Bai Jing watched the father and son leave, then spat lightly. "Those two, always being so mysterious."
She turned and caressed Yang Ronghua's lower belly, her smile brimming. "Never mind them. My eldest grandson is what matters most."
Yang Ronghua smiled shyly. "Mother, it is still too early."
"Not early, not early!" Bai Jing counted on her fingers. "Ten months of pregnancy will pass in the blink of an eye. We must have the servants quickly prepare swaddling clothes."
"Yesterday, I saw that bolt of brocade in the storeroom, with its water-green background embroidered with trailing lotus vines. Nothing could be more suitable for making swaddling clothes for my grandson."
Yang Ronghua did not know whether to laugh or cry, yet a tender look also appeared on her face. Stroking her belly, she sighed, "I only hope he can be as valiant as his father."
"What use is being valiant?" Bai Jing shook her head with a laugh. "When Shitou was little, he was unbearably mischievous. Now his father has trained him until he is as dull as a stone. It would be better if the child were more cheerful."
Yang Ronghua's eyes shimmered. "Mother, would you tell me some amusing stories about my husband's childhood?"
"Of course, of course. I will tell you all of them."
Sandalwood incense curled through the study, its green smoke winding into wisps between the window lattice.
Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei with blazing eyes. "Shitou, what did breaking through to the Innate realm feel like?"
Xu Mingwei smiled. "It was beyond words. In that instant, my Lingtai became clear and empty, my heart as still as water. I could sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy lingering around me. When I performed Qi Introduction, a warm current traveled through every limb and bone, leaving me incomparably comfortable."
Xu Chuan nodded with a smile.
"By the way, Father, our family has also collected two Innate martial arts. The Black Tiger Secret Codex can reach Innate Perfection, while the Heavenly Dragon Secret Codex can reach the initial Grandmaster realm. Which should I choose?"
"Neither." Xu Chuan sipped his tea and spoke lightly. "Martial Dao is merely a transitional path. Cultivating immortality is the true path."
"Cultivating immortality?" Xu Mingwei gave a bitter smile. "I am nearly twenty. Even if I possess a Spiritual Root, I fear it is already too late."
"Whether you have Cultivation Aptitude, I know full well." Xu Chuan's eyes gleamed as he smiled faintly. "Among you brothers, only Yun Nu possesses All Five Elements and can enter the Immortal Dao."
"Yun Nu can cultivate immortality?"
"Then why does Father not find a way to send Yun Nu onto the immortal path? If Yun Nu becomes an immortal cultivator, our entire family will benefit immensely."
"You think cultivating immortality is so simple? With the Xu Family's current resources, how could we possibly support an immortal cultivator?"
"It would be better to take one step at a time and quietly wait for the right opportunity."
"The right opportunity?"
Confusion appeared in Xu Mingwei's eyes as he fell into thought.
"You need not concern yourself with this matter for now. As for the Xu Family, I intend for you brothers to all take the path of entering the Dao through martial arts."
"Entering the Dao through martial arts?" Xu Mingwei was stunned. "I have never heard of such a thing."
"This is the Xu Family's greatest secret. Come with me to the Ancestral Hall. It is time I told you some of our secrets."
The Ancestral Hall was an important place for the Xu Family.
It was guarded at all times.
After entering, Xu Chuan opened a hidden door and arrived in a secret chamber.
There was a bookshelf here, with several books scattered across it. They were all martial arts manuals collected by the Xu Family.
There was also a hidden compartment within the secret chamber.
Xu Chuan took out a cultivation manual and handed it to Xu Mingwei.
"Take a look. There is not much content. Memorize it."
"Innate Five Elements Creation Technique?"
Xu Mingwei began reading.
The first thing that met his eyes was the general outline.
[Five Elements Rotation births good fortune; Innate One Qi pierces primordial chaos.] [Form and spirit join the Dao to comprehend mysterious principles; return to the root and truth to attain longevity.]
"With the liver as the Wood Manor concealing the breath of spring, the heart as the Fire Palace nurturing the spirit of summer, the spleen transforming into the Earth Pivot to suppress the four seasons, the lungs becoming the Metal Tower to gather autumn's solemn chill, and the kidneys connecting to the Water Abyss to receive winter's essence.
"When the Five Energies return to their origin, the five viscera will reveal five-colored light wheels of green, red, yellow, white, and black, finally returning to the dantian and merging into a chaotic egg."
"How profound!"
"Unfathomable!"
"Father, this must be a true immortal method!"
Xu Mingwei was shaken to the core, stormy waves surging within his heart.
He continued flipping through it. Further on were breathing methods, sensory incantations, and key principles of Qi Condensation.
The ultimate result of this technique was transforming the acquired into the Innate, converting all Innate True Qi into an immortal cultivator's Magic Power.
It would complete the Five Elements Spirit Root, then purify it, ultimately attaining True Spiritual Root Aptitude.
"This technique contains the mysteries of good fortune itself. One must reach the Innate realm before cultivating it."
"Beginning with the third generation, none but geniuses may cultivate this technique."
"Those who do not know of it must never be told, including close relatives such as brothers, sisters, parents, and children. This is an oath that must be passed down from generation to generation!"
Xu Mingwei's expression turned solemn. He said in a deep voice, "Your son will remember it well!"
"Upon mastering this technique, one can directly transition to the Immortal Dao and become a Fifth-Layer Qi Condensation immortal cultivator, even breaking through to Sixth-Layer Qi Condensation very quickly."
Xu Chuan changed the subject and smiled faintly. "Of course, this path only suits the Xu Family as it currently stands. Once the Lineage truly grows strong and becomes a cultivation family,
"Those in the clan with aptitude can enter the Immortal Dao from childhood, while those lacking aptitude can enter the Dao through martial arts."
Xu Mingwei nodded to show that he understood.
"Once you have memorized it, leave the Ancestral Hall. In a few days, I will announce that you will temporarily manage Xu Family affairs, as a transition for when you take over as Xu Family Patriarch in the future."
"What about you, Father?"
"I will stay at Jade Cold Pond for a while and focus entirely on breaking through to the Innate realm."
"I understand. Family affairs will not disturb Father."
Xu Chuan patted his shoulder, then turned and left the secret chamber.
Back in the study, with a silent thought, the Family Genealogy emerged from his body and appeared before him.
[Xu Mingwei: Xu Family Second Generation] [Age: Nineteen] [Spiritual Root: Incomplete Five Elements, no Cultivation Aptitude] [Talents: Innate Divine Strength, Eagle Eye] [Bloodline: None] [Realm: Initial-stage Innate Martial Artist]
"The Xu Family's fortune is flourishing now, brimming with vitality. The third generation's descendants will soon be born. More—and stronger—Destiny Talents will surely emerge."
Xu Chuan's eyes were filled with anticipation.
Two hours later, Xu Mingwei left the Ancestral Hall. After spending some time with Yang Ronghua, he began cultivating the Innate Five Elements Creation Technique.
Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian also went to visit Yang Ronghua.
"Sister-in-law, I heard you were pregnant as soon as I returned. Am I going to become an Aunt?"
Yang Ronghua smiled faintly.
"Yes, so you need to behave more steadily from now on."
Bai Jing smiled and shifted her gaze to Xu Mingxian. "Yun Nu, you are going to become an uncle. Are you happy?"
Xu Mingxian nodded as well, then said something that left Bai Jing not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"I am finally not the youngest in the family anymore."
Several days later.
Xu Mingyuan returned from out of town, weary and covered in dust.
Upon hearing the news, he was equally delighted and hurried to visit Xu Mingwei and his wife.
"Big Brother, I also have good news this time."
Xu Mingwei and his wife, along with Xu Mingxuan and the others, all looked over curiously.
"Oh? Let us hear it."
"Innate Dragon Elephant Art."
Xu Mingyuan said with a hearty smile, "In as little as a year or as many as two, Big Brother, you will certainly achieve the Innate realm. The Innate Dragon Elephant Art is the follow-up technique to the Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique. It can be cultivated to Grandmaster Perfection and is the Innate martial art most suited to you."
Xu Mingwei did not tell everyone that he had already broken through to the Innate realm.
It was a hidden card. The fewer people who knew, the better.
As for the Innate Dragon Elephant Art, Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly. What a pity that he no longer had any use for it.
Still, keeping it in the family and practicing the martial skills within would be good enough.
"You obtained it?"
"Not yet, but I have received news of it."
Xu Mingyuan took a sip of tea and spoke at length. "A wealthy merchant in this county learned that I was inquiring about it. Yesterday, after returning from neighboring Liuyun County, he came to discuss it with me, saying that a middle-aged Martial Artist intended to sell the Innate Dragon Elephant Art."
The follow-up reading rate is a little low. To count as genuine follow-up reading, you must have spent money on Qidian within the past three months and read up to the latest chapter. Turning to the final page and tipping one or two Qidian coins also counts.
The recommendation round is coming soon. Please help me out, honored fathers!!!
After getting recommended, there will be a bonus chapter every Monday and Tuesday.
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