Chapter 14 About the Chen Family

Regarding the Chen family's affairs, it was merely a casual arrangement to fulfill the original owner's obsession. Xu Jingming's energy was mainly focused on "The Light Chapter." He cultivated the visualization method within it daily and studied its knowledge.

On the fifth day after killing the Qinghu (Azure Lake) Demon God, Xu Jingming felt he was in excellent condition. At night, he began spiritual demon refinement. This demon refinement lasted a full three hours. It was dawn before Xu Jingming successfully caused the Qinghu Demon God's obsession to collapse.

"The Qinghu Demon God's obsession can't shake me. But persuading him is quite difficult."

"He's just a blockhead."

Xu Jingming opened the door and walked out of the house, taking a deep breath.

"It's easy to persuade smart people, but difficult to persuade a blockhead," Xu Jingming thought.

"Fists and loyalty? What simple and crude obsessions!"

The Qinghu Demon God was originally a fisherman on Qinghu Lake. Relying on loyalty, he attracted a group of fishermen, forming a small group.

Later, in a fight with another group of fishermen, he was unfortunately seriously injured, fell into the water, and died.

Even in death, he was unwilling and unconvinced! His obsession attracted the demonic Qi of heaven and earth, transforming him into a demon, even gradually growing to become the famous Qinghu Demon God.

"You have to see who you're being loyal to. Blind loyalty will only lead to a bloody nose!"

Xu Jingming spent more than three hours using the simplest and most direct reasoning to persuade the Qinghu Demon God.

"But he also allowed me to view the world from another angle. Spiritual demon refinement allows one to view the world from the perspective of a demon."

Observe it, understand it, find its flaws, and ultimately persuade the demon!

This whole process was also a cleansing of Xu Jingming's own soul.

"Fists are a branch of the theory of power, and loyalty is also a branch of the theory of righteousness. My understanding is even more thorough."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly. The Cosmic Human Alliance has a very complete humanities curriculum. Xu Jingming had learned a lot of theory and understood a lot, but there was still a gap before truly mastering it. After all, there were very few people like Mr. Pang, who possessed outstanding talent in the humanities, almost a full level. Of course, everyone has their own talents. Mr. Pang's talent in martial arts combat and science was generally average.

Xu Jingming was a dazzling genius in martial arts, and now he was gradually growing in science as well.

"Each spiritual demon refinement is a cleansing of the soul from a different angle."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly. "Once I've completely digested the gains from this time, I can carry out the next spiritual demon refinement."

Digesting the gains mainly involved studying some similar courses at the Yuan Chu Research Institute to deepen his accumulation in this area.

The weather turned cold quickly. A sudden heavy snow covered the entire prefectural city in a layer of silver. The Chen family and their party, along with a merchant caravan, finally arrived at the prefectural city after much hardship.

"We've finally arrived at the prefectural city." "We even encountered a demon on the road. Fortunately, the caravan guards repelled it."

"It was the first time in my life I saw a demon with my own eyes. It scared me to death."

The Chen family members were all very grateful after entering the prefectural city.

"Patriarch, everyone is very tired. Let's find an inn to stay in first," someone suggested.

The old patriarch swept his triangular eyes and said indifferently, "No, go directly to Chen Qi's residence! We will visit him today."

"Uncle, everyone is very tired," Chen Shian said. "Let's go see my son tomorrow."

"I know everyone is tired. I can see that everyone is very exhausted. I believe... Chen Qi can see that too!"

The old patriarch said, "We came all the way from Bai County."

"We rushed here with great difficulty without even eating a hot meal. Immediately visiting him will better show our sincerity."

The old patriarch looked at the Chen family members.

"We've already traveled this thousands of *li*, don't let things go wrong at the last moment."

"Yes." "We'll listen to the patriarch." The Chen family members all nodded.

The guards naturally wouldn't object.

According to the information they had gathered early on, the group directly made their way to Xu Jingming's residence.

"Old man, is that residence ahead Mr. Wu Ming's residence?"

The Chen family asked an old man.

The old man immediately smiled and pointed to the residence, "Yes!"

"That is Mr. Wu Ming's residence! He is one of the top demon hunters in our Cheng An Prefecture. With him here, no demons dare to approach within several *li*! The land prices around here have doubled several times! Many people want to buy and live around here!"

The old man smiled, revealing his toothless gums, obviously very happy that the price of his house had risen sharply.

"Let's go." The old patriarch gave an order, and the Chen family members walked toward the residence, with the guards following behind.

They soon arrived at the gate of the residence. The large gate was tightly closed.

"Shian, go knock on the door," the old patriarch instructed.

"Sigh." Chen Shian was actually full of resentment. He had been enjoying himself in Bai County, but now he was forced to travel thousands of *li* to the prefectural city. All of this was forced upon him by his son, Chen Qi! But no matter how resentful he was, he had to obediently endure it and bow his head at this moment.

"I just need a few soft words, and I believe Chen Qi will obediently acknowledge me as his father. When that happens, the number one or two demon hunter in the entire Cheng An Prefecture will be my son. Wouldn't I be able to walk sideways? I wouldn't even need to go back to Bai County! I'll just enjoy myself in the prefectural city and marry ten or eight beautiful concubines." Chen Shian happily thought to himself, and at the same time, he knocked on the door.

*Dong, dong, dong.* Chen Shian's knocking was very gentle.

The door opened.

Liu Fu squinted his eyes and looked outside. "Even a prime minister's doorman is a seventh-rank official." Now, as the gatekeeper of the Wu residence, Liu Fu was also quite imposing.

"Who is it?" Although Liu Fu saw a group of people outside who seemed to have quite the background, he still didn't care.

Even big figures like the Prefect, the Qi family head, and the Demon Subduing Bureau chief had come to visit his master. What did these people in front of him count for?

"Please inform," Chen Shian said.

"I am your master Mr. Wu Ming's father. My name is Chen Shian. Tell your master, and he will know."

Liu Fu was stunned.

The master's father? Chen Shian?

He didn't dare to put on airs anymore. He nodded and said, "Please wait a moment, everyone. I'll go and report to the master."

As he spoke, he immediately ran into the residence. Snowflakes were falling. The Chen family stood silently in front of the gate.

"This time, we're really giving that Chen Qi kid face."

"Shut up!"

"Everyone needs to pay attention. From now on, Chen Qi is the dragon of our Chen family. If he wants to be the patriarch, I won't have any objections," the old patriarch glanced at the family members behind him.

"We haven't even seen him yet," that family member smiled sheepishly, not daring to say more.

Finally, the gate of the residence opened again!

Xu Jingming walked out with Wu Qi.

"You still have the face to come!" Wu Qi's face was gloomy, and he immediately shouted angrily.

Among the Chen family members, some immediately looked unhappy. After all, Wu Qi was previously a steward of the second branch, and they usually had to greet him respectfully. But now, he was being so disrespectful.

Before coming, they had strict orders, so the Chen family members all endured it.

The old patriarch looked at Xu Jingming and sighed, "Chen Qi, I know you have resentment."

"I'm no longer a member of the Chen family. My surname is now Wu." Xu Jingming calmly looked at the old patriarch. Of course, he was calm, because it was the previous Chen Qi who had emotional entanglements with the Chen family.

"Alright, Mr. Wu," the old patriarch nodded.

"You also know that it's not easy to survive in this world. If we offend a powerful demon hunter, the Chen family might be finished. If we offend a powerful demon, the Chen family will still be finished. Even if we offend some government officials, our Chen family still can't afford it. So, as the family patriarch, I must put the family's survival first."

"The Wu family offended a powerful figure, so our Chen family naturally had to draw a clear line and sever ties with the Wu family. I hope you can understand."

"Chen Qi," Chen Shian also spoke, his eyes red.

"You are my son. How could I bear to force you to leave? It was really out of desperation, it was the family's decision. Now it's good. You've become one of the top demon hunters in the entire Cheng An Prefecture. Our Chen family doesn't need to look at anyone's face anymore, so naturally, we don't need to force you to leave anymore. Actually, these past few months, I've been dreaming about you, and when I wake up, my face is full of tears."

Chen Shian spoke emotionally, and tears started to flow as he spoke.

Xu Jingming calmly watched everything, secretly marveling, "What a performance!"

"Did you dream of my mother?" Xu Jingming asked.

Chen Shian nodded repeatedly, "Of course I dreamed of her. The matter of moving your mother's grave was the private decision of the people below. I really didn't know anything about it, I didn't know anything about it."

"Mr. Wu, although the Chen family treated you poorly before, we are still family after all."

The old patriarch said, "I am also old. As long as you return to the Chen family, you will immediately be the Chen family's patriarch! You can investigate the matter of the grave relocation. Punish those who should be punished, kill those who should be killed. From now on, everything in the Chen family will be according to the rules you set."

The relocation of the grave was ordered by the old patriarch.

However, the subordinates he directly ordered had already been silenced, and there was no evidence to prove that the patriarch had personally ordered it.

"You were able to rush here from Bai County, it seems you are really anxious."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"You were the ones who drove me out and removed me from the family genealogy, and even embezzled the silver my mother left behind. You did everything first, so don't blame me for being ruthless now."

"I'll make it clear to you today, my surname is Wu, not Chen anymore. No matter how much you say, it's useless. I've already been very benevolent by not destroying the Chen family," Xu Jingming looked at them.

"Everyone, the weather is cold, please go back and rest."

After saying that, Xu Jingming turned around to leave. The gate closed, leaving only Wu Qi and Liu Fu standing at the door.

"Chen Qi!" Chen Shian shouted, "Chen Qi, are you really not even acknowledging your father?"

"Are you really going to make your father kneel to his son? Are you really going to watch me die in front of you?"

"If you don't give the Chen family a way out, then all of us Chen family members can only kneel here and die," the old patriarch immediately staggered forward.

*Bang.*

Wu Qi kicked the old patriarch, sending him flying.

"Don't tarnish the young master's reputation," Wu Qi said coldly.

"Threatening me, forcing me?" Xu Jingming stopped, turned around, and looked at the Chen family members.

"Even if you kneel and beg me, beg me to go back, I will never go back. I'll give you an incense stick's worth of time to obediently leave this place. Otherwise, if you stain my eyes, I can only send you all to jail."

After saying that, he walked toward the residence. The gate closed, leaving only Wu Qi and Liu Fu standing at the door.

"Chen Qi," Chen Shian shouted, "Chen Qi, are you really not even recognizing your father?"

"Chen Qi, are you really so heartless?"

"Chen Qi, aren't you going to give us even a little way out?"

"Chen Qi, you're not even human!"

Chen Shian said one sentence after another.

Wu Qi coldly watched everything.

"The young master said, you have an incense stick's worth of time. If you don't leave, we can only arrest you and put you in jail."

"He's so heartless," the old patriarch's eyes were red. "If you don't give the Chen family a way out, I can only smash my head against this and die."

"Old patriarch, don't tarnish this gate," Wu Qi held his saber. "If you dare to smash your head, I dare to send you a saber strike."

The old patriarch stared at Wu Qi.

"If you do something, you have to bear the consequences," Wu Qi said indifferently. "Don't you even understand this principle?"

The old patriarch was silent.

The Chen family members were unwilling, but before the time it takes to burn an incense stick had passed, they left.

In the following days, the Chen family members visited again and again!

They tried everything possible, using all sorts of methods to apologize and beg for Xu Jingming's forgiveness.

Finally, Xu Jingming became somewhat annoyed, so the people from the prefectural government office arrested all the Chen family members and locked them in prison! They were locked up for seven days and ate prison food for seven days.

"If you dare to cause trouble at Mr. Wu's place again, it won't just be a matter of locking you up for a few days," the government soldiers said.

The Chen family members were dejected on the streets.

The cold wind blew, and they were all somewhat lost.

"Uncle, that unfilial son is too heartless. What do we do now?"

Chen Shian's hair was disheveled, and his eyes were somewhat dull.

"Go back," the old patriarch was much older. "Find a way to survive."

"Survive until when?" someone asked.

"Survive until... the day Mr. Wu Ming dies," the old patriarch sighed.

"He's so young, can our Chen family last until that day? The other families and gangs in Bai County will definitely kick us when we're down." The family members all felt that the future was dark and saw no hope.

The old patriarch sighed and said nothing.

They had to bear the consequences for what they had done in the past. This Chen Qi was truly too hard-hearted! Moving him with emotion, reasoning with him, nothing worked!

"Young master, the Chen family members have already left the prefectural city," Wu Qi said.

Xu Jingming nodded slightly.

When the Chen family members were begging on the first day and he sternly refused, he felt the original owner's obsession gradually dissipate.

During the subsequent begging, Xu Jingming didn't even meet them, and the original owner's obsession had already completely dissipated.

"The Chen family will probably be very miserable in the future," Wu Qi said in a low voice. "Are you really not going to care?"

"I'm not going to care. Let them live or die on their own," Xu Jingming said.

In his heart, he was filled with emotion.

This is the Demon Subduing world! Those natives are almost all planetary lifeforms who entered with suppressed memories. They didn't come here to enjoy themselves, but to cultivate martial arts and grow under environmental pressure.

"The more the Chen family declines, the more they will value martial arts," Xu Jingming thought to himself.

"Ordinary planetary lifeforms must enter the path of martial arts to change their fate. When you wake up in reality, you'll have to thank me." The more Xu Jingming understood, the more benevolent he felt toward the natives of the large virtual world.

Many of them don't have the qualifications to use the "virtual world" in reality! So they sign contracts with some large companies, suppress their memories, and enter the virtual world, usually with a limited amount of time.

For example, they limit it to fifty years. If they die midway, they will naturally wake up early. If they keep living, they will die of old age or disease after fifty years, and they will also wake up.

Generally, large companies will also give rewards! For example, after suppressing their memories for fifty years, they can use the virtual world for five years after waking up.

"Most of the planetary lifeforms who are willing to suppress their memories and enter are relatively down-and-out humans in reality. What they should do most is seize the opportunity in the virtual world and reach the fifth level."

Xu Jingming thought to himself, "That way, when they wake up in reality, they will be completely transformed and can quickly become cosmic lifeforms."

In the vast human race of the universe, the vast majority are planetary lifeforms. Even in the 'Blue Star civilization where the virtual world is popular, only a very small number can evolve into cosmic lifeforms.

"If you don't suffer in the virtual world, when will you be able to achieve?" The more ruthless Xu Jingming was to the Chen family, the more at ease he felt. He was helping them grow.

* * *

Time passed.

Not to mention the increasingly down-and-out Chen family, after Xu Jingming had digested and refined the gains from the Qinghu Demon God, and there were no powerful demons in the prefectural city, he began to leave the city to deal with those famous earth demons.

One earth demon after another occupied a territory, causing the people of some towns and villages to be fearful and terrified.

They were very famous, so Xu Jingming easily found out where the earth demons were entrenched. Based on the intelligence, he tracked them down and began to subdue the demons.

One, two, three.

For Xu Jingming, each time he refined an earth demon, it was viewing the world from a different angle, viewing the human heart. His spiritual power was also slowly growing.

"I can feel that my spiritual power is growing. I shouldn't be far from the eighth level."

Xu Jingming walked on a small country road, on his way to find his next refinement target.