4: The turmoil before the exchange meeting and the new system features

After the crisis in the Spiritual Field was resolved, the atmosphere in the Liu Family clearly improved significantly.

While a few Family members still looked at Mo Chu with suspicion, most of them were now curious and grateful. Liu Zhi, in particular, would find various "good things" for Mo Chu almost every day—sometimes a plump Spiritual Fruit, sometimes a fat Spiritual Insect, and he even secretly poured a little bit of the Body Tempering Medicinal Liquid he was reluctant to use for Mo Chu.

Mo Chu was not polite and accepted everything. Although these Spiritually-charged foods were not as direct as the System rewards, they accumulated over time, subtly strengthening his body. On the System panel, his Rank had quietly risen to Level 1, and his vital signs remained stable at 100%.

【Host: Mo Chu (Black Snake Cub)】

【Rank: Level 1 (Mortal Species)】

【Abilities: None】

【Talent: Not Awakened】

【System Space: Empty】

【Family Contribution Points: 10 points】

【System Mall (Elementary): Unlocked】

【Bound Family: Liu Family (Temporary Contract)】

【Family Status: Declining (A low-tier Cultivation Family in the Qingmang Mountain Range, with 12 Family members, highest cultivation at Qi Refining Stage Three (General Manager Liu Yuan))】

10 Contribution Points were not many, and most of the items in the Elementary Mall were basic Medicinal Pills, Spiritual Plant seeds, and low-Rank Magical Artifact fragments. The cheapest ones cost 50 Contribution Points, so Mo Chu couldn't afford them yet.

But he was not in a hurry. He knew that an opportunity would come soon—the Spiritual Plant Exchange Fair in the Qingmang Mountain Range was only five days away.

These past few days, General Manager Liu Yuan and Liu Shan had been busy preparing for the exchange fair. They carefully harvested and dried the cured Qi Condensation Grass, then rummaged through the Family's remaining Spiritual Materials, repeatedly counting and packing them, their faces showing both anticipation and apprehension.

Liu Zhi was assigned to gather information about other families, and he always returned with sighs.

"Father, Old Ancestor," Liu Zhi returned to the courtyard that evening with a solemn expression, "I heard from the hunters down the mountain that people from the Black Wind Stronghold will also be attending this exchange fair."

"Black Wind Stronghold?" Liu Shan's face changed, "Aren't they a group of Loose Cultivator bandits? How dare they openly go to the exchange fair?"

General Manager Liu Yuan's brows also furrowed: "Black Bear, the leader of the Black Wind Stronghold, has reached Qi Refining Stage Five, and he has more than a dozen Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators under him. They are notorious in the Qingmang Mountain Range, and last year they even robbed the Li Family's Spiritual Field. Their going to the exchange fair probably means no good."

"Then... then are we still going?" a young Family member asked timidly, "If they target us..."

Liu Shan glanced at him and said in a deep voice: "Not going? What will we use to exchange for Grain Abstinence Medicinal Pills and Cultivation Techniques? Are we going to starve to death?"

The courtyard immediately fell silent, and the atmosphere became oppressive.

Mo Chu lay at the doorway, seeing and hearing all of this.

Black Wind Stronghold, Qi Refining Stage Five... they sounded like trouble. With the Liu Family's current strength, facing them would probably only result in a beating.

【Ding! Detected a potential crisis for the bound Family, triggering a side quest: Assist the Liu Family in safely navigating the Spiritual Plant Exchange Fair and avoiding the threat of the Black Wind Stronghold.】

【Quest Reward: 100 Contribution Points, Random Talent Awakening Opportunity x1.】

The System quest had arrived.

Mo Chu's spirits lifted. 100 Contribution Points would be enough to buy some useful things in the Mall. And the Talent Awakening Opportunity was undoubtedly a huge temptation for him, who was still a "Mortal Species."

But how could they avoid the threat of the Black Wind Stronghold?

A direct confrontation was definitely out of the question. They could only outsmart them.

Mo Chu's gaze swept around the courtyard and finally landed on the herbs in the corner of General Manager Liu Yuan's house. He remembered that in the Elementary Mall, there was a low-Rank Talisman called an "Invisibility Talisman" that could conceal the aura of Cultivators and Spiritual Plants, which would be perfect for avoiding the Black Wind Stronghold's attention. And some of the Materials for making Invisibility Talismans seemed to be found among these herbs...

Just as Mo Chu was pondering, Wang Lan started to grumble again: "I said we shouldn't join in on the fun. Now look, we haven't even gone yet and we've run into the Black Wind Stronghold. Isn't this just asking for death? If I had known, I wouldn't have kept this snake back then, wasting food..."

Her words were cut short by General Manager Liu Yuan's cold interruption: "Enough! Mo Chu is a meritorious minister of my Liu Family, and it's not your place to gossip! If you dare to speak nonsense again, I'll punish you to guard the back mountain for three months!"

Wang Lan shuddered in fear and dared not speak again, but the look in her eyes towards Mo Chu became even more venomous.

Mo Chu paid no attention to her gaze. His mind was now entirely focused on how to complete the quest.

He slithered to General Manager Liu Yuan's feet, rubbed his head against his pant leg, then hissed twice towards the icon of the "Invisibility Talisman" in the System Mall (though others couldn't see it), and then pointed at the herbs.

General Manager Liu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then looked down at Mo Chu: "You mean... you have a way to deal with the Black Wind Stronghold?"

Mo Chu nodded.

A hint of surprise flashed in General Manager Liu Yuan's eyes, followed by a glimmer of hope: "What method do you have? Speak freely. As long as it can avoid the Black Wind Stronghold, I will listen to you."

Mo Chu coiled his tail around a "Spirit Concealing Grass" with a faint glow and then pointed to his body, making a "hiding" gesture.

General Manager Liu Yuan, having lived for most of his life, immediately understood: "You mean, use herbs to make something that conceals auras?"

Mo Chu nodded again.

General Manager Liu Yuan looked at the Spirit Concealing Grass, then at Mo Chu, pondered for a moment, and then slapped his thigh: "That's right! Why didn't I think of it! Spirit Concealing Grass, combined with Rosemary and Dust-Cutting Leaf, can indeed refine a simple Concealing Incense! Although its effect is not as good as a Talisman, it should be enough to deal with Cultivators below Qi Refining Stage Five!"

His face showed excitement, and he quickly said to Liu Shan: "Quick! Find all the Rosemary and Dust-Cutting Leaf in the storeroom! I will refine the Concealing Incense right now!"

"Yes!" Liu Shan also reacted and quickly turned to the storeroom.

Liu Zhi watched this scene, his mouth wide open in surprise: "Old Ancestor, Mo Chu... does he even know this?"

General Manager Liu Yuan smiled and stroked Mo Chu's head: "This little fellow is probably not simple. It seems that my Liu Family might really be able to overcome this difficulty with its help this time."

Wang Lan stood aside, watching Mo Chu, who was surrounded by everyone, her face alternating between green and pale. In the end, she didn't dare to say anything more and silently turned back into the house.

Mo Chu lay at General Manager Liu Yuan's feet, feeling the gradually relaxing atmosphere around him, and also breathed a sigh of relief.

The first step was successful.

Next, it was to make the Concealing Incense and then successfully exchange for the necessary items at the exchange fair.

As for the Black Wind Stronghold... as long as they didn't provoke them, with the Concealing Incense, they should be able to avoid them.