From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 228 Fortune and Longevity
Li Kun's face was filled with a simple, playful smile; he hadn't had this much fun in a long time.

"Thank you, Sixth Grandpa."

He looked at Xu Xiaohou and felt that today's "Sixth Grandfather" was different from before.

"You had a great time, didn't you? Come on, Grandpa Liu will give you some extra training!"

Xu Xiaohou took him to a clearing in the mountains and forests, where he gave him individual instruction in stance training and fist and foot techniques.

By dusk, Li Kun was exhausted, but he persisted without complaining. He cherished the opportunity to be taught individually by Xu Xiaohou.

"Okay, let's rest."

Seeing that he persisted even when his hands and feet were weak from practicing, Xu Xiaohou nodded secretly, very satisfied with him.

Exhausted, he collapsed to the ground and saw Xu Xiaohou take out a flying sword the size of a palm.

"Likun, your sixth grandpa's got something fun to play with. See that big tree on that hill over there? Believe me or not, I can stand right here and use my flying sword to cut down a leaf?"

"what?"

Following the direction Xu Xiaohou pointed, Li Kun looked at the large tree on another mountaintop, at least a hundred feet away.

"Sixth Grandpa, are you really sure you can do it?"

He didn't quite believe it. Although he was only nine years old and knew that there was a difference between immortals and mortals, he couldn't comprehend such an incredible thing in his understanding.

"Okay."

As soon as Xu Xiaohou finished speaking, he flicked his wrist, and the flying sword shot out straight out.

Li Kun stared wide-eyed, but the flying sword vanished from his sight in the blink of an eye. The distance was too great for him to see any trace of it.

The flying sword sliced ​​through the leaf stem, severing a leaf.

The leaves fell from the branches and drifted down to the ground.

However, the returning flying sword struck the leaf again, its force and speed just right, and flew back to Xu Xiaohou's hand along with the leaf.

"Haha, look."

"..."

Li Kun stared in disbelief at the leaf attached to the flying sword, his eyes filled with longing and admiration: "Sixth Grandfather, you...you're amazing!"

Xu Xiaohou plucked a leaf from the flying sword: "The flying sword has feather-like patterns on its blade, which can enhance its flight speed and reduce drag. It is called the 'Feather Pattern Flying Sword'."

"This is a top-grade magical flying sword that your great-grandfather gave me. Today, I am passing it on to you."

This top-grade magic weapon, the Feather Pattern Flying Sword, was no longer of any use to Xu Xiaohou. He was now using the "Shadowless Flying Sword," a spiritual weapon he had bought from the Baili family.

But the feather-patterned flying sword held a different meaning for Xu Xiaohou, and he treasured it all along.

The Xu family used to be so poor that they couldn't even afford magic weapons. His father, Xu Fugui, couldn't bear to use a top-grade magic weapon flying sword and gave it to him instead.

"Give...to me?"

Li Kun couldn't believe it; this magical flying sword looked like an extremely precious item.

"Here you go. You must practice martial arts diligently and break through to the Innate Realm as soon as possible to cultivate your spiritual root. Then I will teach you the Flying Sword Technique. In a few years, you will be able to control a flying sword."

As Xu Xiaohou spoke, he solemnly held the feather-patterned flying sword in his palm and handed it to Li Kun.

Li Kun accepted the gift with trembling hands, unable to contain his excitement. He was filled with longing for the Innate Martial Artist realm, the Qi Refining cultivator, and the Flying Sword Technique.

Is this what it feels like to be favored?

He felt warm in his heart.

In the Xu family, he lacked nothing in terms of food, clothing, and servants to take care of him. But he lacked the pampering and favoritism that parents would give him.

This led to his timid, cowardly, and reluctant personality.

"If you have any questions about martial arts training, need anything in your life, or are bored and want to go out and have fun, feel free to come to me."

Xu Xiaohou patted Li Kun on the shoulder and said.

With Xu Zhonghuai as the head of the Xu family, Li Kun will no longer be deprived of any resources. However, what Li Kun lacks is not resources, but favoritism.

The Xu family cannot rely solely on cold, hard family rules; it needs genuine, heartfelt emotions.

"Ok!"

Li Kun nodded emphatically.

At that moment, he felt like he had a parent-like "support".

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.

That year, Xu Xiaoyun passed away at the age of 65.

A few months later that same year, Xu Xiaoxia passed away at the age of seventy-one.

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.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Fugui celebrates his 100th birthday!

In eight years, all the members of the Xu family of the "Li" generation have grown up. Those with good martial arts talent have broken through to the Innate Realm, cultivated spiritual roots, and embarked on the path of cultivation.

However, due to practicing martial arts and cultivating immortality, the marriage age of the "Li" generation is generally much later than before, and they no longer get married as early as seventeen or eighteen.

On the one hand, cultivators have long lifespans and can maintain a youthful state for a long time, so they are not in a hurry to get married and have children.

On the other hand, they find it difficult to find wives who are of equal social standing. Qi cultivation cultivators naturally have higher standards, unlike before when they would be content to marry even a rural girl.

The number of female independent cultivators is small, a situation that is difficult to change.

Even though the Xu family, a Foundation Establishment cultivation family, is unparalleled in influence around Tonggu County, it's not easy for a member of the Xu family to find a female cultivator as a wife.

Besides female rogue cultivators, there are also female members of other cultivation families.

In short, finding a wife depends entirely on one's own abilities, and the Xu family cannot offer much help in this regard.

In eight years, the number of clan members with the character "Yi" increased only slightly, to less than ten.

The oldest, Xu Yizhi, is fourteen 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.

The outer perimeter of Baihe Mountain.

Beside the pass leading into the mountains, there stands a solitary two-story building.

The plaque hangs high, bearing the four gilded characters "Xu's Elixir".

This is where the Xu family sells their medicinal pills.

In the counties near Tonggu County, the Xu family is the only Foundation Establishment family.

Since the Xu family was also able to refine some commonly used first-grade spiritual pills, they opened a small market for independent cultivators next to Baihe Mountain to sell pills.

Seeing that the price of the elixirs sold by the Xu family was the same as that in Kunxu Market, the independent cultivators realized that for convenience, there was no need to travel to Kunxu Mountain, which was five or six hundred miles away.

Over time, many independent cultivators purchased elixirs from the Xu family in Baihe Mountain, adding a small amount of spirit stone income to the Xu family.

Besides elixirs, "Xu's Pills" also sells ordinary medicines, such as Qi and Blood Pills, Pregnancy Preservation Pills, and Detoxification Pills.

An old man walked into "Xu's Pills".

"Shopkeeper, give me a Qi-boosting pill."

He was a rogue cultivator from a neighboring county who had devoted most of his life to cultivation and had only reached the third level of Qi Refining, and was about to break through to the middle stage of Qi Refining.

"Fellow Daoist, one Qi-Boosting Pill costs twenty-nine spirit stones."

Today, Li Jin is selling elixirs here. Sometimes it's someone else; they take turns.

The old man took out an inconspicuous burlap bag from his bosom, gently opened it, and poured out the crystal-clear spirit stones inside.

He carefully counted them one by one, but even with dozens of broken spirit crystals, it wasn't enough for twenty-nine spirit stones; he was still short by half a spirit stone.

He smiled obsequiously, "Boss, I'm only five spirit crystals short. Why don't you sell them to me at a lower price?"

"Really gone?"

Li Jin sized up the old man, wondering if he was doing it on purpose to bargain.

"It's really gone, not a single spirit crystal left."

The old man helplessly shrugged.

"I heard that the prices of several spiritual plants have increased recently. The price of Qi-Boosting Pills in Kunxu Market has fluctuated and increased by one spirit stone, but my family hasn't raised our prices. This time, I'll give you a discount of half a spirit stone. You mustn't tell anyone, otherwise everyone will want to bargain, and my family's business will suffer."

Li Jin knew the profit margin of the elixir; he was sure he could still make a considerable profit by offering a discount of half a spirit stone.

However, for alchemists, making a living by selling low-grade, commonly used elixirs is just a matter of hard work, so prices are clearly marked in all markets and there is no bargaining.

"Of course, I will never tell anyone."

The old man made repeated promises.

Afterwards, Li Jin sold him the Qi-Boosting Pill for half a spirit stone less. The old man took the Qi-Boosting Pill, carefully and treasuringly hiding it in his pocket. As he left, his eyes glanced at an old magic sword on the display stand.

"Boss, how much is this magic sword?"

"A used, low-grade magic sword is being consigned here by someone else, and the price is eighty-five spirit stones."

Li Jin said casually.

The Xu family of Baihe Mountain is the only Foundation Establishment family in the vicinity, and is trusted by independent cultivators. Because the Xu family sells pills here and many independent cultivators come and go, some people consign their goods here.

The "consignment fee" charged by the Xu family is not expensive, at most two spirit stones, sometimes one spirit stone or even half a spirit stone.

Resources like magical artifacts, which have been used by others, circulate very slowly. The Xu family is just making some spirit stones on the side.

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 deepest part of Baihe Mountain.

In the mountains and forests, two flying swords flew side by side, sometimes flying together to the left and right, sometimes one in front and one behind, or drawing two arcs and converging at a certain point.

Xu Xiaohou has been building his foundation for over a decade, and only last year did he advance to the second level of foundation building.

His cultivation level improved slowly, but his sword control combat power increased significantly.

He can simultaneously control two "Shadowless Flying Swords" and has already mastered the ability to combine them into a deadly attack.

A single flying sword is easy to defend against, but when two flying swords attack simultaneously, the enemy will find it much more difficult to defend.

Not far from him, another person was practicing flying swords.

It was Li Kun, who was seventeen years old.

He had an exceptional talent for martial arts and became a Xiantian martial artist at the age of fourteen, embarking on the path of cultivation.

After becoming a cultivator, he chose the "Crimson Gold Sword Qi Technique" as his cultivation method, the "Flying Sword Technique" as his main combat spell, and the "Meditation Soul Refining Technique".

He is currently at the second level of Qi Refining, and his spiritual power has reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

The flying sword he was using was the Feather Pattern Flying Sword.

"call out!"

He flicked his feather-patterned flying sword, which flew straight through the air and accurately hit a leaf on a tree a hundred meters away.

With his strength and spiritual power, he couldn't control the flying sword freely in the air. He could only run far away and retrieve the feather-patterned flying sword from a pile of rocks and grass.

Besides Xu Xiaohou and Li Kun, Li Jing was also practicing magic nearby.

Li Jing is twenty-six years old this year. He broke through to the Innate Martial Artist realm seven years ago.

He had only average talent in martial arts, and it was only through diligent practice that he broke through to the Innate Martial Artist level at the age of nineteen.

Even after he absorbed Qi into his body and became a Qi Refining cultivator, his blindness was not cured, and he remained blind. The Xu family members were quite helpless about this.

Li Jing was born blind, and no amount of treatment could cure him. Even inducing Qi into his body and becoming a Qi cultivator could not restore his sight.

Everyone could only comfort him, saying that once he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he would definitely regain his sight.

The cultivation method that Li Jing chose was the "Ling Nong Qi Refining Technique" practiced by Xu Fugui.

He had no talent for martial arts, but surprisingly, he had good aptitude for cultivating immortality, especially in terms of his soul.

His progress in practicing the "Meditation Soul Refining Technique" was frighteningly fast.

After seven years of Qi Refining with only the third level of Qi Refining, he practiced the "Meditation Soul Refining Technique" to raise his spiritual power to the late stage of Qi Refining!
He stood barefoot on the wasteland in the mountains.

His eyes were wide open, the pupils were dark and lifeless, and his gaze was empty.

A gentle breeze blew by, and his ears twitched, taking in every rustle of wind and grass nearby.

Having reached the late stage of Qi Refining in his spiritual power, his senses were extremely sharp.

He liked this feeling; even though he couldn't see, he could still perceive everything around him.

The sound of weeds swaying in the wind, the rustling of leaves in the wind, the birdsong in the treetops, the chirping of insects deep in the grass... these cacophony of sounds intertwine in Li Jing's ears to create a world.

"Long~~"

Centered on him, the weeds on the ground began to grow wildly, spreading over an area of ​​dozens of meters in the blink of an eye, with the weeds within that area being lush and green.

As he stepped onto the grass, he seemed to "see" the flowers and plants.

He bent down and stroked a cluster of wildflowers: "Open~~"

Infused with spiritual energy, several wildflowers bloomed and blossomed.

"Haha."

The reason Li Jing chose to cultivate the "Ling Nong Qi Refining Technique" was to use flowers, plants, and trees to perceive the world.

Just then, a shout came from afar: "Mirror!"

Li Jing was very familiar with this person's voice: Li Yuan.

"Brother Yuan!"

Li Jing followed the sound and walked over. Although he was blind, as a Qi Refining cultivator, his blindness would not affect his daily life.

Li Yuan used his lightness technique to leap to Li Jing in a few steps: "Yi Qing's third birthday banquet is the day after tomorrow. You have to come to my house then."

"Okay, I'll definitely go."

Li Jing nodded.

Yiqing, a member of the Yi generation, is the son of Liyuan.

It is worth mentioning that Li Yuan was the first member of the Xu family to marry a female cultivator.

His wife's name was Su Shiqian, and she was a rogue cultivator with mixed spiritual roots of four elements.

When Su Shiqian first married into the Xu family, she was at the first level of Qi Refining; now she has advanced to the second level.

Li Yuan's son is named Xu Yiqing and will soon be three years old.

After inviting Li Jing, he pondered whether he should also invite a few more of his brothers of the same generation whose names contain the character "Li".

There are nearly twenty brothers in the Xu family with the character "Li" in their name. Apart from being familiar with Li Jing and Li Jin, he is not very familiar with the other brothers of the "Li" generation, especially those who are much older than him.

His child's third birthday party was a significant event, and he hesitated whether or not he should extend an invitation.

"I'll notify each household; whether they go or not is up to them."

Li Yuan decided to invite his brothers of the same generation, but he would leave the uncles and elders of the "Zhong" generation out of it, as there was no need to trouble the elders to attend his son's third birthday banquet.

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 is currently inside his own body.

Over the past eight years, the space inside my body has increased considerably.

It was filled with spiritual plants.

He casually fiddled with a few spiritual plants: "Sigh, when will I be able to establish my foundation? I'm afraid I'll be stuck at the bottleneck of Qi Refining until I die of old age?"

Eight years ago, he had already reached the peak of Qi Refining.

He practiced the "Meditation and Soul Refining Technique," and his spiritual power had long since reached the limit of Qi cultivation.

In addition, he picked up the Five Elements Stance Technique again during these eight years and began practicing martial arts.

With the experience of Xu Xiaohou, a martial arts grandmaster, Xu Fugui also successfully broke through to the realm of martial arts grandmaster, with abundant internal energy that could be released as martial arts qi.

Breaking through the Foundation Establishment stage of Qi Refining requires the integration of essence, Qi, and spirit.

Xu Fugui's condition was close to perfect, but last year Xu Xiaoniu managed to get him a Sanhe Pill, which he used to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, but failed.

His failed breakthrough damaged his foundation, and it took him another six months to fully recover.

However, after failing once, he developed a psychological shadow, making it even more difficult for him to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage again.

"Sigh, my aptitude is still too poor."

Xu Fugui shook his head helplessly.

He broke through to Foundation Establishment at the age of one hundred with five pseudo-spiritual roots, which is definitely not as good as Xu Xiaohou breaking through to Foundation Establishment at the age of forty.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Xu Fugui's feet trembled slightly, and the family treasure tree in the very center of his body grew upwards by less than a palm's width, its trunk also thickening slightly.

"Is it my birthday?"

Xu Fugui knew that every year he grew older, the family's precious tree would grow once more.

This year will be his 100th birthday!

The family's precious tree has grown to a full ten meters tall.

At the same time, a flood of information entered Xu Fugui's mind.

When the Xu family's ancestral tree grew to ten meters tall, it seemed to have evolved!
(End of this chapter)