Bai Jing watched the retreating figures of the father and son and lightly spat, "Those two, so secretive and mysterious."
She turned and placed her hand on Yang Ronghua's abdomen, smiling broadly, "Never mind them. My eldest grandson is what matters most."
Yang Ronghua smiled shyly, "Mother, it's still early."
"Not early at all!" Bai Jing counted on her fingers, "Eight months of pregnancy passes in the blink of an eye. We must have the servants quickly prepare some swaddling clothes."
"Yesterday I saw that bolt of brocade in the storeroom, water-green base embroidered with intertwining lotus. It would be most suitable for making swaddling clothes for my grandson."
Yang Ronghua didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but her face also showed a trace of maternal love. She gently stroked her abdomen and sighed, "I only hope he can be as heroic as his father."
"Heroic for what?" Bai Jing shook her head with a smile, "Remember how Shitou was so mischievous as a child? Now his father has trained him to be as taciturn as a stone. It would be better if he were more cheerful."
Yang Ronghua's eyes sparkled, "Mother, would you tell me some interesting stories about my husband from his childhood?"
"Good, good, good. I'll tell you everything."
Inside the study, sandalwood incense curled upward, blue smoke winding through the window lattices in threads.
Xu Chuan's eyes gleamed as he looked at Xu Mingwei, "Shitou, what does breaking through to the innate realm feel like?"
Xu Mingwei smiled, "It's indescribably wonderful. In that instant, my spiritual platform became clear and empty, my heart like still water. I could sense heaven and earth's spiritual qi surrounding me. When drawing qi into my body, warm currents circulated through all my limbs and bones, extraordinarily comfortable."
Xu Chuan nodded with a slight smile.
"By the way, Father, our family has also collected two innate martial arts texts. The 'Black Tiger Secret Manual' can reach innate perfection, and the 'Heavenly Dragon Secret Manual' can reach early grandmaster stage. Which should your son choose?"
"Choose neither." Xu Chuan sipped his tea calmly, "Martial Dao is merely a transitional path. Immortal cultivation is the true way."
"Immortal cultivation?" Xu Mingwei smiled bitterly, "Your son is nearly twenty. Even if I have spiritual roots, I fear it's already too late."
"Whether you all have immortal cultivation aptitude, your father knows in his heart." Xu Chuan's eyes flashed with brilliance as he smiled faintly, "Among you brothers, only Yunnu possesses all five elements and can enter the immortal Dao."
"Yunnu can cultivate immortality?"
"Then Father, why don't you find a way for Yunnu to embark on the immortal Dao? As long as Yunnu becomes a cultivator, our entire family can benefit greatly."
"You think immortal cultivation is that simple? With the Xu family's current foundation, how could we support a cultivator?"
"It's better to take things one step at a time and wait for the right opportunity."
"Opportunity?"
Xu Mingwei's eyes showed doubt as he pondered.
"You don't need to concern yourself with this matter yet. For the Xu family, your father plans to have you brothers all take the path of entering Dao through martial arts."
"Entering Dao through martial arts?" Xu Mingwei was stunned, "Your son has never heard of this."
"This is the Xu family's greatest secret. Follow me to the ancestral hall. It's time to inform you of some secrets."
The ancestral hall was the Xu family's sacred ground.
Guards were always stationed there.
After entering, Xu Chuan opened a hidden door to reach a secret chamber.
There was a bookshelf here, sparsely holding several books, all martial arts texts the Xu family had collected. Within the secret chamber, there was also a hidden cabinet.
Xu Chuan took out a cultivation manual from inside and handed it to Xu Mingwei.
"Take a look. The content isn't much. Memorize it."
"'Innate Five Elements Creation Art'?"
Xu Mingwei began to read.
The first thing that met his eyes was the general principles.
[Five elements rotating generate creation, innate qi penetrates the primordial chaos. Form and spirit unite with dao to comprehend mysteries, return to origin and attain truth to verify longevity.]
"The liver serves as the wood palace storing spring intention, the heart acts as the fire palace containing summer spirit, the spleen transforms into the earth pivot stabilizing the four seasons, the lungs become the metal palace gathering autumn severity, the kidneys connect to the water abyss absorbing winter essence.
When the five qi converge at the origin, one can see the five organs manifest light wheels of green, red, yellow, white, and black, ultimately returning to the dantian mixed into a chaotic egg."
"How profound!"
"Inconceivable!"
"Father, this must be true immortal methods!"
Xu Mingwei's heart was tremendously shaken, stirring up huge waves.
He continued reading. Below were breathing methods, sensing formulas, and qi cultivation essentials.
The ultimate result of this cultivation method was transforming Postnatal into innate, completely converting innate true qi into a cultivator's magical power.
Completing the five element spiritual roots, then refining them, ultimately reaching true spiritual root aptitude.
"This technique's merit rivals creation itself and can only be cultivated at the innate realm."
"From the third generation onward, only geniuses may cultivate this technique."
"Those not in the know must not discuss it, including brothers, sisters, parents, children, and other close relatives. This is an oath that must be passed down through generations!"
Xu Mingwei's expression became solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Your son will remember this in his heart!"
"When this technique is cultivated to great completion, one can directly transition to immortal Dao cultivation, becoming a fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator, and can even quickly break through to sixth-layer Qi Refining."
Xu Chuan's tone shifted as he smiled lightly, "Of course, this path only applies to the current Xu family. When the clan truly grows strong and becomes an immortal cultivation family, then those in the clan with aptitude can enter the immortal Dao from childhood, while those with insufficient aptitude will enter Dao through martial arts."
Xu Mingwei nodded, indicating understanding.
"After you've memorized it, you may leave the ancestral hall. In a few days, I will announce that the Xu family's affairs will be temporarily managed by you, as a transition before you eventually take over as Xu family head."
"Then what about you, Father?"
"I'm going to stay at Jade Cold Pool to focus on breaking through to the innate realm."
"Your son understands and won't disturb Father with family mundane matters."
Xu Chuan patted his shoulder and turned to leave the secret chamber.
Returning to the study, silently reciting, the genealogy emerged from within his body and appeared before his eyes.
[Xu Mingwei: Xu Family Second Generation]
[Age: Nineteen]
[Spiritual Root: Incomplete Five Elements, no immortal cultivation aptitude]
[Talents: Innate Divine Strength, Eagle Eye]
[Bloodline: None]
[Realm: Early Innate Martial Artist]
"Now the Xu family's fortune is flourishing, full of vitality. The third generation offspring are about to be born. Presumably, more and stronger fate talents will emerge."
Xu Chuan's eyes were full of anticipation.
Two hours later, Xu Mingwei left the ancestral hall. After spending some time with Yang Ronghua, he began cultivating the 'Innate Five Elements Creation Art'.
Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian also went to visit Yang Ronghua.
"Sister-in-law, as soon as I returned, I heard you're with child. Am I going to be an aunt?"
Yang Ronghua smiled slightly, "That's right, so you need to be more steady."
Bai Jing smiled and shifted her gaze to Xu Mingxian, "Yunnu, you're going to be an uncle. Are you happy?"
Xu Mingxian also nodded, then said something that made Bai Jing both laugh and cry.
"I'm finally not the youngest in the family anymore."
…
Several days later.
Xu Mingyuan rushed back dusty and travel-worn from elsewhere.
Hearing this news, he was equally excited and hurried to visit the Xu Mingwei couple.
"Big Brother, I also have good news this time."
The Xu Mingwei couple and Xu Mingxuan all looked over curiously.
"Oh, tell us."
"The 'Innate Dragon Elephant Formula'."
Xu Mingyuan said with a smile, "At least a year, at most two years, and Big Brother, you'll definitely achieve the innate realm. The 'Innate Dragon Elephant Formula' is the follow-up cultivation method to the 'Lesser Dragon Elephant Technique'. It can be cultivated to grandmaster perfection and is the most suitable innate martial art for you."
Xu Mingwei hadn't informed everyone about his breakthrough to the innate realm.
This was a trump card. The fewer people who knew, the better.
As for the 'Innate Dragon Elephant Formula', Xu Mingwei also sighed inwardly with regret. What a pity he couldn't use it anymore but keeping it in the family to practice the martial techniques within it wouldn't be bad either.
"You obtained it?"
"Not yet, but there's news."
Xu Mingyuan sipped his tea and spoke eloquently, "A wealthy merchant from our county learned I was inquiring about this matter. Yesterday, upon returning from neighboring Liuyun County, he came to discuss with me, mentioning that a middle-aged martial artist was interested in selling the 'Innate Dragon Elephant Formula'."