"The Xu clan, rising from humble roots, growing and transforming rapidly, accumulating four late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in just twenty or thirty years, including one at Qi Refining perfection. It seems they can advance even further within a century.
In all of Great Wei, it's been a long time since an aristocratic family developed so rapidly."
Of course, for remote commandery cities like Yuehu Commandery, the imperial clan wouldn't pay too much attention.
For the Xu family to attract even a bit of notice was already rare.
In the imperial city, the aristocratic families, forces, and sects of third rank and above were what the Cao clan truly valued.
"Master Xu, congratulations on the Xu family being listed in the Immortal Register. When you hold the Ascension Celebration in the future, don't forget to invite my Zhou family."
"How could I dare forget?" Xu Chuan laughed heartily.
"Then we'll take our leave as well."
The Yuan family immortal official and Zhou family immortal official both rode their swords away.
Xu Chuan smiled faintly and gave her the pill book iron certificate.
Xu Mingxuan and the others also looked over curiously, wanting to see what characters were inscribed on it.
Xu Chuan walked to the side. Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan came over, "Father, do we really have to hold that Ascension Celebration?"
"Since it's custom, let's follow local customs."
"Send invitations to all sixth-rank and above martial Dao families and immortal cultivation families in the commandery city. Three months from now, my Xu family will hold the Ascension Celebration in Dongxi Village, sincerely inviting all families to participate.
Moreover, at the celebration there will be martial Dao and immortal Dao competitions for juniors, limited to those thirty-three years old and under. The martial Dao champion can receive six Grandmaster Martial Pills, and the immortal Dao champion can receive one Divine Sense Pill."
"The Su family once tried to assess the strength of various families, but it was a complete mess."
Xu Mingyuan's eyes were like black pearls, his lips curving into a thirty percent smile, "And my Xu family only needs to dangle the bait, and the various families will naturally swarm over."
Xu Mingwei pondered briefly, then said, "Should my Xu family send people to participate?"
"For martial Dao, just select two or three participants from the vassal families and those we've cultivated. Let them also see the foundation of the commandery city families. As for immortal Dao, forget it. If my Xu family doesn't participate, they'll compete more enthusiastically.
Below thirty-three years old, besides you and Mingyuan, everyone else qualifies."
Xu Chuan smiled faintly.
"That's true. If Yunnu enters, the families probably won't dare show their faces. Tantou and Xueji have both concealed their realms. If they make a move, it would be hard to avoid exposure."
"Now, among the five of us, I'm the only one who hasn't achieved mastery of the Breath Concealment Technique."
"Your talent doesn't lie in cultivation, but your spiritual root aptitude already surpasses many descendants of immortal cultivation families. You just need to proceed step by step."
Xu Mingyuan cupped his hands, "Yes, Father."
"The Shadow Division exists to supervise our entire Xu family and even vassal families. You only need to be responsible to me alone. Mingwei and Mingyuan, if you need anything, support them fully. If it's difficult, come find me again."
"I understand, Father."
Xu Chuan nodded and called out, "Mingxuan, come here."
"Father, what do you need?"
"Tomorrow, go to the Zhou family and discuss Mingxian's marriage. Say that during the celebration will be when my Xu family fetches the bride, the time of their grand wedding."
"Alright, leave this matter to me."
The next day, Xu Mingxuan rode his sword to the Zhou family.
After some discussion, the Zhou family naturally agreed, though due to distance issues, some Zhou family members might need to arrive at Qingjiang early.
Over the next several days, the vassal families of Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Chen, Bai, and others all came to the main family to offer congratulations.
Each family naturally received some resource rewards.
"Daniu, Li Zhi, now that the main family has ascended to become an immortal cultivation family, you two need to hurry up and produce children. If descendants with immortal cultivation aptitude are born, they might also receive cultivation.
Look at me, I just took my ninth concubine this year."
Daniu's mouth twitched slightly, "I'm truly in awe of you."
Li Zhi smiled faintly, "Having one wife is already enough for me. As for other matters, let nature take its course."
"Then I'm the only normal person left. I just have two, perfectly balanced left and right. Too many would mean constant chirping and arguing, fighting over this and that, very annoying."
Then Chen Daniu continued, "By the way, Li Zhi, I heard the main family plans to hold martial Dao and immortal Dao competitions at the Ascension Celebration.
You must represent us and compete with the martial Dao geniuses of the commandery city families."
Among the Xu family's many vassals, these three families were at the forefront because they were closest to the Xu family.
The Li family was the earliest to attach to the Xu family, and Li Zhi's martial Dao talent was considerable. He had now stepped into the grandmaster realm and was exactly thirty-three years old, so he could compete with the commandery city martial Dao families.
As for the Chen family, it was the family of Xu Chuan's childhood friend.
The Bai family was Xu Chuan's in-law family. Xu Mingwei and the others were all cousins to Bai Hui.
Currently, the Chen family head was Chen Daniu, the Bai family head was Bai Hui, and the Li family head was naturally Li Zhi.
The three had a fairly good relationship, but in terms of martial Dao talent, the other two couldn't compare with Li Zhi.
They were only at mid-stage innate even now.
If they had been cultivated from childhood with the Xu family's current martial Dao system, with full cultivation, they might have reached innate perfection by now.
From innate to grandmaster, without superior martial Dao talent, most would be stuck at this bottleneck.
Immortal cultivation had bottlenecks, and martial Dao was the same.
Li Zhi said flatly, "If the family head selects me, then I'll participate. Otherwise, forget it."
"Fine, let's not talk about this. Let's go drink. It's rare for us to gather together." Bai Hui said.
Li Zhi nodded slightly.
Within a few days, the news that the Xu family would hold the Ascension Celebration and Xu Mingxian's grand wedding on the eighth day of the second month spread throughout all of Qingjiang and all the commandery city families.
The Wu family members felt somewhat bitter hearing this news.
After County Magistrate Wu passed away, the Wu family had declined even further. Fortunately, they still had some wealth and could do business.
The merchants who traded with them knew they were in-laws with the Xu family and would give them some face, but not much.
After all, if the Xu family truly wanted to help, the Wu family wouldn't have fallen to such a state.
As for the other four families, they were either destroyed or displaced, having left Qingjiang County.
Almost no one cared about their fate.
"Years ago when I saw Family Head Xu, I knew he was no ordinary person. At the martial arts hall competition back then, when his eyes inadvertently glanced at me, my soul was shaken."
"What's that? Back when the Xu family opened a fruit shop in the county city, I knew their family were extraordinary people. Otherwise, how could they grow treasures like Green Jade Pears? I heard even in the commandery city, not every family can eat them."
The rumors became more and more outrageous, even going back to when Xu Chuan was born.
"I heard from a clan uncle in Dongxi Village that when Old Family Head Xu was born, auspicious clouds descended from heaven and golden lotuses sprouted from the earth. Fresh from his mother's womb, he pointed one hand to heaven and one hand to earth, signifying that in all Qingjiang, above heaven and below earth, only Xu reigns supreme."
These rumors all reached the ears of the Xu family members, causing roars of laughter.
"Father, were you really pointing one hand to heaven and one hand to earth when you were born?" Xu Mingxuan blinked.
"Making fun of your father, are you? No monthly allowance next month, and don't even think about cultivation resources."
"Dad, dad, dad, my dear father, your son was wrong." Xu Mingxuan was completely controlled and immediately knelt on the spot.
Xu Mingyuan smiled, "It's not just Father. Each of you has been embellished. Like eldest brother being able to run and jump at birth with tremendous strength, me being born holding a gold ingot, third brother being born with the whole room filling with fragrance, Xueji with wild beasts kneeling in worship, Yunnu with immortal light descending from heaven, a reincarnated immortal."
Bai Jing listened with a smile all over her face, giggling, "I gave birth to each and every one of them. How come I, as the mother, didn't know about so many auspicious signs?"
Yang Ronghua and the others were also just listening for entertainment.
After a moment, Xu Chuan's expression became serious, "For the Ascension Celebration, my entire Xu clan must burn incense and pray, offering sacrifices to heaven and earth. None of you can be careless and let people laugh at us."
"Yes, Father."
…
Yuehu Commandery city.
The Yuan family. Council hall.
"The Xu family has been really lively lately. Exclusively obtaining thirty percent of the Su family's foundation, then arranging a betrothal with the Zhou family, recently ascending to become a fifth-rank Qi Refining family, and three months later holding an Ascension Celebration and their youngest son's grand wedding."
The Yuan family head said flatly.
"It's all because the Xu family interfered. Otherwise, the Zhou family couldn't possibly have only distributed ten percent of resources to all of us!" Someone's eyes revealed resentment.
"So what if you're dissatisfied? The Xu family is currently in the spotlight, and with the marriage alliance imminent, the Zhou family absolutely cannot turn against the Xu family.
As for the other Qi Refining families, they're all old foxes, fence-sitters who absolutely won't join forces with us to deal with the Xu family."
Someone sighed deeply, feeling helpless.
"That's right. Originally, we thought once the Su family fell, apart from the Zhou family in Yuehu Commandery, my Yuan family would reign supreme. Who would have thought a Xu family would spring up from the countryside and ascend in one step?"
"The Xu family's momentum can no longer be stopped. My Yuan family will ultimately be the eternal third place in Yuehu Commandery."
"The Xu family's Grand Elder, a Qi Refining perfection pill refining master. If he doesn't die, the Xu family's rising momentum truly cannot be stopped. However, making them lose some face is not impossible."
Hearing this, many elders looked over.
That person smiled, "Doesn't the Xu family want to hold an Ascension Celebration ceremony? Aren't they holding a grand wedding? At that time with people coming and going, the Xu family's mist array will definitely not be activated.
Casually find two or three rogue Qi Refining cultivators and have them cause trouble at the critical moment. It doesn't need to be too excessive, just release one or two spells into the crowd of Xu family servants, then turn and leave.
Killing or injuring some servants doesn't count for much, but on such an occasion, under everyone's watchful eyes, the Xu family's reputation would plummet. Perhaps even the Zhou family would have to reassess their relationship with the Xu family."
Everyone's eyes lit up, "This plan seems feasible. Casually casting a low-grade spell only takes one or two breaths. The Xu family's clan land is close to the mountains. As long as they flee into the mountains, they can easily escape."
The Yuan family head pondered briefly, "Ninth Elder, since you proposed this matter, I'll leave it to you to handle."
"Yes, Family Head."
Like the Yuan family, those thinking of dealing with the Xu family were truly in the minority. Most families were considering what gifts to send to gain the Xu family's friendship or favor.
The Xu family didn't lack pills, and having recently recruited Yuehu Market's Hundred Refinements Weapon Workshop, plus thirty percent of the Su family's foundation, they definitely didn't lack low and middle-grade magical artifacts either.
However, giving high-grade magical artifacts as gifts, even the Zhou family would feel the pain.
Each one cost at least five or six hundred spirit stones. Did they think spirit stones were blown in by the wind, so easy to earn?
Some even sent people to find Steward Jin at Guanghu Residence.
He was a Xu family person, which was no secret to the various families.
However, Steward Jin seemed to have received instructions early on. If anyone came asking about the Xu family's preferences, he would mention some specially functional ancient magical artifacts, rare materials, spirit medicines or spirit wood, spirit fruit seedlings or seeds, special secret arts, ancient techniques, rare pill formulas, and so on.
In short, ordinary pills and magical artifacts were things the Xu family absolutely didn't care about.
This was indeed the truth.
…
The Chang family.
"Grand Elder, your injury has long remained unhealed and cannot be cured by ordinary healing pills. Why not take advantage of this Xu family Ascension Celebration to send a valuable gift and ask the Xu family's Grand Elder to heal your injury?"
"Cough, cough," The Chang family's Grand Elder coughed once, "With the Xu family's current status and foundation, how could ordinary items move them? Not to mention my Chang family previously had designs on Xu family properties."
"Grandfather, your grandson firmly believes there are no eternal friends in this world, only eternal interests. As long as our items can move the Xu family, they will definitely take action.
The current Chang family absolutely cannot be without you presiding!"
"Then what gift do you plan to send?"
"My Chang family's precious treasure. This item was originally planned for when the Chang family produces an exceptionally talented person, then using it as material to forge a fine-quality magical artifact for them.
However, my Chang family ultimately doesn't have this fortune. Better to make the best use of it now."
"Cough, cough. Now you're the family head, so you decide."
"Thank you, Grandfather."
…
The Yang residence.
"Father, the Xu family's Ascension Celebration coincides with Mingxian's grand wedding. What gift do you think my Yang family should send?"
Yang Shichang looked at Yang Zhao, "You're now the Yang family head, holding the key to the Yang family treasury. Why don't we go in and select something?"
"Nonsense!" Yang Zhao rebuked, "Is the Yang family treasury somewhere you can enter whenever you want?"
"I'm just anxious." Yang Shichang laughed awkwardly twice, "You don't really plan to send ordinary items, do you?"
"My younger sister, your daughter, is the Xu family head's wife!"
Yang Zhao fell silent.
What Yang Shichang said wasn't unreasonable.
This matter was a major event for the Xu family. His Yang family was currently the family with the closest public relationship with the Xu family. If they also gave gifts casually, it would show they didn't value this Xu family celebration.
It would easily make Yang Ronghua lose face.
For the two families to have closer interactions in the future would probably be impossible.
After a long while, Yang Zhao said, "I'll go look in the treasury later."
Yang Shichang grinned, "By the way, Father, your son inquired with Steward Jin. Uncle Xu likes rare pill formulas, unusual materials, immortal cultivation secret arts, spirit medicine, spirit wood, spirit fruit seeds, and so on."
"Your father knows." Yang Zhao said flatly.
He later went to the ancestral residence, informed Yang Wenfeng of this matter, and wandered around the treasury with him. Finally, they selected a fist-sized, silver-colored ore from a certain jade case that looked like it had been eroded by wind and sand for countless years.
Yang Wenfeng said, "According to records, this ore was left by a certain Yang family ancestor. It's been over a hundred years now. Legend has it that it was obtained from a seriously injured rogue cultivator. Its material seems to only be first-tier Sunken Silver Ore, but inside sleeps an ancient spirit insect.
That ancestor once said that unless the clan produces an immortal cultivator with insect control abilities, this spirit ore must not be carelessly disturbed.
He feared the spirit insect awakening would bring great calamity to the Yang family."
Hearing this, Yang Zhao said, "Xu Mingshu is rumored to have beast taming abilities. Insect control and beast taming should be similar. Perhaps sending it as a gift to the Xu family is just right. Moreover, with the Xu family's capabilities, they should have the ability to deal with the larvae after awakening."
"If this can make the Xu family view my Yang family more favorably, it would be very worthwhile."
"Uncle, this matter cannot be forced, but I will do my utmost to coordinate well between the Xu family and Yang family."
Time passed like a white colt through a gap, slipping away quietly.
The Xu family and their vassal families all spent three months in busyness.