Chapter 424: Wang Qingyang Has a Child

In a secluded courtyard at Taiyi Immortal Sect, Wang Mingren sat cross-legged on a prayer mat inside an exquisite pavilion. The room was filled with numerous golden and red particles of light.

As Wang Mingren inhaled and exhaled, these golden and red light particles continuously flowed into his nostrils and disappeared. With each breath, his aura gradually expanded.

Fifteen minutes later, the golden and red light particles vanished. Wang Mingren opened his eyes, which were filled with joy.

"Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment!"

After Wang Changsheng refined a Soulbound Artifact for Wang Mingren, he immediately entered seclusion. This time, he spent seven years in seclusion, advancing from the fourth to the fifth layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

This cultivation speed was already considered fast. The higher a cultivator's realm, the more difficult cultivation became. A considerable number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Taiyi Immortal Sect were stuck at the fourth layer.

Frankly, if he hadn't consumed two Golden Blaze Fruits, he would have needed several more years to reach the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment. The Taiyi Secret Realm was still more than a decade away from opening. He possessed three 700-year-old Golden Blaze Fruits. By consuming them, reaching the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment before the Secret Realm opened should not be a problem. What he needed now was to gain more combat experience.

On reflection, he had too little experience in life-or-death battles. Although the Taiyi Immortal Sect would train disciples entering the Taiyi Secret Realm for a period, many still perished there. Without sufficient combat experience, even a high cultivation level would be vulnerable against cultivators or demonic beasts of the same rank.

Wang Mingren had a clear plan for his future: he would definitely go to the Taiyi Secret Realm, but he also needed to accumulate combat experience. He took out a palm-sized green paper crane, injected a spell into it, and the crane's surface glowed with dazzling spiritual light, revealing countless runes.

"Senior Brother Zhao, are you available now? Your junior brother, Wang Mingjiang, has a private matter he'd like to discuss with you."

After Wang Mingren finished speaking, he struck the green paper crane with a spell. The green paper crane burst forth with blinding green light, expanded more than tenfold in size, spread its wings, and flew outwards.

The message-carrying talismanic soldier would deliver his words to Zhao Wuji. He planned to accompany Zhao Wuji to hunt demonic beasts and gain combat experience.

Two hours later, the message-carrying talismanic soldier returned. Wang Mingren struck it with a spell, and Zhao Wuji's voice immediately sounded: "I'm currently having tea with Junior Brother Xiao and the others. Junior Brother Wang, if you're free, please come over!"

Wang Mingren's face lit up with joy, and he stepped out. He conjured two red circular wheels, jumped onto them, and ascended into the sky.

***

Ping'an County, Wei State.

In a quiet courtyard, Wang Ping'an looked anxious. Five children, aged five or six, stood before him. Wang Qingyuan held a measuring ruler, testing them to see if they possessed spiritual roots. Regrettably, none of the five young children possessed spiritual roots, filling Wang Ping'an's face with disappointment.

"Ping'an, none of them have spiritual roots. Don't be too sad. Just take a few more wives and concubines." Wang Qingyuan put away the measuring ruler, patted Wang Ping'an's shoulder, and comforted him.

Wang Ping'an sighed, forcing a bitter smile. "I already have one wife and five concubines, over twenty sons, and even grandsons. Why can't I produce a cultivator?"

"The probability of mortals giving birth to cultivators is quite low. After the mortal population reaches a certain limit, this probability decreases even further. It's not your fault."

Wang Ping'an felt somewhat better after hearing this. He asked, "How are Father and Mother? And my eldest sister and the others?"

"Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt are in seclusion and haven't emerged yet. Qingqing and the others are all doing well. Oh, and Qingyang's wife is about to give birth."

Wang Ping'an removed a jade pendant from his chest and handed it to Wang Qingyuan. "Sixth Brother, I don't have many good things. This jade pendant was a gift from Father. Please take it to Fourth Brother for me. Just say it's a small token of my regard."

"Alright, no problem. Take good care of yourself. Whether you can produce a cultivator isn't that important. Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt just hope you can live your life peacefully and safely."

Wang Qingyuan offered a few more words of comfort, put away the jade pendant, and departed.

***

Qinglian Mountain Manor, a quiet courtyard.

Wang Qingyang stood outside the courtyard, looking anxious. Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan stood by his side.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, will Yan'er be alright?" Wang Qingyang asked nervously.

He was already at the eighth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage, his cultivation entirely accumulated through medicinal pills. After marrying, his life's focus shifted to his children. After Song Yongyan married Wang Qingyang, she had given birth to two sons and one daughter. Their two sons lacked spiritual roots and had been sent to be raised among mortals. Their young daughter possessed a five-element spiritual root, which was very poor aptitude. Wang Qingyang greatly desired to have a child with a three-element spiritual root; this small wish was not excessive.

"The aunts and grand-aunts are all inside. They've delivered countless children, so everything will be fine. Don't worry! It's not your first time being a father, after all." Wang Qingzhi patted Wang Qingyang's shoulder, comforting him.

Not long after, a middle-aged woman quickly walked out, her face beaming with smiles. "Qingyang, congratulations! Yongyan has given birth to a big, healthy boy. Mother and child are both safe and sound."

Wang Qingyang let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a great weight lifted from his mind. "My wife and I have discussed it. If it's a boy, we'll name him Wang Qiufeng."

Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan both offered congratulations and presented a gift. Wang Qingyang didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the gift.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, I recall Qiuhong has reached marriageable age. Have you found a suitable match for him yet?"

Wang Qingzhi grinned. "We plan to wait until Father and Mother come out of seclusion before arranging a marriage for him. This child has a steady temperament, just like me."

Qi Shanshan gave a wry smile and complained, "You still remember Qiuhong is your son? How can you bear to send him away? Why don't you talk to the Patriarch and have Qiuhong recalled, finding him a position here at home?"

"Here you go again. After a clan member comes of age, they must be assigned tasks outside. No one is an exception. Don't bring this up again in the future." Of course Wang Qingzhi wanted to keep his son close, but Wang Qiuhong disliked farming and showed no interest in other crafts; he couldn't learn them either. Keeping him at Qinglian Mountain Manor wouldn't be good for him.

"I heard Qiuming has already cultivated to the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage. In another ten or eight years, that boy will probably surpass me, his uncle! Qiushuang is also doing well. Brother, Sister-in-law, I truly envy you. Unlike me, only Qiulan possesses spiritual roots, and even then, it's a five-element spiritual root, with even worse aptitude than mine."

As he spoke, Wang Qingyang's face was clouded with sorrow. With a five-element spiritual root aptitude, reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan quickly offered words of comfort. Relatively speaking, they were fortunate; all three of their children possessed three-element spiritual roots. Wang Qiuming had a firm heart for cultivation, rarely appeared in public, and spent most of his time cultivating. At twenty years old, he reached the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage, making his cultivation speed the fastest among his generation.