Third-generation talents "Please keep reading"

"Dezhao—a gentleman esteemed virtue, his conduct shining clear."

"Zhao'er. That's a good name."

Xu Chuan laughed heartily and took Xu Dezhao into his arms, making cooing sounds to amuse him.

Xu Mingyuan and the others also took turns holding him.

Xu Dezhao's birth meant they were no longer the youngest generation in the household. They were elders now, too.

With a change in status, their outlook naturally began to change.

That day, Xu Chuan once again rewarded all the maids, servants, and guards with half a month's wages.

He wanted them to share in the happy occasion.

That night.

The stars were like ink, impossible to make out clearly.

Before long, a fine rain began to patter down from the sky.

"Husband, Shitou is already married and has a child. Shouldn't we consider A Yuan's marriage next?"

Nestled in Xu Chuan's arms, Bai Jing suddenly lifted her head to look at his face.

"I've already reminded him about it."

"Yes, but months have passed without any sign of progress."

A hint of grievance crept into Bai Jing's voice as she continued, "Didn't you say Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao intend to target our Xu Household?"

"I've made some inquiries. The Wu Household has a young lady in the bloom of youth, the second daughter of the third branch of the household head's line. I hear she's skilled in martial arts.

"If our households joined through marriage, we could settle A Yuan's lifelong affairs and make the Xu Household's position in Qingjiang County more secure. What do you think, husband?"

"I know you want what's best for A Yuan, but I still hope he can find someone he likes."

Bai Jing was immediately displeased. "Isn't it all your fault? You insist they keep themselves pure. They're all legitimate sons of a great lineage now, yet none of them even has a bedchamber maid. Otherwise, I would have been holding a grandchild long ago."

"And you put A Yuan in charge of such extensive lineage holdings at his young age, while urging him to practice martial arts diligently. When does he have time to find a wife?"

Xu Chuan could only smile wryly. Holding her close, he soothed her. "All right, all right. It's all my fault. We'll do as you wish. Go speak to A Yuan yourself."

"Thank you, husband." Once Xu Chuan agreed, Bai Jing's expression changed again. "Husband, shall I help you tonight?"

"I prefer to do it myself."

With that, he rolled over and climbed atop Bai Jing, and the phoenix and its mate tumbled together in passion.

Once Bai Jing was sound asleep, Xu Chuan summoned the genealogy.

The genealogy's third page had already formed, but it remained entirely blank. Xu Dezhao's information would only appear once he dripped his blood onto it.

Although there was no information yet, Xu Chuan could sense the fate talents that had emerged.

There were seven in total: [Shennong's Hundred Herbs], [Golden Koi], [Nine Palaces Dao Derivation], [Clear Sword Heart], [Qi-Blood Furnace], [Gale Chasing Lightning], and [Penetrating Insight].

"[Qi-Blood Furnace] is best suited to the martial way. [Gale Chasing Lightning] excels at comprehending movement techniques and footwork, allowing speed to soar."

"[Penetrating Insight] sees through people's hearts and peers straight into the essence of things. This talent can't be handed out carelessly."

"[Clear Sword Heart]—the path of the sword makes no distinction between the martial way and the immortal way. It suits both, but someone obsessed with the sword isn't suited to managing a household."

"[Shennong's Hundred Herbs]—someone with this fate talent excels at cultivation, understands the medicinal properties of every herb, and can even refine pills. It's quite a good fit for me."

Xu Chuan had studied farming since childhood. With [Heaven rewards diligence], he had become a master of agriculture and was likewise skilled at growing crops.

With [Shennong's Hundred Herbs] as well, he would surely be like a tiger given wings.

Knowing the medicinal properties of every herb would let him develop Medicinal Cuisine recipes better suited to supporting the martial way, adding to the lineage's foundations.

Once he became an immortal cultivator, he could also refine pills for the lineage.

"[Golden Koi]—an aura of good fortune. I'd better leave it for a child or grandchild."

Xu Chuan shook his head with a chuckle, feeling that he was being too greedy.

"[Nine Palaces Dao Derivation] excels at deducing formations. A great formation could become the foundation upon which a clan is founded. Unfortunately, it's still a little too early for the Xu Household."

The next day.

Bai Jing went to Xu Mingyuan's courtyard. He was already up, practicing martial arts there.

A servant stood to one side holding a sweat towel, while a maid held a cup of tea, waiting to serve it to Xu Mingyuan when he finished.

"Madam."

Seeing Bai Jing arrive, the servant and maid both bowed.

Hearing them, Xu Mingyuan stopped and turned to look, then smiled. "Mother, why are you here so early? Where's Father?"

"Practicing too. Look what he's taught this whole household to do. Every one of you gets up early to do this."

Bai Jing shook her head and sighed softly.

"Mother, Father leads by example, so naturally his sons follow suit. Surely you don't want us brothers to act like the young masters of Qingjiang County's aristocratic clans?"

"Of course not. I'm just grumbling. I came to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead, Mother."

"I've picked out the second daughter of the Wu Household Head's second branch for you. In a couple of days, I'll invite Madam Wu and the young lady to visit our Xu Household. You should meet her."

"You want me to meet the Wu Household's young lady as a prospective match?" Xu Mingyuan smiled wryly. "Mother, it's not as though you don't know the current relationship between the Wu Household and ours."

"It's precisely because I know that you should meet her. A marriage alliance would certainly ease relations between us, and settle your lifelong affairs into the bargain."

"Does Father know? He promised to let me find someone myself."

Xu Mingyuan could only invoke Xu Chuan, hoping to escape this ordeal.

"I knew you'd do that." The corners of Bai Jing's lips lifted in a triumphant smile. "I asked your father last night."

"But..."

"No buts. It's settled. I'll let you know when the time comes."

Bai Jing raised a hand to stop him. She knew how eloquent her second son was—his tongue could talk the dead back to life. If she let him speak, he would probably persuade her within a few sentences.

Bai Jing left Xu Mingyuan's courtyard without another word.

Flustered and upset, Xu Mingyuan abandoned his practice. He wiped off his sweat, took a sip of tea, and immediately went to find Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan was practicing the Five Elements Creation Art.

At the yin and mao hours, face east and swallow azure clouds; at si and wu, face south and drink cinnabar; at shen and you, face west and inhale white dew; at hai and zi, face north and sip dark ice; at chen, xu, chou, and wei, guard the Yellow Court.

This was the qi-gathering formula.

Absorb the five elements, mend the spiritual root's deficiencies, and perfect xiantian creation.

There were also inward visualization and resonance with the outer world.

Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, it never ceased.

"Father."

Xu Mingyuan came before Xu Chuan and bowed with his hands clasped. Xu Chuan neither stopped moving nor opened his eyes, merely asking mildly, "What is it?"

"With your intelligence, Father, you're asking a question you already know the answer to."

His voice sounded aggrieved.

Xu Chuan paid it no mind and said with a smile, "What harm is there in meeting her? You have only yourself to blame for being slow."

"How can feelings just appear on command? It takes fate."

"Exactly. And now fate has arrived."

"Your elder brother and sister-in-law fell for each other at first sight. Do you want to follow their example?"

"I..."

Xu Mingyuan opened his mouth, but could find no rebuttal.

Love at first sight was enviable, but if he truly insisted on it, he might not meet anyone even by his thirties or forties.

After all, he was busy with the lineage's holdings. Almost everyone he met outside was the head of some wealthy merchant household—a bunch of grown men. Could he really expect to fall in love at first sight with them?

"In your situation, meeting someone from a household of equal standing is the only option," Xu Chuan said. "As for feelings, you can marry first and fall in love afterward."

"Your mother and I did the same."

Xu Mingyuan actually found himself at a loss for words.

After a while, he let out a heavy sigh. "I can agree to meet her, but I have a condition. The final decision must be mine."

"Of course."

"Thank you, Father."

Having secured what he wanted, Xu Mingyuan went to Xu Mingwei's courtyard and told him about it as well.

Xu Mingwei laughed heartily. "Mother is doing this for your own good."

"The Wu Household really is a good choice."

"Even you say so, Elder Brother. Looks like there's no escaping it."

Xu Mingyuan spread his hands, left with no choice but to resign himself to his fate.