Childbirth Reward!

Zhang Chen sat to the side, listening quietly.

His current status was on par with the Family Head, so naturally, he couldn't be absent from such a core meeting.

"Wang Lie dares to act so arrogantly simply because he's betting that the Old Ancestor has little lifespan left and won't act rashly."

Zhang Chen suddenly spoke, his voice calm in a way that didn't suit a young man: "Add to that his recent cultivation breakthroughs, and he thinks he's got what it takes."

Zhang Yunshan glanced at his son, forcing down his anger: "Chen'er is right. The Wang Family is cutting flesh with a dull blade, trying to force the Old Ancestor to make a move."

"Once the Old Ancestor stirs his true qi, his lifespan will drain faster, and then our Zhang Family will truly be finished."

This was precisely the Wang Family's venomous scheme. An open conspiracy, yet one that left them helpless.

"We still have to endure."

Zhang Chen said softly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled elders: "As long as our main branch doesn't fall into chaos, what harm is there in letting them have half of that Second-Grade Spirit Ore?"

"Let them have it?!"

The Third Elder jerked his head up, his eyes full of unwillingness: "That's a Second-Grade Mid-Rank spirit ore! Why should we hand it over to those bandits?"

"Not only do we let them have it, we make a big show of it."

A flicker of coldness passed through Zhang Chen's eyes: "Showing weakness to the enemy will only make them more arrogant. Only when they feel certain of victory will they expose greater flaws."

The elders exchanged glances. Though resentment churned in their hearts, they knew this was the best way to preserve their strength for now.

After the meeting, Zhang Chen walked alone back toward the side courtyard.

The sea breeze was cool, stirring the hem of his robes.

He could feel the spiritual power inside him, long since reached its breaking point, like floodwaters held back by a dam. Each impact sent a dull ache through his meridians.

In truth, if he wanted to, he could have easily established his foundation two months ago.

But he didn't.

He was suppressing it with all his might.

In the Cultivation World, Foundation Establishment wasn't a simple realm breakthrough—it was the cornerstone of one's future Dao.

Foundation Establishment had three grades: Human Dao, Earth Dao, and Heavenly Dao.

Human Dao Foundation Establishment was the lowest. It only required taking an ordinary Foundation Establishment Pill, extending lifespan by two hundred years.

But it forever capped one at Early Golden Core, with impure and mixed spiritual power.

Earth Dao Foundation Establishment was slightly better. It required the aid of Earth Vein energy and high-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual items. Though it offered a slim chance at Nascent Soul, the odds were extremely low.

Their own Old Ancestor, Zhang Tianzheng, had once taken Earth Dao Foundation Establishment and Earth Dao Golden Core.

Later, he nearly sacrificed half his life to form the weakest "Human Dao Nascent Soul." Not only was his combat power the lowest among his peers, but his lifespan was also far shorter than that of a normal Nascent Soul Cultivator.

And Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment...

That was the legendary perfect foundation!

It required gathering the qi of heaven and earth, along with top-tier spiritual items!!

Once successful, not only would one's spiritual power be several times that of a peer cultivator.

It was also the only ticket to Spirit Transmutation, Void Refinement, and even higher realms.

With his system, Zhang Chen's sights were naturally not limited to the tiny East Mountain Islands.

His goal was the stars and the sea—the legendary pursuit of eternal life.

So, even though the family's situation was critical now...

Even though he endured the pain of suppressing his cultivation every single day, he had to wait.

Wait for that perfect opportunity.

"Soon."

Zhang Chen patted the Storage Bag at his waist, gazing at the rolling dark clouds on the sea horizon: "Once the child is born, that will be the moment the Zhang Family soars to the heavens."

Time passed, and another two months went by.

The Zhang Family Courtyard, usually tense and oppressive, was today shrouded in an even more anxious atmosphere.

Inside the side courtyard, the usually calm and steady servants were now rushing about, their feet barely touching the ground—carrying hot water, handing over towels, bustling in and out in a flurry.

All because the young mistress was about to give birth.

Outside the delivery room, Zhang Chen stood with his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth under the osmanthus tree in the yard. His steps were so fast they nearly sparked against the blue bricks.

The man who was always composed now had a sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"Chen'er, can you stop pacing? You're making your mother dizzy."

Liu Yueru said that, but the prayer beads in her own hand were nearly ground to dust.

She muttered under her breath, praying to every god and Buddha she could name.

Zhang Yunshan was even more dramatic. He pressed his entire body against the door, practically trying to shove his ear through the crack to hear what was happening inside. With that posture, he had none of the dignity of a Golden Core True Person.

"Ahhh—!!!"

Lin Qingxue's agonized cries came from inside the room, each sound like a blade stabbing deep into Zhang Chen's heart.

"Why isn't it over yet? It's been four hours!"

Zhang Chen couldn't help asking the maid at the door, his voice trembling slightly.

No wonder he was nervous.

Giving birth was far more dangerous for a female Cultivator than for a Mortal—the fetus would instinctively absorb the mother's Spiritual Energy.

And Lin Qingxue was carrying Twins. Those two little ones had been domineering even in the womb, making the delivery doubly difficult.

"Young Master, don't worry. The midwife said the Young Madam has a strong constitution; she'll definitely be fine."

The maid tried to reassure him, but her own face was tense with worry.

Zhang Chen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He looked up at the sky. Whether it was an illusion or not, the clouds above the Zhang estate today had taken on a strange pale purple hue, and the Spiritual Energy was unusually restless.

Just then.

"Waaah—!!!"

A piercing cry broke through the door, ringing across the entire courtyard.

The wail was full of vigor, carrying with it a faint ripple of spiritual power.

It shook the leaves on the trees in the yard until they trembled.