33: Chapter 33: A Beauty Arrives at the Door, and the Escort Share is Priced Face-to-Face.

The Grand Elder sat in the main seat of the meeting hall. After hearing the testimony Li Chengyue brought back, he was so furious that he slammed his hand onto the hardwood table beside him, making the tea bowls clatter.

"Those bastards from the Zhao Family!" The old man's beard trembled, his anger rising to his head. "They are trying to cut off our Li Family's livelihood! If this shipment is looted halfway, what will we have to answer to the Qingyun Sect with?"

Li Qingfeng stood below the hall, the mana fluctuations of his Qi Refining Stage 7 (mid-stage) not yet fully contained.

His mind raced.

The Zhao Family realized that destroying the fields hadn't worked, so they resorted to desperate, underhanded tactics. The supply line to the Qingyun Sect was the Li Family's greatest protection right now; once broken, all their previous efforts would be in vain.

Just as the Li Family Elders were pacing in anxiety, a guard rushed in to report that the eldest daughter of the Wang Family, Wang Qingluan, had come to visit in person.

The Grand Elder was stunned for a moment, then quickly ordered for her to be invited in.

Wang Qingluan was not wearing the usual loose magical dress today; instead, she had changed into a form-fitting, purple-black short outfit.

The fabric was extremely elastic, hugging her fiery, gourd-shaped figure tightly. The two plump mounds on her chest bounced with her movements, as if they might burst the buttons at any moment.

Most lethal was the short, tight-fitting pants on her lower body, revealing a pair of long, straight legs. Her leg muscles were firm and well-proportioned, and with a pair of black boots, she exuded a captivating, wild beauty.

She walked into the hall, first offering a Junior's salute to the Grand Elder, then her gaze fell directly on Li Qingfeng.

"Li Qingfeng, I heard you added a son to your New Courtyard, let me offer my congratulations." Wang Qingluan's voice was crisp and decisive. "I came tonight because I want to discuss a deal with you."

Li Qingfeng looked at her aggressive peach-blossom eyes and nodded inwardly.

This woman was indeed a straightforward person.

Wang Qingluan unceremoniously pulled up a chair and sat down, her long legs crossed casually, the tips of her boots slightly raised, getting straight to the point:

"We have also received wind that the Zhao Family plans to set an ambush at Qingshi Slope. Zhao Mingyue has invested heavily this time; he has even hired Loose Cultivators from the Outer Town."

The Grand Elder's face darkened, and he remained silent.

Wang Qingluan continued: "If the Zhao Family destroys your transport line, the rules of Qingshi Town will be completely ruined, and our Wang Family will have to worry every time our goods leave. So this time, the Wang Family is willing to help you keep an eye on this route."

Li Qingfeng found a chair and sat opposite her, leaning forward slightly, staring at her with burning eyes:

"Young Miss Wang, pies don't fall from the sky. Your Wang Family is willing to contribute manpower and effort; what benefits do you want?"

Wang Qingluan's red lips moved slightly, her tone very direct:

"After success, our Wang Family wants half of the transport quota that the Zhao Family will vacate in the market. That is my price."

The Grand Elder frowned upon hearing this; the asking price was not low.

But Li Qingfeng did not hesitate at all and immediately made the decision:

"Deal! As long as the Wang Family is willing to put in real effort, the Li Family will never hog the spoils. But if you only intend to watch from the sidelines and hedge your bets, don't blame me, Li Qingfeng, for turning hostile afterward."

Listening to his firm words, Wang Qingluan could not hide the admiration in her eyes.

She had seen too many hypocrites full of benevolence and morality. A man like Li Qingfeng, who put interests on the table and valued promises, was a rarity in the world of cultivation.

Moreover, she knew very well that Li Qingfeng's steadiness was not just because he was smart, but because he had a small Family behind him that he needed to protect at all costs.

Such a man was the most reliable to cooperate with.

After finalizing the details of the cooperation, Wang Qingluan did not stay long and left decisively. From beginning to end, she did not suggest going to the New Courtyard to see the child, showing perfect discretion.

Li Qingfeng sent Wang Qingluan away and immediately turned to rush back to the New Courtyard.

Pushing open the door to the inner chamber, a pleasant smell of milk and the unique scent of a woman's powder rushed to his face.

Su Qingyue was leaning against the soft cushion at the head of the bed, holding the child who had just fallen asleep.

She was wearing a thin, breathable light green silk garment. Because she had just given birth and was lactating, her already plump breasts were heavy and soft, stretching the neckline of her garment wide open, revealing a large expanse of dazzling white, soft flesh and a deep cleavage.

The thin quilt had slipped to her waist, and her long, straight legs were curled up casually. Her fair, tender skin glowed with an alluring luster under the warm yellow candlelight, and she radiated a rich maternal glow and the unique charm of a young woman.

Li Qingfeng looked at his beautiful wife, and the anger and fatigue in his heart dissipated by more than half instantly.

He strode over, and his broad palm rested directly on her still-slender water-snake waist, gently kneading the smooth, soft flesh.

"My wife, did you get scared today?"

Su Qingyue gave him a coquettish glance, her watery peach-blossom eyes full of charm, and her small hand gently slapped away his large hand that was making mischief on her waist.

"Stop it, the child just fell asleep." Her voice was soft and glutinous, tinged with a bit of heartache. "I've heard about what's happening outside. The Zhao Family wants to intercept our goods, right?"

Li Qingfeng nodded, just about to speak to comfort her, when a crisp "ding" sound suddenly echoed in his mind.

The blue System panel popped up directly.

[Ding! The final stage of the mother's postpartum nourishment and feedback has been completed.]

[Function Description: The massive Innate Fetal Breath residue accumulated during the production process has now been completely converted into the purest Water-Wood Origin. This Origin will wash over the mother's Meridians without reservation, not only repairing all hidden injuries but also forcibly widening the Dantian capacity, helping her completely stabilize her current Realm.]

[System Prompt: Dao Companion Su Qingyue's cultivation has achieved a substantial leap.]

The moment the prompt sound fell, Su Qingyue suddenly let out a soft cry.

She felt a sudden tremor in her Dantian, and a massive and extremely pure Water-Wood Spiritual Qi flowed like warm spring water through her limbs and bones.

The aura that had been somewhat floating just a moment ago settled down completely at this moment. Her cultivation Realm of the Late Stage of Qi Refining was now as stable as an iron foundation.

Su Qingyue excitedly raised her fair, tender hand and gently circled her fingertips.

A condensed, green wood-element true essence instantly gathered at her fingertips, its purity and control power far exceeding what she had before giving birth.

"Qingfeng! My cultivation... has completely stabilized at the Late Stage of Qi Refining!"

She was so excited that her eyes turned red, and she hugged Li Qingfeng's arm, her full breasts pressing tightly against the man's arm.

In the world of cultivation, female cultivators who give birth are likely to lose cultivation. But she not only didn't lose it, but took a big step forward with the help of this massive vitality; this was a good thing she couldn't even imagine.

Li Qingfeng felt great too; this System feedback was indeed overbearing.

The higher his wife's cultivation, the safer the New Courtyard would be in the future, and the more she could help him share the burden.

Sure enough, after Su Qingyue calmed down, she immediately pulled Li Qingfeng to sit on the edge of the bed, her tone becoming very serious.

"Qingfeng, I can't help with the fighting outside, but I know a thing or two about transporting Spiritual Plants."

She took out two pieces of paper filled with handwriting from the bedside table and handed them to Li Qingfeng.

"These are the two Spiritual Plant preservation formulas I just deduced."

"If the Zhao Family uses a fire array to ambush, the temperature will rise sharply, and the medicinal properties of the Spiritual Plants will evaporate by more than half instantly. Tell the transport team to spread this 'Cold Wood Powder' on the bottom of the carriage. As long as the external temperature rises, this medicine powder will emit water vapor, protecting the roots of the Spiritual Plants."

"With these two prescriptions, even if a fight really breaks out halfway, the goods we offer to the Qingyun Sect will remain intact."

Li Qingfeng took the paper, looking at the beautiful handwriting on it, and a strong sense of stability surged in his heart.

He lowered his head and kissed Su Qingyue on her red, alluring lips.

"My wife, you have really helped the Family a lot! With you sitting in the Family, I feel much more confident."

Su Qingyue's cheeks flushed from his kiss, her watery eyes full of tenderness. She knew that she was no longer just a delicate flower protected behind him, but a helper who could truly help him support the Family's foundation.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was the morning of the third day.

On the official road outside Qingshi Town, the morning mist had not yet dispersed, and when the cold wind blew, the leaves on both sides rustled.

The Li Family's transport fleet set off in a mighty manner.

Leading the way was Li Chengyue, who was wearing heavy leather armor, holding a long sword, his eyes vigilantly scanning the movements around him.

On the surface, the fleet had only a dozen Li Family expert guards, and the defense did not look very strict.

But in reality, this big net had long been spread out.

At this very moment, in the depths of the dense forest on both sides of the official road, Li Qingfeng was like a lurking leopard, restraining all the aura in his body, hiding in the dark without a sound.

Using the System's "Vitality Perception" talent, the blood and Qi fluctuations of any living creature within a hundred feet could not escape his eyes.

The fleet gradually drove into a dangerous hillside.

This was Qingshi Slope.

There were towering earthen cliffs on both sides, with only a narrow dirt road in the middle; it was definitely an excellent place for killing and looting.

Suddenly, Li Qingfeng's Vitality Perception jumped violently.

He sensed more than a dozen manic true essence fluctuations hidden in the weeds on the left cliff.

"They're here."

Li Qingfeng snorted coldly in his heart, his palm slowly gripping the long sword at his waist.

Just as the fleet reached the center of the hillside.

"Whoosh—!"

A harsh sound of breaking through the air rang out suddenly.

Immediately after, a signal arrow with a dazzling red light shot into the sky, exploding into a thick red smoke in mid-air.

"Do it! Burn everything, people and goods!"

An arrogant roar came from above the earthen cliff.

In an instant, a dozen masked Loose Cultivators in gray clothes jumped up from the grass.

The leading array cultivator frantically formed seals with both hands, and the Earth and Fire mana in his body surged out simultaneously.

A huge, bright red fire net formed in mid-air instantly, carrying terrifying high temperatures, covering the Li Family's fleet head-on.

The moisture in the air was instantly evaporated, and the surrounding temperature rose sharply.

This was the killing move that the Zhao Family had spent a lot of money to hire, wanting to cut off the Li Family's supply line in one blow!

Li Chengyue roared according to the previous plan: "Form a defensive array!"

A dozen Li Family guards immediately drew their weapons, pretending to be in a panic, guarding the carriages full of Spiritual Plants.

Seeing this formation, the Loose Cultivators on the cliff thought they had already won, their faces showing greed as they waved their Magical Artifacts and rushed down.

At this critical moment.

Li Qingfeng's eyes, hidden in the dark, became terrifying.

His Qi Refining Stage 7 (mid-stage) wood-element true essence exploded instantly, and the massive mana poured out like a burst dam.

"Zhao Family bastards, I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

Li Qingfeng gave a sharp shout, his figure exploding from the forest like lightning.

He slammed his hands onto the ground.

"Boom—!"

With a deafening roar, the mud on both sides of Qingshi Slope instantly exploded.

Dozens of thick, bucket-sized green wooden vines burst out of the ground, carrying violent power, directly meeting the fire net in mid-air.

The wooden vines flashed with rich, vibrant green light, actually withstanding the high temperature of the fire net and tearing it to pieces in mid-air.

Immediately after, the wooden vines, like giant pythons with life, frantically strangled toward the group of Loose Cultivators rushing down the hillside.

The screams of the fight instantly exploded over Qingshi Slope!