Chapter 464 - 626 : Just a joke!
After all, the other party was a lawless demonic cultivator.
"Speak. What have you come here for?" the Cao family ancestor, Cao Jiyi, said.
Xue Lingshang picked up a teacup and took a sip, smiling faintly. "Why must Daoist Cao be so guarded? No matter how lawless this Xue is, I would not dare act recklessly in your Cao family's headquarters."
"You would not dare!" Cao Jiyi said again, "If you have something to say, say it directly. This Cao is too lazy to chat idly with you about irrelevant things."
"Since Daoist Cao is busy cultivating in seclusion and attacking a bottleneck, this Xue will not delay your time. Call your Cao clan's previous Great Elder here. This Xue has something to ask."
"Cao Defeng? Why are you looking for him?"
"I will only ask a question. After asking, this Xue will leave."
Cao Jiyi looked at Xue Lingshang, then transmitted to Cao Defeng.
A moment later,
Cao Defeng entered the guest hall. He cupped his fists and bowed first toward Cao Jiyi and then toward Xue Lingshang. "Greetings, Ancestor. Greetings, Senior Xue."
"Defeng, Xue Lingshang has questions for you. Just answer truthfully."
"Yes, Ancestor." Cao Defeng cupped his fists in reply, then looked toward Xue Lingshang. "What does Senior Xue wish to ask this junior?"
"About the Jianyi family. You once led people to besiege the Jianyi family, correct?"
Cao Defeng's expression seemed a little strange, but he still nodded. "Indeed."
"Then you crossed hands with the Jianyi family's second-rank peak flood dragon?"
"Correct, but it was only a simple exchange of two or three moves. After discovering that I was no match, I immediately chose to flee."
"Did the Jianyi family intentionally let you go?"
Cao Defeng shook his head. "They should not have. This junior used a Hundred-Li Talisman to escape. Otherwise, I might have been heavily injured by that flood dragon."
"Are you certain that was a second-rank flood dragon? Is there any possibility it was third rank?"
Cao Defeng froze. "Third rank? If it had been third rank, this junior probably would not have been able to withstand even one strike. How could I still have strength left to flee?"
"A third-rank flood dragon could injure even you with a direct blow, let alone a Foundation Establishment cultivator." Cao Jiyi frowned. "You intend to deal with the Jianyi family?"
"Do you have grudges with them?"
Xue Lingshang smiled and looked toward Cao Jiyi. "So what if there are no grudges? We cultivators seek the Dao and longevity. Naturally, we should not be restrained."
"My Great Wei is not Great Jin!" Cao Jiyi said coldly. "If you want to cause chaos, go back to your Great Jin!"
"Hahaha."
"Just a joke. Daoist Cao, do not be angry!"
Xue Lingshang said, "There are naturally grudges, and not small ones."
"Daoist Cao cultivates in seclusion with single-minded focus, so perhaps you do not know the details of the Jianyi family's matters. But I have heard that your Cao family has suffered repeated losses at their hands.
"Even if one day your Cao family is suddenly replaced by the Jianyi family, this Xue would not find it surprising."
"What is going on?!"
When Cao Jiyi heard this, he turned to Cao Defeng and asked sternly.
Cao Defeng did not dare conceal anything. He explained the causes and consequences of the matter with the Jianyi family in full, and also laid bare their plan to wait until the Demon Calamity to clean up the Jianyi family.
"The Jianyi family has actually grown so quickly, and there is a life-and-death feud. They indeed cannot be left alive."
After thinking, Cao Jiyi looked at Xue Lingshang and said, "Since Daoist Xue intends to act, then my Cao family cannot conveniently take action. After all, that Jianyi family is still nominally an aristocratic family under my Cao family's rule.
"Moreover, they abide by their duties and do not provoke trouble.
"They also pay their annual spiritual taxes on time, including the Yueling Alliance established by the Jianyi family."
"As long as I confirm that the Jianyi family has no third-rank demonic beast, this Xue will naturally act after some time."
Cao Jiyi nodded slightly. "However, this Cao has something to say first. Of the Jianyi family's resources, my Cao family wants forty percent!"
"Brother Cao is truly good at business. Your Cao family merely turns a blind eye, yet you want to take forty percent."
"The Jianyi family's resources were all obtained and accumulated on my Great Wei's territory. This Cao allowing you to take sixty percent is already giving you face. Otherwise, you may very well switch to some aristocratic family in your Great Jin.
"Or you may go to Great Liang as well and see whether Liu Qiankun would agree to you slaughtering the strongest aristocratic family within Great Liang's borders."
"Hehe." Xue Lingshang said, "That Daoist Liu would probably chase me to the ends of the earth."
After a moment of silence, Xue Lingshang ultimately agreed.
After obtaining the answer he wanted, as well as the Cao family's permission, he then left Great Wei's imperial palace.
Cao Defeng said, "Ancestor, the Jianyi family's foundation absolutely surpasses any first-rank aristocratic family. Are we truly going to let him benefit?"
Cao Jiyi glanced at him indifferently. That glance made all the hairs on Cao Defeng's body stand up, and he hurriedly lowered his head.
"A young tiger has already grown. According to the Jianyi family's current development, do you know what level they will reach in several decades?
"If we act then, how great a price will my Cao family have to pay? Can you calculate it accurately?"
"Since that old demon Xue has been moved, then give him the opportunity to act. If he can truly remove the Jianyi family, my Cao family can also be at ease.
"Otherwise, in the next five hundred years, who will be the ruler of Great Wei will still be difficult to predict!"
"This disciple understands." Cao Defeng lowered his head and cupped his fists.
Cao Jiyi's figure flickered and vanished from before his eyes.
To him, attacking the mid Golden Core bottleneck was the most important matter.
If he had to worry about everything and make every decision himself, then what use was the Cao clan?
Xue Lingshang left the imperial city and headed to Moon Lake Commandery.
At this moment, he already had a ninety percent confidence in destroying the Jianyi family, but he still did not act recklessly.
The day Xue Lingshang spied on Dongxi, Wentian knew.