Among the wives of the three brothers Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan, only Yang Ronghua had neither practiced martial arts nor cultivated immortality. Like Bai Jing, she was an ordinary woman. However, they had no complaints or distress, understanding what it meant to be content with what one had.
Because whether it was Xu Chuan or Xu Mingwei, they treasured their respective wives extremely.
Even if their time together was only a short sixty years, they would have no complaints.
Bai Jing watched everyone gathered together, her face radiating a faint smile.
"The Xu family, starting from your father, has continuously grown stronger in your hands, reaching today's prosperity. Each of you has made indispensable contributions."
"Come, everyone drink this cup together. I wish our Xu family prosperity and eternal existence for ten thousand generations!"
"Prosperity and eternal existence for ten thousand generations!"
"Prosperity and eternal existence for ten thousand generations!"
Bai Jing's gaze fell on Zhang Wanqing and Wu Rushan, and she smiled faintly, "Wanqing, Rushan, you gave birth to Yun'er and Rong'er. You've worked hard."
"Yes, mother gives us too much credit."
Bai Jing nodded slightly, then continued, "Rushan, regarding the Wu family matter some time ago, I also learned of it. You must accept this grief."
"Mother, this matter has already passed. The four families of Fang, Wang, He, and Cao have also declined as a result." Wu Rushan sighed softly at this point, "What the Wu family was like before, this daughter-in-law knows clearly in her heart. If they had been as low-key and benevolent as our Xu family, they wouldn't have suffered such a disaster."
"During this time, with my husband's tacit permission, I also sent quite a bit of support. I've done all I could in good faith."
"It's very good that you can think this way."
Bai Jing then looked at Xu Mingshu and, seeing her eyes darting away, sighed, "Xueji, you don't dare look at me."
"How could that be, mother?"
"After the ancestral sacrifice, you'll be twenty-four. When your eldest sister-in-law was your age, Dewen had already been born."
The three brothers Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan, seeing their sister who was sharp-tongued before them now looking so deflated and uncomfortable, all couldn't help but laugh.
"You brothers shouldn't laugh either. You're also responsible for her being like this. If there's someone suitable, you don't even know to introduce him to your sister."
Xu Mingxuan said, "Mother, you can't blame us for this. Xueji's standards are so high, and she's so outstanding. How could ordinary people match her?"
"We can't very well run to various commandery cities to find a husband for her, can we?"
"Why not?!"
Bai Jing's single sentence left Xu Mingxuan speechless. "This is your responsibility. If Xueji ends up alone in old age in the future, I'll hold you accountable!"
"Mother, perhaps when father returns, he'll bring good news."
Xu Mingwei once again brought up Xu Chuan.
"Yes, if your father saw the Xu family in such circumstances, he'd definitely smile so wide his mouth wouldn't close."
Bai Jing nodded slightly, then complained, "Yunnu has returned several times, but he hasn't come back even once."
Everyone fell silent.
"Alright, let's not talk about this. Today is the ancestral sacrifice. We should enjoy ourselves fully, not disappoint the delicacies, not disappoint the hard work of everyone in the Xu family."
"Yes, mother."
The next day, all the Xu family's household servants, maids, and guards received red envelopes, sharing in the joy together.
Xu Mingwei and the others also rarely rested.
All family members gathered at the Jade Cold Pool, enjoying family happiness.
Now that Qingjiang's five great clans had declined, almost all their assets belonged to the Xu family. The Xu family's accumulation had deepened considerably again.
Their shops in the county city were quite a bit more numerous than the Xu family's before. However, their combined farmland and mountain forests were inferior to the Xu family's, though they still totaled tens of thousands of mu.
After these shops were reorganized, merging what should be merged and closing what should be closed, they had already taken on a new appearance.
The common people who had originally rented farmland from the five great clans had been worried they would have no fields to cultivate. But upon hearing everything had been incorporated into the Xu family, they were overjoyed and dancing with happiness.
The Xu family's treatment of their tenant farmers was universally praised.
The outstanding ones among them would even be absorbed into the Xu family.
Their descendants could also attend school for free to learn reading and writing. Those with good bone structure would be sent for martial arts training and so on. In Qingjiang, countless commoners envied the Xu family's servants and guards.
However, since the large-scale recruitment after the drought, the Xu family had no longer made such major moves.
Although people continued to be absorbed afterward, the standards were quite strict.
…
Under the Black Iron Fruit tree, Xu Derui and Xu Deheng climbed onto the white tiger's back to play around. Xu Deling looked at the Azure Fire Eagle Ah Da perched on the tree trunk. Her eyes glowed with crimson light, remarkably similar to the Azure Fire Eagle's pair of eyes.
Azure Fire Eagle Ah Da tilted its head, its eyes showing surprise.
"Screech~"
It spread its wings and flapped twice, immediately stirring up a gust of wind. Xu Deling seemed startled and took a few steps back.
Seeing this unusual situation, Xu Mingshu walked over. After communicating with Ah Da, she looked at Xu Deling in surprise, but by this time her eyes had already returned to normal.
"Eldest brother, come here."
"What's the matter?" Xu Mingwei walked over with a smile.
"Just now Ah Da said that Ling'er's eyes seemed to show an unusual phenomenon, similar to eagle eyes."
"Oh." Xu Mingwei's face showed a surprised expression. "Similar to mine? Is it the Crimson Hawk Spirit Eyes that father mentioned?!"
"I think it's very much like the rare spirit eyes described in some immortal cultivation journals." Xu Mingshu lowered her voice.
Xu Mingwei appeared normal.
"Eldest brother, in the immortal cultivation world, those born with spirit eyes are even rarer than her true spiritual root aptitude." Xu Mingshu said somewhat excitedly.
Xu Mingwei pondered briefly, "Don't publicize this matter yet. Ling'er is still young now and perhaps can't fully control her spirit eyes, so they appear and disappear."
"Just have her follow you from now on. If she truly has innate hawk eyes, she should more easily gain the Azure Fire Eagles' recognition. If she can get one of them to acknowledge her as master, it will greatly benefit her future path."
"We'll do as you say, eldest brother."
"Little Ling'er, would you like to stay with aunt from now on?" Xu Mingshu rubbed her head.
"Yes, aunt." Xu Deling smiled sweetly.
Although she was only eight years old, she was already at the peak of second layer of Qi Refining. It shouldn't take too long before she could step into third layer of Qi Refining.
This was still because the spiritual qi here was thin, and the Xu family currently had no cultivation pills to supply.
Otherwise, she should have already broken through to third layer of Qi Refining.
For immortal cultivators with true spiritual root aptitude, they rarely encountered bottlenecks in the early stages. The middle stage would slow down slightly. Only in the later stages would cultivation speed completely slow down.
Xu Deheng similarly had all five elements complete and possessed immortal cultivation aptitude, but only the lowest-grade pseudo spiritual root aptitude.
Xu Mingxuan and Xu Mingwei had discussed it and finally decided to have him first walk the martial Dao, then enter the immortal Dao.
There were two reasons for this consideration. First, there were currently very few immortal cultivators in the Xu family. Second, the three brothers had decided that except for Xu Dezhao, all those with incomplete five elements would walk the martial Dao.
They weren't like Xu Chuan, able to see if a person possessed inherent talents.
Having everyone use martial arts to enter the Dao would inevitably bring great disaster to the Xu family, so they could only make this decision for now.
As for whether there would be changes in the future, it still depended on the Xu family's development.
In the empty space at the northwest corner.
Xu Dejing and Xu Dewen sparred with each other.
They were the same age, both third-rate martial artists. However, Xu Dejing had just entered third-rate, while Xu Dewen was not far from becoming a second-rate martial artist.
After all, he possessed the pseudo Fire Virtue Bloodline and was supplemented with the Xu family's secret medicinal diets. Even if he couldn't enter the innate realm before fourteen like his eldest brother Xu Dezhao, entering the innate realm at fifteen or sixteen wouldn't be a problem.
"Dewen, the Fire Element Formula inheritance martial art you learned from the Yang family is truly exquisite. Its martial techniques are even three parts superior to those recorded in the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique."
The two nodded and stopped.
Hearing this, Xu Dewen looked at Xu Dejing and smiled faintly, "Sister Jing, these two great martial arts are actually not that different. The main thing is that learning the Fire Element Formula is demanding, only those with Yang family bloodline can cultivate it.
With the bloodline enhancement, both internal energy and techniques can gain three parts more power."
"Jing'er, your martial Dao talent is inferior to Wen'er's. In the future, you must work even harder."
Xu Dejing clasped her hands and bowed to Wu Rushan, "Yes, mother."
Yang Ronghua smiled faintly, "Rushan, don't put on such a stern face today. Let the children be more relaxed."
"Eldest sister-in-law speaks reasonably." Wu Rushan smiled again, "Go play with your brothers and sisters."
Xu Dejing immediately ran to Xu Deling's side, took her hand, and ran off.
Yang Ronghua beckoned to Xu Dewen. Xu Dewen trotted to Yang Ronghua's presence, and Yang Ronghua took out a handkerchief to wipe his face.
"You go play too."
"Mother, then this child will go." Xu Dewen also clasped his hands, then went to join his brothers and sisters.
Several days later, they returned to their previous routine. Those cultivating martial Dao cultivated martial Dao, those walking the immortal Dao walked the immortal Dao.
…
South Mountain Courtyard, study.
Xu Mingwei summoned two innate martial artists from among the Xu family guards, Cheng Fei and Shen Guang respectively, both in their early forties.
"Family head."
The two arrived before Xu Mingwei in the study, both respectfully clasping their fists in salute.
"Cheng Fei, Shen Guang."
"What are the family head's instructions?"
"Don't be so nervous. This is just idle conversation. You two seem to have never married, and you're both at the age of no confusion. Why is this?"
Cheng Fei's heart jumped in alarm. His face showed extreme panic, "Family head, this humble one truly doesn't dare have improper thoughts."
Hearing this, Xu Mingwei was slightly stunned, then didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Cheng Fei, what are you thinking?"
"Xueji's standards are sky-high. Even I find it difficult to make decisions for her. How could I summon you for such a matter?"
"That's good then."
Cheng Fei's heart relaxed slightly.
The corner of Shen Guang's mouth twitched slightly. He thought his brother was truly capable of wild imagination.
Marrying Xu Mingshu was tantamount to daydreaming!
He pondered for a moment, then said, "In reply to the family head, when this humble one was young, I was married. But because I was obsessed with martial Dao, my wife couldn't bear the loneliness and had an affair. After I learned of it, I killed her along with her lover. After that, I no longer indulged in female charms."
Cheng Fei stared at Shen Guang. His eyes seemed to say, I never knew you had such a tragic experience, brother.
"What about you?" Xu Mingwei's gaze fell on Cheng Fei.
"I'm similar to Brother Shen, but the difference is that I have a lone star fate. In one year, I brought misfortune to three wives. Ultimately, I gave up this notion and devoted myself wholeheartedly to martial Dao."
Xu Mingwei nodded slightly, "Right now there's a task that needs you two to do. Are you willing?"
"Whatever the family head commands, through fire and water, we won't refuse!"
The two exchanged glances and said in unison.
"Don't worry, it's a good thing. You should also know about the changes befalling the five great clans. Now Li Zhi has been promoted to magistrate. The county deputy and county commandant positions are vacant. I plan to have you two assume these two military official positions."
"Moreover, my Xu family will covertly support you two families, allowing you to branch out in Qingjiang."
"Li Zhi is an Xu family person, as everyone knows. But you two are different, not prominent in reputation. From now on, you three will be in the open while my Xu family remains in the shadows, firmly controlling Qingjiang's officialdom for my Xu family."
"At appropriate times, you two can openly clash with Li Zhi. This might draw out some scoundrels who want to target my Xu family."
"Family head, must we branch out?"
"Is it very difficult?" Xu Mingwei asked in confusion. "Don't tell me you two prefer cut sleeves?"
The two repeatedly waved their hands, resolutely saying, "Of course not. We'll follow the family head's orders."
Xu Mingwei smiled faintly, "You two are elites of my Xu family. My Xu family definitely won't treat you poorly. At regular intervals, someone will be sent to deliver innate medicinal diets to help you cultivate innate martial Dao."
"Thank you, family head!" The two clasped their fists, their faces slightly excited. Obviously, this matter held more attraction for them.
As for women, just complete the mission!
"Go tomorrow. Just act as if you're outsiders. If there are obstacles, my Xu family will help clear them."
The next day, Cheng Fei and Shen Guang left the Xu family and rode to the Qingjiang County deputy government, wanting to compete for the county deputy and county commandant positions.
Although some problems arose, there was a mid-innate stage martial artist from another county who also came to compete for the county deputy position.
He defeated Shen Guang. However, the Xu family acted covertly and killed him.
Of the three candidates, only two remained. Without question, Shen Guang still obtained the county commandant official position.
However, both of them only had official status without official registry.
The Xu family was like a spider web, firmly controlling Qingjiang's officialdom and commerce. Its influence gradually eroded into surrounding counties, all transitioning from commerce to officialdom.
Although the Zhao, Qian, Sun, Chen, and Bai families were developing well, they were still far from obtaining official positions.
The primary condition was that their own families must produce innate martial artists.
Of course, with the Xu family's covert cultivation, this was just a matter of time.
As for the Xu family itself, they concealed their strength and bided their time, hiding in the countryside, living a life seemingly like a paradise.
…
Tongshan Commandery, its land backed to the north by the Cangwu mountain range, like a coiled azure dragon, and facing south toward the Yunmeng Great Marsh, like a basking dark turtle.
Within the commandery was a giant cliff called Copper Sparrow Cliff, entirely reddish-brown. Whenever the morning sun rose in the east, it glowed with purple-copper radiance. Legend said it was formed from copper essence carried by an ancient divine phoenix.
It contained rare Crimson Marrow Copper ore veins, which were valued by Great Wei. Therefore, members of the imperial family stationed themselves in Tongshan Commandery.
Among Great Wei's various commandery cities, its level of prosperity could rank in the top three, far surpassing Yuehu Commandery city.
South of the commandery city, outside, the thousand qing of good fields nourished by Yunmeng's waterways bore rice ears as heavy as copper hammers. There was a saying: "One dan of Tongshan grain can exchange for three hu of pearls."
The great marsh had abundant aquatic products and raised spirit fish, which were divided among various clans.
The commandery was full of clans. The ratio of martial Dao clans to immortal cultivation clans was seven to three. Therefore, within Tongshan Commandery City, one could often see immortal cultivators, unlike Yuehu Commandery where they were so rare.
There was even an immortal cultivation marketplace within the commandery city.
At this moment, several li outside Tongshan Commandery City.
Two figures proceeded toward Tongshan Commandery City. Of the two, one was a gray-robed middle-aged man, one a green-robed youth, walking side by side.
They were Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian!
"Father, over the past half year, we've traveled to many immortal cultivation marketplaces and accumulated quite a few spirit stones. Although Tongshan Commandery is prosperous, how can it compare to the imperial city?"