Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 562 The Xu family’s envoy
Tailai Peak is crowded and intrusive, making it unsuitable for hiding Shi Fengxue.

If they were to hide them somewhere, they would need to arrange for people to protect them—what the Li family currently lacks most is a capable cultivator.

After much deliberation, Li Xiangming decided to hand it over to Yuan Bin.

Yuan Bin is a smart man. Even if he is rejected by the Demon Suppression Camp, he is unlikely to harm Shi Fengxue.

In fact, due to the special nature of the barrier, he couldn't take anyone inside with him even if he wanted to.

If Yuan Bin didn't dare, then Ma He, Qiao Shun, and the others inside would be even less likely to dare.

When the two men saw Shi Fengxue, they mistook her for a woman from the Li family and kept going up to flatter her.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiangming hurriedly left.

His focus should still be on the beast tide in Pudong.

The next day.

Li Xiangming summoned the envoys from the Luo family and Lingwu Sect again.

Both families shared the same attitude towards the beast tide as the Li family, agreeing that they should take the initiative to eliminate the large and small beast tides in Pudong.

It can be said that Li, Luo, and Lingwu Sect naturally have a basis for cooperation.

However, when it came to gathering participants, both families became hesitant and stammering.

Li Xiangming had already talked himself hoarse, but Luo Wanlin finally agreed to send only ten Luo family cultivators, while Lingwu Sect was even worse off, only willing to send five. Both families were willing to provide some pills and magic weapons to the Li family.

The Luo family also contributed an additional 2000 spirit stones, while the Lingwu Sect promised 1000 spirit stones.

But this was far from what Li Xiangming had expected. In his view, the Luo family should send at least fifty cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and the Lingwu Sect, with fewer disciples, should send at least thirty.

In this way, the combined strength of the three factions in the Demon Suppression Camp would reach two hundred members. They could immediately begin suppressing small-scale beast tides.

After several fruitless discussions, Li Xiangming gradually figured out the intentions of the Luo family and the Lingwu Sect.

Seeing that the Li family had suffered a defeat in the beast tide, most of the other forces in Pudong assumed that the Li family would retreat to Danggui Mountain to protect themselves.

The Keluo family and Lingwu Sect had close ties with the Li family and knew that the Li family would never give up so easily.

Since the Li family was bound to send troops sooner or later, both families were well aware of this. For them, minimizing potential casualties by all means was the best course of action.

That's why both companies were only willing to contribute money, but absolutely refused to contribute personnel.

Little did they know that the Li family was deeply embroiled in a war with the Qin family and was at its weakest point.

Without the manpower support of both sides, the Demon Suppression Camp would be unable to withstand the beast tide alone.

However, the Li family could not openly discuss these inside stories. Seeing that the two were still unwilling to budge, Li Xiangming finally lost his temper, slammed the stack of documents that Li Xiangzhen had compiled onto the table, and said coldly, "I naturally understand your concern for your own children. But now that the demonic calamity in Pudong is imminent, for the Luo family and Lingwu Sect to still be so timid and hesitant, I, the Li family, cannot condone it."

Since we can't see eye to eye, let's call it a day. From now on, let's each mind our own business.

I'm not afraid to tell you both that my Li family has rebuilt the Demon-Suppressing Camp and will soon be able to send troops to exterminate the demons. However, the demon scourge is rampant in various places, and the Demon-Suppressing Camp has limited manpower, so it can only protect Danggui Mountain and the safety of our true allies.

I have no objection to your choice to remain aloof, but if you are ever attacked by a beast tide, don't blame the Demon Suppression Camp for standing idly by.

Upon hearing this, Luo Wanlin and Xie Jun exchanged bewildered glances.

They rushed to Dangui Mountain because they were given a strict order to do everything they could to secure the Li family's promise of protection.

Who would have thought that the Li family would suddenly turn their backs and utter such harsh words?
"Deputy Chief Steward Li, please hold your anger!"

Luo Wanlin quickly waved his hand and explained, "It's not that my family is unwilling to contribute, but rather that the clan is indeed facing difficulties."

Seeing Li Xiangming's expression darken, he quickly changed his words: "Of course, it's not impossible to transfer some people if necessary. However, this matter needs to be reported to the head of the family. Before receiving confirmation, I really dare not make any promises! I hope that Vice Steward Li can grant me a few more days."

“That’s right, this matter needs further consideration,” Xie Jun quickly agreed.

Li Xiangming sneered and remained silent.

What the two said was true; such a major matter as providing manpower and effort was indeed not something that an envoy could decide on his own.

But if he doesn't put some pressure on them and lets them act as mouthpieces, even if they come back with new terms, it will only lead to more wrangling. He doesn't have the time to deal with that.

"No need."

Li Xiangming rose with a flick of his sleeve, his tone indifferent: "The Luo family and Lingwu Sect are not the only ones willing to cooperate with the Li family. We have distinguished guests who have come from afar today, so please return."

Distinguished guest?

Luo Wanlin and Xie Jun exchanged a glance, both noticing each other's caution.

Normally, as long as the Li family takes action to suppress the beast tide in Pudong, it will definitely alleviate the pressure on both families.

However, if the Li family and other forces form a separate alliance to protect themselves, it would be unwise.

Because once the beast tide encounters setbacks, it will immediately shift its location. This will greatly increase the probability that the Luo family and the Lingwu Sect will face danger.

"Deputy Chief Steward Li"

"Please come back."

Li Xiangming picked up his teacup, and Li Xiangzhen immediately stood up to see him off.

Helpless, Luo Wanlin had no choice but to bow and take his leave.

Xie Jun hesitated slightly, but ultimately followed behind Luo Wanlin.

"The old one is a fox, and the young one is a fox too."

Li Xiangming sneered inwardly, then instructed Li Xiangzhen, "Please invite the Xu family's envoy in."

"Yes!"

Li Xiangzhen quickly withdrew, and soon led a female cultivator inside.

Li Xiangming looked up and saw that the female cultivator was about thirty or forty years old. She was quite pretty, but she was without makeup and had several scratches on her face, making her look rather disheveled.

Xu Zhilan also looked at the green-robed youth in front of her with curiosity.

She requested an audience with the head of the Li family twice, but was refused both times. Finally, she was allowed to meet with the deputy head of the Li family's internal affairs department.

I thought he was a mature and steady old man, but I never expected him to be so young.
"Fourth Madam Xu greets Deputy Steward Li."

Despite her surprise, Xu Zhilan quickly regained her composure and greeted him with a cupped hand.

Li Xiangming was also somewhat surprised, not expecting that the Xu family's envoy would be a woman.

It wasn't that he looked down on female cultivators, but in terms of diplomatic missions, female cultivators were still quite rare.

He rose gently to show respect: "Fellow Daoist Xu, there's no need for such formalities, Xiangzhen."

Li Xiangzhen, who was standing to the side, immediately served Xu Zhilan a cup of spiritual tea.

Feeling the courtesy she received, Xu Zhilan relaxed slightly, but still unconsciously gripped her teacup tightly.

After a moment's consideration, Xu Zhilan looked directly at Li Xiangming and spoke first: "May I ask, Deputy Chief Steward Li, the beast tide is raging in Pudong, causing immense suffering and death. As the leader of Pudong, why has the Li family remained inactive for so long? Do you perhaps regard your many comrades in Pudong and the millions of ordinary people as worthless weeds?"

Li Xiangming narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected that the Xu family envoy was just like Xie Jun, a sharp-tongued person who immediately put a big label on him.

However, after listening for a while, he felt nothing. He merely took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Xu has come from the east, so you must know the power of the beast tide. My Li family suffered a crushing defeat in Calabash Valley. Now we have the will to help, but we are powerless to do so alone. We have made a fool of ourselves in front of the Xu family!"

Xu Zhilan stood up abruptly, her sword-like eyebrows raised: "With the Li family's prestige, why worry that other forces won't rush to join us? Putting aside everything else, my entire Xu family is willing to follow us."

The whole clan followed?

Li Xiangming paused slightly as he raised his glass, looking at the woman in front of him.

Why is the Xu family so adamant in their stance?
His mind raced, and he suddenly asked, "Has Gushe Ridge been besieged by a beast tide?"

Seeing that she could no longer hide it, Xu Zhilan sighed and said, "The demonic beasts have been besieging the mountain for more than half a month. I hope the Li family can lend a helping hand."

(End of this chapter)