The daily life of a genius who enjoys gossip and cultivates immortality

Chapter 226 Family

Under the towering, apricot-yellow tree, a group of people gathered, some sitting and some standing.

The crowd was clearly divided into three groups. One group had an expression that carried the unique pride of aristocratic disciples, and they were dressed in expensive clothes. The spiritual light from their magical robes and artifacts almost blinded everyone present.

The dozen or so people at the head of the group were dressed more neatly than the disciples around them, and it was vaguely clear that they were from the same family. Although they stood with the disciples from other families, they were also subtly separated.

Another group, neither too close nor too far from the aristocratic disciples, were dressed very neatly. They were in groups of three or five and their strength was not high, but the disciples leading them were all at the Golden Core stage.

Although their attire couldn't compare to that of the aristocratic disciples, they formed their own distinct style, clearly disciples carefully cultivated by sects outside the five major sects.

Besides them, there were the largest group of independent cultivators, dressed in different clothes and with varying levels of cultivation, who banded together. In order to resist the disciples of these aristocratic families and sects, this group of independent cultivators also secretly put forward a few leaders to fight against those disciples.

These leaders were all at the Golden Core stage.

Wow, this is lively!

Cheng Jiu and his group, who were observing from a distance, were quite eager to make their move. They hadn't expected so many people to come here, so it seemed that this ancient cave was probably real.

This place is so close to the Guiyuan Sect, yet there is such a secret realm right under the Guiyuan Sect's nose that even the Guiyuan Sect doesn't know about.

"Qiao Song!"

Qiao Song, whom Cheng Jiu and his group had previously helped, came into view.

As soon as she arrived at the hermitage, a beautiful woman with a charming appearance and a very hot figure came out to greet her. Her stunning looks and graceful figure attracted the attention of most people.

"Qiao Song, why did you come alone? Oh dear, you look so disheveled. Did something happen?"

The beautiful woman was initially curious as to why Qiao Song had come alone, as she knew he had a team. Seeing Qiao Song's disheveled appearance, she understood the situation.

"Sister Hua, would you mind if I joined your team?"

Qiao Song did not answer. Regarding the previous team, even if they were able to survive among the wolves, she considered them dead.

They must be blind to trust that guy Zhao Pingtian.

Most secret realms in the cultivation world are fraught with danger and are extremely unfriendly to cultivators with low cultivation levels. It is okay if you have an elder or master to accompany you when you go into a secret realm, but if you don't, the death rate is extremely high when you fight alone.

Fortunately, the independent cultivators also figured out a method suitable for them: forming teams. With more people, there is more strength, and they can also look out for each other when going down to the secret realm.

Moreover, some teams are created by experienced players. Joining one of them may mean being used as free cannon fodder by other teams, but if you encounter a kind-hearted experienced player, the returns can be quite substantial.

Moreover, independent cultivators can avoid being used as cannon fodder by forming teams and groups, and can also compete fairly with those disciples from sects and aristocratic families who have an advantage.

Qiao Song's journey to the Golden Core stage was also due to her own good fortune. At the beginning, she was lucky enough to meet a kind senior, and the team was easy to get along with. Even though her cultivation level was weak at the time, she still received a share of the benefits.

As she joined the group, her cultivation level gradually improved. Unfortunately, her good fortune didn't last long. The kind senior who had guided her perished in a secret realm, and his younger brother took his place.

A greedy, lustful, and dictatorial disgusting fellow.

Not long after his brother's death, he couldn't wait to eliminate dissidents and take control of that team. He even set his sights on Qiao Song. Qiao Song's appearance wasn't considered beautiful in this cultivation world, but she was still pretty.

The key point is that she has high cultivation level. A female cultivator with good strength is extremely rare among rogue cultivators.

The other party wasn't after Qiao Song's looks, but her talent; he wanted Qiao Song to submit to him.

Qiao Song was naturally unwilling, especially since her cultivation level was higher than the other party's.

As a result, she was targeted and ostracized by this petty guy. He assigned her the hardest and most tiring tasks, didn't give her any rewards, and didn't even invite her when going to the secret realm.

Qiao Song didn't want to give in, so she thought about changing teams. She was quite strong, had made a name for herself, and was a female cultivator, so she was very popular.

While inspecting those teams, Zhao Pingtian took the initiative to invite her. The two had met before in a secret realm, where Yao Mei was not in the other team.

Qiao Song had a very good impression of this responsible and cheerful captain, and more importantly, the two had worked together before.

He accepted the olive branch offered by the other party.

Actually, among those who chose the other team, there were some friendly rogue cultivators who told her that the team had pitfalls and was not suitable.

However, she was already blinded by the conditions promised by Zhao Pingtian and had agreed to them, so she couldn't refuse for any other reason.

More importantly, the two had spent some time together before, and she trusted his character.

So he plunged headfirst into this bottomless pit.

At first, they got along very well. With two Golden Core cultivators present, they could take on many higher-paying missions, and their chances of success in the secret realms were much better.

Because she was a female cultivator, her teammates took good care of her. Qiao Song was also a straightforward person, so they got along very well.

Until the last member of the team, who was supposedly recuperating at home, returned.

Qiao Song didn't actually have any problem with that girl at first, especially since she had a pitiful appearance and low strength. Qiao Song couldn't help but feel like an older sister taking care of a younger sister, and she would take extra care of her when they trained together.

But the other party didn't think so. She felt that Qiao Song's arrival had shaken her status as the only female member of the team and the most beloved member. Not only did she compete with Qiao Song in every way, but she also often slandered Qiao Song and pulled the other members of the team to isolate Qiao Song.

Qiao Song couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about what the other party had done. She told Zhao Pingtian about it, but the other party said that Yao Mei was just a little girl with no ill intentions and asked Qiao Song to be more understanding.

Qiao Song felt very uncomfortable, but fortunately, the rewards from the missions in the secret realm were good. Zhao Pingtian had no faults, but he was never stingy when it came to paying rewards. Qiao Song felt that she could stay even if she ignored Yao Mei.

Who would have thought that the other party could cause such a big disaster, having stolen the cubs of the Crimson Flame Wolf King from somewhere, intending to keep them as pets.

As it turned out, the cub was quite fierce. Demonic beasts are never as docile as spirit beasts. It bared its teeth and claws and bit the cub's hand.

Enraged by the wolf cub's attack, Yao Mei drew her whip and lashed out at it. Instead of killing it, she chose to torture it slowly.

The wolf cubs were howling so pitifully that Qiao Song felt a pang of sympathy. She kindly offered a few words of advice, but her teammates accused her of being disloyal, inhuman, and not one of their kind.

Even the cubs hurt Yao Mei, yet Qiao Song still spoke up for the cubs.

Yao Mei cried and complained that they were teammates on the same team, yet Qiao Song didn't protect her.

Qiao Song!

Qiao Song had nothing to say to these people who were so biased that they were practically scheming, so she could only stand by and watch. If she knew what would happen next, she would definitely not pretend to be deaf and dumb.

This might be karma. Just as the young girl was about to whip the wolf cub to death, the Crimson Flame Wolf, who had come looking for the cub, arrived in time to save her.

Seeing the dying wolf cub, the Crimson Flame Wolf King was furious.

Thus, the scene Cheng Jiu and the others witnessed at the beginning unfolded. Despite their achievements, the group exerted pressure and issued warnings, and the Wolf King only allowed Qiao Song to leave, showing no mercy to the culprits.

The stupid things that happened in the past are gone like the wind, and the person involved doesn't even know if they will survive.

If she were to enter this ancient cave alone now, it would undoubtedly be a dead end. She had encountered kind people before, but she didn't believe that such good fortune would favor her a second time.

The most urgent thing was to join a team, and Sister Hua had previously thought highly of her and offered very generous terms, but unfortunately she had already agreed to join Zhao Pingtian's team.

She wondered if the other party would accept her, and thinking this made Qiao Song's heart pound.

"Of course, our team would always welcome you!"

Sister Hua opened her arms and hugged Qiao Song tightly, her tone both joyful and matter-of-fact.

Sister Hua had noticed Qiao Song long ago and admired her quite a bit.

Unfortunately, the other team's former employer treated them well, and the other team didn't want to leave.

Coincidentally, her employer changed, and Qiao Song was also thinking of changing teams.

Before she could make a move, Zhao Pingtian struck first.

Qiao Song, being a very loyal and principled person, declined her invitation.

Now that the other party has taken the initiative to ask to join her team, of course she won't refuse.

Sister Hua is clearly the undisputed leader in her group. She was chosen as one of the core figures by the other rogue cultivators not only because of her own formidable strength, but also because her team is one of the strongest among them.

Qiao Song was not excluded at all and integrated into Sister Hua's team, which was mostly composed of female cultivators.

Each one has its own unique characteristics, making them quite eye-catching among a group of independent cultivators.

The rogue cultivators were having a great time. The leading aristocratic disciple glanced at the ragged cultivators with disdain, wondering what was going on that made them so happy. They must have never seen the world before. He felt it was bad luck for these country bumpkins to be in the same place as him!

"You bumpkin!"

"?"

His voice was neither loud nor soft, but everyone present possessed cultivation, especially those rogue cultivators who had been pushed out by the rogue cultivators, who all looked at him.

Who is he insulting? Whoever he is, as a representative of independent cultivators, isn't he insulting them?

Who are you talking about?

"Whoever answers me, I'll say it!"

The other party glared at the group of rogue cultivators without showing any weakness. He could crush these powerless and insignificant people with a wave of his hand. How dare a bunch of ants bark like ants here?

"These powerful families are so annoying. They bully the weak and fear the strong, and they wish they could take the whole world for themselves without even considering whether they have the strength to do so!"

Cheng Jiu leaned against the tree trunk, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes. Everyone said that the five major sects were domineering, but under their rule, most people could live well without cultivating immortality. The five major sects were quite protective of the lower classes.

Even for independent cultivators, the five major sects would allocate some resources to them and would not restrict their training.

But aristocratic families are different. Just look at the Netherworld City. Although it is said to be a paradise for free people who do not want to join a sect, anyone who has been to the Netherworld City knows that there is only freedom there.

If one is unfortunately stranded in territory belonging to a family, they may not even have freedom.

Freedom is nothing but a lie by these families. They introduce so-called free cultivators to show that they cannot stand the constraints of the five major sects and choose independence.

But a quick look into these so-called independent cultivators reveals that they have been transformed from independent cultivators into families, or at least elders who cooperate with families.

If one could enter one of the five major sects, anyone with a brain would choose one, except for a few who have been genuinely misled.

Of course, if the other party is truly powerless and without influence, reality will teach them a lesson.

Compared to the five major sects, even some sects that are not as good as the five major sects are considered good places to go.

This time, with the beast tide, the Netherworld City has torn off its fig leaf, abandoning a territory just like that because of the high cost of reconstruction.

They preferred to build new buildings rather than rebuild, especially the remaining people of Mingyou City who had gone bankrupt due to the beast tide. The contrast between their lives and those of the people after the five major sects took over and helped rebuild was even more tragic.

The five major groups not only provided food and helped rebuild the ruins, but also did not oppress them or require them to pay anything.

Even before the beast tide arrived, and even if the city lord was a good person, with layers of exploitation, most people still couldn't get enough to eat, let alone become independent cultivators.

Even rogue cultivators became superior beings who transcended social classes in their eyes.

It was quite a disaster.

It wasn't just because Cheng Jiu herself was a member of one of the five major sects, but also because she was well aware of the corruption within them.

Naturally, the sect holds a neutral stance and looks down on families.

The conflict between the five major sects and the families is hidden beneath the surface, mainly because the five major sects are able to suppress the families. Although the other side wants to shake the status of the five major sects, they dare not show it openly at all.

The conflict between the family and the independent cultivators was as fierce as a volcano.

Just as Cheng Jiu said, families bully the weak and fear the strong. For those rogue cultivators who have no power or influence and no one to rely on, dealing with someone of low strength is extremely easy. Family killings happen frequently, and most rogue cultivators dare not speak out against them.

Faced with the fact that the family disciples all chose to stick together for warmth, the other side dared not go too far because there were many of them.

At this moment, the other party only dared to call him a country bumpkin but dared not make a move.

Seeing that he had angered the rogue cultivator, the person behind him, who seemed to be the other's elder brother, pulled him back and apologized with a smile: "I'm sorry, my younger brother speaks without thinking, please forgive him."

After all, once he said that, the other rogue cultivators couldn't continue. The other party was a member of a clan, and the clan had elders, who were seniors with high cultivation levels. How could they, a group of weak rogue cultivators, dare to provoke him? They could only follow the crowd and vent their anger.

This is also the tragedy of independent cultivators. With so many people, their thoughts are not aligned, making it difficult for them to unite. They will only unite against external forces when the interests of everyone are at stake.

Although they apologized, the two brothers showed no remorse whatsoever, and even the aristocratic disciples around them looked at the rogue cultivators with mockery in their eyes.

"Brother Qi, you're being too generous. Why bother talking to those bumpkins! Besides, Brother Xiao is right."

A sycophantic disciple from a prominent family stepped forward, speaking of rogue cultivators with utter contempt.

After being condemned once before, the core members of the independent cultivators were unable to muster the strength to unite a second time.

They could only swallow their anger and let the other party make veiled insults.