In Pine Mist City, the rear courtyard of the Chen Clan Mansion.
Chen Xiâs entire body was covered in bandages as he crawled up on the bed within a spacious and elegant room, and heâd finally awoken after being unconscious for two months.
After experiencing a struggle for life and death, the space between his brows was covered with a composed and collected expression now, and as his eyes opened and closed, his gaze was deep and carried along a trace of a unique unrestrained feeling.
Actually, his body that seemed to be tall and emaciated wasnât weak in the slightest. His muscles that had their outline drawn out from the bandages that coiled around him tightly were clearly defined and angular, as if they was made from iron, and they were filled with an indescribably explosive force.
After limping two steps in the room, Chen Xi was already panting for breath, and these were scenes of extreme loss of vital energy and blood and the injury of oneâs quintessence, yet he shook his head and didnât feel much depression in his heart.
The medicinal strength of the Sky Jadeliquid pill was too overbearing and powerful, and heâd swallowed two successively, causing the meridians in his entire body to practically shatter inch by inch. Even his Dantian had suffered a heavy injury, causing it to be empty and dried up without the slightest bit of True Essence.
Fortunately, the damage to his Dao Foundation wasnât serious, and so long as he slowly recuperated, he could completely recover. He planned to let another two days pass and wait for his body to almost recover before going into closed door cultivation to repair his Dao Foundation.
Chen Xi pushed open the room door and arrived in the courtyard.
This courtyard wasnât any different to the courtyard in an ordinary personâs house; its surroundings were filled with verdant and luxuriant plants, and there was even a flower garden at the side that was filled with a few dozen types of extremely delicate and charming flowers. Amongst them included a few types of camellias that were a beautiful blood red color, and they seemed extremely like Red Spider Lilies, the Paramita Flowers.
Groups of blue, yellow, and azure butterflies fluttered gracefully amongst these flowers, and they were indescribably lively and charming under the sunlight, causing everything in the surroundings to become tranquil and beautiful.
Chen Xi extremely enjoyed this type of feeling, as it had been very long since heâd felt so tranquil like this. Since he was young, every single moment was a race against time. Supporting his family, taking care of his grandfather, providing for Chen Hao to go to school and practice in the sword⌠Everything relied on the support from the tiny bit of spirit stones he earned from crafting talismans. Even though these days were hard, yet they were smooth and steady. But after heâd obtained the jade pendant and the Abode, his fate started to become turbulent.
Participating in the Southern Barbaric Nether Domain trials, entering into the depths of the Southern Barbaric Mountain Range, being chased after to the Oceanic Desert, participating in the Hidden Dragon Rankings⌠Every single experience was filled with slaughter and blood, and killing intent and danger was buried within them. That feeling was as if he was a fugitive seeking for refuge in the world, wandering from place to place without a home to settle down, causing his nerves to be tense all the time as he stayed vigilant against various dangers that might arrive.
This feeling was extremely tiring.
Yet now, as he sat upright in the Chen Clan courtyard that belonged to him, in his dazed state, he felt he had a place to settle down. This feeling caused him to feel peaceful from inside to outside, and it felt comfortable.
Chen Xi stood before the flower garden as he lightly sighed in his heart.
He knew that this peacefulness was only temporary to him, and only by working hard to cultivate and becoming stronger would he be able to guarantee that the entire Chen Clan would be peaceful. Only by becoming even stronger could he allow the Chen Clan to rise slowly in peace and stability, and establish a clan that remained eternal.
Instantly, Chen Xiâs heart became firm once more as his path was bound to never be peaceful.
Crack!
The entrance to the courtyard that wasnât locked was opened, and Chen Hao walked in.
âBrother, how are you feeling now?â Chen Hao felt extremely happy as well when he saw his older brother standing before the flower garden while filled with spirit. After his big brother woke up a few days ago, heâd completely heaved a sigh of relief, and he was now concerned about when his older brotherâs body would recover completely.
Chen Xi smiled. âItâs alright, I just wanted to look for you.â
Chen Haoâs brows raised and asked. âFor what?â
âYour birthday is in another few days, right? I have a present to give you.â Chen Xi smiled, and as he spoke, an iron sword had appeared in his hand. The swordâs body contained extremely vast Righteous Dao Insight and glowed faintly as if a long river of history flowed within it and recorded the changes and turmoil in the mortal world.
âI obtained this sword from the Baleful Fiend Burial Grounds, and it ought to be a divine weapon of the Confucianist Sects of ancient times. The Righteous aura on it is vast like the ocean, and it just happens to be suitable to your Righteous Sword Dao.â Chen Xi had already passed the iron sword over as he spoke.
Chen Hao received the sword, yet didnât inspect it impatiently. Unknowingly, a few tears had appeared in the corners of his eyes. Never had he imagined that even after so many years and when even he was about to forget his own birthday, his older brother still remembered, and Chen Xi had even taken the trouble to prepare a present for him.
This caused him to recall his youth. Due to his familyâs financial situation being impoverished, his family lived in extremely hard circumstances. But no matter what, every time his birthday arrived, his older brother would prepare a present for him as if performing a magic trick. Even though they were only some small toys, yet heâd always remembered it until now.
Most saddening to him was that his older brother had never celebrated his own birthday, not even once, and it was even to the point that even he didnât remember exactly when his older brotherâs birthday was.
Chen Hao wasnât a person that like to shed tears, conversely, besides when he was before his grandfather and Chen Xi, heâd never shed tears during all these years, no matter how great a setback or suffering he encountered.
Yet now, he just felt like crying. He felt as if he was still a little child before his older brother and was protected by his older brother in every aspect, and all the suffering was endured by Chen Xi alone, whereas, he himself instead sat idly by and enjoyed the fruits of Chen Xiâs suffering.
âQuickly test the might of this sword.â Chen Xi patted Chen Haoâs broad and firm shoulders, and only now did he notice that Chen Hao was already as tall as him.
âThereâs no need. A present given to me by you is the most precious in the world to me, and even an Immortal Artifact canât compare to it.â Chen Hao carefully put away the iron sword and smiled.
Chen Xi went silent as heâd heard these words many times. When he was young, Chen Hao would say this every single time he gave Chen Hao a present. Yet never had he imagined that now when Chen Hao was so old, Chen Hao would still be like a child, and it caused him feel both emotional and reminiscent in his heart.
âFather.â Right at this moment, a clear and childish voice sounded out abruptly from the entrance to the courtyard.
Chen Xi was stunned, and when he raised his eyes to look, he saw a little fellow around the age of one that had a strong appearance stumbling as he stood by the side of the entrance, whereas, Feng Lengcui was standing by the little fellowâs side with a smile on her face.
âThis is your son?â Chen Xi looked at his younger brother with a gaze filled with shock.
âI forgot to tell you. Lengcui was already pregnant when we left the Wanderingcloud Sword Sect, and she gave birth to Yuâer not long after we returned to Pine Mist City.â Chen Hao rubbed his head and spoke slightly embarrassedly.
âChen Yu?â As he muttered, Chen Xi couldnât endure his pleasant surprise any longer, and he started laughing heartily as he opened his arms as spoke to the little fellow. âYuâer, come, let your Uncle hug you!â
The little fellow blinked his eyes and was obviously slightly afraid of this Uncle that was covered in white colored bandages, and he indecisively looked towards his mother beside him.
âQuickly go over! Thatâs your Uncle. Yuâer, you must remember to listen to your Uncle.â Fei Lengcui smiled gently as she encouraged little Chen Yu.
âMmm, Yuâer will obey Mother.â The little fellow nodded as his little feet stumbled along to walk towards Chen Xi in a slanted manner. He wasnât even one year old after all, so he walked unsteadily, and coupled with him walking in a slight rush, he tripped when he was just about to arrive by Chen Xiâs side. Instantly, he fell forward, scaring him to the point he instantly closed his eyes.
But in the next moment, the little fellow was already embraced by a pair of large hands. It was Chen Xi whoâd tightly embraced the little fellow in his arms, and he smiled to the point his eyes narrowed to become two lines as he spoke repeatedly without end. âYuâer, good Yuâer. My Chen Clan has a worthy successor. Grandfather will sure be happy if he knows about this in the netherworldâŚâ
âUncle, thereâs so much blood on you.â Little Chen Yu pointed at the bloodstains that tainted the bandages and said seriously, âMy Father said that men bleed but do not shed tears. After I grow up, I want to be just like Uncle and bleed a lot of blood, yet absolutely not shed tears.â
The little fellows completely mistaken way of expressing himself caused Chen Xi to laugh loudly, and he liked this strong looking little fellow even more. With a thought in his heart, he withdrew a medicinal pill. âYuâer, this is a present Uncle has for you. Promise Uncle that youâll eat it after you grow up, alright?â
This medicinal pill was the size of little Chen Yuâs fist, completely crystalline and translucent. Numerous dazzling divine lights gushed about within it, and there were even numerous faintly discernible dragon roars sounding out from within it. It was precisely the Dao Insight Origin Pill that contained the Grand Dao of Earth.
Chen Hao and Fei Lengcui were greatly shocked when they saw this medicinal pill, and they were in disbelief. âThis is a Dao Insight Origin Pill? Big Brother, this is too precious. This wonât do, you canât give this present to him.â
Both of them hurriedly refused Chen Xiâs gift. The value of a Dao Insight Origin Pill was absolutely beyond estimation. Moreover, it was a rare treasure that could only be chanced upon by luck. So how could they agree when they saw Chen Xi wanted to gift this thing to their son that wasnât a year old?
âYuâer, do you like it?â Chen Xi disregarded them instead and asked the little fellow directly.
âI like it. Itâs like candy, yet candy isnât as big and beautiful as this.â Little Chen Yuâs eyes flickered as he looked curiously at the numerous lights that flowed endlessly on the surface of the Dao Insight Origin Pill, and he felt it was extremely interesting.
âThen Iâll give you this candy, alright?â Chen Xi grinned.
âThis wonât do. Father told me that there are no gains without pains. Yuâer canât accept this candy.â Little Chen Yu obviously coveted it extremely, yet he tilted his head to ponder deeply for a long time before shaking his head and refusing in the end.
âAlright, then help Uncle massage his shoulders, and youâll have rendered service to me. Then this candy is yours. How about it?â Chen Xi did indeed like this little fellow too much. During the period he embraced the little fellow, heâd already more or less understood the little fellowâs foundation and natural talent, and it was absolutely the very best. So long as the little fellow cultivated diligently in the future, he would be an extraordinary young talent as well.
Little Chen Yu didnât hesitate any longer and swung his tiny fists to help massage his Uncleâs shoulder, and his expression was extremely serious, causing him to be indescribably cute in Chen Xiâs eyes.
After teasing the little fellow for a while, Chen Xi passed him over to Fei Lengcui and let her carry him out of the courtyard.
âBrother, that Dao Insight Origin Pill is too precious, yet youâve given it to him just like that, thisâŚâ Chen Hao still felt that it wasnât proper and spoke out.
Before Chen Hao could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Chen Xi. âDo you know how those genius figures that are famous in the world are fostered? All of them had the sects and clans behind them utilized various medicines while they were young to help clear the impurities within their bodies and develop their bodies, allowing them to establish a solid foundation thatâs beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Only in this way would they be able to advance vigorously in their cultivation and leave everyone else far behind them. My actions of giving this Dao Insight Origin Pill to Yuâer is nothing.â
Chen Hao opened his mouth yet didnât say anything further as heâd already discerned that his older brother had made up his mind, and continuing to advise Chen Xi was of no use.
The two brothers chatted for a while more, and then Chen Hao bid his farewells and allowed Chen Xi to rest properly when he saw a wisp of exhaustion gush into appearance between Chen Xiâs brows, whereas, he himself had instead gone to deal with some matters of the clan.
Chen Xi nodded in his heart as he looked at Chen Haoâs figure that left hastily. Heâd already discerned that Chen Hao already possessed the ability to undertake responsibility on his own, and coupled with the Grand Qi Atomic Sword Formation that protected the clan. So long as it wasnât an Earthly Immortal Realm expert that invaded the Chen Clan, the formation was sufficient to deal with everything.
âPerhaps I can leave with my heart at ease once my strength recoversâŚâ Chen Xi pondered for a long time before walking back into his room, and then he sat cross-legged on the bed and a jade slip that was coiled in golden light was placed before him.
Even though he was temporarily unable to cultivate, yet he could seize this opportunity so comprehend some cultivation techniques, whereas, this cultivation technique jade slip before his eyes was shockingly the Half-step Dao Grade martial technique from Qian Yuanâs Treasure Vault â The Grand Obliteration Fist!