12: Good fortune descends from heaven

"Little Moon Sister and I are both pregnant."

Zhao Linger's face was flushed with happiness.

Chen Xu was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.

He hadn't expected happiness to come so quickly, and a double blessing at that.

Ten months later, Zhao Linger gave birth to a boy, the thirteenth child of the Chen Family.

The System notification sounded promptly.

"[Detected that the host has given birth to the eleventh descendant, Bloodline assessment: Yellow Grade High Grade.]"

"[Immortal Clan prosperity increased, rewards issued: One, host's lifespan increased by one hundred years; Two, host's Cultivation Aptitude improved.]"

Another half month passed, and Sun Xiaoyue also had a smooth delivery, giving birth to her first child.

It was also the fourteenth child of the Chen Family,

A delicate, jade-like baby girl.

When Chen Xu held this descendant, born of a former Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivator, in his arms, his heart was filled with anticipation.

"[Detected that the host has given birth to the twelfth descendant, Bloodline assessment: Yellow Grade High Grade.]"

"[Immortal Clan prosperity increased, detected that a new Dao Companion has given birth to the first high-quality Bloodline, special rewards issued!]

"[One: Host's lifespan increased by eighty years!]

"[Two: Awarded a set of High Grade Formation, the Inverting Five Elements Array!]

"[Three: Host's Cultivation Aptitude greatly improved!]"

Inverting Five Elements Array!

This was a High Grade Formation that integrated offense and defense. Once deployed, it could invert the Five Elements, disrupt the universe, and create its own heaven and earth.

Not to mention Qi Refining Cultivators, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators who fell into it.

If they didn't understand Formations, they couldn't easily escape.

This was simply a treasure tailor-made for him, the Family Guardian!

For the next half year, Chen Xu devoted all his energy to studying the Inverting Five Elements Array.

He took out the Spirit Stones sent by the Zhao Family and his own accumulated savings, purchasing a large number of Formation Flags and Formation Materials.

Using the entire Chen Family Courtyard as its Foundation, he deduced day and night, constantly experimenting.

Finally, after expending nearly a thousand Spirit Stones, he successfully deployed this grand Formation.

The moment the Formation activated, the entire Chen Family Courtyard seemed to be isolated from the outside world.

From the outside, the courtyard still looked like the same courtyard, but stepping even one foot wrong would lead one into an endless illusion.

The Five Elements forces of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth circulated, mutually generating and restraining each other, possessing infinite power.

With Chen Xu's current cultivation, though he could only unleash less than fifty percent of this Formation's power, it was enough to make the entire Chen Family Courtyard impregnable.

From then on, this would be his true place of refuge.

Time flew by, and another five years passed in a blink of an eye.

During these five years, the Chen Family Courtyard had continuous joyous events.

Bu Yifan, Zhao Linger, and Sun Xiaoyue successively gave birth to three more children for Chen Xu, bringing the total number of Chen Family descendants to seventeen.

Each birth brought generous rewards to Chen Xu.

His lifespan cumulatively increased by nearly six hundred years.

His Spiritual Root Aptitude steadily improved, now infinitely close to Profound Grade Medium Grade.

In one reward, he also obtained a complete set of "Elementary Talisman Interpretation."

Relying on the Comprehension Ability improved by the System.

He quickly mastered the method of drawing Low-Grade Talismans.

The Qi Gathering Talismans he drew could increase the Cultivation speed of Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivators by ten percent.

The Vajra Talismans he drew could withstand a full-strength attack from a Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

He sold these Talismans through the Spring Return Pavilion's channels to the Prefecture City market.

Each Talisman could sell for anywhere from several to over a dozen Spirit Stones.

In just a few years, by selling Talismans, Chen Xu earned a massive fortune of over ten thousand Spirit Stones for his Family.

The Chen Family, from a wealthy household in Ninghai Town, soared to become a Cultivation Family quite renowned even in Shangya Prefecture City.

His eldest son, Chen Ping, though without a Spiritual Root, was astute and skilled in management. Under Chen Xu's guidance and the Zhao Family's assistance, he managed the Family's Mortal industries in an orderly fashion.

He became a famous wealthy merchant in Shangya Prefecture City.

This year, Chen Ping was getting married. The bride was the only beloved daughter of the Shangya Prefecture Governor.

The wedding was extremely grand. Almost all the prominent figures in the Prefecture City were present.

At the wedding, Chen Ping, with his bride, came to the main table to toast his parents.

"Father, Mother, your son toasts you."

Chen Xu and Bu Yifan rose with smiles.

However, when the guests' gazes fell upon Chen Xu and Bu Yifan's faces, the entire boisterous wedding hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone showed expressions of disbelief.

Chen Xu was now almost eighty years old, and Bu Yifan was also over seventy.

But the two people standing there showed no signs of age at all?

Chen Xu's face was firm, his black hair like ink, looking like a robust man in his thirties.

Bu Yifan's skin was even more delicate, her figure graceful, her charm undiminished from her youth, as if she were only in her early thirties.

Standing next to their twenty-something son, Chen Ping, they looked less like father and son, mother and son, and more like Elder brother and sister-in-law.

"Heavens... Heavens, Old Master Chen and Madam Chen... how come they haven't aged at all?"

"I saw Old Master Chen ten years ago, and he looked exactly like this. Now he still looks the same!"

"Immortals, these must be Immortals!"

The guests erupted, their gazes at Chen Xu and his wife changing from initial shock to awe and fanaticism.

The news that the Chen Family had an Immortal Master guarding it spread like wildfire.

It spread throughout the entire Shangya Prefecture overnight.

A year later, joyful news came from the Governor's Mansion: Chen Ping's wife gave birth to a chubby baby boy for the Chen Family.

Chen Xu became a grandfather.

He held the tiny, wrinkled grandson in his arms, his heart filled with emotion.

This was a completely different feeling from holding his own children; it was the joy of Bloodline continuation.

And just then, the System's voice also sounded in his mind.

"[Detected that the host's descendant has given birth to a child, Immortal Clan prosperity slightly increased.]"

"[Issuing Bloodline continuation reward: Host's lifespan increased by one year.]"

"[Hint: Rewards provided by non-host's biological children will significantly decrease based on the closeness of the blood relationship.]"

Lifespan increased by one year?

Chen Xu was slightly startled, then understood.

He looked at his grandson in his arms, then at his ten children playing in the courtyard, and his three wives, his heart clear.

Time flew by, and several years had passed since Chen Ping's grand wedding.

During these years, the Chen Family Courtyard in Ninghai Town became increasingly unfathomable.

The Mortals in the town only knew that the Chen Family was immensely wealthy and that the Family Head, Chen Xu, had an Immortal Opportunity, his appearance never aging.

As for the Cultivator circles in Shangya Prefecture City.

The Chen Family was a Cultivation Family quietly rising.

All of this stemmed from the continuous stream of Disciples the Chen Family sent to the Qingyun Sect.

Chen Xu's children, all those with Spiritual Roots, would be personally sent by him to the Qingyun Sect when they reached the appropriate age.

Relying on their solid Foundation and excellent Aptitude, far surpassing their peers.

Without exception, they could all easily pass the assessment and become Outer Sect Disciples.

To this day, the Chen Family already had five children Cultivating in the Qingyun Sect.

The earliest to join, his second daughter Chen Nianfan, was now twenty-five years old. With the aid of numerous Medicinal Pills, her cultivation had reached Qi Refining seventh layer, making her a minor expert among Outer Sect Disciples.

But what truly made the Chen Family stand out in the Qingyun Sect was Chen Xu's tenth son, Chen Daoxuan.

He was the first child born to Zhao Linger, possessing a Profound Grade Medium Grade Bloodline Aptitude.

Now seventeen years old, his cultivation had astonishingly reached Qi Refining twelfth layer Great Perfection!

He was just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Such talent, even among the geniuses gathered in the Qingyun Sect's Inner Sect, was enough to cause a sensation.

Many Elders paid close attention to him, and there were even rumors that as long as he successfully established his Foundation.

Inner Sect Elders would immediately vie to take him as a Personal Disciple.

This day, in front of the Chen Family Courtyard.

A familiar farewell scene was playing out again.

"Zhiyuan, when you reach the Sect, you must listen to your older brothers and sisters and not cause trouble, understand?"

Sun Xiaoyue's eyes were red as she carefully tidied the collar of her thirteen-year-old son's clothes.

This child was her second son with Chen Xu, named Chen Zhiyuan, and his Aptitude also reached Yellow Grade High Grade.

"I know, Mother, I'm not a child anymore."

Chen Zhiyuan said, holding his head high, feigning maturity.

But a hint of nervousness and excitement for the unknown path still showed in his eyes.

Bu Yifan and Zhao Linger also stood by.

With gentle smiles on their faces.

"Little Moon Sister, don't worry. Dao Xuan is a steady child; he'll take good care of his younger brother."

Bu Yifan said with a comforting smile.

She was now nearly eighty, but time seemed to favor her exceptionally. Under the long-term nourishment of beauty-preserving pills and Chen Xu's spiritual power, she still looked like a woman in her thirties, her charm even greater than before.

Zhao Linger also echoed: "Yes, Nianfan often writes back. With them taking care of things in the Sect, nothing will happen."

Chen Xu stood by, watching this harmonious scene, his heart filled with peace.

He was now over eighty, but his appearance seemed almost unchanged from twenty years ago.

His black hair was like ink, his eyes deep, only his temperament grew more steady.

Like a majestic, unmoving mountain.

Over the years, with the successive births of a dozen children, the System's rewards had never ceased.

His lifespan had long exceeded a thousand years.

His Spiritual Root Aptitude had even been forcibly raised to High Grade Profound Grade!

This Aptitude already surpassed that of his most outstanding son, Chen Daoxuan.

If this news were to spread, it would be enough to shake the entire Qingyun Sect.

"Alright, it's getting late, we should depart now."

Chen Xu spoke, his voice steady.

He took Chen Zhiyuan's hand and, watched by his wife and children, walked out of the courtyard.

A flash of sword light shot into the sky and vanished into the horizon... Below Qingyun Mountain, it was as crowded as ever.

Chen Xu took Chen Zhiyuan and, with practiced ease, completed the registration before entering the assessment grounds.

For the children of the Chen Family, the Qingyun Sect's entrance examination no longer posed any difficulty.

The first test was Spiritual Root measurement. Chen Zhiyuan's High Grade Yellow Grade Aptitude made the deacon in charge of the test's eyes light up.

He immediately made a special mark on the roster.

The second test was the Illusory Heart Path. Chen Xu had used his Divine Sense since childhood to temper his children's Heart-Nature, so Chen Zhiyuan walked through this illusionary trial with ease.

The third test was Comprehension Ability. Given a fragmented Qi Gathering cultivation method, Chen Zhiyuan only took one stick of incense to fully comprehend it and draw Qi into his body, once again drawing exclamations of surprise.

"Chen Zhiyuan, High Grade Yellow Grade Spiritual Root, three-stage evaluation: Excellent! Permitted to enter the Outer Sect!"

When the deacon loudly announced the results, the surrounding youths cast envious and jealous glances.

Another Chen, another Genius!

Chen Xu calmly watched all of this, preparing to take his son to complete the entry procedures.

A slightly aged voice came from behind.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

Chen Xu turned around and saw a thin old man wearing the robes of a Qingyun Sect Elder, smiling at him.

The Elder's hair and beard were white, but he was energetic, and his Cultivation was clearly at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Chen Xu recognized him; this person's surname was Qian, and he was one of the Elders of the Outer Sect.

When he first entered the Sect, this Elder Qian was in charge of miscellaneous affairs in the Outer Sect, and he was quite fair.

"Elder Qian."

Chen Xu cupped his hands, neither humble nor arrogant.

Elder Qian's gaze lingered on Chen Xu for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He remembered this Disciple named Chen Xu, not because of his exceptional talent, but because he entered the Sect very late, and not long after entering, he went down the mountain to marry and have children, becoming an "oddity" of the Outer Sect.

He also remembered that for more than ten years, almost every two or three years, this Chen Xu would send a child with decent Aptitude to the Sect.

"It is indeed you, Chen Xu."

Elder Qian stroked his beard and smiled, "I was just thinking, is this little one named Chen Zhiyuan another one of your descendants?"

"Counting him, you've already sent six children to my Qingyun Sect, haven't you?"

"Precisely."

Chen Xu nodded.

"Good, good!"

Elder Qian clapped his hands in praise, "Every one of them is a good seedling, especially your son, Chen Daoxuan, he is truly extraordinary! A seventeen-year-old Qi Refining Great Perfection, the Sect Master himself has inquired about him, saying he is a rare Genius our Qingyun Sect sees only once in five hundred years!"

Elder Qian's tone was full of admiration, but then, his gaze towards Chen Xu took on a hint of pity.

"It's just... a pity for you."

He sighed, "I remember your Aptitude back then was only Mortal Grade. Now, after so many years, your Cultivation is still stuck in the Qi Refinement Stage. I suppose you spent too much effort raising so many children, delaying your Cultivation."

In his opinion, Chen Xu had placed all his hopes on the next generation, sacrificing his own path to immortality for it.

This was a great father's love, but it also made one sigh with regret.

Chen Xu did not explain, merely smiling faintly.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Elder Qian became even more convinced that his guess was correct.

A sense of admiration and sympathy grew in his heart.

He pondered for a moment, then took out a jade box from his Storage Pouch and handed it over.

"Take this."

Chen Xu was startled and did not reach for it.

"This is a foundation establishment pill."

Elder Qian placed the jade box into his hand and said earnestly, "You have cultivated so many excellent juniors for the Sect. This is both a reward from the Sect and a small token of my personal regard."

"Although your Aptitude is somewhat lacking, with the help of a foundation establishment pill, there is still some hope. Don't let your children go too far in the future, only to find that their father is still stuck in place."

After speaking, Elder Qian waved his hand and turned to leave, leaving behind a dashing figure.

Chen Xu held the warm jade box in his hand, feeling the pure spiritual energy emanating from the Medicinal Pill inside.

His expression was somewhat complex.

He hadn't expected that his actions, all this time, would appear this way in the eyes of others.

However, he didn't care.

A free foundation establishment pill, no reason not to take it.

Although he couldn't use it himself, he still had three wives at home.

And more descendants in the future, there would always be a use for it.

After settling his youngest son, Chen Zhiyuan, Chen Xu did not leave immediately. Instead, he came to an independent Immortal Cave deep within the Outer Sect Disciple area.

This was Chen Daoxuan's Immortal Cave.

As the number one person in the Outer Sect and the future hope of the Sect, the treatment he enjoyed was already comparable to that of an Inner Sect Disciple.

Chen Xu sent out a sound transmission Talisman, and the Immortal Cave's Restriction quickly opened.

A young man in white clothes, with a handsome face and a calm demeanor, walked out.

When he saw Chen Xu, his eyes lit up, and he immediately bowed respectfully.

"Father."

"Let's talk inside."

Chen Xu entered the Immortal Cave, and Chen Daoxuan immediately followed him in.

He didn't rush to speak, but first took out several Formation Flags from his Storage Pouch and skillfully set up a sound-isolating and Divine Sense-blocking Formation at the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

After doing all this, he walked up to Chen Xu and said with a serious expression, "Father, I have a matter of utmost importance that I must report to you."

Chen Xu looked at his son's cautious demeanor and understood.

This son of his not only had high talent, but his Heart-Nature was also far beyond ordinary people.

"Speak."

He sat down calmly.

Chen Daoxuan took a deep breath and lowered his voice, "Half a year ago, I took a Sect mission to the edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains to hunt a Late Stage Second-Order demon tiger."

"While pursuing the demon tiger, I inadvertently stumbled into a valley shrouded by an ancient illusion Formation."

His eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and lingering fear.

"That illusion Formation was extremely clever. If not for the demon tiger's blood, just before its death, happening to break open a tiny crack in the Formation, I would never have discovered it. And inside the valley..."

He paused, seemingly organizing his words.

"Inside was a Spirit Field! A Spirit Field of at least Third-Order grade!"

"It was covered with Spirit Medicine, densely packed, at least a thousand plants! And... almost all of them were High Grade Spirit Medicine needed for refining foundation establishment pills and various Second-Order Medicinal Pills!"

Even with Chen Xu's steady Heart-Nature, hearing this, his breathing couldn't help but quicken a few beats.

A thousand High Grade Spirit Medicine plants!

This was no longer just a fortune.

This was a treasure trove capable of supporting a medium-sized Immortal Cultivation Sect's consumption for a hundred years!

Although the Chen Family now relied on selling Talismans and Mortal industries, earning several thousand Spirit Stones annually.

But those were all low-grade resources.

Compared to this Spirit Field, it was like a firefly next to a bright moon.

"Who else knows about this?"

Chen Xu immediately asked.

"Only me!"

Chen Daoxuan said decisively, "After I discovered it, I immediately used stones to block the crack again and erased all traces. For the past six months, I haven't told anyone, not even Sister Nianfan, a single word."

He looked at Chen Xu, his eyes filled with trust and reliance.

"Father, this Spirit Field is the greatest Opportunity for our Chen Family's rise! But by myself, it's absolutely impossible to safely transport these Spirit Medicine back. Once this matter leaks, let alone those Loose Cultivators, even some Elders within the Sect would definitely be moved, and then our father and son would only have a dead end."

"I thought about it repeatedly, and this matter, only you, Father, can handle!"

Chen Daoxuan knew very well that although his father's Cultivation was not high, his methods were mysterious and unpredictable.

His insight and experience were far beyond his own.

More importantly, his father was the only person in this world he could trust one hundred percent.

"I need to transplant all the Spirit Medicine from this Spirit Field to our home. Only within the Inverting Five Elements Array you set up do I feel at ease."

"This will be the Foundation of our Chen Family for the next hundred years!"

Chen Xu stood up, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He knew his son was right.

This risk was worth taking.

The Chen Family must seize this Opportunity!