Killing or Keeping

When Meng Luohai asked, Meng Haoran smiled and replied, "The most crucial matter for our Meng Family right now is to accumulate enough Cultivation Resources for Foundation Establishment as quickly and as steadily as possible."

"I understand that."

Meng Luohai chuckled, "Now, all of us have only one goal: to collect all the Cultivation Resources we can and supply them to Patriarch Jingshan, so he can become a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm as soon as possible. Once that happens, the difficulties our Meng Family faces will be resolved."

Ten years ago, the Meng Family was just one step away from joining the ranks of Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families in Qingyang County Town.

However, during the encirclement and suppression of the Black Mountain Bandits, two clansmen in the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm were ambushed and killed. This caused the Meng Family to fall from its peak to the lowest point.

Fortunately, Meng Jingshan, with his cultivation at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, remained in the Meng Family in Xinghua Village. He single-handedly withstood the aggression from the Patriarchs of the Lin and Chen Families.

This is the current predicament the Meng Family faces.

"If our Meng Family members were to appear directly in the Black Market of Chiyang County and reveal our Six-Pattern Wheat, it would surely cause a frenzy of panic buying among the merchants in the Chiyang County Black Market. At that time, our Meng Family would be able to accumulate the Cultivation Resources we need in the fastest possible time!"

Having said that, Meng Haoran changed the subject, "However, that would not align with our 'steadily' approach. Once our Meng Family's Six-Pattern Wheat is revealed to the public, those Black Market merchants with mysterious backgrounds will surely investigate our Meng Family's information in secret. If our Meng Family's information is exposed, they will have leverage over us. At that point, we will not only have to guard against these Black Market merchants but also against the Seven Great Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families of Qingyang County!"

Meng Luohai nodded, "I understand. Haoran means for Elder Jiang in the gray robe to shield our Meng Family from the pressure of the Black Market merchants!"

"Yes, Elder Jiang in the gray robe has already benefited significantly from us once. This time, our Meng Family has given him over five thousand catties of Six-Pattern Wheat, all of superior quality. When he returns to the Chiyang County Black Market, he will surely make a hefty profit!"

Meng Haoran explained, "With such enormous profits, why would Elder Jiang in the gray robe easily reveal the source of these Six-Pattern Wheat purchases to other merchants? Absolutely not! Since that's the case, we only need to let Elder Jiang in the gray robe sell this Six-Pattern Wheat!"

As Meng Luohai walked, he picked up Meng Haoran's words and continued, "The ancients once said, one should not harbor ill intentions towards others, but one must guard against them. Today is the first time I've met this Elder Jiang in the gray robe, and he dares to challenge us to a duel. This shows he has the strength and the audacity. Therefore, we must be extremely cautious of these Elder Jiangs in the gray robe!"

He then turned to Meng Bohai and said earnestly, "Brother Bohai, you and Haoran must be wary of this person!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Bohai laughed up at the sky, "Haha, Luohai, rest assured. I have frequented the Black Market of Qingyang County with Patriarch Jingshan and others for many years. I have some understanding of the character of the merchants there. I can see through the intentions of that Elder Jiang in the gray robe at a glance! No need to worry!"

Leaning forward, Meng Bohai gently patted Meng Luohai's shoulder and whispered, "Right now, our Meng Family is in a critical period where we urgently need Cultivation Resources. Even if this Elder Jiang in the gray robe has ulterior motives, we can only turn a blind eye. Once we have gathered the Cultivation Resources the clan needs, we can discard this Elder Jiang in the gray robe at any time!"

He then looked at Meng Haoran and smiled, "As long as we gather the Cultivation Resources for Foundation Establishment that Patriarch Jingshan needs, and Patriarch Jingshan successfully breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, we won't have to worry too much about that Elder Jiang in the gray robe!"

Meng Haoran listened and smiled, his eyes looking at Meng Luohai, he said coldly with a smile, "Once Jingshan successfully breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, we can either kill or spare Elder Jiang in the gray robe. If we kill him, our Meng Family will find a new agent in the Chiyang County Black Market. If we spare him, we will use the might of Patriarch Jingshan's Foundation Establishment to forcefully deter that Elder Jiang in the gray robe. At that time, our Meng Family will have complete freedom of action!"

Clap, clap, clap!

After listening to their explanations, Meng Luohai couldn't help but clap his hands vigorously, praising, "Brother Bohai, Nephew Haoran, these are truly excellent strategies!"

Since the Meng Family had a contingency plan with Elder Jiang in the gray robe, Meng Luohai no longer had too many worries.

By the time Meng Haoran and the other two returned to Xinghua Village in Qingyang County, it was already evening.

To report the results of their trip, Meng Bohai went ahead to see the Meng Family Patriarch, Meng Jingshan.

As for Meng Haoran, in preparation for the next sale of "Six-Pattern Wheat," he put aside his current affairs and went directly to the backyard to plant seeds of the Second-Tier Spirit Plant, "Six-Pattern Wheat," in all five acres of spirit herb land.

By the time Meng Haoran finished all this, it was already deep into the night. To absorb more quality heaven and earth spiritual energy, he, along with Meng Luohai, rushed to the Xinghua Meng Pavilion in Qingyang County Town under the cover of night.

The next morning, Meng Haoran, who was in a state of cultivation, heard footsteps outside the door.

Meng Haoran called out loudly, "Who is at the door?"

Knock, knock, knock!

After someone knocked, a voice said with a smile, "Brother Haoran, it's me, Xiaoran. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

"It's Xiaoran! Come in quickly."

Meng Haoran quickly withdrew from his cultivation state and walked towards the door.

Entering the door was Meng Xiaoran, a junior of the Meng Family.

"Xiaoran, why are you up so early today? Are you looking for me because you've encountered a problem with your cultivation?" Meng Haoran asked with concern.

Currently, Meng Haoran was a favored figure among the Meng Family's higher-ups, and his cultivation was considered leading among the younger generation.

Therefore, when juniors like Meng Xiaoran encountered cultivation difficulties, they would almost always seek out Meng Haoran for help in resolving them.

Meng Xiaoran replied, "My cultivation is going well recently. Within half a year, I will definitely be able to break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. However, even so, I am still far behind Brother Haoran."

"It's alright! Cultivation matters require reaching the goal naturally and progressing steadily. There's no need to be too anxious."

Meng Haoran smiled and asked, "Xiaoran, since you're not here for cultivation matters this time, what is it about?"

Meng Xiaoran scratched his head sheepishly and looked at Meng Haoran, replying, "It's about that Thunderfire Tiger."

"Thunderfire Tiger?"

Meng Haoran remembered that he had once gifted Meng Xiaoran a Spirit Beast, the "Thunderfire Tiger," and asked, "What's wrong with the Thunderfire Tiger? Is there a problem?"

"Sigh!"

Meng Xiaoran sighed heavily and said, "Brother Haoran, I'll call the Thunderfire Tiger over, and you'll understand why I've come to find you today!"

After saying that, Meng Xiaoran turned around and called out loudly, "Xiao Xiao, come here!"

.:wap.

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