Some family elders whose clans had suffered heavy losses had ashen faces. Most of those who could enter the secret realm were talented individuals from the great families. With so many dead at once, the families had lost their newest batch of rising talents. In severe cases, there might even be generational gaps.
People from the Marquis Manor guarded the area, maintaining order.
Xiao Jingting could see that many families seemed to have strong opinions about this competition, but due to the Marquis Manor’s authority, they dared to be angry but not speak out.
Xiao Jinfeng transmitted his voice to Xiao Jingting: “This time in the secret realm, quite a few demonic cultivators seemed to have infiltrated. The Marquis Manor also lost several people – the losses are somewhat significant.”
Xiao Jingting nodded. The Marquis Manor organized this competition partly to weaken the power of various cities under their jurisdiction, and partly to promote the Marquis Manor’s prestige. However, it seemed there had been some accidents. But Xiao Jingting felt this had nothing to do with him.
“Miss, we didn’t find the Phantom Snow Lotus.” A cultivator beside Ouyang Mingyue said.
“That doesn’t make sense!” Ouyang Mingyue said.
Xiao Jingting looked at Ouyang Mingyue and couldn’t help feeling somewhat guilty. Ouyang Mingyue had indeed been waiting here – this girl really knew how to hold a grudge.
“Those demonic cultivators were taken away by someone. The Phantom Snow Lotus might have fallen into demonic cultivator hands.” The cultivator beside Ouyang Mingyue said.
Ouyang Mingyue closed her eyes. The Marquis Manor had long known there would be losses from organizing this competition, but due to the infiltration of demonic cultivators and underestimating the ferocity of demon beasts in the forest, the losses suffered by the great families this time far exceeded expectations.
“That doesn’t make sense! That person didn’t seem like a demonic cultivator.” Ouyang Mingyue said.
“Miss, could the Phantom Snow Lotus have already been consumed in the secret realm?”
Ouyang Mingyue shook her head, “It shouldn’t be! A semi-mature Phantom Snow Lotus has very little effect unless refined into pills. Could someone have hidden spatial equipment?”
“That shouldn’t be possible! We have special detectors – spatial magical instruments can’t escape detection.”
Ouyang Mingyue’s gaze swept over the surrounding cultivators one by one. Xiao Jingting hid to one side, trying hard to minimize his presence.
“You… come out.” Ouyang Mingyue pointed at Xiao Jingting.
Xiao Jingting was stunned for a moment, then revealed a flattered smile, looking at Ouyang Mingyue with excitement: “Miss Ouyang, are you looking for me?”
Ouyang Mingyue looked at Xiao Jingting’s lecherous expression and frowned in annoyance, “Get lost.”
Xiao Jingting showed a dejected expression and retreated to Xiao Jinfeng’s side.
Xiao Jinfeng was somewhat puzzled by Xiao Jingting’s behavior. According to what Xiao Jinfeng knew, Xiao Jingting currently had no feelings for beautiful women. For Xiao Jingting to show that expression toward Ouyang Mingyue was really strange.
“Miss, are you alright?” A maid walked up to Ouyang Mingyue and asked.
Ouyang Mingyue shook her head, “I’m fine.” She had originally thought Xiao Jingting’s back looked somewhat like the person who had stolen the Phantom Snow Lotus, but his lecherous appearance made her very disgusted.
“Miss, in my opinion, that person is most likely already dead in the secret realm.” The maid thought to herself: This competition had cost quite a few 6th layer Qi Refining experts! That guy who dared to steal from their young miss was so audacious – he’s probably already dead without a burial place.
“Forget it.” Ouyang Mingyue shook her head.
Although the Phantom Snow Lotus was precious, there was no need to pursue it relentlessly. After all, the great cities had lost many talented people. If they pushed those people too hard, the Marquis Manor’s position would be in jeopardy.
…
Xiao Jingting’s points were in the top ten, earning him an Ice Heart Pill as a reward. Xiao Jingting used his points to exchange for another one, then converted his remaining points into Yangyuan Pills.
After the competition ended, the great families began their journey home.
Among the Four Great Families, only the Xiao family had preserved their strength relatively intact. Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng both entering the 7th layer of Qi Refining put tremendous pressure on the other families.
The several Xiao family elders who had accompanied Xiao Linfeng were all beaming with pride.
Whether a family could prosper depended on the number of top-tier cultivators it had. With Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng so young and already having opportunities to enter the 7th layer of Qi Refining, if they could both advance to the 9th layer of Qi Refining in the future, they would definitely lead the Xiao family to a higher level.
“Second Master really has ability! Three sons who are all dragons among men, especially Young Master Jinfeng and Young Master Jingting.”
“Second Master, you have successors now!”
“Second Master, for Young Master Jingting and Young Master Jinfeng to reach the 7th layer of Qi Refining at such a young age – this is unprecedented in Mo City.”
“Second Master, Young Master Jingting exchanged for so many pills. His cultivation will definitely advance further.”
“Second Master, Young Master Qingyan seems to be in a bad mood. Don’t you want to check on him?”
Xiao Linfeng shook his head, “Parents can’t protect him for a lifetime. He should learn to grow up.” He had invested the most effort in Xiao Qingyan, but unfortunately… Xiao Qingyan was willful and reckless, far inferior to Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng.
Xiao Linfeng thought to himself: Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng are already at the 7th layer of Qi Refining, not much different from my 8th layer. There’s really no need for me to antagonize my two younger sons for the sake of an eldest son at the 6th layer of Qi Refining.
Probably feeling he had lost face, Xiao Qingyan hid in the carriage without showing himself.
Xiao Qingyan closed his eyes. According to past practice, father should have asked Third Brother for some pills for him, but this time, father didn’t seem to notice him at all. Xiao Qingyan gritted his teeth and thought: Father must be disappointed in me.
…
In the Sun family convoy.
“Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng must have had great fortune in the forest. Otherwise, there’s no reason these two guys could advance to the 7th layer of Qi Refining so quickly.” The Sun family elder said with envy.
Sun Miaomiao nodded, “Yes!”
“Miaomiao, you said you encountered Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng in the secret realm.” Sun Miaoyin asked.
Sun Miaomiao nodded, “Yes! If not for those two, I would have been used as an expendable pawn.” By now, she should already be dead.
Sun Miaomiao secretly regretted it so much her intestines turned green. In such a short time, Xiao Jingting had already reached the 7th layer of Qi Refining!
Her always-revered father was only at the 7th layer of Qi Refining! If she hadn’t rejected Xiao Jingting back then, she would now have a husband with the same cultivation as her respected father. How much face would she have! Even her sister’s brilliant husband had been overshadowed by Xiao Jingting.
Hearing Sun Miaomiao’s words, Sun Miaoyin couldn’t help saying, “Why didn’t you follow them?”
Sun Miaomiao shook her head regretfully, “They wouldn’t let me follow.”
If she could have followed, she naturally wouldn’t have wanted to leave. Who wouldn’t want two 6th layer Qi Refining cultivators protecting them? Unfortunately, Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng were cold toward her and didn’t want to care about her at all. Although she was nominally their sister-in-law, the relationship between the Xiao family’s first and second branches was quite strained. When the second branch was down and out, the first branch had schemed against those two brothers quite a bit.
Sun Miaoyin sighed lightly, “What a pity. If you had followed them, you might have had opportunities too. These two guys just entered the 6th layer of Qi Refining and so quickly advanced to the 7th layer – they must have encountered tremendous fortune.”
“They were guarding against me.” Sun Miaomiao said through gritted teeth. If only she had known Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng would have such great fortune later, she would have persisted shamelessly and kept trying. A thousand gold pieces can’t buy foresight! Who would have thought there really was such a thing as a prodigal son turning over a new leaf and surpassing others.
“Xiao Muhong died in the secret realm this time.” Sun Miaoyin sighed.
The Sun family had suffered heavy losses this time. The 6th layer Qi Refining cultivators they had worked hard to nurture hadn’t even had time to make a name for themselves before being lost inside. Her husband Zhou Kanghe had escaped unscathed, but seemed to have suffered some injuries.
Calculating everything, the Xiao family had gained the most advantage. Although the Xiao family had also lost quite a few people, with Xiao Jingting and Xiao Jinfeng alive, those with mediocre talent who died were expendable. Before long, a new batch would replace them.
Sun Miaomiao frowned. During this period, her feelings for Xiao Muhong had grown increasingly indifferent. Learning that Xiao Muhong was dead, Sun Miaomiao didn’t feel particularly sad, but rather felt relieved.
“The Xiao family’s second branch is about to rise completely now. There’s no point in you staying with the Xiao family. I think you should divorce Xiao Muhong and return to the Sun family.” Sun Miaoyin said.
Sun Miaomiao nodded, “That’s good.” The first branch had been suppressed this period and lost all authority. With Xiao Muhong dead, if she divorced him, the first branch probably wouldn’t make things too difficult.
“That Xu Mu’an is really fortunate!” Sun Miaoyin said. Sun Miaoyin had always thought she had married best in Mo City, but now it seemed Xu Mu’an had married best – his husband was at the 7th layer of Qi Refining and was also skilled at farming.
Sun Miaomiao gritted her teeth, “That guy Xiao Jingting looks devoted, but he’s actually quite fickle. Back then, how much did Xiao Jingting like her! He changed just like that. Now that Xiao Jingting has advanced to the 7th layer of Qi Refining, whether he still wants to live with a yellow-faced ger like Xu Mu’an is still uncertain.”
Although adversity reveals true character, and Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an might have supported each other through difficult times, there were many couples in this world who could share hardships but not prosperity. Now that Xiao Jingting was at the 7th layer of Qi Refining, how could Xu Mu’an be worthy of him!
…
“Daddy’s back, daddy’s back!” Xiao Xiaofan jumped up and down.
Xiao Jingting got off the carriage and picked up the rushing Xiao Xiaofan, “Oh my, you’re so much heavier! I can barely lift you.”
Xiao Xiaofan’s face turned red, “I didn’t eat much, I’m not heavy, not heavy.”
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaofan’s shy expression and laughed heartily. After not seeing him for a while, his younger son had learned to be shy.
Xu Mu’an saw Xiao Jingting and couldn’t help showing excitement on his face, “I heard you’ve reached the 7th layer of Qi Refining.” With the 6th layer of Qi Refining, one could become an elder in the Xiao family. With Xiao Jingting’s 7th layer cultivation, becoming an elder was more than sufficient.
Xiao Jingting nodded, “Yes!” However, this trip had broadened his horizons considerably. He didn’t want to stay in Mo City anymore. He was still young and naturally wanted to travel around and see the world.
His current strength might be considered decent in Mo City, but in the Marquis Manor’s territory, it wasn’t much. If his strength had been sufficient, when Ouyang Mingyue called him out, he could have slapped her. Fortunately, when he picked the Phantom Snow Lotus, Ouyang Mingyue hadn’t seen clearly, or he would have been in great danger.
“You’ve advanced to the 6th layer of Qi Refining?” Xiao Jingting looked over Xu Mu’an.
Xu Mu’an nodded, “Yes! It’s all thanks to your blessings!” When Xiao Jingting left, he had left enough spirit spring water, jade stones, and spirit herbs. Otherwise, advancing wouldn’t have been so easy. After Xu Mu’an advanced, he had stayed in the countryside – people in the city didn’t know yet.
Xu Mu’an took out one hundred sixty thousand taels of silver, “This is the beverage shop’s share during this period.”
“This much?” Xiao Jingting said with some surprise.
Xu Mu’an smiled, “It’s not much! Just over a hundred thousand taels.”
“You’re really capable. I originally thought it would go out of business.” Xiao Jingting said.
“It’s not that easy to go out of business.” Xu Mu’an smiled, not mentioning the hardships of protecting the beverage shop during this period. “Now that you’re at the 7th layer of Qi Refining, you’ll need money in many places.”
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 our two sons to travel around and earn some pocket money.”
Honestly farming to make money – how could that compare to the speed of earning from stone gambling! But Mo City only had a few stone gambling establishments. After making too many rounds, people would inevitably become suspicious. If he took his son and made a circuit around various cities, visiting stone gambling establishments in different places, they should be able to make a fortune. The hundred-plus thousand taels Xu Mu’an gave him could serve as the initial capital for stone gambling.
jingting: encouraging my child to gamble.