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Chapter 89: The Liu Family's Shock and Crisis
Chapter 89: The Liu Family's Shock and Crisis
Two days later, in Pingyuan County…
Whoosh!
A streak of golden light zipped across the fields, covering over a hundred zhang in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to the enhancement of liquid mana, Zongdi Jinguang’s speed had surged again, moving so fast it was nearly impossible to track.
Thankfully, with spiritual sense guiding him, Xiao Chen no longer risked crashing into trees like before.
“Is that the Liu family estate ahead?”
From afar, Xiao Chen spotted a grand mansion built against a hillside, its layered courtyards and pavilions arranged in elegant disorder. Long corridors snaked through the complex like ribbons.
Most striking was the center, where the Rippling Azure Wave Formation pulsed with a faint glow.
It resembled an inverted pale-blue bowl, shielding the Liu family’s ancestral hall and main hall.
“Huh? Why is the formation active in broad daylight?”
Xiao Chen observed his surroundings but saw no enemies. Curious, he approached the estate’s gates, only to find them tightly shut and deserted.
Without hesitation, he leaped over the courtyard wall and strode inward.
“Senior Brother Xiao!”
As he reached the formation, familiar Liu clan members rushed to greet him. A younger disciple he didn’t recognize immediately bowed in respect.
Liu Benxin, standing nearby, called out, “Senior Brother Xiao, please wait a moment!”
He hurried into the main hall and soon returned with a broad-shouldered elder who opened a narrow path through the formation.
The moment Xiao Chen stepped inside, an unfamiliar spiritual sense brushed over him.
Annoyed, he countered with his own spiritual sense, instantly repelling the intrusion.
“What?!”
Liu Zhishan recoiled in shock. He hadn’t expected the visitor to be a Foundation Building cultivator.
Bowing hastily, he apologized, “Apologies, Master Xiao! With bandit cultivators lurking outside, I acted out of caution. Please don’t take offense.”
He’d assumed the visitor was a fellow disciple from the sect. Normally, cultivators without magical artifacts couldn’t detect spiritual sense probes, so he’d instinctively tested Xiao Chen.
But the response had been immediate—and stronger than his own.
In the cultivation world, probing others uninvited was a grave offense. Liu Zhishan quickly explained the misunderstanding.
Liu Benxin, overhearing the title “Master Xiao,” froze in confusion.
From the main hall, Liu Zhiyuan, the clan head, emerged and bowed deeply, “We’re honored by your visit, Master Xiao. Please, come inside.”
Inside the hall, tea was served before Liu Zhiyuan asked, “What brings you here today, Master Xiao?”
Xiao Chen retrieved a storage bag, “The sect sent me to deliver nourishing qi pills and Spring Rejuvenation Pills.”
Silence fell.
This was supposed to be a task for a junior disciple.
Liu Zhiyuan hesitated, “Ah… Master Xiao certainly has a leisurely schedule.”
“Xiao Chen! Why are you here?”
Liu Shiqing burst in from the back, stunned.
She’d rushed to greet the rumored Foundation Building cultivator from the sect, only to find Xiao Chen seated in the honored position.
“Bang!” Liu Zhishan slammed the table, “How disrespectful, Liu Shiqing! Address Master Xiao properly!”
Liu Shiqing blinked. Half a year ago, Xiao Chen had been an Eighth Layer disciple. Days later, he’d broken through to Lian Qi Stage 9, saving them from a lion pack. She’d known he was destined for greatness, but now—already Foundation Building?
How was that possible? She’d spent months advancing from Eighth Layer to Stage 9, yet he’d leaped past the Foundation Building bottleneck as if it were nothing.
As a Great Perfection cultivator, she understood the vast chasm between stages. Where was his bottleneck? Where was his trial?
Liu Benxin shared her shock. A year ago, Xiao Chen had been a Lian Qi Stage 4 disciple in the secondary academy—while he was already Foundation Building Sixth Layer. Now, he was his senior.
Xiao Chen smiled, “It’s fine. I only broke through recently. Titles don’t matter to me.”
“Nonsense,” Liu Zhiyuan interjected. “Respect must be shown!” He gestured to his children, “Bow to Master Xiao!”
Liu Shiqing and Liu Benxin stepped forward, bowing deeply, “Greetings, Senior Xiao.”
Boom!
A sudden explosion echoed outside.
Xiao Chen set down his tea, ready to act—but the Liu family’s indifferent expressions confused him.
Liu Zhiyuan sighed, “That’ll be the Hundred Poisons Demon again. Apologies for the disturbance, Master Xiao.”
“The formation protects us. He’ll leave after venting his frustration.”
Xiao Chen frowned. He’d heard of bandit cultivators harassing the plains, but why hadn’t they retreated? The Liu family had multiple Foundation Building experts and Lihuo Sect’s backing. Any bandits would normally strike quickly and flee.
Liu Zhishan explained, “The Hundred Poisons Demon might be a lunatic from Luotian Sect. He wields a custom demonic weapon that unleashes three deadly poisons—Foundation Building Late Stage experts struggle to resist.”
Liu Zhiyuan added, “We’ve identified him. My brother and I suffered minor injuries confronting him. We’re researching countermeasures in our clan records.”
(End of Chapter)
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