SPMT : Chapter 90 Trial Ends

Some elders from the families suffered heavy losses, leaving their faces pale. Most of those who entered the secret realm were talented individuals from major families. Losing them in one fell swoop meant the loss of the latest batch of new talents for the families, which could lead to severe repercussions and even fractures within the family structures.

The guards from the Marquis’s Mansion maintained order, while Xiao Jingting could tell that many members from various families seemed discontented with the competition. However, they dared not voice their opinions due to the Marquis’s Mansion’s authority.

Xiao Jinfeng transmitted to Xiao Jingting, “It seems that many demonic cultivators infiltrated the secret realm this time, and the Marquis’s Mansion also suffered significant losses.”

Xiao Jingting nodded in agreement. He understood that the Marquis’s Mansion organized this competition to weaken the power of various factions under its control and to bolster its own prestige. However, there seemed to have been some unexpected incidents. Nevertheless, Xiao Jingting felt that it had nothing to do with him.

“Miss, we didn’t find the Illusory Snow Lotus,” a cultivator beside Ouyang Mingyue reported.

“That doesn’t make sense!” Ouyang Mingyue exclaimed.

Xiao Jingting couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty under Ouyang Mingyue’s scrutiny. It seemed that Ouyang Mingyue had stayed behind, and she held a grudge.

“The demonic cultivators took a few people away. The Illusory Snow Lotus might have fallen into their hands,” another cultivator beside Ouyang Mingyue suggested.

Ouyang Mingyue closed her eyes. She had anticipated losses in this competition organized by the Marquis’s Mansion due to the infiltration of demonic cultivators and underestimation of the ferocity of the demonic beasts in the forest. However, the losses suffered by various major families far exceeded expectations.

“It doesn’t make sense! Those people didn’t seem like demonic cultivators,” Ouyang Mingyue remarked.

“Miss, could the Illusory Snow Lotus have been consumed within the secret realm?” the cultivator asked.

Ouyang Mingyue shook her head. “That shouldn’t be the case! Half-ripe Illusory Snow Lotus has minimal effects unless refined into pills. Could someone have a hidden spatial device?”

“That shouldn’t be possible! We have specialized detectors, and spatial artifacts can’t escape detection.”

Ouyang Mingyue scanned the surrounding cultivators, and her gaze fell on Xiao Jingting. “You… come out,” she pointed at Xiao Jingting.

Xiao Jingting was taken aback for a moment before putting on an expression of feigned delight. He looked at Ouyang Mingyue excitedly. “Miss Ouyang, are you looking for me?”

Ouyang Mingyue frowned at Xiao Jingting’s expression, finding it repulsive. “Get lost.”

Xiao Jingting’s face fell, and he retreated to Xiao Jinfeng’s side. Xiao Jinfeng was puzzled by Xiao Jingting’s behavior. As far as he knew, Xiao Jingting currently had no interest in beauties, so his expression towards Ouyang Mingyue was quite strange.

“Miss, are you alright?” a maidservant approached Ouyang Mingyue.

Ouyang Mingyue shook her head. “I’m fine.” She had initially thought Xiao Jingting’s figure resembled that of the person who had snatched the Illusory Snow Lotus from her. However, his piggy-like expression made her feel extremely annoyed.

“Miss, in my opinion, that person is probably dead in the secret realm,” the maidservant said quietly. “Many Qi Refinement cultivators have suffered heavy losses in this competition. That guy who snatched something from you is audacious, but most likely, he’s already met his end without a burial site.”

“Let it go,” Ouyang Mingyue said, shaking her head.

Although the Illusory Snow Lotus was precious, it wasn’t worth being overly stubborn about. After all, many talents from major families had suffered losses. If those people were pushed too hard, the Marquis’s Mansion’s position might be endangered.

After the competition, Xiao Jingting ranked in the top ten and received a Heart Frost Pill as a reward. He exchanged the remaining points for more nourishing pills.

After the competition ended, the families set off on their return journey. Among the four major families, the Xiao family preserved its strength relatively intact. Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng both reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, putting pressure on the other families.

The few Xiao Family Elders who came along with Xiao Lin Feng were all glowing.

“Aye, Second Master, you’ve got some talent! All three of your sons are exceptional talents, especially Young Master Jinfeng and Young Master Jingting.”

“Second Master, you’ve got successors now!”

“Second Master, Young Master Jingting and Young Master Jinfeng are already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement at such a young age. This is unprecedented in Mocheng!”

“Second Master, Young Master Jingting has acquired so many elixirs. With his talent, he’s bound to advance even further.”

“Second Master, Young Master Qingyan seems to be in a bad mood. Shouldn’t you go and check on him?”

Xiao Linfeng shook his head. “Parents can’t protect him forever. He should learn to grow up.” He had invested the most effort into Xiao Qingyan, but alas…

Xiao Qingyan’s willfulness and recklessness made him pale in comparison to Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng.

Xiao Linfeng thought to himself: Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng have both reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement. Compared to his own eighth level, there isn’t much difference. There’s no need to worsen his relationship with his two younger sons over his eldest, who is only at the sixth level.

Feeling embarrassed, Xiao Qingyan hid inside the carriage and did not show himself.

With closed eyes, Xiao Qingyan expected his father to ask his third brother for some elixirs, as he usually did. However, this time, it seemed like his father had not paid any attention to him. Xiao Qingyan gritted his teeth, thinking, “Father must be disappointed in me.”

In the Sun family’s convoy:

“Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng must have had some encounters in the forest. Otherwise, there’s no way these two would have advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refinement so quickly,” a Sun family elder said enviously.

Sun Miaomiao nodded. “Indeed.”

“Miaomiao, you said you encountered Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng in the secret realm,” Sun Miaoyin asked.

Sun Miaomiao nodded. “Yes! If it weren’t for them, I would have been treated as a discarded pawn.” At this point, she should have been dead.

Sun Miaomiao regretted deeply. How long had it been? Xiao Jingting had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement.

Her father, whom she had always admired, was also at the seventh level. If she hadn’t rejected Xiao Jingting back then, she would now have a husband with a cultivation level similar to her admired father’s. She would have been so proud! Even her sister’s remarkable husband would have been surpassed by Xiao Jingting.

Upon hearing Sun Miaomiao’s words, Sun Miaoyin couldn’t help but say, “Why didn’t you follow them?”

Sun Miaomiao shook her head with regret. “They wouldn’t let me. If I could, I wouldn’t have left willingly. With two protectors at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, who wouldn’t feel safe? But unfortunately, Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were cold to me. They didn’t even want to take care of me, even though I’m technically their sister-in-law. The relationship between the main and second branches of the Xiao family is so strained. When the second branch was down and out, the main branch didn’t hesitate to scheme against those two brothers.”

Sun Miaoyin sighed softly. “What a pity. If you had followed them, you might have had some encounters too. These two kids just entered the seventh level of Qi Refinement after only reaching the sixth not long ago. They must have encountered a tremendous opportunity.”

“They were guarding against me,” Sun Miaomiao gritted her teeth. If she had known that Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng had such great opportunities ahead, she would have begged and pleaded with them. It’s hard to buy foresight! Who would have thought that a prodigal son would turn things around and rise to the top later?

“Xiao Muhong died in the secret realm this time,” Sun Miaoyin sighed.

The Sun family suffered heavy losses this time. They had cultivated several Qi Refinement Level 6 practitioners who hadn’t yet made a name for themselves before perishing inside. Sun Miaoyin’s husband, Zhou Kanghe, managed to escape, albeit with some injuries.

All in all, the Xiao family benefited the most. While many died, Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng survived. The mediocre ones who died would soon be replaced by new talents.

Sun Miaomiao furrowed her brow. Over time, her feelings for Xiao Muhong had diminished. When she learned of his death, she didn’t feel particularly sad; instead, she felt relieved.

“The Second Branch of the Xiao family is about to rise. There’s no point in you staying with them anymore. I think you should divorce Xiao Muhong and return to the Sun family,” Sun Miaoyin suggested.

Sun Miaomiao nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.” The influence of the First Branch had been suppressed recently, and with Xiao Muhong dead, they probably wouldn’t put up much of a fight against her departure.

“Xu Mu’an is really lucky!” Sun Miaoyin remarked. She had always thought she was the luckiest woman in Mocheng with her marriage, but now it seemed Xu Mu’an had the best luck. His husband was already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement and was skilled in farming.

Sun Miaomiao gritted her teeth and said, “Xiao Jingting seems faithful, but he’s actually quite fickle. He used to like me so much! He changes his mind so easily. Now that he’s at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, does he still want to live a humble life with Xu Mu’an? Who knows?”

Although adversity reveals true feelings, there are plenty of couples who can endure hardships together but cannot enjoy prosperity together. Now that Xiao Jingting has reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, does Xu Mu’an still deserve him?

…

“Daddy’s back, Daddy’s back!” Xiao Xiaofan exclaimed, bouncing around.

Xiao Jingting stepped down from the carriage and lifted Xiao Xiaofan, who was rushing over. “Wow, you’re heavier now! Almost can’t lift you anymore.”

Xiao Xiaofan’s face turned red. “I didn’t eat much, not heavy, not heavy.”

Seeing Xiao Xiaofan’s shy expression, Xiao Jingting laughed. It had been some time since they last met, and his youngest son had grown shy.

Xu Mu’an, upon seeing Xiao Jingting, couldn’t help but show a hint of excitement on his face. “I heard you’ve reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement.” In the Xiao family, reaching the seventh level was sufficient to become an elder. Xiao Jingting’s achievement was indeed commendable.

Xiao Jingting nodded. “Yes.” However, after this trip, his horizons had widened, and he no longer wished to stay in Mocheng. He was still young and wanted to travel and explore.

His current strength might be considered good in Mocheng, but it wouldn’t amount to much in the Hou Mansion’s domain. If his strength were sufficient, he would have slapped away Ouyang Mingyue’s hand when she stopped him. Fortunately, she didn’t see clearly when he harvested the Illusion Snow Lotus; otherwise, things might have taken a turn for the worse.

“You’ve reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement?” Xiao Jingting assessed Xu Mu’an.

Xu Mu’an nodded. “Yes! It’s all thanks to you!” When Xiao Jingting left, he left behind enough spiritual springs, jade stones, and spirit herbs for himself. Otherwise, Xu Mu’an wouldn’t have advanced so quickly. After reaching the sixth level, he stayed in the countryside, so no one in the city knew about his advancement.

Xu Mu’an took out 160,000 taels of silver. “This is the share from the beverage shop during this period.”

“So much?” Xiao Jingting was somewhat surprised.

Xu Mu’an smiled. “It’s not that much, just over a hundred thousand taels.”

“You’re really capable. I thought the shop would close down,” Xiao Jingting said.

“It’s not that easy to close down,” Xu Mu’an smiled, not mentioning the hardships he endured during this time. “Now that you’ve reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, you’ll need more money in the future.”

Xiao Jingting nodded. “That’s true.”

“What are your plans for the future?” Xu Mu’an asked.

Xiao Jingting smiled. “I plan to take you and the two sons to travel around and make some pocket money.”

Making money by honestly farming the land couldn’t compare to making quick profits from gambling stones. However, with only a few gambling stone sites in Mocheng, frequent visits might raise suspicions. He planned to take his sons on a trip around various cities and their gambling stone sites. With Xu Mu’an’s gift of over a hundred thousand taels of silver, they could use it as the initial capital for gambling stones.