Li Family, the backyard.
The vast backyard housed only a solitary wooden hut.
All around were various hidden sentries, blocking anyone attempting to enter.
The deaths of two concubines and eight servants over the years had made it clear to the Li family that the rules were inviolable.
The two brothers arrived, with Li Qingshi holding a jade box respectfully as they entered the hut.
Inside, a bronze treasure mirror was enshrined.
This mirror was pivotal to the family's rise and fall, being the source of their wealth, and Li Qingquan's bedroom was even nearby, keeping vigil over it day and night.
They immediately knelt down and recited verses in praise of the Immortals.
Li Qingshi's heart was undoubtedly filled with apprehension.
Years ago, the Immortal had bestowed talismans, and it took the brothers five years to gain entry, and ten years to master six spells.
Another five years were spent developing the family.
In the subsequent ten years, their tributes became increasingly unworthy of the Immortal's attention, with nearly ten years passing without any new spells or treasures being taught.
After leaving the Mirror Immortal, the brothers were unable to make much progress. "Presenting the offered meal!"
The two placed the box before the mirror.
Soon, the mirror glowed, and the box disappeared.
In another realm.
Xu Xuan slowly opened the box, inside which lay a pale red crystal stone the size of a thumb, along with some crystals the size of peppercorns.
A dim red glow circulated slowly within the crystal, profoundly mysterious.
Xu Xuan could sense an energy that did not belong to this realm.
"Lower-grade Spirit Stones? And a number of inconsequential Crystal Stones? Haha, fortune favors me indeed!"
Xu Xuan couldn't suppress his excitement.
Three years!!
At last, he had the chance to engage with the legendary Path of Immortality.
According to novels from his previous life, cultivation often needed to start at a young age, as advancement later on was more difficult.
"Alas, why do others traverse to higher worlds, while I crossed over to a lesser one!"
Xu Xuan longed to cry out to the heavens.
However, there were benefits in this world as well.
That is...
Xu Xuan's expression grew solemn, his gaze fixing on the window outside.
"In the heavens above and the earth below, I alone am the Immortal!"
There was no safer place than here.
In a world where cultivators were abundant, conflicts abounded; just look at Li Qingshi, who had been trapped in the town and unable to leave, and whose situation was now even more perilous.
One misstep could mean total ruin.
As he pondered, Xu Xuan reflected the last two texts of the Corpse Driving Talisman and the Corpse Preserving Talisman onto the mirror's surface.
Providing them with spells was partly to have them experiment and see which pitfalls to avoid.
Mirror Realm.
Li Qingshi and his brother were shocked at the text appearing on the mirror.
"Corpse Driving Art! Haha, our family will flourish!!"
Li Qingshi was ecstatic.
It was completely worth it.
The Fire Summoning Talisman and the Bleeding Stopping Talisman they previously had were common spells in the cultivation world, not particularly powerful, and most beginner cultivators knew them.
Because of this, the Li family was stuck at the township level.
The township was the safest; moving up meant facing those voracious cultivators.
Now, things were different.
The Corpse Driving Technique was a Secret Art that not many cultivators possessed. Moreover, this art could produce expendable forces en masse.
A unique Secret Art was key to the family's prosperity.
The brothers exited the building.
Li Qingquan, speaking after the fact, said, "Big brother, I told you, only by relying on the Mirror Immortal can we revitalize the family."
With a Secret Art in hand, Li Qingshi's morale soared, "Once we return, we'll bow to Black River Gang, offering up family interests. In private, we'll study the Corpse Driving Art, ready to strike a fatal blow when the time comes."
"Yes!"
...
Pear Manor.
Within a secret chamber, Xu Xuan sat cross-legged.
He had been preparing every moment of these years, learning from the brothers' cultivation through observation. Although he hadn't officially started cultivating, he had already gained experience.
Guarding his Spirit Platform, his mind became calm and steady.
Xu Xuan's consciousness began to blur as he forgot his physical form and merged with the universe.
Cultivating the Chenzhou Talisman required the Calming Charm. Once the Calming Charm was learned and True Qi existed within the body, one could commence drawing talismans.
The path of cultivation progresses from low to high, divided into stages: Qi Nourishing, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and so on.
Days passed, one after the other.
Li Hu lived quite leisurely; now, even the task of selling contraband salt had been handed over to Xu Xuan.
Xu Xuan, aside from selling contraband salt, also fostered good relationships with the mountain stronghold, Righteous Villa, and the garrison commander of Yiyang.
Chenzhou City.
"Get out! We're not selling the shop!"
Xu Yong was booted out. Recently, he had acquired two more rice shops, but after grinding away for half a month at this ironmonger's, he still hadn't achieved his goal.
"Well, guess I'll have to find another way," Xu Yong mused, eyes gleaming.
Evening, Yihong Courtyard.
Xu Yong and another young man drank together. The young man across from him looked honest and simple, probably around thirty, clearly not used to such places, but his eyes revealed a clear desire.
"Never enjoyed this place before?" Xu Yong asked with a smile.
"No money."
"They say after three years as an apprentice and two years of service, you can become a master. You've served at Old Guo's for seven or eight years, earning an apprentice's wage. Haven't you thought about leaving to make your own way?"
"No money, and the master won't let me. I've brought it up a few times, and he accused me of betraying our ancestors." Wang Zhong looked down, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.
"It seems he's been using you as a cheap apprentice." Xu Yong took out a gold bar and slapped it on the table, "Leave your master tomorrow. Consider this piece of gold an investment in you."
Wang Zhong agreed without hesitation.
Afterward, Wang's Blacksmith opened for business.
With the support of Xu Yong, many apprentices were poached, and coupled with the underselling, Guo's smithy quickly declined.
Xu Yong's conquests in business caught the attention of the shadier forces within the city.
"Boss, that kid is tough as nails, refuses to pay protection money, and even drove me out!"
A short man with the face of a rat reported to a scar-faced man seated before him.
"Hmph, he doesn't respect the toast, he'll have to face the consequences. This Xu fellow has already been marked for death by Third Young Master Wu."
Speaking of the Wu family of Chenzhou, they were known to every household.
The Wu family had ruled Chenzhou for over two hundred years, always serving as the Pacification Envoy of Chenzhou, with their family power deeply rooted like a towering tree.
Yang Wu was but an ant sheltering beneath this towering giant.
Although he controlled hundreds of gangsters and kept several dozen thugs, he was somewhat insignificant compared to the Wu family that held sway over the military, the government, and finance.
Everyone thought he was the underground king of Chenzhou, but in fact, it was the Third Young Master.
"The Third Young Master? How did that kid offend the Third Young Master?"
"The shop that the Third Young Master was eyeing was snatched away by him, and two other businesses collapsed due to competition. The Third Young Master has vowed to kill this man," Yang Wu said, "Tomorrow night, the Third Young Master will gather with us to make trouble for Xu Yong again."
"Yes!"
The next day, at night.
The carriage stopped in an alley where more than twenty people were gathered, with Yang Wu at the head, his face covered and holding a broad machete.
A young nobleman descended from the carriage, short in stature, with the flat nose typical of the Mountain Barbarians, and a look in his eyes that was indescribably fierce.
"Why the disguise? In the lands of Chenzhou, I kill blatantly!" Wu Xiong said with a savage laugh.
"As you command!"
The group set out mightily towards Xu Yong's place of business.
They burned down the rice shop and beat the shop assistant half to death.
Yang Wu, picking up the shop assistant, said viciously, "Where is Xu Yong?"
"Master Xu... Xu Yong and his sister are at Wang's Blacksmith..."
the shop assistant said with his last breath.
"Let's go!"
That night, the shops of Pear Manor were set on fire.
Wang's Blacksmith was just three hundred meters away.
Xu Wang, the captain of the Pear Manor's guard, who was dozing off, seemed to hear something, went outside as if led by a ghost, and was startled half to death.
He hurriedly ran to wake Xu Yong.
"Young Master, there's a group of people outside, they seem to be coming for us."
Xu Yong seemed to think of someone, and made a decisive choice, "Let's go!!"
He woke up his sister and the others.
"Don't take anything, just climb over the wall and leave!!"
By the time Wu Xiong and his men arrived, the place was already empty.
"Burn it all, burn everything!" Wu Xiong raged impotently.
"Young Master, they won't get far, there's still time to chase them!"
"There they are!!"
"Chase them!"
Xu Yong and his four companions were pursued from within the city to the outside.
Xu Wang, with Xu Ling'er on his back, ran with all his might.
They would be safe once they reached Pear Manor.
The fire in the dark night caught the attention of the guards at Pear Manor, who then reported the situation to Xu Xuan and Li Hu.
"It seems to be Young Master Yong at the foot of the mountain..."
Li Hu looked to Xu Xuan and said, "It seems he's incurred the wrath of the Wu family's minions in the city. I'll go and negotiate."
"No need, you rest well, I'll handle it."
Xu Xuan, carrying a longbow, left the house.
No sooner had he stepped out than his figure, like a cheetah, turned into a lingering shadow and disappeared.
Li Hu couldn't help but admire.
This lad's martial skills are improving more and more.
Wu Xiong and his men were getting closer and closer.
"Haha, Xu Yong, see who I am? Today is your death anniversary!"
No sooner had the voice faded.
Whoosh whoosh!
From the nearby bushes, a dozen arrows shot out, killing three small-time thugs on the spot.
"Bad news! It's an ambush!" Yang Wu ordered his men to protect Wu Xiong.
The other side had set up an archery ambush.
When the person in the bushes emerged, it nearly made his eyes pop out; there was only one man.
The bow and arrows in the man's hands were like a rapid-fire cannon, ceaselessly shooting out arrows from a distance.
"Attack! He's only one man!"
Stirred by a rush of blood, Yang Wu's men charged forward without hesitation.
The outcome was predictable.
Yang Wu died, and so did his lackeys.
The rest dropped their weapons, kneeled down to surrender, with only Wu Xiong still stubbornly resisting.
"Big Brother!" Xu Yong exclaimed excitedly.
"You all go back first," Xu Xuan said without looking back.
"Okay!" Xu Yong understood that staying would only hold everyone back, so he led the people away.
After they had gone far enough, Xu Xuan approached Wu Xiong.
"Lift up your head!"
The crowd couldn't help but lift their heads, looking at this anomalously young face, feeling indescribable emotions.
"Submit and acknowledge me as your master, and I will spare your life!"
Xu Xuan said coldly.
"What a joke, I am a member of the Chenzhou Wu family, with three thousand elite soldiers. Kill me, and not one of you will live!" Wu Xiong retorted defiantly.
Opposite him, Xu Xuan took out a yellow talisman, and immediately after, a scene occurred that Wu Xiong would never forget in his life.