Chapter 195: Luo Family’s Change in Attitude, Force Rules

Luo Kaijie had expected Qin Xiao to have given supplies worth ten or twenty million Spirit Stones. Even double compensation would only come to thirty or forty million.

If spending this amount of Spirit Stones could allow them to cut ties with Qin Xiao, it would still be worthwhile. After all, compared to offending the Heir Apparent, tens of millions of Spirit Stones were nothing. But he never expected it to be twelve billion.

But he had already given his word. How could he take it back without losing face?

“How about… we forget it?”

Qin Xiao saw the Luo Family Ancestor’s dilemma and made a tentative suggestion.

“Well, Young Friend Qin, it’s not that this old man wants to go back on his word. Since you are friends with Bing’er and Shuang’er, this old man really shouldn’t brush aside your goodwill. Since you are friends with Bing’er and Shuang’er, you are naturally a friend of the Luo Family as well.”

Luo Kaijie could only reconsider at this point. Faced with twelve billion Spirit Stones, offending the Heir Apparent didn’t seem entirely impossible either. He no longer addressed Qin Xiao by his name, instead calling him Young Friend Qin.

“Then, Young Friend Qin, since you gave Bing’er and Shuang’er so many resources, do you perhaps have some request in mind?”

Although he couldn’t repay such a vast sum of Spirit Stones, he still wanted to ask what Qin Xiao was actually after.

“I have no requests whatsoever. If you don’t believe me, you can ask them. It is purely out of friendship. I, Qin Xiao, am not the kind of person who uses supplies to coerce others.”

Fearing that the Luo Family Ancestor would misunderstand once more, Qin Xiao quickly explained.

“Ancestor, stop being suspicious. We are truly good friends, and Qin Xiao has never asked anything of us. I also know that the so-called Heir Apparent must have instigated you, which is why you acted against Qin Xiao. From now on, our Luo Family must stay far away from that so-called Heir Apparent.”

Luo Yunbing knew her ancestor must have been deceived. But he could not afford to be so foolish again! Offending her master would have serious consequences. He must not bring ruin on the Luo Family.

“Yes, Ancestor, that—”

Luo Yunshuang also hurriedly chimed in.

“Hey, hey, hey, I am still standing right here! Is it really appropriate for you to talk about me like this? What do you mean by saying even Chen Shunyi died by my hand? I was simply defending myself.”

The more Qin Xiao listened, the stranger it sounded. They had come to clear up a misunderstanding. Why did it sound as though the sisters were threatening their own ancestor—and using him to do it?

The more Luo Kaijie thought about it, the more it seemed that the heir apparent had deliberately led the Luo Family into danger. They had nearly met with disaster. This story is hosted at nоvelping.com.

At the time, the Heir Apparent’s attendant had come to the Luo residence in the Middle City while Luo Kaijie happened to be present. Upon learning that the Heir Apparent wished to see him, he had gone over. After some discussion, he agreed to the request, which led to the subsequent interception. Because he had gone out to fetch Luo Yunbing and Luo Yunshuang, however, a complete disaster had been averted.

The main reason was the timing of Qin Xiao’s departure: it had coincided perfectly with everything else.

This had likewise exceeded Xiao Wenli’s expectations. In truth, whether Qin Xiao left the city earlier or later, the Heir Apparent had other methods and was not worried that Qin Xiao would meet the Luo sisters.

If Qin Xiao had left earlier, Luo Kaijie could have killed him first. If Qin Xiao had left later, the Heir Apparent would have visited the Luo residence and detained the Luo sisters. Either way, Qin Xiao and the Luo sisters would not have crossed paths.

As a result, everything happened by pure coincidence. The Luo sisters did not return to the estate and instead went straight to the ambush site, leading to their meeting.

“Ancestor, why doesn’t our Luo Family simply stand on Qin Xiao’s side and form an alliance with him? That would guarantee the Luo Family soars to great heights.”

Luo Yunshuang went a step further, urging the ancestor to side with Qin Xiao against the heir apparent.

“Nonsense, Shuang’er! You have no idea how deep the waters of Qingzhou truly are. This old man knows that Young Friend Qin is no ordinary person, but the Heir Apparent is not as simple as he appears on the surface either. One wrong step by our Luo Family could lead to the complete destruction of our clan.”

Upon hearing Luo Yunshuang’s suggestion, Luo Kaijie immediately scolded her.

Taking Qin Xiao’s side would put the Luo Family on the road to ruin. In Qingzhou, only the Qingzhou Governor-General and the Immortal Dao Merchant Association could face the Qingzhou Prince without fear. Other forces and sects would not dare to offend him lightly.

“There is no need to take my side. I have enough trouble keeping myself safe. Let’s leave the Luo Family out of it. Clearing up our misunderstanding is enough.”

Qin Xiao had not expected Luo Yunshuang to make such a proposal and quickly stated that it was unnecessary.

Though he did not know what other tricks Xiao Wenli might pull, he could hide. But the Luo Family had deep roots in Qingzhou City; if they truly took his side and Xiao Wenli failed to find him, would the Heir Apparent spare the Luo Family?

It was better to wait until he possessed true strength or had established his own force. By then, he might be able to recruit various allies. Since he already intended to face the conflict head-on, he would no longer hide, and Xiao Wenli would direct his hostility solely at him.

Thinking of establishing a force, Qin Xiao suddenly remembered that, interrupted by Xiao Wenli’s meddling, he had almost forgotten his primary business.

“Senior Luo, let me ask you something. If I wish to apply to establish a Third-Level Force, what conditions must be met, and where does one apply?” This chapter was taken from NovelPing without permission.

Having thought of this question, Qin Xiao turned to the Luo Family Ancestor. As an old resident of Qingzhou, the elder should certainly know such matters.

“Young Friend Qin, did this old man hear correctly? You wish to establish a Third-Level Force? Do you realize that a Third-Level Force requires a Body Integration realm expert to oversee it? Although this old man has already reached the peak of the Soul Formation realm, our Luo Family is merely a Fourth-Level Force.”

Luo Kaijie thought he had misheard. A Third-Level Force, just like that? Was the boy simply acting on a whim?

Leaving aside those requirements, he had just killed Chen Shunyi a few days ago; did he really think the Qingzhou Governor-General would approve his application?

“I am aware of all that. Please, Senior, tell me about the rest of the requirements.”

Qin Xiao naturally knew that a Third-Level Force required a Body Integration expert, but he was still unfamiliar with the other details.

“Since you ask, this old man will explain it to you. While it sounds difficult, it is actually quite simple.”

With that, Luo Kaijie briefly introduced the system to Qin Xiao.

For an ordinary family to become a Fifth-Level Force, it needed established businesses and one Nascent Soul cultivator in the family.

To become a Fourth-Level Force, it needed a Soul Formation cultivator, larger businesses, and a fixed territory—a headquarters or family residence.

After all, a true force needed sustainable development and the ability to pass down its legacy, rather than being a mere flash in the pan. A group without a fixed location was not a force at all; they were merely rogue cultivators or an unstable element.

A Third-Level Force faced stricter requirements. It needed land for a headquarters or stronghold, official registration, and a sustainable source of resources. Qingzhou City would collect taxes. It also needed strong fighting power, with Body Integration as the minimum. After all, if a Fourth-Level Force could wipe you out, what kind of Third-Level Force were you?

There were population requirements too. A Third-Level Force could hardly consist of three or five people. If not a thousand, it needed at least five hundred. Then came all manner of minor requirements, putting obstacles in your way at every turn.

Of course, having connections could eliminate a great deal of trouble. As long as the territory was secured, the highest combat power was present, and taxes were paid on time, everything else remained negotiable.

“So that is how it is. It seems I must first purchase a plot of land in Qingzhou City. There are still many matters to attend to, so I cannot return to Tianyi City just yet.”

Qin Xiao immediately abandoned the thought of returning to Tianyi City, deciding instead to handle the establishment of the Third-Level Force first, especially since it concerned the addition of two Body Integration experts.