From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 126 Immortality
Thirty-eight spirit stones is no small sum for the Xu family now.

If Xu Fugui were to sell the high-age spiritual plants in his internal space, he could raise enough spirit stones, but that would be equivalent to emptying his savings without leaving any reserves.

"Let's wait two or three years and save up some spirit stones before we talk about it."

He planned to wait until Xu Xiaoniu had accumulated some spirit stones, and then use the "Spirit Farming Technique" in his inner space to help the spirit plants grow. He planned to rent Hundred Valleys Mountain in two or three years when he had more spirit stones.

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.

Half a month later.

The third birthday celebration for Xu Xiaoan's fourth son, Xu Zhongsi, was held as scheduled.

Since Xu Xiaogou's funeral had just taken place, this third birthday celebration was not a grand affair with elaborate decorations.

Xu Fugui continued to absorb the aura of the bloodline of the Xu family's descendants.

On the family treasure tree, at the end of the fifth main branch representing Xu Xiaoan, another branch branches off.

Among the generations with the character "孝" (filial piety), Xu Xiaoan's generation has the most "branchings," with four.

With the nourishment of Xu Zhongsi's aura, the spiritual fruit at the top of the treasure tree was nourished once again. It still needed the aura of three offspring to upgrade to the "Qi Refining" level spiritual fruit.

The special white spiritual fruit on Xu Xiaoan's branch finally ripened after being nourished by the bloodlines of the four individuals: "Zhongyi," "Zhonger," "Zhongsan," and "Zhongsi."

[The Immortal Fruit: Consuming it near the precious tree can extend one's lifespan by ten years.]

[After being nourished by the bloodlines of four more descendants of this branch, it can be upgraded to a "twenty-year" longevity fruit.]

"The Immortal Fruit?!"

Xu Fugui was overjoyed to receive the message from his inner space.

The white Longevity Fruit is only related to Xu Xiaoan and requires nourishment from his descendants' bloodline. This is the difference between it and the Initiation Fruit.

"With my spiritual root aptitude, even with the spiritual energy in my inner space, I have almost no hope of advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage. But with the Longevity Fruit, things will be different."

He had worried before: if he died, could the Xu family rely on what he left behind to continue for dozens or even hundreds of generations?

Now things are much better. With the Longevity Fruit extending his lifespan, even if he relies on time to grind it out, he can still reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, and his chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment are much greater than before.

"As long as I live for several decades or even a hundred years, the Xu family will develop faster and faster, and there will be more and more descendants."

By nourishing the family's treasure tree with the essence of my bloodline, I will receive more cultivation techniques and accumulate more resources.

With more cultivation techniques and more resources, the Xu family will have a stronger foundation.

Xu Fugui made up his mind that he must live on, even a hundred, two hundred, or three hundred years from now.

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.

Spring goes and autumn comes, time flows by.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three years, no new members were added to the Xu family, and no one got married.

Xu Zhongche has reached marriageable age, but he is busy with alchemy and cultivation and has no plans to get married and have children for the time being.

His younger brother, Xu Zhonghuai, has also reached marriageable age.

Three years ago, Zhonghuai already had a girl he liked.

The girl was the daughter of the owner of another martial arts school. She and Zhong Huai were a good match, and since they had feelings for each other, they naturally fell in love.

Zhonghuai was seventeen years old that year, which wasn't considered early for marriage.

The wedding, which should have been on the agenda, came to an abrupt end due to Xu Xiaogou's death.

Zhonghuai had to observe mourning for his father, and this period lasted for three years.

Besides Chung-huai, Xu Xiaoyun now has two sons, Chung-chao and Chung-chuan.

Zhongchao is twenty years old and Zhongchuan is seventeen; they are both of marriageable age.

There's also Xu Xiaoan's eldest son, Zhongyi, who is eighteen years old this year.

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.

Yun'an Tavern in Tonggu County.

As dusk fell, the shop assistants began cleaning, moving the wine jars that had been placed outside the shop back inside and counting them.

Several bright ceramic oil lamps illuminated the shop, and several candle lanterns hung under the eaves.

"Chuan'er, check the accounts."

With her round belly sticking out, Xu Xiaoyun called her second son to do some work.

Over the years, his physique has become increasingly rounded, and he no longer looks like someone who has practiced martial arts.

"Okay daddy."

Xu Zhongchuan walked to the counter, picked up the ledger with one hand and the abacus with the other, and began to calculate the accounts.

He manipulated the abacus beads with one hand at an extremely fast speed, the continuous clattering sound like pleasant music.

Xu Xiaoyun watched this scene with satisfaction: as expected of his son, he was sensible, obedient, well-read, and proficient in mathematics.

However, he then thought of his eldest son, Zhongchao, and frowned. He scanned the shop but did not see Zhongchao.

"Hey, where did the money go?"

He asked the shop assistants who were usually familiar with Zhongchao.

"The young manager has gone to deliver goods."

Which company's goods are you delivering to?

"Forehead……"

The waiter stammered for a long time before finally saying, "Yichun Courtyard."

Xu Xiaoyun's face instantly darkened, causing the shop assistant to silently pray for Xu Zhongchao.

Xu Zhongchuan, who was standing next to him, finished calculating the accounts and counted the money: "Father, there is still a shortfall in payment for goods, three hundred and eighty taels. It should be the payment for the goods that my brother did not bring back."

"I understand. You should go home and practice your stance first."

"Yes, Father, you should go home and rest early too." Xu Zhongchuan put away the account books and money and went home to practice his stance.

He loves reading and is proficient in mathematics, but his martial arts talent is quite ordinary. He has only just passed the halfway mark in the third level of stance training.

However, his sixth uncle, Xu Xiaohou, said that as long as he persists in practicing stance training, he will be able to reach the limit of acquired skill in three or four years and have a chance to reach the innate skill level.

Admittedly, his martial arts talent is average, but he has his sixth uncle, who is proficient in martial arts, to guide him, and his cousin, who can refine pills, to provide him with a large number of Qi and Blood Pills and Five Elements Pills. As long as he perseveres and does not give up, he will definitely be able to break through to the Innate Realm.

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 Xiaoyun waited in the shop for a long time but Xu Zhongchao did not return. Seeing that it was completely dark and there were few pedestrians on the street, he finally turned off the oil lamps and lanterns in the shop and closed the door.

After returning home, he ate a simple dinner and then waited at the gate of the house.

"Ah woo~~"

It was late at night, and Xu Xiaoyun yawned.

"Why aren't you coming back? How did I raise such a son?"

Thinking about his eldest son Xu Zhongchao's behavior, he felt depressed.

The Xu family's "Zhong" generation, regardless of their talent or lack thereof, at least do not possess the character of Zhong Chao.

Xu Zhongchao was lazy and gluttonous. When he was thirteen or fourteen, he didn't take his stance training seriously and was always slacking off.

This situation is different from Xu Xiaoyun back then, who did not like martial arts.

Xu Zhongchao, on the other hand, was simply lazy. He neither practiced his stance training diligently nor enjoyed reading; he preferred to spend his time playing outside with his cronies.

Xu Xiaoyun was initially too busy with his business to discipline his children, so his wife Zhang Caixia was the one who disciplined them most of the time.

Because Zhang Caixia came from a farming family in the village, the education she received from wealthy families was naturally different from that of farmers. At first, she doted on Xu Zhongchao, thinking it was normal for a child to be playful.

By the time they realized something was wrong with Xu Zhongchao, it was too late.

That said, Xu Zhongchuan was three years younger than him. They had the same parents and the same environment, yet they developed completely different personalities.

Late at night.

Reeking of alcohol and cosmetics, Xu Zhongchao staggered home.

Two years ago, he visited a brothel with a friend and became addicted, unable to stop, and would go there to enjoy himself from time to time.

At first, he went secretly, but the expenses were too high, and eventually his parents found out.

Under his parents' strict discipline, he vowed to turn over a new leaf and never go to such places again, but later he couldn't help but secretly go again.

Some time ago, his father strictly controlled his spending, and he couldn't afford anything except his meager allowance and a little extra silver.

Seeing that there were goods being delivered to "Yichun Courtyard" today, he took the initiative to take on the job.

"Ok?"

In the dim light of the night, he saw someone standing outside his door.

He suspected he was hallucinating from drinking too much, but when he got closer and saw it was his father, he instantly sobered up and sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Father, what are you doing here so late?"

Xu Zhongchao was filled with trepidation. Although he was lazy, playful, and lecherous, he deeply respected his parents and uncles and was most afraid of being reprimanded in person.

"Where have you been?"

Xu Xiaoyun's tone was icy.

“I went to deliver goods to the brothel. They insisted that I stay for drinks, and I couldn’t refuse, so I drank too much. Don’t you always say that we should maintain good relationships with our customers and buyers?”

Xu Zhongchao found an excuse to argue his point.

"Where's the payment?"

"Here it is, three hundred and thirty taels."

He quickly took out his money bag, thinking he had gotten away with it.

"Hmph! It's clearly three hundred and eighty taels. Do you really think I'm easy to fool?"
You're lustful, fine, but you lie too? Lying is one thing, but being so extravagant, spending fifty taels of silver on women in one night—do you know that fifty taels of silver is enough for an average farming family's expenses for a year...?

Come in with me!

Xu Xiaoyun turned around angrily and walked into the courtyard. He was determined to teach Xu Zhongchao a lesson.

Back then, his family was incredibly frugal, saving every penny they could.

Fifty taels of silver? That's a lot of money.

Even now, Xu Xiaoyun doesn't think fifty taels of silver is a worthless sum.

Brothels and gambling dens are dens of iniquity; no amount of wealth can withstand such extravagance. If anyone in a family gets involved in any of them, it's a disaster, and it must be stopped immediately.

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 Zhongchao followed behind Xu Xiaoyun dejectedly; he was about to get another scolding.

A verbal reprimand is fine, but I'm afraid that cutting his expenses will make his life even harder in the future.

"Sigh, why are you so rich but unwilling to spend money on me?"

He was puzzled.

In his view, the Xu family was very wealthy, and the amount of money he spent was just a drop in the ocean.

Sure enough, after giving him a lecture, Xu Xiaoyun said, "You'll stay home for the time being and you're not allowed to go anywhere. Your mother, your brother, and I won't give you any money, and you're not allowed to go to the shop either, so you won't intercept the payments again."

Your mother and I will find you a wife. You just need to settle down, have children, raise them, and focus on your career!

"Then, could you find me a beautiful wife?"

Having seen countless courtesans and tried all sorts of tricks in brothels, it wouldn't be easy for Xu Zhongchao to settle down.

"You! I'll find you someone really capable, someone who'll definitely keep you completely under his thumb!"

Xu Xiaoyun said angrily.

Find a pretty one? Dream on!
He had no choice but to marry Xu Zhongchao, seeing that Xu Zhongchao was not good at martial arts or business and had no future. He could only settle down and place his hopes on the next generation of children.

(End of this chapter)