From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 295 The Prefect Arrives in Person, Renowned Zhenyuan Li

Seeing that the battle between the two Golden Core cultivators had ended, Liao Fanye took the opportunity to fly away from Ru'an Mountain.

He was glad that he hadn't taken advantage of the Liao family's background to forcibly seize the secret technique, otherwise he might have been killed by that Golden Core cultivator.

Given his family background, as long as he doesn't do anything too outrageous, the Xu family won't do anything to him.

However, if he were to use force, it would be perfectly reasonable for the Xu family to kill him in self-defense, and the Liao family would have no grounds for complaint.

"It's because the Xu family hid too well. They had a member at the Golden Core stage, and there was absolutely no news about them from the outside world. I almost went to my death."

Liao Fanye felt a lingering fear when he thought about his arrogant and condescending attitude just now. He had come from Gu Nan City, and came from a powerful Golden Core family. He had a second grandfather who was also a Golden Core cultivator, and he certainly didn't take a small Foundation Establishment family like Yuanli County seriously.

"What is the background of that Golden Core cultivator who didn't reveal his name? Let's go back and find out."

What he saw and heard today will surely spread among the cultivators of Ancient South City.

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.

Ru'an Mountain.

The family hall.

Xu Xiaoniu, Xu Xiaohou, Xu Zhongche, and Xu Zhonghuai, all members of the clan who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, were here, as was Xu Renkai, who was in the Qi Refining stage.

Although Xu Renkai was only at the Qi Refining stage, he was a genius in formations. He set up a spirit-gathering formation for Ru'an Mountain. His contribution to the family could not be measured in spirit stones. He was a great achievement that would benefit the Xu family for thousands of generations to come.

Xu Fugui arrived late; he had rushed over from Baihe Mountain after receiving the message.

"what's the situation?"

"Grandpa, the news that our family has a Golden Core cultivator can no longer be kept secret..."

Xu Zhongxu explained.

After hearing the whole story, Xu Fugui remained unmoved. The Golden Core cultivators of the Xu family were originally there to deal with emergencies and protect the family; their true nature would be exposed sooner or later.

He nodded and said, "That's good. Those Foundation Establishment cultivators will definitely not dare to come to our door again to ask us to hand over the secret techniques of stance training. Send someone to Gu Nan City to inquire about the name of that Golden Core cultivator. Knowing his background will help us be on guard."

"Yes, Grandpa, that's exactly what I was planning to do too."

Xu Zhongxu nodded in agreement.

"As for the future... we'll deal with whatever comes our way, and adapt to whatever comes our way."

Xu Fugui had no idea what changes would occur once the news of his family's Golden Core cultivator spread.

Perhaps nothing will change and everything will remain the same, or perhaps it will attract some extra attention.

He hoped the Xu family could develop discreetly, but when they could no longer remain so, they would inevitably have to face changes and challenges.

A few people echoed in agreement.

"If there's nothing else, let's call it a day."

Everyone dispersed.

"Zhongxu, take me to see the third-tier spiritual plants you've been cultivating."

Xu Fugui called out to Xu Zhongxu.

"Grandpa, please come with me."

Xu Zhongxu led him to the giant-leaved sycamore tree.

"Within the Spirit Gathering Array of our Ru'an Mountain, this is the place with the best feng shui and the highest concentration of spiritual energy. The giant parasol tree has been nourished by my Golden Core True Essence for three months and is now nearly a hundred years old."

When it reaches five hundred years, it will grow into a third-tier spiritual plant, the Mountain-Suppressing Wutong.

It will grow to nearly a hundred feet tall, towering majestically into the sky.

"It takes just over a year to cultivate a third-tier spiritual plant, not bad."

Xu Fugui nodded, then asked, "Can it be cultivated into a celestial spiritual plant?"

"This... is possible, but it's uncertain how long it will take. Immortal spiritual plants are different from third-tier spiritual plants; they require a certain opportunity to allow the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth to bestow immortal aura upon them."

Perhaps eight hundred years, perhaps a thousand years, it's hard to say.

Xu Zhongxu stated the truth.

"If you can cultivate immortal spiritual plants, then our Xu family can truly gain a foothold in Zhennan Prefecture and become a Golden Core family! Not an ordinary Golden Core family, but a truly top-tier Golden Core family."

Xu Fugui knew that the reason why the five great Golden Core families of Zhennan Prefecture were recognized as the five great families was because they had stable ways and means to cultivate Golden Core members.

Their Xu family's "Shennong Creation Technique" also has such effects, and can cultivate immortal spiritual plants!
“Grandpa, I will do my best. After all, I am only at the first level of the Golden Core stage, and my foundation is shallow. If my cultivation level were higher and my understanding of Shennong's Creation Technique were more thorough, it would definitely be easier for me to cultivate immortal spiritual plants.”

"No need to rush, let's take it one step at a time."

The Xu family's development has been extremely rapid, so what they need most is to stabilize it.

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.

Ancient Nancheng.

Wu Yu was restless after returning, worried that the battle with Xu Zhongxu at Ruanshan Mountain would expose his identity.

"The Xu family has a Golden Core cultivator! It's a pity I didn't know beforehand; I was careless."

"What should I do if they investigate my identity?"

He wasn't afraid of the Xu family, but of the Prince of Zhennan.

As a Golden Core cultivator with an Earth Spiritual Root, he certainly doesn't need any special stance training techniques. Those techniques are only necessary for mortals without spiritual roots.

The Prince of Zhennan was most wary of his subordinates developing their own family power.

"What will the Lord think of me if he finds out that I stole the secret technique of stance training for my father? How will I ever be able to face anyone in the Star Moon Palace again?"

Wu Yu recalled the stories he had heard about the Prince of Zhennan and couldn't help but feel anxious.

The Prince of Zhennan was very generous to his subordinates, never stingy with rewards and resources, but he was also extremely suspicious, often paranoid and worried about their potential betrayal. He disliked his subordinates forming factions and associating with other powers, especially other members of the royal family…

It is said that one of Zhennan King's subordinates, who was in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, was ordered to be executed by Zhennan King because he was on good terms with Xiaoyao King.

Wu Yu had also heard that one of the Prince of Zhennan's subordinates had an affair with one of his disfavored female cultivators and was subsequently executed on the Prince's orders. Even women who had fallen out of favor with the Prince of Zhennan were not to be entertained by his subordinates with any improper thoughts.

These were all rumors that Wu Yu heard after he joined the Prince of Zhennan. Wu Yu never doubted the veracity of these stories; they were most likely true.

After several days of deliberation, Wu Yu made a decision.

He arrived at his father Wu Linong's residence.

"Father, I have something important to tell you."

He looked serious.

"Yu'er, what happened?"

Wu Linong squinted, feeling inexplicably flustered.

"Father, don't blame me, this is for our own good. Sell this house, sell all the family property that you can't take with you. I'll prepare some gold and silver for you. Go, leave Gu Nan City, no, leave Zhen Nan Prefecture."

This is Wu Yu's method.

Before the Prince of Zhennan learned the news, he severed ties with his father to show his loyalty; this was a desperate measure to protect himself.

He had a deep bond with his father, but when it came to his future development, he had no choice but to give up that family relationship.

"When?"

Wu Linong was startled but didn't ask any further questions. He knew that he and his son were separated by the mortal and immortal realms, and that his son's suggestion to sever ties with him was a way of protecting him, likely due to some serious difficulty he had encountered.

"The sooner the better."

Wu Yu, a Golden Core cultivator, was in an extremely awkward situation at this moment.

Wu Linong comforted him: "Yu'er, don't be sad. I know you have something you can't say. We've depended on each other all this time, and I'm content. What more could a small businessman like me want in life?"

After I leave, you'll have no worries; just focus on your cultivation journey.

"Ok!"

This was the last time the two of them spent together.

Under Wu Yu's arrangement, Wu Linong quickly set off. To ensure his father's safety, he didn't give him any spiritual plants or ginseng, only some ordinary gold and silver.

He hired several guards to escort his father away from Zhennan Prefecture.

As for the destination, even Wu Yu didn't know; it was a clean break.

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, news spread throughout the ancient southern city.

"I heard that a Golden Core cultivator has emerged from Yuanli County, from the Foundation Establishment Xu family."

"Yuanli County? A Golden Core can be born in such a remote place? The Xu family is truly blessed."

"Which Xu family? Never heard of them."

"The Xu family has some connection with the Tuoba family, which was wiped out before."

"..."

In the ancient southern city, the birth of a Golden Core cultivator was big news. To become a Golden Core cultivator, both talent and good fortune are indispensable.

The vast and expansive ancient southern city, spanning five hundred miles, is home to countless mortals, including five major families, more than a dozen Golden Core families, numerous Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining families, and countless independent cultivators.

Among so many cultivators, there are only so many Golden Core True Persons.

Ordinary Golden Core families only have two or three Golden Core cultivators.

A family like the Tuoba family, with six Golden Core cultivators, is already considered a top-tier power among Golden Core families.

If a family produces a Golden Core cultivator, they will surely celebrate wildly and wish to spread the news throughout Zhennan Prefecture.

"I heard that the Xu family's Golden Core cultivator was discovered by the Liao family."

"The Liao family members said that another Golden Core cultivator went to the Xu family to steal the secret method of stance training, which led to the appearance of the Xu family's Golden Core cultivator."

Which real person?

"That Golden Core cultivator concealed his identity. He had only recently broken through to the Golden Core stage, used a fire-based cultivation technique, and possessed a magic gourd. He couldn't defeat the Xu family cultivator and fled."

"Are there any Golden Core cultivators in Zhennan Prefecture recently?"

"The Golden Core cultivators who have broken through in recent years, using fire-based techniques, could they be from the Wuma family? A few years ago, a member of the Wuma family broke through to the Golden Core stage, and we celebrated for half a month."

"That True Person from the Wuma family, isn't he True Person Haoqian?"

"How could the Wuma family possibly try to steal the Xu family's secret standing meditation technique? The members of the five major families wouldn't even look at such a technique."

"Who is that?"

"I heard that a Golden Core cultivator recently broke through and joined the forces of the Prince of Zhennan. Could it be him?"

"Even the Prince of Zhennan wouldn't be interested in that kind of secret technique."

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 government office of Zhennan Prefecture.

Prefect Lin Shengping sat at his desk, reading the scroll in his hand.

As the prefect, he had an intelligence agency that specifically collected intelligence information from all over Zhennan Prefecture for him, covering matters large and small.

He would just glance at some things and be aware of them, while he would take a closer look at others and send his men to handle them.

"Oh?"

Lin Shengping noticed a piece of news that was related to the martial arts stance training of the Tuoba family.

"How did that martial arts stance training, which can cultivate spiritual roots, cause trouble again?"

The intelligence report stated that Wu Yu, a Golden Core cultivator suspected to be under the command of the Prince of Zhennan, went to the Xu family to request the secret method of stance training, which led to the appearance of the Xu family's Golden Core cultivator.

"This Xu family has a Golden Core cultivator?"

A Golden Core cultivator with family influence is different from a Golden Core cultivator who comes from a humble background.

"I have to go."

Lin Shengping thought to himself.

If it were just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator being born, it wouldn't be worth his special trip. But this time it concerns the secret method of stance training, so he has to go.

The Tuoba family was exterminated and wiped out, but a large number of its members survived and were expelled from Zhennan Prefecture.

To ensure that their martial arts stance training was not passed on to outsiders, the Tuoba family maintained strict secrecy within the clan. Ordinary clan members could practice stance training, but they did not know the recipe and method for making the Five Elements Spiritual Medicine Soup.

The Five Elements Stance Technique, which can cultivate spiritual roots, requires more than just stance movements; it also needs the aid of medicinal soup made from the five elements spiritual plants to cultivate spiritual roots.

Within the Tuoba family, ordinary people only know the stance training movements; they are completely ignorant of the methods for cultivating the Five Elements spiritual plants. Family members who need to take medicinal soup will go to the pharmacy at fixed times to collect it.

Only a few Foundation Establishment members of the Tuoba family with higher status have mastered the method of refining the Five Elements Elixir Soup.

All the Foundation Establishment clan members were killed.

If Lin Shengping wanted to obtain the secret technique of stance training, he had many ways to do so, but he deliberately ensured that this technique was lost within the Tuoba family. The surviving members of the Tuoba family were unaware that this stance training technique was not among the martial arts manuals confiscated by their government.

In his view, this was a cultivation technique that would bring disaster to cultivation families and should not be widely disseminated.

Whichever family obtains this skill, the fate of the Tuoba family will be the same.

In fact, Lin Shengping viewed this martial arts stance training from a higher perspective: it offers no benefit to mortals developing spiritual roots. Cultivating immortality is going against the will of Heaven; the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is limited, and the number of cultivators who can be born is also limited.

To expect mortals to cultivate immortality and compete with these Golden Core cultivators for spiritual energy and opportunities is clearly illogical.

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.

Yuanli County, Ru'an Mountain.

Lin Shengping arrived in person; he appeared at Ru'an Mountain without any warning.

"This spirit-gathering array? Interesting."

Upon arriving at Mount Ru'an, he discovered its Spirit Gathering Array. The core area of ​​this spiritual land possessed spiritual energy that had reached the third rank.

The Lin family is most skilled in formations, so it is truly rare to see such a complete second-order spirit-gathering formation in Yuanli County.

"Giant-leaved Sycamore?"

He discovered the Giant Leaf Sycamore. On the surface, it appeared to be a second-tier spiritual plant, but its location was unusual, suggesting it was being cultivated as a third-tier spiritual plant.

"I can't believe this is just a cultivation family that has only been around for two hundred years."

He was surprised.

Before coming, he had thoroughly investigated the Xu family's situation.

He then stopped concealing his aura and deliberately exposed it to Xu Zhongxu, the only Golden Core cultivator in Ru'an Mountain.

"Who?!"

Xu Zhongxu was startled. He was cultivating his martial arts when he suddenly sensed a divine sense sweeping over him. It was the divine sense of another Golden Core cultivator, and its aura was unfathomable.

In terms of cultivation, he is definitely far superior to him.

He flew out of the meditation room and saw Lin Shengping.

Lin Shengping made no attempt to hide his true intentions, openly sizing up Xu Zhongxu.

"Greetings, Master. May I ask who this Master is?"

Xu Zhongxu bowed in greeting. The difference in their cultivation levels was too great.

"I am the Prefect of Zhennan Prefecture."

The Prefect?!
Xu Zhongxu was even more surprised, but at the same time breathed a sigh of relief. Since it was the prefect, he probably wouldn't do anything to harm the Xu family.

"Greetings, Prefect Lin."

He knew that the prefect was Lin Shengping from the Lin family.

(End of this chapter)