Chapter 101: A Major Incident, Shocking Changes in the Wei Family, A Small Act of Kindness

"I never expected that the patterns on a small piece of silver could contain so much information."

Lu Qing's eyes sparkled as he murmured to himself.

Just now, he had finally deciphered the patterns on the piece of broken silver in his hand, understanding the subtle connection between them and the golden rune scripts in the Shen Fumen lineage's general guidelines.

Of course, this didn't mean that he had already mastered the fundamentals of rune scripts. It was merely a slight insight, and he was still far from that stage.

However, as the saying goes, the beginning is always the hardest.

Any insight, the breakthrough from zero to one, is the most difficult.

Now that Lu Qing had taken the most challenging step, with this insight, it would be much easier for him to decipher the textures of other things.

He believed that the day he truly entered the path of rune scripts was not far off.

Lu Qing tucked the silver piece back into his pocket, feeling elated.

Today was truly a good day. Not only had his martial arts cultivation reached the perfection of qi and blood, but he had also made a breakthrough in his understanding of rune scripts.

After tidying up, he left the bamboo forest and headed home.

As soon as he returned to the village, he saw someone waiting at the entrance of his courtyard, constantly looking outward.

"Brother Xiaotian?"

Lu Qing recognized the person and called out in surprise.

"Young Master Lu, you're finally back!"

Xiaotian's face lit up with joy when he saw Lu Qing.

"It's rare for you to visit, yet you stand outside instead of coming in? Please, come in and sit down," Lu Qing invited.

"No need, Young Master Lu. I came here because I have an urgent matter to discuss with you," Xiaotian refused.

"Oh? What is it?"

Lu Qing recalled his anxious expression from earlier.

"I don't know the specifics, but I have a letter here. Master Ma asked me to deliver it to you. You'll understand once you read it."

Xiaotian took out a sealed letter with a wax seal from his pocket.

Lu Qing took the letter, opened it, and quickly read the contents.

As he read, his expression became more and more solemn.

Indeed, the letter was from Ma Gu, and Lu Qing recognized his handwriting.

There was only one main topic in the letter.

The Wei family had encountered trouble.

A few days ago, a group of mysterious people had arrived in front of the Wei Manor in the county and publicly shouted accusations.

This scene immediately attracted the attention of all the powers in the city.

After all, the Wei family's status in the county had always been unchallenged.

Even the County Master had to show respect and refrain from offending them.

Now, someone dared to openly challenge the Wei family, and this shocked all the forces in the city.

Had these people eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard? Were they courting death?

Just as the city's forces thought that this group of mysterious people would meet a terrible end, the Silver Moon Guards from the Wei Manor sprang into action.

A whole team of Silver Moon Guards rushed towards the mysterious group.

However, to everyone's surprise, the Silver Moon Guards, who were supposed to be incredibly powerful in their eyes, failed to capture the mysterious group.

On the contrary, they were forced to retreat again and again, and it was only when the Wei family's grand steward personally intervened that the situation was stabilized and the mysterious group was held off.

Although they had been stopped, the mysterious group remained defiant.

They declared that since the Wei family's Elder, a Precelestial Realm cultivator, was already dead, they should not continue to monopolize that treasure. It would be wise to hand it over, or else they risked bringing about their own destruction.

After leaving this stern warning, the mysterious group temporarily retreated.

However, their words shook the entire city.

First, the city's forces learned that the Wei family had a Precelestial Realm elder all this time.

What shocked them even more was that this elder seemed to be dead now.

These mysterious people seemed to be after a treasure in the Wei Manor, and not only were they individually powerful, but they also showed no fear of the Wei family.

It was simply unbelievable to the city's forces.

However, no one knew that this was just the beginning.

In the following days, new faces continued to arrive in the city.

Every day, people could be seen loitering near the Wei Manor, and at midnight, the sounds of fighting could be heard coming from the direction of the manor.

The next day, people would see corpses being carried out of the Wei Manor.

But this did not deter the desire for the mysterious treasure within the Wei Manor, and new martial artists continued to gather in the city each day.

At the end of the letter, Ma Gu solemnly requested Lu Qing to...

Chapter: Turbulent Times in the County

The situation in the county had become increasingly turbulent, with a large number of martial artists gathering like dark clouds gathering on the horizon.

For now, the Wei family seemed to be holding their ground, but no one knew how long they could maintain this fragile stability.

Given the circumstances, the Wei family would likely have their hands full dealing with more significant concerns than the Black Wolf Gang's petty schemes.

Moreover, from what he knew, the Black Wolf Gang had recently allied themselves with some powerful martial artists and had become emboldened once more.

It was uncertain if they would resume their investigations into Happy Valley.

Ma Gu's letter served as a timely warning, advising Lu Qing to refrain from venturing out unnecessarily to avoid any encounters with the gang members and potential troubles.

Lu Qing folded the letter, his expression turning solemn as he absorbed its contents.

The information Ma Gu provided was indeed crucial.

Who would have thought that the Wei family had a Precelestial Realm elder among their ranks?

No wonder they had risen so rapidly from a minor county-level clan to a formidable force with influence spanning across prefectures and connections reaching the royal capital.

Their true foundation lay in this elder.

However, the same Precelestial Realm elder who had brought them power now threatened their downfall due to the backlash of attempting to transcend their limits.

Like vultures, those who had long coveted the Wei family's resources and influence were now swooping in for the kill.

Lu Qing wondered if the Wei family could weather this storm.

He had a favorable impression of the Wei family.

Not only had Wei Daguan, the head steward, bestowed upon him a secret handbook and elixir pills, but the household had also assisted him by momentarily holding off the Black Wolf Gang concerning the Joyful Valley event.

He was grateful for their assistance.

However, despite owing them a debt of gratitude, Lu Qing felt helpless in the face of the Wei family's current predicament.

According to Ma Gu's letter, the martial artists gathering in the county were at least at the Qi and Blood Realm level, and some were even more powerful, reaching the Internal Organs Realm.

In such a volatile situation, he, a mere Qi and Blood Realm martial artist, could do little to help.

His only option was to hope that the Wei family's foundation was solid enough to withstand this crisis.

"But what about the Black Wolf Gang?"

Lu Qing's eyes narrowed as he recalled the mention of the gang in Ma Gu's letter, a chill emanating from them.

He had yet to settle the score with that despicable group.

If they dared to rear their ugly heads again, he would not hesitate to teach them a painful lesson.

Xiaotian, standing beside Lu Qing, shuddered involuntarily as he caught the icy gleam in Lu Qing's eyes.

He couldn't help but recall the terrifying scene from that fateful night, with Lu Qing standing amidst a sea of rolling heads.

It was an image forever seared into his memory.

"Young Master Lu, with the complex situation in the city, my father has returned to help maintain order within the clan. During this time, I will be managing the grand gathering. If there is anything you need, please let me know, and I will do my best to accommodate your requests."

Lu Qing occasionally visited the grand gathering during this period, and Xiaotian knew he often required various items.

"Thank you."

Lu Qing nodded, then, after a moment's thought, asked, "Xiaotian, have you been stuck at the cusp of the Qi and Blood Realm for a long time?"

Xiaotian was taken aback but quickly replied respectfully, "I apologize for my dull wit, Young Master Lu."

Xiaotian couldn't hide his disappointment. He had followed Master Ma for quite some time and often received guidance from him.

His physical condition had already reached the peak of what was possible for an ordinary person.

However, despite his efforts, he couldn't seem to take that final step and grasp the essence of the connection between qi and blood, as Master Ma had instructed.

As a result, he remained stuck at the threshold of the Qi and Blood Realm.

Noticing Xiaotian's dejected expression, Lu Qing smiled and casually took out a pill, offering it to him.

"You've been running errands for me during this time, so please accept this pill as a small token of my appreciation. After taking it, you should be able to enter the Qi and Blood Realm."

Xiaotian was both surprised and grateful as he accepted the pill. He couldn't help but ask, "Young Master Lu, what kind of pill is this?"

"It's called the Qi and Blood Boosting Pill."

Xiaotian was stunned.

He had heard Master Ma mention this pill before, and it was said to be one of the best auxiliary pills for those in the Qi and Blood Realm.

A single pill was worth a small fortune.

Xiaotian still remembered the hint of regret in Master Ma's voice when he had spoken about this pill in the past.

Even with his family's support, Master Ma had only obtained three Qi and Blood Boosting Pills during his time in the Qi and Blood Realm, which had helped expedite his cultivation.

If he had received more support from his family, he might not have had to spend so much time and effort to reach the initial stages of the Muscle and Sinew Realm.

And here he was, about to receive one of these precious pills.

Xiaotian felt a mix of gratitude and awe.

He had no doubts about the pill's authenticity, as Lu Qing had no reason to deceive him, especially regarding such a trivial matter.

Chapter: A Precious Dan Pill

"I cannot accept such a precious dan pill. It's far too valuable for someone of my humble standing," Xiaotian hastily declined.

"Don't worry about it. Go ahead and take it. Master Ma won't be back for a while, and he needs you to manage the grand gathering. With your current strength, you might not be able to control the situation. It's best to reach the Qi and Blood Realm as soon as possible so you can properly manage the event for Master Ma."

Xiaotian was skilled in martial arts, but his abilities might not be enough to manage such a large event.

Not to mention, his colleagues might not respect him.

Even the local thugs were physically imposing.

For ordinary people practicing martial arts, if they couldn't enter the Qi and Blood Realm and comprehend the power of qi and blood, no matter how hard they trained, they might not be able to take on multiple opponents at once.

If they encountered those who disregarded martial arts etiquette and ganged up on him, he might be overwhelmed.

Lu Qing usually kept to himself, venturing out only to gather herbs in the mountains.

The grand gathering was an important source of supplies for him, and he didn't want it to descend into chaos.

So, it would be beneficial for Xiaotian to be able to manage the event well.

Besides, Lu Qing had already reached the perfection of the Qi and Blood Realm, and the Blood-Boosting Elixir Pill wasn't as useful to him anymore.

Giving one pill as a favor was no problem.

"Young Master Lu..." Xiaotian wanted to say something more but didn't know how to continue.

"Alright, no need to overthink it. I'm also a martial artist, so I understand the difficulties of cultivation. Consider this a stroke of luck for you, so don't refuse," Lu Qing said with a smile.

Xiaotian paused.

In his heart, he thought, "If someone like you, with your incredible cultivation speed, calls cultivation difficult, then what about us underlings? But I know that you're determined and assertive."

Since Lu Qing had already said this much, if Xiaotian still refused, it would be a clear sign of disrespect.

Xiaotian didn't dare to offend Lu Qing, so despite his misgivings, he said, "Thank you, Young Master Lu."

Lu Qing shook his head at Xiaotian's hesitation to take the Heavenly Pill.

He understood why Xiaotian had been unable to enter the Qi and Blood Realm.

Xiaotian was young, but perhaps because he had served others for so long, he had become accustomed to being cautious and overly humble.

This wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

However, as a martial artist, one needed a certain amount of courage and boldness, or else how could they progress on the path of martial arts?

Xiaotian lacked this boldness, which was why he hadn't been able to comprehend the secret of the connection between qi and blood and enter the Qi and Blood Realm.

With this in mind, Lu Qing suddenly said, "Elder Brother Xiaotian, there's no need to put away the Blood-Enhancement Pill. Consume it right here."

"Take it right here?" Xiaotian was surprised.

"Yes. I have some free time now, so I can help you with the cultivation process," Lu Qing replied.

Xiaotian hesitated.

{

At the very least, he should bathe, put on clean clothes, adjust his breath, and bring his body to its optimal state before consuming it.

That way, he could maximize the pill's effects and avoid wasting its power.

But he didn't dare disobey Lu Qing, so after a moment of hesitation, he swallowed the pill.

As soon as the pill entered his body, Xiaotian felt a surge of medicinal power coursing through him.

The power was intense and overwhelming, beyond what Xiaotian had expected, and he felt unprepared to handle it.

Just as he was wondering what to do, Lu Qing suddenly shouted, "Hurry up and start cultivating! Refine the pill's power!"

Xiaotian was startled and quickly assumed a stance, practicing a set of martial arts techniques.

It was a Qi and Blood Realm technique that Master Ma had taught him, and he had been practicing it for many years.

Lu Qing watched Xiaotian's movements for a while and nodded in satisfaction.

Although this technique wasn't as profound as the Nurturing Body Technique, Xiaotian's proficiency made up for it.

If all went well, Xiaotian would soon enter the Qi and Blood Realm.

However, things often took unexpected turns.

Lu Qing had thought that with the help of the Blood-Boosting Pill, Xiaotian would easily enter the Qi Condensation Realm.

But after waiting for a while, he saw Xiaotian practicing the technique over and over without making that final breakthrough.

As Xiaotian's body was enveloped in heat and sweat, Lu Qing realized that if this continued, not only would the pill's power be wasted, but Xiaotian might also suffer serious injury.

Without hesitation, Lu Qing drew the battle sword on his back and released a killing intent toward Xiaotian, slashing at him with the sword.

"Xiaotian, watch the sword!"

Xiaotian's attention was drawn to the sword, and his soul almost left his body from the shock.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end