Chapter 123: Time's Up Already? Short and Weak

After several more breaths, the last layer of fire wall was also breached.

Xu Chuan was full of confusion. With a few leaps, he arrived before Xu Mingwei.

"This truly exceeded my expectations. If you held a complete set of superior-grade magical artifacts, you might have such power. But how..."

Xu Mingwei retracted the Ink Flood Dragon Bow and smiled faintly, "Father, when I fully surged my magical power just now, something changed in my eyes. I saw the weak points of the fire walls you set up. By attacking these weak points, this child was able to achieve such results."

"Weak point targeting?"

Xu Chuan was somewhat dazed. A grandmaster perfection physical body and strength, the extra tremendous force bestowed by Innate Divine Strength, the ultra-long-distance vision bestowed by Eagle Eye, and now added weak point targeting?

This was a bit too powerful, wasn't it?

Wasn't this like a fixed artillery platform?

That's breaking the rules!

Xu Chuan immediately thought that if he supplemented what Xu Mingwei lacked...

A fixed artillery platform could still be destroyed. Only a mobile artillery platform would be truly flawless.

From then on, unless far surpassing his realm and strength, he would truly be invincible at the same level.

Xu Chuan thought of the only speed-type talent among the third generation—Swift as Wind, Fast as Lightning.

He could even find concealment techniques or magical artifacts in the future...

"Father."

Xu Mingwei's shout brought him back to his senses. He said indifferently, "What is it?"

"Should we continue?"

After pondering briefly, Xu Chuan said, "Try one more time. This time don't aim at the fire wall's weak points. Let's see what level you can reach... Before that, let me rest for a moment."

Continuously activating the Phoenix Furnace six times to set up six layers of fire walls had consumed quite a bit of his magical power.

The second test.

Xu Mingwei only broke through four layers, stopping at the fifth.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. This matched his estimates. However, when the family had the means in the future, they would definitely replace Xu Mingwei's equipment with superior-grade magical artifacts.

The power of superior-grade magical artifacts far exceeded what middle-grade magical artifacts could compare to.

"Let's stop here. Cultivate well from now on. You still need to manage family affairs first."

"Yes, Father."

"By the way, Shitou, do you still remember the prayer text I had you memorize back then?" Xu Chuan said casually.

"Naturally I remember."

"Recite it once for Father to hear."

"In the year of Yisi, we devoutly worship our ancestral spirits. Virtue flows to descendants, blessings fill the household. Never slack in spring and autumn, filial thoughts remain sincere..."

Xu Chuan took the opportunity to bestow Swift as Wind, Fast as Lightning upon him.

"Not bad. When the next family head is selected, also have them memorize it firmly."

"I will, Father."

Afterward, the two returned to Jade Cold Pool.

Xu Mingwei then went down the mountain. He ultimately had some affairs to handle, and someone needed to be stationed at the main estate.

Looking at Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxuan under the demon fruit tree, Xu Chuan stroked his short beard, "Next year there should be two more sixth layer Qi Refining immortal cultivators. As for Ahyuan, he probably won't enter the immortal Dao until the year after."

Currently, pills like Qi Accumulation Pills and Qi Gathering Pills all relied on the stock in Xu Chuan's storage bag.

Materials for martial Dao pills except Grandmaster Martial Pills weren't lacking.

After a few more years, the Xu family would definitely need to interface with Yuehu Commandery's immortal cultivation families to collect spirit herbs.

Otherwise, once consumed completely, they would be unable to continue.

Another month passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Chuan summoned Xu Mingxian to inquire about the family protection grand array arrangement.

"Preliminary preparations are about done. In a few more days, I can formally arrange the grand array. It should take about two or three days to complete."

Xu Chuan clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent."

"After arranging it, don't activate it first. Wait for my notice, then try activating the array to see if it affects the Three Absolute Dragon Locking Grand Array."

"Understood, Father."

Several days later.

Silently, Xu Mingxian completed arranging the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array.

A second-grade superior-grade grand array, probably only first or second-rank families could possibly arrange one.

Xu Chuan felt it was too ostentatious and should be kept as a trump card, only to be used at critical moments. Then they should find a first-grade superior-grade spell array to arrange outside the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array.

He had instructed Xu Mingxian about this matter, and he had also agreed to go out to the marketplace to search for one after getting through this busy period.

As for having him create a first-grade grand array at present, that was still somewhat difficult.

The Dao of arrays was even more difficult than pill Dao, magical artifact Dao, and talisman Dao.

To truly become an array master, even with talent bestowal, Xu Mingxian would need at least over a decade.

The next day, as soon as midnight passed.

Xu Chuan used Daily Divination.

[Today's Divination: Neutral. Your fifth son Xu Mingxian activates the grand array for the first time, causing disturbances in the Three Absolute Dragon Locking Array. The sealing power develops leaks. The peak third-grade water-attribute flood dragon that has been suppressed here for over two thousand years awakens. A wisp of divine consciousness investigates the surroundings, also observing the Xu family for a moment, then returns to tranquility.]

"Peak third-grade water-attribute flood dragon?!"

Seeing this divination information, Xu Chuan's heart couldn't help but be shaken.

If this flood dragon broke free and wreaked havoc, probably all of Great Wei would be destroyed.

"However, since it's a neutral divination, presumably he currently has no way to break free and hasn't set his mind on my Xu family. Moreover, setting aside the over two thousand years he's been suppressed here, just being able to cultivate to peak third-grade means he's likely already existed for at least several hundred to over a thousand years. I wonder how much lifespan this flood dragon has remaining?"

Xu Chuan only knew that demon beast lifespans were often much longer than human immortal cultivators. Dragons and their kin, though not as long-lived as turtles at the same level, were still among the long-lived species of demon beasts.

"Three or four thousand years at least, right?"

The next day, Xu Mingxian activated the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array but didn't unleash its power.

Otherwise, with spiritual qi churning, gathering and taking form, transforming into the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise four spirits, it would surely be a sign of celestial phenomena changing.

A semi-transparent light screen instantly condensed, like a dome covering the wilderness. With Jade Cold Pool as the center, an area of several dozen li was all encompassed within.

"My Xu clan's foundation for starting out is complete!"

Xu Chuan looked up at the canopy, a faint smile on his lips. A sweep of divine consciousness naturally couldn't hide this array light screen. However, he also knew clearly that whether they could remain here long-term was still unknown.

Obtaining this place's fortune to arrange the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array, but simultaneously also planting another even greater hidden danger.

It was just that this hidden danger's fortune or misfortune was unknown.

It should be about right.

"Could this be the senior sealed beneath the Three Absolute Dragon Locking Array?"

Although Xu Chuan sensed nothing at all, knowing in advance, he wanted to use this to communicate with that flood dragon.

"Oh? A mere Qi Refining stage immortal cultivator actually possesses divine consciousness. Human junior, your fortune is quite good. However, how did you discover me? Even if you possess divine consciousness comparable to Foundation Establishment in advance, you shouldn't be able to sense my existence."

Xu Chuan continued transmitting with divine consciousness into the void.

"My child is an array master who told me about this grand array's nature, a sealing array, mostly used to suppress great demons and their kind."

"That young cultivator who thought to borrow the Three Absolute Dragon Locking Grand Array's spiritual qi to arrange another grand array has truly good array talent. When I awakened this time and my divine consciousness temporarily broke free, I also received a favor from him."

A grand, low voice directly resounded in Xu Chuan's sea of consciousness.

"If you have him help me break free, I can help your clan rise and become the ruler of this region."

"Senior must be joking. My Xu family can rise on our own. Your promise truly makes this junior suspicious of your intentions. Sealed for thousands of years, presumably you deeply resent the human race, don't you?"

The voice in the sea of consciousness fell silent.

"This junior understands one principle: the more extravagant empty promises are, the more suspicious the purpose behind them. To truly trade with each other, it's best if strength and status are equal, or if one holds the other's fatal weakness."

"Human junior, your thoughts are quite meticulous. You also see through worldly affairs and human hearts quite thoroughly. However, you wouldn't communicate with me without reason, would you? Is there something you seek?"

Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "This junior merely wants to know how much lifespan Senior has remaining. If my Xu family continuously uses the family protection array in the future, it will presumably accelerate your breaking through the seal. This also relates to whether my Xu family will relocate or continue staying here."

"Hmph! Trying to probe my remaining lifespan? What audacity!"

Xu Chuan's words seemed to provoke the flood dragon's anger.

Sealed for over two thousand years, how could he not harbor resentment?!

Without this calamity, he might even have hoped to step into fourth-grade shape-shifting demon beast realm and truly become a great demon dominating a region.

Now, not only had he made no progress, his strength had also only remained at Foundation Establishment stage.

Even if he broke free, it would take over a decade of recuperation before recovering to his peak.

As for lifespan, naturally not much remained, at most just two or three hundred years.

"It seems there truly isn't much left." Xu Chuan thought secretly. If there were still one or two thousand years of lifespan, he absolutely wouldn't react like this.

After pondering, Xu Chuan decided to probe, "Why is Senior angry? It seems lifespan is indeed scarce. You probably don't even have one-tenth of your flood dragon clan's lifespan remaining, right? Flood dragons are considered longevity species. With Senior's realm, you should have four or five thousand years of lifespan. Now you don't even have four or five hundred?"

Seeing he didn't answer, Xu Chuan probed again, "No, perhaps not even a hundred years remain."

"Insolence!"

"It seems there should still be over a hundred years. Two or three hundred years of lifespan?" Xu Chuan pondered inwardly, then said with a smile, "Senior, please don't blame me. Even if it's two or three hundred years of lifespan, that's much longer than us. If this junior cannot break through to Foundation Establishment, after sixty years I'll likely die and my Dao will dissipate."

Xu Chuan lavished praise.

"Naturally. The human race is nothing but ants. A hundred years of time passes in the blink of an eye."

"But Senior was also suppressed by so-called ant human race immortal cultivators. You mustn't underestimate our human race."

Xu Chuan repeatedly pulled at his nerves.

"Actually, my Xu clan establishing our clan here, taking root, could be considered having a connection with Senior. Why not mutually benefit each other?"

"How would we mutually..."

The voice in the sea of consciousness abruptly stopped.

Xu Chuan was slightly stunned, then a bitter smile appeared at the corners of his mouth: The lookout time is up already?

A bit short and weak~

"Two or three hundred years of lifespan..."

After Xu Chuan murmured, he immediately had Xu Mingxian retract the array. After Xu Mingxian finished and walked over, he asked curiously, "Father, who were you just communicating with?"

"What do you think?" The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth curved up as he turned to walk into the bamboo dwelling.

"For me to be completely unaware, it must have been divine consciousness communication. Was it the great demon beneath Jade Cold Pool?" Xu Mingxian also followed in.

After Zhang Wanqing formally began learning pill refining, another bamboo dwelling was erected nearby for her to live in.

Xu Deling went to the surrounding area to practice spells, with Wu Tao and Shen Qingyi following along.

"That's a peak third-grade flood dragon. Just now I communicated with it and also probed some of the situation. He was sealed here by a powerful human race immortal cultivator and harbors resentment toward humans. Over two thousand years of sealing has left him with only two or three hundred years of lifespan."

Xu Mingxian's heart was shocked. He couldn't help but immediately ask, "Father, how did you know?"

"Father has Father's methods." Xu Chuan said with a faint smile.

"That's right. Father can divine and calculate, so naturally has ways to learn such things."

After Xu Chuan sat cross-legged, he continued, "Yunnu, what do you think the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array's impact on it will be? How long before this grand array breaks?"

"The impact will be considerable, causing more and more flaws in it. But Yunnu believes it will be safe and sound for at least a hundred years."

"Oh, why do you say so?"

"First, our Xu family keeps a low profile and rarely makes enemies. Even if we have enemies, we'll definitely quickly find ways to eliminate them. The frequency of using the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array shouldn't be high. Even calculating once per year, several hours each time, I think over a hundred years won't cause major flaws in the Three Absolute Dragon Locking Array, allowing that flood dragon to escape."

Thinking of the various benefits of a third-grade flood dragon, Xu Mingxian continued, "Father, if our Xu family can outlive that third-grade flood dragon, this would be an enormous fortune."

"It is fortune." Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingxian. "If enemies, we should naturally use any means necessary to bring about their death. However, we could also be friends, which would have many more benefits for our Xu family."

"Friends?"

"Our Xu family gains his protection, adding another foundation guarantee. He gains our Xu family's assistance and can break free earlier. This is the connection between our mutual interests. However, this is just my calculation. Whether it's feasible, Father will carefully plan. If we truly cannot be friends, even if we no longer use the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array in the future, we must seal him dead in this place and seize the fortune from his corpse."

"Father does things most cautiously. This child is reassured."

"This matter is settled. In a few days, this child will go to the Imperial City to search for a first-grade superior-grade spell array."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly and gave him the Lei family token, over four hundred spirit stones, and two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, instructing, "Take the Lei family token. If you encounter difficulties from aristocratic families, you can take it out for deterrence. Additionally, collect things like soul restriction secret techniques, concealment techniques, spirit beast restrictions, and texts on the four daos of pills, arrays, magical artifacts, and talismans. Of course, for pill Dao, unless it's ancient pill formulas, there's no need to consider anything else."

"This child will pay attention."

Over the past half year, Xu Mingxian's cultivation hadn't fallen behind. Since he broke through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining, nearly a year had passed. He was approaching late eighth layer of Qi Refining realm.

As long as he could reach the peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining, then with the help of Breakthrough Pill's power, he could directly enter the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

In a few years, the Xu family would have two ninth layer Qi Refining cultivators and one Qi Refining perfection immortal cultivator. Even among Qi Refining families in the Imperial City, this wouldn't be considered few.

Admittedly, compared to their numbers of early and middle-stage immortal cultivators, the Xu family naturally fell far short.

According to what he knew, Qi Refining families in Yuehu Commandery all had at least over twenty immortal cultivators in their clans. But most were early or middle stage. Qi Refining late stage was only three or four, or even fewer. Some of them were even recruited wandering cultivators.

A few families' highest cultivation was only the eighth layer of Qi Refining, merely calculating as sixth-rank Qi Refining families.

The Xu family's ambitions weren't small. Once they revealed themselves, they would definitely go straight for top-tier fifth-rank Qi Refining family status.

But fifth-rank Qi Refining families, besides having requirements for the highest realm immortal cultivator, also needed the clan to have at least ten immortal cultivators.

Within a few years, all five of Xu Mingwei and the others could enter the immortal Dao. Adding Xu Chuan himself, Wu Tao, Shen Qingyi, along with Zhang Wanqing and Xu Deling, that made exactly ten people.

Xu Dezhao had just entered innate realm. If given six or seven years, he also had a chance to step into the immortal Dao.

Xu Chuan had considered not exposing Xu Mingwei and the others when upgrading to a Qi Refining family, since they could recruit wandering cultivators to make up the numbers. However, thinking carefully, doing so would instead give people a sense of secrecy afterward, making them continuously investigate.

After all, they couldn't hide forever. Any immortal cultivators with similar strength could see through their cultivation levels.

It would be best to collect concealment techniques, deliberately conceal a few layers of cultivation, pretend to be those with poor aptitude, then gradually reveal it over a few years.

As long as they displayed poor aptitude, other Qi Refining families wouldn't suspect or investigate deeply.

After all, their clans were the same, geniuses were few, and most with immortal cultivation aptitude were mediocre.