Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 226 We've been waiting for you to say those words!

"The key figure has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Xu Chuan smiled slightly, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

Then he greeted him with a smile, "Brother Jinyan, it's you again from the Cao family. I'm very excited that you're here."

"Brother Cao." All the Foundation Establishment cultivators greeted him with clasped hands.

"Your Xu family wants to take the Zhou family as a vassal. Such an important matter naturally requires my Cao family to come and witness it."

“That is indeed the case,” Xu Chuan said.

Cao Jinyan looked at Zhou Qingfang and said, "Brother Zhou, I am here on behalf of the family head, and I have some questions to ask."

"Brother Cao, please speak."

"Did you willingly become a vassal of the Xu family? If you were forced or coerced, my Cao family can stand up for your Zhou family."

Now, in the entire Yuehu County and Guangling County, only your Zhou family remains as a Foundation Establishment family. This clearly shows that the Xu family cannot tolerate your Zhou family.

"No."

Zhou Qingfang shook his head and said, "This was my own choice. I also convened a clan meeting and let all clan members choose for themselves. The result was that the Zhou family voluntarily became a vassal of the Xu family and obeyed their orders."

Cao Jinyan stared into Zhou Qingfang's eyes, and after a while said, "Why do you do this? Your disciple Ye Xuehua is my Cao family's daughter-in-law."

If you encounter any difficulties, the Cao family will certainly offer assistance.

"no need."

"In fact, when Xuehua was planning to marry into the Cao family, she told me that she had already repaid the kindness of the Zhou family in raising and nurturing her, and that she had no further connection with the Zhou family."

"Therefore, the affairs of my Zhou family have nothing to do with Xuehua."

The atmosphere seemed to become somewhat heavy.

"That's enough." Cao Jinyan turned his back and said, "Since your Zhou family is acting voluntarily, my Cao family has no right to interfere."

You are solely responsible for any consequences.

"Please wait a moment, everyone. The ceremony will begin promptly at noon," Xu Chuan said casually.

soon.

Noon has arrived.

Zhou Qingfang and Zhou Zongyun, along with Zhou Zongran, Zhou Zongdan, and other Zhou family elders and elite disciples, ascended the steps.

The core members of the Xu family stood at the very top of the altar.

Each time he ascended a large step, he bowed upwards.

But at that very moment...

Suddenly, a disciple arrived on a sword. "Patriarch, Grand Elder, the Foundation Establishment elders from the Li family of Taiyuan and the Wang family of Langya tried to force their way in, but were stopped by the great formation."

They actually killed core disciples of the Li family of Taiyuan and the Wang family of Langya?!
The Cao family is indeed ruthless!

If they really hold a grudge against my Xu family, it will indeed cause some inconvenience.

Both families are top-tier third-rank families. It is rumored that their ancestors were both at the peak of the sixth level of Foundation Establishment. The exact number of Foundation Establishment members in their families is unknown, but it is definitely more than three.

After all, Taiyuan Commandery and Langya Commandery are rich in resources, no less than Tongshan Commandery.

The only difference is the resources they produce.

Tongshan County is rich in mineral and spirit iron resources. The Qin family patriarch was a top weapon refiner in the Great Wei Dynasty and had refined several top-level magic weapons.

Langya County is rich in materials for making talismans, while Taiyuan County has a more balanced supply of resources.

However, compared to the scarcity of array resources in other places, Taiyuan County has a relatively large number of array resources.

Furthermore, the Li family of Taiyuan is a family specializing in formations.

Therefore, Taiyuan Prefecture was famous for its array formation masters.

The two major families almost monopolized the resource-rich prefecture, while the other Foundation Establishment families could only get a small share.

With centuries of accumulated strength, how could its power be weak?

Xu Chuan guessed that both families had at least five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and above, and two to three mid-stage cultivators.

As for whether there is a later stage of Foundation Establishment, that's hard to say.

Maybe, maybe not.

After all, the true foundation of a prestigious family is not easily known to others.

"Bring them here."

"Yes, Great Elder."

"The ceremony shall continue!" Xu Chuan said.

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators each from the Li family of Taiyuan and the Wang family of Langya arrived. They were naturally furious that their core members had been killed.

However, when they arrived, Xu Chuan sent them a telepathic message, saying that everything would be resolved after the ceremony, and the Xu family would give them an explanation no matter what happened.

Therefore, they arrived by suppressing their impulses and waiting until the ceremony was over.

"Today, with heaven and earth as witnesses and all families as witnesses, the Zhou family of Yuehu has from now on become an appendage of my Xu family."

"Everything belonging to the Zhou family belongs to the Xu family!"

Xu Chuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he scanned the crowd, a warning in his gaze.

"We pay our respects to our master!"

"We pay our respects to our master!"

"We pay our respects to our master!"

The sound was like waves, one after another, rippling far and wide.

Seeing this, Lei Hekong and the other members of the major first-rank families were all extremely envious.

By taking over the Zhou family, the Xu family's strength and foundation instantly increased by 60-70%.

The Xu family was once criticized by other families for having too few Qi Refining members and disciples, but now this shortcoming has finally disappeared.

"Now that the grand ceremony is over, let's talk about the matter of you fellow Daoists. Why did you trespass on my Xu family's property?" Xu Chuan asked, looking at the people from the Li and Wang families.

The young man from the Li family who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage said, "My Li family sent disciples to offer our congratulations, but who would have thought that at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the life lamps of two of my Li family's Qi Refining disciples would both go out."

Therefore, the clan sent the two of us here to demand an explanation!

"My Wang family is no exception!" the Foundation Establishment elder of the Wang family said coldly.

"I see. I'll have someone inquire whether anyone has seen any disciples of your Taiyuan Li family or Langya Wang family."

"I'll take care of it right away," Xu Dezhao said, clasping his hands in a fist salute, before flying away on his sword.

He was displaying Qi Refining cultivation, so naturally he had to put on a facade.

After a cup of tea.

Xu Dezhao returned to this place.

"Elder, I have asked around, and no one has seen anyone from the Li or Wang families, including the guards patrolling the edge of the clan's territory."

Xu Chuan frowned and looked at the Li and Wang families.

Lei Hekong asked, "Could they have been ambushed and killed by rogue cultivators along the way?"

The Foundation Establishment youth from the Li family said, "Impossible. Those two are core disciples of my Li family, at the peak of Qi Refining, and they have many trump cards up their sleeves. They are definitely not people that ordinary rogue cultivators can deal with."

"Let's find the body first, Fellow Daoist Xu. Why don't you have your Xu family disciples expand the search area?"

Xu Chuan sneered inwardly, "Finally, he's spoken."

He nodded and said, "Alright, that's all we can do for now. Dezhao, have someone take care of it."

"Yes, Great Elder."

"Gentlemen, let's leave this place together. I have already arranged a place for you to rest."

"As for the matter concerning the disciples of the Wang and Li families, since it happened within my Yuehu County, my Xu family will naturally provide an explanation."

"That would be for the best!" said the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Li and Wang families coldly.

More than an hour later.

Xu Dezhao and several Xu family disciples brought the bodies of the Li and Wang family disciples into the main hall.

"Elder, their bodies have been found about a mile to the southeast and northwest."

People from the Li and Wang families rushed forward.

“He is indeed a disciple of my clan!” said the middle-aged man from the Li family who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

The Foundation Establishment elder from the Wang family looked at Xu Chuan and said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, the person was found in a place so close to your Xu family. Do you dare to say that it has nothing to do with your Xu family?"

"It's too early to say that. Let's examine the wound first before drawing any conclusions," Cao Jinyan suddenly said.

Lei Hekong, Zhou Qingfang, and the others were all surprised: The Cao family has changed its ways; are they speaking up for the Xu family?

After examining the wound, the Li and Wang families exclaimed almost in unison, "An arrow wound?!"

"Did he die from being shot through the heart by an arrow?" A Qi Refining disciple from another prefecture discussed. "I remember Xu Mingwei from the Xu family, known as the Arrow Demon, whose archery skills were unparalleled."

I witnessed this many years ago during the beast tide in Tongshan County. Several miles away, a single arrow could kill a late-stage Qi Refining demon beast, piercing its vital points.

He died near the Xu family's territory, and was killed by an arrow.

"Could it be that Senior Xu Mingwei accidentally shot him while practicing archery?" asked a Qi Refining disciple who was with Cao Jinyan.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Cao Jinyan scolded, "I apologize, everyone, but my grand-nephew is ignorant."

"Unintentionally?" The Foundation Establishment youth from the Li family glared at him and said, "Piercing through the heart from within a few inches, how many people in the entire Great Wei can do that?"

“Fellow Daoist Li, it’s too early to say this,” Xu Chuan said.

"Brother Xu, if you want to exonerate your son Xu Mingwei, you need to provide evidence to convince everyone. Otherwise, who will dare to set foot in your Xu family in the future!"

Cao Jinyan smiled sinisterly.

"Brother Cao, why are you kicking me when I'm down!"

"I am just telling the truth. My Cao family rules the Great Wei, and we must be fair and just, treating everyone equally. When Fellow Daoist Wang suspected your Xu family before, I was also speaking up for your family."

But all the evidence points to your Xu family, so I, Cao, naturally have to stand up and seek justice for them.”

Fairness and impartiality?!
I've been waiting for you to say that!

After this incident, I think the Cao family will never dare to speak of fairness and justice in front of others again!

Xu Chuan frowned as he watched the Wang and Li families begin their foundation building and said, "Fellow Daoists, do you also think this was done by my Xu family? I have never had any grudges with either of your families, so why would I harm your descendants?"

What benefit would this bring to my Xu family?

Several people were silent.

Xu Chuan was right. There was no grudge between them, so killing someone who came to congratulate them was truly illogical.

Cao Jinyan said calmly, "Isn't it because your Xu family has their eyes on the resources of Taiyuan County and Langya County?"

"Didn't you benefit greatly from the previous investment in Tongshan County? The talisman-making materials from Langya County and the array resources from Taiyuan County are exactly what your Xu family needs, right?"

Now that your Xu family has taken over the Zhou family, your strength has increased like never before.

They are probably the most prestigious family in every prefecture.

It's really unreasonable to attack a top-tier third-rank family across prefectures for no reason.

But if there are grudges…

A slight smile appeared on his lips. "For example, on important occasions for your Xu family, you would cause them to lose face and even falsely accuse them of killing their disciples."

"The fact that he died outside the Xu family's territory and had arrow wounds on his body is not enough to completely prove that the Xu family was responsible, but the Xu family also cannot prove it themselves."

Such grudges can become a trigger, an excuse to interfere in other counties.

If they could establish a foothold in both prefectures and gradually erode their businesses, becoming a first-class aristocratic family many years later would be a piece of cake.

Then, Cao Jinyan laughed and said, "Of course, these are just my guesses, please don't take them to heart."

What he said made perfect sense.

This immediately caused the people from various counties to fall into deep thought, and the more they thought about it, the more they felt it was true.

If the Xu family wants to advance further, they need a lot of resources.

In terms of abundant resources, Tongshan Commandery, Langya Commandery, and Taiyuan Commandery are the most prominent.

Several years ago, the Xu family was driven out by the powerful families of Tongshan County, so it was quite normal for them to set their sights on Taiyuan County and Langya County.

Now that the Zhou family has been taken as a vassal, their strength and resources have increased dramatically.

Slow planning is nowhere near as fast as launching a direct war and plundering.

"Hmph, Xu Chuan, let's see how your Xu family deals with this."

Cao Jinyan felt that he had said everything that needed to be said, and that the seeds of doubt had been sown in everyone's hearts.

It's only a matter of time before it takes root, sprouts, and grows into a towering tree.

“Actually, I have a way to verify who killed your two disciples.”

“Really!” said the Foundation Establishment youth from the Li family. “If you’re lying to us, your Xu family knows the consequences!”

Xu Chuan smiled and nodded, "Of course, but this matter is serious. If the real culprit is found, he must be severely punished."

He clasped his hands in a fist and looked at Cao Jinyan, "The Cao family rules the Great Wei, and is fair and just. Brother Cao will take action to punish them when the time comes!"

A strange light flashed in Cao Jinyan's eyes.

How to verify?

He can guarantee that he left absolutely no trace!
Moreover, the murder did not take place near the Xu family's home; they simply disposed of the body on their way there.

Finding any clues nearby is simply impossible!
"Of course!" Cao Jinyan said calmly.

Xu Chuan smiled, then looked at the Wang and Li families who were building their foundations, "I recently mastered a secret technique that can use the blood essence of relatives as a catalyst to stimulate the resentment of the dead."

If a person dies an unnatural death, they will inevitably harbor resentment.

Ordinary resentment is invisible, but Xu can manifest it using secret methods.

The instinct to manifest resentment will seek out and haunt the person who killed you, or someone you have been in contact with.

Valid for six hours.

"Such a secret method exists in the world, but it doesn't sound like the orthodox way," someone said.

"Indeed, this secret technique was obtained from the 'Wuhua Secret Realm' and was used by a cultivator from the Great Jin Dynasty who died within my clan."

"No wonder. The Great Jin has both Taoist and demonic cultivation methods, and there are many strange and mysterious techniques and secret arts, making it impossible to guard against them."

"This must be a secret technique involving the Ghost Path," said the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Jiang family.

"Perhaps." Xu Chuan nodded slightly. "Please step aside, everyone. I am about to perform a spell."

"Fellow Daoists Wang and Li, when using blood essence for spellcasting, it is most suitable to use direct relatives. The closer the relationship, the better the effect."

"Let my Li family go first."

The essence blood forced from the fingertips of the young man from the Li family who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage hung in mid-air, like a translucent bead of blood, carrying a warm, fishy smell as it flew straight toward Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan lowered his eyes and glanced at the drop of blood essence. He interlocked his thumb and forefinger, and bent the other three fingers into hooks in turn, performing a special hand seal.

He parted his lips slightly, uttering syllables that were obscure and difficult to pronounce, like decaying bones rubbing against a stone slab: "The dark earth opens, resentment comes, blood is the guide, the soul is the messenger."

Before he finished speaking, the temperature inside the hall plummeted.

The eerie wind that had been lingering around my feet suddenly surged, whipping up the dust accumulated on the beams and swirling around.

The candlelight inside the hall suddenly turned into a ghostly green flame.

The drop of blood essence hanging in front of Xu Chuan trembled violently.

First, fine blood bubbles appeared on the surface, then it boiled violently like hot oil.

The crimson blood mist evaporated and spread, condensing into countless twisted blood threads in the cold wind, writhing rapidly in the air like living things.

"Fuck-"

The blood streaks emitted a burning sound the moment they touched the air, and then they all plummeted downwards, falling like a rainstorm onto the corpse of a young cultivator from the Li family.

The blood pierced through the corpse's clothes without any hindrance, rushing into the body.

Just a moment.

Suddenly, wisps of black smoke emerged from the seven orifices of the corpse, rapidly gathering in mid-air and condensing into a thick, inky mass of resentment.

As soon as the energy cloud formed, it seemed to be drawn by an invisible hand, and flew towards the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Li family with a "whoosh".

The resentment nimbly circled around them once, then changed direction and flew towards Xu Dezhao and several Xu family disciples not far away.

After two laps, it pounced on Cao Jinyan again.

Cao Jinyan's pupils contracted, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

How could this be?! Such a secret method truly exists?!

After circling several times, the cloud of resentment finally drifted toward Cao Jinyan's grandnephew, circling him nine times before gently landing on his shoulder.

The man suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"No, there's something wrong!"

Cao Jinyan suddenly realized that he had killed both of them with his own hands, and that his grand-nephew had only been responsible for moving and disposing of the bodies.

If this secret technique is true, it should ultimately fall to him.

He looked at Xu Chuan, only to see Xu Chuan meet his gaze with a blatant mockery in his eyes.

But it returned to normal in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, both the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Li and Wang families turned their attention to Cao Jinyan's grand-nephew.

"Fellow Daoist Xu's secret technique is truly profound. Fellow Daoist Li, Patriarch Xu, and several disciples have all come into contact with the corpse, and thus have been tainted by its aura."

Lei Hekong said meaningfully, "But I see that Fellow Daoist Cao did not seem to have been in contact with it before, so how come he is also surrounded by resentment? It seems that he is more affected than Patriarch Xu and the others."

"Fellow Daoist Cao, now that the resentment is resting on your grand-nephew's shoulders, what else do you have to say?"

"Who knows if this secret technique is real or fake? Who knows if it's not a frame-up by the Xu family?"

"Fellow Daoist Cao, say what you will," Xu Chuan said calmly, then looked at the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Wang family and asked, "Would you two like to try this secret technique?"

The two exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Let's try."

Xu Chuan took the essence blood of the Wang family's Foundation Establishment elder, and the scene was almost identical. In the end, the resentment ball also landed on the shoulder of Cao Jinyan's nephew.

One left and one right.

The crowd once again adopted a look of fascination, eager to witness the spectacle.

While Cao Jinyan was not wrong, demonic secret arts were almost non-existent in the Great Wei, so it was difficult to determine whether their effects were truly as described, the manifestation of resentment was indeed real.

As a cultivator, one shouldn't be unable to recognize resentment.

However, they also have their own judgment. Looking at the whole incident, Cao Jinyan was behind it all, and the probability that it was their doing is at least 80% or 90%.

As for the Xu family, they cannot be completely ruled out as suspects, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the matter is riddled with loopholes.

Even if the Xu family committed murder, they couldn't have done so within their own territory.

And if they were killed, there would be no way to leave a body behind.

Unless they really want to use the corpse to cause trouble and incite conflict with the Li family of Taiyuan and the Wang family of Langya.

But they believe the probability is only 10% or 20%.

"Fellow Daoist Li, Fellow Daoist Wang, this is all I can do. I am deeply sorry that your disciples came here only to be slaughtered."

Xu Chuan bowed slightly and said, "As for the matter of whether the secret technique mentioned by Fellow Daoist Cao is true or false, let's not discuss that for now."

"Have you checked their storage bags to see if anything is missing? Since they are all core members of the clan, they must have quite a few good things."

After Xu Chuanyi reminded them, they immediately went to check.

The Wang family elder who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage said, "We are missing three high-grade talismans and one exquisite magic artifact."

“Our clan’s disciples are also missing a top-grade protective array plate and a fine magic artifact,” said the Foundation Establishment youth from the Li family.

Cao Jinyan's expression changed.

Xu Chuan nodded. "There are three people who are suspected but cannot be ruled out: my son Xu Mingwei, Fellow Daoist Cao and his grand-nephew."

Since that's the case, then let the three of them open their storage bags so that the two fellow Daoists can take a look.

Let's begin with my son, Xu Mingwei.

"Yes, father."

Xu Mingwei immediately opened the storage bag and let the two of them take a look.

They scanned the area with their divine senses and found quite a few items: a top-tier treasure bow, a fine treasure bow, a fine defensive magic weapon, and several bottles of pills.

"It's your turn!"

Xu Chuan looked at Cao Jinyan and his grand-nephew.

“Fellow Daoist Xu, the storage bag is a private matter, how can it be easily shown to others? Besides, I, Cao, did not agree to this; you are just talking to yourself.” Cao Jinyan stubbornly refused to budge.

"Moreover, Cao's storage bag contains secrets of my Cao family. It is clear that he has made an enemy of my Cao family. Just wait for my clan's Foundation Establishment stage elders to come knocking on our door in the future."

The expressions of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Li and Wang families changed.

"Then let's see what your nephew does. Fellow Daoist Cao isn't going to say that he also has your Cao family secrets in his storage bag, is he? If so, I can only say that your Cao family is too ambitious."

They actually entrusted the secret to a Qi Refining stage disciple and even let him leave the house.

"If there are no secrets, what treasures could a mere Qi Refining stage disciple's storage bag possibly contain? Could it possibly be more valuable than my son Xu Mingwei's?"

"Hmph, do you think you can just rummage through the storage bags of my Cao family members? Where does that leave the dignity of the Cao family?!"

I love how tough you are!

Xu Chuan sneered inwardly.

If Cao Jinyan could decisively push all the blame onto his grandnephew.

If we kill him, perhaps this matter can be swept under the rug.

This situation will only make the other aristocratic families feel more that the Cao family is domineering, disregards them, and arbitrarily tramples, frames, and slaughters them.

When the anger in one's heart accumulates to a certain degree, it will be a raging torrent that engulfs the Cao family!

Neither the Li family nor the Wang family dared to forcibly search the premises.

Even if they harbor resentment, they can only endure it.

In their minds, the probability that the Cao family killed their two clans' disciples and framed the Xu family had increased to 99%.

They even guessed why Cao Jinyan did this.

They simply wanted to see the Xu family fight against their two families.

The number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in the Xu family has surged, and in terms of strength, they have surpassed any other family.

Just from the fact that the Xu family wiped out two mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators and one peak Foundation Establishment Level 3 cultivator from the Cao family in less than a quarter of an hour last time, it is clear that the Xu family is very powerful.

In Cao's view, only by having the Li family of Taiyuan and the Wang family of Langya work together could they suppress it.

"If you refuse to check the storage bag, then swear an oath, an oath of your Dao heart." Xu Chuan said calmly, "Ming Wei, you set an example."

"Yes, father."

Xu Mingwei remained expressionless and publicly swore an oath of faith, "The deaths of the Li and Wang family disciples were absolutely not my doing. If I am lying, may I be haunted by inner demons every day and my path to enlightenment be severed!"

Cultivators seek immortality, and the path to immortality represents everything, so no one would easily use their own path to immortality as a vow.

Xu Mingwei's actions completely dispelled the last remaining doubts of the Li and Wang families.

As for Cao Jinyan and his grand-nephew, they naturally wouldn't make an oath, and would instead use their status as members of the Cao family to exert pressure.

At this point, there is no need for any so-called evidence.

Cao Jinyan even pretended to be angry and left with his grand-nephew!

Lei Hekong smiled and said, "Brother Xu, the show between your Xu family and the Cao family is getting more and more exciting. If there is one in the future, please remember to invite me."

"They're gone, hahaha~"

"Brother Lei, let's wait together."

The foundation-building experts from the Jiang and Lin families also spoke with smiles.

Clearly, seeing Cao's family suffer a setback made them very happy.

The others also took their leave.

Li Jiazhu and Wang Jiazhu originally planned to leave, but Xu Chuan persuaded them to stay via telepathy.

After a brief discussion, the four of them stayed.

soon.

Only Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, and the Li and Wang families remained in the main hall during their foundation building phases.

The middle-aged man from the Li family who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage said, "Fellow Daoist Xu, if you have asked us to stay, is there anything else you would like to instruct us on?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer advice, but I'd like to make a deal with both of them."

They looked at each other, both with doubt in their eyes.

"What kind of transaction?" asked the Foundation Establishment elder of the Wang family, stroking his beard.

"I have heard that the Wang family is a family of talismans, while the Li family is a family of array formations. I want the talisman and array lineages of both families, and it must involve top-tier talisman lineages as well as top-tier second-order or even third-order array lineages."

Upon hearing this, the group frowned in unison.

"Another option is to engage in resource transactions with the two counties, which can be conducted covertly."

The middle-aged man from the Li family who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage immediately declined, saying, "My Li family's array formations are not passed down to outsiders."

"My Wang family is one of them."

"Gentlemen, why don't you listen to my conditions first? There is a piece of news in my conditions that involves a great calamity, a calamity that will sweep across the entire Great Wei and affect all the noble families."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly and said, "If you really don't want to, I won't force you."

"It's a pity that hundreds of years of accumulation will soon vanish into thin air."

"Calamity? What calamity?"

Xu Chuan said no more, and waved his hand, saying, "Gentlemen, please leave. If your two families are interested, then in a month, have the person in charge bring the inheritance to Dongxi to talk with me."

Mr. Xu didn't want to waste his time again.

The Li family's Foundation Establishment cultivators and the Wang family's Foundation Establishment cultivators exchanged glances. Seeing Xu Chuan's resolute attitude, they had no choice but to get up and take their leave.

After leaving Dongxi.

The two families then parted ways, one going to Taiyuan Commandery and the other to Langya Commandery.

On the way, the Foundation Establishment youth from the Li family asked, "Uncle, do you think the great calamity Xu Chuan spoke of is real?"

"Regardless of whether it's true or not, the Xu family's demand for the Li family's inheritance of array formations is not something we can decide on our own; it must be discussed and decided by the clan council."

"But if what Xu Chuan said is true, a great calamity will descend within a hundred years, and all families will suffer calamity, or even be wiped out. What use would it be to keep the inheritance in our hands?"

The middle-aged man beside him, who was at the Foundation Establishment stage, remained silent.

"Nephew, after observing Xu Chuan today, I realized he doesn't seem like the kind of person who lies. He should be trustworthy. As for the Cao family, they really are just acting recklessly because they are a Golden Core family."

"Be careful what you say. After you return, just report today's events to the ancestors and the others truthfully."

The Foundation Establishment youth sighed softly, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

The same applies to the Wang family.

Everyone felt that this matter was of great importance and needed to be decided jointly by the Ancestor and the Foundation Establishers.

The main hall of the Xu family.

Xu Chuan turned to Xu Mingwei and said, "I'm sorry you had to suffer today."

"It's nothing, just checking my storage bag. My trump card has almost been revealed; all the powerful families know that I possess a top-tier magic bow."

As for the oath, since the father dared to make his son swear, he must believe that Fei'er did not do it.

Moreover, given the current situation, if it weren't for Father's presence, my Xu family would likely have truly become enemies with the Li family of Taiyuan and the Wang family of Langya.

After a pause, Xu Mingwei asked curiously, "But Father, is that ghostly secret technique really that mysterious?"

"The resentment manifests as real, but several hours after a person dies, even those skilled in the ways of ghosts can only condense fragments of the remnant soul, making it almost impossible to know the truth."

As for seeking revenge, it's merely a minor tactic used by my father to manipulate resentment.

"The truth is mixed with falsehood. Father is brilliant. It is precisely because of this secret technique of the Ghost Path that everyone believed it to some extent, and then they checked the storage bag."

Judging from the demeanor of Cao Jinyan's grand-nephew, he must have taken items from the storage bags of the two deceased disciples.

Finally, he swore an oath of faith, thus completely dispelling everyone's doubts.

"I think everyone should see the true colors of the Cao family more clearly now. If other families were to frame someone like this, they might not be able to get away with it completely."

"However, I imagine the Cao family is becoming increasingly angry and wary of my Xu family."

Xu Mingwei constantly felt a pressure on his shoulders.

Seeing his serious expression, Xu Chuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "I have my own plans for the Cao family. You all just need to focus on your cultivation, develop and strengthen the family, and do what I have entrusted to you."

"My child understands."

After clasping his hands in greeting, Xu Mingwei left the main hall and went to the Battle Hall for secluded cultivation.

"The Five Elements Reverse Elixir Method has only one Wood-type second-tier peak inner core left."

In the past two years, Xu Chuan went out three more times with Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingshu, and obtained four second-tier peak monster cores of metal, fire, earth and water elements.

Two wood-elemental and one metal-elemental materials are needed to complete the materials for two sets of the "Five Elements Reverse Elixir Method".

If we can gather them all.

At the same time, he used a secret technique to transform the pills into two third-tier water-attribute demon cores, which he then fed to Mo Yue. This would give him a 40-50% chance of recovery.

If you take three pills at the same time, the recovery rate should be around 70-80%.

Mo Yue once said that there are countless monsters in the "Ten Thousand Mountains". If one can cross them, one can reach the human cultivation land in the Southern Region.

In the Tiannan region, even small towns often have several families at the Foundation Establishment stage, and some even have Golden Core families who dominate the town as their own territory, gathering resources from the surrounding area.

Next time, let's go visit the "Ten Thousand Mountains".

Imperial City.

Lei family.

After returning, Lei Hekong told Lei Yunchao about what had happened.

“Patriarch, you really missed out by not going this time. The Xu family's drama was quite spectacular. I felt very pleased to see Cao Jinyan's ashen face.”

Xu Chuan is truly skilled, repeatedly causing the Cao family to suffer losses.

I don't know what will happen next.

Lei Yunchao looked surprised, and after a moment said, "The Xu family does indeed have great potential, but unfortunately they were born at the wrong time. Whether they can survive this calamity is still uncertain."

Even if they could, I doubt the Cao family would keep the Xu family around.

"Indeed, the Xu family has repeatedly embarrassed the Cao family. Even if they are safe before the great calamity, when the calamity comes, all order will collapse, and the Cao family will have nothing to worry about."

Lei Hekong said with a focused expression, "Patriarch, you should inform the Xu family and tell them to restrain themselves. It's nothing to suffer a little loss when facing the Cao family."

"If we meet again next time, I'll just mention it casually. There's no need to force it; everyone has their own destiny."

"I understand, Master."

On the Cao family's side.

Cao Shengming was furious when he learned that his plan against the Xu family had failed once again.

"Cao Jinyan, I truly doubt your competence. How could you possibly handle something so utterly impossible to prove?"

"And your grand-nephew, so greedy for cheap things, he really deserves to die. What use is he?!"

Cao Jinyan trembled slightly and said, "Forgive me, Patriarch. I never expected that Xu Chuan would be so meticulous, first using a secret technique to lure everyone into suspecting my Cao family."

Then, conduct a self-check of your storage bag and take vows of faith to completely clear yourself of suspicion.

"If you two had just checked the storage bags openly, why would you have done this!" Cao Shengming scolded. "This matter must be resolved. We must pin everything on your grand-nephew and let his life settle this matter."

Go to the Li family in Taiyuan and the Wang family in Langya again, personally take the body there, and return the belongings as well.

"Homeowner!"

"What, do you think your nephew's life is more important than the face of my Cao family?" Cao Shengming said, "You know how to put it."

"Yes, Master." Cao Jinyan felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, his voice weak and feeble.

(End of this chapter)