Chapter 232 - 182: Trouble in the Xu Family and Two Gifts
Chapter 232: Chapter 182: Trouble in the Xu Family and Two Gifts
"Unlike you, Mr. Lin, who reached Foundation Establishment on your own, you can roam the world freely, without a care. But my own breakthrough required the full support and strategic planning of my family. My elder brother even gave up his own chance for me. So how could I possibly abandon them and disregard my family?"
"Such an act of betraying my ancestors and abandoning my family is something I could never do."
Xu Xujun gave a bitter smile, but his eyes were firm as he spoke.
Lin Changheng heard the regret in his words, but he also saw a steadfast conviction.
"The Xu Family is truly fortunate to have someone like you, Mr. Xu."
Lin Changheng was visibly moved, and his voice was filled with emotion.
"And I... am just as fortunate to have been born into the Xu Family."
"Haha, so, what brings you to see me, Mr. Xu? Your family’s situation is excellent right now. If you consolidate your gains, it’s not impossible for you to have two, or even three, Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the future."
Lin Changheng cut straight to the point.
Xu Xujun immediately sighed, his expression turning grim. "I’ve come looking for you, Mr. Lin, to request an Elixir—one that can stabilize and repair an injured Dantian."
"An injured Dantian?"
Lin Changheng hadn’t expected this answer.
After all, the Dantian and the Sea of Consciousness are a Cultivator’s core. An injury to the Dantian, if minor, would halt one’s cultivation progress forever. If severe, it would cripple their cultivation entirely. As for the Sea of Consciousness, if damaged, becoming a witless fool for life would be just the beginning.
"Who in your family has suffered such a grave injury?"
"It’s... Hanji."
Xu Xujun’s face was filled with sorrow. He had none of the composure or detachment expected of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. All that remained was a heart full of concern for a junior, and worry for his family’s successor and its future.
"Who? Xu Hanji?"
Lin Changheng froze, an image of a beautiful and elegant woman appearing in his mind.
He then understood why Xu Xujun was reacting this way. After all, the young woman had excellent Spirit Root talent, had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation at an early age, and possessed a very real chance of reaching Foundation Establishment. She was being groomed as the core successor of the Xu Family.
In the future, she could carry the family’s banner and even allow the Xu Family to truly have two Foundation Establishment Cultivators!
Tantai Feiyue, after all, was an outsider. She had no blood ties to them, and it was impossible for her to stay with the Xu Family forever. They could only borrow her strength for the time being, so she could only be counted as half of a full family member.
Therefore, Xu Hanji’s successful Foundation Establishment was especially crucial. Unwilling to just wait idly, she had previously gone out to adventure and seek her own opportunities.
According to Xu Xujun, she had actually found one.
Although she didn’t obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, she did acquire a type of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.
However, on her way back to the family, a traitor leaked the news. This led to her being targeted by the Qiu Family Ancestor, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Although Xu Xujun’s rescue arrived in a timely manner, he still failed to block a desperate strike the ancestor made at the risk of injuring himself.
The blow landed squarely on Xu Hanji’s lower abdomen.
Although the life-saving item Xu Xujun had previously found for her activated, preventing her from being directly pierced or mangled, she was still injured. The impact fractured her Dantian.
The Qiu Family’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor let out a sharp, piercing laugh and, while Xu Xujun was occupied with protecting her, made his escape.
Unable to give chase, let alone kill the man, Xu Xujun had no choice but to quickly shield her with his Magical Power and rush her back to the family.
The Tier Two Alchemist, Xu Qianyan, immediately administered an Elixir to protect her, preventing her Dantian from deteriorating further or shattering completely.
It could be said that this single move by the Qiu Family Ancestor had inflicted a tremendous loss—a devastating blow—upon the Xu Family!
Although the family’s upper echelons were furious, they were also desperate to find a remedy.
In the end, Xu Hanji’s father—the Patriarch Xu, his face now gaunt and his hair white with grief over his daughter’s injury—arranged a three-point plan.
First, lock down the family compound, conduct a thorough investigation to root out the traitor, and execute them.
Second, cease all external expansion aside from essential matters, assume a defensive posture to avoid conflict, and request that Elder Tantai come and preside over the family.
Third, based on Xu Qianyan’s suggestion, Xu Xujun was to make a secret trip to Floating Immortal City. There, he would request an Elixir from Mr. Lin, or ask for an introduction to other Pill Masters or Physicians, doing everything possible to preserve Xu Hanji’s future in cultivation.
Xu Xujun found the plan reasonable, and so, this visit came to be.
Having heard the whole story, Lin Changheng’s brows furrowed slightly as he thought it over.
His fingertips tapped on the armrest of his chair. TAP, TAP, TAP. Each sound seemed to echo in Xu Xujun’s heart.
"I have no way to repair the fractures in her Dantian..."
As Lin Changheng slowly spoke these words, Xu Xujun’s heart sank into the abyss.
"But I do have a method to stabilize it and prevent it from worsening."
Xu Xujun felt like he was on a rollercoaster. "Then... can she still cultivate?"
Lin Changheng shook his head. "Preserving her current Cultivation so it doesn’t regress is the limit of this method."
"How long can it be maintained?"
"If she takes it consistently, she’ll be fine for ten years."
Lin Changheng gave him a timeframe.
"Ten years?"
Xu Hanji was currently fifty-four years old, which meant she still had six years of opportunity left.
As long as they could find a solution within those six years, the possibility of her reaching Foundation Establishment could still be preserved.
Xu Xujun’s mind raced. He let out a slight sigh of relief and finally nodded. "Let’s stabilize her condition first, and then we can look for other solutions."
"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Lin. The family will cover the cost in Spirit Stones."
"It’s no trouble."
Lin Changheng nodded. "Why don’t you stay here in the Immortal City for ten days or so, Mr. Xu. Once I’ve made my preparations, I will begin the alchemy."
This was a Pill Formula he had previously obtained from another Foundation Establishment Cultivator; he never expected it would come in handy today.
’And I’m only a Tier Two Alchemist. What kind of resources must a High Tier Alchemist possess?’
This incident offered a mere glimpse.
"Thank you!"
The color returned to Xu Xujun’s face. He stood up and bowed with his fists clasped.
"Hey, there’s no need for that. The young lady and I are on friendly terms. It’s nothing to help out a little in a time of crisis."
Lin Changheng waved his hand dismissively, uttering words that touched Xu Xujun’s heart.
With their official business concluded, Lin Changheng invited him to stay for a simple meal in his cave abode.
To his surprise, however, Xu Xujun changed the subject.
"Elder Tantai asked me to bring something for you, Alchemist Lin."
As he spoke, he took out a fairly large wooden box and sent it over with his Magical Power.
"Oh? Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Xu."
Lin Changheng glanced at the wooden box. Seeing the restriction on it was still intact and unopened, he immediately smiled.
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he put it away.
’I wonder what Feiyue sent. Is it Demon Beast Essence Blood, or something else? Is this related to the surprise she mentioned she’d have for me the next time we met?’
Then, Lin Changheng noticed that Xu Xujun was still taking something out of his Storage Bag.
He immediately raised his gaze.
What he now took out was a perfectly square Jade Box, capable of Spirit Locking. It was identical to the gift the Xu Family had given him before, a Magical Artifact in its own right.
"This is..." Lin Changheng was surprised.
"Since the family promised to collect Demon Beast Essence Blood for you, Mr. Lin, we would naturally not go back on our word. We’ve collected this much over the past six-plus years, so I brought it all with me," Xu Xujun explained.
The Jade Box floated over, pushed by his Magical Power.
"Your family is very thoughtful. I happen to be in need of this, so I will graciously accept."
With a grateful expression, Lin Changheng waved his sleeve. The lid of the box opened, revealing neat rows of Jade Horned Snake Essence Blood vials inside.
There were more than five hundred vials in total.
Because every part of a Jade Horned Snake is a treasure, they are quite expensive. The value of this Essence Blood was over 1,500 Lower Grade Spirit Stones, perhaps even approaching 1,800.
Lin Changheng transferred all the Essence Blood into his Storage Bag, then handed the Jade Box Magical Artifact back. "This container is a Magical Artifact and not easy to forge. Please, take it back."
"Alright." Xu Xujun did not refuse.
When Xu Xujun saw Lin Changheng starting to take out Spirit Stones, he stopped him. After some back and forth, they agreed to settle the payment after the alchemy was complete.
With that matter settled, Xu Xujun decided not to disturb him any further. He left another Communication Jade Scroll and took his leave.
Lin Changheng didn’t press him to stay.
Watching him depart, Lin Changheng couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
’The world is truly unpredictable...’
’Xu Hanji has great talent, an excellent Heart Nature, and a rare opportunity within her grasp. Foundation Establishment is right around the corner, yet disaster still struck, leaving her in this predicament. It truly makes one sigh.’
’It also proved, once again, that my caution is not misplaced.’
’Only those who survive to the very end are worthy of walking the Immortal Dao, only they can speak of longevity...’
’I must stay true to this principle.’
...
It was already late, not a good time to go out. Lin Changheng decided he would purchase the medicinal materials for the alchemy tomorrow.
Instead, he returned to his Seclusion Room, took out the Essence Blood, and his eyes burned with intensity...