Chapter 429: What’s wrong with the Lu Family producing a few people of great fortune?

“Since you know our name, I’ll give you a chance. Quickly return to Bihu Mountain. The business of the trade association isn’t something the Lu Family can meddle in!”

The young man holding a feather fan spoke coldly, his fan enveloped in a misty green aura.

While the four of them were confident, after a brief clash, they realized that Lu Ping’an was not easy to deal with. They couldn’t guarantee they could kill him.

Moreover, the Lu Family from Bihu Mountain was well-known for their talismans.

No one could be sure how many talismans the Lu Family carried, so they stayed cautious.

Their aim was simply to drive the Lu Family back to their Bihu Mountain territory.

After all, they believed that Bihu Mountain had already exhausted its foundations by secretly gathering so many Foundation Establishment cultivators over the years.

Once the family could no longer support these cultivators, it would decline sooner or later.

“The Sima Family is so domineering!”

“Damn it, if we retreat now, the trade association business will be finished.”

Hearing these words, the Lu Family disciples beside the caravan were all outraged, finding the Sima Family too overbearing. They glanced at Lu Ping’an’s imposing figure.

Now, they could only hope that their elder brother, their uncle, could drive the four of them away.

“Ruyi, Lingxiao, Daoist Zhou, be careful.”

Lu Ping’an didn’t waste words. The Black Dragon Halberd appeared in his hand. His burly figure strode forward, charging at the four before him.

“How bold!”

“Arrogant fool!”

“You’re courting death!”

The Four Talents of the Sima Family saw Lu Ping’an rushing at them alone. Their faces grew cold, their expressions frosty.

In their view, Lu Ping’an was indeed exceptional.

But facing all four of them alone was blatant disrespect.

He didn’t regard them as a threat at all.

“Buzz!”

Sima Bo snorted coldly, and the small yellow mountain floating above his head rapidly expanded. It became a massive black-and-yellow mountain, stretching across the sky, pressing down on Lu Ping’an.

“Boom!”

The weight of the mountain seemed to drag down the heavens and the earth.

The invisible pressure filled the area, making Lu Lingxiao, Lu Ruyi, and Zhou Datong unsteady on their feet nearby.

The beasts of burden, the Lu Family disciples, and the warriors in the caravan turned pale under this invisible pressure. Their blood and energy churned, leaving them struggling to breathe.

“Buzz Buzz Buzz—”

At that moment, beams of light shot up from the chests of the caravan’s cargo, forming an invisible barrier that shielded them.

“A formation master.”

Sima Shu, holding a formation disc, narrowed his eyes, looking toward one of the caravan wagons.

“Bihu Mountain’s Lu Family’s matriarch, Ling Zixiao, is indeed a formation master.”

“Third Brother, it seems she detected the formation you laid out.”

“Madame Lu has yet to show herself. Could there be something she wants to hide?”

Sima Zhong and Sima Ji also looked at the wagon, as if trying to see Ling Zixiao inside.

“Ping’an, there’s no need to waste time with them. Finish this quickly.”

At that moment, an elegant and melodious voice emerged from the wagon.

The voice was calm but was clearly heard by everyone.

No need to waste time?

Finish it quickly?

“Is everyone from the Bihu Mountain Lu Family this arrogant?”

“Even if Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge were here, they wouudn’t dare speak to us like this!”

The Four Talents of the Sima Family were grim-faced. The elder brother, Sima Bo, rolled his strong frame, exuding the aura of a beast, and spoke in a deep voice.

He, too, was a body cultivator.

“You dare speak the names of my father and aunt?”

Hearing that, Lu Ping’an’s eyes flashed coldly.

The four before him were indeed arrogant.

Not only did they try to kill the members of his caravan when they first met, but now they were insulting his father and aunt.

His imposing figure, clad in silver armor, his eyes brimmed with storm and thunder, looked like a god of thunder ready to strike.

“Wind and Thunder—Mountain Splitter!”

Lu Ping’an hurled the Black Dragon Halberd. His right arm shot up, his blood and energy surged, gathering endless wind and thunder. A tremendous axe seemed to form above his head.

“Since you wish to die, our four brothers will fulfill that wish!”

Sima Bo’s sturdy body gleamed with black-and-yellow light, as if merging with the mountain across the sky.

He was indeed remarkable, having reached the late second stage of body cultivation and possessing the Foundation Establishment’s sixth level.

Had Lu Ping’an not broken through the eighth level of the Hundred Refined Body Technique, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to suppress him.

Facing their four brothers, he would’ve surely suffered.

But now, Lu Ping’an didn’t hold back, unleashing his quasi-third stage physique directly.

“Boom—”

The giant axe of wind and thunder collided with the black-and-yellow mountain, unleashing a terrifying force.

The violent and explosive divine might seemed to annihilate everything in its path, causing the black-and-yellow mountain to tremble, cracks appearing across its surface.

“Not good! Third Brother, Fourth Brother, act now!”

Sima Zhong, holding his feather fan, realized the danger instantly.

Their elder brother’s fist wasn’t able to contend with Lu Ping’an’s.

Under Lu Ping’an’s blows, he retreated step by step.

Not daring to hesitate, Sima Zhong waved his fan, and the misty green wind surged towards Lu Ping’an.

“Clang, clang, clang—”

The misty green wind was a form of blade wind, akin to steel blades crashing against Lu Ping’an’s body, causing metallic clashing sounds.

“Swish, swish, swish—”

Beside him, Sima Ji, holding a bow and arrow, pulled back the bowstring, and sharp golden arrows shot out, piercing through the void, aiming at Lu Ping’an.

Meanwhile, Sima Shu, holding a compass, directed his keen gaze at the caravan below, summoning a Magic Pearl, attempting to break Ling Zixiao’s formation.

As a formation master, he knew that a caravan’s formation was entirely reliant on Spirit Stones, with limited power and endurance.

Since they had started the fight, they wouldn’t show mercy.

These four brothers were all exceptionally powerful and excelled in different areas. Even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator would meet their end at their hands.

“Big Brother!”

Lu Lingxiao and Lu Ruyi, seeing this, did not hesitate.

Although their strength was limited in this situation.

They would never stand by and watch their elder brother get surrounded.

“Screech!”

Lu Lingxiao formed a spell with his hands. The Extinction Flame blazed in front of him, morphing into black firebirds that were sent to deal with the golden arrows.

Lu Ruyi summoned her Flying Sword, aiming to kill Sima Shu, who was holding the formation disc.

Since he was the formation master and attempting to break the formation, she needed to interfere.

Zhou Datong, seeing this, was nearly scared stiff.

He hadn’t expected that after signing a Blood Contract with the Lu Family, he would encounter the infamous Four Talents of the Sima Family.

He felt paralyzed, caught between acting and not acting.

If he made a move, he might be killed by the Four Talents of the Sima Family.

But if he didn’t make a move, his Blood Contract was still in Ling Zixiao’s hands.

“Damn it, why did I get greedy!”

Zhou Datong kept cursing himself but still chose to act, summoning his Flying Sword, its light dazzling as it shot towards Sima Ji.

“How dare these little fish interfere!”

Sima Zhong coldly eyed the three, his feather fan glowing with a five-colored radiance, forming gusts of wind that tore through the air, directly aiming at them.

For cultivators like Lu Ruyi, Lu Lingxiao, and Zhou Datong at the Foundation Establishment stage, the Four Talents of the Sima Family didn’t even consider them worthy opponents.

They saw them as little cultivators they could easily crush.

“Ping’an, don’t get distracted. Kill the one in front of you first.”

Inside the wagon where Ling Zixiao was seated, beside her was Lu Linghe and a woman who looked exactly like her.

But compared to Ling Zixiao, this woman had a more charming expression.

Just after her words fell.

“Ah!!!”

Sima Bo, who had been fiercely fighting Lu Ping’an, suddenly experienced excruciating pain in his Divine Sense, momentarily losing focus.

“Crack!”

A crack appeared across the black-and-yellow mountain.

Immediately after.

“Boom!!!”

Lu Ping’an’s power, like a divine axe splitting the heavens, shattered the wind, cleaving firmly through.

“Ah!!!”

A terrifying wail echoed as Sima Bo’s beast-like body was obliterated by Lu Ping’an’s fist.

“Big Brother!”

The other three, seeing this, were horrified and couldn’t understand how it happened.

How had their elder brother suddenly been defeated?

“A Divine Sense secret art! The Divine Sense secret art! Be on your guard!”

“Ling Zixiao!”

For the Four Talents of the Sima Family to gain such fame, they were far from ordinary.

In an instant, they understood what had happened.

Their elder brother must have been sneak-attacked by a Divine Sense secret art, causing him to lose focus and be defeated.

If not, even with Lu Ping’an’s formidable power, he couldn’t have killed their elder brother in front of the four of them with just a punch.

“Retreat! Hurry! The Lu Family from Bihu Mountain is hiding something dangerous!”

Though grieving, the remaining three brothers realized that with Lu Ping’an’s powerful physique and Ling Zixiao’s Divine Sense secret art, they probably couldn’t stand a chance.

“Swish Swish Swish—”

Sima Zhong’s feather fan stirred, summoning gusts of wind from all directions to buy time for their escape.

“There’s a formation ahead. Ping’an, kill the one holding the formation disc.”

Ling Zixiao’s calm voice echoed from the wagon. She could see they intended to use the formation to flee.

“Buzz Buzz Buzz—”

Sima Shu, holding the formation disc, felt chills down his spine at her words.

Immediately after, a small bell in his mind rang violently, indicating that a Divine Sense attack was targeting his soul.

“A Golden Core Divine Sense! How is this possible!”

Sima Shu was terrified.

The small bell in his mind was a Divine Sense treasure, meant to protect his mind and defend against Divine Sense attacks.

But at this moment, the attack had far exceeded what his treasure could bear.

In an instant, Sima Shu’s mind was struck by intense pain, and he lost focus.

“Bang!”

Lu Ping’an’s imposing figure, radiating golden light, completely ignored Sima Zhong’s gusts of wind. He stood tall and unleashed a punch that obliterated Sima Shu, turning him into a pile of blood and flesh.

Even though Sima Shu wore protective robes and had Spirit Tools safeguarding him, everything collapsed in that moment of distraction, including all protections and barriers.

“Third Brother! Third Brother!”

Seeing this, Sima Zhong and Sima Ji were utterly horrified, unable to believe what had just happened.

But at this point, fear overtook them, and they both fled in different directions.

They knew that if they escaped together, the risk would only increase.

“Ping’an, the one with the feather fan.”

“Lingxiao, the one with the bow and arrow.”

Ling Zixiao’s voice continued from the wagon.

The two escaping lights suddenly stalled as their Divine Senses were struck.

“Bang!”

Lu Ping’an flew out, his fist glowing with golden light as he shattered Sima Zhong’s body into pieces.

Lu Lingxiao directed his Extinction Flame towards Sima Ji.

But even with the excruciating pain in his Divine Sense, Sima Ji instinctively formed a protective barrier that blocked Lu Lingxiao’s Extinction Flame.

“Boom!”

Lu Lingxiao, mimicking his elder brother, gathered his blood energy and released a punch.

Though this punch sent Sima Ji flying, causing him to crash to the ground and cough up blood, he wasn’t dead.

Sima Ji, regaining some clarity amidst the pain, looked at Lu Lingxiao with a twisted expression.

But in the next moment.

“Bang!”

Lu Ping’an’s Black Dragon Halberd shot out, descending like a ferocious black dragon, piercing straight through Sima Ji’s chest, pinning him in place and killing him.

“Lingxiao, you could learn from father on how to combine your Heavenly Spiritual Flame with the Hundred Refined Body Technique.”

Lu Ping’an glanced at his brother and patted him on the shoulder.

He clearly remembered, after the Purple Secrets Realm event, when the Xu Family Elder came to hunt him and his brother Lu Quanzhen.

Their father faced the Xu Family Elder, burning with a purplish-red Heavenly Spiritual Flame, and subdued him with one punch.

While Lu Lingxiao’s Heavenly Spiritual Flame wasn’t as formidable as their father’s.

Given time, his power might grow comparable.

“Yes, Big Brother.”

Through spending time together, Lu Lingxiao developed great respect for his elder brother.

He also realized the dominating power of body cultivation and the Hundred Refined Body Technique.

Ordinary cultivators would rely on robes or Artifacts to defend against similar techniques.

But his elder brother previously ignored the gusts and spirit tool arrows, using only his body.

Such a fierce method would be nearly impossible for cultivators of the same level to counter unless they had powerful treasures or overwhelming numbers.

“This… this…”

Zhou Datong, seeing Lu Ping’an looking like a deity or demon, was struck with fear.

He knew the Four Talents of the Sima Family were an existence he could only look up to.

Yet such famous figures had been easily crushed by the Lu Family’s eldest son.

Once word of this spreads, it would shake the entire Jiang Kingdom cultivation world!

This was beyond Foundation Establishment power!

“This eldest son of the Lu Family, who usually seems easygoing, is in charge of the family’s business. If I work hard, I might earn my freedom or even obtain a Breaking Stage Pill.”

Zhou Datong began to feel a growing sense of loyalty, thinking that serving the Lu Family might not be so bad after all.

“This is Big Brother’s strength!”

“With Big Brother around, what is there to fear on this journey?”

The other Lu Family disciples escorting the caravan began to shake off their fear, excitement building within them.

They hadn’t heard of the Four Talents of the Sima Family.

But the oppressive spiritual aura just now was the most terrifying they’d ever felt.

One breath had made their blood churn and left them gasping.

Yet such powerful beings were crushed by their elder brother and uncle, one punch at a time. With this, what would they fear on the road ahead?

“Ping’an, you’ve done well.”

Ling Zixiao glanced at the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet beside her and walked out of the wagon with her daughter, Lu Linghe, addressing the Lu Family’s eldest son.

Though she knew the Thousand-Faced Fox Puppet’s capabilities, the recent outcome had exceeded her expectations.

“Thanks to Aunt.”

Lu Ping’an knew that Ling Zixiao had intervened.

Otherwise, even if he had won, he couldn’t have killed all four.

It could be said that those four were the strongest opponents he had ever faced.

Each of them had both formidable strength and complementary tactics.

“The beasts of burden are still frightened and unable to continue. Ping’an, you should rest and recover for the coming battle.”

Ling Zixiao, wearing a lake-blue palace dress, smiled gracefully.

“The coming battle?”

Lu Lingxiao and Lu Ruyi both paused, looking surprised.

“These four were the family seeds of the Sima Family’s generation.”

“It’s said they obtained an inherited opportunity, allowing their cultivation techniques to complement each other. While it couldn’t ensure they all reached Golden Core Formation, they had the prospect of reaching False Core.”

“Now that they’re dead, the Sima Family’s elder will definitely seek revenge.”

Ling Zixiao smiled lightly, as if it were nothing.

“A False Core Elder!”

“A False Core True Master!”

Their words startled everyone nearby.

Even Lu Ping’an felt a wave of apprehension.

Although he had broken through to the eighth level of the Hundred Refined Body Technique, it was a recent development, and he hadn’t cultivated any Divine Abilities yet.

Facing a False Core True Master would be a tough battle.

“Don’t worry. Unless the Sima Family sends both of their False Core True Masters, or calls upon the Black Tortoise, there’s no need to be concerned.”

“We can also use this battle to establish Bihu Mountain’s reputation, so fewer people will trouble us.”

Ling Zixiao spoke softly.

Although she usually kept out of family affairs, she had spent time understanding the various powers in the Jiang Kingdom, particularly those in the Qingyun Region.

After finishing, she looked at Lu Ping’an and continued: “But after this battle, every move you make will be closely watched.”

“Ping’an will follow Aunt’s guidance.”

Lu Ping’an bowed respectfully.

His father had instructed him before the caravan’s journey, that if anything was unclear, he could consult Aunt Ling.

So upon hearing her words, he didn’t question it but instead chose to trust her.

“Mother, isn’t this too dangerous? Didn’t father say peace is the way?”

Lu Lingxiao spoke up.

Though he trusted his mother.

This was a False Core True Master after all, far too dangerous in his eyes.

Ling Zixiao glanced at her son and said, “Peace is indeed the way, but if you retreat too much, you’ll seem weak and easily bullied, inviting people to push even further.”

“Our family must show some strength right now if the trade association is to gain a foothold.”

“Besides, even if we return to Bihu Mountain, the Sima Family will still come after us.”

“So why not settle the dispute here and now?”

“This battle will also serve as a warning to other powers that while Bihu Mountain avoids trouble, we do not fear it. If anyone dares to mess with us, they should think twice.”

“Moreover, the six False Core families have always been at odds with one another. Our relationship with the Jin Family is already strained, and if we offend the Sima Family, the other families will likely seek alliances with us.”

“Even the local families near the Sima Family’s territory might voluntarily ally themselves with us, seeking cooperation.”

Ling Zixiao patiently explained to her son: “We don’t need to fear the Sima Family’s anger.”

Although she respected her husband’s philosophy.

In her view, sometimes it was necessary to be forceful.

While it might attract attention and trouble, it also prevented many potential issues.

Moreover, with the Hongye Valley Marketplace and the family’s children continually reaching Foundation Establishment, there was no way to hide their circumstances.

Rather than conceal, it was better to be open about some things.

If Lu Ping’an showcased False Core-level strength, their family might be recognized as a False Core family.

In that case, it’d be natural for the family to have more Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Although Lu Ping’an demonstrated a quasi-third stage body and False Core-level combat power at a young age, which was indeed remarkable.

But in the broader cultivation world, it wasn’t such an extraordinary feat in the eyes of Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators.

After all, the cultivation world was filled with endless opportunities and miracles.

If countless fortuitous people could rise quickly through their serendipity, why shouldn’t the Lu Family from Bihu Mountain produce a few of them?

It was because of Lu Ping’an’s great fortune and opportunity that he developed such strength at a young age.

And it’s precisely this sort of luck that allowed our family to cultivate so many Foundation Establishment cultivators!

As long as they didn’t draw the attention of Nascent Soul True Lords, the False Core families and even Golden Core families would merely be grindstones on the path of the Lu Family children’s growth.

“I understand, Mother.”

Lu Lingxiao nodded thoughtfully.

Years ago, his mother had taught him many principles for dealing with people.

But having been isolated on Bihu Mountain, he found that many of her teachings clashed with what he’d heard elsewhere.

On this journey, he finally began to grasp some of her words’ true meaning.

“This trip has been rewarding. Linghe, you can go with your elder brother and Sister Ruyi to clean up now.”

Ling Zixiao smiled at her daughter.

The battle had been bloody and brutal. She didn’t want her daughter to be exposed to too much killing.

But now she could go and collect the spoils of victory, something her daughter greatly enjoyed.

Even though there might not be much to gain, going through and calculating it all would keep her happy for a while.

“Big Bro!”

Lu Linghe’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Ping’an.

“You and Ruyi can handle the cleanup. I’m going to rest.”

Lu Ping’an patted her head with a grin.

Later, he’d have to face a False Core True Master, so he needed to recover his peak condition as soon as possible.

Even though the earlier battle only lasted a few rounds, it still took a toll on him.

Seeing his daughter happily sorting the spoils with Lu Ruyi, Ling Zixiao returned to instruct her son Lu Lingxiao in the art of setting up formations.

Though she spoke lightly about the upcoming battle, she still wanted to ensure they were fully prepared to avoid any surprises.