Chapter 13 Qi Cultivation Practitioners of the Pre-Qin Era

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"Okay, I'll deal with the Wu Family's Chenxi," Xu Xuan hammered out the decision, and Gui Zhegu had no objections.

"It's getting late, let's set out!"

Xu Guangting glanced at the water droplet clock.

By this time, Li Ming should be almost down the mountain.

Chenzhou.

"Kill!!!"

Thousands of barbarians brandishing swords descended from the mountain, the Mountain Barbarians having purchased many iron weapons from the Xu Family, finally had a chance to wield them in battle today.

"My sons, kill for me! Enter the city and enjoy wealth and honor!!"

An aged Li Ming charged at the forefront, his three sons closely behind, followed by several barbarian leaders.

They had a craving for the bustling city in their eyes.

Wu Residence.

Wu Lan, with a head full of white hair, still harbored "ambition," hugging a scantily clad dancer and merrily drinking wine.

"Disaster strikes! The Li Clan is attacking!!"

Clang...

The wine cup fell to the floor, and Wu Lan realized that catastrophe had arrived.

"Quick! Gather the soldiers to defend the city! Send emissaries to the provincial government!"

Wu Lan was sweating profusely, realizing that the local garrison was nothing but an empty show of force, and his own troops were hardly any better.

After all, it wasn't a border stronghold; there had been peace for a century, and aside from a few ambitious folks, no one thought about training the soldiers diligently.

Now the only option was to defend the city and put his hopes in the higher-ups, after all, he was a hereditary Tribal Chieftain, personally conferred by the Imperial Court.

Wu Lan donned his armor and led his household servants to rush to the city gate.

The night was dark, chaos reigned as horses galloped and soldiers flurried.

As soon as Wu Lan stepped outside, he received dire news.

"Pacification Envoy, the east gate has been breached!!"

Done for...

Wu Lan's first thought was to flee, to run first and talk later.

"Quick!! Escape through the west gate."

The Mountain Barbarian Soldiers entered the city.

Chenzhou thus changed hands.

It sounds simple, and indeed it was quite straightforward. Such low-level battles may not even make it into the historical records, but at most, they'd appear in local annals.

King Chuang conducted siege warfare in the northwest, with cities falling in the double digits, let alone this peripheral city.

Of course, Li Ming and his men didn't have it entirely easy either; there were still many disorderly soldiers within the city that needed to be dealt with.

The east gate, in particular, was breached by Li Hu.

"You..."

Li Hu was just about to say something to the leader when he saw the barbarian captain raise his bow and shoot an arrow.

"Haha, your nephew, I killed him long ago!"

Thud!

The arrow struck Li Hu in the abdomen.

"Master! Master!" Xu Wang's guard hurriedly covered Li Hu as they fled into an alley.

The barbarian captain pursued them relentlessly, causing heavy casualties among the guards until they ran into the chaotic troops of Chenzhou and gave up the chase.

"What a pity..."

Elsewhere.

Xu Xuan rode his horse toward Chenxi.

On the way, he encountered the light cavalry brought by Wu Xiong, about fifty or sixty men.

"How goes it? Has Chenxi been taken?" Xu Xuan inquired.

"It's been taken. I also went to Mei Mountain and managed to rescue the people from the Yuan Family Martial Arts School, but there was a little mishap," Wu Xiong replied.

Wu Xiong's right arm was bleeding profusely, and his face was pale.

At that time, Wu Ying was also in Chenxi dealing with affairs. Wu Xiong intended to capture him too, but he was ambushed by Wu Ying's men and let his target escape.

"Where did the person escape to?"

"I'm not sure."

Xu Xuan said to the Gui Zhegu crowd, "You guys go back and station yourselves in the city first."

After most had left, only Wu Xiong's trusted followers and Xu Yong remained.

Xu Xuan led them to a secluded corner, with only Xu Yong following him.

Now it was time for Xu Yong to see the world.

Xu Xuan took out a piece of talisman paper, which, after burning, dropped ashes onto the wound, and miraculously, the wound healed.

"Thank you, Heavenly Master!" Wu Xiong said excitedly, his respect for Xu Xuan growing even deeper, wishing he could die for him.

This was the advantage of the Magicless World.

Any bit of divine skill or secret technique could provoke a pursuit by thousands.

Xu Yong was dumbfounded.

No wonder Wu Xiong was so utterly devoted to his elder brother—it wasn't because of his martial prowess… but rather…

Could it be that his brother was favored by the heavens?

Xu Xuan took out another piece of talisman paper.

As the talisman burned, a spark of light floated in the air, like fireflies in the night.

"Follow this light, and you will find your target. Go capture them, dead or alive."

This was the Hunting Talisman, which could locate the target one had in mind.

"Yes!"

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Wu Xiong led his men away.

"Elder brother, what is this?" Xu Yong asked.

"This is a spell!"

Xu Xuan hurried to Chenxi City.

Chenxi County had a population of over ten thousand, and the county town had just over two thousand.

The county government office.

A gathering of various leaders.

"Stay calm and defend the city, do not act rashly. Gui Zhegu, send someone to report to the Xu Family."

"Yes!"

"Where are the people from Yuan Family Martial Arts School?"

"Reporting to the leader, I am right here." An old man with white hair and a stooped back stepped forward, accompanied by a few young men.

"Don't worry, after today, everything will return to normal," Xu Xuan told them.

"Thank you, young master."

Xu Xuan assigned tasks, and everyone went out to their respective duties.

Only Yuan Kong, the Family Head of the Yuan Family, and the hunchbacked old man with white hair remained inside.

"What cultivation technique do you practice?" Xu Xuan asked.

"The White Ape Staff Technique," Yuan Kong replied.

"Did your ancestors once practice as Taoists?"

"Indeed, our lineage dates back to the ancient Pre-Qin Qi Cultivators, with techniques of weaponry and methods of ascension; moreover, there is the Phoenix Stone passed down from our ancestors, rumored to have incredible effects," Yuan Kong answered honestly.

After all, Wu Xiong was their family's savior. If it weren't for the help sent by Wu Xiong, his family of five would have likely perished in the smoke of war.

"Why did you stop cultivating it?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Kong smiled bitterly and said, "They are all deceiving. My family has cultivated for generations without a single ancestor achieving success. Unable to continue, we switched to martial arts."

"At the very least, martial arts can enhance one's physical strength, allowing one to join the army or serve as guards for wealthy households."

Learning both literary and martial arts skills to serve under the emperor is the ultimate pursuit of most martial artists in this world.

Even the Martial Arts World lacks True Qi, completely devoid of any transcendent power.

"Oh? What's this then?"

Drawn by Xu Xuan's words, Yuan Kong's gaze followed.

In the next second, Xu Xuan took out a piece of talisman paper. The paper ignited by itself, and a fireball hovered in Xu Xuan's palm.

Such a miraculous sight was beyond Yuan Kong's imagination.

"I pay my respects to the Immortal!"

Without any hesitation, Yuan Kong knelt down.

"Stand up. Bring me your family's Pre-Qin Qi Cultivation technique and the Phoenix Stone, and let us together seek immortality," Xu Xuan said.

"Yes!"

Yuan Kong could hardly stand still from excitement.

Having pursued the Path of Immortality all his life, and having given up hope, how could he not be exhilarated upon encountering this fateful opportunity?

"The items are in the backyard."

"Bring them to me to see."

"Yes!"

Yuan Kong left the meeting hall, leaving Xu Xuan alone.

Quickly, Yuan Kong brought over a bundle.

Inside the opened bundle, there were three yellowed bamboo scrolls and a pebble the size of a chicken egg.

The pebble was indistinguishable from those commonly found in riverbeds, save for a brownish stain that resembled dried blood.

"I was about to throw it away. Fortunately, I cling to the old ways; after all, it is what remains of my great-ancestor. Otherwise, my descendants would have surely discarded it," Yuan Kong asked cautiously, "Great Immortal, could this be a divine item?"

"Let me take another look. You go outside first," Xu Xuan added, "and later find Xu Yong for five hundred taels, and tell him it is by my command."

"Yes!"

After Yuan Kong left, Xu Xuan started examining the bamboo scrolls.

Merely by looking at the first line, Xu Xuan was certain it was a Qi Cultivation technique more advanced than the Calming Charm, and it might even lead one to the Qi Cultivation Stage.

Golden Barrier Jade Lock Clearing Tranquility Technique—"Those who reach tranquility, have no tears in their eyes, no mucus in their nose, no impurities in their mouth, no waste in their intestines, no urine in their kidneys, no filth in their ears..."

In addition to the cultivation technique and two or three spells, the pebble was far from ordinary.

Rumored to be stained with Phoenix Blood, Xu Xuan could sense the mysterious power within it, as though it indeed possessed incredible effects.

This could only be sensed with True Qi, and only those with True Qi would be able to refine it.

No wonder the Yuan family considered it rubbish—as anyone else wouldn't even pay fifty coins for it, let alone five hundred taels.

Xu Xuan sat on a chair beside him, sipping his now cold tea, appearing calm on the surface, but his slightly trembling right hand couldn't hide the excitement within.

"Is this the purpose of my existence in this world?"

Xu Xuan's aptitude could at best be considered inferior, and he started the path of cultivation at an older age.

With such aptitude, he could at most be a menial worker in the Mirror Realm.

Even the second generation of the Li Family was slightly better than him.

What made it even more challenging was that this world was devoid of Spiritual Energy, with cultivation only possible through Spirit Stones. Someone like him had a 99.99% probability of failing to break through the Qi Nourishing Stage and dying from old age.

But he had an advantage—though there was no Spiritual Energy in this world, he could trade for resources containing Spiritual Energy through the mirror.

Facing this world, he could achieve the state of being the sole Immortal! What others deemed trash or superstitious items, he could utilize.

If the Phoenix Stone were to be brought into the Mirror Realm, it would provoke disputes and countless lives would be lost before it could be acquired.

Yet Xu Xuan obtained it effortlessly, and once his power grew, he might be able to collect more relics from ancient times, spending only time and without taking any risks.

Xu Xuan set down his teacup, having regained his composure.

"I am the only immortal, and my path does not end here!"