Two days later.
Xu Mingyuan arrived at the Immortal Affairs Bureau in Qingjiang County.
"Go inform them that Xu Mingyuan of the Qingjiang Xu family has come to visit Immortal Official Xiao."
Upon hearing this, a bailiff at the entrance of the Immortal Affairs Bureau's pupils contracted slightly. He nodded and immediately walked inside.
The other bailiff observed Xu Mingyuan.
After all, he was a major figure whose every move shook all of Qingjiang. Who wouldn't be curious?
Two years ago, the five great families of Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao realized they could no longer deal with the Xu family. After coming to apologize and make amends, they maintained a policy of non-interference with the Xu family.
Naturally, the gift of fifty percent of Zuiyun Residence’s profits for ten years that was given to the Wu family during Xu Mingyuan's wedding was all taken back.
Additionally, they compensated quite a bit more.
Fortunately, they had only engaged in commercial competition and hadn't taken excessive actions targeting the Xu family's legitimate line. So the Xu family accepted their amends and no longer paid them any mind, wholeheartedly developing their own family.
Before long, Xiao Changyuan came out with a smile.
Xu Mingyuan hadn't expected him to personally come out to greet him.
"Immortal Official Xiao is too polite. You could have simply had a bailiff bring me in for the visit. Why come out personally to greet me?"
"Hahaha, you're Qingjiang's great god of wealth. Not just anyone is qualified to come out and greet you. This morning I heard magpies calling from the branches. Sure enough, good fortune has come to my door."
"Please, come in quickly."
The two arrived at the study. Xiao Changyuan said, "Brother Mingyuan, sit as you please. It's just the two of us here. No need to call me Immortal Official Xiao, it creates distance."
"Then I'll gratefully accept. Brother Changyuan." Xu Mingyuan cupped his fists.
"Brother Mingyuan, you've come to the Immortal Affairs Bureau today. Is there something you need?"
Xu Mingyuan took a shallow sip of tea, put down the teacup, looked at Xiao Changyuan, and said, "Regarding the immortal cultivator technique we discussed previously, I've considered it. Let's proceed at the price of one hundred thousand."
"Good. Brother Mingyuan is straightforward."
This was just the lowest tier, most ordinary Qi Refining technique. In immortal cultivation markets, it couldn't even sell for half a spirit stone, and no one even wanted it.
In their Longjiang Commandery, some great families could obtain a copy for just thirty to forty thousand taels.
Of course, they all had familiar immortal cultivators. Otherwise, ordinary aristocratic families simply couldn't find the channels to exchange for them.
The Xu family was currently in this situation.
They could only first find ways to have family members become immortal cultivators and contact the Great Wei immortal cultivation world. Then the path forward would be much smoother.
"I've already prepared the technique. Brother Mingyuan, take a look first."
Xiao Changyuan patted his storage pouch, and a manual flew out, landing on the tea table before Xu Mingyuan.
"'Everlasting Spring Art.'"
Xu Mingyuan murmured softly and began to open it.
Xiao Changyuan watched quietly. Seeing Xu Mingyuan's furrowed brow, he said, "Don't worry, Brother Mingyuan. This is a complete Qi Refining technique that can be cultivated to complete perfection of Qi Refining. It also records some instructions for breaking through to Foundation Establishment."
"For one hundred thousand, you absolutely won't lose out."
"I naturally trust Brother Changyuan. Besides the technique, I wonder if you have any immortal cultivator pill formulas?"
"Pill formulas?"
Xiao Changyuan pondered and couldn't help but look at Xu Mingyuan a few more times.
Previously, when he heard about collecting immortal cultivation techniques, he thought it was preparation for the Xu family's future.
Although the current Xu family was a mortal aristocratic family, their development was good. If they existed for several hundred years, family descendants with immortal cultivation aptitude might indeed be born but hearing about pill formulas made him suspicious.
The testing crystal from years ago, now immortal cultivation techniques, and wanting pill formulas too?
Could it be the Xu family had already produced someone with immortal cultivation aptitude?
But why not make it public?
Whether becoming a disciple under an immortal cultivator, joining Great Wei's official system, or relying on an immortal cultivation aristocratic family, they could all obtain Qi Refining techniques for free.
Why would they need to buy them?
However, if someone among the Xu family's five sons truly had immortal cultivation aptitude, they were all a bit old now.
Forget it, what does it have to do with me?
Xiao Changyuan sighed slightly in his heart.
Yuehu Commandery and Longjiang Commandery were separated by two commanderies. After leaving and returning to Longjiang Commandery in ten or twenty years, they probably wouldn't have any more interactions.
Xiao Changyuan raised his head and smiled faintly, "Pill formulas are much more precious than immortal cultivation techniques. How would I have any?
Moreover, alchemy isn't something ordinary wandering cultivators dare to touch. It requires vast resources to build up. Even among Qi Refining aristocratic families, few have cultivated alchemists."
"I see. You don't have the Qi-Drawing Pill formula either?" Xu Mingyuan asked again.
Xiao Changyuan shook his head and smiled, "But I have channels to obtain Qi-Drawing Pills. Three thousand five hundred taels per pill, a fair price. Does Brother Mingyuan need any?"
Profiteer!
Xu Mingyuan complained inwardly.
Having this "Everlasting Spring Art" meant the trip wasn't in vain.
Moreover, it was a wood attribute technique. Father was already skilled at cultivating various crops and fruit trees. Inside, there also seemed to be spells to promote plant growth. Perhaps the old man would like it.
After chatting for a while longer, Xu Mingyuan took his leave.
He returned to Dongxi Village and went straight to Jade Cold Pool.
Half the time of a stick of incense later.
Xu Chuan looked at the "Everlasting Spring Art" in his hand and smiled faintly, "Ahyuan is thoughtful. This technique is just right for me."
Although immortal cultivation required all five elements, the techniques practiced generally only cultivated one attribute. Most in the immortal cultivation world were like this.
After all, the path of cultivation was boundless, yet life was finite.
Wood attribute techniques paired very well with [Divine Farmer's Hundred Herbs].
"Although this is just the most ordinary immortal cultivation technique, it's the key that opens the door to immortal cultivation for our Xu family. It's best to gather a copy of techniques for all five element attributes. In the future, whichever attribute family descendants are suited for, they'll cultivate that technique."
Xu Mingyuan nodded, "Understood, Father. I'll handle this matter. However, Elder Brother had me collect Qi-Drawing Pill formulas, but even Xiao Changyuan doesn't have any. The immortal officials in other counties are all ordinary wandering cultivators. The chances they have any are even slimmer."
"Just do your best." Xu Chuan stroked his beard and smiled, "Qi-Drawing Pills aren't true immortal sect pills to begin with. For similar formulas, I'm confident I can create one within a year or two. If I obtain an actual Qi-Drawing Pill as a reference, the speed of developing this pill could be three parts faster."
Xu Mingyuan's face showed delight upon hearing this. Relying entirely on purchasing Qi-Drawing Pills from others ultimately wasn't a long-term solution.
Just like medicinal diet, if an aristocratic family had no secret medicinal diet of their own, it was difficult to truly grow strong.
"Elder Brother has already asked Yang Shichang to help purchase them."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan nodded slightly.
"By the way, Father, I plan to also purchase large amounts of farmland and mountain forests in other counties. What do you think?"
"The idea is good, but it's a bit too hasty." Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingyuan, the corners of his mouth smiling, "Sometimes, wealth isn't better the more you have."
"Remember, when virtue doesn't match one's position, disaster will surely follow."
Xu Mingyuan thought deeply, considering the Xu family's development along the way, and understood the meaning of 'virtue.'
When the Xu family was weak initially, Xu Chuan swallowed his pride, developed quietly, and only confronted them head-on after Xu Mingwei had first-rate martial artist strength.
When the five great families joining forces couldn't be resisted, he won over Gu Yiping, a late innate stage expert, to intimidate the five families and continued acting low-key.
After the great disaster, when all families suffered considerable losses, they seized the opportunity to rise and establish their foundation.
"Father's teachings, this child understands."
Xu Mingyuan then left Jade Cold Pool.
Before the Xu family had sufficient martial force to intimidate others, making a fortune quietly was in the Xu family's interest.
What needed to be done now was cultivating more loyal first-rate martial artists and peak Postnatal martial artists.
Only then could they have sufficient intimidation power over aristocratic families in various counties.
"Now the Xu family's operations are already not small. However, in Yuehu commandery capital, with the Yang family connection there, it's not that we can't make some arrangements. We can also gather some information while we're at it."
Xu Mingyuan immediately had a plan in mind.