The Xu Family's Inheritance "Please Follow"

Bai Jing watched Xu Chuan and his son walk away and clicked her tongue. "Those two, always so mysterious."

She turned and laid a hand on Yang Ronghua's belly, smiling warmly. "Never mind them. This eldest grandson of mine comes first."

Yang Ronghua smiled shyly. "Mother, it's still early."

"Not early at all!" Bai Jing counted on her fingers. "Eight months of pregnancy will pass in the blink of an eye. We must have the servants prepare swaddling clothes at once."

"Yesterday, I saw a bolt of brocade in the storeroom, lotus vines embroidered on a pale green ground. It would make the perfect swaddling cloth for my grandson."

Yang Ronghua did not know whether to laugh or cry, but tenderness showed on her face as she stroked her belly. "I only hope he'll be as brave and strong as his father."

"What does he need to be brave and strong for?" Bai Jing shook her head with a laugh. "Shitou was impossibly naughty as a child. Now his father has trained him into someone as wooden as a stone. I'd rather the child be more openhearted."

Yang Ronghua's eyes brightened. "Mother, would you tell me some stories about my husband when he was little?"

"Of course, of course. I'll tell you everything."

Sandalwood incense curled through the study, thin threads of smoke winding past the window lattice.

Xu Chuan fixed his son with a keen gaze. "Shitou, what was it like to break through to Xiantian?"

Xu Mingwei smiled. "Beyond words. In that instant, my mind cleared and my heart grew still as water. I could sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth all around me. When I drew it into my body, warmth flowed through every limb and bone. It felt wonderful."

Xu Chuan nodded with a smile.

"Oh, Father, our family has collected two Xiantian martial arts manuals. The Black Tiger Codex can take me to the peak of Xiantian, while the Heavenly Dragon Secret Codex can take me to the early Grandmaster stage. Which should I choose?"

"Neither." Xu Chuan sipped his tea. "The Martial Way is a path of transition. Cultivating immortality is the true path."

"Cultivating immortality?" Xu Mingwei gave a bitter smile. "I'm nearly twenty. Even if I had spiritual roots, I fear it would be too late."

"I know which of you have the aptitude to cultivate immortality." A sharp gleam entered Xu Chuan's eyes. "Of you brothers, only Yunnu possesses all five elements and can enter the Immortal Way."

"Yunnu can cultivate immortality?"

"Then why haven't you found a way to set Yunnu on that path? Once he becomes an immortal cultivator, the whole family will benefit enormously."

"You think cultivating immortality is so simple? With the Xu family's current resources, how could we support an immortal cultivator?"

"We're better off taking one step at a time and waiting for the right moment."

"The right moment?"

Puzzlement showed in Xu Mingwei's eyes. He fell into thought.

"You needn't concern yourself with that yet. As for the Xu family, I intend for you brothers to enter the Dao through martial arts."

"Enter the Dao through martial arts?" Xu Mingwei stared at him. "I've never heard of such a thing."

"This is the Xu family's greatest secret. Come with me to the ancestral hall. It's time I told you some things."

The ancestral hall was one of the Xu family's most important places.

It was guarded at all hours.

After entering, Xu Chuan opened a hidden door and led him into a secret chamber.

A few books stood scattered across a shelf, all martial arts texts the Xu family had collected.

There was also a concealed compartment in the chamber.

Xu Chuan took a cultivation manual from it and handed it to Xu Mingwei.

"Read it. It isn't long. Memorize every word."

"The Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art?"

Xu Mingwei began to leaf through it.

The opening precepts were the first thing he saw.

[The five elements turn and give birth to creation; one Xiantian breath runs through the primordial cosmos.

Body and spirit join the Dao to fathom its mysteries; return to the source and attain eternal life.]

"The liver serves as the wood repository, holding the breath of spring; the heart becomes the fire palace, nurturing the spirit of summer; the spleen becomes the earth pivot, anchoring the four seasons; the lungs form the metal gate, gathering autumn's austerity; the kidneys open into the water abyss, receiving winter's essence.

When the five breaths converge at their source, five wheels of light—green, red, yellow, white, and black—appear over the five organs. At last, they return to the dantian and mingle into an egg of chaos."

"How profound!"

"It defies belief!"

"Father, these must be the methods of true immortals!"

Shock surged through Xu Mingwei's heart, raising storm-tossed waves within him.

He kept reading. The pages that followed contained a breathing method, chants for sensing spiritual energy, and the essentials of Qi Refining.

The art ultimately transformed acquired power into Xiantian power, then converted all Xiantian true qi into the spiritual power of an immortal cultivator.

It completed the Five Elements Spiritual Root, then refined it until the practitioner attained the aptitude of a True Spiritual Root.

"This art touches the mysteries of creation. One must reach the Xiantian realm before practicing it."

"From the third generation onward, only geniuses may practice this art."

"Speak of it to no one who does not already know, not even brothers, sisters, parents, or children. This is an oath to be passed down through every generation!"

Xu Mingwei's expression turned solemn. "I'll remember it, Father!"

"Once you master this art, you can turn directly to the Immortal Way and become a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator. You may even break through to the sixth level soon after."

Xu Chuan paused, then smiled faintly. "Of course, this path suits only the Xu family as it is now. Once the Lineage truly grows strong and becomes an immortal cultivation family,

those with aptitude can enter the Immortal Way from childhood, while those without it can enter the Dao through martial arts."

Xu Mingwei nodded to show he understood.

"Once you've memorized it, you may leave the ancestral hall. In a few days, I'll announce that you'll temporarily manage the Xu family's affairs. It will prepare you to succeed me as head of the family."

"And you, Father?"

"I'll stay near the Jade-Cold Pool for a while and devote myself to breaking through to Xiantian."

"I understand. I won't let the family's mundane affairs disturb you."

Xu Chuan patted his shoulder and left the secret chamber.

Back in the study, he called to the genealogy in his mind. It emerged from his body and appeared before his eyes.

[Xu Mingwei: Xu family, second generation]

[Age: Nineteen]

[Spiritual roots: Incomplete five elements; no aptitude for immortal cultivation]

[Talents: Natural Divine Strength, Eagle Eye]

[Bloodline: None]

[Realm: Early-stage Xiantian Martial Artist]

"The Xu family's fortune is flourishing, full of youthful vigor. The third generation will soon be born. Surely more Fate Talents will appear, and stronger ones at that."

Anticipation filled Xu Chuan's eyes.

Xu Mingwei left the ancestral hall two hours later. After spending some time with Yang Ronghua, he began cultivating the Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art.

Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian also went to visit Yang Ronghua.

"Sister-in-law, I heard the happy news as soon as I got back. Am I going to be an aunt?"

Yang Ronghua smiled.

"Yes, so you'll have to be a little more composed."

Bai Jing laughed, then turned to Xu Mingxian. "Yunnu, you're going to be an uncle. Are you happy?"

Xu Mingxian nodded, then said something that left Bai Jing not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"I won't be the youngest in the family anymore."

Several days later.

Xu Mingyuan returned from out of town, travel-worn and dusty.

He was just as excited when he heard the news and hurried to visit Xu Mingwei and his wife.

"Big Brother, I have good news of my own."

Xu Mingwei and his wife, along with Xu Mingxuan and the others, looked at him curiously.

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"The Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art."

Xu Mingyuan grinned. "In a year or two at most, you're sure to reach Xiantian, Big Brother. The Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art continues the Little Dragon Elephant Art and can take you all the way to the peak Grandmaster stage. No Xiantian martial art would suit you better."

Xu Mingwei had not told anyone he had broken through to Xiantian.

It was a hidden card. The fewer people who knew, the better.

As for the Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art, Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly. It was a pity he no longer had a use for it.

Still, it would be good to add it to the family collection and practice the martial techniques within it.

"You got it?"

"Not yet, but I have a lead."

Xu Mingyuan sipped his tea and explained at length. "A wealthy merchant from our county knew I was looking for it. He returned from neighboring Liuyun County yesterday and came to speak with me. He said a middle-aged martial artist was willing to sell the Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art."