From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 224 Brothers and Brothers Respect
Xu Xiaoniu, Bailiwei, and Jiang Hao, three former Qi Refining Immortals from Tonggu County, are now all at the first level of Foundation Establishment.

Upon their reunion, Xu Xiaoniu warmly invited the two to stay at Baihe Mountain for a banquet.

The two accepted the invitation and, accompanied by three Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Xu family, drank and chatted.

Jiang Hao was filled with envy upon seeing the grandeur of the Xu family in Baihe Mountain.

Of the three, he was originally jealous of Bailiwei, who came from a prominent family. He considered himself to be the same as Xu Xiaoniu: rising from an ordinary family to become the first generation to establish a family of cultivators.

He was a celestial official with three true spiritual roots, and his spiritual root aptitude was much better than Xu Xiaoniu's, so he had a slight sense of superiority.

But now, he discovers that he is the only one who truly started from scratch with no background. Xu Xiaoniu also has family support behind him, but it is very well hidden.

"Xu Xiaoniu's father is no ordinary man."

Jiang Hao thought to himself.

Based on age, he is a few years older than Xu Fugui.

He became a celestial official at a young age, and now, at over ninety years old, he has achieved his current state: a first-level Foundation Establishment cultivator, a pair of twins with mixed spiritual roots of four elements, and a female cultivator with a mixed spiritual root of four elements as his wife.

Xu Fugui, an ordinary man from a mountain village, raised two Foundation Establishment stage sons and a Foundation Establishment stage granddaughter, as well as a large number of Qi Refining stage clansmen.

"I'll go back and discuss it with my wife, and we'll have more children."

Jiang Hao and his wife had a son two years ago, but he felt that he still didn't have enough children.

"Or, perhaps we could discuss with my wife about taking a few concubines?"

When he married Li Shue, a rogue cultivator, he was still in the Qi Refining stage. Now that he has advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage and his status has risen accordingly, he has the confidence to take a concubine.

When it comes to taking wives and concubines, it's the same for both ordinary people and cultivators: women don't want their husbands to take concubines. It would threaten their status within the family.

"It's best to have more children, preferably several with spiritual roots. If the children don't have spiritual roots, raising them won't be too difficult."

This is Jiang Hao's true thought.

But thinking of the Xu family's secret method that allowed ordinary people to cultivate spiritual roots, Jiang Hao was filled with envy: no matter how many children he had, the number of cultivators in his family could never match that of the Xu family.

Previously, he had considered comparing himself to Xu Xiaoniu to see whose family could develop faster and better.

Now the idea of ​​"comparison" has vanished.

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.

Recently, Foundation Establishment cultivators have been visiting from time to time.

The Ning family, a foundation-building family from Kunxu Mountain not far from Tonggu County, also made a trip to Baihe Mountain to make their mark.

The low-level cultivators and Qi Refining stage immortal officials near Tonggu County had obviously heard about the Xu family's deeds.

The sudden appearance of a Foundation Establishment family that they dared not offend nearby was something they should pay close attention to.

The magistrate, the supervisor, the forestry supervisor, and the demon-subduing official of Tonggu County—these four celestial officials—all visited Baihe Mountain.

It is worth mentioning that the Xu family did not conceal the existence of a first-tier spiritual land within Baihe Mountain. Instead, they informed the head of the forestry bureau of Tonggu County, asking him to reassess the grade of Baihe Mountain.

Previously, Baihe Mountain was a wild mountain without any spiritual sites, and an annual tax of 5 spirit stones was required to occupy the mountain.

It is now rated as a first-class spiritual land, but the area of ​​the spiritual land is relatively small. After recalculation, it will be required to pay a mountain occupation tax of 50 spirit stones per year.

In order to curry favor with the Xu family, the forest supervisor in charge of the assessment calculated the minimum occupation tax within his authority.

When Xu Xiaoniu was still a celestial official in Tonggu County, the Xu family was severely lacking in resources. In order to save some spirit stones, they concealed the sudden appearance of the spiritual vein in Baihe Mountain due to the earthquake.

On the other hand, the Xu family was too weak at that time and was worried about the danger that would come if the news of the spiritual vein was exposed.

The Xu family now has three Foundation Establishment cultivators. They can defend not only ordinary first-tier spiritual lands, but even second-tier spiritual lands. The annual mountain occupation tax of 50 spirit stones is nothing to them.

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.

Baihe Mountain.

The fact that the Xu family was a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cultivation family not only caused a stir outside the family, but also shocked many members of the Xu family.

For example, Xu Xiaoyun's eldest son, Xu Zhongchao, Xu Xiaoan's sons, and the wives who joined the Xu family.

Aside from Xu Xiaoniu's wife, Chen Xiulian, because Xu Xiaoniu was previously known as a cultivator.

The others, such as Zhong Lei, Zhong Huai, and Zhong Chuan, have already embarked on the path of cultivating immortality, but their wives, who are their husbands, are unaware of this and still think that their husbands are just martial artists.

As the Xu family's "secret" was made public, they all found out.

At this moment, in Xu Xiaoyun's residence.

He is sixty years old this year, but he has aged very quickly in the last two years, and his hair is completely white.

His health was already poor, so he completely gave up the tavern business he had worked so hard to build, handing over the brewing and tavern management to Xu Xiaoan's sons. He spent his days leisurely drinking tea, playing chess, and recuperating.

At this moment, he was lying on a recliner under the pavilion, with a pot of tea on a small table beside him.

He fanned himself, rocked back and forth in his recliner, completely at ease.

"Dad~~"

A sudden shout startled him awake.

Xu Xiaoyun opened her eyes in surprise and saw her son Zhongchao: "What's wrong?"

"Dad, our Five Elements Cultivation Pillar can be used for cultivation? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I want to cultivate immortality too."

Zhongchao greatly admired cultivators.

Xu Xiaoyun rolled her eyes: "Blame me? You were disobedient when you were young. No matter how many times I disciplined you, you never practiced martial arts properly. You were always slacking off. You finally reached the second level of stance training and then gave up."

Then you went astray, spending your days visiting brothels.

When this topic came up, Zhongchao blushed and said in a low voice, "Father, it's been so many years, let's not talk about it."

"Hmph, you actually know what shame is?"

"Father, what's past is past. I want to cultivate immortality now, what should I do?"

Zhongchao came to ask his father to find him a path to immortality.

"What to do? Practice martial arts. Once you reach the Innate Martial Artist realm, you can develop five elemental roots and then cultivate immortality."

Xu Xiaoyun said casually.

“Father, I’m already this old. I couldn’t even reach the Innate Realm when I was young, and it’s even harder now. I heard that Zhongche can refine elixirs? And my sixth uncle, he’s very skilled in martial arts, maybe he has some shortcuts…”

The strength and cultivation level of everyone in the Xu family were made public within the family.

For example, Xu Zhongche, who has the ability to refine elixirs.

Chungcheol used to be a pharmacist who could refine medicines, and now he is an alchemist who can refine pills!
Alchemy inheritances are precious, but the Xu family is a Foundation Establishment family, so having an alchemy inheritance capable of refining first-grade spiritual pills is nothing special. With Xu Zhongche's skills, he can barely refine common first-grade spiritual pills.

"shortcut?"

Hearing his son's words, Xu Xiaoyun looked displeased: "There are no shortcuts to martial arts training. Only through diligent practice day and night can you open up your meridians and acupoints!"

"Dad, don't lie to me. I've heard that if you have Qi and Blood Pills, you can improve your skills much faster when practicing martial arts. Please help me think of a way, at least buy me some Qi and Blood Pills."

As the two were talking, an old woman came out of the room.

It was Xu Xiaoyun's wife: Zhang Caixia.

She spoke up for her son: "Honey, please think of a way to help him. His cousins ​​are all immortals, how can he not be envious?"

"Yes, Father, this is an opportunity to cultivate immortality, I can't just let it go."

"You know how to cherish things now? Why didn't you do this sooner!"

While scolding him, Xu Xiaoyun also said to his wife, "Wasn't he spoiled by you when he was a child? If you had been stricter, he might have been a Qi Refining cultivator by now."

Although he was stern in words, he softened when faced with his son's plea and said, "I'll get you some high-quality Qi and Blood Pills, that's all. There are no shortcuts to martial arts training, and it gets harder as you get older."

"Your father knew about cultivation decades ago, but I still couldn't break through to become a Xiantian martial artist."

Then he thought of his grandson Xu Lijing: "Your chances of reaching the Innate Realm in martial arts are slim, but Jing'er is still young, which is the perfect time for him to practice. He is blind, so if he can embark on the path to immortality, he might be able to regain his sight."

You should worry too much about his affairs.

"Yes, Father, I know. Li Yuan has been helping Jing'er with her martial arts training. Li Yuan was already at the Innate level, and he has a great talent for martial arts, so he can help Jing'er." Zhongchao cared a lot about Li Jing's affairs, after all, he was his own son.

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.

Meanwhile, at Xu Xiaoan's home.

He is the fifth in the "Xiao" generation, three years younger than Xiaoyun, and is fifty-seven years old this year.

At his age, he already has great-grandchildren.

However, none of his four sons and a dozen grandsons cultivated immortality.

At this moment, his four sons, Chung-il, Chung-san, and Chung-si, gathered in the room to question him.

"Father, other families all have Qi Refining cultivators, why don't we have one?"

“When I was a child, I practiced martial arts, but my father didn’t care at all. Even though I’m not very talented in martial arts, he should have let me continue, right? Why did he make me do farm work so early?”

Besides them, there was also Xu Xiaoan's wife, Chunjuan.

She also complained, "We've been married for forty years, and you kept such a big thing from me without telling me anything. We have so many children and grandchildren, but not a single one is a god."

Xiao'an looked helpless and said, "How could I tell you such a big secret? It concerns the lives of countless people in the Xu family."

As for why you couldn't cultivate immortality, there's nothing I can do about it. I myself have mediocre talent, and no matter how I practice, I can't reach the Innate Realm. You are my sons, so it's normal that you don't have talent either.

But the "Li" generation still has hope; it's the perfect age for them to practice martial arts. With the potential to cultivate immortality, they should work even harder.

Among his grandsons of the "Li" generation, the eldest, Li Jia, was only twenty years old and had just given birth to his great-grandson, "Xu Yizhi".

Apart from Li Jia, his grandsons are all around ten years old and are currently practicing martial arts, while there are several others who haven't started practicing martial arts yet.

These people all have the hope of reaching the Innate Realm and embarking on the path of cultivation.

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.

an open space.

Two young men are practicing martial arts.

One of them was tall and handsome.

The other one was half a head shorter than him, and was a young man.

The young man was thirteen years old, Li Jing. He was born blind and could not see. Although he had big, dark eyes, his gaze was empty and vacant.

The person who taught him martial arts was Li Yuan, who was nineteen years old.

Li Yuan had an exceptional talent for martial arts, much like his grandfather, Xiao Gou. At the age of fifteen, he reached the Innate Martial Artist realm, cultivated his spiritual root, and stepped into the realm of immortal cultivation.

Although he had embarked on the path of cultivation, the progress of his five elemental roots was slow, and the Xu family currently lacked the resources to provide him with them. He was passionate about martial arts, so he cultivated both Qi and martial arts simultaneously, still devoting a great deal of time to martial arts training.

He is now at the second level of Qi Refining and the third level of the Innate Realm.

Because Li Jing was blind, it was very difficult for him from the beginning of learning stance training. It was Li Yuan who patiently taught him.

When Li Yuan was a child, he was naughty and teased Li Jing. After being "educated" by his father Zhong Huai, he empathized with Li Jing's situation of not being able to see.

Since then, the two have become close playmates.

They are not blood brothers, but they are closer than blood brothers.

“Li Jing, this stance isn’t for breathing like that. The breath comes from the internal organs. Come on, put your hands here…”

Li Yuan took Li Jing's hand and placed it on his chest, letting him feel the vibrations in his chest and hear his breathing.

"You have good luck here, and good luck here too..."

He then reached out and pointed to the acupoints on the surface of the mirror.

"Come again!"

Li Yuan's voice was somewhat stern.

"Ah."

Li Jing didn't think anything of it; he knew that Li Yuan's strictness was for his own good.

And so, he adjusted his posture and breathing again, and began to practice standing meditation.

He couldn't see through the mirror, and his martial arts talent was average; he was thirteen years old when he only started practicing the second level of stance training.

But he was not discouraged at all, because he knew this was his chance to embark on the path to immortality and see the light!

An hour and a half later, Li Jing, exhausted from practicing, stopped.

"Here are some Qi and Blood Pills for you."

Li Yuan promptly handed over a Qi and Blood Pill.

Li Jing swallowed the Qi and Blood Pill, feeling it transform into medicinal power to nourish his body, and the powerful Qi and Blood nourished and strengthened his body.

Since he started practicing martial arts, he has become much bolder. Even though he is blind, he is no longer as fearful of the outside world as before.

"Brother Yuan, do you think I can cultivate immortality?"

After swallowing the Qi and Blood Pill, Li Jing regained his strength.

"Yes, you definitely can! Breaking through to the Innate Martial Realm is easy, and cultivating immortality isn't difficult either. As long as you persevere and don't give up, you will definitely be able to cultivate immortality."

Li Yuan assured him, patting Li Jing on the shoulder: "One day, when you regain your sight, you will be able to see our beautiful Baihe Mountain, and the place where we used to play when we were young."

Once your cultivation reaches the late stage of Qi Refining, you will be able to fly using Qi.

Then we'll fly together in the sky, over mountains and rivers, and see all the beautiful scenery in the world.

"Ok!"

Li Jing stared into the distance with his eyes wide open. Although he couldn't see anything, he was already looking forward to the day he would embark on the path of cultivation.

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.

Baihe Mountain, a cemetery area.

After Zhongyao's death, a cenotaph was erected for him here.

Sadly, no one knows where he died, and not even his body was left behind.

Xu Xiaoniu stood there for a long time, and it took him a while to come back to his senses.

His mother, his third brother, his son, and his daughter-in-law are buried in this cemetery.

"Ah~"

He sighed softly and turned to leave.

Back at his home, a four- or five-year-old child ran up to him, saying, "Grandpa, Grandpa, I want to ride the rocking horse."

He is Li Kun, the son of Zhong Yao.

Li Kun's mother died when he was born, and now his father is gone too, so Xu Xiaoniu took him to his place and asked his wife to take care of him.

"Ah Kun, you go play with Xiao Ju first, Grandpa will play with you later."

Xu Xiaoniu had his maid take Li Kun to play on the side while he talked with his wife.

"Xiulian, can you take care of Likun from now on? Or should we leave him with Zhonglei? I want to go to Yuanli City again."

He planned to go to Fumo Mountain in Yuanli City again, where it would be convenient for him to carry out the Fumo Division's missions and earn spirit stones.

The Xu family lacks a stable source of spirit stones, relying instead on various "windfalls" from the past. Earning spirit stones remains crucial for the Xu family.

His wife, Chen Xiulian, is over sixty years old and quite old. He worries that she won't be able to take care of Li Kun, who is at a very active and energetic age.

"Don't worry, Likun is with me. I love this good grandson, and I don't trust anyone else to take care of him."

"Alright, then I'll have two more maids sent over."

Xu Xiaoniu thought of arranging two more maids at home to ensure that Li Kun was well taken care of.

(End of this chapter)