Chapter 25 The Birth of the First Offspring
Emperor Cao Xukun had worn a row of pits into the courtyard tiles, scattering melon seed shells all over the ground. He muttered to himself, "Bless me, Bodhisattva; bless me, Buddha. Lin Yueer and the baby must be safe and sound. If you dare to let Lin Yueer suffer even a little, I'll tear down this dilapidated temple of yours!"
"Young Clan Leader, please stop pacing; I'm getting dizzy," Li Tieniu said, leaning against the wall with a look of utter despair. "You've circled eight hundred times already. If you keep going, you're going to trample this courtyard into rubble."
"What do you know!" Emperor Cao Xukun rolled his eyes at him. "This is my first child! I'm more nervous right now than when checking college entrance exam results, more panicked than when Young Master Xiao Chen gets his wife stolen! What if it hurts Lin Yueer? What if the baby ends up looking like me?"
"Isn't it a good thing to look like you? You're so handsome," Li Tieniu said, scratching his head.
"Handsome, yes, but I'm afraid he'll be just as popular with the girls as I am. It's such a hassle to have too many romantic entanglements," Emperor Cao Xukun sighed, looking incredibly humble-braggy.
Su Wanqing, Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, and Empress Liu Ruyan, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh. Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya rolled her eyes: "Flaunting your blessings while pretending to complain—is this how a father should act?"
Just as she finished speaking, a loud cry from an infant suddenly came from the room!
"Waaa—!"
The cry was so resonant that it made the rafters tremble.
Emperor Cao Xukun froze on the spot, his ears perked up like a rabbit's, forgetting even to breathe.
The midwife pushed open the door and ran out, her face beaming with joy: "Congratulations, Young Clan Leader! Congratulations! It's a big, healthy baby boy! Both mother and child are safe!"
"It's born! I'm a father!"
Emperor Cao Xukun let out a howl and leaped three feet into the air, nearly tearing the roof off. He shoved the midwife aside and rushed into the delivery room like a madman.
Lin Yueer lay on the bed, her face pale but wearing a happy smile, cradling a delicate, jade-like baby in her arms. The little one had his eyes closed, his tiny mouth opening and closing—he was incredibly adorable.
"Lin Yueer, you've worked hard." Emperor Cao Xukun threw himself to the bedside, holding Lin Yueer's hand, his eyes reddening. "Does it hurt? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
"I'm fine," Lin Yueer shook her head with a smile. "Look, the baby looks just like you."
Emperor Cao Xukun carefully picked up the baby, his movements as stiff as a robot, terrified of breaking him. The little one seemed to sense his father's presence, opened his eyes, rolled his dark, glistening pupils, and then reached out a tiny hand to grab Emperor Cao Xukun's finger.
Just then, a cold system notification rang in his mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have birthed an heir with Blue Fortune!]
[Heir's Name: Awaiting naming]
[Heir's Fortune: Blue]
[Innate Talent: Superior]
[Reward Obtained: 1000 System Points, Host's cultivation level increased by one minor realm!]
[Host's Current Cultivation: Late Golden Core Stage!]
A surge of pure power instantly flooded into his dantian, and Emperor Cao Xukun's cultivation stabilized firmly at the Late Golden Core Stage. Feeling the surging power within his body, he couldn't stop grinning.
"Let's call him Crown Prince Cao Hao," Emperor Cao Xukun said seriously, looking at the little one in his arms. "Hao, as in the vast heavens. From now on, my son shall be higher than the heavens, and stronger than the heavens!"
[Ding! Heir successfully named: Crown Prince Cao Hao]
No sooner had he spoken than a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy suddenly erupted from Crown Prince Cao Hao's body!
The little one was surrounded by white spiritual energy, and from his tiny body, an aura of Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivation was actually radiating!
The entire delivery room fell silent instantly.
The scissors in the midwife's hand clattered to the floor, her eyes widening like copper bells: "My heavens! Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivation right after birth? I've been a midwife my whole life, and I've never seen such a thing!"
The elders who had followed him in were all stunned, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.
"I've lived for eighty years and this is the first time I've seen someone who can cultivate the moment they are born! This is simply a miracle!"
"The Young Clan Leader's genes are too powerful! This child is going to be unstoppable in the future!"
"The Cao family is going to produce a Great Emperor! Our Cao family is going to rise!"
The elders were moved to tears, nearly kneeling before Crown Prince Cao Hao on the spot.
Emperor Cao Xukun was also stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "As expected of my son! Winning right at the starting line! While others are still drinking milk after birth, my son is already capable of fighting at Qi Refining Stage 3!"
"From now on, whoever dares to bully our Hao'er, they'll have to ask his fists if they agree first!"
Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya leaned over and poked Crown Prince Cao Hao's little cheek, looking incredulous: "It really is Qi Refining Stage 3! This is too absurd, right? It took me three full years to reach Qi Refining Stage 3 back then!"
"Can you compare the two?" Emperor Cao Xukun lifted his chin triumphantly. "Don't look at who his father is. My son, Emperor Cao Xukun's son, must be a cheat!"
Empress Liu Ruyan looked at Crown Prince Cao Hao tenderly and said with a smile: "This child will definitely have great prospects in the future. Later, when the children of us others are born, we'll let Crown Prince Cao Hao be the big brother and lead his younger siblings in play."
"That's right!" Su Wanqing touched her belly with a look of anticipation. "When my baby is born, I'll let big brother Crown Prince Cao Hao protect him."
The entire Cao family instantly descended into a frenzy of celebration.
Servants ran about sharing the news, firecrackers popped from morning till night, and red silk was draped all over the mansion. With a wave of his hand, Emperor Cao Xukun rewarded the entire clan with three months' salary, doubled the cultivation resources for all disciples, and even the gatekeeper received ten taels of silver.
The news quickly spread throughout the entire Central Province City.
Everyone was stunned.
"What? Emperor Cao Xukun's son has Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivation just after birth? How is that possible!"
"It's too absurd! He's simply a natural cultivator!"
"It seems the Cao family is truly going to rise. From now on, Central Province will be the Cao family's world!"
Meanwhile, in a cave behind the Qingyun Sect, Young Master Xiao Chen heard the news and spat out another mouthful of blood on the spot.
"Qi Refining Stage 3... Qi Refining Stage 3 right after birth..." Young Master Xiao Chen slumped on the ground, his eyes unfocused. "Why? Why is Heaven so unfair? He's a villain, by what right does he get such a good son?"
"I refuse to accept this! I refuse!"
He roared hysterically, punching the stone wall, which instantly cracked with countless fissures.
[Ding! Detected: Son of Destiny Young Master Xiao Chen's fortune has plummeted by another 10%! Current fortune is only 45% of its peak!]
Back at the Cao family, Emperor Cao Xukun was holding Crown Prince Cao Hao, grinning from ear to ear.
"Son, grow up quickly," Emperor Cao Xukun kissed Crown Prince Cao Hao's little cheek. "When you grow up, Daddy will take you to snatch Young Master Xiao Chen's opportunities, steal his magical treasures, and seize his territory. I'll make him your lackey, serving you tea and pouring your water."
Crown Prince Cao Hao seemed to understand, giggling and waving his tiny hands, making babbling sounds.
Watching this heartwarming scene, everyone revealed a happy smile.
Emperor Cao Xukun knew this was just the beginning.
Next, the children of Su Wanqing, Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya, and Empress Liu Ruyan would be born one after another. His cultivation would grow higher and higher, and his influence would become greater and greater.
One day, he would take his family and children, sweep across the myriad worlds, and become the true Lord of All Worlds.