Xu Mingyuan walked out carrying a rosewood tray.
Xu Mingwei also walked to Xu Dezhao's side. He picked up the purple-cyan square seal from the wooden tray and said to Xu Dezhao, "Today you inherit the position of family head. Your father has three words for you. You must remember them."
"Please speak, Father."
"First, everything must prioritize the family!"
"Second, firmly remember the family precepts and clan rules, but don't rigidly adhere to conventions."
"Third, unite, treat kindly, and also educate clan members, combining firmness with gentleness."
"Your son respectfully follows Father's teachings!"
Xu Dezhao received the family head seal with both hands. Xu Mingwei nodded slightly, quite satisfied, then withdrew to the side together with Xu Mingyuan then they heard Xu Chuan continue, "May our ancestors bestow their protection, allowing our Xu clan's orthodox lineage to flourish eternally."
Xu Dezhao kowtowed three more times.
Xu Dezhao stood up, holding the family head seal.
The Xu family members, including those from vassal families, all cupped their fists toward Xu Dezhao, "We greet the Family Head."
The family head succession ceremony ended here.
Xu Dezhao had to receive the various vassal family heads, establishing connections and familiarity.
As everyone dispersed, Zhou Sen stepped forward and cupped his fists, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Xu. Having such a grandson is enough to inherit the Xu family's foundation. Grow larger and stronger, create new glories."
These words sounded somewhat familiar.
Xu Chuan smiled, "Thank you, Brother Zhou, for coming to observe the ceremony today. My Xu family is truly honored by your presence."
Zhou Sen also felt these words sounded familiar.
The two exchanged glances and laughed heartily. Xu Chuan said, "Come, if you have matters, let's talk in my study."
Zhou Sen nodded, glancing at Bai Jing. He couldn't help thinking inwardly, "When did Xu Chuan marry such a young woman?"
However, he didn't dwell on it. After all, she was just a mortal.
Moreover, Xu Chuan's private affairs were none of his business. After all, he himself had three or four wives at home, and the earliest two had already passed away but Xu Mingwei and the others were extremely excited.
After returning to the Xu family's main residence, they inquired, "Mother, why have you become younger?"
Bai Jing smiled, "Mother doesn't know either. Your father fed me a medicinal pill. I slept, and when I woke up, I was like this. I've already instructed the household not to spread this externally."
Xu Mingwei nodded, "Mother is right. For mortals, we might be able to explain it away with immortal techniques, but for cultivators, it's not so easy."
Bai Jing looked over in surprise, "What? Is returning to youth very difficult?"
"Changing appearance might be possible, but I observe that Mother's aura is full of youthful vitality, just like someone in their twenties. This isn't something ordinary techniques can achieve."
"Exactly." Xu Mingyuan also said.
Xu Mingshu smiled and came forward, "Now when I stand with Mother, others will definitely think we're sisters."
"Such impropriety." Bai Jing laughed and scolded. "You can ask your father about the details of this matter later."
"Yes, Mother."
Xu Mingshu hugged Bai Jing's arm, resting her head on her shoulder, "Mother, it's so wonderful that you're young again."
"My silly daughter." Bai Jing touched Xu Mingshu's head.
She naturally knew everyone cared about her but she also understood that birth, aging, illness, and death were normal matters.
Before having contact with cultivators, she thought immortal masters not only had vast supernatural powers but could all live very, very long. However, the reality wasn't like that.
All mysteries, once approached closely, no longer seemed mysterious.
The vast majority of cultivators also only had one hundred twenty years of lifespan, same as grandmaster martial artists.
Unless those cultivators could break through to Foundation Establishment. However, this realm wasn't common throughout Great Wei.
Throughout the entire Xu family, everyone was strictly forbidden from discussing the Grand Madam's matter.
That's right, after Xu Dezhao became family head, Yang Ronghua became the Old Madam, while she became the Grand Madam.
The next generation down, she would probably become the Ancestress.
…
Study room.
"Elder Zhou Sen personally delivering congratulatory gifts shows great sincerity. My Xu family thanks you first. However, you surely didn't come just to deliver gifts, right?"
"Fellow Daoist Xu is as perceptive as ever." Zhou Sen said, "This time, I also plan to stay briefly at the Xu family to discuss the Lesser True Essence Pill with you."
After thinking briefly, Xu Chuan smiled, "Congratulations, Elder Zhou Sen, on touching the realm of upper-grade Lesser True Essence Pills. Having reached this point, for some ordinary second-rank medicinal pills, you also have a chance of refining upper-grade pills."
"Thank you." Zhou Sen cupped his fists, "Whether I can succeed still depends on Fellow Daoist Xu's assistance."
"I can only provide guidance. Whether you can truly break through this bottleneck still depends on Elder Zhou Sen's own comprehension. After all, if guidance alone were enough, my Xu family would probably have pill refining masters everywhere."
"Haha, that's true."
From then on, Zhou Sen lodged in the guest rooms of the Immortal Arts Hall's Pill Refining Palace.
…
Xu Mingwei and the others collectively came to inquire about Bai Jing's matter.
Especially Xu Mingwei, since only his wife Yang Ronghua was mortal, now over forty with graying temples.
"It's just a mysterious technique. Its core is life force. If one cannot comprehend life force, they cannot learn it."
Speaking, Xu Chuan demonstrated before them.
Under the shocked gazes filling the hall, his upright body seemed crumpled by invisible hands like rice paper. His skin visibly collapsed into ravines at a rate visible to the naked eye. His originally jet-black hair turned from the roots into frost white.
His entire being exuded an aura of decay eroded by the years.
His appearance aged so quickly, taking only a few breaths then after a few more breaths, Xu Chuan returned to normal. In fact, if he wished, he could even revert to his twenty-year-old self.
"This technique is too profound!" Xu Mingshu's eyes sparkled, "Father, I want to learn it."
"Difficult!" Xu Chuan shook his head and smiled, "Your father researched spirit medicines and occasionally gained insights, discovering life force. After long pondering, I discovered methods of using this power. Finally, it transformed into this youth preservation technique. It can alter youthful appearance and life energy."
Xu Mingxuan said, "No wonder I felt Mother's life energy was so young. Not only does it change appearance, but it can also change life energy. Truly marvelous!"
"Can it extend lifespan?" Xu Mingwei asked.
Xu Chuan had to admit, Xu Mingwei was more devoted than him as a father.
"Life force can allow mortals to live slightly longer, but there are limits. As for cultivators, their lifespan is determined by heaven and cannot be changed."
With Withering and Flourishing Life and Death, Xu Chuan could at most make himself live longer.
For others, he could at most alter their appearance and life energy.
"Father, this is enough. I also want perpetual youth like Mother." Xu Mingshu immediately began acting coquettishly.
She was the most uninhibited among them.
Xu Mingwei and the others cared about face and would be more reserved.
Xu Chuan glanced at them and smiled helplessly, "When your father has time, I'll help you all perform the youth preservation technique. This technique can maintain its effect for ten years at a time."
"Thank you, Father."
Seeing disappointment in Xu Mingwei's eyes, Xu Chuan immediately said, "Mingwei, you stay. The rest of you may leave."
Xu Mingyuan and the others all complied.
"Father, what matter do you have for me?"
Xu Chuan didn't say much, directly taking out a jade box. The jade box had prohibitions on it. This was a jade box Xu Chuan specially had Xu Mingxian create to prevent spiritual energy from dissipating.
"What is this?"
"What you want most."
Xu Mingwei's heart suddenly trembled, "Father, this..."
"Find an opportunity to have Ronghua take it. It's best to let her sleep, then help her refine the medicinal power. Don't say much else. Just say it's a body strengthening medicinal pill."
Xu Mingwei's eyes slightly reddened as he bowed deeply, "Thank you for granting this, Father."
"This item only has effect once."
"Your son understands."
Xu Mingwei stored the jade box in his storage bag and prepared to take his leave.
Xu Chuan thought for a moment and still advised, "Shitou, deep affection inevitably brings pain. When it's time to let go, don't be obsessive."
Hearing the name Shitou, Xu Mingwei's heart stirred.
"Yes, Father."
Xu Mingwei silently nodded, then left the study.
Xu Chuan had made an oath previously not to leak information about the Azure Bloom Pill, so he could only be this subtle.
That very night, Xu Mingwei helped Yang Ronghua refine the Azure Bloom Pill.
Increasing lifespan by sixty years, although it couldn't achieve the dramatic appearance alteration effect of Xu Chuan's youth preservation technique, it could still make one look somewhat younger.
The change in the Xu family's family head position caused quite a stir in Yuehu Commandery.
Each family was speculating why the Xu family would do this.
After all, this new Xu family head was truly quite young, about the same age as the grandsons of their family heads. However, internal changes within the Xu family weren't major.
Xu Dezhao simply inherited Xu Mingwei's previous style.
It was just that Xu Mingwei was more relaxed, almost always staying in the Battle Hall, teaching techniques, guiding combat, or cultivating spells and honing archery.
Xu Chuan had Zhang Wanqing and Shen Qingyi observe from the side as he guided these advanced sessions.
This could also broaden their pill Dao horizons.
Zhou Sen sometimes also observed the two women refining pills and even provided guidance.
He discovered that both women's pill Dao foundations were extremely solid, even surpassing most Zhou family disciples currently learning pill refining.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, you've trained them excellently. Rather than blindly pursuing pill refining, you root them in the fundamentals, starting from the most ordinary mortal or martial artist pills and gradually honing their improvement. In teaching people, old man truly feels inferior."
Xu Chuan smiled, "It's just a teaching method. Elder Zhou Sen can learn it himself. Methods are one aspect, but the key is still the person. Those who cannot calm their hearts, lack perseverance, and have no dedication to the pill Dao will ultimately have limited achievements. They stop at being ordinary pill refiners."
"Fellow Daoist Xu speaks reasonably. After I return, I must properly reorganize things."
Xu Chuan smiled.
He actually partially lied. With pill Dao attainments reaching his level, as long as he was willing to cultivate with full effort, even those with mediocre aptitude could be trained to Zhou Sen's level from seven or eight years ago.
After all, with his keen sensitivity to medicinal properties, he could deconstruct a single pill's refinement process down to each breath.
He could let Zhang Wanqing and the others know exactly how long to extract medicinal liquid, what temperature, how long to maintain it, the sequence for fusing medicinal liquids, and when condensing pills would help with quality and quantity.
As long as they understood, comprehended, and became familiar with these things, even someone with ordinary pill refiner aptitude could refine upper-grade pills.
Of course, they could at most produce one or two upper-grade pills.
Reaching Xu Chuan's level was impossible and that required talent.
Moreover, Zhang Wanqing and Shen Qingyi both cultivated the Nine Flames Formula and Jade Liquid Restoration Formula. These two were extremely helpful for pill refiners.
In ten or twenty years, both could become pill refining masters.
Xu Chuan deeply believed this.
Zhou Sen stayed at the Xu family for over half a month, refining Lesser True Essence Pills many times, but always fell just short of upper-grade pills.
Xu Chuan also personally demonstrated pill refining.
Unfortunately, when Zhou Sen refined himself, there were always deviations, falling short at the last moment.
Helplessly, Zhou Sen could only take his leave and return to ponder more on his own.
Before leaving, he met with Xu Mingxian and his wife.
"Husband, Grand Elder, I'll see Elder Zhou Sen off."
Xu Chuan nodded. After they left, he said faintly, "A pity."
"What does Father find pitiful?"
"If Zhou Sen were ten or twenty years younger, his pill Dao attainments would probably be enough to enter the Dan Hall."
"His pill Dao has already improved to this level?"
Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingxian and smiled slightly, "Zhou Sen's pill Dao talent can only be considered upper-middle, but his dedication and obsession with the pill Dao are top-tier. Having such achievements is normal. It's just that he's been burdened by his family, spending much time on refining pills needed for clan members' cultivation and training Zhou family pill refiners."
Zhou Sen and Zhou Zongni walked down the mountain together, heading toward the outside of the misty array.
"Fifth layer Qi Refining, not bad. Your father asked me to inquire how you're doing in the Xu family." Zhou Sen said indifferently.
"Elder Zhou Sen is thoughtful. Go back and tell Father that his daughter is very well. I'm quite content in the Xu family. Most of the time I'm cultivating. The Xu family also frequently provides cultivation resources. It's just a pity I have pseudo spiritual root aptitude. Otherwise, with just the resources the Xu family has given me, I'd probably have advanced to middle or late sixth layer Qi Refining."
Zhou Sen nodded, "I heard you and Xu Mingxian only have one daughter?"
"In great clan families, male descendants are still valued. If you two could bear a son with good aptitude, he should be able to enter the Xu family's core in the future. Just like Xu Dezhao. This would only benefit relations between the Xu and Zhou families."
Zhou Zongni nodded slightly, "Zongni understands."
"Although I haven't had much contact with Xu Dezhao, he's truly very intelligent and far-sighted. He naturally carries a leadership quality, very much like his father. He's indeed qualified to be family head."
"But after all, he's too young. Has Mingxian told you why they chose Xu Dezhao as family head?"
"Not entirely clear. It seems Big Brother didn't want to do it anymore, while Xu Dezhao wanted to."
"Just that? Isn't that too frivolous?"
"I'm not in the Xu family's core, so I can't access that information. Moreover, as far as I know, whether Big Sister-in-law or Second Sister-in-law have talent or not, they all live their own lives and don't manage Xu family official matters."
"I understand." Zhou Sen sighed lightly, "I remember at the previous Ascension Celebration, Xu Dezhao seemed to be walking the martial Dao, right? How did he suddenly become a fourth layer Qi Refining cultivator?"
Zhou Zongni shook her head, "Not clear. He probably embarked on the immortal path after that. He likely had spiritual roots originally. After stepping onto the immortal path with the Xu family's pill supply, progress would naturally be fast."
"That's true."
In a moment, the two walked out of the misty array.
Zhou Sen said, "Let's part here. Zongni, get along well with Mingxian."
"I will."
Zhou Sen nodded, then summoned his flying sword and departed on it.
Zhou Zongni also flew back to the Immortal Arts Hall plaza, walking toward Xu Mingxian.
At this time, Xu Chuan had already returned to the Pill Refining Palace.
"Husband."
"Did Elder Zhou Sen ask anything?" Xu Mingxian asked.
"He asked about Dezhao's matter and why he suddenly embarked on the immortal path. This wife answered vaguely, since I truly don't know. There was also..."
Zhou Zongni's face suddenly flushed pink. After a moment, she murmured, "He wants you and me to have a few more children."
"As expected, every family has people urging for children. Then let's work harder." Xu Mingxian smiled faintly, "I'll return to the Array Formation Hall first. You should also go back to the residence."
"Understood, Husband."