ATPnovel Chapter 25 The Wang Family's Achilles' Heel: A Nighttime Investigation of the Granary
Chapter 25 The Wang Family's Achilles' Heel: A Nighttime Investigation of the Granary
Twilight.
In the fields behind Black Stone Mountain, the morning dew had not yet dissipated, and a thin mist floated in the air.
Li Xuan sat cross-legged all night. Now he slowly got up. His aura was calm and restrained, but his movements were more composed and sharp than yesterday.
Fourth level of Qi Refining.
He has truly entered the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
The dantian is wider, the meridians are more stable, and the spiritual energy flows much more smoothly.
The most obvious change is the initial appearance of the rudiments of divine consciousness.
Although he couldn't be considered a true ranged explorer, he could already vaguely detect any movement within a five-zhang radius.
This step is extremely important for both combat and strategy.
⸻
"Young Clan Chief!"
The sound of Li Yuanshan panting could be heard from afar.
He ran along carrying the account book, his feet slipping, and he almost fell into the spirit field.
"A breakthrough? A real breakthrough?"
Li Xuan glanced at him.
"You're even more excited than I am."
Li Yuanshan's face was beaming with joy.
"Of course!"
"With your breakthrough, the Li family's prestige has increased once again!"
"Everyone outside says you are incredibly wise and resourceful; if you were to further enhance your cultivation—"
He lowered his voice and said mysteriously:
"Maybe it can fetch an even higher price."
Li Xuan remained silent for a moment.
"Is anything else on your mind besides prices?"
Li Yuanshan thought about it carefully.
"profit."
⸻
Inside the council hall of the ancestral home.
Li Tianheng, Li Yuanlie, and others were already waiting.
Upon seeing Li Xuan enter, everyone's eyes lit up.
Li Yuanlie was the most direct, laughing loudly:
"His breathing has stabilized!"
"The young clan leader has indeed succeeded!"
As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together, eager to get started.
"How about we go and chop down the Wang family's bones to celebrate?"
Li Yuanshan rolled his eyes.
"Can't you think of something civilized?"
Li Yuanlie said earnestly:
"Killing the Wang family would be very civilized."
⸻
After a moment of reflection, Li Tianheng's eyes were filled with undisguised satisfaction.
"good."
"Breaking through the barrier overnight, yet the foundation remains solid."
"Better than I was back then."
Li Xuan bowed respectfully.
"Thanks to the family's good fortune and the help of the spiritual field."
Li Tianheng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then smiled and did not ask any further questions.
He was already aware of the various strange phenomena that had been occurring in the Li family these past few days.
Sometimes, it's better not to ask than to ask.
⸻
After Li Xuan sat down, he spoke directly:
"We'll discuss two things today."
"First, continue to acquire the Wang family's peripheral industries."
"second--"
He spread a roll of names on the table.
"Find the true weakness of the Wang family."
The hall fell silent immediately.
Li Yuanshan leaned over to take a look and saw that it was the list of industries that Zhao Yuancheng had brought.
Three grain shops, one pharmacy, two warehouses, one dock, and several loan ledgers...
There seem to be a lot.
But these are all just superficial.
⸻
Li Xuan pointed to one of the lines.
【Nancang】
"Zhao family notes: This warehouse is heavily guarded every month, but very few of the accounts are leaked out."
Li Yuanshan was taken aback.
"It's just a warehouse, what's so special about it?"
Li Xuan said calmly:
"If it were just an ordinary grain depot, there would be no need for such caution."
Li Tianheng's gaze narrowed slightly.
"You suspect that the Wang family's real source of wealth lies here?"
Li Xuan nodded.
"The grain store is the storefront."
"The warehouse is the lifeline."
If the Wang family only relied on selling rice on the street, it would have been impossible for them to suppress the Li family for so many years.
There must be a more stable and hidden source of income behind this.
⸻
Li Yuanlie slammed his hand on the table.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"I'm bringing my men and hacking them down tonight!"
Li Yuanshan was furious:
"Can't you use your brain?!"
"What if it's empty inside?"
Li Yuanlie sneered:
"Then I'll chop the door open and get out."
⸻
Li Xuan raised his hand to stop the two from arguing.
"I'll go and see for myself tonight."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall changed color.
Li Tianheng frowned.
"no."
"You've just broken through, and your identity is sensitive; it's too risky."
Li Xuan remained calm.
"It's precisely because I've just broken through that I'm the most suitable candidate."
"After reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, I already have the ability to protect myself."
"Moreover, if this matter is verified, the Wang family is finished."
Li Tianheng fell silent.
He knew that once Li Xuan made a decision, it would be difficult to change it.
⸻
Finally, Li Tianheng slowly spoke:
"I will go with you."
Li Xuan shook his head.
"You're setting yourself up too high."
"If Wang Tonghai discovers that you have left the city, he will be on guard."
"By acting alone, I can stay hidden."
Li Yuanlie immediately raised his hand.
"I'll go too!"
"You're too conspicuous."
"...How was I conspicuous?"
"Everyone in the county knows you carry a knife like a bear."
The people in the hall almost burst out laughing.
Li Yuanlie was full of resentment, but he couldn't refute it.
⸻
into the night.
South Street in Qingyun County is cold and deserted.
Wangjia Nancang is located at the corner of the city, with high outer walls and narrow alleys on both sides, so few people come here on weekdays.
There were eight guards on duty outside the warehouse, two of whom were Qi Refining cultivators.
Ordinary granaries would never have such specifications.
Li Xuan, dressed in black, lay prone in the shadows of the rooftop, his eyes slightly cold.
You guessed right.
There was indeed a problem here.
⸻
After reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining, his movements became lighter, and his ability to control his aura improved significantly.
Using the cover of night and the eaves, he glided like a shadow.
In the blink of an eye, they had scaled the outer wall.
Inside the granary, there were more than ten stacks of grain, but the air was filled with more than just the smell of rice.
There was also the smell of medicine.
It's subtle, yet undeniably real.
Li Xuan's heart stirred.
Are medicinal herbs hidden in the granary?
⸻
He walked along the corner of the wall and soon arrived at a small, separate storeroom in the backyard.
The door lock here is made of fine iron, and two guards at the third level of Qi Refining stand in front of the door, their expressions far more vigilant than those of the ordinary guards outside.
Li Xuan did not approach, but instead focused his attention on sensing through the window crack.
The nascent form of divine consciousness began to spread slightly.
Vague, yet sufficient.
The room was filled with rows of wooden crates.
The box does not contain spirit rice.
Instead, it contains ginseng, qi-nourishing herbs, dried dew-collecting flowers, and healing powders...
A large quantity of medicinal herbs for cultivation!
And the number is staggering.
⸻
Li Xuan's eyes darkened.
Understood.
The Wang family's real income over the years has not come from selling grain.
Instead, they monopolized the distribution channels for low-grade medicinal herbs in Qingyun County and then resold them in the county seat for huge profits.
No wonder he has such wealth and power.
No wonder they dared to support and worship others for so long, and to oppress everyone else.
The profit from medicinal herbs far exceeds that from that from grains and rice by several times.
The Li family's newly opened fourth mu of spiritual field also happens to be preparing to follow this path.
This is the Achilles' heel.
⸻
Just now.
Footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
"Change of shifts!"
The two guards turned around and looked back.
Li Xuan instantly disappeared into the shadows, holding his breath and remaining motionless.
A patrol of four men passed by, one of them muttering a complaint:
"Has the head of the family gone mad lately? He's been putting on extra shifts every day."
The other person whispered:
"What do you know? The Li family has been acting strangely lately."
"I heard Xing Bao has fallen from grace."
"Besides, if something happens here, we'll all die."
After hearing this, Li Xuan felt even more reassured.
This is indeed the core industry of the Wang family.
⸻
Once the patrol team had gone far away, Li Xuan quietly slipped away.
Just as they were about to climb over the wall to leave, a cold voice suddenly came from afar.
"Now that you're here, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Li Xuan paused in his steps.
In a corner of the courtyard, an old man in a gray robe slowly walked out, his aura calm and steady, indicating he was at the seventh level of Qi Refining.
It had been hidden all along.
Old, shady stuff.
Li Xuan made a quick decision in his mind.
This is the real hidden sentry in the warehouse.
⸻
The old man in the gray robe squinted at Li Xuan.
"Breaking into the royal family's territory at night."
"Spare your life."
Before the words were even finished, the person pounced, their palm strike fierce.
Li Xuan's eyes turned cold.
He's only at the seventh level of Qi Refining.
If it were before the breakthrough, he might have had no choice but to retreat.
now--
not necessarily.
He shifted his feet, his spiritual energy surged, and his figure drifted away like a leaf.
At the same time, he pointed out with his finger.
Aoki's finger strike pierced through the air.
The old man's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly blocked the attack, but was still forced back half a step.
"Qi Refining Level 4?"
"A junior member of the Li family?!"
Li Xuan did not answer, but used the momentum to retreat and leaped onto the top of the wall.
The old man in the gray robe roared and chased after them.
next moment.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared outside the wall.
"Hahaha! Your grandpa's out!"
Li Yuanlie!
boom!
The long sword came crashing down, and the gray-robed old man hastily retaliated, only to be forced back several steps by the impact, his face turning deathly pale.
From the shadows outside the wall, Li Tianheng slowly walked out, his aura as imposing as a mountain.
The old man was ashen-faced.
We've fallen for their trap!
⸻
Li Xuan landed calmly.
"Father, I told you I would come alone."
Li Tianheng said calmly:
I didn't go in.
Li Yuanlie laughed loudly, carrying his sword.
"I didn't go in either; I waited outside to chop people up."
The old man in the gray robe was so angry he almost vomited blood.
⸻
Li Xuan looked at the old man, his tone icy.
"Go back and tell Wang Tonghai."
"I've checked the warehouse."
"I know about the medicine route now."
"Starting tomorrow—"
"The Wang family's source of income has been cut off."
The old man's face was deathly pale.
That statement was more ruthless than killing him.
The Wang family's biggest secret has been revealed.