The next day, according to custom, the newlywed couple Xu Mingxuan and Zhang Wanqing rose early to go to Questioning Heart Courtyard to serve tea to Xu Chuan and Bai Jing.
After finishing, just as they left Questioning Heart Courtyard.
Xu Mingshu pulled the two to find Xu Mingwei, wanting to test Zhang Wanqing's aptitude.
Xu Mingyuan was also in the study at this moment.
Xu Mingwei took out the testing crystal, "Third Sister-in-law, place your hand on it and hold for a few breaths."
Zhang Wanqing nodded slightly and touched the crystal for several breaths. The crystal immediately emitted a hazy green light.
"It's even glowing?"
Zhang Wanqing raised her head in surprise to look at the others. She saw that including her husband, everyone wore expressions of disbelief.
"She actually has immortal cultivation aptitude, and true spiritual root aptitude at that." Xu Mingshu exclaimed in admiration.
"The crystal won't be wrong. Third Brother, you've truly married a treasure." Xu Mingyuan smiled and patted Xu Mingxuan's shoulder.
"My wife is naturally excellent."
The corners of Xu Mingxuan's lips curved up, three parts pride rippling in his obsidian-like eyes as he raised his chin half an inch.
Zhang Wanqing still couldn't grasp the situation, but then Xu Mingxuan explained it to her.
It turned out the Xu family wasn't just a martial arts aristocratic family, but also an immortal cultivation family, only outsiders didn't know.
Since Zhang Wanqing had such aptitude, naturally she also had to begin cultivation. However, Xu Mingwei instructed her not to tell anyone else about her situation, not even her natal family's parents and brothers.
Thus, Zhang Wanqing also had to go up the mountain daily to cultivate with Xu Chuan, only returning at the hour of xu.
Newly married bliss, first harmonizing in conjugal happiness, the two Xu Mingxuan and Zhang Wanqing naturally spent night after night entwined, bedside joy without restraint.
Xu Mingxuan gradually mastered the essence, his movements becoming increasingly skilled, with increasing variety and endless indulgence.
Two months later.
Zhang Wanqing became pregnant.
The Xu family was thriving with many descendants, and the family foundation was growing day by day.
…
Time flies like an arrow, sun and moon like a shuttle.
In a flash, three years had passed.
Dongxi Village, Jade Cold Pool.
"After three years of diligent cultivation, with my true spiritual root aptitude, plus [Heaven Rewards Diligence] and [Divine Farmer's Hundred Herbs] talent abilities, I've only reached the peak of the seventh layer of Qi Refining."
"However, I'm ultimately one step closer to the ninth layer of Qi Refining."
The peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refining, also called Qi Refining great perfection. When cultivation reached this level, one could begin Foundation Establishment matters.
"Still need to prepare for the future."
Xu Chuan's eyes looked toward the neighboring bamboo house, that was Xu Mingxian's room.
"Yunnu has also embarked on the immortal cultivation path. With his talent, it's only a matter of time before his cultivation catches up to mine. I should also go seek out an immortal cultivation market to survey the situation."
After pondering briefly, Xu Chuan said, "Xueji, go down the mountain and call your elder brother here."
"Alright, Father."
Jade Cold Pool was only about ten li from the Xu family main residence. Xueji still rode the white tiger and arrived at the Xu family main residence in moments.
Generally, if nothing was happening, Xu Mingwei would stay at the Xu family main residence.
In a moment's time, Xu Mingwei arrived at Jade Cold Pool.
"Father, you're looking for me?"
"Sit down and talk."
"Mm." Xu Mingwei responded.
Seeing him sit down, Xu Chuan said, "The Xu family's development to now has already entered a bottleneck. Either we cultivate large numbers of innate martial artists and Qi Refining cultivators, or a powerhouse with extraordinary strength appears."
"The former requires time. Our Xu family doesn't lack resources. In a decade or so, we definitely won't lack innate experts.
As for immortal cultivators, Wu Tao is now first layer Qi Refining, Shen Qingyi second layer Qi Refining. Wanqing has the best aptitude, but due to pregnancy and childbirth, she was ultimately delayed and is only now at peak first layer Qi Refining."
"But in another five or six years, Ahyuan, Tantou, and Xueji can probably all enter the path through martial arts and embark on the immortal cultivation path, breaking through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining immediately."
"So, Father feels it's time to make contact with immortal cultivators." Xu Mingwei asked.
"After a while, I plan to go with Yunnu to seek out Yuehu Commandery's immortal cultivation market and understand the situation."
Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei, appreciation in his eyes, "Now you've also reached the grandmaster realm. With the grandmaster medicinal diet I researched supplementing you, plus your own talent, I imagine within ten years you'll definitely reach grandmaster perfection.
If there are other opportunities afterward, it can definitely be even earlier."
"Your strength is sufficient to contend with mid grandmaster stage. If using archery for assassination, you could even kill late grandmaster stage figures. With you guarding the Xu family, Father can also be at ease."
Xu Mingwei knew Xu Chuan was going to scout the path for the Xu family's future. He cupped his fists respectfully, "Thank you for your efforts, Father."
"It's this child's incompetence, making you at such an advanced age still have to travel outside."
Xu Chuan waved his hand with a faint smile, "It doesn't matter about effort. I've never told you all, actually, immortal cultivation has been my ambition since childhood."
"Whether ten years, fifty years, or a hundred years, I will walk on the path of immortal cultivation until body perishes and soul scatters!"
Xu Mingwei felt Xu Chuan's heart toward the Dao for the first time and was greatly shocked inside.
"This trip outside, at shortest one or two years, at longest five or six years before we return."
"Father, rest assured. I have all family matters under control!"
Hearing his words, Xu Chuan could sense Xu Mingwei's bearing and knew he was no longer the youth swayed by emotions from the past.
"Mm." Xu Chuan nodded slightly and smiled, "Also, don't shoulder everything alone. Tantou, Mingshu and the others should also be sent out to gain experience when appropriate.
For the Xu family to rise, it definitely can't be achieved by just one or two people."
"This child understands."
Half a month later.
Xu Mingxian broke through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining and traveled together with Xu Chuan to Yuehu Commandery.
Although they knew the immortal cultivation market definitely wouldn't be within Yuehu commandery capital, martial and immortal paths coexisted there. They could definitely obtain news of the immortal cultivation market.
"Yunnu, we'll go there with the identity of wandering cultivators. Father has taken a Dao name for himself—Daoist Sanshu."
Xu Chuan turned to look at Xu Mingxian and asked with a smile, "What about you? Do you have a suitable alias?"
"Father, aren't Sanshu just your childhood name?"
"So what? No one in Yuehu Commandery knows." The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth curved up, confidence in his eyes that he wouldn't be exposed.
"Father is right. Then Yunnu will travel with you under the identity of Daoist Yunming."
"Good. Then from now on, Father will call you Fellow Daoist Yunming in front of others."
"Fellow Daoist Sanshu." Xu Mingxian smiled and cupped his fists in return.
"Hahaha~"
Two days later.
The two entered Yuehu commandery capital.
The Xu family had been laying groundwork in Yuehu Commandery for nearly five years and had some foundation. They had Xu family properties in food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
It was just that in outsiders' eyes, the real master behind these businesses was the Chang family.
Therefore, they had been at peace all along, with only some ordinary harassment.
…
Guanghu Residence.
A quite famous wine house in the commandery capital because the wine and food were good and prices affordable, business was extremely booming.
This was one of the Xu family's properties.
At this time, two people wearing one green and one gray Daoist robes walked in.
One appeared about forty years old with a short beard under his chin like ink cutting clouds. The other was barely past weak cap age, upright in his green robe.
The two were precisely Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian.
"Two Daoist masters, sit as you please."
The shop assistant draped a plain silk cloth over his arm crook and presented a gold-traced cloud pattern menu with both hands.
"This is our shop's vegetarian menu today. Pine nut smoked mushrooms and jade stream soup are all seasonal fresh items. If the Daoists need spring water brewed tea or pine nut cheese drinks, just give your orders."