Not only was Xu Xiao stunned, but Liu Lingzhen was also taken aback for a moment. Her face then lit up with joy as she looked at him with newfound admiration and bowed to express her gratitude. Xu Xiao also lowered his head and did the same.
Li Chengliao's gaze lingered on him for a moment before stepping outside. A group of Liu Family members immediately surrounded him, crying out in an effort to keep him there.
These individuals had been profligate sons when the Liu Family was in power. Now, as they aged and took on leadership roles, they had made a mess of things. Li Chengliao ignored their pleas and left the yard with Chen Mufeng right beside him.
Once outside, Chen Mufeng seemed eager to speak. When they finally returned to the hall, the middle-aged man leaned closer and whispered, "That Xu Xiao... is really at the third stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm."
Li Chengliao's smile vanished, replaced by a puzzled expression as he murmured quietly, "Not only is the Liu Family incompetent, but Liu Lingzhen also seems naive and lovesick. Thankfully, this engagement hasn't been finalized; otherwise, problems would arise sooner or later."
He then added thoughtfully, "As for Xu Xiao... his sudden rise is quite peculiar."
After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Tell me everything you know about Xu Xiao!"
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Chen Mufeng hurriedly replied, "He is twenty-five years old, born mute and rarely left his home. He remained at the second stage of the Embryonic Breathing Realm until he was twenty-one when he suddenly began to speak. His personality changed drastically, and he broke through in his cultivation, keeping it a secret until it was recently discovered that he reached the third stage."
Li Chengliao calculated silently, then voiced his suspicion, "Could he have encountered some opportunity?"
His doubt lingered, and he turned to ask, "I remember the head of the Liu Family... is an unrefined Qi Cultivator, right?"
"That's correct," Chen Mufeng confirmed.
Li Chengliao considered this answer, placing his hands behind his back as he said thoughtfully, "Send someone to call him over. Offer him some spirit items as a bribe, and have him test Xu Xiao."
Chen Mufeng was momentarily taken aback, thinking Li Chengliao was being overly cautious.
Nonetheless, given Li Chengliao's authority, he nodded and went off to execute the orders, leaving Li Chengliao standing in the hall, staring at the tea that had already grown cold in the wind.
"I would love to get to the bottom of this and see if this is the work of a demon," he murmured, his mouth set in a stern line.
————
Liu Family's courtyard.
Once the Li Family members left, Liu Lingzhen exclaimed happily, "He doesn't put on airs! What a good man!"
Good man..?
Xu Xiao sighed inwardly. Li Chengliao's response had completely taken him by surprise.
What a clever move to turn an enemy into a friend! No wonder the Li Family dominates the lake, monopolizes spirit fields, levies heavy taxes, and squeezes out every last bit of Spirit Paddies. They rely on connections to control the quotas, ensuring only their clan members can enter the immortal sect to train... and they've solidified their power within the family!
That young master may appear polite on the surface, but who knows if he holds a grudge in his heart? It seems we can't stay here for long... It's better to leave early and explore. Once we establish our immortal foundation and acquire divine abilities, we'll return and overthrow this tyrant...
"Zhen'er, once you break through to the Qi Cultivation Realm, we'll go out and explore!" he said.
This had always been their goal, but now, Liu Lingzhen hesitated slightly.
"B-But... he has given me a place to practice on the mountain! The devil plague is rampant out there! Isn't it nice to stay in this safe haven and receive stipends? The Li Family is also quite nice... they never kill to collect blood qi!"
Xu Xiao sneered, transmitting his voice through mana, "Such a formidable family must have their dark secrets. Li Ximing can produce so many pills without compromising his cultivation progress—he might be relying on devil cultivation techniques and blood qi... He probably kills in secret behind the immortal sect's back. If the immortal sect eventually finds out about it, he'll certainly face dire consequences!"
Liu Lingzhen considered what he said carefully and felt that it made sense. She looked at him with admiration as Xu Xiao continued, "We'll travel the world or join the immortal sect! Once we become Purple Mansion Realm cultivators, we'll return and take over this family. Isn't that a good plan? By then, clan stipends will mean little to us; and the entire southern shore will be ours!"
His strong confidence captivated Liu Lingzhen. Compared to Li Chengliao's politeness and reluctance to cause trouble, Xu Xiao was far more charming. She smiled and nodded vigorously.
Xu Xiao paused, feeling that the situation was becoming more challenging than expected as Li Chengliao had caught him off guard. He produced a pill and suggested, "You should go into seclusion and attempt a breakthrough now. Take this pill right away, don't wait for the Qi Cultivation Realm. When you reach Jade Capital Stage, we'll set off."
Liu Lingzhen's eyes lit up with excitement instantly, but she could not help but ask, "Where did you get this? You didn't steal it from home, did you..?"
"Don't worry," Xu Xiao assured softly.
After escorting Liu Lingzhen to the backyard, Xu Xiao prepared to leave. He had not mentioned his breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Realm to anyone, so he could not ride the wind as his means of travel. As he stepped out of the room, he encountered a fierce-looking old man blocking his path.
"Liu Family Head," he greeted, keeping his tone even for Liu Lingzhen's sake, even though he had no respect for the man.
Yet, he had not anticipated the old man's harsh words.
"Stop seducing my daughter, you motherless bastard!"
Anger welled up in Xu Xiao as he retorted sharply, "I'm only showing you respect because of your daughter, old man! You better know your place!"
Old Liu, clearly enraged, lunged at him with an open palm, muttering curses under his breath. Xu Xiao swiftly grabbed the old man's arm with one hand, his grip like an iron clamp, preventing him from pulling away.
The old man made no attempt to pull his hand away either as he instinctively reached for the sword at his waist with his other hand.
With a sneer, Xu Xiao reacted faster than lightning, seizing the sword before the old man could even draw it. As he pulled and twisted, a dark flame erupted from his lips.
Old Man Liu felt a sharp pain in his chest and quickly pulled out two talismans, but they were incinerated in the flames before he could even have time to use them. He felt weak all over, as if his very cultivation had been burned dry.
He screamed and teetered on the brink of collapse. However, Xu Xiao had no intention of killing him; he calmly sucked the fire back into his stomach and warned coldly, "Annoy me again and you will die miserably."
With a swift motion, a small rune appeared in his hand. He slapped it onto Old Man Liu's chest and threatened, "If you dare to spread anything about me, this fire will reduce you to ashes as soon as you open your mouth!"
"Ah! D-Devil... Devil cultivator!"
Old Man Liu, having never encountered anything like that, was struck by how dark and eerie the spell was. He fearfully accused Xu Xiao of being a devil cultivator, but quickly fell silent and collapsed to the ground under Xu Xiao's fierce gaze.
With a mocking smile, Xu Xiao turned and walked away. Old Man Liu shakily got to his feet, spitting in anger, before quietly slipping into the backyard and kneeling down, too frightened to speak.
A Jade Court Guard landed in the courtyard, his appearance resembling that of Chen Mufeng. Shocked, he murmured, "Just that one move... Just one move..."
Even a Qi Cultivator of the second heavenly layer like him clearly felt the dangerous nature of the black flame, let alone Old Man Liu.
"Did he reincarnate, or did he inherit some sort of immortal legacy? I have never seen such a genius!" he murmured to himself.
Just as the Jade Court Guard finished speaking, he spotted a figure leaning against the backyard door. It was Xu Xiao, who had returned with a blazing black flame in his hand as he regarded him with a sinister expression.
"Captain Chen... why must you meddle in other people's affairs?" [1]
1. Translator Note: The author did not give Captain Chen a name, but he is actually a Squadron Leader Chen in the raw. We'll call him Captain Chen. Not to be confused with Commander Chen, Chen Mufeng, a battalion leader. ☜