The fairy forced me to marry into her family, so I retorted by throwing myself into the Pool of Fate

Despite Li Ping's confident assurances that there would be no problem, Li Wang still had some doubts.

Fortunately, Li Ping patiently addressed all of Li Wang's concerns about the cost, and Li Wang finally relented and agreed to go to Crescent Island.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Wang's face flushed, and he pulled Li Ping aside to talk about the shop's plans and so on.

The three members of the Li family chatted and laughed throughout the meal, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Afterwards, the three packed their things and took several bundles to a sea area near the island.

Looking at the empty space before her, Li Yan asked in confusion, "Brother Ping, weren't we going to Crescent Island? Why are we here?"

Li Wang also looked at Li Ping with a puzzled expression.

Li Ping had already given instructions to Fu Hai, and immediately shouted, "Come out, Fu Hai."

As soon as he finished speaking, a smooth expanse of scales emerged from the sea, revealing the Iron-Clad Sea.

"Sea creatures?"

Li Wang and his daughter both exclaimed in surprise.

"Ping'er, what's wrong?"

"A newly acquired spirit beast."

Li Ping calmly and casually carried the items onto Tie Fuhai's back.

Li Wang and his daughter were still in disbelief, moving quietly and in a daze.

"Its hull is sturdier than a ferry, so there's no need for that."

Li Ping said something, but seeing that the two remained unchanged, he could only chuckle helplessly.

Only after their belongings were put away and they were actually sitting on Tie Fuhai's back did the two accept everything.

The sea breeze howled, and under Li Ping's command, Tie Fuhai headed straight for Crescent Island.

On her back, Li Yan looked at the waves on both sides, holding onto the bundle with her little hands, afraid of falling off, but she couldn't resist her curiosity and stuck her head out to look.

Li Wang, however, looked around and immediately understood.

"Could it be the Hong family's iron-backed whale?"

"That's right." Li Ping nodded.

"I heard that the Hong family was wiped out not long ago..." Li Wang asked in confusion.

"That's why I was able to get this iron-spined whale."

Seeing that his second uncle was unaware of the inside story, Li Ping realized that the Mu family was intentionally concealing the matter from the Hong family.

However, this cannot be kept secret for long; it will likely be known overseas soon that the Mu family has learned of their methods.

Since they were going to settle on Crescent Island, they needed to know the inside story of the Mu family, so Li Ping took the initiative to bring it up during the journey.

"The Mu family has three Foundation Establishment cultivators, and there are many factions within the clan. It's true that there are conflicts, but from my observation, there has always been a limit."

Li Wang nodded and pressed further, "Which faction did Mu Yi belong to just now?"

"Among the main branch of the Mu family, he has the highest cultivation level, but he hasn't reached the Foundation Establishment stage yet. In a few years, he will be downgraded to a branch, so he's in a hurry right now," Li Ping said calmly.

"But why target you?"

"It's a long story," Li Ping said. "There's a man named Mu Shi'an in Mu Yi's lineage. He's quite talented and his cultivation has reached the late stage of Qi Refining. They originally hoped that he would marry Mu Yuebai in order to maintain the main lineage's status."

"Who knew Mu Yuebai would beat me to it, specifically asking for me? If things fall through, won't they hate me?"

"I see." Li Wang said with a sudden realization, "If that's the case, your situation in the Mu family might not be too good."

"No need to worry. They are currently busy helping Mu Shi'an establish his foundation, so they have no time to bother with me. As for the market rent issue, it's probably just a way to vent their anger," Li Ping said.

Li Wang pondered for a moment, then asked, "What about the other branches of the Mu family?"

"Besides the branch of Mu Yi that I just mentioned, the Mu family has four other Foundation Establishment members, which are the four main branches," Li Ping said slowly. "The four Foundation Establishment members are Mu Rou, Mu Zhihe, Mu Yuebai, and Mu Yubai."

I don't know much about Mu Zhihe, except that he is focused on cultivating Taoism and doesn't like to interfere in family affairs.

Mu Rou is a veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator with deep roots in the clan. However, this lineage doesn't seem to have any hostility towards me; on the contrary, they seem to take good care of me.

I don't know the secrets behind it, but I imagine Mu Yuebai played a role in it.

Mu Yubai, the patriarch of the Mu family, is also the most powerful cultivator in the Mu family, reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage. His lineage is known for its fairness and ability to maintain proper boundaries.

Finally, there's my lineage. Mu Yuebai is a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator, lacking any real foundation, and with the lineage's resources dwindling, it's arguably the weakest of the five lineages.

Upon hearing this, Li Wang seemed to be deep in thought: "According to you, most of the current conflicts come from Mu Yi's faction."

"Being demoted to a branch line means a decrease in treatment, which Mu Yi and the others are unwilling to accept. They are all counting on Mu Shi'an to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage," Li Ping said.

"Does this person have a chance?"

"It's hard to say about these things," Li Ping chuckled.

They chatted all the way, and in less than half a day, they arrived near Crescent Island.

As before, Li Ping instructed Tie Fuhai to hide nearby, and then led Li Wang and the other man to the island.

Crescent Island, as the home of the Mu family, was originally inhabited by a large number of Mu family members. Furthermore, due to the presence of a second-tier spiritual vein on the island, the abundant spiritual energy attracted many independent cultivators to settle and make a living there. The number of cultivators on the island was countless.

Naturally, a cluster of shops sprang up.

The shops are set up around the island, in circles, densely packed, stretching as far as the eye can see.

If it weren't for the lack of a third-tier spiritual vein, Crescent Island could be called a celestial city.

Li Wang had been to Crescent Island many times before for business, so he knew it well. Only Li Yan, who was visiting for the first time, was wide-eyed with amazement.

As they walked further in, the three found a teahouse to rest in.

Li Wang sat down by the window, looking at the flow of people below, and couldn't help but exclaim, "When I last came here, there weren't this many people on the island. In the past few years, Crescent Island has become more and more prosperous."

"The Mu family has just produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose strength has greatly increased, so it's natural that he's attracting attention," Li Ping said calmly.

As they were talking, chaos suddenly broke out on the street below.

A group of Mu family cultivators pushed through the crowd and began posting notices.

Someone stepped forward and read aloud: "The Hong family of Ebony Island colluded with outsiders to secretly plot against the master of the family. They have now been wiped out."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators immediately erupted in uproar and began to discuss the matter.

"The ones who wiped out the Hong family were actually from the Mu family?"

"The Mu family truly deserves to be called a Foundation Establishment clan, having wiped out the Hong family in a single day."

"Four Foundation Establishment cultivators? Is the Mu family planning to expand?"

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the island in the blink of an eye.

The tea room where Li Ping worked immediately began to discuss it.

He listened and roughly divided the sounds into three categories.

First, there are the smaller factions. They don't believe the Hong family's claim of plotting against them at all; they only think the Mu family wants to expand.

Secondly, those who were on good terms with the Mu family were extremely excited and used this as a topic of conversation, constantly talking about how powerful the Mu family was.

Some of the bolder ones even speculated that the next targets would be the Zheng and Huang families.

Those who were on good terms with both sides naturally refuted them one after another, their tone dismissive.

As for his second uncle, Li Wang, he felt both sympathy for the fate of the small clan and relief that Li Ping had married into the family.

He was filled with mixed feelings and drank several cups of spiritual tea in succession.

Li Ping didn't say much, waiting for his emotions to subside before saying, "Second Uncle, these next few days, take Li Yan around the island and see what you like. While you're at it, pick out a shop and see which one you like."

"Pick whatever you want?" Li Wang asked in surprise.

"I can arrange most of the shops."

Upon hearing this, Li Wang's eyes immediately burned with fervor.

Afterwards, Li Ping settled the two people in an inn on the island before returning to his courtyard.

As he approached, he noticed Hong Xing standing at the door, looking haggard.