Longevity Clan Starts with the Patriarch's Marriage

Han Mansion, Pill Refining Pavilion.

As the population of the Han Family had surged several times over, the original Han Mansion could no longer accommodate everyone. Han Li, with a grand gesture, commanded an expansion of the Han Mansion, extending its grounds by a large area, making it now cover more than five thousand acres.

The expanded Han Mansion instantly became more imposing and could accommodate many more people; only a small portion of the space was currently in use by the Han Family members.

Ordinary people and even family powers that originally lived around Han Mansion were forcibly relocated, and the Han Family gave them four times the compensation, which made them leave happily and without complaint.

This series of actions unexpectedly triggered a trend of real estate speculation in Lingjun City. Those with foresight knew that, given the growth trend of the Han Mansion’s population, it wouldn’t be many years before another expansion was necessary. By then, buildings around the New Han Manor would be within the demolition range and eligible for high compensation.

Consequently, the prices for housing and land around the Han Mansion soared immediately after the expansion, and as the population of the Han Mansion grew, the prices of the surrounding land continued to rise.

Many merchants, spotting a business opportunity, started to buy land at high prices in advance. Some who needed wealth immediately sold theirs, while many others chose to wait for relocation. Those merchants didn’t dare to do anything outrageous, for fear of angering the Han Family.

There was now an unwritten rule in Lingjun City: within ten miles of the Han Mansion, fighting and brawling were prohibited, lest they disturb the Han family’s elder ancestor playing in the back yard and suffer dire consequences—as had been learned from bloody lessons in the past.

The Pill Refining Pavilion was a sprawling pavilion specially constructed by Han Li, and an Artifact Refining Pavilion had also been built in preparation.

After the construction of the Pill Refining Pavilion was complete, Han Li moved in the materials required for the various pill formulas he had collected over the years and began his attempts at alchemy.

Han Li had collected dozens of Tenth Grade pill formulas, five Ninth Grade pill formulas, and one Eighth Grade pill formula. The higher the grade of the pill formula, the more precious it was. The collection of one Eighth Grade pill formula was indeed a pleasant surprise for Han Li.

As for the Rebirth Pill formula treasured by him, it was a Fourth Grade formula, which typically required a Fourth Grade alchemist to refine. However, this pill formula was an exception.

Its classification as Fourth Grade was mainly due to its immense value, as it could enhance a cultivator’s aptitude to Fifth Grade. According to the instructions, even a Sixth Grade alchemist could produce it.

After spending some time at the Pill Refining Pavilion, Han Li produced a large quantity of elixirs. He encountered no difficulty whatsoever with the Tenth Grade formulas, and only the Ninth Grade ones posed a slight challenge. The Eighth Grade formula required some serious effort, but the success rates for forming pills were high.

I didn’t realize I had such a talent for alchemy!

Han Li knew that this was the result of thirty years’ experience in alchemy, but why would he admit that? This was all because he was simply too much of a genius!

From then on, Han Li took to holing up in Han Mansion, finding himself a new activity—alchemy.

Every day, he would spend two hours refining pills. Spending any more time would yield not even a single drop more. This not only passed the time but also opened up a new avenue for wealth for the Han Family.

The Han Family’s business began to include the selling of elixirs, offering everything from the lowest grade, Tenth Grade pills, to Eighth Grade ones, selling them in large quantities to earn worldly wealth and spirit stones.

The population of the Han Family was growing so fast that cultivation resources were starting to become scarce. Every new child born in the family earned a significant reward, mainly worldly wealth, with a small portion consisting of spirit stones, elixirs, and so on.

Over the years, although the Han Family’s business had expanded across the entire Fengyang Manor, the speed at which they made money couldn’t keep up with the rate of consumption. Worldly wealth was quite plentiful, but spirit stones were scarce.

The spirit stones the Han Family business could earn were negligible, accounting for over ninety percent of worldly wealth, and without a spirit stone mine for extraction, Han Li’s numerous concubines were even using up spirit stones at an alarming rate.

Most of the Han Family’s cultivation resources, including spirit stones, consisted of Han Li’s savings, with only a small part earned from the family business. Han Li estimated that in about three more years, his savings would be completely depleted.

However, with the new prospect of selling elixirs, this financial hole could be filled.

Han Li had already ordered the Han Family to collect more Eighth Grade or higher pill formulas and was willing to take action personally if necessary.

Eighth Grade Elixirs couldn’t earn any Spirit Stones, while Ninth Grade Pills indeed could, but those in the Innate Realm were all paupers, meticulously calculating their Spirit Stones, mostly unwilling to squander them. Therefore, Han Li now wanted to penetrate the Pihai Realm market.

The current issue was that there was only one Eighth Grade Pill Formula for targeting the Pihai Realm, which allowed for a very small market share.

…

The expanded Han Mansion was overall magnificent and resplendent, with its pavilions, towers, and exquisite, elegant gardens resembling a picturesque scene.

The newly expanded backyard garden of the Han Mansion covered a large area, spreading over hundreds of acres, with a wide variety of flowers, plants, and trees. Inside the garden, peonies of all colors competed for splendor, sprouting delicate buds, in shades of red, purple, pink, and white, vividly intermixed and exuding a fragrant aroma that assailed the senses.

In the backyard garden, there were several ponds designed, filled with white lotus flowers and inhabited by golden carps.

Beyond the ponds, earth and stones were piled to form hills, with more than ten pavilions and towers constructed nearby. Numerous seating areas were provided along the banks, showcasing a variety of rare maps, ancient books, and precious antiques, which complemented the beautiful scenery.

At this moment, Han Li was dressed in a splendid robe of white jade, his long hair held back by a white jade crown, and a piece of purple jade hanging at his waist. His facial features were handsome and refined as if crafted by the heavens, and his demeanor was even more gentle and elegant.

In his right hand, Han Li held a White Feather Folding Fan, exuding a refined and elegant air. He was surrounded by chirping sparrows and swallows, like a touch of green amidst a sea of flowers.

He was enjoying the flower viewing and the scenery with a group of concubines, taking a stroll through the area.

It was clear to see that the concubines were quite fond of the newly built backyard garden, each wearing a face brimming with excitement.

When they reached the pond and began striking a wooden fish upon the shore, the golden carps would leap from the water, vying for the food.

The movement of fishes and lotuses in the pond reflected each other, with the mock hills and pavilions beside the pond mirrored in the water, and there were Han Li, Qiu Yueyao, Li Mingmeng, and others who appeared as if they had stepped out of a painting.

Subsequently, the group moved to another part of the garden, which not only had various precious flowers but also rarities like peacocks and cranes.

At this moment, what was presented before everyone was a profusion of reds and purples.

Han Li had already planned for the backyard garden to feature views to be admired in all four seasons: the reds and purples of spring, the purples and scents of summer dresses, the red leaves and yellow chrysanthemums of autumn, and the proud snow-covered red plum blossoms of winter.

Half a month later, Han Li received a piece of news.

In the family’s main hall, Han Li sat at the upper seat, looking at his somewhat nervous descendants below, and spoke indifferently, “Is the news confirmed?”

With Han Li’s breakthrough to the Gangyuan Realm, his authority in front of his descendants had increased even more. Although he had never displayed the power of the Gangyuan Realm, he made all his descendants feel immensely pressured.

If not necessary, descendants would not bother Han Li, mainly because they felt too uncomfortable in his presence, trembling with fear and hardly daring to breathe heavily.

The one below was one of Han Li’s grandsons, quite capable, in charge of the Han Family’s newly developed pharmaceutical trade, and also responsible for the collection of Pill Formulas.

“It’s absolutely true, grandson wouldn’t dare to deceive the elder ancestor.”

Spoke Han Shigao cautiously. In recent years, he had felt that his grandfather’s authority was becoming increasingly profound, making him, a person with substantial power in the Han Family, feel uneasy. If not for the great importance of this matter, which affected his future position, Han Shigao wouldn’t have wished to meet with his elder ancestor.

Han Li waved his hand, and Han Shigao retreated. Han Li was left alone in the hall, deep in thought.

Should he go out for a walk?