Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 182
The next day.

Li Xiangming woke up and sighed.

He spent several nights trying to figure out the evil green robe, but still had no clue.

"We must not lose our composure."

Li Xiangming adjusted his breathing, got up, pushed open the door, and breathed in the fresh air.

Liu Xiongyu is an enemy, not a friend. You can't believe everything he says. If you're always anxious, you'll eventually develop inner demons.

With the Cao family uncle and nephew returning home, Monkey Valley resumed its previous routine.

The Li family no longer restricted the number of people entering Monkey Valley, and the valley was quickly reoccupied by members of various demon-hunting groups.

Especially at Taibai Restaurant, there were cultivators everywhere.

Li Xiangming went over to take a look and found that the Li family was selling the Burning Evil Pill.

The Li family had previously sold Burning Fiend Pills on a large scale, and Li Qiansu repeatedly said that it was the last time, and that if they missed it, they would never get another chance.

But that's just a marketing tactic, and nobody cares.

In fact, the Li family sells Burning Fiend Pills every two months. Since most of the pills come from the Liu family of Jimu Rock, their quality is up to standard and they are already very popular among cultivators.

As a result, the Li family has captured more than 60% of the market for the "Burning Evil Pill".

Zhao Jindou complained about this several times.

It was originally agreed that the Li family would assist Zhao Jindou in seizing Zhang Mazi's Burning Evil Pill market.

As a result, Zhang Mazi lost most of his Burning Fiend Pill market share, but that majority ended up in the hands of the Li family.

Even Madam Feng and others had differing opinions, because they felt that Li Xiangming was using the Puyinshan Guild Hall to compete for business for the Li family.

In response, Li Xiangming repeatedly reassured the members, promising to reduce the sales of the Burning Evil Pill and give the market to the members of the association.

Actually, there was nothing they could do if they didn't want to transfer it, because the Li family's alchemy workshop couldn't refine such a large-scale Burning Fiend Pill.

Most of the Burning Fiend Pills at Taibai Restaurant come from the Liu family, but the Liu family has recently been significantly reducing the production of Burning Fiend Pills.

According to the Liu family, they received a large order from the Qin family, so they had to slow down their cooperation with the Li family.

Why is the Qin family purchasing large quantities of elixirs at this time?

Li Xiangming had no idea, but he could only restrict the sale of the Burning Fiend Pills at each level, which caused the rogue cultivators to complain endlessly.

Despite this, even more people came to buy the Burning Fiend Pill, fearing they wouldn't be able to buy any of the Liu family's Burning Fiend Pills.

In just a few moments, the Burning Fiend Pills were sold out.

Those who failed to snatch the items shook their heads in regret, while others wore frosty expressions and felt resentful. Some even disregarded propriety and hurled insults, though of course they dared not insult the Li family.

Li Xiangming shook his head. Just as he was about to turn and leave, a boy of about fourteen or fifteen years old burst into the tavern.

"Stop! I...I want to join the demon-hunting group! Who wants me?"

The boy was panting heavily, his hands resting on his knees, but his head kept looking around at the cultivators.

"You brat, what kind of demon-hunting group are you joining?"

Someone asked curiously.

"The demon-hunting team can earn spirit stones, and spirit stones can be used for cultivation. I want to become stronger."

The boy answered earnestly.

"Hey, you're right. Demon-hunting groups can earn spirit stones, but they also have to take risks. What can someone with your physique do?"

A burly man, as tall as an iron tower, squatted down in front of the boy and said with a grin.

Even when crouching, the big man was still a head taller than the boy, which undoubtedly made the boy feel pressured, and a trace of fear flashed in the corner of his eyes.

Someone noticed the boy's hesitation and mocked, "That's right, we're going into the mountains to kill demons, not to breastfeed."

"Ha ha ha ha."

The people around burst into laughter.

The boy's face flushed red. He angrily shouted at the man, "Come out! If you've got the guts, come out and fight me!"

The crowd laughed even harder.

"Old Xu, let's go! What are we waiting for?"

"That's right, Old Xu, you're not afraid of this chick, are you?"

"Pah, I'm not going to make a move in a tavern. Do you think I'm stupid?"

Old Xu glanced at the boy with disdain: "Besides, what's the point of arguing with a mere kid? It's not honorable to win."

With that, Old Xu gripped the Burning Fiend Pill in his hand, snorted, and left.

Seeing that the fun was over, the others gradually left the tavern.

"Stop right there!"

The boy shouted.

However, no one paid any attention to him.

A moment later, only a dozen or so patrons remained in the tavern, and still no one paid any attention to the young man.

The boy squatted down in frustration, then immediately stood up and walked towards the bar.

"Shopkeeper, could you recommend a demon-hunting group to me?" Li Qiansu glanced at him and replied, "I'm just a wine seller, how could I possibly recommend a demon-hunting group to you?"

Everyone says that the Li family's influence is very powerful.

"Then you should have heard that the Li family never interferes in the affairs of the demon-hunting group."

Upon hearing this, the boy's eyes dimmed.

"What's your name?"

At this moment, Li Xiangming slowly walked forward.

"Manager Li?"

The boy was overjoyed and immediately knelt down in front of Li Xiangming: "Please, steward, introduce me to a demon-hunting group."

"You haven't answered my question yet."

The boy raised his head: "My name is Yang Yun."

Family background.

Yang Yun was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied, "I am from Qingshui County. My father, Yang Ding, was originally a member of the Wumu Mountain Demon Hunting Group. Later, my father brought my sister and me to Puyin Mountain to make a living, and we also joined the Demon Hunting Group."

“My father went into the mountains the day before yesterday and didn’t come back. The people in his group said that my father was dead. Without my father, my sister and I can’t cultivate. Please help me find a demon-hunting group, Manager Li.”

With that, Yang Yun kowtowed deeply to Li Xiangming.

Li Xiangming gave Yang Yun a deep look. When talking about his father's death, the boy did not show a trace of sadness.

Is your father good to you?

“No, my sister and I were bought by our father.” Yang Yun shook his head.

"So, your sister isn't your biological sister?"

"No."

Li Xiangming hesitated for a moment, then continued to ask, "Did the Demon Hunting Team return your father's belongings?"

"Relic?"

Yang Yun exclaimed in surprise, as if he had never thought of this before.

"Okay, let's go."

Li Xiangming waved his hand.

Yang Yun refused to leave and remained kneeling in place: "Please, Steward Li, help me."

"I've noted you down. If I find a suitable demon-hunting team, I'll recommend you."

"Thank you, Steward Li."

Yang Yun was overjoyed and kowtowed several more times before jogging out of the Taibai Restaurant.

"Sir, are you really going to introduce him to someone?"

Li Qiansu, standing behind him, couldn't help but ask.

Actually, he was from the Shijinfang, but the Li family members in Monkey Valley were mostly members of the Beast Catching Room. Everyone called Li Xiangming "Manager," and he didn't want to be different, so he followed suit.

"Of course it's fake. This kid is only at the second level of Qi Refining. If he goes into the mountains, he might be gone before his father's seventh day memorial service."

"Why did the steward agree to his request?"

Li Xiangming glanced at him and casually said, "What if we keep kneeling here if we don't agree? Will we be able to do business? By the way, how's business at the tavern these past two months?"

“Very good, another batch of new rogue cultivators has entered Puyin Mountain.”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming looked up. He didn't inquire about the profits in detail, as that was a matter for the Shijinfang and not for the Beast Catching House to manage. However, he was very concerned about the newcomers to Puyin Mountain.

"From which direction did they all come?"

"Most of them smuggled in from Dahuang Town. Their origins are complicated. Most of them are cultivators from Zhangning Prefecture and Qingshui County, but some are also locals from Pushui Market."

How many demon-hunting groups and cultivators are there in Puyin Mountain now?

"It's hard to say."

Li Qiansu glanced at the rogue cultivators still drinking in the inn and whispered, "There are too many wandering cultivators to confirm the exact number. They might go into the mountains to hunt demons today and return to Pushui Market tomorrow. But from my observation, there should be about a hundred large and small demon hunting groups with nearly a thousand cultivators."

"A thousand cultivators?"

Li Xiangming pondered. This was no small number, and the number of cultivators in Puyin Mountain would only increase in the future.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Li family currently holds an absolute advantage outside Puyin Mountain; that's because these rogue cultivators are still just loosely organized demon-hunting groups.

Once these people unite under various pretexts, the Li family's power will decline sharply.

Even if it's difficult for these people to produce high-level combat power, the Li family doesn't have any Foundation Establishment cultivators in Monkey Valley.

How to maintain a balance between the Li family and these independent cultivators with minimal effort, ensuring the safety of the animal trapping house while protecting the Li family's interests in Puyin Mountain, and even leading these independent cultivators to a certain extent, is a question that the Li family needs to carefully consider.

Just as Li Xiangming was immersed in these thoughts, a yellow-robed monk with a mustache hurriedly walked into the tavern.

His gaze swept quickly across the tavern, finally settling on Li Xiangming, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The yellow-robed cultivator strode up to Li Xiangming, his face beaming with undisguised joy: "Steward Li, it's like finding a needle in a haystack! I've finally found you without any effort on my part."

(End of this chapter)