126: The storm is brewing again

"Xue'er, to be honest with you, this Cultivation Technique is not just about increasing the chance of an Innate breaking through to Qi Refining Late Stage!

After breaking through to Qi Refining Late Stage, there are also subsequent advanced Qi Refining Cultivation Techniques, which are definitely top-tier martial arts Cultivation Techniques.

While you teach the children, you must also Cultivate diligently; the benefits in the future will definitely exceed your expectations."

Liu Xuan had a hidden hand with the Green Wood Body Sculpting Art; it could only be Cultivated to Innate Perfection at most. One would need the subsequent content to continue breaking through.

Therefore, he didn't need to keep it overly secret. Besides his children, any interested Dao Companion or Concubine could also Cultivate it.

For other maidservants, Liu Xuan would casually mention it, and whether they believed it or were willing to learn was entirely voluntary.

Lin Xue'er was different; Liu Xuan genuinely hoped she would Cultivate diligently, so he could help her break through to Qi Refining, or even Foundation Establishment, in the future.

"Alright, alright! I'll listen to my husband."

Lin Xue'er looked at Liu Xuan's serious expression and a slight smile played on her lips.

Liu Xuan's favoritism towards her was undisguised, and how could she not know?

Not to mention Liu Xuan's words already made some sense; even if he were talking complete nonsense, she would still listen.

"Husband, I… I want another child!" Lin Xue'er leaned closer to Liu Xuan and whispered.

"Xue'er, you should be Cultivating diligently now. Having a child will delay your cultivation…"

Lin Xue'er looked up, her bright eyes meeting Liu Xuan's, and she pouted playfully, "Husband promised before that Xue'er would have another child once she broke through to Innate!"

Her gaze then subtly shifted, and she said pitifully, "Now that our home is filled with beauties, does Husband no longer like Xue'er?"

Lin Xue'er's appearance leaned towards a youthful, loli style, and when she acted spoiled, her charm was extraordinary.

"Alright, alright!"

"I'll listen to Xue'er!"

Liu Xuan smiled helplessly, taking her small hand and walking towards the small building.

Open space in the courtyard.

"Why did Daddy and Aunt Xue leave?"

"Isn't Aunt Xue coming to teach us martial arts anymore?"

"Yay! We can play now."

..."Everyone stand still!"

"You still have to practice for half an hour before you can play."

Da Shuang came to the front of the children and shouted loudly.

The noise immediately stopped. The children weren't afraid of Da Shuang, but they were afraid of Lin Xue'er.

In the past, mischievous children who didn't listen to Da Shuang would be reported to Lin Xue'er by Da Shuang, then get a beating from Lin Xue'er and behave themselves… One month later.

The news of Old Ancestor Wang Qiao's failed Golden Core Breakthrough spread throughout the entire Red Pine Sect territory. Everyone was waiting for the Sect's subsequent stance.

The five-year period promised when taxes were initially raised had already arrived, and various large and small Families in different regions were waiting for the Sect to restore taxes to the level of five years ago.

The deadline had clearly passed, yet the Sect had not issued any orders. What did this mean?

If no order was issued by the time taxes were due this year, would taxes be paid according to the standard of five years ago or last year's standard?

Immortal Master Xiao's lifespan was nearing its end, and Old Ancestor Wang Qiao had failed his Core Formation. It seemed the Red Pine Sect was about to change hands.

If Immortal Master Xiao still didn't change the taxes at this time, many people would definitely not agree.

They wouldn't dare say anything openly, but secretly they would definitely cause trouble. What if he was a Golden Core True Person? If he blocked others' cultivation path, they would also resist.

A Golden Core True Person was indeed powerful, but not omnipotent. If they couldn't resist openly, it was too easy to cause trouble secretly!

Some Cultivation Families would transform into Robber Cultivators, not only avoiding taxes but also not having to manage their own industries.

If everyone united, and the Sect's tax collectors had an 'accident' and died, wouldn't that be normal?

The Red Pine Sect was so vast, could True Person Xiao personally collect taxes from every single Family?

If True Person Xiao's lifespan hadn't reached its end, these would be minor issues, easily resolved with a bit of time. As long as a group of people sided with the Sect, countless others would follow, and order would eventually stabilize.

But now, True Person Xiao's lifespan was not far off, and a new Golden Core True Person would arrive. The benefits of siding with the Sect would decrease, and there would also be risks.

If the Sect's tax laws were too excessive, the Red Pine Sect would not be able to maintain order.

Inner Sect Law Enforcement Hall.

An order was issued, stating that from today, the Sect would strengthen its management of all Disciples, forcibly conscripting Outer Sect Disciples for training.

As soon as this order came out, everyone understood that tax reductions were impossible.

The Red Pine Sect had always been lax in its management of Outer Sect Disciples; as long as they paid money, there were generally no mandatory tasks.

Now, suddenly strengthening management and forcibly conscripting Disciples for Formation training, the purpose was very clear: they intended to deal with the various local Families with force.

As soon as the news broke, the Red Pine Sect immediately faced various problems, with reports continuously coming in from county towns everywhere.

This was only the surface; who knew how many schemes were already brewing in the hidden, darker corners.

Liu Xuan could no longer remain uninvolved. This Sect decree included all Outer Sect Disciples, and his Concubines and Dao Companions were also included.

He just couldn't understand why Xiao Changfeng insisted on raising taxes and accumulating so many Spirit Stones. What for?

Xiao Changfeng himself only had about thirty years left to live. Could he still hope for Wang Qiao's second Core Formation attempt?

Was he perhaps trying to accumulate more resources for the Xiao Family before the end of his life?

That didn't seem right either!

No matter how many resources and Spirit Stones there were, one needed strength to protect them. Excessive Spirit Stones might not be a good thing for the future Xiao Family.

According to Liu Xuan's understanding, besides Xiao Changfeng, the Xiao Family currently had two Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

One was a Genius junior of Xiao Changfeng from an unknown number of generations, with Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, having broken through Foundation Establishment only a few decades ago.

The other had no Xiao Family Bloodline; she was Xiao Ran's mother, Ye Lu, with Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

If Xiao Changfeng was truly considering the Xiao Family, in the current situation, he should act discreetly, cultivating the Family's descendants without provoking so many enemies.

Liu Xuan had no way of guessing what Xiao Changfeng was truly thinking, but fortunately, it didn't affect him much.

Liu Xuan was now a Core Disciple, with an even deeper background and connections, so resolving the matters of his Dao Companions and Concubines was easy.

He mentioned the matter to Xiao Ran, and immediately received command and training authority over a five-hundred-person team, with Xiao Ran herself as his superior.

With this authority, Liu Xuan assigned all his Dao Companions and Concubines to his team's roster.

According to Xiao Ran, within half a month at most, they would lead people to continue guarding Yongning. Liu Xuan's Dao Companions who wished to go could go; it was also fine if they didn't, they could just find any excuse to stay in the Sect.

The Red Pine Sect was currently in a special period, and few people dared to engage in deceit.

However, Liu Xuan was relatively special; he was now considered somewhat outside the rules, so this small matter was not a big problem.

Talisman Master Courtyard.

When Liu Xuan announced that everyone did not need to mandatorily participate in Sect training, and those unwilling could opt out, the group of Concubines immediately cheered with joy.

Everyone wasn't foolish; more or less, they knew the purpose of the Sect training.

Training was secondary; being truly dispatched to county towns meant engaging in battles and risking their lives.

They currently lacked neither Medicinal Pills nor Spirit Stones, so why would they follow the Sect's team to fight for their lives against those vicious Robber Cultivators?

"Husband is so good! Your Concubine will definitely stay home and take care of the children."

"Husband, I also want to stay in the Sect; I don't want to join the Law Enforcement Team."

..."Husband, I want to go to Yongning with you to take a look!"

It wasn't that everyone was unwilling to join the Law Enforcement Team; some ambitious women also saw the benefits and opportunities of being by Liu Xuan's side.