Chapter 2

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Midnight.

On the mountain path outside the village, three people were walking quietly by the moonlight. They were Xu Ziyang's family of three. Looking back at the village that was gradually getting farther away, the three of them simultaneously let out a sigh of relief, their expressions slightly easing.

Xu Ziyang, who had never walked this far since she came to this world and knew nothing about it, could no longer hold back and softly asked:

"Father, where are we going?"

"We are going to Zhongdu City, the ancestral land of our Xu family, the center of the Xu family."

"Father, will the village chief report our escape to the family? If that happens, won't we be walking into a trap!" Xu Ziyang asked worriedly.

"Ha ha..." Xu Guang laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "Who would care about people like us? Not to mention, the village chief might not dare to report such a trivial matter. Even if he did, no one would pay attention, and he might even be reprimanded by the higher-ups."

"Then... why do the people in the village still endure the village chief's tyranny and not leave the village?" Xu Ziyang asked, puzzled.

"Sigh! Ziyang, you don't understand. Leaving the village is easy, but life after leaving the village will be very difficult. Your mother and I have no special skills. We really don't know how we will live after leaving the village!" Xu Guang's expression suddenly turned gloomy, his eyes filled with deep pain.

"Father, what will we do when we get to Zhongdu City?" Xu's wife's face was full of worry.

"Father, are you familiar with Zhongdu City?" Xu Ziyang looked at Xu Guang with hope.

"Somewhat familiar!" Xu Guang sighed lightly, his eyes regaining some vitality as he said, "I lived in Zhongdu City for fifteen years. In the family, those who haven't broken through to the fifth layer of the Postnatal stage by the age of fifteen are expelled from the inner hall and sent to the outer hall to do menial work for the family. Those with even poorer talent are sent to remote villages to fend for themselves."

"Father?"

"I was one of those who didn't break through to the fifth layer of the Postnatal stage by the age of fifteen, so... sigh~" Seeing that his wife and daughter seemed affected by his mood, Xu Guang forced a smile and said, "It's fine. Back then, I was too young and couldn't bear the ridicule of others, so I gave up and chose this place far from Zhongdu City. Our branch of the family still has a high status. Your grandfather is an elder in the family, and some of my brothers have broken through to the fifth layer of the Postnatal stage. After so many years, they must have gained some status in the family. When we return to Zhongdu City, I will find them."

As he spoke, Xu Ziyang saw that Xu Guang's face, illuminated by the moonlight, showed obvious signs of discomfort, extremely so.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and a figure appeared in front of the three of them. Xu Ziyang's heart tightened, and she was the first to react. Looking up, she saw the village chief standing there with a mocking expression. Xu Ziyang couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that she was too inexperienced. If she had been more careful, with her cultivation at the first layer of the Qi Refinement stage, she would have sensed the village chief's presence much earlier.

At this moment, Xu Guang and his wife also saw the village chief. Xu Guang's body tensed, and he quickly stepped forward to protect his wife and daughter, staring coldly at the village chief without a word. Xu's wife was so scared that she trembled like a sieve. Xu Ziyang suppressed her nervousness, secretly pushing her cultivation at the first layer of the Qi Refinement stage to its peak. The hands behind her back gradually emitted ripples of gas, like water waves.

"Xu Guang, return to the village immediately. Marry your daughter to my second son in three days, and everything will be forgiven. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless."

As he spoke, the village chief's aura at the eighth layer of the Postnatal stage erupted. Xu Guang's body leaned back slightly but immediately straightened like a pine tree, his own aura bursting forth. Xu Ziyang's eyes narrowed, thinking to herself:

"It seems Father hasn't given up on cultivation. He has actually reached the seventh layer of the Postnatal stage over the years."

The village chief glanced at Xu Guang in surprise but relaxed when he saw that Xu Guang was only at the seventh layer of the Postnatal stage. He sneered and said:

"What? Do you still want to resist?"

As he spoke, he took large steps toward Xu Guang. Xu Guang, his face contorted, punched at the village chief. The village chief laughed loudly and swung his fist to counter. As Xu Guang staggered backward, a graceful figure swept past him like the wind. In the moonlight, a delicate hand reached for the village chief's throat.

A "crack" echoed in the air. When Xu Ziyang stopped, she saw the village chief clutching his throat, blood gushing from his mouth, stumbling backward, his eyes filled with disbelief, gradually losing their light, and finally falling to the ground.

Xu Guang, equally incredulous, stared at Xu Ziyang, as if the person in front of him wasn't his daughter. Suddenly, Xu Guang was so excited that his whole body trembled, his eyes filled with surprise and joy, yet also a hint of fear, afraid that what had just happened was all an illusion. He took a few trembling steps forward and asked softly:

"Ziyang, have you entered the Pre-natal stage?"

"Yes, Father, I am at the first layer of the Qi Refinement stage." Xu Ziyang suppressed the churning in her stomach. This was the first time she had killed someone in her two lives, and it made her feel very uncomfortable.

"Really?" Xu Guang took large steps forward, grabbing Xu Ziyang's shoulders, his excitement causing him to grip them painfully.

"Father, you're hurting me." Xu Ziyang said with a bitter smile.

Xu Guang was taken aback and then released his hands, embarrassed, but his eyes remained fixed on Xu Ziyang, hoping to hear her confirmation again. Xu Ziyang, seeing the anxious look in Xu Guang's eyes, couldn't help but find it amusing and said softly:

"Father, it's true."

"Show me your cultivation!" Xu Guang said, still not fully convinced.

Xu Ziyang sighed and smiled bitterly, then extended one hand, activating her cultivation at the first layer of the Qi Refinement stage. The hand shimmered with water-like ripples. Although Xu Guang had never broken through to the Pre-natal stage, he had lived in the family for fifteen years and had some basic knowledge. He immediately recognized it as a water-based cultivation technique at the first layer of the Qi Refinement stage. Confirming that his daughter had a spiritual root, Xu Guang could no longer contain his excitement and laughed heartily:

"Ha ha ha..."

This long laugh seemed to release decades of pent-up frustration. Xu Guang felt an unprecedented sense of relief. After calming down, he asked with a questioning look:

"Ziyang, when did you discover you had a spiritual root? And where did you learn the cultivation technique?"

Xu Ziyang slowly recounted the story she had prepared: "Three months ago, I met a fairy by the river outside the village. She discovered that I had a spiritual root and taught me the cultivation technique."

"What else did she say to you?" Xu Guang asked anxiously.

"Nothing much, just that we would meet again if we were fated, and then she left on her sword."

Xu Guang's face showed disappointment, but he quickly became happy again. He chuckled and said:

"No matter what, my daughter has a spiritual root and has already broken through to the Pre-natal stage. We can return to Zhongdu City with our heads held high."

"Father," Xu Ziyang hesitated and said, "I don't want to join the family immediately. I want to wait until I have achieved some cultivation before considering it."

"Why?" Xu Guang asked, taken aback.

"I don't know enough about the family. I want to wait until I have the ability to protect myself or have a better understanding of the family."

"But..."

"Father, are you worried about our life in Zhongdu City?"

Xu Guang didn't speak, but his embarrassment was evident. Xu Ziyang smiled and said:

"Father, don't worry. The fairy also taught me alchemy and talisman making. Although I have only learned a little, it should be enough to support our family and our cultivation."

"Really?" Xu Guang's eyes lit up, his excitement evident.

"Really, Father." Xu Ziyang nodded firmly.

Xu Guang's worry and discomfort vanished, and his back straightened. His voice became more cheerful, filled with pride and hope for the future. He waved his hand and said:

"Let's go back to Zhongdu."

Zhongdu City.

Xu Guang rented a small room in the city's poor district for three taels of silver, with a small courtyard of a few square meters. He now had only seven taels of silver left. After decades of hard work, he had only managed to save ten taels of silver. After settling in, Xu Ziyang, with five taels of silver given by her father, set out to visit pharmacies and talisman shops to buy materials for alchemy and talisman making, hoping to improve their family's life.

After walking for almost half a day, Xu Ziyang walked down the street with her head hanging low, feeling dejected. She had visited many pharmacies and talisman shops and found that her five taels of silver were almost worthless. While it could buy enough rice and vegetables to last a year, it was far from enough to buy any materials for alchemy or talisman making, not even a single sheet of talisman paper or a single herb.

She walked aimlessly with her head down. Suddenly, she bumped into someone. The person was strong, and Xu Ziyang stumbled backward, almost falling on her butt. When she steadied herself and looked up,

she saw a young man smiling at her. He wore a well-fitted white shirt that accentuated his well-proportioned figure. He was tall and handsome, with sharp features and a bold yet graceful demeanor.

Xu Ziyang's eyes lit up. What a handsome guy! He was definitely much more attractive than the stars from her previous life on Earth!

The young man looked at Xu Ziyang, his eyes flashing with surprise at her beauty. Despite her simple clothing, she still exuded the potential of a beauty. The surprise in his eyes quickly faded, and he looked at Xu Ziyang indifferently.

Beside the young man stood a younger girl, who glared at Xu Ziyang and shouted:

"Are you blind, or did you deliberately bump into my Brother Lin?"

As she spoke, she saw Xu Ziyang's beauty, and a hint of hostility flashed in her eyes. She stepped forward and slapped Xu Ziyang across the face.