More than half a month passed.
One morning, Lin Qingxue was nursing the two little ones when a sudden tightness gripped her chest. That familiar wave of nausea surged up again.
She froze for a moment, then instinctively felt her wrist.
A moment later, a blush spread across her face, mingling shyness and delight.
"What is it?"
Zhang Chen had just finished practicing his sword and stepped inside. He noticed something was off with his wife.
"Husband..."
Lin Qingxue set the children down and took Zhang Chen's hand, placing it on her still-flat belly. Her eyes shimmered as she said softly, "There... seems to be something happening again."
Zhang Chen stiffened, then his heart surged with joy.
At the same time, the system notification that had been silent for so long arrived right on cue.
It exploded in his mind.
[ Ding! The host's partner has successfully conceived! ] [ The family bloodline is growing stronger, triggering the "Blessings of Many Children" preview reward! ] [ Estimated aptitude of the child: Top-grade (enhanced by the mother's Extreme Yin Ice Spirit Body and the host's cultivation art). ] [ Preview rewards below (to be issued when the child is born): ] [1. Tier 2 Top-Grade Skill Inheritance Card: Art of Artifact Refining (instantly grants the host Tier 2 Top-Grade artifact-refining mastery, along with blueprints for Top-grade Magic Tools).] [2. Top-grade growth-type magic treasure embryo: Heaven Shaking Seal (can advance alongside its owner's cultivation; currently Tier 2 Top-Grade).] [3. Secret art: God Shaking Technique (a Top-grade secret art for cultivating Spiritual Sense; unmatched among cultivators of the same rank and capable of damaging souls above its user's level).] [4. Family Member Cultivation Boost Card ×5 (can raise a Qi Refining Stage family member by one minor realm with no side effects; the effect is halved for Foundation Establishment cultivators).] [5. Top-grade Qualification Enhancement Pill ×1 (can raise Mystic Grade Aptitude to Earth Grade).]
Looking at the long list of rewards, Zhang Chen's breathing grew heavier.
The Art of Artifact Refining and the God Shaking Technique in particular seemed tailor-made for the coming battle.
The Art of Artifact Refining could arm the family, while the God Shaking Technique would give him a trump card.
As for those Family Member Cultivation Boost Cards—
They would let him quickly build up a solid core of strength.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!"
Zhang Chen excitedly picked Lin Qingxue up and spun around twice. "Qingxue, you really are my lucky star! The Zhang Family's greatest benefactor!"
The spinning made Lin Qingxue dizzy, but she still giggled. "Put me down! You'll scare the children."
After the two shared a tender moment, Zhang Chen's expression gradually turned serious.
Now that the child had been conceived and the rewards were secured, he had to shore up the family's last weakness before the child was born.
His own cultivation.
Although the Nine Revolutions Universe Art had made him powerful enough to crush ordinary cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, even at Qi Refining Great Perfection—
In the Cultivation World, cultivation was what mattered most.
He needed to establish his foundation.
And not just any Foundation Establishment—he would achieve Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, something no one before or after him could match!
That afternoon, Zhang Chen called a meeting of the family's core members.
"What? You're going into seclusion to break through to Foundation Establishment?"
In the Assembly Hall, Zhang Yunshan was so startled by his son's words that he nearly dropped his teacup. "Chen'er, the Arena Competition is still more than half a year away. We're at a crucial point in our preparations, and you're going into seclusion now..."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
In their eyes, Zhang Chen was full of clever schemes, but his cultivation talent had never been exceptional. Even with those pills that could improve his aptitude, reaching Foundation Establishment wasn't something he could accomplish overnight.
If he failed, it would not only deal a blow to morale but also leave the Zhang Family without its backbone.
"Father, Elders."
Zhang Chen's gaze was resolute as he looked around at them. "With all of you seniors overseeing the preparations, they're already well on track. It makes little difference whether I'm there or not."
"But as things stand, I'm only at the Qi Refining Stage."
"If I successfully reach Foundation Establishment, even just the early stage, the methods at my disposal will give the family a better chance of winning."
"But..."
Zhang Yunshan still wanted to talk him out of it.
"No buts."
Zhang Chen waved a hand and said solemnly, "I've already reported this to the Ancestor, and he approved."
Once he invoked the Ancestor's authority, everyone fell silent.
"Since even the Ancestor has agreed, then... you should go into seclusion with peace of mind."
Zhang Yunshan sighed and patted his son's shoulder. "Don't worry about the family. Your father will hold down the fort."
Zhang Chen nodded without explaining further.
This time, his seclusion was about more than just Foundation Establishment.
It would be a transformation—a complete rebirth.
Dao Seeking Peak, Back Mountain forbidden grounds.
This was the place with the densest Spiritual Energy in the Zhang Family Courtyard, and it was also the source of the family's Third-Grade Spirit Vein.
Ordinarily, no one but the Ancestor was permitted to enter—not even the Family Head.
Today, the forbidden grounds were surrounded by layers of restrictions.
Within a radius of ten li, not even a fly could get in.
The air was heavy with a murderous, oppressive stillness.
Inside a naturally formed cavern, Spiritual Energy was so dense that it had nearly turned into white mist.
It flowed slowly along the ground.
At the center of the cavern stood a raised slab of blue-green stone, the "spirit eye" of the entire Spirit Vein.
Zhang Chen wore a thin white robe and sat cross-legged atop the spirit eye.
Across from him stood the Ancestor, Zhang Tianzheng, his hands clasped behind his back.
The Ancestor had already shed his disguise, returning to his prime, middle-aged appearance.
Yet his expression was unusually tense.
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