Cultivating a family of immortals

The head of the Zheng family was still the same patriarch being pushed around in a wheelbarrow, Zheng Xuanzhou.

By this time, his hair was completely white, his face was withered, and he seemed to be nearing the end of his life.

He bowed to Xiang Rong in a low voice and said:

"Thank you for your trouble, Immortal Master."

Xiang Rong waved his hand and said, "Now that you have the chance to destroy the Xu family, you should cherish it. My Chaoyang Sect has also sent three disciples at the sixth level of Qi Refining to lend you a hand. Don't let the sect down!"

Zheng Xuanzhou nodded and beckoned two young men to come forward, saying:

"These are my sons, Zheng Linyuan and Zheng Shutong. Their cultivation has reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. Since the old scoundrel Xu Wanghe and Xu Changle of the Xu family are dead, the Xu family has no backbone and is naturally not a concern. When the Haoran Sect sends people to guard, although it will be a pretense, they will definitely still try to test us. I hope the Immortal Master will stop them."

"I will personally go and stop them!"

After speaking, Zheng Xuanzhou looked at his two sons, his words filled with reluctance:

"I feel that my time is up today. Before I die, I will be able to watch you wipe out the Xu family and get rid of this future scourge for my Zheng family. That would be a happy thing. Therefore, my funeral will be a joyous occasion and should be a lively affair."

Zheng Linyuan and Zheng Shutong knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their faces, their hearts filled with sorrow.

"Father, back then, the Wang family used every means to wipe out my Zheng family, even crippling your cultivation. If it weren't for that, you would have lived to be over a thousand years old, and my Zheng family would surely have become a great family of cultivators! It's just a pity..."

Zheng Shutong cried out.

Zheng Linyuan said solemnly, "Father, rest assured, after you are gone, my second brother and I will definitely ensure that the Zheng family continues to prosper!"

Zheng Xuanzhou is now over two hundred years old. His cultivation has been destroyed. In just over ten years, he has become like this, which is truly lamentable.

"Very well, bring the wine. I'll drink here and await your triumphant return!"

An old woman from behind brought over a wine pot and cups and poured wine for Zheng Xuanzhou.

Zheng Xuanzhou held his wine cup, watching his second son lead the direct and collateral branches of the Zheng family toward Guanyun Village in a grand procession, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Seeing this, Xiang Rong nodded and looked at Xu Jingtao, saying:

"I'm going now, you..."

Xu Jingtao shook her head and said, "Go ahead. After all, the Xu family has raised me for many years. How can I possibly turn against them?"

Xiang Rong nodded in agreement, used the [Lightness Technique], and headed towards Guanyun Village.

The sunlight filtering through the trees was so fine and fragmented that the scattered rays of light fell sparsely onto the ground.

Zheng Xuanzhou leaned against the old felt covering the wheelbarrow, took a sip of wine, and looked down at Xu Jingtao beside him.

At this moment, only Zheng Xuanzhou, four Zheng family soldiers, and the old woman remained in the woods.

"I overheard you saying in the woods that you will be stationed here from now on. Since we are both under the jurisdiction of the Chaoyang Immortal Sect, it would be good for you and my Zheng family to get along better."

Xu Jingtao remained calm and silent, gazing quietly in the direction of Guanyun Village, lost in thought.

…………

The local militia sentry in the woods had all been killed by Xiang Rong. Zheng Linyuan led his men toward Guanyun Village, and no one stopped them along the way.

Even as they approached the village entrance, not a single villager was in sight.

A sense of foreboding rose in Zheng Linyuan's heart, and he said to his second brother beside him:

"The Immortal Sect's intelligence reports that the Xu family is holding a luncheon at home today, and most of the guests are immediate family members. Why are there no villagers at the village entrance?"

Zheng Shutong was also surprised and doubtful.

A large group of people stopped at the village entrance, hesitant to go in.

Just then, several figures flashed in from behind; it was Xiang Rong leading his men.

The two brothers immediately went to greet him, and Xiang Rong frowned and angrily rebuked them:

"Fools! With the Xu family patriarch Xu Wanghe and Xu Changle poisoned to death, such a major event will surely draw the local villagers to the Xu family. What are you afraid of? Even if Xu Wanghe and Xu Changle are barely clinging to life, they are powerless and not cultivators. What can they do to you?"

Zheng Linyuan, however, looked bitter and said:

"Immortal Master, it's not that we're cowardly, but since Xu Wanghe came here, he has been incredibly ruthless. Although he has no cultivation, his rule is extremely strict. In the past years, our Zheng family has had occasional clashes with him, and we have always been the ones who suffer losses..."

Xiang Rong sneered, "In recent years, when you've fought, it's mostly been the local militia fighting. Now that your Zheng family has sent out all its top experts, what are you afraid of?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the three people he had brought behind him and said, "These three are inner disciples of my Chaoyang Sect, all at the sixth level of Qi Refining. They will assist you in breaking in!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Linyuan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed to the three of them, who returned the bow.

"Young Master Zheng, with the three of us helping you, don't be afraid!"

Zheng Linyuan's face immediately hardened as he said, "That's only right. Pass on my order: once we enter the village, leave no one alive!"

After saying this, Xiang Rong nodded in satisfaction and said, "I will go to the main road ahead and block the people from the Haoran Immortal Sect."

After he left, Zheng Linyuan led his men into Guanyun Village.

………………

In the woods, Xu Jingtao estimated that the time was almost up. Suddenly, she turned around, looked at Zheng Xuanzhou quietly, and with one hand, she made a hand seal, summoning a long sword and holding it in her hand.

"Daughter of the Zhao family, what are you doing...?"

Zheng Xuanzhou asked in surprise, and the wine cup in his hand fell onto the wheelbarrow and shattered into pieces.

"From yesterday onwards, I am no longer a member of the Zhao family! My name is Xu Jingtao, the Xu of the Xu family!"

After saying that, Xu Jingtao raised her long sword and fiercely stabbed at Zheng Xuanzhou.

The tip of the sword flickered with spiritual energy, but it was as faint as a firefly's glow.

Xu Jingtao had neglected his cultivation for many years, and now his swordsmanship was somewhat rusty.

As expected, the four militiamen, their faces grim, stepped forward with their spears and together blocked the sword strike.

Upon seeing this, the old woman beside Zheng Xuanzhou immediately threw out a talisman.

This talisman is called the "Four Directions Talisman." It was crafted by Zheng Xuanzhou when he still possessed cultivation and was given to his second wife, the old woman, for protection.

The old woman was just a mortal with no spiritual roots. She had followed Zheng Xuanzhou for the rest of her life after his first wife died.

At this moment, the talisman was thrown out and aimed at Zheng Xuanzhou. Instantly, four pillars of light appeared around Zheng Xuanzhou, protecting him tightly.

Zheng Xuanzhou, however, paid no attention to this matter. His face was gloomy, and he was extremely flustered, saying:

"Xu Jingtao! You actually... this... is a trap?"

Xu Jingtao's longsword was blocked. Seeing that the talisman protected Zheng Xuanzhou, she looked at the woman with some confusion and asked:

"His time is almost up. If I kill him, he will surely die too. Why waste the talisman on him?"

The old woman was standing in front of Zheng Xuanzhou. Her face was full of wrinkles. She wore a silver-patterned silk dress with a matching brocade skirt. Her figure was hunched, but her face was resolute.

"Even though my time is near, I should die a natural death, not be killed by you!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Jingtao felt a tightness in her chest.

This woman's words make perfect sense.

"Zheng Xuanzhou, you are so lucky to have such a loyal and righteous woman by your side," Xu Jingtao thought, but the faces from yesterday flashed through her mind, and her heart ached. However, she did not stop her long sword and swung it again.

However, this time the blow was aimed at the four village soldiers.

Without eliminating the local militia, it would be difficult to kill him.

Seeing Xu Jingtao locked in battle with the local militia, Zheng Xuanzhou gazed at the old woman's retreating figure, a fleeting moment of emotion crossing his mind before his face darkened, and he muttered to himself:

"The Zheng family is likely facing a major disaster today! Xu Jingtao's actions indicate that the deaths of the Xu father and son were definitely a trap. I hope my son can see through it and retreat as soon as possible!"