I'm seventy years old this year, and you want me to have many children and much happiness?

Xu Zhantu never dreamed of this.

The person who made this move was so despicable.

However, what happened next had nothing to do with Xu Zhantu.

As Xu Zhantu's head hit the ground.

The Xu family's retainers nearby were also instantly awakened.

At this moment, they didn't even bother to check on Master Xu's condition. They all shouted and charged towards Lu Xuan's direction.

Facing this group of Xu family retainers, Lu Xuan lightly swung his longsword, and several retainers were killed on the spot.

Those who were quick-witted, upon witnessing this scene, dared not approach and fled straight to the back, no longer needing the final payment intended as an offering.

They had no chance of winning against a second-grade expert.

"You bastards, how dare you desert your posts!"

"My Xu family will not let you get away with this!"

Among the caravan were many members of the Xu family. When they saw these martial arts masters fleeing in panic, they were all terrified and extremely nervous and fearful.

"Brothers, let's charge!"

"Kill him!"

These worshippers could escape, but those who originally belonged to the Xu family had nowhere to run.

Faced with a formidable enemy, the only option is to fight to the death.

Lu Xuan was very straightforward and gave them a quick death.

In a short time, more than a dozen corpses appeared near the convoy.

But in the end, a few cunning ones managed to escape.

These people left.

Lu Xuan ignored it.

After all, killing these people would be quite troublesome if they wanted to escape.

"You seem to know me?"

Lu Xuan approached Lao Gui, his gaze condescending and devoid of any emotion.

That cold gaze instantly plunged Lao Gui into an ice cellar.

"No... I don't know you... I've never seen you before... Actually, I'm old, my eyesight is failing... I can't see anything clearly..."

Old Gui forced a smile, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Where are the account books for the tributes your Xu family has given to Marquis Yang Qing over the years, as well as those given to other county officials?"

Lu Xuan asked calmly.

Ledger?

When Lao Gui heard Lu Xuan's words, he was immediately delighted, realizing that Lu Xuan was after the account book.

"There is indeed an account book, it's on the master's person, I'll find it for you!"

Lao Gui said.

"No need for that."

After Lu Xuan finished speaking, he swung his sword out.

Killing Lao Gui was as easy as killing a chicken.

In the past...

Given Lao Gui's status, Lu Xuan would never be able to meet him.

As the steward of the Xu family, he already held a high position of power in Wuling County, a position that ordinary people could only look up to for their entire lives.

"Martial arts prowess..."

"Ultimately, it's a world for the strong!"

"Long lifespan alone isn't enough; it also needs to be stronger!"

Lu Xuan searched Xu Zhantu's body and found a stack of silver notes worth more than a thousand taels, as well as two bottles of pills to replenish true energy.

Once a martial artist's true energy is exhausted, their combat power will be greatly reduced.

But with the elixir, one can instantly replenish their true energy and easily reverse the situation.

Then he took off Xu Zhantu's storage ring.

The ring isn't very big; it's just a simple design.

Lu Xuan found quite a few good things inside Xu Zhantu's storage ring.

Two Xuan-rank martial arts techniques, a medicine cauldron, and some account books.

Medicine Cauldron!

Lu Xuan was secretly surprised when he saw it.

Xu Zhantu is quite capable; he even knows how to refine pills.

Fortunately, they readily accepted the medicine cauldron; otherwise, they would have had to spend money to buy it.

Two Xuan-rank martial arts techniques.

One of them is the Xu family's secret technique, the Xuanlie Blade Technique.

One of them is a movement technique called Divine Void Mysterious Shadow.

"I've never seen the Xu family use the Xuanlie Blade Technique, which is their signature skill."

"Oh, it's too late."

Lu Xuan then realized that such a unique skill was probably not something everyone in the Xu family was qualified for.

The eldest and second eldest sons of the Xu family were killed by him in almost a single encounter.

Even the most powerful techniques had no chance to be used.

I flipped through those account books.

Lu Xuan was also stunned by the numbers on it.

"Good heavens, the Xu family actually pays Yang Qinghou a tribute of five hundred taels of silver every month!?"

This happens every month.

That adds up to a full six thousand taels in a year!

As a county magistrate, Yang Qinghou's monthly salary was only one hundred taels of silver.

Moreover, many of these are simply subsidies.

After all, the imperial court had to provide rations and salaries to so many people.

This is just the Xu family.

Then there are other family forces, such as the Huang family.

If it falls into Yang Qinghou's hands, it will be an enormous number.

"However, Yang Qinghou may not be taking it all for himself; there may be someone above him."

Lu Xuan thought to himself.

He's no naive young man.

Having lived this long, what dark things haven't I seen?

The fact that Yang Qinghou had the audacity to use his private army to eliminate Chu Xiao means that he has someone backing him.

Otherwise, even if Yang Qinghou were the magistrate of Wuling County, he would never dare to do such a thing.

"These behind-the-scenes twists and turns are none of my business."

Lu Xuan thought to himself.

Now that we have the medicine cauldron, we can go back and try refining pills.

"We won't set fires in the wild."

Lu Xuan glanced back.

Release all the horses in front of the carriage.

As for these corpses, the wild beasts in the Emerald Spirit Mountain probably won't be able to finish them off anytime soon.

Lu Xuan couldn't take the ore off the truck with him.

After casually picking out a few pieces as souvenirs, Lu Xuan prepared to leave.

However, just as Lu Xuan was about to leave.

Suddenly, I felt a chill creep up my back.

Whoosh!

A whooshing sound came from behind.

Lu Xuan immediately used the Snake Step to easily dodge.

His figure landed to the side.

boom!

A powerful force struck the spot where he had been standing.

The ground was blasted open, creating a huge crater.

"Wow, that's fast!"

"It's a strange beast!"

When Lu Xuan saw clearly what had attacked him, he secretly gasped.

In all his years of life, this was the first time he had ever seen a strange beast.

Once, in the Huang family's kitchen, they saw a piece of the hide and flesh of a strange beast.

Even from afar, one could sense a powerful and menacing aura.

The strange beast before him was actually standing right in front of him.

"Wait... isn't this the hyena that only exists in the Kingdom of Night Cool?!"

Lu Xuan's gaze fell upon the strange beast.

Its massive body had limbs as thick as a lion's, extremely sharp teeth, and a head like a hyena's.

This strange beast.

It is a strange beast that only existed in the neighboring countries of the Xuanwu Dynasty.

The Land of Night Cool!

The Kingdom of Yeliang has long coveted the land of the Xuanwu Dynasty.

And they launch attacks on the border from time to time.

But how did we end up bringing this hyena here today?

Could there be a traitor among us?!

Lu Xuan didn't have time to think much about it. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but the hyena had followed the scent of blood and had already locked onto Lu Xuan.

With a low growl, the hyena charged suddenly toward Lu Xuan.

It opened its mouth and bit down on Lu Xuan's head.

"Perfect timing!"

"I was just looking for an opponent, so let me test my strength!"

Lu Xuan gave a low shout.

Although the hyena is fierce, its entire body is a treasure. Its fur can be sewn into defensive armor, its flesh can increase blood and qi, and there are even exotic crystals inside the beast's body. These exotic crystals are top-grade materials whether used to refine pills or to forge spiritual weapons.

The strength of the hyena before them had actually reached the second rank.

It seems that even if I don't take action today...

This hyena will hunt down and kill all the members of the Xu family.

Lu Xuan put away his spirit sword.

He then let out a low shout.

It released its Xuan Tian Martial Bone.

"boom!"

At this moment, Lu Xuan's own aura was like that of a ferocious beast.

He exuded a fierce aura.

The power of the Xuan Tian Martial Bone also caused Lu Xuan's body to grow several inches taller, and his bones were filled with extremely powerful energy.

At this moment, Lu Xuan could even feel that his true energy was like a toy in his hands.

It can be easily crushed.

Is this what it feels like to have increased power?

Is this even the effect of one's own true energy about to condense into a protective aura?

Third-grade martial arts cultivation.

One can condense one's own true energy into even more powerful protective energy.

Once the Qi is condensed, the enhancement effect will be multiplied several times.

Lu Xuan's fists and feet were condensed with true energy, and at this moment it seemed that they could burst out with a power similar to Qi.

As the hyena's claws slammed down, Lu Xuan shifted his body to the side, sliding to the hyena's side before unleashing a punch.

The overwhelming force sent the hyena flying back several feet.

Click!

The hyena had several broken ribs.

However, the ferocity of the beast did not deter the hyena from giving up. Instead, it continued to roar and tear at Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan, relying on his own true energy, fought the hyena for several rounds and held his own.

On the contrary, the shockwaves from the battles shattered the corpses of those around them into pieces.

Poor Xu Zhantu, he was not only dead, but his body was also dismembered.

Bang bang bang!

A tremendous impact reverberated through the jungle.

With his seventy-year-old body, Lu Xuan drew upon the power of his Xuan Tian Martial Bone and, without using any profound techniques, was able to easily suppress the hyena with just his fists and feet.

"The power of strange beasts is nothing more than this."

Finally, Lu Xuan flashed forward and took a step forward.

It took the initiative to rush to the front of the hyena.

He immediately unleashed a palm strike.

Within that palm, the power of wind and thunder was condensed.

A loud bang.

The hyena's body exploded under Lu Xuan's palm strike.

Of course, this palm strike also consumed a lot of Lu Xuan's true energy.

This battle left Lu Xuan drenched in sweat but thoroughly satisfied.

Even his own clothes were torn to shreds.

He looked extremely disheveled.

"call!"

Lu Xuan activated the Heaven-Crossing True Technique, gradually calming his aura.

The Xuan Tian Martial Bone gradually dissipated.

From the mane of the lion that had been ripped open, Lu Xuan dug out a crystal, about the size of two thumbprints.

"Is this the alien crystal?"

"Judging by its size, this guy's strength should have reached the second rank."

The strength of a strange beast is inherently superior to that of a martial artist of the same level.

After all, mythical beasts have a natural advantage in physical strength.

Of course, if Lu Xuan were to use that spirit sword, the battle would end very quickly.

However, it was through this battle that Lu Xuan gained a more accurate grasp of his own power.

After taking the alien crystal, Lu Xuan also cut off a piece of the hyena's heart flesh before leaving.

The rest of the parts cannot be taken away.

Lu Xuan didn't know why the hyena was here, but he knew it was a very dangerous sign.

Within the Xuanwu Dynasty, there were spies from the Yeliang Kingdom!

It can even be narrowed down to Wuling County or Yongkang County!

About an hour after Lu Xuan left.

Finally, three figures flew in from the direction of the Emerald Spirit Mine.

"Oh no! The hyena has been killed!?"