Chapter 42: The Practices That Fascinate Every Elder!

I hope the remaining soul in the ring does not have evil intent against Xian Yan, as that so-called Feihua Sword Emperor has. Otherwise, it will meet the same hopeless end as that missing emperor!

With a flick of his fingers, a golden light came out from his palm and plunged into Xian Yan's body. This would avoid any untoward incidents with a prostrate Xian Yan accidentally releasing his latent potential.

Everyday, the family members enjoyed daily breakthroughs of cultivation. Air was filled with excitement as they start an unwritten competition against each other and went on to new heights.

Meanwhile, several of the elders of the family converged at the pondside where Xian Yue was meditating. Xian Wu came out of seclusion for clarification over the changes.

"I didn't expect such a transformation to happen to the family in just over a month while I was secluded," Xian Lingtian commented. His spiritual consciousness spread over the estate, and he realized that although not more than three hundred members of the family were able to practice previously, now each one was within the process.

One of the elders nodded his head and replied, "Yes, this is all because of the fairy pool the clan leader has arranged. If there had been no fairy pool, then such a wonder sight would not have happened. You should also bathe in it too, Wu. Although you have become Jida Great Emperor, your inherent talent may be further developed. The fairy pool may really help you in this regard.".

Xian Lingtian nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, I'll take that into account. Although my cultivation has advanced, my physical power hasn't been strengthened."

Not being able to continue, the fourth elder, Xian Yun, interrupted, "Let's pay attention. Patriarch summoned us for some important reason. Let's not waste time discussing trifles." The elders often spent their days busy with their affairs and were practicing; they rarely had some free time, so every moment was valuable.

Xian Yue smiled to break the heavy tension. "It's nothing too serious, but I believe you all will be really interested in what I have to say."

"What is it?" the elders asked, intrigued.

"I just got an Emperor-grade technique. This ability lets one hide his true cultivation level from even those who are several realms higher than himself. What do you think? Are some of you interested?

After Xian Yue finished his explanation, the gleams of interest were lit in the eyes of the elders, among which Xian Wu's.

"That is concealing cultivation. How marvelous! I like this," exclaimed one of the elders.

"Yes, it is good for balance. We might cultivate higher than our clan's subordinates, but if we let it show too much, they might get complacent," said another.

"And look at the patriarch-he doesn't often show his aura, but if he acts, it's lethal. To play a reverent role while having so much power within must be quite fun."

Xian Yue couldn't help but roll his eyes at this. He knew very well that if he ever let out even a shard of his true aura, it would annihilate entire universes. He had developed this technique after watching the elders' amusing performances of feigned humility in front of Xian Lang and the others. He was surprised by how eager they were for the technique.

A careless swish of his hand and rays of divine light smote into the minds of the elders. "Here's the Emperor-class technique. Practice it till you get perfect."

An elder raised an eyebrow in confusion due to the bizarre name of the technique. "Can't See Through My Breath-Holding Technique? Such a weird name."

"What is weird? Use it," was the response of the fourth elder.

The third elder was Xian Zhenfei, who then spoke up, "Patriarch, now that all the people in the family are cultivating, how about setting up an assessment? That would make them all hustle harder." Xian Yue raised an eyebrow. "What kind of assessment?" He then waved his hand and a couple of cups materialized in front of him as he produced a green gourd from where he could pour wine into each of their cups.

"Let's host a martial arts tournament. The champions and other top-grades can be offered unique awards. That should fan their flames blazing higher," Xian Zhenfei proposed. He downed the drink on his table, and his eyes widened as his aura surged several degrees. Several of his meridians opened simultaneously.

Other elders reacted the same way, their eyes gaping as they stared at the green gourd in Xian Yue's palm.

Xian Yue faintly smiled. "Though the wine is strong, don't overindulge. Too much dependence on external help isn't the way to true strength."

The elders nodded, but one of them couldn't resist saying, "Patriarch, what sort of elixir is this? It's stronger than any medicine I ever had!"

"It is brewed using spiritual stones, divine power pills, spiritual power pills, and purple night grapes that I grow, besides five elements melon seeds," Xian Yue said.

The fifth elder, Xian Zhennan, blinked in shock. "Wait a second—you're saying elixirs and pills can be used to make wine? And it tastes this good? I've never heard of such a thing before!"

He was not tall, but chubby and jovial of expression, his lips now mouthing kisses in the air, as though as if savoring the aftertaste of the sweetness of the wine. "I am a bit of a connoisseur of wines, and I have to say, this is undoubtedly the best one ever tasted! Even Fengwu Garden's 'Drunken Life, Dream Death' wine cannot be put in comparison!"

Xian Yue smiled. "All thanks to my gourd. It can brew anything in the world to fine wine. The rarer the stuff, the stronger and tastier the wine."

"There really is such a treasure in the world?" Xian Zhennan exclaimed in disbelief. Shamelessly, he extended his own black gourd. "Patriarch, could I trouble you for a little more? I just can't get enough of it!

"Well, but don't drink too much all at once. Breaking through with external help too fast can create problems",

"Don't worry, I know how to balance it," Xian Zhennan said with a grin, reaching out with his gourd as Xian Yue poured more wine.

The other elders, seeing this, could not help but turn their heads to glance at Zhennan with envy. Even Xian Yun abstained from drinking, sitting watching intently. Feeling their gazes Xian Zhennan suddenly felt a bad premonition.

Xian Yue continued, "On the question of the martial arts evaluation the third elder spoke of, I think it is a very good idea. Given that more or less most members of the family have gotten off to much the same sort of start, an arrangement like this would drive them harder."

He sat back and took a sip of his drink. "But the details-the process of the evaluation and what perks to award-can all be left to you elders. Come talk to me if you need help."

He set his cup down. "And with the clan's growth through the cultivators, we should begin making the rules of the clan refined as well. More people, more responsibilities. This will all be a lot to handle, so I will need your help."

The elders nodded gravely to each other. Indeed, the family had grown so rapidly that they needed to modify rules and attendant responsibilities to keep everything in balance.

Xian Yue looked toward the pond and then raised his head to see the sky. It was then that the discussion deeper dived how the future of the family would turn out. Things were getting, well changed in ways he hadn't fully anticipated, but at least they seemed to be going well so far.