Chapter 72: Outside Wind and Snow City

Xu Tianyang left with Xu Hualing and Xu Tianci. Xu Gan, Xu Wen, and Xu Tianxiao also left shamefully. Xu Ziyan left contentedly amid the Plum Blossom Gang’s many thanks. The lively commotion at the Outer Hall ended dramatically.

At that time, the high-ranking members of the Xu Clan sat in the Main Hall. Xu Haoran sat in the central seat at the head, with Xu Haoliang sitting gloomily in the first seat to his left.

After the Beast Tide, Xu Haoliang had lost much face. Moreover, Xu Haoran’s son, Xu Lin, had broken through to the Third Layer of Qi Refining Stage before his own son, Xu Tianlang, making Xu Haoliang feel very bitter.

In recent days, Xu Haoran issued an order to double the monthly Elixir allotment for the clan’s Disciples, further increasing his prestige as the Clan Leader. However, Xu Haoliang’s authority had somewhat declined due to his actions during the Beast Tide. So, Xu Hualing felt very displeased inside, and her expression remained cold and indifferent when she saw her elder brother.

Xu Haoran did not mind. The clan’s current situation was like a precarious building swaying in the wind and rain. How could he have the time and energy to care about Xu Haoliang’s feelings!

Xu Haoran held several pieces of paper in his hands, flipping through them repeatedly. After reading, he passed the papers to everyone in the Main Hall. He sat in his chair, his face shifting between light and dark, a faint worry etched between his brows.

These papers contained messages from spies the Xu Clan had placed in the City Lord’s Manor, the Xiao Family, and the Wu Family. The messages said that Li Wanpeng, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng had been holding secret meetings daily. Disciples from all three families were intensifying their training day and night. Some even boasted that the Grand Competition half a year later would mean the end of the Xu Clan. However, there was no information on what specific support they relied on.

Xu Haoran had also witnessed Li Nu’s arrogance on the street that day. He felt a vague unease, but he didn’t know exactly what it was.

Logically, the City Lord’s Manor, the Xiao Family, and the Wu Family suffered greater losses than the Xu Clan during the Beast Tide. Where did they get the confidence to be so arrogant? Did those three families really have some powerful trump card?

Xu Haoliang secretly watched Xu Haoran with a cold eye, sneering inwardly: “What’s the matter? Facing the tight pressure from those three families, you have no solution either, right? Hmph, why don’t you come up with a plan? Aren’t you just sitting there frowning helplessly?”

Although Xu Haoliang mocked Xu Haoran inwardly, he was also worried about the clan. After all, he was a member of the Xu Clan. If the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact! Moreover, he still hoped to redeem his tarnished image in the future clan defense battle. So, after inwardly mocking Xu Haoran for a while, he also slightly lowered his head, furrowed his brows, and fell into deep thought.

Xu Haobo, sitting in the first seat to Xu Haoran’s right, looked up at Xu Haoran and hesitantly said:

“Elder Brother, we currently know very little about what trump cards the City Lord’s Manor, the Xiao Family, and the Wu Family possess. Should we test them?”

“Test? How?” Xu Haoliang said mockingly.

“You…” Xu Haobo’s face changed with anger, and he flicked his sleeve, saying, “I will go and test them tonight!”

“Clap! Clap! Clap!” Xu Haoliang lightly clapped his hands and chuckled, “Great, Ninth Brother will wait here for Second Brother’s triumphant return!”

Sitting at the head, Xu Haoran rolled his eyes, his brows deeply furrowed. He glared fiercely at Xu Haoliang and Xu Haobo, thinking to himself:

“What time is it already, and you’re still bickering here!”

But Xu Haoran couldn’t scold them openly, so he said in a deep voice, “Second Brother, that idea won’t work. I think after Tianlang and Qier confronted Li Nu on the street, those three families must have realized something and prepared thoroughly. If we go to investigate, we probably won’t find out anything.”

For a moment, no one had any ideas. Everyone furrowed their brows deeply and began to ponder.

Xu Ziyan led the New Disciples back to their quarters. She instructed everyone to focus on their Cultivation, showed concern for Xu Qingxue with a few words, and then returned to her own room. First, she tried out her Talisman Crafting Art after her breakthrough. To her immense excitement, she found she could create fifth-grade Talismans.

Moreover, due to the increase in her Cultivation Level, creating one fifth-grade Talisman did not consume much of her True Essence. She made five fifth-grade Talismans in a row before putting down her Talisman Brush. She stored those five fifth-grade Talismans in her Storage Pouch. After thinking for a moment, Xu Ziyan decided to start making second-grade top-tier Talismans for the clan from that day on.

After making nearly a hundred second-grade top-tier Talismans consecutively, Xu Ziyan finally put away her Talisman Brush, stored all her materials in the Storage Pouch, and then felt her exhaustion. She sat cross-legged on her bed and began Meditative Rest.

Midnight.

Xu Ziyan woke from her Cultivation, her body brimming with vitality. She stood up, stretched, and a series of cracking sounds came from the bones inside her body. Xu Ziyan felt completely refreshed.

She pushed the door open and stepped outside, taking a deep breath of the winter air, then exhaling two streams of white vapor from her nostrils. The sky began to scatter snowflakes again. Xu Ziyan reached out her hand, and a hexagonal snowflake gently landed on her palm, slowly melting. The coldness in her palm gradually turned warm.

She suddenly flung her hand upward, the melted ice water in her palm turning into a string of droplets, tracing an arc through the air.

As the water droplets hit the ground, Xu Ziyan’s figure vanished from the spot. Seeing the swirling snow, Xu Ziyan felt her heart stir. Immediately, she comprehended the Snow Force, and her figure hid within the flying snow, disappearing with the wind.

Ten miles from Zhongdu City, a faint white shadow hurried through the windy, snowy night. The figure in white looked towards Zhongdu City, a flicker of joy in their eyes. Their pace suddenly quickened, leaving a trail of afterimages in the snow.

Suddenly, a figure appeared abruptly in front of them, standing firm like a rock, blocking the white-clad person’s path.

The white-clad person’s movement halted, stopping in the wind and snow. When they clearly saw the newcomer’s face, an expression of shock appeared. Forcing calm, they cupped their hands and said:

“So it’s Senior Zhou Qiang. May I ask why you’ve stopped me so late at night? Is there something you need me to do?”

“Hehe, Zhou Yundong, I should ask you. Why are you hurrying here so late at night?”

“Reporting to Senior, I am carrying out a task for the clan under the orders of the Vice Hall Master?”

“A task for the clan? Which clan?” A mocking expression appeared on Zhou Qiang’s face.

“Of course, for our Zhou Family of Canglang City!” Sweat began to seep from Zhou Yundong’s forehead.

“Hehe, sweating. In such cold winter, that’s not easy! So you’re working for our Zhou Family? I thought you were working for the Xu Clan of Zhongdu City?” The mockery in Zhou Qiang’s eyes deepened.

Zhou Yundong’s gaze sharpened briefly, but he still spoke respectfully, “How could that be? Senior, you must be joking.”

“Joking? I recall Vice Hall Master Yue Wei sent you to Xiangfan for a task. Why did you go in the opposite direction?”

“I… I…” Zhou Yundong’s face was full of shock and nervousness.

“You are a spy the Xu Clan planted in our Zhou Family, aren’t you? Speak up, what is your real name? What exactly is your purpose in returning to the Xu Clan this time?” Zhou Qiang’s gaze turned fierce, his face suddenly darkening as he asked grimly.