Chapter 4 Qi Refining Level 5, Killing a Foundation Establishment Stage?

The full name of the Yun Family Head was Yun Tiancheng. At this moment, Yun Tiancheng sized up Black Magpie Mountain once again. Seeing that the Formation had been upgraded, his thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the young lady in his Family.

Seeing Chen Li come out, he scrutinized him carefully. "Eh, not having seen you for over a month, Brother Chen, you've reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer."

One had to know that Yun Tiancheng himself was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and had been unable to Breakthrough to the Late Stage Qi Refining, having remained at the sixth layer for seven or eight years.

Chen Li was only twenty years old and already at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Catching up to him might be a matter of only a few years. At this moment, the idea of marrying off his daughter surfaced again.

Chen Li came up with an excuse: "Sigh, I relied on the Spirit Stones I saved up from the Sect to pile this up, cultivating with Spirit Stones. Now that they're used up, I'm penniless. Since I've left the Sect, my future cultivation will be like walking on thin ice."

Chen Li's Breakthrough this time was due to using many qi overflowing pills over the past two years. Thus, after using up all four bottles of qi overflowing pills and absorbing over a thousand Spirit Stones, he finally broke through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Upon hearing about cultivating with Spirit Stones, which was extremely extravagant for a Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator, Yun Tiancheng was no longer as shocked by Chen Li's advancement to the fifth layer. He thought to himself that this advancement had probably used up all the Spirit Stones in Chen Li's possession. He likely wouldn't even be able to provide the Spirit Stone betrothal gifts to marry a wife now, right?

The idea of marrying off his daughter was extinguished once more.

However, Yun Tiancheng still replied politely, "What are you saying, Brother Chen? With your skill in Formations, it's enough for you to live a life of luxury."

...

Returning to the main topic, Chen Li asked, "Yun Family Head, you've come this time to discuss the letters from the Zhang and Lu families of the prefecture city, right?"

"Yes, I assume Brother Chen has also received them. Sigh! If my Yun Family pays tribute to both families, the cultivation resources for our Family's disciples will be halved. My Yun Family absolutely cannot pay tribute to both. I imagine you don't want to pay tribute to both either, Brother Chen."

"The Yun Family Head must be joking. I've just established my Family; how could I have the ability to pay tribute to both? Does the Yun Family Head have any plan?" Chen Li also feigned poverty.

Hearing Chen Li's response, Yun Tiancheng shook his head and said, "There's no plan yet, but the Qi Refining Immortal Clans of our Liangxi County have all expressed their unwillingness to pay tribute to both. Three days from now, we will gather at Baifeng Mountain outside the county to discuss this matter. I wonder if Brother Chen is willing to stand together with us."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li thought, a centralized meeting?

"Alright, I was overthinking it."

When Chen Li originally chose Liangxi County as the place to found his Family, he had researched the four local Qi Refining Immortal Clans.

The four great Qi Refining families of Liangxi County were the Yun Family, whose highest combat power was at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and whose descendants grew slowly; the Luo Family, whose highest combat power was at the Eighth Level of Qi Refining but was already over a hundred years old with a nearing Lifespan, while their second-highest combat power was also at the sixth layer; and the Wang and An families, whose highest combat powers were at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and whose descendants also grew slowly.

The heritage of the Qi Refining Immortal Clans in Liangxi County only spanned about a hundred years, which was why Chen Li had chosen this place.

"However, one can escape for a while, but not forever. If we pay double tribute today, the whole Family might have to be surrendered tomorrow. I must face this," Chen Li thought to himself.

Chen Li replied, "Alright, see you in three days at Baifeng Mountain."

Having received an answer, Yun Tiancheng was very happy. From this moment on, Chen Li was truly considered to have integrated into the Qi Refining families of Liangxi County.

After Yun Tiancheng left, Chen Li thought it over and over, letting out a soft sigh.

"Sigh, one must always be wary of others!"

He was currently only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer and had no Family disciples yet; his death wouldn't affect the overall situation at all. Just in case the four families turned on him together, he had to make some extra preparations.

That night, at Baifeng Mountain, he quietly set up his third-rank wood-attribute attack Formation nearby. Anyone below Foundation Establishment who suffered a single hit would be crippled if not killed!

After setting it up, the worry in Chen Li's heart finally settled. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but he had no choice; he only sought peace of mind. After all, his life was his own.

...

Three days later, five people gathered at a small mountain pavilion on Baifeng Mountain.

There were four at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and one at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. The Luo Family Ancestor at the Eighth Level of Qi Refining had not come. Thus, everyone here was at the Mid-stage Qi Refining. Chen Li had greeted them all when he established his Family here, so they all knew each other.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you've reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer?" The one speaking was the Luo Family Head.

As he spoke, the heads of the Wang and An families also looked over, equally surprised. After Chen Li gave them the same explanation he had given the Yun Family Head, they understood and were no longer as shocked.

After some pleasantries, they got down to business. Yun Tiancheng said, "Everyone, we are gathered here, and I'm sure everyone knows why. Please, speak your minds freely."

The Luo Family Head had a serious expression and said, "Everyone, the Zhang and Lu families of the prefecture city are going too far. The Zhu Family Ancestor of Lingchuan County, who is at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, only received one letter. They are picking on the weak! Today they demand double tribute; tomorrow they might demand our lives. We cannot set this precedent. My Family's Old Ancestor said he's prepared to trade his life for the life of one Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

The Luo Family Head's expression was one of absolute determination. He set the tone as soon as he opened his mouth: if there are two letters, just get rid of one!

After he finished, Chen Li looked at the Luo Family Head, a bit dazed. "Wait, brother, starting off with an ultimate move? A Qi Refining Cultivator killing Foundation Establishment?"

Seeing the Luo Family's intent, Yun Tiancheng was somewhat surprised and worriedly said, "Luo Family Head, killing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is no small matter. One mistake could bring disaster upon us and destroy our families. Must things go this far? Is there no other way?"

Then the An and Wang families also expressed their opinions. The An Family Head stated, "After receiving the letters, we have already tried to confirm, negotiate, and compromise with the Lu and Zhang families in the prefecture city during this time, but neither of them is willing to withdraw their letter. Their attitude is completely unreasonable! Their meaning is clear: we're bullying you, so what can you do about it?"

Seeing this, Yun Tiancheng said, "How about we switch to paying tribute to Yunan Prefecture and seek their protection? What do you all think?"

The Luo Family Head shook his head. "My Family's Old Ancestor has already gone to test the waters. Seeing our situation, they've hiked up the price even more severely."

Yun Tiancheng turned to Chen Li and said, "Does Brother Chen have any ideas?"

"Since reasonable discussion and switching to another Family for tribute won't work, then I have no other ideas either. There is only the path suggested by the Luo Family Head." Chen Li thought for a moment; if these people with families here were willing to kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he, being alone, had nothing to fear!

If he couldn't win, he could just run to another place and establish an immortal Family!

Seeing several of them hesitating, the Luo Family Head added, "Qi Refining can kill Foundation Establishment, especially one that has just reached Foundation Establishment. Surely no one has forgotten what happened in the neighboring prefecture fifty years ago?"

Chen Li was puzzled, but a moment later he heard the Luo Family Head recount the event. It turned out that fifty years ago, six Qi Refining Immortal Clans in the neighboring prefecture had joined forces to kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. That Cultivator had been harsh with taxes on the subordinate Qi Refining families, constantly increasing them, which led the six families to conspire and murder him. This had created a trend of Qi Refining killing Foundation Establishment in this region.

Hearing this, Yun Tiancheng sighed, and then his gaze became sharp. "Fine, then let's kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator! But how? And which Family?"

The Luo Family Head seemed to have a plan ready, saying, "Let's target that newcomer, the Zhang Family. He's the only one at Foundation Establishment; the others are just recruited Loose Cultivators at the first or second layer of Qi Refining. As long as we deal with him, I believe the Lu Family will make the right judgment."

The An Family Head shared some intelligence: "According to reports, that Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Zhang Family is named Zhang An. He's at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage and only advanced a year ago. Before Foundation Establishment, he was a Loose Cultivator from Duan Ya Mountain. He only managed to succeed by luck as he approached a hundred years old. In my view, he's likely a mediocre Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

The Luo Family Head said solemnly, "Even a mediocre Foundation Establishment Cultivator is still Foundation Establishment. In a one-on-one fight, any of us at Qi Refining would just be slaughtered. We need to lure him out, trap him, and we need a way to kill him in one strike. This will depend on each Family's methods. This concerns the survival of our families, so I trust no one will be half-hearted about it."

Everyone nodded. The Luo Family was again the first to state their position: "My Family's Old Ancestor has no hope for Foundation Establishment. Before I came, he already said that rather than waiting to die, he would rather sacrifice himself for the cause. Using his own body as a furnace to refine the Shocking Explosion Technique and detonating himself, he can achieve the Peak damage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining."

Seeing the Luo Family's sacrifice, the other families also made their stances known.

An Family Head: "My Family has a Magical Artifact that can activate damage equivalent to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. With my strength at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, I can activate one strike."

Wang Family Head: "My Family previously bought a Lightning Attraction Talisman at a high price, which also has the power of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining."

Yun Tiancheng: "My Family had a Flame Thunder Bead made at a high price, which also deals damage equivalent to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining."

After they finished, the other four looked at Chen Li. Chen Li smiled bitterly to himself; wasn't his wood-attribute Formation still nearby?

He had originally intended to use it against them, but it turned out they were the ones he should be discussing with. Feeling awkward, he said, "I have a wood-attribute attack Formation. Anyone below Foundation Establishment who suffers a hit will be crippled if not killed."

Since Chen Li had extravagantly used Spirit Stones to Cultivate, these people had thought he wouldn't be able to provide any means of attack at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

But hearing about an attack Formation that could "cripple if not kill," they all felt a chill down their spines and put away any thoughts of looking down on him.

Unknowingly, the sun had already passed its zenith, and the five people's murder plan was roughly as follows:

Disguise: Luo Family's third-rank Illusionary Form Technique.

Luring: In two months, Zhang An will attend a banquet for new Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Yunan Prefecture. We can set an ambush on his way there or back.

Trapping: Yun Family's third-rank Heart-Confusing Powder, Chen Li's third-rank Spirit-Trapping Formation.

Killing Move: Human bomb, Magical Artifact, Talisman, Thunder Bead, Formation.

Escape: Chen Li's second-rank Teleportation Array.

As the sun set in the west, the five people swore a Poisonous Heart Oath and then went their separate ways.

That night, Chen Li huffed and puffed as he secretly returned to retrieve his Formation...