Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 221 Banquet
Li Xiangming was quite surprised to run into Jiang Liang of the Lingwu Sect here.

After a conversation, he learned that Jiang Liang had been training down the mountain for three years.

"Who is this child?"

Li Xiangming noticed Nangong Mu, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

"He should be a resident of Pushui Market, named Nangong Mu. I met him outside the market. He was being taken away by a group of human traffickers, so I rescued him. Unexpectedly, this attracted their large force." Jiang Liang briefly explained what happened.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming nodded knowingly.

Although Pushui Market is Bailu Sect's territory, Bailu Sect has also trained a group of elite guards to maintain order in the market.

But the number of guards is ultimately limited. They are already struggling to protect the market, let alone the area outside the market.

These scourges, like the bearded burly man who is both a human trafficker and a robber, can never be eradicated.

Just as the White Dew Sect was unable to eradicate the Mang Cult.

When faced with self-interest, there will always be those who are willing to succumb to temptation.

Skipping over that topic, Li Xiangming said in a low voice, "I heard that Master Lingwu passed the position of sect leader to Pei Wen last year. I wonder if Brother Jiang is aware of this?"

"Second senior brother?"

Jiang Liang looked astonished, clearly having not paid attention to the Lingwu Sect's situation in recent years.

Before he left, it was almost a certainty that He Jing would take over as the sect leader.

Why did it suddenly change to Pei Wen?

He hurriedly asked, "What about my senior brother?"

Li Xiangming shook his head: "Brother He, in his disappointment, left Lingwu Sect under the guise of traveling, and we don't know where he is now."

Jiang Liang was stunned. He Jing, as the senior disciple, had made great contributions to the establishment and development of Lingwu Sect.

He was highly regarded as the successor to the sect leader, and his talent and cultivation were no less than others, but unexpectedly he ended up leaving the sect.

But this is probably not what hurt He Jing the most. What really saddened him was his master Lingwu Shangren's attitude.

Without the support of Master Lingwu, Pei Wen could not have competed with He Jing.

Why did Master Lingwu abandon He Jing and choose Pei Wen instead?
He Jing couldn't understand it, so he left Lingwu Sect. Jiang Liang couldn't understand it either, and couldn't help but sigh. Back then, he, He Jing, and Pei Wen slept on the same bed and were as close as brothers. Now they went their separate ways. Although they were still fellow disciples, it was difficult to go back to the way things were before.

Li Xiangming had been observing Jiang Liang's expression. Seeing that he was sullen, he said, "I'm going to Pushui Market. Brother Jiang, would you like to come with me to catch up?"

Jiang Liang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

The group returned to the convoy and continued their journey towards Pushuifang Market.

As they were about to arrive, Li Xiangming saw a familiar face again—it was Tong Wunan from Yuyuan.

Tong Wunan was searching for something in mid-air when he noticed the Li family's convoy and quickly flew over.

"I didn't expect Young Master Li to arrive so quickly."

Tong Wunan cupped his hands in greeting. As the cooperation between Yuyuan and the Li family deepened, his attitude towards Li Xiangming became much more friendly.

"Thank you for welcoming me, Uncle Tong." Li Xiangming returned the greeting politely.

Tong Wunan gave an awkward smile. He hadn't come out specifically to welcome the Li family's convoy. Li Xiangming had clearly misunderstood, but he didn't explain.

Even a misunderstanding is a beautiful misunderstanding if it benefits oneself.

"Grandpa Tong?"

Just then, Nangong Mu called out in a clear voice.

"Mumu, what are you doing here?"

Tong Wunan looked on in surprise.

"Do you know?"

Li Xiangming asked calmly.

"Yes, I know him. His sister, Nangong Ya, is a friend of my young lady."

Tong Wunan looked Nangong Mu over and, seeing that he was unharmed, immediately felt relieved, which meant he could give his mistress an explanation.

Nangong Ya?
Li Xiangming couldn't help but think of the Tianji Pavilion maid who sold the Green Cloud Flying Boat back then. He hadn't expected that she had connections with Yuyuan and the Cao family.
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Yuyuan Garden. Since being attacked by the Mang Sect, the Cao family has learned its lesson and not only further expanded Yuyuan Garden, but also stationed a Foundation Establishment cultivator there for many years.

In addition, the park has more complete facilities and hundreds more young and middle-aged people.

Li Xiangming could tell at a glance that, in terms of both scale and operational mechanism, the Beast Breeding Peak was far inferior to this place.

However, the Li family doesn't need to belittle themselves.

Five years ago, the Li family had fewer than ten beast tamers, but now they have more than thirty, which is comparable to the current Yuyuan family in terms of numbers.

The gap between the Li family five years ago and the Li family now is even greater than the gap between the Li family and Yuyuan now. Sooner or later, the Li family will be able to catch up, and the spirit pets they train will sell as well as, or even better than, those of Yuyuan.

Not long after entering Yuyuan, Cao Fuyi led several people out to greet Li Xiangming, including Cao Yanjun.

"Sister Green Calyx!"

Nangong Mu and Cao Yanjun were clearly very familiar with each other, and he pounced on them.

Cao Yanjun was also very happy, but she quickly turned cold and poked Nangong Mu's head, "Do you know how worried your sister was about you? And you still ran around! Tell me honestly, where have you been?"

Nangong Mu scratched his head and recounted his experience.

To put it simply, he got tired of staying in the market and heard the legend of the Misty Rain Sect in a teahouse, so he inquired everywhere about how to join the Misty Rain Sect.

This scene was overheard by a group of human traffickers. Seeing that Nangong Mu was only ten years old, the traffickers immediately disguised themselves as disciples of the Misty Rain Sect, tricked Nangong Mu out of the market, and then kidnapped him.

However, they were unlucky and happened to run into Jiang Liang who was passing by.

Jiang Liang immediately saw through the nature of this group and stepped in to save Nangong Mu.

They were then discovered by another group of human traffickers and chased all the way until they encountered the Li family's convoy and were safe.

After hearing this convoluted story, Cao Yanjun felt both angry and frightened.

If Li Xiangming hadn't intervened, Nangong Ya probably would never have seen her younger brother again in her life.

Thinking of this, Cao Yanjun couldn't help but glance at Li Xiangming.

Although she knew the Li family was transporting a batch of demonic beasts, she didn't know it would be Li Xiangming who was coming.

As if sensing something, Li Xiangming looked back, and their eyes met briefly before looking away.

At this moment, Nangong Mu looked up and asked, "Where is my sister?"

"Your sister is still in Pushui Market. She said she'll ask the Tianji Pavilion to find you."

After saying this, Cao Yanjun sighed softly.

Nangong Mu had no idea that his sister had gone to great lengths to find him, spending all her savings accumulated over the years.

"Young friend Li, thank you for your hard work."

While Cao Yanjun was whispering to Nangong Mu, Cao Fuyi, who was standing next to him, was also chatting with Li Xiangming, holding his hand.

They also extended a warm invitation to Li Xiangming to attend the welcoming banquet held at Yuyuan.

Li Xiangming was puzzled. Why make such a big fuss over just escorting a group of monsters?
However, it's a good thing that the Cao family is willing to befriend both themselves and the Li family.

Li Xiangming had no reason to refuse, and he even introduced Jiang Liang to Cao Fuyi, inviting him to attend the banquet with him.

However, the Cao family was not very interested in Jiang Liang.

First, Jiang Liang is not a beast tamer and has no cooperative relationship with Yuyuan. Second, Jiang Liang's cultivation level is still only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, which is far inferior to that of Li Xiangming, the main character of the banquet.

Finally, Jiang Liang's identity was that of an ordinary disciple of a small sect.

Therefore, naturally no one paid any attention to Jiang Liang.

Jiang Liang's treatment was even worse than that of Chang Zhi and Ma He, the guest advisors of the Li family.

Only Li Xiangming kept Jiang Liang by his side and talked to him from time to time, so that he wouldn't feel so awkward.

Halfway through the banquet, a dark-skinned middle-aged monk whispered something in Cao Fuyi's ear.

Cao Fuyi's eyes showed obvious surprise. He raised his wine glass, walked to Li Xiangming's side, and said softly, "Young friend Li, please come with me."

(End of this chapter)