From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 123 Recommendation
"Oh!"

A corpse fell from the sky and landed in front of Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaohou.

Fan Kongye brought Wang Nian's body: "This person is the one who harmed your Xu family. It seems that your family beat and killed his brother, a human trafficker, many years ago."

After saying that, Fan Kongye waved his hand, and an invisible soundproof barrier enveloped him and Xu Xiaoniu.

"What follows is only known to the two of us. You are a military officer and county lieutenant in Tonggu County, and you possess spiritual roots and are at the fourth level of Qi Refining?"

"Yes, my lord."

Xu Xiaoniu nodded.

He did not conceal his Qi cultivation level.

"You have slain two great demonic cultivators, qualifying you for promotion from a military officer to a celestial official. Coincidentally, your county has an vacancy for the head of the Demon Subduing Division. The only missing element is a respected recommender. Do you understand?"

Fan Kongye said all he had to say, leaving it to Xu Xiaoniu to understand on his own.

"Sir, I understand."

This was one of the things Xu Xiaogou told him before he died.

Not far from Xu Xiaoniu was the body of Xu Xiaogou. His third brother had just passed away, and his niece's fate was unknown, but he had to seize this hard-won opportunity to climb higher.

The status of a celestial official is very important to the Xu family.

He had just heard Lu Xuanting say that the demonic cultivator had released him because he recognized the name of Magistrate Lu.

If the Xu family also possessed such prestige, how dare they take Xiaoxi away?!

For the sake of the Xu family, Xu Xiaoniu must seize this hard-won opportunity.

Since Fan Kongye brought it up, he must be intentionally helping Xu Xiaoniu.

Why would such an important person help him for no reason? There must be something going on.

Xu Xiaoniu couldn't have guessed that all he could produce were a few storage pouches, so he respectfully presented them with both hands: "My lord, although the demonic cultivators are dead, we still need evidence. These are the storage pouches of the two demonic cultivators, as well as those of Chief Jing Zhuo."

These three storage pouches were collected by Xu Xiaoniu in advance and represent the greatest resource gain from this battle.

He gave it to Fan Kongye without hesitation.

"Okay, haha."

Fan Kongye thought to himself that the person in front of him understood human relationships and social customs.

He actually looked down on the storage pouches of Qi Refining cultivators; he could help Xu Xiaoniu out of convenience, but he couldn't do it for nothing. These three storage pouches were a testament to Xu Xiaoniu's sincerity.

Fan Kongye didn't care about the position of celestial official in Tonggu County, and his family didn't need it either, so it was better to go with the flow and give it to this person to make a good connection.

He accepted the three storage pouches and scanned Jing Zhuo's storage pouch with his divine sense.

Jing Zhuo is dead, and his storage bag is unclaimed, so it is left unguarded and can be viewed at will.

"So that's how it is. This person also possesses demonic cultivation techniques."

Fan Kongye discovered a jade slip containing a cultivation technique in Jing Zhuo's storage pouch, which recorded his method of disguising himself as having three true spiritual roots.

"Those who follow crooked paths deserve to die."

He then said to Xu Xiaoniu, "My surname is Fan, and I am the deputy director of the Demon Subduing Division of the prefectural government. I will recommend you to become a celestial official in Tonggu County. With your merits in this battle, it should be a sure thing."

"Thank you, Lord Fan! I will remember your kindness and will obey your every command from now on."

Xu Xiaoniu's attitude was somewhat obsequious.

However, he changed the subject: "Lord Fan, that demonic cultivator has companions, and he kidnapped my niece. Is there any way to get her back?"

"..."

Fan Kongye hesitated.

Water that is too clear has no fish. There are many demonic cultivators operating in secret in various places, and they cannot be completely killed or captured.

Demonic cultivation methods are a lifeline for desperate, impoverished, and independent cultivators.

As long as there are grassroots cultivators, there will always be demonic cultivators.

"I will send someone to investigate."

Fan Kongye left those words behind and then removed the soundproof barrier that had been covering the two of them.

"I have investigated this matter thoroughly. The demonic cultivator and his subordinates have harmed countless people, abducted nearly two hundred girls and children, and murdered the celestial official Jing Zhuo and the Demon-Subduing Guards, among others."

The military officer and county magistrate of Tonggu County, along with his two brothers, bravely fought and killed two late-stage Qi Refining demonic cultivators, earning great merit.

I will recommend him for the position of Celestial Official of Tonggu County, serving as the Director of the Demon Subduing Division.

Fan Kongye announced loudly, then looked at Lü Yisong: "The county magistrate still needs to recommend someone with me, what do you say?"

Lü Yisong was the magistrate of Tonggu County, and he was tasked with verifying the truth of the matter.

"Of course, I completely agree with you, sir."

Lü Yisong quickly echoed, how could he dare to disobey Fan Kongye?

"That's good."

As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Kongye rose into the air, transforming into a streak of black light and flying into the distance until he disappeared from sight.

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.

"Congratulations, Lord Xu!"

"I'll address you as Director Xu in advance."

Lü Yisong led the Lü family members forward to offer their congratulations.

He didn't know how Xu Xiaoniu could be so lucky, managing to connect with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in the county government.
Previously, Xu Xiaoniu enlisted in the army and gained the appreciation of Yan Yijin, a Foundation Establishment Grandmaster. In the past fifteen years, no one has noticed that Xu Xiaoniu has received any special treatment from Yan Yijin, which makes Lü Yisong unsure whether the two are truly related.

At present, Xu Xiaoniu has become a genuine celestial official, only half a rank lower than Lü Yisong.

Jiang Hao also stepped forward to offer his congratulations: "Congratulations, Director Xu."

"No, no, it was just a lucky promotion. I hope Magistrate Jiang will take good care of me."

Xu Xiaoniu still remembers that Jiang Hao gave him a spirit stone as a wedding gift.

He learned the "Mysterious Earth Turtle Spirit Technique" from that spirit stone, and he will never forget this kindness.

When faced with the enthusiastic invitation from the Lü family, Xu Xiaoniu declined, saying, "I'm sorry, everyone, my third brother has just passed away. I really have to go home to handle his funeral arrangements."

The Lü family members then realized what was happening.

"Of course. We will go to see your brother off on the day of the funeral."

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 Xiaoniu and Xu Xiaohou took Xu Xiaogou back to Baihe Village.

As for Zhao Shuai, the two dug a pit and buried him in the wilderness.

Xu Xiaohou remained silent throughout, which made Xu Xiaoniu a little worried.

The Xu family mansion.

When the Xu family learned of Xu Xiaogou's death, they were all caught off guard and deeply saddened.

Only Xu Fugui knew about San Gou's death in advance through the family's treasure tree, but he was unaware of the details of the incident.

Xu Xiaoniu told everyone what had happened.

Faced with Xu Xiaohou's dejected appearance, no one could bring themselves to say anything to blame him.

The funeral proceeded as scheduled amidst the profound grief of the Xu 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.

Cangwu Mountain, Lü Family.

Jiang Hao is holding a funeral for his daughter, Jiang Lin.

However, apart from him, it seems that no one cares about his second daughter.

The entire Lü family was celebrating Lü Xuanting's lucky return, completely forgetting about the deceased Jiang Lin.

Even though they attended Jiang Lin's funeral, the Lü family seemed very perfunctory.

This made Jiang Hao resentful.

"Just because she doesn't have spiritual roots. No, also because she doesn't have the surname Lü!"

Jiang Hao was not a son-in-law who lived with his wife's family, but he was treated the same as one.

In the Lü family, apart from enjoying the spiritual energy of the Lü family manor, a place with a spiritual vein, he received no additional resources; he only received a stipend of spirit stones from the imperial court.

In contrast, Lü Qingyan of the Lü family, who is not Lü Yisong's son but Lü Yisong's nephew, is able to enjoy a great deal of resources.

Lü Qingyan possessed four elemental spiritual roots and broke through to the late stage of Qi Refining by accumulating a large amount of resources.

Lu Yisong's biological son and Lu Jinlan's father, Lu Qingmao, has a five-elemental spiritual root, so the cost-effectiveness of investing resources in him is too poor, and he is still only in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

This is the Lü family; resources are all given to the most talented members of the Lü clan.

The rules were so cold and harsh that they chilled Jiang Hao to the bone.

"And my son Jiang Chen, sigh."

He thought of Jiang Chen, the twin brother of Lü Xuanting, who also had four spiritual roots but was not favored and needed all his resources from Jiang Hao.

Jiang Hao could understand the Lü family's actions, but that did not diminish his dissatisfaction.

The longer he stayed with the Lü family, the more resentment he accumulated.

Since Lü Jinlan was a mortal woman, already over forty years old, he rarely saw her, saving him trouble and worry.

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.

Ten days later.

In Tonggu County, Xu Xiaogou's house is entirely black and white.

White lanterns hung from the eaves, and wisps of white silk hung in the mourning hall.

The gate to the mansion was tightly closed.

Xu Xiaohou stood at the door; he had been standing there all day.

He wanted to apologize to his third sister-in-law, but Fu Zhiyi refused to see him.

The death of his third brother was the biggest blow to his family, especially since Xiaoxi's whereabouts and fate were unknown.

"Sixth Master, please go back. My mistress will not see you."

The maidservant came to chase him away.

Xu Xiaohou nodded silently: "I know, I know... Tell her that I will definitely save Xiaoxi, I definitely will."

After saying that, he turned and left.

His only remaining goal in this life is to find Xiaoxi, kill the demonic cultivators who took Xiaoxi away, and avenge his third brother.

Never die.

(End of this chapter)