Living a peaceful life in the world of cultivation

The next day.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

thump—

thump—

thump—

The deep, resonant sound of the bell rang out once more, the sound waves seemingly materializing as they surged into Yunzhu Market from Yunzhu Mountain.

Perhaps even the heavens fear the power of the Yunzhu Li family.

The usual biting wind and snow subsided considerably after the bells rang.

Waaah.

Big Yellow was fast asleep when it was suddenly awakened by the sound of the bell. With a whoosh, it sprang up, its mouth splitting open to reveal two rows of sharp teeth, baring its teeth in the direction from which the bell sound came.

"You stupid dog, behave yourself."

Lu Ping smiled and reached out to gently stroke Da Huang, smoothing down its mane that had stood on end in fright.

Last time, the Li family of Yunzhu rang the bell, signifying the start of a new journey. It remains to be seen what the Li family will do this time they ring the bell.

"I am Li Chihuo, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Li family of Yunzhu."

"Today, I hereby issue this special proclamation to all the monks and nuns in the market."

"The advance on the reclaiming of the land has yielded good news."

Li Chihuo's voice, like a resounding bell, instantly drowned out the bell tolling from Yunzhu Mountain.

Accompanying this was an overwhelming pressure, like a mountain pressing down on you, making your heart sink.

Lu Ping looked up and gazed towards the center of the town, the location where Li Chihuo was stationed.

As long as there is still a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Yunzhu Li family, the Yunzhu Li family will remain the Foundation Establishment family that governs this place, as stable as Mount Tai. Moreover, the good news of the pioneering work has come from the front, indicating that the Yunzhu Li family will become more and more prosperous in the future.

The Li family of Yunzhu has more than just one Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Furthermore, the Li family of Yunzhu controls Yunzhu Market, unlike other Foundation Establishment families who control markets.

The Li family of Yunzhu has received the approval of the Huayang Sect.

This is not just an honor, but also a get-out-of-jail-free card.

If other Foundation Establishment families want to take their place, the most difficult step is not to defeat the Yunzhu Li family, but to obtain the approval of the superior sect, Huayang Sect.

"In the midst of this land reclamation, if anyone causes trouble in the market, the Yunzhu Li family will not let them off lightly."

The words were calm, but no one dared to question Li Chihuo, or even the attitude of the Yunzhu Li family.

If the last patrol was an invisible protection of the independent cultivators in the market, this time it was the Yunzhu Li family who spoke out, forbidding the market from participating in the reclamation, because they had concerns about the future.

The moment those calm words fell, an extremely cold and tangible killing intent swept outwards, like a northerly wind sweeping in from the Snow Toad Mountains, making all the cultivators in the market feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

This imposing aura lasted for a full quarter of an hour before suddenly dissipating.

"Foundation building, foundation building..."

Lu Ping kept muttering the words "Foundation Building" without saying much else.

Without achieving Foundation Establishment, one is no different from a willow catkin in the wind or a lone boat on the vast ocean in the world of cultivation.

The big yellow dog at my feet was startled again, and its fur, which had been smoothed out, stood up again.

Its body, the size of an adult water buffalo, was twitching incessantly, clearly stimulated by the chilling killing intent from before.

Master, I'm scared...

As he spoke, Da Huang covered his head with his hands and hid behind Lü Ping, his body still twitching, clearly terrified.

Those who seek the Way should be like this!

[Swing your sword, swing it at the strong.]

With a whoosh, three iron sword orchids, one after another, "drew their swords".

Most likely stimulated by the murderous intent of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, the gray-green orchid leaves can already be seen in the snow.

"Big Yellow, look at you, so pathetic."

"The Iron Sword Orchid is only just beginning to grow, yet it dares to wield its sword against the strong; you are almost mature, about to enter the level of a mid-grade first-tier demonic beast, how can you be so cowardly?"

Lu Ping gave Da Huang a scolding, but to his surprise, the rascal remained unrepentant and continued to hide behind him, cowering in fear.

"You silly dog, you're fed plenty of meat and fish every day, and you're so cowardly, let's not even mention that."

"If you haven't broken through to the middle grade of the first rank by next month..."

"I'll chop you up and invite Xiao Fan over for a dog meat hotpot..."

Lu Ping glanced at Da Huang, annoyed by its lack of self-control, and threatened it.

That silly dog, of the spiritual plants in the courtyard, besides the Iron Sword Orchid, which Lü Ping used to temper his flying sword.

I've tried every kind of spiritual plant: Rejuvenating Grass, Moon-Closing Flower, and Crimson Blood Ginseng.

The spiritual plants fed to rhubarb are not only numerous, but each one is of at least superior quality.

Lu Ping reasonably suspected that this silly dog ​​was slacking off, not properly honing its body or cultivating itself, and spending its days holed up in the shack, sleeping soundly.

......

night.

Outside the market town, in the western district, is a residential area for scattered cultivators.

This place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, and many of the cultivators here have come from other markets.

Some were drawn here by the reputation of the Snow Toad Mountains; others came with small caravans to do business; still others were notorious cultivators with shady dealings who had changed their identities and come here to live in seclusion, and it is unknown whether they will return to their old ways in the future.

Plus.

The other cultivators here are independent cultivators from mortal towns. They grew up near Yunzhu Market and are extremely xenophobic.

Therefore, local independent cultivators and outside independent cultivators are divided into two factions, and conflicts often break out between them.

Sometimes, when the local rogue cultivators in the western district suffer defeats in battles with outside rogue cultivators, they will go to the other three rogue cultivator areas to ask other cultivators for help.

In the past, the Li family of Yunzhu always chose to turn a blind eye to such chaos. The Li family did not want any calamities to ruin the reputation of Yunzhu Market, but they could not completely prohibit small caravans from entering Yunzhu Market.

No candles were lit in the dimly lit room.

Three pairs of bright green eyes, like those of hungry wolves, gleamed incessantly in the dimly lit room.

"Boss, what should we do?"

"Last time, that brat Chen Xiuping got away and ran into the Lingcao Hall. Now his whereabouts are unknown."

"My original plan was to take advantage of the Li family's land reclamation to fish in troubled waters, make a fortune in spirit stones, and then move on to another place."

"But given the Li family's tough stance today, if they were to target the independent cultivators who have been cultivating the wilderness and their families, the three of us brothers might not survive until tomorrow."

All three were surnamed Wang and came from Chihuofang. They had angered a Qi Refining family by robbing their goods and were hunted down like stray dogs. During their escape, only three of the original five brothers remained.

Because of their bright green eyes, which resembled those of mountain wolves, the three were known by nearby cultivators as the Wang Family's Three Wolves.

The three men's green eyes darted back and forth, and their teeth ground together with a sharp, grinding sound.

The atmosphere remained frozen for a full quarter of an hour.

The leader exhaled a puff of green smoke and made a decisive decision.

"Let's go, let's go somewhere else."

"The Yunzhu Li family has three members who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and their reputation is far-reaching. They are no ordinary Foundation Establishment family."

"There are three Foundation Establishment level old ghosts. One is in charge of the land reclamation, and the other is in charge of the market. If we really mess with them, there is still one Foundation Establishment level old ghost who can hunt us down."

"It's just a pity we didn't catch that kid Chen Xiuping; he got away."

The three tidied up and made no intention of lingering.

boom.

"Yunzhu Market is not a place for you to hide your filth and evil."

A cold, stern voice rang out, echoing throughout the entire West District...