Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 199 Foundation Establishment Pressure, Unparalleled Eloquence, Incompetent Teammates and Deals (10k)

When Xu Mingyuan saw the red lotus, his pupils contracted, and he almost immediately guessed that it was someone from a rival family of the Ge family of Guangling who had followed them.

"They are so short-sighted, only seeing the benefits of the transaction but not the dangers behind it."

But since things have come to this point, there's no point in scolding them to their face anymore.

Of course, more importantly, the Xu family now has the confidence to face any Foundation Establishment family in the vicinity.

To be on the safe side, they wanted to wait until Xu Deling was able to refine a top-tier magic weapon before revealing their intentions.

At that time, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Xu family each possessed at least one top-tier magic artifact, allowing them to continue with the next phase of the Xu family's plan, even if conflicts arose with other Foundation Establishment families in other counties.

It can also deter and subdue.

He ascended into the air on his sword and flew towards the outside of the cave stream.

Several streaks of light flew in from the Battle Hall, the Immortal Arts Hall, and the Clan Head Hall, respectively.

It was Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingshu, Xu Dezhao, and Xu Deling.

Xu Mingxian immediately activated a first-tier high-grade defensive array.

Xu Mingyuan then took the opportunity to explain to them that the enemy should be the Ge family's opponent, and that there wouldn't be too many people coming.

Many cultivators took to the air and looked into the distance, discussing among themselves: "Why are there suddenly enemies attacking?"

"Could it be a false alarm?"

"There are actually people in Yuehu County who dare to attack the Xu family?"

Xu Dezhao's voice suddenly rang out, echoing throughout the cave, "No one needs to panic. Ordinary people can stay at home, while martial artists and cultivators should remain where they are and wait for orders."

"Yes, master!"

The crowd spoke in unison, their voices like thunder.

When the group arrived outside the mist formation, they saw four people besieging the eldest elder of the Ge family's four branches.

Although he was at the late stage of the ninth level of Qi Refining, the four people opposite him were all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and the gray-white old man among them was even at the mid-stage of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The eldest elder of the Ge family's four branches turned red in the face, barely managing to defend himself.

In time, they will surely kill them.

"Bai Zhenlong, you are all despicable!"

"Who told you to go out alone and be discovered by my Bai family? Now is the time to kill you!" Bai Zhenlong sneered.

Seeing this, Xu Mingwei said, "You gentlemen, you must feel a little bad about ambushing and killing me at my Xu family's doorstep?"

“Fellow Daoists of the Xu family, please help me this once, for the sake of our two families’ friendship. My Ge family will be eternally grateful.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Mingyuan said, "Fellow Daoist Ge, your Ge family's four branches broke the rules on their own. If the four families had discussed it, acted carefully, and made sufficient preparations, they would not have ended up in this situation."

"This matter is my fault, but the four branches of the Ge family share the same fate, and we all suffer together. Please help me for the sake of the relationship between the three branches."

Bai Zhenlong said, "I advise your Xu family to think carefully about the consequences."

"This matter concerns our Bai family of Guangling County. Both of our families have Foundation Establishment families behind us. If your Xu family makes a move today, you will be going against my Bai family and the Foundation Establishment family Feng family!"

"By rashly interfering in the affairs of another prefecture, even if your Xu family has a close relationship with the Zhou family of Yuehu Prefecture, the Zhou family has no reason to help, since it was your Xu family that broke the rules first."

Xu Mingwei and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.

The Xu family can choose whether or not to intervene in this matter.

If we don't intervene, the death of this elder of the four branches of the Ge family is just that—death. It was their own carelessness that brought this disaster upon themselves, and the Ge family can't blame the Xu family.

Intervening was, of course, for the sake of the Xu family's reputation.

The fact that someone killed their trading partner right at their doorstep raises serious concerns about how the Xu family will be able to conduct business with other forces in the future.
Several people seemed hesitant.

At this moment, Bai Zhenlong said again: "I advise you all to think carefully. If you really anger the Feng family, all the efforts your Xu family has made to advance to the Qi Refining family will be in vain."

They might even be wiped out!
This place will also be razed to the ground and turned into scorched earth!

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of Xu Mingwei and the other four, and they all looked at Bai Zhenlong.

"What, you're not convinced? Do you really think your Xu family can rival the Feng family, or the many Qi-refining families in my Guangling County?"

"Those who threatened to wipe out my entire Xu family, the grass on their graves is already taller than them!"

"Today, you will die!"

A flash of light appeared in Xu Mingwei's hand, and the Ink Dragon Bow and arrows materialized.

Four arrows were nocked on the bow.

咻咻 咻 ~
In the blink of an eye.

Two of the four members of the Bai family died on the spot; both were at the seventh level of Qi Refining.

They used mid-grade flying swords to defend themselves, but unexpectedly, all the flying swords were shot in half.

The other two, thanks to the high-quality magical artifacts that provided some protection, only suffered broken ribs and internal injuries from the impact.

Bai Zhenlong and the other person both looked horrified.

"You're only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, so why is your attack so terrifying?! Is that some kind of high-quality magic weapon set you're wielding?"

The eldest elder of the Ge family's four branches was startled and quickly moved away.

And this was merely Xu Mingwei's ordinary attack.

"run!"

Bai Zhenlong's eyes flickered, and he immediately shouted.

The two separated and fled, but how could their speed compare to Xu Mingwei's arrows?

This time, Xu Mingwei even used his trump card.

Each of them used the "Double Dragons Playing with a Pearl" technique to kill them.

Sweat beaded on the forehead of the eldest elder of the four branches of the Ge family. He wiped his forehead and said, "Thank you all for your help."

Xu Mingyuan asked, "Are all the people who came here here? Has anyone gone back to report?"

"Those who attacked me are all here, but I don't know if there are others." Beads of sweat also seeped out from the back of his neck.

He was afraid that the Xu family would kill him out of anger.

If he were truly dead, the Xu family could simply pin the blame on the Bai family, and no one would doubt it.

A few moments.

Xu Mingyuan said, "Fellow Daoist Ge, it is quite possible that someone from the Bai family has already gone back to report the news. This matter arose because of your four lineages, which is a troublesome matter for my Xu family."

Therefore, your Ge family must give my Xu family an explanation in the future.

Of course, engaging in private transactions with other counties would also cause trouble for your Ge family.

"So, you'd better go back quickly."

"Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist Mingyuan. I will go back now and have my four branches of the Ge family discuss countermeasures immediately."

The eldest elder of the four branches of the Ge family clasped his hands and said, "Even if someone from the Bai family goes back to report and invites the Feng family, my Ge family can also invite the Wei family."

"Farewell!"

Xu Mingshu said calmly, "Second brother, are you just going to let him go like that?"

"Even I guessed that this matter would definitely cause a lot of trouble for my Xu family."

"What, you still want to keep him? What's the point of killing him except to vent your anger?" Xu Mingyuan said, "The probability of the Feng family coming to demand an explanation is not low."

I have Xiaoyao's divine sense jade token; I can have him return immediately, just in case.

“I also have my father’s jade pendant,” Xu Mingwei said. “But it’s not too bad right now. Send someone to the Zhou family to invite the Zhou family patriarch.”

This could perhaps be resolved through negotiation.

"If all else fails, we'll have to expose one of our people."

"If I really have to choose, I'll take the carefree one."

“I will take responsibility for appeasing the people in the clan,” Xu Dezhao said.

Xu Mingwei nodded.

"In short, if the Feng family's Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and the Bai family and others come, I will talk to them and try to avoid fighting if possible. If they really have to fight, then I will devour the Feng family!"

A sharp glint flashed in Xu Mingyuan's eyes, but no one refuted him.

Several people were even eager to try.

Before Bai Haoyong even entered the Bai family's territory, a young member of the Bai family flew over and said, "Elder Haoyong, the family head requests your presence in the council hall."

"Understood." Bai Haoyong nodded, but was surprised. "When did the patriarch acquire such a divination ability?"

Bai Family Council Hall.

After Bai Haoyong went in, almost all the elders were present.

He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Master of the family."

"Why are you the only one who returned?" the Bai family patriarch asked. "Where are the Second Elder and the others?"

Bai Haoyong paused for a moment, then replied, "The Second Elder told me to come back and report the news first, while they were going to surround and kill Ge Yanzhong, the Grand Elder of the Ge family's four branches."

"Master, what has happened?"

The eldest elder of the Bai family said, "It seems that the second elder and the others were killed after you left, but how could Ge Yanzhong alone have killed all four of them?"

"What?! The Second Elder and the others are all dead?!" Bai Haoyong's pupils constricted, revealing an expression of disbelief.

"Elder Haoyong, please tell me what happened quickly. Where did you follow Ge Yanzhong?"

Sweat beaded on Bai Haoyong's forehead, and a chill ran down his spine.

If I leave late
Coming to his senses, he quickly bowed and said, "We went to Yuehu County, a remote county. According to the Second Elder's guess, it should be the ancestral home of the Xu family in Yuehu County."

If something really happens to the Second Elder and the others, it will definitely be related to the Xu family.

"The Xu family? The Xu family that runs the Xu Family Trading Company?" the elder asked.

“That’s right.” Bai Haoyong nodded, then added, “The Second Elder felt that the Xu family was not simple, so he sent me back to report to the family head and inform the Feng family to target them.”

After pondering for a moment, the Bai family patriarch said, "The matter in another prefecture is indeed difficult to handle. The Feng family must step in. I have heard that the Xu family is wealthy and powerful and is not an ordinary Qi cultivation family. I think the Feng family will be happy to step in."

He glanced at the Bai family's Grand Elder and said, "Grand Elder, go to the Feng family in person and inform them about the Ge and Xu families. If the Feng family has a Foundation Establishment stage expert, send someone back to inform them."

I personally led twenty or thirty family disciples to the Xu family in Yuehu County.

The Xu family killed three elders of my clan. This matter must be explained!
However, if the Feng family only sends a few Qi Refining stage elders, then you and the other family disciples can go and check it out.

The eldest elder of the Bai family nodded. "The patriarch has considered everything carefully. We will proceed as you have suggested."

Not long after, the Bai family's eldest elder went to the Feng family.

When the Feng family patriarch heard about this and was considering it, Feng Xiuyuan suddenly appeared and looked at the Bai family's Grand Elder, saying, "You're saying the Ge family is colluding with the Xu family of Yuehu County?"

"Yes, senior." The eldest elder of the Bai family nodded.

"I remember hearing rumors that the Xu family had two masters of alchemy and artifact crafting."

The head of the Feng family said, "That's right. The alchemy master is from the Xu family, while the weapon-refining master was recruited."

“A family specializing in Qi cultivation dares to extend its reach into my Guangling County. They have quite the ambition and audacity. I have nothing better to do than to make a trip to the Xu family.”

"Yes, Ancestor, I will immediately instruct several elders and a dozen disciples to accompany you."

Feng Xiuyuan nodded slightly.

When building a foundation for a trip, a grand entrance is always necessary.

Upon hearing this, the eldest elder of the Bai family's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He clasped his hands and said, "Senior, the Xu family killed four elders of my Bai family. My Bai family head is currently gathering people to demand an explanation. Please allow the Bai family to follow."

"Hmm." Feng Xiuyuan nodded slightly.

soon.

Ge Yanzhong returned to the Ge family.

The heads of the four branches of the Ge family immediately convened a meeting to discuss the matter.

The heads and elders of the four clans were practically berated.

After discussion, Ge Yansong went to the Wei family in person to try to persuade them, but the Wei family remained unmoved and even questioned the Ge family.

Fortunately, the Wei family did not do anything to the Ge family.

The reason Ge Yansong made this trip was twofold. First, the matter had already been exposed, and soon the entire Guangling County would know that the Ge family's strength and foundation had recently increased because of their transaction with the Xu family of Yuehu County.

It's better to confess proactively than to be held accountable and manipulated by the Wei family afterward.

Secondly, I also wanted to help the Xu family.

Unfortunately, the Wei family did not want to interfere in this matter.

He was also helpless.

Finally, the four branches of the Ge family decided that each of them would send two or three elders, along with four or five disciples, to the Xu family to provide assistance.

Zhou family.

Xu Mingwei came here in person.

After all, his daughter Xu Dejin married Zhou Shaoyuan's grandson, making the two families closer.

"Fellow Daoist Mingwei, what brings you to this old man?"

Two years ago, Zhou Shaoyuan had already stepped down from his position as head of the family.

The current head of the Zhou family is no longer from his branch, but from Zhou Qingfang's lineage, named Zhou Zongran.

He was in his early fifties and had reached the pinnacle of Qi cultivation.

Zhou Shaoyuan currently serves as a retired elder in the Zhou family.

Neither the Zhou family patriarch nor the Zhou family elder are the same people they used to be.

They are all over ninety years old, and now they have stepped down to give way to younger cultivators who have reached the Qi Refining stage.

As for Zhou Sen, he is already over a hundred years old.

He will live less than ten years.

Time flies, and new generations always replace the old.

"I would like to invite Senior Zhou to visit my Xu family," Xu Mingwei said, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Why is that?" Zhou Shaoyuan frowned and said, "Our ancestor is in seclusion, and we will not disturb him unless it is a major matter."

“The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Feng family in Guangling County may cause trouble for my Xu family. According to the previous agreement, if any Foundation Establishment cultivators come to deal with my Xu family, we can ask Senior Zhou to take action.”

"Could it be that the Feng family knows that your Xu family has extended its reach into Guangling County?"

“My Xu family is simply engaging in normal transactions with others; how can you say that we are interfering in other counties?”

"Never mind, whatever the reason, it is indeed one of the covenants."

"Come with me to see the head of my Zhou family. Now that I am not in charge of the Zhou family, I cannot directly see the ancestor."

"Thank you," Xu Mingwei said, clasping his hands in thanks.

After Zhou Zongran agreed to inform the patriarch, Xu Mingwei returned to the Xu family.

Previously, Ren Xiaoyao, who was far away in a mountain range in the Great Wei Dynasty, killed a demon beast that had reached the peak of Qi Refining, and then sensed that the divine consciousness jade tablet he had left in Dongxi had been destroyed.

"Is something wrong in the clan?" He frowned slightly.

He immediately put the entire monster into his storage bag.

The two flying swords circled once in the air before flying back into the Five Elements Box on their backs.

Then he took to the air and released a high-grade magic boat, which he then used to rush towards the Xu family of Dongxi.

For a while.

The Ge family, the Feng family, the Bai family, the Zhou family, and Ren Xiaoyao, who was away, were all heading towards the Xu family.

The Xu family's first-tier superior formation has been kept active.

Martial artists above the Innate Realm and cultivators above the fourth level of Qi Refining are all gathered together.

A blink of an eye.

The number of innate martial artists in the Xu family has increased from a mere seven or eight to more than two hundred.

There are more than twenty grandmaster-level martial artists, not counting members of the Xu family.

The strongest should be Gu Yiping and Xu Dewen. The former broke through his own aptitude limit with the help of a high-grade Breakthrough Pill and achieved the perfection of a Grandmaster.

Xu Dewen, on the other hand, reached the late stage of the Grandmaster level.

He is not far from becoming a Grandmaster.

Since the appearance of the Breakthrough Pill, the number of Grandmasters in the Xu family has been increasing dramatically.

In a few more years, it will probably double.

There will be more and more innate martial artists, and the next generation is also growing up one after another.

Xu Mingwei returned to the Xu family home more than two hours later.

Feng Xiuyuan led the Feng family cultivators and the Bai family cultivators to the sky above Dongxi. This time, Xu Mingwei and the others did not go out rashly, but instead stayed in the formation.

The Bai family's eldest elder led his disciples in the first attack on the formation, causing it to tremble.

This was just a greeting.

Then it spoke, and its voice entered the formation.

"Listen up, members of the Xu family! Hand over the person who killed my Bai family elder, and we can talk. Otherwise, once the great formation is broken, the Xu family will be wiped out!"

Xu Dezhao smiled coldly and said to Xu Mingxian, "Fifth Uncle, let's dispel the fog of deception. I want to see how they dare to talk about destroying my Xu family."

Xu Mingxian nodded, her gaze icy cold.

With his hands forming a hand seal, a beam of azure light shot straight into the sky, and then the mist gradually dissipated.

At this moment, both sides had a clear look at each other's lineup.

Outside the Earth Defense Array, fifty or sixty cultivators stood in the air, each riding a flying sword of various colors. Most of them wore blue robes, while others wore dark green or red robes.

The minimum level is the sixth level of Qi Refining.

And inside the great formation.

There were only about thirty cultivators in the air, led by Xu Mingwei and his group, including Zhang Wanqing, Shen Qingyi, and Wu Tao.

On the ground, there were more than two hundred innate masters, led by Gu Yiping and Xu Dewen.

The innate martial artists were all dressed in black armor, wielding swords and shields, ready for battle.

The master was dressed in silver armor.

Gu Yiping and Xu Dewen were dressed in dark gold armor.

Their armor was all personally crafted by Xu Deling, and it had extremely strong defensive capabilities.

The Xu family currently has over thirty cultivators in the air, but some are still young, and some are only at the second or third level of Qi Refining, so they were not allowed to appear.

If all of them were present, there would be nearly forty people.

Feng Xiuyuan glanced around, slightly surprised, because there were only two people above the ninth level of Qi Refining.

One of them was Wu Zhen, who had just entered the ninth level of Qi Refining a few months ago, and the other was Wu Mingsheng, who had reached the Qi Refining Perfection stage but was already over a hundred years old.

Seeing the Xu family's strength, the Bai family's elder said disdainfully, "I'll give you ten more breaths. If you still don't hand over the person, we will launch a full-scale attack on your Xu family's protective formation."

"Ten, nine, eight"

Xu Mingyuan smiled lightly, "Senior Feng, with your Feng family around, how can you allow a Qi Refining family to spout nonsense in front of you?"

Could this be the intention of your Feng family?
Or will your Feng family also listen to the Bai family?

"He's eloquent, but you killed the Bai family first, so it's normal for them to come knocking on our door. Besides, they're not on our side."

They've come for revenge, while my Feng family has come to inquire about something.

"Understood. So, should we question them first, or let the Bai family retaliate? If it's the latter, then Senior Feng, please lead the Feng family cultivators away. It wouldn't be pleasant if blood splattered on you later." Xu Mingyuan spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, testing the Feng family's bottom line.

Upon hearing this, Feng Xiuyuan frowned slightly; this was certainly not a pleasant question.

If it's the former, the previous deterrent effect from the Bai family will be completely gone; if it's the latter, then all ties with the Bai family will be severed.

If they were to actually fight, and the Feng family intervened, they would be seen as hypocrites, damaging the Feng family's reputation.

When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one.

It's better for the Bai family to lose face than for the Feng family to suffer losses.

To casually wipe out a fifth-grade Qi Refining family in Yuehu County would be to slap the Zhou family in the face.

The Zhou family may not be a match for the Feng family, but their intervention in helping the Wei family, coupled with the approaching death of the Feng family's patriarch, is not a good thing.

"Step down," Feng Xiuyuan said calmly.

The eldest elder of the Bai family glanced at him and immediately did as he was told, retreating back into the Bai family's ranks.

The head of the Bai family did not come; he was to remain at the family headquarters.

However, in order to intimidate the Xu family and extract the maximum benefit from their compensation, most of the Bai family's elders and elite disciples came.

"Your Xu family's rise to prominence is indeed due to your abilities; you must have produced several geniuses. What are your names?"

"Replying to Senior, this junior is Xu Mingyuan."

"Fine, let me ask you this: was the Bai family elder killed by your Xu family?"

"This junior does not know any elders of the Bai family."

Bai Haoyong immediately said, "You're talking nonsense. The Second Elder and I clearly followed Ge Yanzhong to your Dongxi Xu Clan."

"Why are you following Fellow Daoist Ge? He has connections with my Xu family; is it not permissible for him to come and visit us?"

Xu Mingyuan's words were sharp: "What does the matter between your two families have to do with my Xu family? And if we really killed the Bai family elder, why are you, Fellow Daoist Bai, still alive?"

"That's because the Second Elder sent me back to report beforehand, otherwise I would have certainly died at the hands of your Xu family." Bai Haoyong glared angrily.

Xu Mingyuan simply smiled and turned to Feng Xiuyuan, "Senior, you heard it too. This Fellow Daoist Bai didn't see it with his own eyes, so how can you believe his words?"

"Then why is your Xu family making such a show of force?"

"Senior, you must have heard what the Bai family said earlier. They immediately declared their intention to annihilate my Xu family. May I ask, if an enemy, filled with murderous intent, were to storm into your Feng family's protective formation, what would your Feng family do?"

What a difficult junior!
Feng Xiuyuan frowned deeply, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"So your Xu family really didn't secretly help the Ge family?"

"I don't understand what kind of help you are referring to, senior? Our Xu family and the Ge family are on good terms, so isn't it normal for us to help each other?"

"What I mean is to send a large amount of resources to the Ge family to help them grow stronger and deal with my Feng family."

Xu Mingyuan smiled again.

"Senior, do you even believe what you're saying? Is your Feng family so kind that you don't nurture your own children but instead help other powerful families grow stronger?"

Isn't this utterly ridiculous?!

"Why don't your Feng family also generously provide some cultivation resources to my Xu family? To be honest, my Xu family is quite lacking."

The Bai family elder said, "Xu Mingyuan, don't try to confuse the issue. What Senior Feng is asking is whether your Xu family has secretly traded resources with the Ge family."

"May I ask, has your Bai family never traded with other aristocratic families, and have your clan disciples never purchased pills from pharmacy shops or magical artifacts from weapon shops?"

Xu Mingyuan continued, "My Xu family business has now gained some reputation, and many independent cultivators even come from other counties to trade with my Xu family."

Is it possible that if someone comes, my Xu family will have to turn them away?

"Senior Feng, is this how all the shops in your Feng family do business?"

If they could be forced to back down directly with words, that would be the best thing for the Xu family.

Based on the current situation, Xu Mingyuan felt that as long as the Zhou family patriarch arrived with his men soon, making the Feng family Foundation Establishment cultivators wary, they would retreat.

At this moment, not only Feng Xiuwei was in a dilemma, but the Bai family's Grand Elder was also in a dilemma.

It's perfectly normal for cultivation families to be on good terms and exchange resources.

If they use this as a reason, then they have no logic to their argument.

At this moment, Bai Haoyong suddenly swore an oath to the Bai family's First Elder and the Feng family's Foundation Establishment cultivators: "First Elder, Ancestor Feng, please believe me. I swear that it was the Xu family that murdered the Second Elder and the others."

The Second Elder told me that he would ambush Ge Yansong nearby and then test the Xu family's strength.

This statement is not very convincing.

But the Bai family's eldest elder saw a turning point.

He raised the corners of his mouth slightly and looked at Xu Mingwei, saying, "Your Xu family admits that you did not kill my Bai family's second elder, but you have no proof."

Why don't you publicly swear an oath of faith?

If you dare to do so, then it is a misunderstanding on the part of the Bai family, and I am willing to apologize publicly on behalf of the Bai family.

Xu Mingwei and Xu Dezhao's expressions changed slightly.

Xu Mingyuan calmly said, "Is one apology enough? You need to offer 30% of the Bai family's resources and have your Bai family head, the Grand Elder, and others publicly apologize to my Xu family in front of all the noble families of Yuehu County."

Otherwise, how will my Xu family establish itself in Yuehu County?
Does this mean anyone can come to the Xu family's territory and shout, demanding the destruction of the Xu family?

"Are you dreaming?!" the Bai family's eldest elder said through gritted teeth.

Xu Mingyuan scoffed, "May I ask, Senior Feng, if someone came to your Feng family's doorstep, shouting that they wanted to wipe out your Feng family, what would your Feng family do? Would you let them just offer a flimsy apology and say it was a misunderstanding and let it go?"

Feng Xiuyuan remained silent.

But this attitude speaks for itself.

The eldest elder of the Bai family glanced at him and knew that the Feng family would not easily step in to stand up for the Bai family.

His face was ashen, as if he were making some kind of bet. "Fine, as long as you dare to swear, I'll do as you say afterwards."

Xu Mingyuan's eyes flashed, as if he was surprised.

He's a ruthless person, but...
"Xu suddenly felt that it was still a bit too light."

"You still think that's not enough? Do you really have something to hide?"

Xu Mingyuan shook his head. "I feel that your Bai family has ill intentions in coming here this time. I want everyone from your Bai family present to swear an oath."

"They came to my Xu family only to get to the bottom of things, not to destroy my Xu family or divide up our resources. If they harbor such intentions, they will be tormented by inner demons and perish, their very soul destroyed."

"you"

"You must first swear an oath confirming that you have absolutely no designs on my Xu family. Otherwise, this feud will last until death."

The Bai family's Grand Elder naturally refused.

One of the main reasons they followed the Feng family was to acquire some of their resources.

If they really swore an oath, wouldn't none of the Bai family's elites present not survive long?!
A vow made in one's heart cannot deceive oneself.

Once the power is unleashed, daily cultivation will be plagued by inner demons, and the danger of breaking through bottlenecks will be several times greater than for others.

After all, cultivating immortality is cultivating the Tao, and also cultivating the mind.

"Xu Mingyuan, no matter how eloquent you are, if you cannot produce evidence, my Bai family will today conclude that it was your Xu family that killed my Bai family elder."

Ask yourself honestly, if your Xu family had four elders killed without cause, wouldn't you have pursued even the slightest suspect?

The Bai family's eldest elder seemed to be ready to give up entirely.

Xu Mingyuan ignored him and looked at Feng Xiuyuan, saying, "Senior Feng, is there anything else you want to ask?"

Just now.

A rumbling sound came from afar.

"Fellow Daoists of the Xu family, do not worry. You saved my life, and my Ge family will definitely repay this favor!"

Xu Mingyuan and the others turned pale upon hearing this.

A terrible teammate?!

Bai family elder was taken aback upon hearing this, then burst into laughter, "It seems the Ge family is afraid that my Bai family will attack your Xu family, so they've come to help. Xu Mingyuan, let's see what you have to say now."

"Senior Feng, it was the Xu family who killed my Bai family elder. Please do justice for my Bai family."

Before long, more than twenty cultivators from the Ge family arrived on their swords.

It stopped not far from the Bai family members, confronting them directly.

Ge Yanzhong scanned the crowd.

Something's not right. Why does the Xu family seem unwelcoming, while the Bai family seems to be welcoming me to the skies?
This is turning the Heavenly Gang upside down!

Ge Yanyun, the Grand Elder of the Ge Family's Third Branch, looked at Xu Mingyuan and said, "Fellow Daoist Mingyuan, are we not too late?"

"Haha, not too late, not too late. Just now, the Xu family was still denying that they killed my Bai family elder. You are truly good allies of the Xu family, coming all this way to see them off!"

The Ge family members' expressions all changed. Had their good intentions backfired?

Ge Yanzhong was filled with remorse.

"Second Uncle, this..." Xu Dezhao looked at Xu Mingyuan and said.

"Enough. I never expected the Ge family to be so foolish!" He looked at Xu Mingwei and said, "Brother, let's prepare for a battle."

"Since we're going to fight, let's leave them all behind."

The Feng family is nothing more than a declining Foundation Establishment family. The Feng family patriarch is nearing the end of his life; if he dies, the Feng family is finished.

"But if Father finds out, he'll probably be angry with us."

"It's alright. If Father blames me, I will take full responsibility."

“In that case, I will go to Bihan Pool to prepare to activate the grand formation. If the time is right, please let me know,” Xu Mingxian said.

"Thank you for your trouble, Mingxian."

Xu Mingxian nodded and flew towards Bihan Pool.

“I was willing to give your Bai family a way out, but you didn’t appreciate it. So don’t blame my Xu family. Senior Feng, you won’t interfere, will you?”

"If the Bai family members trespass on my Xu family's territory and kill people, what's wrong with my Xu family killing them?"

"If you don't want to die, then stay in your own territory and don't go out."

"Since you're going out to make your way in the world, it's normal to die anywhere, am I right, Senior Feng?"

“That’s right.” Feng Xiuyuan said calmly, “But I can no longer believe your previous statement that the Xu family did not help the Ge family against my Feng family.”

"Is Senior Feng also going to make a move against my Xu family?"

"A Foundation Establishment expert cannot be insulted!" Feng Xiuyuan said calmly. "Today I was almost fooled by your words, you junior. If I don't punish your Xu family, where will I put my face?"

"Senior, please tell me, how will you punish them? You don't intend to wipe out my entire Xu family like the Bai family did, do you?"

"Ten high-grade magic weapons, three fine magic weapons, twenty bottles of high-grade Qi Gathering Pills, and ten bottles of high-grade Barrier Breaking Pills will suffice."

"Senior Feng has quite the scheme, but there's no way my Xu family will hand it over willingly. If you want it, just come and take it!"

Only by inviting the enemy into the jar can we catch the turtle inside!
"Break through this formation!" The Bai family's Grand Elder immediately commanded all Bai family disciples to attack the Earth Defense Formation.

"You dare?" Ge Yanyun said sternly.

Feng Xiuyuan glanced at the Ge family members, and immediately a pressure descended upon them, causing their expressions to change.

The transformation of divine thought into divine consciousness is a qualitative change.

Its oppressive aura is so strong that even cultivators in the early stages of Qi Refining have almost no power to resist.

"We'll settle the matter of your Ge family later. If you dare to make a move today, don't blame my Feng family for bullying the weak and disrespecting the Wei family."

Ge Yanyun and Ge Yanzhong looked at each other, their eyes showing difficulty.

Led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the Xu family is in grave danger today.

But when they make their move, most of the people they bring will also be buried here.

Finally, Ge Yanyun said, "Fellow Daoist Mingyuan, it is my Ge family that has wronged the Xu family, but it was unintentional. Please do not take offense."

You can see clearly why they came here. My Ge family is just the starting point; what they're after is the Xu family's resources and wealth.

But I cannot let these elite members of the Ge family die in vain.

After saying this, he bowed to Xu Mingyuan and the others with a look of shame on his face, and with a flick of his sleeve, said, "Let's go!"

The Ge family arrived in a hurry, stabbed the Xu family member, and then, fearing for their lives, left in haste.

The relationship between the two families has now come to an end.

"Third Brother, you've made a bad choice in your friends." Xu Mingshu looked at Xu Mingxuan.

“Brother Ge is Brother Ge, and the Ge family is the Ge family. I have always kept that distinction clear. Moreover, preserving the family’s strength is a wise move.”

Xu Mingyuan said calmly, "Ming Shu, stop being sarcastic. Ming Xuan is right. No matter which aristocratic family sends their own children to their deaths in vain, they would never do it."

With Feng Xiuyuan present, under the pressure of their Foundation Establishment cultivation, they wouldn't be able to unleash even 70% of their strength, and would likely be slaughtered within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"However, there is no need for the Ge family to do business with them in the future."

Boom boom boom~
The Earth element defensive array fluctuated violently.

Seeing this, the Feng family disciples also took action, and the great formation was in grave danger.

Just now.

Another voice rumbled from afar, carrying the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Fellow Daoist, you’ve come to my Moon Lake County, why don’t you visit my Zhou family instead of attacking my county’s newly emerging Qi Refining family? That’s a bit unreasonable.”

A few moments.

Six or seven people arrived riding on flying swords.

All of them were at least at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and two of them were at the peak of Qi Refining.

"Brother Zhou," Feng Xiuyuan said, cupping his fists in greeting, "It's not that my Feng family wants to make things difficult, it's just that the Xu family in your county is too audacious, daring to extend their reach into my Guangling County."

They even helped the Ge family grow stronger so they could target my Feng family.

How could my Feng family swallow this insult?

Where is the prestige of these Foundation Establishment families?

"For the sake of the Zhou family, how about we let this go?"

"I will naturally give Brother Zhou face. As long as the Xu family pays the apology I mentioned earlier, this matter can be let go."

"Ten high-grade magic artifacts, three fine magic artifacts, twenty bottles of high-grade Qi Gathering Pills and ten bottles of high-grade Barrier Breaking Pills. Senior Zhou, do you think my Xu family can agree to this?"

Zhou Qingfang frowned slightly upon hearing this. "Brother Feng, you've gone a bit too far. Even for a Foundation Establishment family like ours, it would be a huge financial burden to contribute this much, let alone a Qi Refining family."

How about three high-grade magic artifacts, three bottles of high-grade Qi-gathering pills, and one bottle of high-grade Barrier-Breaking pills?

"Brother Zhou, you're determined to side with the Xu family. I can't give up anything I asked for. I've heard that your Zhou family has a close relationship with the Xu family. If your Zhou family is willing to provide it..."

My Feng family doesn't mind either.

Zhou Qingfang's expression darkened slightly. "Brother Feng, are you determined to go your own way?"

"So what?"

The atmosphere was tense. Zhou Qingfang glanced at the Xu family members but couldn't find Xu Chuan. He immediately sent a telepathic message to Xu Mingwei: "Where is your father?"

“Father went to the capital,” Xu Mingwei replied.

"How does your Xu family plan to deal with this? I have said before that I can help the Xu family, but I will not fight to the death with other Foundation Establishment families for the sake of the Xu family."

"Please delay for another half an hour, senior."

After thinking it over, Zhou Qingfang agreed and said to Feng Xiuyuan, "The Xu family is, after all, related to my Zhou family through marriage. I cannot stop Brother Feng from going his own way, but please allow me to try to persuade him again."

If nothing happens in half an hour, Brother Feng, you may do as you please.

Feng Xiuyuan didn't think much of it, saying, "I'll just give the Zhou family some face."

"Open the barrier and let us in."

Xu Mingyuan immediately did as instructed, activating the token. A beam of yellow light shot out from the token and landed on the Wutu Xuanhuang Array.

A gap immediately appeared on the surface of its light curtain.

Zhou Qingfang immediately led everyone inside.

A few moments.

The gap closed again.

"Senior Feng, if we let the Zhou family in like this, won't they..." the Bai family elder said softly.

"If the Zhou family really wants to help, what's the difference between being in the formation and inside the formation?" Feng Xiuyuan glanced at the Bai family's elder and said calmly, "However, I believe the Zhou family wouldn't risk a fight with my Feng family for the sake of the Xu family."

"The path of immortality values ​​self-interest. If it weren't for oneself, who would be willing to risk their life with all their might?"

"Senior Feng is right," said the Bai family's eldest elder. "Just like the Ge family, didn't they also slink away in disgrace?"

"I hope the Xu family's resources won't disappoint me." Feng Xiuyuan gazed leisurely at the scene of the cave within the great formation. "This place really does look quite nice."

Within the formation.

The main hall of the Xu family.

"What are you all thinking? What is your father doing in the capital?"

Zhou Qingfang glanced at Xu Mingwei and the other four, and asked, "Has Fellow Daoist Xu successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Xu Mingyuan said, "Let's set aside the matter of my father for now. I have a deal I'd like to discuss with you, senior."

"A deal?" Zhou Qingfang smiled in surprise. "You and your father are quite alike in this respect. In this situation, you want to make a deal with me as soon as you meet?"

"What do you think of the Feng family compared to the Zhou family, senior?"

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Qingfang said, "The Feng family has produced two Foundation Establishment cultivators in succession. Although their heyday has passed and they have gradually declined, their foundation is at least 50% or 60% stronger than that of my Zhou family."

"If you want my Zhou family to fight the Feng family to the death, I will not agree."

"What if I am confident that our two families can cooperate to swallow up the Feng family?"

"Are you confident you can kill Feng Xiuyuan? Although my strength has increased over the years, I am at most on par with him."

"The senior only needs to say whether he is willing to cooperate or not."

Zhou Qingfang looked at Xu Mingyuan and fell into a silent contemplation.

Even if Xu Chuan successfully establishes his foundation, he would still be too late in the capital. Does the Xu family have another trump card?

Something interesting.

Has the Xu family finally decided to give up?

He stroked his long beard, extremely curious about the Xu family's resources that could help him kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"If we can kill them, I will naturally be willing to cooperate. But it won't be easy to take over the Feng family, and then how will the Feng family's resources be divided?"

"It's very simple. Whoever kills the Feng family's Foundation Establishment cultivators will get the lion's share. As for how many resources they will ultimately receive, that depends on how much they actually gain after conquering the Feng family."

Zhou Qingfang lightly tapped the table with his knuckles, making a "thump-thump" sound.

After a moment, he said, "Alright, let's do it your way. Judging from your appearance, you seem to have a plan in mind. Tell me your strategy."

Bihan Pool.

Xu Mingxian sat cross-legged by the pool, with a phantom dragon hovering in mid-air.

"Boy, it seems your Xu family is in trouble. As long as you release me, I can easily wipe out any enemy you face."

"Did you hear me? I'm speaking to you!"

"Even your father treats me with utmost respect, how come you're so stubborn!"

Xu Mingxian opened her eyes and said calmly, "You only need to consider what my father brought up last time; the rest is useless no matter how much you talk about it."

"My Xu family already has another place to settle down. At worst, we can leave, seal off the great formation in the pool, and then come back in two or three hundred years to see if you are still alive."

"If you die, we will make good use of your dragon scales, horns, tendons, claws, teeth, blood, heart, and so on. These are all top-tier materials for refining artifacts in the cultivation world."

(End of this chapter)