"But didn't we scatter some Su family disciples in advance?" the Su Family Head said.
"Do you really think relying on them can lead to our Su family's rise again?" The Ancestor Su said, "It's merely a helpless measure to preserve a trace of Su family bloodline."
"Moreover, this isn't a foolproof plan either. Who knows if the Zhou family is aware? Perhaps they're just pretending not to know, waiting for our Su family to fall before moving to eliminate these scattered clansmen."
At this point, the Ancestor Su sighed again, "It's also my fault for only focusing on my own cultivation and neglecting the character of the Su family's disciples."
Upon hearing this, the Su Family Head immediately cupped his fists and bowed, "It is your grandson's failure for not properly restraining the clansmen."
"Forget it. Things have come to this point, and saying these things is meaningless."
"Which of those Qi Refining families in Yuehu Commandery doesn't want to carve up our Su family's centuries of foundation? Even those families connected by marriage may betray us.
"However, they shouldn't be too pleased with themselves. Until the final moment, no one knows who will win or lose!"
A kind of madness showed in the Ancestor Su's eyes.
"Restrain the clansmen, close the mountain gates, wait until we've recovered our strength, then slowly plan and repay each family."
"If you can truly do these things, then the Su family can exist for at least another hundred years. But this old ancestor won't live to see it."
"Ancestor..." Mist welled up in the Su Family Head's eyes.
"No need for this. Immortal cultivation is about contending with heaven for life. Win once, and you can extend your lifespan. Lose, and naturally you become a handful of yellow earth." He patted the Su Family Head's shoulder. "Go make preparations. Whether the Su family survives depends on this gamble!"
"Yes, Ancestor!"
…
Zhou Family.
Those monitoring in secret saw several people leave the Su family and dispatched people to follow, all heading to Guangling Commandery together.
More than ten days later.
Dongxi, Jade Cold Pool.
Xu Mingyuan came to the bamboo house where Xu Chuan was cultivating in seclusion.
"Father."
"Come in and speak."
The bamboo door slowly opened. After Xu Mingyuan entered, it closed again.
"What is it?" Xu Chuan said indifferently.
"The chess piece you placed has taken effect. Both the Su family and Zhou family went to Guangling Commandery. Rumors say both sides suffered casualties."
"Regardless of whether it's true or false, going there means they've entered the game. If the Zhou family is smart, they should be able to see through some of the Su family's cards. We don't need to manage what happens next.
"Just monitor the movements of the commandery city families. If there's a major decisive battle, quite a few martial families will likely be drawn in. The commotion won't be small."
"Father speaks truly." Xu Mingyuan cupped his fists.
"You and Mingwei prepare well. The Xu family has been beneath the surface all these years. It's time to rise to the surface and see the scenery above the water."
"Yes, Father."
With that, he cupped his fists once more and left.
Xu Chuan had reached the peak of Qi Refining with no further progress possible.
As for Foundation Establishment, given the Xu family's current foundation, it wasn't something that could be achieved overnight.
Therefore, he also freed up time to teach Zhang Wanqing the pill Dao.
With his hands-on guidance, Zhang Wanqing naturally progressed rapidly. Previously, when refining Minor Martial Pills, only one or two out of ten furnaces succeeded.
Fortunately, the materials for Minor Martial Pills were all ordinary medicinal herbs, and the Xu family's resources could support this.
If it came to Innate Martial Pills and Grandmaster Martial Pills, such a low success rate would be quite wasteful. As for spiritual herbs, the Xu family hadn't accumulated many yet, and Xu Chuan himself rarely fired up the furnace to refine pills.
However, this was the expected performance of someone just learning the pill Dao.
If everyone could be like Xu Chuan, pill masters wouldn't be so rare in Great Wei.
Financial resources, familiarity with various medicinal herbs and spiritual herbs, control over pharmaceutical changes, control over fire intensity, and so on, these were all problems that pill masters would face.
Without a renowned master's guidance, one could only learn from mistakes step by step and gradually improve their pill Dao.
Half a month passed.
With the Xu family's full support and Xu Chuan's teachings on pharmaceutical changes, herb compatibility and conflicts, and fire control guidance, Zhang Wanqing had already achieved a fifty to sixty percent success rate with Minor Martial Pills.
Progress on refining Major Martial Pills was also normal, steadily advancing.
Xu Mingyuan cultivated the Breath Concealment Technique day and night and finally achieved the introductory stage.
Xu Mingxian was approaching the peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining. Once he broke through, he could use a Breakthrough Pill within a few days to advance into the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
Xu Mingwei was also approaching late eighth layer.
In terms of cultivation speed, Xu Mingxian, with his Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers destiny talent, ranked first.
Second should be Xu Deling.
The rest, such as Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingshu, and Xu Mingxuan, would need at least ten to twenty-odd years to reach the ninth layer of Qi Refining. However, by Great Wei immortal cultivation standards, such speed could still be ranked in the upper-middle tier.
Several days later.
Chen Daniu, who should have been in the neighboring county, returned to Dongxi.
…
Xu Family Main Hall.
"Daniu, why did you suddenly return?" Xu Mingwei sat in the seat of honor and asked in surprise.
"Family Head, my mother is critically ill and wants to see my father one last time. Though she was shortsighted, she is ultimately my biological mother. Blood ties cannot be severed, and I cannot ignore her dying wish.
"I ask the Family Head to grant this."
Xu Mingwei sighed softly.
Indeed, those of Father's generation had now grown old.
Those who hadn't practiced martial arts could live at most fifty or sixty years. Without reaching the innate realm, it was difficult to live past seventy or eighty. If there were old injuries, one's lifespan would end even sooner.
"Filial piety comes first among all virtues. How could I not grant this? Actually, you didn't need to ask me."
"No, Family Head. Our Chen family is now a vassal of the Xu family and should naturally report to the main family. Moreover, my father has been entrusted with important duties. Leaving his post without permission would be disloyal to the main family."
Xu Mingwei nodded slightly and said, "Go then. Let your mother depart with dignity. After all, there was a time when she and our Xu family could be considered of the same origin."
Chen Daniu was also filled with emotion.
If his mother's family hadn't been shortsighted back then, or if after moving to the county seat they had still looked after Xu Chuan's family from time to time, they too might have shared in the glory and power of today's Xu family.
"Thank you, Family Head."
Chen Daniu didn't dare delay. He went to Qingjiang County seat, found Chen Ergou and explained the matter. After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ergou also left with Chen Daniu.
Ever since Chen Ergou and Xu Yan divorced, he had not remarried.
Before the Xu family rose, the two families had been very close. Chen Ergou and Xu Yan had also been reasonably harmonious. Though they bickered, Chen Ergou had been content.
…
Liuyun County.
Chen Family Main Residence.
Two figures on fast horses arrived at the mansion gates.
Guards immediately stepped forward, cupping their fists, "Family Head, Old Family Head."
Chen Daniu nodded slightly and hurried into the residence with Chen Ergou.
Before the bed, Xu Yan's face was withered, her eyes dull and lusterless, already showing signs of critical illness.
"Mother, look who's here."
Xu Yan moved her gaze and saw the person standing by the bed. Somehow, tears began to flow. She slowly raised her hand.
Chen Ergou stepped forward, sat on the edge of the bed, and held her hand, his eyes slightly red.
"You were right... I'm sorry... I didn't stand with you back then..."
Xu Yan's voice was choked, speaking with difficulty.
"Can you forgive me..."
"Xu Yan, I never truly blamed you. Truly."
Xu Yan seemed to hear clearly. The corners of her lips trembled and lifted slightly, as if smiling, though it looked terribly pained.
A moment later, Xu Yan peacefully closed her eyes.
Chen Daniu wept, kneeling before the bed. The maids in the room were all the same.
"Xu Yan." Chen Ergou held her hand and murmured softly, "I'm sorry. Ever since I learned you were with Daniu, I wanted to visit, but I was afraid Brother Chuan would blame me..."
Chen Ergou muttered for the time it takes to drink several cups of tea before finally releasing her hand and placing it properly.
"Daniu, take your mother back to Dongxi with me. Bury her in our Chen family's cemetery. In the future, when I die, bury me alongside your mother."
"Yes, Father."
Half a day later.
Father and son escorted Xu Yan's coffin back to Dongxi.
The Xu family naturally learned of it and notified Xu Chuan and Bai Jing.
"Xu Yan... what a pity." Bai Jing said slowly. "Ah Li, help me go and see her off one last time."
Xu Chuan also appeared and accompanied Bai Jing to the Chen family's funeral.
"Thank you, Brother Chuan, Sister-in-law, for coming to see Xu Yan off on her final journey."
Xu Chuan patted his shoulder and said, "My condolences. Too much grief is bad for your health. You still have Daniu and Fangfang."
Before long, Chen Fangfang also heard the news and rushed over from her husband's family, kneeling before Xu Yan's spirit and weeping.
She had married the eldest son of a small family surnamed Huang in Qingjiang County and was now the wife of the Huang Family Head. Her life was harmonious and content.
The day of the burial, Chen Ergou sought out Xu Chuan to drink.
Seeing him in this state, Xu Chuan could only accompany him.
"Brother Chuan, do you think I was too decisive that day? If I hadn't proposed the divorce, could Xu Yan have lived a few more years?"
"This was not your fault." Xu Chuan took a sip and said indifferently, "Don't think too much. It harms both mind and body."
"At least in her final moments, she was able to receive your forgiveness. She must have been happy."
"Perhaps."
Chen Ergou tilted his head back for another drink, then said to Xu Chuan, "Brother Chuan, I really miss the old days."
Xu Chuan remained silent, listening quietly.
"Brother Chuan, you're going to become an immortal, a figure of ancestral status. Being able to be brothers with you is something worth bragging about for a lifetime. There's something..."
Chen Ergou hiccuped, his eyes hazy, then continued, "Brother Chuan, I hope you can promise me this. Consider it fulfilling our years of friendship."
"Just say it." Xu Chuan said.
"If one day I'm also gone, help me look after Daniu and Fangfang. Can you do that?"
"You're drunk." Xu Chuan said indifferently.
"Brother Chuan, just promise me." Chen Ergou grabbed Xu Chuan's lapel, refusing to let go.
Xu Chuan glanced at him and sighed softly, "That goes without saying. Our Xu family never mistreats our own people. Daniu and Fangfang are people I watched grow up from childhood, people who call me Uncle Chuan."
"Thank you, Brother Chuan."
Before long, Chen Ergou was drunk unconscious.
Xu Chuan placed his hand on his shoulder and sent out a stream of magical power to help regulate his body but it was only temporary. If he continued to grieve like this, he probably wouldn't have many years left.
"Someone come. Escort Master Chen back."
Two guards immediately came over, each taking an arm, and supported him toward the Chen residence.
Xu Chuan watched his retreating figure and shook his head with a wry smile, "Raised by Uncle Chen since childhood after all. He still learned a few tricks from Uncle Chen's playbook, even thinking of getting drunk to force me to agree."
"He's had it hard too."
"But Ergou, in your eyes now, have I really become this cold and heartless?"
Xu Chuan knew very well in his heart that even if Chen Ergou wanted to treat him like the Brother Chuan from their youth, the Xu family's grand residence, ten thousand mu of fertile land, and peak Postnatal guards constantly reminded him that the Xu family was no longer what it used to be, and Xu Chuan was no longer what he used to be.
This made him involuntarily feel reverence.
"Human hearts in this world change easily. What I can do is only keep my original intentions unchanged!"
With a soft sigh, he turned and returned to the main residence.