Chapter 71: Substance Within the Void

While Xu Chen was indulging in the lavish banquet, the usually reclusive patriarch of the Wei family made a special appearance to toast the guests. He began with the table where Li Chengfu and Xu Chen sat alone, lavishing Li Chengfu with warm inquiries and concern. Xu Chen, too, raised a glass with the old patriarch of the Wei family.

Mother, I've made it—I actually shared a drink with the patriarch.

By the end of the meal, a gentle spiritual energy radiated from within Xu Chen.

“If only I could cultivate right now,” he thought. Nearly two days had passed since he last cultivated, and now, with so much gentle spiritual energy stored within, even his robust liver felt a pang of emptiness.

“You really…” Hearing Xu Chen’s lament, Li Chengfu gave him a look that said, “I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

The banquet soon concluded.

“I’ll head home first. After you’ve seen your uncle, come find me. I’ll take you to the Path of Ascending Immortals in the Human World,” Li Chengfu invited.

“Alright,” Xu Chen nodded.

In a side hall of the Wei family's estate, Xu Chen was warmly welcomed by Wei Chaoqing and his two cousins.

“It’s been so many years, and you've grown up so much, Chen,” Wei Chaoqing looked at him with fatherly affection.

“I’ve missed you too, uncle, after all these years apart.”

Xu Chen put on a joyful expression at seeing his kin—he was well-versed in handling such occasions, even from his previous life.

After they were seated, Wei Chaoqing finally studied his nephew in earnest.

“How are your parents on the front lines?”

“Father has advanced to the Void Returning Realm and been promoted to squad captain.”

“Mother is now officially a Talismanist in the auxiliary camp.”

“Very good. After you reach the Treasure Body Realm, you can join the vanguard and follow your father,” Wei Chaoqing said. To him, neither the advancement to the Void Returning Realm nor becoming a Talismanist was what truly mattered. The key was his nephew’s relationship with that second-generation young master.

After the small talk, Wei Chaoqing turned to the real topic.

“What is your relationship with that Li family young master?”

“We hit it off well—we’re good friends. Not long ago, we teamed up for a trial in the Testing World,” Xu Chen replied with a slight smile, wearing the expression of a close companion.

Wei Chaoqing and the two cousins beamed with satisfaction.

“Chen, make sure to maintain your relationship with Young Master Li. It may one day be your ticket to changing your fate.”

“Uncle knows our branch of the family hasn’t paid much attention to your little household these past years—you must have some grievances.”

“But there was little I could do. Your grandfather was too affectionate, and with so many uncles and aunts, I simply couldn’t look after everyone.”

Wei Chaoqing spoke sincerely, his expression apologetic.

Xu Chen found it hard to respond to that.

“But we are, after all, blood relatives,” Wei Chaoqing continued, producing a storage pouch. “I won’t say more. Here’s my compensation to your family for these years.”

He pressed the heavy pouch into Xu Chen’s hand. This blending of formality and substance left Xu Chen with little room for resentment.

In the end, Wei Chaoqing and his two sons escorted Xu Chen out of the Wei manor, watching as he climbed into the beast-drawn carriage and set off.

Only when the carriage had vanished in the distance did Wei Chaoqing’s smile fade. He turned to his sons.

“Have you learned? For relatives with potential, words aren’t enough. People are not fools—if you truly want to win them over, you must first make amends for past neglect.”

“Come with me to see the family head. We'll give your uncle some support.”

In Li Chengfu’s estate, Xu Chen and Li Chengfu sat in a bamboo grove, drinking tea.

“So, what did your uncle give you?” Li Chengfu asked with interest.

“Two hundred thousand spirit coins, some cultivation resources suitable for the Blood and Qi Realm, and in the future, I’ll have access to any resources granted to the Wei family's collateral branches.”

Xu Chen’s expression was calm. At this point, these things were of little use to him—though he was not about to refuse a free windfall.

“It’s a decent sum.”

“Senior Li, can you tell me about your family background? Of course, only if it’s not inconvenient,” Xu Chen asked curiously, wanting to know just how powerful a background warranted such regard from the Wei family.

“There’s no harm in telling you. My grandfather is a Golden Immortal,” Li Chengfu replied, his expression complicated.

Though only six words, each one weighed heavily on Xu Chen’s heart.

“From now on, we’re brothers!” Xu Chen slapped Li Chengfu on the shoulder.

“With your family background, shouldn’t you be in the Imperial Continent?”

“My father has three brothers—he’s the least talented. I have three brothers myself, and I’m also the least talented. So my father left me here to guard the house, handed over this vast estate and countless resources, and is forcing me into a marriage alliance with a noble family's heiress,” Li Chengfu said bitterly, the pain of abandonment in his voice.

Xu Chen couldn’t quite relate to the woes of the wealthy.

“Enough, let’s not talk about it. Let’s go to the Path of Ascending Immortals.”

“Alright.”

They entered the illusion array, and after passing into the Human World, used a teleportation formation to arrive at the plaza of the Path of Ascending Immortals.

“On the Path of Ascending Immortals, you start earning rewards after overcoming ten thousand miles of hardships. They say that passing thirty thousand miles earns you some contribution to the human race,” Li Chengfu explained as they stood before an unused teleportation gate.

“How far can someone in the Blood and Qi Realm get?”

“Ninety-eight thousand miles. The record holder among the human prodigies squeezed out the utmost power of the Blood and Qi Realm and ignited the Lamp of Flesh and Bone,” Li Chengfu replied. “If you can go ten thousand miles, many noble families will want to sponsor you, offering you pills to change your talent and help you defy fate.”

Xu Chen’s interest in the Path of Ascending Immortals grew with every word.

“How far did you get?”

“Six hundred sixty-six miles. I could have gone further, but I stopped for luck,” Li Chengfu said with a laugh.

“Let me give it a try.”

Xu Chen stepped into the teleportation gate.

In an instant, the world shifted. Before him stretched a road hundreds of yards wide, vanishing into the horizon.

A mile away, a shadowy figure awaited him, as if expecting his arrival.

“Go!” Xu Chen activated his Wind-Stepping Technique, becoming a blur as he raced down the great road.

A horned ox with the strength of five tigers did not even see Xu Chen’s shadow before a faint force shot through the ground, bursting the beast’s heart.

For three thousand miles—whether beast, bandit, or even mirrored avatars of those who had once traversed the Path in the Blood and Qi Realm—nothing could halt Xu Chen’s advance.

Beyond three thousand miles, the opponents grew ever stronger, some possessing the strength of ten tigers.

With a casual strike, Xu Chen sent a shockwave that twisted the air, shattering the organs of a stealthy Blood and Qi Realm foe and sending him flying dozens of feet away.