The centipede obediently stayed in the center of the dining table, drawing the full attention of everyone in the Li family.  

The curious and eager gazes made the centipede nervously retract its legs.  

“Don’t all stare at it. It’s timid!”  

Li Pingcan said helplessly.  

Probably pampered for so long, this centipede ancestor hadn’t really seen much of the world. The current scene was like four “giants” besieging a city.  

Putting yourself in the centipede’s perspective, just imagining it was horrifying!  

Li Ping'an was extremely surprised. “I didn’t expect our little brother to not only communicate with Little Black but also with bugs.”  

Li Rongzhou then scrutinized the centipede and confirmed, “This centipede is nearly two feet long. It really is Li Dahu’s ‘Purple-Gold Blood Centipede.’ It’s usually fed with beast blood. I heard a single drop of its venom is worth ten taels of silver. For certain poison techniques and novice martial artists, it works wonders. People even pre-order it in advance.”  

A drop of venom worth ten taels?  

Li Pingfu, Li Ping'an, and Li Pingcan’s eyes all widened immediately.  

Probably only a wealthy family like Li Dahu’s could afford it, not to mention the sons of noble families.  

Li Pingcan thought of a crucial point. No wonder immortals thrive in this world, and some martial families continue to flourish. Their children enjoy top-tier resources from birth, and ordinary people can’t even dream of catching up.  

This system only solidifies class barriers more and more, and no one can break through.  

‘Good thing I’m a Druid. I can recycle resources, accumulate little by little, and create a qualitative change!’  

Just like the centipede that produces a drop of venom per month, under the blessing and protection of a Druid, venom production can be accelerated.  

If more of these “blood qi medicinal materials” could be contracted, it would be a great way to get rich!  

……  

Private grudges can’t compare to blood qi medicine.  

The Li family unanimously decided that revenge was secondary; rationally securing the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede was the top priority.  

Li Pingcan reported various pieces of intelligence.  

“Centipedes prefer quiet. They usually feed on beast blood for three days, during which no one disturbs them.”  

“The last feeding was just last night.”  

“There’s room to operate,” Li Rongzhou pondered. “Li Fang handled this roughly. Once Li Dahu finds the centipede missing, he’ll definitely know the blood qi centipede is with us. So we can’t just secretly keep it. It’s best if it disappears on its own in full view of everyone.”  

Li Ping'an quickly thought of a plan. “Then, tomorrow, let the centipede stay hidden in big brother’s clothes bundle. Knowing Li Fang’s personality, once he sees big brother unharmed, he’ll get suspicious and look for an opportunity to release the centipede.”  

Li Pingcan raised a question, “What if the centipede runs off and Li Dahu forcefully demands compensation?”  

With that family’s temperament, it was very likely.  

“We’re just low-key. We’re not pushovers,” Li Rongzhou smiled. “Tomorrow I’ll go register my new martial realm with the village chief.”  

This would both get the village elder involved and announce the Bone Realm status.  

A Bone Realm martial artist under thirty could very well advance to the Blood Qi Realm and pose a threat to Li Dahu.  

They discussed for a while.  

They also planned several fallback options, in case Li Dahu went all-out with no mercy. Escaping deep into the mountains to lay low would also be an option.  

Anyway, with the centipede in hand and the land contract secured, it was a big win.  

Besides, their family worked in the shadows while Li Dahu operated openly. This time, with careful planning and a bit of luck, success was very possible!  

…………  

The next morning.  

Li Pingfu clenched his fists, his expression tense as he prepared to leave.  

“You’re too nervous,” Li Rongzhou said. “You’re the same as usual today.”  

Li Pingcan laughed sharply, “Big brother, big brother, did you see that big rooster at the village entrance? Why aren’t you standing as proudly as it yet?”  

“Dare say your brother’s not as good as a chicken!” Li Pingfu rubbed his younger brother’s soft face, squeezing and playing around until the tension was gone.  

Poor Li Pingcan’s face flushed red as an apple.  

He couldn’t help but hatefully think that when he practiced martial arts, he would kick Li Fang and punch big brother!  

…………  

The first step of big brother’s battle plan was set. Li Pingcan didn’t stay idle at home and began the second part of the plan.  

“Spore Sense, prepare!”  

“Little Black adaptive communication activated!”  

“Centipede mental network signal strong, ready to strike anytime!”  

“Nature’s Gift, super boost!”  

“Save the mana of Dance of the Wind and Thorn Whip as escape Plan C!”  

At the training grounds.  

Watching Li Pingfu proudly strutting like the village’s big rooster without any restraint, Zhou Enxian shook his head and planned to visit Li Rongzhou for a drink.  

This problem wasn’t too big, but not too small either, and it could easily cause Li Pingfu to suffer a heavy defeat.  

His gaze then fell on the gloomy Li Fang, and he sighed deeply.  

They were all disciples. He didn’t want Li Fang’s heart to be broken and had tried to counsel him.  

But Li Fang only went through the motions.  

“No teacher-disciple fate.”  

As the saying goes, forced things don’t taste sweet. Zhou Enxian stopped managing him from then on.  

……  

In the blink of an eye, noon approached.  

“If Li Fang doesn’t act, we’ll have to let this kid go.”  

As the controller, Li Pingcan was anxious.  

Just letting the centipede attract attention and escape wasn’t smooth enough and risked it being caught again.  

But soon, a turning point came.  

Li Fang’s expression grew increasingly sinister. The oppressive atmosphere he gave off kept his usual friends away.  

He still couldn’t figure out, “After a whole night, why is Li Pingfu unharmed?”  

While Li Pingfu was practicing martial arts, Li Fang secretly opened his change of clothes bundle. A huge centipede lying in wait suddenly sprang out fiercely!  

“Ah!”  

A piercing scream echoed throughout the training grounds. Countless martial artists rushed over, only to see the purple-black centipede biting Li Fang’s thumb and shaking it in the air. His once pale skin instantly turned the color of pig liver!  

“Poisonous centipede! Li Fang was bitten!”  

“Quick, call Master Zhou!”  

“Where did that big centipede come from? So scary!”  

A fifty to sixty-centimeter centipede biting someone was visually terrifying!  

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Enxian immediately arrived, his gaze darkening.  

Others might not recognize it, but he knew perfectly well—it was the Purple-Gold Blood Centipede from Li Dahu’s family!  

Why Li Fang brought this centipede out was deeply suspicious!  

But saving a life came first.  

Just as Zhou Enxian was about to restrain the centipede, the bug seemed to sense danger like it had intelligence. It retracted its head and escaped toward the forest!  

“If I chase after the centipede for Li Dahu, I won’t have time to detoxify Li Fang.”  

He made the decision in the blink of an eye. The centipede was less important than a life. Even if he caught it, Li Dahu might not appreciate it!  

Zhou Enxian did not pursue. In such chaos, the disciples were terrified and pale-faced, so no one chased after it.  

Yet, a jet-black raven cawed and flew toward the old village chief’s house.  

…………  

Li Dahu hurried to the training grounds. Seeing his son’s swollen finger, which looked like a radish, and the angry expression on his thick-fleshed face, he roared,  

“Who hurt my son!”  

“No one hurt your son!”  

Zhou Enxian frowned and stressed, but Li Dahu ignored him entirely, glaring like a wolf at Li Pingfu.  

“My family’s ancestral centipede—how did it end up in your bundle? Did you steal it to harm my son?”  

Li Pingfu’s expression was panicked, but inside he sneered. Just as little brother suspected, this family was downright unreasonable!  

Just as he was about to reply, a cold and hard voice sounded from behind.  

“I want to know why your centipede ended up in my son’s bundle!”