44: Seven Items for the Whole Family

Inside the ancestral hall, Wu Jiulong was Cultivating Mountain Shattering Fist with his three sons.

The old man's hunched back was now ramrod straight, his entire body's Qi and blood flowing slowly beneath his skin like mercury.

The three brothers, Wu Wenwu, Wu Wenbin, and Wu Zhang, also possessed astonishing Auras; each breath they took caused the surrounding air to tremble slightly.

"Remember, refining the organs is like refining steel," Wu Jiulong's voice was deep and powerful.

"You must use Qi and blood to nourish the five internal organs, making them as tough as metal and stone."

He demonstrated a movement, and immediately, his entire skeleton crackled like frying beans.

In the backyard kitchen, the Wu Family women were preparing breakfast while exchanging Cultivation insights.

Wu Mother's kitchen knife was so fast it was a blur; a Spirit Potato was sliced into evenly thick pieces in the blink of an eye.

Her daughters-in-law beside her were no less skilled; their kneading strength was just right, neither destroying the Spiritual Qi of the spiritual wheat flour nor preventing the dough from reaching its optimal state.

"Dinner is served!" With a shout, the entire family quickly gathered in the dining hall.

The long table was laden with spiritual food: golden Spirit Potato cakes, crystal-clear spiritual rice porridge, steamed buns radiating the aroma of wheat, and a large pot of rich soup stewed with mountain game.

The youngest, Wu Guohong, Wu Guobing, and Wu Guojian, three four-year-old children, stared eagerly at the food but dared not pick up their chopsticks first.

Only when Wu Jiulong cleared his throat and announced that they could eat did they carefully pick up their bowls.

Surprisingly, the way these three little ones held their chopsticks already subtly showed the starting posture of Willow Fist.

At the dinner table, Wu Wenwu suddenly put down his bowl and chopsticks, a joyful expression on his face: "Father, I think I've touched the threshold of a Six-Rank Martial Master!"

Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing.

Wu Jiulong darted to his son's back, placed his palm on his back, and after a moment, burst into laughter: "Good! Qi and blood like a Dragon, the five internal organs glowing—this is indeed a sign of a Breakthrough!"

A sharp glint flashed in Wu Guohua's eyes.

He knew that if his Third Uncle could Breakthrough, he would be the first Six-Rank Martial Master in the Wu Family.

By then, even if Liu Shijie personally led people to attack, they would have the strength to fight!

After dinner, everyone in the family went about their duties.

The elders continued to Cultivate, while the younger ones went to the village school to learn to read and write.

Wu Guohua went alone to the highest point of the back mountain, gazing towards Qinghe Prefecture.

The cold wind brushed his cheek, bringing with it the scent of the distant mountain forest.

But the Young Master knew in his heart that these peaceful days would not last much longer.

"Soon…" he murmured to himself, his fingers unconsciously caressing the shaft of the Tian Que Divine Spear.

The intricate patterns on the spear body shimmered in the sunlight, as if narrating some ancient Battle Intent.

Golden Tiger appeared beside him at some unknown time, its massive head gently rubbing against his arm.

Wu Guohua stroked its thick fur, feeling the terrifying power contained within.

This Vicious Beast would become the Wu Family's greatest trump card.

As the sun set, smoke curled up from Wu Family Village.

On the surface, it was just an ordinary mountain village.

But if a master were here, they would surely be shocked by the powerful, unyielding Qi and blood in the village—a special Aura formed by dozens of Martial Artists Cultivating day and night.

Inside the ancestral hall, Wu Jiulong spread out the family genealogy and solemnly wrote on a new page: "The Wu Clan now has nine Seven-Rank Martial Artists, two Eight-Rank, four Nine-Rank…"

The old man's hands trembled slightly, not from old age and frailty, but from uncontrollable excitement.

The biting cold of the twelfth lunar month's north wind made the pine forest outside Wu Family Village rustle.

Wu Guohua stood on the village watchtower, his fingers unconsciously caressing the shaft of the Tian Que Divine Spear.

On the distant mountain path, a dark figure was rapidly approaching; it was the messenger sent by the Zhou Family.

"They're here," the Young Master's eyes narrowed, and his body leaped down from the three-zhang-high tower like a great roc spreading its wings.

Upon landing, his boot soles left two shallow imprints in the mud, demonstrating his exquisite control over his strength.

The messenger was a lean man, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

He knelt on one knee and took out a wax-sealed secret letter from his Pregnant: "Young Master Wu, the Liu Family has sent five Tiandu Martial Hall masters, and they will arrive by noon tomorrow at the latest."

Wu Guohua unfolded the letter, which detailed the information of the approaching enemies: Wang Meng, Seven-Rank Peak; Qian Santong, Seven-Rank Middle Stage; Zhao Tieren, Sun Wu, and Li Kui, Eight-Rank Peak.

The corner of his mouth curved slightly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "They're finally here."

That night, the Wu Family ancestral hall was brightly lit.

Wu Jiulong rapped his pipe heavily: "Tomorrow's battle will be our Wu Family's first true life-and-death confrontation."

The old man's gaze swept over every clan member present, "Remember, this is not a martial arts competition, it's a slaughter!"

Wu Wenwu stood up, the newly forged long sword at his waist emitting a clear, ringing sound: "Father, we can set up an ambush at Eagle Beak Cliff, ten li from the village.

The terrain there is treacherous, perfect for an encirclement and kill."

"Good!" Wu Jiulong's pipe struck the corner of the table heavily, "Tomorrow, all clan members above Seven-Rank will go into battle, and those below Eight-Rank will be responsible for village defense.

Guohua…" The old man looked at his grandson, "You and Golden Tiger will hold the line."

Wu Guohua nodded silently, his finger lightly flicking the Tian Que Divine Spear, producing a clear sound like a Dragon's roar.

Golden Tiger seemed to sense his master's Battle Intent, letting out a low growl, its massive tiger claws digging several deep furrows in the ground.

Currently, Wu Guohua, like his Third Uncle Wu Wenwu, was already a Seven-Rank Peak Martial Artist, not far from becoming a Six-Rank Martial Master.

And Grandfather Wu Jiulong, Father Wu Wenbin, and Second Uncle Wu Zhang were all Seven-Rank Late Stage Cultivators, while Grandmother He Xiaoqin, Mother Zhang Chunfang, Second Aunt Li Juhua, and Third Aunt Cai Liuer were all Seven-Rank Early Stage Martial Artists.

The next morning, a thin mist enveloped Eagle Beak Cliff, ten li from Wu Family Village.

This was a treacherous cliff shaped like an eagle's beak, with steep slopes on three sides and only a narrow winding path leading to the summit.

Wu Guohua hid behind a large boulder, Golden Tiger quietly lying beside him, its tiger ears occasionally twitching, catching distant movements.

"They're here," Wu Wenwu's voice came from not far away.

A moment later, five figures appeared on the mountain path.

Leading them was a burly man with a scarred face, carrying a great sword as wide as a door panel; it was Wang Meng, a Seven-Rank Peak.

Wu Guohua made a gesture, and the Wu Family Martial Artists ambushed around them immediately tensed up.

He saw his Grandfather disguised as an old woodcutter, trembling as he walked along the mountain path;

Third Uncle was dressed as a hunter in the nearby woods; Mother and several aunts were hidden at the top of the cliff, holding crossbows.

"Old man, get out of the way!" Wang Meng kicked at the "woodcutter," but saw the hunched figure suddenly straighten his back, his pipe striking towards his throat like a venomous snake's tongue!

"Bang!"

Wang Meng hastily retreated, his great sword barely blocking the fatal blow.

He was both shocked and enraged: "Seven-Rank Late Stage?! You're no ordinary woodcutter!"

Wu Jiulong burst into laughter, his entire body's Qi and blood boiling, showing no signs of old age: "Little brats from Tiandu Martial Hall, today I'll let you witness the might of the Wu Family!"

With a sharp whistle, the Wu Family Martial Artists ambushed around them revealed themselves simultaneously.