From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 212 The Xu Family's Third Foundation Establishment

Upon hearing Jiang Hao's question, Xu Xiaoniu looked slightly embarrassed.

He had his own unspeakable reasons, which is why he hesitated to use the Foundation Establishment Pill to break through, which became a point of suspicion in the eyes of outsiders.

"Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is no small matter, and I am not ready yet."

He gave a perfunctory answer.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Jiang Hao thought: Could it be that he failed to break through using the Foundation Establishment Pill?
Even with the Foundation Establishment Pill, there is still a possibility of failure in the breakthrough.

Jiang Hao knew that Xu Xiaoniu did not have a three-element true spiritual root, but a five-element mixed spiritual root, which made it more likely that he would fail to break through.

"You really need to prepare well. Besides, you're still young, so there's no rush."

Compared to Jiang Hao's age, Xu Xiaoniu, who is in his sixties, is indeed young.

Even though Xu Xiaoniu had not reached the Foundation Establishment stage, Jiang Hao was still very warm and familiar with him because Jiang Hao knew that the Xu family had a Foundation Establishment cultivator as their backer.

"Please take a seat, let's drink and have some fun."

Among all the people present, Jiang Hao held the highest position, followed by the Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator, and Xu Xiaoniu was the third.

Xu Xiaoniu and the Foundation Establishment Realm rogue cultivator stood on either side of Jiang Hao.

Drinking wine and drinking wine alternately, pushing cups and changing cups.

When they were drunk, Xu Xiaoniu asked Jiang Hao about the situation in the prefectural government: "Magistrate Jiang, now that you have achieved the Foundation Establishment stage, shouldn't you be promoted to an official position in the prefectural government?"

"Logically, that's true, but in reality, it's not that easy. The number of officials in the county government is limited, and each position is filled individually. Even if I break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I won't be immediately assigned an official post."

The positions of celestial officials in the county town are reserved for those in the Qi Refining stage, so I can only wait for the county government to make arrangements.

"Wait a year or two, and I'll be transferred to the prefectural government as a lowly, unremarkable official with little power and mediocre pay. Once I've gained more influence, or perhaps I've made connections with some important figure, I'll be promoted."

The treatment of the celestial officials in the county town is actually quite ordinary.

Xu Xiaoniu, the head of the Demon Subduing Division in a county town, only receives a monthly salary of one spirit stone. He can only receive rewards, spoils of war, and some spirit stone resources by killing demon cultivators and plundering cultivators.

"If you have connections, that's a different story. Our county's former forestry supervisor, Baili Wei, was transferred to the prefectural government when he was still at the Qi Refining stage, without even breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

I heard he only broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm last year.

When Jiang Hao spoke of Bailiwei, his words were filled with envy.

If he had a family background like Bailiwei's, his path to immortality would be much smoother.

Xu Xiaoniu listened to what he said, seemingly lost in thought.

Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage cannot be delayed for long; it can only be delayed for a while.

When he arrives at the prefectural government office, given his Foundation Establishment stage and lack of connections, he will likely be assigned a sinecure, just like Jiang Hao.

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 flies.

one year later.

Xu Xiaoniu took the Foundation Establishment Pill and advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhongxi completed his training in the "Moonlight Fire Technique," reaching the pinnacle of Qi Refining, and his spiritual power also reached the limit of Qi Refining.

After practicing the Five Elements Stance Technique for three years, he reached the Grandmaster level in martial arts!

With her body at the peak of Qi cultivation, she practiced martial arts stance training, had abundant resources, and received guidance from Xu Xiaohou, which enabled her to improve her martial arts realm so quickly.

"Xiao Xi, it's time for you to try breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Seeing that Zhongxi's strength was stuck at a bottleneck and could not be improved, Xu Xiaohou suggested that she try to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Zhongxi's situation is similar to Xu Xiaohou's.

She showed a talent for practicing the Five Elements Stance Technique from a young age, and her martial arts skills improved rapidly.

Later, he was captured by the Xue family and, with their resources and training, quickly reached the peak of Qi Refining.

She is only thirty-three years old this year. If she can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it will be even more exaggerated than Xu Xiaohou's Foundation Establishment at forty.

"Sixth Uncle, but I don't have any Foundation Establishment Pills, so I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to break through to the next realm."

Zhongxi also possesses five elemental spiritual roots, making it almost impossible for him to break through to the next realm on his own.

"I have a Three-in-One Pill here, which should help you break through your cultivation level."

Xu Xiaohou took out the Sanhe Pill that he had treasured for several years.

This Three-in-One Pill came from Xue Yimiao's storage pouch and was the most precious second-grade spiritual pill among his resources.

Most importantly, according to Xu Xiaohou's guess, Meng Jiaojiao was among the materials used in the alchemy.

He kept it safe and couldn't bear to take it out.

Now, in order to help Xiaoxi break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he took out this Three-in-One Pill.

"Sanhe Pill? Thank you, Sixth Uncle."

Zhongxi accepted the Three-in-One Pill with a joyful expression. With the help of this pill, her chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm were very high.

A few more days passed.

Zhongxi adjusted his own condition, prepared spirit stones and other resources to help him break through the bottleneck, and went into seclusion to break through the bottleneck.

It was late at night, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.

She sat cross-legged on a rock in the sacred place, with the bright moon overhead, concentrating her mind and calming her spirit.

Once her mind was free of distractions, she took the Three-in-One Pill and began practicing the Foundation Establishment stage of the "Moonlight Fire Technique".

The Three-in-One Pill transformed into a surging medicinal power within her abdomen, nourishing her body, spirit, and soul.

Within the dantian and dantian, the pathways for the circulation of spiritual energy become increasingly complex.

The essence of the moonlit night shone upon her, which she absorbed.

Within the Spirit Gathering Array of Baihe Mountain, spiritual energy slowly surged towards her.

The spiritual energy surged like a sea, yet it failed to transform into liquid spiritual power for a long time.

The power of the soul is also stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through the constraints of the Niwan Palace.

"Just a little bit more, just a little bit more!"

With no breakthrough in sight, Zhongxi sensed that the efficacy of the Three Harmony Pill was weakening, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

A few drops of sweat slid down her flushed forehead, and evaporated instantly upon hitting the ground.

"Oops!"

As her mindset changed, the circulation of spiritual energy within her body became sluggish, and it seemed that this breakthrough was about to fail.

At this moment, the last wisp of the medicinal power of the Sanhe Dan transformed into a mysterious energy that surged towards her Niwan Palace.

"Boom~~"

Her divine soul power broke through the barrier, completed its transformation, and became divine consciousness.

She had completed one-third of the process of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, but her spiritual energy and physical body had not yet completed their transformation.

The transformation of her spiritual power caused the "Soul Loss Pill," which had previously affected her memories, to lose its effects.

Her past memories, those that had been "sealed," began to surface.

Her father, her mother, her two older brothers, her grandparents, and her uncles, cousins... all appeared in her memory.

There was also the girl who was captured with her at Yunze Mountain, and who relied on her.

"is her!"

At that moment, she finally remembered Meng Jiaojiao.

"She wasn't affected by the Soul Loss Pill, so she's trying to save me...?"

"And there's Sixth Uncle. I told you he would definitely save me, and he did."

"If Father hadn't died..."

Her eyes were closed, and a few tears slid down her cheeks.

Thinking back to the hardships I endured at Yunze Mountain and the anticipation I felt day and night, this breakthrough doesn't seem so difficult anymore.

"Congeal!"

Under her will, spiritual energy condensed into drops of liquid spiritual power, flowing through her body and nourishing her tendons, bones, and internal organs.

It is a transformation of the body and bones, a process of changing one's tendons and marrow.

The physical body has undergone a transformation.

Foundation Establishment Realm, achieved!
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 Xiaohou stayed at a distance, protecting Zhongxi.

During this time, he noticed that Zhongxi's aura was waning and she almost failed to break through, but fortunately, she succeeded at the last moment. The moment Zhongxi opened her eyes, he stepped forward to congratulate her: "Congratulations, Xiaoxi, you are the third person in our family to reach the Foundation Establishment stage!"

"Sixth Uncle~~"

Zhongxi looked at Xu Xiaohou, her eyes filled with complex emotions, glistening with tears.

"what happened?"

Xu Xiaohou was puzzled. Why was he still a little sad about breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, such a great thing?

I miss Jiaojiao.

"...You...you remembered?"

Xu Xiaohou was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, all those memories from the past have returned."

Zhongxi couldn't feel happy when she thought of Meng Jiaojiao.

"Sigh, don't be sad. The Xue family was destroyed, and I personally killed Xue Yimiao. This revenge is complete!"

The destruction of the Xue family was a consolation for Xu Xiaohou and Zhongxi.

A moment later, members of the Xu family, having noticed Zhongxi's breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage, rushed over.

"Xiao Xi has broken through her cultivation level? That's wonderful!"

"Our family now has three Foundation Establishment cultivators!"

"Xiaoxi is only thirty-three years old this year, and she's even more talented than our sixth uncle."

"Who's next, Chungcheol or Chungyao?"

"..."

Among the members of the "Zhong" generation, apart from Zhong Xi who broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Zhong Che has the highest cultivation level, reaching the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Next is Zhongyao, who has just broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

As for the others, they are still in the early or middle stages of Qi cultivation.

The Xue family's resources were mainly supplied to Zhongche and Zhongyao.

Zhongche is an alchemist and the logistics support for the Xu family. Although he does not have a complete alchemy lineage, he can still research ordinary elixirs with his talent. The higher his cultivation level, the better.

Secondly, there is Zhongyao, who is the Xu family's openly recognized cultivator.

A few months ago, Xu Xiaoniu was transferred to the Demon Subduing Division of the Prefectural Government, and Zhongyao became the Xu family cultivator stationed at Baihe Mountain, serving as the face of the Xu family to the outside world.

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 Fugui's internal space.

He was sitting cross-legged beside the family's precious tree, practicing the "Lingnong Qi Refining Technique".

After Jiazhen passed away, he rarely appeared in public for the past two years, spending a lot of time cultivating his inner space and nurturing spiritual plants.

The family's treasure tree and the space within the body continue to grow year by year.

He is 8.7 years old this year, and his family's precious tree has grown to 8.7 meters tall.

The trunk is thick, nearly two feet in diameter.

The tree has a lush, verdant canopy and abundant branches and leaves.

In the past three years, only Xu Zhongyao's son "Likun" has turned three years old, adding another branch to the family's precious tree.

Li Kun's mother, Miao Yingying, passed away shortly after he was born, which is why he received special attention from Xu Fugui.

It is worth mentioning that Xu Lijia, the eldest of the "Li" generation, is twenty years old this year. Following the tradition of early marriage in Xu Xiaoan's lineage, he got married three years ago.

Xu Lijia's son was born last year. He is the first person in the "Yi" generation and his name is "Xu Yizhi".

In two years, Xu Yi will turn three, and the family's treasure tree will have a branch with the character "Yi" in its name.

This is Xu Fugui's first great-great-grandson!
Including Xu Fugui, the Xu family now has five generations living together.

At the top of the family's treasure tree, the Enlightenment Fruit still hangs, a newly grown fruit that absorbed the aura of Li Kun's offspring.

As before, four offspring can mature, four more offspring can upgrade to Qi Refining level spiritual fruit, and eight more offspring can upgrade to Foundation Establishment level spiritual fruit.

Besides the Enlightenment Fruit, there is also the Longevity Fruit on Xu Xiaoan's branch.

The Longevity Fruit is currently at the [20-year] level, and with a few more offspring, it can be upgraded to the [40-year] level.

Like the Enlightenment Fruit, the Longevity Fruit is only effective if Xu Fugui consumes it within his internal space.

At Xu Fugui's current age, his lifespan during the Qi Refining stage can reach 120 to 130 years, meaning he could live for another 40 years.

Even without advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm, with the Longevity Fruit, he can live for another eighty years.

If he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment stage and the Longevity Fruit is upgraded, he could probably live for three or four hundred years.

In just a few decades, the Xu family has grown to five generations living under one roof.

If he were to live another three hundred years, he dared not imagine what the Xu family would become.

"Hu~~"

Xu Fugui breathed in and out, finished his exercise, and opened his eyes.

After Jiazhen passed away, he became much calmer and more composed.

His current cultivation level is the ninth level of Qi Refining, but he has not yet reached the perfection of Qi Refining.

His granddaughter, Zhongxi, has already broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

His cultivation level was inferior to that of his son, and even inferior to that of his grandchildren.

He wasn't in a hurry. He was quite old when he started cultivating, and his aptitude was the worst among the five pseudo-spiritual roots. It was already quite remarkable that he could go from an ordinary old farmer to the ninth level of Qi Refining in just forty years.

He usually doesn't want to use spirit stones, and only uses the spiritual energy in his body to slowly cultivate, which is why his progress is slower.

He exited his inner space and walked out of his secluded chamber, where he learned from others that Xiao Xi had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Xiao Xi has reached Foundation Establishment? Excellent! Excellent!"

With another Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Xu family, they will be more confident in dealing with dangers.

"Oh right, isn't there a fire-type magical artifact at home? Let Xiaoxi use it."

Xu Fugui thought of Xue Yimiao's mid-grade defensive spiritual artifact: the Four-in-One Fire Spirit Shield.

That mid-grade defensive magical artifact is fire-attribute. Although Xu Xiaohou can use it, its effectiveness is greatly reduced.

Zhongxi's Fire-Separating Technique is fire-attribute, so it would be more suitable for her.

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.

A few more days passed.

Yuanli City, Fumo Mountain.

Mount Fumo is the seat of the Fumo Division of the Prefectural Government, a first-tier spiritual land.

Xu Xiaoniu was currently cultivating his skills in a cave on Mount Fumo, practicing the foundation-building technique "Xuanwu Earth Element Technique" that he had purchased from the imperial court.

The imperial court's martial arts techniques are all quite good, at least of medium quality.

The "Xuanwu Earth Element Technique" is still an earth-based technique that focuses on defense.

Xu Xiaoniu broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm a year ago, and was only transferred to the Demon Subduing Division of the County Government a few months ago.

However, he has only reached the first level of Foundation Establishment and is not yet qualified to serve as a Demon-Subduing Guard in the county government.

He is a reserve member of the Prefectural Government's Demon-Subduing Guard. Once his strength reaches the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and another Demon-Subduing Guard retires, he can take up his post.

Although he was a reserve officer, his treatment was much better than in Tonggu County.

He doesn't have a sacred land in the county government, but he can live in the first-tier sacred land, Mount Fumo. If there are any missions on weekdays, he will be sent out, and he will also receive merit and rewards.

Just then, a sound came from outside.

"Lord Xu, there's a letter from home!"

Xu Xiaoniu went out to receive the letter, which was delivered by a yamen runner from the Demon Subduing Division.

He took the letter back to his cave and read its contents.

"Xiao Xi has successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, that's wonderful!"

He was excited when he heard the good news.

Xu Xiaoniu has been in Yuanli City for a few months and has already gone out on two missions.

Yuanli County doesn't have that many demonic cultivators that require the deployment of these reserve Demon-Subduing Guards.

His mission had nothing to do with Yan Yijin, so they never met.

But he still had a lingering unease.

(End of this chapter)