spirit talismans, mostly common first-tier spirit talismans.

The most famous one is the "Golden Light Talisman," which can form a golden light shield around the body to block attacks and can save lives in critical moments.

A low-grade, first-tier Golden Light Talisman, capable of withstanding a single spell attack from a Qi Refining stage cultivator or a full-force strike from a Xiantian martial artist. Price: 1 spirit stone.

A first-tier, mid-grade Golden Light Talisman, capable of withstanding one attack from a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator or a martial arts grandmaster. Against attacks from early-stage Qi Refining or innate martial artists, the Golden Light Shield can withstand several more. Price: 3 spirit stones.

Xu Xiaohou purchased one mid-grade Golden Light Talisman and three low-grade Golden Light Talismans, spending 6 spirit stones, leaving him with 1 spirit stone and 2 spirit crystals.

After circling the market a few times, he quietly left the market mountain.

"Heh, you have my spiritual mark on you, no matter how you try to escape, you can't get away from me."

Following Xu Xiaohou, Lü Hou was confident that he could "swallow" this rogue cultivator.

The two left the area of ​​Qingqiu Mountain one after the other.

Not long after, Xu Xiaohou suddenly increased his speed.

"Did you find me?"

Lu Hou quickly caught up; he couldn't let this sure thing slip away. With his Qi Refining Level 4 cultivation, his body was full of spiritual energy, which increased the spiritual energy output of his Lightness Technique, making him faster than Xu Xiaohou.

Xu Xiaohou had only just begun his cultivation journey and possessed very little spiritual energy.

Soon, Xu Xiaohou slowed down.

"Why aren't you running away? Have you run out of spiritual energy? Haha."

Lu Hou wore a bamboo hat with a black veil hanging from the brim to cover his face. He spoke in a deep voice with an unusual tone: "Hand over the spirit stones and spirit crystals you have, as well as the spirit talismans you bought at the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, and I will spare your life."

"I only care about money, I don't want to take anyone's life."

He used words to lower Xu Xiaohou's guard while slowly approaching, ready to strike at any moment.

"Really? I just got lucky and dug up a spiritual plant. Here are all the spirit stones I have.

Xu Xiaohou looked startled. "Of course it's true."

Just then, Lu Hou cast the wood-based spell "Thorns of Thorns," and vines made of spiritual energy, covered in thorns and spikes, suddenly sprouted from under Xu Xiaohou's feet and swept towards him.

Xu Xiaohou channeled his inner energy into his feet, retreated using the Mizong Step, and his body shone with a dazzling golden light.

He used that mid-grade golden light talisman.

The vines caught up with Xu Xiaohou and entangled him, but the thorns and spikes were all blocked by the golden light shield.

At the same time, several soft whistling sounds rang out.

Two flying swords came from Lu Hou's right side, and two more flying swords attacked him from behind.

He noticed the hidden weapon flying sword and hurriedly activated a mid-grade golden light talisman, which also came from the Lan family's spirit talisman pavilion.

Although he was a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, the physical bodies of Qi Refining cultivators were much weaker than those of martial artists, so he dared not use his body to directly receive the flying sword.

"Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding..."

Xu Fugui and Xu Xiaogou's hidden weapons and flying swords were just ordinary weapons. They bounced off the golden light shield and their blades twisted and were ruined.

"Ground Trap Technique!"

The solid ground beneath Lü Hou's feet instantly turned into soft quicksand, and he plummeted downwards, almost half of his body sinking into the quicksand.

At the critical moment, he reacted, extending a magical vine from his palm beyond the quicksand area, and used a lightness technique to pull the vine and escape from the quicksand area.

Knowing he was in an ambush, he dared not linger, nor dared to set foot on solid ground. Using his lightness technique, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and fled towards the cave where Chu Wuyang and Zuo Zhen were hiding.

"Whoa!"

Two more flying swords struck the golden protective shield around him.

After the flying sword, it was Xu Xiaogou's turn!
With his innate dual-level combat power, he used his internal strength to execute the elusive footwork, instantly rushing to Lu Hou's side.

The Arhat Fist struck directly at the golden light emanating from his body.

With a "clang," the golden shield trembled, leaving only a faint golden light, indicating that the shield was nearing its defensive limit.

Seeing the enemy so close, Lü Hou sprouted sharp thorns from his body and stabbed at Xu Xiaogou.

"Third brother, be careful!"

An earthen wall grows from the ground, blocking thorns and splinters.

This is Xu Xiaoniu's spell from the "Mysterious Earth Turtle Spirit Technique": Mysterious Earth Wall Shield. He is only at the second level of Qi Refining, and his magical strength is far inferior to that of Lü Hou.

The thorny thorns pierced through the earthen wall with a "thud," their force diminished slightly, but they continued to pierce Xu Xiaogou.

Xu Xiaogou channeled his internal energy into his shoulder, which was struck by the thorny wooden spikes, transforming his flesh into "copper skin and iron bones," thus blocking the weakened attack.

With a clang, the golden protective shield around Lu Hou shattered completely.

Xu Xiaohou turned around and attacked, joining forces with his third brother to attack from both sides!

Although Xu Xiaohou has only recently entered the realm of cultivation, he has practiced martial arts for many years and his martial arts skills are not weak.

The protective shield from the mid-grade golden light talisman on his body hadn't broken yet, so he didn't need to defend; he could just focus on attacking.

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, Xu Xiaoniu, Xu Xiaogou, and Xu Xiaohou, the four members of the Xu family, ambushed and killed Lu Hou.

Xu Fugui provided support from the outside using hidden weapons, flying swords, and earth-sinking techniques, while Xu Xiaoniu protected his third brother with a black earth wall shield.

Xu Xiaogou and Xu Xiaohou used their innate martial arts to launch a close-range attack, along with a mid-grade golden light talisman!

"We were actually tricked by a bunch of such weak rabble."

Lu Hou was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. Surrounded and attacked, he used all his methods, and his golden light shield was broken, leaving him with no ability to resist. Filled with resentment, he perished at the hands of Xu Xiaogou and Xu Xiaohou.

"San Gou, how are you?"

Xu Fugui noticed that Xu Xiaogou had just been pricked in the arm by thorns.

"Dad, I'm fine, just some superficial injuries."

Xu Xiaogou controlled the bleeding from the wound, and since no bones or tendons were damaged, it would heal in two days.

"A Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator is more difficult to deal with than we expected. Let's search him thoroughly and then leave quickly."

Xu Fugui never expected that the four of them would use a variety of methods and expend so much effort to ambush and kill a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators possess more spiritual energy within their bodies, control more spells with greater power, and also have protective measures such as Golden Light Talismans, which is why the four's attack was so difficult.

Of course, the main reason is that the Xu family members are too weak.

Although they appeared to be numerous, Xu Fugui, the most skilled among them, had only just entered the third level of Qi Refining and was not proficient in offensive spells.

Xu Xiaogou is at the second level of the Innate Realm, and his combat ability is the strongest.

Not long after Xu Xiaoniu entered the second level of Qi Refining, the "Mysterious Earth Turtle Spirit Technique" focused on defense.

Xu Xiaohou needs no further explanation; he is a naturally born master.

They quickly ransacked Lu Hou's belongings, the most valuable items being spirit stones—a total of thirty spirit stones!
There is also a mid-grade concealment talisman, which can conceal the aura of spiritual energy within a certain range and prevent it from being detected by divine sense. This kind of talisman can only be used when hiding; once the user uses spiritual energy to release a spell, it becomes ineffective.

Lu Hou prepared this concealment talisman for easy escape after the group disbanded. It would be incredibly useful in case they were being chased by Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Besides these treasures, he also had a jade porcelain bottle containing a spirit pill, one of which was inside.

"Liu Zi, you and I retreat. Da Niu and San Gou, you two go help deal with those two cultivators."

The four of them ambushed and killed Lu Hou here, while at the Jiexiu Cave, the three members of the Fu family, along with the two Xiantian cultivators sent by Xu Xiaoniu to assist in the battle, were fighting against two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

In terms of combat strength, they have the advantage.

Xu Fugui could not reveal his identity as a cultivator, so he and Xu Xiaohou retreated first.

"Big brother, here you go."

Xu Xiaohou gave Xu Xiaoniu two low-grade Golden Light Talismans.

As for Xu Xiaogou, he could only display the strength of the second level of the Innate Realm, and could not show his spiritual energy techniques.

The four people split up in two directions.

Xu Fugui and Xu Xiaohou concealed their identities and quietly left with the resources they had taken from Lü Hou.

(End of this chapter)