From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 144 Yunze Mountain

Upon hearing the words "corresponding price," Lan Yunkai's expression instantly darkened.

This is a blatant threat!

A Qi Refining cultivator threatening a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Who gave him the audacity?

But Lan Yunkai believed it, and he was wary and hesitant.

The last person to commit suicide by swallowing a pill in front of him was Tong Yiyan, the head of the Tong family. It did indeed cause great losses to the Lan family and made him suffer a heavy price.

This time, Lan Yunkai dared not make any rash moves.

By the time he came to his senses, the other person was already far away.

"call--"

He was enveloped in swirling currents of energy, soaring through the air and leaving a fleeting afterimage in the night as he flew back to Qingqiu Mountain.

"Six thousand eight hundred spirit stones, that's not easy to come up with."

The other party demanded that he spend 6,800 spirit stones to buy the Turtle Year Pill, which was no small sum.

Even though the Lan family is a Foundation Establishment family, it would be very difficult for them to come up with such a large sum of spirit stones.

Maintaining the operation of a large cultivation family requires spirit stones in every aspect. Both income and expenditure are finite.

Although there was a surplus, it wasn't exactly a fortune.

"If we don't have enough spirit stones, let's use a few second-tier spirit plants to make up the difference."

Lan Yunkai was very interested in the Tortoise-Year Pill. No matter what, he would first gather 6,800 spirit stones.

Whether he obtains it through scheming or by robbing it, he must get his hands on the Turtle-Year Pill.

If he had no other choice, he would then use 6,800 spirit stones to buy it.

After a while, someone came to deliver a message: "Chieftain, we've lost them."

Lan Yunkai was not surprised. Given He Sou's level of caution, even if he personally went to follow him, it would be difficult to avoid losing track of him without being discovered.

"Alright, he'll show up on his own in a few days. Take some men and go to the vicinity of Yunze Mountain to gather information and see if there's any information related to He Sou, Gray Wolf, or Gui Nian Dan."

Although He Sou swore that the Guinian Dan came from the Xue family, Lan Yunkai still only trusted his own family.

"Yes, patriarch."

The clansmen accepted the order and left.

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.

About 600 to 700 miles southeast of Tonggu County, there is a mountain range that is shrouded in white mist all year round, called "Yunze Mountain".

The moist mist, mixed with spiritual energy, lingers for years, resembling celestial clouds.

However, rumors circulate that Yunze Mountain is very dangerous, and if one accidentally wanders into it, one may get lost and trapped there, never to come out again.

Countless people nearby died in Yunze Mountain.

Ordinary families living in nearby counties will teach their children: Don't go near Yunze Mountain!
Yunze Mountain covers a vast area, stretching for thirty to forty miles, and includes several low peaks. Beneath its surface lies a second-tier spiritual vein, making it a sacred land.

It forms a large triangle with Qingqiu Mountain to the northeast of Tonggu County and Kunxu Mountain to the west, and Tonggu County is located within this triangular area.

The Xue family, a Foundation Establishment and alchemy family, occupies Yunze Mountain.

Yunze Peak, the main peak of Yunze Mountain, is the place with the most abundant spiritual energy. It is where Xue Fanyu, the head of the Xue family, usually refines pills and cultivates. Only a few members of the Xue family can cultivate their skills here.

On Yunze Peak, there are also precious second-tier spiritual plants.

Planting second-tier spiritual plants is not as casual and easy as planting first-tier spiritual plants. Each second-tier spiritual plant requires a demanding growing environment and careful cultivation and care.

The Xue family, as a family with a long tradition of alchemy, has a deep understanding of spiritual plants and therefore has considerable research and experience in cultivating them.

At this moment, inside the Xue family's main hall on Yunze Peak.

Xue Fanyu sat in the main seat, with Xue Weiwu and Xue Yimiao beside him. The three of them were Foundation Establishment experts from the Xue family.

In terms of strength, the strongest is Xue Weiwu, a Foundation Establishment Level 6 cultivator.

However, he does not possess the skills of alchemy; he is the family's martial arts expert.

The patriarch, Xue Fanyu, is at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment and has mastered the art of alchemy.

There's also Xue Yimiao, at the second level of Foundation Establishment, who is in charge of another important family matter.

"Master, we still haven't found the gray wolf."

Below the main hall, a member of the Xue family came to deliver a message. The "gray wolf" he mentioned was none other than He Sou.

"Useless, all of you are useless!" Before Xue Fanyu could speak, the hot-tempered Xue Weiwu roared.

"A Qi Refining cultivator can take a Tortoise-Year Pill from Yunze Peak, and you still can't catch him? What are you if not trash!"

As he spoke, Xue Weiwu suddenly stood up: "Patriarch, let me go find him. Even if I have to turn Yuanli County upside down, I will find him!"

The eldest of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Xue family is Xue Yimiao. She has gray hair and wrinkles around her eyes, but she has put on makeup, applying snow-white powder to her face to cover the wrinkles, and also applying blush and bright red lipstick.

She was the youngest in her generation, and said to Xue Weiwu, "Grandpa, don't be anxious. That guy won't escape our grasp. You don't know what he looks like or what he smells like, so just wait and let them go find him."

The family head, Xue Fanyu, remained expressionless, extending his hand to press down in the air, signaling the two to be quiet: "Let's raise the reward even higher. Anyone who provides information on his whereabouts, and whose whereabouts are verified by our Xue family, will receive five hundred spirit stones."

five hundred?!
This number is enough to drive those Qi Refining cultivators crazy.

Xue Weiwu and Xue Yimiao both felt that the reward of 500 spirit stones was too much. But then they thought that if they found the Qi Refining cultivator who stole the Xue family's Tortoise Year Pill, they could recover the Tortoise Year Pill, which was worth 8,000 spirit stones. So it was worth it.

The Xue family members received their orders and left, leaving only three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the main hall.

Xue Fanyu said calmly, "You two don't need to worry about the Turtle Year Pill. I have my own plans."

"Oh? Is there some hidden story?"

Xue Weiwu was puzzled. As the strongest member of the family, what other plans did he not know about?

"You will know in time."

Xue Fanyu offered no explanation. Success is achieved through secrecy, failure through leaks.

He then looked at Xue Yimiao: "How are things on your end? Do you have any Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients lately?"

Xue Yimiao shook her head: "Patriarch, the cultivation of the main ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills is too difficult, and the initial quantity is too small. If you would allow me to double the current scale of cultivating the main ingredient..."

"Need not."

Xue Fanyu interrupted her, saying, "The key to Foundation Establishment Pills is not quantity, but timing. Only by occasionally refining one Foundation Establishment Pill can other families be eager to obtain it. Too many are not good and are tantamount to aiding the enemy."

"Lan Yunkai of Qingqiu Mountain won't live much longer. Let's make plans early and grab as many resources as possible."

He then changed the subject and brought up the matter of the Lan family of Qingqiu Mountain.

"..."

After discussing for a while, they came up with a rough plan. Specific details still needed to be discussed.

The three then parted ways.

Xue Fanyu arrived at a secret room where a young Qi Refining cultivator was being "imprisoned".

This person, surnamed Tong, claimed to be a descendant of the Tong family, a family of alchemists, and had taken the initiative to find Xue Fanyu some time ago.

“I have done as you asked, and if I’m not mistaken, the Lan family has taken the bait. Once Lan Yunkai dies, the Lan family won’t last long. Don’t forget what you promised me.”

Xue Fanyu stared into the other person's eyes.

The young man from the Tong family said calmly, "Don't worry, Patriarch Xue. We are both alchemy families, so my things will definitely be very useful to you."

"So best."

Xue Fanyu agreed to help him deal with the Lan family not only because of the benefits he promised, but also because the Xue family sympathized with the Tong family's downfall.

The Xue family, also a family of alchemists, deeply sympathized with the Tong family's plight.

Alchemy families are very different from ordinary cultivation families!
From the moment an alchemy family starts selling elixirs, it will immediately attract the attention of other cultivation families.

The elixir is extremely important; it is crucial for every family.

How can alchemists and alchemy families, coveted by everyone, carefully develop and ensure their own safety? They need to be extremely cautious and proceed step by step, because the slightest mistake could lead to their being "swallowed up".

The Xue family's journey from a Qi Refining level alchemy family to a Foundation Establishment level alchemy family was fraught with difficulties and required meticulous care, a journey known only to themselves.

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.

late at night.

Lan Yunkai kept his appointment to meet He Sou again.

He had already gathered information near Yunze Mountain and learned that someone had indeed stolen the Xue family's Turtle Year Pill and was being offered a reward of 500 spirit stones for information leading to their whereabouts.

"That person said this is the place, why haven't they come yet?"

Lan Yunkai had been waiting for a moment.

Just as he was getting impatient, the furtive Old Man He finally arrived.

Upon seeing He Sou, Lan Yunkai thought to himself: If I can capture this man, I can go to the Xue family to collect the 500 spirit stones reward.

"Chief Lan, are the spirit stones ready?"

He Sou, shrouded in a black robe, got straight to the point.

"Give me the Tortoise-Year Pill first."

"Give me the spirit stones first, and I'll tell you where the Tortoise Year Pill is hidden."

"You speak first."

"..."

After several rounds of back and forth, the two reached a stalemate. He Sou pretended to leave: "Clan Chief Lan, don't waste my time. If you don't want the Tortoise-Year Pill, the Ning family of Kunxu Mountain is waiting to buy it. I only came because their offer was not high."

After saying that, Old Man He left without looking back.

Just as his figure was about to disappear into the darkness, Lan Yunkai quickly called out to him, "Stop! I'll give you spirit stones first."

"That's more like it. Give me the spirit stones first, I'm not going anywhere."

Old He walked back.

He wouldn't have traded the Tortoise Pill in such a dangerous place if he hadn't been unable to sell it elsewhere.

In truth, it would be dangerous for a Qi Refining cultivator like him to sell Tortoise-Year Pills anywhere; he could easily lose his life. The reason he chose the vicinity of Yunze Mountain was because the news of the Xue family losing their Tortoise-Year Pills would make his origin of the pills more credible.

Lan Yunkai produced a delicate tricolor brocade pouch and tossed it to He Sou: "An unclaimed storage pouch, take a look."

He Sou caught the storage pouch and used his spiritual energy, along with his divine soul power, to examine it. He "saw" piles of spirit stones and several second-tier spirit plants.

"A total of four thousand spirit stones, plus five two-hundred-year-old second-tier spirit plants."

"That's not right, it's a bit too little."

Old He calculated that a two-hundred-year-old second-tier spiritual plant, at an average price of five hundred spirit stones, would cost two thousand five hundred spirit stones. Adding four thousand, that would make six thousand five hundred, leaving him three hundred spirit stones short.

"The storage pouch is worth three hundred spirit stones, which is just enough."

Lan Yunkai didn't want to lose even a single spirit stone.

However, He Sou knew that those few second-tier spiritual plants were definitely of low value and would not reach the average price. He inwardly complained that the patriarch of this Foundation Establishment family was too stingy.

"Chief Lan, you must have a communication talisman, right? Give me one, and I'll tell you the location of the Tortoise Year Pill after I leave."

"How could that be? You're trying to trick me out of the spirit stones? If you leave with them, where am I supposed to find you?"

There are too many scams and swindles in the cultivation world for spirit stones, so Lan Yunkai has to be careful.

(End of this chapter)