Chapter 428: Yuan Family, Sima Family!

After Xie Ying and the others left, Lu Ruyi stared blankly at her brother and said, ‘Big Brother, your strength…’

She had once stationed at Flower and Fruit Mountain and often sought guidance from Lu Ping’an. They had even sparred many times, so she knew her brother was extraordinary.

But she hadn’t expected him to be this powerful.

She had previously reviewed some information about the six main False Core families and knew that Xie Ying had Foundation Establishment level seven or eight strength.

Even if it was just a test and he hadn’t gone all out, for her brother to gain the upper hand so quickly showed that he had Late-Stage, possibly even peak Foundation Establishment strength.

Doesn’t this mean her brother’s strength has surpassed their father’s?

No, Wangshu is already so strong. If their father uses the Talisman Formation, perhaps he really can suppress a False Core expert as the rumors say.

‘I had a minor breakthrough in body tempering recently.’

Lu Ping’an didn’t elaborate further and just smiled slightly.

He then added, ‘In uncertain battles like this, it’s best to finish quickly. When we encounter an ordinary Foundation Establishment later, Big Brother will support you.’

‘Ruyi understands.’

Lu Ruyi nodded, realizing how difficult it would have been for her to intervene in the earlier fight, and she might have even been a burden to her brother.

‘Big Brother, Big Brother, why didn’t you use the ‘Mountain Shaking Fist’?’

Lu Linghe, standing on her Wind-Fire Wheels, approached her brother and asked curiously.

She had been practicing boxing with Lu Ping’an for a while and wanted to see this technique in action.

‘If Little He wants to see the technique, Big Brother will use it next time.’

Lu Ping’an put away the Black Dragon Halberd and replied with a smile.

He then approached a luxurious carriage and handed the token given by the Xie family to Ling Zixiao.

‘The Lingxi Xie Family… very well. I’ll send a letter back home later and have the family take care of it.’

Ling Zixiao took the token, examined it for a moment, then smiled gracefully, looking elegant and dignified.

She then looked at her son, Lu Lingxiao, and instructed, ‘Xiaoyao, you also practice the Hundred Refined Body Technique. If you have any questions about body tempering, you can consult your big brother more often.’

Although she knew of Lu Ping’an’s strength, she had never witnessed it firsthand.

Even she was a bit surprised by the earlier fight.

‘Ping’an has been cultivating for less than forty years, right?’

Ling Zixiao recalled that Lu Ping’an hadn’t shown any Spirit Root in his early years. When he returned to Qingzhu Mountain, Lu Changsheng had asked her to guide him in Purple Yang True Scripture.

Unknowingly, he had grown to such a level. It was truly astonishing.

‘Mother, I understand.’

Lu Lingxiao nodded earnestly.

He knew that in his path of body tempering, he had the physique but lacked the techniques to fully utilize his strength.

When it came to cultivation issues, Lu Ping’an was never one to keep secrets. He guided his younger siblings, pointing things out.

Besides guiding Lu Ruyi and Lu Lingxiao, Lu Ping’an also showed concern for his other brothers and sisters, including those from Qingzhu Mountain and Lu Family youths without Spirit Roots.

After the caravan reached their current location, they stopped outside the mountain gate to conduct business.

Aside from selling goods, the caravan would also inquire if the other party had anything for sale that they could purchase.

This process often presented opportunities to find hidden treasures.

Finding a hidden treasure doesn’t necessarily mean it must be something exceedingly valuable.

Even items worth just a few dozen or a few hundred Spirit Stones but considered junk and bought for a few stones would still count as a hidden treasure.

Originally, the merchant guild would also make extra income by giving people a ride.

But this time, the Lu Family caravan mainly aimed to gain fame and establish trade routes, not merely to make a profit, so they didn’t give rides.

Along the way, they sometimes encountered demonic beasts, and occasionally, they came across bandits occupying the mountains.

When this happened, it was usually enough to give a few Spirit Stones as a toll fee.

If a Foundation Establishment cultivator was present, simply releasing their spiritual pressure would usually resolve things.

As for killing them, it was rarely necessary.

After all, you don’t want to ruin business by causing trouble.

Plus, many of these bandits were backed by nearby small family powers.

If you kill them too easily, you’ll only invite trouble for your own family.

Seven days later.

The caravan encountered another attack.

This time, there were three Foundation Establishment cultivators: one Late-Stage and two early-stage.

Unlike the Lingxi Xie Family, these enemies attacked without any chatter, jumping straight to killing.

If not for Lu Ping’an’s alertness, some Lu Family youth might have been in danger.

Facing such an attack, Lu Ping’an didn’t hesitate to engage directly.

Lu Ruyi and Lu Lingxiao also acted promptly, each taking on one of the early-stage Foundation Establishment enemies.

This trip was meant to help Lu Lingxiao gain experience and skills, so he naturally stepped in when trouble arose.

‘How does the Lu Family’s caravan have not three, but four Foundation Establishment cultivators? Why is the Lu Family’s matriarch nowhere to be seen?’

The Late-Stage Foundation Establishment elder was shocked.

He hadn’t expected another Foundation Establishment from Bihu Mountain to show up so quickly after the Hongye Valley Marketplace incident.

But what shocked him most was Lu Ping’an’s combat power.

Seeing that the rumors were untrue, the elder tried to retreat, planning to report this back to his family.

But Lu Ping’an wasn’t about to let him leave that easily, engaging him in a fierce battle.

Meanwhile, Lu Ruyi and Lu Lingxiao were battling their respective Foundation Establishment opponents.

These two weren’t just any Foundation Establishment cultivators; they were old hands at this, with Foundation Establishment level three strength and ample combat experience.

Lu Lingxiao had only recently broken through to Foundation Establishment, barely entering the threshold of the Foundation Establishment techniques. Without a suitable Spirit Tool, he relied entirely on his Qi foundation, the Break Flame Technique, and Second-Tier body tempering to fight his opponent to a standstill.

However, his eyes, enhanced by his pupil techniques, gradually gained an edge as they revealed his opponent’s weaknesses, giving him the upper hand.

As for Lu Ruyi, she didn’t have the same advantage.

As the battle dragged on, she gradually fell into a disadvantage, relying on her Spirit Tool to barely hold on.

‘We can’t keep this up. Retreat!’

After a few rounds, the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment elder abruptly abandoned his companions, activated a talisman, and tried to flee.

‘Trying to run!?’

Seeing this, Lu Ping’an called out to his sister on the Wind-Fire Wheels, ‘Little He, watch closely.’

‘Mountain Shaking!’

As Lu Ping’an clenched his fist, mysterious chain-like patterns spread across his towering physique like a dragon or serpent, emanating great power.

An overwhelming wave of energy, as if a volcano had erupted, surged forth, causing the air to become heavy, as if a mountain had fallen, pressing down on the elder.

His spine arched like a great dragon, channeling limitless force into his fist.

‘Boom, boom, boom—’

Powerful shockwaves blasted through the air as his punch struck the fleeing elder.

The terrifying impact shattered the elder’s defensive Artifacts instantly, blasting his body into a mist of blood.

‘Hmm.’

Seeing the blood mist, Lu Ping’an suddenly realized that the brutality of this battle might be too much for his sister.

He immediately clenched his hand, as if grasping the air around him, dispersing the blood mist completely.

‘This… this…’

The two remaining early-stage Foundation Establishment enemies had been watching the elder’s battle with Lu Ping’an, considering when to retreat. But witnessing this, they were terrified.

‘What the hell!’

‘Our leader just got obliterated with a single punch!’

In an instant, they felt like they had fallen into an ice pit, their will to fight shattered.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Lingxiao’s Break Flame Technique transformed into a black firebird and violently incinerated the elder before him.

‘Spare me, fellow Daoists! Spare me!’

The man battling Lu Ruyi shouted loudly, begging for mercy. He knew continuing to fight only led to death.

‘Ping’an, ask which faction they’re from.’

Ling Zixiao’s voice echoed in Lu Ping’an’s mind.

‘Yes, Aunt.’

Lu Ping’an obeyed, subduing the man and questioning him.

Faced with the situation, the man didn’t dare to hide anything and spilled all the information.

He claimed to be a rogue cultivator named Zhou Datong, who had taken on this job because he was promised a Second-Tier Breaking Stage Pill, regardless of the outcome.

The elder from earlier likely belonged to the Yuan Family on Great Ape Mountain.

‘One of the six main False Core families, the Yuan Family of Great Ape Mountain.’

‘A rogue cultivator.’

Lu Ping’an, Lu Ruyi, and the others immediately understood the Yuan Family’s intentions.

They had deliberately hired these two rogue cultivators to test them. If anything went wrong, the elder would ditch them and escape alone.

Even if the two were captured and revealed Yuan Family involvement, such testimony was useless.

Besides, the Yuan Family didn’t believe Bihu Mountain would dare cause them trouble.

‘Fellow Daoists, I truly didn’t know much about this and meant no offense. Here’s all my belongings as compensation.’

Zhou Datong pleaded, his heart filled with regret.

‘If you want to live, you can. Our Lu Family’s merchant guild is newly established, and we’re in need of manpower.’

‘If you sign the contract and serve as a bodyguard for Bihu Mountain for twenty years, we’ll give you your freedom afterwards.’

At that moment, a graceful, elegant voice rang out.

Ling Zixiao, dressed in a lake-blue gown, stepped out of the carriage, her expression composed and calm as she looked at Zhou Datong.

Although Bihu Mountain now had many Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Establishing a merchant guild still required manpower.

They could possibly hire guest elders to assist them, given Bihu Mountain’s current reputation, but hiring bodyguards was too costly.

So now that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had walked right into their hands, Ling Zixiao wasn’t going to let him go so easily.

‘A bodyguard… for twenty years.’

Upon hearing this, Zhou Datong’s face changed slightly.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, twenty years isn’t too long.

But the problem isn’t the duration; it’s the job!

You must understand, being a bodyguard for a merchant caravan, constantly escorting goods and traveling, is a dangerous job.

Especially now, with Bihu Mountain’s Lu Family in the spotlight, many forces have their eyes on them. An accident could happen at any time.

‘Right now, you have no other choice: serve Bihu Mountain for twenty years, or die.’

Ling Zixiao’s beautiful eyes were as clear as autumn water, calm and serene as she looked at Zhou Datong, exuding an inexplicable aura of majesty.

‘I… I’ll do it.’

Zhou Datong knew he had no choice. Defeated, he agreed.

Ling Zixiao then signed a Spirit Contract with him and produced a blood contract.

As a rogue cultivator, Zhou Datong’s cultivation was unlikely to progress any further.

So, giving up some of his lifespan to enter a Second-Tier Spirit Contract wouldn’t really bind him.

But a blood contract was different.

Such a blood contract was extremely binding. If he dared betray or break the contract, his Dao Foundation would collapse instantly.

Besides the blood contract, Ling Zixiao also planned to return and have Li Xingruo and her husband look into developing antidote pills that worked over longer periods.

Such multiple safeguards would ensure absolute control.

‘A blood contract…’

Seeing the blood contract before him, Zhou Datong turned pale.

He knew that once he signed the blood contract, his life would be completely in someone else’s hands.

But given the circumstances, he had no choice and finally forced out some blood to sign the contract.

‘As long as you serve Bihu Mountain faithfully, there’s a possibility you could earn your freedom early.’

‘If you accomplish deeds of merit, who knows, we might reward you with a Second-Tier or even High-Tier Breaking Stage Pill.’

Ling Zixiao put away the spirit and blood contracts, then casually mentioned this.

Afterward, she gracefully returned to the carriage.

Although Zhou Datong knew these words were likely empty promises, it still gave him some hope, and he began to console himself.

He thought that with the Lu Family from Bihu Mountain having such extraordinary figures beyond the married couple, he might gain benefits if he served them well.

‘Big Brother, next time, don’t use your fist. You destroyed the person.’

At this moment, Lu Linghe spoke to her brother, thinking that punch from earlier was too violent.

‘Alright.’

Lu Ping’an smiled awkwardly.

Beside them, Lu Ruyi looked at Lu Lingxiao in silence.

Her brother killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single punch was one thing.

But for her younger brother, who had just broken through Foundation Establishment and lacked a Spirit Tool, to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator…

…while she…

As the caravan moved forward, Ling Zixiao taught her son, Lu Lingxiao, ‘Xiaoyao, you will be responsible for family affairs in the future. Remember the principle of ‘using both kindness and power.”

‘How to show kindness and exhibit power is something you must understand on your own.’

‘This Zhou Datong may have signed the blood contract, but he hasn’t truly submitted, lacking loyalty. On the way back, you can try using both kindness and power to win him over.’

‘You can either handle ‘power’ yourself or involve your big brother.’

Ling Zixiao’s eyes were bright, as if seeing through the carriage to Lu Ping’an and Zhou Datong.

Though her son wasn’t interested in family business.

To her, there’s a difference between being uninterested and being ignorant.

‘Using both kindness and power.’

Lu Lingxiao heard his mother’s words and looked at Zhou Datong on the beast carriage, nodding as he recalled the way his mother had treated Zhou earlier.

He suddenly realized that he had never seen his mother act this way before.

At the same time.

Great Ape Mountain.

‘Patriarch, something terrible has happened! The Fourth Elder’s Soul Tablet has shattered!’

The elder from the Yuan Family, who was guarding the ancestral hall, anxiously reported.

‘What? The Fourth Elder’s Soul Tablet shattered? How is that possible?’

The Yuan Family Patriarch heard this and immediately widened his eyes in disbelief.

The Fourth Elder was at Foundation Establishment level seven and possessed considerable combat strength. Even peak Foundation Establishment cultivators would struggle to kill him.

This time, he was merely going out to test the strength of the Bihu Mountain Lu Family caravan. How could he have died?

‘The Lu Family only has two Foundation Establishment cultivators, maybe three at most if they’re hiding someone. How could they possibly kill the Fourth Elder?’

‘Moreover, the Fourth Elder had hired two Foundation Establishment cultivators to assist him.’

The Yuan Family Patriarch still found it hard to believe.

But when he reached the ancestral hall and saw that the Fourth Elder’s Soul Tablet had indeed shattered, he immediately informed the family and sent people to investigate.

Nine days later.

The Lu Family caravan was traveling along the road.

‘Hmm!?’

In a carriage behind a beast, Ling Zixiao suddenly opened her bright eyes and looked down at a compass in her hand.

This array compass wasn’t for setting up formations but for sensing them.

After all, on a trade route, bandits might have set up formations to ambush them.

If they fell into a pre-set formation, even a cultivator one level higher would be in danger and on the defensive.

‘Ping’an, Ruyi, Lingxiao, be on guard!’

Ling Zixiao called out, ordering the caravan to stop.

‘Whirl! Whirl! Whirl!’

Suddenly, a gust of wind arose in the forest, howling ominously.

‘Buzz!’

In the sky, a massive Xuanhuang Mountain suddenly appeared, descending with terrifying momentum.

‘Bad news!’

Lu Ping’an was the first to sense it. His blood surged as his tall and burly body shot into the sky, trying to lift the mountain.

‘Whimper—’

At that moment, a light shield formed around the beast carriage.

But faced with the overwhelming force and pressure, the beasts whimpered mournfully.

‘Whoosh!’

Just as Lu Ping’an appeared, a golden arrow shot at him with piercing sharpness.

Although she knew her big brother’s body tempering was formidable, Lu Ruyi still activated a Second-Tier Golden Light Talisman for him.

‘Clang!’

A sound of metal clashing rang out. The golden arrow shattered the Golden Light Talisman, nearly breaking through.

‘Boom!’

Lu Ping’an lifted the earth-yellow mountain above his head, then slapped the arrow aside as if it were nothing.

‘Bihu Mountain Lu Family… impressive, really impressive!’

‘Lu Ping’an, eldest son of the Lu Family. The rumors said you were mid-stage Second-Tier in body tempering. But it seems the rumors weren’t just wrong; they were completely off. You’re already Late-Stage Second-Tier.’

‘Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your Lu Family really knows how to keep things hidden.’

‘I thought Lu Wangshu was the main pillar of your family, but now it seems, Lu Ping’an, that you’re the real pillar. No wonder Lu Changsheng trusts you with leading the caravan.’

At that moment, four figures appeared, standing side by side.

One was floating above while controlling the earth-yellow mountain. One held a bow and arrow. Another wielded a feather fan, and the last one held a formation disc.

They all looked very young, with an extraordinary aura.

Lu Ruyi, Lu Lingxiao, and Zhou Datong immediately gathered by Lu Ping’an’s side, gazing at the four.

‘Three Foundation Establishment cultivators?’

‘Interesting, very interesting. No wonder your Lu Family dares to establish a merchant guild and make such a big fuss.’

The youth holding the feather fan paused before chuckling.

‘The Four Talents of the Sima Family from Xuanwu Ridge!’

Lu Ruyi recognized the four immediately.

Not only were they from the Sima Family, but the four were also full-blood brothers.

All four brothers had Spirit Roots, making them prodigious talents capable of breaking through to Foundation Establishment, an exceedingly rare occurrence in the cultivation world.

Moreover, all of them had extraordinary opportunities and were incredibly strong, having once killed a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment expert.

They were well-known not only in the Qingyun Region but also in the whole Jiang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

Lu Ruyi hadn’t expected the Sima Family to launch such a transparent and blatant attack on their caravan.

Unlike the Xie Family’s earlier test.

If the Lu Family had been strong enough, there might have been an apology or negotiations.

The Yuan Family had attacked directly but still masked their identity.

However, the Sima Family acted without any disguise, openly attacking and ambushing the caravan, completely disregarding the Lu Family and their reputation.

‘I’ve heard that the Sima Family has some ties to the Jin Family. Given our family’s relationship with the Jin Family, it makes sense that the Sima Family would act directly.’

Lu Ruyi thought to herself before informing her brother, Lu Lingxiao, of the situation regarding the Four Talents of the Sima Family.

She also shared this information with Zhou Datong, who was beside them.