Xu Yuhui looked at the enraged Wang Lin and said with a smile, “You don’t need to be angry. We can talk after I break through to Foundation Establishment. The urgent matter is winning the Foundation Establishment Pill at auction!”
Wang Lin’s expression shifted slightly. “Third Uncle, now that we finally have news of a Foundation Establishment Pill, we absolutely have to win it!”
“Alas, Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely precious. The Li, Chen, and Feng families won’t let this opportunity slip away!” Xu Yuhui said, his face filled with worry.
“That’s why we need a backup plan!”
“We still have to refine the Spirit Gathering Pill. We need to prepare for both possibilities!”
“My elder brother, second brother, and I will go bid on the Foundation Establishment Pill.”
“The Spirit Gathering Pill is only missing its final ingredient, Qiwei Grass. The Taiji Immortal Sect’s Da Shu Market has Qiwei Grass!”
Wang Lin nodded. “I’ll have Xie Yun, the Wang brothers, Tang Jun, and me go together!”
“No. You’ll all go together, and Fei’er will go with you as well. We can’t afford any unexpected complications!” Xu Yuhui said solemnly.
“When are we leaving?” Wang Lin asked seriously.
“Tomorrow. You have a good relationship with Old Xie, so tell him that everything can wait until I break through to Foundation Establishment!” With that, Xu Yuhui left the cave abode with Xu Fei.
After seeing the two of them off, Wang Lin’s expression grew unusually grave.
“Second Uncle, Xie Shen actually died?”
“He’s dead.” Wang Lin’s face was filled with helplessness.
“Could Tu Lu have done it?” A trace of curiosity flashed in Wang Baoling’s eyes.
“Everyone in the second branch is crazy. Since you guessed that Tu Lu killed Xie Shen, Old Xie must have guessed it too!” Wang Lin said helplessly.
With that, Wang Lin looked gravely at Wang Baoling. “You heard it just now. Our chances of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill aren’t particularly high. The day after tomorrow, Xu Fei and I are going to the Taiji Immortal Sect’s Ruyi Market.”
“Second Uncle, let me go with you!” Wang Baoling said with a smile.
“No. The Qiwei Grass determines whether the Spirit Gathering Pill succeeds. Although the Spirit Gathering Pill isn’t as effective as a Foundation Establishment Pill, taking it can double the chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment. It determines whether Third Uncle can break through, so this is extremely important.” Wang Lin spoke with a serious expression.
After a pause, Wang Lin relaxed his furrowed brows and said, “Once Third Uncle breaks through to Foundation Establishment, I’ll have repaid the favor I owe him!”
“For the next few days, stay home and study cultivation techniques!”
“Don’t worry, Second Uncle. By the time you return, I’ll definitely have cultivated a spirit herb!” Wang Baoling said solemnly.
“Good. I’m going to find Old Xie. Stay home and cultivate properly!”
“Be careful, Second Uncle!” Wang Baoling said with concern.
“Don’t worry!”
Inside Xie Yun’s courtyard residence!
“Old Wang, you’re here!” Xie Yun said, his face utterly dejected.
“Third Uncle asked me to tell you that everything can wait until he breaks through to Foundation Establishment,” Wang Lin said flatly.
The dejected Xie Yun immediately sprang to his feet.
“Did Third Uncle really say that to you?” Xie Yun asked excitedly.
“I wouldn’t dare make something like that up!” Wang Lin said seriously.
“Good, good, good!” A spark of light reignited in Xie Yun’s eyes.
“Get ready. We’ll leave for Da Shu Market the day after tomorrow,” Wang Lin told Xie Yun.
“Good!” Xie Yun nodded.
Inside the cave abode of the Tu family’s main branch!
“Welcome back, Big Brother!” Tu Jinghui and Xu Yuhui bowed respectfully.
“Mm. Have the spirit stones been prepared?” Tu Guohui asked.
“Ten thousand low-grade spirit stones are ready!” Tu Jinghui said with a smile.
“Not enough, not enough. Can you prepare another ten thousand low-grade spirit stones?” Tu Guohui asked.
“This…”
“That would affect the operation of some of our Tu family businesses,” Tu Jinghui said hesitantly.
“Heh. What business could possibly be more important than Third Brother’s breakthrough?” Tu Guohui asked coldly.
Tu Jinghui’s face stiffened at once, and he offered no explanation.
“Fine. I’ll make sure we have twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones ready!”
Seeing this, Tu Guohui nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, “Once our Tu family has three Foundation Establishment cultivators, we’ll have an even greater voice in Qingzhou.”
“Thank you, Big Brother. Thank you, Second Brother!” Xu Yuhui said gratefully.
“We’re brothers. Why thank us for something like this?” Tu Jinghui said, pretending to be displeased.
“The Foundation Establishment Pill is being auctioned at the Myriad Talismans Sect. Let’s leave now!”
With that, Tu Guohui led the Tu family’s senior cultivators toward the Myriad Talismans Sect.
At the same time, Wang Lin, Xie Shen, and the other ten guest elders left the Tu family.
Inside the courtyard of the Tu family’s second branch.
“Father, Xie Yun, Wang Lin, and the others have all left the Tu family. Should we have them watched?” Tu Lu asked Tu Hong.
“No need. They told me where they were going. They’re going out to purchase formation arrays,” Tu Hong explained indifferently.
“Oh. As long as nothing happened. Buying the Foundation Establishment Pill has consumed more than half of our Tu family’s resources. If you want to break through in the future, Father, you’ll have to wait a long time again!” Tu Lu said unhappily.
“Shut up. This is a matter between the elders. You have no business putting in your two cents, much less discussing it!” Tu Hong scolded her sternly.
“I understand, Father!” Tu Lu immediately fell silent.
“Xie Shen’s death had something to do with you, didn’t it?” Tu Hong asked.
“That pest chased after me every day. He was so annoying that I sent him to the afterlife!” Tu Lu said with disgust.
“Idiot! How could you be so overbearing? You killed him just because you didn’t like him?”
“Xie Shen was Xie Yun’s own son. And no matter what, Xie Yun is an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator. You really took him far too lightly!” Tu Hong grew angrier as he spoke.
“Father, how could Xie Shen possibly be worthy of me? He harassed me every day, and even the Li family’s young master didn’t dare approach me. I had no choice!” Tu Lu said helplessly.
“Oh? You’re involved with that young master from the Li family?” Tu Hong asked curiously.
“Oh, Father, don’t ask so many questions!” Tu Lu said shyly.
“Father, Xie Yun and the people from the third branch won’t come after me for revenge, will they?” Tu Lu suddenly asked worriedly.
“Hmph. No matter what, your Third Granduncle is your own blood relative. He won’t kill you over a guest elder from his faction!” Tu Hong explained coldly.
“All right. Isn’t Third Granduncle known for being loyal? Everyone says he’s loyal enough to reach the clouds. I’m just afraid…” Tu Lu still looked worried.
Tu Hong’s face showed a trace of disdain. “Heh. Loyal enough to reach the clouds? Once he successfully breaks through to Foundation Establishment, do you think he’ll still rely on that bunch of rogue cultivators?”
“All these years, he’s only relied on those rogue cultivators to oppose the main branch—and us!”
“Father, should we kill Xie Yun?” Tu Lu asked coldly.
“Heh, you really dare to think about that. To kill an eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator, either a thirteenth-level Qi Refining cultivator would have to act, or a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Can you kill him by yourself?” Tu Hong looked at Tu Lu helplessly.
“I’m warning you: don’t set your sights on Xie Yun. Even your big brother isn’t his match. Let this matter end here. He doesn’t know that you killed Xie Shen, so don’t stir up any more trouble!” Tu Hong warned her sternly.
“I understand, Father!” With that, Tu Lu turned and left the cave abode.
Tu Hong watched his daughter leave and felt another headache coming on. This daughter of his was even more ruthless and vicious than he was.
“Alas, she really takes after her roots!”