"The key figures have arrived."
Hearing this, the corners of Xu Chuan's mouth lifted slightly. He picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip.
Then, he walked forward with a welcoming smile. "Brother Jinyan, it is you again representing the Cao Clan. I am truly thrilled that you could make it."
"Brother Cao," the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators greeted, clasping their hands in respect.
"Your Xu family is taking the Zhou family as a vassal. For such a momentous occasion, our Cao family naturally had to come and bear witness," Cao Jinyan replied.
"Indeed," Xu Chuan said.
Cao Jinyan looked at Zhou Qingfang. "Brother Zhou, I have come on behalf of the family head, and I have a question to ask."
"Please speak, Brother Cao."
"Are you voluntarily becoming a vassal of the Xu family? If you are being coerced or threatened, our Cao family can uphold justice for your Zhou family.
"Not at all."
Zhou Qingfang shook his head. "This was entirely of my own free will. I even convened a clan council, allowing all clan members to choose for themselves. The result was that the Zhou family voluntarily chose to become a vassal of the Xu Clan, willing to follow their orders."
Cao Jinyan stared intently into Zhou Qingfang's eyes. After a short while, he added, "Why must you go to such lengths? Your disciple, Ye Xuehua, is a daughter-in-law of our Cao family.
If you are facing difficulties, our Cao family will certainly help."
"There is no need."
"In truth, back when Xuehua planned to marry into the Cao family, she told me that she had already repaid the Zhou family's grace in raising and nurturing her. She severed all ties with our Zhou family."
"Therefore, the affairs of my Zhou family have nothing to do with Xuehua."
The atmosphere seemed to grow somewhat heavy.
"So be it." Cao Jinyan flicked his sleeve and clasped his hands behind his back. "Since your Zhou family is willing, it is inconvenient for our Cao family to interfere.
You will just have to bear the consequences yourself."
"Everyone, please wait a moment. The ceremony will proceed precisely at noon," Xu Chuan stated in a neutral tone.
Soon enough.
Noon arrived.
Zhou Qingfang and Zhou Zongyun led Zhou Zongran, Zhou Zongdan, and a group of Zhou family elders and elite disciples up the steps.
The core members of the Xu family stood at the very top of the sacrificial altar.
With every major step they ascended, the Zhou family members bowed respectfully toward the top.
However, right at this moment.
Suddenly, a disciple flew over on a sword. "Family Head, First Elder, the Foundation Establishment seniors from the Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan are trying to force their way in. They have been stopped by the grand array."
'They actually killed the core disciples of the Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan?!'
'The Cao family is truly ruthless enough!'
'If they really end up holding a grudge against my Xu family, it will indeed be somewhat inconvenient.'
'Both of these families are third-grade top clans. Rumor has it that their Ancestors are both at peak sixth-layer Foundation Establishment. The exact number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in their clans is unknown, but it is absolutely more than three.'
'After all, Taiyuan Commandery and Langya Commandery are rich in resources, not inferior to Tongshan Commandery.'
'It is just that the resources they produce are different.'
'Tongshan Commandery is rich in ores and spirit iron. The Qin Clan Ancestor is a top-tier blacksmith in Great Wei and has forged several top-grade magical artifacts in the past.'
'Langya Commandery produces an abundance of talisman-making materials, while Taiyuan Commandery has more balanced resources.'
'However, compared to the scarcity of formation dao resources elsewhere, Taiyuan Commandery appears to have quite a lot.'
'Moreover, the Taiyuan Li Clan is an aristocratic family renowned for formations.'
'Therefore, Taiyuan Commandery is famous for producing array masters.'
'These two great aristocratic families practically monopolize their respective resource-rich commanderies. The other Foundation Establishment aristocratic families only get to drink the leftover soup.'
'With centuries of accumulation, how could their strength be weak?'
'Xu Chuan guessed that both families had at least five cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher, with two to three of them in the mid Foundation Establishment stage.'
'As for whether they had any late Foundation Establishment experts, that was hard to say.'
'Perhaps they did, perhaps they did not.'
'After all, a true foundation of an aristocratic family would not be casually revealed to others.'
"Bring them over," Xu Chuan instructed.
"Yes, First Elder."
"The ceremony will continue!" Xu Chuan declared.
The Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan had each sent two Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators. With their core clansmen dead, they were naturally furious.
However, as they approached, Xu Chuan sent them a voice transmission, telling them to wait until the ceremony concluded. No matter what happened, the Xu family would give them a proper explanation.
Thus, upon arriving, they forcefully suppressed their impulses and waited for the ceremony to end.
"Today, with the heavens and earth as witnesses, and with the various families watching, the Yuehu Commandery Zhou family hereby becomes a vassal of our Xu Clan."
"Everything belonging to the Zhou family now belongs to my Xu family!"
A sharp glint erupted in Xu Chuan's eyes as he swept his gaze across the crowd, carrying a clear warning.
"We pay our respects to the master family!"
"We pay our respects to the master family!"
"We pay our respects to the master family!"
The voices rolled like sonic waves, washing outward wave after wave and echoing far into the distance.
Lei Hekong and the members of the other first-rank families watched this scene with deeply mixed feelings.
By absorbing the Zhou family, the Xu family's strength and foundation instantly surged by sixty to seventy percent.
The Xu family had once been criticized by the various families for having too few Qi Condensation clansmen and disciples. Now, this weakness had finally vanished.
"The ceremony is concluded. Now, let us discuss the matters concerning you Daoist friends. Why did you force your way into my Xu family?" Xu Chuan asked, looking at the representatives of the Li and Wang families.
The young Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li family stepped forward. "Our Li family sent disciples to offer congratulations. But who could have expected that during the hour of the tiger, the life lamps of two of our Qi Condensation disciples would completely extinguish.
Therefore, the clan dispatched the two of us to demand an explanation!"
"The same goes for my Wang family!" the elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Wang family added coldly.
"So that is what happened. I will have someone ask around to see if anyone has seen the disciples of your Taiyuan Li Clan and Langya Wang Clan."
"I will handle it right away," Xu Dezhao said, clasping his fists before flying off on his sword.
Since he was displaying a Qi Condensation cultivation base to the public, he naturally had to keep up the disguise.
The time it takes to drink a cup of tea later.
Xu Dezhao returned to the plaza.
"First Elder, your grandson has asked around. No one has seen anyone from the Li or Wang families. Even the guards patrolling the edges of the clan grounds said the same."
Xu Chuan frowned and looked toward the Li and Wang family members.
Lei Hekong chimed in, "Could they have been attacked and killed by rogue cultivators on their way here?"
"Impossible," the young Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li family retorted. "Those two were core disciples of our Li family at peak Qi Condensation. They possessed quite a few trump cards. They were absolutely not someone ordinary rogue cultivators could deal with."
"It is better to find their bodies first before jumping to conclusions. Daoist Friend Xu, you might as well have your Xu family disciples expand the search area."
Xu Chuan sneered inwardly. 'He finally opened his mouth.'
He nodded and said, "Very well, we can only do this for now. Dezhao, have the men get to work."
"Yes, First Elder."
"Everyone, please follow me away from here for now. I have already had quarters prepared for you all to rest."
"As for the matter of the Wang and Li family disciples, since this occurred within our Yuehu Commandery, our Xu family will naturally provide a proper explanation."
"You had better!" the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Li and Wang families scoffed coldly.
Over two hours later.
Xu Dezhao and several Xu family disciples brought the corpses of the Li and Wang family disciples into the grand hall.
"First Elder, their bodies were found about half a mile to the southeast and northwest of here."
The members of the Li and Wang families rushed forward.
"These are indeed the disciples of our clan!" the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li family gritted his teeth.
The elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Wang family glared at Xu Chuan. "Daoist Friend Xu, the bodies were found barely half a mile away from your Xu family. With it being so close, do you dare claim this has nothing to do with your Xu family?"
"It is too early to say. We should examine their wounds before drawing conclusions," Cao Jinyan suddenly interjected.
Lei Hekong, Zhou Qingfang, and the others were astonished. Had the Cao family changed its temper? Were they actually speaking up for the Xu family?
After inspecting the bodies, the members of the Li and Wang families cried out almost simultaneously, "Arrow wounds?!"
"They were killed by arrows piercing their hearts?" A Qi Condensation disciple from another commandery muttered in discussion. "I remember that Xu Mingwei of the Xu family holds the title of Arrow Demon. His Dao of the Arrow is unparalleled.
I witnessed it myself during the beast tide in Tongshan Commandery many years ago. From miles away, he killed a late-stage Qi Condensation demonic beast with a single arrow, cleanly piercing its vitals."
Dying near the Xu family's clan grounds, and coincidentally being killed by arrows.
"Could it be that Senior Xu Mingwei accidentally shot them while practicing the Dao of the Arrow?" the Qi Condensation disciple following beside Cao Jinyan suggested.
"Do not speak nonsense!" Cao Jinyan reprimanded. "My apologies, everyone. This grandnephew of mine is ignorant."
"Accidentally?" The young Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator glared at him. "Piercing a heart from half a mile away! How many people in all of Great Wei can do that?"
"Daoist Friend Li, it is too early to make such claims," Xu Chuan said calmly.
"Brother Xu, if you want to exonerate your son Xu Mingwei, you must present evidence that will convince everyone. Otherwise, who would ever dare visit your Xu family's gates in the future?"
Cao Jinyan smiled sinisterly.
"Brother Cao, why are you kicking a man while he is down!"
"I am merely speaking the truth. As my Cao Clan rules Great Wei, we must be fair and just, balancing the scales of equity. Earlier, when the Wang family's Daoist friend suspected your Xu family, did I not speak up on your behalf?
But right now, all the evidence points toward your Xu family. Naturally, I must step forward and seek justice for them."
'Fair and just?!'
'I was just waiting for you to say that!'
'After this incident, let us see how your Cao family ever dares to utter the words fair and just in front of everyone again!'
Xu Chuan looked at the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wang and Li families, furrowing his brow. "Do you Daoist friends also believe this was the work of my Xu family? I have never had any enmity with your two families. Why would I harm the younger generation of your clans?
What benefit would this bring to my Xu family?"
The group remained silent.
Xu Chuan was right. Without any grudges or enmity, murdering guests who had come to offer congratulations truly made no sense.
Cao Jinyan remarked coolly, "Is it not because your Xu family has set its sights on the resources of Taiyuan Commandery and Langya Commandery?"
"Previously, did you not lay out schemes in Tongshan Commandery, allowing your Xu family to benefit greatly? The talisman-making materials of Langya Commandery and the formation dao resources of Taiyuan Commandery are all things your Xu family desperately needs, right?
And now that your Xu family has absorbed the Zhou family, your strength has grown to an unprecedented level.
Looking across all the commanderies, you could likely be called the number one aristocratic family.
Launching a cross-commandery attack on a third-grade top clan without rhyme or reason would indeed be unjustifiable.
But if there were a grudge..."
A faint, knowing smile played on his lips. "For example, if someone caused your Xu family to lose immense face on a momentous occasion, and even slandered your Xu family by accusing you of murdering their disciples."
"Merely dying outside the Xu family's clan grounds with arrow wounds is not enough to conclusively prove the Xu family did it. But the Xu family cannot prove their innocence either.
This sort of grudge could serve as a fuse, an excuse to intervene in another commandery.
If they could use this to establish a foothold in both commanderies and slowly swallow up the assets of both families, it would be all too easy for the Xu family to become a first-rank family in the coming years."
Then, Cao Jinyan let out a hearty laugh. "Of course, these are merely my personal conjectures. Everyone, please pay them no mind."
His words sounded entirely reasonable and logical.
It instantly threw the representatives from the various commanderies into deep thought. The more they pondered it, the more plausible it seemed.
If the Xu family wanted to take a step further, they would need massive amounts of resources.
And when it came to abundant resources, Tongshan Commandery, Langya Commandery, and Taiyuan Commandery were at the top.
Several years ago, the Xu family had been jointly driven out by the numerous aristocratic families of Tongshan Commandery. Setting their sights on Taiyuan Commandery and Langya Commandery was perfectly normal.
Now that they had taken the Zhou family as a vassal, their strength and foundation had skyrocketed.
Scheming slowly could never compare to the speed of directly launching a war and plundering.
'Hmph, Xu Chuan, let us see how your Xu family deals with this.'
Cao Jinyan felt he had said everything that needed to be said. The seeds of doubt had already been firmly planted in everyone's hearts.
It was only a matter of time before they took root, sprouted, and grew into a towering tree.
"Actually, I have a way to verify exactly who killed the disciples of your two families," Xu Chuan suddenly announced.
"Truly?!" the young Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator snapped. "If you are deceiving us, your Xu family knows the consequences!"
Xu Chuan smiled faintly and nodded. "Naturally. However, this matter is heinous. If the true culprit is found, they must be strictly punished."
He clasped his hands and looked toward Cao Jinyan. "The Cao Clan rules Great Wei with fairness and justice. When the time comes, I shall leave it to Brother Cao to mete out the punishment!"
A strange look flashed across Cao Jinyan's eyes.
'How can he verify it?'
He could guarantee that he had absolutely left no traces behind!
Moreover, the murders had not taken place anywhere near the Xu family. They had merely dumped the bodies along the way as they arrived.
Finding clues in the vicinity was simply impossible!
"That is only natural!" Cao Jinyan replied with perfect composure.
Xu Chuan chuckled, then turned his gaze back to the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Wang and Li families. "Not long ago, I mastered a secret method. Using the essence blood of a blood relative as a guide, it can stimulate the resentment of the deceased.
When a person dies an unnatural death, resentment is inevitably born.
Ordinary resentment is invisible to the eye, but I can use this secret method to manifest it.
Manifested resentment will instinctively seek out and entangle the person who killed them, or anyone who has touched their body.
It remains effective within twelve hours of death."
"To think such a secret method exists in this world, but it does not sound like the Righteous Path," someone commented.
"Indeed. I obtained this secret method from a Great Jin cultivator who died by my clan's hands in the Wuhua Secret Realm."
"Then it is no wonder. The cultivation methods in Great Jin span both the Daoist and Demonic paths. They have a multitude of bizarre and unpredictable secret arts and methods."
"This should be a secret method related to the Ghost Dao," the Jiang Clan's Foundation Establishment cultivator surmised.
"Perhaps," Xu Chuan nodded slightly. "Everyone, please step back. I am going to cast the spell."
"Daoist Friends Wang and Li, to cast a spell with essence blood, direct relatives are the most suitable. The closer the relation, the better the effect."
"Let our Li family go first."
The young Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator forced out a drop of essence blood from his fingertip. It hovered in the air like a translucent ruby, carrying a warm, metallic scent as it flew straight toward Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan lowered his eyes, gazing at the drop of essence blood. He locked his thumb and index finger together, bending his remaining three fingers into sequential hooks, forming a unique hand seal.
His lips parted slightly, spitting out syllables that were obscure and tongue-tying, sounding like rotting bones scraping against stone slabs. "Netherworld open, resentment arrive, blood as the guide, soul as the envoy."
Before his voice even faded, the temperature inside the grand hall plummeted.
An eerie wind that initially only lingered around their ankles suddenly surged, howling and spiraling as it swept up the dust gathered on the ceiling beams.
The candlelight inside the hall poofed and transformed into clusters of spectral green ghost fire.
The drop of essence blood hovering before Xu Chuan began to violently tremble.
First, fine, dense bubbles appeared on its surface. Then, it boiled furiously like searing oil.
A crimson mist evaporated and spread outward, unexpectedly condensing within the sinister wind into countless twisting threads of blood that squirmed rapidly in the air like living creatures.
Sizzle—
The instant the bloody threads touched the air, they let out a strange burning sound. Immediately following, they all dove sharply downward, raining like a torrential downpour onto the corpse of the young Li family cultivator lying on the floor.
The bloody threads pierced through the corpse's robes without any resistance, scrambling frantically to sink deep into the flesh.
Just a moment later.
Wisps of black smoke suddenly seeped out from the corpse's seven orifices. The black smoke rapidly converged in midair, congealing into a mass of resentment as thick and viscous as ink.
As soon as the sphere of resentment formed, it seemed guided by an invisible hand.
Whoosh! It flew straight toward the two Li family Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The resentment nimbly spiraled once around them before turning and darting toward Xu Dezhao and the several Xu family disciples standing nearby.
After orbiting them twice, it lunged toward Cao Jinyan.
Cao Jinyan's pupils contracted sharply, and his Adam's apple bobbed twice uncontrollably.
'How is this possible?! Does such a secret method actually exist?!'
After circling several times, the mass of resentment eventually drifted toward Cao Jinyan's grandnephew. It orbited him a full nine times before finally landing softly on his shoulder.
The man instantly felt wave after wave of bone-chilling cold assault him.
'No, something is wrong!'
Cao Jinyan suddenly realized that he had killed those two with his own two hands. His grandnephew had merely transported and discarded the bodies.
If this secret art were genuine, the resentment should have ultimately landed on his shoulder.
He looked toward Xu Chuan, only to find Xu Chuan meeting his gaze. A flash of naked mockery glinted in Xu Chuan's eyes.
But in the blink of an eye, Xu Chuan's expression returned to normal.
By now, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from both the Li and Wang families had fixed their gazes on Cao Jinyan's grandnephew.
"Daoist Friend Xu's secret method is truly profound. Daoist Friend Li, the Xu Family Head, and several disciples all touched the corpses, thus staining themselves with the aura."
Lei Hekong remarked with deep meaning, "But as far as I could see, Daoist Friend Cao did not touch the bodies earlier. How is it that he was also orbited by the resentment? Furthermore, he seems to be far more tainted by it than the Xu Family Head and the others.
Daoist Friend Cao, the resentment is currently resting squarely on your grandnephew's shoulder. What else do you have to say?"
"Who knows whether this secret art is real or fake? For all we know, the Xu family might be deliberately framing us."
"Daoist Friend Cao, say what you will," Xu Chuan replied indifferently, before turning back to the Wang family cultivators. "Would you two care to give this secret art a try?"
The two exchanged a glance and spoke in unison, "We will try."
Xu Chuan extracted a drop of essence blood from the elderly Wang family Foundation Establishment cultivator. The scene played out much the same way, with the resentment ultimately landing on the shoulder of Cao Jinyan's grandnephew.
One on the left, one on the right.
The crowd once again adopted the demeanor of eager spectators enjoying a good show.
Although what Cao Jinyan said was not entirely wrong—secret arts of the Demonic Dao rarely circulated within Great Wei, making it hard to verify their true effects—the manifestation of resentment was unquestionably real.
As immortal cultivators, they would not be so blind as to fail to recognize genuine resentment.
However, they all had their own judgments. Looking at the entire incident, Cao Jinyan had been adding fuel to the fire from the shadows the entire time. The probability that the Cao Clan was responsible was at least eighty or ninety percent.
As for the Xu family, they could not be entirely ruled out, but upon closer thought, the frame job was riddled with holes.
Even if the Xu family did commit murder, they would never do it in their own territory.
And if they did kill them, they certainly would not have left the bodies behind.
Unless they truly wanted to use the bodies to manufacture a conflict with the Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan.
But in their eyes, the likelihood of that was only ten to twenty percent.
"Daoist Friend Li, Daoist Friend Wang, this is all I can do. I am deeply sorry that your esteemed disciples met such a tragic end while traveling here," Xu Chuan said, bowing slightly.
Xu Chuan then continued, "As for the authenticity of the secret art that Daoist Friend Cao called into question, let us set that aside for now.
Have you checked their storage pouches to see if anything is missing? Since they were all core disciples of your clans, I imagine they possessed quite a few valuable items."
Reminded by Xu Chuan, they immediately inspected the pouches.
The elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Wang family frowned. "Three high-grade talismans and one exquisite-grade magical artifact are missing."
"Our clan's disciples are missing a high-grade protective formation plate and an exquisite-grade magical artifact," the young Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator reported.
Cao Jinyan's expression darkened.
Xu Chuan nodded. "Right now, there are three people under suspicion who cannot be entirely cleared: my son Xu Mingwei, Daoist Friend Cao, and his grandnephew.
In that case, let the three of them open their storage pouches for you two Daoist friends to examine.
We will begin with my son, Xu Mingwei."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Mingwei immediately opened his storage pouch, allowing the two men to look inside.
Their divine senses swept through it. There were quite a few items: a top-grade treasured bow, an exquisite-grade treasured bow, an exquisite-grade defensive magical artifact, and several bottles of medicinal pills.
"Now it is your turn!"
Xu Chuan looked at Cao Jinyan and his grandnephew.
"Daoist Friend Xu, a storage pouch is a matter of personal privacy. How could we casually show it to others? Furthermore, I never agreed to this. You are merely talking to yourself." Cao Jinyan stubbornly dug his heels in, refusing to give an inch.
"Moreover, my storage pouch contains secrets of the Cao Clan. Looking inside is equivalent to forming a blood feud with my Cao family. Prepare to face our clan's Foundation Establishment perfection elders at your doorstep in the future."
The expressions of the Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators from the Li and Wang families changed drastically.
"Then let us just check your grandnephew's. Surely, Daoist Friend Cao is not going to claim that his storage pouch also contains Cao Clan secrets? If so, then I can only say your Cao family is far too careless.
To place crucial secrets on a mere Qi Condensation disciple and let them leave the estate.
If there are no secrets, what kind of treasures could a lowly Qi Condensation disciple possibly have in their storage pouch? Could their value possibly exceed that of my son, Xu Mingwei's?"
"Hmph! Do you think you can search the storage pouches of our Cao family members whenever you please? Where does that put the face of my Cao Clan?!"
'I just love it when you play tough!'
Xu Chuan sneered internally.
If Cao Jinyan had decisively pushed all the blame onto his grandnephew.
And executed him on the spot, then perhaps this matter could have been vaguely glossed over.
But by acting like this, he was only making the other aristocratic families feel that the Cao Clan was excessively tyrannical—that they utterly disregarded the other clans, wantonly trampling, framing, and slaughtering them as they pleased.
When the anger in their hearts built up to a certain point, it would become a surging torrent that would drown the Cao family entirely!
Naturally, the Li and Wang families did not dare to forcibly search the pouch.
Even though they harbored deep resentment, they had no choice but to swallow it.
Yet, in their hearts, the probability that the Cao family had murdered their disciples to frame the Xu family had now risen to ninety-nine percent.
They could even guess exactly why Cao Jinyan had done it.
It was nothing more than a desire to watch the Xu family go to war with their two clans.
The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Xu family had skyrocketed. In terms of strength, the Xu Clan had already surpassed any single one of them.
Just looking at the last incident—when the Xu family annihilated two mid Foundation Establishment cultivators and one peak third-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Cao Clan in less than fifteen minutes—it was obvious how formidable the Xu family's strength truly was.
In the eyes of the Cao Clan, it would take the combined might of both the Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan to suppress them.
"If you refuse to allow an inspection of the storage pouch, then what about swearing an oath? A Dao Heart Oath," Xu Chuan suggested mildly. "Mingwei, show them how it is done."
"Yes, Father."
Xu Mingwei remained expressionless as he publicly swore a Dao Heart Oath. "The deaths of the Li family and Wang family disciples were absolutely not my doing! If I speak a word of falsehood, may heart demons plague me day and night, and may my Dao path be forever severed!"
Immortal cultivators pursued longevity; their Dao path meant everything to them. Thus, no one would lightly use their Dao path as collateral for an oath.
Xu Mingwei's actions completely dispelled the very last shred of doubt from the Li and Wang families.
As for Cao Jinyan and his grandnephew, they naturally refused to swear an oath, forcibly using the status of the Cao Clan to suppress the situation.
At this point, there was no longer any need for so-called evidence.
Feigning a look of sheer indignation, Cao Jinyan flicked his sleeve and stormed off with his grandnephew in tow!
Lei Hekong chuckled. "Brother Xu, the drama between your Xu family and the Cao family is getting more and more spectacular. If there is another show in the future, remember to invite me."
"I will be taking my leave! Hahahaha~"
"Brother Lei, wait for us."
The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Jiang Clan and the Lin family also spoke up with smiles on their faces.
Clearly, watching the Cao Clan suffer a setback made them incredibly delighted.
The others also began to bid their farewells.
The Li family and Wang family Foundation Establishment cultivators had intended to leave as well, but Xu Chuan kept them behind with a voice transmission.
The four of them pondered for a moment before deciding to stay.
Soon.
Only Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Li and Wang families remained in the grand hall.
The middle-aged Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator asked, "Daoist Friend Xu, what guidance do you have for us that you asked us to stay?"
"I would not dare offer guidance. I simply wish to make a trade with your two families."
They exchanged glances, doubt clear in their eyes.
"What kind of trade?" the elderly Wang family Foundation Establishment cultivator asked, stroking his beard.
"I have heard that the Wang family is an aristocratic family renowned for talismans, and the Li family is an aristocratic family renowned for formations. I wish to obtain the talisman inheritance and formation dao inheritance of your two families. Furthermore, it must include inheritances for top-grade talismans, as well as peak tier 2 or even tier 3 formations."
Hearing this, all of them uniformly knitted their brows.
"In addition, I would like to establish a resource trade with your two commanderies. This trade can be conducted in secret."
The middle-aged Li family cultivator immediately declined politely, "The formation inheritance of our Li family is never taught to outsiders."
"The same applies to our Wang family."
"Will you gentlemen not at least hear my terms first? Included in the terms is a piece of information concerning an impending tribulation—a tribulation that will sweep across the entirety of Great Wei and engulf every single aristocratic family."
Xu Chuan smiled lightly. "If you are truly unwilling, I will not force the matter.
It is just a pity. I am afraid centuries of accumulation will soon vanish like smoke into thin air."
"Tribulation? What tribulation?"
Xu Chuan did not elaborate further. He waved his hand and said, "Gentlemen, please depart. If your two families are interested, then one month from now, have a Daoist friend who has the authority to make decisions bring the inheritances to Dongxi to negotiate with me.
I have no desire to waste my time over and over again."
The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Li and Wang families looked at each other. Seeing Xu Chuan's firm stance, they had no choice but to stand up and take their leave.
After departing from Dongxi.
The two families parted ways, one heading toward Taiyuan Commandery, the other toward Langya Commandery.
On the journey back, the young Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator asked, "Uncle, do you think the tribulation Xu Chuan spoke of is real?"
"Whether it is real or fake, the Xu family's request for our Li family's formation dao inheritance is not something we can decide. It must be discussed during a clan council."
"But if what Xu Chuan said is true—if a massive tribulation descends within a century, plunging every family into disaster or even wiping them from existence—then what use is there in keeping the inheritance to ourselves?"
The middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator beside him remained silent.
"From observing Xu Chuan's character today, your nephew feels he is not the type to tell lies. He should be trustworthy. Meanwhile, the Cao family truly acts with reckless abandon, relying solely on their status as a Golden Core Aristocratic Family."
"Watch your words. Once we return, just report today's events truthfully to the Ancestor and the others."
The young Foundation Establishment cultivator sighed softly, his eyes filled with indignation and fury.
The situation on the Wang family's side was much the same.
Both sides felt this matter was of critical importance and required the Ancestor and all the Foundation Establishment cultivators to make a joint decision.
Back in the grand hall of the Xu family.
Xu Chuan turned his head and looked at Xu Mingwei. "You were wronged today."
"It is nothing, just checking a storage pouch. My trump cards have practically all been leaked anyway. The various aristocratic families already know that I possess a top-grade treasured bow magical artifact.
As for the oath, since Father dared to let your son swear it, it meant you firmly believed I had nothing to do with it.
Moreover, given today's situation, had Father not been here, our Xu family might have truly formed bad blood with the Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan."
Pausing for a moment, Xu Mingwei asked curiously, "However, Father, is that Ghost Dao secret art truly that profound?"
"Manifesting the resentment was real. However, after a person has been dead for several hours, even someone highly skilled in the Ghost Dao could only gather fragments of their remnant soul. It is virtually impossible to learn the absolute truth.
As for seeking revenge, that was nothing more than a minor trick of mine to manipulate the resentment."
"Mixing truth with lies, Father is truly brilliant. It was precisely because of this Ghost Dao secret art that everyone believed fifty to sixty percent of the claim, which then led to the inspection of the storage pouches.
Judging from the demeanor of Cao Jinyan's grandnephew, he definitely took the items from the storage pouches of the dead disciples from the two families.
Finally, using a Dao Heart Oath to prove my innocence completely eliminated all of their doubts."
"I think the various families have seen the Cao family's true colors much more clearly this time. With such a vicious frame-up, if it had been any other aristocratic family, they might not have been able to escape completely unscathed."
"However, the Cao Clan will surely become even more furious and wary of our Xu family."
Xu Mingwei constantly felt a heavy weight pressing down on his shoulders.
Seeing his solemn expression, Xu Chuan patted his shoulder. "I have my own plans regarding the Cao family. All of you just need to focus on cultivating, developing and expanding the clan, and accomplishing the tasks I assign you."
"Your son understands."
Xu Mingwei clasped his fists, then left the grand hall and headed to the Combat Hall for secluded cultivation.
'For the Five Spirits Reverse Pill Method, I am only missing the final peak tier-2 wood-attribute inner core.'
Over the past two years, Xu Chuan had gone out three times with Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingshu, obtaining four peak tier-2 demonic beast inner cores of the metal, fire, earth, and water attributes.
He was still short two wood-attribute cores and one metal-attribute core to complete two full sets of materials for the Five Spirits Reverse Pill Method.
'If I can gather them.'
'I can simultaneously execute the secret method to refine them into two tier-3 water-attribute demonic cores. If I let Moyue consume them, the probability of his recovery will reach forty to fifty percent.'
'If he consumes three at the same time, the recovery rate should jump to seventy or eighty percent.'
'Moyue once mentioned that the demonic beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains are uncountable. If one could cross it, they could directly reach the human immortal cultivation lands of the Southern Heaven Region.
In the Southern Heaven Region, even some small towns possess aristocratic families overseen by several cultivators at Foundation Establishment perfection. Some towns are even exclusively dominated by Golden Core Aristocratic Families, who treat the area as their private domain to gather all surrounding resources.
Next time, I should pay a visit to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.'
The Imperial City.
The Lei Family.
After returning, Lei Hekong recounted the events to Lei Yunchao.
"Family Head, it was truly a loss that you did not go this time. The grand spectacle put on by the Xu family was incredibly thrilling. Seeing Cao Jinyan's face turn completely green with rage was overwhelmingly satisfying.
Xu Chuan really has a few tricks up his sleeve, making the Cao family suffer losses time and time again.
I wonder what will happen next."
Lei Yunchao revealed a look of astonishment. After a moment, he replied, "The Xu family's potential is indeed immense. Unfortunately, they were born in the wrong era. Whether they can survive this upcoming tribulation remains to be seen.
Even if they can, I estimate that the Cao Clan will not let the Xu family continue to exist."
"Indeed. The Xu family has humiliated the Cao family repeatedly. Even if they remain safe before the tribulation, once the tribulation arrives and all order collapses, the Cao Clan will no longer need to hold back."
Lei Hekong's expression grew serious. "Family Head, should we warn the Xu family and advise them to restrain themselves a little? Suffering a minor loss at the hands of the Cao family is not such a big deal."
"Next time you run into them, just mention it in passing. There is no need to force the issue. Every family has its own destined fate."
"Understood, Family Head."
Over at the Cao Clan.
When Cao Shengming learned that their scheme against the Xu family had failed yet again, he flew into a violent rage.
"Cao Jinyan, this Family Head truly doubts your competence! How could you bungle a situation that was completely impossible for them to disprove?!"
"And that grandnephew of yours! To be so greedy for petty gains, he truly deserves death! What use is there in keeping him alive?!"
Cao Jinyan's body trembled slightly. "Family Head, please forgive me! I never expected Xu Chuan to be so meticulous. He first used a secret art to lure everyone into suspecting our Cao family.
Then, he completely cleared his name by volunteering to inspect their storage pouches and swearing a Dao Heart Oath."
"If you two had just openly let them check your storage pouches, things would never have reached this point!" Cao Shengming bellowed. "This matter must be concluded. Push all the blame onto your grandnephew and use his life to quell the outrage.
You will personally take a trip to the Taiyuan Li Clan and the Langya Wang Clan. Bring the bodies to them yourself, and return the stolen items while you are at it."
"Family Head!"
"What? Do you think the life of your grandnephew is worth more than the face of my Cao Clan?" Cao Shengming snarled. "You know exactly what to say to them."
"Yes, Family Head," Cao Jinyan replied, his voice weak and feeble as a wave of deep sorrow washed over his heart.