SPMT : Chapter 86: Outing Together

Although Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had left, the news of them reaching the sixth level of Qi cultivation still made its way back to the Xiao family.

Upon receiving the news, Wang Lu immediately sought out her son-in-law Xu Mu’an and her daughter-in-law Mu Shuyu to inquire about the situation.

“Xiaofan, did you really gamble and win a spiritual pearl?” Xu Mu’an nodded and replied, “Yes! Xiaofan was lucky enough to win a spiritual pearl in one go. Jingting entrusted someone to exchange the pearl for Heque Orchid.”

“Trading such a precious pearl for Heque Orchid, you’ve been cheated,” Zheng Peier exclaimed in shock.

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Yes, that’s true. But, Mother, the competition is coming up soon, isn’t it? Father said that the competition is very dangerous. It’s difficult for a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi cultivation to protect themselves. Jingting had no choice but to exchange the pearl for Heque Orchid out of necessity. If it weren’t for the upcoming competition, he wouldn’t have been willing to make the trade.”

Wang Lu frowned and said, “You should have discussed this matter with me.”

Xu Mu’an nodded and replied, “That was the original plan. However, when Jingting came to find Father and Mother, you two were not available. The person Jingting found said that Heque Orchid was very precious and that it wouldn’t wait. Jingting had no choice but to make the decision on his own.”

Wang Lu sighed and said, “It’s too late to say anything now. Just remember to consult with your father and me in the future when encountering such matters.”

Wang Lu thought to herself, “When Xiao Jingting came, he and Xiao Linfeng might have taken Xiao Qingyan to buy magical weapons. Xiao Jingting has always been proud, and upon realizing this, he naturally wouldn’t tell me about the pearl incident. Thinking about how she and Xiao Linfeng had put all their efforts into their eldest son, Wang Lu couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.”

Zheng Peier twisted her handkerchief anxiously. Xiao Qingyan had sacrificed his potential and used elixirs to advance to the sixth level of Qi cultivation. She never expected that Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng would advance to the sixth level so quickly.

Zheng Peier had originally been thinking about the cold drink shop, but the news of Xiao Jinfeng and Xiao Jingting advancing to the sixth level of cultivation pushed the matter out of her mind.

At the Xiao family’s main house, Liu Xian regretted it deeply when she heard about Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng advancing to the sixth level of Qi cultivation.

Originally, when Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were at the fifth level of cultivation, Liu Xian regretted not taking action earlier. Now that both of them were at the sixth level, it would be even more difficult to deal with them.

If the two of them were to die outside, that would be fine. But if they returned safely, her son would never have a chance to rise above the second family. Liu Xian felt that her future was bleak when she thought about it.

Thinking of her daughter-in-law, Sun Miaomiao, who had left with her son, Liu Xian felt even more angry.

Back then, when her son married the daughter of the Sun family, Liu Xian was somewhat proud. But now, she deeply regretted her blindness.

Ever since Xiao Jingting came of age, Sun Miaomiao’s temper had become increasingly uncontrollable. Originally, she was somewhat restrained, but now she was becoming more and more arrogant. She used to be gentle and considerate towards her son, but recently, she had become extremely critical of him. Sun Miaomiao knew that Xiao Jingting had advanced to the sixth level of cultivation, and she would probably look down even more on her son.

Liu Xian had heard from the maidservants at home that Sun Miaomiao had already cuckolded Xiao Muhong. Xiao Muhongalways cared about his reputation. Although he didn’t say anything, he must have felt wronged.

Three days later, Xiao Jingting and his group arrived at the border of the Marquis’s Mansion.

“It’s such a bustling place!” Xiao Jingting couldn’t help but exclaim as he looked at the streets of the Marquis’s Mansion.

With the competition approaching, elites from various towns had gathered here, causing the prices of inns in the Marquis’s Mansion to skyrocket.

Compared to the Marquis’s Mansion, the largest store in the Mo City was nothing more than a humble abode.

Xiao Jingting and the others hadn’t even entered the city when the elders repeatedly warned them to keep a low profile. Before their ears became calloused from listening, they finally arrived at the border of the Marquis’s Mansion.

Xiao Linfeng led several young men from the Xiao family and found an inn to stay in.

The top rooms were not only expensive but had already been fully booked. Xiao Linfeng rented several middle-tier rooms instead.

During meals, they could see many well-dressed young men from major cities.

Fortunately for Xiao Jingting, although these young men from major cities seemed extravagant and had more treasures on them than they did, except for the few leading figures, the rest of them were also at the fifth or fourth level of Qi cultivation. This showed that advancing in cultivation in this world was still quite difficult.

“The Fifth Miss of the Marquis’s Mansion is here!” The crowd outside became lively.

When the commotion outside began, Xiao Jingting happened to be by the window and leaned out to look.

A young girl in a blue martial attire was riding on a snow-white wolf-shaped beast, passing through the bustling market.

“Those people,” Xiao Jinfeng’s eyes widened suddenly.

Xiao Jingting immediately shook his head, signaling Xiao Jinfeng not to speak rashly. Xiao Jinfeng wisely kept his mouth shut.

The attendants beside the Fifth Miss of the Marquis’s Mansion were the same people who had come to collect fines in Tuqiu Village. Those people had had quite bad tempers back then.

The Marquis’s Mansion, with its grandeur, naturally didn’t need to give face to two fallen families.

Xiao Jingting heard the discussions of some informed bystanders nearby. The Fifth Miss of the Marquis’s Mansion, Ouyang Mingyue, was a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi cultivation. The Marquis’s Mansion had many young misses and young masters, but very few were truly valued. Previously, Ouyang Jing, who had talked with Xiao Qingyan, had no ranking because of her lowly background.

“The Marquis’s Mansion is indeed impressive, and that girl doesn’t look very old,” Xiao Jingting remarked.

Xiao Jinfeng smiled and said, “The path of cultivation is unpredictable. Brother, your luck is unstoppable, and you have great potential.”

Many geniuses had fallen, while many ordinary people had persisted until the end.

According to what Xiao Jinfeng knew, his grandfather, who was at the ninth level of Qi cultivation, wasn’t very prominent in the family at that time. However, those remarkable family cultivators either killed each other or met with misfortune while adventuring. They all perished, leaving only his grandfather, who quietly outlived his siblings and became the head of the Xiao family.

“After dinner, Second Brother, Third Brother, do you want to go out for a stroll?” Xiao Qingyan asked when he came over.

Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng exchanged surprised glances and saw a hint of shock in each other’s eyes.

Xiao Linfeng, for some reason, either felt guilty or something else. After learning that both of his sons were at the sixth level of Qi cultivation, he gave each of them a hundred thousand taels of silver, making Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng’s finances much more comfortable.

“Sure!” Xiao Jinfeng said calmly.

Although Xiao Jinfeng had some prejudices against Xiao Qingyan, after all, they were blood brothers. Blood is thicker than water, so Xiao Jinfeng didn’t want to refuse too harshly.

“Sounds good!” Xiao Jingting nodded. The area around the Marquis’s Mansion was so prosperous that he also wanted to go out and take a look.

“Let’s go then,” Xiao Qingyan smiled and said.

Xiao Qingyan smiled and led Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng out.

“Jingting, you exchanged that pearl for two Sproutlanes?” Xiao Qingyan couldn’t help but ask.

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes! With only one pearl, exchanging it for two Sproutlanes was already quite difficult.”

In fact, the pearl had been a great help. With its assistance, not only had the quality of the spring water changed significantly, but many other spiritual plants around the spring had also begun to flourish.

Xiao Qingyan couldn’t help but say angrily, “Just by hearing it, I knew you, Third Brother, were an amateur. Pearls can help those at the seventh level of Qi cultivation advance to the eighth level. Exchanging it for two Sproutlanes is like losing a watermelon and picking up a sesame seed. If I had taken the pearl to the academy, I could have exchanged it for many good things! What a pity! Xiao Jingting, you’re so shallow that you gave away such a precious thing.”

“Since the exchange has been made, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Xiao Jingting said indifferently.

Xiao Qingyan was infuriated by Xiao Jingting’s calm and composed demeanor.

As the three chatted and walked, they entered a large shop. Perhaps because of the upcoming competition, many young people like them were there to find treasures.

The spiritual charms and artifacts in the shop were in high demand.

Xiao Jingting took a look and found that the prices of the artifacts and spiritual charms were similar to those in the major shops in Mocheng, but there were more styles available here.

As people came and went in the shop, some recognized Xiao Qingyan and came over to greet him. Many students from Bifeng Academy would participate in the upcoming competition, so Xiao Qingyan had quite a few acquaintances here.

“Qingyan, you’re here too!” A young man in white approached.

Xiao Qingyan nodded and said, “Yes! My brother and I are here to participate in the competition.”

“Your brother is also participating in the competition. Is he still alive?” The tone of the white-clad youth was very impolite.

Xiao Jingting felt embarrassed for a moment. The white-clad youth was only at the fifth level of Qi cultivation, one level lower than him. However, this guy actually worried about whether he and Xiao Jinfeng would survive or not. Xiao Jingting guessed that Xiao Qingyan might have slandered him and Xiao Jinfeng in front of this guy, so the youth looked down on them so much.

“Who knows?” Xiao Jingting said casually.

The woman beside the white-clad youth probably knew something and whispered a few words in the youth’s ear after sizing up Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng.

The white-clad youth’s gaze shifted to Xiao Jingting, and his eyes suddenly narrowed. “You… you’re at the sixth level of Qi cultivation.”

Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes!”

The white-clad youth’s face contorted, and he glanced at Xiao Qingyan strangely, full of shame and indignation, then turned and walked away.

Xiao Jingting watched the departing youth and thought to himself: Teenagers going through their edgy phase can’t handle being hurt!

“Senior Mo, I’m really grateful to you.” A decent-looking woman said affectionately to the person beside her.

“It’s nothing. With the competition coming up, how can you not have defensive treasures, Junior Sister?”

“Senior Brother, you’re really kind to me.”

“Who else can I be good to if not you?”

“With Senior Brother’s prowess, he’s sure to rank in the top ten in this competition and even have a chance at the top three,” praised Ouyang Jing.

“With so many experts in this competition, there are also quite a few at the seventh level of Qi cultivation like Senior Brother. It’s too early for Junior Sister to say that,” Mo Bei said modestly, but there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

From the moment he heard their voices, Xiao Qingyan’s face twisted.

Xiao Jinfeng glanced at Xiao Qingyan’s expression and then looked at the woman coming down from upstairs.

Xiao Jingting looked puzzled at Xiao Qingyan’s unpleasant expression, and Xiao Jinfeng subtly signaled to Xiao Jingting with his mouth, pointing towards Ouyang Jing.

Suddenly, Xiao Jingting understood the reason for Xiao Qingyan’s unusual behavior.

Ouyang Jing had a fling with Xiao Qingyan before! However, after Xiao Family encountered troubles, Ouyang Jing naturally drifted apart from Xiao Qingyan.

Ouyang Jing, who had been laughing and chatting with Mo Bei, suddenly stopped when she saw Xiao Qingyan.

Mo Bei looked towards Xiao Qingyan with disdain. “Isn’t this Junior Brother Qingyan? It’s been a long time.”

Xiao Qingyan maintained a stiff expression and said flatly, “Long time no see.”

“Junior Brother Qingyan, you’re also participating in this competition? Junior Brother Qingyan, relying on pills to reach the sixth level of Qi cultivation isn’t as solid as others’ steady progress. Be careful during the competition!” Mo Bei patted Xiao Qingyan’s shoulder with a significant tone.

Xiao Qingyan’s face turned red instantly, and he suppressed the shame and guilt in his heart. “Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother.”

“Are these your younger brothers?” Mo Bei asked.

Xiao Qingyan nodded and said, “Yes.”

“Qingyan, you have to work hard! Don’t let your younger brothers surpass you and tarnish the reputation of our academy,” Mo Bei said. Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng hid their cultivation levels, so Mo Bei only thought of them as at the fifth level of Qi cultivation, hence his advice to Xiao Qingyan.

Listening to Mo Bei’s words, Xiao Qingyan felt so ashamed that he wished he could faint on the spot.

Xiao Jingting watched Xiao Qingyan’s expression and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy, but that was about all he could do.