136: Go to Ice Blue Valley

Everyone is very loyal!

Unfortunately, Liu Xuan was not moved by their show of loyalty.

He knew clearly that these people were not truly loyal to him; it was simply that the Merchant Alliance was genuinely profitable.

The Yongning Merchant Alliance took over many Family businesses that were annihilated in the last upheaval. Liu Xuan took on the risks of contracting White Crane Lake himself but distributed the profits to them.

Moreover, the Merchant Alliance's business was extensive, with many dealings even with outside Sects. Just from Liu Xuan acquiring monster beast flesh and blood and various supplies from Yu Feng and Yu Lie, the Merchant Alliance could profit considerably.

The daily Spiritual Rice, Spiritual Fruits, and Spiritual Food needed by the Liu Family were not small amounts, and everyone in the Merchant Alliance could profit from them.

Compared to the exploitation they suffered from the former Foundation Establishment Family Chen, they could now even share in a portion of the core interests that the Chen Family once held.

The revenue growth for many families within the Merchant Alliance was enough to offset the increased taxes. How could they not be loyal?

Liu Xuan was not exploiting them now, not because he was kind-hearted, but because he was willing but unable.

The Liu Family had not yet grown, the children were still young, and there weren't enough people. If he didn't share the profits, the Merchant Alliance wouldn't be able to sustain itself, and in the end, he would gain nothing.

It was still the same old saying: things would get better once the children grew up. Once his children controlled the core industries of the Merchant Alliance, these families would merely be nourishment for the children's growth… Nighttime.

Bedroom.

Bai Zhiwei bit her lip lightly, a hint of allure added to her sweet and lovely face.

Liu Xuan hadn't expected that Bai Zhiwei, with her sweet loli and squeaky voice image, would actually be so proactive… On the surface, she appeared delicate and cute, and even a bit socially anxious, but once she became familiar, she was incredibly wild.

Liu Xuan was most tender towards women, satisfying most of her requests and letting her do as she pleased.

Because Zhiwei had a close relationship with his older sister Liu Miao, Liu Xuan also showed her a bit more favoritism… After they finished.

"Knock knock knock!"

"Young Master, Talisman Master Bai is here again, saying he has an urgent matter to see you about."

Outside the door, the maid Xiao Lan, who had come with Lin Anqi, knocked and reported.

"Bai Zixuan?"

"Could the Robber Cultivators be making a move?"

Liu Xuan cast a cleansing spell, put on his magic robe, and headed towards the reception hall.

Seeing Liu Xuan appear, Bai Zixuan hurried forward, "My son-in-law, the scouts report that the Robber Cultivator team shows signs of gathering towards my Bai Family. They might make a move tonight."

"That fast?"

Liu Xuan frowned. It seemed the Robber Cultivators should also know about Xiao Ran's current situation. Were they planning to take down the Bai Family first to establish their might before the new cloud-breaking flying boat arrived?

"Is there definite proof that the Robber Cultivators will definitely make a move?" Liu Xuan asked.

Bai Zixuan shook his head, "The scouts only found a few clues. The Family Head's guess is that they will move tonight."

Without definite proof, Xiao Ran would most likely not dispatch the Law Enforcement Team now. The Bai Family was extremely important to Liu Xuan, and he couldn't gamble that the Robber Cultivators wouldn't make a move… "If a Foundation Establishment Robber Cultivator truly makes a move, how long can your Bai Family hold out?"

After some thought, Liu Xuan continued to ask.

"Our Bai Family's Ice Blue Valley possesses a first-grade top-tier Spiritual Vein, and also a first-grade top-tier Family grand formation, the Nine-Layer Ice Soul Formation. With preparations, we can at least block a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for an hour."

Hearing this, Liu Xuan had a rough idea, "Father-in-law, please wait a moment. I will go with you to Ice Blue Valley later."

Upon hearing this, Bai Zixuan's heart settled, thinking that Liu Xuan intended to bring the Sect Enforcement Team to support the Bai Family, which would ensure everything was foolproof.

Liu Xuan came to the Water Pavilion, took out his beast taming pouch, and countless Black Crystal Bees flew out, all entering the beast taming pouch.

Returning to the reception hall, Liu Xuan said to Bai Zixuan, "Let's go!"

???

Bai Zixuan was stunned, then turned to look outside the house, wondering, "Where are the people from the Sect Enforcement Team? Are they not coming with us?"

Liu Xuan was equally stunned, then realized that he must have misunderstood.

He didn't expose the misunderstanding but explained, "The Law Enforcement Team still needs to prepare; we'll go first."

"Oh!"

"Alright!"

Bai Zixuan and Liu Xuan walked out of the hall together. During this time, Liu Xuan went to She Xiaorong's place and asked her to dispatch scouts to monitor the direction of Ice Blue Valley. If anything happened, she was to report it to Xiao Ran immediately.

After leaving Lake Heart Island, Liu Xuan took Bai Zixuan to the Merchant Alliance headquarters and brought Little Shadow with them.

When Liu Xuan lived on Lake Heart Island, Little Shadow stayed at the Merchant Alliance branch by the lake. There was a special underground room there where she usually Cultivated.

Yes, Little Shadow could Cultivate. By devouring Yin Qi, Moonlight Qi, and other Yin-attributed powers, she could reach the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment at her peak.

Of course! This process would not be short; currently, she only possessed the combat power of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

A Refined Corpse at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, a Black Crystal Bee Queen at Foundation Establishment, tens of thousands of Black Crystal Bee Swarm, and two talisman treasures—these were Liu Xuan's confidence in daring to go to the Bai Family.

This trip to Ice Blue Valley, Liu Xuan did not intend to show off these trump cards; he brought them all just for self-preservation in case of an accident.

Under normal circumstances, only a portion of the Black Crystal Bee Swarm would need to be exposed to help the Bai Family overcome the crisis.

Qi Refining Perfection Families were not that simple. Among the seventeen Qi Refining Perfection Families of Yongning, except for the Zheng Family which was removed by Xiao Ran for assassinating Liu Xuan, the rest were still doing well.

The Zheng Family was removed but not annihilated. When Xiao Ran led people there, they abandoned their Family land and fled.

Liu Xuan estimated that even if he didn't intervene this time, the Bai Family wouldn't be easily annihilated directly.

While he was thinking, the three arrived at a valley, which was the Bai Family's ancestral land, Ice Blue Valley.

The entire valley emitted a faint blue glow in the night, looking a bit eerie.

Upon entering the valley, Liu Xuan discovered that there was only one type of ice-blue tree, with no other plants present.

"These are Ice Blue Trees. Some talisman paper and talisman ink are refined from the leaves and sap of these trees."

Bai Zixuan explained.

Liu Xuan nodded. After entering Ice Blue Valley, his vision became clearer, and it didn't feel as eerie as it had looked from the outside.

The novel scenery greatly piqued Liu Xuan's interest, and he continuously observed and admired his surroundings.

Liu Xuan quite liked all sorts of novel scenery, but his strength was low, and he was afraid of death, so he didn't usually travel around much.

The world is so vast. Once I Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment... Golden Core... Nascent Soul... Soul Transformation, I must go and see it properly.

"Zixuan!"

"Talisman Master Liu, why did you come personally!"

The Bai Family Head, the Qi Refining Perfection Cultivator Bai Lingfeng, looked at Liu Xuan, who had entered with Bai Zixuan, in surprise.

Liu Xuan had never personally visited other families of the Merchant Alliance. He had sent Bai Zixuan to find Liu Xuan merely to get some support, not expecting Liu Xuan to come personally.

"Quick, quick, quick!"

"Talisman Master Liu has graced us with his presence; we must not be negligent. Quickly invite Talisman Master Liu to the seat of honor."

Bai Lingfeng was extremely polite, stepping down from the main seat at the head of the table and having someone invite Liu Xuan to sit there.

"Family Head Bai is too courteous. I am your Junior; there's no need for such formality."

Liu Xuan spoke politely, but he didn't refuse, walking confidently to the main seat and sitting down.