From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 114 Price
During the day, in the evening.

Xu Xiaogou was practicing martial arts in his backyard.

He swung his fists and claws, creating gusts of wind.

"brush!"

He extended his tiger claw, his inner strength surging into his hand, his five fingers sharp as hooks, as if plated with a layer of bright orange-brown copper.

"Om~"

He retracted his claws, turned sideways, and charged like a wild bear. The internal energy within his meridians trembled, and his body shone with a golden luster.

After a few moves, he stopped and stood still: "Haha, the Golden Body Technique of the Five Elements Stance is showing promise."

He smiled slightly, a slight upturn to his lips.

Creating his own martial arts technique was extremely difficult, but after breaking through to the Grandmaster realm, he discussed it with his father-in-law, Fu Yuanzhen, for many days and finally gained some insight.

In the Five Elements Stance Exercise, the metal element, when compared with the Vajra Arhat Stance Exercise of the Vajra School, can imitate an effect similar to a golden body.

Gold is strong and sharp.

It can be used for defense or as a "claw" technique to unleash its destructive power.

"Sir, someone has secretly delivered a letter."

At this moment, a maidservant came to deliver a letter to Xu Xiaogou. The envelope was addressed to: [To Xu Xiaogou, father of Xu Zhongche.]

"Ok?"

Xu Xiaogou took the letter with a puzzled look, opened the envelope, and glanced at it. His expression immediately changed drastically.

"Where is the messenger? When did he deliver it?"

"The man left the letter and then left."

With a "crack," Xu Xiaogou's foot shattered the floor tiles, and he rushed out the door.

He glanced around, having no idea who had delivered the letter. Without time to think, he went to find Xu Xiaoniu.

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.

County camp.

Xu Xiaoniu was working when he learned that several girls had recently gone missing in the county, ranging in age from seven or eight to thirteen or fourteen.

This matter is unusual and may very well involve demonic cultivators.

"Someone, take these to the Demon Subduing Division."

Given the limited strength of his forces, they would likely become cannon fodder in the demonic cultivator incident.

At this moment, one of his men came and delivered a letter: "Sir, someone outside has delivered a letter for you."

The envelope was addressed to "County Magistrate Xu".

Tao Shiyuan was worried that a mistake in delivering the letter would delay important matters, so he arranged for two letters to ensure that the Xu family would know about Zhongche's matter.

He opened the envelope and his expression changed.

Where is the messenger?

“He was taken away by the guards outside.”

As he spoke, Xu Xiaoniu took three steps at a time and quickly strode out the door.

The messenger was a young man who knelt down and begged for mercy, saying, "My lord, I know nothing. An old man gave me ten taels of silver this morning and told me to deliver the letter to you at Shenshi (3-5 PM)."

I'm telling the truth, I work as a deliveryman, earning a meager living..."

Xu Xiaoniu waved his hand: "Let him go."

"Thank you, sir."

The young man left in a hurry.

Xu Xiaogou arrived just in time: "Big brother, A-Che is in trouble!..."

"I understand."

Xu Xiaoniu waved the envelope in his hand, his expression serious: "Don't rush, stay calm. We don't know how much of what that person said is true or false, so we need to be fully prepared."

“Sigh! What that man said is probably true. Back then he… Let’s not waste any more time. I’m going to find my father-in-law. You go home and find Dad and Liu Zi. I’m afraid this matter won’t end well.”

Xu Xiaogou forced himself to calm down, knowing that he must not panic, especially in critical moments.

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 old residence of the Xu family.

Xu Fugui and Xu Xiaohou saw the letter.

"The inheritance of a pharmacist's skills is not so easy to obtain."

Xu Fugui thought.

It concerns Xu Zhongche's safety, and the other party is clearly trying to "use someone else's knife to kill him," using his family's power to deal with their enemy.

"Father, do you need me to bring some men?"

Xu Xiaoniu inquired. He had innate martial artists under his command, but they were only at the first level of the innate realm.

Stronger innate martial artists would not be willing to serve as his servants.

"No need, there's not enough time. Just our family and the Fu family." Xu Fugui didn't want outsiders present; it would be best if only family members were there.

"Liu Zi, take a few more flying swords. Let's set off now."

Although the magic weapon is only one feather-patterned flying sword, carrying more ordinary flying swords can still be very useful.

The three rode three fine horses and hurried to Yangjiao Mountain, which is located at the border of Tonggu County and Qingping County.

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 bright moon hangs high in the night sky, illuminating the remote Yangjiao Mountain.

The Cai family from Qingping County arrived first.

They were further away from Yangjiao Mountain and had received Tao Shiyuan's letter earlier.

At first, there were some doubts, but there was also a pregnancy-preserving pill that only the Tao family could refine as proof.

Cai Wenjing is the current head of the Cai family and a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining.

Decades ago, the Cai family risked being criticized behind their backs to steal the Tao family's cultivation technique in order to find him a fire-based cultivation method.

A considerable amount of money was spent on smoothing things over.

Unfortunately, Tao Shiyuan's son refused to tell, and his family's plan fell through.

Cai Wenjing later spent a huge sum of money to find a technique called "Blazing Sun Fire Element Technique," which was also a fire-based cultivation method, but it was not as suitable for alchemy as "Nine Flames Spirit Fire Technique."

He still longs for the "Nine Flames Spiritual Fire Technique," and if he obtains the technique, he can switch to it. Switching to a technique of the same attribute is not difficult.

At the same time, he also coveted the Tao family's pill-making methods and formulas, such as the pregnancy-preserving pill. That's why he risked the Tao family's revenge and led many of the family's powerful members here.

Cai Wenjing embarked on the path of cultivation and discovered that the silver his family earned from running the pharmacy was nothing at all. Even if he sold everything he owned, he couldn't exchange it for more than a few spirit stones. As a result, his cultivation progress was slow, and he was only at the third level of Qi Refining.

The lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator is the greatest gift he can receive, and the profession of pharmacist becomes more sought after with age.

"Everyone be careful. The remnants of the Tao family lured us here; they must be after revenge."

Cai Wenjing reminded everyone.

"Master, that old man is nearing the end of his life. Who would help someone who's halfway to the grave?"

The one who spoke was a member of the Cai family who lacked talent in alchemy but specialized in martial arts to enhance the Cai family's strength. He was the strongest present, a Grandmaster at the second level.

As one of the top pharmacy families in Qingping County, the Cai family wielded considerable power. Pills were extremely profitable, earning far more than running a martial arts school.

The pharmacy would not lack resources such as Qi and Blood Pills; even if they relied on brute force to produce innate talents, they could still create one innate master after another.

With so many innate talents, only a few exceptional individuals occasionally manage to break through to the Grandmaster realm.

Of the people from the Cai family who came, two were at the Grandmaster level and the rest were at the Innate level, totaling seven or eight.

Among those in the Innate Realm, there are several candidates to inherit the Medicine Master's legacy, so they only practice stance training and not fist and foot techniques, thus their strength is limited.

“Patriarch, it’s good that he’s willing to show himself. Getting rid of him once and for all will solve the problem. Otherwise, we’ll always be worried that he might suddenly appear and harm our people.”

"indeed."

Their biggest worry was that Tao Shiyuan had managed to escape without them being "eliminated completely."

No one knows if he will suddenly appear and kill several of the younger members of the Cai family in a desperate act.

The group quietly approached Yangjiao Mountain. After searching the area, they found no ambush nearby, only Tao Shiyuan and Xu Zhongche.

"Uncle Tao, how have you been these past few years?"

Cai Wenjing stepped forward and looked at Xu Zhongche, who was standing next to Tao Shiyuan.

"I'm alright. Where's your dad?"

Tao Shiyuan still harbored a deep-seated hatred for the head of the Cai family at the time.

My father passed away a few years ago.

"Good riddance, good riddance, ha ha..."

Tao Shiyuan laughed heartily, his laughter carrying far under the moonlight and startling a flock of birds away.

Cai Wenjing's face darkened: "Why did you bring us here today? Have you thought it through? Are you planning to hand over your family's martial arts techniques and medicine prescriptions to us?"

"Pah, dream on! Although I have lost my son, I have taken in a precious disciple. I have passed on all my skills to him. If you have the guts, go ask him for them."

Tao Shiyuan pointed to Xu Zhongche beside him.

Xu Zhongche understood what his master was planning; wasn't this a trap to kill him?

The people on the other side were ruthless enough to deal with the Tao family for the sake of the cultivation techniques and medicine prescriptions, so they were equally willing to deal with him.

Cai Wenjing was surprised: "Oh, you're willing to pass on your family's martial arts techniques? It would have been better if you had this awareness earlier. My family spent so much money to buy them, but your family refused to sell, saying that they would rather die than sell their inheritance."

What valuable thing did he offer that you're willing to teach him?

"I didn't take a single tael of silver; I simply liked it. I'd rather give it to anyone else for free than give it to you Cai family bandits!"

Tao Shiyuan's eyes were filled with resentment.

"Stop talking nonsense, tie them up first!"

The Cai family's innate martial artists stepped forward.

(End of this chapter)