56: Chapter 56 Years later, the children have grown up

Since establishing the goal of heading to Baifeng City, Gu Yan did not rush to set off.

He was very clear that while the outside world was vast, it also meant... more cruel competition and more lethal danger.

With the Gu Family's current meager foundation, rashly charging into such a behemoth of a cultivation city was no different than a sheep wandering into a wolf's den.

He needed time.

He needed time to thoroughly digest the abundant resources seized from the Town Mayors Office this time and convert them into the Gu Family's own visible and tangible... strength!

Time flowed quietly amidst such low-key and rapid development.

In the blink of an eye, six years passed.

For cultivators whose Lifespan often reached hundreds of years, six years was merely a fleeting moment.

But for the mortal Luoyun Town, and for the Gu Family currently in a period of rapid development, it was already... a sea change.

Over these six years, the Gu Family had completely and thoroughly become the undisputed "local emperor" of Luoyun Town.

The signboard of "Gus Pills" was no longer limited to Luoyun Town.

Relying on their "Top Grade" quality, their reputation had even spread throughout several surrounding towns, attracting countless merchants to come and seek purchases.

Wealth, like a surging river, flowed endlessly into the Gu Family's treasury.

And the once overbearing "Old Immortal Gu" had become increasingly reclusive and increasingly... mysterious.

The people in town could rarely see his figure anymore.

But the legends about him had never ceased.

Some said he had already achieved a Breakthrough in the Qi Refinement Stage and become a legendary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Others said he was in seclusion, refining a kind of "Divine Pill" that could grant immortality.

Opinions varied, but without exception, they all draped an even more mysterious and awe-inspiring veil over this Old Ancestor of the Gu Family.

...

In the Gu Family's backyard martial arts arena.

"Hah!"

"Ha!"

Tender shouts rang out one after another.

A youth, looking about seven or eight years old with delicate features and a determined expression, was meticulously practicing a set of basic Body Refining fist techniques in the center of the martial arts arena.

Every move and stance was executed with precision; his tiny fists even carried a hint of faint, perceptible wind force.

And within his Dantian, a faint yet incredibly solid sensation of Qi was slowly circulating with his movements.

First Level of Qi Refining!

This child was none other than Gu Yan's eldest son, Gu Fan, who possessed a Yellow Grade Low Grade Spiritual Root!

Under Gu Yan's cost-free allocation of resources and personal guidance, the seven-year-old Gu Fan had already successfully drawn Qi into his body, embarking on the path of Cultivate that countless people dreamed of!

Although this speed was not worth mentioning in front of true cultivation Geniuses.

But in this barren Luoyun Town, he was already a "child Prodigy" capable of shocking anyone!

On the other side of the martial arts arena, a little girl who looked about six years old, carved from jade and as cute as a porcelain doll, was squatting in front of a small Pill Furnace.

She was not practicing Cultivate, but was imitating her father's appearance, using her small hands to clumsily add various processed medicinal herbs into the Pill Furnace.

She was Gu Yan's eldest daughter, Gu Yue, who possessed a Mortal Grade High Grade Spiritual Root.

Gu Yue's talent in Cultivate was far inferior to her brother Gu Fan's.

But in Alchemy, she displayed an astonishing interest and talent that was almost instinctive.

For many complex pharmacological concepts, Gu Yan only needed to explain them once, and she could draw inferences about other cases, even proposing whimsical ideas that surprised Gu Yan himself.

Now, she was already Gu Yan's most capable little assistant in the Pill Refining Room.

Gu Yan stood with his hands behind his back under the veranda, watching his pair of children working hard in the courtyard, a gratified smile appearing on his face.

With children like these, what more could one ask for?

"Daddy!"

Just at this moment, a soft, sweet call came from behind him.

Immediately after, a young boy who looked only about five years old, with a cinnabar mole between his brows and features more exquisite than a girl's, ran over with his short legs and threw himself into his arms.

"Daddy, hold me!"

"Haha, alright, Daddy will hold you!"

Gu Yan laughed loudly and scooped up this youngest son.

This child was his second son with the most outstanding talent, Gu Xuan, who possessed a Mysterious Grade Low Grade Spiritual Root!

Six years had passed, and Gu Xuan had also grown into a jade-carved little boy.

He was different from his older brother and sister.

Gu Yan did not rush to teach him to Cultivate, but let him develop his nature freely.

Yet even so, the "Prodigy" level talent displayed by Gu Xuan still could not be hidden!

He could speak at one year old, read and write at two, and by three, he had flipped through all the obscure Daoist classics in Gu Yan's study, and could even debate certain viewpoints within them with Gu Yan!

What shocked Gu Yan most was his innate, terrifying affinity with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi!

Gu Yan still remembered it to this day.

A year ago, the four-year-old Gu Xuan was by the pond in the back garden, watching a group of carp swimming.

As he watched, he unexpectedly fell into a profound state of... Epiphany without a teacher!

At that time, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within a few meters around his small body spontaneously gathered toward him, forming a visible, faint white halo!

The carp in the pond seemed to be summoned by something, swimming to his feet and circling him, unwilling to leave for a long time!

All things have spirit, drawing near to him!

This was the aura of a... favored child of heaven!

"Xuan'er, what book did you read today?" Gu Yan pinched his son's tender little cheek and asked with a smile.

"Replying to Father, today I was reading a geography book called 'Kumu Region Gazetteer'," Gu Xuan answered in a milky voice, yet his logic was extremely clear. "The book records that beyond our Kumu Region, there is an infinitely vast world. Father, is it true?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan's heart stirred.

He looked at his son's clear eyes, which were filled with a thirst for knowledge and yearning.

He knew.

The time was ripe.

He put Gu Xuan down and beckoned to Gu Fan and Gu Yue on the martial arts arena.

"Fan'er, Yue'er, come here."

Soon, the three children gathered in front of him.

Gu Yan looked at his three most beloved children in front of him, looking at their vibrant faces.

He became even more firm in his decision.

Luoyun Town was too small.

This small pond could not raise a true Dragon.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi here could no longer match his children's talent!

Staying here any longer would only be a waste of time, letting pearls be covered in dust!

"Fan'er, Xuan'er, Yue'er."

Gu Yan crouched down to bring his line of sight level with the children.

He asked slowly in an unprecedented, gentle, and solemn tone:

"Daddy wants to take you... to see the wider world recorded in the books."

"Are you willing?"