Chapter 155: Your Name in the Great Wei Immortal Register

"I'm already deeply grateful that the Chief doesn't expel me from the Dan Hall."

"Not having seen you for many years, let this old man see whether your pill Dao has regressed."

Daoist Yunding seemed to intentionally let Wei Dao observe and learn, and Xu Chuan didn't mind, conducting an on-site teaching session. However, he also held back somewhat.

But condensing eight pills in one furnace, with four high-grade pills and no low-grade ones, this pill refining achievement truly shocked Wei Dao.

Daoist Yunding stroked his beard and nodded, "Still quite good, you haven't slacked off."

Then he spoke to Wei Dao, "This is what it means that there are people beyond people, and heaven beyond heaven. Your future pill refining level may surpass the Dan Hall's other elders, but you still cannot be arrogant."

"This disciple respectfully follows Master's teachings and will definitely seek guidance from Elder Sanshu."

Before long, Xu Chuan went to find Steward Chen and had him help purchase first-grade pill formula materials and second-tier weapon refining materials.

With the Chief's orders, Steward Chen naturally didn't dare disobey.

Seeing Xu Chuan, Daoist Yunding was truly delighted.

Xu Chuan also confessed his identity to him.

"So Fellow Daoist Xu comes from an aristocratic family. However, a newly developing aristocratic family has immortal cultivators in the clan who are no different from rogue cultivators. The help they can receive is minimal, and they still must rely on themselves."

"What Fellow Daoist Yunding says is correct."

"To be honest, if you continued staying at the Dan Hall, Chief Yunding would definitely keep your Divine Sense Pill profit share for you. Over these years, even just that half percent would amount to over a thousand spirit stones."

"No matter. An aristocratic family's foundation for survival lies in the family. Spirit stones are certainly important, but if the clan members are inadequate, even thousands or tens of thousands of spirit stones will still be squandered away.

In fact, the more I leave for the family, the more it will attract the greed of other aristocratic families."

Daoist Yunding showed a thoughtful expression and cupped his fists, "I've learned something."

"If this poor Daoist can achieve Foundation Establishment one day, I will definitely go to Yuehu Commandery to seek guidance from Fellow Daoist Xu."

Xu Chuan smiled and nodded, raising his wine cup, "Come, let's continue drinking."

"Today let's drink to our hearts' content. After this parting, I hope there will be a day we meet again. If I succeed in Foundation Establishment in the future, this poor Daoist will definitely visit Yuehu Commandery. If I cannot, I only wish to scatter with the clear wind in this mortal world."

"Fellow Daoist Yunding's free-spirited nature truly earns my admiration."

Seven or eight days later.

Steward Chen, following Xu Chuan's instructions, collected some Essence Nurturing Pill, Qi Gathering Pill, and Divine Sense Pill materials, mainly Essence Nurturing Pills and Qi Gathering Pills, with only three or four sets of Divine Sense Pill materials.

But for Xu Chuan, these three or four sets of Divine Sense Pill materials, combined with some materials Xu Chuan had collected himself, were already enough to refine quite a few advancement spirit pills.

The rest were all second-tier ores, spirit iron, or demon beast materials.

These second-tier materials, combined with first-tier materials, as long as they weren't forging large implements, would be enough for a weapon refiner to attempt dozens of times.

This visit, the Dan Hall's goodwill had been mostly exhausted. Next time if he wanted to ask them to help purchase so many materials, it wouldn't be so easy.

Returning to the Xu family, Xu Chuan placed a large quantity of rare weapon refining materials before Wu Mingsheng, truly startling him.

"Grand Elder, these materials, even the Zhou family would need to exert all their efforts to collect them, right? Even if they could, it would take several months."

"My Xu family naturally paid no small price. Next time trying to collect this much won't be so easy." Xu Chuan cupped his fists, "I ask Elder Wu to make good use of them. I entrust my son Xu Mingwei's magical artifact to you."

"Naturally." Wu Mingsheng's expression was solemn, but his eyes were full of joy, "With so many materials, plus the weapon Dao classics collected by the Xu family, within two or three years, this old man will definitely break through the weapon Dao bottleneck and forge a fine-quality magical artifact."

Three months later.

With weapon Dao, array Dao, pill Dao, plus thirty percent of the Su family's foundation.

Xu Chuan finally decided to have the Xu family ascend to become a Qi Refining aristocratic family.

The commandery city's governor had now been replaced, becoming the Shen family, which was not inferior to the Chang family.

Receiving news from the Xu family, the Yuehu Commandery's governor also didn't dare be negligent and immediately sent word to the imperial city through official channels.

More than half a month later.

The commandery city received a reply that on the eighth day of the eleventh month, an Immortal Supervisor would arrive to inspect the Xu family.

The Xu family took this very seriously.

The eighth day of the eleventh month.

A flying boat came from the east, arriving before the governor's office.

The commandery city's officials and the Immortal Affairs Bureau's immortal officials were already waiting there.

"Greetings to the Immortal Supervisor."

He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his early fifties, with a dignified appearance. A "mountain" character mark faintly appeared between his brows, and his eyebrows slanted into his temples like tempered blade edges.

His nose was like a hanging gall with red jade luster, and his chin was adorned with a short beard like iron wire and silver hooks.

He wore a black-gold long robe woven from Northern Dark Silkworm silk, also a middle-grade magical robe.

At his waist hung a jade tablet inscribed with the two characters "Immortal Supervisor."

The Immortal Supervisor's aura fluctuations reached the Qi Refining perfection realm. His divine sense swept past, taking in everyone's cultivation realms, his face showing neither sorrow nor joy.

After landing, he casually made hand seals and put away the flying boat magical artifact.

"Yuehu Commandery has been quite turbulent recently."

The Immortal Supervisor's low voice suddenly rang out, startling everyone.

"Although my Cao clan doesn't interfere in disputes between aristocratic families, if things become too excessive and affect the peace of the entire Yuehu Commandery, my Cao clan will also take action to eliminate the malignancy. That would not look good."

The officials all bowed and cupped their fists, "Thank you for the Immortal Supervisor's teachings. We will keep them in mind."

The entire Great Wei was like an aristocratic family wearing the court's skin. Although it was called Great Wei governance, it was mainly the local aristocratic families and great clans governing various places.

What the Cao clan wanted was stability. As long as things didn't go too far, they wouldn't intervene.

After all, only with stability could they have stable tax revenue.

The tax exemption for immortal cultivation families only exempted mundane silver and grain taxes. Each great family still had to pay spirit rice annually. If spirit rice was insufficient, they could substitute with spirit stones.

"This time Yuehu Commandery has a new immortal cultivation family established, which is also rare good news. This Immortal Supervisor remembers that your Yuehu Commandery hasn't had a new immortal cultivation family for decades or even a century, right?"

The immortal official surnamed Zhou cupped his fists, "In reply to the Immortal Supervisor, that is indeed correct."

"Then where is this Xu clan? Take this Immortal Supervisor to see. I hope I won't have made this trip in vain."

The commandery city's Immortal Affairs Bureau originally had three great immortal officials, respectively in the hands of the Su, Zhou, and Yuan families. Now that the Su clan was exterminated, the Su family's immortal official naturally wouldn't remain and had also been killed in that battle.

When things reached that point, no matter what status you held, you couldn't escape death.

If the Zhou family had been defeated, the outcome would have been the same.

The Zhou family's immortal official cupped his hands, "The Xu clan is in a remote area of the county. Please follow us there, Immortal Supervisor."

The governor, vice-governor, commandery captain, and others didn't follow along.

They were all martial Dao experts who didn't have the ability to fly. Going along would be too slow.

"A county? Most county areas have thin spiritual energy. There's actually an immortal cultivation family using such a place as their family foundation?"

The Immortal Supervisor's lips curved into a thirty percent smile, seeming to develop some interest.

He waved his sleeve robe and released the flying boat magical artifact he had put away earlier, lightly leaping onto the boat.

This boat was a single-person flying boat magical artifact that could only carry two or three people.

Of course, the Immortal Supervisor naturally wouldn't let others ride with him, saying flatly, "Lead the way."

The Zhou family immortal official and Yuan family immortal official released their flying sword magical artifacts, riding their swords into the air and flying toward the distance. The azure flying boat followed closely behind.

Seeing them depart, the governor breathed a sigh of relief and looked toward the commandery captain, "Commandery Captain Yang, I heard the Xu family is still your in-law family. If your Yang family rises to success, don't forget about our two families."

Currently, the governor position belonged to the Shen family, the vice-governor was the Chang family, and the commandery captain was still the Yang family.

Yang Zhao was only serving temporarily. Before long, he would yield this position and devote himself wholeheartedly to family affairs.

"That's right. The Xu family is now a new noble in the commandery city. Their Grand Elder is also a pill Dao master. Countless families want to establish connections with them, but all lack the means.

And you, Yang Zhao, are an old acquaintance of the Xu family's Grand Elder."

Yang Zhao said flatly, "Your Chang family's current family head also has friendship with the Xu family head and Xu Mingyuan."

"How can that compare to your Yang family?" Vice-Governor Chang laughed heartily.

Yang Zhao said no more and turned to handle official business.

…

Qingjiang's Dongxi Village.

Because they knew the Immortal Supervisor was coming, the Xu family had already closed the Cloud Mist Grand Array.

The three arrived above Dongxi Village.

Now the frost winds were just beginning. Several thousand acres of farmland spread out, and when the wind came, the rice waves gently turned, golden light leaping.

Footpaths crisscrossed like silver threads woven by the earth, dividing the good fields like a chess board, and like veins extending into the depths of the village.

On the field ridges, farmers were busy.

Short robes rolled up to the knees, barefoot treading through morning dew, mud gently overflowing from between their toes.

Suddenly, flute sounds came from the southeast. A young shepherd with tied hair sat sideways on an ox's back, a bamboo flute resting at his lips, his clothes swaying gently in the autumn wind.

The green ox beneath him swished its tail every three steps, golden flies buzzing and scattering then gathering again at the tail tip.

On the bluestone main road, a patrol guard team wearing green robes with bound waists, walking steadily with long swords hanging at their waists, was dutifully fulfilling their duty.

This scene made the Cao clan's Immortal Supervisor's eyes light up.

"This Xu family knows how to govern well. This place reveals harmony everywhere."

"The Immortal Supervisor's words are correct. Otherwise, the Xu family couldn't have risen so rapidly within twenty or thirty years." The Yuan family immortal official smiled in agreement, but the smile concealed a blade, subtly hinting that the Xu family was hiding secrets.

The Immortal Supervisor paid no attention and said to himself, "That large residence ahead should be the Xu family estate. Let's go take a look."

The Zhou and Yuan family immortal officials immediately followed, landing at the Xu family's main gate.

The guards at the gate were startled and quickly came forward to bow respectfully, "Greetings to the immortal masters."

"Is your family head present? This official has come to verify the Xu family's qualifications."

"So it's the Immortal Supervisor. My family head has long been waiting inside. Please follow us in."

Among the Xu family's immortal cultivators, except for Xu Dezhao and Xu Deyi, all were in the main hall.

Seeing people arrive, they all stood up to greet them.

"Welcome the Immortal Supervisor's arrival. My Xu clan's humble dwelling is honored today." Xu Chuan smiled faintly.

"Let's dispense with boring pleasantries." The Immortal Supervisor raised his hand. His eyes swept over them, and his divine sense floated past. He said with slight surprise, "Your Xu family's foundation is quite deep."

"Thank you for the Immortal Supervisor's praise."

"Four late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, thirteen immortal cultivators total. The number is small, but it's barely acceptable to be a fifth-rank Qi Refining family. You may select one late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from your clan to serve as a fifth-rank immortal official, or you may choose not to."

Xu Chuan remained silent.

The Immortal Supervisor continued, "As for immortal officials, the lower three ranks can be recommended by each commandery. The welfare benefits are all one spirit stone every two months. Sixth rank and above can only be appointed by my Great Wei imperial clan.

Sixth and fifth-rank Qi Refining families basically only have one corresponding rank immortal official, with occasional exceptions.

Foundation Establishment families can have multiple, but the number is also strictly controlled, at most not exceeding five.

Sixth-rank immortal officials receive one spirit stone per month, fifth-rank immortal officials receive two spirit stones per month.

You can receive these as long as you take the position.

Of course, if the court assigns corresponding immortal official tasks, you cannot refuse. However, completing such tasks comes with compensation, so you won't work for nothing."

Xu Chuan thought for a moment, "My Xu family already has one person serving as Qingjiang County's immortal official."

"For the lower three rank immortal officials, each Qi Refining family can have at most one or two, but this doesn't conflict with the middle three rank immortal officials." The Immortal Supervisor explained.

"The fifth-rank immortal official... my Xu family will not accept it for now."

Xu Chuan finally made his decision. This decision made the Zhou and Yuan family immortal officials view him with new eyes.

Generally, families wouldn't refuse.

After all, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.

"Have you thought this through? Applying later won't be so easy, unless your Xu family advances in rank. Moreover, even without serving as an immortal official, the spirit rice tax that Qi Refining families should pay won't be reduced by half a bit."

"I understand. I've already thought it through."

The Immortal Supervisor nodded slightly and didn't try to persuade further. He immediately spoke of the fifth-rank family's tax burden.

"For newly advanced Qi Refining families, the first year is exempt from spirit rice tax. Starting from the second year, you must pay three thousand catties of spirit rice annually. Newly advanced Qi Refining families can defer for the first two years.

Therefore, starting from the fourth year, you truly pay spirit rice tax, paying three years of spirit rice at once, a total of nine thousand catties.

Any problems?"

Xu Chuan shook his head.

"As for the payment time, the Zhou family should notify you. When the time comes, just gather at the Zhou family."

Then the Immortal Supervisor patted the storage bag at his waist, and four rice seeds flew out. He introduced them, "These are rice seeds, divided into three grades. The blood-red one is Blood Rice, a low-grade spirit rice with the effect of replenishing blood energy.

The yellow one is Yellow Beam Rice, also a low-grade spirit rice containing some spiritual energy, most suitable for immortal cultivators who have just entered the immortal path to consume.

The crystal-like one is Crystal Rice, a middle-grade spirit rice that's not easy to cultivate. Long-term consumption can strengthen physical constitution and has some effect in promoting magical power growth.

The one shaped like a dragon is Dragon Tooth Rice, a high-grade spirit rice that's extremely difficult to cultivate, but the benefits are also obvious. It can strengthen physical strength, fortify root bones, and long-term consumption can even enhance one's bloodline.

Of course, this is only useful for people with bloodlines of eighth grade or lower.

What I mentioned before was calculated as low-grade spirit rice. If your Xu family grows middle-grade spirit rice, you only need to pay three hundred catties of middle-grade spirit rice annually. If you cultivate high-grade spirit rice, you only need to pay thirty catties.

Of course, if your Xu family has other spirit rice varieties, you can also cultivate them yourselves. My imperial clan won't interfere."

Farming, this work I'm good at!

Xu Chuan looked at those four rice seeds and secretly thought, "It seems what we obtained from the Su family should be Yellow Beam Rice."

He suddenly cupped his hands, "If we become a fourth-rank Foundation Establishment family, how many catties of spirit rice would we need to pay?"

"Thirty thousand." The Immortal Supervisor flatly uttered two words, then continued, "Thirty thousand is the limit. All Foundation Establishment families only need thirty thousand catties of spirit rice annually."

"Immortal Supervisor, may I receive all four varieties of spirit rice?"

The Immortal Supervisor smiled faintly and waved his sleeve robe. Four piles of rice seeds appeared before Xu Chuan.

He said, "I can give you three hundred seeds of each low-grade spirit rice, one hundred seeds of middle-grade spirit rice, and thirty seeds of high-grade spirit rice."

"Thank you, Immortal Supervisor."

"Your Xu family is quite sensible. If you had delayed reporting and didn't want to follow the orthodox path, I'm afraid there would be no place for your Xu family in Yuehu Commandery.

Although you've just started, your potential is considerable. As long as you endure these initial years, you may spread your wings and soar upward."

Xu Chuan seemed thoughtful and cupped his fists, "Then I'll borrow the Immortal Supervisor's auspicious words."

The Immortal Supervisor nodded slightly and took out a pill book iron certificate, "This pill book iron certificate is a low-grade magical artifact, though it only has symbolic meaning."

Pausing, he proclaimed loudly again, "This Immortal Supervisor announces that from this day forward, your Xu family breaks away from mundane aristocratic families and becomes an immortal cultivation family of my Great Wei. The Great Wei Immortal Register will have the name of your 'Dongxi Xu Clan.'

All immortal cultivation families enjoy special privileges. Your Xu family, including vassal families, need not pay taxes, and all military service and labor service can be exempted."

This was one person achieving the Dao, chickens and dogs ascending to heaven.

"The matter is settled. This Immortal Supervisor will take his leave now."

The Immortal Supervisor didn't stay long at the Xu family. After completing his business, he directly rode his azure boat away.

As for the Yuan family's little schemes, how could they escape his notice? But for the Great Wei imperial Cao clan, they looked at the entire Great Wei realm, at the neighboring Great Liang and Great Jin territories.

Mere aristocratic family conflicts were not taken to heart at all.