First Birthday, Maternal Grandfather Du Chun

Chen Yan felt satisfied, sneaking back into his own room.

So then...

Next was [Painting].

Chen Yan took out baby-safe crayons and drew a Spirit Race creature on a plain sheet of white paper.

As his proficiency increased, Chen Yan's drawing technique no longer looked like the random scribbles of an infant.

It looked as if it had come from the hand of a master artist!

[You are currently painting. Skill "Painting" proficiency +1. Current progress: 1000/1000!]

[Congratulations! "Painting" has successfully upgraded to "Image Projection Scroll (Entry Level)"! Current progress: 0/10000]

[Image Projection Scroll]: Draw the void into reality, draw spirits into motion, draw the earth into a prison.

Chen Yan's mind stirred, and he activated [Image Projection Scroll].

He casually drew a small flame on the paper.

The moment the stroke landed, a sliver of mental energy was injected into it.

The next instant, the orange-red flame on the paper actually emitted a faint, lingering warmth!

Immediately following, the orange-red flame suddenly expanded, consuming the entire sheet of paper!

Not a speck of ash remained.

Isn't this just a martial arts version of Ma Liang's Magic Brush? Chen Yan thought.

Although weak, this was a qualitative change from illusion to reality!

"Drawing the void into reality?... Interesting."

Finally, the most crucial one—[Dual-Mindedness]!

Chen Yan simultaneously activated his Meditation Method and circulated his Qi Nurturing Foundation Art.

[You are currently practicing Dual-Mindedness. Skill "Dual-Mindedness" proficiency +1. Current progress: 1000/1000!]

[Congratulations! "Dual-Mindedness" has successfully upgraded to "Divine Sense Differentiation (Entry Level)"! Current progress: 0/10000]

[Divine Sense Differentiation]: Can actively split mental energy into multiple strands, operating independently.

Within Chen Yan's sea of consciousness, a miraculous nuclear transformation seemed to occur.

His mental energy was no longer a single thread, but had transformed into flowing water that could be molded at will.

With a thought, one strand of mental energy split into two, and two into four!

Four independent and clear thoughts operated in his mind simultaneously, without interference, flowing with ease!

One thought circulated the [Qi Nurturing Foundation Art], moving blood and qi to temper his physical body.

One thought circulated the [Meditation Method], visualizing the heavens and earth to strengthen his spirit.

One thought activated [Godly Movement], familiarizing himself with the newfound strength in his legs, practicing within a confined space.

The final thought exerted [Shadow Concealment] at full power, completely erasing every trace of his existence.

Everything was in perfect order!

"It's done!"

Chen Yan was ecstatic.

Four times the cultivation efficiency!

And all while maintaining absolute concealment!

Previously, Chen Yan could grind at most 100 progress points for each skill per day.

Now that efficiency had greatly increased, if he worked hard, grinding 400 points for each skill!

Wouldn't that be a piece of cake?

Chen Yan's face was full of satisfaction.

As expected... self-discipline makes one feel fulfilled!

Time flew by; winter departed and spring arrived.

Chen Yan welcomed his first birthday.

On this day, the system panel also sent a congratulatory message.

[Ding! Detected that the host has reached one year of age. Achievements "Self-Disciplined Baby Boy (Green)" and "Vigorous as a Dragon and Tiger (Green)" have met the upgrade conditions!]

[Congratulations! Achievements upgraded to "Self-Disciplined Baby Boy (Blue)" and "Vigorous as a Dragon and Tiger (Blue)"!]

[Self-Disciplined Baby Boy (Blue)]: Your self-discipline is astonishing! Daily Blood and Qi +50.

[Vigorous as a Dragon and Tiger (Blue)]: Your vitality is as vast as the sea! Daily Blood and Qi +20, Daily Spirit +20.

Woo-hoo!

The future is looking bright!

Chen Yan immediately opened his panel.

[Host: Chen Yan]

[Age: 1]

[Cultivation: Amateur Fifth Dan]

[Vitality: 1655/2000 (Vitality value for an infant at the same stage is 4)]

[Spirit: 643/2000 (Spirit value for an infant at the same stage is 4)]

[Charm: 93/100 (Endowed with the essence of nature)]

[Luck: 20 (Good fortune is a constant companion)]

[Constitution: Innate Dao Body (Born close to the Dao, proficient in all laws)]

[Skills:]

[Qi Nurturing Foundation Art (Proficient) (1000/10000)]

[Meditation Method (Proficient) (500/10000)]

[Efficient Absorption (Proficient) (500/10000)]

[Deep Sleep (Proficient) (500/10000)]

[Godly Movement (Proficient) (500/10000)]

[Image Projection Scroll (Proficient) (0/10000)]

[Shadow Concealment (Proficient) (0/10000)]

[Divine Sense Differentiation (Proficient) (0/10000)]

[Achievements: Self-Disciplined Baby Boy (Blue), Vigorous as a Dragon and Tiger (Blue)]

Ever since he had successfully elevated "Divine Sense Differentiation" to a new realm last time, Chen Yan had not rushed to push forward recklessly.

Instead, he had calmed his mind and spent a period of time steadily consolidating his gains.

Now, he had finally raised the proficiency of all his skills to the "Proficient" level!

However, with the general increase in skill levels, the speed at which he gained proficiency for each skill had also slowed down visibly.

It was as if the capacity of a water bottle had increased, making the accumulation speed inevitably slower.

Fortunately, the newly promoted "Divine Sense Differentiation" brought an extremely high efficiency bonus.

With the gains and losses balanced out, his daily proficiency acquisition speed had finally stabilized at around 100 points per day.

The skill progression path discovered so far was: [Entry] - [Minor Accomplishment] - [Proficient]!

Moreover, his cultivation level seemed to progress in tandem with the proficiency of his Qi Nurturing Foundation Art.

A faint realization dawned in Chen Yan's heart.

He speculated that beyond this [Proficient] level, there must exist even more profound realms...

On his birthday, the house was exceptionally lively.

His grandfather Du Chun, grandmother Wang Jun, and uncle Du Shenyuan had all arrived.

As for the relatives on Chen Kefa's side, they had all sacrificed their lives in the war against fierce beasts many years ago, making them a family of total martyrs.

"Father, you're here," Du Qionghua said, quickly ushering her family inside.

"Mm," Du Chun replied, "Is little Yan awake?"

Grandfather Du Chun was the master of the renowned Du Family Zhenwei Martial Arts Hall in Jiang City.

He had a tall, imposing frame, temples that bulged prominently, and an aura as steady as a mountain.

He wore a set of martial attire, his broad palms covered in calluses.

It was said that his peak martial cultivation in his youth had been a cut above even Chen Kefa's current level.

The gift he brought for Chen Yan was a pair of custom-made, small-sized boxing gloves crafted from the soft hide of an unknown fierce beast, which were incredibly tough.

Uncle Du Shenyuan, having heard that his nephew liked to doodle, had specially brought a set of top-tier oil paints and art supplies.

Chen Yan performed his traditional talent; when held in his grandfather's arms, he immediately called out in a milky voice, "Grandpa!"

When teased by his uncle, he called out crisply, "Uncle!"

Each call was so sweet that it made both elders beam with joy, their smiles stretching from ear to ear.

[Luck +2]

[Luck +1]

Du Chun held his pink, jade-carved, and spirited grandson, liking him more the longer he looked.

He reached out to place his hand on Chen Yan's wrist, intending it to be a casual gesture of affection, but the next second, the smile on his face froze instantly!

This bone structure, this aptitude...

Du Chun suddenly raised his head, his eyes erupting with an unprecedented brilliance as he stared fixedly at Chen Yan, as if he were looking at a piece of peerless, unpolished jade!

His own son and daughter both lacked the aptitude for martial arts, and although he accepted disciples at the martial arts hall, none had ever satisfied him.

He had assumed that the legacy of Du Family Martial Arts would end in his hands, a lifelong regret.

But now!

The perfect successor had appeared!

Du Chun was trembling all over with excitement.

Yet Chen Yan, at this moment, was completely oblivious to all of this.

He was clutching the small pair of gloves, unable to put them down.

He pulled the gloves on and, imitating the martial artists he had seen on television, began to swing wildly at the air.

A punch to the left, a punch to the right.

Without any technique or force, it looked just like a child at play.

However, the very moment he threw his fist:

[Ding! Detected that the host is performing an aggressive action...]

[Congratulations: You have comprehended a fist technique, triggering a new skill--Turtle Fist!]

[Diligent training can increase the progress of your fist technique; once progress reaches its maximum value, you may advance to the next sequence.]

[Advancement Sequence: Turtle Fist → Arrow Barrage → No Moves → Selflessness]

[Current Turtle Fist progress: 1/1000]

[Arrow Barrage]: Infinite rapid-fire strikes, force channeled through a spiral.

[No Moves]: Having no moves is superior to having moves; capable of breaking and neutralizing techniques, with divine intent taking precedence.

[Selflessness]: I am the fist, the fist is the Dao!

Joy spread across Chen Yan's face.

Grandfather, help me!

The art of combat has finally arrived!

While his heart was filled with wild joy, the people in the living room had their attention drawn by his sudden movements.

Seeing his little grandson's clumsy yet earnest demeanor, Du Chun was stunned at first, but then his eyes erupted with undisguised appreciation and extreme affection.

He couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh: "Hahaha! Good! Good!"

"To know how to imitate fist training at such a young age—my grandson is truly a natural-born martial arts prodigy!"

Du Shenyuan watched from the side with a gentle smile on his face, though a trace of imperceptible envy flickered deep in his eyes.

Like his sister, he had failed to inherit his father's martial arts talent.

Seeing his little nephew so spirited, he felt happy for him, yet could not help but feel a faint, lingering regret.

His mother, Du Qionghua, had eyes that shone with brilliance; she couldn't help but hug Liu Xin beside her, her tone a mix of pride and envy: "Look, Xinxin! Little Yan... he seems to especially love those gloves!"

Although his father, Chen Kefa, remained sitting straight, his handsome face maintaining its usual composure, the slightly upturned corners of his mouth and the proud gleam in his eyes betrayed his inner feelings.

His son, even in unconscious play, possessed an extraordinary air!

Thinking that he might one day become the father of a grandmaster, Chen Kefa couldn't help but hum to himself.