95: Chapter 95 The Bai Family's Scheme

This Five-Viscera Martial Artist had reached this stage relying solely on luck.

But it was precisely this stroke of luck that fueled his ambition.

As a Five-Viscera Martial Artist, he needed a vast amount of resources to progress further. Likewise, because of his status as a Five-Viscera Martial Artist, the Bai Family harbored a greater aspiration: the ambition to become a third-rate family.

With the emergence of this spark, the Bai Family's desire to become a third-rate family grew increasingly intense.

However, the Bai Family's foundation was simply insufficient to become a third-rate family. Whether in terms of population, merit, or overall strength, they were clearly far from the standards of an Great Family.

Following normal development, even after another twenty years, the Bai Family might still not reach the standards for promotion to an Great Family.

This was also due to the restrictions imposed by the three great aristocratic families. It was not easy for the Bai Family to expand their industries and secure enough resources.

Moreover, even if the Bai Family's foundation reached the threshold of an Great Family in twenty years...

Could they actually secure a seat among the aristocratic families?

By then, even if the Bai Family managed to become an Great Family, they likely wouldn't be able to maintain that position for more than a few years.

By that time, the vitality of the Bai Family's Five-Viscera Martial Artist would be nearly exhausted; how could he possibly have the capacity to nurture a new Five Viscera Realm expert?

Seen this way, it would be nothing more than a flash in the pan.

In fact, cases of a 'flash in the pan' like the Bai Family were not uncommon. Among these low-tier aristocratic families, a few lucky individuals would always emerge.

But of those who actually secured their position as an Great Family, not even one in ten remained.

Only those low-tier families that had accumulated a sufficient foundation could maintain their status as an Great Family after producing a Five-Viscera Martial Artist.

Therefore, if the Bai Family wanted to make a bid for the status of an Great Family, they had to move as quickly as possible.

A Bai Family Elder said, "Clan Head, do you believe this news is true?"

Clan Head Bai Qihua replied with a faint smile, "Whether it's true or false, is that really so important?"

The Bai Family Elder looked puzzled and said, "Clan Head, you mean..."

Clan Head Bai Qihua gazed at the Bai Family Elder and said thoughtfully, "Let me ask you: if this matter is true, should our Bai Family take action?"

The Bai Family Elder pondered for a moment, his expression filled with uncertainty; whether they should or shouldn't, it didn't seem to be his decision to make.

For a moment, the Bai Family Elder fell into silence.

Seeing the Elder's reaction, Clan Head Bai Qihua showed no expression and simply said calmly, "Regardless of whether this is true or false, my Bai Family must investigate. If it's true, then we won't be the only ones eyeing this shipment of grain. Among the three great aristocratic families, I can't say all three have designs on it. But at the very least, the Liu Family definitely has ideas about this grain, and the Ma Family might as well. That old fellow from the Wen Family has vitality on the verge of decline; if he participates in a battle, it will surely accelerate that process. The Wen Family has been fully preparing for the divine power transformation potion these last few years, so they likely won't dare take the risk at this time. Thus, the worst-case scenario is that two families will eye the grain. If my Bai Family acts as the bird that sticks its head out, those two families definitely won't mind being the oriole behind us."

The Bai Family Elder said in confusion, "In that case, why should our Bai Family get involved? If the two great aristocratic families take action, our Bai Family won't stand a chance. Rather than letting them reap the benefits, we might as well watch from the sidelines."

Clan Head Bai Qihua shook his head and looked at his Elder as if looking at an idiot. "How foolish. If this shipment of grain is real and those two families get it, when will our Bai Family ever have a chance to rise?"

"By then, even if I hold on until my vitality declines, the Bai Family will still find it difficult to enter the ranks of the aristocratic families."

The Bai Family Elder argued, "But if our Bai Family acts, even if the grain is real, we won't be able to get it. At that point, wouldn't we just be doing the hard work for the benefit of those two families? In that case, we might as well abandon this operation."

Either of those two families alone was far beyond what the Bai Family could contend with. Their strengths were comparable, and if both chose to be the oriole, they would most likely choose to split the spoils.

By then, even if the two weren't truly allied, dealing with the Bai Family would be a simple matter.

Once the Bai Family fell into such a predicament, it would be better not to seek promotion to an Great Family at all.

This time, Clan Head Bai Qihua did not look down on his Elder but explained patiently, "Elder Qicheng, thinking of this shows you've used your brain. Just as you said, no matter what, our Bai Family cannot possibly obtain this shipment of grain."

Hearing this, Bai Qicheng couldn't help but curse inwardly; were these even the words of a human?

If the person before him wasn't his own Clan Head and someone he couldn't defeat, he would definitely have given him a good thrashing.

Unaware that his Elder had already cursed him eight hundred times in his head, Clan Head Bai Qihua continued, "Indeed, this grain could alleviate our Bai Family's financial distress. But I never said I wanted the Pei Family's grain."

Hearing this, Bai Qicheng became even more confused. If the Bai Family wasn't after the grain, wasn't everything said before just a waste of breath?

Suddenly, Clan Head Bai Qihua looked at Bai Qicheng, his gaze turning serious. "Elder Qicheng, you should know that besides the Ma, Wen, and Liu families, there is another power in Jinhe County that also has a Five-Viscera Martial Artist."

Bai Qicheng's heart jolted as he suddenly understood his Clan Head's meaning. "Clan Head, you mean the Black Wind Stronghold. Do you want our Bai Family to ally with the Black Wind Stronghold to deal with the Liu Family?"

Clan Head Bai Qihua said, "Exactly. The Black Wind Stronghold shares an irreconcilable enmity with the Liu Family. Back then, if the Liu Family hadn't been pulling strings behind the scenes, the Wu Family would have long since become one of the aristocratic families of Jinhe County. They wouldn't have been forced into banditry, with Great Chieftain Wu Dalong becoming the leader of the current Black Wind Stronghold. Given Wu Dalong's hatred for the Liu Family, if my Bai Family is willing to join forces with him, he will never refuse."

Bai Qicheng said in shock, "Clan Head, absolutely not! Even if our Bai Family joins forces with the Black Wind Stronghold, our strength would barely equal the Liu Family's. If we fail to take them down, once the Liu Family returns to Jinhe County, our Bai Family will surely face their frantic retaliation."

Clan Head Bai Qihua's expression remained calm as he said unhurriedly, "Don't be in such a hurry, Elder Qicheng. I haven't finished speaking. Naturally, the two of us couldn't take down the Liu Family, but what if we include the Pei Family? If the Pei Family is truly escorting such a large shipment of grain, their Five-Viscera Old Ancestor of the clan must be escorting it personally. From what I know, the Ancestor of the Pei family is already over eighty years old; although his vitality hasn't failed yet, it's not far off."

"Therefore, this shipment is extremely important to the Pei Family and cannot be lost. In other words, even if the cargo isn't grain, as long as the Ancestor of the Pei family is escorting it personally, that alone proves its significance."