Chapter 385: Forming Golden Cores in Succession

"Then what about our Xu family? Can we survive this?"

Yang Ronghua's first reaction was to worry about the Xu family.

Xu Mingwei gently held her soft hands and whispered, "Do not worry. Our Xu family has prepared for this day for decades. We naturally have a certain degree of confidence."

Pausing for a moment, he asked softly, "Madam, are you not worried about the Yang family?"

Yang Ronghua breathed a sigh of relief in her heart and replied, "Did you not mention, Husband, that my father has already preserved the bloodline for the Yang family?

That is enough.

I know that there are no eternal families in the world.

Billions of lives will fall. I can hardly imagine what kind of catastrophe this will be.

It is already fortunate enough that the Xu family can protect itself.

"To have such a wife is my good fortune."

Xu Mingwei smiled faintly.

"Meeting you, Husband, is also the greatest fortune of my life."

The couple gazed into each other's eyes, their gazes as tender as water, their deep affection undiminished by time.

A single lifetime, a single pair.

Xu Mingwei and his wife could be considered the model couple of the Xu family.

From their first meeting at the Qingjiang Yang Manor, a century had passed to this day, yet their feelings for one another had never changed.

Although Xu Mingxuan and Xu Mingxian were also strictly monogamous, Zhang Wanqing and Zhou Zongni were both immortal cultivators. Aside from the first few years, or perhaps the first decade, they had all been entirely occupied with their respective cultivation in the later years.

Even though Yang Ronghua was now a martial artist, at her core, she was still an ordinary woman.

However, despite this, her status within the Xu family was exceedingly high.

No one dared to show her any disrespect!

Time hurried by, and another two months passed.

One day.

Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingqing, who were in secluded cultivation in the same chamber as Xu Mingxuan, unexpectedly broke through one after another and were now ready to condense their Divine Ability Seeds.

However, what Xu Mingyuan had comprehended was the True Intent of the Talisman Dao.

The difficulty of this was more than several times greater than what Xu Mingqing faced.

If it were not for his innate fate talent, Talisman Born as the Brush Falls, he would not have stood any chance at all.

The greatest strength of this talent lay in creation!

As his brush danced like dragons and snakes, a perfect talisman would be formed the moment the strokes fell.

The effects of the talismans he crafted were far more potent than those drawn by ordinary talisman masters.

If the disciples of the Xu family were ever in a situation where both sides drew talismans in battle, the advantage would naturally belong to the Xu family.

As for Xu Mingqing, he possessed his own innate gifts.

He had extraordinary comprehension of the Wood element, which was the very reason he could comprehend a Wood element entry-level divine ability to ninety percent so rapidly.

Most of the others were stuck at forty or seventy percent.

Xu Dezhao was exactly like this.

Despite his decent Fire element talent, he had still failed to comprehend his divine ability beyond seventy percent.

After Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingqing brought their entry-level divine abilities to one hundred percent perfection, they immediately informed Xu Chuan of the news.

Xu Chuan was naturally overjoyed.

Overcoming this final step in merely a few months was exactly as he had expected; it likely had something to do with Xu Mingxuan's luck halo.

"You two should relax for a few days. In seven days, you will both enter secluded cultivation to break through to the Golden Core stage," Xu Chuan instructed.

"Yes, Father." Neither Xu Mingyuan nor Xu Mingqing refused.

Seeing this, Xu Mingxuan let out a soft sigh. "You guys are still faster. Even with the aid of the high-grade connate spirit object, the Profound Yellow Stone, I have only just reached ninety percent of my entry-level divine ability.

I wonder how long this final bottleneck will take."

"Third Son, you just need to believe in yourself. In two or three months at most, you will also break through," Xu Chuan encouraged.

"Then I will borrow Father's auspicious words," Xu Mingxuan replied.

Less than a month later.

The two of them formed their Golden Cores at the exact same time.

The Golden Core formation celestial phenomenon appeared over Dongxi once more.

Perhaps because the two were forming their cores simultaneously, the celestial phenomenon actually expanded to a range of over two hundred kilometers.

Ethereal talismans and azure rays of light even manifested in the sky, each occupying one half of the firmament.

It had only been a few months.

Successive Golden Core breakthroughs in Dongxi sent massive shockwaves through the Immortal Martial Alliance, Great Wei, Great Liang, and Great Jin.

The Immortal Martial Alliance sent envoys to visit, but they were turned away at the gates.

Upon hearing the news, the Cao Clan, Sima Family, and Liu Family also tried every possible method to find out who had formed a Golden Core.

Unfortunately, their efforts yielded nothing.

It was as if the Xu family had completely sealed their mountain gates.

The Cao Clan and the others had their suspicions, guessing that the Xu family was doing this to prepare for the great tribulation.

The Immortal Martial Alliance, however, was fraught with anxiety.

They repeatedly dispatched people to the Guangling Branch to inquire about the situation in Dongxi, but Xu Deheng firmly told them to stop asking.

To the Xu family, the Immortal Martial Alliance was ultimately just a temporary faction.

They had benefited greatly from the Xu family's external deterrence and the stability they had established, allowing them to flourish and prosper.

Therefore, the Xu family did not feel they owed them anything.

Whether they could survive the great tribulation would depend entirely on their own luck.

After all, the Land of Imprisonment spanned tens of thousands of kilometers. Not every region would suffer a devastating blow.

After their initial breakthroughs, thanks to the mid-grade tier-three spirit vein and their own profound foundations, Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingqing directly pushed forward to the second layer of the Golden Core stage.

Both their divine sense and mana were comparable to that of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Not long after.

Mei Yun emerged from seclusion, having reached Foundation Establishment perfection.

Ever since taking Xu Chuan as his honored master, his cultivation speed had been far beyond ordinary.

Coupled with Xu Chuan nurturing him with an unlimited supply of high-grade pills, advancing from the mid-ninth layer of Foundation Establishment to Foundation Establishment perfection in just a few months was perfectly reasonable.

At his earnest pleading, Xu Chuan granted him a half-month vacation.

He allowed Mei Yun to go and properly explore Clear River City and Moon Lake Commandery City.

However, as his cultivation level grew higher, his bad luck also became more potent. At the restaurants he visited, people suffered from food poisoning; in the taverns, patrons violently vomited.

Even the random people he asked for directions would suddenly suffer unprovoked disasters shortly after parting ways with him.

Mei Yun knew he was special, but he never expected it to be so glaringly obvious in Clear River City, a place teeming with mortals.

Because of this, he completely lost the mood to take a vacation.

Left with no choice, he returned to Dongxi and lay in his room, refusing to step outside.

This way, he would at least save others from trouble.

"No wonder Honored Master made me stay in continuous seclusion. I had no idea my bad luck had become this severe.

It is somewhat tolerable for immortal cultivators, but to mortals, I am a walking human-shaped disaster!

Why am I so terribly unlucky?"

After pondering over this for two or three days, he stepped out of his bamboo hut and went to seek Xu Chuan's guidance. "Honored Master, after I break through to the Golden Core stage, will it really change this situation?

Taking a trip to Clear River City made me realize that I am essentially a human-shaped disaster.

Wherever I go, terrible things happen."

Xu Chuan looked at him with an amused smile. "Although I do not know the exact specifics of your constitution, you are certainly not a disaster. You just cannot control your own abilities yet.

You involuntarily absorb the providence of others.

Providence is an ethereal and intangible concept, but it genuinely exists within heaven and earth.

A family has its clan fate, gathered from countless family descendants and servants. When the hearts of the people are united, the providence grows strong, and the family prospers.

An empire possesses the imperial dynasty's fortune, formed by converging the providence of countless families and commoners.

The rise and fall of powerful aristocratic clans, or the mass deaths of commoners in a region, will affect the stability of the imperial court, thereby influencing the imperial dynasty's fortune.

As for whether your breakthrough to the Golden Core stage will give you control over this, as your master, I cannot give you a definite answer.

However, there is a sixty to seventy percent chance that a special transformation will occur within you."

Mei Yun's gaze grew solemn. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and said, "This disciple understands. Let me lie down for another two days, and then I will enter seclusion to attempt the Golden Core breakthrough."

Xu Chuan could not help but laugh. "Suit yourself."

Two days later.

Mei Yun entered seclusion to charge toward the Golden Core stage.

Half a month later.

Xu Mingxuan pushed his True Intent of the Earth Element to one hundred percent mastery at the entry level. After returning the Profound Yellow Stone and adjusting his condition for a mere two days, he also entered seclusion to form his core.

Among the second generation, he was the only one left who had not yet formed a Golden Core.

Xu Mingxuan naturally wanted to catch up to his brothers and sisters as quickly as possible.

Xu Mingyuan glanced at the bamboo hut where Xu Mingxuan was sequestered and smiled faintly. "It is finally Old Third's turn. Once he forms his core, the pace of Golden Core breakthroughs in our Xu family should slow down a bit."

Xu Mingqing nodded. "The others who have the potential to form a core on their own are probably just Xu Dezhao, Xu Deheng, and Xu Chonghui. All of them should have a chance at divine ability core formation.

Wenjing might be capable as well, but he has not yet reached Foundation Establishment perfection."

He then turned to look at Xu Chuan. "Father, do you have any arrangements moving forward?"

"For Dezhao and the others, we will naturally assist them in achieving divine ability core formation," Xu Chuan replied. "As for the rest, they will have to rely on their clan contributions. It is simply impossible to provide massive amounts of resources for every single person to form a core.

Even if our resources are abundant right now.

We still have to consider our future descendants.

After all, Golden Core formation resources are not that easily acquired."

Xu Mingyuan nodded in agreement. "Father is right. If things are obtained too easily, they will not be cherished. If we suddenly stop providing resources later on, it might even breed resentment.

Over a long period, this would lead to a decline in the clan's cohesion.

Furthermore, observing the younger generation in our clan, there are more and more individuals with outstanding aptitudes. Just within the sixth and seventh generations, there are already more than five with earth spirit root aptitudes.

It goes without saying that descendants with heavenly spirit root aptitudes will eventually be born in the future."

"I would actually prefer if we produced individuals with special physical constitutions or innate talents," Xu Chuan chuckled. "As for the gap in cultivation aptitude...

For anyone below the heavenly spirit root aptitude, our Xu family's current alchemy Dao inheritance can completely compensate for it.

Even in actual combat, with the support of our artifact, array, and talisman paths, they will not be inferior to any genius.

However, to become a top-tier prodigy, the assistance of a special constitution or innate talent is absolutely essential.

Of course, even if they lack those.

With our Xu family's heritage, if we pour all our efforts into nurturing a single person, we can still elevate them to the level of a prodigy.

It is just that the costs of doing so would outweigh the benefits."

"Special constitutions or talents are indeed incredibly rare. I think that after we relocate the Xu clan to Yunxi, we can arrange marriage alliances with the major aristocratic families and cultivation geniuses of the Azure Dragon Prefecture."

Xu Mingyuan suggested. "This way, we can ensure the continuous strength of the Xu clan's bloodline."

"That is indeed a viable method," Xu Chuan agreed.

"By the way, Father, what are your plans for your second disciple, Mei Yun?" Xu Mingyuan asked. "I sense that there is something quite peculiar about him."

"There is no harm in telling you."

"He possesses a special constitution or talent related to providence."

"Is it similar to Old Third's ability to seek fortune and avoid calamity?"

"It is far more terrifying. If he cannot control it, he will involuntarily absorb the providence of the people, families, and factions around him to accelerate his own cultivation."

Hearing this, both Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingqing's pupils shrank in shock.

Xu Mingqing even exclaimed aloud, "There is actually such a terrifying constitution or talent? If a person or faction's providence drops too low, they would suffer endless disasters, wouldn't they?"

Xu Chuan nodded. "Indeed. He previously stayed with three Foundation Establishment clans, and all of them were wiped out. In fact, two of them were destroyed by our Xu family.

As for him, he managed to perfectly evade danger every time by voluntarily leaving right before the faction's destruction."

"Amazing! That is countless times stronger than Third Brother's talent!" Xu Mingqing sincerely marveled.

"There are tens of thousands of constitutions and talents in this world. It is not entirely surprising for something like this to appear. During the great era of cultivation in antiquity, there must have been even more diverse physiques," Xu Mingyuan remarked.

"Your second brother is right. Therefore, our Xu family must not become complacent just because of a few minor achievements."

"Then, Father, you are putting all your effort into helping Mei Yun form a Golden Core. Does that mean once he succeeds, he will be able to control his ability to automatically absorb providence?"

"I cannot say for sure. He likely has a grand background. However, even if he still cannot control it after forming his core, I have my strategies. You two do not need to worry about it."

The two brothers asked no further questions.

"Mingyuan, you should go back and thoroughly comprehend third-tier talismans. Here are the materials for third-tier talisman crafting. This should be enough for your use."

Xu Chuan tossed a storage pouch to him.

"Thank you, Father," Xu Mingyuan said, clasping his hands together.

"As for you, Mingqing, remain here and refine your alchemy Dao with me. Third-tier materials are incredibly rare; using whole portions just for practice would be quite a waste.

So, you will begin your research with medicinal property fusion.

This way, you only need to extract a tiny fraction of the spirit medicine at a time.

A single portion of spirit medicine can provide you with dozens or even hundreds of opportunities for research.

Once you have mastered the changes and fusions of medicinal properties, your success rate in refinement will vastly increase, and the quality will significantly improve.

This will ensure you don't end up like ordinary third-tier alchemists, who burn through massive amounts of spirit medicine just to barely refine a low-grade pill."

"Understood, Father." Xu Mingqing bowed with clasped hands.

Immediately after, Xu Mingyuan soared into the sky, flying back to the Grand Manor.

He first summoned a few of his children, then inquired about Xu Chongjian's cultivation progress.

"Congratulations, Grandfather, on successfully forming your Golden Core!" Xu Chongjian respectfully cupped his hands in greeting.

"Thank you, Jian'er. Have you encountered any bottlenecks in your cultivation recently?"

Xu Chongjian shook his head. "None at the moment. However, I recently sparred with Brother Fei and was effortlessly defeated."

Xu Mingyuan stroked his short beard with a faint smile. "Setting aside the gap in your cultivation realms, Chongfei obtained serendipitous opportunities in the Heavenly South that even all of us elders are deeply envious of.

Meanwhile, resources are scarce here, and serendipitous encounters are few and far between.

However, everything you have gained has been through your own steady, step-by-step cultivation and comprehension. The sword art you wield was also self-created by fusing the techniques of hundreds of different schools.

Just as your great-grandfather said, the path you are walking is one of self-creating your own sword art divine ability.

If you can successfully pave this path, your future achievements will certainly be no lesser than Chongfei's."

"Then, Grandfather, what exactly is a sword art divine ability?"

"For that... you should seek guidance from your Auntie Deyue. In our entire Xu family, she is currently the only one cultivating a sword art divine ability, and she has achieved some minor success with it.

Although hers is not the pure Dao of Swords, it should still provide you with some inspiration."

"Thank you, Grandfather. I will go seek Auntie Deyue's guidance right away."

Xu Chongjian clasped his hands around his sword and then hurriedly took his leave.

"He really hates to lose. Our Xu family truly has blood that is eager to compete and win." Xu Mingyuan watched him walk away and smiled softly. "But this is a good thing.

In the past, Jian'er was the number one genius in the clan, and no one could put any pressure on him.

Now that he has a peer he can chase after...

It is genuinely a good thing."

Xu Mingyuan then began his silent cultivation, delving into the study of the third-tier talisman Dao.

A short while later.

'With a breakthrough in my divine soul and cultivation realm, comprehending the third-tier talisman Dao has indeed become more than ten times easier. If I hadn't been in such a rush to break through, I probably could have comprehended a complete third-tier talisman while still in the Foundation Establishment stage.'

'But doing it now is not too late either.'

'It won't even take half a month for me to draw my very first complete third-tier talisman.'

'However...'

Xu Mingyuan let out a soft sigh. 'If not for the talisman crafting materials that Father brought back, I'm afraid that even with the full might of Dongxi, we wouldn't have been able to gather enough third-tier talisman materials for me to practice with.'

'Pills, artifacts, formations, and talismans—they truly are bottomless pits that consume a family's heritage.'

'If Father hadn't blessed us with the corresponding innate talents, not to mention the massive waste of resources, it would be a thankless and strenuous task with very little to show for it in the end.'

Just like other Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment clans, or even Golden Core aristocratic families, every single one of them desperately wished to nurture their own grandmaster alchemists and master smiths.

Unfortunately, it was incredibly rare for such talents to be born within a clan. One might not appear even once in a century.

Their only option was to cast a wide net, recruiting rogue cultivators who excelled in these arts. The families would provide them with resources to help them grow, expecting them to serve the clan in return.

If they were lucky, they might find a loyal one.

If they were unlucky, they would end up nurturing an ungrateful backstabber.

Such individuals would use the clan's resources to grow stronger, then deliberately pick fights or find any random excuse to pack up and leave without a second thought.

Xu Mingyuan pushed these thoughts aside and completely immersed himself in his talisman practice.