"Rest assured, this poor Daoist will remain at the Dan Hall for a few more days. During this time, I'll try my best to refine several more superior-grade Divine Sense Pills so as not to make things difficult for Steward Chen."
Steward Chen cupped his fists with a bitter smile on his face, "I'm counting on you, Master Sansu."
As the only person in the Dan Hall who could be considered a friend, Xu Chuan naturally had to inform Daoist Yunding of his departure.
After all, who knew when he would return next time.
"Fellow Daoist Sansu wants to go traveling? Why at this time?" Daoist Yunding was also curious.
"Go when I want to go. Only this way can my state of mind be open and clear." Xu Chuan replied with a faint smile.
Daoist Yunding stroked his beard and nodded, "That makes sense. You've made me want to go out traveling with you too. But the Dan Hall truly cannot spare anyone right now. Since you've decided to leave, if I also departed, and Xu Zhen still hasn't truly refined superior-grade Divine Sense Pills, the Dan Hall would likely be pressured by other forces."
"If only the chief were stationed at the Dan Hall right now. Then I could leave with you, and we'd have each other's backs traveling together."
The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth twitched slightly as he agreed, "Indeed."
"Return date uncertain. Could be several months, could be several years."
"Matters of traveling are indeed hard to predict. If you go traveling to another country, ten-plus years is even possible."
"When do you plan to leave?"
"Five days from now. This visit counts as my farewell. Afterward, Fellow Daoist Yunding needn't see me off."
Fellow Daoist Yunding nodded, "Alright then. Today I'll treat you to Jade Truth Brew one more time. You must remember you owe me two meals. Remember to repay me when you return."
"Haha, definitely."
Four days later, Xu Mingxian successfully perfected the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array.
On the fifth day, Xu Chuan informed Steward Chen, then leisurely departed on his flying sword with his hands behind his back.
Before leaving, he left behind four bottles of low and middle-grade Divine Sense Pills and two bottles of superior-grade Divine Sense Pills, which could also relieve the Dan Hall's urgent needs.
The Imperial City was tens of thousands of li away from Qingjiang. The two of them traveling by sword would take nearly three or four days.
"It's been so long since we've returned. I wonder how home is doing?"
Xu Mingxian suddenly said emotionally, his eyes full of excitement.
"Rest assured, everything is fine." Xu Chuan said.
Xu Mingxian looked at Xu Chuan, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly as if understanding something, "If Father says everything is fine, then it definitely is."
"Little trickster."
Xu Chuan knew that several of his children must have noticed some of his mysterious abilities, they just didn't expose them.
Three days later.
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian, bathed in the morning dawn, walked on the bluestone road leading directly to the Xu family estate.
The vast fields stretching on both sides, the frozen earth just beginning to crack, frost still visible on the paths gnawing at the grass, while shepherd's purse had already gathered green along the field ridges.
Farmers were already treading the moist embankments to inspect their fields, the edges of their cloth shoes stained with crystalline ice shards, their white breath mingling with the blue smoke of distant field burning.
"Who are those two Daoists? They look somewhat familiar."
"Indeed, they're a bit far. Can't see them clearly through the blur."
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian were currently dressed as Daoists, one in gray robes, one in green robes, their hair bound in primordial unity topknots with ebony hairpins inserted horizontally, black brocade belts tied at their waists.
A moment later, the Xu family patrol appeared. The leader was about to shout as usual: Who goes there? This is Xu clan private land. Without invitation, entry is forbidden.
However, upon seeing the two men's faces clearly, he was immediately so startled he nearly fell to his knees.
He hurriedly cupped his fists and bowed, his face full of pleasant surprise and excitement as he said, "Old Family Head, Fifth Master, you've returned!"
Only then did those old farmers remember.
"It's actually the Old Family Head and Fifth Master who have returned. This is wonderful news!"
Many farmers also cupped their fists toward Xu Chuan and said in unison, "We welcome the Old Family Head and Fifth Master's safe return!"
The sound was almost like thunder, shaking the clouds and startling everyone in the Xu family estate.
Whether servants, maids, guards, or Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and others, all raised their heads and looked toward the source of the sound.
First surprise, then wild joy.
Even Xu Mingwei, who had grown increasingly steady, now without a word leaped up, running along walls and eaves out of the Xu residence, heading straight for the bluestone road.
Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingxuan, Xu Mingshu, Xu Dezhao, and others did the same.
"My husband has returned?!" Bai Jing had just risen and hadn't even had time to fix her hair, "Ah Li, quickly, help me outside."
"Yes, Old Madam."
Xu Mingwei was the first to arrive. Seeing Xu Chuan whose appearance hadn't changed in the slightest, his eyes rippled with emotion, "Father."
"Elder Brother, you ran so fast!"
Xu Mingshu was the second to arrive. Unlike Xu Mingwei's restraint, tears directly welled up in her eyes as she rushed into Xu Chuan's embrace, "Father, Xueji missed you so much. You've finally returned."
Subsequently, Xu Mingxuan and Xu Mingyuan also arrived one after another, their faces full of joy, "Father."
Xu Chuan rubbed Xueji's head, "How old are you now, still acting spoiled? We'll talk when we get back."
"I'll cling to Father even when I'm old."
"Fourth Sister, Mother must still be waiting for Father." Xu Mingxian said with a smile.
Hearing this, Xu Mingshu left Xu Chuan's embrace, holding his arm as they walked together, and looked at Xu Mingxian, "Yunnu, after not seeing you for a while, your temperament has become even more transcendent."
"Fourth Sister, you've never praised me from childhood to adulthood. This really surprises me."
"Hmph, don't act smug after getting an advantage. I'm only doing this for Father's sake, incidentally."
Haha~
The three brothers all laughed heartily.
At the Xu family's main gate, Bai Jing, Yang Ronghua, and the other daughters-in-law, along with countless servants, maids, and guards, were almost all present.
Seeing them, Xu Chuan smiled faintly, "It seems the number of people has increased again."
Xu Mingyuan said, "Father, you've been gone for a long time and don't know. Now the Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao families' properties and fields have almost all been absorbed by our Xu family. Naturally, we've expanded again."
"Oh? There's such a matter?"
Xu Mingwei said, "The Wu family courted death themselves by harboring designs. We simply fulfilled their wish and used the Zhong family of the commandery city to eliminate the Wu family's elite descendants. The other four families naturally moved to divide up the Wu family. Those families originally thought our Xu family didn't care, but they didn't know we were watching all of them. Using the authority of the government, we legitimately sent most of the four families' elite members to the authorities, then quietly swallowed up their shops and fields."
Xu Chuan didn't say much. After all, this was bound to happen sooner or later.
"Grandfather." Xu Dezhao cupped his fists.
"Mm, haven't seen you in a few years. Zhao'er has become a young man and has even entered the innate realm."
Xu Dezhao showed a shy smile and scratched his head, "How did Grandfather know? I wanted to show off my strength before you."
"Your grandfather swept you with divine consciousness and knew your situation immediately. How could you hide it?" Xu Mingxian grinned.
A moment later, Xu Chuan came before the large family.
A group of servants and guards bowed and cupped their fists in unison, "We welcome the Old Family Head and Fifth Master's safe return."
The sound was like thunder shaking the heavens.
Having spoken, silence fell again.
Only Bai Jing's voice could be heard, her eyes blurred with tears, "Will you leave again?"
Xu Chuan walked before her, grasped her hand, and used his other hand to brush aside some disheveled frosted strands, "Rest assured, from now on I'll have a very long time to accompany you. At most, I'll occasionally leave for a few days."
"Why haven't you even fixed your hair? The children and others will laugh at you."
"Come, let's go back. Your husband will personally fix your hair and paint your eyebrows."
Xu Chuan held Bai Jing's hand as they walked inside. Xu Mingwei said, "Today the Old Family Head has returned. This is a joyous occasion. Give everyone half a month's wages as celebration."
"Thank you, Family Head."
"Mm, everyone go about your business."
Xu Mingwei and the others waited in the main hall for Xu Chuan and Bai Jing to come out.
Xu Mingshu asked, "Yunnu, how was this trip? Where did you go? You and Father must have gone beyond Yuehu Commandery, right?"
"We did go to quite a few places." Xu Mingxian nodded, "Guangling Commandery, Longshan Commandery, Heishan Commandery, Tongshan Commandery, and finally we went to the Imperial City."
"You even went to the Imperial City?!"
Xu Mingwei and the others all exclaimed in amazement. Xu Dezhao and the younger generation all had bright eyes, full of curiosity.
"Fifth Uncle, what's the Imperial City like? Is it magnificent?"
"Naturally. The city walls are like small mountains, connected in a line like a natural moat. It's far beyond what the commandery city can compare to. The entire Imperial City has immortal cultivation arrays laid out. Innate martial artists are everywhere, and immortal masters are also numerous. However, many dress no differently from ordinary people. If they don't act, ordinary people simply can't distinguish them. Therefore, in the Imperial City, you absolutely cannot casually provoke others. Perhaps someone dressed as a steward might be a powerful expert from some second or third-rank, or even first-rank family."
After pondering for a long while, Xu Mingwei said, "The Imperial City is still too far from our Xu family. There's no need to consider so much."
"Far?" The corners of Xu Mingxian's mouth held a slight smile, "Elder Brother, if you went to the Imperial City and announced Father's Daoist title, you would definitely be treated with courtesy by countless families."
"Father is famous in the Imperial City?"
Xu Mingyuan said in surprise. In his thinking, in a place like the Great Wei Imperial City where crouching tigers and hidden dragons abounded, even though Father was now a Qi Refining late-stage immortal cultivator, he should still be treading on thin ice there.
Xu Mingwei also looked over in surprise.
Xu Mingxian leisurely drank a sip of tea. Xu Mingxuan, anxious, laughingly scolded, "Yunnu, just say it already. You're really killing us with suspense."
Zhang Wanqing smiled and said, "Husband, there are juniors present. Be more dignified."
"Haha, I forgot. Thank you for the reminder, wife."
"Third Aunt, we juniors all know Third Uncle's character through and through." Xu Dezhao laughed heartily.
"Elder Brother, Zhao'er needs to be disciplined better. So unsteady, how will he take over your position in the future?"
Xu Mingwei shook his head helplessly and didn't respond, looking at Xu Mingxian, "Yunnu, stop teasing. Speak."
"You'll find out when you have the chance to go there in the future."
Xu Mingxian paused, ultimately not speaking out publicly.
He knew Xu Chuan's character, not wanting to be ostentatious. Moreover, what Xu Mingwei said before was also correct. The Xu family currently still lacked at least twenty or thirty years of accumulation before entering the Imperial City to develop.
Wandering cultivators and families entering the Imperial City were completely different.
Families couldn't wait for more wandering cultivators to enter the Imperial City. But families were different. The more there were, the more likely they would squeeze the interests of those aristocratic families.
This was also why many Foundation Establishment families in various commandery cities would rather reign as kings in the commandery cities than easily relocate to the Imperial City.
If they didn't have strong backing, they would inevitably be targeted by numerous fourth-rank and third-rank Foundation Establishment families.
"You little rascal, Yunnu. After going out with Father once, your temper has grown. You won't even listen to Elder Brother anymore." Xu Mingshu pretended to be angry, "Elder Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, let's all attack together and suppress this fellow."
"Who are we suppressing?"
At this moment, Bai Jing's voice suddenly came. She laughed and scolded, "Xueji, you're not young anymore. Why are you still so unreliable in your actions?"
Hearing this, Xu Mingshu's face immediately deflated, "Mother, I was just joking with Yunnu."
Xu Chuan laughed, "Can't you hear the subtext of your mother's words? She wants you to hurry up and find a husband so she doesn't have to keep worrying. Father heard that your mother once wanted to match you with Li Zhi and have him marry into the family. Why didn't you agree?"
Xu Mingshu's face was full of distress, "Father, that matter is long past. I grew up with Brother Li Zhi and have always regarded him as an elder brother. How could a younger sister marry her brother? Why don't you find someone for me, Father? I think whoever Father chooses will definitely suit my preferences."
Xu Chuan shook his head with a laugh, "You tell me first, what are your preferences?"
"Father, let me say." Xu Mingxuan said, "His strength must be superior to hers, have the same deep affection for her as Elder Brother has for Sister-in-law, and also have Father's wisdom and breadth of mind."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan turned his head and asked Xu Mingshu, "You're planning to never marry?"
"I think that's exactly what she means." Bai Jing still harbored resentment toward Xu Mingshu, "Why don't you just casually point to some aristocratic family disciple and marry her off?"
"Don't speak in anger. If she marries far away, won't you worry daily about how she's doing in her husband's family, whether she's being bullied?"
"Exactly." Xu Mingshu muttered quietly.
Only when Xu Chuan was present did she dare be so bold. Otherwise, she truly wouldn't dare talk back casually.
"Then what should we do about Xueji?" Bai Jing looked at Xu Chuan.
"Let her do as she wishes. Even if she accompanies you and me until our last days, that's not impossible. She's not like you, unwilling to practice martial arts. Even when old, she won't need anyone's care. Moreover, by then our Xu family will have many people, with so many juniors to be filial, and Shitou and the other brothers to look after her. What's there to worry about? We're ultimately different from ordinary families now."
Hearing this, Bai Jing sighed softly, "Then we'll do as you say, husband. I hope Xueji won't resent you and me after another twenty or thirty years."
"Mother, no matter how immature Xueji is, I would never resent Father and Mother. In the future, like Elder Brother and Second Brother, I'll also contribute to the Xu family."
Afterward, Xu Chuan asked about the Xu family's circumstances. Although he already knew most of it through Daily Divination, he still asked again.
Otherwise, some juniors might think he was indifferent to the Xu family.
Half an hour later, everyone dispersed.
The matter of Xu Chuan's return home gradually calmed down.
…
Study.
At this moment, only Xu Chuan and his five children were present.
"Late-stage grandmaster peak, not far from grandmaster perfection." Xu Chuan glanced at Xu Mingwei and said indifferently.
Xu Mingwei cupped his fists, "Thanks to those superior-grade Innate Blood Pills Father gave me before, which accelerated my impact on late-stage grandmaster. Otherwise, with the grandmaster cultivation speed, even with medicinal diet assistance, breaking through to late stage would already be good."
"Martial artists' cultivation with medicinal diets is ultimately just mortal methods. Father will take time to sort out and perfect auxiliary pills for our Xu family from Postnatal martial artists to grandmaster martial artists. For Postnatal martial artists, the help won't be great. Medicinal diets and Aperture Opening Pills are already first-rate cultivation. After optimization, at most it will improve by ten to twenty percent. But for innate martial artists and grandmaster martial artists, pills have tremendous assistance."
Afterward, Xu Chuan also looked at Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan.
"Ahyuan, you're still a bit slow. Hurry and reach innate perfection. Tantou, you also mustn't slack off daily. Raise your spiritual root aptitude to true spiritual root."
"Yes, Father." The two cupped their fists and bowed.
"Father is very satisfied with the Xu family's current development. You've all done well, but don't become complacent. Currently, these things are insignificant compared to the impacts you may face in the future. You must also interact with various Qi Refining families in Yuehu Commandery, and even Foundation Establishment families, and families from other commanderies."
"We understand."
Having said this, Xu Chuan waved his hand over his storage bag, and four bottles of pills landed on the desk.
"Shitou, these four bottles are respectively healing and detoxification pills. They can be used by both mortals and martial artists. Keep some in the family regularly. If you run out, you can come to me for more."
Xu Mingwei put them away and nodded, "This child understands."
"Tomorrow, have all the juniors in the family who are currently at Qi Refining come to Jade Cold Pool. I'll bestow some pills to support their cultivation."