From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 115 Edge
Xu Zhongche felt a pang of panic as he watched the Cai family warriors closing in menacingly.

He knew that his father, maternal grandfather, and other family members were on their way, but they had not arrived yet!
How to do?
He was only nineteen years old, his life had just begun, he was afraid of death, and he wanted to live.

If he dies, all the skills he has painstakingly learned over ten years will be wasted, and no one in the Xu family will be able to refine the Five Elements Pills or Qi and Blood Pills again.

So he blurted out, "No, I'll talk, I'll talk! I'll tell you whatever you want to know!"

"..."

Those present were clearly surprised by Xu Zhongche's reaction.

Tao Shiyuan glared at him, his eyes wide with fury: "Zhongche, what did you say? Have you forgotten all the rules I taught you?!"

He started teaching Xu Zhongche when he was nine years old, always telling him that the inheritance of the pharmacist's skills was more important than life itself.

"Hahaha."

Cai Wenjing looked up and laughed twice: "This young man knows how to be pragmatic. If your son had been this sensible back then, our two families wouldn't have ended up in such a bitter feud."

After saying that, he looked at Xu Zhongche and said, "Don't worry, we're only here for the cultivation technique, not to kill anyone. Just tell me and I'll let you go."

This was a lie used to deceive Xu Zhongche.

A precious martial arts technique is only valuable when it is in one's own hands. Cai Wenjing will definitely kill Xu Zhongche afterward to ensure that as few copies of the technique are leaked.

“Good! Master taught me the Nine Flames Spirit Fire Technique. The first chapter is the Guiding Chapter, which connects with the heavens and earth, and draws qi into the body…”

Xu Zhongche spoke very quickly, hurriedly reciting the contents of the exercise.

"You unfilial disciple, shut your mouth!"

Tao Shiyuan grew anxious and tried to step forward to stop him.

But how could a mere innate level three pharmacist who doesn't practice martial arts possibly defeat the many martial arts experts of the Cai family?

"Stop! Tell me to slow down!"

Cai Wenjing stopped Xu Zhongche, partly because Xu Zhongche was indeed speaking too fast, and partly because he didn't want the rest of the Cai family to know the contents of the cultivation technique.

Such a technique must be passed down through the Cai family's lineage of pharmacists, one line at a time!
“Patriarch, what if he’s lying to you? He might slightly modify the cultivation technique so that you suffer a qi deviation while practicing it.”

Someone suddenly raised this question.

“I’m not lying. The techniques I’m talking about were taught to me by my master, word for word.”

Xu Zhongche quickly explained.

Cai Wenjing felt this question was reasonable: "Tell me the prescription and preparation method of Tao Family's Pregnancy-Preserving Pills first."

"Row……"

Xu Zhongche made no attempt to hide anything, immediately revealing the formula and all the methods for refining the pregnancy-preserving pills, even explaining the precautions clearly.

As a pharmacist, Cai Wenjing could easily distinguish the authenticity of pill-making methods. He pondered for a moment and said, "There's nothing wrong with this method. You're quite honest, kid."

"Therefore, tell me the Nine Flames Spirit Fire Technique to only one person."

He approached Xu Zhongche and listened to him muttering the cultivation technique in a low voice.

As a Qi Refining cultivator, he possessed a fire-based cultivation technique. Given Xu Zhongche's skill level, it would be virtually impossible for him to deceive him through a trick involving the technique.

It takes at least half an hour to fully recount a martial art technique.

However, Cai Wenjing did not have a perfect memory, so it would take more time.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xu Xiaogou, Fu Yuanzhen, and their two sons, Fu Zhiqiang and Fu Zhiren, arrived first.

Upon learning that his grandson had been kidnapped, Fu Yuanzhen came to the scene without hesitation.

He looked much older than he had ten years ago. Although his eldest son had been avenged, the pain of a parent outliving their child was indescribable.

The decline in his vital energy and blood due to old age meant that his strength was no longer as formidable as it had been at its peak.

Fu Zhiqiang and Fu Zhiren are currently stuck at the bottleneck of the third level of the Innate Realm and have not broken through to the Grandmaster Realm.

Of the four of them, Fu Yuanzhen and Xu Xiaogou are Grandmasters, while the other two are at the third level of the Innate Realm, making them quite formidable overall.

After searching Yangjiao Mountain for a while, they finally spotted Xu Zhongche and his group. The Cai family's lookouts also spotted the four of them.

"Ache!"

Xu Xiaogou's shout brought Xu Zhongche an invisible sense of security. His father was renowned, and hearing that his father was coming made him feel much more at ease.

"Old Tao, what are you trying to do? If anything happens to my son, I won't let you off the hook!"

On his way here, he cursed Tao Shiyuan countless times in his mind.

"who are you?"

The Cai family members were on guard against the four people, their positions subtly forming an encirclement.

“That’s my son, Zhongche. We have no intention of getting involved in your feud with Pharmacist Tao. Please release my son.”

Xu Xiaogou recognized Cai Wenjing as the leader of the Cai family and politely bowed to him.

Fu Yuanzhen unleashed the aura of a Grandmaster, startling the Cai family members into a solemn expression: "Let me say something. We are just outsiders and have nothing to do with your grudges. Don't let villains incite us to fight to the death."

Cai Wenjing understood: the people in front of him were the young man's elders, and this was Tao Shiyuan's hope for revenge against the Cai family.

He fell into thought. Currently, the Cai family clearly held the advantage in terms of strength. But what would be the benefit of paying the price to eliminate the enemy?
"Hahaha…"

Tao Shiyuan threw his head back and laughed loudly: "Now that things have come to this, do you two families still want to settle things peacefully? Xu family of Tonggu County, your Zhongche knows that my ancestors have passed down the art of medicine and that I also have a method of alchemy. If this news gets out to the Cai family, your family will never have peace again!"
And the Cai family, you're the same!

Ok?
This statement touches upon Cai Wenjing's concerns.

Xu Xiaogou was worried about his son's safety, and both sides were on edge when Tao Shiyuan's words broke the balance.

"Silence them!"

"Ache, run!"

Cai Wenjing and Xu Xiaogou spoke at the same time.

As Xu Zhongche took the opportunity to distance himself from the Cai family, Xu Xiaogou channeled his inner energy and rushed toward Xu Zhongche.

The Cai family members rushed forward to attack, while Cai Wenjing attempted to capture Xu Zhongche alive, as he had not yet memorized the Nine Flames Spirit Fire Technique.

The scene immediately descended into chaos.

Two members of the Cai family, both at the Grandmaster level and one at the second level, faced off against Fu Yuanzhen. Although their cultivation levels appeared lower than Fu Yuanzhen's, who was at the third level of Grandmaster, they were in their prime and their strength was actually greater than that of the aging and declining Fu Yuanzhen.

Another master tried to stop Xu Xiaogou.

Xu Xiaogou had only just entered the Grandmaster realm, and his talent had not yet been fully realized, so his strength was limited.

The Cai family also has seven or eight innate masters. Apart from a few pharmacists who only practice standing meditation, the others are all quite strong, all at the second or third level of the innate realm.

"Whoa!"

Several flying swords came from afar. It was Xu Fugui, Xu Xiaoniu, and Xu Xiaohou who had arrived.

A flying sword flew towards the Grandmaster Level 2 who was fighting against Fu Yuanzhen.

"Keng!"

The flying sword struck the Grandmaster Level 2 cultivator, whose internal energy was flowing throughout his body, producing a metallic clang. The flying sword was reduced to a pile of scrap metal, while the Grandmaster remained unharmed.

"Humph."

The Grandmaster Level 2 smirked, glanced in the direction the flying sword had come from, and scoffed disdainfully. Grandmasters are least afraid of such sneak attacks with hidden weapons.

"Earth wall!"

Xu Xiaoniu cast the spell "Mysterious Earth Wall Shield". He is now at the third level of Qi Refining, and his strength is stronger than it was ten years ago.

Suddenly, a thick earthen wall appeared on the ground beside Xu Xiaogou, and Cai Wenjing's fire spell landed on the earthen wall, turning into flames that scattered in all directions with a "boom".

"Everyone, be careful!"

Seeing that another enemy was attacking, Cai Wenjing reminded everyone that he dared not hold back any longer and used all his strength.

In the midst of the chaos, Xu Xiaohou, a cultivator at the third level of the Innate Realm, joined the battle.

Xu Fugui never showed himself, but occasionally harassed the enemy with his flying sword.

"It's now!"

He found an opportunity, and his feather-patterned flying sword flew out, its target being the enemy grandmaster who was fighting Xu Xiaogou.

"Ok?"

The enemy grandmaster caught a glimpse of the flying feather sword out of the corner of his eye. At first, he thought it was just another powerless flying sword, but then he suddenly realized that this flying sword was different.

Unable to dodge in time, he focused his internal energy on his arm, using it to block his throat.

"Whoosh~~"

The superior-grade magic weapon, the feather-patterned flying sword, combined with Xu Fugui's fourth-level Qi Refining cultivation and second-level flying sword technique, pierced through the arm and throat of a Grandmaster-level cultivator.

Despite suffering such a severe blow, the enemy grandmaster did not die instantly. His pupils widened as he looked incredulously in the direction from which the feather-patterned flying sword had come. Finally, he was brought down by Xu Xiaogou's single strike.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When the enemy before Xu Xiaogou died, he prioritized saving his son.

Cai Wenjing panicked and attempted to take Xu Zhongche hostage to change the situation, so he launched a fire spell at Xu Zhongche.

This time, it was Tao Shiyuan who stood in front of Xu Zhongche.

The blazing flames burned on Tao Shiyuan's body, but he seemed to feel no pain.

In truth, his actions weren't just about saving Xu Zhongche; they also carried a sense of voluntarily seeking death. He didn't know how he could face the Xu family if he survived.

"Good disciple, pass on my family's pharmacist tradition, pass it on..."

He was burned alive and turned to ashes.

Xu Xiaogou closed in and, with the added power of a grandmaster's internal energy, shattered Cai Wenjing's low-grade golden light talisman protecting him, killing him in the process.

The battlefield situation was disrupted, and moments later, many of the Cai family's warriors were killed.

"Father, Grandfather..."

Xu Zhongche was still shaken. Fortunately, he had cleverly stalled for time, otherwise he might not have survived.

Xu Fugui then appeared.

Fu Yuanzhen was somewhat puzzled; he couldn't fathom Xu Fugui's strength. He had been busy fighting his opponent and hadn't seen how Xu Xiaogou killed the grandmaster.

The Xu family is related to the Fu family by marriage, so he would keep his doubts to himself and wouldn't talk about them to outsiders.

Now was not the time to talk, so they buried the Cai family members on Yangjiao Mountain and quietly left.

In this battle, all the key figures of the Cai family in Qingping County died, and the surviving members of the Cai family didn't even know who the enemy was.

Without the inheritance of pharmacist skills and without powerful family members, the Cai family will soon fall apart, with everyone struggling to make a living and becoming just an ordinary family.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As dawn broke, the Xu family returned to their old house.

Xu Fugui, Xu Xiaoniu, Xu Xiaogou, Xu Xiaohou, and Xu Zhongche gathered in the underground secret room.

"My master taught me a fire-based qi cultivation technique..."

Xu Zhongche told everyone about the feud between Tao Shiyuan and the Cai family, as well as the "treasure" they were fighting over.

"What a deep and calculating fellow."

"They took advantage of our family, but they also gave our family considerable benefits."

"..."

Tao Shiyuan died to save Xu Zhongche, which can be seen as a form of self-redemption for his actions.

As for what the Xu family thinks, Tao Shiyuan doesn't care; he has a clear conscience.

“Now that A-Che has broken through to the Innate Realm, it’s time to tell him that secret. I asked him to come back a while ago, but he forgot.”

Xu Xiaohou brought up that secret.

"What secret?"

Xu Zhongche wondered if there were secrets about his family that he didn't know about.
"Our family's Five Elements Stance Technique, supplemented by Five Elements Herbal Soup, will change one's constitution and generate five pseudo-spiritual roots when one breaks through to the Innate level..."

"this!"

Xu Zhongche was shocked: "Wait, does that mean... Grandpa, eldest uncle, father, and sixth uncle, you all have spiritual roots?"

"Yes."

"That…"

He quickly realized the importance of this secret.

"Now that you have spiritual roots and fire-based cultivation techniques, you can cultivate immortality. But this secret cannot be told to anyone. In addition to your fire-based alchemy techniques, you now have the most secrets in the whole family."

"..."

Xu Zhongche looked at Xu Fugui. In fact, he knew another secret, one that only he knew.

After a long pause, he said, "From now on, I will refine medicine at home. Our family's pills will only be used by ourselves, and we will not open a pharmacy."

Even if he doesn't use the pharmacist's inheritance to make money, it's enough to save the Xu family a lot of money.

(End of this chapter)