Building a long-lasting family lineage starting with genealogy

Chapter 57 Conscription (Two chapters combined, please continue reading)
After a stick of incense.

The water level gradually decreased until not a single drop of rain fell, and the dark clouds vanished in an instant.

Seeing the spell being cast, Xu Chuan felt it was about what he had imagined. "It seems we'll have to do it again to fill this pond."

Xiao Changyuan patted the storage bag at his waist, and a light blue talisman flew out and floated in front of him. He formed a sword finger and channeled his magic power, then pointed it from a distance.

In an instant, the pale blue talisman flew to the top of the pond with a "whoosh".

After the pale blue light burst forth, dark clouds and rain reappeared.

“This rain-making spell is more suitable for cultivation than for replenishing water sources.” Xu Chuan immediately recognized the spell’s main purpose.

Replenishing the water source would be a waste of its potential.

As long as the amount and range of rainfall are controlled, the rainfall needs of a local vegetable, fruit and forest plantation can be easily met.

After replenishing the water source of this pond, Xiao Changyuan prepared to move on to the next location.

Xu Chuan remained by his side.

"By the way, Immortal Official Xiao, how do you cultivators detect whether someone has the aptitude for cultivation?"

Xiao Changyuan turned to look at him in surprise, then smiled and said, "Those with great supernatural powers can discover whether someone has the aptitude for cultivation with a single sweep of their divine sense. We can also find clues by closely examining their entire body with our magical power."

"But this can only roughly confirm its qualifications. As for the specific qualifications, a special crystal testing is needed."

"Patriarch Xu, soon the Immortal Cultivation Bureau will be established in Qingjiang County, which will be responsible for testing whether the people of Qingjiang County have the aptitude for cultivating immortality. Although it will not be free, it will certainly not be a big deal for your Xu family. You can send one of your clan members to go there."

"What if my Xu family wants to possess such a testing crystal? Does Immortal Official Xiao have a way?" Xu Chuan said calmly.

Xiao Changyuan instantly understood and said in surprise, "So that's how it is. The Xu family head's spirit is truly remarkable, unlike that of an ordinary small family in the county town."

"Although this matter is somewhat difficult, it is not without a solution."

His eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "I brought three testing crystals with me to Qingjiang County this time. You can share one of them, and we can check if one of them has become invalid after more than ten years."

"But doing so would pose a considerable risk to Mr. Xiao."

Xu Chuan remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"How about this, if the Xu family is willing to offer 100,000 taels, I will transfer one of the testing stones to you."

Cultivators need even more resources than martial artists. The Xiao family didn't provide many resources for him to become a celestial official, so he basically had to accumulate them through his own methods.

Simply put, they were left to their own devices.

One hundred thousand taels of silver is not a small sum for a mere cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining.

The testing fees wouldn't all end up in his pocket, and even if he raised the fees, he couldn't raise them by much.

If the number is too high, fewer people will be tested.

And when there are more colleagues later, a portion of the profits will have to be shared.

"One hundred thousand taels."

Xu Chuan remained silent, his face showing difficulty.

The Xu family just spent 100,000 taels of silver to acquire a large amount of farmland and forests, and hired thousands of people to dig lakes, incurring considerable expenses.

The drought is not completely over yet, and although the reopened shops are making a profit, it is nowhere near what it was during the peak of their prosperity.

Many thoughts flashed through my mind.

He made the decision almost instantly, and his silence was meant to give Xiao Changyuan a false impression.

The severe drought in various counties has caused significant damage, even to prominent families.

Having witnessed the Xu family's massive project and now being offered such a large sum, Xiao Changyuan believed that the Xu family could not easily come up with the money.

Even if it were given, it would surely be excruciatingly painful.

After a while.

Xu Chuan gritted his teeth and said with difficulty, "If Young Master Xiao has it on him right now, then I will immediately go and get 100,000 taels to trade with you."

"Haha, what a coincidence, I really did have it with me."

He patted the gray pouch at his waist, and a fist-sized crystal appeared in his palm.

"This is the testing crystal. Just place your hand on it for a few breaths and you will get the result."

"May I give it a try?"

"nature."

"Fugui, come here."

Xu Chuan had Sun Fugui test it, but there was no reaction.

Xiao Changyuan explained, "Only those with the aptitude for cultivating immortality will have the crystal react."

As he spoke, he placed his hand on it, and the crystal emitted a faint white light.

"The test crystal will emit five kinds of light: gray, white, blue, red and purple, representing the five aptitudes of cultivators. Gray represents pseudo-spiritual root, which is barely enough to cultivate, but unless there are massive resources, there is no hope of stepping into the late stage of Qi Refining, and it is even difficult to reach the middle stage."

"Bai Guang has mixed spiritual roots and can cultivate to the late stage of Qi Refining, but has no hope of Foundation Establishment."

"The blue light indicates that one possesses true spiritual roots and has the potential to establish a foundation, but whether one can succeed depends on fate."

"As for Chi Guang, with his earth spirit root aptitude, he has a good chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage on his own, and even a slight chance of reaching the Golden Core stage."

"Purple light is a celestial spiritual root, which can enter the Foundation Establishment stage without any bottlenecks, with a 20-30% chance of forming the Core, and even the potential to reach a higher realm."

"Thank you for your clarification, Young Master Xiao." Xu Chuan cupped his hands in greeting and then asked, "Are there any examples of martial arts practitioners transitioning to immortality?"

Xiao Changyuan was silent for a while, then sighed and said, "Of course there is."

"But I don't recommend it because it's too inefficient."

"Let me put it this way: some top families have techniques that can convert innate true qi into magical power, but even if a grandmaster has completed the conversion of all his true qi, he can only convert it into magical power at the fourth level of Qi Refining."

"The basic condition for transformation is to reach the Innate Perfection, only then is it possible to become a minor cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining."

"Of course, all of this is based on one premise: having all five elements and possessing the aptitude for cultivation."

Xiao Changyuan paused, then looked at Xu Chuan with a light smile, "Patriarch Xu, just imagine, a martial arts genius who starts practicing martial arts at the age of six, even if he reaches the peak of the Innate Realm at the age of thirty, after transformation he will only be a minor cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining."

"And a true spiritual root cultivation genius, if he starts cultivating at the same age, would probably be in the late stage of Qi Refining by the time he is thirty."

"The difference between them is enormous!"

"Like martial artists, cultivators also experience an impact on their cultivation speed as they age, although the impact is not as significant as that on martial artists."

"In a direct confrontation, a Grandmaster at the peak of his cultivation is roughly equivalent to the ninth level of Qi Refining, while a Master at the peak of his innate cultivation is comparable to the fifth level of Qi Refining."

"Even a martial artist at the early stage of the Innate Realm is comparable to a Qi Refining Level 2 warrior."

"So, which grandmaster do you think would be willing to abandon their cultivation and become a mere Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator?"

"Listening to Young Master Xiao's words today has truly broadened my horizons. Please wait a moment, Young Master Xiao, I will go and fetch the silver right away."

Both parties were very satisfied with the transaction.

After finishing his business in Dongxi Village, Xiao Changyuan stayed at the Xu family's house for one night before heading to other villages the next day.

Xu Chuan naturally welcomed them and treated them to delicious food and drinks.

"The Xu family is really quite impressive."

“He is strict with his subordinates, and the members of his clan are also strict with themselves. In a few decades or even a hundred years, they may be able to move to the county town to develop.”

Once Xiao Changyuan becomes this celestial official, he will need to stay in Qingjiang County for a long time until his cultivation reaches at least the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Being alone far from home, the help the Xiao family could offer him was truly limited.

Therefore, he became even more determined to befriend the Xu family.

The next day.

Xu Chuan saw Xiao Changyuan off.

Upon returning to the hall, Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and the rest of the group were already there.

"Is something wrong?"

Xu Chuan looked at them.

Xu Mingshu stepped forward and said with a smile, "Father, I heard that you bought a crystal to test your aptitude for cultivating immortality. Xueji wants to test it out."

Xu Chuan glanced at the others.

Apart from Xu Mingwei, they were all very curious about whether they had the aptitude for cultivating immortality.

"You guys don't need to think about this anymore. We'll talk about it after you reach the Innate Realm. Focus on cultivating your martial arts and don't be greedy!"

"Why?"

"Isn't it just a test?"

Xu Mingyuan and the others all looked disappointed.

Xu Chuan did not answer, but looked at Xu Mingwei and handed him the box containing the testing crystals. "In a few days, arrange for someone to check if anyone in our Xu family has the aptitude for cultivation, apart from those few people."

"If so, his family can become a vassal family, enjoying the same status as the Chen and Bai families, while he himself can receive special training from the Xu family."

"Yes, Dad."

Then, Xu Chuan left the hall with his hands behind his back.

Xu Mingyuan and the others all crowded around Xu Mingwei, bombarding him with questions.

Xu Mingwei was under immense pressure, but dared not reveal it. He could only sternly warn, "This matter concerns the core secrets of the Xu family. Only those who have reached the Innate Realm can know it." "If you want to know, focus on martial arts. Whoever reaches the Innate Realm, I will tell him the secrets of the Xu family."

"The Xu family's secret."

This immediately piqued everyone's curiosity.

"Then I'm at a huge disadvantage."

Xu Mingyuan scratched his head, somewhat annoyed.

He doesn't have Xu Mingwei's talent, and he's busy with the development of his family, so it's hard to say whether he can reach the Innate level.

"Second Brother, I'm going to practice my martial arts." Xu Mingxuan said with a smile.

"Xiaobai, let's go."

Xu Mingshu leaped onto the back of the white tiger and left the hall.

Xu Mingxian also disappeared without a trace.

"These guys!"

Xu Mingyuan was even more frustrated.

Xu Mingwei watched helplessly, when a voice entered his ears.

"A-Yuan, let's go to my study."

Having received Xu Chuan's instructions, Xu Mingwei told Xu Mingyuan the secret of the Xu family's ability to achieve enlightenment through martial arts.

As he manages the family finances, he is one of the two most important figures and is qualified to know about them.

"Among us, only Yun Nu has the aptitude for cultivation?"

"Can the 'Innate Five Elements Creation Technique' repair our incomplete spiritual roots, making us complete with the five elements and allowing us to embark on the path to immortality?"

"Can one's cultivation aptitude be improved to the level of True Spiritual Root aptitude?"

Xu Mingyuan felt as if a thousand thunderbolts had struck his heart, and his dark pupils reflected an incredulous horror.

“Ah Yuan, this secret must be kept in your heart and not spoken of to those who do not know it. Even revealing a little bit of it may bring annihilation to our Xu family.”

Before the family truly grows strong, it is essential to maintain a low profile and avoid displaying one's strength in public.

"yes, Sir."

Xu Mingyuan knew the seriousness of the matter, and his expression was extremely solemn, but he also felt a surge of excitement.

That's cultivating immortality!

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

It’s half a month again.

Thanks to the intervention of the Immortal Official, water resources in all counties of Moon Lake County have been alleviated.

However, this is only temporary.

The drought continues, though it has eased somewhat compared to previous months.

However, not long after, all the counties issued conscription edicts, which clearly stated that money could not be used as a substitute and that if a family had two males over the age of thirteen, one of them must enlist.

Furthermore, for each additional person, the household would receive twenty dou of rice and three liang of silver as a subsidy.

Clearly, this clause is aimed at the common people.

Many wealthy merchants from Qingjiang County flocked to the county government office, hoping to get to the bottom of things and see if there was a roundabout way to resolve the issue.

However, Magistrate Wu made it clear that there was no room for negotiation.

The Immortal Bureau will be responsible for oversight.

If any official is found to have embezzled funds in connection with this matter, the celestial official has the right to remove him from office and strip him of his official rank and status.

The Xu family also received the news quickly.

The Xu Family Hall.

"Father, what should our family do about the conscription? This time it seems we can't escape it."

Xu Mingyuan's expression was somewhat grave. "Moreover, according to the information I've received, this battle is no small matter; it's a matter of life and death."

“Father is the head of the family and cannot easily go into danger. This family can be missing anyone but Father.”

Xu Mingwei said righteously, "I am the eldest in the family, and my younger siblings are young, so it is naturally my turn to go."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jing's eyes welled up with tears.

She couldn't bear to see any of her children go to war.

Yang Ronghua, holding Xu Dezhao tightly, was also filled with reluctance and softly called out, "Husband."

"Brother, you are the heir of the Xu family. If something happens to you, who will Father pass the position of family head to in the future?"

"I believe that you, my second brother, can also lead the Xu family well."

The two looked into each other's eyes, and Xu Mingyuan shook his head and said, "I can't do it. Without my elder brother's martial prowess, I can't intimidate the other powerful families. In fact, I'll become a piece of fat in their eyes, and everyone will want to tear a piece off of me."

His face was full of determination. "So, I'm going to do it. I've now reached the strength of a second-rate martial artist."

“Second brother, I am also a second-rate martial artist, and I am better than you in terms of combat. Besides, I am not like you who will manage such a huge family business. This family cannot do without you, so I am the most suitable to go.”

"Wow!" Xu Mingshu exclaimed, "With Xiaobai around, we can fight and run away at the same time."

"Right, Xiaobai?"

"roar~"

Baihu echoed as usual, but he didn't understand what Xu Mingshu meant by going to the battlefield.

"I go!"

Xu Mingxian said calmly, her face showing neither sorrow nor joy.

Bai Jing looked at them, feeling both gratified and heartbroken.

None of the children shirked responsibility, and none of them even mentioned sending Xu Chuan to the battlefield.

"One drought wasn't enough, now they want people to go to war. What kind of world is this?" Bai Jing was heartbroken and lowered her head to wipe away her tears.

The five siblings argued incessantly, each vying to go first.

"enough!"

Xu Chuan suddenly spoke.

Xu Mingwei and the other four looked at Xu Chuan, who was sitting in the head seat of the family. His face was calm and there was no change in his emotions.

"Xueji, Yunnu, the imperial edict clearly states that it must be a man, aged thirteen or older. What are you two doing here?"

"Shitou, Ayuan, you both have your own responsibilities. Do you expect me to take care of the things you're doing?"

The two lowered their heads in shame.

“I told you I was the most suitable.” Xu Mingxuan grinned.

"Charcoal".

"Third brother."

The rest of them had solemn expressions, for fighting on the battlefield was a perilous journey with a high chance of survival, and this parting might be their last.

Xu Chuan stared at Xu Mingxuan, the scene of his birth flashing through his mind.

"Charcoal Boy, is it your father's fault?"

"never."

"Hmm." Xu Chuan nodded with satisfaction. "As for you, I only have two things to say: always trust your own intuition, and..."

"Come back alive to see your father."

"Yes, Dad."

Then Xu Chuan added, "I estimate that quite a few people from our Xu family will be going, including Da Niu, Li Zhi, Bai Hui, and Shi Tou. You go and be in charge of the statistics."

"My Xu family will never allow anyone to be a deserter!"

"Those who disobey will be expelled from the Xu family!"

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

The days passed by.

The conscription officials also arrived in Dongxi Village, and Xu Mingxuan, Li Zhi, Chen Daniu, Bai Hui and others signed up one after another.

The day after the annual sacrifice.

All the young men, teenagers, and middle-aged men who were called up to the army gathered outside the south gate of Qingjiang County and were led by the army to the border with Daliang.

Countless parents and children went to see them off, and there was a chorus of cries and wails.

　I'm looking for readers to continue reading this Tuesday, and I'm also asking for votes, recommendations, and investments.
　　Have some of everything! My headaches have improved, but I still need some medicine to invigorate my spirits.

　　There will be another chapter at 6 PM.

(End of this chapter)