From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 215 Establishing the Foundation of the Clan
Yan Yijin clearly remembered that when he investigated Xu Xiaoniu's situation, he discovered that he was only a martial artist at the third level of stance training and had no spiritual root.

He also inquired about Xu Xiaoniu's family background, to which Xu Xiaoniu answered truthfully without concealing anything.

It was precisely because of his honesty and integrity that Yan Yijin spared his life and even rewarded him with military merit.

How can an ordinary martial artist with no spiritual roots and no family background become a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator in forty years?

How did he do that?
"Demonic cultivation methods!"

This was Yan Yijin's first reaction.

Ordinary people without spiritual roots embarking on the path of cultivation have various methods, but they can all be summarized as demonic means such as blood-sucking and soul-devouring, tendon-changing and marrow-replacing, and depriving others of their spiritual roots.

Some of these methods are simple, brutal, and cruel, with extremely high costs.

Some methods are very clever, low-cost, and not easily detected.

Yan Yijin even knew that some powerful cultivation families had similar demonic secret techniques for "increasing spiritual roots".

However, relatively speaking, the simple, crude, and costly methods of demonic cultivation are suitable for ordinary people without resources. Most of the scattered demonic cultivators dealt with by the Demon Subduing Division were of this type.

Those with sophisticated methods are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Yan Yijin was certain that Xu Xiaoniu's family must have been ordinary people decades ago, otherwise he would not have been conscripted into the army.

Without any family background, relying solely on demonic cultivation methods, how could one go from an ordinary person to the Foundation Establishment Realm in forty years?

Such a rapid rate of improvement is unbelievable!
Yan Yijin was a celestial official without a family background, and he knew all too well the hardship of lacking resources.

Even he, when he was in the Qi Refining stage, had to painstakingly scheme and seize every opportunity to earn spirit stones, even resorting to ruthless means to quickly advance to the Qi Refining Perfection stage.

You should know that he is a celestial official with three true spiritual roots.

What makes Xu Xiaoniu so special?
Even with ordinary demonic cultivation techniques, it would be impossible to improve so quickly.

In particular, many demonic cultivation techniques can be improved rapidly during the Qi Refining stage, but the limit is only that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, and it is impossible to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

"He must have many secrets!"

Yan Yijin made his judgment, his eyes gleaming.

Regardless of what methods Xu Xiaoniu used to acquire spiritual roots and break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was a good thing for Yan Yijin.

If he is a powerful demonic cultivator who has harmed countless people in private, Yan Yijin will surely gain merit by finding out about him.

A Foundation Establishment Realm demon cultivator's merits are enough to reward Yan Yijin with Foundation Establishment Pills.

If Xu Xiaoniu were to obtain, by chance, a highly sophisticated and minimally costly secret technique that could grant ordinary people spiritual roots and allow them to embark on the path of cultivation, Yan Yijin would spare no expense to acquire it.

This secret technique is extremely valuable!

What is the most important thing when establishing a cultivation family?

Spiritual roots!

Many cultivation families struggled in their early stages because the probability of a member developing spiritual roots was too low, severely hindering the family's growth.

Even later, when the family had grown, they would still worry about this.

Without a stable method for producing offspring with spiritual roots, the only way to produce offspring with spiritual roots is through the large-scale reproduction of clan members.

This kind of development will cause the number of family members to increase rapidly, thus dispersing the family's resources.

This contradiction has caused headaches for countless cultivation families, yet they have been unable to resolve it.

Most families can only try to balance these two aspects: ensuring a sufficient number of family members to produce cultivators, while concentrating resources to support family members with good aptitude to improve to a higher realm.

If there is a secret method that can reliably grant clansmen spiritual roots at a low cost, this method could definitely become the foundation for a powerful Foundation Establishment clan!

Thinking of this, Yan Yijin became envious.

Since Xu Xiaoniu was able to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, his family's younger generations have a greater chance of achieving Foundation Establishment with his assistance!

In thirty to fifty years, his family will be full of Qi Refining cultivators, and there will be several Foundation Establishment cultivators as well.

This is the Foundation Establishment Family, a renowned cultivation family in Yuanli County.

With more Foundation Establishment cultivators, and if another exceptionally talented genius with Golden Core aptitude emerges, the Yan family might become a Golden Core family.

At this moment, Yan Yijin made up his mind to dig out Xu Xiaoniu's secret method of cultivating immortality and keep it for himself.

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.

The Baili family's banquet has ended.

Xu Xiaoniu followed Bailiwei to the storeroom to select a magical flying sword.

This warehouse is located in the most central area of ​​Moon Spring Mountain, and it contains precious spiritual artifacts.

Next to the warehouse, on one side was the residence of the clan chief, Baili Yi, and on the other side was the residence of Baili Xi, the strongest member of the clan.

In addition, there are sentries on duty day and night, keeping watch without stopping for a moment.

“These are all standard magical flying swords. I will introduce them to you one by one.”

Several magical flying swords were placed in front of Bailiwei.

He picked up a curved flying sword that gleamed with a white light: "This is a low-grade spiritual weapon flying sword, Meteor. Its shape is asymmetrical, and it follows an arc-shaped trajectory in the air, changing direction flexibly and its trajectory is unpredictable..."

The price is 1800 spirit stones.

"This low-grade spiritual weapon is called Phoenix Feather Flying Sword. It is shaped like a phoenix feather and has fire-type spiritual patterns engraved on its blade. When used, it can generate flames and is suitable for fire-attribute cultivators. The price is 1500 spirit stones."

"This is the only mid-grade spiritual weapon among my family's standard flying swords, priced at 4500 spirit stones..."

Finally, he picked up a palm-sized, jet-black flying sword. The sword was so black that it looked completely unremarkable.

"This is the low-grade spiritual weapon, the Shadowless Flying Sword. It is the smallest and most compact. The sword has sound-absorbing and breath-concealing spiritual patterns on its body. It moves silently and is not easily detected by divine sense, making it especially suitable for use at night."

The downside is that its lethality is slightly weaker.

1200 spirit stones. If you buy a pair, it'll be cheaper.

This is the cheapest of the spirit weapon flying swords that Bailiwei introduced.

"Buy a pair?"

Xu Xiaoniu wondered, why buy a pair of magical flying swords?

"You don't know?"

Seeing his surprise, Bailiwei realized that he came from an ordinary background and probably didn't know anything about sword-controlling cultivators.

He explained, "When a sword-wielding cultivator reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, they can control more than just a flying sword."

Some sword-wielding cultivators can control two or three flying swords simultaneously, and some with exceptional talent can even control seven flying swords at once, each sword unleashing its full power, making their combat strength overwhelming compared to others of the same level.

"This……"

Xu Xiaoniu realized that this was the correct cultivation path for sword-controlling cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage.

One flying sword is troublesome enough, but what if someone controls seven flying swords at the same time? The power would be unimaginable.

"I want these Shadowless Flying Swords, a pair of them."

Xu Xiaoniu felt that the characteristics of the Shadowless Flying Sword were similar to those of the Feather Pattern Flying Sword used by Xu Xiaohou, and it was more suitable for him.

Besides, the Shadowless Flying Sword is the cheapest, and buying a pair will make it even cheaper.

Bailiwei nodded: "A pair of Shadowless Flying Swords, 2300 spirit stones, this is the lowest price."

"Okay. I didn't bring that many spirit stones with me this time. I'll go back and get them."

Xu Xiaoniu did not have more than two thousand spirit stones on him.

"It's alright. You can take it back first and give it to me next time."

Bailiwei generously said that, given his relationship with Xu Xiaoniu, he could pay the two thousand spirit stones on credit.

Besides, Xu Xiaoniu is a Foundation Establishment Immortal Official in the county government; he wouldn't renege on his debt for just over two thousand spirit stones.

"Thank you, Brother Wei!"

Two thousand spirit stones might not be much to Bailiwei, but for Xu Xiaoniu it was an absolute fortune.

The fact that Xu Xiaoniu was allowed to take the Shadowless Flying Sword first before delivering the spirit stones proves the trust he placed in Xu Xiaoniu and the deep friendship between them.

"No need to be polite." Bailiwei took out another Shadowless Flying Sword, making a pair, and handed it to Xu Xiaoniu.

Xu Xiaoniu put it into his storage bag, thanked him repeatedly, and then took his leave.

He did not fly to Yuanli City, but instead flew to Baihe Mountain.

It wasn't just about returning to deliver the flying sword and retrieve the spirit stones; there was something even more important: to remind the Xu family!

He and Yan Yijin recognized each other, but on the surface, neither of them said anything. However, he didn't know what Yan Yijin was thinking.

If Yan Yijin were to investigate the secret behind his inexplicable birth of a spiritual root, it would definitely be detrimental to 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.

A few hours later.

Tonggu County, Baihe Mountain.

Xu Xiaoniu had just returned when Zhongxi discovered him.

"Uncle!"

Just a few days after Zhongxi broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he refined the mid-grade defensive spiritual artifact, the Four-in-One Fire Spirit Shield.

With the help of divine sense, Xu Xiaoniu was noticed by her as soon as he returned.

"Xiao Xi, congratulations on reaching Foundation Establishment! Have you seen your grandfather?"

Xu Xiaoniu scanned the area with his divine sense but did not find Xu Fugui; instead, he attracted Xu Xiaohou.

"Brother, you're back? How have you been in the county town these past few months?"

Xu Xiaohou asked with concern.

"I'm doing well in Yuanli City. I brought you some nice things when I came back this time."

As Xu Xiaoniu spoke, he took out a pair of invisible flying swords from his storage bag.

"A magical flying sword?"

Xu Xiaohou's eyes lit up. He desperately needed a magical flying sword right now, and he hurriedly took the Shadowless Flying Sword from his elder brother's hand.

He examined it closely; the aura of the spiritual artifact was many times stronger than that of a magic weapon or flying sword.

"This is called the Shadowless Flying Sword. It's a standard low-grade spiritual weapon flying sword, which I bought from the Baili family. You know Baili Wei, right? He's a good friend of mine, and he gave me a discount of quite a few spirit stones."

"That former head of the forestry bureau in our county? I remember him. Brother, why did you buy two identical flying swords?"

Xu Xiaohou was puzzled.

Xu Xiaoniu relayed the information he had learned from Bailiwei regarding the sword-controlling cultivators.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose cultivation path is to control multiple flying swords?!"

Upon hearing this news, Xu Xiaohou stood there stunned.

He then realized how foolish he had been; he should have realized it sooner.

A cultivator in the late Qi Refining stage can barely control a flying sword to change direction in the air with their spiritual power, but it's completely different when they break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. The spiritual sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is a qualitative leap compared to that of a Qi Refining cultivator.

If you can control one flying sword with ease, then theoretically you can multitask by controlling multiple flying swords!

"this!"

Xu Xiaohou felt as if a broad road had appeared before him, and he knew how to proceed on his future path of cultivation.

"By the way, this magical flying sword must be very expensive."

He heard that the price of spiritual artifacts used in the Foundation Establishment stage was much higher than that of magic artifacts used in the Qi Refining stage.

"Flying swords are relatively inexpensive spiritual weapons because they are simple to manufacture. In addition, Bailiwei gave me a discount, so the two flying swords cost a total of 2300 spirit stones."

Upon hearing the price, Xu Xiaohou breathed a sigh of relief.

The price of two magical flying swords was within his acceptable range. He probably wouldn't be willing to spend any more than that.

The Xu family has limited resources and relies on the spirit stones they obtained from the Xue family in previous years. In addition, as everyone's cultivation level gradually improves, their demand for spirit stones is also increasing.

We must use spirit stones sparingly.

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.

After a while, Xu Fugui withdrew from his internal space.

He was still able to sense the outside world from within his inner space, and when he noticed Xu Xiaoniu's return, he paused his cultivation.

"Father, I have something to discuss with you!"

When Xu Xiaoniu saw Xu Fugui, he spoke urgently.

"how?"

"It's Yan Yijin, the deputy commander of the prefectural garrison!..."

Xu Xiaoniu recounted in detail his experience of attending the Baili family banquet and meeting Yan Yijin.

"Father, I don't know if he's forgotten that I don't have spiritual roots, or if he's keeping quiet on the surface while secretly investigating our family. What should we do?"

Given Yan Yijin's strength, the Xu family has no chance of competing with him.

More importantly, they were not only afraid that Yan Yijin would become their enemy, but also that he would expose the secrets that the Xu family had kept hidden for many years.

Xu Fugui's expression was solemn. The secret that his Xu family had kept hidden for decades was finally about to be exposed.

Although this day was bound to come sooner or later, it came a little too early, making it difficult for them to cope.

The Xu family currently has three Foundation Establishment cultivators, but they are all at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

"Don't panic. I've already explained the plan. Let's proceed as originally planned."

Xu Fugui had previously discussed with them what to do after the Xu family's secret was exposed.

"Well, that's all we can do."

Xu Xiaoniu had always been skeptical of that method because it was too risky, and he could only leave it to fate.

If they're lucky, the Xu family will weather this crisis.

If you're unlucky, you could face utter ruin and be destroyed as a result.

"Don't worry, those truly powerful families have seen all sorts of secret techniques. They wouldn't destroy our family for this. Besides, that lord destroyed the Xue family in the name of eliminating demonic cultivators."

Xu Fugui comforted Xu Xiaoniu.

Afterwards, Xu Xiaoniu told Xu Xiaohou about buying a spirit weapon flying sword and took 2,300 spirit stones from Xu Fugui.

As requested by Xu Fugui, he first went to Yuequan Mountain to return the spirit stones he had used to purchase the flying sword, and then went to Yuanli City, pretending that nothing had happened and continuing his life as usual.

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.

About ten days later, in Tonggu County.

Yan Yijin used this time to thoroughly investigate all the major and minor events that had occurred in the Xu family over the years.

He became increasingly certain that the Xu family had secrets, many secrets!
It must be extraordinary that an ordinary wealthy farming family could occupy Baihe Mountain and develop to this extent in just a few decades.

Furthermore, knowing that Xu Xiaoniu had no spiritual roots made him even more suspicious.

Among the intelligence about the Xu family, he noticed that Xu Xiaoniu's son, Xu Zhongyao, was also found to have five pseudo-spiritual roots.

This test was announced by Xu Xiaoniu himself. At that time, he was in the late stage of Qi cultivation and did not need outsiders to test him.

According to Yan Yijin's speculation, only the Xu family knows what kind of spiritual root Xu Zhongyao has and why he possesses it.

The son of a pseudo-spiritual root with five elements also has five elements of spiritual root?
This possibility is extremely low.

Yan Yijin believed that Xu Zhongyao must have used the same method as Xu Xiaoniu to become a Qi Refining cultivator.

What puzzled him was that if Xu Xiaoniu and Xu Zhongyao were cultivating immortality through demonic means, how could Tonggu County be so peaceful?
A powerful demonic cultivator who reaches the Foundation Establishment stage through demonic cultivation methods is bound to cause bloodshed.

Could it be that the Xu family truly possesses a secret method that allows ordinary people to cultivate immortality at a minimal cost?
He set his sights on Xu Zhongyao.

This person is only at the Qi Refining stage, yet their soul can be searched!
(End of this chapter)