Yuan Ming was well aware that if it weren’t for his cultivation of the Nine Elents Formula, his progress with his four spiritual roots would have been considerably slower.
The reason was that after entering the Foundation Establishnt stage, although the speed of absorbing spiritual energy increased, the amount of spiritual energy needed for cultivation grew even more.
He estimated that as his cultivation improved, this situation would beco increasingly pronounced.
In light of this, to enhance his cultivation speed as much as possible, it seed he would have to rely on elixirs and spiritual incense for assistance.
Yuan Ming winced as he took out a Foundation Establishnt stage elixir from his storage ring. After swallowing it and before the dicinal power dissipated, he imrsed himself back into cultivation.
***
Half a month passed without incident.
The noon had gone by, yet the sky remained a dull grey, with countless dark clouds rumbling with thunder.
The river was turbulent, its muddy waves slapping against the boat, causing it to rock.
On the deck, Old Wang and his son busied themselves, finally managing to dock and drop anchor.
"That’s it, Big Dog, go tell the guests we’ve arrived at Leizhou City," Old Wang said, wiping sweat from his brow and turning to his son.
His son nodded, but as he turned around, he saw Yuan Ming erging from the cabin.
"Young Master, we’ve arrived. About the fare..." Old Wang rubbed his hands together.
Yuan Ming nodded and casually tossed a bag of silver coins, which was significantly more than the agreed amount.
Old Wang was profusely grateful, quickly instructing his son to set up the plank for Yuan Ming to disembark.
With the silver in hand, Old Wang counted it twice, then looking up to see Yuan Ming still smiling at him, he couldn’t help but ask, "Is there anything else you need, honored guest?"
Yuan Ming replied, "Call your family over. I have an additional reward for your care along the way."
Old Wang imdiately summoned his wife and children, standing happily before Yuan Ming. Yuan Ming lifted the Soul Bell and gave it a gentle shake, a "ding-dong" sound ringing out.
Old Wang’s family felt dizzy for a mont before coming to their senses.
Holding a purse, Old Wang looked around in confusion and exclaid, "Oh my, what happened? How did we get to Leizhou?"
***
The structure of Leizhou City was starkly different from the capital.
The narrow, undulating streets were slightly higher in the middle and lower on the sides, with a ditch running along each side. Each household had a stone bridge leading from their door across the ditch to the street, creating a picturesque scene reminiscent of "small bridges over flowing streams."
The surrounding courtyards were tall and compact, with blue tiles on the white brick walls curving like crescent moons. Rainwater slid down the tiles, dropping precisely into the ditches, causing ripples.
At the end of the ditch was a wide river with many small wooden boats moored, and an ancient stone bridge spanned the river. Occasionally, boats passed under the bridge, their oars creaking audibly.
Yuan Ming weaved through the streets and soon arrived in front of a large, quaintly decorated mansion.
Red lanterns hung high at the entrance, their light shining through the paper, illuminating the "happiness" character on them.
Under the plaque bearing the "Xu Family" na, the wide doors were open, with two servant boys dressed as guards smiling at the entrance.
Behind them, waves of laughter, clinking cups, and playful children’s voices ca from behind the screen wall, creating a lively atmosphere.
Looking at this scene filled with the warmth of everyday life, mories of Yuan Ming’s childhood flashed through his mind, evoking an indescribable warmth in his heart. Yet he knew that since he had embarked on the path of immortality, his connection with such worldly affairs would only diminish.
Regaining his composure, he used an illusion to alter his appearance and approached the guards to inquire, "Excuse , is there a celebration at the Xu family today?"
"Indeed, our second young master is getting married today. The master has ordered that anyone can co in for a celebratory drink. Would you like to join and share the joy, young master?" The guard, seeing Yuan Ming’s distinguished appearance, warmly invited him.
"I wouldn’t dare decline such kindness," Yuan Ming nodded and followed the guard into the Xu residence.
His visit was not a whim; the Xu family was his mother’s lineage. By relation, the second young master getting married today was his cousin.
Yuan Ming had visited Leizhou with his mother as a child and was familiar with the way. However, he knew little about Leizhou’s cultivation world. If he wanted to join the Shengye Sect, he would need to start by gathering information from his uncle’s family.
To avoid being tracked by Changchun Temple, he did not reveal his identity imdiately.
Yuan Ming was led by the servant to the side hall to sit. Once the servant left, he quickly cast an illusion to conceal himself and donned a cloak that masked his aura, swiftly leaving the side hall.
Soon, he found his uncle in the Xu family’s study.
"Big brother, do you think mother won’t co back today?" asked a middle-aged man with a clean-shaven face inside the room.
A man with a goatee sat in front of him, listening to Xu Rong’s complaints while leisurely sipping tea.
"It’s not a big deal that your son is getting married. If mother doesn’t co back, she doesn’t co back. What’s the rush?"
The two n were Yuan Ming’s third uncle, Xu Rong, and his eldest uncle, Xu Fan.
"Ah, it’s rare for the family to have so good news, and mother doesn’t co back. Neither does the second brother or the fourth sister. Isn’t that a bit dull?" Xu Rong grumbled.
"You, always so childish despite your age," the eldest uncle sighed.
Just then, a third voice sounded from outside the study.
"Hehe, third uncle, don’t worry, I’m back, aren’t I?" A handso young man entered the room with a smile, looking at Xu Rong.
"Oh! Tian, you’re back. Eh, why just you? Where’s your grandmother?" The eldest uncle stood up, joyfully looking at the handso young man, then his expression turned puzzled as he looked behind him.
Yuan Ming, secretly observing from the side, recognized that this was Xu Fan’s son, his eldest cousin, Xu Tian.
Unlike his uncles, Xu Tian had a faint aura of spiritual energy about him, clearly a cultivator at the third level of Qi refining.
"Grandmother just entered seclusion recently and couldn’t co back. She sent a gift with Luo Shii and had co back with her," Xu Tian explained with a smile.
A petite and adorable young girl peeked out from behind him. With her ponytail and an innocent smile on her carved jade-like face, she was instantly endearing.
Like Xu Tian, she was also a cultivator, but only at the second level of Qi refining.
"Greetings, uncles," the girl bowed.
"Let introduce her. This is Luo Xing’er, grandmother’s newly accepted disciple, probably her last," Xu Tian introduced.
Xu Fan and Xu Rong imdiately returned the greeting, not daring to neglect her.
Although they were elders, they were re mortals without spiritual roots, and thus, they were sowhat reserved in front of a cultivator.
However, Luo Xing’er didn’t seem to mind at all and eagerly asked, "Uncles, I heard you have a nephew nad Yuan Ming, is that right?"
At her words, not only Xu Fan and Xu Rong but even the secretly watching Yuan Ming were taken aback.
"Yes, the son of our fourth sister is indeed nad that. Do you know him, Miss Luo?" the eldest uncle asked in return.
"Of course! Who in the Great Jin cultivation world hasn’t heard of him?" Luo Xing’er’s eyes sparkled with excitent as she spoke.
She then recounted the story of how Yuan Ming challenged the National Advisor at the abdication ceremony and ultimately avenged his grievances by slaying the Great Jin National Advisor.
"Yuan Ming killed the National Advisor? This won’t implicate us, will it?" The eldest uncle asked, turning pale after hearing the story.
"Father, matters of the cultivation world won’t involve the mortal realm," Xu Tian said helplessly.
"Uncle, were you close to Yuan Ming when he was a child? Can you tell so stories about him?" Luo Xing’er persisted in her questioning.
After Yuan Ming’s mother married and left, Xu Fan and Xu Rong could hardly recall any childhood stories about him, only knowing so tales of his early fa as a playwright.
Luo Xing’er quickly lost interest in inquiring about Yuan Ming, but then she seed to rember sothing and pleaded with Xu Tian to take her to the room where Yuan Ming’s mother stayed during her visits.
Unable to refuse her, Xu Tian called a servant to lead the way, while he stayed behind.
"I thought Yuan Ming disappeared on a mission to the Southern Border three years ago. How did he suddenly co back and cause such a stir?" Xu Rong watched Luo Xing’er leave, puzzled.
"I’m not sure about the details either. It’s all news brought back by cultivators who attended the abdication ceremony. They said that Yuan Ming’s disappearance years ago was orchestrated by the National Advisor, but unexpectedly, it turned into a blessing in disguise. After cultivating in the Southern Border for three years, he returned at the Foundation Establishnt stage and sought revenge on the National Advisor," Xu Tian shook his head.
"Foundation Establishnt... How does he compare to your grandmother?" The eldest uncle, not well-versed in the cultivation world, was curious.
"Grandmother is also at the Foundation Establishnt stage, probably among the middle rank," Xu Tian said.
Yuan Ming’s two uncles fell silent, their faces showing concern.
"At first, our sect didn’t know about the connection between grandmother and Yuan Ming. Once soone found out, the sect’s attitude towards grandmother and changed imdiately. An elder who used to be at odds with grandmother even sent many gifts with a smile," Xu Tian added.
"I’ve also inquired about our cousin’s feats these past few days. Not just Luo Shii, even I admire him greatly," Xu Tian’s face showed admiration.
"Does this an that Yuan Ming killing the National Advisor is a good thing for our Xu family?" The eldest uncle stroked his goatee.
"Not entirely. The National Advisor’s sect, Changchun Temple, has vast influence. Our cousin not only offended them but also humiliated them. He’ll likely face many troubles in the future. Grandmother went into seclusion to increase her cultivation and gain more influence in the sect to protect our cousin. Don’t worry too much. Yuan Ming is so young and already at the Foundation Establishnt stage, having defeated the Great Jin National Advisor. His future is boundless. He will surely be a great asset to our family," Xu Tian sighed.
The two uncles continued to discuss the impact Yuan Ming would have on the family.
After listening for a while, Yuan Ming left quietly.
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