Chapter 172: Xu Chuan's Plans, The Arrival of the Imperial City Envoy

Seeing this, Xu Chuan was struck with inspiration.

He planned to feed the female tiger some demon beast flesh and blood, spirit medicines, and pills to see if he could help improve the bloodline of the white tiger's offspring, making them spirit beasts from birth.

Each time after expending his energy, the white tiger would shake its tail and leave, not taking it too seriously.

It looked just like a scumbag who would pull up his pants, pat his butt, and walk away.

However, after the female tiger became pregnant, it seemed to change. Knowing that his own offspring was being nurtured in her belly, he often brought her good food.

"I didn't expect the spirit beast world to be so realistic too."

Xu Chuan shook his head with a laugh and tested his idea. However, since the female tiger was an ordinary wild beast, she might not be able to digest quickly, so Xu Chuan often personally helped with his spiritual power.

Pregnant wild beasts were extremely irritable, but under Xu Chuan's imposing presence, she didn't dare move.

"According to this speed, her pregnancy period should exceed that of an ordinary female tiger. It seems she will indeed produce excellent offspring, though whether it will be one or many is hard to say."

She needs to be well cared for. If they accidentally die, that would be a huge loss."

After thinking it over, Xu Chuan specially assigned guards to watch over her, reporting immediately if they discovered anything wrong with the female tiger.

Time flew by.

Grass and trees yellowed and fell, autumn departed and winter arrived.

The eighth day of the eleventh month.

Xu Mingwei and the others returned to Dongxi.

During this period, they had also sent the Azure Fire Eagles back to deliver messages, saying they had reached cooperation with another commandery city family and sent back some collected spirit herbs, spirit herb seeds, and so on.

After that, there were no more messages.

Until today when they returned.

"Xiaoyao, this is our Dongxi Xu Clan."

Passing through the mist array, Azure Fire Eagles Ah Er and Ah San both cried out excitedly. They had grown up here from a young age and also considered this place home.

Eagle cries resonated continuously.

The people living in Dongxi all looked up. Seeing two Azure Fire Eagles and a group of people flying past, someone shouted loudly, "It's the Family Head and the others!"

Dongxi immediately became lively.

Looking down from Ah San’s back, Ren Xiaoyao saw it was the season for harvesting late rice, with farmers all very busy.

It was exactly a scene of "golden waves surging through the fields, sickles moving to startle the hibernating atmosphere."

Thousands of acres of rice paddies, a jade-colored lake, row upon row of houses, wide streets, and crowds of people with smiles on their faces coming and going.

On several mountains in the distance were palace buildings and towers, surrounded by green steps.

There was a faint light screen appearing and disappearing.

The Azure Fire Eagles and Xu Mingwei's group all passed directly through without being affected, finally landing in front of a large residence.

Hearing the commotion, the direct lineage members of the Xu family from each hall all headed toward the Xu family's new residence.

Bai Jing, Yang Ronghua, Wu Rushan, and a group of younger juniors all came out from the new residence.

Xu Chuan and the other immortal cultivators naturally arrived first. Not long after, Xu Mingwei's group also landed at the entrance of the new residence, with Xu Dewen and several other martial arts juniors arriving last.

"Father (Grandfather)."

Xu Mingwei and the others all first bowed to Xu Chuan with cupped hands.

Ren Xiaoyao glanced at Xu Chuan and also immediately followed suit then they greeted Bai Jing.

After that, Xu Mingwei's group of children greeted their fathers.

A short while later, Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "Let's all go inside and talk."

The new residence hall was more than twice as spacious as the old one, with a width of five bays and a depth of three rooms.

Nanmu beams spanned thirty-six feet, taking the number of "Heavenly Stems." The floor was paved with nine hundred square bricks, conforming to the arrangement of "Earthly Branches."

The east and west gable walls each had six carved lattice windows, taking the meaning of "six directions." The north and south eave corridors had twelve pillars, corresponding to the "twelve monthly cycles."

On the central hall wall hung a huge "Pine and Crane Longevity" painting, with nanmu couplets on both sides reading "Immortals touch my head, binding my hair to receive eternal life."

All beams and pillars had vermilion lacquer as the base, with gold powder outlining intertwining lotus patterns, and the column tops decorated with gilded bracket sets.

The south window held a bronze Vermillion Bird lamp tree, with twelve branches capable of holding a hundred candles. The north window had four sides of jade coiled chi lamp screens, with light penetrating to reveal mountains and waters.

Since there weren't many seats in the hall, excluding the main seat, there were only twelve.

Therefore, all the juniors stood.

"Zhao'er, you tell us about the gains from this trip."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"This time traveling abroad, Dezhao gained tremendously. I witnessed many families beyond Yuehu Commandery, some domineering, some cautious. Among rogue cultivators there are also those who are low-key, and those who are treacherous and sinister.

When conversing with them, one must think three times.

The customs of each commandery are different, which also affects the situation of local families."

Xu Dezhao spoke eloquently with extraordinary bearing.

Xu Deling also said she had witnessed many novel magical artifacts and local customs, broadening her horizons.

Finally, there was Ren Xiaoyao, whom everyone was most curious about.

At this moment, he stood behind Xu Mingyuan, with Xu Dejing and his wife, Xu Derui, and Xu Derong beside him, with some nervousness visible in his eyes.

Xu Chuan glanced at him and said to Xu Mingyuan, "Mingyuan, since Xiaoyao is your disciple, from now on he's also one of our Xu family's own. You should introduce him to everyone."

"It should be so." Xu Mingyuan smiled faintly and then said, "Xiaoyao, come to the center."

"Yes, Master."

"At the head of the hall are my father and mother. My father is also the Xu family's Grand Elder. You may address them as Grand Elder and Madam."

"Xiaoyao pays respects to Grand Elder and Madam."

Bai Jing smiled slightly, "He's a handsome child."

"My eldest brother, third brother, fourth sister, you're already familiar with. This is my fifth brother."

"Greetings, Fifth Uncle."

Xu Mingxian nodded slightly then he greeted the wives of Xu Mingwei and the others. They were all elders and deserved proper respect.

"I won't introduce the juniors one by one. Later, let Dezhao and Deling take you around to meet them."

Xu Dezhao said with a smile, "Leave it to me, Second Uncle."

Afterward, Xu Mingyuan briefly explained Ren Xiaoyao's background. Hearing it, Bai Jing wiped away tears, "He's a child with a bitter fate."

She swept her gaze over all the juniors, "This child Xiaoyao hasn't had it easy. Since he's entered our Xu family, he's also a member of our family. If I find out any of you bully him, don't blame me for enforcing family law."

Ren Xiaoyao clearly felt her sincerity, which moved him greatly.

Regarding Ren Xiaoyao's aptitude, Xu Mingyuan didn't mention it.

It could be said that the Xu family almost never discussed the specific talents of each junior. Only Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei and a few others knew about these matters.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, everyone dispersed.

Ren Xiaoyao was pulled away by Xu Dezhao to interact with his peers.

Yang Ronghua supported Bai Jing back to the rear residence, and the others all went about their own business.

Xu Chuan went to the study with his five children.

Others only knew they had traveled abroad. Very few people knew about the family trading matters.

"In nearly six months, being able to reach deals with two families is quite good. For now, let's keep it this way. Before our Xu family produces a Foundation Establishment cultivator, expansion needs to proceed slowly."

Xu Mingwei nodded in agreement, "What Father says is reasonable. In the next few years, we should first focus on improving our own cultivation, making strengthening the family foundation our priority.

Our Xu family doesn't lack top-tier Qi Refining cultivators, but our mid-to-lower level foundation is inferior to some sixth-rank Qi Refining families. However, this matter cannot be rushed. We must also pay attention to the character of descendants and guards.

Character is the root of a person. If the root is corrupted, even if they grow up, they'll only be a malignancy to our Xu family."

Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingxuan, Xu Mingshu, and Xu Mingxian all bowed to Xu Mingwei with cupped hands, "Understood, Eldest Brother."

After a moment, Xu Chuan said, "The Zhou family sent someone to notify us a few days ago. On the twenty-first day of the eleventh month, all Qi Refining families in Yuehu Commandery need to gather at the Zhou family residence. At that time, an envoy from the Imperial City will arrive.

Our Xu family's spirit rice has matured and been harvested this year. Combined with the Su family's former resources, the quantity is substantial, so there's no need to worry at all. However, regarding who should go to the Zhou family..."

Xu Mingyuan said, "What concerns does Father have?"

"Tax collection is no small matter. The Cao clan should have one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying them."

"Father is worried that if we go and our cultivation levels are exposed, it will cause the families of Yuehu Commandery to speculate whether other members of our Xu family have also concealed their realms, thereby becoming wary."

"Exactly." After thinking it over, Xu Chuan said, "I'll go in person and bring Wu Tao along."

"Thank you for your trouble, Father," Xu Mingwei said with cupped hands.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly and waved his hand, "It's nothing."

"Our Xu family now has spirit rice, spirit fish, and spirit medicines in hand. We can also purchase demon beast corpses. I think we could open an immortal cultivation restaurant in the Yuehu market.

At the same time, establish a Xu family trading company to sell and purchase immortal cultivation texts, techniques, magical artifacts, spirit medicines, pills, demon beast materials, and so on.

We can also establish branches in the commandery city and counties to trade with martial arts families."

"Previously in Yuehu Commandery, all the Qi Refining families intentionally controlled resources to prevent them from flowing to martial arts families, resulting in no immortal cultivation families being born for over a hundred years.

The counties are the same.

Our Xu family will muddy and enliven this stagnant pool."

"Of course, the trading companies in the counties will mainly deal in martial arts techniques and resources, with a small amount of immortal cultivation resources, but they must be exchanged for immortal cultivation resources."

While Xu Mingwei and the others were still pondering Xu Chuan's intentions, Xu Mingyuan's eyes lit up, "Father intends to single-handedly elevate the foundation of the entire Yuehu Commandery?!

This is a grand strategy!

It seems Father's vision has long been set on all of Yuehu Commandery.

That's right. Our Xu family will in the future be like the Liu family of Clear Wave Lake, an existence that dominates a commandery.

Once the Xu Trading Company deeply penetrates the hearts of Yuehu Commandery's people, when their families expand in the future, their first choice will also be to trade with our Xu family's trading company.

Father uses his own power to reform Yuehu Commandery, and also uses the power of an entire commandery to rapidly strengthen our Xu family's foundation."

"Mingyuan understands me." Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "We do things step by step. Speaking of looking at all of Great Wei now would be empty talk, but dominating Yuehu Commandery is not so far off.

Within ten years, I, Mingxian, and Mingwei should be able to take turns attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment. And there's Ren Xiaoyao, whose talent is outstanding. He will certainly allow our Xu family to produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator within twenty years."

Xu Mingshu said with a grin, "It's all thanks to Second Brother accepting such a good disciple."

"Just a matter of fate and circumstance."

"No, this is the result of Heaven and Earth's fortune coming together, and also the result of our entire Xu family working together with rising fortune."

After saying this, he looked at Xu Mingyuan again, "When you accepted this child Xiaoyao, you should have already thought about your plans for his future, right?"

Xu Mingyuan nodded, "Legend has it that immortal cultivators with earth spiritual root aptitude or above all possess bloodlines of eighth grade or higher, or have special constitutions. This can be seen from the fact that he could feed spirit fish with his spiritual blood to help them grow since childhood.

Therefore, this child plans to have him marry into our Xu family."

The others all agreed. An immortal cultivator with earth spiritual root aptitude would even tempt the three great first-rank families to accept him into their ranks.

"So." Xu Mingyuan bowed with cupped hands, "This child wishes to ask Father for one thing."

"Speak."

"Let Rong'er cultivate our Xu family's inherited technique."

Xu Chuan pondered, his fingertips lightly tapping the rosewood table. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Agreed."

"Thank you, Father."

"If earth spiritual root aptitude only combines with ordinary aptitude, it would be too wasteful. Since we're having Xiaoyao marry in, let's have Rong'er also walk the immortal path."

After a pause, Xu Chuan said, "I have an idea. From now on, all male descendants in the clan with true spiritual root aptitude or below should cultivate the inherited technique upon reaching the innate realm."

"Father, this..." Xu Mingwei was about to say something but was stopped by Xu Chuan raising his hand, "Continue listening to what I have to say."

Xu Mingwei fell silent.

"However, whether they walk the immortal path or martial path in the future will be decided by you all. Those who walk the immortal path will be taught the secret art of converting spiritual power. Those who walk the martial path will break through to Grandmaster after possessing true spiritual roots."

"Although the immortal path is stronger than the martial path, even with true spiritual roots, our Xu family cannot possibly allow every true spiritual root aptitude cultivator to break through to Foundation Establishment."

"As for women, after stepping into the innate realm, they should generally be sixteen or older. You can ask their own opinions. If they choose to recruit live-in husbands in the future, they can be allowed to cultivate the inherited technique.

In the future, our clan's inherited technique will separate the cultivation method from the secret arts, and the cultivation method must not contain any words related to immortal cultivation."

Xu Mingwei and the others all understood, "Father wants to increase the number of descendants with immortal cultivation aptitude. But wouldn't this arouse suspicion?"

Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "In the past, our vision was too shallow. For safety, we naturally tried every means not to attract attention. Now Mingxian's research on arrays that isolate divine consciousness probing has made considerable progress and should succeed within a few years.

At that time, all Xu family members will wear these array artifacts, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators won't be able to tell whether they walk the martial path or immortal path.

Furthermore, as I just said, cultivating the inherited technique is one thing, and walking the immortal path is another matter. The decision-making power lies with you direct line elders.

I believe you know in your hearts how to make choices.

You should also understand that a family cannot develop through the power of one person alone."

"You all walk the immortal path because I decided for you, but I cannot decide the future lives of your children and grandchildren for generations to come."

"Also, I'm establishing one more rule. Women in the Xu family with true spiritual root aptitude or above should not marry out. However, we must be flexible in special circumstances, such as encountering forces that our Xu family absolutely cannot afford to offend."

"Everything is for the Xu family's survival. If we don't want to endure, we must endure. If we cannot bear to part with something, we must part with it!"

Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingxuan, and Xu Mingxian all fell into silent contemplation.

Xu Mingshu had felt it was light at first, but by the end, her expression also became grave.

While traveling abroad, they had also witnessed Qi Refining families being oppressed openly and covertly by Foundation Establishment families, nearly driven to desperation.

All because they had previously refused to send their legitimate daughter to be a concubine to a legitimate descendant of a Foundation Establishment family.

"This child respectfully follows Father's teachings!"

After a moment, all several of them solemnly bowed with cupped hands.

The Xu family was developing extremely rapidly and constantly changing, so nothing could stick to rigid rules.

After a while, Xu Chuan asked again, "Mingyuan, do you still have the energy now to take charge of the Xu family trading company's affairs?"

Xu Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then said, "The Discipline Hall's affairs aren't too heavy, and with Dewen, Jing'er, Wu Tao, and the others helping me, there should be no major problems. I just can't handle everything personally."

"You don't need to handle everything personally. A qualified superior should be good at managing subordinates. I believe you'll do better than your brothers and sisters in this regard."

"Second Brother, for the trading company matter, who else but you? However, this is a major Xu family matter. If you need anything, just give us orders.

For fighting and magical combat, seek Eldest Brother and the Battle Hall. If you lack manpower, I can issue tasks and mobilize the entire Xu family. For spirit beast messages, seek Mingshu. For array formation deployment, seek Mingxian."

Speaking to this point, Xu Mingxuan said with a chuckle, "Each of us several has our own areas of expertise, but if we integrate together, we're enough to match most of other Qi Refining families combined.

Oh yes, and we have our Xu family's little genius, the future artifact refining master, little Ling'er."

The Xu family was thriving with unlimited potential, and everyone's faces showed smiles.

"I will certainly not disappoint Father and everyone in the clan's hopes, and will make the Xu Trading Company spread throughout all of Yuehu Commandery." Xu Mingyuan's eyes were full of confident radiance.

In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-first of the eleventh month.

Xu Chuan and Wu Tao, the two of them, headed to the Zhou family's clan territory.

Azure Moon Platform.

The Zhou family had constructed this massive elevated platform specifically for all families to gather and receive the Imperial City envoy.

This platform had a diameter of three hundred paces, taking the symbol of "round heaven and square earth."

The platform was divided into nine tiers, each tier with seven steps, conforming to the number of "nine-five supreme."

The entire structure used Northern Mountain Cold Jade Rock. The stone was blue-white suffused, appearing like frost and snow covering the ground from afar, while close inspection revealed hidden ice-crack patterns.

Sixty-four coiled dragon pillars stood around the platform's edge. The pillars were fifty-four feet tall, with territorial maps carved in intaglio on the column bodies.

The Azure Moon Platform's center was embedded with a Taiji yin-yang fish. The yang side used Kunshan white jade, the yin side took Yunshan black stone, and each fish eye was inlaid with a luminous pearl.

The outer extension had a "Mountains and Rivers State" relief band, three zhang and six chi wide, presenting the forms of the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Great Rivers from east to west in sequence.

The edge had a bronze chi-head drainage system, a total of three hundred sixty pieces. When it rained, they would spout water like curtains.

When Xu Chuan arrived, he was also somewhat shocked. One could see the Zhou family's emphasis on the Imperial City envoy.

At this time, many seats were arranged on the platform, with more than half already occupied.

Spirit fruits, spirit wine, and jade cups were placed on the tables. People from neighboring families conversed with each other.

Xu Chuan brought Wu Tao and landed, walking toward the center while cupping his hands with a smile, "Everyone, Xu has arrived late."

The main seat was empty. Zhou family head Zhou Shaoyuan sat in the first seat on the left, while the Yuan family head was on the right.

The seat below the Zhou family was vacant, clearly left for someone.

Seeing Xu Chuan arrive, Zhou Shaoyuan smiled and beckoned, "Brother Xu, before the envoy arrives, it's not late. Come sit here. I specially saved this seat for your Xu family."

"Thank you."

Xu Chuan and Wu Tao took their seats. Zhou Shaoyuan turned to him and said, "I didn't expect you, the Xu family's Grand Elder, to personally come today."

"Receiving the Imperial City envoy should be my responsibility. If juniors were to slight the envoy, wouldn't that bring overwhelming disaster to my Xu family?"

Zhou Shaoyuan nodded slightly, then looked at Wu Tao, "This young friend seems somewhat familiar."

"He's the husband of Dejing from Mingyuan's lineage, Wu Tao. Quickly pay respects to Family Head Zhou."

Wu Tao hastily stood up and bowed to him with cupped hands, his etiquette thorough.

"No need for such grand ceremony. Please sit."

Only then did Wu Tao sit down.

"By the way, Brother Zhou, this is my Xu family's first time paying taxes. Do you have any pointers, such as what the Imperial City envoy is like as a person, whether we need to prepare meeting gifts, and so on?"

Zhou Shaoyuan shook his head, "I don't know much either. The Imperial City envoy who arrives each year is not the same person, but they all stay for half a day.

Some exchange pleasantries with us commandery city families first, then proceed with tax collection, while others directly begin the inventory. It varies from person to person."

"I see. Then the envoy's cultivation level..."

Zhou Shaoyuan switched to voice transmission, "Qi Refining perfection, but there will certainly be a Foundation Establishment cultivator accompanying him. I imagine that Foundation Establishment senior is a guest elder of the Cao clan or similar."

After saying this, he spoke no more and picked up his jade cup, lightly taking a sip.

Before long, the remaining Qi Refining family members also arrived.

The last to arrive was the family head of a fifth-rank Qi Refining family. Xu Chuan had an impression of him, it should be the Lu family.

His expression was hurried, his face full of anxiety.

Someone joked, "Family Head Lu, you're the very last. If you'd been any later and the envoy arrived, you'd be subject to punishment."

"There's a major matter in the clan that urgently needs handling."

"What major matter is more important than receiving the envoy?"

After Family Head Lu took his seat, he sighed slightly, "I don't know if our Lu family is just unlucky. Our spirit fields suffered an insect plague. The spirit rice planted just two or three months ago is about to be more than half destroyed."

"Insect plague?" The Yuan family head said in surprise, "I remember this disaster hasn't been seen for decades. Could it be that your Lu family offended someone and they're deliberately retaliating?

Among the hundred immortal arts, there are also methods for controlling insects and beasts."

"It shouldn't come to that, but are all of your families' spirit fields unharmed?" Family Head Lu asked doubtfully.

"Unharmed." All the family heads shook their heads.

"It seems it really might be that our Lu family has been poisoned by some scoundrel. If I find out who, I'll definitely skin them alive." Family Head Lu looked as if he was gnashing his teeth.

Xu Chuan observed the subtle signs and took this matter to heart.

If it was just a little bit or by chance, that would be one thing, but if more than half of a family's spirit fields suffered an insect plague, that could be a sign of a large-scale insect plague approaching.

Other Qi Refining families weren't so extravagant as to set up arrays on every single spirit field.

Although spirit fields were within the clan protection grand array, unless enemies attacked, they wouldn't activate it.

Of course, Xu Chuan didn't believe those family heads were truly ignorant to this degree. They just didn't show it on the surface.

After returning, they would probably have people strengthen their vigilance.

After all, if an insect plague really broke out and spirit rice was insufficient, they could only make up for it with spirit stones and other resources. If this continued long-term, the family would certainly decline.

About half an hour later, suddenly, the sky light split, and a shuttle-shaped dark azure flying boat broke through the clouds.

When first observed, it was still in the flowing clouds ten li away, but in the blink of an eye it had approached the Azure Moon Platform. Its speed was so swift that it left nine condensed, undissipated afterimages behind it, like scattered feathers from a green phoenix spreading its wings.

Shortly after, a flying boat over ten zhang long and three zhang wide, with a chi-head swallowing cloud pattern carved on the bow, stopped above the Azure Moon Platform.

Xu Chuan looked up and saw an exquisite pavilion on the flying boat, also with flying eaves and bracket sets, quite ingenious.

In addition, over ten guards stood on the boat's deck. Judging by their imposing presence, they were at least late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

A moment later, a young man emerged from the pavilion wearing a top-grade Moonlight Dharma robe, a glazed crown on his head with a jade hairpin inserted horizontally. His temperament was refined and easy-going.

He gently waved a feather fan in his hand, which was also no ordinary object.

Behind him followed a red-robed, white-haired elder. Two men in black armor in front of the pavilion accompanied the young man and the red-robed elder, descending together from the flying boat.

On the Azure Moon Platform, everyone had already stood up.

Seeing them land, they all bowed with cupped hands.

First, Family Head Zhou said, "The Zhou family leads all Qi Refining families of Yuehu Commandery in awaiting the envoy's honored arrival."

"We respectfully welcome the envoy." Xu Chuan and all the family heads said in unison.