From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 281 Offending the Public, the Tuoba Clan in Danger
Jiurong City.

This is the territory of the Tuoba family, a Jindan clan that has developed for thousands of years, with more than a million members.

In recent decades, the clan chief Tuoba Xianfeng has promoted the "Nine Glory Stance Technique" throughout the clan, encouraging everyone to practice martial arts and cultivate immortality, which has greatly increased the number of lower-level cultivators within the clan.

Previously, the Tuoba family only had about 10,000 to 20,000 cultivators; the vast majority of the rest were mortals without spiritual roots. This was also true for most other Golden Core families, whose members were predominantly mortals.

However, now, nearly 30% of the Tuoba family members are cultivators!

Such a large number of cultivators and such a high proportion is truly astonishing.

The overall strength of the Tuoba family has risen accordingly. Although those who cultivate through stance training only develop the lowest-grade five-element pseudo-spiritual roots, with a larger base of Qi Refining cultivators at the lower levels, there will always be some who can reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

The number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators within the clan has also increased considerably.

The number of Golden Core cultivators has increased slowly, with only two new Golden Core cultivators added in the last hundred years.

The increase in the number of low-level cultivators has led to an extreme shortage of resources within the Tuoba family.

The Tuoba family's internal atmosphere is one of valuing competition, respecting the strong, and discriminating against and despising the weak. This has led to a large number of cultivators within the family, like Tuoba Yaowu, who "do whatever it takes to improve their cultivation."

Driven by the pursuit of resources or to enhance their spiritual aptitude, the Tuoba family has spawned many demonic cultivators. Tuoba Luopu was just one of them.

Nowadays, half of the demonic cultivators hiding in the shadows in Zhennan Prefecture come from the Tuoba family.

Even worse, some of them wreaked havoc in other prefectures besides Zhennan Prefecture.

At this time, Jiurong Mountain, a second-tier spiritual land within the city.

Main peak, family hall.

The six Golden Core cultivators of the clan gathered together.

In the battle of the Desolate Marsh Mountains, the Tuoba family sent three Golden Core cultivators, all of whom returned safely. Of the more than two hundred late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators sent by their family, only thirty were killed or wounded, which was not many.

They felt no regret for their fallen kin. Those kin had gone voluntarily, seeking resources; their defeat and death were simply a matter of bad luck, a consequence of their own weakness.

"My greatest gain is this celestial spiritual plant, the Heavenly Jade Grass! It was worth the ten years of fighting in the desolate mountains, haha."

Tuoba Yaowu burst out laughing; of the three Golden Core cultivators who went, he was the only one who had obtained a celestial plant.

The presence of celestial plants means that the Tuoba family may have gained another Golden Core cultivator.

His contributions were immense.

Beside him, Tuoba Wenzhong, who had always been at odds with him, said sarcastically, "How did you get it? It wasn't another immortal spiritual plant you stole through betrayal and ambush, was it?"

"you!"

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Yaowu frowned, his face turning ugly: "What does this have to do with you? You're just jealous of my abilities, humph."

"How can it be none of my business? The evil you do outside will eventually come back to haunt our entire family. Don't I know your character? You must have been taking advantage of the chaos and launching sneak attacks in the Wilderness Mountains."

The current chaotic and corrupt atmosphere within our family is all thanks to you.

Tuoba Wenzhong understood Tuoba Yaowu's personality very well, which is why he disliked him.

"What's wrong with our clan's tradition? How much have I contributed to the clan over the years? Unlike some people who rely on their seniority but actually just loaf around all day and make no contribution to the clan."

......"

The two were arguing and bickering.

The clan chief, Tuoba Xianfeng, grew annoyed and shouted, "Enough! You two shut up! You are both Golden Core cultivators in the clan, how can you speak to each other like this?"

"Wenzhong, Yaowu is able to obtain immortal spiritual plants for the family, this is a tremendous good thing..."

This time, the clan chief spoke up for Tuoba Yaowu and blamed Tuoba Wenzhong.

The greatest "contribution" of the Tuoba clan's development over the past two or three hundred years has been made by its patriarch, Tuoba Xianfeng. He only cares about the results, not the process.

In terms of "results," the Tuoba family did indeed develop extremely well and rapidly.

Now, the Tuoba family is a first-class Golden Core family, second only to the five major Golden Core families in Zhennan Prefecture. With six Golden Core True Persons, their status has risen rapidly.

After speaking up for Tuoba Yaowu, Tuoba Xianfeng continued to recount their gains in the desolate mountains, followed by a discussion on how to distribute the resources and treasures.

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 is a few miles outside Jiurong City.

In an inconspicuous wilderness.

A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator gazed in the direction of Jiurong City, his expression complex.

He was a member of the Xiang family, and was ordered by the patriarch Xiang Qingtian to investigate the death of Xiang Zhiye, a Golden Core cultivator of the Xiang family.

He produced a peach branch in his hand, adorned with several blooming peach blossoms.

Those few peach blossoms are slowly withering.

He carefully plucked a peach blossom petal and tossed it into the air.

Peach blossom petals swirled in the air, flying towards Jiurong City.

"Was it done by the Tuoba family?"

He couldn't believe that the murderer who killed Xiang Zhiye was on the Tuoba family's territory.

The peach tree branch in his hand was a natal spiritual plant refined by Xiang Zhiye using the Xiang family's ultimate technique, "Primordial Spirit Plant Control." When Xiang Zhiye died, he left a faint trace of his divine soul on the person who killed him.

By using peach blossoms to trace this wisp of divine soul energy, one can find the murderer who killed him.

The aura of the spirit will not last long, lasting approximately seven days. After seven days, the aura of the spirit will completely dissipate and become untraceable.

Every Golden Core cultivator in the Xiang family leaves behind such methods. Xiang Zhiye's threat to Tuoba Yaowu before his death was not a desperate statement made in despair, but rather a sign that he had indeed left himself a contingency plan to ensure the Xiang family would avenge him.

"Master Peach Blossom died in the Desolate Marsh Mountains, most likely at the hands of cultivators from the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty. How could it be... the Tuoba family?"

The Xiang family members, who were in charge of investigating the murderer, were puzzled.

Xiang Zhiye died in the Liuli Mountain of the Arazawa Mountains, having experienced a great battle.

They initially thought he had died at the hands of a Golden Core cultivator from the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty, in which case the Xiang family could only harbor resentment and be powerless to do anything about it. Their family's power wasn't enough to force them to seek revenge in the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty.

But was it done by the Tuoba family?
Fearing he might cause a misunderstanding or cause a stir with the Tuoba family, he made up an excuse that he was in the business of selling spiritual plants and entered Jiurong City.

Near Jiurong Mountain, he took out the peach branch again.

Several peach blossoms drifted down into Jiurong Mountain in succession.

It's confirmed that the murderer who killed Xiang Zhiye is in Jiurong Mountain!

Upon discovering the situation, he immediately returned to the Xiang family and reported back to the clan chief.

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.

Ancient Nancheng.

Xiangjia Lingdi.

When Xiang Qingtian learned that it was the Tuoba family who killed Xiang Zhiye, he flew into a rage: "You Tuoba family, you've become more and more arrogant in recent years, you even dared to harm a Golden Core cultivator from my Xiang family!"
"A mere martial arts stance training technique that can cultivate a pseudo-spiritual root, does he really think he's qualified to compete with the Xiang family..."

After his outburst of anger, Xiang Qingtian realized that the Tuoba family was not a small force that could be easily manipulated. Making an enemy of the Tuoba family was no small matter.

There are only so many Golden Core families in Zhennan Prefecture. If the Xiang family and the Tuoba family, a first-class Golden Core family, have a conflict, and it escalates into a clan war, the entire Zhennan Prefecture will be thrown into turmoil.

Xiang Qingtian summoned all the Golden Core cultivators of the clan to gather and discuss important matters.

The Xiang family, one of the five top-tier Golden Core families, still had eighteen Golden Core cultivators after Xiang Zhiye's death. This is the difference between top-tier and first-rate families.

The Xiang family doesn't have the most Golden Core cultivators among the five major families; they only rank among the five major families because they have a stable "Golden Core opportunity" to produce Golden Core cultivators.

In terms of the number of Golden Elixir True Persons, the Lin family is second to none.

Eighteen Golden Core cultivators gathered, along with one Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Xiang family: Xiang Chunying. Xiang Zhiye was leading the Yuanli County Immortal Army in battle in the Desolate Marsh Mountains, and Xiang Chunying was accompanying Xiang Zhiye as his deputy commander.

"Everyone, you must all know about Xiang Zhiye's demise in the Wilderness Mountains. Just now, I learned who the murderer was. I thought he was likely killed by the people of the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty, but I never expected this..."

At this point, Xiang Qingtian kept everyone in suspense.

"Who did it?"

"Could it not be an enemy's Golden Core cultivator?"

"..."

Xiang Qingtian shouted loudly, "They are from the Tuoba family!"

"The Tuoba family? Impossible, how dare they?"

"What kind of status do they have that they dare to harm members of the Xiang family?"

"Heh, I think it's quite possible. You've been in seclusion for years, detached from worldly affairs, and are unaware of the Tuoba family's reputation. As far as I know, the Tuoba family has produced many demonic cultivators, and every member is ruthless and extremely vicious."

"Is this happening?"

After some discussion, Xiang Qingtian looked at Xiang Chunying: "Chunying, you followed Xiang Zhiye in the battle in the Wilderness Mountains. Do you know which True Person of the Tuoba family is in the Wilderness Mountains?"

Xiang Chunying and Xiang Zhiye were very close, otherwise she wouldn't have been taken to the Wilderness Mountains. She didn't expect that this matter was related to the Tuoba family.

"Clan Chief, I have heard that the Tuoba family has two Golden Core cultivators who are plundering resources in the Desolate Marsh Mountains. One is Tuoba Yaowu, and the other is Tuoba Jianqiu. I have only heard about them and have never encountered them in the Desolate Marsh Mountains."

That day at Liuli Mountain, perhaps other true cultivators from the Tuoba family were present.

She wasn't sure who the murderer was. Several Golden Core cultivators had rushed to the scene after receiving news of the great battle at Liuli Mountain.

Xiang Qingtian instructed, "Use the clan's intelligence network to investigate and find out what the Tuoba family has been doing in the Wilderness Mountains!"

"Yes, patriarch."

Xiang Chunying accepted the order.

Then Xiang Qingtian asked the Golden Core cultivators for their thoughts: "Now that we know the murderer is a member of the Tuoba family, how should we deal with him? Our Xiang family's Golden Core cultivator died under mysterious circumstances, we certainly cannot let this go."

The Golden Elixir Realm cultivators then shared their opinions one after another.

"I have heard that the Ruan family in the Wilderness Mountains has an ancestral secret technique called the Spirit Plant Enlightenment Secret Technique, which is a perfect match for my clan's Yuan Shen Yu Zhi."

Shino is serving my clan in the Arasawa Mountains, and hopes that my clan can obtain this secret technique.

He died in the desolate mountains; this revenge must be taken!

"In all these years, even when our clan's Golden Core cultivators have perished, we've never felt this humiliated. The Tuoba family must pay the price, pay for their blood debt!"

One of the straightforward men said, "Clan leader, let's go to Jiurong City right now, surround Jiurong Mountain, and make Tuoba Xianfeng hand over the murderer! If he doesn't, we'll wipe out the entire Tuoba clan!"

"Good! It's been two hundred years since our Xiang family has caused such a stir. Let those petty scoundrels in Zhennan Prefecture see what the Five Great Families are all about."

"No, no, that's not right."

One of the more composed individuals shook his head: "This matter is too serious to be handled so rashly. Let's investigate the facts first, in case we've made a mistake..."

“Clan leader, if we are to go to war with the Tuoba family, we should inform Prefect Lin in advance, otherwise it would be too rash.”

"Is it too cruel to slaughter a million members of the Tuoba family for one person? Let the murderer pay with his own life."

"..."

The Golden Elixir Realm cultivators were engaged in heated discussions.

Xiang Qingtian seemed to be deep in thought. He finally made a decision: "This matter cannot be resolved peacefully. Let's first send someone to investigate the Tuoba family. At the same time, I will go to Prefect Lin to sound him out."

We are not afraid of the Tuoba family, but we must give face to Prefect Lin.

As a top-tier Golden Core family in Zhennan Prefecture, the Tuoba family is at odds with the Xiang family, and it's necessary for Lin Shengping to be aware of this. Otherwise, if Zhennan Prefecture descends into turmoil, how will Lin Shengping, as the prefect, view the Xiang family?

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.

Ancient South City. Government Office.

Inside the main hall, Prefect Lin Shengping was receiving a "distinguished guest".

This distinguished guest sat in the seat of honor, and Lin Shengping respectfully accompanied him.

The carefree Prince Yi Ze was the "big hand" controlling the war in the Wilderness Mountains. From the Zhennan Prefecture sending its troops to besiege the Ruan family's protective formation, to the various prefectures sending their immortal armies to search for the Ruan family members scattered in different places, it was all orchestrated by him.

Liulishan was his last acquisition.

He never expected that "the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," and that the people of the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty had already planned to ambush him, intending to kill him, the carefree prince of Zhennan Prefecture, as a reward.

If he were to truly die in the desolate mountains, it would be a great disgrace.

Fortunately, he was the Carefree King, with considerable strength and many life-saving magical treasures. He was also protected by other Golden Core cultivators from Zhennan Prefecture, which allowed him to escape from the siege of those Golden Core cultivators from the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty.

He also had no chance to obtain the treasure left behind by the Nguyen clan, which must have fallen into the hands of the enemy.

Upon returning to Zhennan Prefecture, Yi Ze was furious. He immediately mobilized all his subordinates' intelligence capabilities to investigate and find out the traitor who had betrayed him!
Someone must have leaked his whereabouts, otherwise how could the people of the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty have known in advance that he was going to Liuli Mountain and sent many late-stage Golden Core cultivators to ambush and kill him?

After a thorough investigation, he actually found some clues.

It's the Tuoba family!
On Liuli Mountain, some people saw members of the Tuoba family.

According to Yi Ze's investigation, members of the Tuoba family have inexplicably appeared in places they shouldn't have on more than one occasion, and all of these incidents occurred after the Zhennan Prefecture was attacked by the Baiyue Immortal Dynasty forces. The Tuoba family members were there to pick up the pieces.

Instead of leading the imperial army, the Tuoba family plundered resources in the desolate mountains.

Some say that the Tuoba family attacked their own allies in Zhennan Prefecture, resorting to any means to seize resources.

"Prefect Lin, I have come here for only one thing."

Yi Ze's face darkened, and he looked extremely displeased.

"Your Highness, please speak."

In terms of status, Lin Shengping was actually no lower than Yi Ze. Lin Shengping was the prefect of Zhennan Prefecture, in charge of all affairs of the prefecture.

In theory, the prince should not interfere in the affairs of the imperial court.

Yi Ze was, after all, a prince of the royal family, a noble member of the royal family.

"I will wipe the Tuoba family out of Zhennan Prefecture!"

(End of this chapter)