After leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Lu Changfeng returned straight to the imperial capital.
When he pushed open the courtyard gate and walked inside, Xiao Xun'er was sitting in the courtyard basking in the sun. A smile immediately appeared on her face when she saw him return. "Brother Changfeng, you're back."
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng nodded and walked over, smiling as he stroked her head.
"I got all the medicinal ingredients. I'll start refining the pill shortly. This pill will be very beneficial for our future child. It can accelerate cultivation and make the child's foundation more solid."
Xiao Xun'er felt both happy and expectant at his words and nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Changfeng. You've only just returned, and you're already busy again."
Lu Changfeng waved a hand, then turned and entered the room to prepare to refine the pill.
The pill he was refining this time was slightly lower in grade than the last one. Its main purpose was to strengthen the fetus's constitution and the foundation of its meridians, so refining it was not particularly complicated. He lit the pill furnace and placed the medicinal ingredients inside one by one, precisely controlling the temperature of the flames with his soul power.
Before long, the pill was finished. Lu Changfeng walked out of the room with it and approached Xiao Xun'er, then handed it to her. "Take it. It'll be good for both you and the child."
After accepting the pill, Xiao Xun'er swallowed it without hesitation. Once it entered her stomach, a gentle wave of energy spread through her body.
She also felt a warm, comfortable sensation in her abdomen. The fetal movements became much calmer, and her whole body felt considerably more at ease. "Brother Changfeng, thank you."
At that moment, Xiao Xun'er looked up at Lu Changfeng, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Lu Changfeng reached out and pinched her cheek, teasing her with a smile. "Why are you thanking me? You're my woman, and the child in your belly is mine. Isn't this what I should be doing?"
His words instantly brought a blush to Xiao Xun'er's cheeks. She lowered her head and smiled a little bashfully. "That's true. I was being too polite with you, Brother Changfeng."
After saying this, she fell silent for a while, but the blush on her face only deepened.
Only after quite some time did she raise her head and cast a somewhat evasive glance at Lu Changfeng. "Brother Changfeng... although I can't satisfy you right now, if you'd like, you can touch my feet."
"I heard that massaging the soles during pregnancy is good for the fetus too."
Lu Changfeng froze for a moment when he heard this. Huh? This doesn't seem appropriate.
After all, Xiao Xun'er had such a large belly now. He kept feeling that doing something like this would be a little strange, though his gaze still instinctively flicked toward her feet.
Noticing his gaze, Xiao Xun'er curled her lips into a slightly mischievous smile, then gently raised her foot.
At some point, she had already taken off her socks, leaving her fair feet bare. Looking at the foot extended before him, Lu Changfeng felt a little awkward.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Xun'er could not help laughing and teasing him.
"Brother Changfeng, didn't you say you weren't interested? Then why do your eyes keep staring at my feet?"
Her words made Lu Changfeng even more embarrassed, but he still instinctively reached out and touched her foot.
It felt warm and smooth in his hand, quite pleasant to the touch. When he touched her foot, Xiao Xun'er's body trembled slightly, and her cheeks grew even redder.
So Lu Changfeng pretended nothing was amiss as he massaged her sole, thinking that he had just called it inappropriate, yet his hands were quite honest.
Xiao Xun'er leaned against the back of the chair with her eyes slightly closed, enjoying Lu Changfeng's massage, a sweet smile lingering on her lips.
The two remained like this for over an hour. Only when the sky gradually darkened did Lu Changfeng withdraw his hands. "All right, that's enough. Go back to your room and get some rest."
Hearing this, Xiao Xun'er nodded, stood up, and slowly returned to her room with a hand supporting her lower back. Only after watching her enter did Lu Changfeng turn and return to his own room.
After closing the door, he sat cross-legged on the bed, intending to cultivate for a while before resting. An unknown amount of time passed, and while he was immersed in comprehending the energy of heaven and earth, a system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Detected that the host is continuing to cultivate. Heaven-Defying Comprehension talent activated.] [Congratulations to the host on comprehending a Heaven Class cultivation method: Innate Dao Art.] [After cultivating this method, cultivation speed will be dozens of times that of an ordinary person. It also has an extremely powerful effect in stabilizing one's foundation.]
After seeing this notification, Lu Changfeng slowly opened his eyes, a look of surprise appearing on his face.
A Heaven Class cultivation method!
And one comprehended directly through the system at that!
Innate Dao Art-it sounds impressive. A cultivation speed boost of dozens of times-that effect is terrifying. I'm already a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, and my cultivation speed already far exceeds that of ordinary people. If I combine that with this Heaven Class cultivation method...
The more Lu Changfeng thought about it, the more he felt this was a good deal. He hurriedly closed his eyes and began studying the contents of the cultivation method he had just comprehended.
The cultivation principles of the Innate Dao Art unfolded bit by bit in his mind. The mental formulas for every level were incomparably clear. He circulated his Dou Qi once according to the method and immediately felt it flowing much faster through his body than before.
It felt as though he had originally been walking down a narrow path and had now gone straight onto a highway. Lu Changfeng nodded in satisfaction. The effects of this cultivation method were indeed good.
With the ability to create a Heaven Class cultivation method, he would have enough confidence to face Gu Yuan head-on even if the man came in person, and Gu Yuan would also have to regard him more highly.
With this thought, Lu Changfeng closed his eyes again and began devoting himself fully to comprehending and cultivating the Innate Dao Art. Meanwhile, Xiao Xun'er had already fallen asleep in the room next door, a faint, satisfied smile still on her lips.
Outside the courtyard, all was quiet save for the occasional chirping of insects. The entire residence lay immersed in the night, looking especially peaceful.
Faint fluctuations of Dou Qi came from Lu Changfeng's room. He was immersed in cultivating the Innate Dao Art, and as time passed, his understanding of the method deepened, while its circulation grew increasingly smooth.
By the time dawn approached, he had gained an initial grasp of the Innate Dao Art's introductory mental formula. A cultivation speed boost of dozens of times-the feeling really was addictive.
Lu Changfeng opened his eyes and stretched his limbs, feeling quite pleased.
At this rate, it would not be long before he could attempt to reach a realm above Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint, attaining strength around the Half-Step Dou Di level like Xiao Xuan. If not for the lack of Origin Qi between heaven and earth, even breaking through to Dou Di probably would not be a problem.
When that time came, whether it was the Gu Clan or any other force, he would have no need to fear them if they came.