From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 128 Dark Blade
“In Shilipo Village, there is a family surnamed Yuan who are tenants who rent land from a landlord.”

For some unknown reason, the Yuan couple were driven to one of them to hang themselves, and the other to fight the landlord and was beaten to death on the spot.

The Yuan family had two sons. The elder son was of marriageable age and was preparing to get married, but after the incident, the family he had found changed their minds.

After that, the eldest son left Shilipo Village to make a living in the city.

The youngest son was a teenager at the time; he disappeared without a trace.

"We learned about this from some elderly people in Shilipo Village; it all happened almost a hundred years ago."

The original landlords were the Sun family, but after some events, their fortunes declined, and now they are divided into several households. The best of them are the small landlords in Shilipo Village, while the other two are ordinary wealthy farmers.

"Three days ago, the youngest son of the Yuan family returned. It turned out that he had been diagnosed with spiritual roots and had become a rogue cultivator. He had been seeking immortal opportunities and cultivating diligently in other places before. This time, he returned specifically to seek revenge for the time when his parents were bullied to death."

So many years have passed, and the people who drove his parents to their deaths back then are long gone, so he sought revenge on the descendants of the Sun family.

In two days, he slaughtered three families surnamed Sun, wiping out the entire family of men, women, and children. One of the families was not even descendants of the landlord Sun family, but rather cousins.

In Balipo Village, there were more than a dozen households with the surname Sun. Every family was terrified, not knowing where to flee or fearing being implicated if they stayed.

That rogue cultivator surnamed Yuan clearly intended to exterminate the Sun family. Two families of the Sun family had moved to other villages years ago and were preparing to move the entire family to the city to avoid disaster.

Xu Xiaoniu informed Xu Xiaohou of the general situation.

This information was obtained with great difficulty, given that so much time had passed.

The rogue cultivator surnamed Yuan never intended to hide his identity. Except for the first time, which was at night, the next two times he carried out massacres in broad daylight.

Such behavior can be classified as that of demonic cultivators who wantonly slaughter civilians.

If it's just a feud between independent cultivators, the Demon Subduing Division can simply turn a blind eye and ignore it.

The Demon Subduing Division is a government department whose main responsibility is to protect the people and maintain order at the grassroots level. The indiscriminate slaughter of civilians by rogue cultivators is absolutely not allowed.

That said, it's not uncommon for ordinary families to offend cultivators, or for someone they've offended to become a cultivator, and then face retaliation and be wiped out, like when Zhao Shuai destroyed the Liu family.

If they conceal their identities, vent their anger, and then leave for distant lands, the Demon Suppression Bureau will be helpless.

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.

"Big brother, what do you need me to do?"

Xu Xiaohou learned about the situation but didn't ask any further questions; he just wanted to help his older brother solve his troubles.

"My subordinates from the Demon Subduing Division and the County Commandant are searching for the whereabouts of that rogue cultivator. We plan to strike first and kill him on the spot. That rogue cultivator surnamed Yuan must be 110 years old this year. He is probably nearing the end of his life, which is why he is killing indiscriminately without any regard for consequences."

He's probably at the fifth level of Qi Refining, no more than the sixth. We'd have a hard time dealing with him, but if you were here, we'd have a 90% chance of winning.

Xu Xiaoniu's predicament as the head of the Demon Subduing Division lies in his mere Qi Refining Level 4 cultivation.

He had saved up all the spirit stones he received over the past three years without using them, which is why he was still only at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

If he encounters a troublesome demonic cultivator whose strength has reached the late stage of Qi Refining, he can seek help from the Demon Subduing Division of the Yuanli County government, which will send a powerful expert to handle the situation.

However, it is indeed inappropriate for a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator who has come for revenge and whose lifespan is nearing its end to seek help from the county government.

Xu Xiaoniu then thought of asking Xu Xiaohou for help.

Given the situation in Tonggu County, there will only be one demonic cultivator or tribulation cultivator that needs to be dealt with every few years. As long as they get through the initial period of weakness, and Xu Xiaoniu becomes stronger, things won't be so awkward anymore.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Xu Xiaohou nodded in agreement without hesitation.

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.

Outside a remote mountain village.

Xu Xiaoniu arrived with two rogue demon-slaying guards, and there were people waiting at the scene.

The military officer, Yang Lingyun, a third-level innate cultivator, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Director Xu, there is a family surnamed Sun in this village. They are direct descendants of the landlord Sun family from back then. They originally wanted to move to the city to avoid disaster, but I persuaded them to stay."

If the rogue cultivator surnamed Yuan isn't dealt with, it won't be safe for them to hide anywhere.

According to our information, that rogue cultivator will arrive today.

"Alright, let's set up an ambush and wait for him to come to us. We'll make sure to kill him."

Xu Xiaoniu arranged for the two Demon-Subduing Guards, who were at the early stage of Qi Refining, to hide nearby.

"..."

Yang Lingyun hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward with a forced smile: "Director Xu, is it safe to leave just the few of us?"

Among those present, the strongest was Xu Xiaoniu, who was at the fourth level of Qi Refining, and another was a Grandmaster at the first level whom Yang Lingyun had invited through his connections.

As for the rest, Yang Lingyun was at the third level of the Innate Realm, and his other subordinates were all Innate Realm martial artists.

Both of the Demon-Subduing Guards were at the early stage of Qi Refining.

Despite their large numbers, their strength was not overwhelming or unstable when facing a Qi Refining Level 5 or even Level 6 rogue cultivator whose lifespan was nearing its end and who only wanted revenge.

In critical moments, those in charge certainly won't risk their lives.

"Don't worry, I have my own arrangements."

Xu Xiaoniu could only say this to reassure people.

The crowd dispersed and lay in ambush in various places.

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.

Country road.

A mule was slowly pulling a cart.

An elderly man with a full head of white hair sat on the cart, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, lying on the cart and looking up at the sky.

His name is Yuan Zhongqiu, he is at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and he is 110 years old.

"It's been almost a hundred years."

He narrowed his eyes, recalling a long time ago.

When he was a child, he often sat on a mule-drawn cart, carrying vegetables he grew himself to sell in several nearby villages.

After the vegetables were sold out, he lay on the truck like that while his father drove it home.

He still remembers that year when he was fifteen. Several torrential rains caused severe flooding in his family's vegetable garden, resulting in heavy losses and further worsening their already impoverished situation. His brother was also getting married, so the family had to tighten their belts and live frugally.

Later, his parents had a big fight with the landlord Sun family, apparently over a few hundred coins of land rent, but he couldn't remember the specific reason.

All he remembered was that the Sun family had embezzled several hundred coins from his family, and his mother, traumatized, hanged herself. His father went to demand an explanation and was beaten to death.

His brother, however, didn't make a fuss. He sold his family's house and other things that could be sold to raise some money and took him to the city to make a living...

Over the years, his brother left an heir for the Yuan family. Although they were not wealthy, they were not lacking in food and clothing.

Yesterday he found his brother's descendants and gave them some money as assistance.

After that, there's only one thing left to do: take revenge!
This was his only remaining wish in this life: to slaughter the entire Sun family. He had to eradicate them completely, to prevent them from bullying his brother's descendants again. He also wanted to prevent a cultivator with spiritual roots, like himself, from emerging from the Sun family.

After becoming a rogue cultivator, he was only able to struggle to his current level through his belief in revenge. Otherwise, given his background, the path of cultivation would have been extremely difficult.

All that forbearance and compromise was for today!

Revenge had become his inner demon, the driving force behind his countless tedious training sessions.

At his age, he doesn't have many years left to live. He's lived enough and just wants to take revenge and wipe out the Sun family's descendants while he still has the strength to fight, even if it means dying for it.

"Coming."

He sat up from the cart.

In a remote village ahead, there lived a direct descendant of the Sun family. This was information he had gathered after much effort.

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.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Yuan Zhongqiu sensed the earth-elemental spiritual energy flowing beneath the ground.

He cultivates a very common earth-based technique called "Earth Element Technique," a skill that only a rogue cultivator could obtain at such a high level.

"Who?!"

As he questioned him, he used his lightness technique to leap into the air, causing the earth and rocks on the ground below to flow and turn into quicksand that swept towards him.

At the same time, figures appeared from all directions.

Yuan Zhongqiu knew he was in trouble. He wasn't afraid of death, but his revenge was not yet complete, and he couldn't die here in vain.

"withdraw!"

Unsure of the opponent's exact strength, and only seeing that they outnumbered him, his instinctive reaction was to flee.

A martial arts master suddenly appeared from the side.

"Quicksand sinkhole!"

"Earth-stabilizing technique!"

While he was casting the Quicksand Trap spell, another earth-elemental Qi cultivator actually used magic to counteract it. Judging from their magical power, that Qi cultivator's cultivation level was lower than his.

"Earth spikes!"

With a whoosh, several earth spikes, each over a meter long, burst from the ground and pierced the martial arts master.

The Earth Element Technique only has two or three offensive spells, which is why low-level rogue cultivators have very few options.

The martial arts master used his internal energy to withstand the attack of the earth spike technique.

In his haste, Yuan Zhongqiu used the mid-grade Golden Light Talisman that he had bought with most of his savings.

With a mid-grade golden light talisman protecting you, it's difficult for a Grandmaster Level 1 cultivator to break through in a short time.

"Ah!"

Several more sharp, thin soil spikes emerged from the ground.

The spells of the "Earth Element Technique" do not consume much spiritual energy, and with Yuan Zhongqiu's cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining, he can still cast them many times.

Spikes kept emerging from the ground, forcing the martial arts master and several innate martial artists who were attacking to retreat continuously.

With the golden light talisman protecting him, Yuan Zhongqiu saw that he was being attacked again. He used earth spikes to clear a path and used his lightness technique to quickly retreat.

"Mysterious Earth Wall Escape!"

An earthen wall rose out of nowhere from the ground, attempting to block Yuan Zhongqiu.

"Back off!"

Both being earth-elemental Qi cultivators, Yuan Zhongqiu's cultivation was superior, allowing him to suppress the hidden enemy.

"Hu~~"

He broke through the encirclement, his golden protective shield deflecting several spells before dissipating over time.

"Is it the Demon Extermination Bureau?"

He thought to himself that the fact that so many people had been mobilized to ambush him must be due to the Demon Subduing Division of Tonggu County.

"Heh, you think you can kill me with this little strength? I heard that the Director of the Demon Subduing Division is only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. Such a weak celestial official is a piece of trash, not even as good as a poor, low-level rogue cultivator like me."

Yuan Zhongqiu thought to himself.

He planned to leave Tonggu County for a while, and when he came back next time, he would definitely eradicate the Sun family completely, leaving no one alive.

shhhhh!

Just then, two streaks of cold light flew in from the side.

"what?"

Yuan Zhongqiu quickly dodged, using his lightness technique to increase his speed to avoid one glint of cold light, but was hit by another.

He withstood the flying sword, but it was an ordinary flying sword, which did not cause much damage to him at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Although Qi Refining cultivators have fragile bodies, that's only in comparison to martial arts masters who have internal energy. In the early, middle, and late stages of Qi Refining, the body is nourished and strengthened with spiritual energy, making it difficult to be harmed by ordinary swords and blades.

He sneered inwardly, wondering who was trying to scare him with such a petty trick.

However, the flying sword was just to attract his attention; the real fighting force was Xu Xiaohou!

Xu Xiaohou moved the moment the flying sword was released. He was dressed in black night clothes to cover his face, used a trace of spiritual energy to perform a lightness technique, and poured internal energy into his feet to perform an improved elusive footwork.

By the time Yuan Zhongqiu realized what was happening, he was already right in front of him.

The metal-based body technique sent sharp, hook-like claws toward Yuan Zhongqiu's throat.

"Sigh~~"

Faced with a close-range sneak attack from a master martial artist, Yuan Zhongqiu had no more tricks up his sleeve, such as the Golden Light Technique, and could only hastily engage in battle.

He fought a master martial artist in close combat, but died at Xu Xiaohou's hands in just three moves.

Seeing that his target was dead, Xu Xiaohou did not linger or search him, but turned and left quickly.

In the distance, Yang Lingyun and the others thought that the ambush had failed and the target had escaped.

However, they discovered that the mysterious man who suddenly appeared had killed Yuan Zhongqiu in just a few moves.

"That's Director Xu's arrangement?"

Everyone secretly thought that this person acted swiftly and efficiently, and was very strong.

(End of this chapter)