SPMT : Chapter 85: The Shock of the Masses

 

Xiao Father and Xiao Mother should have also prepared materials for the others sons, but not for Xiao Jinfeng. The survival rate for cultivators at the fifth level of Qi cultivation participating in the competition is not high. The items Xiao Father and Xiao Mother sent made Mu Shuyu feel that they simply didn’t care about Xiao Jinfeng’s life or death.

 

Xiao Jingting also received a set of items, although it was slightly better than Xiao Jinfeng’s, it still wasn’t much.

 

“Parents are too biased,” Mu Shuyu couldn’t help but say. He really didn’t want to speak ill of Xiao Father and Xiao Mother, but their favoritism was just too apparent.

 

Xiao Jinfeng paused for a moment, feeling somewhat apologetic. “I’m sorry for making you feel wronged.”

 

Mu Shuyu shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s just… you… You must come back safely.”

 

“Don’t worry, I’ve already reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation. I’ll definitely come back safely,” Xiao Jinfeng reassured her.

 

“Third Brother, he’s  really a good person,” Mu Shuyu sincerely remarked.

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Yeah.”

 

He really couldn’t figure out his third brother. Even getting hold of the Heque Orchid, his third brother always thought of him and shared everything. He was indeed fortunate to have such a brother. In fact, his third brother was a good person. If the eldest brother could let go of his prejudices and make friends with the third brother, he might also benefit a lot. Unfortunately…

 

Big brother… Big brother has parents to worry about, and he doesn’t need to get involved in too many things.

 

Soon, it was time to set off. To be safe, the four major families set off together.

 

…

 

When Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng arrived at the gathering point, they caused quite a stir.

 

This time, there were four elders at the eighth level of Qi cultivation responsible for escorting them. Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng’s concealment techniques were not perfect, and their true cultivation levels were soon discovered.

 

During this time, Xiao Qingyan had been staying by Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu’s side, while Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had been staying outside the city. Perhaps due to guilt for mistreating his second and third sons, or perhaps out of fear, Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu hadn’t deliberately checked on the conditions of their two younger sons. As a result, Xiao Linfeng and Wang Lu were still unaware that Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had advanced to the sixth level of Qi cultivation.

 

Upon discovering that Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had both reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation, Xiao Linfeng was shocked.

 

Xiao Linfeng was also one of the leaders at the eighth level of Qi cultivation who accompanied them on this trip. The people from other families assumed that Xiao Linfeng had known about his two sons’ advancement to this level long ago and had deliberately kept it hidden as a trump card, blindsiding them. Xiao Linfeng was mocked by some for being clueless.

 

Amidst his joy, Xiao Linfeng felt a bit embarrassed. Most of his attention had been focused on Xiao Qingyan, and he had paid too little attention to Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng.

 

…

 

“Elder, are you sure you didn’t see it wrong? Xiao Jingting is at the sixth level of Qi cultivation?” Sun Miaomiao couldn’t help asking the elder next to her in a low voice.

 

“Yes, it’s the sixth level of Qi cultivation. Although it’s not very stable, there’s no doubt that it’s the sixth level of Qi cultivation,” said the Sun family elder with a serious expression.

 

“How did this guy cultivate to that level?” Sun Miaomiao couldn’t help but mutter to herself.

 

As far as she knew, Xiao Linfeng hadn’t spent much money on Xiao Jingting! Xiao Jingting had earned some money, but after earning it, he only knew how to spend it recklessly.

 

“Not only Xiao Jingting, but Xiao Jinfeng has also reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation. Xiao Linfeng is really capable. Three sons, and all three of them are at the sixth level of Qi cultivation. This guy kept it tightly under wraps,” the Sun family elder couldn’t help but sigh.

 

Sun Miaoyin glanced in the direction of Xiao Jinfeng. Although she had married Zhou Kanghe, she still participated in the competition as a member of the Sun family.

 

Sun Miaoyin had never dreamed that her former fiancé, whom she had abandoned, would advance to the sixth level of Qi cultivation so quickly. It seemed that Xiao Jinfeng had reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation even earlier than Zhou Kanghe.

 

Zhou Kanghe’s expression was tense as he looked towards Xiao Jinfeng’s direction. Zhou Kanghe had thought that his cultivation at the sixth level of Qi cultivation would make him stand out among the four major families. However, he didn’t expect Xiao Qingyan to also advance. The Sun family had concealed Sun Mingcheng, and the Zheng family had concealed Zheng Ke. Zhou Kanghe didn’t pay much attention to Xiao Jinfeng, but he felt somewhat wary of Sun Mingcheng and Zheng Ke.

 

Zhou Kanghe had already thought that the situation had developed unfavorably, but he didn’t expect Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting to both advance to the sixth level of Qi cultivation at the same time.

 

…

 

After everyone gathered, they set off.

 

Xiao Linfeng wanted to inquire about his two sons’ sudden advancement in cultivation, but he suppressed this impulse because of the presence of others.

 

Night fell, and the people of the four major families found a town to settle in and stayed at several inns in the town. Xiao Linfeng immediately summoned his two sons to inquire about the situation.

 

“You’re saying that Xiaofan gambled and won a spiritual pearl, and you used that to advance?” Xiao Linfeng asked.

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Yes.”

 

Xiao Qingyan was full of disbelief. “Xiaofan is just a kid. How could he have such insight to win a spiritual pearl?”

 

Xiao Jingting helplessly replied, “Big brother, gambling isn’t about insight, it’s about luck. My son is just lucky! He won a spiritual pearl with just one gamble. After I used the spiritual pearl to advance, I took him to various gambling shops to buy stones. However, it seems that Xiaofan used up all his luck on the first try, and didn’t win anything useful afterwards.”

 

In fact, Xiao Jingting was lying. Xiao Xiaofan had swept through the gambling shops and won many good items. Xiao Jingting had kept some for Xu Mu’an and kept some for himself.

 

“You exchanged the spiritual pearl for Heque Orchid?” Xiao Linfeng asked.

 

Xiao Jinfeng nodded. “Yes! I heard that Heque Orchid has a remarkable effect on breaking through barriers for cultivators at the fifth level of Qi cultivation.”

 

Xiao Qingyan couldn’t help but say, “The spiritual pearl is much more precious than Heque Orchid.”

 

Xiao Yuefeng later told Xiao Qingyan about taking Xiao Xiaofan to various gambling shops, and Xiao Qingyan had scolded Xiao Jingting severely in front of Xiao Linfeng. However, he didn’t expect… Xiao Xiaofan, that little guy, to be so lucky, winning a spiritual pearl. How come he didn’t have such good luck?

 

Xiao Qingyan had also been to the gambling shops, but after wasting several thousand taels of silver without gaining anything, he had stopped in time.

 

Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes! However, Heque Orchid is more useful for me. Right now, the competition is full of dangers, and after thinking it over, I still think advancing is the most important.”

 

Xiao Qingyan: “…”

 

Xiao Linfeng looked at Xiao Jingting and sighed lightly after a moment.

 

His youngest son was really different now. If it had been before, he would have at least discussed it with him, but now he made his own decisions without a sound.

 

…

 

In the inn.

 

“Big brother, something seems off about the situation!” Zhou Kangqi couldn’t help but speak up.

 

Zhou Kangqi had always thought that his brother was the number one among the younger generation in Mocheng. However, in this competition, both the Zheng family and the Sun family had produced a hidden talent at the sixth level of Qi cultivation. In addition, the Xiao family’s Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had also reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation.

 

“There are always people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens. There are plenty of geniuses in this world,” Zhou Kanghe said nonchalantly, but he felt extremely uncomfortable inside.

 

Zhou Kanghe had always believed that his cultivation level might not be much in a big city, but in Mocheng, it was one of the best. However, he didn’t expect so many talents comparable to him to suddenly emerge.

 

Xiao Qingyan was not young anymore, but Xiao Jingting was not even twenty yet. Xiao Jingting, that wastrel, had now turned over a new leaf.

 

Zhou Kangqi frowned. When he poisoned Xiao Jinfeng, the poisoner told him that Xiao Jinfeng would be at the fourth level of Qi cultivation for the rest of his life. However, in less than two years, Xiao Jinfeng’s cultivation had caught up to his own. Xiao Jinfeng wasn’t a good person either. He had treated him badly in the past, and if he found the opportunity, Xiao Jinfeng would definitely try to kill him.

 

Zhou Kangqi rubbed his neck, feeling a chill in his heart.

 

“Big brother, do you have any strategies to deal with this?” Zhou Kangqi asked.

 

Zhou Kanghe replied lightly, “There are countless geniuses participating in the competition this time. You need to broaden your horizons and not be fixated on these people from Mocheng.”

 

Zhou Kangqi smiled and said, “Yes, yes, you’re right. You’re truly far-sighted, big brother.”

 

…

 

The Sun family elder paced back and forth in the inn.

 

Sun Miaoyin and Sun Miaomiao sat silently at the table.

 

“I didn’t expect it! Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng have both advanced to the sixth level of Qi cultivation. What kind of luck is this! Miaomiao, you’re now considered part of the Xiao family. Have you heard any news? Could it be that these two brothers have encountered some great opportunities outside?” the Sun family elder asked.

 

Sun Miaomiao shook her head. “No, I don’t know.” She was surprised enough that Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had advanced to the fifth level of Qi cultivation. Now, both of these brothers had reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation.

 

“I didn’t expect Xiao Jingting to be so successful now,” the Sun family elder sighed.

 

Sun Miaomiao gritted her teeth. She had never dreamed that the person she had always looked down upon in the past would now have such achievements. If she hadn’t chosen Xiao Muhong back then, perhaps everything would be different now. Xiao Jingting had reached the sixth level of Qi cultivation before he was even twenty. His strength was comparable to that of Zhou Kanghe, her sister’s husband. If she had married Xiao Jingting, she wouldn’t need to envy her sister’s good marriage.

 

“It’s unreasonable. Xiao Jinfeng has also advanced. These two brothers must have a secret,” the Sun family elder said.

 

Sun Miaoyin nodded. “There must be a secret.”

 

Even if Xiao Jingting had turned over a new leaf, there was no reason for him to suddenly advance to the sixth level of Qi cultivation. She had observed Xiao Linfeng’s reaction today and was afraid that Xiao Linfeng might not even be aware that Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had advanced to the sixth level of Qi cultivation. From what she knew, Xiao Linfeng had arranged many things for Xiao Qingyan to save his life, but what he had given to Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were just some worthless items.

 

If Xiao Linfeng knew about the true strength of Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng, even if he wanted to prioritize one over the other, the difference wouldn’t be so significant. Xiao Qingyan’s unpleasant expression indicated that he might have been kept in the dark as well.

 

Thinking of Xiao Jinfeng, Sun Miaoyin sighed softly. She used to see Xiao Jinfeng as insignificant, but now it seemed that he wasn’t much inferior to Zhou Kanghe. If only she had known earlier…

 

“I didn’t expect that not only our Sun family but also the Zheng family has a hidden genius,” the Sun elder remarked.

 

Sun Miaoyin’s heart sank for a moment. She had always been the focus of the family’s attention since she was young, and she had thought she knew everything important about the family. However, she had no idea that there was a sixth-level Qi cultivation genius hidden in the family, despite being the eldest daughter of the Sun family.

 

“I never knew that the Sun family still had such a genius,” Sun Miaomiao said indifferently. Knowing about Sun Mingcheng’s existence made Sun Miaoyin feel uneasy, and Sun Miaomiao felt the same discomfort.

 

The Sun elder squinted his eyes and said, “For the sake of long-term stability, the family must keep some trump cards hidden.”

 

Sun Miaoyin nodded and said, “Elder, you’re right.” She could understand the family’s decision, but she still felt some resentment.