"Mingwei, you'll enter the Council of Elders and concurrently serve as Battle Hall master.
Mingyuan, you'll enter the Council of Elders and concurrently serve as Discipline Hall master.
Mingxuan, you'll enter the Council of Elders and concurrently serve as Mission Hall master."
As he spoke, Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingshu again, "Mingshu, you'll enter the Council of Elders and concurrently serve as deputy hall master of the Immortal Arts Hall, in charge of cultivating family spirit beasts."
"Deputy?"
"Don't tell me you want to compete with your father for the Immortal Arts Hall master position?"
Xu Mingshu waved her hands repeatedly, laughing, "Xueji wouldn't dare. Father truly deserves it."
"Besides the Immortal Arts Hall, I will also serve as the Xu family's Grand Elder. There shouldn't be any objections, right?"
"As it should be." Everyone said in unison.
"When entering the Immortal Arts Hall, besides improving your own immortal arts, in the future if there are suitable clan disciples, you must also fulfill teaching responsibilities."
"Yes, Father." Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian cupped their hands.
"The family head position will still be held by you for now, Mingwei. Mingyuan, you'll also temporarily handle the clan's finances."
"Yes, Father."
"This is just the initial setup. Later, we'll need to slowly fill in personnel. Each hall also needs to formulate corresponding hall rules, then submit them to the Council of Elders for joint deliberation. Only after approval can they be implemented."
Xu Chuan continued, "Wanqing, you'll enter my Immortal Arts Hall and study pill refinement with me. The rest of you don't need to rush to choose. First see which hall suits you, then decide to join. Once you join, unless you obtain the consent of the hall master, you cannot easily withdraw."
Xu Deying and Xu Dezhao exchanged glances, both looking thoughtful.
"That's all for today. Everyone go back and think carefully about the clan rules. In five days, we'll discuss the specific content of the clan rules again."
Everyone cupped their hands.
At the same time, the Zhou family's core figures also gathered in the council hall to discuss matters such as losses and gains from the previous Su-Zhou dispute.
A semi-circular rosewood square table lay like a dark moon in the center of the hall. Beast patterns were carved in intaglio on the table's edge. Behind the main seat hung the "Nine Luminaries Patrolling Heaven Chart," with the golden star in the painting pointing at the family head's golden nanmu chair. The armrests were carved in the shape of a Yaozi swallowing a sword.
Bronze crane lamps on both sides emitted green smoke, illuminating the twelve rosewood chairs in half-light and half-shadow.
Zhou family head Zhou Shaoyuan, wearing a sky-blue satin straight robe with a mutton-fat jade pendant set at his waist, sat in the council hall's main seat.
The first person on the left had white hair but a youthful face, with frost-white hair all over his head and a silver beard hanging down his chest. This was the Zhou family's number one pill Dao expert, Zhou Sen.
Those seated in the council hall were either Zhou family elders who had reached an advanced age or outstanding figures among the younger generation, both men and women.
The men were either dignified and steady or handsome and ethereal.
Among the women, some wore golden walking pendants by their temples and bright moon earrings, the graceful and noble type, while others wore plain white robes with green crowns on their heads and a peachwood hairpin inserted horizontally, elegant and aloof.
"Elder Zhou Sen, what was the pill consumption in this battle?" Zhou Shaoyuan suddenly spoke and looked over.
"The pills we prepared were consumed by seventy to eighty percent. Spirit medicines are already insufficient and need to slowly accumulate again."
"Mm."
Zhou Shaoyuan nodded slightly and looked at the first person on the right.
He was the Grand Elder of the Zhou family's Council of Elders, with ninth layer Qi Refining strength. Moreover, he was Zhou Qingfang's own grandson, held an extremely high position, had many supporters, and had great influence in the Zhou family.
"Grand Elder, what are our Zhou family disciples' casualties?"
"Three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators died in battle, twelve fifth and sixth layer immortal cultivators died, and thirty-six innate perfection martial artists and grandmasters combined."
"Within expectations." Zhou Shaoyuan said indifferently, "For the families of fallen clan members, those with acceptable talent should be given focused cultivation. The rest should also be treated well."
"Yes, Family Head."
"Next, let's talk about the gains from this battle. After capturing the Su family's clan lands, that place is also one of the few spiritual qi node locations around the commandery city, with 4,300 mu of spirit fields. We can relocate some clan members there to plant spirit medicines and spirit rice for the family. In addition, there are countless stored spirit rice, large amounts of spirit stones, over a hundred low-grade magical artifacts, fifty to sixty middle-grade magical artifacts, thirteen high-grade magical artifacts, and one high-quality magical artifact."
Those present all beamed with joy, their eyes showing delight.
After all, not everyone among them had high-grade magical artifacts, let alone high-quality ones.
Previously, even Zhou Shaoyuan, the family head, didn't have a high-quality magical artifact. The Zhou family's only high-quality one was naturally in the hands of Ancestor Zhou Qingfang.
"There are also countless dao texts, and various pills for both martial artists and immortal cultivators."
"Family Head, with the Su family's foundation so deep, only one high-quality magical artifact? The number of high-grade magical artifacts also shouldn't be just this amount." The Grand Elder's brow furrowed slightly.
"There are one or two more, but because they died at the hands of other clans during the battle, the spoils were naturally taken by them, including the magical artifacts and items on Su Yuanze's person." Zhou Shaoyuan said, "Would the Grand Elder want me to go demand them back?"
"If we truly acted so domineering and left others no way out, we'd also be leaving ourselves no way out. In a hundred years, my Zhou family might also repeat the Su family's mistakes."
Hearing this, the Zhou family's Grand Elder cupped his hands, "This elder was inconsiderate."
"Now that the Su family is exterminated, the remnants they secretly sent out should also be rounded up. Second Elder, tomorrow lead some clan disciples to carry out this matter."
"Understood." The Second Elder cupped his hands.
Cut the grass without leaving roots, or spring winds will make it grow again.
"Besides this, there's the matter of distributing the spoils of war. All families have merit."
The Grand Elder said, "According to what we discussed before, taking out twenty percent is enough to feed the Yuehu Commandery Qi Refining families that previously sided with our Zhou family. As for martial Dao families, there's no need to pay too much attention. Just give them the benefits we discussed before."
"The Grand Elder speaks reasonably." Two or three elders stroked their long beards, smiling in agreement.
Zhou Shaoyuan swept his gaze over everyone and sighed deeply, "This matter has changed. Of what the Su family obtained, thirty percent was promised by our ancestor to someone else, the person who suddenly appeared on the battlefield before and then hastily left."
"I do have some impression of this person. He once stood together with our ancestor." An elder pondered.
"Our ancestor's helper must be a Foundation Establishment stage immortal cultivator. This can't be helped. However, this matter is truly strange. Our ancestor never mentioned it to us before."
"No, he's only an eighth layer Qi Refining immortal cultivator."
"What?!" The Grand Elder said incredulously, "A Qi Refining stage cultivator dares to ask for thirty percent of the Su family's foundation. Why would our ancestor agree to him?"
"Just because he saved our ancestor's life and helped contain the Su family's Foundation Establishment reinforcements, which gave our ancestor the opportunity to kill Ancestor Su and completely establish the victory of this battle."
Zhou Shaoyuan said indifferently, "If the Grand Elder feels it's not worth it, by all means go discuss it with our ancestor."
Everyone's pupils constricted.
They all felt Zhou Shaoyuan's words were like fantasy, but only this could explain why their ancestor agreed to give him thirty percent of the Su family's foundation.
If their ancestor had been severely injured or killed at that time, then the one facing extermination today might have been the Zhou family.
After pondering for a moment, Zhou Sen looked at Zhou Shaoyuan and said, "Who is he? Could he be from the Imperial City? Or a major clan from a highly-ranked commandery city?"
Zhou Shaoyuan shook his head, "The Xu family. I'd never heard of them before."
"He claims to be from Qingjiang, the Xu clan of Dongxi Village." Zhou Shaoyuan continued, "I've already investigated. Qingjiang is one of the most remote county towns in our Yuehu Commandery. As for the Xu clan, they're a local family that suddenly rose to prominence."
"A small clan from a county town actually dares to interfere in our Su-Zhou family dispute, even saved our ancestor, contained a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and obtained thirty percent of the Su family's foundation?"
The Grand Elder said dumbly, "Why do I feel the more I hear, the more absurd it sounds?"
Everyone also began discussing this small county clan.
"I've verified this matter with our ancestor. The Grand Elder need not have doubts."
"So it's them." Zhou Sen suddenly said in surprise. Those around him all looked at him in astonishment and asked, "Does Elder Zhou Sen know this Xu clan?"
"When previously trying to win over the Chang family, they mentioned having ties with our Zhou family's guest elder. I had Shaocheng go take a look and confirmed there was no major connection."
"Our Zhou family's guest elder? Which one?" Zhou Shaoyuan asked.
"Daoist Sansu."
"It's actually him?!"
Everyone showed surprised expressions. They had all only heard the name of this pill Dao guest elder but had never seen him in person.
Zhou Shaoyuan pondered for a moment and said, "What my Zhou family promised must be done. Since Elder Zhou Sen once sent Shaocheng to the Xu family, then this time let him go again to deliver these thirty percent of resources to the Xu family."
"Then this old man will also go along."
"Then I'll trouble Elder Zhou Sen."
"Such vast resources, just given to a small county clan. It truly benefits them cheaply."
An elder was truly somewhat unwilling and said, "Family Head, can we stir up conflict between this Xu family and other families, and use their hands to destroy the Xu family? Then our Zhou family can step in and justifiably reclaim these resources."
"That's a good idea. Those Qi Refining families will definitely feel dissatisfied and greedy. They absolutely won't let go of such a remote small clan."
Zhou Shaoyuan sighed slightly, "We cannot. The Xu family is truly not simple. Setting aside what foundation they actually have, that Xu Mingwei has already intentionally or unintentionally reminded me. His Xu family has no intention of being enemies with our Zhou family, but don't engage in petty tricks behind their backs or stir up trouble either. My Zhou family has swallowed the Su family, and our clan disciples have suffered considerable losses. What we should do most at this time is rest and recuperate, strengthening my Zhou family's foundation and strength. If we make a big fuss again at this time, I'm afraid the other families will unite to resist my Zhou family."
Zhou Sen also nodded, "What the Family Head says is reasonable. Regardless of what the Xu family is like, we shouldn't provoke conflict at this time. As long as my Zhou family completely digests the Su family's foundation, in the future we will naturally be Yuehu Commandery's unshakeable hegemon. If that Xu family truly harbors ill intentions toward my Zhou family, we can destroy them in the name of righteousness then."
"I support Elder Zhou Sen." Several people supported Zhou Sen and echoed his words.
"Since both the Family Head and Elder Zhou Sen say so, then regarding the Xu family matter, we'll observe quietly for now. However, the compensation that was to be given to the other Qi Refining families should also be reduced to ten percent, at most ten and a half percent."
Hearing this, Zhou Shaoyuan nodded, "We'll do as the Grand Elder says regarding this matter."
The next day, the families that first supported the Zhou family were all invited to discuss the distribution of spoils of war. However, what they received was far less than what they had expected in their hearts, and they all showed dissatisfied expressions.
Zhou Shaoyuan also explained, saying the Xu family took the greatest merit in this battle and obtained thirty percent.
Regarding what Xu Mingwei had done, they were all shocked. Being able to accomplish this was enough to show the Xu family was unfathomable, and the Zhou family currently seemed to have no intention of dealing with the Xu family.
They could only grit their teeth and swallow this grievance.
After leaving the Zhou family's clan lands, they immediately investigated the Xu family's information with all their might.
With the Zhou family possessing Foundation Establishment cultivators, even with a few tenths less of the Su family's foundation, they were still Yuehu Commandery's hegemon family. But to them, the Xu family had suddenly risen from nowhere.
If they didn't restrain them, it might squeeze their resources and living space.
…
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Under Xu Chuan's leadership, everyone pooled their wisdom and discussed the Xu family's clan rules.
"Father, your son feels that first, immortal cultivators should not arbitrarily bully others or seize their possessions. Second, common people facing immortal cultivators should maintain respect, otherwise immortal cultivators can punish them. Third, when immortal cultivators commit errors and common disciples commit errors, the family should have corresponding disciplinary teams to arrest and interrogate. Fourth, establish a shadow division to monitor all families, to prevent subordinate families and our Xu clan disciples from acting recklessly. Such behavior should be severely punished."
"Acceptable." Xu Chuan nodded slightly, "Mingyuan, the shadow division will be established by you."
Thinking of this, Xu Chuan decided to give the third-generation talent [Penetrating the Obscure and Illuminating the Subtle] to Xu Mingyuan. After all, the shadow division was responsible for surveillance duties, and he also bore the position of Discipline Hall master.
Giving him this fate talent was most appropriate.
Managing punishments was also managing people's hearts.
[Penetrating the Obscure and Illuminating the Subtle] was even more necessary.
Xu Mingshu opened her mouth, then said bitterly, "Second Brother, you said everything I wanted to say. I have nothing left to say."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Xu Mingxian said, "Fourth Sister, what good ideas could you think of? It's better to leave this matter to Big Brother, Second Brother, and Father. What we can think of, they can also consider."
"What you say also makes some sense." Xu Mingshu immediately gave up.
Xu Chuan shook his head slightly and looked at Xu Mingwei, "Mingwei, what about you?"
Xu Mingwei said, "Since we're centered on immortals, then in the future for my Xu family clan members, immortal cultivators are the true core. The rest need not be divided into direct and branch lines for now. Only divide according to aptitude and bestow resources. If aptitude is ordinary but one is diligent and progressive, the family can also secretly assist. The rest need to work hard on their own, strive and struggle. If they don't want to struggle, then living an ordinary life is also acceptable."
These words made the others show thoughtful expressions.
Xu Chuan nodded slightly, "Others can also speak up. Speak freely."
"Then I'll also say something." Xu Mingxuan smiled, "Big Brother and Second Brother are thinking quite long-term. In the short term, we should still vigorously cultivate those worth cultivating, whether they're our Xu clan members, vassal families, or servants and tenant farmer families. We should first try to build up my Xu family's framework. Otherwise, with what we have now, we're far from reaching the scale of an immortal cultivation family."
Everyone had their own insights and began to express them.
Zhang Wanqing was responsible for recording these, to be handed over to Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan afterward to formulate more detailed clan rule provisions.
After the clan rules were established.
Each person's responsibilities were also clearly assigned, and the Xu family members began making progress together.
Xu Mingyuan sent people out to find orphaned children, brought them into the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall for cultivation, and expanded the martial hall's scale, having it flourish in each county town of the commandery city.
Gu Yiping was naturally very happy about this.
Over these years, he had also married and had children, taking root in Qingjiang and becoming a vassal of the Xu clan.
Now over sixty years old, with the Xu family's help, his strength had reached mid-stage grandmaster. With his bone structure and talent, he still had hope of going further.
As for grandmaster perfection, that would be very difficult to say.
With the Xu family's changes, the heads of their vassal families were also summoned once to explain the Xu family's future and the Xu clan rules.
The Xu family's recent plan to focus on cultivating those with good aptitude among each vassal family made them even more overjoyed.
Each family also knew this kind of benefit wasn't always available.
It even triggered a wave of childbearing.
Having more children meant there would always be a few with good aptitude.
Perhaps they might even give birth to a child with immortal cultivation aptitude, be cultivated by the Xu family, and in the future could enter the Xu family's power center in one leap and hold an important position.
Xu Dezhao, Xu Dewen, Xu Dejing, Xu Deying, and other Xu family disciples, because of the Xu family's sparse population, could naturally all receive full cultivation.
The news that the Xu family was about to become an immortal cultivation family also gradually spread.
In Dongxi Village, in Qingjiang, in the surrounding counties, it caused much discussion.
After all, establishing an immortal clan in a county town was the first time in Yuehu Commandery.
The commandery city's various families paid extra attention to news about the Xu family, so before long, the commandery city families all knew and it caused quite a stir. However, for the vast majority of commandery city families.
The Xu family was very unfamiliar, like a family that had suddenly jumped out of the grass.
One day, Zhou Sen, bringing his grandson Zhou Shaocheng and four grandmaster realm martial artists, came to the Xu clan of Dongxi Village.
"Grandfather, following this main road for a short while, we'll reach the location of the Xu clan of Dongxi Village. There will be guards patrolling the road to prevent outsiders from entering."
Shortly after, Zhou Sen's group's carriage suddenly stopped.
"What's going on?" Zhou Shaocheng asked.
"Young Master Shaocheng, ahead is shrouded in fog. It's suspected to be an immortal master's technique."
Zhou Shaocheng pushed open the windows on both sides of the carriage and stuck his head out to look. Sure enough, he saw mist pervading and enveloping the entire area.
"Strange. Last time I came, I didn't see this mist." Zhou Shaocheng pulled his head back in, scratched his head, and looked at Zhou Sen, "Grandfather, from your grandson's observation, it should be an immortal cultivator's formation. I'll have to trouble Grandfather to go out and take a look."
Zhou Sen nodded slightly, and then everyone got off the carriage.
Zhou Sen's gaze looked over, and his divine sense also probed out. However, when his divine sense touched the fog, it was restricted. It could only probe a few meters before it could go no further.
"It can affect divine sense. Truly excellent technique." Zhou Sen murmured softly.
"Even you, Grandfather, a ninth layer Qi Refining cultivator, can't see through it?" Zhou Shaocheng was shocked.
"Why panic? Immortal cultivators have diverse methods. Your grandfather only specializes in pill refinement. For the Xu family to rise so quickly, how could they not have some techniques? Perhaps they obtained the transmission of some ancient cultivator's formation."
Zhou Shaocheng immediately cupped his hands, "Grandfather's teaching is correct."
Zhou Sen looked around, then said to one of the grandmaster attendants, "You go in and see what the situation is."
"Yes, Elder Zhou Sen."
That attendant entered for only a dozen or so breaths before walking back out, his face showing a puzzled expression of 'How did I come out?'
"An ordinary maze formation, plus divine consciousness interference techniques. Even immortal cultivators can't easily see through it."
Zhou Sen explained, then after pondering said, "Zhou Sen of the Zhou clan of Yuehu has come to visit the Xu clan."
His voice transmitted into the mist. In a flash, seven or eight people walked out.
"Eh, Young Master Zhou, you've come again."
The patrol members were also the same patrol team that had previously stopped Zhou Shaocheng.
The captain cupped his hands and smiled, "We generally guard at the boundary marker. We also can't see if there are people outside the mist. We can only wait for someone to speak before going out to look."
"Then why not simply guard outside the mist?" Zhou Shaocheng's brow furrowed slightly.
"Please forgive us, Young Master Zhou. This is what the family head ordered. Now that our Xu clan of Dongxi Village is about to become an immortal cultivation family, if enemies come to attack and we're outside, we might instantly lose our lives. But with this formation here, even immortal cultivators can be resisted somewhat. Moreover, if we discover them in time, we can still raise the alarm."
"The Xu family is indeed a family that cherishes its subordinates." Zhou Sen stroked his beard.
The captain cupped his hands from afar in respect, "Our Xu clan is naturally a benevolent and virtuous family!"
"Enough talk. The Zhou family of Yuehu are honored guests of my Xu family. The family head already gave orders. Please follow us. Don't leave more than one zhang from us, otherwise you'll instantly be obscured by the mist and difficult to track."
Zhou Sen nodded slightly and said, "Follow them in."
Everyone entered the maze formation and saw that the jade tokens at each patrol guard's waist emitted faint fluorescence, pushing the mist away.
Shortly after, they walked out of the maze formation.
Suddenly everything brightened before their eyes. A bluestone official road split through the chaos like a sword, extending straight toward the depths ahead.
Wild crabapple trees by the road were covered with dew, almost wetting their clothes.
Looking in all four directions, the crisscrossing paths were everywhere. New seedlings created green waves. Among them, farmers in plain clothes drove calves past, with flute sounds chasing mountain birds.
Further away, wisps of cooking smoke rose, hidden at the horizon.
Not far ahead on the right side of the road stood a boundary marker with the four characters "Xu Clan of Dongxi Village" written on it.
"Zhang Wu, you lead these Zhou family honored guests to the main residence."
The guard named Little Wu cupped his hands, "Yes, Captain."
Zhou Sen and the others followed Zhang Wu along the official road. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived before the Xu family's main residence.
"The surrounding scenery and this main residence haven't changed much." Zhou Shaocheng said indifferently.
Zhang Wu smiled slightly without saying much, then said to the guards watching over the Xu family's main residence, "These several are from the Zhou clan of Yuehu, whom the family head previously instructed about."
After speaking, Zhang Wu cupped his hands again toward Zhou Sen and the others, "Honored guests, this humble one still has patrol duties. I'll take my leave first."
"Everyone, please come in."
The guards brought several people to the main hall. Another person went to notify Family Head Xu Mingwei.
Before long, Xu Mingwei arrived at the main hall, smiling and cupping his hands, "Everyone has been waiting. My apologies."
Seeing Zhou Shaocheng, he said again, "Young Master Zhou, we meet again."
"Family Head Xu." Zhou Shaocheng cupped his hands in response.
"Please sit." Xu Mingwei nodded slightly, then said, "Serve tea!"
Shortly after, beautiful young maidservants brought in tea.
The four grandmasters were only servants and didn't take seats. Instead, two stood behind Zhou Shaocheng and two behind Zhou Sen.
"You're Xu Mingwei?"
"That's correct. May I ask how to address this senior?"
"This old man is Zhou Sen." Zhou Sen stroked his beard calmly.
"So you're the Zhou family's great pill refining master. For you to personally come truly makes my Xu family's humble dwelling shine with glory." Xu Mingwei cupped his hands, his eyes gleaming.
"Why does this sound somewhat familiar?"
Zhou Shaocheng muttered quietly, suddenly remembering that when he came last time, it was also pretty much the same routine.
"Family Head Xu is too polite. In this Su-Zhou dispute, thank you for intervening and helping my Zhou family tremendously. This is the gift of thanks my Zhou family promised."
Because there were many items, Zhou Sen specially used a mid-tier storage bag.
The entire Zhou family only had one. It would only be used when carrying large amounts of resources. After swallowing the Su family, they gained two more.
Thirty percent of the Su family's foundation, just the copies of dao texts alone were countless. There were also large amounts of spirit rice and spirit medicines. As for magical artifacts and spirit stones, they took up very little space.
Zhou Sen controlled the mid-tier storage bag to fly to the plaza in front of the main hall and simply made a hand seal.
Immediately, a large number of texts flew out and landed to one side. After that came spirit rice and spirit medicines. Finally came spirit stones and magical artifacts.