Chapter 132: Scheming

"No need for formalities."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly, raised his wide sleeves, and with a gentle wave, a stream of magical power like a gentle breeze lifted everyone up.

"Our Xu family now has its first person at the peak of Qi Refining." Xu Mingshu grinned, "In the future, Father will also be the first Foundation Establishment cultivator, leading us and the Xu family to ever greater prosperity."

Xu Chuan shook his head with a smile, "Mingshu, did you eat honey? Your words are so sweet."

"Father, I've always been like this," Xu Mingshu said.

"Mingxuan, go down the mountain and summon your big brother and second brother."

"Mingshu, Mingxian, come inside with me. The rest of you return to your residences and continue cultivating."

"Yes."

Everyone cupped their fists again.

In a short while, Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan arrived at the bamboo house.

"Father, you summoned us?" Xu Mingwei said.

"All of you come in."

After the three entered, Xu Chuan lightly waved his sleeve robe, and the bamboo house door closed automatically while its restrictions activated.

"During my seclusion, was there anything unusual?"

Xu Mingwei said, "There have been no unusual movements in the Xu family. Recently, our herb-gathering teams have temporarily stopped going out to avoid encountering people from some immortal cultivation family again.

"Furthermore, as of now, eighteen members of the guard force have broken through to the innate realm. There are sixty-three peak Postnatal martial artists, of whom sixteen have hope of breaking through to innate and can be given Qi-Drawing Pills."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly, "First verify their character, then select the five or six with the best bone structure to be given the pills first."

"Yes, Father."

"Mingyuan, what about you? Any changes on the commandery city's side?" Xu Chuan then looked toward Xu Mingyuan.

"The situation is similar to before. According to the intelligence received, the Su and Zhou families are ultimately wary of each other and are holding back. They seem to be waiting for a spark. Otherwise, this situation could persist for at least another one or two years."

Xu Chuan pondered for a moment, "The Zhou family is probably wary of the Su family's Foundation Establishment ancestor going down fighting to the death with them. They want to increase their foundation further, or else wait for the Su family's ancestor to pass away."

"Is there any intelligence on the Su family's ancestor?"

"None for now. Not even the slightest trace has leaked in the past two years. Presumably, only one or two people within the Su family know exactly how much lifespan the Su family's ancestor has left."

After thinking for a moment, Xu Mingyuan said, "Father, the Zhou family is being cautious, but what is the Su family waiting for?

"They should know that time is not on their side. The longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes for them.

"Only by thoroughly hurting the Zhou family, or even eliminating the Zhou family's Foundation Establishment cultivator, can the Su family ensure they can still safely maintain their clan in Yuehu Commandery after their ancestor's time runs out.

"Otherwise, given their arrogant behavior in the past, the Qi Refining families of Yuehu Commandery will hardly tolerate the Su family."

Xu Chuan's eyes gleamed as he pondered, then said after a moment, "If my guess is correct, the Su family should be seeking outside help. The current balanced situation is also deliberately maintained by them.

"The Su family's ancestor couldn't possibly have failed to anticipate the current situation. He must have prepared contingencies.

"As for whether that contingency is a person or an object, it's hard to say. Until the final moment, the answer will likely remain unclear."

Xu Mingyuan also nodded.

"Here's what we'll do. In a while, you can have someone spread news in the commandery city claiming that traces of lifespan-extending pills have been found in Guangling Commandery, allegedly obtained from some ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. Remember to make it seem natural and without traces."

"Father wants to test the Su family's movements. If the Su family goes all out, then there's a high probability they have no hidden cards left. Otherwise, the opposite is true.

"Additionally, this might have some chance of triggering the conflict between the two families ahead of schedule."

"Correct."

"But just the news alone won't be enough, will it?" Xu Mingyuan raised his eyes to look at Xu Chuan. Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "Father has his ways to make this news seem as real as possible. It just requires someone to make a trip."

Xu Mingxian said, "Father, let me go. I'm familiar with the Guangling Commandery market district."

"Very well, then Mingxian shall go."

"In the conflict between the Su and Zhou families, our Xu family could choose not to participate and only emerge after the matter concludes. However, that would also mean losing the opportunity to share in the Su family's Dao repository, medicinal fields, and other assets."

Xu Chuan surveyed his children, his voice resonant, "Since you've chosen to walk the path of immortal cultivation, you should understand that this is a path that defies heaven.

"Contending with heaven for life, contending with others for life, contending with oneself for life!

"Our Xu family must endure when endurance is called for, and must contend when contention is called for. For ourselves, for the family, for our descendants, we fight for a glorious future!

"If the Su family were as stable as Mount Tai, our Xu family's pursuit would be like pulling chestnuts from fire. But this is a heaven-sent opportunity. If we don't seize it, our Xu family would need at least ten years to advance another step."

"Your children understand!" Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and the others all cupped their fists in acknowledgment.

With the Su family's foundation, plus Xu Chuan's pill Dao, the Xu family could become a top-tier Qi Refining family in just ten to twenty years, enough to make even newly established Foundation Establishment families like the Zhou family wary.

But if they spent forty to fifty years slowly accumulating such a foundation, most of those present would likely face their end without any opportunity to reach Foundation Establishment.

"Remember to diligently cultivate the Breath Concealment Technique and achieve great completion as soon as possible. From this moment on, except for me, Mingwei, Mingxian, even if you break through again, maintain your displayed cultivation at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. If you encounter a Foundation Establishment cultivator, there's no need to hide.

"Everyone else should conceal their cultivation to the maximum extent possible."

"Yes, Father."

"You may all leave. I need to stabilize my realm and thoroughly familiarize myself with the magical power and its applications at the peak of Qi Refining."

Xu Mingwei and the others bowed and left the bamboo house.

After stepping out, the aura around Xu Mingwei shifted, changing from the eighth layer of Qi Refining to the sixth layer, then releasing again.

Seeing this, Xu Mingxuan and Xu Mingshu smiled faintly, similarly circulating mysterious aura, changing from the fifth layer of Qi Refining to the fourth layer.

As for Xu Mingyuan, he hadn't fully mastered the technique yet and temporarily couldn't conceal his cultivation.

He touched the tip of his nose and couldn't help but sigh, "I always feel like I'm the only one dragging everyone down."

The others laughed heartily.

Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan went down the mountain while the other two remained to cultivate.

Several days later, Xu Chuan's realm was completely stabilized, and there would be no more situations where his magical power got out of control.

The Breath Concealment Technique had reached great completion, able to completely conceal three levels of cultivation. The only regret was that it could only fool the divine sense probing of those at the Qi Refining stage.

But even if the Xu family came out into the open in Yuehu Commandery in the future, Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't condescend to visit the Xu family.

Therefore, they wouldn't be exposed for the time being. However, Xu Chuan was somewhat curious. In the Great Wei immortal cultivation market districts, divine sense blocking restrictions could be seen, but there didn't seem to be corresponding magical artifacts.

Wouldn't it be even better and more convenient to directly block others' divine sense or divine consciousness probing?

He had also traveled to many places in Great Wei but had never heard of such things, so he speculated that the method or materials for making such magical artifacts had become extinct.

"It can only depend on whether Yunnu can find a solution."

The Su family had no successors, and their great mansion was about to collapse.

No Qi Refining family in Yuehu Commandery wouldn't want a piece of the pie; they were just hiding it well.

Of course, there were also those like the Zhou family who harbored resentment and had endured for many years until today's eruption.

The Su family was a grand feast, but also a warning monument.

It made Xu Chuan constantly reflect that in the future, he must properly restrain the Xu family and not let it fall into such a situation.

Another seven or eight days passed.

Xu Chuan handed Xu Mingxian a porcelain bottle and had him make a trip to Guangling Commandery.

Xu Mingxian naturally concealed his cultivation when going out. To outsiders, he appeared to be merely a sixth layer Qi Refining cultivator.

Using the identity of a rogue cultivator, he sold pills and spiritual herbs in the market district. The quantities weren't large, and they were all ordinary items.

After a day or so, someone came to his small stall.

"Healing pills, detoxification pills, and the spiritual herbs are all low-age ordinary things."

"Three spirit stones, I'll take everything."

"Well..." Xu Mingxian pondered briefly, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, three spirit stones it is."

This person wore green brocade robes, and his demeanor didn't seem like that of a rogue cultivator. He was probably an immortal cultivator nurtured by some family in Guangling Commandery.

Seeing him pay the spirit stones and put the items into his storage bag, he was about to leave.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait." Xu Mingxian suddenly called out.

"Is there something else?" The brocade-robed young man's brows furrowed slightly.

Xu Mingxian patted his storage bag and took out the pill that Xu Chuan had prepared.

"This poor Daoist noticed that Fellow Daoist seems quite knowledgeable about pills. I happened to obtain a strange pill and wonder if you could appraise it."

"A strange pill?" The brocade-robed young man became interested and took the porcelain bottle from Xu Mingxian's hand.

When the porcelain bottle was opened, a pill fragrance containing life essence immediately spread, making his eyes light up.

This life essence even attracted the attention of people nearby.

In the blink of an eye, several more people gathered around.

"Does Fellow Daoist know what kind of pill this is?" Xu Mingxian asked.

The brocade-robed young man examined it carefully, pondering in silence. His sword-like brows suddenly drew together half an inch, carving a shallow furrow on his forehead.

Someone who had gathered said, "Pills containing life essence are extremely rare. Could it be a lifespan pill?"

"But it doesn't seem as rich as the legends say. May I ask Fellow Daoist, where did you obtain this?"

Xu Mingxian smiled faintly and replied, "Obtained by chance. If this Fellow Daoist is interested, five spirit stones and you can take it."

"Five spirit stones?!" Everyone was astonished.

That person continued, "If it really is a lifespan pill, Fellow Daoist, you'd be taking a huge loss. Sell it to a Foundation Establishment family, and they'd probably pay over a thousand spirit stones."

"This poor Daoist doesn't understand much about pill Dao, but as you just said, it's not as rich as the legends claim. Perhaps it isn't one. This poor Daoist would rather not gamble.

"If I really went to a Foundation Establishment family and it turned out not to be a lifespan pill, this poor Daoist would be in deep trouble."

Everyone's eyes flickered with various thoughts but soon someone offered five spirit stones, which then evolved into a bidding war.

In the end, the brocade-robed young man bought it for thirty-two spirit stones.

Xu Mingxian then packed up his stall and left Guangling Commandery.

News that a suspected lifespan pill had appeared in Guangling Commandery spread quickly, even reaching the neighboring commanderies.

…

Yuehu Commandery.

The Zhou family and Su family also quickly received the news.

Su Family.

"A suspected lifespan pill has appeared in Guangling Commandery?"

The Su Family Head's brows furrowed slightly. He immediately went to the Ancestor Su's seclusion location to inform him.

Upon hearing this, a gleam appeared in the Ancestor Su's somewhat clouded eyes, "Send a few people to check. If it's confirmed, obtain it by any means necessary.

"Even if it can only extend my life by ten years, I'm confident I can eliminate the Zhou family."

"Also, has there been any response from the Lei family? Are they willing to lend our Su family a hand?"

"No news yet."

"Then continue to raise the stakes. And ask if the Azure Bloom Pill has been successfully refined."

"Ancestor." The Su Family Head was startled upon hearing this. "You want to coerce the Lei family?!"

"So what if I coerce them? Even if the Lei family is a first-rank family, if their Foundation Establishment perfection ancestor dies, the Lei family would also suffer greatly. I was the one who first obtained the Azure Bloom Pill formula.

"It's just that at the time of the cave dwelling dispute, given the Lei family's overwhelming strength, I had no choice but to hand it over and keep it secret."

"In any case, if the Lei family doesn't act, our Su family faces imminent disaster and will have difficulty preserving the clan. We might as well be forceful for once and fight for a chance at survival."