Chapter 767: Smooth Path Turns Treacherous
“My purpose in sending my son, Ruohu, to Sundown Bazaar was to bring back the ‘Mandrake’ and use secret methods to see if we could break the ‘Forbidden Gu Technique.’ However, it was unexpectedly intercepted by Leader Xiao…”
At this point, Miao Xiuyun glanced at Xiao Shun and then smiled bitterly.
“Hehe, as they say, you win some, you lose some.”
His words carried a double meaning.
If they could get Xiao Shun’s help, the Gu techniques of Silvermeadows would naturally be resolved. But in return, they would have to rely on New School Society in the future. Given a choice between New School Society and the Gu Clan, Miao Xiuyun would choose New School Society without hesitation. Since being under the Gu Clan’s control, Silvermeadows had received no help and had been doing thankless tasks, living worse than dogs.
The recent reputation of New School Society had reached even Miao Xiuyun in Meadowfolk. After some thought, he felt that joining New School Society might not be a bad thing.
Seeing the relieved expression on Miao Xiuyun’s face, Xiao Shun knew his choice and smiled faintly.
“It seems Chief Miao is quite interested in my proposal.”
Miao Xiuyun nodded heavily and gave his answer.
“If Leader Xiao can cure our clan’s ‘Forbidden Gu Technique,’ we are willing to join New School Society!”
“I have two questions,” Xiao Shun said with a glint in his eye.
Miao Xiuyun was puzzled. “Please go ahead, Leader Xiao.”
“Can you really suppress the Gu technique in your bodies using the ‘Mandrake’?”
“We have less than a thirty percent chance. The secret methods passed down in our clan have already suppressed part of it. We were just trying our luck!”
Miao Xiuyun spoke with a mix of helplessness and relief in his eyes.
“As far as I know, the ‘Mandrake’ is extremely difficult to cultivate. Do you have secret methods for its cultivation?” Xiao Shun asked.
Earlier, Xia Li had told him that the growth cycle of the ‘Mandrake’ was very long and its survival rate was less than one percent. Despite this, Silvermeadows was determined to obtain a ‘Mandrake’ seedling, indicating their confidence in cultivating it.
“You will know once Leader Xiao cures our clan’s Gu technique. At that time, not only will we join New School Society, but we will also present a great opportunity to Leader Xiao!”
Miao Xiuyun did not directly answer Xiao Shun’s question but left everything contingent on the success of their cooperation.
Hehe, what an old fox who won’t show his cards until he sees the rabbit!
Thinking this, Xiao Shun didn’t say much more. Everyone has their guard up; Miao Xiuyun held significant power and naturally had to be cautious about this “great opportunity.”
As Xiao Shun pondered what this “opportunity” might be, Miao Xiuyun interrupted his thoughts.
“Leader Xiao, you mentioned two questions earlier. What is the other one?”
Suppressing his thoughts, Xiao Shun answered, “If your Silvermeadows clan leaves the Gu Clan, aren’t you afraid of their retaliation if discovered?”
This question was crucial.
His master had warned him not to provoke members of Hidden Families until he reached “Consolidation” level to avoid unforeseen disasters. Helping Silvermeadows now involved certain calculations on his part. Since Hidden Families lived reclusively and couldn’t move freely in the secular world, he could avoid them as long as he didn’t venture into their territories.
“Leader Xiao may not know,” Miao Xiuyun said slowly. “In the Gu Clan now, only one powerful Gu practitioner controls everything. The rest are secluded in paradisiacal lands. As long as we keep this quiet, they won’t find out.”
“Paradisiacal lands?”
Xiao Shun was shocked. He remembered the small valley where he once lived with his master-a paradisiacal land where cultivation was highly efficient due to abundant energy supplies.
However, that land was very small; otherwise, it would have been occupied by Hidden Families long ago.
Seeing Xiao Shun’s incredulous look, Miao Xiuyun thought he didn’t believe him and added, “I heard this from our clan elders.”
Waving his hand to indicate no misunderstanding, Xiao Shun asked seriously, “You said only one person currently controls the Gu Clan?”
Shaking his head, Miao Xiuyun explained further.
“To be precise, there are two because another expert guards the spiritual veins. We must contact him every time we enter for mining.”
“What is that person’s skill level?” Xiao Shun asked.
“In terms of Gu techniques, I would lose within a hundred moves. In physical combat, I wouldn’t last even one round!” Miao Xiuyun answered.
A dual practitioner of both Gu techniques and martial arts!
Xiao Shun envisioned Miao Lijiang’s formidable presence. Ordinary practitioners would find it extremely difficult to defeat such a person; only an “Anterior Heaven” warrior could suppress his attacks-showing how powerful dual practitioners were.
If Miao Lijiang was so fierce, those Hidden Families’ Gu practitioners must be even more terrifying!
This thought made Xiao Shun worried.
As he pondered silently, Miao Xiuyun spoke again. “Leader Xiao came here for the ‘Five Spirit Stones,’ right?”
“Yes,” Xiao Shun nodded without hiding his motive.
Silvermeadows had long been under Gu Clan’s control and likely knew much about martial practitioners’ matters. Knowing the importance of ‘Five Spirit Stones’ to Xiao Shun wasn’t surprising.
“Given Leader Xiao’s displayed strength-anterior heaven cultivation and powerful alchemical techniques-you still stand little chance against that guardian,” Miao Xiuyun said bluntly.
“Oh!” Xiao Shun looked at him with interest. “Is that person so strong?”Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
Miao Xiuyun sighed helplessly.
“The power of witchcraft is beyond your understanding.”
Hearing this made Xiao Shun’s eyelids twitch!
He had read about witchcraft’s immense power from ancient texts but never witnessed it firsthand. Now he doubted whether he could handle it!
Such profound techniques were too mysterious.
So does this mean my trip here is wasted?
Xiao Shun’s face darkened; initially confident about this mission due to his master’s notes describing the hidden spiritual veins and his success at Sundown Bazaar-it was hard not to be optimistic!
But now…
Facing a formidable witchcraft practitioner made him reconsider retreating.
“Leader Xiao,” Miao Xiuyun said with a smile. “If you start treating our clan immediately, I’ll give you two Spirit Stones from our reserves as a gesture of our initial cooperation.”