4: Chapter 4 Return

Three months had passed since the Wu and Xu families came to call. During these few months, the two families were far from well-behaved, deliberately harassing the Family's business in the Qinghe County market, such as secretly sending people to hire some low-tier Cultivator to deliberately find fault at the Family's shops and the like.

Although these methods were despicable, their effects were surprisingly good. Because of these tactics, the customer traffic at the Family's shops was much less than before, and only some regular customers would come to patronize them.

However, it was not Chen Changqing's turn to manage such matters. Nowadays, he devoted himself entirely to Cultivate. The spiritual power within his Dantian became increasingly thick and refined, and his Realm had already reached the Middle Stage of the First Layer of Qi Refining, not far from the Late Stage of the First Layer.

On this day, he pushed open the heavy stone door and came out from the Immortal Cave.

As soon as he came out, he heard a piece of good news. This news instantly swept away the gloom that had accumulated over the Family's head for several months.

Because the Monster Hunting Team of the Family, which had disappeared for several months, had all returned.

According to them, while hunting Yao Beasts, they encountered a Tier 2 Monster Beast, and were then chased by this Yao Beast deep into the Monster Mountain Range. Fortunately, that Tier 2 Monster Beast was heavily injured, and moreover, the direction they fled had a cave whose entrance was extremely narrow and cramped.

That Yao Beast could not enter, yet was unwilling to give up the flesh and blood so close at hand, so it had no choice but to stake out outside for several months. However, half a month ago, this Yao Beast had bad luck and was swallowed by a passing Yao Beast of the same rank. A pile of bones and some fur were left behind at the scene, which they conveniently collected after coming out.

The most important thing was that the cave they entered was extraordinary; inside, there was not only a Tier 2 Spiritual Vein, but also some spiritual fish.

During those few months in the cave, they desperately caught more than a dozen first-tier spiritual fish. As for the Tier 2 spiritual fish in the Spiritual Vein, they tried for several months but could not catch them, and ultimately had no choice but to give up the idea of continuing to capture the Tier 2 spiritual fish.

After discussing it together, several of them decided to seal up the cave when they came out to ensure that the cave would not be obtained by others. Now, apart from them, no one could find it.

After they returned to the Family, each person kept one spiritual fish, and the rest were handed over to the Family for the Family's Junior to Cultivate.

"Yuanzhan, you worried me to death. You have no idea how anxious I was every day these past few months. Fortunately, you came back alive." Li Chenghui wore a complaining expression, but the joy in her heart had long since diluted the unease of these past few months.

"Indeed! But it is good that you are back." Chen Changqing had also been restless these past few months.

Looking at the concerned faces of his wife and child, Chen Yuanzhan was full of guilt. "Mn, sorry for making you worry."

"Father, let Changqing eat this spiritual fish; I don't need it," Chen Changling said. As the second eldest of the Chang generation, his temperament had always been calm and generous.

"Nonsense!" Chen Yuanzhan's expression sank. "This spiritual fish was originally kept for you two brothers. If you don't eat it, wouldn't my trip this time be in vain?"

In the end, Chen Changling still could not be stubborn enough, and had no choice but to share the food with Chen Changqing.

Beside them, younger sister Li Qingling was not yet six years old and had no Spiritual Root, so the spiritual fish had little effect on her. However, the two brothers, Chen Changqing, still occasionally picked up fish meat and put it into her bowl.

After a meal, both of their Realms had risen quite a bit. Chen Changling went straight from the Peak of the Second Layer of Qi Refining into the Third Layer of Qi Refining, improving by a small Realm.

And Chen Changqing also took this opportunity to reach the Late Stage of the First Layer of Qi Refining.

And this scene was also being played out in other places of Qingyang Mountain.

The return of the Monster Hunting Team not only restored the Family's strength but also brought it to a higher level.

...

The next day, early morning.

In the Chen Family ancestral hall, except for some who had traveled far and the members of the Monster Hunting Team, all the Cultivator remaining within the clan arrived. A heavy atmosphere of readiness hung in the air.

"Fifth Uncle, since Big Brother, Ninth Younger Brother and the others are back, and the bullying by the Wu and Xu families has gone too far, can we counterattack now?" A middle-aged Cultivator dressed in green shirt spoke up first, his tone full of long-suppressed anger.

Chen Xuanlin on the main seat nodded slowly, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. "Previously, I already had Yuanqing investigate the background of those Loose Cultivator. Now this matter has a clue. The masterminds behind this group of Loose Cultivator are Zhao Gang and Wang Hu. Although these two are Loose Cultivator, they are extremely close to the Wu and Xu families."

"So it is these two. It is rumored that there is some shady relationship between them, and both are at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. It is said that the two cooperate with tacit understanding, and even a Sixth Layer of Qi Refining is no match for them." Chen Yuanwen suddenly understood.

"These two are merely at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, what is there to worry about? When the time comes, I will surely tear them apart with my hands." Someone gave a disdainful cold snort, their tone full of confidence.

"No matter what, since they want to act as the vanguard for these two families, they must be prepared to bear the consequences." Holding a teacup in one hand, Chen Xuanlin blew on it gently. After taking a sip of the tea soup, he slowly continued, a flash of chilliness deep within his eyes. "This matter will be handed over to Yuanjin to be responsible for. In a few days, you will take a team of Cultivator to handle it. Be sure to make it clean and neat."

"Yes, Fifth Uncle." Chen Yuanjin, whose name was called, stepped forward. As a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator in the Family, although she was heavily injured a few years ago, she had almost recovered by now. As long as she brought a few Middle Stage Qi Refining clansmen, taking down those two would be as easy as pie.

"Next, let's talk about another matter," Chen Xuanlin changed the topic, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "That Tier 2 Spiritual Vein, how should it be disposed of?"

"In my opinion, we must immediately send people to station there!" Chen Yuanwen stepped forward and said in a deep voice. "At the same time, we should quickly purchase the method of spiritual fish farming, allowing the stationed Cultivator to farm locally. From then on, every year or half a year, transport the harvested spiritual fish back to the Family. But one point must be remembered: the spiritual fish must never be sold externally, and can only be consumed by the disciples within the clan, so as to avoid attracting unnecessary covetousness. After all, this Tier 2 Spiritual Vein is not something our Family can control."

"What Yuanwen said is very true." Chen Xuanlin nodded slightly. "The person stationed must be strong enough, and the number of people must not be too many, lest it arouse the suspicion of other families. Do you have any suitable candidates?"

"Fifth Uncle, my dad has already come out of seclusion. Perhaps we can let my dad go there." Chen Yuanzhi, as the only son of Chen Xuanyi, stepped forward, his voice clear and bright.

"Ninth Uncle had already reached the Perfection of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining before going into seclusion, and now he has broken through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

If we let him go to station there, not only will all problems be readily solved, but if Ninth Uncle can Cultivate on the Tier 2 Spiritual Vein, he might be able to break through to the Perfection of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining even faster," Chen Yuanwen also chimed in.

"Ninth Uncle has actually reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining?"

As soon as these words came out, quite a few people in the ancestral hall were surprised.

Because during the beast tide a few years ago, Chen Xuanyi, as the Cultivator leading the Chen Family, once faced the siege of three Late Stage Yao Beasts alone.

Although he eventually killed those three Yao Beasts, it also caused him to lose an arm. What surprised everyone was that he was actually able to take another step forward under the condition of a mutilated body, truly living up to being the most dazzling Genius of the Chen Family in nearly a hundred years.

Although a mutilated body would make it very difficult to go any further, it was not that no one could do it; it was just that the probability was too low.

"In that case, Ninth Younger Brother will go." Chen Xuanlin no longer hesitated and immediately made the decision.

As soon as his voice fell, he sighed softly again, his gaze carrying a bit of regret. "If the Family can obtain a foundation establishment pill, perhaps Ninth Younger Brother can still achieve Foundation Establishment."

As soon as the three words "foundation establishment pill" came out, the breathing of everyone in the ancestral hall stagnated, and an unhideable throbbing flashed across their eyes.

Indeed! If Ninth Uncle could obtain a foundation establishment pill, how could he not break through to Foundation Establishment? If he broke through, even their Family would become a Foundation Establishment Family.

After a moment, the crowd gradually calmed their emotions and continued to discuss major matters within the clan.