Chapter 8 : Chapter 8
Chapter 8: News of the Qi-Blood Pill
Qingfeng Valley, the Family Head’s courtyard.
The four elders who had led the extermination missions had already returned to Qingfeng Valley one after another.
When they came back, every one of them wore a smile across his face.
Clearly, this expedition had yielded a rich harvest.
After the numbers were tallied afterward, it was found that from the destruction of the four great forces, they had seized five thousand five hundred taels of gold. Together with the various title deeds, shops, weapons, medicinal pills, cultivation resources, and other goods, the total value came to nearly eleven thousand taels.
Even Li Xingge showed a faint smile when he learned of the gains from this campaign.
As for the usually steady and composed Grand Elder, he was smiling so broadly that his mouth nearly reached the back of his ears.
One had to know that the Li family had operated in Baihe County for more than two hundred years, and its total assets were only a little over twenty thousand taels of gold.
This single haul was nearly equal to half of the Li family’s entire wealth. It could truly be said that they had made an immense profit.
“Elders, judging from the current situation, our Li family’s crisis may be considered temporarily resolved.”
Seated high in the main seat, Li Xingge looked at the assembled elders and spoke with a smile.
“It is all thanks to the Family Head’s divine might. Without the Family Head’s intervention, our Li family would have been in grave danger.”
The elders all cupped their hands repeatedly, their voices full of respect.
“However, we still cannot afford to relax.”
Li Xingge changed the subject, and his tone grew serious.
“Although our Li family’s crisis has been temporarily resolved, this time we killed Su Yun, the Grand Elder of the Su family. We have now completely broken with the Mangshan Su Clan. From what I know of them, it will not be long before the Qingfeng Li Clan and the Mangshan Su Clan face each other in a bloody battle!”
At those words, the smiles vanished from everyone’s faces, replaced by solemn expressions.
The Mangshan Su Clan was not something the four forces destroyed today could possibly compare to. This was a truly powerful clan with a Qi-Blood Realm cultivator seated within it.
Its clan was filled with experts. If the two families fought to the death, then even if the Li family won, it would likely suffer grievous losses.
Not to mention that the Mangshan Su Clan’s Qi-Blood Realm Old Ancestor had remained in that realm for many years.
Rumor had it that he was only a step away from reaching Minor Accomplishment in the Qi-Blood Realm.
As for their own Family Head, his talent might be monstrous, but in the end he had only just entered the Qi-Blood Realm.
“Family Head, we should make preparations early and guard against the Mangshan Su Clan.”
The Grand Elder was the first to speak.
Li Xingge nodded.
“From today onward, the cultivation resources within the clan will be supplied at double the usual amount.”
At those words, joy appeared on everyone’s faces.
“We thank the Family Head.”
“Grand Elder, if you were to attempt the Qi-Blood Realm now, how confident would you be?”
Li Xingge looked at the aged-faced Grand Elder and asked.
The Grand Elder’s body trembled slightly, and he let out a sigh.
“Less than ten percent. If I were ten years younger, I would have fifty percent confidence.”
Li Xingge stroked his chin, thoughtful.
After a long while, he finally said, “What if there were a Qi-Blood Pill?”
The Grand Elder’s eyes lit up, and a trace of hope appeared in them. But very quickly, they dimmed once more.
“If there were a Qi-Blood Pill, I would have forty percent confidence.”
“Forty percent is enough.”
Li Xingge said.
He looked at the others, rose to his feet, and slowly said, “Elders, I have received news from the prefectural city. Three days from now, Myriad Treasures Pavilion in the prefectural city will be holding an auction. It is said that a Qi-Blood Pill will appear there. This campaign against the rebels has brought in great gains, and I intend to go to the prefectural city and bid for a Qi-Blood Pill to help the Grand Elder break through to the Qi-Blood Realm.”
His words had barely settled
when, before the others could even voice their opinions, the Grand Elder sprang to his feet with a whoosh.
He waved his hands repeatedly.
“Family Head, absolutely not. A Qi-Blood Pill is worth an enormous sum, easily over ten thousand taels of gold. This old man is already advanced in years. Even if I were fortunate enough to break through to the Qi-Blood Realm with the help of a Qi-Blood Pill, at most I could only protect the family for twenty years. It would truly be a reckless waste of treasure. Family Head, please reconsider.”
If he said he was not tempted, that would be false.
After all, no cultivator could resist the temptation of advancing one step further.
If the Li family were rich and powerful enough, the Grand Elder would naturally have accepted without hesitation.
But given the Li family’s current scale, a single Qi-Blood Pill would be enough to empty all of the Li family’s liquid funds.
That was something the Grand Elder did not wish to see.
The other elders looked at the Grand Elder, and a trace of respect could not help appearing in their eyes.
When Li Xingge heard this, he was first taken aback.
Then he smiled.
“Grand Elder, do not refuse so quickly. Hear me out first. Though our Li family has temporarily emerged from its difficulties, we have also completely torn all pretenses with the Mangshan Su Clan. Before long, there will inevitably be a battle.”
“If we do not raise our strength in time, I fear the Li family will suffer terrible casualties.”
“If the Grand Elder can break through to the Qi-Blood Realm as soon as possible, then the threat posed by the Mangshan Su Clan will no longer be enough to fear. At present, within our Li family, only the Grand Elder possesses the qualifications to attempt the Qi-Blood Realm. I ask only that the Grand Elder no longer decline!”
The other elders were tempted by the Qi-Blood Pill as well.
But all of them were only at Major Accomplishment in the Physical Body Realm, still a long way from advancing to the Qi-Blood Realm.
Thus, after a brief moment of envy, they all began trying to persuade the Grand Elder.
“The Family Head is right. At present, within the family, only the Grand Elder is qualified to attempt the Qi-Blood Realm. We ask the Grand Elder, for the sake of the family, not to decline any longer.”
“Grand Elder, please think carefully.”
“We ask the Grand Elder not to let such a rare opportunity slip by. If the Grand Elder can break through to the Qi-Blood Realm, then our Li family will have two Qi-Blood Realm cultivators seated within it. At that time, our Li family’s strength will surely rise to another level.”
“That’s right. Grand Elder, agree to it quickly.”
“...”
Faced with everyone speaking one after another in persuasion,
the Grand Elder finally nodded.
At some unknown moment, a trace of moisture had even appeared in his eyes.
In the end, a thousand words became only one sentence:
“This old man will certainly not fail the family’s expectations.”
Seeing the Grand Elder finally relent, Li Xingge at last let out a breath of relief.
He knew very well just how stubborn and rigid the Grand Elder truly was.
“Since the Grand Elder has agreed, then have the clan prepare twelve thousand taels of gold. Tomorrow, I will set out for the prefectural city.”
Li Xingge instructed them.
Ordinarily, a Qi-Blood Pill was worth around ten thousand taels of gold.
But because of its special nature, Qi-Blood Pills had always been the kind of treasure that had a price yet no market.
For that reason, Li Xingge prepared an extra two thousand taels in order to deal with any unexpected circumstances.
“Sixth Elder, you are the one who manages the business in the prefectural city, and you are more familiar with that place. Therefore, you will accompany me.”
Li Xingge looked at the short-bearded, refined-looking Sixth Elder, Li Yanzhao, as he spoke.
Li Yanzhao was the only elder in the Li family’s council of elders who belonged to the Yan generation. He was also very young, only thirty-seven this year.
Hearing the Family Head call upon him, Li Yanzhao did not hesitate in the slightest and gladly accepted the order.
“After the Sixth Elder and I leave for the prefectural city, all affairs of the family will be decided by the Grand Elder. At the same time, release word to the outside world that I have entered seclusion to consolidate my realm, so that no petty schemers may take advantage of the opening.”
Everyone nodded to show that they understood.
Once everything had been arranged,
Li Xingge dismissed the elders and began making the necessary preparations for the journey ahead.