From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 184 Invincible
Yan Qing took the envelope from Xu Xiaohou and opened it to read it.

"Tonggu County Demon-Slaying Division?"

His expression changed several times as he read the contents of the letter.

The letter was written in the handwriting of Xu Xiaoniu, the head of the Demon Subduing Division of Tonggu County. It bore his official seal and was imbued with his spiritual energy.

The letter introduced Xu Xiaohou as Xu Xiaoniu's trusted subordinate.

I came to Heyuan County to investigate a case related to a demonic cultivator gang, and I hope the Heyuan County Demon Subduing Division can provide assistance.

The letter also stated that if the demonic cultivator was killed, all the credit would go to the Demon Subduing Division of Heyuan County, and Xu Xiaohou only needed the intelligence, not the credit.

"So they were sent by the Demon Subduing Division of Tonggu County."

Yan Qing smiled and nodded. Since they were here to give him credit, he was naturally happy to accept it.

"What's the situation with the demonic cultivator group you're investigating?"

"Director Yan, it's like this. This group of demonic cultivators often use human trafficking as a cover to kidnap many girls around ten years old. We're still unclear about their motives. We've heard that human traffickers have been frequently appearing in your Heyuan County recently..."

Xu Xiaohou explained the situation.

"You mean those human traffickers? We found out that there was a female demon cultivator in the mid-stage of Qi Refining behind them. That female demon cultivator was using the blood of young girls to improve her strength, and she has already been killed on the spot."

More than a dozen girls were rescued, and all the human traffickers were killed.

The female demon cultivator at the mid-stage of Qi Refining was handed over to the county government by Yan Qing as a meritorious achievement.

"A female demonic cultivator who has improved her strength by absorbing the blood of young girls and is in the mid-stage of Qi Refining?"

Xu Xiaohou was puzzled, then realized: the female demonic cultivator was just a front, someone who worked for the demonic cultivator gang. Just like Zhao Shuai back then.

"Director Yan, that female demon cultivator is not the mastermind, but just a link in the chain."

"..."

Yan Qing remained silent upon hearing his words.

He served as the head of the Demon Subduing Division in Heyuan County for seventy years, and his knowledge of various intelligence in Heyuan County far exceeded others' imagination.

The head of the Demon Subduing Division is the most dangerous position among the celestial officials in the county.

Because of their direct confrontation with demonic cultivators, most of the heads of the Demon Subduing Division met untimely ends. They either died in battle with demonic cultivators or were killed in retaliation by their own allies…

Yan Qing was able to serve as the head of the Demon Subduing Division for seventy years without incident because he was cautious and prudent.

Yan Qing had known about that demonic cultivator gang for a long time.

Every ten or twenty years, that demonic cultivator gang would cause trouble and kidnap dozens of girls in Heyuan County.

He initially investigated the mastermind behind the murder, but all his efforts came to nothing; every time he had a lead, it would come to an abrupt end.

That group of demonic cultivators was not only cunning and cautious, but also very decisive: if there was a possibility of being captured, they would immediately commit suicide, not giving others a chance to interrogate them.

Yan Qing also knew that the group of demonic cultivators were all at the late stage of Qi Refining, or at least at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and none of them were even at the seventh level of Qi Refining.

What level of cultivation is the true mastermind behind an organized, disciplined, and fearless demonic cultivator gang whose members are at least at the eighth level of Qi Refining?
Yan Qing guessed that a Foundation Establishment cultivator must be involved behind the scenes!
How could a mere county-level demon-suppressing officer offend a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

He doesn't have the guts.

At first, he reported the information to the Demon Subduing Division of Yuanli County, but the county government failed to find any useful clues and the matter was eventually dropped.

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.

"Are you... sure you want to get involved?"

After a long silence, Yan Qing finally spoke.

"Yes, I am determined to fight this demonic cultivator gang to the death! Please provide any clues, Director Yan."

Xu Xiaohou said sincerely.

It's a fight to the death! This isn't just empty talk.

Even if that demonic cultivator group has a Foundation Establishment Immortal behind them, he still has to fight to the death.

Seeing Yan Qing hesitate again, he took out a bag of spirit stones from his storage pouch and offered it with both hands: "Please grant my request, Director Yan. I will take responsibility for my life and death, and I will not blame you even if I die."

There were fifty spirit stones in that bag.

Yan Qing accepted the spirit stone bag and lowered his voice: "I do know their whereabouts; they're near Wuxu Mountain outside Heyuan County. For certain reasons, I can only tell you their location; I can't provide them with combat assistance."

If you happen to kill a few demonic cultivators, I won't take the credit; you can take them back to Tonggu County as your own achievement.

He was smart; he knew this "credit" was a hot potato, and clinging to it might bring trouble.

Wuxu Mountain?
Xu Xiaohou didn't have many concerns; he wasn't afraid.

After thanking Yan Qing, he left his residence and headed to Wuxu Mountain, located west of Heyuan 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.

It's quiet at night.

Deep in the Wuxu Mountains, sixty or seventy girls were imprisoned in an extremely secluded cave.

Inside the cave, two demonic cultivators were guarding the girls, and nearby, three female demonic cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining were lurking!

The demonic cultivator group that Xue Yimiao sent this time consisted of five late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, including two at the ninth level of Qi Refining and three at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

"Everyone in Heyuan County has been ruined; we can only rely on Chuanlin County."

"Fortunately, the Demon Subduing Division of Heyuan County did not investigate. We will leave once Chuanlin County sends ten more girls over."

"it is good!"

"..."

Under the cover of night, a horse-drawn carriage rattled along towards Wuxu Mountain.

The carriage moved slowly along the bumpy road until it reached the end, where a rugged wilderness lay ahead, and the carriage could not proceed further.

The one driving the carriage was a rogue cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining, named Feng Yi, with gray hair and beard.

He had spent his entire life cultivating diligently, finally reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, when he recently encountered this group of demonic cultivators and was bribed with spirit stones. For low-level rogue cultivators, let alone spirit stones, even a single spirit crystal is incredibly precious.

But these demonic cultivators were generous, giving away several spirit stones without hesitation.

Feng Yi stopped the carriage, took out a jade whistle given to him by the demonic cultivator, gathered a wisp of spiritual energy in his chest, and gently blew the whistle, producing a sound like the chirping of cicadas at night, which carried far.

A moment later, a demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining descended from the sky.

"several?"

"Sir, I've brought five."

Feng Yi answered respectfully, then quickly lifted the curtain of the carriage and called to the girls inside to get out: "Quickly, all of you, come out!"

Five young girls, barely out of school, shrank back as they stepped off the carriage.

After examining the five girls, the demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining confirmed that they were all around ten years old and met the requirements. He casually tossed two spirit stones to Feng Yi: "Bring five more girls within two days, and I'll give you three spirit stones."

Feng Yi accepted the spirit stones with both hands, his face full of fawning smiles: "Thank you, sir. I promise to get five more within two days."

With a wave of his hand, the demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining sent five girls flying towards the depths of Wuxu Mountain.

Feng Yi stood still and watched them leave respectfully.

He watched the demonic cultivator's figure disappear from sight, then shook his head helplessly: "Sigh..."

He knew those girls would not have a good ending.

But for the sake of spirit stones, he had no choice but to betray his conscience.

He then drove his carriage away from Wuxu Mountain and headed towards Chuanlin County.

"Five girls in two days? If all else fails, we'll have to resort to kidnapping."

Feng Yi was making plans in his mind.

He had several human traffickers working for him, but he had already acquired dozens of girls, buying them all by any means possible.

It would be very difficult to buy girls from poor families under the pretext of "buying maids".

The demonic cultivator doesn't accept just any girl; she must be around ten years old and in good health. Those who are obviously weak or sickly are not accepted.

Since Feng Yi's human traffickers couldn't buy them, they had to resort to kidnapping and abduction.

"Hey~~"

Unbeknownst to him, a dim flying sword streaked through the air with an inconspicuous glint of light as it flew from behind him.

"Pfft—" The feather-patterned flying sword pierced through his chest, penetrating his chest and heart.

“Uh~~”

Feng Yi felt his life force rapidly slipping away. He looked down at his chest in disbelief. How did a new bloody hole appear?
He fell to the ground with a "plop." The carriage, out of control, continued to rattle and clatter away.

Xu Xiaohou descended gracefully from the sky and groped around on Feng Yi's body.

A dozen or so spirit stones, several thousand taels of silver notes, some loose silver, and a whistle.

Xu Xiaohou was nearby when Feng Yi whistled, and he knew that the whistle was no ordinary item.

He put the items into his storage bag and buried Feng Yi's body in the wilderness.

Although this person was not a member of that group of demonic cultivators, he aided and abetted evildoers, so Xu Xiaohou did not let him go.

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.

After dealing with Feng Yi, Xu Xiaohou looked in the direction of Wu Xushan.

A dark and stormy night, a night for murder!

He once again stealthily made his way towards Wuxu Mountain.

High up on the hillside, a lush, green tree stands, and someone sits cross-legged on its branches.

This was a demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining. She idly observed her surroundings but found nothing unusual. They remained on guard around Mount Wuxu, wary of being discovered.

"Ah woo~~"

She yawned.

Day after day, they lingered here, and even those with the eighth level of Qi Refining cultivation couldn't bear the boredom.

After remaining on guard for a while, she began to practice her cultivation techniques.

Just as she was circulating her spiritual energy halfway through, at a crucial moment, a faint light appeared beside her.

"Um?!"

She was, after all, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and her spiritual power had a built-in warning effect, but she discovered it too late.

Her cultivation technique was forcibly interrupted, and she felt a tightness in her chest, almost vomiting blood. She didn't have time to send a message to her companions and could only hurriedly defend herself.

She turned her head to dodge the feather-patterned flying sword that was right in front of her and heading straight for her forehead.

However, before she could rejoice, the feather-patterned flying sword suddenly turned back, slicing across her throat and almost severing half of her neck.

A demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining was killed in one move.

Xu Xiaohou quietly stepped forward, disposed of her body, took her personal storage bag, and then left.

He figured the demonic cultivators wouldn't find him for a while, so he still had a chance to kill one or two more of them and weaken their strength.

This is his bottom line.

With his strength and numerous methods, he dared to fight even five late-stage Qi Refining demonic cultivators.

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.

After a while.

He then ambushed and killed a demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

This demonic cultivator was more vigilant, and Xu Xiaohou did not kill him instantly, but wasted two more moves.

With his perfected Qi Refining cultivation and the ultimate spiritual power of Qi Refining, coupled with the third level of the Flying Sword Technique and the top-grade magic weapon Feather Pattern Flying Sword, an ordinary Qi Refining eighth-level cultivator would not last more than three moves against him.

"There was also a demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining before, I wonder where he is?"

Xu Xiaohou didn't know how many people the demonic cultivator gang still had in Wuxu Mountain; he estimated at most four or five.

Five years ago, Granny Jin's team consisted of only four demonic cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining.

Just now, when Xu Xiaohou was following Feng Yi, the demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining who took the five girls from Feng Yi's hands is now hiding somewhere.

"Try that whistle."

He arrived at the location outside Wuxu Mountain, where Feng Yi had been, and used his spiritual energy to blow the jade whistle, producing the sound of cicadas.

Instead of standing there frozen in place, he hid in the shadows.

A moment later, a figure flew in from a distance.

The man was puzzled. Feng Yi had just come by earlier that night, so why was he blowing the whistle again?

"wrong!"

She didn't see Feng Yi's carriage and realized something was wrong. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flying sword coming at her.

"Damn it! Someone's lying in ambush!"

Because she sensed it in advance, she wasn't instantly killed, but reacted. She blew a spirit whistle, the sound carrying for ten miles.

At the same time, he unleashed the "Yuan Sha Gong," waving his sharp claws to parry the flying sword.

These demonic cultivators trained by the Xue family all follow the same path, with limited methods. The vast majority of them only know the "Yuan Sha Gong," and their strongest attack method is poisonous spiritual energy.

Besides the Yuan Sha Gong, there's also the soul poison curse used by Jin Po before her death.

Xu Xiaohou had fought against them many times and was very familiar with their methods.

Now that he had been discovered, he stopped hiding and flew straight away.

Yan Qing did not send the Demon-Subduing Guards from the Demon-Subduing Division of Heyuan County to assist in the battle, which was actually a good thing for Xu Xiaohou. He did not need to worry about or hide his methods, since the enemies in front of him would all die at his hands anyway.

"die!"

As the feather-patterned flying sword was deflected, Xu Xiaohou appeared behind him, unleashing his Grandmaster-level aura, and his fists and palms rained down like a storm.

In the blink of an eye, another demonic cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining died at his hands.

This time, he simply put away the storage bag and ignored the corpse.

"I don't know how many are left."

He took out a Qi-replenishing pill, swallowed it, and flew deep into Wuxu Mountain.

The series of attacks just now hadn't depleted his spiritual energy much. But with an opponent at the ninth level of Qi Refining ahead, he was likely to face a tough battle, so he used a Qi-replenishing pill to bring himself to peak condition.

He hadn't flown far when two female demon cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining came towards him.

They were alerted by the whistle and came to deal with the enemy.

"On a?"

"He killed three of our companions all by himself?"

Throughout Wuxu Mountain, the three companions who were secretly on guard did not react at all, presumably they had been dealt with.

How could he silently eliminate three Qi Refining Stage 8 cultivators with just this one person in front of him?
The two demonic cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining knew that Xu Xiaohou was quite powerful and dared not underestimate him, so they both brought out their strongest fighting force.

Xu Xiaohou was also somewhat surprised to see them. He hadn't expected that the remaining members of the other side were two Qi Refining Level 9 members, which was quite formidable.

"Hey, who's your master? Tell me, and I'll let you die a quick death."

Xu Xiaohou shouted loudly.

"Ok?"

The two demonic cultivators looked at each other, their eyes filled with terror.

"kill!"

The two joined forces to deal with Xu Xiaohou.

The feather-patterned flying sword circled around Xu Xiaohou. He carried a high-grade golden light talisman that he could use at any time. Then he went close to fight, taking on two opponents at once.

The demonic cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining shone with the light of a high-grade golden talisman.

"boom!"

The feather-patterned flying sword collided with the protective shield formed by the golden light talisman, causing it to tremble violently before dissipating with a "poof".

This is the power of Xu Xiaohou's flying sword; it can shatter a high-grade golden light talisman with a single strike.

The palm-sized feather-patterned flying sword moved as fast as a shuttle, twirling in the air like a nimble eagle. Combined with the spirit talisman and his Grandmaster-level close combat skills, he gained the upper hand against two opponents.

Within moments, the two demonic cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining perished one after the other.

(End of this chapter)