**Chapter 35: Reading**
Bai Jing watched the backs of Xu Chuan and his son as they left and whispered, "Those two masters—so mysterious."
Then she turned to Yang Ronghua's belly and smiled. "No matter what, my grandchild comes first."
Yang Ronghua laughed. "Mother, it's too early."
"Not too early at all!" Bai Jing still counted on her fingers. "Pregnant in August, the due date is coming. You need to have someone make some swaddling clothes."
"Yesterday I looked at the brocade in the warehouse. The water-green with thorny lilies—that would be best for my grandchild's swaddling."
Yang Ronghua was a little exasperated, but a look of tenderness also appeared on her face. She sighed, "I only hope he can be like his father."
"Like his father, handsome and heroic?" Bai Jing shook her head and laughed. "I think Shitou was stubborn when he was young. Now it's better—he's more like his father."
Yang Ronghua's eyes sparkled. "Mother, would you tell me about my husband's childhood?"
"Alright. I'll tell you."
---
**In the study,** sandalwood smoke curled through the window.
Xu Chuan's eyes burned as he looked at Xu Mingwei. "Shitou, what does it feel like to break through to the innate realm?"
Xu Mingwei smiled and said, "It's wonderful. In an instant, the spirit becomes clear, the mind is like still water. You can feel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. When the energy enters the body, warm currents flow through your limbs—incredibly comfortable."
Xu Chuan nodded and smiled.
"Yes, Father. Our family has also collected two innate martial arts. The *Black Tiger Manual* can be cultivated to the innate level. The *Dragon Manual* can reach the early stage of the grandmaster level. Which one should your son choose?"
"Neither." Xu Chuan sipped his tea lightly. "The martial path is a transitional path. Immortal cultivation is the true path."
"What?" Xu Mingwei smiled bitterly. "Your son is nearly twenty years old. Even if he has a spiritual root, it may be too late."
"Wait for your qualifications to manifest. Your father knows what's in his heart." Xu Chuan's eyes were clear as he smiled faintly. "You brothers all have the Five Elements. You can enter the immortal path."
"Yunnu can cultivate immortality?"
"Why doesn't Father want to let Yunnu walk the immortal path? As long as Yunnu becomes a cultivator, our whole family can benefit greatly."
"You think becoming a cultivator is so simple? How can the Xu family's foundation now support immortal cultivation?"
"It's better to take it step by step and wait for the right time."
"The right time?"
Xu Mingwei's eyes widened in confusion.
"You don't need to worry about that. For the Xu family, your father intends to have some of you brothers walk the martial path by force."
"By force?" Xu Mingwei said. "Your son has never heard of it."
"This is the greatest secret of the Xu family. Come with me to the ancestral shrine. It's time to tell you some secrets."
---
**The ancestral shrine.**
This was the deepest part of the residence. Guards were posted at the moment.
Xu Chuan entered and opened a hidden door, leading to a secret room.
There was a bookshelf here with several books on it—all martial arts manuals collected by the Xu family.
In the secret room, there was also a hidden cabinet.
Xu Chuan took a cultivation manual from inside and handed it to Xu Mingwei.
"Read it. You don't need to memorize everything—just understand the essence."
*"The Five Elements of Innate Creation?"*
Xu Mingwei began to read.
First, the general outline:
*[The Five Elements cycle and rebirth, transforming the innate from the acquired.*
*The form participates in the spirit, returning to the truth to prove eternal life.]*
*"Take the liver as the wood mansion hiding spring, the heart as the fire palace's summer spirit, the spleen as the four seasons' central tower, the lungs as the golden axe cutting autumn, the kidneys as the water passage connecting heaven."*
*"When the five energies rise to the court, the five organs appear—green, yellow, white, black—a five-colored wheel of light, finally returning to the dantian like a primal chaos egg."*
"Marvelous!"
"Incredible!"
"Father, this is the true immortal cultivation method!"
Xu Mingwei was deeply shocked.
Then he continued flipping through. Behind were the methods of drawing energy, the knack of sensing, the keys to practice.
The ultimate result of this cultivation method was to transform the acquired into the innate, turning the acquired true essence into the cultivator's magic power.
Completing the Five Elements spiritual root, then purifying it, and finally achieving the True Root qualification.
"This cultivation method involves the secrets of creation. It requires the innate realm to cultivate."
"From the beginning of the third generation, only geniuses will be able to cultivate this method."
"Those who do not know shall not speak of it to each other, including brothers and sisters, parents and children, and other close relatives. This is an oath that must be passed down from generation to generation!"
Xu Mingwei said, "Your son remembers."
"This cultivation method can directly transition to the immortal path, making you a Qi Refining cultivator of the fifth layer, and even quickly break through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining."
Xu Chuan said with a slight smile, "Of course, this path only applies to the current Xu family. Until the family truly grows and becomes an immortal cultivation family."
"Then qualified people in the family can enter the immortal path from a young age. Those who are not qualified can enter the martial path by force."
Xu Mingwei nodded, understanding.
"After you remember this, leave the shrine. In a few days, I will announce that the Xu family's affairs will be temporarily in your charge. This is to transition you to take over as family head in the future."
"Where will you be, Father?"
"I will go to the small pool to break through to the innate realm."
"Your son understands. Family mundane matters will not disturb Father."
Xu Chuan patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave the secret room.
---
**Back in the study,** Xu Chuan meditated. The Blood Genealogy emerged from his body and leaped before him.
**[Xu Mingwei: Second Generation]**
**[Age: 19]**
**[Spiritual Root: Five Elements Incomplete — No cultivation qualifications]**
**[Talent: Inborn Divine Strength, Eagle Eyes]**
**[Bloodline: None]**
**[Realm: Early Innate]**
"Now the Xu family is full of fortune, vigorous and thriving. The third generation is about to be born. Presumably, more and stronger inborn talents will appear."
His eyes were full of expectation.
---
**Two hours later,** Xu Mingwei left the shrine. He went back to accompany Yang Ronghua and began to cultivate *The Five Elements of Innate Creation*.
Xu Mingyi and Xu Mingxian also came to visit Yang Ronghua.
"Sister, when I came back, I heard you were with child. Am I going to be an aunt?"
Yang Ronghua smiled slightly.
"Yes. So you have to be careful."
Bai Jing smiled and turned her eyes to Xu Mingxian. "Yunnu, you're going to be an uncle. Are you happy?"
He nodded, then said something that made Bai Jing laugh and cry.
"I'm not the youngest in the house anymore."
---
**A few days later,** Xu Mingyuan returned from the fields.
Hearing the news, he was also very excited and rushed to visit the couple.
"Brother, I have good news."
The couple both looked at him curiously.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"The *Innate Dragon Elephant Skill*."
Xu Mingyuan smiled and said, "In less than two years, Big Brother, you will be able to achieve the innate realm. The *Innate Dragon Elephant Skill* is the follow-up practice to the *Minor Dragon Elephant Skill*. It can be cultivated to the grandmaster level. It is the innate martial art most suitable for you."
Xu Mingwei did not tell anyone about breaking through to the innate realm.
That was the family's hidden card. The fewer people who knew, the better.
As for the *Innate Dragon Elephant Skill*, Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly—unfortunately, he could not use it.
But among the family's collection, it was still good to have it for cultivating martial arts.
"Have you obtained it?"
"Not yet, but there is news."
Xu Mingyuan drank tea and talked. "A merchant I know in the county has been asking about this matter. Yesterday, from neighboring Liuyun County, someone came to see me. He said a middle-aged warrior is interested in selling the *Innate Dragon Elephant Skill*."
---