The Second Child Arrives!

The moment he saw the light of day again, Zhang Chen took a deep breath of air.

Though he had only been in seclusion for a little over a month.

Yet looking at this familiar world again, he felt a completely different sensation.

Every blade of grass, every tree, every brick and tile—under his current Spiritual Sense perception, they all became crystal clear down to the finest detail.

He could even hear the sound of leaves falling in the distance.

He could sense the direction of moisture flow in the air.

Without alarming anyone, he went straight back to the side courtyard.

Pushing open the door, a faint milky scent mixed with calming incense wafted over him.

Lin Qingxue was leaning on a soft couch, holding a small tiger bellyband that was not yet finished sewing.

Several months had passed, and her lower abdomen was now clearly rounded.

She had lost some of her coldness and gained more gentleness.

Hearing the door open, she looked up.

Their eyes met, and no words were needed.

"Out of seclusion?"

Lin Qingxue put down her needle and thread, trying to stand up.

"Don't move."

Zhang Chen walked over quickly, helped her sit back down, and pressed his palm against her belly. "How have you been feeling lately? Is this little one behaving?"

Lin Qingxue's face showed a helpless smile. "Behaving? This little one is even more restless than Daoxuan and Daoling were back then. Especially at night, it's like there's a little stove in my belly, burning so hot I can't sleep the whole night."

"Oh?"

Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow.

Lin Qingxue was an Extreme Yin Ice Spirit Body, naturally fond of cold and averse to heat.

For her to feel hot meant that this second child in her belly...

Its attribute was probably unusual.

His mind stirred, and he gently released a wisp of life-force spiritual energy from his palm.

It slowly flowed into his wife's body through his hand.

This spiritual energy, refined through Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, had long undergone a qualitative change.

It was no longer mere spiritual energy; it was more like a vibrant, active life force.

As the energy entered her body, Lin Qingxue couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh.

She could feel that the persistent heat in her abdomen, upon meeting this cool, moist spiritual energy, instantly became docile.

The little life in her belly, as if tasting something sweet, happily sucked on the "food" sent by its father.

"Such pure spiritual energy..."

Lin Qingxue looked at Zhang Chen in surprise. "Husband, your seclusion this time..."

"Some breakthroughs."

Zhang Chen didn't hide much from his wife, only saying lightly, "Right now, I'm more than enough to protect you and the children."

Lin Qingxue smiled gently and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I believe you."

In the days that followed, Zhang Chen's life became extremely routine.

During the day, he handled family affairs and supervised battle preparations; at night, he used his own spiritual energy to soothe Lin Qingxue's meridians and nourish the fetus.

Nourished by him, this "human-shaped medicinal pill," Lin Qingxue's complexion improved day by day.

The fetus in her belly also developed very quickly.

Sometimes, through her belly, one could even see a fleeting flash of red light.

On the other side of the Zhang Family Courtyard, the atmosphere was chillingly murderous.

On the training ground, the roar of battle cries shook the heavens. The ten selected "Foundation Establishment seeds"

were undergoing hellish special training.

Nourished by Pills, their cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, but Zhang Chen knew well that cultivation without combat experience meant they would be lambs to the slaughter on the Life and Death Arena.

So, he invited several old stewards who had retired from the family for years—veterans, as they were called.

These old men might have lost their cultivation, but their killing techniques were etched into their bones.

"Idiot! Are you a pig? Who told you to charge in head-on?"

"What are you dodging? That's an illusion! Break it, damn it!"

"Remember! Once you step onto the arena, there's no room for chivalry! Groin kicks, lime in the eyes, finger jabs—anything goes as long as you take the other guy out!"

Under this almost twisted training regimen, the combat techniques of these participating cultivators skyrocketed wildly.

Meanwhile, the Wang Family wasn't idle either.

To disrupt the Zhang Family's preparations and probe their true strength, the Wang Family kept sending small squads of cultivators to stir up friction along the border between the two factions.

They robbed merchant caravans, sabotaged mines, ambushed patrols—using the most underhanded methods imaginable.

In response, the Zhang Family was seething with anger. Many young members clamored to strike back.

But every time, Zhang Chen forcefully suppressed them.

His order was just one word: Endure!

Not only endure, but endure with style.

"When you run into Wang Family people, if you can beat them, run. If you can't, throw stuff and run."

That was the tone Zhang Chen set during a clan meeting: "Don't hoard your talismans. Toss them when you need to. Let them pick them up!"

And so, in the clashes that followed.

A series of bizarre scenes played out.

Two groups would meet, and without a word, Zhang Family disciples would hurl a handful of Explosive Talismans, then turn and flee through the smoke.

At first, the Wang Family was wary, suspecting a trap.

But after several rounds, the Wang Family grew completely cocky.

"Hahaha! These Zhang Family cowards!"

"Looks like the rumors are true. The Zhang Family really is done for."

"Brothers, keep your eyes peeled when you see Zhang Family folks from now on. They're not enemies—they're walking treasure troves!"

When these remarks reached Wang Lie's ears, the last shred of doubt he had vanished into thin air.