"The internal conflicts of the demon race are more severe than that of humans. The Cat Demon Beast and the Rat Demon Beast are natural enemies, while the Tiger Demon Beast and the Deer Demon Beast are natural enemies. They fight each other fiercely. The internal conflicts of the other Demon Beasts are also more severe. In order to alleviate the internal conflicts of the Demon Beasts, those Demon Emperors have to create enemies even if they don't have any enemies. Only by facing the outside world together can they alleviate the internal conflicts of the demon race."
His father continued, "The White Tiger Demon Emperor launched the Beast Tide. Firstly, it used up the excess low-level monsters. Secondly, it used up the potential of the human race during the war. Thirdly, it used the war to train soldiers and nurture the younger generation of the demon race."
Lu Xuanji said, "Is the patriarch's injuries serious?"
"Very serious!" His father said worriedly. "The patriarch was already very old, already 350 years old. This time, he was heavily injured, and his lifespan is decreasing. The elders of the clan are planning to purchase Healing Pills for the Patriarch!"
Zifu disciples had a theoretical lifespan of 480 years. However, because a Zifu disciple took a pill, the pill poison would leave a trace in their body, which would affect their lifespan. In battle, they would lose vital energy, which would also reduce their lifespan. When they were circulating their Cultivation Methods, their cultivation techniques would go awry. If their meridians were damaged, their lifespan would also be damaged.
Many Zifu disciples would not be able to live to their theoretical lifespan. Most of them would pass away at the age of 400.
Lu Fuming's lifespan was 350 years, which was equivalent to 70 years of age for mortals. He had already reached the end of his lifespan.
After the Patriarch was injured in this great battle, his lifespan was running out.
If the Patriarch died in meditation, the clan would not have any Zifu disciples to guard it. If the enemies were to make a move, it would be a very bad situation.
...
Not long after, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators left Mount Ziyang, heading to the market to buy a Grade 3 pill, the Origin-returning Pill.
The Origin-returning Pill was a Supreme Healing Holy Pill. It was also very beneficial to Zifu disciples.
The three elders left in a hurry. After walking for a month, they arrived at the Green Lotus Market.
There was once a tier-4 Flood Dragon with the bloodline of the Azure Dragon guarding this place. Later, it was killed by a loose cultivator of the Golden Core stage. They built spirit veins here, opened a market, created spirit fields, and so on.
After a hundred years of construction, this place was quite prosperous and developed in commerce.
There was a mixture of people here. There were itinerant cultivators, cultivators, bandits, some demonic cultivators, and other shady characters who settled here one after another. Some planted spirit fields, some hunted Demon Beasts outside, some searched for spirit herbs, some refined medicinal pills, and so on. They lived and worked here in peace and contentment.
After entering the market, the three elders went to the inn to stay.
"About ten days later, there will be a trade fair. At the trade fair, the Origin-returning Pill will appear. We have to be careful," Third Elder Lu Changping said.
"We understand!"
Fifth Elder Lu Changan said, "I hope this trip goes smoothly!"
Sixth Elder Lu Wanli did not say anything, but was also extremely depressed.
In order to buy the treasure pills, he used the clan's 20,000 spirit stones and hurried all the way here, avoiding all the spies. However, it was still somewhat dangerous.
The only hope was that this trip would go smoothly.
...
In the night, they were in a hurry. One by one, black-clothed men appeared and gathered in a courtyard.
These black-clothed men emitted traces of powerful aura. The weakest was at the ninth level of the Qi Refinement stage, and many of them emitted the aura of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Among the crowd, one of the men in black was the strongest. He stood there like an abyss, emitting a cold aura.
"Is everyone here?" The man in black asked, his voice somewhat hoarse.
A moment later, he said, "Second Brother, there are still six people who haven't arrived. There might be an accident!"
"There's no need to wait for them!" the man in black said calmly, without the slightest fluctuation of emotion.
People died every day in the world of cultivators. Those six people did not attend the gathering, so they might have died on the way.
The man in black said, "In the Beast Tide, Lu Fuming, the Patriarch of the Lu family, was seriously injured and urgently needed the Origin-returning Pill to heal his wounds. The Lu family sent three elders to the Green Lotus Market to buy the pills. This is our chance. On the way, we intercepted and killed three elders of the Lu family. As long as they don't have the treasure pills, that old fart of the Lu Clan will definitely die."
"When we attacked the Lu Clan's West River Spirit Mine, we were ambushed by the Lu Clan and suffered heavy losses!" A female cultivator in black angrily said, "During that battle, my Daoist partner was killed by a Lu Clan cultivator."
"My son fought with the Lu Clan and died at their hands!" a black-clothed old man said.
"My daughter fell into the hands of the Lu Clan and was tortured to death!" another black-clothed cultivator said.
One after another, cultivators began to speak about the sins of the Lu Clan.
In order to compete for the mineral veins, the spiritual fields, and other resources in Qingshui Prefecture, the Lu Clan fought with some itinerant cultivators and some cultivation clans. In the process, countless people were killed and countless clans were exterminated.
They completed the accumulation of capital and established the Lu Clan's hegemony in Qingshui Prefecture.
During this process, because of various reasons, they gradually became acquainted with some cultivators and formed a grudge.
There were also some black-clothed people who were silent and did not say anything.
These cultivators did not have a grudge with the Lu Clan. However, when they heard that the Lu Clan's Patriarch was seriously injured and his life was in danger, and the Lu Clan's situation was unstable, they were like hyenas. They smelled the smell of blood and wanted to pounce on the Lu Clan.
If cultivators wanted to improve, they needed resources. As long as they had enough resources, they could reach the Foundation Establishment stage even if they had Five Spiritual Roots.
However, in Qingshui County, most of the resources were occupied by the Dan Yang Sect, and a few were occupied by large cultivation clans. What was left for itinerant cultivators were only leftovers.
They had no choice but to rob for resources. They fought and plundered all kinds of medicinal pills and spiritual herbs to increase their cultivation speed.
If they did not plunder, they could only go to the Hundred Thousand Mountains to hunt Demon Beasts and obtain resources.
However, Demon Beasts were never easy to hunt. Weak Demon Beasts flocked in groups, and powerful Demonic Beasts walked alone. No matter which type they were, they were not easy to deal with.
Comparatively speaking, it was still better to plunder some cultivators and cultivation clans. Resources came quickly, but the danger was also small.
"Could it be a scheme? What if they ambush us on the way?" a black-robed cultivator asked.
"No, it's true that the old Lu Elder didn't die and was seriously injured. Many people in Iron Ridge Pass saw this scene. Suddenly, the three elders of the Lu Clan left without delay. They went to Green Lotus Market to buy medicinal pills and concealed their identities... It was only by chance that I learned some inside information!" the middle-aged cultivator said.
"If you don't want to do anything to the Lu Clan this time, then you can leave. All you need to do is swear a blood oath not to leak any information!"
A moment later, some cultivators stepped forward and swore a blood oath not to leak any of the information.
Another group of cultivators left.
In the end, only six cultivators remained. They planned to kill the Lu Clan cultivators and plunder their belongings.
If they could obtain 30,000 spirit stones, it was more than enough for them to spend for decades.