Chapter 430: Intercepted halfway, Lingxi Xie family!
“The Great Dao has fifty, the Heavenly Cycle forty-nine, one is hidden away; Talisman Formations and most other formations share similar principles.”
Lu Zixiao slowly spoke, teaching her son.
Her son, Lu Lingxiao, was quite talented in the path of formations.
Although he hadn’t spent much time on it, he had gotten started early.
Coupled with his son’s eyes, which were extraordinary in terms of pupil techniques, as long as he could discern the weak points of the Talisman Formations during battle and break through them with the destructive power of the Annihilation Flame, he still had a chance of winning against Lu Wangshu.
“But Big Sister has so many puppets. Once I get close, I could easily be surrounded by them.”
“And Big Sister is really strong. The last time I went to find her, she punched right through the back mountain.”
At this moment, Lu Linghe, who was beside him, spoke up.
She was very close to Lu Wangshu and knew many of her older sister’s methods.
That’s why she had been urging her brother not to challenge their sister.
“…”
Hearing this, Lu Zixiao was speechless for a moment.
She thought to herself that Lu Wangshu, as her husband’s beloved daughter, truly couldn’t be measured by ordinary standards.
She knew the disadvantages of Talisman Cultivators, and her husband definitely knew them too.
Perhaps he had already helped this precious daughter compensate for those disadvantages long ago.
Thinking of this, Lu Zixiao couldn’t help but give her son a look of disappointment, wishing he were stronger.
Why be so stubborn and so eager to prove yourself?
Don’t you know that the crying child gets the candy?
Your father is always receptive to gentle persuasion, not stubbornness; he falls for this kind of approach.
However, since her son’s personality was a bit like her own, she couldn’t say too much, only comforting him by saying, “It’s alright, Xiao’er. It’s good for you to spar with your Sister Wangshu often.”
“But after sparring, if there’s anything you don’t understand, go ask your father for guidance.”
Although it was highly probable that her son was not Lu Wangshu’s opponent.
However, having such a talented older sister to compete with and provide motivation on the path of cultivation was also a good thing for her son.
Moreover, her husband wouldn’t be so biased as to just watch their son be bullied by their daughter, right?
“Brother, Big Sister is actually very nice. You just need to praise her a little…”
Lu Linghe, who was beside them, spoke up for her sister.
“Your brother and sister are encouraging each other to work harder; they’re not actually having a conflict,” Lu Zixiao said gently, rubbing her daughter’s head.
This daughter had a naive and innocent personality, and the entire Green Lake Mountain spoiled her.
Although Lu Wangshu often teased Lu Linghe, she still took great care of her younger sister on a daily basis.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for Lu Linghe to get along so well with Lu Wangshu.
“Oh, okay.”
Lu Linghe nodded her little head, seemingly understanding but not quite.
After they finished eating, Lu Zixiao inquired if there were any shops selling information in the market and learned about the intelligence regarding the Red Leaf Valley Market.
“It seems this journey will be more troublesome,” Lu Zixiao said with a faint smile on her elegant face as she looked at the intelligence information.
Then, after giving a few instructions to her children and Lu Ruyi, she walked out of the market.
The caravan did not enter the market but stayed outside, with Lu Pingan keeping watch here.
“Auntie, Ruyi, Lingxiao, Xiao He.”
Seeing Lu Zixiao and the others, Lu Pingan immediately called out.
“Big Brother, I brought you something delicious!”
Lu Linghe was very close to her eldest brother, Lu Pingan, and grinningly handed him the packed lunch box.
“Thank you, Xiao He,” Lu Pingan said with a smile.
“Pingan, I heard a piece of news in the market…”
Lu Zixiao stepped forward and relayed the news from the Red Leaf Valley Market, as well as some anticipated situations.
She indicated that False Core level forces might directly intervene next and that they needed to be extra careful.
“Auntie, I understand.”
Lu Pingan was slightly surprised by Lu Wangshu’s combat power, then nodded seriously.
Afterwards, the caravan set off, and Lu Linghe went over to chat and eat with her eldest brother.
“Big Brother, let me tell you, this is super delicious, so I ordered two portions.”
“Big Brother can’t eat this much, I’ll share some with you.”
“Ah, I’m already full… Alright, I’ll just eat a little bit, just a tiny bit.”
After the caravan left the market, it headed towards a small Qi Refining family’s location.
Trading with small families might not earn many spirit stones, but business was about accumulating small gains.
Moreover, trading with such small families could also lead to cooperation, or generate income by giving rides to people along the way, picking up overlooked opportunities, and so on.
On this day, the caravan passed through a forested path, and saw three figures standing ahead, swords drawn, blocking their way.
“May I ask, are you the Lu family of Green Lake Mountain, the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce?”
The person in the middle spoke up.
He was about thirty years old, with a heroic face, sword-like eyebrows extending to his temples, and a powerful voice.
Lu Pingan stepped out of the carriage, exchanged a look with his sister Lu Ruyi, and looked at the man before him, saying solemnly, “I am Lu Pingan of Green Lake Mountain. May I ask who you are?”
“Spirit Stream Lake, the Xie family, Xie Ying.”
The sword-browed man said loudly.
“Spirit Stream Lake? One of the six great False Core families in the Azure Cloud region, the Spirit Stream Xie family.”
“Xie Ying, the Xie family’s Fifth Elder—Xie Ying!?”
Hearing this, both Lu Pingan and Lu Ruyi’s expressions slightly stiffened.
The others in the caravan were also surprised upon hearing the words ‘Spirit Stream Lake’, their expressions somewhat flustered, not expecting to encounter a False Core family blocking their way.
“The name of the Lu family of Green Lake Mountain is like thunder to our Spirit Stream Lake.”
“But there has always been an unwritten rule among our families that if one wants to establish a chamber of commerce, they need to weigh their strength.”
“Therefore, I, Xie, represent my family today to witness fellow Daoist’s abilities.”
“If fellow Daoist’s strength is extraordinary, our Spirit Stream Xie family will not only support your Lu family in establishing a chamber of commerce but also apologize for today’s rudeness.”
“If fellow Daoist does not possess this strength, it would be better to retreat now, as there will be other forces blocking the way further on, and they might even set up ambushes and carry out assassinations.”
Xie Ying looked at Lu Pingan before him and said loudly.
Originally, his Xie family was unwilling to interfere with the Lu family’s chamber of commerce matters.
But upon hearing about the events at the Red Leaf Valley Market, he realized that Green Lake Mountain was far from simple.
Therefore, he came to test the strength of Green Lake Mountain.
If, besides Lu Changsheng and his wife who were comparable to False Core experts, and Lu Wangshu who was comparable to peak Foundation Establishment, there were other top-tier combatants, then Green Lake Mountain would possess the strength of a False Core level force.
In that case, since his Xie family’s Spirit Stream Lake was far from Green Lake Mountain, there would be no need to form enmity, and they could cooperate deeply.
“May I ask how fellow Daoist Xie wishes to proceed with the test?”
Lu Pingan, with his tall and imposing physique, stepped forward and replied.
He didn’t mind the other party being so direct and stating their purpose.
After all, an open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against.
Compared to fighting openly like this, it was much better than those who acted in the shadows.
“I heard that this caravan is being led by fellow Daoist Lu and the esteemed Madam of your Lu family?”
“Nothing else is needed, as long as you can defeat us three,” Xie Ying said.
He had already thoroughly investigated Lu Pingan’s strength.
Early Foundation Establishment, but due to his second-tier body refinement, his combat power was among the best in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
Relying on spiritual tools, he could even be comparable to some late Foundation Establishment cultivators.
As for Lu Zixiao’s strength, he was not clear.
But with the incident at the Red Leaf Valley Market, his Xie family felt that since Lu Changsheng dared to send these two to undertake this first trade journey, they suspected that the two were not as simple as they appeared.
“My auntie doesn’t like to fight, so I will…”
Lu Pingan spoke up, intending to say that he would fight all three by himself.
However, Lu Ruyi, who was beside him, immediately spoke up, “Big Brother.”
“My brother and I will learn from fellow Daoist Xie’s excellent moves.”
Lu Pingan knew that his sister had also come for experience, so he immediately changed his words.
“Of course.”
Xie Ying glanced at Lu Ruyi and nodded with a smile.
He had just noticed Lu Ruyi.
He didn’t recall any Foundation Establishment cultivator like this in the Green Lake Mountain information.
“Three Foundation Establishment cultivators, no wonder they have such confidence.”
“It seems Green Lake Mountain has hidden quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators over the years, and now they can’t afford to support them and maintain everything, which is why they are so eager to establish a chamber of commerce and auction Foundation Establishment Pills.”
Xie Ying thought to himself.
At this moment, the siblings Lu Lingxiao and Lu Linghe walked out of the carriage, looking at the situation before them.
If his mother hadn’t spoken, Lu Lingxiao would have wanted to make a move.
“Big Brother, Sister Ruyi, go for it!”
Lu Linghe, wearing a red martial-style dress and standing on two flaming wheels, shouted, dispersing the somewhat tense atmosphere.
“Okay.”
Lu Pingan smiled at Lu Linghe.
Then he transmitted his voice to Lu Lingxiao, “Lingxiao, keep an eye on things here.”
Although the other party appeared open and straightforward, who knew if they would play tricks? It was still necessary to be a little cautious.
“Don’t worry, Big Brother.”
Lu Lingxiao nodded.
Lu Zixiao, meanwhile, remained seated elegantly and gracefully in the carriage, quietly observing the situation outside.
She had no intention of making a move on this trip.
On one hand, her cultivation wasn’t high, only at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment.
On the other hand, the cultivation technique she practiced was the “Twelve Capital Heaven Demonic God Technique.” If she were to fight with full power, she would have to silence the witnesses.
Of course, Lu Changsheng had also told her about Lu Pingan’s combat strength, indicating she didn’t need to act.
A moment later, Lu Pingan’s Black Dragon Dharma power circulated, and a silver armor gleaming with sharp light appeared on his tall and sturdy physique, while the jet-black Black Dragon Halberd appeared in his hand.
Beside him, a golden armor also appeared on Lu Ruyi’s tall figure, shimmering all over, with rays of light flowing, and she summoned a small golden sword.
“Brother, Daddy said that when you go home, you’ll also have this kind of armor! You’ll definitely look handsome wearing it, Brother.”
Lu Linghe looked at Lu Pingan’s and Lu Ruyi’s armor and said happily to Lu Lingxiao beside her.
She really liked this kind of armor.
But Daddy said she couldn’t use it now and didn’t need it; he would custom-forge one for her when her cultivation was higher.
“Mm.”
Lu Lingxiao nodded slightly.
He wasn’t particularly looking forward to this kind of armor.
Instead, he was somewhat looking forward to the offensive spirit tool his father mentioned.
“Fellow Daoist Xie, please.”
Lu Pingan looked at Xie Ying and the other two, speaking up.
He wore silver armor, held a Black Dragon Halberd, and his back was as straight as a mountain, giving off a heroic and imposing aura.
“Fellow Daoist Lu, please.”
Xie Ying looked at Lu Pingan before him, his eyes slightly narrowed, then glanced at the two beside him. They all summoned their magic tools and soared into the sky.
“Roar!”
Xie Ying formed hand seals, and a surge of water vapor billowed and spread, forming a ferocious flood dragon that charged towards Lu Pingan.
Of the two beside him, one held a small drum. As he struck it with his palm, bolts of water lightning appeared and attacked the two.
During their flight, these water lightning bolts actually merged slowly with the water vapor flood dragon, increasing its power slightly.
These two cultivated similar techniques, so their combined attack was far more powerful than usual.
The last person controlled a blue flying sword and attacked.
“Ruyi, stay back and cover!”
Facing such an assault, Lu Pingan, with his robust physique, took a step forward.
“Boom!”
A powerful physical aura, like that of a demonic beast, permeated the air, making it feel noticeably heavier.
The Black Dragon Halberd in his hand instantly erupted with incredibly dazzling light as he swung it forward.
Although he was publicly known as a mid-stage second-tier body cultivator.
On this merchant caravan trip, it was clearly impossible to continue concealing his strength.
His father had also instructed him not to hide his abilities too much.
Therefore, with this strike, Lu Pingan directly used his seventh-layer body cultivation.
As for the eighth layer, quasi-third-tier body cultivation, it was too astonishing, and he knew the limits of what to reveal.
“Boom!”
This strike from the Black Dragon Halberd seemed to tear the heavens and earth apart, directly splitting the water vapor flood dragon in two.
Immediately after, a force of wind and thunder coiled around the large black halberd. With a horizontal sweep, it directly shattered the incoming water lightning bolts and the flying sword.
“This kind of physique!?”
Seeing the physical aura Lu Pingan unleashed, Xie Ying’s eyelids twitched violently.
He immediately formed hand seals, causing the shattered water vapor to gather, like a silver dragon waterfall, attempting to entangle Lu Pingan’s Black Dragon Halberd.
“Buzz—”
Lu Pingan gripped the Black Dragon Halberd with his large hand and spun it fiercely, causing the halberd to vibrate wildly, like the clash of metal, scattering the silver dragon.
Subsequently, the qi and blood within his body surged like a river breaking its banks, like an angry dragon emerging from an abyss, causing a faint golden treasure light to appear on his strong muscles beneath the silver armor.
“Thump thump thump—”
Wind and thunder raged around Lu Pingan. The surging qi and blood above his head were like wolf smoke, rising straight into the sky, resembling a vast army charging towards Xie Ying and the other two.
“This…”
Seeing this scene, Lu Ruyi, controlling her flying sword, looked a bit bewildered.
Where am I, and what am I supposed to do?
Big Brother alone broke through the attacks of three people, how can I provide cover?
It’s more like Big Brother is covering for me.
But Big Brother is really too amazing.
“Wow, Big Brother is so amazing!”
Lu Linghe looked at Lu Pingan’s appearance and clapped excitedly.
It was just a bit strange why Big Brother didn’t use his fist to directly smash through.
“Is this the eighth layer of the Hundred Refinements Treasure Body Technique? I wonder if Sister Wangshu’s talismans can break through Big Brother’s physical body…”
Lu Lingxiao looked at his elder brother’s imposing back. Deep within his pupils, a hint of golden light flickered as he pondered.
“Big Brother is so strong!”
“Hiss, this is probably peak second-tier body cultivation!”
“Uncle Pingan’s strength…”
The other disciples from the Lu family of Green Lake Mountain and the Lu family of Green Bamboo Mountain were all shocked upon seeing this scene, followed by pleasant surprise and excitement.
Knowing that Lu Pingan was here to oversee things, this merchant trip was basically secure.
“The Lu family of Green Lake Mountain, what a Lu family of Green Lake Mountain! No wonder they dared to establish a merchant association at this time!”
Seeing the surging aura of Lu Pingan, Xie Ying’s expression changed slightly, filled with solemnity and seriousness.
He formed hand seals, and his innate spiritual artifact, the ‘Cold Pool Bead’, flew out, emitting a frosty, cold glow.
This frosty cold energy merged and swirled with the water vapor from his hand seals, forming cold ice flood dragons that attacked Lu Pingan.
“Boom boom boom—”
Lu Pingan’s expression was calm. He swung the Black Dragon Halberd in his hand. Each strike was as heavy as a mountain, seemingly collapsing the void, shattering the cold ice flood dragons into scattered ice shards and water vapor.
Seeing Lu Pingan, so powerful and overbearing, like a god or a demon, charging towards him, Xie Ying immediately spoke up, “Fellow Daoist Lu, I, Xie, concede!”
He could already see that it wouldn’t be easy for the three of them to defeat Lu Pingan, unless they fought with all their might.
But the two families had no enmity, there was no need to go to great lengths over such a small matter.
Moreover, his purpose on this trip was to test the strength of Green Lake Mountain.
Now, Lu Pingan had proven through his strength that Green Lake Mountain possessed combat power not inferior to that of a pseudo-core family.
Besides Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge, the couple who could rival pseudo-core experts.
There was also body cultivators like Lu Pingan who genuinely possessed late-stage Foundation Establishment combat power!
Not Foundation Establishment cultivators like Lu Wangshu who relied on talismans and external objects.
Furthermore, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Green Lake Mountain was estimated to be around ten, which was already not to be underestimated and worthy of their Xie family’s recognition.
“Fellow Daoist Xie, thank you for the concession.”
Seeing this, Lu Pingan’s upright and heroic face showed a faint smile.
“Fellow Daoist Lu, we have been quite presumptuous today. This is a small token of our Xie family’s regard, please accept it, Fellow Daoist.”
Xie Ying took out brocade boxes from his storage bag one by one and handed them to Lu Pingan, saying.
“Fellow Daoist Xie is too kind.”
Lu Pingan knew that accepting the gift meant this period of grievances was over, so he reached out and took the gift boxes.
“Fellow Daoist Lu, if your esteemed family has any business cooperation or needs, you can come to my Xie family at Spirit Creek Lake at any time.”
“This is my Spirit Creek Lake token. Fellow Daoist Lu can send someone with this token to my Spirit Creek Lake.”
Xie Ying continued, handing over a token.
“Okay, thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Xie.”
Lu Pingan nodded, took the token, and glanced at it.
On one side were the words ‘Spirit Creek’, and on the other side was the character ‘Xie’.
“I heard that Fellow Daoist Lu is not yet married? All the women of my Xie clan are dignified and graceful, virtuous and kind. If Fellow Daoist Lu is interested, I, Xie, can make the arrangements…”
Xie Ying looked at Lu Pingan before him and suddenly spoke up.
He had previously looked at the general information about Green Lake Mountain.
He remembered that this eldest son of the Lu family was not old, seemingly only sixty years of age.
At this age, early-stage Foundation Establishment was indeed average.
But body cultivation at the late stage of the second tier at this age was truly astonishing!
One must know that body cultivation was even more difficult than Qi cultivation and required a great deal of time and effort.
The Lu Pingan before him, possessing such body cultivation strength, must have obtained some great opportunity.
In the future, he might even be able to break through to the pseudo-core stage using his body cultivation strength!
If the two families could form an early marriage alliance, it would be a great benefit to his Xie family.
“Uh… I, Lu, am currently focused on cultivation and haven’t considered marriage for now.”
Lu Pingan’s face twitched slightly. He hadn’t expected Xie Ying to change the subject so quickly.
“Alright, if Fellow Daoist Lu has time, you can come to my Xie family as a guest. The two families can interact more.”
Xie Ying looked regretful, but remained very polite.
He indicated that other family powers would target Green Lake Mountain later, and Lu Pingan should be very careful.
He even implicitly suggested that the matter at Red Leaf Valley Market was likely related to the Sima family.
After the two chatted for a while, Xie Ying stepped forward again to exchange polite greetings with Lu Ruyi for a bit, paid his respects to Ling Zixiao, and then took his leave.
“The Lu family of Green Lake Mountain, the eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Pingan.”
“This Lu family couple from Green Lake Mountain can rival pseudo-core experts. Furthermore, once Lu Changsheng’s talisman formation is unleashed, ordinary pseudo-core experts are no match for them.”
“Now there’s also a Lu Pingan. This kind of body cultivation combat power is simply astonishing. The rise of Green Lake Mountain is already unstoppable.”
Standing on the spirit boat, Xie Ying was filled with emotion. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Green Lake Mountain was not simple.
He even suspected that Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge were not just this simple.
After all, Lu Changsheng’s daughter, Lu Wangshu, possessed such astonishing combat power just by relying on the talisman path inheritance.
Lu Changsheng might indeed be able to threaten, or even suppress and kill, pseudo-core experts just by relying on talisman formations, as rumored in earlier years.
“Do not spread this matter outside.”
At this moment, Xie Ying looked at his nephew and the guest elders and spoke up.
Although he was on good terms with Green Lake Mountain and hoped for cooperation between the two families, he was also quite happy to see Green Lake Mountain clash with the other major forces.
Especially the Sima family and the Yuan family.
These two families, as established pseudo-core families, had always acted domineeringly and did not wish to see new pseudo-core families emerge.
Having suffered a loss at Red Leaf Valley Market before, this time they would likely strike ruthlessly.
If Green Lake Mountain fell out with these two families and fought fiercely, his Xie family could also gain benefits from it.
“Just now, I didn’t go all out, and this Lu Pingan most likely didn’t either.”
“And that mistress of the Lu family, besides making a move when Lu Changsheng took over the Yu family’s Green Lake Mountain back then, she hasn’t made a move since. Now she’s here to oversee the merchant caravan, which is definitely not simple.”
Xie Ying mused inwardly, even feeling a bit of anticipation for when the Lu family’s merchant caravan encountered the other several forces later.
If both sides fought fiercely and got heated, it would be interesting.