From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 119 Old Acquaintances
The Demon Subduing Bureau.

Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou rushed over.

Not long ago, Xu Xiaogou discovered that his daughter Xu Zhongxi had not returned home for a long time, and he also did not see his sixth brother Xu Xiaohou. So he asked the maid: Did Xu Xiaohou take Zhongxi back to Baihe Village?

The maid said that the two of them hadn't returned home since they left in the morning.

Xu Xiaogou felt increasingly uneasy; this was highly unusual. Normally, Xu Xiaohou would always let Zhongxi know where he was going.

Remembering what Xu Xiaoniu had mentioned about demonic cultivators appearing in Tonggu County recently, and the frequent disappearances of children and girls around ten years old, he had a bad feeling and immediately went to find Xu Xiaoniu.

The incident happened suddenly and involved Xu Zhongxi's life or death, so Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou rushed to the Demon Subduing Division overnight for help.

The Demon Subduing Division has been searching for the whereabouts of demonic cultivators recently, and Xu Xiaoniu heard that they have already found two of the demonic cultivators' subordinates.

"Third brother, come inside with me."

Worried about his niece's safety, Xu Xiaoniu disregarded etiquette and led Xu Xiaogou into the Demon Subduing Bureau's office.

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.

In the dim light of night.

A group of people gathered in the front courtyard of the Demon Subduing Bureau's office to follow Jing Zhuo's orders.

Jing Zhuo, as the director of the Demon Subduing Division of Tonggu County, did not have many Demon Subduing Guards under his command.

Because Tonggu County is a small county town, there are very few demonic cultivators or tribulation cultivators. The Demon Subduing Division has no money to burn and not many resources to support the Demon Subduing Guards.

When demonic cultivators appeared, Jing Zhuo temporarily recruited several rogue cultivators and innate martial artists to serve as demon-slaying guards.

With more men under their command, they gradually discovered the whereabouts of the demonic cultivators.

In the last two days, Jing Zhuo's men discovered Li Mang and were about to find the demonic cultivator's hiding place.

Jing Zhuo gathered several of his capable mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, ready to take action and hunt down the demonic cultivators at any time.

at this time.

Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou, who had barged in recklessly, startled them.

"Who?!"

"Who dares to trespass on the Demon Subduing Division?"

"..."

Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou stood there, stunned by the scene before them. What was going on?
Coming to his senses, Xu Xiaoniu quickly bowed and said respectfully, "Director Jing, my niece has been suspected of being captured by demonic cultivators. I hope you can rescue her."

"Your niece?"

Jing Zhuo looked at the two Xu family members. He recognized Xu Xiaogou: "Recently, the demonic cultivators have become increasingly rampant, daring to kidnap people in broad daylight. I distributed Li Mang's portrait two days ago, and he should be found soon."

Once you find the demonic cultivator's hiding place, set off immediately. If your daughter is captured today, there's still hope for her."

"Master Xie Jing!"

Xu Xiaogou was anxious, but he could only suppress his temper and wait.

After a while, someone came to the Demon Subduing Division; it was Xu Xiaohou who had come to deliver the news.

"This is?"

Xu Xiaohou rushed to the Demon Subduing Bureau's office and saw many people there.

Why are my eldest and third brothers here too?

"You've found the whereabouts of the demonic cultivator?"

Jing Zhuo spoke first.

"Yes, Director Jing, I followed Li Mang, who kidnapped the man, and discovered that he took him to a remote, dilapidated temple outside the city..."

"Go, lead the way immediately! If we're too late, the demon cultivators will escape."

Jing Zhuo interrupted him, stepped forward and grabbed his arm, spiritual energy surged beneath his feet, and he and his companion soared into the air.

Xu Xiaohou pointed in a direction, and Jing Zhuo flew away with a "whoosh".

Below, the Demon-Subduing Guards, who were at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, used their lightness techniques to leap and bound between the buildings in the city, covering hundreds of meters with each jump. Their speed was only slightly slower than Jing Zhuo, who was carrying people.

Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou followed closely behind.

Xu Xiaoniu was previously at the third level of Qi Refining and was about to break through. A few days ago, Xu Fugui gave him a Qi-Boosting Pill, which helped him break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Xu Xiaogou, a Grandmaster, was also extremely fast with the support of his internal energy, catching up with the others in just a few leaps.

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.

It was a remote, desolate mountain more than ten miles away from the dilapidated temple.

Zhao Shuai delivered the two "goods" he had just received.

"Grandma Silver, this time it's the best stuff you wanted."

"Oh? Let me take a look."

Granny Yin placed her hand on Lü Xuanting's wrist, circulated her spiritual energy, and exclaimed with delight, "Four elemental roots? Not bad, not bad."

They then checked on Xu Zhongxi's condition.

"This girl has practiced stance training. Hmm? Does she have spiritual roots, or not?"

She discovered that he vaguely possessed five elemental spiritual roots, but they were very weak.

"Never mind, he's definitely better than the average person."

She took out a white jade porcelain bottle from her storage pouch and handed it to Zhao Shuai: "Here, the top-grade Qi-exploding pill I promised you. After taking it, you will be invincible below the Foundation Establishment stage, but the effect only lasts for half an hour."

Afterwards, they will be in a weakened state and must prepare an escape route in advance.

"Thank you, I hope we can work together again in the future."

Zhao Shuai bowed and took his leave, flying away from the place.

"Ha, we'll never have the chance to meet again."

Silver Granny thought to herself.

Zhao Shuai returned to the dilapidated temple with the top-grade Qi-exploding pill.

"The Demon Extermination Bureau still hasn't found me? Are they a bunch of useless good-for-nothings?"

He couldn't help but wonder.

He stayed in this dilapidated temple for more than ten days without moving, just waiting for the Demon Subduing Division to come knocking on his door.

Because his master Shi Zheng's enemy is none other than Jing Zhuo, the head of the Demon Subduing Division!
Several decades ago, Jing Zhuo had just arrived in Tonggu County and taken up the post of Director of the Demon Subduing Division.

Back then, Shi Zheng was just a rogue cultivator. After obtaining the Infant Soul Vessel, he became extremely cautious. On one hand, his conscience had not been completely extinguished and he could not bear to go on a killing spree. On the other hand, he was worried about being discovered by the Demon Subduing Division.

Therefore, he rarely used the Infant Soul Vessel, only capturing infants to refine their souls when he was extremely short of spirit stones or at a bottleneck.

Even so, the effects of the Infant Soul Vessel made his cultivation level much stronger than that of ordinary poor rogue cultivators.

While other independent cultivators struggled to reach the early stage of Qi Refining, he had already entered the middle stage of Qi Refining.

With his mixed spiritual roots of four elements and decent cultivation level, he married a female cultivator at the Qi Refining stage.

Female cultivators are not uncommon among cultivators from families that cultivate immortality.

However, female cultivators are extremely rare among independent cultivators. A significant reason for this is that ordinary people are unwilling to spend even a tael of silver to have a woman's spiritual root tested.

Even if a spiritual root is detected, the entire family will not be mobilized to help him cultivate immortality.

Occasionally, female cultivators who are not independent practitioners will be offered a marriage alliance by cultivation families.

This is both a blessing and a curse: female rogue cultivators are so popular, but they are only being used as tools to reproduce offspring for those with spiritual roots.

The female cultivator that Shi Zheng met was unwilling to marry into a cultivation family.

The two had known each other for many years, fell in love, and became a couple in the Daoist arts, eventually starting a family.

However, this beautiful scene was shattered by Jing Zhuo, who discovered that Shi Zheng was a demonic cultivator and kidnapped his female cultivator wife while hunting him down.

Logically speaking, the female cultivator should not have known that Shi Zheng was a demonic cultivator, but she was still classified as a demonic cultivator by Jing Zhuo and died in the Demon Subduing Bureau prison, which became Jing Zhuo's achievement.

Having narrowly escaped, Shi Zheng vowed to kill Jing Zhuo and avenge his wife.

He used the Infant Soul Vessel extensively outside Tonggu County, but ultimately his strength was insufficient. When he returned to Tonggu County, he discovered that Jing Zhuo's cultivation level had improved, and he was not confident in dealing with him.

Seeing that his own time was drawing near, while Jing Zhuo was still in the prime of his life.

Afterwards, Shi Zheng took Zhao Shuai as his disciple and nurtured him with the resources he had accumulated over the years. He also allowed Zhao Shuai to use the Infant Soul Vessel extensively, turning him into a demonic cultivator who would stop at nothing to increase his strength.

“If he still can’t find me, I should take the initiative to go to his door.”

Zhao Shuai thought to himself.

Just then, a strong aura approached from the distance.

"finally come!"

He was shrouded in a black robe and slowly rose into the air, gazing in the direction from which Jing Zhuo had flown.

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.

"It's over there."

Xu Xiaohou was carried by Jing Zhuo and flew in the air, pointing in the direction of the dilapidated temple.

Jing Zhuo had already sensed the aura that was being released, which seemed to be guiding him there.

His expression was solemn, and he slowed his pace. He first landed on the ground and put Xu Xiaohou down, and only after several of his mid-stage Qi Refining Demon-Subduing Guards arrived did he lead his men forward. "You're Jing Zhuo, the Director of the Demon-Subduing Division, right? Prepare to die!"

Zhao Shuai didn't bother with words and launched an attack on the opponent's strongest Qi Refining Ninth Level cultivator.

Strands of withered, dark spiritual vines, covered in sharp thorns, swept towards Jing Zhuo.

The battle broke out instantly.

Jing Zhuo discovered that the demonic cultivator was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and his aura was even more profound than his own, which heightened his vigilance. This battle would not be easy.

He flew through the air and shouted to a person below, "The demonic cultivator is powerful. Quickly go to Cangwu Mountain and ask Magistrate Lü to take action."

"Yes!"

The man headed towards Cangwu Mountain.

Miso!

Jing Zhuo used his palm as a sword, and spiritual energy overflowed from his fingertips, condensing into a pale golden sword aura about ten feet long.

He became a celestial official in Yuanli County with his three true spiritual roots of metal, wood, and water, and his main cultivation was the "Gengjin Sword Qi Technique".

He swung his hand, channeling sword energy, and sliced ​​the vines that approached him into several pieces.

shhhhh!

Suddenly, Zhao Shuai's spiritual vines released countless wooden spikes, which flew towards Jing Zhuo like a barrage of arrows.

Jing Zhuo's sword energy was insufficient to withstand so many wooden spikes at the same time, and a golden protective shield appeared on his body, which was the Golden Light Talisman.

On the ground, several Qi Refining mid-stage Demon-Subduing Guards unleashed various ranged spells to support Jing Zhuo.

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 was not strong enough to intervene in a battle of this magnitude, so he did not step forward but observed from a distance.

"Six sons!"

Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou arrived late.

"Big brother, third brother, what's wrong with you...?"

Before Xu Xiaohou could finish speaking, he saw his third brother's large, thick palm slapping towards him.

He was stunned for a moment and didn't react. A crisp slap sounded on his face.

"Third Brother, what's wrong?"

"Third brother, don't act rashly. Saving Xiaoxi is the most important thing."

Xu Xiaoniu stopped Xu Xiaogou and questioned Xu Xiaohou: "Didn't I tell you to take Xiaoxi to the fair? Where is Xiaoxi?"

"I stayed with her, and I let her go home by herself afterwards..."

Xu Xiaohou's words came to an abrupt halt, and he turned sharply to look at Zhao Shuai, who was engaged in a fierce battle with Jing Zhuo in the air: "She...she didn't go back?"

"No."

"..."

Xu Xiaohou's body trembled slightly as he realized the enormity of his mistake. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he turned and ran.

"Liu Zi, you?"

"Find Xiaoxi!"

Xu Xiaohou left only these three words and rushed off like lightning towards the dilapidated temple. Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaogou followed closely behind.

Zhao Shuai and Jing Zhuo, who were engaged in aerial combat, had no time to pay attention to the crowd below.

"right here!"

Xu Xiaohou rushed into the dilapidated temple with a bang, smashing the rotten wooden door to pieces.

The temple was empty, with only burlap sacks in the corner and some traces indicating that someone had been there not long ago.

The three of them searched the temple like madmen.

Xu Xiaohou found a familiar hair accessory in a sack: "It looks like, it looks like the one I bought for Xiaoxi when I went to the fair."

"Fight the demonic cultivators!"

Xu Xiaogou's eyes were bloodshot as he looked towards the sky.

However, the gap between his Grandmaster Level 1 and Qi Refining Level 9 was too great.

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.

In the air, Zhao Shuai and Jing Zhuo were locked in a fierce battle.

Both sides were at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and their fighting power was immense. The other mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators could only play a disruptive role.

As a celestial official, Jing Zhuo clearly had a deeper foundation and possessed many talismans and other such items.

His "Gengjin Sword Qi Technique" is even more powerful, and this metal-based technique is more effective against Zhao Shuai's wood-based techniques.

Seeing that he was no match for Jing Zhuo and not knowing when reinforcements would arrive, Zhao Shuai wanted to finish the battle quickly, so he took out the porcelain bottle containing the "Explosive Qi Pill" and opened it.

The Exploding Qi Pill is the finest among first-grade spiritual pills, allowing late-stage Qi Refining cultivators to unleash unparalleled combat power below the Foundation Establishment level for a short period.

This kind of elixir that can save lives is very precious, and its price is at least three hundred spirit stones.

Zhao Shuai swallowed the Qi-Exploding Pill, and instantly the spiritual energy in his dantian surged to the point of overflowing. Countless streams of spiritual energy overflowed from his dantian, flowing through his meridians and acupoints.

His spiritual energy was extremely active, almost boiling, increasing his spellcasting speed and power by at least 50%!
In this state, Zhao Shuai could easily crush three Qi Refining Level 9 cultivators even if he were to fight them alone.

"Whoosh!"

Numerous spiritual vines spread from his body, overwhelming Jing Zhuo with their power.

what?
Jing Zhuo sensed the opponent's surging aura and unleashed a barrage of sword energy, severing numerous vines.

But the vines inexplicably became more resilient, and his sharp Gengjin sword energy found it difficult to cut through even a few vines.

If this continues, he will soon be defeated.

He took out a Qi-replenishing pill from his storage pouch and swallowed it to replenish his depleted spiritual energy. He landed on the ground and joined forces with several mid-stage Qi Refining Demon-Subduing Guards to fight against Zhao Shuai.

"Ah."

Zhao Shuai smiled, for the ground was the true domain of wood-elemental cultivators.

He took out the Infant Soul Cup from his bosom, lifted the lid, and a wisp of pale green, ethereal soul floated out.

The Infant Soul Vessel is more helpful for cultivation than for combat, which is why Zhao Shuai didn't use it earlier.

"Director Jing, do you still remember this old man?"

Shi Zheng made a creepy, strange sound.

"you are?"

Jing Zhuo had long forgotten the demonic cultivators he had once hunted down.

"More than forty years ago, my wife was murdered by you who killed innocent people and took credit for it! You wicked beast!"

"It's you?"

Jing Zhuo suddenly remembered: "You old demon cultivator are still alive? You're really lucky to be alive."

"Die! Go to the netherworld and hell!"

As soon as Shi Zheng finished speaking, Zhao Shuai, empowered by the Qi Explosion Pill, launched his final attack, slaughtering Jing Zhuo and several mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

"Hehe, good riddance... My good disciple, you're truly amazing, fulfilling my long-cherished wish, hahaha..."

Shi Zheng burst into a maniacal laugh.

"Stop being so noisy, come back."

Zhao Shuai was annoyed by his noise and put him back into the Infant Soul Cup.

He then picked up Jing Zhuo's storage pouch and the spirit stones and other resources carried by the Qi Refining cultivators, preparing to leave.

The consequences of killing the celestial official are severe; he must escape as soon as possible.

"There seem to be a few flies as well."

He turned to look at Xu Xiaogou and the others who were preparing to launch a sneak attack.

When he saw Xu Xiaogou's face clearly, he froze on the spot, and memories of his childhood flooded back.

"Brother Gou? Is that...is that you?"

He murmured.

Xu Xiaogou's internal energy was poised to be unleashed. He was only a dozen meters away from the demonic cultivator shrouded in black robes, and could close in an instant.

But he too froze on the spot, recognizing Zhao Shuai's voice.

The demonic cultivator who killed the head of the Demon Subduing Division and committed countless evils in Tonggu County was actually his old friend whom he hadn't seen for many years: Zhao Shuai!
"Second Commander, is that you? It turns out you were the one who did the Liu family's business."

"And my daughter..."

Xu Xiaogou felt as if his heart was being torn apart; this blow was too great for him.

Zhao Shuai slowly removed the black robe covering his body, revealing his true face. As a Qi Refining cultivator, he had a long lifespan, and his appearance remained youthful. Although he had matured considerably compared to his youth, his features were still remarkably similar.

(End of this chapter)