Chapter 161: The Zhou Family's Foresight, An Alliance Between Two Families, First News of the Foundation Establishment Path

"They truly are proceeding step by step." Zhou Shaoyuan sighed with emotion, letting out a long breath. "Old Ancestor, if you really agree to this, the Xu family will become a quasi-Foundation Establishment family. In Yuehu Commandery, won't they be able to act with impunity?"

Zhou Qingfang pondered for a long while, then suddenly laughed, "Ha ha ha, so that's how it is, it's actually like this. The Xu family truly has great ambition."

Both Zhou Shaoyuan and Zhou Sen looked over in surprise.

"Old Ancestor, could it be you've seen through the purpose behind this transaction of the Xu family?"

Zhou Qingfang's eyes flashed with keen light as he looked toward Zhou Shaoyuan, "What you said is correct. With my protection, the Xu family is equivalent to half a Foundation Establishment family in Yuehu Commandery, with no more worries about what's behind them. Therefore, their true goal was never to compete with us Yuehu Commandery families. Their eyes are set on the surrounding commanderies, or even all of Great Wei."

Hearing this, Zhou Shaoyuan drew in a sharp breath, "This..."

"With Xu Chuan's pill Dao, supplying the Xu family is absolutely more than sufficient. They indeed have the spare capacity to set their sights on other commandery cities." Zhou Sen pondered, "And if they don't compete with other families, yet have our Zhou family's protection, then at least on the surface, absolutely no one will find trouble with the Xu family.”

“Yuehu Commandery is ultimately still the Xu family's foundation. With just this little bit of resources and mutual competition, it will inevitably form a situation of mutual warfare. Yet with this move, Fellow Daoist Xu clearly intends to jump out of the chess game that is Yuehu Commandery and stand alongside our Zhou family as a player."

The Zhou family was already a Foundation Establishment family. If they only focused on Yuehu Commandery, the resources they could obtain would ultimately be limited. Therefore, they had long since stopped paying much attention to the various Qi Refining families of Yuehu Commandery, similarly setting their sights on the surrounding commanderies.

"One promise, plus a Dao Repository that can be freely copied, our Zhou family actually hasn't lost anything, and the Xu family is the same. Yet the impact it brings is extremely profound."

"If the Su family had this vision and magnanimity, our Zhou family would probably have had no choice but to obediently depend on them."

Zhou Shaoyuan's eyes rippled with light as he hesitated, "Could we not attempt to annex the Xu family?"

"Shaoyuan, you've become narrow-minded." Zhou Qingfang shook his head, his gaze carrying a trace of disappointment. "Sitting in the position of Yuehu Commandery's dominant family, with other family heads flattering you and clan elders fawning over you, has it made you lose your head? If you cannot properly reflect on yourself, I should consider replacing the family head."

Zhou Shaoyuan's heart trembled as his body began to shake slightly.

"Zhou Sen, you tell him why we cannot do this."

"Once we attempt it, both sides will have no room for compromise. Our Zhou family is different from the Yuan family. I dare say the Yuan family is absolutely no match for the Xu family. At the last Ascension Celebration, the reason the Xu family didn't explode was because they didn't want to affect the current situation in Yuehu Commandery and their own development.”

“Simply put, they didn't take them seriously. Yet our Zhou family truly does have the possibility of severely damaging or even destroying the Xu family. Therefore, the Xu family would use two consecutive transactions to gradually win over our Zhou family, and even lend our Zhou family a helping hand. If our Zhou family had known from the very beginning that the Xu family possessed such pill formulas, we might truly have entertained thoughts of annexation, but now it's probably not so easy."

"Attempting annexation, no matter what action we take, with the Xu family's astuteness, they will certainly know it clearly. Then no matter what, our Xu and Zhou families cannot escape the curse of the 'Su-Zhou War,' and only one family will remain in Yuehu Commandery."

"Family Head, the Xu family is not merely a newly promoted Qi Refining family in Yuehu Commandery. Don't underestimate the connections of a Grandmaster pill refiner. As long as he's willing, he can even have numerous Foundation Establishment families assist him."

"And if we destroy the Xu family, what can our Zhou family gain? We won't get the pill formulas, our family disciples will suffer heavy losses, and we might even be surrounded by other families."

"The most precious things about the Xu family have never been the thirty percent of Su family resources they obtained, the Dao Repository, or the top-grade magical artifacts, but rather the people of the Xu family, a top-tier pill refining grandmaster of Great Wei, and two immortal cultivation geniuses. This foundation is already sufficient for the Xu family to reach our Zhou family's level in one generation. Therefore, our Zhou family had best treat the Xu family as a Foundation Establishment family and maintain good relations. If we truly do what the Su family once did to our Zhou family..."

Zhou Sen's words reached this point and he said no more.

Zhou Shaoyuan felt deeply remorseful, then cupped his hands toward the two of them, "Thank you, Elder Zhou Sen, for your guidance. Thank you, Old Ancestor, for your teachings. These words, Shaoyuan will certainly remember in his heart, and will also inform the next Zhou family head to be sure to maintain good relations with the Xu family."

"There's no need to be excessive, just treat them normally."

"The Xu family has no need for our Zhou family to interfere. They have their own rhythm, and our Zhou family only needs to do well ourselves."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

"Zhou Sen, in a few days, have someone from the Xu family come visit."

Zhou Sen cupped his hands, "Zhou Sen understands."

Two days later, Xu Chuan received Zhou Sen's reply and breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. With this, the Xu family's plans could proceed according to schedule.

As for who would go to the Zhou family, Xu Chuan had already thought it through. Only he himself would go.

Xu Mingwei had now entered the ninth layer of Qi Refining, but outwardly only displayed the eighth layer. However, this Breath Concealment Technique could not deceive Foundation Establishment cultivators who possessed divine consciousness.

Several days later.

Xu Chuan went to the Zhou family, which could be considered revisiting an old place.

Both Zhou Sen and Zhou Shaoyuan personally came out to welcome him, demonstrating the Zhou family's regard for the Xu family.

"Family Head Zhou, Elder Zhou Sen." Xu Chuan cupped his hands.

"Elder Xu, we meet again after such a short time." Zhou Shaoyuan smiled slightly.

"Ha ha, could it be the Zhou family doesn't welcome this in-law?"

"How could that be? Even if we weren't in-laws, a pill refining grandmaster like Elder Xu would be treated with courtesy at any Foundation Establishment family."

Zhou Sen stroked his beard, "Fellow Daoist Xu, let's go. The Old Ancestor is already waiting for you."

"I dare not keep the senior waiting long." Xu Chuan nodded with lowered brow, not displaying the slightest bit of arrogance.

After a while, Xu Chuan followed the two through a circular archway. Ahead, bamboo shadows crossed, faintly revealing black-tiled and white-painted walls. This place was elegant and secluded, with quite a few green bamboos planted. When the clear breeze passed through, the leaves seemed to speak to each other.

A small bamboo house stood quietly in this place, as if merging into one with the surrounding environment. Above its lintel hung a wooden plaque reading "Tranquil Distance," the characters bearing the charm of Jin dynasty calligraphy with light moss covering. On both sides, carved wooden windows all displayed ice-crack patterns, covered with plain gauze. Sunlight passing through the windows scattered like broken gold across the floor.

Under the eaves hung copper bells. When wind moved them, their sound crossed the bamboo tops and became three parts softer.

"Elder Zhou Sen and I will wait here. Elder Xu can go on his own."

Xu Chuan cupped his hands, then walked toward the bamboo house.

Standing before the door, he cupped his hands and bowed, "This junior, Xu Chuan, has come to pay a visit."

Shortly after, a voice came from inside the bamboo house, "Fellow Daoist Xu, please enter."

Xu Chuan pushed open the door and entered.

He saw an old man with a weather-beaten face and white hair but youthful complexion sitting cross-legged before a writing desk. On the desk were placed an aged purple clay teapot and a three-legged copper censer. In the censer, agarwood smoke curled upward. The smoke met the beams and spiraled, transforming into light clouds that dispersed slowly.

Under the west window lay a pear wood couch spread with plain-colored brocade bedding. In the southern corner stood a curio shelf with layers displaying ancient jade, old porcelain, and strange stones, each item bearing the warm traces of years.

Besides these, there were no other furnishings in the room.

"Sit."

Xu Chuan sat cross-legged opposite Zhou Qingfang.

"Fellow Daoist Xu exhausts himself planning for the Xu family. This truly makes this old man admire you." Zhou Qingfang suddenly sighed with emotion.

"Senior praises me too much. How could my Xu family compare to the Zhou family becoming a Foundation Establishment family?"

"Let's dispense with the pleasantries." Zhou Qingfang shook his head with a rueful smile. "Although this old man doesn't know your Xu family's foundation very clearly, this old man can also see that your vision has never been placed on Yuehu Commandery. Or rather, your Xu family wants to put its main energy into other commanderies, and you want our Zhou family to be your Xu family's protective umbrella, am I right?"

"I cannot hide it from senior." Xu Chuan admitted frankly.

"This boldness, even our Zhou family has not had. Although I don't know what confidence you have, the Foundation Establishment families of each commandery are not easy to deal with."

"This junior understands." Xu Chuan nodded.

"If a Foundation Establishment cultivator takes action against your Xu family, I can mediate. However, if the other side insists on putting your Xu family to death, this old man will not fight desperately for your Xu family."

Xu Chuan nodded again.

"Since this is the case, today this old man can make a Dao heart oath before you." Zhou Qingfang's eyes burst with keen light. "However, this old man also wants you to make this oath that during your lifetime, unless our Zhou family actively schemes against or infringes upon your Xu family, you also cannot actively take action against our Zhou family. Do you dare agree?"

With these words from Zhou Qingfang, he was already treating Xu Chuan as an equal and regarding the Xu family as having the same strength as the Zhou family.

Xu Chuan worried that during these several decades the Zhou family might move against the Xu family. Zhou Qingfang similarly worried that after more than a century, the Xu family would not tolerate the Zhou family.

"Then let us establish a non-aggression pact, and help each other to the extent of our abilities."

"Good!"

Both sides immediately established the covenant. If they violated this oath, their own Dao path would be severed and they would be tormented daily by inner demons.

Zhou Qingfang sighed slightly, "If only the Su family had been willing to do this back then, how would our two families have reached the current situation? I hope in the future our two families will not end up like this."

"The Xu family is not the type to forget kindness and violate justice. We will definitely remember senior's protective grace."

"Who protects whom is still unknown." Zhou Qingfang revealed a meaningful smile. "I observe that Fellow Daoist Xu is still young. In the future, it's not impossible for you to have an opportunity for Foundation Establishment."

"Not everyone has senior's fortune. Simply relying on thousand-year spirit medicines to assault the Foundation Establishment bottleneck has too low a probability."

"You want to seek a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Does senior have connections?"

Now that the Zhou family was no longer a dark cloud hanging over the Xu family's head, only then did Xu Chuan dare express his Foundation Establishment aspirations.

"Previously, our Zhou family couldn't reach it, but now we have an opportunity to compete." Zhou Qingfang's eyes flickered. "It's just that the threshold is too high. Only disciples of Foundation Establishment families can participate, or those with recommendations from first or second-rank families."

First or second-rank families?

Xu Chuan pondered in his heart.

"Every sixty years, Great Wei holds a dharma assembly. Each Foundation Establishment family and power will send those at late Qi Refining to participate, mainly for sparring matches. The top one hundred can represent Great Wei and participate in the competition for the Wuhua Secret Realm. The Wuhua Secret Realm is located at the junction of Great Wei, Great Liang, and Great Jin. The three countries once fought endlessly over it, then stopped the war and agreed that every sixty years, each could send one hundred people inside to compete for resources."

"It's rumored that most of the main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills of the three countries come from there."

Xu Chuan's brows furrowed slightly as he pondered, "Then isn't this secret realm a meat grinder?"

"That's quite apt. I've also inquired about it. Each time from our Great Wei, those who come out of the secret realm have never exceeded thirty people. When it's fewer, sometimes only a dozen or so remain."

"But even so, every sixty years, each family will still send quite a few clan disciples to try their luck. At least, among those who come out, if the resources collected plus the ranking from killing enemies places them in the top ten, each person can obtain at least one Foundation Establishment Pill. The top three get three Foundation Establishment Pills each, the top five get two each."

"Only with Foundation Establishment cultivators sitting in guard generation after generation can a family avoid falling from Foundation Establishment family status."

"But those who can truly achieve this are in the minority. Especially for newly promoted Foundation Establishment families like our Zhou family, quite a few fall from Foundation Establishment family status after their Foundation Establishment cultivator perishes. If they have no backup plans, their speed of decline is probably even faster than ordinary Qi Refining families."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly, "Wealth not matching position."

"Incisive. It truly is wealth not matching position. The foundation of a Foundation Establishment family accumulated and saved over a hundred years, yet without Foundation Establishment sitting in guard, or rather, without Foundation Establishment trump cards to protect the family, will only become fat meat in others' mouths. After becoming a Foundation Establishment family, the path is several times more difficult and dangerous than the path of Qi Refining families."

Zhou Qingfang looked at Xu Chuan and said indifferently, "If your Xu family wants rapid development, you will similarly face this kind of situation."

Hearing this, Xu Chuan thought for a moment, then asked, "The Wuhua Secret Realm can grow the main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills, so it should be a place with abundant spiritual energy, I imagine it's quite extraordinary."

Zhou Qingfang was rather surprised. He hadn't expected Xu Chuan to think of this level.

"Worthy of being a pill refining grandmaster." Zhou Qingfang smiled lightly. "As for what the origins of the Wuhua Secret Realm are, this old man doesn't know very clearly, but I've heard that the environment inside is indeed different from the outside world, still retaining a portion of ancient atmosphere. The spiritual energy in the secret realm is abundant. If assisted by thousand-year spirit medicines, it can also increase the probability of assaulting Foundation Establishment by ten to twenty percent.”

“It's rumored that there were family disciples who specifically carried thousand-year spirit medicines inside to assault Foundation Establishment. And some truly succeeded. They even seized a top-three ranking in that Wuhua trial, greatly increasing their family's foundation. In just twenty to thirty years, they went from a newly promoted fourth-rank family to a third-rank family."

"Of course, the success rate is extremely low. To this day, only one or two people have succeeded."

"Then may I ask senior, when does the next dharma assembly begin?"

Zhou Qingfang smiled faintly, revealing everything without reservation, "Twenty-three years from now."

As for the Wuhua dharma assembly, his Zhou family couldn't help the Xu family. To obtain qualification, either the Xu family would have to be promoted to fourth rank within this period, or obtain a recommendation from a first or second-rank family.

"Thank you, senior." Xu Chuan cupped his hands in gratitude.

"As for selecting from the Dao Repository, you can have Shaoyuan and Zhou Sen take you there."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly.

"That's all for today."

"This junior takes his leave." Xu Chuan rose, bowed, and then left the bamboo house.

After coming out and passing through the semicircular archway, Zhou Sen and Zhou Shaoyuan were still waiting there.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, how did your conversation with the Old Ancestor go?"

"I gained much."

"Since that's the case, then follow us to the library pavilion. Our Zhou family has already organized everything by category." Zhou Shaoyuan said.

That Xu Chuan could walk out of the bamboo house meant he must have signed a non-aggression pact with their Old Ancestor.

With this pact in place, the Xu and Zhou families could each develop independently, helping each other to the extent of their abilities, with basically no competition existing.

With this, Zhou Shaoyuan's heart was also at ease.

As long as it wasn't the clan's core transmission, giving the Xu family some portions of their Dao Repository was fine.

Moreover, according to his guess, Xu Chuan probably wouldn't select too much. After all, his Xu family had also obtained the Su family's Dao Repository.

The Zhou family might have some different things, but the differences wouldn't be too great.

The two basically stayed by Xu Chuan's side. Xu Chuan didn't mind either. He selected two or three relatively rare ice-based techniques, some non-duplicated immortal cultivation arts and crafts texts, and Great Wei cultivation miscellany. Beyond these, nothing else.

"Is Fellow Daoist Xu only selecting these?" Zhou Sen asked.

"This is sufficient."

The key was still the non-aggression pact with the Zhou family, and the promise of protection from Zhou Qingfang, this Foundation Establishment cultivator.