From the family treasure tree to build an eternal family

Chapter 99 Qingqiu Mountain

A thin white mist shrouded the Qingqiu Mountains, which stretched for thirty or forty miles in circumference, with two peaks, one tall and one short, echoing each other in the distance.

The highest peak, rising abruptly from the ground, is both tall and steep; it is the main peak, "Qingqiu Peak".

The low-lying peaks occupy a larger area and are called "Fangshi Mountain".

Qingqiu Peak is where the cultivators of the Foundation Establishment family "Lan Family" live. There is a spirit gathering array on it, which gathers most of the spiritual energy of the Qingqiu Mountain range into the area where the family cultivators live.

The escaping spiritual energy still lingers around Qingqiu Peak, covering half of Fangshi Mountain.

The areas around Qingqiu Peak with spiritual energy have been cultivated into spiritual fields, where large quantities of spiritual rice, spiritual herbs, and spiritual plants are grown and managed by the Lan family.

The areas on Fangshi Mountain with spiritual energy were rented out by the Lan family to Qi Refining cultivator families or independent cultivators.

You can stay there as long as you give them spirit stones.

The areas in the market town devoid of spiritual energy are the true markets for buying and selling.

Xu Fugui used his lightness technique to leap twenty or thirty meters away on his toes, moving through the wilderness and mountains as if walking on flat ground.

He gazed at Qingqiu Peak and Fangshi Mountain in the distance, and was deeply moved by the boundless and orderly cultivated fields.

Compared to the countless spiritual fields, the "palm-sized" spiritual vein in his body space was insignificant.

"This is a Foundation Establishment family. It has been passed down for at least several hundred generations."

The Lan family, who live on Qingqiu Mountain, number in the tens of thousands, most of whom are ordinary people.

Xu Fugui thought of himself; how many people were in his family?

It's just the beginning of its development, so we can't be impatient. Sooner or later, it will develop into a foundation-building family like this.

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.

At the foot of Fangshi Mountain.

The cultivators stopped here, and even the late-stage Qi Refining cultivators landed here.

According to the rules of Qingqiu Mountain, non-Lan family cultivators are not allowed to fly in this area.

The monks coming and going were dressed in various styles, and most of them covered their faces, either wearing robes that revealed their eyes or hats with black veils hanging from the brim.

Although the Lan family guarantees safety in the market, no one can guarantee that they won't be targeted if they leave Qingqiu Mountain.

Everyone understands the principles of "not flaunting wealth" and "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

Xu Fugui appeared perfectly at ease here as he walked up Fangshi Mountain.

I hadn't walked more than a few steps when I saw a stall selling black robes and veils.

Further up, you'll see small stalls.

"Woof woof~~"

Two small dogs were barking and whimpering in the iron cage.

Someone nearby was shouting: "A hybrid beast, with the bloodline of the spirit beast Azure Wind Hound! If properly trained, it can reach the first tier of strength! Don't miss it!"

"Does anyone want a substandard Innate Pill? It can increase the chance of breaking through to the Innate Realm by 50%. Fellow Daoists, if you have martial arts disciples in your family, you can prepare one."

"A nearly new, mid-grade magic weapon longsword, being sold off cheaply!"

Xu Fugui saw that the long sword in the man's hand was a broken sword, with only half of the blade remaining. This was called "80% new".
In order not to appear like a newcomer, he observed discreetly.

The street vendors here, hawking their wares everywhere, are not much different from ordinary street vendors.

As he continued upwards, he saw a clearly defined boundary line.

Several cultivators, clearly members of the Lan family, were overseeing the market. Further up, there were no street stalls, only rows of buildings.

Xu Fugui continued walking, and the buildings had signs hanging on them, indicating that they were shops.

"Tong Family's Elixir Pavilion", "Zhao Family's Weapon Shop", "Li Family's Spiritual Plant Nursery"...

These shops all have prefixes, indicating they are not owned by the Lan family.

The two most imposing buildings at the top are the "Spirit Talisman Pavilion" and the "Spirit Plant Garden".

Xu Fugui had inquired and learned that the Lan family was most famous for its talismans, and that their family had a tradition of using talismans.

In Qingqiu Market, the talismans sold by the Lan family are known for their high quality and low price, with the "Golden Light Talisman" being the most famous.

As for the "Spirit Plant Garden," Qingqiu Mountain has so many spirit plants that the Lan family doesn't need to consume many of them to make talismans, so the surplus spirit plants are sold.

"That's it?"

Xu Fugui discovered that there were only a dozen or so shops in total.

On second thought, most of the cultivators attracted to Qingqiu Mountain are Qi Refining cultivators from the surrounding counties, so a dozen or so shops would be enough.

There are only a few hundred cultivators in Tonggu County, including Qi-cultivating families, immortal officials, and independent cultivators.

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 wandered around the market several times before finally entering the Lan family's "spiritual plant nursery".

The antique-style plant nursery had several solid wood shelves, which emitted the fragrance of the plants.

"Is this a century-old sacred pine?"

Xu Fugui had the "Illustrated Compendium of Spiritual Plants" in his mind, and based on its characteristics, he determined that the shelf was made of century-old spiritual pine wood.

A small number of spiritual plants were displayed on the shelves.

There were only a few customers in the spacious shop.

"Fellow Daoist, what kind of spiritual plant are you looking to buy?"

The person who came to greet Xu Fugui was a female cultivator, whose aura indicated she was in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

"What's the price of irongrass that's a little over twenty years old?"

Xu Fugui inquired about the price.

A little over twenty years?
The female cultivator was puzzled as to why Xu Fugui asked such a precise year: "Based on the quality, it's seventeen or eighteen spirit crystals."

so little?
Xu Fugui was surprised. He thought the spiritual plants in his body space were worth a lot of spirit stones, but he was disappointed.

Common spiritual plants like Ironroot Grass, especially those that are not very old, are indeed not worth many spirit crystals.

The spiritual plants that cover the mountains and plains of the Lan family are strong evidence of this.

Spiritual plants less than 10 years old cannot be used to refine spiritual pills; they can only be used to refine some precious mortal-grade pills.

Only spirit plants that are 10 years or older are worth some spirit crystals.

Ironroot grass that's over twenty years old isn't exactly rare. "Then, do you buy spirit plants? I have some ironroot grass."

Xu Fugui asked.

"Ok?"

The female cultivator then understood why Xu Fugui had asked for the exact year, and her expression changed slightly: "Sorry, we don't accept them."

The Lan family has so many spiritual plants they can't use them all, so why would they need to collect more?
Besides, the selling price is clear. If the buying price is too low, isn't it obvious that they're just making a profit from the difference?

Do you sell seedlings of spiritual plants?

"Um... they sell, but very few are available, and each seedling has a different price. I need to inquire about the price."

The female cultivator found Xu Fugui strange. Planting spiritual plants requires a spiritual vein, and ordinary rogue cultivators rarely have access to such places.

"Okay, I was just asking."

After making inquiries, Xu Fugui left the Lan family's spiritual plant nursery.

Since the Lan family doesn't accept spiritual plants, he'll have to find another buyer for his Iron Root Grass.

Go set up a street stall?

Not to mention the risk of being targeted, he didn't have the time to wait patiently.

The cultivators who need spiritual plants the most are undoubtedly alchemists.

Xu Fugui walked towards the "Tong Family Spiritual Pill Pavilion," not only to sell spiritual plants but also to inquire about elixirs that could preserve the youth of mortals.

What puzzled him was that the Lan family did not have any shops selling pills, while other cultivation families in the market actually sold spirit pills.

The "Tong Family Elixir Pavilion" is small but exquisite and elegant, filled with a faint fragrance of elixirs.

There were no pills displayed openly, only a few tea tables and chairs.

Tong Bailie was leisurely drinking tea when he saw a customer arrive. He quickly stood up to greet him: "Welcome, fellow Daoist. May I ask what kind of pill you need? You don't need to tell me the exact name, just tell me the effects, and I can recommend one."

He was a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator and could sense that Xu Fugui's aura was not strong.

But the world of cultivation is full of hidden talents, especially someone dressed like Xu Fugui; who knows if he is a reclusive master?

What he could tell was that Xu Fugui had never been here before and was a new face.

The area served by Qingqiu Market was not large, and only a limited number of cultivators came to buy elixirs. Tong Bailie had been running his shop here for many years, so he was sure he recognized his regular customers.

"Do you buy spiritual plants here? I have two Ironroot Grass plants that are over twenty years old and in perfect condition."

"..."

Tong Bailie was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'll take it, of course I'll take it. You should have already asked about the price. The Lan family sells it for seventeen or eighteen spirit crystals, but I'll give you a discount. How about sixteen spirit crystals?"

The Tong family needs to purchase spiritual plants from the Lan family for alchemy, so Xu Fugui only needs to sell them at a slightly lower price than the Lan family.

"Row."

Xu Fugui nodded. That was indeed the case; he had to sell it cheaper for people to be willing to buy it.

He took off the bamboo basket from his back, pushed aside the top layer of weeds, and took out the wooden box wrapped in layers. After some effort, he finally took out two spiritual plants, Iron Root Grass.

Tong Bailie, who came from a family of alchemists, had a keen eye and easily discerned the age and quality of the Iron Root Grass: "Not bad, it's a twenty-two or twenty-three-year-old Iron Root Grass. I'll get you some spirit stones."

Two Iron Root Grasses, thirty-two Spirit Crystals, which is equivalent to three Spirit Stones and two Spirit Crystals.

Xu Fugui carefully put it away; it was his family's only source of spirit stones.

"Boss, I'd like to ask if you have any youth-preserving pills for mortals?"

"Yes, there is a Youthful and Longevity Pill. After taking it, one can maintain a youthful appearance for thirty years and extend one's lifespan by ten years. Of course, it only works for mortals, and it is only effective on the first use; the life-extending effect cannot be accumulated. One pill costs twenty-eight spirit stones."

Tong Bailie blurted out, "The Youthful Life-Extending Pill" is a relatively easy-to-sell elixir because many Qi Refining cultivators have long lifespans and want to preserve the youth and extend the lifespan of their close family members.

Twenty-eight spirit stones?
Xu Fugui calculated in his mind that the price was not cheap, and he would probably have to sell a third of the high-age spiritual plants in his body to raise the money.

We still have to buy it!

Seeing his hesitation, Tong Bailie explained, "Ordinary elixirs for mortals aren't that expensive, but life-extending pills are among the most expensive of their kind. My family's Youth Preservation and Longevity Pill is a fair price of twenty-eight spirit stones, no deception."

"Ah."

Xu Fugui nodded. It wasn't that they were selling it for a high price; it was that he had few spirit stones and was poor!
Just as the two were talking, a vast aura soared into the sky from the other side of Fangshi Mountain.

On one side of Fangshi Mountain is Fangshi, and on the other side, near Qingqiu Peak, is the residence of cultivators, shrouded in spiritual energy.

Tong Bailie sensed this aura and laughed loudly: "Hahaha, this is my alchemist, hahaha..."

Their main alchemist, Tong Yiyan, has broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

Xu Fugui felt an invisible pressure under this aura. He was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, and the gap between him and a Foundation Establishment cultivator was too great.

He walked out of the Spirit Pill Pavilion and looked up at the distant sky.

Like him, countless cultivators in the market gazed up at the direction of the Foundation Establishment breakthrough.

"Is that the aura of a Foundation Establishment breakthrough?"

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator, his aura is terrifying."

"It seems he is not a member of the Lan family."

A short while later, more than a dozen auras, some strong and some weak, rose into the air from Qingqiu Peak and flew to the place where the Foundation Establishment breakthrough had just occurred.

After a short while, things returned to calm.

The numerous cultivators in the market were all doing their own thing; the Foundation Establishment breakthrough was irrelevant to them, and they could only look on with envy.

Xu Fugui was equally envious, but he was currently a minor Qi Refining cultivator who couldn't even afford a spirit pill costing twenty-eight spirit stones.

"Let me take another look at the flying sword and make me give up."

Upon learning the price of the Youth Preservation Elixir, he dared not even dream of owning a magical flying sword.

The price of magical artifacts is higher than that of elixirs.

He walked into the Zhao Family Weapons Shop opposite the Tong Family Elixir Pavilion.

The spacious shop was filled with knives, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks—a large quantity and a wide variety of styles.

"Is this a real weapons shop?"

Xu Fugui was surprised because they were all weapons used by ordinary people, at most made of refined steel that had been forged hundreds or thousands of times, and were not magical weapons.

(End of this chapter)