Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian-Please Keep Reading This Tuesday!

Time flew.

In the blink of an eye, the Year Sacrifice arrived.

Xu Chuan had also reached thirty, the age when a man stood firm.

The next day, a quarter past the hour of the snake.

Bai Jing's belly began to ache for no apparent reason. She was going into labor again.

"Dalong, Fugui, go fetch the midwife."

Xu Chuan had arranged it with the midwife long ago, asking her to keep these few days free.

The two men thought she walked too slowly, so they lifted her between them and rushed to the Xu Household. The speed frightened her so badly that her face went pale.

Then came—

Straining, struggling, and cries of pain.

Two or three double-hours later, the children were born safely.

This time, they were a girl and a boy.

The girl came first. She was named Xu Mingshu, and Xu Chuan gave her the nickname Xueji.

The boy was named Xu Mingxian, with the nickname Yunnu.

The years slipped by like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the two children's one-month celebration.

Bai Jing's relatives and friends, along with Uncle Chen and the others, came to celebrate.

They stayed until they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Xu Chuan entered the main room and took a drop of blood from each child's fingertip for the lineage register.

[Xu Mingshu: second generation of the Xu Household]

[Spiritual root: incomplete five elements; no aptitude for immortal cultivation]

[Talent: none]

[Bloodline: none]

[Note: her soul is twice as powerful as an ordinary person's, and she was born with keen spiritual perception]

"Her soul is twice as powerful as an ordinary person's, and she was born with keen spiritual perception. Little Xueji is gifted indeed."

"Perhaps Whispers of All Spirits would suit her. One day, she might be able to tame fierce beasts."

Next, Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingxian's information.

[Xu Mingxian: second generation of the Xu Household]

[Spiritual root: all five elements present; capable of cultivation; mixed spiritual root aptitude]

[Talent: Swallowing Mountains and Rivers]

[Bloodline: none]

[Note: all cultivators possess all five elements. Aptitude is divided into false spiritual roots, mixed spiritual roots, True Spiritual Roots, earth spiritual roots, and heavenly spiritual roots, primarily according to the purity of the spiritual roots.

Swallowing Mountains and Rivers: upon drawing qi into the body, the speed at which she recovers magical power will be several tenths faster than others. At its peak, it can be several times faster, giving her the power to truly swallow mountains and rivers]

"An aptitude for immortal cultivation!"

Wild joy spread across Xu Chuan's face.

At last, someone in the Xu Household had been born with an aptitude for immortal cultivation.

That meant the second generation might enter the world of immortal cultivators.

At the same time, a vast amount of knowledge surged into Xu Chuan's mind. Taken together, it formed a manual for the journey from mortal to immortal.

It was called the Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art.

The lineage register had bestowed this art upon the Xu Household after the birth of its first descendant with an aptitude for immortal cultivation.

It could only be practiced upon reaching the Xiantian realm of the Martial Way.

It could make up for missing elements and purify spiritual roots until they reached the level of True Spiritual Roots.

"From mortal to immortal—what an art!"

Xu Chuan wanted to throw back his head and laugh.

With this art, every generation of the Xu Household could have someone with an aptitude for immortal cultivation.

"No!"

Xu Chuan fought down his excitement, his chest heaving several times.

Then he tipped his head back and took a deep breath. His Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly exhaled, and his tense shoulders finally sagged.

"We can't draw too much attention. I'll bestow it only once someone in the second generation reaches Xiantian. From the third generation onward, the number of Household members will surge. I'll have to choose carefully before bestowing Fate Talents and arts."

In an instant, Xu Chuan had sketched out a rough plan for the Xu Household's future.

They would all be his descendants, but as generation followed generation, there would be too many to treat everyone equally.

He would have to distinguish the main line from the lesser lines, and direct descendants from collateral branches.

"Mingxian—I chose the right name for her!"

"And her Fate Talent, Swallowing Mountains and Rivers!"

"A born seed of immortal cultivation!"

Xu Chuan lifted her high in both hands, his eyes shining as he grinned.

The next instant—

Xu Mingxian began to wail. A warm stream shot from between her legs in a perfect arc, striking its target.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

"You little rascal!"

"You're the first of your five siblings to pee on me!"

"You've got some nerve!"

Xu Chuan gave a wry smile, brought the two children back to Bai Jing, then went to change his clothes.

With the Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art in hand, his plans for his second son, Xu Mingyuan, had to change. Even if he had to pour resources into the boy, he would get him to the Xiantian realm.

Everyone had their own selfish desires.

He did not care what happened with his great-grandchildren and the generations after them.

But for a son he had watched grow up, he could not help wanting him to live longer.

To stay with him longer.

The next day.

After Xu Chuan and Xu Mingwei finished their morning training, Xu Chuan suddenly said, "Shitou, starting today, make time to teach A Yuan martial arts."

"A Yuan?" Xu Mingwei froze. "Didn't you want him to go into business?"

"Tell him it's my order."

"We're not short of Inner Force Manuals now. There's the Little Dragon Elephant Art, the Flood Dragon Fist, the Savage Bear Force, and the manuals Zhao Dalong and the others wrote down from memory. Let him pick one."

"And keep up your own training. Reach Xiantian as soon as you can."

"When you do, I'll give you a great opportunity."

"Yes, Father." Xu Mingwei would not defy Xu Chuan, but after a moment's hesitation, he still asked, "What if... A Yuan doesn't want to?"

"Then he can't blame me for sending him to the Martial Arts Hall."

"If he trains properly at home, he'll have some freedom. At the Martial Arts Hall, he won't have a choice."

Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly. A Yuan, don't blame your big brother for not helping you. Father's orders are too hard to defy.

He could already picture Xu Mingyuan wailing about his misfortune when he heard the news.

After breakfast, Xu Chuan went out to inspect the fields and woods.

He checked how the fruits, vegetables, and fruit trees were growing.

Whenever he found a problem, he told the old farmers what to do.

By now, he rarely needed to do the work himself.

In his spare time, he found an open patch of ground and practiced the Little Dragon Elephant Art.

He had already opened thirty-two Apertures. With just four more, he would become a Third-Rate Martial Artist.

Once he added Medicinal Cuisine, his progress would surely be faster.

In the Xu Household courtyard.

"Wait, Big Brother. I have to practice martial arts? Father said so?"

After hearing Xu Mingwei out, Xu Mingyuan stood there stunned, as motionless as a stone statue.

"Wasn't I supposed to go into business?"

"Father didn't say you had to stop doing business. I think he wants you to do both."

At that, Xu Mingyuan's face turned the color of pig liver. He looked as miserable as could be.

"I still have to study and practice writing. This is too much."

Xu Mingxuan walked over. Seeing Xu Mingyuan's face, he pointed at him and cackled. "Second Brother, did you eat something bad? Your face looks awful!"

"Go on, little Charcoal Head. Go play with Li Zhi."

"Hmph. I was going anyway. I don't need you to play with me anymore." Xu Mingxuan pouted and headed for the front gate.

"That boy has no idea how miserable his own life will be."

Xu Mingyuan sighed and looked at Xu Mingwei. "Big Brother, my dear brother, can't you plead with Father for me?"

"I tried. It didn't work." Xu Mingwei calmly patted Xu Mingyuan's shoulder. "From Father's tone, I'd say every Xu descendant will have to practice martial arts from now on."

"Ah, I almost envy Daniu and Fangfang. At least Uncle Ergou isn't so strict with them." Xu Mingyuan groaned and grumbled.

"Father's doing this for our good," Xu Mingwei said earnestly.

"I know. I'm just complaining. If I really had to trade Father for another, I couldn't bear it."

Xu Mingyuan took a deep breath, resolve gathering in his eyes. "I'll train. I'll train seriously!"

"If only to prove a tiger father has no dog for a son!"

Seeing him like that, Xu Mingwei could not help laughing and shaking his head.

"It's only martial arts, not a battlefield. Why are you acting like you're marching to your death?"

"Now, pick one."

Xu Mingwei held several Inner Force Manuals spread out like a fan.

"Any recommendations?"

"Father said the Little Dragon Elephant Art demands greater aptitude. How about the Flood Dragon Fist instead? Uncle Li Er practiced it. He wasn't much good, but at least he can guide you through the basics himself."

"All right. The Flood Dragon Fist, then."

"Mm." Xu Mingwei smiled. He had finally carried out his father's instructions.

"Come on. Let's find Uncle Li Er."

Once Xu Mingyuan started practicing martial arts too,

there was one more figure in the Xu Household courtyard each morning.

Gradually,

Zhao Dalong, Sun Fugui, and Qian Youcai joined them.

If the Household's masters worked this hard, the least they could do was try to keep up.

For now, the Xu Household's holdings were not very large.

So they often had plenty of free time.

That included Zhou Ming.

He only occasionally ran errands for Xu Chuan and Bai Jing, contacted other people, kept the accounts, or offered advice.

He could see that the Xu Household had tremendous potential.

The good days were still ahead.