13: Chapter 13 The Wang Family Launches an Attack

"Fourth Brother, don't lose heart. Your son and daughter are promising; you'll have plenty of time to enjoy your blessings later. When it comes to cultivation, just doing your best is enough."

Su Chengyuan merely gave a simple and honest smile, nodding in agreement. His eyes held a few hints of the loneliness of 'accepting one's fate,' but his heart remained as calm as a deep well.

If he so desired, he could make this eldest brother, who was at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, crawl on the ground with a single finger.

This feeling of hiding thunderous power beneath mediocrity gave him a deeper appreciation for his son's plan of 'enduring and lying low.'

Father and son—one in the light and one in the shadows—were like two tigers quietly sharpening their claws and fangs, waiting for the moment to stun the world.

Time passed quietly amidst this tranquility.

With the aid of Medicinal Pills, Su Cheng's cultivation also successfully broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, officially entering the Qi Refining Middle Stage.

His Mental Energy had strengthened significantly upon his advancement. Now, refining qi gathering pills was no longer as taxing as it was initially, and the recovery speed of his Mental Energy was much faster.

On the surface, everything seemed normal for the Su Family, aside from the fact that they had produced a Tiangang Sect Disciple.

Just as the Su father and son were quietly accumulating strength, a conspiracy against the Su Family was silently brewing in the Wang Family estate in the county seat.

The Wang Family, Council Chamber.

The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat heavy.

The Family Head, Wang Boan, sat upright in the primary seat, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. Seated below him were several of the Wang Family's Core Elders.

As the number one cultivation Family in the county, the Wang Family had been comfortable for far too long.

But recently, two matters had caused them a flicker of unease.

"How is the investigation into that Treasure Gathering Tower matter going?" Wang Boan spoke, his voice low.

An Elder stood up and replied, "Family Head, we still have no clues. In the past month, three different Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivators have successively appeared at Treasure Gathering Tower to purchase large quantities of discarded medicinal ingredients, spending quite lavishly.

Our people have tried probing, but the shopkeeper of Treasure Gathering Tower is very tight-lipped. He only says he is handling matters for a certain Alchemist and refuses to reveal anything else."

"An Alchemist..." Wang Boan's brow furrowed.

An Alchemist who could be quietly nurtured right under their noses was, in itself, a threat.

The Medicinal Pill business in the county had always been monopolized by their Wang Family.

"From out of town? But why would they come to his Wang Family's tiny county seat?"

"What about the other matter?" he continued to ask.

Another Elder said with a look of confusion, "It's regarding the Su Family of Qingyang Town. The spy we planted in the Su Family sent back word saying the Su Family has been... unusually quiet lately."

"Quiet?" Wang Boan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Ever since that Su Yunling was taken by the Tiangang Sect, the Su Family hasn't used it to expand their influence. Instead, they've become even more low-key than before.

The clansmen aren't causing trouble, and there have been no new moves in their business. It's as if nothing ever happened. It's so quiet it's abnormal."

"When things are abnormal, there must be foul play," Wang Boan snorted coldly, his fingers tapping louder on the table. "A tiny Qi Refining Family latches onto the high branch of the Tiangang Sect, yet they tuck their tails between their legs?

They are deliberately showing weakness and accumulating strength in secret! They want to wait until their wings are strong to soar into the sky and ride over the heads of our Wang Family!"

"Su Yunling... Su Family..." Wang Boan muttered these names, a shadow flashing in his eyes.

A High-Grade Spiritual Root and the Tiangang Sect—if nothing unexpected happened, there was a high probability Su Yunling would reach Foundation Establishment.

When that time came, the Wang Family and the Su Family...

Just then, a hurried sound of footsteps came from outside the Council Chamber.

A Cultivator who looked like a butler hurried in and whispered a few words into Wang Boan's ear.

Wang Boan's face instantly turned ashen green.

"Everyone, listen to this," he looked around at the crowd, his voice very cold. "An envoy from the Blazing Fire Sect just passed down a decree. The Sect is extremely dissatisfied with the Tiangang Sect taking Su Yunling from our territory last year."

Everyone in the hall was suddenly as quiet as cicadas in winter.

The Blazing Fire Sect was the backer behind their Wang Family, a true Golden Core Sect.

"The Sect's meaning is that it is inconvenient for them to clash directly with the Tiangang Sect, but our Wang Family must give the Su Family a bit of 'color' to see. It is both a warning to the Su Family and a test of the Tiangang Sect's bottom line," Wang Boan said slowly.

An Elder asked cautiously, "Family Head, what does the Sect want... us to do?"

A ruthless glint flashed in Wang Boan's eyes. "What else can we do? We can't touch Su Yunling, but can we really not touch the tiny Su Family? Pass my command: starting today, the annual tribute from the Su Family of Qingyang Town will be increased by thirty percent on top of the original amount!"

"Thirty percent?" Several Elders all sucked in a breath of cold air.

The Su Family was already a dirt-poor Qi Refining Family. Their annual output barely sufficed for their own clansmen's cultivation, and the portion they paid as tribute to the Wang Family already forced them to tighten their belts.

Adding another thirty percent would practically sever the cultivation path of all the ordinary Su clansmen!

This move was incredibly ruthless.

"It's settled then," Wang Boan made the final decision. "I want to see if the Su Family's backbone has really stiffened now that they've clung to the Tiangang Sect! I also want to see if the Tiangang Sect will bother with such a small matter in our county just for a newly entered Qi Refining Disciple!"

...

Several days later, the Su Family of Qingyang Town.

A majestic spirit horse stopped in front of the Su Family mansion. Seated on the horse was a young Cultivator dressed in Wang Family attire, his expression arrogant, his nostrils almost pointing to the sky.

"The Wang Family envoy has arrived! Why hasn't the Su Family Head come out quickly to welcome me!" the youth shouted in a shrill voice, filled with impatience and contempt.

Su Tianxiang, who was handling Family affairs, felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing the news.

Why had the Wang Family suddenly sent someone? And the visitor was so arrogant; he was definitely not coming with good intentions.

He did not dare to be negligent and hurried out with several Elders to meet him.

"I did not know the Wang Family's immortal envoy would grace us with his presence. Please forgive us for not welcoming you sooner!" Su Tianxiang had a smile plastered on his face, keeping his posture very low.

The young Cultivator glanced at him sideways, pulled out a gold-embossed document from his robe, and tossed it over casually.

"The Family Head is too polite. This is an order from our Wang Family Head; see for yourself."

Su Tianxiang quickly caught it and opened it. The smile on his face instantly froze.

His hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and his breathing became rapid.

Every word on the document was like a sharp knife, stabbing fiercely into his heart.

"Tribute... increased by thirty percent?!" His voice was both shocked and furious.

"What, does Family Head Su have an objection?" The young Cultivator sneered, his tone full of mockery. "Now that your Su Family has produced a brilliant Disciple of the Tiangang Sect and has a large Family business, you surely won't miss this bit of tribute, right? Our Family Head said that he only gave your Su Family the opportunity to contribute more to the county's prosperity because he thinks highly of you."

These words were no different from pointing at Su Tianxiang's nose and insulting him.

Su Tianxiang's face turned from white to red, and then from red to purple. His chest heaved violently, and a surge of anger rushed straight to his head.

This was going too far! This was clearly trying to force their Su Family onto a path of death!

He gripped the document tightly, his knuckles cracking.

As the head of the Family, how could he agree to such conditions that would ruin the Family's future!

"You... your Wang Family..." He was so angry he was shaking all over, unable to finish a sentence.

"What about our Wang Family?" The young Cultivator leaned forward fearlessly and lowered his voice, saying in a tone only the two of them could hear, "Old Man Su, don't be ungrateful. Don't think that just because a girl entered the Tiangang Sect, you're so great.

The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. In this Qinghe County, our Wang Family is the heavens! If you're smart, you'll obediently hand over the full tribute, otherwise... hmph, bear the consequences yourself!"

After speaking, he laughed heartily and arrogantly, flipped onto his horse, and galloped away, leaving behind only a string of insolent laughter and the humiliated expressions of the Su Family members, who were furious but dared not speak out.

*Pfft!*

Su Tianxiang could no longer suppress it; a mouthful of heart's blood sprayed out, staining the front of his robes red.

"Family Head!"

"Grandfather!"

Cries of alarm rose from all sides, and the entire Su Family mansion instantly fell into chaos.