Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

A few days later, it will be the Wu family's annual ancestral worship day.

Wu Fan stood in the small courtyard, watching the sky gradually brighten, his thoughts drifting back to his childhood.

Back then, when my parents were still alive, the entire Wu family would gather together before dawn and head to our ancestral home, their bodies glistening with morning dew.

At that time, the Wu family was united in purpose and worked together towards a common goal.

But now, even though he gets up before dawn, those two familiar figures are no longer by his side.

He collected his thoughts and silently followed his second uncle's steps, heading together to the Wu family's ancestral hall.

As soon as they entered the forest path on the outskirts of their ancestral land, several familiar figures came into view.

The man at the head of the group was dressed in a plain brocade robe and had a dignified face. He was Wu Fan's uncle, Wu Zongzheng.

Two young women stood beside him, each with a slender figure and a different expression.

The eldest sister, Wu Tianfeng, had a calm and gentle expression.

The third sister, Wu Tianzhen, had delicate features and a hint of arrogance in her eyes.

As for the second sister, she had already married into another clan and, according to clan rules, was not allowed to return to participate in the ancestral worship, so she was nowhere to be seen today.

As a child, Wu Fan was not very close to his three older cousins. After his parents passed away, his uncle's family avoided him and cut off all contact. Now that they meet again, he feels only a sense of unfamiliarity and estrangement.

Upon seeing the two approaching, Wu Zongzheng spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of teasing:

"Second brother, you've finally arrived! If you were any later, I would have thought you weren't coming to pay respects to our ancestors this year."

Wu Yuanshan frowned slightly, his tone tinged with impatience, yet he refrained from speaking too openly due to the rules of ancestor worship:

"Brother, you jest. The family ancestral worship is a matter of utmost importance. If I don't come, wouldn't I be branded as unfilial?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zongzheng's face darkened slightly, and he felt a bit displeased. However, when his gaze swept over the young man beside Wu Yuanshan, his expression suddenly paused.

In the past, Wu Yuanshan always came alone to worship his ancestors, but today he brought a strange young man with him. The young man's features looked somewhat familiar.

He stared intently, and after a moment, his eyes were filled with astonishment, and his tone lost its usual composure:

"You...you're Wu Fan?! Second brother, you actually brought Wu Fan back?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed the fluctuations of spiritual energy surrounding Wu Fan. His pupils contracted sharply, and his astonishment deepened.

Currently, within his lineage of the Wu family, only he himself possesses the cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining.

The eldest daughter, Wu Tianfeng, has been stuck at the sixth level of Qi Refining for many years and has been unable to break through.

Wu Tianzhen, the third daughter with the best talent, only recently managed to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining with the help of a Breakthrough Pill. She is considered the most promising person in the clan to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining and support his lineage.

But Wu Fan, the nephew he once regarded as having inferior spiritual roots and looked down upon, the child he personally drove out of the Wu family, has now actually reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, one level higher than his third daughter, who has the best talent.

This stark contrast overwhelmed him, leaving him speechless with shock for a long time.

"You...you've actually reached the eighth level of Qi Refining?"

Wu Zongzheng stared intently at Wu Fan, his tone filled with disbelief.

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan remained calm and composed, showing neither smugness nor resentment. He simply stepped forward, bowed slightly to Wu Zongzheng, and spoke in a flat tone:

"Nephew Wu Fan greets Uncle."

He knew in his heart that this uncle had never considered his parents' past relationship, never treated him as a relative, and even after his parents passed away, he personally separated him from the Wu family in order to seize the family property left by his parents.

The reason I'm bowing now is only out of respect for my second uncle, and because he is my parents and brother. This bow is the greatest respect I can give.

As for his two older cousins, he didn't even give them a second glance, let alone greet them. After speaking, he silently retreated behind his second uncle, stood with his eyes downcast and indifferent, seemingly oblivious to Wu Zongzheng's shock.

Wu Yuanshan took in Wu Zongzheng's loss of composure, a surge of secret pleasure rising within him. A smug smile crept across his face as he deliberately raised his voice and said:

"It is indeed my third brother's good son, my nephew Wu Fan. He has now become a formal alchemist in the Pill Hall, one of the three major halls of Falling Star Valley. He has returned this time for two reasons: first, to accompany me in the ancestral worship ceremony to pay respects to the Wu family ancestors; and second, to pay respects to my third brother and his wife, fulfilling his long-cherished wish. What's wrong, elder brother? Is there something amiss with me bringing Fan'er back?"

"Falling Star Valley?! Pill Hall?! Alchemists?!"

Wu Zongzheng was shocked. The astonishment on his face froze instantly, then intensified, and he felt even more incredulous.

Falling Star Valley is one of the four most famous Nascent Soul sects in the Chu Kingdom, and its Pill Hall is the core of Falling Star Valley.

To become a formal alchemist in the Dan Hall, one must not only possess exceptional personal cultivation but also be proficient in alchemy.

For the Wu family, which is currently facing a shortage of resources, a master alchemist is undoubtedly the hope for the family's rise, and could even help the Wu family get out of its predicament and become a prominent cultivation family in the area.

The displeasure and contempt that had been building up in Wu Zongzheng's heart vanished instantly.

A hint of regret crept into his heart, but he forcefully extinguished it.

Even if Wu Fan has reached the eighth level of Qi Refining and even if he has obtained an opportunity to become an alchemist, so what?

Most likely, they got lucky and stumbled upon some opportunities left behind by others. At most, they'll only reach the ninth level of Qi Refining in this lifetime, with absolutely no chance of advancing any further.

He had already publicly decided to separate the family, and even if he regretted it now, Wu Fan might not be willing to return to the family.

Moreover, given his status as the clan leader, there's no way he would lower himself to salvage the situation.

Ultimately, it was only because his second brother Wu Yuanshan's lineage could benefit from Wu Fan's influence that he had much of an impact on him.

In his view, Wu Fan joined Falling Star Valley at such a young age, so the sect would certainly not allocate the precious Foundation Establishment Pill to him. Given Wu Fan's background, it was even less likely that he would be able to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill on his own.

Without the ability to establish a foundation, one cannot become a true great cultivator, nor can one elevate the Wu family to the status of a foundation-establishing family. In the end, Wu Fan, with such a background, will not be able to cause any significant trouble.

Having grasped this point, Wu Zongzheng took a deep breath and once again adopted the dignified and composed demeanor of a clan leader. However, the astonishment deep in his eyes had not completely faded, and his tone was slightly gentler than before, yet still carried a hint of condescending arrogance:

"I see. I was overthinking it. Since Fan'er is willing to come back to pay respects to our ancestors, there is naturally nothing wrong with it. However, paying respects to our ancestors is a top priority for the family, and the rules cannot be disregarded. Once we enter the ancestral hall, we must be careful with our words and actions and not lose our decorum."

He deliberately emphasized the word "rules," and the reminder in his tone was self-evident.

Even though Wu Fan has gained some ability now, in the Wu family's ancestral land, in front of him, the clan leader, he still has to abide by the rules set by him and still acknowledge him as the clan leader.

Hearing this, Wu Tianzhen felt a lump in her throat and her blood boil.

Previously, she had secretly despised Wu Fan, thinking that this inferior spiritual root cultivator who was expelled from his family back then would only live a muddled life. However, when she heard the words "eighth level of Qi Refining" and "alchemist of the Falling Star Valley Pill Hall," the disdain on her face instantly froze, replaced by intense jealousy and resentment.

She was recognized as the most talented person in the Wu family of this generation, and with the full support of her father, Wu Zongzheng, and the devotion of the family's resources, she barely managed to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

But what about Wu Fan?

How could someone born with inferior spiritual roots, an abandoned child of the family, obtain such an opportunity, and how could their cultivation level far surpass hers?

This is not fair!

Unable to contain his anger, Wu Tianzhen stepped forward, his tone sharp, completely disregarding the solemnity of the ancestral worship site:

"Father! He's just lucky! So what if he's at the eighth level of Qi Refining? Maybe he got it through some underhanded tricks or opportunistic methods."

Although Wu Tianfeng on the other side did not speak, the arrogance in her eyes had faded considerably, and her gaze fell on Wu Fan with a more inquisitive and serious expression.

She had heard that the rules for entering the Falling Star Valley as a rogue cultivator were extremely strict.

This is not a place that can be easily infiltrated. Wu Fan was able to join it after the age of eighteen and become a formal alchemist in the Pill Hall, so he must have some real skills.

However, as Wu Zongzheng's daughter, her stance was clear: even if she approved in her heart, she could not reveal it in the slightest.

Wu Yuanshan's face darkened, and his aura turned slightly cold. He was about to reprimand Wu Tianzhen for not knowing the rules when Wu Fan gently tugged at his sleeve.

Wu Fan raised his eyes, his expression still calm and composed, without the slightest ripple. His gaze swept lightly over Wu Tianzhen, his tone even, yet carrying an undeniable aura of authority:

"Whether it's unorthodox or opportunistic, it's none of anyone else's business. I've returned today only to pay respects to my ancestors and parents. There's no need to say anything more or get entangled with me about anything else."

Wu Zongzheng frowned slightly and pretended to reprimand Wu Tianzhen:

"Tianzhen, stop your nonsense! This place of ancestral worship is solemn and respectful; how dare you be so insolent! Get out of here at once!"

Although he said that, there was no real rebuke in his eyes; on the contrary, there was a hint of tacit approval.

Although Wu Tianzhen was unwilling, she did not dare to openly disobey her father's wishes. She could only glare at Wu Fan and retreat to the side in a huff.

Wu Zongzheng straightened his plain brocade robe and took the lead in walking towards the ancestral hall, saying casually as he went:

"It's getting late, our ancestors are still waiting. Let's go, lest we miss the auspicious time."

Wu Yuanshan snorted coldly, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction towards Wu Zongzheng and his daughter. He then patted Wu Fan on the shoulder and said in a low voice:

"Fan'er, don't stoop to their level. With your second uncle here, no one can bully you."

Wu Fan nodded slightly, a warmth rising in his eyes.

He naturally wouldn't stoop to the level of Wu Zongzheng and his daughter. Today, he returned to the Wu family's ancestral land only to pay homage to his ancestors and comfort his parents' spirits in heaven. He didn't care about the other disputes.

The group entered the ancestral hall together. The hall was filled with the smoke of incense, and in the center were the ancestral tablets of the Wu family. It was solemn and dignified.

Wu Fan's gaze slowly swept over the memorial tablets, finally landing on the tablets of his parents on the far side. A trace of bitterness flashed in his eyes, and his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by something, a sharp pain in his chest.

For so many years, he wandered far from home, enduring hardship and cultivating himself, all so that one day he could return openly and proudly to tell his parents that he had not disgraced them.

As the eldest son and current clan leader, Wu Zongzheng took the lead in walking to the offering table, picked up the prepared sacrificial text, and began to preside over the ancestral worship ceremony, reciting the obscure and difficult-to-understand sacrificial text.

Wu Fan stood beside Wu Yuanshan, his expression respectful, meticulously following along as he kowtowed to his ancestors. After completing the tedious rituals, he walked alone to his parents' memorial tablets, bowing deeply three times, his forehead touching the cold ground, silently reciting in his heart:

"Father, Mother, your son is back."