Translator: Cinder Translations
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Lei Mingxu paced back and forth in his cave abode, his spirits high.
He had initially planned to go alone and capture the Golden Core cultivator named 'Cui Huo.'
But then he realized there might be a conspiracy behind this.
Back then, the Lei family had gone to great lengths to find a Golden Core cultivator who practiced a special wood-based Cultivation Method, finally locating Zhou Siyi, who cultivated the Azure Wood Spirit Heart Technique, within the Beastmaster Sect.
Now, just as Zhou Siyi had escaped, a Golden Core cultivator who practiced the Spiritual Wood Transformation Scripture had conveniently appeared. This seemed far too coincidental.
"Come with me to see the Patriarch," Lei Mingxu suddenly declared.
Lei Feiguang, hearing this, looked at Lei Mingxu in surprise.
Did they really need to disturb the Patriarch just to deal with a lone Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator?
Before Lei Feiguang could ask, he was enveloped by Lei Mingxu's spiritual energy and whisked out of the cave abode, heading toward the wooden hut where Lei Yue resided.
When the two arrived outside the hut, they found the family head, Lei Jun, already there, discussing something with Patriarch Lei Yue.
Seeing Lei Mingxu arrive with a Foundation Establishment Stage clansman in tow, Lei Yue coldly asked, "What brings you here?"
"Reporting to the Patriarch, it seems the Nascent Soul cultivator who abducted Zhou Siyi has shown himself," Lei Mingxu said.
"Where is this person?" Lei Yue asked.
At Lei Mingxu's request, Lei Feiguang recounted the incident where Song Wen had sought to purchase a Cultivation Method.
"This 'Cui Huo' does indeed seem to be that Nascent Soul cultivator. But why would he repeatedly target our Lei family?" Lei Yue wondered aloud.
"This person likely harbors a grudge against our family and is deliberately seeking revenge," Lei Jun said. "A hundred years ago, the death of my son Lei Tianyu was also connected to him."
Lei Yue nodded. "That is indeed a possibility. Lei Jun, as the head of the Lei family, what do you think we should do?"
Lei Jun pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Dealing with an enemy comes down to two approaches. One is to eradicate them completely, eliminating any future threats. The other is to reconcile, turning hostility into friendship. However, the second option would require our Lei family to make significant compromises to resolve the hatred in their heart."
"Which approach do you think we should choose?" Lei Yue asked.
"The first option is naturally the preferred one," Lei Jun said. "However, this person is cunning and operates in the shadows. Eliminating him won't be easy. This time, he's likely trying to lure the Patriarch away again and then take the opportunity to strike at our family."
Lei Yue agreed. "Indeed, as the only Nascent Soul cultivator in the Lei family, I cannot be in two places at once. But if we can enlist the help of Mi He, the two of us working together will surely be able to eliminate this threat."
"An excellent plan, Patriarch," Lei Jun said.
Lei Yue smiled with satisfaction.
Under Lei Yue's instructions, Lei Feiguang returned to the ghost market and used a Communication Jade Slip to contact Song Wen.
[Senior Cui, a Golden Core elder within my clan once obtained a wood-based Cultivation Method that covers the complete cultivation path from the Qi Refining Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage. As long as Senior Cui can afford the Spirit Stones, this elder is willing to sell the method.]
Lei Feiguang quickly received a reply from Song Wen.
[How many Spirit Stones does this elder want?]
[One hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones,] Lei Feiguang said.
[When can we make the trade?] Song Wen asked.
[The elder hopes it can be done as soon as possible,] Lei Feiguang replied.
[Then how about noon, in the valley east of the ghost market?] Song Wen proposed.
[Agreed. I will inform the elder immediately,] Lei Feiguang said.
[Thank you, Manager Lei. Once the deal is done, I will personally deliver the promised reward,] Song Wen said.
After ending the communication with Song Wen, Lei Feiguang realized his heart was pounding like a drum.
From the words of Lei Yue and the others, Lei Feiguang had learned that 'Cui Huo' was a Nascent Soul cultivator.
He was terrified that if he made even the slightest mistake during the communication, Song Wen might detect that the Lei family had uncovered his scheme, causing their plan to fail. He was even more worried that Song Wen might hold a grudge against him and seek revenge.
Thus, Lei Feiguang desperately wished for 'Cui Huo' to die. Only then could he rest easy.
Lei Feiguang put away the Communication Jade Slip and hurried back to the Lei family to inform Lei Jun of the trade location and time.
Lei Jun and Lei Yue were both surprised to learn that Song Wen had chosen a location near the black market.
They had expected Song Wen to pick a remote place again, using it as a decoy to lure Lei Yue away.
...
The next day, at noon.
Lei Mingxu appeared in the valley east of the ghost market.
He was accompanied by two others.
One was Lei Feiguang, who had to be there as the intermediary for the trade.
The other was the Lei family Patriarch, Lei Yue, disguised as a Golden Core Stage cultivator.
These three were the only ones the Lei family had sent openly. In the shadows, the Lei family had six Golden Core Stage cultivators hidden in the valley. These six had already set up an Entrapment Formation, waiting for 'Cui Huo' to appear so they could trap him in the valley.
However, after waiting for a long time, there was still no sign of 'Cui Huo.'
"It's already a quarter past noon. Why hasn't he shown up yet?" Lei Mingxu asked Lei Feiguang.
"I don't know. The time we agreed on was exactly noon. I'll send a message to urge him."
Lei Feiguang hurriedly took out the Communication Jade Slip.
[Senior Cui, my family elder and I have been waiting in the valley for a quarter of an hour. Why haven't you appeared? The elder is not a patient man. If you don't show up soon, this trade will have to be called off.]
The message seemed to vanish into thin air, with no response.
Seeing that the Communication Jade Slip in Lei Feiguang's hand remained silent, Lei Mingxu turned to Lei Yue with a questioning look.
Lei Yue calmly said, "Stay calm and wait a little longer. With Mi He guarding the family, even if that person tries to sneak an attack, they won't succeed."
The three continued to wait.
A quarter of an hour, half an hour, three quarters of an hour...
Finally, Lei Yue lost patience and said in a deep voice, "It seems that person isn't coming."
With that, he prepared to take the clansmen and return to the Lei family.
At that moment, the Communication Jade Slip in Lei Feiguang's hand suddenly vibrated a few times.
[Manager Lei, there are Robber Cultivators lying in ambush in the valley. Change the trade location. We'll meet at 'Cui Mountain Lake' at the Hour of the Goat.]
Cui Mountain Lake was a small lake, spanning only a few hundred miles, located about seven thousand miles from the ghost market and roughly ten thousand miles from the Lei family.
"What is this person playing at?" Lei Mingxu asked, baffled after reading the message.
Lei Yue rose into the air, scanning the surroundings.
Since Lei Feiguang had received the message, it meant the sender couldn't be too far away.
However, after searching the area, Lei Yue found nothing.
"It seems this person already knows I've come personally and that we've set up an ambush and Entrapment Formation in the valley. Leading us to Cui Mountain Lake is likely an attempt to avoid the formation," Lei Yue said, frowning.
Lei Mingxu's eyes widened slightly.
"Patriarch, are you saying this person is targeting you?"
Lei Yue nodded. "That's likely the case."
"What should we do then? Return to the family stronghold?" Lei Mingxu asked.
"No! We'll go to Cui Mountain Lake," Lei Yue said coldly. "I want to see how a coward who hides in the shadows can stand against Lei Yue."
Lei Yue's words were filled with confidence, but secretly, he sent out a message through the Communication Jade Slip.
Soon after, a Lei family member quietly emerged from the now-closed ghost market and headed toward the Lei family stronghold.
(End of the Chapter)
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