Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Having been apart for several months, the couple had endless intimate words to share.

However, this tranquility was short-lived.

About an hour later, Chen Shouheng’s Divine Sense twitched. He hadn’t sensed his father’s aura, but he heard the servants bowing in greeting.

’Dad’s back?’

Chen Shouheng gently patted the back of his wife’s hand and said softly, "Shuwei, you get some rest. I have something I need to discuss with Father. I’ll be right back."

Zhou Shuwei nodded. "Mm, important matters come first. Go on."

Chen Shouheng tucked the thin blanket around her, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, and then stood up to leave.

He arrived at Chen Li’s study and pushed the door open.

"Father, I’m back."

"Mm, it’s good that you’re back."

Chen Li nodded. "Shuwei is carrying twins, so the risks and strain of childbirth will be much greater. With you here by her side, she’ll feel more at ease."

"Twins?!"

Chen Shouheng snapped his head up, his eyes first filled with astonishment, which was then washed away by a tide of joy.

It was only then that he learned his wife was carrying two little lives within her.

"Father... how did you know? Shuwei... she never told me!"

His words were a jumble, a mix of elation and annoyance at himself for having failed to notice.

Seeing his son’s reaction, Chen Li couldn’t help but smile. "Once your Cultivation improves, you’ll naturally be able to see it clearly for yourself."

He didn’t explain further.

When Zhou Shuwei had left Lingxi at the start of the year, the pregnancy was still in its early, unstable stages. The aura of life was a chaotic mass, with no clear indications.

But now, at eight months pregnant, Chen Li’s Primordial Spirit could perceive it all. The two auras of life in her womb were already thriving, each one mirroring the other.

It was all perfectly clear to his Primordial Spirit’s gaze, so how could he possibly not know?

Chen Shouheng snapped out of his daze and hurriedly asked if they were boys or girls.

Chen Li, however, wouldn’t say, remarking only that whether they were boys or girls, they were descendants of the Chen Family. He then instructed, "Now that you’re back, be diligent. Use your Inner Qi daily to help Shuwei regulate her qi and blood, and adjust her pelvis and the babies’ positions. But remember, you must be exceptionally cautious."

As a woman enters the later stages of pregnancy, the growing fetus compresses and shifts the positions of many of the mother’s meridians and Acupoints, causing many pathways for qi and blood to become obstructed.

If Zhou Shuwei were to forcefully circulate her own Inner Qi, the slightest mishap could easily damage her meridians or even disturb the fundamental life force of the babies.

Since Zhou Shuwei was carrying twins, the risks were even greater.

Coupled with the primitive medical conditions surrounding childbirth, it was all too easy for something to go wrong.

This was precisely why Chen Li had brought Zhou Shuwei home to await the delivery.

If someone could assist by gently guiding her with their Inner Qi, proceeding in a gradual manner, it would ensure her qi and blood flowed smoothly, lessen her physical burden, and be more conducive to a safe delivery.

Although Chen Li had the ability to do this, she was, after all, his daughter-in-law, and it would be inappropriate for him to be the one to do it.

Now that Shouheng was back, he was the most suitable person for the task, and his involvement would reduce much of the risk.

"Don’t worry, Father. I’ll be extremely careful. I won’t be negligent in the slightest."

Chen Shouheng agreed, his mind already starting to plan his approach.

Chen Li changed the subject. "How is Shouye doing at the Martial Arts Academy?"

Chen Shouheng answered truthfully, "My younger brother joined Suixing Hall. He’s working incredibly hard at the Martial Arts Academy, studying day and night, and he’s making rapid progress in his scholarly pursuits. When it comes to that level of focus and resilience, I am far from his equal."

"That’s good to hear."

Chen Li nodded, at ease about his second son. He then asked, "Did you gain anything from your recent return to the Martial Arts Academy?"

"I did. I had a rather unique experience and gained some new insights."

Chen Shouheng then recounted, in full detail, the events before his departure: how the Dean had unexpectedly summoned him and the conversation they’d had in a secret realm on the rear mountain.

He finished by adding, "During my travels these past days, I’ve been mulling it over repeatedly, and I feel I’ve grasped the first inkling of it. After Shuwei gives birth, I want to travel to the Tiger Subduing Temple in Wuzhou to verify what’s in my heart. I believe that then, I will be able to truly condense my own True Martial Dao."

Chen Shouheng spoke with conviction, and Chen Li listened with great care.

When he heard the phrase, "The core of Suppressing Dragon and Tiger Subduing is compassion," Chen Li’s gaze grew distant.

’Compassion?’

A single word, yet it stirred a tempest in his heart.

Back then, Chen Li hadn’t truly comprehended the Qiankun Qi Roaming Dragon True Intent. Instead, he had taken a shortcut, successfully refining it using the Transformation Technique.

He had only grasped the superficial principles of the Wandering Dragon True Intent—that it could become large or small, ascend or conceal itself. When large, it could stir clouds and exhale mist; when small, it could hide its form completely.

But now, hearing his eldest son speak of it, a thought he had never before considered struck him like a bolt of lightning.

He had swallowed it whole back then, not seeking deep understanding. He had grasped its form and function, but had never truly comprehended its spirit and its Dao.

He had only seen the dragon’s transformations, but he had ignored the driving force behind them: the profound meaning of biding one’s time while preserving oneself.

A gentleman must exist between the useful tree and the cackling goose, capable of the transformations of a dragon and a snake.

’So that’s how it was?!’

Chen Li felt the Wandering Dragon True Intent within his sea of consciousness and his Primordial Spirit tremble faintly.

In an instant, enlightenment dawned on him. He could even faintly perceive the "Dao."

"Father, what’s wrong?"

Seeing his father’s sudden silence, Chen Shouheng couldn’t help but ask.

Chen Li snapped out of it. "It’s nothing. I was just struck by something. Tiger Subduing Temple... good. When the time comes, I’ll go with you."

"Really? Thank you, Father!"

Chen Shouheng was overjoyed. It would be for the best if his father could accompany him.

"We’re family. There’s no need for thanks."

Chen Li waved his hand dismissively.

Chen Shouheng then reported, "Father, I’ve moved the twenty million copper coins you had Shouyue exchange in Liyang into the family storerooms."

Chen Li nodded. "I’ll go deal with them later."

Chen Shouheng could no longer contain his curiosity. "Father, why did you exchange for so many copper coins? What are they for?"

Chen Li glanced at his son and decided not to hide it, telling him about the Cultivation Technique he had created.

Chen Shouheng’s Cultivation wasn’t high enough for him to comprehend the concept of Qi, let alone imagine that something called Wealth Qi could be attached to copper coins.

As for concepts like the Ten Gods and Destiny, he was utterly lost—it was all completely beyond his current scope of understanding.

Still, he smiled and said, "Father, your Cultivation Technique is so wondrous. Can you teach it to me, too?"

Chen Li’s expression turned serious. "When you reach the Guiyuan Realm and have a deeper perception of your own path, I will tell you about it then for your reference. For now, it’s better that you don’t know."

Seeing his father’s solemn tone, Chen Shouheng suppressed his curiosity and nodded in agreement.

Seeing his son agree, Chen Li gave another instruction. "For the next few days, stay home and keep watch. Don’t wander far. I have to go out."

"Where are you going, Father?"

"To the Black Market."

Chen Li said, "I’m going to buy some more ingredients for the Sweet Wind Jade Dew Heaven-Repairing Creation Pill."

Chen Shouheng remembered that when he’d been in the storeroom with the copper coins, he’d glimpsed only seven or eight chests of silver remaining. He tried to persuade his father, "Father, my younger brother and I still have some of the Elixirs we need for our Cultivation, enough to last us a while. The family’s expenses are high; there’s no need to spend more money..."

Chen Li cut him off. "You don’t need to worry about money. You and Shouye should just focus on your Cultivation. Use what needs to be used. Don’t worry about it."

"Yes, Father."

Chen Shouheng opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed the rest of his words.

Chen Li said no more and told him to go back and take care of his wife.

The amount of silver taels left at home was indeed not much.

But for this trip, Chen Li didn’t plan on using the family’s funds. Instead, he would retrieve the four million five hundred thousand silver taels buried in the secret chamber of Hidden Emperor Castle.

The sum was enormous. Transporting it in broad daylight would make it nearly impossible to evade the spies of the Celestial Sword Sect, which was why he had never planned to touch it.

However, over a month ago, when he’d tried pouring the exchanged copper coins into the system-awarded Treasure Basin to collect Wealth Qi, he made an unexpected discovery: the copper coins he poured in vanished into thin air.

Alarmed and curious, he investigated closely, only to discover that the Treasure Basin contained its own independent storage space, roughly the size of one mu, from which he could deposit and withdraw physical objects at will.

This discovery left Chen Li both stunned and overjoyed.

With this, the greatest obstacle to moving the buried silver taels—transportation—was effortlessly solved.

All he had to do was place the silver taels into the Treasure Basin, and he could bring them back without anyone being the wiser.

The family’s finances were currently strained, and various expenses required large sums of money to cover.

It was time to retrieve it.