Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 404 Expanding the Demon Hunting Team

"exist!"

Li Xiangfeng was startled and quickly stepped forward to respond.

Li Xiangming stared at him, his expression unfriendly: "How did you explain the Dai Shan trip to Lü Mao?"

"I"

Despite his nervousness, Li Xiangfeng took out Xu Jin's letter and explained in detail how he arranged for the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Team to go to Daishan, and he especially emphasized that he had urged Lü Mao to return as soon as possible.

After listening, Li Xiangming turned to Lü Mao and asked expressionlessly, "Is what Li Xiangfeng said true?"

How could Lü Mao dare to lie in front of Li Xiangfeng?
Despite his cold hands and feet and stiff face, he managed to say with difficulty, "It's true."

"Since it's true, what right do you have to blame me?"

Li Xiangming's voice suddenly rose, his tone stern: "When you were driven to the brink by Ge Yi and begged Zhao Jindou to see me, what did you say? You said that the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group was willing to do anything, even go through fire and water!"

"Ask yourselves honestly, have I ever wronged you?"

"I arranged helpers to help you strengthen your demon-hunting group, and I also eliminated Ge Yi and Zhang Mazi, relieving you of any worries. In the past few years, you haven't had to go into the mountains to hunt demons aimlessly, but instead have been receiving the most cost-effective demon-hunting missions from the Demon-Hunting Guild. Is it all because of your reputation as Commander Lü?"

“Whenever we go into the mountains, the Divine Wind Demon Hunting Team will share with you the intelligence they gather at great risk. The pills, talismans, and magical artifacts that the Li family transports to Monkey Valley are all given priority for you to purchase. Did all of these fall from the sky?”

"Everyone envies you for finding such a good backer. The Li family may not be worth your unwavering loyalty, but gratitude is the most basic principle of being a decent human being."

As he spoke, Li Xiangming stood up and quickly walked to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, and his gaze darted away.

Li Xiangming's expression calmed down as he straightened his clothes: "There are plenty of demon-hunting cultivators on Puyin Mountain who wear mortal clothes, which are easily torn, yet they are reluctant to buy spirit cloth to make a suitable outfit. Look at you, you are wearing spirit clothes that are sturdy, warm in winter and cool in summer, and don't even get a speck of dust on them."

"Manager Li, it's me."

Lin Hao's face turned red, and he was about to speak.

Li Xiangming looked down at him and interrupted, "Have I ever asked you for a single spirit stone you've earned over the past few years? I don't mind you making money or living a good life; it's what you deserve for doing things for me and the Li family. But you shouldn't forget your place, and you shouldn't become more pampered than me after a few days of good living."

Li Xiangming patted Lin Hao's intact one arm, then turned to Lü Mao, his eyes filled with indifference: "Daishan is dangerous, but I raised you not so you could go and die. Commander Lü, I'm very disappointed in you!"

Lu Mao staggered, his face ashen, and his body collapsed.

Back then, Ge Yi forced him into a corner, and the fourth brother died tragically. He had no choice but to take revenge and leave a way out for his brothers.

That's why he humbled himself, hoping to get on the Li family's good side through Zhao Jindou's connections.

In fact, he made the right bet. Li Xiangming was willing to help him, and the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group eventually replaced the Lion Demon Hunting Group.

However, from that moment on, the fate of the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Team was sealed.

The Li family will not give up on this pawn to which they have already invested too much effort.

This can be seen from Li Xiangming's reluctance to withdraw Chi Laiyong and others.

He was naturally unwilling to accept this.

Despite Li Xiangfeng's warning, he remained in Daishan and worked for Zhao Jindou, not for any other reason than Zhao Jindou's promise of a 20% share of the spiritual herbs.

With these spirit stones, he could arrange for his trusted subordinate, Jin Chan, to shed his skin and rebuild the demon-hunting team.

As for the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group, it's just a name; why not leave it to Chi Laiyong?

It can be said that from the moment he sought refuge with the Li family, he was scheming how to break free from their control.

The trip to Daishan presented him with his opportunity.

But in the end, he succumbed to greed, not only failing to receive the promised reward from Zhao Jindou, but also causing heavy casualties among his brothers.

Now, Li Xiangming has personally come to Puyin Mountain.

Although he didn't believe that a Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself had come for him and the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group, Li Xiangming would undoubtedly side with Chi Laiyong and completely strip him of his position as group leader.

Sure enough, Li Xiangming followed up with, "I've already left you with some leeway, but you didn't cherish it, which led to your current predicament. Let me tell you, Daishan is just the beginning. The Mad Lion Demon Hunting Team will have many more missions to shoulder in the future. Commander Lü, do you have the confidence to do so?"

Lu Mao gave a bitter laugh, closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his face was full of exhaustion: "Manager Li, you are wise. I only have one leg left, and I am afraid I am no longer able to serve as the leader. I hope you will allow me to leave the Demon Hunting Team."

"Captain!"

"No!"

Lin Hao and the others around him were very anxious and tried to comfort him.

Lu Mao looked at them and shook his head: "You should all quit with me."

Lin Hao and his companions were stunned for a moment, completely at a loss.

They had become accustomed to being demon hunters and to coming and going from Puyin Mountain.

Where can they go after leaving the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group?
"If you'd like, you can stay in Monkey Valley."

Li Xiangming returned to his seat and said calmly, "Since other demon-hunting groups almost started fighting in Monkey Valley, it means that the Li family's prestige is no longer enough to deter them. I will form a patrol team in the valley to maintain order. Lü Mao, would you be willing to be the captain?"

Lü Mao was quite surprised and couldn't help but raise his head slightly.

At this moment, Li Jihu, who was standing nearby, reminded him with a grin, "Commander Lü, the patrol team's duty area is only Monkey Valley. We don't need to go out to hunt demons or do anything else. We can just wander around all day and collect spirit stones. If this news gets out, people outside will go crazy. If it weren't for the fact that you've worked for the Li family for several years..."

Lu Mao immediately understood that the patrol team leader was Li Xiangming's compensation for taking away his position as regimental commander.

After a moment of silence, he bowed his head and clasped his hands, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Manager Li."
-
After seeing Lü Mao and the others off, Chi Laiyong finally couldn't hold back any longer and cautiously asked, "My lord, will Lü Mao hold a grudge after losing his position as commander?"

"If he harbored resentment, would he allow you to win over other people?"

Li Xiangming asked a question in return.

As the parties involved, Lü Mao and Chi Laiyong have complex and ever-changing thoughts, and cannot grasp the overall situation.

But in his view, Lü Mao's abdication was inevitable.

There's no other reason than that the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Team has a special situation.

As he just said, the Li family has many more uses for this demon-hunting team. It won't shrink in size or silently lick its wounds just because its leader is injured. On the contrary, it must meet the Li family's needs, continue to grow, and conserve its strength.

To put it bluntly, the Li family supported the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group so that they could be treated like slaves.

Lü Mao was a smart man.

One trip to Daishan had already cost him a leg.

Doesn't he feel fear about this?
However, he was unwilling to hand over all the hard work he had accumulated to others.

That's why they're fixated on the position of regimental commander.

However, at the same time, he did not take any action against Chi Laiyong's underhanded tactics.

This shows that Lü Mao was conflicted.

On the one hand, he was unwilling to relinquish power, and on the other hand, he was prepared for the possibility of being stripped of it.

At this point, Li Xiangming offered to give him a different job, which would not only save him from future dangers but also give him a new place to stay. What was there for him to hesitate about?

Perhaps some people think that the captain of a mere patrol team is not as happy as the leader of a demon-hunting group.

However, it should be noted that Lü Mao is no longer the same as before; if he were asked to go into the mountains to hunt demons again, he himself would back down.

Staying in Monkey Valley is the best place for him.

"Lai Yong understands."

Having figured out Lü Mao's inner thoughts, Chi Laiyong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Despite his efforts, he couldn't shake Commander Lü Mao's position.

As soon as Li Xiangming arrived, he told Lü Mao to pack his bags and leave.

He felt no joy at this; on the contrary, he felt somewhat uneasy.

Because if Lü Mao is unwilling to accept this, his target for revenge will not be the high and mighty Li Xiangming, but rather him, the newly promoted regimental commander.

Now that he and Lü Mao have each found their place, it is undoubtedly the best outcome.

"How many members are left in the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Squad?"

Li Xiangming tapped the table and continued to ask.

"There are about eight more people."

"Only eight people left?"

Li Xiangming frowned.

Chi Laiyong looked embarrassed: "Some people have been secretly running away from the group. The only eight people left are Yang Yun."

Upon hearing Yang Yun's name, Li Xiangming instantly thought of a stubborn-looking child. "What is his current cultivation level?"

"Who?"

"Yang Yun".

Chi Laiyong didn't understand why Li Xiangming would notice such an inconspicuous little cultivator, but he still answered honestly, "He is very hardworking and has already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining."

"Well."

Li Xiangming paused for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, he looked up at Chi Laiyong and said, "The Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group is currently weak. When you go into the mountains, you can go with the Divine Wind Demon Hunting Group. However, I will only give you six months. After six months, the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group's manpower will need to be expanded at least five times."

"Five times?"

Chi Laiyong was completely stunned.

How can the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Team be expanded to a size of forty people in just six months?
He remembered that before Lü Mao went to Daishan, the Mad Lion Demon Hunting Group didn't have this many people.

Li Xiangming ignored him and looked at Li Jihu, instructing, "I have higher expectations for you. In six months, the Crimson Flame Demon Hunting Team should have at least fifty members. Are you confident?"

"this."

Li Jihu seemed a little hesitant, but finally nodded: "I will do my best."

"Don't try to fool me. You know, I want more than just numbers."

Li Xiangming's voice gradually became stern.

Chi Laiyong and Li Jihu exchanged a glance, their faces immediately fell, and they said in a mournful voice, "Recruiting people is easy, but recruiting powerful demon-hunting cultivators will cost a lot of money."

Li Xiangming fiddled with his teacup, saying casually, "I don't care about that. You guys figure it out yourselves. If the family just keeps throwing money around, what use are you guys?"

Li Jihu gave a hesitant reply.

Despite his late arrival, Chi Laiyong still looked worried and distressed.

Li Xiangming smiled. As long as these two people could reach the target number of people, he would have already achieved his expectations.

However, there's no need to say these things aloud.

He didn't even give them a chance to refuse before kicking them out.

Soon, only Li Xiangming and Li Xiangfeng remained in the room.

After a long silence, Li Xiangfeng asked hesitantly, "Master, are you really not planning to transfer some people from the Divine Wind and Golden Light Demon Hunting Teams to form a new Demon Hunting Team?"

"You don't trust either of them, do you?"

Li Xiangming saw through Li Xiangfeng's thoughts at a glance.

Li Xiangfeng scratched his head: "The main problem is that they're too young. Ji Hu's Crimson Flame Demon Hunting Team only has about ten people. Asking him to manage fifty people all at once is a bit of a challenge. As for Chi Laiyong, there's even less to say; he has no experience as a team leader."

"Experience is accumulated gradually. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are taken."

Li Xiangming disagreed, but he knew what Li Xiangfeng was worried about, so he patiently explained, "They are just demon hunters, not our own people. If anyone is dissatisfied, we can just kick them out, right? At worst, we can stop paying their salaries for a few months. Who would dare to cause trouble then? Since Ji Hu and Lai Yong have both the opportunity to become team leaders, we might as well train them."

"As for the Shenfeng and Jinguang groups, according to my plan, they should also expand! You are the core strength of the Li family in Puyin Mountain, and you must always remain in the first echelon. We cannot allow your strength to be scattered. When each of you reaches a size of sixty people, it will not be too late to transfer some people to assist Jihu and the others."

Sixty people?
Li Xiangfeng was secretly alarmed.

The demon-hunting group in Puyin Mountain has never been very large.

The reason is simple: the more people there are, the more profits they can take away.

Many demon-hunting groups are unwilling to expand.

Now, Li Xiangming has ordered the four demon-hunting groups—Divine Wind, Golden Light, Crimson Flame, and Mad Lion—to expand rapidly, and their expansion has even reached the heavens.

Once these goals are achieved, the Li family will be able to control more than two hundred demon-hunting cultivators.

This number is enough to start a war, whether it be large or small.

Of course, the demon hunters weren't stupid. They would go into the mountains to hunt demons and exchange them for spirit stones, even without the Li family urging them to do so.

Are you asking them to fight for the Li family?

That would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

"Xiangfeng, I'm entrusting Guan Tianyou's affairs to you. This is a task assigned by the patriarch, so please take good care of him."

Li Xiangming's voice continued to come through.

Li Xiangfeng nodded hurriedly and replied, "Please rest assured, Hall Master. I have already instructed the Puyin Mountain Guild to issue an acquisition order, and I will also give instructions to the Demon Hunting Guild. This matter will be completed in no time."

Li Xiangming nodded slightly. He had gone to great lengths to establish these two platforms just to meet today's needs.

Whether you belong to one of the two sects of Daishan, the Bailu Sect, or any powerful merchant guild, if you want monster materials from Puyin Mountain, you must abide by market rules.

The Li family is different. Even without raising the market price of certain monster materials, the Li family still has ways to collect these materials in a short period of time.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, Li Xiangming took out a jade talisman from his waist and placed it on his forehead.

After a short while, he put down the jade talisman and waved his hand: "Xiang Feng, you may leave now."

"Yes."

Li Xiangfeng dared not ask any further questions, cupped his hands in greeting, and then withdrew.

Soon, a calm-looking young man walked in.

Li Xiangming looked at him and smiled slightly: "Are you getting used to life in Puyin Mountain?"

The person who came was none other than Long Yang, who had "defected" from Green Cloud Cave.

Long Yang's ruthless killing of Huang family cultivators in Baolong Valley has made him a thorn in the side of the Huang family.

The Huang family's home, Jinqianling, is not far from Baolong Valley and Xiaolang Valley.

Li Xiangming simply arranged for Long Yang to go to Puyin Mountain to avoid trouble.

Long Yang glanced around at his surroundings and said calmly, "If you keep your promise, I'm comfortable living anywhere."

Li Xiangming sensed something was amiss and lowered his head to take a sip of tea.

He didn't intentionally delay paying Long Yang's Foundation Building Pills.

Rather, this Foundation Establishment Pill is like a pie in the sky, it hasn't been baked yet.

Nevertheless, he said without changing his expression, "Don't worry, the Foundation Establishment Pill is already under negotiation, and you'll definitely get your share."

Currently, the auxiliary ingredients for Qianjun Dan have been almost fully collected.

It won't be long before the Taoist Qingyang starts refining pills.

Once successful, based on the previous pill-making rate, there should be at least four Thousand-Jun Pills.

Li Xiangming can get two.

Even if he fails, Li Xiangming still has a Thousand-Jun Grass.

Therefore, the pie he painted for Long Yang was not out of reach.

Long Yang remained silent. He had actually guessed long ago that Li Xiangming did not have any Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, the other party had already established his foundation, so where would he have any left?
However, Li Xiangming has a special status. He is both a high-ranking member of the Li family and the head of the Green Cloud Cave. Even if the other party is lying to him, it does not mean that the other party cannot produce the Foundation Establishment Pill.

When an opportunity presents itself, would he simply ignore it because he doesn't trust the other party?
He could only gamble, gamble on his own judgment, gamble that Li Xiangming would not break his oath.

He had no better option than that.

"Six months, I can wait for you for a maximum of six months. If I don't have the Foundation Establishment Pill, I will establish my foundation on my own. Whether I succeed or not, I will not stay in Pudong."

Long Yang gave Li Xiangming a deep look.

Li Xiangming replied earnestly, "I understand."

Seeing this, Long Yang didn't dwell on the topic and instead asked, "I've set up the demon-hunting team you wanted, and they've joined the demon-hunting guild. What's the next step?"

"The more soldiers and horses you recruit, the better."

Li Xiangming did not hesitate.

Long Yang frowned slightly, then turned and left.

Before leaving, he paused for a moment and asked, seemingly casually, "I saw Zhang Min. Why did she come to Puyin Mountain?"

"Don't worry, I'm the one who sent her."

Li Xiangming seemed to realize something, and his expression calmed down.

(End of this chapter)