69: Jie Xiu attacked and the market fell

As he spoke, he looked with disgust at the three fat, pig-like, deeply sleeping quasi-second-tier Yao Beasts in the pit.

He curled his lip in disdain.

“These three beasts eat better than humans!”

“A black-furred monkey and a wild boar… only this Golden Eagle is somewhat impressive.”

Mo Dengxian, true to his name, was no ordinary person.

He instantly saw the problem with the three Yao Beasts.

He pulled out three different Medicinal Pills from his Storage Pouch.

Before the three could react, he tossed them into the mouths of the three Yao Beasts.

This startled the three men.

Pengcheng stepped forward in shock and anger: “What are you doing?!”

Mo Dengxian’s movements were too fast; he hadn't even had time to stop him before the Golden Eagle had already pecked the Medicinal Pill into its mouth.

Among the three brothers, he was the most wary. The Lu Family wasn't good people, so was this Mo Dengxian a benevolent sort?

He just hadn't shown it until now.

“Relax…” Mo Dengxian’s eyes narrowed slightly: “If it doesn’t work later, cut off my head. I will have no complaints.”

Xie Sandao interjected: “Enough, Third Brother, let’s observe Mister Mo’s methods first. Yao Beasts have keen senses of smell; they wouldn’t eat poisoned Medicinal Pills.”

Bai Yongxiao chuckled, playing peacemaker: “My Third Brother didn’t mean to offend Fellow Daoist. It’s just that earlier, sir, you only spoke halfway about the Treasure Seeking Rat. What did you mean by that?”

Mo Dengxian smiled and replied: “My fault, my fault.”

As he spoke, he again took out a milky-white Medicinal Pill. This time, the three Yao Beasts suddenly opened their eyes, all staring intently at Mo Dengxian.

Even the Treasure Seeking Rat in Mo Dengxian’s hand immediately became energetic.

It squeaked and squawked wildly.

Bai Yongxiao’s eyes lit up as he said: “This is…”

Mo Dengxian smiled faintly, saying meaningfully: “This is the reason. Raising a Spirit Beast is like raising a child. The pills just now were for treating illness, but this one is for increasing cultivation.

Do the three of you know what this Medicinal Pill is refined from…?”

At this point, the three Yao Beasts began to react.

They retched incessantly.

Before long, they vomited out many pieces of flesh and blood, splattering all over the ground.

A bloody, foul stench emanated.

Mo Dengxian covered his nose in disgust, vigorously fanning the air.

Among the things spewed from the Yao Beasts’ mouths, there was clearly a human hand.

There were also many undigested fragments of clothing mixed within.

Even more bizarrely, as the three Yao Beasts became listless, the faces of Xie Sandao and his two brothers improved significantly.

It was as if the shackles on their bodies had suddenly been removed.

They couldn't help but look at each other.

Only then did Mo Dengxian finally stop being mysterious and spoke directly: “The cultivation of a Natal Spirit Beast doesn’t actually depend on whether it’s powerful. The most crucial thing is the ‘Spirit’ character; otherwise, it’s just a Yao Beast without intelligence.

Humans borrow the Yao Beast’s power for nourishment, and the Yao Beast naturally needs to borrow human wisdom to Cultivate.

Mutual assistance between the two—this is the core principle of Beast Taming.

And this…”

Mo Dengxian shook the Medicinal Pill in his hand and said: “This is the key item that can increase a Yao Beast’s intelligence, transforming it from a Yao Beast into a Spirit Beast—the Spirit Transformation Pill!”

“Oh, that’s right!” Mo Dengxian’s tone suddenly changed, and his gaze swept over the three men as he said: “It also has another name—the Human Pill!”

… “You tricked me, kid?”

In the market at this moment, Xiao Qingyuan looked at Yang Zhantang with a face full of suspicion: “Where are the people here?”

“No, Big Brother!” Yang Zhantang was on the verge of tears, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying: “You see, this has indeed been converted into a guard post. Next, the main force will enter the mountains to clear land.

This is the bridgehead for entering the mountains, and it will also be expanded.

I thought about it, and it’s still too dangerous.

After the incident with Lu Liang, everyone was prepared.

This kind of thing is simply impossible to achieve.

How about we go back?

Don’t worry, with me here, our Xiao Family’s shops will definitely not have any problems.”

Yang Zhantang once again felt like retreating.

He couldn't help but try to persuade him again, actively demonstrating his value.

He was now not only afraid of the mission failing.

He was even more afraid that Xiao Qingyuan would kill him to silence him.

“Who said ‘our Xiao Family’ with you?” Xiao Qingyuan’s face darkened at the words, and he slapped the back of his head, saying: “Don’t let me find out you did this on purpose, kid.”

However, just as the two were in a dilemma, unsure of what to do next,

the Loose Cultivators on the street suddenly began to stir.

Xiao Qingyuan’s heart tensed.

He quickly activated his Spirit Eye to investigate.

He found that, at some unknown point, a large group of black-robed, hooded interceptors had, with prior preparation, simultaneously launched an attack.

This caused a riot.

They rushed into the various shops as if entering an unmanned territory.

They killed anyone they saw and looted any resources.

Before long, large fires began to spread.

Chaos!

Almost instantly, the entire market erupted in chaos.

Wails and screams were incessant.

Xiao Qingyuan’s face changed drastically, and his first thought was of his Aunt, Xiao Yanrou, and her family who were staying in the market.

He took Yang Zhantang and swiftly fled towards the center of the market, their figures disappearing instantly… Xiao Yanrou was a bit younger than Third Uncle and older than Fourth Uncle. However, immortal clan women generally aren't ranked by generation, hence she was addressed as Aunt.

Aunt was very kind to Xiao Qingyuan when he was a child.

Normally, the three shops were guarded by Aunt Xiao Yanrou and her live-in husband, Wei Wuji, both at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation.

Below them, Elder Cousin Xiao Qingni, Elder Cousin Xiao Qinglan, and several immortal clan retainers in the early to Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation handled miscellaneous affairs.

These retainers were all children with Spiritual Roots, selected and nurtured from around Qingxuan Town.

Many were descendants of trusted subordinates from the old master’s generation.

Some even had distant familial ties.

They were what you’d call ‘house-born’ individuals.

Besides being loyal,

they would also form hunting parties when not busy.

Each one was very precious to the immortal clan.

No loss could be afforded.

When Xiao Qingyuan arrived at the largest shop, he found the place already deserted.

Broken wood splinters were all over the ground, and a large fire had already ignited in the inner courtyard.

Xiao Qingyuan quickly went to investigate.

Two or three corpses lay on the ground, all of them Xiao Clan Members.

He recognized one of them; it was an immortal clan retainer from his family, the old shopkeeper who had guarded this place for thirty years.

His chest and abdomen were brutally ripped open by a weapon, as if his heart had been torn out by sharp claws.

Xiao Qingyuan was furious.

Fortunately, Aunt’s family was not there.

“Damn it, who is it?!”

Xiao Qingyuan’s face was filled with rage. His figure flickered, and he quickly fled towards the other two shops.

He released his Divine Sense, carefully searching for clues along the way.

He hoped to find them.

As a result, the other two shops were also destroyed by the interceptors.

The shopkeepers and clerks were dead, their hearts missing.

Even the shops were engulfed in flames.

Xiao Qingyuan’s eyes turned red. He turned and stared intently at Yang Zhantang, his voice deliberate: “Is it your Zhenwu Guard? They abandoned their posts, and then a large number of interceptors attacked the market, killing my Xiao Clan Members.

You truly have a lot of guts!”

Yang Zhantang was terrified by the Killing Intent in Xiao Qingyuan’s voice, his liver and guts trembling.

He quickly shook his head, denying: “No, absolutely not! I don’t recognize their methods. These people clearly aren’t from the military; there’s no way they’re from the Zhenwu Guard!

This has nothing to do with the Zhenwu Guard!”

“Nothing to do with it?” Xiao Qingyuan’s anger flared. He roared: “Damn it, if it has nothing to do with it, why did the defensive Restrictions completely fail? If it has nothing to do with it, why did the people from the guard post disappear?

Can you absolve yourselves of responsibility?

If even one person from my Aunt, Cousin, or Elder Cousin’s family dies, then all of you will pay with your lives to my Xiao Clan!

I won’t let a single one of you go, damn it!

The Zhenwu Guard of Yanggu Prefecture, including your superiors, all! must! die!”

He’s crazy!

Yang Zhantang broke out in a cold sweat.

Damn it, encountering such a madman, did he still have a chance to live?

No, he didn’t want to die!

Yang Zhantang’s mind raced. Seeing the corpses, his eyes lit up, and he quickly shouted: “No, look, look! These people clearly died covering a retreat. Give me a chance, I’m very capable!

Give me your magical power.

I have a way to help you find your clan members!”

Xiao Qingyuan, without a word, dispelled the power of the Spirit Sealing Talisman on him.

The next moment, Yang Zhantang, with his magical power returned, directly pointed a finger.

He continuously wailed in his heart.

It must work!

This time, it must work!