From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 139: Taking sides
call!
As the yellow osmanthus blossoms drifted away, a rock larger than a millstone flew swiftly from the side.

In her haste, she flung her sleeve, and a surge of spiritual energy erupted from her dantian.

With a crisp "crack," the massive rock shattered into pieces several meters away, exploding into fragments.

Huang Guihua did not hesitate and continued to flee.

But then she saw layers of sand and dust swirling up from the ground near where she had landed, engulfing her.

"Disperse!"

She once again used her powerful spiritual energy to dispel the enemy's spells.

With no obstacles in her path, she took the opportunity to get away.

Xu Xiaoniu watched her departing figure without giving chase. He had just used his spiritual energy to control the rocks and cast the "Earth Solidification Technique" not to keep her there, but only to deplete her spiritual energy.

"No need to chase."

He waved his hand, signaling his Demon-Slaying Guards to stop.

The others understood and headed back, knowing that the mysterious expert Xu Xiaoniu had secretly arranged would make a move.

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.

Huang Guihua escaped far away and stopped to rest in a desolate mountain. She could leave Tonggu County any further on.

"Just as the rumors said, the head of the Demon Subduing Division in Tonggu County is very weak."

The strongest of those who ambushed her was only a Qi Refining Level 5 Earth Element cultivator.

"Come out, stop hiding."

She turned around leisurely and looked into the distance, having already noticed the martial arts master who was relentlessly pursuing her.

A mysterious figure emerged, dressed in tight black clothes that concealed his face, revealing only his eyes. He exuded the aura of a Grandmaster Level Two.

It was Xu Xiaohou who had tracked him down. He didn't want to reveal his Qi Refining cultivation level to others: if he did, his enemies would have to die.

"A Grandmaster at the second level? Is he looking for death?"

Huang Guihua smiled dismissively, a seductive glint in her eyes, and licked her lips.
"I can smell a strong aura of virgin yang energy. Hehe, I wonder what the virgin yang energy of a Grandmaster tastes like."

kill!

Xu Xiaohou was too lazy to listen to her nonsense. He exerted his strength under his feet, creating two deep pits, and shot out like an arrow.

Huang Guihua neither dodged nor avoided the approaching person, their eyes meeting. Her pupils seemed to rotate, and her gentle spiritual energy, carrying a bewitching power, passed through the other person's eyes and rushed straight to his Niwan Palace (a point on the back of the head).

"Ok?"

Xu Xiaohou paused, his eyes glazed over.

The scene before him shifted, and instead of seeing the beauty, he saw his niece, Xu Zhongxi.

The grown-up Xiaoxi was shouting, "Sixth Uncle, come save me!"

With only a momentary lapse in concentration, Xu Xiaohou regained his senses. He used the "Meditation Soul Refining Technique" to cultivate his soul power to the late stage of Qi Refining, and also frequently practiced the third level of flying sword techniques.

In terms of spiritual power alone, he is stronger than Huang Guihua, who has just broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining.

His eyes were glazed over, and he stood motionless, pretending to be bewitched by the yellow osmanthus.

"Hero, quickly take off your clothes and entwine with me~~"

Huang Guihua approached step by step, the two of them no more than ten meters apart.

Xu Xiaohou, who was about to take off his clothes, stopped and pounced forward like a tiger, his five fingers like golden hooks.

"what?!"

Huang Guihua clearly hadn't expected that the other party wasn't under the spell at all. In her panic, she used her spiritual energy to defend herself and tried to create distance.

After the ambush and the long journey, she had exhausted most of her spiritual energy.

Besides, despite her Qi Refining Stage 7 cultivation level, her actual strength isn't that great.

Her demonic cultivation technique, "Yuan Yin Na Yang Jue," primarily uses seductive arts and is unsuitable for direct combat.

She could only rely on her profound yet rudimentary cultivation to squander her spiritual energy against enemies, which resulted in even greater consumption of energy.

Aside from demonic cultivation techniques, she had no other means of survival: wandering the mortal world to absorb the vital essence of old men, she had no spirit stones, no magical artifacts, and not even a single protective talisman.

The two engaged in close combat, and Huang Guihua quickly found herself at a disadvantage.

"Oh!"

She took the blow head-on and was blasted away, using the opportunity to turn and flee in panic. She didn't yet know how to fly using her inner energy, otherwise she wouldn't have been forced into such a predicament by a Grandmaster Level 2.

"Want to escape?"

A feather-patterned flying sword appeared in Xu Xiaohou's palm, and he flicked his wrist.

The feather-patterned flying sword, imbued with spiritual energy, tore through space and flew at an extremely fast speed toward Huang Guihua's back.

"bass!"

The feather-patterned flying sword flashed past his waist, pierced through his dantian, then changed direction in mid-air and slashed across Huang Guihua's throat.

The female demon cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining died.

Xu Xiaohou waved his hand, and the feather-patterned flying sword, unstained by a single drop of blood, flew back into his palm. He looked around; there was no one there.

He quietly left with Huang Guihua's body.

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 Demon-Slaying Division of the County Town.

Xu Xiaoniu examined Huang Guihua's corpse and pondered, "The merits of a female demon cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining are enough to earn her a reward of five spirit stones from the county government."

The stronger the demonic cultivator he eliminates, the richer the reward from the county government.

Most of the spirit stones went to him and Xu Xiaohou, while the other Demon-Subduing Guards received a few spirit crystals as a reward, and at most some silver coins.

"This female demon cultivator is too poor; she doesn't have a single spirit crystal on her."

A demonic cultivator in the late Qi Refining stage who doesn't possess any spirit crystals or spirit stones is considered one of the worst off among demonic cultivators.

Just as Xu Xiaoniu was arranging for his men to send the female demon cultivator's corpse to the county government, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator descended from the sky.

"Director Xu~~"

The visitor was Pei Wanchang, the head of the forestry bureau.

When he first took office seven years ago, he was at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He was from the Pei family, a cultivation family in the county. With the help of the first-level spiritual vein Red Maple Mountain, the three-element true spiritual root, the spirit stone salary, and the support of his family, he improved his cultivation to the seventh level of Qi Refining in just seven years.

At his age, his future is limitless. "Supervisor Pei?"

Xu Xiaoniu stepped forward, wondering why the man had come. The man rarely visited the Demon Subduing Bureau's office in the past.

"You've killed another demonic cultivator? Director Xu, you're quite capable."

Pei Wanchang noticed the female demon cultivator, exchanged a few polite words, and then said, "Shall we talk in private?"

"Please, Supervisor Pei."

Xu Xiaoniu ushered him into a private reception hall of the Demon Subduing Division, had his men serve tea, and then dismissed everyone, leaving only the two of them to talk in the room.

"Director Xu, are you aware that Magistrate Lü recently broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage during his seclusion?"

"I've heard about it. What, is there some new information?"

Lu Yisong stopped showing up several months ago, and he handed over all his affairs to Jiang Hao.

Rumors were circulating that he was preparing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Ah."

Pei Wanchang chuckled and nodded, lowering his voice: "He failed to establish his foundation and his life is nearing its end, probably within the next few days."

"..."

Xu Xiaoniu was surprised. This must be a secret of the Lü family. How did Pei Wanchang find out?
Pei Wanchang chuckled mysteriously a few times; he naturally had his own methods.

"I've come here to ask Director Xu for a favor. After Magistrate Lü dies, Tonggu County needs a new magistrate. I hope Director Xu can recommend me for the position."

Of course, I won't let you help me for nothing.

As he spoke, he put down a bag of spirit stones: "Here are thirty spirit stones, please accept them first. If I really become the county magistrate, I will reward you with another fifty spirit stones!"

"No, absolutely not."

Xu Xiaoniu waved his hands repeatedly, saying that this was too valuable.

In terms of strength, he is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, so he is definitely not qualified to compete for the position of county magistrate.

If the prefectural government were to promote one of the other two celestial officials from Tonggu County, it would be either Jiang Hao or Pei Wanchang.

His opinion as the head of the Demon Subduing Division is hardly worth thirty spirit stones.
"Director Xu, please don't think it's too little. You must have heard about the feud between my family and the Lü family. If Jiang Hao becomes the county magistrate, my family will probably always be suppressed. This thirty spirit stones is just a small token of my respect, please accept it with a smile."

"I……"

Xu Xiaoniu was embarrassed. By recommending Pei Wanchang as magistrate, he was sure to offend the Lü family and Jiang Hao.

Recommending Jiang Hao? That would offend the Pei family and Pei Wanchang.

It's a dilemma. It seems I have to make a choice.

But he didn't like taking sides or getting involved in other people's grievances.

"Director Xu, please don't refuse. I have another plan. Let me explain..."

Next, Pei Wanchang told Xu Xiaoniu about his plan against the Lü family.

"No, Director Pei, I'm sorry I can't help you with this."

Xu Xiaoniu shook his head repeatedly.

Pei Wanchang's plan was to wait until Lü Yisong died, then frame his son Lü Qingmao as a demonic cultivator, and have the Demon Subduing Division arrest and kill him.

The matter was too serious, and Xu Xiaoniu refused without hesitation.

The person who framed the Lü family is a demonic cultivator? That's tantamount to breaking ties with the Lü family and declaring war.

Furthermore, if the county government were to investigate thoroughly and discover that Xu Xiaoniu had framed someone, it would bring him a lot of trouble.

"Director Xu, rest assured, I guarantee it will be flawless, catching the culprit red-handed, and leaving no loopholes. Afterwards, I will reward you with eighty spirit stones!"

Pei Wanchang went to great lengths to target the Lü family.

“Supervisor Pei, I have always upheld the law impartially, so there is no need to discuss this matter further.”

Xu Xiaoniu would not agree to this no matter how many spirit stones the benefits would be.

"In that case, let's drop this matter. I'll ask Director Xu for his help with my promotion to county magistrate. Thank you in advance."

Pei Wanchang did not stay long and took his leave.

He left behind the bag of thirty spirit stones when he left.

"Director Pei..."

Xu Xiaoniu tried to return the spirit stones, but Pei Wanchang flew away without looking back, giving him no chance at all.

"this?"

He had never encountered such a "good thing" as being forced to give spirit stones before.

The bag of thirty spirit stones felt incredibly hot in his hands.

Lu Yisong failed in his foundation-building attempt and his life was nearing its end.

Among the four celestial officials of Tonggu County, the county magistrate is half a rank higher and receives a monthly salary of two spirit stones, making him the highest-ranking official.

The struggle for the county magistrate's position, the feud between the Lü and Pei families... Tonggu County is about to descend into chaos.

As one of the celestial officials, Xu Xiaoniu could not avoid getting entangled in the conflict between the two sides, no matter how unwilling he was.

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.

Cangwu Mountain, Lü Family Manor.

Lu Yisong lay on the bed, looking listless, his spiritual energy seemingly dissipating uncontrollably in all directions.

He failed to establish his foundation, his dantian and qi sea were damaged, and his strength dropped to only the first or second level of Qi Refining, and it is still declining.

Having reached the pinnacle of Qi Refining, how could he possibly resist the urge to begin Foundation Establishment?
Even if there's only a one percent chance, he has to give it his all.

Unfortunately, no miracle occurred.

If he hadn't tried to establish his foundation, he could have lived for another ten years or so without any problem.

But he didn't want to wait until he was really old and past his prime to break through, because that would be even less hopeful.

"Ah~~"

Lu Yisong was unwilling to accept this; if only he could establish his foundation!

(End of this chapter)