From slave trader to the Immortal Lord of Ten Thousand Laws

Rustling sounds...

The night was quiet, with only the rustling of the wind outside the window.

Seeing Xu Rong's breathing becoming heavier and her face growing more pained, Jiang She didn't hesitate and focused his thoughts on the control panel.

A tiny, minute thought, accompanied by a little magical power, splashed through the water like a pebble dropped into a pond.

After he cultivated the "Great Use of Heaven and Earth", his magical power was no longer cold and yin, but instead became more yang, strong and firm like a warm current.

Suddenly...

Xu Rong, who was in her bedroom in the west courtyard, was startled.

It felt as if something warm and hard had entered her delicate body.

Immediately afterwards, she was stuffed full.

The sluggish feeling of "qi gathering at the chest and then flowing down the spine" during the circulation of qi suddenly became clear, instead of being vague. It turned out that the qi circulation was not a rigid, straight up-and-down motion, but rather that it needed to circulate slightly within the chest acupoint, accumulating a trace of gentle strength, and then slowly guiding that faint breath down the inner side of the spine like a slide.

But this gentle strength...

So how should we store it?

Xu Rong was puzzled, but her body suddenly reacted naturally. Before she knew it, a soft force had been stored up in her Tanzhong acupoint and quietly "transferred to her spine".

It was as if there was a faint path connecting and crisscrossing her meridians, guiding her to circulate her Qi step by step.

Immediately afterwards, the "like pearls rolling on a plate" feeling that had been troubling her also appeared in her mind.

Xu Rong seemed to see a warm and gentle speck of light in her dantian, like a speck of dust, slowly rolling in her dantian acupoint as she breathed in and out.

This scrolling is not random.

Instead, it flowed like water drawn by a pearl, using that point of light as an axis to slowly circulate the "fetal energy" that was born in the Qihai acupoint, transforming it from stagnation to order.

This sudden enlightenment came without warning, as if a stroke of genius had struck, yet it was also incredibly natural.

Xu Rong was overjoyed.

She didn't bother to think about where this "sudden enlightenment" came from, simply considering herself a genius suited for spiritual practice.

She continued to breathe and regulate her qi.

This time, although the breath was still like a trickle, weak and slow, it had stubbornly come back to life, having been as blocked and difficult to move in the mud.

This moved Xu Rong so much that she almost burst into tears.

She became increasingly convinced that her acquisition of this silk scroll and her sudden enlightenment today were due to the fortune brought by that "specially physique" young master Jiang!

With this in mind, Xu Rong dared not slack off in the slightest and became even more engrossed in her cultivation.

Not long after.

Xu Rong was covered in a fragrant sweat.

Sweat soaked through her light green dress, clinging tightly to her voluptuous body, almost making it translucent. Her wet bodice clung tightly to her breasts, like a pair of peaches just pulled from the water, glistening and dripping with nectar.

The sweat-soaked skirt clung tightly to her full, pert buttocks, the fabric stretched taut, revealing the deep crease between her hips. The hem of the skirt rose slightly, revealing two long, snow-white legs, the calves gleaming with a shimmering white sheen, the thighs plump yet not greasy, full of soft flesh.

Beneath her long legs, a pair of bare, jade-like feet revealed ten exquisite toes, glistening and sweet-smelling, their tips adorned with a light touch of henna, applied with freshly made balsam juice. Now, dampened by sweat, the henna color appeared even more vibrant and rosy.

"Um?"

Inside the room with the back seat.

Jiang She was slightly taken aback and stared at her jade-like feet.

It wasn't that he had any particular fetish, but rather that he had seen the harmful effects of this cultivation method on qi circulation.

Xu Rong seemed to sense something was wrong as well. She picked up her right foot to examine it closely. She saw that her jade foot was delicate and exquisite, like holding a jade ruyi. The arch of her foot was curved, like a crescent moon. When her ten toes were together, it resembled a lotus bud. When her ten toes were slightly bent, a fragrant breeze seemed to bloom.

What's even more wonderful is that the red dots on the tips of the toes don't fade when they get sweaty; instead, they blend into a delicate pink hue, like rouge.

"strangeness....."

Xu Rong murmured, took a handkerchief, soaked it in warm water, and then lowered her head to carefully wipe the back of her feet.

Water droplets rolled down her ankles, like a stream flowing through jade, gliding between her lush, slender toes.

But after wiping it, the cinnabar on the tips of her toes actually became brighter.

"So this is how much Qi you've circulated."

After reading it, Jiang She suddenly understood.

The energy that should have settled in the Qihai acupoint instead mistakenly followed the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian downwards to the Yongquan acupoint.

Jiang She noted down this oversight, improved the technique, and then came up with some ideas to help Xu Rong overcome her difficulties.

However, the jade carving was covered in sweat, steaming hot, and exuding a strong sense of lust and vitality belonging to a mature woman.

Jiang She kept his eyes glued to the spot, trying to find any flaws in the technique.

Xu Rong took off her sweat-soaked clothes, fetched some hot soup, sprinkled some flower petals on it, and then wet a towel to carefully wipe her body. She was completely unaware that she was facing away from Jiang She, revealing her jade-like back, which was smooth and white.

After wiping her inner thighs, Xu Rong resumed her meditation.

"Let her continue her practice like this for now."

Jiang She thought to himself, "In ordinary cultivation, if one does not follow the path of 'replenishing one's energy through cultivation,' one can only condense one wisp of spiritual energy per year. Only after condensing eighty-one wisps can one form a wisp of magical power."

Without a precious elixir to prolong life or a path to accelerate cultivation, a single burst of magical power would consume an entire mortal's lifespan. This is why there are so few people who practice Qi cultivation.

Cultivating oneself and defying fate is indeed not easy.

Jiang She stared at Xu Rong, who was completely naked, for a while while she cultivated. Only after her breathing became stable and deep did he close his eyes and fall asleep.

at the same time....

Inside the Xu family's ancestral hall.

The lights were bright, and a plaque inscribed with "Mingde Zaiwu" (meaning "To cultivate virtue and carry all things") hung high above the door.

Inside the hall, incense was offered at the head of the room, and rows of ancestral tablets were arranged, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Several richly dressed elders sat on both sides, gathered together in the hall.

An elderly man, well over seventy years old, sat in the main seat.

His hair and beard were all white, and he wore an ochre brocade robe with auspicious and longevity patterns, over which was a black mandarin jacket with a swastika pattern. At this moment, his old face was solemn, his eyes were half closed, and he was slowly turning a pair of smooth and shiny wooden walnuts in his hands. He was the oldest and most disciplined elder of the Xu family.

He was of a very high generation, being Xu Qingyue's third great-uncle.

To the left of him sat an old woman of similar age. She had a withered, sallow complexion, wore a beaded headband, and a dark purple satin jacket with floral patterns. Her long, narrow eyes revealed shrewdness and meanness. She held a string of prayer beads in her hand, her fingers constantly turning them. Her lips habitually turned down as she chanted Buddhist mantras.

She was Xu Qingyue's fifth great-aunt.

On the right is Sixth Uncle.

He was short and stout with a ruddy complexion. He wore a royal blue silk shirt and had a large, round belly. He held a small purple clay teapot in his hand and would occasionally bring it to his lips to take a sip. He seemed amiable, but his eyes were shifty.

Seated at the lower end were several clan elders, some sipping tea with their heads down, others whispering to each other, their expressions varied.

Xu Qingyue was surrounded by the clan elders.

Standing...

"Giggle giggle!"

The walnuts in Third Uncle's hand cracked as he squeezed them. He didn't look up, not even opening his eyelids, but his deep voice broke the suffocating silence in the hall:

"Qingyue, I'm sure you already have a guess as to why I summoned you here today."

Xu Qingyue raised her pretty face but did not speak.

Fifth Aunt, who usually ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist prayers, suddenly snapped her prayer beads, her two slanted eyes sharp as knives, and she shrieked:

"Of course it's your disrespect for elders and your disgrace to the family! Qingyue, as the future head of the family and an unmarried young lady, you have disregarded all shame and our family's century-old reputation, and have secretly gone to the Zhao family!"

"The Zhao family and my family have a long-standing feud. Your unauthorized visit to their home is no different from a formal apology. If word gets out, where will the Xu family's reputation be? Where will the reputation of our ancestors be?!"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her prayer beads moving faster and faster, almost ready to take advantage of Xu Qingyue and start cursing at her.

Another elder nodded emphatically in agreement:

"The Zhao family and my family are sworn enemies. Qingyue, your visit is nothing short of handing my family's face over to that scoundrel Zhao Jiaren, allowing him to trample on it."

Seeing that some people agreed, Aunt Wu became even more arrogant.

She fiddled with her prayer beads, glared at Xu Qingyue, and exclaimed, "How can someone so reckless and disregardful of the family's reputation be worthy of the position of family head? In my opinion, she is unworthy of the post and incapable of shouldering such a great responsibility! A more virtuous and capable person should be chosen!"

"Whom to choose?"

"You should choose your virtuous grandson who only knows how to fight crickets all day long?"

The short, stout sixth uncle put down the purple clay teapot, slowly stroked his short beard, and retorted in a seemingly fair manner, but his eyes gleamed with shrewd calculation as he smiled:

"What Fifth Sister said, though harsh, is not without reason. My niece Qingyue's actions were indeed rash, and besides..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the elders present, his tone high and laced with sarcasm as he incited them:

"Previously, she took out that precious boxing manual from her ancestors, but without consulting us elders, she privately gave it to outsiders to teach the guards in the academy. This... is against clan rules to begin with, and what's more, several months have passed, have those guards made any progress whatsoever?"

"I've heard that even Chen Kun herself hasn't made any progress in her training over the past few months! It's clear she misjudged people, acted rashly, and has no regard for ancestral rules and regulations, or for us elders."

Upon hearing this, several clan elders who were originally neutral or inclined to Xu Qingyue's faction frowned and whispered among themselves. The inheritance of ancestral property was a sensitive issue for them, and this matter undoubtedly touched their interests.

Xu Qingyue lowered her eyes, her fingertips curling slightly inside her sleeve. She had already anticipated the possible foul language and family criticism.

But hearing it with my own ears now is still like being pierced by needles.

However....

Just as the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly tense, the fourth uncle, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

He wore a dark blue robe, had a refined and shrewd face, and a gentle demeanor, yet possessed a sense of propriety.

He coughed lightly, his voice soft, yet each word clear and distinct, reaching everyone's ears:

"Fifth Sister, Sixth Brother, what you two said is for the sake of the family's reputation, and I wholeheartedly agree."

"However, have you all ever considered this carefully? Since Ning He fell seriously ill and became bedridden, the Xu family has been in turmoil both inside and outside the family. Who has shouldered the responsibility and kept the Xu family ship firmly at the helm until now?"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, and he said coldly:

"It's Qingyue!"

"She's a young woman, yet she's out in the public eye, navigating the relationships between various business owners and even those rivals who are eyeing her covetously. I've seen the account books from the past few years, and if it weren't for Qingyue's skillful management and shrewd tactics, my family's vast business would not only be struggling to survive, but would probably have already been crushed and swayed by the combined forces of the Zhao family and other rivals."

These words eased the atmosphere in the hall slightly, and some elders nodded slightly, their faces showing thoughtful expressions.

However, Fifth Aunt snorted coldly and argued:

"Fourth Brother, I cannot agree with your statement!"

"Even though Qingyue has devoted herself to the family over the years and has made considerable contributions, merit is merit, and fault is fault; how can they be confused?" She rapidly twirled the prayer beads in her hand, her slanted eyes gleaming sharply as she pierced Xu Qingyue, saying:

"I believe in Qingyue's filial piety and her willingness to cure Ninghe's illness. However, Qingyue, do you know the origin of the mountain god messenger you invited from the Zhao family? That old temple on Jade Mountain has been abandoned for many years and has long been without incense offerings. How could it possibly have any divine power remaining?"

"That messenger's identity is even more mysterious. He suddenly appeared and was treated as an honored guest at the Zhao family's house. Such mysterious and unknown deities are most likely wicked temples and shrines that have not been officially recognized by the court and are not included in the formal worship. They are heretical and misleading people! They are evil and heretical! Don't you agree?"

She became more and more excited as she spoke, as if she had witnessed it with her own eyes:

"My Xu family is a family that upholds scholarship and propriety, a family of impeccable character. How could we possibly associate with evil spirits?"

"As the future head of the family, instead of governing the family with righteous means, you seek help from such crooked and evil methods. Aren't you willingly degrading yourself and corrupting the century-old integrity of the clan?!"

She paused, and to prove her words were true, and to demonstrate her long-standing devotion to Buddhism, she raised her voice and said:

"I have been a vegetarian and a Buddhist for many years, and I know best the difference between righteous gods and evil spirits. The one I worship is a righteous god who has received incense and scriptures! In my room, I have also invited a 'household deity' with high spiritual power, who is worshipped day and night and served with utmost care, so that he can protect my Xu family and ensure our peace!"

"Those with clear origins and unambiguous backgrounds are the true path! What is that Jade Mountain messenger anyway?!"

Her voice was cold, and in her words, she attributed the Xu family's peace and good fortune to herself.

Xu Qingyue found it amusing, but did not argue back.

Fourth Uncle couldn't stand it anymore.

Seeing that his fifth sister was going further and further astray, even linking Xu Qingyue's filial piety with "colluding with evil spirits," he frowned and was about to say a few more words in Xu Qingyue's defense.

However, he had barely cleared his throat and hadn't even opened his mouth when his sixth uncle interrupted him with a forced smile:

"Fourth Brother, you should save your energy."

He sipped his tea and said slowly:

"It's a pity that my family's direct descendant died young. Every elder in the clan knows this. Qingyue's father was adopted from your branch of the family back then. In terms of bloodline, you and Qingyue are closer than we are. Your speaking up for her like this inevitably makes people wonder if you have some ulterior motives?"

Another elder, who was on good terms with him, also said in a sinister tone:

"Yes, Fourth Brother, the direct line has no sons. The family draws lots to determine the succession. This is an old family matter, and it hurts to talk about it. But Fourth Brother, your efforts to protect us today have made us, the collateral branches, a little confused."

"Could it be as Sixth Brother said, that you believe Qingyue being in charge would be of great benefit to your branch of the family?"

These words were like daggers to the heart, directly denouncing Fourth Uncle's righteous words as harboring selfish desires.

Fourth Uncle's face darkened, his beard trembling with anger, but he was speechless for a long time.

Indeed, as everyone has said.

Xu Qingyue's biological father, Xu Ninghe, and her uncle, Xu Ningyuan, were both his sons...