Chapter 14: Trading the Beast Blood Fruit
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With the marriage of Li Yaozu and Qu Xiaoxiao, the entire Li family was filled with joy and harmony. The neighboring village of Zhi’en also celebrated, sharing in the happiness of the Li family’s good fortune. Yet, the Li family did not slow their pace of development because of this joyous occasion.
[Year 21 of the Li family: Li Dalong noticed that every day, cultivators from Tailin Town prowled just outside Zhi’en Village. He understood well that Tailin Town had not forgotten the past events and sensed an impending crisis. He asked the ancestral spirit for guidance.]
“We cannot pause our progress,” came the response.
Li Xiang took a deep breath. After everyone in the Li family fled in the present world, he took this game more seriously than ever. “The Li family is now essentially isolated and besieged by Tailin Town. If we dare to take even a single step toward Tailin Town, the Hu family will likely seize the opportunity to rally Tailin Town’s people against us.”
“In that case, I’m not even sure if we can put up a fight.”
Finally, Li Xiang clicked on the avatar of the Purple Thunder Heavenly Yang Python and typed a message.
“Hiss—sss—”
The temple guardian beast cried out.
Xu Cuihua knelt before Li Dalong and instantly understood the message conveyed by the guardian beast. “The ancestor says that adversity pushes us forward. As members of the Li family, we must never stop moving ahead. We should seek a breakthrough. The Hu family blocks our path forward, but we have more than one direction!”
Hearing this, Li Dalong’s eyes brightened. He repeatedly bowed, “Thank you, ancestor, for your guidance. I understand now!”
“Wife, gather our people. We can’t trade with Tailin Town or buy pills from them, but behind us lies an entire Silver Iron Forest! With the temple guardian beast’s aid, we can venture deeper than ever before and fight alongside more allies!”
Soon, Li Xiang saw Li Dalong assembling all the fighting forces of the Li family.
By this time, the Li family was no longer what it used to be.
Li Dalong, constantly consuming Beast Blood Fruit, had reached the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Li Yaozu, despite being newly married, still worked tirelessly and had reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement.
Others had also improved.
Especially Li Yaotie, the most talented, who at thirteen years old was at the third level of Qi Refinement. He looked as sturdy as an ox, even more rugged than Li Dalong, carrying a large iron hammer and bare-chested.
Li Yaoqing flew around on a giant eagle, also at the third level of Qi Refinement.
Only Li Yaowen, now six years old, despite having promising spiritual roots, had yet to become a cultivator. This delicate girl from a cultivation family was still weak and helpless. Her only merits were growing beauty and ever-expanding knowledge.
She had also developed a trait, but it was a negative one: [Fragile and Sickly].
In every battle, Li Yaowen barely participated. As always, she quietly held her books at home, enjoying peaceful days, reading poetry and serving as the cheerleader.
Besides the Li family and their beast companions, Zhi’en Village had also assembled a team of eighteen.
Over the past two years, four cultivators had appeared in Zhi’en Village, with the rest being hunters trained for two and a half years. All had contributed to the village’s construction and received the Li family’s reward—the Beast Blood Fruit.
Although Li Dalong never imposed any demands on them, these people had long since pledged silent allegiance to the Li family.
“Hiss—sss—”
As the Purple Thunder Heavenly Yang Python emerged from the Li family mansion, Li Dalong, holding the ancestral tablet, leapt onto its head and raised his right hand.
“Move out!”
...
Watching the Li family head toward the Silver Iron Forest, Li Xiang exhaled sharply.
Though the Li family’s recent development was rapid—they even possessed a village now, with hundreds of villagers serving them and their buildings growing prosperous—Li Xiang saw through this surface prosperity.
Zhi’en Village was fragile; even the cultivators, inexperienced in bloodshed, were mere decorative figures.
This expedition into the Silver Iron Forest was meant to train troops and test their progress.
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Along the way, they would gather abundant resources, gradually strengthening the Li family and breaking through Tailin Town’s blockade.
Soon, Li Xiang watched as the Li family fought fiercely within the Silver Iron Forest. Li Dalong, an experienced hunter, remained cautious despite leading a large force. He spent an entire week guiding the villagers in hunting beasts.
Everything progressed smoothly. With the Purple Thunder Heavenly Yang Python’s protection, there was little danger on the outskirts of the Silver Iron Forest.
Li Xiang felt relieved.
At that moment, a knock came at the door.
“Master, Boss Qi has arrived,” Moon Fairy’s voice rang outside.
Li Xiang glanced at the screen and narrowed his eyes. “The descendants in the game are working so hard; as their ancestor, I must not disgrace the Li family!”
“Moon Fairy, please invite Boss Qi inside and prepare some milk tea.”
...
“Glug—”
In the cozy living room, opposite Li Xiang sat a corpulent middle-aged man. His sparse hair barely concealed the uneven shape of his scalp, which shone slightly with oiliness.
This well-known businessman in the villa district, Boss Qi, sipped his milk tea and immediately frowned, sensing an odd taste. He took another sip to be sure.
“Young Master Li, I hear you want to discuss business with me,” Boss Qi said, more focused on the milk tea.
Seeing his demeanor, Li Xiang raised an eyebrow. This fellow would never have spoken to him like this before. He must have heard about the Li family’s collective fleeing.
“You can think of it as me doing business with you,” Li Xiang replied calmly, immediately catching Boss Qi’s interest.
The plump middle-aged man’s face twitched as he stared intently at Li Xiang, smiling broadly. “I thought the Li family was mighty and prosperous. How could they suddenly all flee? Seems like a strategic industrial relocation?”
Having lived two lives, Li Xiang recognized Boss Qi was probing.
He said nothing.
Because the Li family had indeed fled, but even so, he could still fly the Li family banner—no one knew what truly happened!
He smiled softly, “Boss Qi, that’s a lot of questions. Am I just a small player, unable to do business with you?”
“Of course, of course!” Boss Qi grinned. “Young Master Li, please speak.”
“Not speak, but look,” Li Xiang said, tossing Boss Qi a spatial ring.
When Boss Qi took it, a red fruit appeared in his hand. He sensed the spiritual energy within and frowned. Then his watch glowed, scanning the Beast Blood Fruit.
His expression stiffened, “This... we have never seen such a species on our planet! Each contains 100 points of spiritual energy, which can be stored and digested within the human body. But... the fruit is full of blood energy, likely cultivated with fresh blood. That’s somewhat illegal, Young Master Li.”
“Illegal? I’m law-abiding. If it’s illegal, then forget it,” Li Xiang said, smiling and stretching out his hand.
Seeing this, Boss Qi’s mouth twitched. He had hoped to bargain, but this kid was impervious!
“Haha... Young Master Li, it may be a bit irregular, but it’s compliant and proper. I’ve done business for years and know how to handle it.”
“That’s good. I heard from my family that this stuff is a godsend for Qi Refinement cultivators. One fruit isn’t much, but several, or more, greatly increase its effect. Tsk tsk, rich kids keep eating it—even those with poor talent might break through the Foundation Establishment stage before adulthood.”
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Li Xiang grinned. “Boss Qi, how much do you think it’s worth?”
As Li Xiang explained the fruit’s function and value, Boss Qi tightened his grip on his milk tea, feeling increasingly outmaneuvered by this young Li family member.
“Is there more?” Boss Qi didn’t waste words. He knew bargaining further was pointless and might only put him at a disadvantage. “If Young Master Li trusts me, I can find buyers. I’ll take 20% as commission.”
“20%?” Li Xiang’s expression turned cold as he slowly extended his hand. “3%, or no deal.”
“15%!”
“3%, and I have more.”
“10%!”
...
In the end, under Li Xiang’s negotiation, the broker fee was set at 5%. Boss Qi gave a wry smile. “Young Master Li, your new family head also did business with me. I thought you’d be the same, but I guess I was wrong. Now, to me, Li Zhengdao is just a pig.”
Hearing this, Li Xiang clenched his fists, instantly realizing that Li Zhengdao had conducted business with Boss Qi when the family fled.
He calmly said, “Oh? He did business with you? He never told me that.”
“The new clan chief—he’s not as good as you,” Boss Qi shrugged, smiling as he slipped the spatial ring into his pocket. “Young Master Li, I’ll sell these twenty first to set an example for our cooperation. I believe we’ll make a fortune.”
“Alright.”
As Boss Qi was about to leave, Li Xiang called out, “Boss Qi, wait—there’s something else I want you to see.”
“Oh?”
Boss Qi raised an eyebrow, growing more suspicious that the Li family hadn’t fled but found a resource-rich planet to develop secretly. Li Xiang was their representative, quietly growing and planning something big!
Soon, Li Xiang brought out... a bird’s nest.
Boss Qi scanned it with his watch, and his expression brightened. “A new... new species imbued with spiritual energy???”
“Mm.”
Li Xiang understood Boss Qi’s reaction. With interstellar development, many new species appeared, but beast monsters were rare in the universe.
“Boss Qi, I think you understand the value of this. I don’t want you selling it to some perverted beast scientist,” Li Xiang said with a smile. “But it must bring me enough spirit stones. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
Snapping out of the surprise at the new species, Boss Qi exhaled deeply. “Young Master Li, rest assured, I won’t waste this immense fortune. Everything will be done in secret, and no one will know you’re doing business on this planet. As for your future spirit stone expenses, I’ll find a way.”
“Boss Qi, please.”
Li Xiang smiled and saw Boss Qi out, then finally exhaled. “At last, I can support myself and focus on the game in peace!”
He hurried back to his room, constantly monitoring the Li family’s development.
Outside the door, Boss Qi rubbed his face. “Damn, I knew the Li family hadn’t fled. No wonder they left Li Xiang behind. This kid is clever—like someone who’s lived hundreds of years. Not a single word slipped from him.”
“Everything’s new—newer than the pills the Li family’s old pharmaceutical company sold. They can open new markets and get rich! And these two called ‘Baili Pigeons’... tsk tsk... the Li family is really about to take off secretly!”