50: Return to the clan

The next day.

Zhao Deliang's efficiency was high; in less than a day, he had persuaded Xia He.

Unlike those handmaidens, Xia He and Liu Xuan had officially become Dao Companions.

Becoming Dao Companions required the two to perform a simple ceremony, pledging to assist each other, never betray, and walk the path of the Dao together.

Such oaths had little binding force, but if they were broken, it could potentially form a Heart Demon, affecting Breakthroughs at high Realm Bottlenecks.

Liu Xuan had many women, but only three were truly considered Dao Companions: Lin Xue'er, Lin Anqi, and now Xia He.

As for Da Shuang, Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin), Chang Dan... these people could only be considered Concubines or handmaidens.

"Miss Xia He, I would like to know what Senior Brother Zhao said to you that made you agree so quickly?"

By the bedside in the bedroom, Liu Xuan, having just finished the Dao Companion ceremony, pulled Xia He over and asked.

Xia He was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, and it was said she had a Sixth Grade Spiritual Root, making her a bit of a Genius.

Zhao Deliang had made grand assurances, but Liu Xuan did not think she would necessarily be willing to obey.

"The master's orders are hard to disobey!" Xia He maintained an expression as calm as an ancient well and said peacefully, "Everything I have today was given to me by Master. I believe he would not harm me!"

"Just that?"

Liu Xuan leaned close to her, pressing against her, "Could there be no other reason?"

"Of course!" Xia He forced herself to remain calm, "You are only a Cultivator at the Early Qi Refining Stage. If it were not for this, how could I, someone about to break through to the Late Qi Refining Stage, become your Dao Companion?"

"Quite proud!"

"I like it!"

Liu Xuan pulled Xia He into his arms and, while undressing her, whispered, "I will let you know the strength of this Early Qi Refining Cultivator later!"

"Wait... wait a moment!"

Soon, Xia He realized the gap between herself and Liu Xuan. Body Refining techniques were no joke, let alone a top-tier one like the Kunpeng Swallowing Heaven Body Refining Method.

Although she was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, her physical constitution was several grades behind Liu Xuan's; the gap was not small.

Three days later.

With this connection through Xia He, Liu Xuan's status in Yongning was now extraordinary; his power was no less than those Inner Sect Disciples at the Late Qi Refining Stage, and perhaps even slightly superior.

Zhao Deliang sent another two law enforcement squads under Liu Xuan's command, responsible for investigating the families that had defected and collecting the first batch of supplies offered by each Family.

Now, the number of law enforcement squads directly under Liu Xuan's command reached one hundred people.

With more people under his command, there were many miscellaneous tasks. How could Liu Xuan have so much time and energy to deal with them? He could only hand them all over to Xia He to handle.

Xia He was a pure Spell Cultivator; aside from two hours of Cultivation every day, she had plenty of spare time, which was perfect for handling various affairs.

Liu Xuan's days remained unchanged: he Cultivated, practiced Talisman Drawing, accepted invitations from local families, and occasionally took in a handmaiden.

Including Xia He, the number of handmaidens in Liu Xuan's courtyard had reached nine. The last four were not yet pregnant, so he still needed to continue his efforts!

The days were very peaceful, but Liu Xuan increasingly felt the strangeness of the situation!

Zhao Deliang was finding various ways to extract money from the local immortal cultivation families in Yongning, not caring if the situation became more chaotic, and not considering long-term plans. Everything was very abnormal.

With his current methods, some immortal cultivation families were being exterminated, and some were fleeing. Although he could obtain a lot of Spirit Stones in the short term, it would definitely affect long-term development.

'This matter is definitely not something Zhao Deliang can decide on his own!'

Above the Red Pine Sect was the Heavenly Sword Sect, and they had to pay a fixed tax to the Heavenly Sword Sect every year.

If Yongning were ruined, and production decreased in the future, making it impossible to pay taxes, True Person Xiao would also have to step down!

'Could it be that Elder Zou Ming has also betrayed the Sect? Or is it that many Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Sect see that the Xiao Family is on the decline and are starting to make other plans?'

Liu Xuan felt he was in a whirlpool. If he didn't work with Zhao Deliang, his safety wouldn't be guaranteed; if he did work with him, he feared that one day True Person Xiao would get angry and he would be implicated.

However, he was only worried; he still had to work with Zhao Deliang!

It was not that Liu Xuan didn't have faith in True Person Xiao, but that he simply had no choice...

Looking at Zhao Deliang's series of orders, Liu Xuan estimated that Yongning would have to maintain this state for at least a few more years; otherwise, he would not have promised those defecting families to hand over supplies within five years.

The time was too long, and Liu Xuan couldn't wait that long. So, he found an opportunity to ask Zhao Deliang for three days of leave, intending to return to the Sect.

First, to visit his Dao Companions and Concubines in the Sect, as well as his children; second, to personally purchase some First Grade Medium Grade Talisman Materials.

The Sect was only two thousand li away from Yongning, and it would only take a few hours to arrive by flying mount, so Zhao Deliang did not refuse.

After handing over matters to Xia He, Liu Xuan contacted a Beast Taming Disciple from the Spirit Plant Hall, intending to take a flying Spirit Beast back to the Sect.

The Sect had sent thousands of Disciples to Yongning City back and forth, and there were always some Disciples who needed to travel between the Sect and Yongning.

Thus, some Disciples of the Spirit Plant Hall who raised flying Spirit Beasts discovered a business opportunity and started a passenger service between the two places.

A First Grade Low Grade Spirit Beast cost five gold coins for a one-way trip, and a First Grade Medium Grade Spirit Beast cost one Spirit Stone for a one-way trip.

As for First Grade High Grade Spirit Beasts, they looked down on this small business!

The price was quite expensive. Unless it was an emergency, ordinary Outer Sect Disciples would rather take a carriage than spend this wasted money.

Liu Xuan had plenty of money, so naturally, he didn't care!

After looking around, his attention was attracted by a large bird with pale golden feathers all over its body.

"Fellow Daoist, take me back to the Sect!"

Liu Xuan said to the man inside the room who was reading a book with his legs crossed.

"Alright!"

The man threw down his book, came up with a smile, and pointed to the sign on the side, "Returning to the Sect is one Spirit Stone."

Liu Xuan took out a Spirit Stone and tossed it to him.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment!"

The man put away the Spirit Stone and, after speaking, whistled at the golden bird.

The golden bird spread its wings, gave a light flap, and instantly arrived in front of the two.

The man invited Liu Xuan to fly onto the back of the golden bird and instructed, "The wind is strong in the sky, remember to maintain a wind-shielding Spell."

The golden bird had a wingspan of five or six meters, and its back was quite spacious. It flew very fast and steadily; apart from the strong wind, there were no drawbacks.

Liu Xuan roughly estimated the speed and guessed that it would take about an hour to reach the Sect.

"Brother, you earn one Spirit Stone in just one hour; this business is quite profitable!" Liu Xuan said.

The man gave a bitter smile, "Where is it that simple? It would be good if I could take two trips a day; how many Spirit Stones can I earn?"

"Also!" He pointed to the golden bird beneath him, "The food for this Golden Feather Eagle costs nearly one Spirit Stone every day; when business is bad, I even lose money!"

"As everyone knows, we Beast Taming Cultivators of the Spirit Plant Hall are the poorest; whatever little savings we have are spent on our Spirit Beasts!"

He kept complaining about being poor, but his eyes were full of pride when he looked at the Golden Feather Eagle.

Liu Xuan thought about it and it made sense; back when he was raising the Black Crystal Bee Queen, it was indeed quite expensive!

"I wonder to what extent the Black Crystal Bees have grown now!"