Chapter 72

  Xu Ziqing naturally sensed his difference.

  He succeeded in breaking through due to the Shaanxi Yanling event, but this year he only opened up two meridians and still had two left to reach the tenth layer of refining qi. With his cultivation speed, it was already considered very fast. However, Su Xun was originally two layers behind him in cultivation, but now he was about to catch up, having already achieved the eighth layer of refining qi with spiritual light.

  Xu Ziqing only broke through one layer in two years, while Su Xun advanced twice in the same period. If there wasn't some special encounter or event that occurred, then something must have happened that he didn't know about.

  And...

  Su Xun himself gave him a very subtle feeling, as if the spiritual energy surrounding his body was even purer, as if he had been refined, making him look exceptionally elegant.

  Xu Ziqing smiled warmly and nodded: "Ah, Xian Di has indeed changed a lot, but his cultivation has made great progress, worthy of hearty congratulations."

  Su Xun smiled even more, but came over and pulled Xu Ziqing's sleeve: "You often close your doors, and I haven't seen you in a long time. There are many things that I haven't told you... Let's sit down and talk."

  Xu Ziqing's arm hesitated for a moment, but he didn't push Su Xun away. Two years ago, he had also been pulled and held by Su Xun in this way, at that time he didn't feel anything, but now it felt somewhat stiff, almost causing him to lose his hand and push.

  He secretly sighed in his heart and then pulled Su Xuan to sit down on the stone bench, saying softly: "It's just that I want to hear you talk."

  Xu Xian sat down, her posture and demeanor more elegant than usual, and that flying spirit also more carefree than usual.

  He sat down and got straight to the point: "Have you heard that a year ago, someone in our Xianyu Alliance took on a difficult task?"

  Xu Ziqing was taken aback: "I've never heard of it." He then said, "Please tell me more about it."

  Su Xuan smiled: "As it turns out, this task has some connection to you." He said with a playful glint in his eye, somewhat teasingly, "Your surname is Xu, and the employer's surname is also Xu. Who knows, maybe tens of thousands of years ago, you were from the same family."

  Xu Ziqing's heart skipped a beat as he had been in a stable state of mind for the past year, but upon hearing Su Xun's words, he suddenly thought of past events.

  The employer's surname is Xu... and he posted a difficult task.

  Everyone knows that if there is no foundation above the cultivation, it will be difficult to accomplish the task of eliminating and resolving, and often die without survival.

  Xu Ziqing heard these two points and couldn't help but come up with some guesses in her mind.

  However, he couldn't say it to Su Xun, and only smiled: "Don't be playful, Ah Xun xiongdi, please continue quickly."

  Su Xun saw that he was interested and naturally opened his mouth: "I don't know if Brother Zi Qing has heard of the Xu family in Shangqiu?"

  It's them after all! Xu Ziqing remained calm: "The Five Great Families?"

  Su Xun nodded and smiled: "That's right. The Xu family in Shangxiu Prefecture had a falling out with the Tian family, and the Tian family somehow hooked up with Huayuan period high-ranking officials of the Leihuo sect. It is said that they also colluded with the five-stage Yao beast in the sea, secretly laying down many sinister plots, all for the purpose of swallowing up the Xu family, expanding their power, and then dealing with other families later, hoping to be 'the only one'. The ambition is really big." He took over the tea sent by Miao Yue, took a sip, and continued: "The Xu family didn't have a high-ranking official in Huayuan period. Later, fortunately, someone passed on the information, so they could prepare in advance, spend a lot of money to post this task in various major sects and my loose cultivators' alliance, in order to protect the foundation of the Xu family."

  The major sects within the religious circles were already not the best choice, and they had to mobilize many top experts to accomplish this task, which made them hesitant. Later, Xu Zhengtian, the head of the Xu family, was forced to seek help from the Loose Cultivation Alliance. The Loose Cultivation Alliance originally did not want to take on this hot potato, but the Xu family gave them a great benefit, which ultimately led to the alliance leader taking on the task.

  Xu Ziqing was also very curious, the loose cultivators' alliance accepted all kinds of loose cultivators and was originally quite loose, even more so it wouldn't randomly provoke trouble. What exactly did Xu Zhengtian take out to make the Alliance Master do this?

  Su Xian saw Xu Zi Qing's unguarded expression and became even more complacent: "Master is doing this for me."

  Xu Ziqing became increasingly perplexed.

  Su Xuan stopped selling Guan Zi: "Xu Zhengtian sent over a Chi Yan fruit."

  Xu Ziqing was shocked at once, how could he not know this Chi Yan fruit!

  This fruit still has a grudge with him. At that time, when Xu Shi obtained this fruit, Tian Jia Tian Tao used despicable means to take it away and held Xu Zi Qing hostage. He mistakenly recognized Xu Zi Qing's identity, causing the Xu family to abandon Xu Zi Qing for the greater good, and also allowing Tian Tao to severely injure Xu Zi Qing, causing him to fall into the lake and nearly lose his life.

  It can be said that Xu Ziqing's current situation is inseparable from the Chi Yan fruit.

  And this Chi Yan fruit, now it has come full circle back to the San Xiu Alliance, and once again someone mentions it in his ear...... It really makes Xu Zi Qing feel some emotions.

  In that illusion, it was Xu Ziqing who woke up first, which led to He Lao's move to wake up the other cultivators. This also led to the Xu family getting the top prize and obtaining the Chi Yan fruit. Later, when the Xu family abandoned Xu Ziqing for the Chi Yan fruit, Xu Ziqing repaid their kindness by sending them a message. However, with Xu Ziqing's message, although the Xu family avoided the disaster of extinction, they had to give up the Chi Yan fruit again.

  Hence, Chi Yan's fruit was gained because of Xu Zi Qing and lost because of Xu Zi Qing. The various entanglements and complexities in between are truly unclear how to untangle.

  Heaving a sigh in his heart, Xu Ziqing also stopped thinking about it.

  However, if it's this thing, then it's not hard to know why the Scattered Cultivation Alliance accepted Xu family's request.

  Also for Su Xuan, naturally, also for San Xiuzong.

  Su Xun's body possessed a rare phenomenon of having two spiritual roots, one thick and one thin. It wasn't hard to find out about this with some inquiry. The thicker spiritual root was actually a fire spiritual root. As long as Su Xun consumed the Red Flame Fruit, he could wash away his thinner spiritual root and immediately become a peerless genius with a single spiritual root! And since Su Xun's fate was tied to that of the Loose Cultivation Alliance, if he achieved something, the alliance would definitely rise in power and influence.

  It's all worth it just for this!

  Moreover, Su Xun was also deeply loved by the Alliance Master and the various Elders. For this beloved younger generation, they were naturally willing to lend a hand, fulfilling their years of doting on Su Xun...

  Su Xian saw Xu Zi Qing's confused expression, so he carefully explained without any impatience. After finishing his explanation, he opened his palm again, and a cluster of blue flames appeared on his palm, quickly changing into various shapes, showing that his control over the Qing Yan Treasure Fire was several times stronger than before!

  "My master personally led the inner alliance members and invited the elder to come out of seclusion, resolving this matter, and brought back the Scarlet Flame Fruit..." He said up to this point, his eyes filled with admiration and reverence, "...and had me take it immediately. I closed my doors for several months, and my originally stagnant cultivation suddenly broke through layer by layer. In just a short year, I reached this realm!"

  Since Su Xun was able to take the Chi Yan fruit, it means that the crisis in the Xu family has been resolved. With the help of the loose repair alliance's Taishang elder, it is indeed not difficult to protect the Xu family.

  At this thought, Xu Ziqing's heart suddenly opened up, and a blockage in his mind was loosened. Spiritual energy and Qi began to flow freely through his meridians, and before he knew it, several more half-opened acupoints had fully cleared.

  At this time, Xu Ziqing only knew that he had always thought that after passing on the news, he would still repay the kindness of the Xu family. In fact, it was not so. He still had some attachment to the Xu family in his heart and also worried about whether they could truly receive his message and avoid this disaster.

  Now that Su Xun has brought this news, he can finally put his mind at ease. From then on, the Xu family had nothing to do with him anymore.

  Xu Ziqing smiled slightly and bowed his hands, saying: "Congratulations to Ah Xin, junior brother. From now on, your path to immortality will be smooth and unobstructed."

  Su Xun has seen many people in recent days, and he can naturally see that Xu Ziqing is truly happy for him. He became even more delighted: "I knew you were different from others, I didn't misjudge this brother of mine!" When he said this, he chuckled again, somewhat slyly, "Lately, I've obtained some fun things, why not take advantage of the opportunity to share them with Brother Ziqing?"

  "What is it?" Xu Ziqing asked strangely.

  Su Xun was indeed in a great mood, and with a sly smile, he pulled out a small bottle from his sleeve and placed it on the table, pushing it over: "For you."

  Xu Ziqing opened the bottle, and suddenly a strong pungent smell rushed out, directly hitting his nostrils, almost making him sneeze.

  He looked closer and saw that it was a kind of dan medicine, deep red in color, with a rich, blood-like hue. Unlike ordinary dan medicines, which had a faint, ethereal glow, this one seemed coarse and eerie.

  Su Xun looked at Xu Ziqing with a strange expression, and immediately laughed: "This thing is called Cui Ling Dan, it's from the Tian family."

  Xu Ziqing heard this and was suddenly startled in her heart.

  Soul Reviving Pellet?

  He also suddenly remembered that in the secret realm back then, there was Tian Jia's person Tian Liang who swallowed a dan medicine, causing his cultivation to rapidly rise and almost taking his life. Later, in the market, he heard the name of that dan medicine, wasn't it precisely this Soul-Stirring Dan? He didn't think that Su Xuan would actually take it out to play, and even brought it right before his own eyes.

  Although this thing has some use and looks like there's nothing wrong with it, Xu Ziqing still feels a bit uneasy. It's just unknown whether Su Xuan is confused by it...

  Fortunately, Hou Yin said a few more words later, which made Xu Ziqing slightly relieved.

  Su Xun smiled and said, "This Lingdan is made by the sea beast, it can improve one's cultivation within two hours, and it's also a lifesaver." He then repeated the effects of the Lingdan that Xu Ziqing was already familiar with, and continued, "It's laughable that the Tian family thought there would be no consequences, most of their clan members often take it. But after I joined the Scattered Cultivators' Alliance, I asked the alchemist to carefully examine it, only then did we discover its flaws."

  The original medicine of the Soul-Stirring Pill had an ingredient that was a deep-sea black coral insect. This demonic bug normally fed on rotting food and cultivated a belly full of potent poison. Although it wouldn't kill a person, it could cause their blood to rapidly boil and then burst open. The sea beast crushed this insect and mixed it with another type of symbiotic grass for simple refining, which became the Soul-Stirring Pill.

  The master took this elixir, seemingly without any adverse effects. However, the more he consumed, the more toxins accumulated in his body. One day, when the effect of the parasitic grass wore off, it would directly incinerate the master's blood, causing him to lose his life!

  Xu Ziqing listened and suddenly realized, then took over the bottle and said: "This thing can only be appreciated, but cannot be taken. Ah Xin, younger brother, be careful."

  Su Xun saw that he was sincere and serious, and also restrained his playful intention. He said solemnly: "You can rest assured, I won't be so foolish. You should also be more cautious."

  The two of them chatted for a while, when Su Xun suddenly spoke up: "Zi Qing brother, I observe that your cultivation is still superior to mine by several levels, at the very least you must be at the 9th level of Qi Refining?"

  Xu Ziqing didn't know what he meant, but there was nothing to hide, so he nodded: "Indeed, it's at the ninth level of Qi Refining."

  Su Xun was overjoyed and said: "This is as good as it gets!"

  Xu Ziqing said with surprise: "What's going on again?"