Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 180 Xiao Changyuan Returns to Qingjiang (Bonus chapter at noon, please subscribe to support)
The Xiao family heard about the Xu family trading company from the words of a rogue cultivator.

Only after making inquiries did I learn some information about the Xu family.

Xiao Changyuan happened to have served as a celestial official in Qingjiang County, and thus knew some of the Xu family's history before their rise to power.

He is now at the late stage of the seventh level of Qi Refining and is also an elder in the Xiao family. He is present at most meetings, both large and small.

The Xiao family also craves high-grade pills and magical artifacts.

Longjiang County is much stronger than Yuehu County in terms of overall strength, and the mid-to-high-grade pills and mid-to-high-grade magic weapons appearing in the market are extremely rare.

Apart from the Liu family of Qingbo Lake, there are almost no other Qi cultivation families with such alchemists and weapon refiners.

Most of them can only refine mid-grade pills and magical artifacts.

The success rate of producing high-quality products is extremely low.

Therefore, the Xiao family sent Xiao Changyuan to Qingjiang to visit the Xu family's alchemists and weapon refiners to see if they could be recruited.

If that doesn't work, then try to trade some high-grade Qi Gathering Pills, Barrier Breaking Pills, and high-grade magic artifacts from the Xu family.

Entrance at the foot of the mountain.

Looking into the sky, where a semi-transparent light curtain appeared and disappeared, Xiao Changyuan couldn't help but sigh, "How come the Xu family has so many array formations and restrictions? Could it be that they have recruited or trained array masters?"

Compared to alchemists and weapon refiners, there are significantly fewer array masters and talisman makers.

Masters of array formations and talisman making are even rarer.

Upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao and Xu Derong, the guards on the mountain clasped their hands in greeting and said, "Young Master Xiaoyao, Miss Rong."

He then looked at Xiao Changyuan and asked again, "Who is this person?"

"Xiao Changyuan, I heard, was the first immortal official of our Qingjiang, and he also had a past relationship with my father. He came to visit my Xu family."

The two men exchanged a glance, stepped aside, and said, "Please."

If it weren't for Xiao Changyuan, the two of them probably would have let them pass immediately.

After all, this formation and restriction wouldn't stop them.

As Xiao Changyuan climbed the bluestone steps along the mountain path, he clearly felt that the spiritual energy on the mountain was in no way inferior to that of the county city and the surrounding area. Perhaps only the spiritual energy of the aristocratic family lands that occupied the spiritual energy nodes could surpass it.

Of course, Xiao Changyuan wouldn't ask him directly.

This clearly involves the Xu family's secrets, and if we ask, this trip will likely be fruitless.

The main hall of the Xu family.

"Please wait here a moment, Uncle Xiao. I have already sent someone to inform my father, and he should be here soon. We will go down now."

"Thank you for your trouble, my dear niece." Xiao Changyuan smiled slightly.

Discipline Hall.

Xu Mingyuan was surprised to hear that Xiao Changyuan had come to visit, and that he had come with Xu Derong and the others.

"Interesting. It hasn't been long, and the Xiao family has already come knocking on our door."

It seems that the reputation of my Xu Family Trading Company is gradually spreading.

After thinking it over, Xu Mingyuan left on his sword and headed to the Xu family mansion.

It really was Xiao Changyuan!

"Brother Xiao, it really is you! What wind has blown you back to my Qingjiang from Longjiang?" Xu Mingyuan said with a smile as he walked into the hall, clasping his hands in greeting.

Xiao Changyuan also stood up, smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, "Brother Mingyuan, it's been a long time."

"Brother Xiao, please have a seat."

After sitting down, Xiao Changyuan said, "I have also stayed in Qingjiang for many years, and now that I think of it, I have decided to revisit this place."

I never imagined the changes would be so drastic.

It's truly heartbreaking.

"Oh, Brother Xiao has already toured Qingjiang?"

"That's right, the changes are too great. It may take decades before it can catch up with the prosperity of the county town."

Furthermore, Xiao also unexpectedly encountered Brother Mingyuan's disciple and daughter in the county town.

"Is that so? My daughter is naughty; has she offended Brother Xiao?"

"Brother Mingyuan is really joking. If your daughter is considered naughty, then wouldn't all the younger generation of my Xiao family be arrogant and domineering?"

"Hahaha~"

The two looked at each other and both laughed heartily.

"Brother Xiao, what brings you to visit my Xu family?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Changyuan remained silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and praised, "Good tea."

Then, he said calmly, "Now the Xu family is renowned, and their name has spread to my Longjiang County. My Xiao family has also heard of them."

Upon first hearing this, Mr. Xiao truly couldn't believe it.

After all, it has only been a little over ten years since Xiao left Qingjiang, yet your Xu family has already become a family of cultivators.

But at this moment, I have no choice but to believe it.

Brother Mingyuan, I never imagined you would also embark on the path of cultivation.

"A stroke of luck," Xu Mingyuan said, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "Brother Xiao, you've come to my Xu family not just to reminisce and catch up, but also to trade for high-grade pills and magical artifacts, haven't you?"

"Brother Mingyuan is as insightful as ever. I had heard about this, so I came to see for myself."

"In that case, why don't you come to my Xu Family Trading Company, Brother Xiao? My Xu family will put any mid-to-high grade pills and magic artifacts that are available for sale in the trading company."

Xiao Changyuan smiled, "I cannot stay in Yuehu County for long. These two items are rare in the trading company. Whether I can get them depends on luck. Even if they appear, I will have to compete with a bunch of rogue cultivators."

"Therefore, I thought of trading directly from the source." After thinking for a moment, Xu Mingyuan said calmly, "That's not impossible."

However, if it's just a matter of trading a few mid-to-high-grade pills, then Brother Xiao, please go and take a look at the trading company.

"But if Brother Xiao, representing your Xiao family, wishes to reach a stable deal with my Xu family, then we can discuss it further."

After speaking, Xu Mingyuan sipped his tea and waited quietly for a reply.

People like Xiao Changyuan are quite shrewd. Dealing with this kind of person, going around in circles is useless. You have to be straightforward, make the good and bad clear, and let them make their own decision.

Xiao Changyuan remained silent for a moment, then pondered before saying, "If I represent the Xiao family, does your Xu family really have so many resources to trade?"

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you, Brother Xiao. My Xu family never forces anyone to do a deal."

Xiao Changyuan's eyes flickered. "If it's a transaction, how would it be conducted?"

"Top-grade pills are 20% more expensive than the market price, and top-grade magic weapons are 10% more expensive. They can be exchanged for any cultivation resources, including spirit rice, spirit stones, spirit herbs, spirit ores, demon beast materials, and even demon beasts, spirit insects, rare spells and secret techniques, foundation building techniques, and so on."

"So complicated?"

Xiao Changyuan was secretly alarmed. Usually, transactions between aristocratic families involved spirit stones, spirit ores, monster materials, and spirit herbs.

It is extremely rare for items such as spirit rice, spirit insects, spells, and secret arts to be traded.

However, this also shows that the Xu family is indeed a newly established family of cultivators, and they are quite eager for all kinds of cultivation resources.

"Why has the price of top-grade pills increased by 20%? If this were a transaction between families, it would be a large-scale business, and your Xu family should have lowered the price."

Xu Mingyuan had anticipated this, and said calmly, "The 20% includes foreseen risks."

"Trading with independent cultivators in the market carries almost no risk due to the small volume. However, trading with a powerful family like the Xiao family, while offering greater profits, also carries considerable risks."

Which powerful family doesn't have a few rivals or competitors? If this transaction leads to my Xu family facing suppression and persecution from your Xiao family's competitors, will the Xiao family bear all the losses for my Xu family?

He paused, then continued, "A transaction is a transaction. Whether it's a transaction between mortals or between cultivators, it's a transaction where money and goods are exchanged, and we take no responsibility for anything."

Therefore, my Xu family always needs to assess the risks.

Xiao Changyuan felt that it made sense, but he also felt that something was wrong.

However, this deal was initiated by the Xiao family, not the Xu family, so the initiative remained with the Xu family. Even if they didn't do business with the Xiao family, the Xu family wouldn't suffer any losses.

In the cultivation world, regardless of the prefecture or city, top-grade pills and magical artifacts are precious resources, and even in the imperial city, they are considered top-tier commodities.

Pills might be somewhat better, but it's almost impossible to achieve large-scale transactions for high-quality or top-tier magical artifacts.

One reason is the limitation of materials, and the other is the skill level of the refiner.

Otherwise, wouldn't the core disciples and elders of the first and second-rank aristocratic families in the imperial city all possess exquisite magical artifacts?

"I need to consider this matter carefully, or I may need to go back and discuss it with my family."

"That's natural. When it comes to dealing with powerful families, it's not something I alone can decide in the Xu family."

"Then I will not stay any longer."

With Xu Mingyuan speaking so frankly, Xiao Changyuan naturally couldn't bring up the matter of visiting the alchemy master and the weapon-making master again.

It is estimated that this will only be possible after the two companies have completed multiple transactions and their relationship has become closer.

Seven or eight days later.

Xiao Changyuan revisited Dongxi, bringing with him a list of transactions, and the quantity was quite substantial.

The main elixirs are the superior-grade Breakthrough Elixir and the superior-grade Qi Gathering Elixir, while the magical artifacts are two superior-grade magical artifacts.

Regarding high-grade magic artifacts, Xu Mingyuan consulted Wu Mingsheng. If the demon beast materials, spirit iron, and spirit ore provided by the Xiao family were profitable, then they would refine them directly.

After all, the Xu family doesn't have many high-grade magic artifacts, and they wouldn't give away the ones they have.

"Elder Mingyuan, I only have a 30% success rate in refining high-grade magic weapons. Each set of materials costs about several dozen spirit stones. If I succeed on the first try, the profit is considerable, but it is normal to fail three or four times."

Upon hearing this, Xu Mingyuan fell into a deep thought.

"It's not good to refuse outright, so how long will it take to refine just one high-grade magic weapon?"

"It can take as little as three to five days, or as long as half a month."

Xu Mingyuan nodded slightly, and then went to the hall to discuss with Xiao Changyuan.

They can either convert a high-grade magic weapon into a pill, or cancel the transaction of one of the high-grade magic weapons.

Xiao Changyuan pondered to himself: It seems that the Xu family also lacks high-grade magic weapons, or perhaps this weapon-refining master's skill in weapon crafting is limited.

Those who can forge high-grade magical artifacts are qualified to be called artifact forging masters.

The success rate of high-quality magical artifacts reflects their value.

Top-tier weapon refiners have a 60-70% success rate in refining high-grade magical artifacts, and a 20-30% chance of refining exquisite magical artifacts.

Xiao Changyuan had a plan in mind. After pondering for a while, he said, "Then let's convert it into three bottles of high-grade Qi-Nourishing Pills, two bottles of high-grade Yuan-Returning Pills, and the rest of high-grade Qi-Gathering Pills."

“Alright.” Xu Mingyuan smiled slightly, “However, there are quite a few pills, so it will take more than half a month.”

"Xiao also needs to go back and bring the resources."

The Xiao family would never entrust a large amount of resources to an elder who is only at the seventh level of Qi Refining. If something unexpected were to happen, the Xiao family would be devastated.

Xu Mingyuan nodded slightly.

He felt that next time the Xiao family sent people, it probably wouldn't just be Xiao Changyuan alone.

as predicted.

Half a month later.

The Xiao family sent two more people: one late-stage Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator and one peak Qi Refining Level 8 cultivator.

The Xu family had already prepared everything that needed to be handed over.

Although the first attempt to forge a high-grade magic weapon failed, the second success was still quite good.

Elixirs are no longer a problem.

With the combination of the cycle of decay, prosperity, birth, and death, Xu Chuan's alchemical skills became increasingly profound, and he was not far from reaching the eighth level of the Nine Flames Technique.

This time, only Xu Mingyuan from the Xu family showed up, but he also brought along Wu Zhen, a rogue cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining who recently joined the Xu family.

Currently staying in the Battle Hall.

The other two were skilled in some magical arts, so they naturally entered the Hall of Magical Arts.

The main hall of the Xu family.

"Brother Changyuan, how should we address these two?" Xu Mingyuan asked, looking at the two elderly men with gray hair and beards standing next to Xiao Changyuan.

"These two are both elders of my Xiao family. This is the second elder, and the other is the seventh elder."

After Xiao Changyuan introduced him, Xu Mingyuan said, "His name is Wu Zhen, and he is a rogue cultivator recruited by my Xu family."

He then smiled faintly and said with a flick of his wide sleeve, "Fellow Daoists, please have a seat."

The second elder of the Xiao family went straight to the point: "Fellow Daoist Xu, how are the pills and magical artifacts that my Xiao family requested prepared?"

"The Second Elder is a man of few words."

Xu Mingyuan swept his sleeve across the table, and a row of neatly arranged porcelain vases appeared on the table, each with a label.

Then, with a casual wave of his hand, these bottles of pills fell onto the coffee tables beside each person.

Xu Mingyuan wasn't in a hurry. He sipped his fragrant tea and let them examine the items at their own pace.

This is the Xu family's territory. If they want to cause trouble, three mere late-stage Qi Refining cultivators won't be able to escape the Xu family.

Wu Zhen had no idea what they were going to trade, but at that moment Xiao Changyuan and the others opened the bottle to check, and a rich fragrance of elixirs immediately filled the entire hall.

"They are all top-grade pills, including many Qi Gathering Pills, as well as Barrier Breaking Pills, Qi Condensation Pills, and Yuan Restoration Pills. The quantity is quite considerable."

"Joining the Xu family was definitely the right decision. Even the Zhou family couldn't possibly produce so many high-grade pills."

Russian qing.

The three members of the Xiao family exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

The second elder of the Xiao family stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Indeed, they are all top-grade pills. It is quite unexpected that the Xu family, a newly established Qi Refining family, could produce so many top-grade pills in one go."

"Even the surrounding counties wouldn't be able to provide something like this, not every Foundation Establishment family can."

"With the Second Elder's praise, the sincerity of the Xu family has been demonstrated. Now it's the Xiao family's turn."

After a moment's hesitation, the second elder of the Xiao family took out a storage bag and tossed it to Xu Mingyuan.

Xu Mingyuan swept his divine sense across the area, and his expression immediately darkened.

"Second Elder, this is only half of the agreed-upon resources. This is no joke. If you have any, bring them out immediately, as it concerns whether you can all leave the Xu family today."

An unusual atmosphere permeated the entire main hall.

"Brother Mingyuan, don't worry. For safety, the other half is with me. I forgot to give it to the Second Elder because I rushed here."

Upon hearing this, Xu Mingyuan immediately smiled and said, "I see. I was too eager."

Xiao Changyuan also took out a storage bag and handed it to Xu Mingyuan.

A sweep of divine thought.

In front of the three members of the Xiao family, Xu Mingyuan transferred all the resources into his storage bag, then returned them, and said with a faint smile, "My Xu family runs a small business, operates with integrity, and will never take a penny more than our customers' share."

The second and seventh elders of the Xiao family both looked somewhat displeased.

But he didn't say much more.

Xu Mingyuan said, "I've heard that the Xiao family is a prominent clan in Longjiang County, ranking among the top even among fifth-rank families. They also have stable allies, such as the Gu family, right?"

I wonder when the nobleman Xiao Yan and Miss Gu Xuanxuan from the Gu family will hold their wedding.

My family, the Xu family, will be willing to present a generous gift at that time.

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(End of this chapter)