Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 244 Patrol

The perimeter of the Maojing mine.

Xu Jin's figure appeared somewhat lonely in the gray sky.

After accepting the Li family's invitation to join the Service Department, he completely shed his identity as a miner and no longer participated in the direct operation and management of the mine.

But things weren't as easy as he'd imagined.

The Li family offered him a reward to patrol the mine.

So he had been wandering alone around the mine for three days.

As a newly promoted cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining, he has not yet been able to abstain from grains.

But the mine seemed to have forgotten about him; no one brought him food, so he had to catch wild birds and rodents to roast and eat.

Their lives are even worse than those of miners.

Just as he was sighing, a gray-robed monk suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Xu Jin, we're changing patrol areas. Go to the southwest."

There are patrols too?
Xu Jin felt a chill run down his spine, but he remained outwardly respectful, quickly bowing his head to accept the order, his tone unwavering: "Yes!"

Seeing that he was obedient, the gray-robed cultivator nodded and prepared to leave.

Xu Jin asked cautiously, "Third Steward, has something happened?"

All the immortal masters in Maojing Mine are members of the Li family, and Li Qianxiao is the highest-ranking person in charge here, calling himself the mine's steward.

The miners were unaware of the differences between the immortal masters, so they referred to all immortal masters as stewards, only distinguishing between senior stewards, second stewards, and third stewards.
Xu Jin used to call him that too, but now that he has embarked on the path of cultivation, he knows that apart from Li Qianxiao, everyone else is just an ordinary cultivator and does not deserve the title of steward.

However, in front of them, Xu Jin deliberately maintained his previous form of address to show respect.

The gray-robed cultivator belonged to the Li family's Qian generation and had a Qi Refining level 7 cultivation. He glanced at Xu Jin, who was only at the Qi Refining level 1, and spoke without any politeness: "Why are you asking so many questions? The patriarch is personally visiting the mine, so security is naturally of paramount importance. You should patrol properly; you can't afford to take responsibility if something happens."

"Yes Yes!"

Xu Jin nodded and bowed hurriedly, not daring to utter the slightest rebuttal.

Only after the gray-robed cultivator turned and left did he breathe a sigh of relief, take out a simple map, and find the southwest region on it.

"Only today do I realize that being a celestial master is not easy."

Xu Jin sighed. To achieve immortality, one must cultivate one's abilities.

To cultivate one's skills, one needs both cultivation techniques and resources.

But he had nothing.

"Fortunately, it wasn't all for nothing."

Remembering the bounty offered by the Logistics Department, Xu Jin regained some motivation.

Although the mission reward was meager, consisting of only two Yellow Sprout Pills, he did not receive the cultivation technique he longed for, nor any renowned spirit stones.

But this was the first bounty he had ever accepted, and he had to do his best to prove his worth and demonstrate his loyalty to the Li family.

In this way, he will have the opportunity to continue on his path.

After quickly determining the direction, Xu Jin strode off towards the southwest.

He can actually fly!
Li Qianxiao's cultivation notes not only recorded breathing techniques, but also the skills of using divine sense, as well as basic spells such as magical shields and flying by controlling qi.

After gaining magical powers, Xu Jin immediately began to think about how to fly.

After months of hard training, he was able to barely manage to fly.

However, flying consumes too much magical power, and he has to stop and meditate to rest after flying only a few steps, so it is impossible for him to use it to travel.

Relying solely on his two bare feet, Xu Jin walked for nearly two hours before barely reaching the patrol area.

By then it was already broad daylight. Xu Jin casually plucked some grass roots, wove them into a straw hat, and put it on his head.

Time slipped away, minute by minute.

He walked and stopped, carefully searching for any possible anomalies in his own way.

Soon, evening arrived.

Xu Jin breathed a sigh of relief and planned to find a place to stay nearby.

Suddenly, he froze, and a blurry figure flashed past the corner of his eye.

The figure drew closer, almost touching him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move, nor could he turn around to see the person's face clearly. "Who...who are you?"

Xu Jin said, his voice trembling, large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead like rain.

The visitor remained silent for a moment before saying, "Hand this person over to Li Xiangming."

Li Xiangming?
Xu Jin's mind flashed to a young cultivator in a green robe. It was said that the man held a high position in the Li family, as a hall master, whose status was no less than that of the Grand Steward Li Qianxiao.

Since this involves high-ranking members of the Li family, the person's cultivation level must be far beyond imagination.

Xu Jin was no fool; he quickly nodded in agreement without offering any resistance.

However, he still cautiously asked, "Could you leave a few words?"

After a long while, Xu Jin still did not hear a reply. At this moment, he suddenly realized that he could move. He immediately turned around, only to find that the other person's figure had already disappeared without a trace.

Xu Jin wiped away his cold sweat. He had never fought a magic battle before and was unaware of the differences between cultivators.

But just now, he felt as if a five-finger mountain was pressing down on his chest, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

Under terrifying pressure, even his thinking slowed down, let alone his ability to circulate his magic to resist.

"This is the power of a Celestial Master!"

Xu Jin felt a mix of fear and inexplicable excitement.

One day, he too will reach that level.

After catching his breath, Xu Jincai looked at the person left behind by the mysterious man.

This doesn't matter, it's shocking.

Xu Jin jogged forward, stretched out his hands to measure, and muttered, "Is this a freak?"
-
"Elder Zhao, I'll see you off!"

At the entrance of Maojing Mine, Li Xiangming said with a smile.

Elder Zhao's name was Zhao Zhen. He looked to be about forty years old, but his temples were slightly gray, indicating that he was not young, though he was well-preserved.

His cultivation level was also quite high, reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and he was one of the eight inner elders of the Shengyi Sect.

In the past two days, Shengyimen, at the invitation of Li Qianxiong, sent Zhao Zhen to Maojing Mine.

Li Xiangming had no idea what they discussed in detail.

However, he was responsible for receiving and seeing off Zhao Zhen.

Despite Li Xiangming being only a Qi Refining cultivator, Zhao Zhen showed no arrogance. He waved his hand and said, "Young friend Li, you are too kind. The Li family and my Shengyi Sect have been friends for a long time. There is no need for formalities between our two families."

Zhao Zhen knew that the family system and the sect system were different.

In sects, cultivation level is the primary standard; once one's cultivation level rises, power and status follow.

However, the family is different. It is said that the most powerful cultivator in the Li family is Li Huinan, who was once famous in Zhangning Prefecture.

However, Li Huinan had long since retired behind the scenes, and the position of family head was taken over by Li Chengkang.

Li Chengkang possesses late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, and theoretically, he should be able to lead the Li family to revitalize the nation.

However, Li Chengkang only served as the head of the family for two or three decades before passing the position to Li Qianxiong.

This is unbelievable within the sect.

I am clearly more powerful and in my prime, so why should I step down?
Some might say that after stepping down, one can focus more on cultivation.

That's just wishful thinking.

If it were you, after gaining power and resources, would you devote all your efforts to supporting your seniors, or would you first focus on improving your own cultivation?

Without exception, everyone would choose the latter.

Li Chengkang, having relinquished his position as head of the family, will certainly not receive more resources than before.

However, families have a unique characteristic that distinguishes them from sects: the inheritance of bloodlines.

Just as Li Huinan was willing to step down to Li Chengkang, and Li Chengkang was willing to pass on his position to Li Qianxiong, these are all manifestations of the inheritance of bloodlines.

From the very first day the head of the family took office, they began to train the next head of the family.

Sects, on the other hand, only consider finding a successor when the sect leader is nearing the end of his life or when there is no hope for his path to enlightenment. This is called passing on the mantle.

(End of this chapter)