Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!

Another half month passed.

One morning, Lin Qingxue was feeding the two little ones when she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest, and that familiar wave of nausea surged up again. She was slightly stunned, then instinctively reached for her own wrist. A moment later, a blush of both shyness and joy crept across her face.

"What's wrong?"

Zhang Chen, who had just finished his sword practice and entered the room, noticed his wife's unusual expression.

"Husband..."

Lin Qingxue set the children down, took Zhang Chen's hand, and placed it on her still-flat belly. Her eyes shimmered as she whispered softly, "Here... it seems there's movement again."

Zhang Chen's entire body stiffened, then a surge of ecstasy flooded his heart.

At the same time, the long-silent system notification rang out as expected, exploding in his mind.

[Ding! Detected successful conception by Host's partner!]
[Family bloodline is expanding, triggering the "Blessings of Many Children" advance reward!]
[This conceived child, expected aptitude: Top-Grade (enhanced by mother's Extreme Yin Ice Spirit Body and Host's cultivation art).]
[Advance rewards as follows (will be distributed upon the child's birth):]
[1. Tier 2 Top-Grade Skill Inheritance Card: Art of Artifact Refining (grants Host instant mastery of Tier 2 Top-Grade artifact refining, with bonus Top-Grade artifact blueprints).]
[2. Top-Grade Growth-Type Dharma Artifact Embryo: Heaven Shaking Seal (can advance with its owner's cultivation level, currently Tier 2 Top-Grade).]
[3. Secret Art: God Shaking Technique (a Top-Grade secret art specializing in Spiritual Sense, unmatched at the same level, can injure an opponent's soul across levels).]
[4. Family Member Cultivation Boost Card ×5 (can raise a Qi Refining Stage clan member by one minor realm without side effects, half effect for Foundation Establishment Realm).]
[5. Top-Grade Qualification Enhancement Pill ×1 (can raise Mystic Grade Aptitude to Earth Grade).]

Looking at this string of rewards, Zhang Chen's breathing grew heavy.

Especially the "Art of Artifact Refining" and "God Shaking Technique"—they were practically tailor-made for the upcoming battle. The Art of Artifact Refining could arm the family, while the God Shaking Technique was a trump card for himself. As for the "Family Member Cultivation Boost Card," it could quickly build up a core fighting force.

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

Zhang Chen excitedly picked up Lin Qingxue and spun her around twice. "Qingxue, you're truly my lucky star! The Zhang family's greatest contributor!"

Dizzy from the spinning, Lin Qingxue still let out a tinkling laugh. "Put me down quickly, don't scare the children."

After they shared a tender moment, Zhang Chen's expression gradually turned serious.

Since the child was already conceived and the rewards were set, his next step had to be filling the family's last weak spot before the child was born—his own cultivation. Though with the Nine Revolutions Universe Art, his current strength at Qi Refining Great Perfection was enough to trounce an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator, in the Cultivation World, cultivation realm was the most important thing. He needed to achieve Foundation Establishment. And not just any—it had to be the unprecedented Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!

That afternoon, Zhang Chen called a core family meeting.

"What? You want to go into seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment?"

Inside the Assembly Hall, Zhang Yunshan, after hearing his son's words, was so shocked he nearly dropped his teacup. "Chen'er, there's still over half a year until the Arena Competition. We're in the critical phase of preparations, and you want to go into seclusion now..."

The elders exchanged glances.

In their view, though Zhang Chen was full of clever schemes, his cultivation talent had never been top-tier. Even with those aptitude-enhancing Pills, achieving Foundation Establishment wasn't something that could be done overnight. If he failed, it would not only dampen morale but also leave the Zhang family without its pillar.

"Father, elders."

Zhang Chen's gaze was firm as he swept his eyes across the room. "The preparations are already on track with all of you seniors overseeing them. My presence or absence makes little difference. But as I am now, I'm only at the Qi Refining Stage. If I can successfully reach Foundation Establishment, even just the early stage, with the means I have, I can add to the family's chances of victory."

"But—"

Zhang Yunshan wanted to argue further.

"No buts."

Zhang Chen waved his hand, his expression serious. "I've already reported this to the Old Ancestor, and he has agreed."

With the Old Ancestor brought up as the final authority, everyone fell silent.

"Since the Old Ancestor has agreed, then... then you may go into seclusion with peace of mind."

Zhang Yunshan sighed and patted his son on the shoulder: "Don't worry about the family, your father will hold things down here."

Zhang Chen nodded, offering no further explanation.

This seclusion of his was not merely about Foundation Establishment.

It was a complete rebirth, a shedding of the old self.

Dao Seeking Peak, Back Mountain Forbidden Ground.

This was the place within the Zhang Family Courtyard where Spiritual Energy was most abundant, and also the source of the family's Third-Grade Spirit Vein.

Ordinarily, not even the Family Head could set foot here without permission, let alone anyone else.

Today, layer upon layer of restrictive seals had been placed around this forbidden ground.

Within a radius of ten li, not even a single fly could enter.

The air was thick with a solemn, oppressive Aura.

Inside a naturally formed karst cave, the Spiritual Energy was so dense it had nearly condensed into white mist.

It flowed slowly across the ground.

At the center of the cave stood a raised slab of green stone—the "Spirit Eye" of the entire vein.

Zhang Chen, dressed in a thin white robe, sat cross-legged atop the Spirit Eye.

Facing him, the Old Ancestor Zhang Tianzheng stood with his hands behind his back.

By now, the Old Ancestor had shed his disguise and returned to his prime, the peak state of a middle-aged man.

Yet his expression was unusually tense.