Bai Jing watched Xu Chuan and his son leave, then clicked her tongue. "Those two, always being so secretive."
She turned and rested her hand on Yang Ronghua's belly, smiling warmly. "Never mind them. My eldest grandson is what matters most."
Yang Ronghua smiled bashfully. "Mother, it's still early."
"Not early at all!" Bai Jing counted on her fingers. "Eight months of pregnancy will pass in the blink of an eye. We must have the servants prepare swaddling clothes and little outfits right away."
"Yesterday, I saw a bolt of brocade in the storeroom, pale green with curling lotus vines embroidered on it. It couldn't be more perfect for my grandson's swaddling clothes."
Yang Ronghua did not know whether to laugh or cry, but tenderness softened her face. Stroking her belly, she sighed. "I only hope he'll be as brave and imposing as his father."
"What good is being imposing?" Bai Jing shook her head with a chuckle. "Shitou was such a little rascal when he was young. Now his father has disciplined him into being as stiff as a stone. I'd rather he were a little more cheerful."
Yang Ronghua's eyes sparkled. "Mother, would you tell me some amusing stories about my husband's childhood?"
"Of course, of course. I'll tell you everything."
Sandalwood incense curled through the Study, its wisps of blue smoke winding between the window lattices.
Xu Chuan looked at Xu Mingwei with burning eyes. "Shitou, what did breaking through to the xiantian realm feel like?"
Xu Mingwei smiled. "Wonderful beyond words. In that instant, my mind became clear and empty, my heart as still as water. I could sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth lingering around me. When I drew it into my body, warm currents coursed through every limb and bone. It felt utterly refreshing."
Xu Chuan nodded with a smile.
"By the way, Father, our household has collected two xiantian martial arts manuals. The Black Tiger Codex can take me to xiantian perfection, while the Heavenly Dragon Secret Codex can take me to early-stage grandmaster. Which should I choose?"
"Neither." Xu Chuan sipped his tea and said calmly, "The Martial Way is only a transitional path. Immortal cultivation is the true way forward."
"Immortal cultivation?" Xu Mingwei smiled bitterly. "I'm nearly twenty. Even if I had a spiritual root, I'm afraid it would already be too late."
"I know perfectly well which of you has the aptitude for immortal cultivation." A keen light flashed in Xu Chuan's eyes as he smiled faintly. "Among you brothers, only Yunnu possesses all five elements and can enter the Immortal Way."
"Yunnu can cultivate?"
"Then why haven't you found a way to set him on that path, Father? Once Yunnu becomes a cultivator, our entire household would benefit immensely."
"Do you think immortal cultivation is that simple? With the Xu Household's current resources, how could we afford to support a cultivator?"
"We're better off planting our feet firmly with each step and waiting for the right opportunity."
"The right opportunity?"
Confusion showed in Xu Mingwei's eyes, and he fell into thought.
"You needn't concern yourself with that yet. As for the Xu Household, I intend for you brothers to enter the Dao through martial cultivation."
"Enter the Dao through martial cultivation?" Xu Mingwei was astonished. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"This is the Xu Household's greatest secret. Come with me to the Ancestral Hall. It's time you learned some of our secrets."
The Ancestral Hall was a vital stronghold of the Xu Household.
It was guarded at all times.
After entering, Xu Chuan opened a hidden door and stepped into a secret chamber.
Inside stood a bookshelf holding a scattering of books, all martial arts manuals collected by the Xu Household.
Within the secret chamber was yet another concealed compartment.
Xu Chuan took a cultivation manual from it and handed it to Xu Mingwei.
"Read it. There isn't much to it. Memorize everything."
"The Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art?"
Xu Mingwei began leafing through it.
The first thing that met his eyes was the general outline.
[The five elements turn, giving birth to creation; a single breath of xiantian qi threads through primordial vastness.
Body and spirit unite with the Dao to fathom its mysteries; return to the source and the true self to attain eternal life.]
"Let the liver be the palace of wood, harboring spring's vitality; let the heart be the palace of fire, holding summer's spirit; let the spleen become the pivot of earth, anchoring the four seasons; let the lungs form the towers of metal, gathering autumn's solemnity; let the kidneys connect to the depths of water, receiving winter's essence.
When the five qi return to the origin, wheels of green, red, yellow, white, and black light will emerge from the five organs, finally returning to the dantian and merging into an egg of primordial chaos."
"How profound!"
"Unthinkable!"
"Father, these must be the true methods of immortals!"
Xu Mingwei was shaken to his core, towering waves surging through his heart.
He continued reading. The pages that followed contained breathing methods, sensing formulas, and qi-refining essentials.
The ultimate outcome of this cultivation method was to transform houtian into xiantian, converting all of one's xiantian true qi into a cultivator's magic power.
It would complete the five elements spiritual root, then purify it until it ultimately reached the quality of a true spiritual root.
"This cultivation method fathoms the mysteries of creation. Only those in the xiantian realm can practice it."
"From the third generation onward, none but geniuses may practice this cultivation method."
"You must not discuss it with anyone who is not already privy to it, including your closest kin—siblings, parents, and children. This is an oath that must be passed down through every generation!"
Xu Mingwei's expression grew solemn. "I will engrave it in my heart!"
"Once you master this cultivation method, you can directly switch to the Immortal Way and become a cultivator at the fifth layer of qi refining. You may even break through to the sixth layer of qi refining very quickly."
Xu Chuan shifted the subject, smiling faintly. "Of course, this path only suits the Xu Household as it is now. Once our lineage truly grows strong and becomes an immortal-cultivating lineage,
those with sufficient aptitude will be able to enter the Immortal Way from childhood, while those whose aptitude is lacking will enter the Dao through martial cultivation."
Xu Mingwei nodded to show that he understood.
"Leave the Ancestral Hall only after you've memorized it. In a few days, I'll announce that you will temporarily manage the Xu Household's affairs. Consider it a transition toward your eventual succession as Xu Household head."
"What about you, Father?"
"I'll stay near the Jade-Cold Pool for a while and devote myself fully to breaking through to xiantian."
"I understand. I won't let the lineage's mundane affairs disturb you, Father."
Xu Chuan patted his shoulder, then turned and left the secret chamber.
Back in the Study, he silently summoned the Clan Genealogy. It emerged from his body and appeared before his eyes.
[Xu Mingwei: Xu Household Second Generation] [Age: Nineteen] [Spiritual Root: Incomplete five elements, no aptitude for immortal cultivation] [Talents: Natural divine strength, eagle eye] [Bloodline: None] [Cultivation Realm: Early-stage xiantian martial artist]
The Xu Household's fortune is flourishing now, brimming with vitality. The third generation will soon be born. Surely even more, and stronger, fate talents will emerge.
Xu Chuan's eyes were filled with anticipation.
Xu Mingwei left the Ancestral Hall two hours later. After returning and spending some time with Yang Ronghua, he began practicing the Xiantian Five Elements Creation Art.
Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian also went to visit Yang Ronghua.
"Sister-in-law, as soon as I got back, I heard you were expecting. Am I going to be an aunt?"
Yang Ronghua smiled faintly.
"Yes, so you'll have to be a little more composed."
Bai Jing smiled, then turned her gaze toward Xu Mingxian. "Yunnu, you're going to be an uncle. Are you happy?"
Xu Mingxian nodded as well, then said something that left Bai Jing unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"I finally won't be the youngest in the household."
Several days later.
Xu Mingyuan hurried back from out of town, travel-worn and dusty.
Upon hearing the news, he was equally excited and rushed to visit Xu Mingwei and his wife.
"Eldest Brother, I've brought some good news this time too."
Xu Mingwei, his wife, Xu Mingxuan, and the others all looked over curiously.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"The Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art."
Xu Mingyuan said with a cheerful smile, "In one year at the earliest, two at the latest, you'll surely reach xiantian, Eldest Brother. The Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art is the continuation of the Little Dragon Elephant Art. It can take you all the way to grandmaster perfection. It's the xiantian martial art best suited to you."
Xu Mingwei had not told the others that he had broken through to xiantian.
It was a hidden trump card. The fewer people who knew, the better.
As for the Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art, Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly. Unfortunately, he no longer had any use for it.
Still, adding it to the household's collection and practicing the martial techniques within it would be worthwhile.
"You obtained it?"
"Not yet, but I have a lead."
Xu Mingyuan sipped his tea and spoke with easy confidence. "A wealthy merchant in our county knew I was asking about it. Yesterday, after returning from neighboring Liuyun County, he came to speak with me. He mentioned that a middle-aged martial artist was interested in selling the Xiantian Dragon Elephant Art."