Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 108 Lord of Qingjiang, Tongshan County (Seeking Support)

Of the three brothers' wives, only Yang Ronghua neither practiced martial arts nor cultivated immortality; like Bai Jing, she was an ordinary woman.

But they didn't make any demands or suffer any distress; they understood the meaning of contentment.

Because both Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei cherished each of them extremely.

Even if we only spent sixty years together, there would be no complaints.

Bai Jing looked at everyone gathered together, a faint smile on her face.

“The Xu family has grown stronger and stronger since your father’s time, and each of you has made great contributions to its current prosperity.”

"Come, let us all drink this cup together, and wish the Xu family prosperity and longevity!"

May prosperity and strength last forever!

May prosperity and strength last forever!

Bai Jing's gaze fell on Zhang Wanqing and Wu Rushan, and she smiled faintly, "Wanqing, Rushan, you've worked hard giving birth to Yun'er and Rong'er."

“Mother, you flatter us. It is our duty to continue the Xu family line. There is no hardship in it.” Wu Rushan came from a prominent family and spoke with more composure than Zhang Wanqing.

"Yes, Mother, you're exaggerating."

Bai Jing nodded slightly, then said, "Rushan, I also know about what happened to the Wu family some time ago. Please accept my condolences."

“Mother, this matter is over, and the Fang, Wang, He, and Cao families have all fallen into obscurity.” Wu Rushan sighed slightly as she finished speaking, “Your daughter-in-law knows what the Wu family was like before. If they had been as low-key and kind as our Xu family, they wouldn’t have suffered this calamity.”

“During this period, with my husband’s tacit approval, I have also provided a lot of support, which can be considered as doing my best.”

"It's good that you can think so positively."

Bai Jing then looked at Xu Mingshu, and seeing her avoidance of eye contact, sighed, "Xueji, you don't dare to look at me."

"How could that be, Mother?"

“After the New Year’s Eve, you will be twenty-four. When your sister-in-law was your age, Devon was already born.”

When the three brothers, Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan, saw their sharp-tongued sister looking so embarrassed and upset, they couldn't help but chuckle.

“You older brothers shouldn’t laugh at her. You also bear some responsibility for her situation. If there’s someone suitable, you should have introduced her to your sister.”

Xu Mingxuan said, "Mother, you can't blame us for this. Xueji has such high standards and is so outstanding. How could an ordinary person be worthy of her?"

"It wouldn't be right to ask us to run around to different counties to find her a husband."

"Why not?!"

Bai Jing's words left Xu Mingxuan speechless: "This is your responsibility. If Xue Ji ends up alone in the future, I will settle accounts with you!"

"Mother, perhaps Father will bring good news when he returns."

Xu Mingwei brought Xu Chuan out again.

"Yes, if your father saw the Xu family in such a state, he would be all smiles."

Bai Jing nodded slightly, then chided, "Yun Nu has come back several times, but he hasn't come back even once."

Everyone was silent.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Today is the anniversary of our passing, so let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest and not let down the delicious food and the hard work of everyone in the Xu family."

"Yes, Mother."

The next day.

All the servants, maids, and guards of the Xu family received a red envelope so that they could share in the joy.

Xu Mingwei and the others also rarely get a break.

All family members gathered at Bihan Pool to enjoy family time.

Now that the five great families of Qingjiang have fallen into decline, almost all of their businesses have come to belong to the Xu family, which has further deepened the Xu family's wealth.

They owned significantly more shops in the county town than the Xu family.

However, the total area of ​​farmland and forests is not as large as that of the Xu family, but it still amounts to tens of thousands of acres.

After being reorganized, these shops have either merged or closed down, and have taken on a new look.

The common people who had originally rented land from the five great families were worried that they would have no land left to cultivate, but when they heard that the land had all been taken over by the Xu family, they were overjoyed.

The Xu family has a well-deserved reputation for treating their tenants well.

The most outstanding among them will be absorbed into the Xu family.

Their offspring could also attend school for free to learn to read and write, and those with talent would be sent for martial arts training, etc. Countless commoners in Qingjiang envied the servants and guards of the Xu family.

However, since the massive expansion of recruitment following the drought, the Xu family has not made any such large-scale moves.

Although more people were recruited later, the requirements were quite strict.

Under the black iron fruit tree.

Xu Derui and Xu Deheng climbed onto the white tiger's back to play. Xu Deling looked at the Azure Fire Eagle Ada perched on the tree trunk, her eyes flashing with a crimson light, which was very similar to the Azure Fire Eagle's eyes.

The Azure Fire Eagle tilted its head, its eyes showing surprise.

"Wow~"

It spread its wings and flapped them twice, instantly creating a gust of wind. Xu Deling seemed startled and took a few steps back.

Seeing this strange phenomenon, Xu Mingshu went over and talked to A-Da. She then looked at Xu Deling with surprise, but by this time her eyes had returned to normal.

"Big brother, come here for a second."

"What is it?" Xu Mingwei walked over and asked with a smile.

"Just now, Ah Da said that Ling'er's eyes seem to have a strange phenomenon, similar to the eyes of an eagle."

"Oh." Xu Mingwei looked surprised. "Similar to me? Is it the Crimson Eagle Spirit Eye that Father mentioned?!"

"I think it looks a lot like the rare spiritual eye described in some cultivation tales," Xu Mingshu said in a low voice.

Xu Mingwei performed as usual.

"Big brother, in the cultivation world, a person born with spiritual eyes is even rarer than her true spiritual root aptitude," Xu Mingshu said excitedly.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Mingwei said, "Don't make a fuss about this. Ling'er is still young and may not be able to fully control her spiritual eyes, which is why they appear and disappear at different times."

"Then let her follow you as much as possible in the future. If she truly has eagle eyes, she will likely gain the approval of the Azure Fire Eagle more easily. If she can gain the recognition of one of them as her master, it will greatly benefit her future path."

"Let's do as you say, brother."

"Little Ling'er, how about you come with your aunt from now on?" Xu Mingshu rubbed her head.

"Yes, Auntie." Xu Deling smiled sweetly.

Although she is only eight years old, she is already at the peak of the second level of Qi Refining, and it should not be long before she can enter the third level of Qi Refining.

This is because the spiritual energy here is scarce, and the Xu family currently has no cultivation pills to supply them.

Otherwise, he should have broken through to the third level of Qi Refining long ago.

For cultivators with true spiritual roots, they rarely encounter bottlenecks in the early stages, the pace slows down slightly in the middle stages, and only in the later stages will their cultivation speed completely slow down.

Xu Deheng also possesses all five elements and has the aptitude for cultivation, but it is only the lowest level of pseudo-spiritual root aptitude.

Xu Mingxuan and Xu Mingwei discussed it and finally decided that he should first pursue the path of martial arts and then enter the path of immortality.

There are two reasons for this consideration. First, there are very few cultivators in the Xu family at present. Second, the three brothers have decided that, except for Xu Dezhao, all the others who are not fully equipped with the five elements should pursue the path of martial arts.

Unlike Xu Chuan, they cannot discern whether a person possesses talent.

If everyone were to pursue martial arts as their path to enlightenment, it would inevitably bring great trouble to the Xu family. Therefore, this was the only decision they could make for the time being.

Whether things will change in the future depends on how the Xu family develops.

Open space in the northwest corner.

Xu Dejing and Xu Dewen exchanged pointers.

They were the same age and both were third-rate martial artists. However, Xu Dejing had just entered the third-rate category, while Xu Dewen was not far from becoming a second-rate martial artist. After all, he possessed a pseudo-fire virtue bloodline and was supplemented by the Xu family's secret medicinal diet. Even if he couldn't enter the innate realm before the age of fourteen like his elder brother Xu Dezhao, it wouldn't be a problem for him to become an innate realm by the age of fifteen or sixteen.

"Dewen, the martial arts you learned from the Yang family, the Fire Element Technique, are indeed exquisite. The moves are even better than those recorded in the Little Dragon Elephant Skill."

The two nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this, Xu Dewen looked at Xu Dejing and smiled faintly, "Sister Jing, these two martial arts are actually not that different. The main difference is that the 'Fire Element Technique' is very difficult to learn and can only be practiced by those with the Yang family bloodline."

With the enhancement of bloodline, both internal energy and techniques can gain an extra three points of power.

“Jing’er, your martial arts talent is not as good as Wen’er’s. You must work even harder in the future.”

Xu Dejing cupped his hands and bowed to Wu Rushan, saying, "Yes, Mother."

Yang Ronghua said with a faint smile, "Rushan, don't keep a straight face today, let the children relax a bit."

“Sister-in-law is right,” Wu Rushan said with a smile. “Go play with your younger siblings.”

Xu Dejing immediately ran to Xu Deling's side, grabbed her hand, and ran away.

Yang Ronghua waved to Xu Dewen, who ran up to her. Yang Ronghua then took out a handkerchief to wipe his face.

"You should go play too."

“Mother, I’m off.” Xu Dewen also cupped his hands in greeting, then went over to join his brothers and sisters.

a few days later.

They returned to their former selves, some cultivating martial arts, others pursuing the path of immortality.

Nanshan Academy, study.

Xu Mingwei summoned two innate martial artists from the Xu family's guards, Cheng Fei and Shen Guang, both in their early forties.

"Master of the house."

The two men approached Xu Mingwei in the study and respectfully clasped their hands in greeting.

"Cheng Fei, Shen Guang."

"What are your orders, Master?"

"Don't be so tense, it's just casual conversation. Neither of you seems to be married, and you're both around forty, so why are you making such a fuss?"

Cheng Fei was startled, but put on a terrified expression. "Patriarch, I dare not have any improper thoughts."

Xu Mingwei was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then said with a wry smile, "Cheng Fei, what are you thinking?"

"Xue Ji is ambitious, and it's difficult for me to make decisions for her. How could I have invited you here for this matter?"

"That's good."

Cheng Fei felt slightly relieved.

Shen Guang's lips twitched slightly, thinking to himself that his brother really had a wild imagination.

Marrying Xu Mingshu is nothing short of a pipe dream!

After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Master, I was married when I was young, but because I was obsessed with martial arts, my wife was lonely and had an affair. When I found out, I killed her and her lover together. Since then, I have never been obsessed with women.”

Cheng Fei stared at Shen Guang with wide eyes, as if to say, "I never imagined you had such a tragic experience, brother."

"And what about you?" Xu Mingwei's gaze fell on Cheng Fei again.

"I am similar to Brother Shen, but the difference is that I am destined to be a lone star, and I will die three people in one year. In the end, I also gave up this idea and devoted myself to martial arts."

Xu Mingwei nodded slightly. "There's a task I need you to do right now. Are you willing?"

"I will obey the master's orders, even if it means going through fire and water!"

The two looked at each other and said in unison.

"Don't worry, it's a good thing. You should also know that there have been changes in the five great families. Now that Li Zhi has been promoted to county magistrate, the positions of county assistant and county lieutenant are vacant. I plan to appoint you two to these two military positions."

"Furthermore, my Xu family will secretly support both of your families, allowing you to flourish in Qingjiang."

“Li Zhi is a member of the Xu family, as everyone knows. But you two are different; your reputations are not prominent. From now on, the three of you will be in the open, while the Xu family will remain in the shadows, firmly controlling the Qingjiang officialdom for the sake of the Xu family.”

"When the time is right, the two of you can openly confront Li Zhi, which may draw out some petty people who want to target my Xu family."

"Master, is it really necessary to have more descendants?"

"Is it difficult?" Xu Mingwei asked doubtfully, "Could it be that you two have homosexual tendencies?"

The two waved their hands repeatedly and said decisively, "Of course not, we will obey the patriarch's orders."

Xu Mingwei said with a faint smile, "You two are the elites of my Xu family. My Xu family will definitely not treat you unfairly. Every once in a while, we will send people to deliver innate medicinal cuisine to help you cultivate innate martial arts."

"Thank you, Patriarch!" The two men clasped their hands in thanks, their faces slightly excited, clearly indicating that this matter held even greater appeal for them.

As for women.

Simply complete the task!

"Go tomorrow. Just treat yourself as a guest. If there are any obstacles, my Xu family will help you clear them away."

The next day.

Cheng Fei and Shen Guang left the Xu family and rode to the Qingjiang County Magistrate's Office, intending to compete for the positions of County Magistrate and County Commandant.

Although there were some problems—a mid-stage Xiantian martial artist from another county also came to run for the position of county magistrate.

He defeated Shen Guang.

However, the Xu family secretly intervened and killed him.

With only two candidates remaining out of the three, Shen Guang undoubtedly secured the position of county magistrate.

However, both of them only held official positions but did not hold official status.

The Xu family, like a spider web, firmly controlled the official and commercial circles of Qingjiang, and their influence gradually eroded the surrounding counties, all of which transitioned from merchants to officials.

Although the Zhao, Qian, Sun, Chen, and Bai families are developing well, they are still far from being able to seize official positions.

The primary condition is that one's own family must produce a martial artist with innate talent.

Of course, the Xu family was secretly cultivating him; it was only a matter of time.

As for the Xu family themselves, they kept a low profile, hiding in the countryside, living a life that seemed like a paradise.

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Tongshan County is located north of the Cangwu Mountains, which resemble a coiled green dragon, and south of the Yunmeng Marsh, which resembles a black tortoise lying on the waves.

There is a giant cliff in the county called Bronze Sparrow Cliff. It is entirely reddish-brown, and every time the sun rises in the east, it shines with a purple-copper glow. Legend has it that it was transformed from the essence of copper carried by an ancient divine phoenix.

It contains a rare red marrow copper vein, which is highly valued by the Great Wei Dynasty, hence a member of the royal family is stationed in Tongshan County.

Among all the cities of the Great Wei, this city ranks among the top three in terms of prosperity, far surpassing Yuehu County.

To the south of the county seat, thousands of acres of fertile fields are nourished by the Yunmeng River. The rice ears are as heavy as copper hammers, and there is a saying that "a load of copper rice can be exchanged for three bushels of pearls".

The swamp was rich in aquatic products, including spirit fish, which were divided among various powerful families.

The county is home to many prominent families, with martial arts families and cultivation families accounting for seven to three percent of the population. Therefore, cultivators can often be seen in Tongshan County, unlike in Yuehu County where they are much rarer.

There are even cultivation markets within the county seat.

now.

It is located a few miles outside the city of Tongshan County.

Two figures walked towards Tongshan County City. One was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, and the other was a young man in a green robe. They walked side by side.

They were Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian!

“Father, we have traveled to many cultivation markets over the past six months and have accumulated quite a few spirit stones. Although Tongshan County is prosperous, how can it compare to the imperial city?”

(End of this chapter)