CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: BAILING FISH SPAWNING, MURDEROUS INTENT EMERGES

Buzz.

The panel trembled, yellow light surged.

Then lines of text appeared before him:

[1: A Bailing Fish that mistakenly entered Moon Lake is about to spawn, and the fry will hatch in the fall]

[2: Your third brother successfully developed the formula for Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Wine just the day before]

[3: In three days, the Zhang Family will move into Niushou Mountain, and Clan Leader Zhang’s daughter, Zhang Tianyao, is the Dao Companion of Shangguan Hui, the Foundation Establishment Elder of the Shangguan Clan]

Fu Changsheng carefully reviewed the intelligence.

The upcoming spawning of the Bailing Fish was indeed a pleasant surprise.

Originally, Moon Lake was under the Li Family’s jurisdiction, but since the Zhang Family was moving in soon, he had to capture the Bailing Fish before that and raise it within the clan, making it a lucrative business in the future.

As for the arrival of the Zhang Family, he hadn’t heard of them before, and he needed to quickly research their family history since the two families would be neighbors in the future.

He pushed the door open and walked out.

What came into view was the ripe, golden Red Marrow Rice.

Eldest brother Fu Changren, seeing Fu Changsheng emerge from seclusion in the fields, immediately approached, sensing that Fu Changsheng’s aura was much stronger than before, and quickly congratulated him:

"Congratulations, Patriarch, on breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer."

In less than three years, breaking through three layers consecutively, such a speed of cultivation would be considered outstanding even among noble families with superior resources.

Fu Changsheng inquired about any important matters during his seclusion, and eldest brother Fu Changren shook his head:

"Patriarch, we have diligently followed your instructions; everyone is busy with their miscellaneous affairs and hasn’t stepped out of the mountain gate. However, a few days ago, Nanny Liuu from the Liuu Family came to deliver a message, saying that the Liuu Clan Leader wants you to visit Anyang County."

Since Nanny Liuu delivered the message.

It was likely to discuss his marriage with Meizhen.

This was unexpected, as previously, the Liuu Clan Leader seemed set on having Meizhen marry into the Shangguan Family.

"Besides that, Patriarch, I noticed several unfamiliar cultivators appearing at our mountain gate several times."

He said.

Eldest brother Fu Changren took out several scrolls.

On one of the scrolls was a drawing of a middle-aged man, burly, but he wasn’t a cultivator from around here.

Fu Changsheng pointed and asked:

"Eldest brother, do you recognize this middle-aged cultivator?"

Fu Changren shook his head, seeing Fu Changsheng in thought, he hesitated and said:

"Patriarch, most of these cultivators likely heard of the Li Family’s downfall, with Niushou Mountain becoming masterless, and came for that. Once the Shangguan Family dispatches a clan to move in, they should leave. However, if we go out to Luofeng Mountain, it’s always best to be cautious."

Fu Changsheng indeed had the same thought, he pondered for a moment, took the portrait of the middle-aged man, placed it into a storage bag, and after giving a few instructions, he put on an Invisibility Cloak and left the mountain gate.

Moon Lake was to the west of Yanyang Woodland.

He went to take Xiaoqing from his fourth sister on the way. The Little Cyan Snake had stayed by the fourth sister’s side for several months and was reluctant to leave.

It’s worth mentioning.

In a few months’ time.

The fourth sister, Fu Changli, had surprisingly tamed nearly a hundred Silver-Spotted Poison Snakes.

Previously, there were wood thieves in Yanyang Woodland.

But ever since the fourth sister began guarding the forest, several wood thieves were bitten to death, and no one dared to casually cause trouble in the forest anymore.

Fu Changsheng felt quite pleased.

At this moment, Steward Fu, who was in charge of the lumber yard, heard the patriarch was coming, and hurried over to pay his respects, eager to report:

"Patriarch, there are seven hundred Yanyang Woods in the lumber yard that have reached five years of age and can be felled. I specifically arranged for personnel to work day and night to fell them all, stacking them in the southwest corner, Patriarch, would you like to take a look?"

Yanyang Wood is Tier One Spirit Wood.

The flame it produces, although not as powerful as Earth Fire or the True Flame of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, suffices for low-tier Alchemists and Artifact Refiners.

After all.

Not every family can establish an Earth Fire chamber.

Yanyang Wood is still relatively sought after in the marketplace.

Fu Changsheng nodded:

"Alright, lead the way."

He planned to take a batch back to the clan territory for Liu Runzhi to use in artifact refining.

Upon reaching the southwest corner,

he saw a mountain of neatly stacked timber.

On the other side.

Many workers were digging holes and planting new saplings.

Fu Changsheng glanced over and noticed that about half of the workers were not wearing Fu Family attire, his brow furrowed:

"Steward Fu, as I recall, I explicitly instructed that those working in Yanyang Woodland must be from our Fu Family. What’s with those dozens of people?!"

Steward Fu was momentarily stunned.

Employing clan members required twice the wage, and he did it to save costs, intending to extract a certain intermediary fee, not expecting the patriarch to remember even such a small matter, he was about to explain with a smile.

But Fu Changsheng’s face turned stern:

"Go to the clan’s Punishment Hall for your penalty, furthermore, from today onwards, you’re prohibited from stepping into Yanyang Woodland."

Yanyang Woodland is particularly prone to fire hazards.

Even our own clan members must be extremely cautious when inside, who knows if there are any foreign individuals with malicious intent among outsiders.

He turned and gave a few instructions to Fu Changli:

"Fourth sister, the Yanyang Woodland generates a thousand Spirit Stones annually, a lucrative livelihood; you must keep a close eye on it, understood?!"

"Yes, Patriarch."

Fourth sister Fu Changli felt somewhat guilty.

Recently, she was so engrossed in taming the Silver-Spotted Poison Snakes that she didn’t notice outsiders sneaking in.

The workers who were busy replanting were quickly cleared out of the mountain gate, and those dozens of outsiders were regretful:

"The Fu Family treats people fairly, even compensating us with two days’ wages; what a pity we can’t cut wood in the yard again,"

"Indeed, the Fu Family’s wages are twice as much as the previous Li Family."

The group chatted along the way.

Yet, one person suddenly darted into the underbrush of a side path, an excited gleam in his eyes:

"Fu Changsheng, I’ve finally waited for you to come out of seclusion!"

.....

On the mountain.

Fu Changsheng watched the distant loggers, a figure seemed familiar, but he couldn’t recall it.

Suddenly.

He remembered something.

He slapped the storage bag.

Immediately, a scroll unfolded, depicting a middle-aged man.

But just now, among the group that passed by, this person wasn’t there, and the loggers were all mortals, Fu Changsheng didn’t sense any mana fluctuations from them:

"Could it be I was overthinking?"

Supposedly, the Li Family has been exterminated.

So the Fu Family shouldn’t have any enemies:

"Could it be..."

Fu Changsheng’s pupils contracted, turning to look towards the Eastern Wilderness.

The Celestial Dragon Tribe had made a move!!

Fu Changsheng’s mind raced.

The Celestial Dragon Tribe’s intentions were for two possible reasons: one, to avenge their fallen Third Elder, lacking the capability to confront Shangguan Feng, they naturally turned their gaze towards him.

Additionally.

Two and a half years ago.

The Celestial Dragon Tribe nearly led the Fu Family to annihilation, clearly concerned that once the Fu Family grew stronger, they might follow the path of the Li Family one day:

"Come on then!"

Fu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

For the Fu Family to take on the Celestial Dragon Tribe now would be delusional, but the Celestial Dragon Tribe daring to operate in Nanyang County meant it was impossible for them to leave alive.