Xuanxiao Zhang Clan, Zhang Xuanchen!

[Since you clicked in, please try reading through the first ten chapters before judging. Sharp critiques welcome—the author isn't thin-skinned and truly wants to improve!

Kneeling in thanks!]

Xuanqiong Cultivation World, South Sea Immortal Continent.

Its waters occupied seventy percent of the land.

Islands lay scattered like stars across a chessboard.

Penglai Islands.

Xuanxiao Mountain.

It towered into the clouds, immortal aura curling around it, cranes crying long and clear; it was a place blessed by nature's finest spirits.

This immortal mountain was the headquarters of the Golden Core Zhang Clan.

Inside an ancient yet elegant room.

A youth with a tall, slender figure stood beside a wooden table. Beneath his white-and-black daoist robe, his broad shoulders and narrow waist were cinched tightly by a jade belt.

His skin was fair, his features sharply defined, and his sword-like brows framed starry eyes.

An Azure Jade Dragon Pattern Pendant hung from his waist as he smiled at the stern middle-aged man seated in the seat of honor, who looked roughly sixty percent like him and appeared to be around thirty.

Looking at his youngest son, a trace of helplessness surfaced in the stern middle-aged man's eyes.

With a long sigh, he said, "Xiao Chen, you are already fifteen, yet your cultivation has not broken through Qi Refining Level 7. For someone with Dual Spirit Roots, that is rather slow.

"Under your direction, the family has opened trading houses, raised Spirit Fish, planted spirit herbs, expanded our mines, and reclaimed family assets.

"We no longer lack cultivation resources. Listen to your father.

"Go back into seclusion and cultivate diligently. Strive to break through to Late Qi Refining as soon as possible.

"When your Big Brother was your age, he had already reached the Qi Refining Peak."

The middle-aged man was the Zhang Clan's Clan Leader, Zhang Hongzhan. He possessed Triple Spirit Roots, was ninety-four years old, and had only recently broken through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

He could be said to have some hope of forming a Golden Core.

Hearing his old father's words, the youth raised a finger and shook it.

He then walked to Zhang Hongzhan's side, his expression solemn as he asked in return:

"Not lacking? How are we not lacking? Father, how many spirit stones does our family earn in a year now?"

Zhang Hongzhan looked somewhat puzzled. When it came to this matter, wasn't this brat supposed to know it best?

Why was he asking me instead?

Puzzled though he was, he still replied, "Around five hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones. Why?"

Upon hearing Zhang Hongzhan's answer, Zhang Xuanchen slapped his thigh.

The sound echoed through the room.

He shouted:

"Exactly! Only five hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones a year! And that's assuming nothing goes wrong!

"How can that possibly be imposing? We're a Golden Core Family! Yet we only earn this many spirit stones in a year—where's the grandeur in that?

"Which of those long-established Golden Core powers doesn't earn several million Low-grade Spirit Stones a year?

"If we don't work hard to make money, how will we afford Golden Core Pills in the future?"

Hearing his son's words, Zhang Hongzhan's face darkened.

So this brat had been working so hard to make money for the sake of Golden Core Pills.

"You don't need to worry about that. You will not lack Golden Core Pills in the future. Cultivation is what matters now—work hard and catch up to your Big Brother.

"And next time, slap your own thigh!"

The moment Zhang Xuanchen heard that, he knew his father had completely misunderstood him. He immediately said:

"Father! Vision! Your vision is too narrow! Of course our family can afford Golden Core Pills, but what about Nascent Soul Pills?

"Even now, one-third of the family's assets have yet to be recovered from those little thieves.

"The trading houses, auction houses, and Spirit Beast Garden have only just begun. Everything is waiting to be rebuilt—without me, can Ninth Uncle and the others handle it?"

As he spoke, Zhang Xuanchen even showed a trace of disdain on his face.

The Xuanxiao Zhang Clan had stood for nearly four hundred years.

Its inheritance had continued to the seventh generation.

Zhang Xuanchen was seventh in rank among the Xuan Generation of the seventh generation, and he possessed Wind Fire Dual Spiritual Roots.

The Zhang Clan's founding ancestor had been a Late Golden Core cultivator. The clan had been established through the sword path, and seventy percent of the ancestral techniques and spells were related to sword cultivation.

Later, due to grievous injuries, he had passed away in meditation a hundred years ago.

At present, the only Golden Core Ancestor was Zhang Chongxian of the second generation, three hundred and twenty years old.

Neither Golden Core Ancestor had much business sense. Their minds were wholly devoted to cultivation, believing that only high cultivation could shelter the family.

The younger generations followed their example, resulting in a small population. After nearly four hundred years of development, the clan had only a little over three hundred cultivators.

At present, it had one Golden Core cultivator and nineteen Foundation Establishment cultivators.

There were more than eight hundred thousand mortals.

When Zhang Xuanchen had first transmigrated into this world of cultivation as a newborn, he had been overjoyed to learn where he was.

He had been even more excited upon learning that he was the son of a Golden Core Family's Clan Leader.

Who wouldn't want to ride a sword through the skies and roam freely through the mortal world?

And cultivation could fulfill that glimmer of fantasy in one's heart.

As he grew older, he came to understand more and more about his family.

He discovered that although the Xuanxiao Zhang Clan was a Golden Core Family, it did not live well. Its clansmen were simply thickheaded and found joy amid hardship.

Their cultivation resources were barely enough. If they truly ran short, they would head into the Endless Sea or Purple Cloud Mountain Range to hunt demon beasts, seek resources, and temper themselves.

The family had handed mining duties to Affiliated Families, who had embezzled the extracted resources without anyone realizing it.

They could endure it, but Zhang Xuanchen could not!

After several years of development and reform, he had achieved no small results.

The family had been completely renewed.

Alchemy, talisman crafting, artifact refining, spirit planting, Spirit Wine brewing, and other trades had all developed across the board.

Though they were still in their infancy and did not yield much profit each year, they still brought in several hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Yet this was far from enough. The clansmen's mindsets had not been completely changed, and he still had a long road ahead.

Zhang Hongzhan did not mind the disdainful look in his son's eyes. He understood this free-spirited son of his well.

"Even if Ninth Uncle and the others cannot manage, you must still focus on cultivation. In this world, strength reigns supreme!"

Zhang Xuanchen retorted, "Without spirit stones and resources, how can one cultivate quickly?

"Whose cultivation relies entirely on absorbing spiritual energy?"

At that, Zhang Hongzhan suddenly rose to his feet, his expression turning ugly. "I can't argue with you. I'll have your mother leave seclusion and let her speak to you!"

This time, Zhang Xuanchen panicked. He grabbed Zhang Hongzhan's arm at once, his face breaking into a bright smile.

Old people really had no martial virtue!

If his mother came, then after his father added fuel to the fire, he would definitely be locked in his room and forced into seclusion.

Break down the door and escape? He did not have the nerve.

"Look at you, getting worked up again. As the Zhang Clan's Clan Leader, you should remain unmoved even if Mount Taishan collapsed before your eyes..."

"Then you be the Clan Leader! I'll abdicate immediately!"

Zhang Xuanchen froze.

He knew his father was not joking. He meant it.

If he dared agree, the position of Clan Leader would truly fall onto his head.

That would not do—at least, not yet.

He said seriously, "Don't worry, Father. I will cultivate properly. Within half a month—no, within one week—I will definitely break through to Qi Refining Level 7!

"As for catching up to my Big Brother, that is simply impossible."

Zhang Xuanbing, Zhang Hongzhan's eldest son.

He had broken through to Foundation Establishment at sixteen. This year, at twenty-one, his cultivation had already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. He ranked third among the Xuan Generation.

A peerless genius with a Single-element Ice Spiritual Root.

Fortunately, his Spiritual Root test had been conducted in secret. Ancestor had promptly activated the Formation and used a secret technique to conceal the Extraordinary Phenomena.

They had announced to the public that he possessed Ice Wood Dual Spirit Roots.

Now that his Breath Concealment Technique had been cultivated to perfection, no one below the Late Golden Core stage could detect Zhang Xuanbing's true cultivation. There was no fear of arousing suspicion.

Zhang Xuanchen had never even considered matching his cultivation speed.

Hearing Zhang Xuanchen's words, Zhang Hongzhan smiled again. All he wanted was an attitude.

He patted his son's shoulder and encouraged him:

"That's more like it. Cultivation is the proper path.

"Alright, go now. Your father needs to cultivate."

"There are still some family matters that haven't been handled..."

"Let the elders handle them."

"The elders said they are old and need rest."

"One or two hundred years old is precisely the age to strive! How can they rest!"

With a sweep of his hand, a gust of mysterious wind swept over.

The next moment, Zhang Xuanchen appeared in the front courtyard.

With a bang, the door shut tightly.

He looked at the crooked pagoda tree in the garden, determination shining in his eyes.

He had been busy with this and that over the years, and his cultivation had indeed slackened somewhat.

Now that he was already at the peak of Qi Refining Level 6, it was time to begin preparing to break through to Level 7.

With that thought, he turned and walked outside.

[Immortal Fate Information (C Mid): The old hen belonging to Granny Wang Yumei of Qingniu Town, the mortal town below the mountain, will lay an egg containing a faint Phoenix Bloodline tomorrow at the hour of the ox.

Roast it with Spirit Fire for thirteen breaths, add Three-leaf Orchid Grass Juice, and consume it to greatly strengthen the body. First-grade Mid-tier artifacts will be unable to break its defense.]

Hmm?

What the hell was that sound?

The voice that had suddenly appeared startled Zhang Xuanchen badly.

He looked around, but found no one.

He pondered inwardly, Has my Golden Finger arrived? Or is this because that five-colored ball of light suddenly entered my body in the back mountain yesterday?

Never mind. I'll go take a look tomorrow! If it's real, then every opportunity in the future will belong to me, Zhang Xuanchen!

At that thought, Zhang Xuanchen could not help letting out a "geigeigei" laugh.

PS: The new book has set sail. If you're interested, remember to add it to your bookshelf and keep following along!

Thank you for your support!