Xu Chuan temporarily set aside thoughts of Foundation Establishment.
He continued tempering his foundation. He had a vague feeling that continuously attacking the Foundation Establishment barrier should bring changes.
When attempting Foundation Establishment, it was best to succeed on the first try!
August, Xu family clan assembly.
All cultivators were present.
The meeting content wasn't much and would end in less than half a cup of tea. However, at the end, Xu Chuan said, "Wu Er, Wu San, Wu Zhen, Lu Feng, and Luo Qianshan, you five temporarily halt your current tasks and go execute the mission to collect the Five Elements Qi."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked toward Xu Chuan. However, his expression remained calm, his eyes deep and inscrutable, showing no change.
"This is the Five Elements Qi collection method."
Xu Chuan swept his sleeve, and a manual flew into each of their hands, with each person corresponding to one of the five elements.
"Tentatively set at five portions' worth. This matter troubles you all. After completion, there will be resources suitable for you as compensation."
Wu Zhen said, "This matter isn't difficult. Grand Elder needn't be polite. If the Grand Elder can break through to Foundation Establishment, it will benefit the entire Xu family and all of us."
Lu Feng, Luo Qianshan, and the others also cupped their fists, "This is our duty."
Xu Chuan nodded slightly, "Today's clan assembly ends here. Everyone attend to your own matters."
"Yes, Grand Elder."
Xu Mingwei and the other five, along with Xu Dezhao, didn't move and remained seated.
After the others dispersed, Xu Mingwei spoke, "Father, are you preparing to attempt Foundation Establishment?"
"Elder Wu will soon reach Qi Refining perfection. Even if I don't attempt Foundation Establishment, I must prepare for him. This was my promise to him. As for me..."
Xu Chuan swept his gaze over everyone, his lips curving slightly in a faint smile, "Within three to five years, I will definitely attempt it."
"Mingwei and Mingxian, you two can also try. However, currently there are only two portions of thousand-year spirit medicine. If we get nothing from the Yuan family, I will gift one of these two portions to Elder Wu. Do you have any objections?"
Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingxian exchanged glances, both showing smiles. Xu Mingwei said, "Foundation Establishment is a major matter. Your son isn't in a hurry and wants to accumulate more foundation. Better than blindly attempting, failing, and wasting family resources."
Xu Mingxian smiled faintly, "I'm nearly ten years younger than Big Brother, so I'm even less rushed. After your son fully comprehends the array inheritance to great mastery, it won't be too late to attempt. By then, I believe Father will have definitely successfully established Foundation. Perhaps the clan will have additional Foundation Establishment auxiliary items. Moreover, with Father's successful Foundation Establishment experience, we can also slightly increase our Foundation Establishment probability."
"You're so certain your father will successfully establish Foundation? This barrier has stumped countless cultivators."
"Your son firmly believes it!"
"Your son as well!"
"Your grandson also believes!" Xu Dezhao said, "Even if the Xu family has only one Foundation Establishment opportunity, it should be prepared for Grandfather."
Xu Chuan nodded with satisfaction but smiled, "I accept your good intentions, but if any of you has a higher Foundation Establishment probability than me, I will yield it. Everything is for the Xu family's future!"
Xu Chuan's voice was deafening, resounding in Xu Mingwei and the others' sea of consciousness.
"As for me, even if like Ancestor Zhou, I attempt near the end of my lifespan, it's fine. In fact, the later it is, the higher my Foundation Establishment probability."
Xu Chuan smiled and stood up from his seat, "Of course, if I can establish Foundation earlier, that's naturally better. The Xu family's development can advance further sooner."
"You needn't worry about the rest. I know what I'm doing."
Xu Chuan left the hall and departed on his sword, leaving Xu Mingwei and the others looking at each other.
At this moment, Xu Mingxuan said in surprise, "Big Brother, you've reached Qi Refining perfection? When did this happen?"
Xu Dezhao was also astonished.
After all, Xu Mingwei had always only displayed late eighth layer Qi Refining cultivation. Others couldn't see through it.
Xu Mingwei smiled faintly, "It happened before the New Year."
"You hid it quite thoroughly." Xu Mingyuan said quietly.
"Don't be jealous. If you uncles and aunts don't work harder, Dezhao and Deling will surpass all of you."
Xu Mingshu said, "Deling's talent is too strong. Now she's like she's had an awakening, advancing by leaps and bounds. When I asked her recently, she was already at middle eighth layer Qi Refining. As for Dezhao, I'm still confident of staying ahead of him."
Xu Dezhao pouted, "Aunt, how can you compare yourself to me? But I'll break through to eighth layer Qi Refining soon too. No problem staying ahead of Second Uncle and Third Uncle."
Saying this, he grinned with a rather punch-worthy smile.
"Actually, I feel I'm about to break through too. Second Brother, what about you?" Xu Mingxuan showed the same punch-worthy smile as Xu Dezhao.
Xu Mingyuan's face darkened with anger, "One after another trying to get ahead of me, huh? Don't force me to use my status as Second Brother and Second Uncle to suppress you!"
Only Xu Mingxian smiled faintly from the side, always at the top of the Xu family food chain.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Before long, they also dispersed to attend to their own matters.
Wu Mingsheng left the council hall and returned to the Artifact Refining Palace, muttering about Foundation Establishment.
After careful thought, he sighed softly and made a decision.
He immediately summoned Wu Da, Wu Er, and Wu San.
"Master, what instructions do you have?"
Wu Mingsheng looked at them and said, "You've all started families and established yourselves now. What are your plans?"
Wu Da was somewhat surprised and asked curiously, "Master, why suddenly ask this?"
The other two were also curious.
"One without foresight must have immediate worries." Wu Mingsheng said, "Master has only about twenty years of lifespan left. My Foundation Establishment hope is slim, but my grandson Shun'an is just a mortal. After I'm gone, the Xu family naturally won't treat him harshly, but they won't give preferential treatment either. How far the Wu family can go depends on its own development. You three are all orphans I took in, and now you've all started families. Today I formally ask you, are you willing to enter my Wu family? From then on, your names will be in the genealogy, connected by the same roots, passed down in one line. Of course, if you want to develop on your own, that's also fine."
The three looked at each other, none speaking.
Wu Mingsheng continued, "You all know the Xu family definitely has the potential to become a Foundation Establishment family and will go quite far. Following the Xu family will definitely have benefits. But the key is being able to keep up. Many Foundation Establishment clans once had many vassal families, but over two or three hundred years, they gradually died out. This was because they couldn't keep up with the main family's development. If you three merge in and develop with one heart, the Wu clan can become the first family under the Xu family. Being a vassal isn't shameful. Look at Great Wei's current third-rank families, some might be former vassals of the Great Wei Cao clan. Glory and loss are shared. The height of the main family can also represent the height of its vassal families."
"Ask yourselves, if you develop on your own, can you become cultivation families? Even developing martial arts families probably won't last two hundred years."
After pondering, Wu Da cupped his fists, "Master's vision and strategy are beyond what we can match."
"Apart from the Grand Elder, few can compare."
Hearing this, Wu Mingsheng shook his head and smiled, "Wu Da, don't put a high hat on me. If I truly had vision and strategy, how could I not have risen like the Xu family?"
"The Grand Elder is truly remarkable. Starting from the bottom as a mortal, over several decades he's developed the Xu family step by step to its current state."
Wu Mingsheng sighed with emotion, then asked again, "What do you think of my previous proposal?"
After pondering, Wu San said, "Master means we merge into one family, then become the Xu family's vassal, serving the Xu family as our lord hereafter?"
"Exactly." Wu Mingsheng nodded, "Previously, we were merely like guest elders to the Xu family. The Xu family wouldn't manage how we did things. We could also leave at any time. But after becoming vassals, my Wu family will be the Xu family's subordinate clan, serving them as lord. We must follow their commands and look to them for leadership. Look at the Chen, Bai, and Li families—at the start, they were far from the threshold of aristocratic families, but because they caught the good time of the Xu family's development, they also grew together. Now, although they're only county city families, in another twenty or thirty years they'll probably compare to commandery city martial arts families. They might even reach fifth or sixth-rank martial arts family scale. The Xu family's potential is unfathomable. The Grand Elder's ambitions may not stop at a Foundation Establishment family."
Wu Da and the other two had never thought so deeply before, letting everything develop naturally.
Compared to Wu Mingsheng, their vision and strategy were indeed more than a notch below.
"Master, I'm willing to merge into the Wu family. Hereafter, I'll prioritize the Wu clan's development!" Wu Da was first to cup his fists.
"Me too, Master."
"And me."
Seeing all three agree, Wu Mingsheng stroked his long beard and smiled, "Good. I'll quickly negotiate this matter with the Grand Elder and have the families witness my Wu clan becoming the Xu family's vassal."
At this moment, Wu Da suddenly worried, "Master, there's a problem. You don't have much lifespan left, and our aptitude isn't high. This life we'll probably only reach late Qi Refining. If our Wu clan has no outstanding disciples, we'll probably quickly fade from the Xu family's sight."
"For this, we can only reproduce more. There's no other way." Wu Mingsheng sighed slightly, then said, "However, I have a way to make the Grand Elder owe me a favor and have him agree to protect my Wu clan for two hundred years."
All three were shocked.
"Alright, you all go back and discuss thoroughly with your families. I'll go find the Grand Elder."
"Yes, Master."
Wu Mingsheng immediately went to the Pill Refining Palace.
…
Quiet room.
Xu Chuan looked over with slight surprise, "Elder Wu, do you have business with me?"
"Is the Grand Elder collecting the Five Elements Qi to prepare for Foundation Establishment?"
"I do have this plan, but not now. One portion of the Five Elements Qi is prepared for you, after all, I promised Elder Wu."
"Naturally, I trust the Grand Elder is a man of his word." Wu Mingsheng said, "If I want to use this Foundation Establishment opportunity to exchange for a promise from the Grand Elder, would that be possible?"
Xu Chuan's brow furrowed slightly, "Use this opportunity to exchange for my promise? What promise?"
"Protect my Wu clan for two hundred years." Xu Chuan pondered.
In his view, Wu Mingsheng's probability of failing Foundation Establishment was extremely high.
If he died, the Wu family staying in Dongxi would be fine, but they would become just one of many ordinary families.
His three disciples were still young. Although their growth was limited, they could still work for the Xu family for decades.
"Previously, I told the Grand Elder that in my youth, I too had ambitions reaching the sky, wanting to establish a cultivation family. But after encountering many setbacks, my heart turned to ashes. Later, when the Grand Elder invited me with the Foundation Establishment opportunity as a gift, I joined the Xu family. I also imagined being one of the few fortunate ones, successfully breaking through Foundation Establishment and establishing a Foundation Establishment family.”
“But after joining the Xu family, I understood how difficult it is for a family to develop. Even if I could break through Foundation Establishment, I probably couldn't make my Wu clan endure long-term. So rather than waste the Xu family's thousand-year spirit medicine attempting that slim chance, it's better to completely merge into the Xu family hereafter and become the Xu family's vassal."
"Elder Wu wants to become my Xu family's vassal?" Xu Chuan was slightly surprised but quickly began pondering.
"I also know that with just me, who doesn't have much lifespan left, and my grandson, we're not qualified enough. After all, the Xu family is long past what it was when accepting the Chen, Bai, and Li families. So before coming, I persuaded my three disciples to formally merge into my Wu family. From now on, Dongxi will have only one Wu clan."
Wu Mingsheng bowed to Xu Chuan with a deep salute, "My Wu clan is willing to be the Xu clan's artifact refining family and the inheritance I obtained in my early years. Please, Grand Elder, agree. I've only comprehended ten or twenty percent of that inheritance. It records several methods for refining peak-tier magical artifacts, as well as several techniques suitable for artifact refining, including a Foundation Establishment cultivation method called the 'Lesser True Yang Formula.' It's most suitable for those walking the artifact path to cultivate. The fire control method within is exquisitely profound, the combat methods are also extremely formidable, and it even has fire escape techniques. Unfortunately, my talent is limited. If Ling'er could switch to cultivating this method, it might help her artifact path become even smoother."
"Foundation Establishment opportunity plus the obtained inheritance, in exchange for becoming my Xu family's vassal and protection of the Wu family for two hundred years." Xu Chuan said indifferently, "Elder Wu, don't you feel this is a loss?"
"Using this inheritance to exchange for Zhou family protection would also be easy, wouldn't it?"
"I admit the Zhou family has potential, but when the Zhou family invited me previously, I didn't agree. Joining the Xu family is enough to show I'm more optimistic about the Xu family."
"I'm betting that by following the Xu family, my Wu clan can one day become a Foundation Establishment family!"
"Knock, knock, knock~"
Xu Chuan fell silent, his knuckles lightly tapping the table.
After a long while.
"Since Elder Wu has spoken to this extent, what can I say? I agree to this matter."
"Thank you, Grand Elder. Please have the Family Head preside over the vassal ceremony. After formally becoming vassals, I'll voluntarily submit the complete original inheritance, including my lifetime artifact refining insights."
Xu Chuan nodded slightly.
"Then I won't disturb the Grand Elder's quiet cultivation."
After he left, Xu Chuan murmured, "The 'Lesser True Yang Formula'—it sounds like an ancient cultivation method. I didn't expect Wu Mingsheng to have such fortune. However, for the sake of binding the Wu family together with my Xu family, he's willing to give this inheritance. That shows considerable courage."
Just giving up the Foundation Establishment opportunity alone wouldn't necessarily make Xu Chuan agree.
After all, his hope was slim to begin with but this artifact refining inheritance could genuinely increase the Xu family's foundation.
"Pills, artifacts, arrays, and talismans, now we're just missing a talisman Dao inheritance."
Xu Chuan shook his head and smiled, saying he was thinking too optimistically.
The pill Dao inheritance came from receiving others' kindness, plus his own pondering and organization.
The array Dao inheritance, Xu Mingxian obtained the green jade slip inheritance all at once, but he still needed to fully comprehend and integrate it before he could leave this path's inheritance for the Xu family.
The artifact Dao inheritance, Wu Mingsheng voluntarily offered it.
The talisman Dao inheritance, perhaps it would have to wait until Xu Mingyuan achieved great mastery in the future before it could be realized.
Xu Chuan naturally wouldn't go back on his word and immediately transmitted to Xu Dezhao.
Xu Dezhao was extremely shocked upon hearing, but learning that he was giving up the Foundation Establishment opportunity and the obtained artifact Dao inheritance and Foundation Establishment cultivation method, he said no more.