15: Chapter 15: Filial Piety Between Father and Son – What Do They Grab During a Baby's First Birthday Ceremony

Ever since the miracle of the "Sword Qi for Three Thousand Li" occurred in the imperial palace, the capital of the Great Xia Divine Dynasty had been half-excited and half-silent.

Those who were excited were the common folk and the lower-level officials.

They had witnessed the miracle with their own eyes and knew that Great Xia now had a Sword God protecting it; they walked with a spring in their step now.

Those who were silent were the members of the imperial court, led by Emperor Li Zhan.

They knew more, and thus their fear ran deeper.

The three words "Dragon Imperial Hall" had become a taboo that no one dared to mention.

No one dared to disturb the Retired Emperor, the man who truly held the lifeblood of the Divine Dynasty in his hands.

Meanwhile, Li Xuan, who was at the center of the storm, didn't think much of himself at all.

He was currently experiencing a brand-new kind of joy.

Being a father.

In a side hall of Dragon Imperial Hall, Consort Xiao Yu looked at Li Xuan, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Before them, the Eldest Prince—who had triggered a celestial vision and was regarded as a treasure by the entire Dynasty—lay on a Ten-Thousand-Year Warm Jade Bed.

He kept his large, dark eyes wide open, curiously observing the world.

The little fellow was pink and tender with very fair skin, and the vitality within his body was frighteningly vigorous.

He never cried or threw tantrums.

Occasionally, when he swung a small fist, the surrounding Spiritual Qi would tremble along with it.

“Xuan-lang, quickly give our child a name.”

Consort Xiao Yu's voice was full of the joy of becoming a first-time mother.

Li Xuan looked up from an ancient text, his gaze falling upon his son's face.

His heart softened.

This was the continuation of his Bloodline.

A natural-born Supreme Sword Body.

He himself could live forever, but what about this child?

He hoped this child could also enjoy a lifespan equal to the heavens, living longer than anyone else.

“Let's call him Changsheng.”

Li Xuan's voice was very soft.

“Li Changsheng.”

Consort Xiao Yu repeated it silently, the smile in her eyes deepening.

“Changsheng, a good name. May my son have a peaceful life and attain eternal longevity.”

Li Xuan smiled and extended a finger, gently poking Li Changsheng's chubby face.

Little Changsheng seemed to sense his father's aura; his small mouth opened, and he began to babble.

He actually took the initiative to take Li Xuan's finger into his mouth and began to suck on it vigorously.

“This little fellow is hungry.”

Consort Xiao Yu smiled and prepared to call the wet nurse inside.

“Wait.”

Li Xuan's heart stirred as a playful thought occurred to him.

With a slight thought, a wisp of dharmic power belonging to the Array Formation Realm seeped from his fingertip.

This wisp of dharmic power was extremely pure and carried the sharp Dao charm of the Grass-Character Sword Manual; if taken outside, it would cause Divine Treasury Realm Cultivators to fight over it to the death.

Li Changsheng, who had originally just been subconsciously sucking on the finger, had his eyes light up the moment he touched this wisp of dharmic power.

His eyes were instantly filled with longing.

It was as if he had found the most delicious food in the world; the suction of his small mouth instantly increased tenfold, even making "smack-smack" sounds.

In less than a breath's time.

That wisp of dharmic power was swallowed completely clean by him.

After swallowing, Li Changsheng smacked his lips as if he hadn't had enough, his large eyes looking at Li Xuan longingly as his small body squirmed about.

He seemed to be urging him.

Dad, I want more.

Refill, hurry up and refill.

Li Xuan was momentarily speechless.

Consort Xiao Yu, standing nearby, didn't understand what was happening; she simply thought her son was being lively and cute, and she couldn't stop smiling.

Only Li Xuan knew exactly what was going on.

I'll be damned.

Is this little brat treating my dharmic power as top-tier formula milk?

He was caught between laughter and tears, yet a sense of pride surged in his heart.

As expected of the Supreme Sword Body, his starting point is high.

To him, Mortal milk probably tastes no different from plain water; only dharmic power like mine, which carries the ultimate truths of the Great Dao, is worthy of entering his mouth.

“Fine, fine, fine, I'll make sure you're full.”

Li Xuan got completely carried away.

He became a full-time stay-at-home dad, doing nothing else every day but "feeding" Li Changsheng a fixed amount at regular intervals.

Days flew by.

In the blink of an eye, the day of Li Changsheng's one-month anniversary arrived.

According to the customs of Great Xia, a prince's one-month anniversary required a grand "Zhaozhou" ceremony.

Emperor Li Zhan attached great importance to this and personally intervened early on, having the Ministry of Rites prepare countless treasures symbolizing "literary talent and martial strategy," filling the entire side hall.

There were precious swords that could cut through iron like butter, bamboo slips from ancient scholars, replicas of the National Jade Seal, and various Spirit Pills and miraculous medicines.

The dazzling array was almost enough to blind one's eyes.

Li Zhan stood respectfully beside Li Xuan with a flattering smile, pointing at the treasures all over the floor and saying excitedly:

“Imperial Grandfather, look, what do you think of these things your grandson has prepared? Whichever one Changsheng grabs later will have extraordinary significance.”

Li Xuan glanced at those so-called "treasures" on the floor, unimpressed.

In the eyes of a big shot like him, these things...

Were no different from trash.

He waved his hand, looking at his grandson the Emperor as if he were a country bumpkin:

“Enough, put away all this junk of yours. Don't let it soil my child Changsheng's eyes.”

Li Zhan was a bit dazed.

“Huh?”

Before he could react, Li Xuan gave a grand wave of his hand.

The mundane objects in the hall vanished instantly, replaced by several items shimmering with divine light.

The first was a longsword burning with golden flames; the space around the blade was warping, emitting a scorching and powerful aura.

Low Grade Dao Weapon, the Heaven-Burning Sword.

The second was a Medicinal Pill surrounded by pill veins and a fragrant aroma, capable of allowing a Mortal to undergo a complete transformation.

The nine-turn golden pill.

The third was an ancient tortoise shell covered in countless runes, with the flow of heavenly secrets circulating upon it.

A top-tier divination technique, the Great Derivation Heavenly Secret Art.

As soon as these three items appeared, the Spiritual Qi in the hall became incredibly dense.

The powerful pressure made it difficult for Li Zhan and the palace servants to breathe, forcing them to retreat involuntarily.

They had never seen such immortal treasures from legends; their eyes were nearly popping out of their heads.

“This... this... Imperial Grandfather, this is too precious!”

Li Zhan's tongue was tied, and his voice was trembling.

“Precious?”

Li Xuan curled his lip.

These were all from a "Newbie Experience Pack" he had exchanged for 10 Fate Points from the System Mall.

Specifically for his son to use as toys.

“Alright, enough talk. Let's begin.”

Li Xuan didn't bother explaining and signaled for the palace maid to bring Li Changsheng over.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on that fair and chubby little infant.

Li Changsheng was placed on the carpet in the center of the three divine objects, and he looked around curiously.

Li Zhan clenched his fists nervously.

Which one would he grab?

Which one would it be?

Would it be the Heaven-Burning Sword, representing supreme slaughter?

Or the nine-turn golden pill, representing immortal longevity?

Or perhaps the Great Derivation Heavenly Secret Art, representing wisdom and strategy?

No matter which one he grabbed, it would mean the future of the Great Xia Divine Dynasty was limitless.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Changsheng moved.

He took unsteady steps, wobbling toward the Heaven-Burning Sword that was burning with intense flames.

Li Zhan held his breath in suspense.

He's going to choose the sword.

As expected, he has inherited the Retired Emperor's supreme sword dao.

Li Changsheng stretched out his chubby little hand.

And then...

Smack!

A crisp sound rang out.

With one slap, he directly struck the blade of the Heaven-Burning Sword, as if swatting an annoying fly.

The powerful Dao weapon let out a mournful cry, and the flames on its blade were half-extinguished as it was sent flying to the side.

Everyone: ???

Li Changsheng seemed satisfied with the result and wobbled over to the fragrant nine-turn golden pill.

He reached out his hand.

Flick.

The Golden Pill was flicked away, rolling several times on the floor.

Finally, he walked to the tortoise shell that recorded the supreme Cultivation Technique and looked at it curiously for a moment.

Then, he plopped his bottom right down on it.

He even wiggled a bit, seemingly finding it somewhat uncomfortable, and a look of disdain appeared on his small face.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Li Zhan was completely stunned, his mouth hanging wide open.

If the civil and military officials of the court knew that the future heir, the future hope, had used a divine weapon as a flyswatter, an Immortal Pill as a marble, and a supreme Cultivation Technique as a diaper pad during his Zhaozhou ceremony...

They would probably all resign on the spot and go home to farm.

This was simply too ridiculous.

It was beyond the pale, absolutely absurd.

After doing all this, Li Changsheng hummed twice in dissatisfaction, like a lion king who had finished inspecting his territory.

He looked around as if searching for something.

When he saw Li Xuan not far away, standing with arms crossed and a look of amusement on his face, his eyes lit up.

That light was brighter than when he had seen any of the divine objects.

He grinned, revealing a toothless smile, and used both hands and feet to crawl quickly toward Li Xuan.

His goal was clear, his actions decisive.

It was as if he had made up his mind long ago.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Changsheng "overcame all obstacles" and crawled to Li Xuan's feet.

He didn't hug Li Xuan's leg.

Instead, he worked hard to lift his head, reached out his small hand, and with unerring precision, grabbed a corner of Li Xuan's robe.

He held on very tight.

A proud and satisfied smile was on his small face, and he let out "ya-ya" sounds.

It was as if he were announcing to the whole world:

I don't want any of that trash.

This, right here, is mine.