Chenxi, Mount Great Stone.
The mountain was strewn with rocks, hence the name Mount Great Stone.
At this moment, the laborers at the foot of the mountain were bustling, transporting construction materials, reportedly for the building of a Daoist temple.
As for what kind of Daoist temple, no one knew, their duty was to handle affairs in exchange for money.
Meanwhile, in a residence in Chenxi City.
A young man sat cross-legged in a room, his eyes seemingly half-closed, holding a crystal stone in his hand.
With each breath in and out, the crystal faintly flickered.
It seemed as though his internal organs operated in sync with his breathing, until a strand of True Qi was generated within.
After a while, Xu Xuan opened his eyes, sensing the mirror within his chest.
Name: Xu Xuan
Lifespan: 23/85
Cultivation Level: Initial Stage of Qi Nourishing.
Cultivation Technique: Golden Barrier Jade Lock Clearing Tranquility Technique (Entrance level 2%), Chenzhou Talisman Method (Minor Achievement 3%)
Techniques: Fire Summoning Talisman (Minor Achievement 15%), Bleeding Stopping Talisman (Minor Achievement 8%), Detoxification Talisman (Entrance level 89%), Hunting Talisman (Entrance level 13%), Mount-breaking Blade Technique (Perfected), Squatting Skill (Perfected), Eagle Claw Technique (Perfected), Li Family's Divine Archery Technique (Perfected).
The peak of martial arts was gone; replaced by the Initial Stage of Qi Nourishing.
He successfully entered the beginning stages of the Golden Barrier Jade Lock Clearing Tranquility Technique.
Just on the entrance, five strands of True Qi were formed within, two more than the previously practiced Chenzhou Talisman Method—the deserved legacy of the Pre-Qin Era.
"Come to think of it, do I only have the Fire Summoning Talisman as a damaging spell?" Xu Xuan realized after some consideration that this was indeed the case.
The spells he knew were mostly supportive, even the newly acquired Soldier-Avoiding Talisman, Armored Horse, and Levitation Technique were for assistance.
Xu Xuan stood up, took up a brush, and repeatedly traced the strokes of the Soldier-Avoiding Talisman on the bamboo slip until he memorized them thoroughly.
The lines were chaotic, but he had special memory techniques.
After cultivating True Qi, not only had his physical strength increased, but his memory had also significantly improved.
Half an hour later, despite repeated failures, Xu Xuan did not get discouraged. He set down the brush and took out a bronze Corpse-driving Bell, beginning to refine it with his True Qi.
With the increase of spells, he could not just practice aimlessly and without a plan.
For Xu Xuan, the first goal was undoubtedly the fundamental cultivation technique, followed by arranging the Fire Summoning Talisman, Blade-Avoiding Talisman, and Corpse Driving Talisman to ensure combat capabilities.
As for the other techniques, he could occasionally practice them within the month. As long as he had enough talisman papers, he would have nothing to fear.
"Next, I should thoroughly study the Corpse-Driver Technique. Cultivation can't do without protectors, and having Walkers will make things much safer," Xu Xuan thought to himself.
At this time, Xu Yong's subordinate came to report.
"Sir, there's news from Chenzhou..."
Upon learning that the ruler of Chenzhou has been replaced by Xu Guangting, Li Ming had died violently, and the remaining forces had been incorporated by Xu Guangting, Xu Xuan could not help but reflect, saying, "This old dad of mine has quite some scheming depth."
He played a low profile for many years, and to overturn the situation in a single stroke was truly not simple, even deceiving his own family members.
Chenzhou.
After several days of bloody cleansing, Xu Guangting finished purging the forces that were not his own.
Three thousand elite soldiers firmly controlled the Chenzhou Residence. Next came the distribution of profits and the reinstatement of some of the original officials from Chenzhou.
"Xu Chong, you are to go to the Huguang Governor's Office and convey our stance to the governor. We are loyal to the Imperial Court; it was Li Ming who voluntarily gave up his position to us..." Xu Guangting took out a letter.
Given the tense situation, the governor's office dared not alienate a force too aggressively.
"Yes!" Xu Chong left.
Xu Guangting was considering how to strengthen his power in the chaotic times.
The only local specialty of Chenzhou was salt, with twenty-two salt wells producing four hundred and forty thousand catties of coarse salt every year.
This salt could be traded with the outside world for ironware, and as for firearms... that stuff was impractical.
Just then, another subordinate came to report.
"The eldest son has arrived! The second son has arrived! The third son has arrived!"
He summoned his three sons to him.
On his way there, Xu Feng was both fearful and anxious.
His mother from the Li Clan had told him before, "My child, now that your maternal grandfather has been killed, do not get involved in the grievances of the previous generation. Although you are eligible to inherit the position of Pacification Envoy of Chenzhou, don't take it lightly."
"Why?"
"Previously, you had a powerful maternal family, but now it's controlled by the Xu Family. You have the blood of two clans, which may gain you more favor, but in the end, it depends on your father's decision."
The Li Clan was now a dependent existence of the Xu Family, no longer as haughty as before.
Xu Feng, recalling the recent actions of Xu Xuan, felt a complex mixture of emotions.
This person was highly skilled in martial arts, commanded a group of bandits loyal to him, and had even taken control of Chenxi County himself.
His military exploits were much more significant than Xu Feng's, who was feeling threatened for the first time.
"No! I am the rightful princely heir!" Xu Feng thought to himself.
His mother also had a backup plan; she told the father that to secure the hearts of the Mountain Barbarians, they could only arrange for Xu Feng to be the princely heir.
He encountered Xu Xuan and Xu Yong, who had also come to make their reports.
The two sides did not greet each other, their gazes merely crossed.
"Father!"
The three of them paid their respects.
Xu Guangting looked at Xu Xuan and said, "Well done."
Xu Xuan replied modestly, "It was just luck."
"Feng has done alright as well, keep up the effort."
"Yes!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries among the father and sons, Xu Guangting suddenly spoke up, "I plan to integrate all the salt wells and sell salt in the name of the government. This is a trade route of tremendous value. I don't trust outsiders. Which of you is willing to take on this task?"
Xu Guangting's gaze swept over everyone.
Xu Xuan certainly did not want to, as he still had to study corpses, and doing business would be a waste of time.
His younger brother, Xu Yong, was even less willing, as he had more tasks to handle, including blacksmithing, storing grain, and recruiting refugees.
Neither of them said a word.
"Father, let me do it," Xu Feng offered proactively.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Xu Guangting's heart regarding Xu Xuan.
Narrow-minded, lacking the makings of greatness.
"Good. Xu Feng will stay, others may leave. From now on, you shall handle matters in Chenxi exclusively."
Xu Guangting did not hesitate to send the two others away, thinking if they were willing to stay in the county town, then they should stay for good.
Xu Feng felt a surge of satisfaction in his heart.
The two brothers rushed back to Chenxi and neither took the recent events to heart.
"Big brother, the Daoist Temple is almost repaired. It just lacks a plaque. What should we name it? I'll get someone to make one."
"Call it Tianwen Palace."
Since ancient times, who transmitted the Dao at the beginning?
With heaven and earth yet undefined, how can we inquire about it?
"What a good name!"
...
Mirror Realm.
"Kill!"
The white-haired cultivator flew with his sword, but in the next moment, countless fireballs knocked him down, and more than a dozen Walkers besieged him.
Walkers fear not death, resistant to blades and spears, inflicting wounds upon the white-haired cultivator.
The white-haired cultivator's robe was torn, and blood gushed out like a fountain.
"Die!"
Angry shouts came from afar as three Walkers suddenly exploded, the flames engulfing the white-haired cultivator.
Li Qingshi and Li Qingquan, the brothers, leapt over in a few steps, and with the cover of the Fire Summoning Talisman, their swords simultaneously pierced through the white-haired cultivator.
In the midst of the flames, the white-haired cultivator smiled bitterly and said, "My fate today shall be yours tomorrow, haha."
The corpse fell to the ground, and the flames burned it to ashes.
A cultivator of the first Qi Cultivation level, dead!
"It will never happen. As long as the family is united, no one can break through," said Li Qingshi, over fifty and steadfast in his belief.
With the leader dead, the remaining either surrendered or were killed.
After thirty years, the family took control of Black River County, governed a population of two hundred thousand, and became a leading cultivator family head.
The eldest son, Li Rufeng, came to report.
"The entire Zhang Xian Qi Cultivation family has been executed, the Black River Gang surrendered, sixty lower-grade spirit stones seized, three hundred spirit crystals, one lower-grade magical artifact, and various materials..."
War, indeed, was the fast track to wealth.
That night, Zhang's estate was renamed Li's estate, and the other officials in the county town did not hesitate to change their allegiance.
In the back house of the Li estate, the core disciples of the Li family offered incense to the Mirror Immortal.
"We pay our respects to the Mirror Immortal! Law shines in all directions, ancestral wishes passed down... We ask that you enjoy this offering!"
Five spirit stones, among other medicinal ingredients, were offered.
A flash of light from the mirror, and the offerings disappeared; several lines of text appeared on its surface.
"Gold Sand Element Cultivating Pills, Qi Cultivation Pills!" The crowd rejoiced, their belief in the Mirror Immortal only strengthened.
This was a prescription that came with the Great Green Dragon Powder.
In front of the mirror, Xu Xuan added five more spirit stones to his account.
Indifferent to the worship of the people before the mirror.
As long as the exchange of materials was concerned, why care whether they believed or not, as if they could come through the mirror to attack him?
"Seven spirit stones in total, now I can proceed with corpse nourishing," Xu Xuan thought of a compromise. Since there was no spiritual energy in this realm, he would embed the spirit stones within the corpse itself.
The combat power of the Walkers, as witnessed through the mirror, was a chaotic slaughter when facing ordinary mortal armies with cold weapons.