Cultivating a family of immortals

"Is Sister Jing Tao here?"

Xu Jingheng greeted them with a smile and bowed to Zhao's parents. The two bowed as usual and returned the bow respectfully.

Smelling the aroma emanating from the stone pot, Xu Jingheng said with a smile, "Sister Jingtao, why did you bring your own food to the banquet? Let me taste it first to see if it's poisoned!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao's parents trembled in fright, but when they looked up, they saw that Xu Jingheng was joking and was about to take the stone pot to eat the meat.

Xu Jingtao turned to the side very naturally and said with a smile:

"Of course the head of the family should eat first, what's your hurry?"

Xu Jingheng laughed heartily, "Yes, yes, let Grandfather and Father try it first."

Xu Jingtao then carried the stone pot into the main hall.

Meanwhile, Zhao's father and mother sat in the courtyard chatting with others, but secretly peered through the threshold at every move taking place in the main hall.

After making the soup today, the two of them personally watched as Xu Jingtao scooped out a spoonful of soup and fed it to the big yellow dog in front of the door. The big yellow dog was not like a human, and it died of poisoning in a short while.

The two were then relieved and followed.

In the main hall, Xu Changle took the stone pot, put it down, and Xu Jingtao said a few words to the Xu family before leaving and starting to work in the courtyard.

The two would occasionally put their hands together, either picking vegetables or moving tables and chairs, but their eyes would frequently turn back to look at the main hall.

After a while, the two finally watched as the Xu father and son opened the stone pot together, scooped up some soup, took a sip, and then each picked up a few pieces of meat and ate them.

The two were overjoyed, but dared not show it on their faces, quietly waiting for the poison to take effect.

Seeing this, Xu Jingtao quickly left.

After the tables and chairs in the courtyard were set out, and dishes and drinks were placed on each table, the Xu father and son walked out of the main hall together. However, they stopped at the threshold, their expressions suddenly changed, and they looked at each other. With a "pfft," they spat out a mouthful of thick, dark blood.

Immediately, a commotion erupted in the courtyard.

Xu Jingheng and the others also shouted:

"Grandfather, Father!"

The Xu family was finally in chaos. Seeing this, the Zhao couple finally breathed a sigh of relief and took the opportunity to leave. Instead of going home, they followed the planned route and headed towards the Zheng family.

Because of the razing of Qingping Mountain, the Zheng family and the Xu family are now separated only by a bamboo grove, which is where the Xu family's soldiers stand guard.

Upon arriving, as expected, Xu Jingtao was already waiting there, and the man in black was also beside her.

Dozens of corpses were scattered at their feet, apparently killed by the man in black.

The Zhao couple quickly stepped forward and recounted in detail how Xu Jingtao had succeeded.

The man in black had rushed over after receiving the message jade talisman, and after hearing what the couple said, he felt reassured.

"Excellent, Jing Tao, from now on you will be a great contributor to our Chaoyang Sect!"

After saying that, he took out a communication jade talisman and informed the sect of the matter.

Xu Jingtao stood quietly beside him, her gaze passing through the woods, but suddenly a memory from many years ago came to mind.

Xu Jinglei, that silly boy who entered the Xu family with him, died here.

There used to be a huge rock just ahead, but it's gone now.

The location is good overall.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on her lips, but she turned around and looked coldly at her parents.

Seeing her expression, Zhao's father sighed and advised, "Jingtao, don't blame us. We're doing this for your own good! For the good of the Zhao family!"

Xu Jingtao, however, spoke these words with her back to the man in black.

"You said before that I would handle those two, does that still stand?"

"What?" Zhao's parents thought Xu Jingtao was speaking to them and asked in confusion.

The man in black, holding the communication jade talisman, hadn't even answered when a carrier pigeon circled down and landed in his hand. He raised an eyebrow, took out the letter, glanced at its contents, and then exclaimed with overjoyed delight:

"Haha, the Xu father and son are really dead!"

Having said that, he turned around, released the carrier pigeon, and put away the communication jade talisman, saying with a smile, "Of course it counts!"

Xu Jingtao nodded calmly.

His gaze remained fixed on the two of them, scrutinizing them carefully and attentively.

The two men had deep wrinkles on their faces and wore blue robes. Although they looked old, they did not appear as aged as other villagers of the same age. On the contrary, they had an air of dignity about them.

She smiled, bowed to the two elders, and then turned and brushed past the man in black.

"Kill them!"

The man in black turned his head to look at her back, and suddenly felt a sense of admiration.

Even now, Zhao's parents still don't understand what Xu Jingtao is talking about.

"Killed? Killed whom?"

The man in black turned his head, silently looked at the couple, sighed, and thought to himself:

"You are so foolish as to actually think of replacing the Xu family... Only you could agree to such a vicious scheme."

Finally, Zhao's father and mother seemed to understand something. Zhao's mother was so frightened that she wanted to scream, but the man in black did not want to hear these sounds and calmly made a hand seal.

A gust of wind rises, a gust of wind falls.

Two bloody marks appeared on their necks.

The two died before they could even utter a cry of alarm.

Xu Jingtao did not turn around again, her voice icy cold as she said:

"What's your name?"

"Me? My name is Xiang Rong."

"The Xiang family bloodline of the Chaoyang Sect?"

"good."

"You forced me to poison the Xu family father and son. If you conquer this place in the future, and the Haoran Sect is unwilling, then war will break out. What should we do?"

This is also what puzzles Xu Jingtao the most.

What gives Chaoyang Sect the right to act in this way?

Xiang Rong burst into laughter, his laughter filled with delight.

"Back then, there was a spiritual vein on Qingping Mountain. The Chaoyang Sect and the Chaoyang Sect fought fiercely over it, engaging in constant conflict. Now that Qingping Mountain is gone, why are the two sects fighting again?"

Xu Jingtao raised an eyebrow slightly. "What do you mean?"

Xiang Rong turned around, looked directly at the woman, and said with a smile:

"Indeed, the Xu family is now very powerful, and the Haoran Sect must also see them as a thorn in their side. However, they are hesitant to act directly. If we take action to destroy the Xu family, we can prevent them from growing too powerful and threatening our Chaoyang Sect. This will also benefit the Haoran Sect. Why would they compete with us for this mortal village?"

Xu Jingtao was even more puzzled, "Xu Jingheng, the eldest son of the third generation of the Xu family, has already joined the Xuan Yuan Sect. Even a powerful sect like the Hao Ran Sect wouldn't dare to make a move, turning a blind eye to your success. With the Xuan Yuan Sect backing him, how could Xu Jingheng possibly let this go so easily?"

A slight smile appeared on Xiang Rong's lips.

"The Haoran Sect fears the Xuanyuan Sect, but our sect only holds it in awe. The Xuanyuan Sect will not cause trouble for our Chaoyang Sect over this matter. Back then, when the matriarch of the Xuanyuan Sect was away on a training expedition, she was being hunted down by enemies, and it was my grandfather who saved her. There is a life-saving grace between our two sects. How could they kill someone from our Xuanyuan Sect for a disciple of an outsider like Xu Jingheng?"

"I see..." Xu Jingtao sighed, then said without changing her expression:

"Since the destruction of the Xu family is a foregone conclusion, I will be responsible for guarding this place after you conquer it!"

Her eyes were bright, and her words were earnest.

Xiang Rong was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses, and his admiration for the woman deepened.

"No problem, after all, the child in your womb is also of the Xiang family bloodline."

As the two were talking, countless people suddenly emerged from the woods.

Xu Jingtao looked over and saw that the entire Zheng family, whom she hadn't seen for many years, had gathered here.