10: Chapter 10 Qingyao's Birth

As spring turned to summer, the spirit bamboos in Qingyun Cottage grew increasingly lush, and the spirit fish in the pond became much plumper. In the blink of an eye, two months had passed since Lin Wan moved into the inner sect.

These two months, Lin Wan's life had been busy and fulfilling.

During the day, apart from his own cultivation, he would head to the "Lecture Hall" on Tianjian Peak to listen to teachings. As a lineage of Sword Cultivators, the teaching Elders on Tianjian Peak were all experts in Sword Dao at or above the Foundation Establishment Stage, explaining sword theory, sword techniques, and Sword Intent; sometimes, even Golden Core Immortal Masters would appear to share their insights. Lin Wan absorbed this knowledge with insatiable hunger, combining it with his own Three Talents Spirit Nourishing Art and the insights he had gained from the Sword Tomb, deepening his understanding of the Sword Dao day by day. His gold, water, wood, and fire elemental Sword Qi had been refined to a state of perfect harmony and could be controlled at will, but the earth elemental Sword Qi remained difficult to Revered Master.

He also attended several basic Alchemy classes at Baicao Hall, collecting many Pill Formulas and medicinal Materials for fetal stabilization and nourishment for Liu Ruyan. Liu Ruyan's belly grew larger by the day, and as her due date approached, they needed to be extra careful.

Every few days, he would also go to the Talisman Hall of the Tiangong Pavilion, using contribution points to exchange for some basic talisman Materials for Liu Ruyan to practice with. Liu Ruyan had considerable talent in Alchemy and talisman making. Although she lacked Alchemy fire, she could use spirit charcoal to successfully refine simple Bigu Pills and Hemostatic Powder. Her success rate in talisman making also steadily improved; she could now stably draw "Fireball Talismans" and "Lightness Talismans," adding a source of income to the household.

Xiao Yun followed Nanny Zhao, learning to prepare spirit meals and manage household affairs, keeping Qingyun Cottage in perfect order. Her progress in the Turtle-Crane Longevity Technique was rapid; her strength and agility far exceeded that of ordinary people, and her skin was smooth and radiant, making her look like a girl of sixteen. Wang Tiezhu diligently tended to the spirit fields and the pond. The three mu of spirit fields were already planted with common spirit plants like Jade Sprout Rice, Dew-Condensing Grass, and Hemostatic Grass, which were growing gratifyingly well.

Everything at home was fine, but the string in Lin Wan's heart remained taut. Liu Ruyan was about to give birth; this was his first child and the key to the System's "Branching Out and Scattering Leaves" task. He had to ensure nothing went wrong.

To this end, he had made thorough preparations. He used contribution points to exchange for "Spirit-Calming Incense," "Rejuvenation Pills," and other pills for childbirth and recovery. He hired an experienced midwife from the inner sect to be on standby at all times and even set up a simple "Spirit Gathering Formation" and "Soundproofing Formation" outside the quiet room to serve as a delivery room.

One day, in the afternoon.

Lin Wan was in the quiet room, attempting to condense earth elemental Sword Qi. Before him lay several items: a piece of "Wu Earth Essence" obtained through contribution points, a bottle of "Thick Earth Spirit Liquid," and a "Mountain Heart Stone" he had found in the back mountain that contained a faint trace of earth spiritual energy.

Following the methods of the Little Five Elements Sword Technique, he tried to guide the spiritual energy from these earth-attribute spirit objects into his body, combining it with his own spiritual power to condense earth elemental Sword Qi. However, the process remained difficult. He lacked an earth Spiritual Root and had an extremely weak sensitivity to earth-attribute spiritual power. Once that spiritual energy entered his body, most of it dispersed into his limbs and bones to nourish his Physical Body, making it hard to gather and solidify.

"Still not working..." Lin Wan opened his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed. If he couldn't Revered Master the earth elemental Sword Qi, Foundation Establishment with the Five Elements was out of the question. Did he really have to give up on Five Elements Foundation Establishment and settle for four? Although it would still be stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment, it would ultimately be a flaw.

Just as he was deep in thought, Xiao Yun's urgent cries suddenly came from outside the quiet room: "Brother Lin! Sister Ruyan! Sister Ruyan, she..."

Lin Wan's heart jolted, and he instantly rushed out of the quiet room.

Inside the Revered Master bedroom, Liu Ruyan was leaning against the bed, her face pale, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead. Her hands were gripping the quilt tightly, and waves of rhythmic, cramping pain radiated from her lower abdomen.

"Senior Brother... I, I think I'm going into labor..." Liu Ruyan's voice trembled, filled with pain and nervousness.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Lin Wan immediately stepped forward to hold her hand, channeling a gentle stream of water elemental spiritual energy to alleviate her pain, while simultaneously sweeping his Divine Sense over her abdomen. The fetus was perfectly normal, the fetal position was correct, and it was full of vitality. That three-colored spiritual light was even brighter than before, pulsating rhythmically and resonating with the mother's body.

"Nanny Zhao! Midwife!" Lin Wan shouted in a deep voice.

"Coming, coming!" Nanny Zhao and the midwife, Li, who had been hired long ago, hurried in. Midwife Li was a woman in her fifties with rich experience, possessing a cultivation base at the third level of Qi Refining, and had delivered many children for Cultivators in the inner sect. She quickly checked Liu Ruyan's condition and said to Lin Wan, "Immortal Master Lin, the Madam's fetal position is correct. However, since it is her first child and the birth canal hasn't opened yet, it will take some time. Please wait in the outer room, Immortal Master; Nanny Zhao and I will handle things here."

Although worried, Lin Wan knew that staying here would be useless and only cause trouble. He nodded and said softly to Liu Ruyan, "Ruyan, don't be afraid, I'll be right outside. You and the child will definitely be safe and sound."

"Mm... Senior Brother..." Liu Ruyan endured the pain and nodded.

Lin Wan exited the Revered Master bedroom and paced back and forth along the corridor outside. Xiao Yun was also nervously wringing her hands, staring longingly at the tightly closed door. Wang Tiezhu was boiling water in the courtyard and preparing clean cloths.

Time passed bit by bit.

From inside the Revered Master bedroom, suppressed groans of pain from Liu Ruyan and the steady, guiding voice of Midwife Li came from time to time. Lin Wan's heart fluctuated with those sounds. Having lived two lives, this was his first time facing such a moment. The emotions mixed with anticipation, worry, and tension were far more complex than facing a formidable enemy.

One hour, two hours...

The sun set, and the twilight deepened. The groans of pain inside the Revered Master bedroom became more frequent, and Liu Ruyan's voice took on a sobbing tone.

"Madam, push! I see the head!" Midwife Li's voice rose.

Lin Wan's heart was in his throat. He involuntarily walked to the door, but stopped, forcing himself to calm down.

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

The spiritual energy above Qingyun Cottage suddenly fluctuated violently! As if pulled by an invisible force, countless pale cyan specks of spiritual energy gathered from all directions, forming a slowly rotating spiritual vortex above the Revered Master bedroom! At the center of the vortex, faint golden, blue, and green lights shone through, resonating from afar with the aura inside the Revered Master bedroom!

"A natural phenomenon! This is... the birth of a spirit child?!" Lin Wan's pupils constricted. He had once read in ancient texts that when certain gifted children were born, they would trigger the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and create abnormal phenomena. He hadn't expected that Qing Yao, even before being born, would display such a spectacle!

The spiritual vortex grew larger and larger, almost covering the entire Qingyun Cottage. The dense spiritual energy turned into a misty rain of light, falling into the courtyard. The spirit plants in the courtyard sprouted and grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the spirit fish in the pond leapt joyfully out of the water. Wang Tiezhu and Xiao Yun stared at this scene in astonishment, and Nanny Zhao and Midwife Li also exclaimed in the room.

"Waa—!"

A crisp and loud baby cry suddenly erupted from the Revered Master bedroom, piercing through the rain of spiritual light and resounding throughout the small courtyard!

At the same time the cry sounded, the spiritual vortex above the Revered Master bedroom shook violently. The three-colored light burst forth, condensing into a three-colored beam of light that descended from the sky, piercing through the roof and plunging into the Revered Master bedroom!

Immediately following this, a fresh, pure, and vibrant aura spread from the Revered Master bedroom. Within that aura, there was a faint sharpness of gold, the gentleness of water, and the vitality of wood. The three elemental spiritual powers blended harmoniously, possessing a hint of Innate Dao charm.

"It's born! The Madam has given birth! It's a daughter!" Midwife Li's voice came out in surprise.

"Creak—"

The Revered Master bedroom door was opened. Nanny Zhao walked out, holding a baby wrapped in embroidered swaddling clothes, her face full of smiles: "Congratulations, Immortal Master! Congratulations! The Madam has given birth to a little Fairy, both mother and daughter are safe!"

Lin Wan took a step forward and carefully took the swaddled baby.

Inside the swaddling clothes was a delicate, doll-like baby girl. Her skin was fair and delicate, as if it carried its own luster, and her hair was thick and black. She was currently closing her eyes, her small mouth slightly open, making soft whimpering sounds. On her forehead, there was a faint, golden, diamond-shaped mark, appearing and disappearing. What shocked Lin Wan even more was that a faint three-colored light of gold, blue, and green naturally radiated from the baby's body, faintly resonating with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

An Innate Spirit Body! No, it was the prototype of an Innate Dao Body containing three elemental spiritual powers!

"Qing Yao... my daughter..." An indescribable surge of excitement and tenderness welled up in Lin Wan's heart as he gently touched his daughter's delicate cheek. Seemingly sensing her father's aura, the baby wrinkled her little nose and slowly opened her eyes.

Those were eyes as clear as crystal. Deep within her pupils, three-colored lights faintly swirled—pure and flawless, yet carrying a hint of Innate liveliness and intelligence. She looked at Lin Wan, her little mouth curling up, revealing an unconscious, shallow smile.

This smile felt like spring flowers blooming and ice and snow melting. Lin Wan's heart was instantly filled to the brim.

"Senior Brother..." Liu Ruyan's weak but happy voice came from inside the room.

Lin Wan, holding the child, quickly walked into the room. Liu Ruyan was lying on the bed; although her face was pale, her spirit was acceptable, and her eyes were filled with tears—tears of joy. Lin Wan gently placed the child beside her and held her hand: "Ruyan, you've worked hard. Look, our daughter, she looks so much like you."

Liu Ruyan turned her head to look at her daughter, her eyes filled with maternal radiance, and said softly: "She is so small, so beautiful... Senior Brother, naming her Qing Yao is truly wonderful."

"Mm, Lin Qingyao, our apple of our eye." Lin Wan leaned down and kissed Liu Ruyan's forehead gently, "Rest well, I will handle everything."

After comforting Liu Ruyan, Lin Wan walked out of the Revered Master bedroom and said to Midwife Li and Nanny Zhao: "Thank you both for your hard work. Nanny Zhao, go get fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and gift them to Midwife Li. Take another twenty; you two should also share in the joy."

"Thank you, Immortal Master!" Midwife Li and Nanny Zhao were overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him. Fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones were already a generous reward for a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator.

After handing out the rewards, Lin Wan returned to the quiet room. He needed to calm his mood, and more importantly—to check the System rewards.

Sure enough, in his mind, the System's notification sounds had already chimed incessantly.

[Ding! Detected the birth of host's offspring: Lin Qingyao.]

[Offspring Aptitude Assessment: Innate Three-Spirit Dao Body (Gold, Water, Wood), Spiritual Root Quality: High Grade. Bone Structure: Superior. Comprehension Ability: Excellent. Fortune: Profound.]

[Obtained Fortune Points: 10,000 points!]

[Obtained Special Reward: Offspring Exclusive Growth Package × 1 (Contains: Innate Spiritual Qi Baptism Opportunity × 1, Three Talents Spirit Nourishing Art (Earth Rank Low Grade) Qi Refining Chapter × 1, Protective Spirit Jade (Can withstand one attack from a Golden Core Early Stage) × 1, Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Liquid × 10 portions).]

[Obtained Family Reward: Family Luck slightly increased, cultivation speed of Family members slightly increased.]

[Newbie Guide Task "Branching Out and Scattering Leaves (II)" Progress: 1/3.]

[Number of offspring + 1, currently obtaining + 10 Fortune Points daily.]

Lin Wan gasped.

10,000 Fortune Points! Earth Rank Cultivation Technique! Protective Spirit Jade! And Innate Spiritual Qi Baptism, Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid... These rewards are unimaginably generous! Especially Lin Qingyao's Aptitude—Innate Three-Spirit Dao Body, High Grade Spiritual Root! This Aptitude, placed within the entire Qingyun Sect, is probably the absolute top tier! In time, Golden Core is within reach, and even Nascent Soul is not a dream!

"System, open the Offspring Exclusive Growth Gift Pack."

[Ding! Opening successful.]

A milky white Jade Slip (Three Talents Spirit Nourishing Art), a warm, translucent rhomboid jade pendant embedded with three-colored brilliance (Protective Spirit Jade), a small white jade bottle (Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid × 10), and one use of the "Innate Spiritual Qi Baptism" appeared before Lin Wan.

He first picked up the Jade Slip and sank his Divine Sense into it.

The Three Talents Spirit Nourishing Art, an Earth Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique, was tailored for Cultivators with Gold, Water, and Wood Spiritual Roots. The Qi Refinement Chapter allows cultivation up to Foundation Establishment Great Perfection. The technique is upright and balanced, focusing on solidifying the Foundation, purifying spiritual power, and includes several Divine Abilities and spells related to the three-element spiritual power, such as "Three Talents Sword Finger," "Three Elements Body Protection," and "Endless Life," which are extremely profound. More importantly, this technique fits perfectly with Lin Qingyao's Innate Dao Body, maximizing her potential.

"Earth Rank Cultivation Technique... Qing Yao's starting point is higher than mine." Lin Wan was both delighted and touched. With this technique, combined with the resources of the Qingyun Sect and his own protection, Qing Yao's future was limitless.

The Protective Spirit Jade did not need to be refined. As long as Qing Yao wore it, it would automatically activate when she encountered fatal danger, forming a protective barrier capable of withstanding a full-strength attack from an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, while also sending a distress signal to Lin Wan. This was equivalent to adding a powerful life-saving talisman to his daughter.

The Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid was for washing the Meridians and marrow before Qing Yao's Foundation Establishment to improve her Aptitude. Although her Aptitude was already excellent, adding icing on the cake was always good.

What Lin Wan cared about most was the "Innate Spiritual Qi Baptism." This was a one-time Opportunity directly granted by the System, which could wash the newborn's Physical Body and Divine Soul, consolidate the Innate Foundation, and might even stimulate hidden Bloodlines or talents.

"Once Ruyan recovers a bit, I will perform the Spiritual Qi Baptism for Qing Yao." Lin Wan made his decision.

He suppressed his excitement and began to count his other gains. Adding the 4,300 points he had left previously, he now had a total of 14,300 Fortune Points! This was another huge sum.

"Earth Element Sword Qi... perhaps I can try to exchange for an Earth attribute spiritual object, or... directly exchange for an Earth Spiritual Root?" Lin Wan looked at the shop.

[Low Grade Earth Spiritual Root (can be fused at Qi Refinement Stage): Requires 8,000 Fortune Points.]

[Medium Grade Earth Spiritual Root (can be fused at Qi Refinement Stage): Requires 20,000 Fortune Points.]

[Earth Element Sword Qi Refinement Insights (Grandmaster Level): Requires 3,000 Fortune Points.]

[Wutu Origin (one strand): Requires 5,000 Fortune Points.]

Spiritual Roots were expensive, and Fusion carried risks. The Grandmaster Level insights and Wutu Origin were perhaps more practical choices for the moment.

After careful consideration, Lin Wan chose to exchange for "Earth Element Sword Qi Refinement Insights (Grandmaster Level)" and "Wutu Origin (one strand)." A total of 8,000 points were consumed, leaving 6,300 points.

Both items were in his hands. The Jade Slip recorded a nameless Grandmaster's profound understanding and refinement techniques for Earth Element Sword Qi, explained in simple terms, which made Lin Wan suddenly enlightened. The strand of Wutu Origin was a small pinch of pale yellow light spots radiating a heavy, bearing aura, containing the purest Earth Element Origin power.

"With these, Earth Element Sword Qi is within reach!" Lin Wan felt a surge of spirit.

In the following days, Qingyun Cottage was full of joy and busyness.

Liu Ruyan was weak after childbirth, but with Lin Wan's cost-no-object medicinal nourishment and his own Qi Refinement Fourth Layer cultivation support, she recovered very quickly. Three days later, she could walk around; seven days later, her complexion was rosy, even better than before. Perhaps because she gave birth to an offspring with an Innate Dao Body, she herself received some kind of feedback; her weak Four Spiritual Roots seemed to become active again, and her cultivation showed faint signs of breaking through to the Qi Refinement Fifth Layer.

Lin Qingyao became the apple of the Family's eye. The little girl didn't cry or fuss; she ate and slept, and when she woke up, she opened her big, lively eyes to look around. Occasionally, she would flash a toothless smile at Lin Wan and Liu Ruyan, melting their hearts. She was naturally sensitive to Spiritual Qi and would spontaneously absorb the surrounding Spiritual Qi even in her sleep, with the pale golden mark between her eyebrows appearing and disappearing.

Under the careful care of Xiao Yun and Nanny Zhao, Qing Yao grew up chubby, healthy, and lively.

On the tenth day after Liu Ruyan gave birth, with her consent, Lin Wan activated the "Innate Spiritual Qi Baptism" in the quiet room.

He carefully placed Qing Yao in the center of the Spirit Gathering Formation he had already set up and used the baptism Opportunity.

In an instant, the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the quiet room skyrocketed, turning into a milky white spiritual mist visible to the naked eye, wrapping around Qing Yao's small body. Within the spiritual mist, faint gold, blue, and green light spots flickered like stars, slowly merging into Qing Yao's body.

Qing Yao seemed to feel very comfortable, waving her little hands and feet, making babbling sounds. A faint crystalline luster appeared on the surface of her body, like beautiful jade. The pale golden mark between her eyebrows suddenly lit up, projecting a three-colored brilliance that formed a tiny three-colored halo above her head, slowly rotating.

The baptism lasted for a full hour.

When the spiritual mist dissipated, Qing Yao had fallen into a deep sleep, her little face red and her breathing even and steady. Lin Wan carefully probed with his Divine Sense and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Meridians in his daughter's body were wider and tougher, and a tiny, embryonic air vortex containing three-element spiritual power had naturally formed in her Dantian! Although she had not yet officially guided Qi into her body, the solidity of her Foundation already far exceeded that of an ordinary Qi Refinement First Layer Cultivator! Even more surprisingly, the mark between Qing Yao's eyebrows seemed to have become more solid, faintly emitting a mysterious fluctuation.

"This Innate Spiritual Qi Baptism has extraordinary effects! Qing Yao's starting point is even higher than I imagined." Lin Wan contentedly carried his daughter back to Liu Ruyan's side.

Liu Ruyan looked at her daughter sleeping peacefully, her eyes full of tenderness and pride.

On the day of Qing Yao's one-month celebration, Lin Wan held a simple Family banquet at Qingyun Cottage, inviting only Senior Brother Xu Feng and several friends he had met during the Outer Sect Grand Competition who had now also entered the Inner Sect, such as Shi Yong and Golden Bell. Yue Shan, Ghost Shadow, Illusion Butterfly, and others could not come due to seclusion or tasks, but they sent gifts through others.

At the banquet, everyone was amazed to see the jade-carved, spiritually radiant Lin Qingyao.

"What a spiritually elegant baby girl! Born with spiritual light on her head, she will surely be a pillar of our Qingyun Sect in the future!" Shi Yong laughed loudly and gifted a pair of small, exquisite gold bracelets engraved with defensive Formations.

"Junior Brother Lin is blessed; his wife is virtuous, and his daughter is even more naturally gifted." Golden Bell also sighed with emotion and gifted a bottle of "Jade Marrow Pill" for nourishing the Meridians.

Xu Feng represented Tianjian Peak and presented a small jade lock made of "Warm Jade" that had the effect of calming the spirit and soul, and conveyed Peak Master Yue Lingyun's congratulations—bestowing a "Tianjian Token." Holding this token, Qing Yao could enter Tianjian Peak to learn swordsmanship after she came of age.

Lin Wan thanked them one by one. This Family banquet was not only to celebrate his daughter but also to use this Opportunity to consolidate his initial connections in the Inner Sect.

As the banquet dispersed and the guests were seen off, Lin Wan's life returned to peace. But beneath the peace was more urgent cultivation.

The birth of Qing Yao, while bringing generous rewards, also made him feel a heavier responsibility. He wanted to pave a brighter path to immortality for his daughter and support a broader sky for this Family. All of this required stronger strength.

The Earth Element Sword Qi must be mastered as soon as possible!

In the quiet room, Lin Wan held that strand of "Wutu Origin" and, according to the method of "Grandmaster Level Refinement Insights," slowly guided the pure and heavy Earth Element Spiritual Qi into his body.

This time, with a clear method and the Origin Spiritual Qi, the process was much smoother. After the Earth Element Spiritual Qi entered his body, it did not dissipate but, under Lin Wan's precise control, ran along specific Meridians, combining and refining with his own spiritual power.

Earth, with great virtue to carry things, nourishes all things, is steady, solid, and inclusive.

Lin Wan immersed himself in the comprehension of the Earth Element Concept. He seemed to have turned into the earth, carrying mountains and rivers, nurturing flowers and trees, enduring wind and rain without changing its color...

Three days without sleep or rest.

In the quiet room, Lin Wan suddenly opened his eyes, and a flash of yellow light passed through them. He slowly raised his right hand, and at the tip of his index finger, a strand of solid, heavy, deep yellow Sword Qi slowly spat out.

The Sword Qi condensed without dissipating, as heavy as a thousand jun, yet carrying the earth's inclusiveness and vitality.

Earth Element Sword Qi, accomplished!

Thus, Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, the five elements sword Qi, were all complete!

Lin Wan stood up, and with a thought, five-colored light flowed around his body. The sharpness of Gold, the vitality of Wood, the flexibility of Water, the violence of Fire, and the heaviness of Earth—the five types of Sword Qi sensed each other, faintly forming a tiny and stable cycle, mutually generating and restraining, integrated and complete.

Although the Fire Element and Earth Element Sword Qi were still very weak, far less refined than the Gold, Water, and Wood, the Five Elements Foundation was already formed! He could finally start to attempt that legendary "Five Elements Foundation Establishment"!

"Next, it is to Cultivate the Five Elements spiritual power to the 'Five Qi Towards Origin' realm of Qi Refinement Great Perfection, and then, seek opportunities to achieve Foundation Establishment in one go!" A burning fighting spirit burned in Lin Wan's eyes.

Five Elements Foundation Establishment was by no means easy. The total amount of spiritual power required was several times that of ordinary Foundation Establishment, and the requirements for Heart-Nature, Comprehension Ability, and resources were also higher. But he was confident.

With the System in hand, the Legacy obtained from the Sword Tomb, a Golden Core Revered Master as a backer, and a beautiful wife and beloved daughter by his side, what did he have to fear?

Walking out of the quiet room, the sunset's afterglow spilled over the small courtyard. Liu Ruyan was holding Qing Yao, watching the fish by the pond. Xiao Yun was picking spiritual vegetables for the evening in the Spirit Field. Nanny Zhao was busy in the kitchen, and the aroma of food drifted over. Wang Tiezhu was checking the Formation; everything was in order.

This peaceful and harmonious scene filled Lin Wan with warmth and strength.

He wanted to protect all of this.

And protection required strength.

"Five Elements Foundation Establishment..." Lin Wan looked towards the direction of Tianjian Peak; there, there was a wider world and fiercer competition.

The Inner Sect turmoil had just begun.

And he, Lin Wan, would officially step into it with the stance of Five Elements Foundation Establishment, stirring up the winds and clouds!