I died young at the start, but I'm reincarnated with unlimited skill points!

A hundred miles away, in Dingzhou City.

Dingyuan Trading Company.

In just one year, this newly opened trading company quickly established itself in the chaotic city of Dingzhou, and even subtly monopolized the two main trade routes in the south of the city.

In the mortal world of martial arts, the rules are all contained within swords and blades.

Upon his arrival, Su Cheng naturally encountered a series of difficulties caused by the local tyrants and several major gangs.

But he did not back down.

Using the martial arts skills taught by Su Yu, he single-handedly crushed the throat of the leader of the largest gang in Dingzhou City at a banquet set up by the Chamber of Commerce.

There are no complicated spells, only the ultimate physical burst and overwhelming power of blood and qi.

He honed his martial arts skills to the point where his blood and qi were as powerful as a dragon's, completely intimidating those roughnecks in the martial world.

On the surface, Dingyuan Trading Company was bustling with activity, selling cloth, medicinal herbs, and ironware.

Secretly, in the secluded backyard of the trading company, several low-level rogue cultivators, concealing their identities, would quietly visit every month.

The spiritual medicines embezzled by the Su family of Qingmu, the fragments of magical artifacts left behind by the demonic cultivator, and the jade slips containing cultivation techniques.

All of them were quietly sold off in batches by Su Cheng at prices 20% lower than the black market price.

At the bottom level, independent cultivators are extremely short of resources, and they often fight each other to compete for a few spirit stones.

Faced with these high-quality yet extremely low-priced magical artifacts and jade slips, they didn't bother to inquire about their origins, nor did they care whose blood was on them.

It's simply a matter of each getting what they need.

……

Black Wind Valley, Hidden Dragon Manor.

In the secret chamber deep underground, Su Yu looked at the completely closed array light screen in front of him and nodded slightly.

He finally finished setting up the "Second-Order Spirit Gathering Array Diagram" that he obtained from the main branch of the Aoki clan's treasure vault.

The array slowly began to operate, having consumed a large amount of embezzled low-grade spirit stones as its base.

The faint spiritual energy emanating from that first-grade low-level spiritual vein was tightly locked in the core area of ​​the manor by the formation, and was continuously compressed and purified.

The concentration of spiritual energy here is naturally not as high as that of the former main branch of the Qingmu Su family.

All things considered, it's exactly half of what the Su family used to have.

But for these cultivators in the early to mid-stages of Qi Refining, it was already more than enough.

With a stable environment and abundant resources, Qianlong Mountain Villa began to truly revitalize.

Su Yu was not stingy with the money given to the collateral relatives who had escaped with him back then.

The pills and spirit stones he obtained through laundering were distributed to everyone in full each month.

Su Tie and a dozen or so other collateral relatives naturally became the first managers and elders of Qianlong Manor.

With such unreserved accumulation of resources, Su Tie, who had stagnated for many years, finally broke through his shackles one night and stepped into the fifth level of Qi Refining.

The others also made progress, successively reaching the threshold of the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refining.

However, the limitations of inferior spiritual roots and the deficiencies in his early years were ultimately insurmountable obstacles.

The gap has long since widened considerably.

They knew in their hearts that reaching the mid-stage of Qi Refining was their limit in this lifetime, and it would be difficult to achieve anything further.

But that's enough.

No longer will they be endlessly exploited by the main lineage, no longer will they have to toil like cattle in the spirit fields, and their families can live peacefully under the protection of the formation.

Their loyalty to Su Yu, nurtured by tangible benefits and a sense of security, had long since become as solid as a rock.

The affairs of the villa, both inside and out, are back on track.

Su Yu then entrusted worldly affairs to Su Tie and others, and went into his quiet room to begin a long period of seclusion.

His cultivation at the peak of the seventh level of Qi Refining had long been honed to perfection within him.

He sat cross-legged at the very core of the spirit-gathering array, breathing in and out rich spiritual energy.

Time slips away quietly in quiet contemplation.

one year later.

A subtle ripple suddenly appeared in the spiritual energy pool inside the meditation room.

The surging spiritual energy around Su Yu contracted inward like a tide, eventually returning to the depths of his dantian.

There were no breathtaking natural phenomena, nor any dangerous situations involving demonic possession.

Everything happened naturally.

Su Yu slowly opened his eyes, a captivating glint flashing in them before quickly concealing itself and returning to calm.

Feeling the true essence in his meridians, which was several times more abundant than before, he gently exhaled a breath of turbid air.

Qi Refining Level 8.

In the surrounding areas where no Foundation Establishment stage cultivators are present, this is definitely high-level combat power.

Even in those immortal cultivation families that have been passed down for hundreds of years, someone at the eighth level of Qi Refining is qualified to serve as an elder with real power.

Only at this moment did Su Yu truly grasp the power of speech that belonged to him at the bottom of this cruel cultivation world.

The heavy stone door slowly opened to both sides.

Su Yu stepped out of the quiet room.

He did not deliberately conceal his aura; the solid pressure belonging to a Qi Refining Level 8 cultivator swept through the entire inner courtyard of Qianlong Manor like an invisible wave.

Su Tie, who was checking the accounts for spirit rice in the front yard, was startled and suddenly raised his head.

He strode through the corridor and came to the steps outside the quiet room.

When Su Tie saw the unfathomable abyss-like fluctuations of true essence surrounding Su Yu, his breath hitched, and then an undisguised ecstasy erupted in his eyes.

"Patriarch, you... have broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining?!"

Now that the signboard for Qianlong Villa has been erected, Su Tie's way of addressing Su Yu has naturally changed.

Su Yu remained calm and nodded slightly.

"After a year of seclusion, I've only gained a little."

Upon receiving a definite answer, the several elders from the collateral branches who had rushed over exchanged glances, their bodies trembling with excitement.

Qi Refining Level 8.

In this remote area far from cultivation sects and large markets, a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining is enough to establish a cultivation family that can last for a hundred years.

Back then, even the powerful elder of the Qingmu Su family who was sent out to control the market was only at this level.

With this absolute military deterrence, Qianlong Manor finally had the confidence to stand firm, and no longer had to worry about being easily taken advantage of by passing rogue cultivators or ordinary bandits.

"Congratulations, Patriarch!"

Everyone bowed in unison, their voices filled with heartfelt reverence and peace of mind.

In the cruel underbelly of the cultivation world, it's always good to be under a big tree and follow a powerful and steady superior, which is the greatest fortune for this group of collateral relatives.

Su Yu raised his right hand, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities.

"Has there been any unusual activity at the mountain villa or in Dingzhou City this year?"

Su Tie straightened up and respectfully replied.

"Returning home, Lord, everything is fine in the manor. The spiritual fields are producing steadily, and no living beings have been detected approaching Black Wind Valley at the various sentry posts, both visible and hidden."

"The young master's business in Dingzhou City has been fully established. Last month, he secretly sent back over a thousand low-grade spirit stones, as well as a batch of high-quality Qi Refining stage pills."

"Nearly 40% of the shady spiritual objects we brought out back then have been cleaned up."

Su Yu nodded slightly.

Su Cheng's skills and temperament were even more shrewd than he had expected.

Combining martial arts with business acumen, and supplemented by a secret network of undercover agents, is indeed the perfect cover for dealing with this batch of illicit goods.

Just then, a tall, slender figure walked slowly from outside the courtyard.

The eighteen-year-old second son, Su Yuan, was dressed in a blue robe and had a tall and straight figure.

He approached Su Yu and bowed respectfully.

"Your son respectfully welcomes Father upon his return from the pass."

Su Yu's gaze fell on Su Yuan, and his divine sense swept over him slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Fourth level of Qi Refining.

Without anyone noticing, this second son, who possessed a seventh-grade spiritual root, had already crossed the threshold of the early stage of Qi Refining and entered the middle stage of Qi Refining.

If this were the main branch of the clan school in the past, someone his age who had reached the fourth level of Qi Refining would have inevitably been eager to show off, attracting the attention of his classmates and the praise of the elders.

But at this moment, Su Yuan's aura was restrained, and there was no trace of his former arrogance in his eyes.

The bloodshed and carnage of the night the Aoki Su family was destroyed, and Su Yu's cruel, knife-like teachings, completely shattered his naivety.

He learned to conceal his true abilities and understood that the truth of the cultivation world always lies only in absolute strength.

"You've reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, not bad," Su Yu commented calmly.

Su Tie and the others nearby were stunned upon hearing this, and then their faces showed amazement once again.

They lived in the same villa, yet none of them noticed that the second young master had quietly broken through to a higher level.

Su Yuan lowered his head slightly, his tone calm, without the slightest hint of smugness.

"It is all thanks to the pills and formations provided by Father. I merely followed the steps and did not dare to take credit."

Su Yu looked at him and spoke calmly.

"On the path of cultivation, resources are certainly important, but the ability to calm your mind and endure loneliness to refine them is what truly matters."

"You have now entered the mid-stage of Qi Refining and have also passed your eighteenth birthday."

Su Yu turned around, put his hands behind his back, and walked towards the main hall.

"Now that the manor is safe and secure, the matter of procreation should not be delayed any longer."

"Starting tomorrow, go to Dingzhou City to assist your brother in managing the business for a period of time."

"By the way, let your mother decide how many ordinary women from respectable families and with good health you will marry."

Su Yuan followed behind without the slightest hesitation or aversion, and obediently agreed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He was no longer the child who harbored unrealistic fantasies about cultivating immortality.

He knew very well that his father established Qianlong Manor so that his bloodline could take root and continue in this land.

As a descendant with spiritual roots, marrying, having children, and continuing the family line are family responsibilities he must bear.

Moreover, with the current resources of the villa, it is more than enough to support him in raising his offspring.