62: Current situation of the Chu family

Under the setting sun, wisps of cooking smoke drifted into the air from the Chu Family's courtyard.

The aroma of the Chu Family's dinner tonight seemed particularly rich, tempting the small animals in the surrounding woods to stand not far from the courtyard, sniffing hard.

At the dining table in the main hall, the moment the last basin of meat soup was served, long strings of drool were visible.

"This is the meat of the Uncommon Rank Source Beast, Hán Háo Strange Bird. It is very beneficial for your growth. Hurry and eat."

Following Chu Jingyu's command, several pairs of chopsticks swiftly picked up meat from the basin in the center.

Watching his Family members eat happily, Chu Jingyu's eyes crinkled into a smile.

Chu Mu, enshrined on the Eight Immortals table, felt annoyed watching them eat so heartily, so he simply shut off the external view unilaterally and focused his attention on the "Nameless Book."

He focused on checking the information that had changed.

First, under the nourishment of the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast, Chu Jingyu had finally reached the level of high-tier Uncommon Rank.

Chu Mu still did not quite understand the magnitude of the gap between Uncommon Rank and Spirit Rank, or how difficult it would be for Chu Jingyu to achieve a Breakthrough now—whether it would take a few years, more than ten years, or if he could only stop here.

However, Chu Mu already had his own plan. Even if the Golden Armored Jade Pupil Beast truly could only stop here, Chu Mu would still have him contract a new Source Beast. He did not believe that with his own abilities, he could not enable Chu Jingyu to advance to Spirit Rank.

No wonder Chu Mu cared so much about Chu Jingyu; the truth was that so far, Chu Jingyu, the Clan Chief, was quite agreeable. He was reliable in his actions, employed thunderous means against enemies, and showed sufficient respect towards him.

With Chu Jingyu managing the Chu Family, Chu Mu felt very reassured.

In Chu Mu's view, Chu Qinhui was still unable to bear the responsibility of the Family. Chu Shengfan, on the other hand, resembled Chu Jingyu somewhat, but he was still young and needed a few more years to grow.

Chu Mu continued looking at the information of the Family members. Chu Qinhui's Realm was still the same, low-tier Mortal Rank. It was understandable that he remained at this Realm since he had only contracted days ago.

Chu Shengfan, however, had somehow already advanced to mid-tier Mortal Rank, prompting a hint of satisfaction from Chu Mu.

Jiang Nian contracted the Pink Rock Crystal Python, and Chu Shengyuan contracted the Green Forest Giant Python. The time since their contracts was even shorter, so both were also at the low-tier Mortal Rank stage.

"Family Member: Chu Shenghan. Position: Ordinary Member. Rank: Low-tier Mortal Rank. Age: Nine years old. Contracted Source Beast: Cuiyin Bird. Status: Healthy, rapidly absorbing energy. Family Relationship: Daughter of Chu Qinhui and Jiang Nian, granddaughter of Chu Jingyu..."

"Species Name: Cuiyin Bird. Rank: Low-tier Mortal Rank. Aptitude: Ordinary. Status: Normal. Attribute Tendency: Sound. Skills: 1. Cuiyin Wave: The Cuiyin Bird emits a crisp call, generating circular sound waves that impact nearby targets. 2. Cuiyin Rhythm: The Cuiyin Bird emits a pleasant call, slightly shortening the skill charging time for targets affected by the sound waves. Evolution Routes: 1. Cuiyin Bird

Twin-Headed Overlapping Sound Bird (30 Source Spirit). 2. Cuiyin Bird

Cuiyin Long Plume Bird (35 Source Spirit). 3. Cuiyin Bird

Illusionary Sound Splendid Feather Sparrow (130 Source Spirit)."

Chu Mu now had a slight understanding of Source Beast evolution. By observing the consumption of Source Spirit, Chu Mu could roughly guess that different amounts of Source Spirit consumption might correspond to Source Beasts with different racial Aptitudes.

For instance, the first two evolution routes, both requiring around thirty, indicated that the Source Beasts they evolved into would normally have a racial rank limit of Uncommon Rank upon reaching maturity.

And the last route, the Illusionary Sound Splendid Feather Sparrow, which consumes over a hundred Source Spirit, might be a relatively strong Different Rank Species Source Beast, or perhaps a Spirit Rank Species Source Beast—the kind that can normally reach Spirit Rank upon maturity.

A consumption of 130 Source Spirit was not unacceptable to Chu Mu right now, but if he wanted to check it, his current total of 125 Source Spirit was insufficient. He would need to wait one more day.

Although he could check the first two evolution routes immediately, Chu Mu restrained himself. This time, he wanted to check the most expensive one.

"Family Chronicle... October 10th. Chu Shenghan, the last member of the Family, successfully contracted the Source Beast Cuiyin Bird. All members of the Chu Family have become true Contract Masters. Chu Family Clan Chief Chu Jingyu executed the subordinate village chief Chen Chengwen, causing all four subordinate villages to submit, increasing Family prestige and Luck, and earning a reward of 30 Source Spirit."

"Chu Family. Rank: Ninth-Rank Humble Family. Family Members: ... Family Assets: Fuhe Village, Tuwo Village, Qingsha Village, Chen Family Village. Thirty Origin Rune Stone, one courtyard, and miscellaneous other items. Family Location: ... Family Prestige: 30 (Among villages)."

After reading all the updated information, Chu Mu contentedly closed the "Nameless Book." Under his witness, the Chu Family was steadily moving towards a better future...

The next day, early in the morning, the newly appointed village chief of Chen Family Village brought the elders of the clan to wait outside the door.

Seeing the overly simple courtyard before them, the village chief and the elders were somewhat surprised, wondering if they had come to the wrong place. However, the moment they saw Chu Jingyu's unperturbed face, they instantly dismissed all their doubts.

After receiving their report, Chu Jingyu announced the current arrangements for Chen Family Village and then sent them back, not even allowing them to stay for lunch. Their treatment was vastly different from that of the previous three villages.

However, Chen Yuwen, the new village chief of Chen Family Village, and the elders dared not have any complaints. They only hoped that Chen Family Village could quickly erase the bad impression left in the main Family's heart.

Otherwise, having lost an Uncommon Rank Contract Master and falling out of favor with the main Family, it would be difficult for Chen Family Village to retain its status as a superior village.

Two days after the people from Chen Family Village visited, Bai Liangshu came to call, bringing a collection of gifts and his twelve-year-old son.

According to the agreement made at the banquet, Chu Jingyu requested Chu Mu to awaken the spirit of Bai Liangshu's son, granting him the ability to contract a Source Beast and become a Contract Master.

For the next seven days, the Chu Family enjoyed peace and quiet.

Chu Jingyu was busy stabilizing his Realm, having just advanced to high-tier Uncommon Rank. The other members of the Chu Family either cultivated their bond with their Source Beasts or silently improved their Realms.

It wasn't until a certain morning seven days later that Chu Jingyu took Chu Qinhui and headed out toward the town.

October 19th. Today was the day the Treasure Pavilion held its auction.

The observant Chu Qinhui noticed that there were many more high-rank Contract Masters on the streets, most of whom were hurrying towards the street where the Treasure Pavilion was located.

Chu Jingyu and Chu Qinhui, having concealed their auras, blended into the crowd without any sense of incongruity.

However, upon entering the Treasure Pavilion, when Chu Jingyu produced the contract deed, the father and son received arrangements entirely different from everyone else.

"We have specially prepared a private room for the two distinguished guests. Please follow me."

Although the entire Treasure Pavilion was said to have four floors, in Chu Jingyu's opinion, it was closer to four and a half floors, because in addition to the hundreds of seats in the main hall, there was a half-floor extension protruding near the outer wall.

A dozen or so private rooms were built in an arc shape, situated above the seats in the main hall.

Following the maid's steps, Chu Jingyu and Chu Qinhui arrived at the Earth Character Room Beta. It was a decent location, neither the centrally positioned Heaven Character Room Alpha nor a room like the Human Character Room Gamma, which had a poor view.

Just as the two were about to enter the private room, a displeased voice came from next door.

"Where did these bumpkins come from, to actually be arranged next to our private room?"