"You raised them?" Xu Mingshu looked at Ren Xiaoyao in astonishment. "You have that ability? How did you raise them?"
"I fed them with my own blood," Ren Xiaoyao said. "But later my grandfather discovered it and forbade me from doing so. I assume my second uncle must have overheard the word 'spirit fish' during that time and thought my grandfather had successfully raised spirit fish."
"Legend has it that immortal cultivators with earth spiritual root aptitude or above typically develop special constitutions. It seems your blood contains spiritual essence, which is why you could feed the spirit fish and help them grow," Xu Mingyuan said thoughtfully.
"earth spiritual root aptitude?"
"Let this master give you some basic knowledge about the immortal cultivation world."
The group walked and talked as they headed toward the commandery city.
They toured the commandery city, bought several sets of clothes for Ren Xiaoyao, and ordered food at an inn for lunch.
Three days in a row.
Combined with the effects of the foundation-strengthening and essence-cultivating pills, Ren Xiaoyao finally took on the appearance of a normal twelve-year-old boy. His looks weren't particularly outstanding, but he was fairly handsome.
Several days passed.
Xu Mingyuan and the others went to the Clear Wave Lake market.
Using Blood Lineage Traction, they soon found the inn where Xu Mingwei and the others were staying.
"Who is this young man?" Xu Mingwei looked in astonishment at the unfamiliar youth who had appeared in Xu Mingyuan's group.
Xu Mingshu said proudly, "Second Brother's newly accepted disciple, Ren Xiaoyao. He has earth spiritual root aptitude.
Xiaoyao, greet your eldest uncle. These are your cousin Dezhao and cousin Deling."
Ren Xiaoyao obediently paid his respects.
Upon hearing about the earth spiritual root, everyone's eyes lit up as if they had discovered a treasure.
Ren Xiaoyao himself represented an opportunity for Foundation Establishment. For any Qi Refining family that could produce such a person, as long as he grew up successfully, they would certainly become a Foundation Establishment family.
Currently, among the five great second-rank families of Great Wei, the founding ancestors of three of them all possessed earth spiritual root aptitude.
"Congratulations, Mingyuan, on accepting such a fine disciple. Father will surely be very pleased when we return."
Xu Mingyuan nodded slightly, then had Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling take Ren Xiaoyao out for a tour.
The remaining people exchanged intelligence in the room.
The situation in Longjiang Commandery seemed even more complex. The Liu family sat firmly in the position of hegemon, unshakeable.
Apart from their mid-stage Foundation Establishment ancestor who had approximately twenty to thirty years of lifespan remaining, the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators were relatively young, with the older one just over one hundred fifty years old.
The younger Foundation Establishment cultivator was just over one hundred twenty.
With the resources controlled by the Liu family, barring any accidents, there would be no major changes for the next two to three hundred years.
If they could produce more outstanding family descendants, they might even progress further.
Of course, advancing from third-rank to second-rank was extremely difficult.
At least since the founding of Great Wei, no immortal cultivation family in any commandery city had ever achieved second-rank status.
Whether this was due to mutual constraints from various parties or intentional limitation by Great Wei was unknown.
Therefore, after listening, Xu Mingyuan directly gave up on making deals with the Liu family. They were thriving and vigorous, with no need for assistance from a small family like the Xu family.
As for the various Qi Refining families, quite a few had privately formed alliances of two or three families. There were occasional disputes, but overall stability prevailed.
"It seems Longjiang Commandery isn't very suitable."
"The Xiao family isn't suitable either?" Xu Mingxuan asked in surprise.
Xu Mingyuan shook his head. "Not suitable. The Xiao family has its own allies, and their strength and foundation are not lacking. Plus, with the Liu family as such a long-stable hegemon keeping them in check, no one in Longjiang Commandery dares to stand out.
Unless someone from their clan successfully breaks through to Foundation Establishment, only then might the situation in Longjiang Commandery experience some turbulence."
"That probability is too low," Xu Mingshu said. "If it weren't for the Zhou family ancestor succeeding by relying on a thousand-year spirit medicine, I would think this was simply a dead end for cultivators with true spiritual root aptitude."
"Just because everyone spreads a rumor, does that make it fact?" Xu Mingyuan's eyes rippled with meaning. "Only the Zhou family ancestor himself knows what the truth really is.
Father never clings to these rumors. He once speculated that the Zhou family ancestor's aptitude might not be as simple as true spiritual root.
Of course, this is just speculation. Our Xu family has no need to investigate deeply."
Xu Mingxuan and Xu Mingshu looked thoughtful.
Xu Mingwei remained calm, naturally aware of Xu Chuan's speculation.
"For our Xu family, we must attempt the thousand-year spirit medicine route, seek the Foundation Establishment Pill route, and even if there are other methods that can increase the probability of Foundation Establishment, we must collect them," Xu Mingyuan continued.
"Since there's no profit to be gained in Longjiang Commandery, should we still stay here?" Xu Mingxuan asked.
As Xu Mingyuan pondered, Xu Mingwei said, "Longjiang Commandery's spirit fish are quite famous. We can bring back some fry, and as for the spirit pill formula for feeding spirit fish, we might bring it back for Father to improve and extend to spirit beasts."
"That's good," Xu Mingshu's eyes brightened.
"Furthermore, Ling'er discovered there's a special magical artifact here called a 'fish basket.' The space inside varies in size, similar to storage bags, and can hold quite a bit of water to keep spirit fish alive inside.
She plans to study it and see if she can refine one. That way we can conveniently have the Azure Fire Eagles send some back early for the family to cultivate."
Xu Mingyuan looked at his eldest brother and smiled faintly. "In that case, we'll stay in Longjiang for half a month or a month."
Xu Mingwei nodded slightly.
Xu Dezhao and Xu Deling walked through the market streets with Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao looked around curiously left and right, asking, "Brother Dezhao, Sister Deling, are everyone here immortal masters?"
"Most of them are," Xu Dezhao said with a smile. "Xiaoyao, how did you meet my second uncle and the others?"
"If we're talking about meeting, it wasn't me but my grandfather. I was blessed by my grandfather's fortune to meet my master."
Then Ren Xiaoyao held nothing back and told them everything he knew.
After listening, Xu Deling angrily declared she would whip Ren Xiaoyao's second uncle's corpse.
"The world's suffering is as numerous as cow hairs. Meeting each other is fate. Xiaoyao, when you reach our Dongxi, you'll come to love it. The common people there are just like your grandfather, all hardworking and simple, full of hope for the future."
Hearing about Dongxi's virtues again, Ren Xiaoyao couldn't help but wonder what kind of paradise it was.
After a simple tour, the three returned to the inn.
Xu Deling also began to seclude herself to study the fish basket magical artifact. This artifact was truly not cheap. Even the smallest size, which could only hold just over a hundred spirit fish fry, required more than thirty spirit stones.
However, without anyone to teach her, it was too difficult to figure out such a special magical artifact in a short time.
In half a month, Xu Deling had only grasped the basics.
She attempted it several times, but the results all ended in failure.
Finally, two days later they left Longjiang Commandery. When they reached an uninhabited area, Xu Mingshu released the Azure Fire Eagle from her spirit beast bag and had it carry the fish basket and letters back.
Both the white tiger and the Azure Fire Eagles had mental connections with Xu Mingshu. Even separated by vast distances, they could follow this connection to find her.
"Aunt Mingshu, you have another spirit beast?!"
"Want to ride it?"
Ren Xiaoyao's little head nodded, revealing an excited expression. "Yes."
Immediately, Xu Mingshu and Ren Xiaoyao rode Azure Fire Eagle Ah Da together, while Ah San carried things back.
After all, Ah Da had delivered the letter last time, so it was Ah San's turn this time.
…
Yuehu Commandery, Qingjiang County.
Dongxi Xu Clan.
"Screech!"
Azure Fire Eagle Ah San's clear eagle cry pierced through the sky like tearing silk, resounding throughout Dongxi's skies.
Near the Immortal Arts Hall, suddenly another eagle cry rang out as a blue shadow shot forth.
Second and Ah San flapped their wings in the air, calling clearly as if greeting each other.
At this time, Xu Chuan was teaching in the Immortal Arts Hall classroom.
Of course, only Zhang Wanqing and Shen Qingyi were listening.
After nearly two months of study, Shen Qingyi had also begun to engage with the pill Dao. However, her talent in the pill Dao was even inferior to Zhang Wanqing's, and she could only rely on diligence to research and improve bit by bit.
Having one more pill refiner was ultimately good for the Xu family.
Xu Chuan tacitly approved of Shen Qingyi pursuing the pill Dao.
As for Wu Tao, after rotating through array formations, artifact refinement, and the pill Dao, he discovered he truly wasn't suited for cultivating immortal arts. He instead joined the Discipline Hall, harmoniously married to Xu Dejing's pursuits.
Of course, being at the late stage of the fourth layer of Qi Refining and also being an immortal cultivator, he became a vice hall master of the Discipline Hall.
After going through trials and tribulations, Xu Dewen had gradually developed an air of authority about him, handling matters with increasing ease.
Hearing the eagle cry, Xu Chuan raised his eyes to look out the window, then smiled faintly at the two women. "Let's stop here for today. Go back and think it over carefully. If you have any doubts in half a month, come ask again and I'll answer all your questions."
"Thank you, Grand Elder."
Zhang Wanqing and Shen Qingyi stood up. The two women put away their pill furnaces and left the room.
Xu Chuan also followed them out, came to the open space, and whistled, attracting the Azure Fire Eagles' attention.
The two Azure Fire Eagle brothers immediately flew toward him and landed before him.
Xu Chuan glanced at a gray package tied several inches above Ah San's talons, bulging with contents.
With a hook of his hand, the bindings immediately came undone and the package flew before him.
Inside was an item similar to a fish basket, along with a small bamboo tube containing a letter.
After Xu Chuan finished reading, he drew the fish basket into his palm. With a sweep of his divine sense, he indeed discovered seventy to eighty spirit fish fry inside.
"Letting them go out to explore was indeed a good thing."
"If we can raise the spirit fish, it will be another trading resource."
"A youth with earth spiritual root aptitude, Mingyuan's fortune is quite good. His lineage won't be lacking in the future."
As he smiled faintly, Azure Fire Eagle Ah San tilted its head, called out clearly, and a pair of eagle eyes stared intently at Xu Chuan, as if urging him.
"I know, truly whatever kind of master raises whatever kind of spirit beast."
Xu Chuan swept his hand over his storage bag and a porcelain bottle flew out. He brought two fingers together like a sword gesture and waved lightly, sending a pill flying out.
Ah San’s eagle eyes flashed with blue light as it swallowed the pill in one gulp, showing a completely satisfied expression.
Moments later, it spread its wings and soared into the sky. After bidding farewell to its brother, it immediately flew toward the distant sky.
The last item in the package was a porcelain bottle containing the spirit pills for feeding spirit fish that Xu Mingwei had purchased, a full twenty to thirty pills.
Xu Chuan held it in his hand and shook his head with a laugh then he lightly formed hand seals. The letter spontaneously burned and turned to ash that scattered in the air. Afterward, he took the fish basket and turned back into the room.
This spirit fish pill was an extremely ordinary medicinal pill, all made from common medicinal materials tinged with spiritual energy, worth less than even a Qi-Drawing Pill.
However, one of the ingredients was a common water grass that grew by rivers, which should have the effect of promoting spirit fish feeding.
Qingjiang's water resources were not as abundant as the Black Dragon River, but they could still occasionally be found.
Xu Chuan had people bring it back to Dongxi to cultivate and breed in large quantities.
The other three materials were also common.
"A thing meant to deceive people, even such trivial pill Dao can be put forward." Xu Chuan smiled faintly. In just five or six days, he completed its upgrade, allowing it to truly step into the level of a first-tier pill.
Although the price increased, it was still calculated according to mundane prices, similar to Innate Martial Pills.
This pill greatly promoted the growth of spirit fish.
According to the previous spirit fish pills, spirit fish took two to three years to mature. However, after Xu Chuan improved the spirit fish pills and cultivation methods, they only needed seven to eight months.
Those Qi Refining families or main families in Longjiang Commandery would never use such inferior spirit fish pills to cultivate their own spirit fish. This was merely to deceive outsiders.
It only bullied those who didn't understand the pill Dao.
"Spirit Beast Pills, in another half month, should also be ready."
As the spirit herbs in the Xu family's possession increased, Xu Chuan finally discovered that combining several types of spirit medicines with demon fruits could have a tremendous promoting effect on spirit beasts.
Currently, the white tiger was at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. Among the three Azure Fire Eagle brothers, Ah Da and Ah Er were at the peak of the fifth layer of Qi Refining, while Ah San seemed slightly more talented and had already stepped into the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
If the Spirit Beast Pills succeeded, their future would at least reach the peak of first-tier demon beasts.
As for going further, unless the Xu family obtained methods specifically for cultivating spirit beasts.
The lake they had excavated earlier was perfect for cultivating spirit fish, with people specially assigned to guard and feed them.
Xu Chuan refined them in batches of over ten. In just two or three days, he had refined enough high-quality spirit fish pills to last several months, with even stronger growth-promoting effects.
More than half a month later.
The Spirit Beast Pill formula was finally perfected.
Xu Chuan refined a furnace. With a sweep of his divine sense, he found the crimson gold pupil White Tiger and walked before it.
The white tiger raised its head for a glance, then yawned and lay back down but suddenly a peculiar fragrance caused its eyes to instantly widen. Looking again, it saw Xu Chuan holding a pill with intertwining crimson red patterns.
The fragrance it produced was far more aromatic and enticing than any pill it had eaten before.
Instinct told it that eating this would bring great benefits.
"Roar?"
The white tiger didn't dare snatch it forcefully and inquired tentatively.
Xu Chuan naturally couldn't understand, but seeing its humanized eyes and expression, he guessed the gist and smiled with a nod. "For you."
He lightly tossed it, and it accurately entered the white tiger's mouth.
The pill transformed into a hot current flowing through its entire body, causing it to roar toward the sky in excitement, a sound like thunderous rumbling.
"Refine it well, and in a few days I'll give you another."
Thus, the white tiger became Xu Chuan's test tiger for the Spirit Beast Pills.
In the blink of an eye, a month and a half passed.
The Blood Rice, Yellow Beam Rice, and even Crystal Rice were growing well and should be ready for one harvest before October.
The spirit rice stalks were tough. If left to mortals, they probably couldn't cut through a single stalk.
Martial artists would also need to expend considerable effort and have sharp tools in hand but immortal cultivators using magical artifacts could harvest several hundred acres of spirit rice in less than half the time it takes to drink tea.
The spirit fish in the lake were growing well.
Moreover, many small fish and shrimp appeared, along with numerous aquatic plants reproducing rapidly. This lake was no longer as monotonous as before, and even the lake water seemed more clear.
The white tiger ate a low-grade Spirit Beast Pill every two or three days. After a while, it was fed middle-grade pills, then top-grade ones.
There were no major adverse effects but it seemed that due to frequent pill feeding, it received great nourishment and had excess energy.
Therefore, the white tiger somehow brought back a female tiger to expend its excessive energy upon.
It accidentally created a tiger life.
Of course, thanks to this wave of experimentation, the white tiger actually showed signs of breaking through to the middle stage of the fifth layer of Qi Refining.