Chaos Begins

The peach blossoms in the courtyard bloomed and withered, then bloomed again after withering.

Several years passed quietly.

Pill Workshop.

Secluded cultivation chamber.

Spiritual energy swirled within the room.

Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on a cattail mat in the quiet room.

Before him floated a pill the size of a longan, crimson as blood throughout—the Crimson Origin Pill.

Its effects were similar to those of the Yi Fa Pill.

These past days.

Chen Sheng had steadily consumed pills, making rapid progress.

After his own Yi Fa Pills lost their efficacy, he successively purchased other Mana-Increasing Pills to swiftly raise his cultivation.

"Just a little more. The last one!"

Chen Sheng took a deep breath.

The pill flew into his mouth on its own and melted as soon as it entered.

A vast, pure medicinal force instantly surged through his limbs and bones...

Before finally converging into the sea of qi within his dantian.

The hand seal, already restless, circulated at full force as an immense aura rose from his body.

Time slowly passed.

Seven days later.

The surging aura within the chamber finally gradually subsided.

A precious glow flickered faintly across Chen Sheng's face, while the energy around his body churned.

A Spiritual Pressure far stronger than before naturally leaked from him.

"Qi Condensation Ninth Level, I've finally achieved it!"

Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes. A sharp light gleamed in their depths before fading away.

He examined the newly opened meridians within his body and revealed a brilliant smile.

Inner Hall.

Chen Sheng sat facing his wife, Huang Wangyou.

A small purple clay teapot rested over a brazier, wisps of steam spilling from its spout with a crisp tea fragrance.

"Father, Mother, the tea is ready."

A tall, handsome youth approached carrying a tea tray.

He calmly refilled his parents' cups with hot tea.

He was their young son, Tang Yijing.

He had inherited the finest features of both parents. His brows and facial contours were heroic, yet his features were exceptionally gentle.

Only a faint sorrow always lingered between his brows, along with a quietness that was difficult to notice.

Huang Wangyou looked at her son, her eyes full of affection.

"Jing'er, that was thoughtful of you. Sit down and rest for a while."

"All right."

Tang Yijing sat as instructed, his conduct steady and proper.

Chen Sheng took a sip of tea.

Then a series of brisk, decisive footsteps sounded from the corridor.

A clear voice called out.

"Father, Mother! Why did you summon me?"

He looked up.

A tall woman in a black cultivation robe strode into the room.

It was Tang Xichen.

Several years had passed.

Her complexion had darkened somewhat, but rather than diminishing her beauty, it lent her an added air of determination and courage.

Not long ago.

She had successfully broken through Qi Condensation Late-stage and crossed into the Qi Condensation Seventh Level.

She truly possessed extraordinary talent in the Sword Dao.

By comprehending on her own the first-rank Top-grade Sword Art Chen Sheng had bought for her, she had actually condensed sword aura.

It was an exceptionally formidable technique, capable of defending her body and harming enemies.

When paired with a top-grade magical sword, it became even more effective, killing enemies unseen.

With this ability, she had become one of the foremost experts among the Market Town's Monster Hunting Teams.

At the Qi Refinement stage, she rarely encountered an equal.

She often traveled and fought with the Market Town's Monster Hunting Teams, earning quite a reputation.

The moment Tang Yijing saw his elder sister enter, he immediately rose to his feet.

His eyes held undisguised admiration and affection as he called out.

"Big Sister!"

Tang Xichen's face blossomed into a genuine smile when she saw her younger brother.

She reached out and patted Tang Yijing on the shoulder.

"Little Brother! You look well."

Tang Xichen had carried her younger brother around and played with him since childhood, so they were deeply attached.

Chen Sheng felt greatly comforted as he watched his children get along so harmoniously.

But he soon set down his teacup and said seriously.

"Sit down. We need to talk."

Tang Xichen nodded and sat beside her mother, neat and upright.

Her smile faded as she looked at Chen Sheng seriously.

"Please speak, Father."

She knew her father had always been well-informed and never spoke without reason.

Since he had specifically summoned her to warn her, there had to be something important.

A trace of gravity appeared between Chen Sheng's brows as he instructed her.

"Recently, dangerous undercurrents have been stirring outside the Market Town, and something feels wrong. Do not casually accept any missions that take you far from the Market Town."

Tang Xichen keenly sensed the weight behind her father's words.

She did not ask for details, merely nodding decisively.

"Your daughter understands."

Huang Wangyou's face also showed concern as she could not help asking.

"Brother Yun, what happened? Why are you so tense?"

Chen Sheng sighed softly, his voice lowering somewhat.

"Just a few days ago, word gradually began spreading in Yunlong Market that the Zhou Clan's Foundation Establishment Ancestor may have passed away in meditation. I fear chaos is truly about to break out."

Huang Wangyou immediately recalled the auction from several years ago.

"No wonder the Zhou Clan was determined to obtain that Foundation Establishment Pill a few years ago."

Tang Xichen's heart also stirred at those words.

In the past, although the three clans constantly fought over resources and had endless disputes.

Because each had its own Foundation Establishment Ancestor watching over it, they remained wary of one another, and their conflicts had always been kept within certain limits.

But now, if the Foundation Establishment Ancestor who served as one side's Pillar of the Sea had truly fallen.

The fragile balance maintained between the three clans would likely be shattered in an instant.

Surrounded by wolves, the Zhou Clan would be in grave danger.

The other two clans, along with nearby forces coveting the Zhou Clan's resources, would inevitably begin to stir.

This was not merely a crisis for the Zhou Clan.

It was also a reshuffling of the entire region, a sign that war was about to begin.

No wonder Father said chaos was coming.

Thinking this, Tang Xichen immediately said.

"Father, Mother, I understand."

"At such a critical juncture, keeping a low profile and protecting ourselves comes first."

"Starting tomorrow, I will remain indoors to cultivate the Sword Art and stabilize my realm. I will not go out."

Chen Sheng was very satisfied upon hearing this.

This daughter of his possessed not only talent, but also the wisdom to assess the situation. She put his mind at ease.

He nodded.

"Good. Very good. Go and enter seclusion properly."

"Yes."

Tang Xichen nodded slightly to her parents and younger brother, then rose cleanly and decisively, her cultivation robe sweeping through a crisp arc.

With her longsword on her back, she turned and left.

That free-spirited, unrestrained bearing made a deep flash of envy and longing pass through Tang Yijing's eyes.

Naturally, Chen Sheng noticed this scene.

He merely sighed softly.

In his previous life, he had seen far too many such longing gazes.

Including in his own eyes.

If not for the Myriad Lives Tome in his possession.

He likely could only have been like his son, left with lifelong regret because he possessed no Spirit Root.

Chen Sheng's fingers unconsciously tapped against the smooth Red Sandalwood tabletop, making soft knocking sounds.

"Jing'er."

He looked at his son seated below and spoke steadily.

"Since you are unwilling to go live peacefully in the mortal world and insist on remaining in the Market Town..."

Tang Yijing raised his head, complex emotions in his eyes as he quietly waited for his father to continue.

"Then in another two years, I will arrange a marriage for you."

"While your mother and I are still here, we will try to find you a female cultivator with a Low-grade Spiritual Root, so you may continue the family line and have an Immortal Seedling."

Chen Sheng slowly laid out his plans.

Tang Yijing nodded lightly after hearing them.

He understood that his father was doing everything he could to arrange the best possible outcome for him.

Yet compared with everyone around him, all diligently cultivating.

He alone was being assigned a marriage while still so young.

Tang Yijing could not help feeling a complicated mixture of emotions.

"This son understands. Thank you, Father, for worrying over me."

The few of them exchanged a few more words.

Tang Yijing withdrew.

With his head lowered and his steps somewhat heavy, he left the Inner Hall.

Watching her son's silent departing figure, Huang Wangyou's eyes brimmed with almost overflowing tenderness.

She sighed softly and said to Chen Sheng.

"Brother Yun, Jing'er has seemed increasingly sensible and increasingly quiet these past two years."

"But he is suffering inside."

Chen Sheng also shook his head helplessly.

"How could I not know?"

"Born into our family, with everyone else possessing Spirit Roots while he alone does not—how could he not suffer?"

"Find him a suitable marriage. Once he has children and his thoughts have something to rest upon, perhaps he will feel somewhat comforted."

Huang Wangyou nodded.

"I hope so."

Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. She looked up at Chen Sheng, shrewd light gleaming in her eyes.

"Brother Yun, perhaps finding Jing'er a female cultivator with a Spirit Root is not the best course?"

"Hmm?" Chen Sheng looked at his wife with slight surprise.

"What do you have in mind?"

Huang Wangyou slowly revealed her thoughts.

"I was thinking, if we truly bring a female cultivator with a Spirit Root into the family."

"Even if she is merely a rogue cultivator of poor aptitude, her heart may not be on serving her husband and raising children."

"Jing'er is, after all, only a mortal. The two of them may not even have anything in common to talk about."

"How will Jing'er be able to keep her in line in the future? Would that not make life even harder in the long run?"

She paused, then continued.

"In my view, rather than seeking a Spirit Root, we should instead look for direct-line daughters from Qi Refining minor clans."

"Though they may lack Spirit Roots, their fathers, brothers, and ancestors are all cultivators. They have received proper upbringing, and their knowledge and bearing would not be lacking."

"Having been immersed in it since childhood, he understood the divide between immortals and mortals. His experiences were similar to Jing'er's, so perhaps he could understand him more easily and they would have more in common."

"As for carrying on the family line, at worst, we can find a few more. They're all descendants of cultivators, so there won't be much difference."

"As long as there are enough of them, perhaps the chances of having children with Spirit Roots will actually be greater?"

Listening to his wife's analysis, Chen Sheng could not help recalling his past life.

He had not expected his own son to walk a similar path.

He nodded lightly:

"You've thought this through well. Fine, we'll do as you arrange."

Seeing her husband's approval, Huang Wangyou broke into a smile.

At once, she displayed the decisiveness of the mistress of the household:

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow, I'll spread the word and start making arrangements."

"Our family is rather well-known in Market Town. As long as the conditions are suitable, I'm sure there will be no shortage of willing families."

Huang Wangyou's efficiency far exceeded Chen Sheng's expectations.

Once the news was released, it quickly drew a response.

Just as Huang Wangyou had said.

Their family had two High-grade Alchemists, several Qi Condensation Late-stage experts, and extensive connections. Their standing in Market Town was by no means low.

For those small Qi Refinement families with weak foundations that were gradually declining,

being able to establish ties with the Pill Workshop was an enormous temptation.

Very soon,

several small families caught wind of it and sprang into action.

They had people submit portraits and biographies of their direct-line women, all of whom were beautiful and well-mannered.

Huang Wangyou personally screened them, then discussed the matter with Chen Sheng.

Before long, they selected several.

A few months later,

several attractive Maids had appeared at Tang Yijing's side.

Each day, they read, practiced calligraphy, and tended flowers and plants...

In their company,

the melancholy in Tang Yijing's heart gradually faded, and sincere smiles began appearing on his face more and more often.

Seeing this, Chen Sheng smiled faintly:

"Young people, after all."