From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 196 Sacrifice one’s life
While the Xue family searched everywhere for Xu Zhongxi, Xue Yimiao was not idle; she was also searching extensively outside Yunze Mountain.

With her Foundation Establishment Level 3 cultivation and divine sense, she is more efficient at finding people.

At this point, she was frantic. Several hours had passed since Nightmare and Silver Bell left Yunze Mountain, and she had searched a large area around Yunze Mountain without finding anything.

No good news came from other members of the tribe.

If she can't find the Nightmare, how will she explain it to the head of the family?

Just then, the communication talisman she kept close to her body reacted.

News!
She immediately took out a communication talisman and activated it with her spiritual power to view its contents. As the talisman burned in the air, a line of text appeared.

"Fang Yuan has made a discovery!"

In the message talisman, Xue Fangyuan said she had found Nightmare and Silver Bell, and briefly explained the situation.

"A barren mountain 240 miles west of Niutou Mountain!"

Upon learning the exact location, Xue Yimiao immediately changed direction and flew swiftly towards the address Xue Fangyuan had sent the message to.

Xue Yimiao had already pushed her speed to the limit; a Foundation Establishment cultivator was much faster than a Qi Refining cultivator.

But she felt it wasn't fast enough; it would take almost half an hour to get to the place Xue Fangyuan had mentioned.

According to the message sent by Xue Fangyuan, Nightmare, Silver Bell, and a strange Qi Refining Perfection cultivator were together. The cultivator knew the secret of the Xue family and led the two away from the Xue family.

She also said that the man was very powerful, and that Xue Weisen and Xue Kexin were murdered.

"Quick, faster!"

Xue Yimiao was worried that something might happen if she arrived late.

She worried that Xue Fangyuan would be no match for the other party and would be killed, and she was even more worried that the "main medicine" would escape, as well as another serious consequence: the Xue family's secrets would be leaked.

She took out a second-grade spiritual pill from her storage pouch and swallowed it.

"boom--!"

A shockwave formed behind her, increasing her speed by at least 30%.

To speed things up, she didn't hesitate to consume a second-grade elixir that could temporarily boost her strength. She only used such precious elixirs to enhance combat power in crucial moments.

Moreover, such elixirs often have certain side effects, such as causing a period of weakness.

Xue Yimiao didn't care about any side effects; she just wanted to get there as quickly as possible.

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.

barren mountain.

The ground was a mess, with charred marks everywhere.

Xue Weisen lay in the pit, beneath several cracks in the ground. His head was sunken in, clearly dead, and it would be impossible to identify him by his appearance alone.

Xue Fangyuan's death was better; she was pierced through the dantian and had her throat slit by a feather-patterned flying sword.

All three members of the Xue family died in battle.

Xu Xiaohou and the other two were in no better condition, all bearing injuries to varying degrees.

Xu Zhongxi suffered the least injuries and was constantly being protected.

Xu Xiaohou was the most seriously injured. His body was charred black, and many parts of his body were carbonized, making him look miserable and terrifying.

He paid a heavy price in order to deal with Xue Fangyuan, the strongest among them, as quickly as possible.

"Come on!"

Xu Xiaohou casually collected the three people's storage pouches and personal magical artifacts, and fled immediately without having time to deal with the corpses.

He had just seen Xue Fangyuan use a talisman to send a message, and they had wasted time trying to kill her; the enemy could arrive at any moment. Once the Xue family's Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived, they wouldn't be able to escape.

Don't go that way!

Seeing that Xu Xiaohou was fleeing in the direction of Tonggu County, Meng Jiaojiao pointed in another direction: "Go that way, split up and escape. You take Xiaoxi in front, and I'll cover the rear."

"you!"

Xu Xiaohou grew anxious; he understood the unspoken meaning in Meng Jiaojiao's words.

"Hurry up, your whole family must be reunited."

Meng Jiaojiao urged the two to leave.

"..."

Left with no other choice, Xu Xiaohou took Xu Zhongxi and left first, turning back to give Meng Jiaojiao a deep look as they departed.

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.

Meng Jiaojiao did not wait in place, and after a moment she set off in the direction the two were heading.

She had only been gone for less than half an incense stick's time when members of the Xue family arrived at the scene. It was Xue Yimiao who had sent a message to the Xue family, telling them to gather here as soon as possible.

At almost the same time, Xue Yimiao arrived.

She used her divine sense to scan the surrounding area and instantly discovered the corpses of Xue Fangyuan and the other two.

"Too late!"

Her eyes were filled with murderous intent: "That scorching aura means they must have just left. Chase them outwards from here, quick!"

She searched the vicinity at an extremely fast speed. With her speed and divine sense, she knew that the other party was only a Qi Refining cultivator and would have difficulty escaping.

While she was searching, members of the Xue family were also scattered throughout the surrounding area.

At this moment, Meng Jiaojiao covered Xu Xiaohou and the other two's retreat.

She was injured in the battle with Xue Fangyuan, and her spiritual energy was greatly depleted, so her speed was slow.

Xu Xiaohou's situation was even worse; he was almost completely exhausted and was desperately fleeing with the little spiritual energy he had 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.

"Silver bell!"

Xue Yimiao's divine sense could reach three miles away, and she spotted Meng Jiaojiao fleeing ahead.

Having located Meng Jiaojiao, she went straight after her.

At the same time, Meng Jiaojiao sensed the divine sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator sweeping over her.

"Discovered."

She knew she had been discovered, but she was not afraid.

The three of them had been entangled by Xue Fangyuan for too long, and the enemy also had a Foundation Establishment cultivator. In their current state, it was almost impossible for them to escape.

Only by attracting their attention could she possibly get Xu Xiaohou and the other man to leave.

She immediately changed direction, unleashing the little spiritual energy she had left, and her speed suddenly increased.

She was to draw away the enemies for Xu Xiaohou and Xu Zhongxi.

And so, she fled in front, and Xue Yimiao chased after her, their directions completely different from the direction Xu Xiaohou had left in.

The speed difference between the two was too great, and in a short while, Xue Yimiao caught up with Meng Jiaojiao.

"Silver bell!"

Xue Yimiao shouted loudly, and the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator pressed down on Meng Jiaojiao's head.

"Ha~~"

Seeing that she had successfully attracted Xue Yimiao's attention, Meng Jiaojiao was secretly delighted that Xu Xiaohou and Xu Zhongxi would be able to escape.

"Lord."

She bowed respectfully to Xue Yimiao, as always.

"Where's the Nightmare Man? And who is that person who helped your traitor?"

Seeing that only Yinling was there, and that she couldn't detect two other people within her spiritual sense range, Xue Yimiao felt a sense of unease.

"My lord, I do not know what you are talking about."

Meng Jiaojiao continued to stall for time.

"Hmph, looking for death!"

Xue Yimiao was too lazy to waste words with her and wanted to capture her to search her soul.

Suddenly, Meng Jiaojiao's entire body turned black, and a trickle of foul blood spilled from the corner of her mouth: "My lord, this is what you taught us: we must not be captured by the enemy and have our souls searched, we must not expose our secrets..."

Xue Yimiao taught them various methods of suicide to prevent them from being captured alive.

At this moment, Meng Jiaojiao used it in front of her.

"Wait!"

Xue Yimiao was extremely anxious, but could only watch helplessly. Even though she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she was unable to stop the other party from seeking death.

"why why?"

She didn't know how Yinling and Mengyan learned the Xue family's secret, and why it happened to be the two of them.

Who was the person who rescued them?
Afterwards, Xue Yimiao searched the area for several more days, but found nothing.

Because Meng Jiaojiao attracted her attention at a crucial moment, Xu Xiaohou and Xu Zhongxi took the opportunity to escape.

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.

(End of this chapter)