Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 161 [Moonlit Coldness and Luminous Shade] Candidate, *Taiyin Moonlit Essence Technique*

Bihan Pool.

Xu Chuan Bamboo House.

"Grandpa, you were looking for me?"

Xu Deling sat cross-legged on the futon opposite Xu Chuan.

"Early stage of Qi Refining Level 7." Xu Chuan smiled faintly and praised, "Very good, you have not disappointed your grandfather's expectations."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Xu Deling is now sixteen years old, and her body is gradually growing.

His eyebrows and eyes were like frost-quenched blades, his pupils were deep black like lacquer, the corners of his eyes were slightly upturned with a hint of sharpness, his nose was like a hanging gall bladder, and his lips were thin and pale. Even without rouge, he exuded an air of majesty.

She wore a crimson gauze robe with narrow sleeves, embroidered with gold thread depicting intertwined branches, and her black hair was tied up in a high ponytail, bound with crimson silk.

A dark gold, low-grade storage bag hangs from his waist.

Her attire is similar to that of her aunt, Xu Mingshu.

This is understandable, as she spent most of her childhood with Xu Mingshu and was naturally influenced by her.

However, his features are sharp and piercing, like the edge of a knife, making him resemble Xu Mingwei even more.

Her overall facial features resemble Yang Ronghua's, possessing an unparalleled beauty.

Unparalleled in beauty and talent!
"Did you call me here to find a spouse for yourself?" Xu Deling suddenly asked.

"Why would you think that?" Xu Chuan smiled.

"Jingjie was also getting engaged around this time."

"So, what do you want to do?" Xu Chuan asked, going along with his question.

Seeing her silence, Xu Chuan immediately understood that this girl probably had someone she liked.

Xu Deling had very little contact with men outside his family, except for Wu Mingsheng's few apprentices.
He's getting old.

Ling'er doesn't lack fatherly love, so there's no need for her to find a man so much older than herself.

Could it be Wu Shunan?

He was only one year older than Xu Deling, and he was also very handsome and talented, but unfortunately he lacked the aptitude for cultivating immortality.

"Is it that brat Wu Shunan?" Xu Chuan feigned anger, "How dare he provoke the pearl of my Xu family! He's really bold! I'll have Elder Mingsheng break his legs right now!"

"Grandpa, no!" Xu Deling's expression changed, and she blurted out.

But seeing that Xu Chuan's face showed no real anger, she knew she had fallen for his trick and said with her ears turning slightly red, "Grandpa, you're so mean."

"Girls really are hard to keep at home once they grow up."

"Do you really like that grandson of Elder Mingsheng?"

Xu Deling seemed to have made up her mind. Her face was resolute as she nodded and said, "Yes, Grandfather."

Xu Chuan sighed, "You really caught Grandpa off guard."

"With your talent and importance to the Xu family, your future is entirely up to you, just like your aunt, who had the freedom to choose her own marriage partner. I never imagined that you would let a wolf into the house."

"Wu Shun'an is indeed a decent young man, and it's normal for you, a young lady, to be experiencing your first stirrings of love."

"Can my husband marry freely?"

“Otherwise?” Xu Chuan said, “If a talented person like you in our Xu clan is not valued, who else will?”

Even a prominent family may have its biases. My Xu family prides itself on being more enlightened than many other prominent families in the county, but it is impossible for all of our family members to act according to their own whims.

This will only lead to the destruction of the family.

Xu Deling nodded slightly upon hearing this. The scions of aristocratic families naturally possess arrogance due to their birth, and if they are not disciplined, corruption is inevitable.

“Grandpa, our Xu family is already ten or a hundred times better than other aristocratic families, all thanks to you.”

"Stop flattering me! You think you can get Grandpa to give in? That's not enough!"

"Grandpa, didn't you say you'd let Ling'er make her own choice?"

"That's right, but there's only one condition: you can only take a son-in-law, and you can't marry outside the family. If you can persuade Wu Shunan and even Elder Mingsheng, I will support you."

If not, your father will not agree either.

“Elder Ke Mingsheng only has one grandson, Brother Shun’an. Wouldn’t this sever the Wu family’s lineage?” Xu Deling’s expression changed slightly.

"Ling'er, when our aristocratic families develop, our primary concern is ourselves. Only when we do not harm our own interests can we consider others." Xu Chuan said calmly, "If you don't understand this point, then you have truly failed your father and aunt's teachings over the years."

Xu Deling immediately realized that she had said the wrong thing, and bowed her head and said, "I'm sorry, Grandfather, I was not thinking things through."

As the person with the strongest cultivation talent in the Xu family, how could the Xu family allow her to marry outside the family?

This would be impossible for any other prominent family.

Seeing her expression, Xu Chuan sighed and said, "Fine, if you can persuade the two of them yourself, I can persuade your father to allow one of your and Wu Shunan's children to be adopted to inherit the Wu family."

However, I still advise you to wait until your relationship with Wu Shunan is completely stable before bringing it up. Getting him to marry into your family isn't that easy.

Xu Deling immediately smiled and looked up at Xu Chuan, "Thank you, Grandfather, I understand."

"From now on, I will always put the Xu family first. If I really cannot be with Brother Shun'an, I will not engage in childish entanglements."

"Good, this is the attitude that the children of the Xu family should have!"

Xu Chuan nodded slightly. "I called you here today for another matter. Please recite this prayer once."

Xu Deling immediately did as instructed.

Xu Chuan then added the "Refined Through a Thousand Hammers" buff to it.

"How are you doing with your weapon crafting now? Are you encountering any difficulties?"

Is it just to recite it once?
Xu Deling was somewhat taken aback, thinking that Xu Chuan had some important instructions.

However, she also replied, "I have already achieved a success rate of nearly 40% to 50% in making offensive and defensive magical artifacts. I am currently learning from my master how to craft low-grade magical artifacts such as robes."

As for other matters, Elder Ming Sheng did not know much either.

Ling'er plans to learn how to craft magic robes first, and then learn how to craft mid-grade magic artifacts.

"No rush." ​​Xu Chuan shook his head slightly and said, "The more solid the foundation, the further you can go in the future."

"The Xu family can still afford the materials for low-grade magic artifacts, and the clan no longer needs too many mid- to high-grade magic artifacts. Therefore, what you need to do is calm down and lay a solid foundation in the art of artifacts."

"The Daoist Library is not yet fully completed, but you can go to your father and say it is my order to have him make a copy of all the Daoist artifacts collected by my Xu family for you."

You should study it carefully.

"Wouldn't that take a very long time?" Xu Deling asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Don't worry, the Xu family should be relatively stable for the next ten years or so. You can focus on your research. As for cultivation, I will provide you with high-grade Qi Gathering Pills first, so your cultivation speed will not be slowed down."

Xu Deling pondered for a moment, then stopped refusing and cupped his hands, saying, "Ling'er will follow your advice, Grandfather."

"That's enough for now. Go find your father."

"Yes, Grandpa."

As Xu Deling left the bamboo house, she was unaware that from that moment on, she possessed a weapon-refining talent that many weapon refiners could only dream of.

Later, he realized that he had been accumulating knowledge and experience before finally unleashing his potential. It wasn't until he was refining mid-grade and high-grade magic artifacts that he was surprised to discover his extraordinary nature.

When Xu Deling came to ask for the weapon-refining manual, Xu Mingwei naturally wouldn't refuse, even without Xu Chuan's instructions.

Before you know it, it's May 10th.

Xu Dejing and Wu Tao got married.

The Wu family also had a joyous occasion these past few days. Although it wasn't as grand as the Shen family's daughter marrying Xu Dezhao, Xu Dejing was also the eldest daughter of the Xu family, so the mere prospect of marrying into the family was naturally disregarded by them.

In any case, the Wu family doesn't need Wu Tao to inherit the family business.

In the past ten years or so, even one or two nephews have been born, and two more younger brothers and sisters have been added, so the family has flourished.

Xu Mingyuan, as the father-in-law, naturally couldn't treat the Wu family unfairly, so he selected two promising young men to join the Xu family's training program.

After August.

Xu Mingxian and Zhou Zongni had a daughter named Xu Deyue.

The character 玥 (yuè) is the same as 月 (yuè), implying the bright moon and the serene beauty of the Guanghan Palace.

[Xu Deyue: Three Generations of the Xu Family]

Age: 1

[Spiritual Root: Possessing all five elements, a pseudo-spiritual root]

[Talent: None]

[Bloodline: Ninth-grade bloodline, pseudo-Kan water bloodline]

[Realm: None]

"Kan Water bloodline. As expected, families with long-standing traditions will more or less have special bloodlines. Kan Water belongs to Yin, which is suitable for the [Moon Cold Yin] talent."

Xu Chuan pondered for a moment and temporarily listed Xu Deyue as the top candidate for this destiny's talent.

"It just so happens that the Su family's Daoist canon also contains a foundation-building technique called the Taiyin Moon Flower Technique, which includes Qi cultivation. It is a top-tier Yin-cold attribute technique."

Judging from its name, it should be a kind of ancient cultivation technique. He guessed that it was a technique that the Su family discovered in an ancient cultivation cave.

Having obtained the Su family's Daoist treasures, the Xu family's foundation has been greatly enhanced.

If they relied solely on their own collection, it would probably take at least several decades or even a hundred years to accumulate the same level of wealth as the Su family.

Other Qi Refining families only knew that the Xu family had obtained 30% of the Su family's resources, but they did not know that the Xu family had made copies of all of the Su family's Daoist scriptures.

This is even more precious than 30% of the original foundation.

After all, the Daoist canon can be passed down through generations, while resources, if you just sit around and do nothing, can only last for twenty or thirty years at most.

With the Su family's Taoist scriptures, the number of magic skills that the Xu family members can learn is greatly increased.

In the past two years, Xu Chuan has mastered several high-grade spells, and has also been involved in the middle and low-grade Five Elements categories.

With the help of the principle of "Heaven rewards diligence" and a powerful divine sense, even high-grade spells are no challenge for him, and he can master a spell in one or two months at most.

The others chose to learn the spells that best suited them.

Xu Deyue's full moon celebration.

The Xu family also invited the Zhou family, who were related by marriage.

However, only a dozen or so members of the Zhou family came, including Zhou Zongni's parents, her older brother and sister, and Zhou Sen.

After Zhou Sen arrived, he stayed at the Xu family's house for half a month before returning to the Zhou family's house.

During this time, he sought guidance from Xu Chuan on alchemy.

Given Zhou Sen's obsession with alchemy, it is still possible for him to consistently refine second-tier pills.

After all, it's impossible for the Xu family to control all of their ancestor's cultivation resources in the future; that's not what the Zhou family wants.

Xu Chuan was also aware of this.

Moreover, the resources he traded with the Zhou family were probably insufficient to meet the needs of Zhou Qingfang, the patriarch of the Zhou family.

Accumulating magical power is secondary. For Zhou Qingfang, the faster he reaches the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, the sooner he can seek ways to break through the bottleneck.

According to his own cultivation, it would have taken him more than thirty years to reach the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

If you cannot break through the bottleneck, then your achievements will stop there.

With the True Essence Pill provided by Xu Chuan, the time required to accumulate magical power can be shortened to less than twenty years.

After all, it would take the Zhou family quite a bit of time to collect the ingredients for the pill formula.

Of course, Xu Chuan only asked them to collect materials; he would not tell the Zhou family the real formula, as they wanted to deduce the real formula based solely on the materials.

It’s as difficult as climbing to the sky!

One reason for this is that the materials are precious, making it impossible to experiment with them on a large scale.

"Thank you for your guidance these past few days, Fellow Daoist Xu. I have benefited greatly," Zhou Sen said, clasping his hands in greeting. "Elder Zhou Sen, you are too kind," Xu Chuan said with a faint smile, then suddenly changed his tone, "But this is not what the Zhou family wants, is it?"

"How about we make another deal?"

Zhou Sen frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"What kind of transaction is it?" Zhou Sen asked.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Elder Zhou Sen, why ask a question you already know the answer to? I know that your Zhou family will definitely have some complaints about my control over your Zhou family ancestor's cultivation."

Any powerful family would be unhappy about this in the long run.

It was only because of his limited knowledge of alchemy that he had to do it.

"In addition, Elder Zhou Sen should be deducing the formula for the True Essence Pill, right?"

Seeing that Xu Chuan had made his point clear, Zhou Sen stroked his beard and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Xu has keen insight and meticulous attention to detail. I admire you greatly!"

"Indeed, at the request of my ancestor, I deduced the pill formulas based on the materials you asked my Zhou family to collect, and then tried to refine the pills, but none of them were successful."

Without knowing the proportions of each ingredient, it would probably take a massive amount of True Essence Pill materials for me to research and develop the correct formula.

Unfortunately, this is nothing but a pipe dream for the Zhou family.

Xu Chuan said calmly, "The formula for the True Essence Pill is indeed precious. I'm afraid only noble families of the third rank or above in the Imperial City have it in their collection, and not every family has an alchemist who can refine the True Essence Pill."

Zhou Sen remained silent, listening quietly.

"The Pill Hall is backed by the royal family of the Great Wei Dynasty, so it naturally has all kinds of common pill formulas."

"But Fellow Daoist Xu, you must have made a vow of Dao heart when you learned this kind of pill formula, right? Are you willing to break your vow and pass it on to me?"

“That is impossible.” Xu Chuan smiled and then said, “However, I have unexpectedly discovered a pill formula similar to the True Essence Pill, which has six or seven tenths the effect of the True Essence Pill, but the ingredients in each of its pill formulas are only one-third of those in the True Essence Pill.”

Elder Zhou Sen should know what this means.

Xu Chuan had already planned this step when he made the deal with the Zhou family.

After all, everyone has the desire to have more than they have.

The Zhou family patriarch lacks elixirs for advancing his foundation and enhancing his magical power, so he will surely agree to the deal with the Xu family.

However, as time goes by, one's desires become insatiable, and the thought that one's spiritual practice is not progressing fast enough may arise.

Controlling the cultivation resources of the Zhou family patriarch was only Xu Chuan's first step; his real target was this Foundation Establishment expert.

"What does Fellow Daoist Xu desire?"

Zhou Sen's expression was solemn. What Xu Chuan offered was so tempting that it made him think twice.

"A promise from your Zhou family ancestor, and a portion of the Zhou family's Taoist scriptures."

"What promise is it? Which Taoist scriptures are involved?"

"I demand that the Zhou family patriarch, during his lifetime, not take action against the Xu family unless the Xu family actively attacks the Zhou family, and I promise to protect the Xu family."

"Besides the Taoist scriptures passed down in your Zhou family clan, my Xu family can select some that we need."

"After all, my Xu family is just starting out, and our accumulation in this area is quite weak. Even if we have the Su family's Daoist scriptures, the more the better. We may not need them most of the time, but they may come in handy in decades or hundreds of years."

Zhou Sen fell silent again upon hearing this.

Although the patriarch once said that the Xu family should be treated with courtesy unless there is a life-or-death feud, things are unpredictable and changes may occur in one or two decades.

Now, the Xu family wants the ancestor's promise and oath. Once made, the ancestor cannot break it unless he abandons his own path to enlightenment.

As for the Daoist Canon.

The Xu family, having obtained the Su family's centuries-old Daoist scriptures, also desired the Zhou family's Daoist scriptures.

This shows that he has a far-sighted vision and has already set his sights on the future.

The Daoist canon is a kind of foundation and inheritance. Although not everything in it is useful, as Xu Chuan said, it may come in handy at any time.

For example, the way of artifacts, the way of talismans, or special cultivation techniques.

Once a genius emerges in the clan, it could potentially allow the Zhou family to have another lineage.

Like him, he has made great achievements in alchemy. In addition to studying his own alchemy, he has been working hard to cultivate the Zhou family's own alchemists so that the tradition can be passed down from generation to generation.

In the future, the Zhou family may even be known as a family of alchemists.

Xu Chuan had the same plan in mind when he mentored Zhang Wanqing.

"This matter is of great importance, and I cannot make a decision on it. However, I will convey your thoughts to the Ancestor."

After a pause, Zhou Sen continued, "As for myself, I hope that my Zhou family and your Xu family can benefit each other and move forward together."

"I feel the same way," Xu Chuan said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

After saying this, Zhou Sen took to the air and arrived at the boundary marker of Dongxi. Led by the patrol team, he emerged from the fog formation.

Then, he flew on his sword, transforming into a streak of dark green light, and headed towards the distant sky.

Xu Chuan dared to propose this deal because he had figured out the Zhou family's current attitude towards the Xu family.

The Xu family was wary of the Zhou family, and the Zhou family seemed to feel the same way, treating them with great courtesy in every way, as if they were deliberately trying to befriend and invest in them.

This is what a smart person would do.

Everywhere is rife with plunder and slaughter; growth is ultimately limited.

If you covet someone's opportunity today, forcibly seize it, or even exterminate their entire clan, you will surely be besieged by the masses when you are weak in the future.

The Su family is a blatant example.

Even if Yuehu County City was glorious for one or two hundred years, so what?

In the end, they were still wiped out, and it's unknown whether their bloodline survived.

Everyone has their own scale in their heart, whether they are ordinary people or cultivators.

If the family is on good terms with you and has done you a favor, even if a conflict arises, they are unlikely to be so ruthless as to exterminate all their bloodlines.

Because life is unpredictable, they also hope that no one will treat them this way in the future.

Although cultivating immortality is a struggle against fate and against human destiny, a path that defies the heavens, it also leaves room for maneuver.

"There is a 60-70% chance. If it succeeds, the Xu family will have no worries in Yuehu County for the next hundred years and can gradually turn their attention to areas outside Yuehu County."

Only with stability in the rear can the Xu family's development proceed smoothly.

Xu Chuan's sights were set on all the prefectures of the Great Wei.

------------

Moon Lake County.

Zhou family.

As soon as Zhou Sen returned, he went to find Zhou Shaoyuan. Zhou Shaoyuan smiled and said, "Elder Zhou Sen, did you gain anything from your trip to the Xu family?"

"Of course it is. Fellow Daoist Xu's alchemy is profound. Five or six years ago, I could only catch a glimpse of his skill, but now he gives me a feeling of unfathomable depth."

"The more profound his alchemy skills are, the more beneficial they are to my Zhou family. It's just a pity that he is not an alchemist of my Zhou family. If my Zhou family had someone like him, my Zhou family would have a chance to rise to the third rank, or even the second rank."

Zhou Sen nodded slightly. "Patriarch, come with me to find the Ancestor. I have important matters to discuss."

"Is it important?"

"It concerns the future of both the Xu and Zhou families, and also the overall situation of Yuehu County."

Seeing Zhou Sen's solemn expression, Zhou Shaoyuan pondered for a moment. He believed that Elder Zhou Sen would not say such things without reason.

After a short while, he raised his head and said seriously, "Alright, I will go with you."

The Zhou family patriarch went into seclusion in his quiet room.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhou Qingfang awoke from his meditation, looked towards the door of the quiet room, pondered for a moment, and then flicked his sleeve, sending out a beam of light that disappeared into the protective light barrier of the quiet room.

A moment later, the barrier light disappeared, and the gate slowly opened.

After Zhou Sen and Zhou Shaoyuan entered, the gate closed again, and the barrier light curtain reopened.

"Ancestor."

Both Zhou Shaoyuan and Zhou Sen bowed to Zhou Qingfang.

"No need to be polite, just sit down."

Two prayer cushions appeared out of thin air on the ground. Without hesitation, the two men clasped their hands in thanks and then sat down cross-legged.

"What business do you have with this old ancestor?"

Zhou Qingfang looked at Zhou Shaoyuan, who had assumed that the head of the family wanted to see him.

However, Zhou Shaoyuan turned his gaze to Zhou Sen.

Zhou Qingfang looked at Zhou Sen in surprise, "Is there something you need?"

After a short while, Zhou Sen sighed and said, "Xu Chuan has proposed another deal."

"Another deal?" Zhou Shaoyuan's expression was grave, his brows furrowed, as if he were dissatisfied. "Is there some unreasonable demand?"

"No," Zhou Sen said.

"What does he have in mind about my Zhou family?" Zhou Qingfang asked thoughtfully.

"Huh? How dare Xu Chuan be so presumptuous? Is he insatiable?!" Zhou Shaoyuan immediately retorted angrily, "It hasn't been long, and he's already making excessive demands!"

"Shaoyuan, don't be impatient, wait for Zhou Sen to finish speaking."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shaoyuan realized he had acted impulsively and immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said to Zhou Qingfang, "Please forgive me, Ancestor. I was rude."

Then he shut up and said nothing.

Zhou Sen took a deep breath, then raised his head and stared directly at Zhou Qingfang, saying, "He has taken a fancy to you, Ancestor, and also to my Zhou family's Daoist scriptures."

Zhou Qingfang's pupils contracted, revealing a look of doubt. He pondered and said, "This kind of behavior doesn't seem like his usual style."

He paused, then asked again, "What makes Xu Chuan dare to make such a request?"

“As you know, Ancestor, Xu Chuan’s True Essence Pill formula comes from the Pill Hall and cannot be passed on to others privately. However, he has a similar pill formula, which is only 60-70% effective, but only requires one-third of the materials of the True Essence Pill formula.”

"Although I have never seen it before, I imagine that it is easier to refine than the True Essence Pill, which is very suitable for the current situation of our Zhou family."

If this is agreed to, my Zhou family can have Xu Chuan teach me this pill formula, and even quickly teach me how to refine it. In the future, I can also serve my ancestor's cultivation without being constantly controlled by the Xu family.”

Zhou Shaoyuan's eyes lit up.

Zhou Qingfang is the Zhou family's protective umbrella; the bigger this umbrella, the further the Zhou family can go.

"The Xu family actually possesses such a pill formula! Ancestor, we..."

Zhou Qingfang stopped Zhou Shaoyuan from continuing and instead said to Zhou Sen, "Tell me specifically what he wants."

"He wants the ancestor to protect the Xu family for as long as he lives, and that the Zhou family must not take action against the Xu family unless the Xu family actively attacks the Zhou family."

As for the Daoist canon, aside from what is passed down within my Zhou family clan, I offer it to them to choose one or two pieces from all of it.”

Upon hearing this condition, both Zhou Shaoyuan and Zhou Qingfang fell into deep thought.

It wasn't just about considering how agreeing to these conditions would help the Zhou family, but also about the benefits the Xu family would receive, and even more so about the potential impact on the Xu family's gains and losses if the Zhou family were to use this pill formula.

In the quiet room, a full incense stick's time passed.

Zhou Shaoyuan's expression changed constantly, while Zhou Qingfang's brows furrowed slightly at times and relaxed at others.

"Zhou Sen, what do you mean?" Zhou Qingfang suddenly asked.

"Judging from Xu Chuan's actions, he intends to temporarily tie himself to my Zhou family. He probably wants to develop the Xu family without any scruples."

Zhou Sen said, "The Xu family has two exceptionally talented individuals, Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian, and Xu Chuan himself is not to be underestimated. If our Zhou family excludes our ancestor, we will only have the advantage of numbers and be able to gain the upper hand, but we cannot form an overwhelming force."

Once the patriarch's invisible pressure was gone, the Xu family had no more worries in Yuehu County.

"Of course, with this pill formula, my Zhou family might be able to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage within twenty or thirty years. And the stronger my ancestor is, the more beneficial it will be to the Zhou family's growth."

"Xu Chuan must have considered many factors before proposing this mutually beneficial deal."

(End of this chapter)