86: Chapter 86 The Xie Family Steals the Credit, Parting Gifts

At the same time.

A Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Pressure slowly emanated from Zhou Kun.

Combined with Xu Changsheng's earlier modest words.

The Loose Cultivators suddenly realized.

"So that's how it is. I thought it was strange. I'm also at Qi Refining seventh layer, why should I thank him?"

"I suspected it all along. Think about it, how formidable Lu Yuanze was. He killed Senior Du first, then broke the Formation. No one could escape his deadly hands. How could a mere Qi Refining Cultivator match him?"

Zhou Qian asked in confusion, "According to what Brother Kun said, each of us could have activated that ancient Formation and performed the same actions as Fellow Daoist Xu?"

Zhou Kun nodded. "Of course."

He tapped the crimson flame stone beside him.

"I don't know what kind of third-grade spiritual material this red stone is. I tested it; it can absorb fire spiritual power and likely the fire-attributed Spiritual Qi in the air as well."

"Once it's fully charged, it should be able to activate."

Xu Changsheng sneered inwardly.

If the Blazing Sun Fire Binding Array was so simple to activate, it wouldn't have been tossed in a corner collecting dust for millennia, mistaken for a mundane stone.

The intelligence clearly stated that only a heaven-and-earth spiritual fire like the True Solar Fire could be stored within the crimson flame stone.

Ordinary fire-attributed Spiritual Qi?

Don't even think about it.

Furthermore, the crimson flame stone wasn't even a third-grade spiritual material. He had long checked the ancient texts and investigated it multiple times.

It was merely a first-grade spiritual material pieced together through a special refining method.

The essence of the Blazing Sun Fire Binding Array wasn't in the stone at all, but in the terrain of Donglin Fortress and the fire crow feather he had consumed, which served as the Formation's eye.

At this moment.

The look in Zhou Qian's eyes when he glanced at Xu Changsheng held no more gratitude. He returned all the Spirit Stones they had just collected.

Stepping forward, he clasped his fists, a faint, elusive curve at the corner of his mouth:

"We almost fell for your reputation-grabbing, Fellow Daoist Xu. Since you didn't contribute much, you have no right to receive our reward."

Seeing this, the Xie Family Elder.

Hurriedly stepped forward to speak up for Xu Changsheng:

"This old man personally witnessed Fellow Daoist Xu slay Lu Yuanze. Even if he relied on external means, there's effort if not merit. How could he be unqualified?"

Hearing this.

Zhou Qian's face turned cold. "Your Xie Family is attached to our Zhou Family. Don't side with outsiders. You have no say here."

"Then what about me?"

The sound of bells chimed as Crimson Rainbow stepped forward, bringing with her a strange fragrance.

"Who is she?"

Zhou Kun, only now noticing the stunning young woman hidden behind the crowd, immediately brightened up.

"Fairy Chi Ni, a Core Disciple of the Jinyang Sect."

Zhou Qian didn't dare stare at Crimson Rainbow like his Elder brother. While he could bully the Xie Family, he still held reverence for a behemoth like the Jinyang Sect.

"I say Fellow Daoist Xu has merit, so he has merit. You say he used external means? Why didn't you go up there?"

"And you!"

"You too! Why didn't you step forward?"

Her slender, jade-like finger pointed at the Loose Cultivators one by one.

Zhou Kun shook his head, straightened his chest, and was about to step forward to explain.

But Crimson Rainbow's expression suddenly changed.

She glanced back at Xu Changsheng.

Her face shifting between emotions.

"Hmph, forget it. I can't be bothered to argue with you."

...

The farce quickly ended.

The crowd of Loose Cultivators dispersed, some leaving Donglin Fortress to seek other safe places to Cultivate, others returning to their residences to clear the rubble of collapsed houses.

Inside the Xie Family pavilion.

Crimson Rainbow's apricot eyes were wide with anger as she glared at Xu Changsheng.

"That really infuriates me! Brother Xu, why didn't you let me speak earlier?"

Xu Changsheng shook his head. "Such reputation is but floating clouds to me. I don't lack that bit of Spirit Stone reward either."

"Fine. Don't expect me to help you again in the future."

Crimson Rainbow snorted coldly and stormed out the door.

"Naturally. However, the favor from within the Ancient Wood Secret Realm... does it still count?"

Crimson Rainbow's footsteps halted.

"Of course it counts!"

Then she slammed the door shut heavily.

Xu Changsheng began to ponder this operation.

"It almost went wrong. I didn't expect the Blazing Sun Fire Binding Array to have such immense power. I originally planned to eliminate Lu Yuanze quietly."

In that sense, the Zhou Family's credit-snatching was actually a good thing for him.

Apart from the few Cultivators near the Xie Family territory at the time, no one else knew the inside story. No one would investigate, minimizing his exposure.

"At least the basic objectives were achieved: Lu Yuanze was half-killed, and Tanger's Foundation Establishment was protected."

"The pity is not obtaining Lu Yuanze's Storage Pouch, only getting a single third-grade painted skin."

He wasn't one to dwell on gains and losses. Walking to the window, he looked towards the great hall shrouded by the Formation in the distance.

"She should succeed in Foundation Establishment in about three days. That will also be the time for me to leave."

...

Three days later.

The news of Lu Yuanze killing Du Hong, storming Donglin Fortress, and ultimately being slain by the fort's residual Formation spread throughout the Ancient Wood Mountain Range.

Under the vigorous promotion of the Zhou Family, it was Zhou Qian who, fearless and personally taking the field, avenged his mother and eliminated the villain.

The crimson flame stone, suspected to be a third-grade Formation stone, was sent to the main Family for appraisal by the clan's elite spiritual material masters.

On this day.

Within the residence.

Xu Changsheng had just finished a passionate encounter with Xie Wantang.

On the bedside table, a blue robe and a cyan skirt lay intertwined.

A pink belly-wrap and red undergarments were casually discarded on the floor.

Although Xie Wantang had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and her physical constitution had improved, she still couldn't match him and had been defeated.

Lying lazily sprawled on his broad chest, her expression was filled with reluctant attachment.

"Husband Xu, when do you plan to depart?"

Xu Changsheng's hands roamed freely.

"Tomorrow."

"Alright."

Suppressing the reluctance in her heart, Xie Wantang offered no words to make him stay. Instead, she retrieved a jade box from a storage belt nearby.

"What is this?"

Inside the jade box was a small plant about an inch tall, with three round leaves and a point of glowing white at the center of each leaf.

Xu Changsheng's eyes lit up.

"condensing yuan grass?"

This was also a foundation establishment spiritual object. For Xu Changsheng, it could increase his Foundation Establishment probability by ten percent.

"Yes."

Xie Wantang smiled faintly.

Xu Changsheng was puzzled. "If you had this, why didn't you use it for your own Foundation Establishment?"

"Tanger already possessed a High Grade Spiritual Root. Furthermore, the Hongyun Spirit Spring enhanced my Aptitude and Foundation Establishment probability. With the foundation establishment pill father left me, it was sufficient for Foundation Establishment."

"Besides, even if it failed, the marrow protecting pill would offer protection, not affecting the next attempt."

"This stalk of condensing yuan grass is naturally reserved for Husband Xu, who needs it more."

"You..."

Ripples stirred in Xu Changsheng's heart. He pulled the beauty into his embrace once more.

"Doesn't Husband Xu intend to give me some reward?"

Xie Wantang clenched her silver teeth, preventing his probing advance.

"What do you want? This condensing yuan grass is a great help to me. Spirit Stones are not an issue."

Xu Changsheng's rapid breathing echoed in her ear.

Xie Wantang's originally fair and translucent ears flushed red.

"Hehe, after all this time, Husband Xu still doesn't understand Tanger's heart?"

"Say it directly. What do you want?"

"Tanger wants to have a child with Husband Xu."

Xu Changsheng was taken aback.

He had always been careful with Xie Wantang, stopping short to avoid creating something.

After all, his dream was longevity, not starting a Family and establishing a clan.

"Still unwilling?"

The light in Xie Wantang's beautiful eyes dimmed.

[Today's Intelligence (White) Fertility Intelligence]

[There will be no outcome between the host and Xie Wantang today.]

He was slightly stunned.

He hadn't expected the System to have this kind of forecast.

Immediately, he looked at Xie Wantang with deep affection.

"How could that be? I would be delighted."

Xie Wantang's willow-like eyebrows suddenly relaxed, her dimmed eyes instantly bright as stars.