19: Mid-stage foundation building, double happiness arrives

Boom!

A majestic and vast surge of Spiritual Qi, like the Nine Heavens' Milky Way pouring down, flooded into Chu He's body without warning.

The Meridians in his body were instantly swollen by this power. The cultivation Bottleneck, which had already reached the peak of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, could not offer even a sliver of resistance before this overbearing force and was directly shattered!

Crack!

It felt as if some shackles within his body were completely broken.

Golden Spiritual Qi surged wildly within his Dantian and Qi Sea, gathering and compressing, finally transforming into a purer and more powerful liquid spiritual essence.

Mid Foundation Establishment stage!

It's done!

The entire process took only a mere breath or two.

Chu He felt his entire body filled with an unprecedentedly powerful force. His Divine Sense range had more than doubled, and his five senses became even sharper; he could even clearly "see" the dust floating in the air and the flow of Spiritual Qi.

If the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment gave him the capital to walk tall in a small place like Qingyang City,

then now, at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, even looking across the entire Great Yan Dynasty, he could be considered an expert in his own right!

"Phew..."

Chu He slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi. That turbid Qi actually condensed without dissipating in the air, turning into a white streak that shot out several yards before slowly fading away.

He opened his eyes, and deep within his pupils, golden light swirled, filled with immense majesty.

Lin Waner, kneeling before him, felt the change most vividly.

In that instant just now, she felt Chu He's aura suddenly surge several times over!

The pressure inadvertently radiating from him made it difficult for her, a Body Tempering seventh-layer Cultivator, to even breathe. It felt as if a great mountain were pressing down on her back, leaving her without a shred of will to resist.

"Is... is this the might of the Mid Foundation Establishment stage?"

Lin Waner was horrified.

She also finally understood why Chu He could crush the Li Family so easily.

This level of power was simply an unsolvable existence in Qingyang City!

At the same time, a surge of wild joy welled up in her heart!

She had bet correctly!

This man, just by taking a concubine, could have his cultivation Breakthrough on the spot!

What a Heaven-Defying Golden Finger!

Following such a man, why worry about not achieving great things?

"Rise."

Chu He's voice woke Lin Waner from her shock.

He reached out and gave a light lift, and a gentle force raised Lin Waner from the ground.

Lin Waner stood up, her pretty face slightly flushed. She didn't quite dare to look Chu He in the eye and called out in a low voice: "Husband."

This "Husband" sounded much more natural than before, and it carried a hint of a woman's shyness.

"Mhm," Chu He replied, his mood excellent.

A cultivation Breakthrough and gaining an Alchemist wife with a beauty score of 92 and S-rank potential—it was truly double happiness.

His gaze fell upon the tray Lin Waner was holding.

"You will continue to manage these in the future," Chu He said. "As I said, the Hundred Herbs Hall will merge into the Chu Family to form the Pill Hall, and you will be its head. From now on, all the resources of the Chu Family are at your disposal. I have only one requirement."

"Please speak, Husband," Lin Waner said hurriedly.

"As quickly as possible, increase the supply of Medicinal Pills for the Chu Family disciples. Additionally, my son Chu Tian has an Innate Spiritual Body. You must plan ahead for what kind of Medicinal Pills he needs at every stage of his growth; there must be no mistakes."

"Waner understands!" Lin Waner nodded heavily, her eyes filled with the light of confidence. "I will certainly not fail my husband's trust! Within three months, I guarantee that all branch disciples of the Chu Family will be able to use qi condensation pills! As for the Young Master's Medicinal Pills, I already have a preliminary plan and will write it down for your review shortly!"

"Very good." Chu He was very satisfied with her professionalism and efficiency.

He from the System space, he took out the "Spirit-Gathering Pill Refining Room" blueprint he had just received.

"This is the blueprint for the Pill Refining Room. Take a look and see what Materials are needed. Make a list, and we will build it as soon as possible."

Lin Waner took the blueprint, and with just one glance, she was shocked once again.

"This... this is... a combination of an Ancient Spirit Gathering Array and an Earth Fire Induction Array?! Heavens! With this Pill Refining Room, the success rate for refining Medicinal Pills below the Earth Rank will increase by at least thirty percent! Moreover, it can automatically gather Spiritual Qi of both fire and wood attributes, greatly shortening the Alchemy time!"

She stroked the blueprint as if it were a rare treasure, her eyes sparkling with wonder.

She knew this was definitely Chu He's doing.

The secrets this man held were more and deeper than she had imagined.

"Husband, you... you are truly Waner's lucky star!" she said sincerely, looking at Chu He with excitement.

Chu He smiled noncommittally.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Since you are already a member of my Chu Family, some things should be made official."

"In three days, I will hold a grand ceremony in the manor."

"First, to formally confer upon Qing'er the title of Matriarch of the Chu Family."

"Second, to formally take you as my equal wife."

"At that time, I will invite all the influential figures of Qingyang City to witness the ceremony."

Hearing this, Lin Waner felt a warmth in her heart.

She had thought that by marrying into the Chu Family, she would at most be a favored concubine.

She never expected that Chu He would be willing to give her the status of an "equal wife"!

Although her status was still below the Matriarch Qing'er, it far exceeded her expectations.

More importantly, Chu He was willing to hold a grand ceremony announced to the whole city for this, which was equivalent to giving her immense face and respect.

"Waner... thanks her husband." Her eyes reddened slightly. In the face of this respect, the last bit of utilitarianism she felt due to her "investment" quietly melted away, replaced by a true sense of belonging... The news that the Chu Family was holding a grand ceremony to confer the title of Matriarch and marry an equal wife quickly spread throughout Qingyang City.

Gold-embossed invitations were delivered to the leaders of every major power in the city.

Even the City Lord's Manor, which had been playing deaf and dumb, received one.

With this, all of Qingyang City was in an uproar once again.

Everyone understood that this was not just a Family banquet.

This was Chu He declaring his rule to the entire Qingyang City!

This was also the only chance for the remaining powers to swear their loyalty to the new king!

For a time, all the high-end gift shops in the city were packed.

Various rare medicinal herbs, uncommon Ores, magnificent silks, antique calligraphy, and paintings... everyone racked their brains to prepare the most valuable gifts, fearing their gift would be inferior to others and displease the newly risen "Immortal Chu."

The Zhao Family.

Zhao Wuji held the gold-embossed invitation, his hands trembling.

"He... he's still willing to invite us?" he asked with a dry voice.

"Head of the Family, this is a good thing!" the Grand Elder said excitedly. "This shows that Senior Chu no longer intends to pursue us! This is giving us a way out!"

"Quick! Go prepare the congratulatory gifts! No! Take out the 'Thousand-Year Blood Coral' from our storehouse, the most precious one! It's our Zhao Family's clan treasure! Only such a heavy gift can express our sincerity!" Zhao Wuqi decided immediately.

You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child.

Now, survival was the most important thing.

Meanwhile, at the City Lord's Manor.

City Lord Liu Xuan looked at the invitation on the table, his expression shifting for a long time before finally turning into a long sigh.

"Prepare the carriage, prepare the gifts," he said weakly.

"Master, what shall we send?" the butler asked cautiously.

"What to send..." Liu Xuan smiled bitterly. "Send back the item he used to slay Li Zhentian."

The butler was stunned for a moment, then realized.

The City Lord wanted to use this opportunity to distance himself from the Li Family.

"Yes, Master."

...Three days later, the Chu Family Grand Ceremony.

On this day, the Chu Family's gates were wide open, decorated with lanterns and streamers, and buzzing with people.

Almost all the influential figures in Qingyang City had arrived.

One by one, they held heavy gifts, their faces wearing humble smiles, as they were led by the Chu Family servants into the manor that had already become the center of power in Qingyang City.

When they saw that City Lord Liu Xuan had also personally arrived and was maintaining an extremely low profile, any remaining thoughts of luck vanished from their hearts.

The auspicious hour had arrived.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Chu He, dressed in a luxurious black robe with golden patterns, walked out slowly.

To his left was Qing'er, dignified and gentle, wearing the bright red formal attire of the Matriarch.

To his right was Lin Waner, beautiful and noble, wearing the purple formal attire of an equal wife.

One was loyal and devoted, having given birth to his Qilin son.

One was exceptionally talented, managing his medicinal stores.

His left and right arms were now complete.

Chu He stood atop the high platform, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd below. His voice rang out clearly, reaching everyone in attendance.

"Today is a day of double happiness for me, Chu He."

"I announce that from this day forward, Qing'er shall be the Matriarch of my Chu Family, in charge of the household!"

"Lin Waner shall be an equal wife of my Chu Family, in charge of the Pill Hall!"

"Everyone, please drain your cups!"

He raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

Below the platform, led by City Lord Liu Xuan, everyone stood up in unison, raising their wine cups and shouting together.

"Congratulations, Senior Chu!"

"Congratulations, Madam Chu!"

"May the Chu Family last for eternity, and may your immortal blessings be everlasting!"

The wave of sound shook the heavens and echoed through the clouds.

Amidst the boisterous sounds of celebration, an untimely voice suddenly rang out from a corner.

"Senior Chu, now that the Li Family has been wiped out and the Pill Treasure Pavilion has been shut down. I wonder... how do you plan to handle the assets left behind by the Li Family?"

The speaker was the head of another second-rate Family in the city, asking the question that was on everyone's mind.

The Li Family had fallen; who would get to share that massive cake?