Chapter 252: Secret Realm Appears, Cao Xianger Gets Promoted, Negotiations
Chapter 252: Secret Realm Appears, Cao Xianger Gets Promoted, Negotiations
If the Tang family could climb up to the high branch of the Seventh Prince, promotion to a seventh-rank family would be just around the corner.
Yun Bozi said enviously:
"The Tang family's luck is truly amazing."
As long as Tang Yuntian does not die prematurely, it is possible for the Tang family to produce a Jindan Zhenren.
Liu Meizhen looked at Fu Yongyi:
"Yongyi, what are the reserves of this mineral vein?"
If the reserves are negligible.
Then he wouldn't even be qualified as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Tang family.
after all.
The Tang family is not stupid, so how could they give the heads of their subordinate families to others for nothing?
Fu Yongyi said with some relief:
"Mother, this is a medium-to-large mineral vein. If we mine it all and not counting the labor costs, we can sell it in the market for 700,000 or 800,000 spirit stones."
This statement came out.
There was a hint of smile in Liu Meizhen's eyes for a moment.
This way.
Then they can not only bring people from the third branch of the Yu family over, but also take over a small shop in Yunlongfang Market from the Tang family.
Yun Bozi was worried about gains and losses at this moment:
"Madam, the Tang family has hooked up with the Seventh Prince. We are afraid that he will take advantage of his power to bully us and then turn against us and deny his promise."
Fu Yongyi thinks so too.
When I was young.
He had seen many such cases, where the landlords in the village occupied the villagers' fertile land in this way, and this was on the other party's land.
Liu Meizhen was quite calm:
"So we can't rush in and wait for the right time."
"Madam, what do you mean?"
"I learned from Baishitong that Cao Xiang'er will be transferred to the Wanhu Office of the Zhenshi Division in Jingzhou soon because of her meritorious service in leading the Huainan family to resist the beast tide. When the time comes, we will ask Cao Xiang'er to come forward. With the Zhenshi Division as a backer, the Tang family will not dare to break their promise no matter how bold they are."
Yun Bozi heard this.
Laughing:
"Mistress, this is a great act!"
He had heard about it a long time ago.
The mistress had a good relationship with Cao Xiang'er. Now it seemed that this was true. He hurriedly asked, "Madam, have you heard about when Cao Xiang'er will be promoted?"
"As little as three years, as much as five years."
Personnel changes in Zhenshisi.
Especially when you reach the Zifu level, you can’t just get promoted.
Although Yun Bozi thought it took too long, he had already waited for nearly a hundred years, so a few years would not make a difference. Moreover, for a cultivator, three to five years was just a blink of an eye.
Liu Meizhen and others were waiting for Butterfly Valley.
However, a shocking event happened in the Fu family of Pingshan County, Huainan, Jingzhou.
Pingshan County fiefdom.
When the beast tide broke out, in order to reduce the number of defensive strongholds, the Lingshan magic array had to be withdrawn. The beast tide swept in and entrenched itself in the mountain. Hundreds of acres of spiritual flowers and rare herbs in the mountain were wiped out. Fortunately, the monsters did not cause any damage to the spiritual veins.
Yaoyao and Yu Qingru teamed up to set up the mountain protection formation again.
Fairy Cai led the disciples of Lingzhitang and worked day and night to repair the spiritual fields and replant red marrow rice.
Seeing how hard her mother worked, Yulian also went to work in the fields with her.
Ouyang Fei felt bad when he saw Yu Lian busy casting Lingyu with the child on her back, so he asked Rong Ge'er to take good care of the magic circle and joined the working army.
in this way.
Been busy for several months.
Hundreds of acres of spiritual fields were finally repaired and sown one by one.
Ouyang Fei then returned to the central hall of the formation.
Enter the temple.
However, Rong Ge'er saw the bed he brought with him placed on the side of the formation platform, but there was no one lying on the bed:
"Where did this child go?"
Ouyang Fei frowned.
The divine consciousness immediately probed into the ground to check.
Ever since Rong Ge'er established his foundation, sometimes, perhaps because of the companion spirit beast in his body, he likes to burrow underground and hibernate deep underground.
just.
His spiritual sense swept back and forth.
But Rong Ge'er was not found underground:
"Could it be that this child secretly ran away to the Shiwanda Mountains alone?"
He hesitated.
Ouyang Fei cast a spell on the main array platform, and a light curtain rose up on the array platform. Ripples flashed in the light curtain, and the terrain of the mountains appeared one by one.
Indeed, Rong Ge'er was not found in the mountains.
Vaguely.
Ouyang Fei had a bad feeling.
He quickly waved his sleeves and a jade talisman was inserted into it. With a humming sound, the jade talisman trembled slightly, and then the spiritual light disappeared:
"This is."
I can’t contact Brother Rong!
Ouyang Fei's face immediately showed anxiety.
On weekdays, Rong Ge'er seemed to be well-fed and well-sleeped, looking like an extraordinary person, but whenever he sent a message, the other party would reply in time.
This is the first time I can’t get in touch with you directly:
"I hope nothing really happens!"
A dense layer of sweat suddenly broke out on Ouyang Fei's forehead.
The head of the family is in seclusion.
The mistress is travelling far away.
Deliberately hand the child over to yourself.
If something really happened, how would he explain to the head of the family, the mistress of the family and others? Even he wouldn't be able to get over this hurdle.
Ouyang Fei's body swayed.
Extremely fast.
He rushed to the mountain gate like a gust of wind.
The gatekeeper is Fu Yongqi.
It was the first time he saw Ouyang Fei so panicked, and he quickly asked: "Elder Ouyang, is it an invasion by foreign enemies?"
The beast tide has just passed.
Don't start a war again.
They can't stand the torture.
Ouyang Fei shook his head and said quickly:
"Give me the record sheet."
Fu Yongqi was puzzled, but he quickly took out a thick record sheet from his sleeve.
Ouyang Fei quickly flipped through it.
No records of Rong Ge'er's travel were found:
"Could it be that Brother Rong is still in the mountains?"
Ouyang Fei turned back and searched again, and found traces left by Rong Ge'er deep in the central array of the formation.
Follow this clue.
He actually cleverly avoided the protective formation.
At last.
Appearing thousands of feet below the Hanlin River bed at the border with Yunshan County, Rong Ge'er disappeared without a trace.
I searched around.
Ouyang Fei found nothing.
He immediately returned to Yunshan County, quickly went to the Soul Palace to take a look, and found that Rong Ge'er's soul lamp was still there, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Brother Fan got the news.
Rushed to the Soul Palace.
The Soul Hall is filled with the soul lanterns of the cultivators in the Fu family who possess spiritual roots. Ouyang Fei suddenly returned to Yunshan County and rushed into the Soul Hall without saying a word, which really scared Fan Ge'er. He thought that something had happened to his mother and the others on the way to Jingzhou.
Glancing at the soul lamp.
Nothing unusual.
This made me feel relieved:
"Grandpa Fei, what happened?"
Ouyang Fei's face was solemn. After casting a soundproofing spell, he told the story of Rong Ge'er's mysterious disappearance.
When Fan Ge'er heard this, his face changed:
"Grandpa Fei, if what you said is true, we need to discuss this matter carefully. If someone deliberately set a trap to lure my second brother to Hanlinjiang, I'm afraid..."
I'm afraid that the person is already in someone else's hands.
the other side.
Yaoyao also came upon hearing the news. After hearing the whole story, she immediately said, "Grandpa Fei, lead the way. Let's go to Hanlinjiang."
If someone has ulterior motives to set up a trap.
As a formation master, he would definitely be able to see the clues.
When the two were leaving.
Brother Fan said with concern:
"Grandpa Fei, if anything happens, send a message to me immediately. If it doesn't work, let father come out. Don't take any risks."
In order not to cause unnecessary sensation.
The two of them used invisibility to sneak out of the Demon-Controlling City and only removed the invisibility spell when they reached deep underground in Hanlin River.
Ouyang Fei said:
"I searched all the way here from Pingshan County, but Rong Ge'er disappeared without a trace."
Yaoyao nodded slightly.
He looked around first, then slapped his storage bag, and with a flash of light, a detection array appeared in his hand. As he typed incantations, a dark light suddenly lit up in the array.
Half a day later.
hum!
The detection array vibrated violently.
A black light was imprinted on a stone wall.
Yaoyao method is collected.
His face turned slightly pale, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes: "Grandpa Fei, try to use your magic power to activate this stone wall."
Ouyang Fei made a gesture with his right hand.
A ray of light turned into an axe and fell from the air.
Ding!
Sparks flew from the stone wall.
The axe shattered with a sound, and turned into tiny dots of starlight and scattered:
"Hey, this is it?"
Ouyang Fei's mind moved, a black light flashed, and his natal gourd whizzed out of his body. He was about to activate it, but was stopped by Yaoyao:
"Grandpa Fei, this is a barrier, and it was set up by an ancient monk. It cannot be broken by brute force."
"Ancient barrier?"
Ouyang Fei was stunned for a moment.
Half sad, half happy:
"Yaoyao, do you mean that your second brother accidentally entered this barrier?"
In other words.
He was not abducted.
Yaoyao nodded slightly, and as Ouyang Fei's magical attack dissipated, the faint runes that had originally appeared on the stone wall instantly dissipated.
Yaoyao said nothing.
One shot storage bag.
Instantly, flags and array plates fell at different locations under the Hanlinjiang riverbed, accompanied by the sound of her incantation.
hum!
A spiritual light appeared on the battle flag.
After forming a line, they poured into the formation.
A light shield is turned upside down.
boom!
Along with a change in Yaoyao's technique.
The light shield is invisible.
Only then did she show excitement on her face: "Grandpa Fei, maybe my second brother has found an ancient site."
Possessing an ancient barrier.
After the barrier.
Perhaps it was the ruins of an ancient cultivator's cave, or perhaps it was the ruins of an ancient sect. No matter what it was, it was a great opportunity for their Fu family, which was why he set up the magic circle as soon as possible.
Ouyang Fei was confused because of his concern before.
Now he reacted, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes:
"But how did Rong know that there was an ancient barrier here?"
Suddenly.
Ouyang Fei thought of a possibility.
Perhaps the companion spirit beast in Rong'er's body awakened its blood memory and brought Rong to this place. Otherwise, how could Rong enter the barrier so naturally?
"Yaoyao, can you break the barrier?"
Ouyang Fei was still a little worried.
Yaoyao had studied formations with Grandmaster Yu for more than 20 years. Although her attainments in formations were not as good as Grandmaster Yu's, her foundation was solid. She did not agree immediately, but only said:
"It's hard to say. I'll study it first. By the way, Grandpa Fei, please go back to Yuyao City and tell me about my brother's situation. In addition, I will be here to study how to break the barrier for a while. Grandpa Fei, if you don't have anything urgent, you don't have to come. If you have something, just call me."
If it really is an ancient cave residence, or the remains of an ancient sect, once the news leaks out, not to mention Huainan, I am afraid that the Donghuang tribe and the noble families of Huaibei Prefecture will also get involved.
A major chaos is inevitable.
and so.
The fewer people know about this place, the better.
Especially now that the main fighting force of their clan is not here.
After Ouyang Fei left.
Yaoyao once again set up a magic circle, specifically to cover up the leakage of spiritual energy and the spying of divine consciousness.
Exhaled deeply.
Yaoyao was sitting cross-legged beneath the stone wall of the barrier.
I saw her constantly awakening the stone wall barrier runes, and then she continued to simulate and practice on the sand table.
Seven years passed in the blink of an eye.
at this time.
The stone wall of the barrier was penetrated by Yaoyao's spells.
hum.
The runes on the stone wall surged.
An eight-diagram pattern emerged.
This pattern clearly divides the barrier into eight areas: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui. Each area is interconnected and restricted. The energy flow in the array follows the relationship of mutual generation and mutual restraint of the Eight Trigrams.
Yaoyao method is collected.
A hint of joy flashed in his eyes:
"Finally, we found the key to breaking the formation."
Yaoyao started practicing on the sand table again.
the other side.
Jingzhou Butterfly Valley.
Yun Bozi walked back and forth in the valley, glancing outside from time to time, muttering: "It's already the fifth year, could there be new changes in the court?"
Over the past few years.
Liu Meizhen goes out once every year.
One is to sell monster materials.
The second is to find out whether Cao Xianger has taken office.
Five years have passed.
The youngest daughter of Patriarch Tang was married into the Seventh County Prefecture, but they still had no progress at all.
Fu Yongyi was neither hurried nor slow. He threw the dug piece of ore into the basket. In the past five years, he had been practicing in meditation and had already entered the third level of foundation building. Another step forward would be the middle level of foundation building.
He turned to the hesitant Yun Bozi and said:
"Uncle Yu, since the know-it-all said it would be five years at the latest, and now that five years have passed, I guess we'll have accurate information when Mother goes out this time."
Hongmeng Mountain.
At the Zhenshi Yamen, the guards saw a woman coming from a distance. When she got closer, the green-robed guard said to the red-robed guard:
"Brother Sun, why does this woman look familiar?"
Guard Sun frowned and thought for a while.
Suddenly said:
"This is Mrs. Fu who came here once five years ago."
"Why is this woman still in Jingzhou? Could it be that she is being hunted by her enemies again and has come to hide in the mountains?"
The green-robed guard was speaking.
It was obvious that they looked down on the small family from Huainan.
Instead, Guard Sun stepped forward respectfully, bowed and said:
"What brings you here, Madam Fu?"
"I have something to report to Lord Cao. Please help pass it on for me."
Guard Sun glanced at Liu Meizhen in surprise.
Lord Cao has just taken office.
This Liu Meizhen is well-informed:
"Mrs. Fu, please wait a moment."
Guard Sun turned and walked towards the side hall.
Cao Xiang'er previously worked in Huainan, Jingzhou, and it seemed that she was an old acquaintance of Liu Meizhen.
Arrived at the side hall.
Wait for him to report the reason.
Cao Xiang'er, who was sitting at the head, frowned:
"Liu Meizhen?"
I wanted to refuse.
After all, the Huainan Fu family was under the jurisdiction of the local Zhenshi Division, so she could have simply avoided meeting her, and the other party was just the mistress of a ninth-rank family.
but.
He hesitated.
Cao Xianger still said:
"Bring people to the backyard."
To the backyard.
That's not business.
Guard Sun nodded his head in response. It seemed that this Madam Fu had a good relationship with Lord Cao. After coming out of the side hall, he became more respectful towards Liu Meizhen:
"Mrs. Fu, this way please."
talking.
He personally took Liu Meizhen to the backyard of the side hall.
The green-robed guards saw it.
I was stunned for a moment:
"This Fu family actually got close to Lord Cao."
When Liu Meizhen arrived at the backyard, Cao Xiang'er was sitting under a century-old meeting tree. When she saw her come in, she flicked her index finger and the light curtain of the backyard magic circle closed instantly.
Liu Meizhen bowed quickly:
"Congratulations on your promotion!"
"sit"
Cao Xiang'er waved her hand. She still couldn't be considered promoted.
After the guest of honor took his seat.
Cao Xianger said calmly:
"It's only been a few years since the beast tide. Why did you, the Fu family, come to Jingzhou instead of taking a good rest?"
Finished.
Without waiting for Liu Meizhen's response.
Continued:
"Forget it, that's your Fu family's business. Do you have something important to tell me this time? Jingzhou is different from Huainan Prefecture. The one in charge now is the Palace Master."
The implication.
She can't help with big things.
Liu Meizhen heaved a sigh of relief when she heard this. Cao Xiang'er looked cold but her heart was warm. She didn't hesitate and said directly:
"Sir, our Fu family has come all the way to Jingzhou to relocate the people from the fifth, seventh and ninth branches of the Ninth Rank Yu Family to our Fu family's fiefdom."
the end.
He briefly described the feud between Yun Bozi and the Yu family.
Cao Xianger frowned slightly.
This is not an easy matter to handle.
After all, not long ago, the head of the Yu family married his two daughters to the eighth-rank Tang family, and the Tang family is now very popular in Jingzhou.
Liu Meizhen paused.
Then his lips moved.
A few words were quickly transmitted.
Cao Xiang'er raised her eyebrows in surprise, knocked on the table, and said thoughtfully: "In this case, we can give it a try."
Tang family.
Patriarch Tang has been praised by people wherever he goes recently, and he is enjoying great success. What is rare is that although Patriarch Tang has become the Seventh Prince, he is more low-key than before.
He repeatedly warned his tribe members not to act recklessly.
to this end.
During the grand ceremony of the tribe.
In front of the whole clan, he punished several clan members who were swindling people outside under the banner of the Seven Princes.
The originally impetuous atmosphere of the entire Tang family was suppressed in an instant.
After receiving the message from Cao Xianger, Patriarch Tang was stunned for a moment.
Then his eyes fell on Mrs. Tang on the other side like lightning:
"Could it be that recently another member of the clan has been causing trouble outside and offended Lord Cao?"
The tribesmen who were dealt with before.
One of them was Mrs. Tang’s niece who married into the family.
Mrs. Tang waved her hands quickly:
"My husband, the tribe members are very honest now, and the previous incidents will not happen again."
Finished.
Mrs. Tang couldn't help but whispered:
"This Lord Cao is just from a remote place in Huainan. He has no foundation or connections in the court. Our daughter is the concubine of the prince. When a family member below made a small mistake, we should not look at the monk's face but the Buddha's. Does Lord Cao dare to blame us?"
This statement came out.
Patriarch Tang immediately narrowed his eyes slightly.
He quickly raised his voice and said:
"Come here, bring the lady to the Patriarch's Mansion. From now on, she is not allowed to step out of the Patriarch's Mansion without my permission."
Mrs. Tang was stunned for a moment.
She didn't do anything, so why was she put in solitary confinement again?
Mrs. Tang immediately protested her injustice, but Patriarch Tang remained unmoved.
Cao Xianger's family is a fifth-grade golden elixir family in Jinzhou. Even the Seventh Prince's Mansion does not dare to offend them easily.
Patriarch Tang did not delay for a moment, fearing that Cao Xiang'er would think he was being negligent, and rode at full speed to the agreed location in Qingya Mountain.
Since the meeting is not in Zhenshisi.
That's probably a private matter.
Arrived at Qingya Mountain.
But I saw a ripple in the sky ahead where there was nothing, and then a gap came into view.
Patriarch Tang's body swayed.
Enter the mountains.
But besides Cao Xianger, there was also a strange woman on the top of the mountain.
After the greeting.
Cao Xianger introduced:
"This is the ninth-rank mistress of the Fu family from Huainan, Jingzhou."
From Huainan?
Patriarch Tang was confused about what Cao Xiang'er was up to. After sitting down, Cao Xiang'er didn't beat around the bush and said directly:
"I called Patriarch Tang here today because I have an opportunity for him."
It's like pie in the sky.
Patriarch Tang naturally didn't believe it and said quickly:
"Thank you very much for your kindness, sir. However, I do not want to receive gifts without any merit. Just..."
"Don't be so quick to refuse. Wait until I finish what I'm saying."
Cao Xiang'er took a sip of the Qingyun tea brewed by Liu Meizhen.
Continued:
"Mrs. Fu discovered a medium-to-large mineral source. I also went to see it myself. If it is fully mined, it will be worth nearly one million spirit stones."
A second-level mineral resource worth millions? !
Patriarch Tang's heart moved.
If he had this amount of spirit stones, he would be able to prepare a spiritual item for Yuntian to break through to the Purple Mansion, although this would definitely come at a price.
But at this moment my heart is pounding.
Unconsciously prick up your ears:
"In exchange, you only need to come up with a suitable reason to transfer the Yu family's foundation building away from their clan land. In addition, transfer the largest of the three shops in your Yunlong Market to the Fu family."
really.
I heard Cao Xianger put forward two conditions.
Patriarch Tang felt a lot more relieved. If he had a request, it meant that the matter was most likely true. Moreover, given Cao Xianger's identity, it was impossible for her to trick him for a shop, and the shop was not transferred to her name.
My mind was racing.
Patriarch Tang frowned and said:
"The Yu family is under the jurisdiction of my Tang family. Madam Fu, please tell me the reason why you asked me to transfer the Yu family's foundation building. Otherwise, no matter how generous the conditions you offer, I cannot agree."
The eighth-rank noble families have the responsibility to protect the noble families under their jurisdiction.
Liu Meizhen looked at Patriarch Tang in surprise, then stood up and without beating around the bush, she told him the grudge between Yun Bozi and the Yu family.
because.
Even if you don't say it now.
The Tang family will certainly know about this in the future, so there is no need to offend a family with unlimited potential.
Patriarch Tang did not expect Liu Meizhen to be so frank.
He pondered for a moment and said:
"The Yu family was at the same ninth rank as our Tang family. When the Yu family staged a coup, my great grandfather was still alive."
to this end.
My great-grandfather deliberately recorded this negative example of the Yu family in the clan’s enlightenment books to warn clan members not to fight against each other.
The Yu family staged a coup that year.
Unfortunately, a gifted child was lost.
If not.
With the momentum of the Yu family back then, they would have been promoted to the eighth rank long ago, and would not still be stuck in the ninth rank family now:
"Since the hearts of the fifth, seventh, and ninth branches of the Yu family are no longer in the Yu family, if they stay, the Yu family will inevitably repeat the same mistakes in the future."
"I can agree to the first condition."
"but"
Patriarch Tang paused.
Shaking his head:
"I need to know the exact location of the mine. Besides, the shops in Yunlongfang City are very valuable. My largest shop can be divided into three shops for rent. No matter what, I will never transfer it."
Talking about business.
It's a give and take.
(End of this chapter)