12dz Chapter 42, Section 6: The Royal Family Split
Chapter 42, Section 6: The Royal Family Split
Black Stone Mountain, deep in the back mountains.
A night breeze blows, and the mist swirls.
The fifth acre of spirit-gathering field emitted a soft glow, and the surrounding spiritual energy constantly gathered, making the entire back mountain more refreshing than other places.
Li Xuan stood alone between the ridges of the fields, the system panel in his mind slowly unfolding.
[Family Luck: 500]
[Requirement met: The sixth acre of spirit field can be unlocked]
[This time, the focus will be on: a random special spirit field]
[Enable?]
Li Xuan's gaze narrowed slightly.
The first few acres of spiritual land have already transformed the Li family.
The first acre was used for emergency relief, the fourth acre for medicinal cultivation, and the fifth acre for gathering spiritual energy, which further transformed the entire family's cultivation environment.
And the sixth mu—
It's highly likely that this is another trump card.
"Activate".
⸻
boom!
The ground trembled slightly the next moment.
Deeper into the back mountain, a previously abandoned stone slope suddenly cracked open, with soil churning and rocks tumbling down.
The spiritual energy gathered and flowed away like a tide.
Under the moonlight, the newly cleared land glowed with a faint bluish light, and the veins of the earth were faintly visible.
The surrounding plants sprouted quickly, as if they had come back to life overnight.
[Activation Successful]
[Obtained: Sixth Mu of Spiritual Field (Special)]
[Attribute: Vitality Field]
[Effects: Accelerates the recovery and growth of spiritual plants; heals injuries; increases the efficiency of wood-attribute cultivation]
Li Xuan's eyes brightened slightly.
A field of life!
The value of this acre of land may not be as obvious as that of the Spirit Gathering Field.
But for a rising family, it is of great significance.
The medicinal herbs can be grown faster.
The wounded recover faster.
Even if a warrior from the Battle Hall is injured, he can recover quickly.
This means—
The Li family's ability to sustain combat operations will be greatly enhanced.
⸻
Li Xuan walked into the field, feeling the rich vitality around him.
With each breath, even the flow of spiritual energy within the body became smoother.
The minor, hidden injuries he sustained in his previous fight with Xu Chengan quickly dissipated in the field.
"nice one."
If family wars break out frequently in the future, this acre of land can be considered a strategic resource.
⸻
The system notification reappeared in my mind:
[Enhancing Family Heritage]
[Family Luck +20]
[Current Luck: 520]
[New Mission: Acquire the core of the Wang family's businesses]
[Reward Preview: One upgrade for a family member]
Li Xuan's lips curled up slightly.
The system has already indicated the next step.
It's time to make a move against the Wang family.
⸻
The next morning.
Senior members of the Li family gathered at their ancestral home.
Li Yuanshan had dark circles under his eyes, but he was in high spirits.
"Young Clan Chief!"
"Last night, two more shops in the East Market secretly came to inquire that if the Wang family falls, they want to hang up the Li family's banner."
Li Yuanlie sat to one side, sword in hand, and said lazily:
"If it's going to collapse, then it's going to collapse. Why ask so many questions?"
Li Yuanshan rolled his eyes.
"You think doing business is as simple as killing someone?"
Li Yuanlie nodded seriously.
"almost."
⸻
Li Tianheng, however, was more concerned about something else.
"Any movement from the Wang family?"
Chen He stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting.
"have."
"The Wang family's ancestral home was brightly lit last night, and the arguing didn't stop until late into the night."
"This morning, three collateral cultivators left the manor, and their whereabouts are unknown."
Everyone in the hall perked up.
This indicates that the Wang family is beginning to fall apart.
⸻
Li Xuan slowly spoke:
"normal."
"If Wang Tonghai is willing to admit defeat, the elder will feel ashamed."
"If we continue to resist, the collateral branches feel it's suicide."
"The longer it's delayed, the bigger the cracks will become."
Zhao Yuancheng also arrived at Black Stone Mountain at this time, and nodded repeatedly after listening.
"The young clan leader is absolutely right."
"I've already heard in the city that the two elders of the Wang family had differing opinions and almost fell out on the spot."
Li Yuanshan's eyes lit up.
"Is it almost over?"
Li Xuan shook his head.
"not yet."
"A long-established family business won't fall so easily."
"The closer they are to death, the fiercer their counterattack."
⸻
at the same time.
The atmosphere inside the Wang family ancestral home was terrifyingly oppressive.
Inside the council chamber, more than ten elders sat on either side, their expressions grim.
Wang Tonghai, sitting in the main seat, had bloodshot eyes, clearly having not slept all night.
An elder with a white beard spoke first:
"Master, although the Li family's conditions are harsh, they are still negotiable."
"Where there's life, there's hope."
Another burly elder slammed his fist on the table.
"Talk my ass!"
"We'll cede the entire East Market, pay out 10,000 spirit coins, and cut another 30% off the medicine route!"
"What will be left of the Wang family after that?"
The white-bearded elder said coldly:
"It's better than wiping out the entire race!"
The burly elder roared:
"Just say you're afraid of dying!"
The two argued more and more fiercely, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly spiraled out of control.
⸻
Snapped!
Wang Tonghai slammed his hand on the corner of the table, shattering it, and roared:
"That's enough!"
The crowd then quieted down.
His chest heaved, and his eyes were as sinister as a venomous snake.
"Li Xuan thought he had the Wang family cornered."
"But he forgot—"
"The Wang family has been able to stand firm in Qingyun County for twenty years, not by begging for mercy."
Everyone in the hall felt a chill run down their spines.
Some people noticed that something was off about the taste.
The patriarch is... preparing to fight to the death.
⸻
Wang Tonghai slowly rose to his feet, his voice hoarse:
"Pass down the order."
"Recall all cultivators who have been dispatched outside the region."
"Seal the granaries, collect the grain, and gather spirit coins."
"Go and contact the people over at Black Wind Ridge again."
The elders' expressions changed simultaneously.
Black Wind Ridge is a chaotic area outside the county, with many rogue cultivators and desperate criminals.
If the Wang family really hired people from that side, it means they've resorted to any means necessary.
The white-bearded elder couldn't help but say:
"Master, this is too risky!"
Wang Tonghai looked at him coldly.
"Even the most dangerous situation is better than dying on your knees."
⸻
The news quickly reached Blackstone Mountain.
Zhao Yuancheng's face turned slightly pale.
"If the people from Black Wind Ridge enter the city, the East Market will be in chaos."
Li Yuanshan panicked as well.
"Young clan leader, Wang Tonghai has gone mad!"
Li Yuanlie, however, became excited.
"Finally, we're like rivals."
Li Tianheng frowned and pondered.
If the Wang family truly chooses a desperate path, even the powerful Li family will have to pay the price.
⸻
Everyone looked at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan simply smiled.
"Good thing."
Everyone was taken aback.
Zhao Yuancheng was completely dumbfounded.
How could this be a good thing?
Li Xuan spoke calmly:
"If the Wang family is willing to admit defeat, there are still some people in the county who will remember our past friendship."
"But what if we collude with Black Wind Ridge—"
"That would mean cutting oneself off from Qingyun County."
"When we take action, who will speak up for him?"
Everyone in the hall suddenly realized what was happening.
Li Yuanshan slapped his thigh and shouted:
"Brilliant!"
"It stuck its neck out by itself!"
Li Yuanlie nodded.
"Then I can chop even more easily."
⸻
Li Xuan stood up and looked at everyone.
"Pass on the order."
"Prepare the battle hall."
"The shops in the East Market are retreating and defending themselves."
"The Zhao family is secretly preparing to take over the Wang family's assets."
Zhao Yuancheng's eyelids twitched violently.
"Taking over?"
Li Xuan said calmly:
"If the Wang family goes mad, they won't live past this month."
Zhao Yuancheng took a deep breath, immediately stood up and clasped his hands in greeting.
"The Zhao family is willing to fully cooperate!"
He knew that the moment that would decide his fate had arrived.
⸻
night.
Li Xuan once again came to the sixth mu of the vital field and sat cross-legged to cultivate.
A rich vitality surrounded him, and the spiritual energy in his meridians became increasingly stable.
The bottleneck at the late stage of the fourth level of Qi Refining has begun to loosen.
A system notification flashed in my mind:
[Host's cultivation efficiency increased]
A breakthrough opportunity is approaching.
[Current Main Storyline: The Demise of the Royal Family]
Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp.
If the Wang family wants to fight to the death.
Then he'll send it to the Wang family—
Fully on the road.
Chapter 42 (End)