Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

"Big brother, what are you talking about?"

Wu Yuanshan suddenly sprang up from his chair, his eyes wide open, staring intently at his elder brother with disbelief in his eyes.

"Separate the family?"

These two words struck his mind like a bolt from the blue.

The old man started as a rogue cultivator and devoted himself to the task for decades, finally seizing this spiritually rich land in Qingxi County and establishing the Wu family's foundation for cultivation.

Now that the family has just gained a foothold, the eldest brother, the current head of the family, actually wants to split up the family?

Burning with rage, Wu Yuanshan clenched his fists.

Before he could even begin to lash out, Wu Zongzheng across from him spoke first: "Yes, you heard right, it's about splitting up the family."

"We're family!"

Wu Yuanshan immediately raised his voice, his tone filled with heartache, "You've contributed greatly to the Wu family's success today. Have you forgotten our past kindness? Have you forgotten our deceased third brother?"

"My third brother has been dead for over ten years."

Wu Zongzheng turned his head and looked coldly at Wu Yuanshan.

Wu Yuanshan's heart suddenly felt as if it had been scratched by something.

The image of his most talented younger brother in the family before his death flashed through his mind.

More than ten years ago, the third brother and his wife died together with the head of the Zhao family in order to protect the family, leaving only their son Wu Fan alone in the world.

"Big brother, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Wu Yuanshan's voice deepened, filled with exhaustion.

Wu Zongzheng took two steps forward, the candlelight casting dappled shadows on his face, obscuring his expression, revealing only his eyes: "I want the family resources, to be distributed fairly."

"fair?"

Wu Yuanshan gave a bitter smile. "What about Fan'er? He's the only child my third brother left behind."

"He's obviously not included."

Wu Zongzheng said decisively, as if it were a matter of course, "A piece of trash with inferior spiritual roots can neither support the family in terms of cultivation nor work hard in the family to manage shops and spiritual fields. Giving him this is a pure waste of resources."

He paused, his tone now tinged with dissatisfaction and even anger: "Besides, all three of my daughters have spiritual roots, with my eldest daughter, Wu Caihui, possessing a mid-grade spiritual root; while you only have one daughter with a spiritual root, and it's a low-grade one at that, yet she consistently takes up half of the family's cultivation resources. Is that fair?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yuanshan stared straight at his elder brother's face, stunned for a few moments, and then suddenly understood something.

"So, you've been wanting to do this for a long time, haven't you? You just wanted to drive my lineage out of the family?"

Although Wu Yuanshan's voice was extremely low, it was chilling to the bone.

Wu Zongzheng seemed to have been suddenly struck by a sensitive topic; the muscles on his face twitched slightly, and he did not continue speaking.

Wu Yuanshan took a deep breath and remained silent for a few moments. The anger in his chest gradually subsided, replaced by a coldness. Then, he sneered, "Fine, let's divide it. But it must be clear, transparent, and fair."

"What do you mean by that?"

Wu Zongzheng frowned and asked in return.

"My third brother's share is also indispensable."

Wu Yuanshan straightened up, his eyes now filled with unwavering determination. "The clan's spirit fields and shops will be divided into three parts: one for you, one for me, and my third brother's share will be left to Wu Fan."

"You mean leave it for that good-for-nothing?"

Wu Zongzheng's face flushed red instantly, and he retorted sharply, "Since he was little, Father has poured all his resources into my third brother's cultivation, just because he was born with good spiritual roots!? He's been dead for so many years, and Father still thinks about him. Even on his deathbed, he said I owed him. Am I supposed to owe him for the rest of my life? Besides, that Wu Fan kid has only inferior spiritual roots. Even if you give him a spiritual field, he can't cultivate it. In the end, it still ends up in your hands!"

Wu Yuanshan understood completely at that moment.

The eldest brother not only wanted to divide the family property, but also wanted to completely sever ties with his third brother's lineage so as not to carry the burden of "owing his third brother" for the rest of his life.

"So you're determined today to kick us out of the family completely, is that it?"

He asked, emphasizing each word.

Wu Zongzheng did not reply, but he did not deny it either. He simply took out several yellowed contracts from his storage bag and carefully laid them on the table: "The business contracts and land deeds left by the old man are with me. Now I am the head of the Wu family. If things really come to that, you won't get a single penny."

Looking at the contracts and then at his elder brother's determined expression, Wu Yuanshan suddenly felt weak all over, and even lost the strength to be angry. After all, his elder brother Wu Zongzheng's cultivation was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, two levels higher than his own, and now he also had these land deeds.

Fifty years of brotherhood ultimately couldn't withstand the test of self-interest.

He sighed deeply, his voice hoarse: "Let's split up the family, as you said."

A hint of surprise flashed across Wu Zongzheng's face, which was then replaced by elation, and his tone softened: "Don't worry, I won't treat you unfairly; your share will still be one-third."

Wu Yuanshan closed his eyes, not looking at Wu Zongzheng anymore, and coldly uttered a single word.

"it is good."

......

Three days later.

Wu Fan, who was practicing cultivation at his residence, received a letter from his second uncle, Wu Yuanshan.

The letter detailed the division of the Wu family and subtly explained that he was no longer a member of the Wu family, but his second uncle would always regard him as his junior.

After reading the letter, Wu Fan was not particularly moved.

He knew the cause of his parents' death and had long seen through his uncle Wu Zongzheng's intentions.

He didn't care about not being allocated any family spiritual fields.

Even if you confront them directly, you might not be able to get back the inheritance that your father is entitled to; you'll only be humiliating yourself.

I felt more sorry for my parents. My father had such a brother, and my parents paid with their lives for such a family.

After calming down, Wu Fan put away the letter and wrote a simple reply.

He then got up and changed into a clean and tidy set of clothes. Today he was going to Baidantang to renew his contract, since the three-year term had expired.

This is not a big deal. All I need to do is get a signature from Miss Bai Ruanyu. The important thing is to buy some materials for Qi Gathering Pills and try to refine the new medicine.

Now his success rate in refining Qi-Inducing Pills is nearly 90%, and the rate of high-quality pills is as high as 70%. Even if he only refines high-quality Qi-Inducing Pills in the future, he doesn't need to worry.

However, since breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the effect of the high-quality Qi-Inducing Pill on assisting cultivation has decreased significantly, and the amount of spiritual energy converted through daily breathing has actually decreased by a wisp.

After reaching the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the required spiritual energy for the dantian has already doubled, so the Qi-Inducing Pill not only cannot maintain its original efficacy, but its effects are also diminished.

Although the Qi-Inducing Pill can theoretically help cultivators reach the fifth level of Qi Refining, perhaps because he has been taking pills like food for many years, he has already developed drug resistance.

Therefore, developing new drugs became a plan he urgently needed to complete.

After changing his clothes, Wu Fan looked up at the bronze mirror.

At the age of twenty-two, he was as upright as a pine tree, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and clean, distinct lines.

Years of practicing Qi cultivation have given him a layer of firm, thin muscle on his shoulders, and a straight, unbent back that doesn't appear rugged but rather exudes the unique vigor of a young man.

......

Upon arriving at the second floor of Baidan Hall, Wu Fan gently knocked on the door.

"Please come in!"

From inside came Bai Ruanyu's clear, melodious voice, like that of a lark in the mountains.

Pushing open the door, one sees Bai Ruanyu still as beautiful as ever, with another woman standing beside her, equally stunning in appearance, but with a different kind of elegance.

His eyebrows and eyes were sharp as if cut by a knife, his nose was high and straight, and his lips were clearly defined, giving him an air of awe-inspiring heroism.

"Greetings, Miss, and Manager Ruan." Wu Fan clasped his hands in greeting.

"Master Wu, please don't stand on ceremony, please have a seat."

Bai Ruanyu smiled and nodded. "Are you here today to renew the contract?"

"Exactly," Wu Fan replied.

Half an hour later, the contract was signed. Wu Fan chatted with Bai Ruanyu for a few words, then got up to say goodbye.

Bai Ruanqiu blinked her big eyes, watching Wu Fan's departing figure with a somewhat dazed expression.

Seeing this, Bai Ruanyu smiled and teased, "Ruanqiu, what do you think of Wu Fan?"