[Today's divination: Auspicious. You cultivated bitterly at Jade Cold Pond today and obtained a fortuitous opportunity.]
"A fortuitous opportunity?"
This [Daily Divination] could only divine matters he himself asked about. It had its uses, but it was not of much help to him at present.
Yet asking it every day had continuously strengthened his soul.
Xu Chuan did not dwell on it and began today's arduous cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, it was already late morning.
He suddenly felt a flash of inspiration. He sensed the Power of Heaven and Earth around him; every pore on his body seemed to open and breathe, while the Acupoints throughout his body ceaselessly drew that power into him.
Crackle, pop—
His bones gave off a series of strange sounds.
Then specks of black impurities seeped from the surface of his skin.
Marrow cleansing and bone forging!
This was the Good Fortune that came only with one's first successful Qi Introduction!
Half an hour later.
Xu Chuan opened his eyes. Azure light flashed within them, and delight spread across his face.
"Xiantian, achieved!"
"Sure enough, Lifespan and Bone Structure have a tremendous influence."
"I have three Destiny Talents upon me, yet I only broke through to Xiantian as I neared forty. For anyone else, if they began martial arts practice at twenty-five or twenty-six, becoming a Third-rate Martial Artist would already mean they had outstanding aptitude."
The younger one was, the easier it was to open Acupoints.
After twenty, the difficulty of opening Acupoints rose step by step.
Smelling the odd odor on himself, Xu Chuan smiled freely.
He walked to Jade Cold Pond, removed all his clothes, and placed them atop a large green stone beside it.
Then he leaped into the pond.
The bone-piercing cold made his whole body shudder. He quickly circulated Innate Qi through his body, then enjoyed the icy bath as though it were an ordinary soak.
"Let's go down and take a look."
After a moment, Xu Chuan took a deep breath and dived toward the bottom.
But the pond was deeper than he had imagined, and the exertion was greater as well. In the end, he gave up and floated back up.
"How strange. Could it be that this place truly holds some rare fortuitous opportunity?"
Xu Chuan pondered for a while before ultimately deciding to try again another day.
"It's been three months since I came down the mountain. I wonder how those little brats are doing."
With a faint smile at the corner of his lips, Xu Chuan clasped his hands behind his back and strolled down the mountain.
"Patriarch!"
"Patriarch!"
Along the way, whenever he passed farmland or orchards, the patrolling guards and farmers working in the fields all cupped their hands and greeted him.
It was clear that the Xu Family had won the people's hearts.
Some guards even hurried back to the Xu Residence to report that he had come down the mountain.
The Xu Family immediately became busy.
When the three brothers Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan heard the news, they were overjoyed.
Dad came down the mountain. Could he have broken through?!
Xu Mingwei understood best why Xu Chuan had gone up the mountain for Closed-door cultivation.
Excitement bubbled in his heart.
My Xu Family has a second Xiantian!
"A Yuan, Tantou, go greet father at the gate first. I'll go find mother and your sister-in-law."
"Alright, Big Brother." The two brothers answered with smiles.
"The Patriarch has returned—"
The cry rang out through courtyard after courtyard, spreading across the entire Xu Residence in moments.
"Ah, Father came down the mountain."
"Little White, let's go!"
Xu Mingshu immediately stopped practicing her punches, sprang onto the White Tiger's back, and raced toward the gate.
Xu Mingxian stepped upon the wind beneath his feet and followed close behind.
"The Xu Family Patriarch?"
Gu Yiping muttered under his breath. With his hands behind his back, he too headed for the main gate.
Not long after, Xu Mingwei arrived slowly with Yang Ronghua and Bai Jing.
At that moment, quite a few people stood at the gate. Household guards, Maidservants, and guards filled two rows, while the Xu Family's masters stood in the middle.
"What a grand display."
Xu Chuan spotted the dark mass of people from afar. The corners of his lips rose slightly, but then he shook his head.
Making such a fuss just because I came down the mountain.
When he reached the entrance to the residence, Bai Jing walked over with tears shimmering in her eyes. She lowered her head to wipe them away, then said, "So you still remembered to come back."
"Were you lonely? I'll keep you company tonight." Xu Chuan laughed heartily.
"You still love running that mouth." Bai Jing smiled teasingly.
Then—
"Father! (x5)"
Xu Mingwei led his other brothers and sisters forward, and they all called out together.
Xu Chuan smiled and nodded.
Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian were the first to run to his sides. Xu Mingxian hesitated somewhat, but Xu Mingshu threw herself straight into his arms.
They were still at the age to act spoiled, unlike the others, who had long since passed it.
"You're making it seem as if we'd been parted for years." Xu Chuan did not know whether to laugh or cry.
His gaze brightened when he spotted Gu Yiping amid the crowd. He stepped forward with a smile. "Director Gu, I presume? My apologies for letting you witness this."
"These are true feelings laid bare. Why would I laugh at it? On the contrary, it makes me envious."
Seeing the Xu Family gathered on both sides to welcome Xu Chuan home, Gu Yiping felt deeply moved.
He had drifted through half his life and remained alone to this day.
"Go about your business."
"Yes, Patriarch."
After the maidservants and household servants respectfully saluted, they began to disperse.
"Let us speak in the main hall," Xu Chuan said.
"Ronghua and I will take a walk elsewhere," Bai Jing said with a faint smile.
"Mm. Don't tire her out."
"Do I need you to tell me that?"
After Bai Jing spoke, she returned to the inner residence with Yang Ronghua, while everyone else headed to the Xu Family's main hall.
"Father, your timing coming down the mountain is perfect. In another half a month, the Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School will open," Xu Mingyuan said with a smile.
"With a Late-Innate master like Director Gu overseeing it, there should be no problems."
"Shitou, when the time comes, go and lend the occasion some weight. We can't trouble Director Gu to personally act at every turn."
"Yes, Father." Xu Mingwei nodded.
He then looked to Gu Yiping and asked how he had been living in the Xu Family, and whether there had been any shortcomings in their hospitality.
After several rounds of idle conversation, they went to the Training Ground.
Xu Chuan had Xu Mingwei test each of his younger brothers and sisters in turn.
Overall, Xu Chuan was satisfied. They had taken his words to heart and had diligently put effort into the Martial Dao.
As for Xu Mingyuan—
"A Yuan, if you don't work harder, Xue Ji and Yun Nu will catch up to you."
"Father, I've already been working very hard."
Xu Mingyuan's face was full of bitterness. He knew he would become the center of attention.
"I'm not blaming you." Xu Chuan smiled. "The Xu Family owes much of what it has today to you, but you must make progress in your martial arts as well."
"I don't want you five Siblings to have only one person trapped at the Houtian Peak."
"Yes, Father." Xu Mingyuan lowered his head, utterly dejected.
If Qingjiang County's wealthy merchants had seen Xu Mingyuan like this, they likely would not have believed that he was the suave, high-spirited "God of Wealth of the Xu Family," who could charm all eight sides.
Xu Chuan thoroughly made up for Bai Jing's months of loneliness.
After a storm of cloud and rain.
Bai Jing lay in Xu Chuan's arms, enjoying the quiet serenity of the moment.
"Husband, did you make a great breakthrough in the Martial Dao during this trip up the mountain?"
Bai Jing traced small circles over Xu Chuan's chest with her finger.
"Didn't you see for yourself, Wife?"
The corners of Xu Chuan's lips curled up. He lowered his head to look at her, while his other hand roamed over her smooth back.
Recalling what had just happened, Bai Jing's face flushed hot.
She was nearly forty now, yet she had been like a wolf and tiger. It felt a little too wanton.
"Haha, we are husband and wife. What is there to be embarrassed about in matters of the bedchamber?"
"It's all Husband's fault. You know so many tricks that this concubine does not even know how Husband came up with them."
"Wasn't Wife equally absorbed in it?"
Bai Jing blushed even more and said with some annoyance, "If Husband keeps talking like that, this concubine will get angry."
"Hahaha, I won't say any more, I won't."
Xu Chuan turned serious. "After cultivating on the mountain for several months, your husband finally broke through and became an Innate Martial Artist."
"Ah!"
"Xiantian!"
Naturally, Bai Jing understood what Xiantian meant.
There were only a handful of Innate Martial Artists in all of Qingjiang County.
She looked at Xu Chuan in disbelief. "Didn't Husband only begin cultivating the Martial Dao at twenty-six? You could still become an Innate Martial Artist?"
"That only proves your husband is exceptionally gifted."
Yes, in every respect.
"But there is no need to tell anyone. It is good for the Xu Family to have one more hidden card."
"This concubine is not one to speak too much."
"I know." Xu Chuan kissed her forehead. "You are tired tonight as well. Rest now."
"We have days and years ahead of us."
Before you continue