[Today's divination: Auspicious. You will diligently cultivate at Jade Cold Pool today and obtain a fortuitous opportunity]
"A fortuitous opportunity?"
This [Daily Divination] could only divine matters concerning himself. It had some use, but not much for him currently. However, asking this every day did continuously strengthen his soul power.
Xu Chuan didn't think much more about it and began today's diligent cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, it was already the hour of si.
Suddenly, fortune struck his heart. He sensed the power of heaven and earth around him. All the pores in his body seemed to open and breathe, and his apertures continuously attracted this heavenly and earthly power to surge into his body.
Crack, crack, crack~
All the bones in his body made strange sounds.
Then, black substances gradually seeped out from the surface of his skin.
This was a fortune that only occurred the first time one successfully drew qi into the body!
Half an hour later, Xu Chuan opened his eyes. His pupils lit up with a green glow, and joy appeared on his face.
"Innate, I've achieved it!"
"As expected, the influence of lifespan and bone structure is still very significant."
"With three great destiny talents, I only broke through to the innate realm approaching my fortieth year. If it were someone else who started practicing martial arts at twenty-five or twenty-six, being able to become a third-rate martial artist would already indicate excellent aptitude."
The younger one was, the easier it was to open acupoints and apertures.
After twenty, the difficulty of opening apertures increased level by level.
Smelling the strange odor on his body, Xu Chuan smiled freely.
He walked to Jade Cold Pool, removed all his clothing, and placed it on a large bluestone to the side then he leaped into the pond.
The icy cold pierced to the bone, making his whole body shiver. He quickly circulated his innate qi throughout his body, then enjoyed the ice-water bath as if taking an ordinary bath.
"Let me go down and look."
After a moment, Xu Chuan took a deep breath and dove down into the pond but the pond water was deeper than he imagined, and the consumption was greater. In the end, he gave up and surfaced.
"How strange and peculiar. Could there really be a rare fortuitous opportunity in this place?"
Xu Chuan pondered briefly, ultimately deciding to try again in the future.
"I haven't gone down the mountain for three months. I wonder how those little rascals are doing."
The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth held a thirty-percent smile. He walked with his hands behind his back, heading down the mountain.
"Family Head!"
"Family Head!"
All along the way, passing farmland and fruit groves, the patrolling guards and farmers in the fields all cupped their fists and saluted him.
This showed the Xu family had won people's hearts.
Some guards even ran quickly back to the Xu residence to report the news of his descent from the mountain.
The Xu family immediately became busy.
When the three brothers Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan heard this, they were pleasantly surprised.
Had Father descended from the mountain because he had broken through?!
Xu Mingwei knew most clearly the reason for Xu Chuan's mountain seclusion.
His heart was somewhat elated.
Our Xu family has a second innate martial artist!
"Ahyuan, Tantou, you two go to the main gate first to welcome Father. I'll go find Mother and your sister-in-law."
"Alright, elder brother." The two brothers smiled in response.
"The family head has returned—"
The voice rang out in courtyard after courtyard, and in a moment spread throughout the entire Xu residence.
"Ah, Father has come down from the mountain."
"Little White, let's go!"
Xu Mingshu immediately stopped practicing her fists, leaped onto the white tiger's back, and galloped toward the gate.
Xu Mingxian tread on the wind with his feet, also following closely behind.
"The Xu family head?"
Gu Yiping muttered to himself, his hands behind his back, also walking toward the main gate.
Soon after, Xu Mingwei, supporting Yang Ronghua, walked over slowly together with Bai Jing.
At this time, quite a few people stood at the main gate. Two rows of servants, maids, and guards filled the sides, with the Xu family masters in the middle.
"Such a grand spectacle."
Xu Chuan saw the mass of dark figures from far away. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, then he shook his head again.
Making such a fuss over coming down from a mountain.
When he walked to the entrance of the residence, Bai Jing walked over with tears brimming in her eyes. She lowered her head to wipe her tears, then said, "So you still know to come back."
"Were you lonely? I'll keep you company tonight." Xu Chuan laughed heartily.
"Still love to talk nonsense!" Bai Jing teased with a smile.
"Father! (x5)"
Xu Mingwei led the rest of his siblings forward, calling out in unison.
Xu Chuan nodded with a smile.
Xu Mingshu and Xu Mingxian were the first to run to his sides. Xu Mingxian was somewhat reserved, but Xu Mingshu directly embraced him.
They were still at the age for acting spoiled, but the others had already passed that stage.
"Acting as if we've been separated for years." Xu Chuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
His eyes brightened as he spotted Gu Yiping in the crowd. He stepped forward with a smile, "Hall Master Gu, I presume? Please forgive the spectacle."
"Such genuine emotion, what is there to laugh at? On the contrary, it makes me envious."
Seeing the scene of the Xu family members lining up to welcome Xu Chuan, Gu Yiping felt moved.
He had drifted for half his life and was still alone to this day.
"Everyone, go about your business."
"Yes, Family Head."
After the maids and servants respectfully saluted, they began to disperse.
"Let's go to the great hall to talk." Xu Chuan said.
"Ronghua and I will take a walk elsewhere." Bai Jing said with a light smile.
"Mm, don't tire her out."
"Do you need to remind me?"
After Bai Jing finished speaking, she returned to the rear residence with Yang Ronghua, while the rest all went to the Xu family's great hall.
"Father, your timing in coming down the mountain is perfect. In another half month, the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall will open." Xu Mingyuan said with a smile.
"With Hall Master Gu, this late-stage innate great master, presiding, there shouldn't be any problems."
"Shitou, when the time comes, you go support the occasion. We can't always trouble Hall Master Gu to personally take action everywhere."
"Yes, Father." Xu Mingwei nodded in agreement.
Then he looked toward Gu Yiping, inquiring about how he was faring at the Xu residence and whether there was anything lacking in the hospitality.
After several rounds of casual conversation, they went to the training ground.
Xu Chuan had Xu Mingwei examine each of his younger brothers and sisters.
Overall, Xu Chuan was still satisfied. They had all taken his words to heart and seriously devoted effort to martial arts.
As for Xu Mingyuan, "Ahyuan, if you don't work harder, Xueji and Yunnu are going to catch up to you."
"Father, I've already been working very hard."
Xu Mingyuan's face was full of bitterness. He knew he would become a key focus of attention.
"I don't mean to blame you." Xu Chuan smiled, "That the Xu family has what it has today, you deserve great credit. But in martial arts, you must also make progress."
"I don't want you to be the only one among your five siblings stuck at the peak of the Postnatal realm."
"Yes, Father." Xu Mingyuan lowered his eyebrows dejectedly, full of gloom.
If the wealthy merchants of Qingjiang County were to see Xu Mingyuan like this, they probably wouldn't believe this was that smooth-talking, high-spirited 'Xu Family God of Wealth.'
…
At night, Xu Chuan thoroughly compensated Bai Jing for several months of loneliness.
After the clouds and rain, Bai Jing lay in Xu Chuan's embrace, enjoying this moment of tranquility.
"Husband, during your mountain cultivation of martial arts this time, did you make a major breakthrough?"
Bai Jing traced small circles on Xu Chuan's chest with her finger.
"Wife, didn't you experience it yourself?"
The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth rose slightly as he looked down at her, his other hand wandering across her smooth back.
Bai Jing recalled the scene from just now, her face flushing red with heat.
She was now nearly forty years old, yet she was like a wolf or tiger. She felt she was being too uninhibited.
"Haha, we are husband and wife. What is there to be shy about in bedroom matters?"
"It's all husband's fault, having so many techniques. This wife doesn't know how husband thought them all up."
"Wasn't wife also very involved?"
Bai Jing's face grew even redder, and she said somewhat angrily, "If husband continues speaking like this, this wife will get angry."
"Hahaha, I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore."
Xu Chuan began to get serious, "After these several months on the mountain, your husband has finally broken through to become an innate martial artist."
"Ah!"
"Innate!"
Bai Jing naturally also knew the meaning of innate.
In all of Qingjiang County, innate martial artists could be counted on one's fingers.
She looked at Xu Chuan with complete disbelief, "Didn't husband only start cultivating martial arts at twenty-six? And you can still become an innate martial artist?"
"This shows your husband has exceptional talent."
Yes, in all aspects.
"However, there's no need to spread this news. Having one more trump card for the Xu family is also good."
"This wife is not one to gossip."
"I know." Xu Chuan kissed her forehead, "You're also tired tonight. Rest."
"We have plenty of time ahead."