SPMT : Chapter 62 Shocking News for the Xiao Family 

Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an stepped out from the carriage, and Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong also bounced out from the carriage.

Seeing Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an, Xiao Linfeng’s pupils contracted sharply. Although Xiao Linfeng’s expression remained relatively normal, his heart was already in complete turmoil.

Wang Lu stared with wide eyes full of surprise, looking both unable to believe it and wildly delighted.

Liu Xian hid behind the others, staring at Xiao Jingting with complete disbelief. Although she found Xiao Jinfeng’s advancement to the fifth layer surprising, she thought it was still acceptable. After all, although Xiao Jinfeng’s attributes weren’t very good, his cultivation talent was decent and he was quite diligent. Xiao Jingting was different – his entire cultivation level was raised through medicinal pills, with a very poor foundation. For such a second-generation wastrel to actually reach the fifth layer of Qi Refining, and even Xu Mu’an was at the fifth layer of Qi Refining too.

Liu Xian clutched the handkerchief in her hand, feeling her heart twist into knots.

Both Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting had become fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivators – such a big matter, yet no one had told her beforehand.

Liu Xian secretly cursed herself for being too careless. She had only thought about driving Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting out of the family, never imagining that the two would still thrive outside.

Liu Xian looked toward Xiao Qingyan and saw that his expression wasn’t very good either, which made her feel somewhat better.

Liu Xian thought to herself: It’s fine if the second branch has many talents – when they turn against each other internally, it’ll be quite a spectacle.

Xiao Hefeng looked at Xiao Jingting and said, “Jingting, you’ve also reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining!”

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes!”

“How did you cultivate so quickly!” Xiao Hefeng said in amazement.

“After nephew left home, I reflected deeply and felt that my previous days were too decadent. I cultivated day and night, which led to today’s cultivation level.”

Xiao Hefeng scoffed at Xiao Jingting’s words but still smiled and said, “Nephew, you’re truly diligent!”

Xiao Yuerong looked at Xiao Xiaofan, confusion passing through his eyes.

In Xiao Yuerong’s memory, Xiao Xiaofan was thin and small, scrawny and shriveled. Looking at the plump, well-nourished little person in fine clothes behind Xiao Xiaodong, Xiao Yuerong seriously doubted whether that person was Xiao Xiaofan.

Xiao Xiaofan bared his teeth at Xiao Yuerong, and Xiao Yuerong immediately recognized him.

Xiao Linfeng looked at Xiao Xiaodong with some surprise and said, “Jingting, Xiaodong has reached the second layer of Qi Refining!”

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes! Xiaodong, Xiaofan, come greet Grandfather and Grandmother.”

Standing behind Zheng Pei’er, Xiao Yuefeng’s expression couldn’t help but contort upon hearing Xiao Linfeng’s words.

Zheng Pei’er looked at Xiao Jinfeng, Xiao Jingting and the others, her mood heavy. Originally, when Xiao Linfeng wanted to bring Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng back, Zheng Pei’er hadn’t thought much of it, just considering that the Xiao family would have a few more idle mouths to feed. Now seeing that Xiao Jingting, Xiao Jinfeng and the others had all advanced to the fifth layer of Qi Refining, Zheng Pei’er couldn’t help feeling somewhat uneasy.

The reason Xiao Qingyan could advance to the fifth layer of Qi Refining so quickly had much to do with Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu pouring most of their resources into Xiao Qingyan. Now that Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting were so promising, wouldn’t Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu change their focus for cultivation?

“Mother.” Xiao Yuerong tugged at Zheng Pei’er’s sleeve, calling back her attention.

“What’s wrong?” Zheng Pei’er asked.

“Mother, Xiao Xiaofan is baring his teeth at me. He’s provoking me.” Xiao Yuerong said unhappily.

Zheng Pei’er comforted Xiao Yuerong, saying, “Alright, don’t make a fuss, don’t make a fuss.”

Although Zheng Pei’er didn’t know what had happened to Xiao Jingting, seeing Xu Mu’an’s strength and seeing that Xiao Xiaodong and Xiao Xiaofan no longer had their former timid and cowering expressions, she knew they couldn’t treat these two boys with their former attitude anymore.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries at the entrance for a while before entering the house.

After dismissing the crowd who had come to gather information, Xiao Linfeng impatiently pulled Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng into the house for private conversation.

“You’re saying that you could advance so quickly because you ate a pure white lotus flower?”

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “That’s correct.”

Xiao Jingting didn’t want to expose the matter of the spirit wine, so he had previously unified his story with Xiao Jinfeng, saying their advancement was due to eating heavenly treasures.

Xiao Jinfeng knew Xiao Jingting had secrets and was happy to help conceal them.

Xiao Qingyan said sourly, “You two really have good fortune! But with such good things, you don’t think of your own brothers – you only know how to benefit outsiders.”

Xiao Qingyan thought to himself: This heavenly treasure elevated all four of Xiao Jingting’s group to the fifth layer of Qi Refining. If he had eaten it, he should have been able to enter the sixth layer of Qi Refining and compete with that genius Zhou Kang from the Zhou family.

“I can’t afford brothers who are eager to draw clear boundaries the moment something happens,” Xiao Jinfeng said coldly.

Never mind that there was no such heavenly treasure – even if there were, he would never give it to someone like Xiao Qingyan.

“Second Brother, what do you mean?” Xiao Qingyan asked.

“What do I mean? I don’t mean anything. Big Brother, you don’t need me to remind you what you said to me at the inn, do you? You said not to call you Big Brother, that you didn’t have such a shameless brother. Such a big brother – I really can’t aspire to reach.”

Xiao Qingyan’s face turned green and white alternately.

“Can you blame me for the disgraceful things you did?” Xiao Qingyan also knew his previous attitude toward Xiao Jinfeng was somewhat excessive, but he hadn’t expected Xiao Jinfeng would actually bring this matter up in front of their parents. Having lost face, Xiao Qingyan simply gave up completely.

Xiao Qingyan snorted lightly and said nothing more.

Xiao Jingting rubbed his nose. When Xiao Jinfeng got along with him, he was always straightforward. Xiao Jingting hadn’t expected Xiao Jinfeng to be so sharp – expressing any dissatisfaction immediately without even bothering with surface courtesy.

Xiao Linfeng said with a dark face, “Enough! You are brothers. What brothers hold overnight grudges? Second son, your big brother was just joking around. Do you need to hold such a grudge?”

Xiao Jinfeng kept a stern face and said nothing. His parents still chose to stand on Xiao Qingyan’s side. Although he had expected this, Xiao Jinfeng was still somewhat disappointed.

Wang Lu looked at Xiao Jingting and said earnestly, “Jingting! With such good things, you should save a portion for your big brother. When your big brother prospers, it benefits you too.”

“The item was found by Mu’an. I’m just benefiting from his fortune,” Xiao Jingting said.

Wang Lu said dismissively, “Mu’an is just your concubine. Whether to beat him or sell him is just a word from you. His things are naturally all yours.”

Xiao Jingting smiled and said, “Adversity reveals true feelings. When I was driven to Tuqiu Village this time, only Mu’an stayed by my side. All those former close female companions of mine hid far away. I think I should treat Mu’an better.”

Wang Lu looked at Xiao Jingting with complete surprise, stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, “Thinking like that is also right.”

“Although heavenly treasures are good, they always have their limitations. Your strength isn’t strong yet. Taking heavenly treasures so early will likely create drug resistance in your bodies, affecting your future advancement,” Xiao Linfeng said.

Xiao Jinfeng said dismissively, “I was previously poisoned and my meridians were damaged. I thought I’d be stuck at the fourth layer of Qi Refining my whole life. Taking the heavenly treasure at least got me to the fifth layer, so for me it’s definitely a blessing. With my fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivation, I should at least be able to protect myself.”

Xiao Jinfeng wasn’t telling the truth. His meridians had long since recovered under the spirit wine’s effects. Thinking of how his parents always wanted him to help Xiao Qingyan in the future, Xiao Jinfeng deliberately painted himself in a poor light.

Xiao Linfeng sighed and said, “You’ve been wronged.”

Although Xiao Linfeng favored his eldest son, Xiao Jinfeng was still his son. When Xiao Jinfeng had problems, Xiao Linfeng still felt heartache.

After leaving Xiao Linfeng’s place, Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng walked away together.

Xiao Qingyan watched the backs of Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng, his eyes full of malice.

“Qingyan! Your two brothers left together,” Zheng Pei’er walked up to Xiao Qingyan and said.

Xiao Qingyan nodded, “I saw.”

“Your two brothers have such a good relationship now!” Zheng Pei’er said with a frown.

Xiao Qingyan snorted coldly, “The two of them are now united against me alone.”

“Qingyan, how did your two brothers advance so quickly? And their two wives, and those two little brats.” Xiao Yuerong’s advancement to the second layer of Qi Refining at such a young age had always been something Zheng Pei’er was proud of. She hadn’t expected one of Xiao Jingting’s brats to also reach the second layer of Qi Refining.

“Supposedly they shared a heavenly treasure, so their cultivation all improved at once,” Xiao Qingyan said sourly.

Zheng Pei’er’s eyes turned red with jealousy, “Heavenly treasure – is there any left?”

Xiao Qingyan shook his head, “Supposedly there isn’t.”

Xiao Qingyan didn’t think there was none left – he just felt his two brothers held grudges against him and were unwilling to share.

“Your brothers are really lucky!” Zheng Pei’er said through gritted teeth. She was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, yet both Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting’s wives were at the fifth layer. They were just lowly concubines – what right did they have to consume heavenly treasures!

“Your second brother’s child is already so big. Looking at it, your brother was already involved with someone before Sun Miaoyin broke off their engagement.” Zheng Pei’er thought to herself: The outside rumors about Xiao Jinfeng being chivalrous and righteous were also nonsense. Xiao Jinfeng was probably no good either.

Having just been humiliated by his parents, Xiao Qingyan was full of anger at any mention of Xiao Jinfeng.

“Father said that taking heavenly treasures has both benefits and drawbacks. My brothers have probably developed drug resistance and will find it difficult to advance to the sixth layer of Qi Refining in the future.”

Hearing this, Zheng Pei’er said, “Is that so? What a pity then.”

Zheng Pei’er’s face showed regret, but her heart felt somewhat gleeful.

The news that Xiao Jingting and the other three were all fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivators spread through the Xiao family like a whirlwind. That night, countless people in the Xiao family found it difficult to sleep.

“Xiao Jingting actually advanced to the fifth layer of Qi Refining,” Sun Miaomiao squinted her eyes. She hadn’t gone to welcome Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng today – all her information came from others.

“Are you sure you didn’t get it wrong?” Sun Miaomiao looked at Xiao Muhong and asked.

Xiao Muhong shook his head, “Absolutely not.”

Sun Miaomiao said with complete confusion, “How did this wastrel advance to the fifth layer? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Supposedly they shared a heavenly treasure, which is why they advanced,” Xiao Muhong said.

Zheng Pei’er was someone who couldn’t keep things to herself. Knowing about the heavenly treasure, she immediately spread it so the entire family knew. When Liu Xian heard that the heavenly treasure was found in the mountain forests near Tuqiu Village, she was so filled with regret her heart and liver ached, only hating that she hadn’t chosen a different place to send Xiao Jingting.