59: Chapter 59 Eighth-Rank Qi Refining Family

The Su Family produced two descendants with Spiritual Roots!

When Su Yang and the others returned to Qingyuan County, this news quickly spread throughout the entire county town.

Upon learning of this, various Family forces came to visit and offer congratulations.

Previously, the Su Family could only be considered to have decent potential, as the entire Family’s value stemmed from Su Yang alone.

Once the Family lost Su Yang, the Su Family would be equivalent to its demise.

But now that the Su Family had descendants who could Cultivate, it had completely solidified its reputation as a Qi Refining Family. Even without Su Yang, the Su Family could stand firm in Qingyuan for a hundred years.

Countless Qi Refining Families had, in the end, fallen from Qi Refining Families to mortal aristocratic families because their descendants lacked Spiritual Roots.

Yet, the Su Family not only produced descendants with Spiritual Roots, but two at once. Everyone couldn't help but sigh at the Su Family’s great fortune.

After Zhang Xian returned to Qingyuan County, he also immediately came to visit the Su Family.

"Head of the Su Family, you've hidden it well from me. You have two Spiritual Root descendants in your Family, yet you didn't reveal a single piece of news."

Zhang Xian walked into the main hall, his laughter hearty.

If not for this Secret Realm incident, who knows when these two descendants of the Su Family would have been discovered by the outside world.

Zhang Xian had been an official for so many years, but he had never seen such a cautious Qi Refining Family.

Other families, upon producing a Spiritual Root descendant, would eagerly announce it to the world, seeking to exchange it for more power and resources from the Great Wei.

Yet, the Su Family was as low-key as a mortal aristocratic Family; on weekdays, people could even forget that the Su Family was actually a Qi Refining Family.

"Lord Zhang, you misunderstand. The Su Family may seem glorious, but its foundation is actually shallow. Our children have not yet grown up, so we truly dare not show our faces."

Su Yang responded with a smile.

These words made Zhang Xian feel that there was some truth to them.

One must know that a tree that stands out in the forest will surely be toppled by the wind.

The Su Family's foundation ultimately relied on Cultivators to support it, and the Su Family had only developed for less than twenty years. The number of Cultivators in the Family could be counted on one hand, so how could they loudly proclaim that their descendants had Spiritual Roots? What if it attracted enemies to assassinate them?

Therefore, the best approach was to hide.

It would not be too late to announce it when the eldest son achieved success in his Dao and could oversee the Family.

Just like now, Su Xuanheng already possessed the ability to venture into Secret Realms and was more than capable of overseeing the Su Family.

"Head of the Su Family, tell me honestly, has your cultivation reached the Middle Stage of Qi Refining?"

Zhang Xian stared intently into Su Yang's eyes, attempting to glean the answer from them.

Su Yang knew that the other party had probably guessed, so he smiled and nodded.

"Indeed! Head of the Su Family, do you have any thoughts on advancing to an Eighth-Rank Qi Refining Family?"

Zhang Xian's implicit meaning in asking was to hand over the decision-making power to Su Yang, which was undoubtedly a gesture of goodwill towards the Su Family.

"Advancing to an Eighth-Rank Family can reduce annual taxes, grant eligibility for land purchases in the prefecture city, and allow for the exchange of more Cultivation resources," Zhang Xian added.

Su Yang asked, "Can the resource exchange be cheaper?"

"Uh, no, that's a privilege only available to Seventh-Rank Qi Refining Families."

Zhang Xian didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he felt that Su Yang seemed to look down on the benefits of an Eighth-Rank Family.

His guess was correct; Su Yang indeed didn't care for these minor things.

Aside from the eligibility to purchase land in the prefecture city, everything else was trivial.

Although the merit points obtained from submitting spirit plant annually could be exchanged for a foundation establishment pill from the Great Wei, the merit points required for a foundation establishment pill were astronomical.

The Su Family would need at least forty years to exchange for a foundation establishment pill with the merit points from spirit plant.

However, the optimal age for a Cultivator to reach Foundation Establishment is before sixty.

It was clear that this item could not be exchanged for through spirit plant; one had to seek employment in the Great Wei and make outstanding contributions to have a chance to exchange for a foundation establishment pill.

Advancing to an Eighth-Rank Family seemed to open up more resource exchanges, but in reality, it was useless.

By the time the Su Family could accumulate enough merit points to exchange for a foundation establishment pill, Su Yang would already be able to refine foundation establishment pills himself.

However, the eligibility to purchase land in the prefecture city was quite good.

The Su Clan Chamber of Commerce could not be limited to Qingyuan County and Yunmeng Ruins; sooner or later, it would have to expand to other counties and prefecture cities.

Now that Xuan Heng and Xuanxiao's Cultivator identities were exposed, causing the Family and the Chamber of Commerce's reputation to skyrocket, it was the best time to advance into other counties and prefecture cities.

Therefore, the eligibility to purchase land in the prefecture city was quite useful, not only granting the right to purchase land in the prefecture city itself but also in the surrounding counties.

"I agree to advance to an Eighth-Rank Qi Refining Family."

After weighing the pros and cons, Su Yang nodded in agreement.

Advancing to Eighth-Rank should not only consider the benefits the Great Wei grants the Family but also the impact after the Family's promotion.

The value of a Chamber of Commerce established by an Eighth-Rank Family versus a Ninth-Rank Family differs greatly, and the subsequent benefits are worlds apart.

At the same time, the title of an Eighth-Rank Family can deter more petty individuals, preventing any random cats and dogs from probing the Su Family.

If the Su Family had been an Eighth-Rank Family earlier, this trip to the Yunmeng Ruins would have been known to some Cultivators, more or less, and perhaps this incident of Robber Cultivators blocking their path could have been directly avoided.

A Family needs to hide its strength, but once its hidden strength reaches a certain level, it should appropriately reveal some of it, which is more conducive to the Family's development.

"Then congratulations to the Su Family on advancing to Eighth-Rank. I have a general understanding of the Su Family's overall strength, so there's no need to trouble the Head of the Su Family to gather the Family's Cultivators. I will now return and report the promotion information to the Great Wei."

Zhang Xian, beaming with a smile, bid farewell to Su Yang.

With the Su Family advancing in rank under his governance, he would receive many merit point rewards, bringing him one step closer to accumulating a foundation establishment pill!

...

Two months later.

The Su Family officially became an Eighth-Rank Qi Refining Family of the Great Wei.

The common people of Qingyuan County were not surprised to hear this news.

Since the Head of the Su Family's descendants could return from a venture into the Secret Realm, it was perfectly reasonable for the Head of the Su Family's own cultivation to reach the Middle Stage of Qi Refining with such abundant resource assistance.

At this moment, in the Su Family's inner courtyard, two figures were practicing sword techniques in unison.

Faint Sword Qi spread in layers from beneath their feet, like a gentle breeze rustling the flowers, grasses, and leaves.

"The sword moves with the person, and the person moves with the sword. Only by achieving the Realm of 'Man and Sword as One' can one deepen their understanding of Sword Qi."

Wei Yan's sword was slow; with a gentle stroke in mid-air, she condensed a wisp of Sword Qi as fine as a silk thread.

Su Xuanheng imitated her, but the Sword Qi he produced was either as thick as a branch or dissipated midway.

Wei Yan smiled faintly, "No need to rush. The control of Sword Qi requires time to refine. In just two short months, you've already moved past the rudimentary stage of Sword Qi. I believe it won't be long before you can achieve Sword Qi as fine as silk."

"Compared to you, I'm still too far behind."

Su Xuanheng took a deep breath, looking at the sword in his hand thoughtfully.

Just then, Luo Qian walked into the inner courtyard.

He first cupped his fists in salute to the Family Head and his wife in the lakeside pavilion, then walked up to Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan.

"Young Master, Miss Wei, there's news from the Wan Jian Sect."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Yan's steady sword clearly trembled. She immediately sheathed her sword and looked towards Luo Qian.

"How is the situation?" Su Xuanheng asked softly.

Luo Qian respectfully replied, "The Wan Jian Sect held a New Sect Master succession ceremony a few days ago, but it was only held internally within the Sect. Besides the news of the New Sect Master's succession, no other news has leaked from the Sect."