Family Rise by Daily Intelligence

Chapter 230: Chapter 153: The Ghost Market Opens, Enemies Meet, and Treasures Appear

”To be on the safe side, we must first investigate Ghostly Wail Ridge.”

Of course.

Just before leaving.

He still followed the usual practice with a thought:

”Exchange intelligence”

Buzz!

The panel trembled, a lot of yellow light surged, and then lines of text appeared:

[1: Gan Shenglin and Fairy Lady Cai became instant friends, both fascinated by each other’s unique insights into Spirit Plant Technique, regretting not meeting sooner.]

[2: ....]

...

While Fu Changsheng was in seclusion.

The battle in the Demon Cave for the South Huai Prefecture Noble Families also came to an end.

Pingshan County.

The Fourth Elder, Ping Xingliu, had been waiting with the clan members at the mountain gate since early morning.

Waiting for most of the day.

Finally, he saw two sword rainbows rushing from afar. As the sword rainbows dissipated, it was the Ping Clan Leader and the Fifth Elder, Ping Xingyu, returning from the Demon Cave Battlefield.

Ping Xingliu quickly stepped forward.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense.

He found that both the Clan Leader and the Fifth Brother were injured, causing his heart to skip a beat.

With the second brother gone.

Now, their Ping Family only had three Foundation Establishment members left.

The Clan Leader must remain unharmed.

He was about to ask questions.

But the Ping Clan Leader waved his hand:

”Everyone disperse, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, follow me into the council hall.”

Upon hearing this, Ping Xingliu felt a vague unease in his heart.

Once inside the council hall, after activating the array.

The Ping Clan Leader closed his weary eyes for a moment, then opened them and slowly said:

”Fourth Brother, the prior plan to attack the Fu Family is temporarily shelved. In the final battle in the Demon Cave, both Fifth Brother and I were targeted by a Quasi-Tier Three Demon General. Although we later escaped by sheer luck, our meridians are damaged, and we need years of seclusion to recover. Hence, all miscellaneous affairs of the clan will have to be handled by you.”

Sitting to the right, Ping Xingyu felt deeply remorseful upon hearing this.

Back in the Demon Cave.

The news of the Third Brother’s death hit him hard.

The Clan Leader had initially instructed them to safely pass through the final battle, but he wanted to earn more Court Merit Points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Considering that both the Second and Third Brothers died at the hands of the little beast Fu Changsheng, he couldn’t contain his rage and lashed out, which drew the attention of the Quasi-Tier Three Demon General. The Clan Leader was injured while saving him.

Fortunately.

They managed to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Ping Xingliu, unaware of the details, just nodded busily:

”Patriarch, you and Fifth Brother rest assured in your healing, no need to worry about the clan’s miscellaneous affairs. However, in half a month, it will be the day when the barrier of the Ghost Market opens in Ghostly Wail Ridge. Is there anything you and Fifth Brother need to purchase? If it’s available in the Ghost Market, I will procure it.”

The Ping Clan Leader and Ping Xingyu both listed several spiritual objects.

Finally.

The Ping Clan Leader said solemnly:

”Fourth Brother, you’ll attend the Ghost Market alone this time, remember to return to Clan Mountain immediately after. The Ghost Market will not only see our Ping Family but also the Hee Family and the Cao Family participating. Although our three families are allies, we have not revealed the deaths of the Second and Third Brothers to the outside world, but vigilance is essential. Last time the Ghost Market opened, people from the Cloud Soaring Tribe participated as well, and this time, people entering the Ghost Market may not measure up to the Cloud Soaring Tribe’s standards. You must cooperate with the Hee and Cao Families but also remain guarded against them.”

”Yes, Patriarch.”

Ping Xingliu nodded promptly.

Only then did the Ping Clan Leader tap his storage bag.

With a flash of dawn light.

A cloud-patterned box with a white base flew towards Ping Xingliu:

”Here are one hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones. Fourth Brother, use these Spirit Stones to purchase a Tier Two Pure Yang Spiritual Plant, which Fifth Brother urgently needs for his cold poison. Also, I recall there’s Soul Condensing Incense, which aids in Foundation Establishment, sold at the Ghost Market’s West Building. No matter what, you must acquire it. Thanks to Fifth Brother’s brave fighting in the Demon Cave, we managed to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. If we can obtain Soul Condensing Incense, our Ping Family will have another Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

Foundation Establishment Pill?!

Hearing this, Ping Xingliu’s breath grew heavy:

”Patriarch, rest assured, I will secure the Soul Condensing Incense even if it costs my life.”

”Enough with the reckless talk, remember, there’s nothing more important than your lives, guarantee your safety first!”

”Yes, Patriarch.”

Ping Xingliu’s heart warmed.

After several days of bustling in the clan, it was soon the day of the Ghost Market opening.

Ping Xingliu left Clan Mountain, traveled swiftly, reaching Changmeng Mountain from afar, where Cao Renshan and Hee Mingdian had been waiting for some time. Ping Xingliu smiled and cupped his hands, saying: ”Brother Cao, Brother Hee, pardon my lateness.”

Cao Renshan waved it off dismissively, using a Sound Insulation Technique instead:

”Younger Brother Ping, your Clan Leader mentioned a change of plans, postponing the attack on the Fu Family. What’s going on?”

Hee Mingdian was clearly concerned as well.

After all.

The strategy devised when the Fu Family rose to Quasi-Ninth-Grade Noble Family status couldn’t just change abruptly.

Ping Xingliu, evidently prepared with a response, said:

”Brother Cao, Brother Hee, the Shangguan Family performed well in the Demon Cave, directly exchanging for two Foundation Establishment Pills. Our Clan Leader also received news that Shangguan Hongyu will guard Celestial Dragon City after emerging from the Demon Cave. Celestial Dragon City borders Yunshan County, and with a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s flying speed, he can reach Yunshan County in less than two hours. Our Clan Leader suggests that since all three of our families have exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill, it would be more secure to wait until we have an additional Foundation Establishment cultivator before attacking the Fu Family together.”

These blatant lies couldn’t deceive Hee Mingdian and Cao Renshan.

The two exchanged a look.

Understanding flickered in their eyes.