Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

’I’ll try Inner Cultivation first.’

Chen Li mulled it over for a moment, then decided to begin by cultivating according to the Prajna Glaze Heart Sutra of the Self-Viewing.

Concentrating and Calming the Mind, he sat cross-legged.

Guided by his Intention, he mobilized the Inner Qi within the meridians and Acupoints throughout his body, channeling it in a continuous stream into his Divine Hall Acupoint.

Soon, the Divine Hall Acupoint was filled with Inner Qi, so dense it was on the verge of liquefying.

Chen Li stabilized the Acupoint with his Divine Thought, preventing his Qi from running rampant.

Then, the Divine Embryo began to breathe, following the unique rhythm recorded in the scripture.

With every breath, the Divine Embryo acted like a miniature furnace, tempering the Inner Qi that flowed into it.

The process was slow and arduous.

After an unknown amount of time, a minuscule, shimmering wisp of True Qi was finally born within the Divine Embryo.

This wisp of True Qi swirled within the Divine Embryo for a moment before slowly merging into it and vanishing.

Meanwhile, the once-abundant Inner Qi within his Divine Hall Acupoint visibly diminished by a large margin.

Chen Li dared not delay and immediately drew upon the Inner Qi from the rest of his body to replenish it.

He repeated this cycle over and over, endlessly tempering and absorbing.

He was forced to stop his Cultivation only when his Inner Qi was nearly depleted and a wave of mental exhaustion washed over him.

Upon Introspection, he found that only thirteen wisps of Innate Qi had been condensed within the Divine Embryo.

Were it not for the keen perception of his Divine Sense, the Divine Embryo’s growth would have been almost unnoticeable.

’At this rate, the amount of Inner Qi needed to transform the Divine Embryo into a Primordial Spirit is simply astronomical. It will likely take years...’

Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly. The progress was agonizingly slow.

’Time to try the external gathering method!’

He stopped his Cultivation and brewed a dose of Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup.

He meditated to regulate his breathing. Once his Inner Qi had recovered and his spirit was restored, he acted with a single thought.

SWOOSH!

The Divine Embryo stepped out of his physical body, passed through the roof of the secret chamber, and floated under the cold night sky of Lingxi.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its clear light down upon a world of perfect silence.

The night wind brushed against his Soul Body, bringing with it a strange, chilling touch.

As he activated the Innate Qi Gathering Technique, the Divine Embryo suddenly transformed.

Within the moonlight, floating in the void all around, were countless, minuscule spiritual particles shimmering with lights of every color, drifting and dancing like fireflies.

Chen Li had a sudden realization. This must be the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi that permeated the world.

Guided by the Technique, his Divine Embryo attempted to capture and absorb this Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

The process was far more draining on his Heart Spirit than the Inner Cultivation method.

The spiritual motes of light seemed numerous, but they were actually quite dispersed and difficult to capture in large quantities. Furthermore, once absorbed into the Soul Body, they were sluggish and difficult to refine.

After cultivating for about an hour, Chen Li felt a tremor in his Divine Soul. The prolonged time outside his body and the act of Qi Collection brought an indescribable weakness and chill, as if his Soul Body was about to be scattered by the night wind.

He dared not push his luck and immediately ceased the technique, his Divine Embryo returning to the Divine Hall Acupoint to recuperate.

Sensing the results carefully, he found that this external gathering session was even less effective than when he had produced the thirteen wisps of True Qi through Inner Cultivation.

The Divine Embryo’s growth was infinitesimal.

’Neither the internal nor the external method is an easy path. The Spirit Realm Seventh Level, the Guiyuan Pass, is truly a great divide.’

Chen Li let out a soft sigh.

Just then, an idea flashed through his mind. He remembered the strange bead he had gotten from Li Sanli of the Tuo Long Bang.

Li Sanli had said the bead could automatically absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, releasing it on a twelve-year cycle.

He took out the egg-sized, black-and-white bead.

In the night, the bead’s surface was glowing with a faint, hazy light, as if a nebula swirled within.

Chen Li probed it with his Divine Sense. The inside of the bead seemed to be its own small world, but his perception of it was hazy.

An idea struck Chen Li. After the discomfort in his Divine Embryo from the earlier Cultivation had completely subsided, he once again dispatched it.

This time, it went directly inside the bead.

The moment he activated his Cultivation Technique, a majestic, tide-like wave of pure Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi washed over him.

BOOM!

Like a flood bursting through a dam, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi accumulated within the bead surged into his Divine Embryo from all directions like a monstrous tidal wave.

This sensation was utterly different from the drop-by-drop Qi Collection he’d experienced outside. This was like diving into a river of Primordial Qi and drinking his fill.

In just a few moments, his Divine Embryo was stretched to a breaking point by the massive influx of Primordial Qi, sending waves of tearing pain through him. It felt like it was about to explode.

Greatly alarmed, Chen Li hurriedly stopped the Cultivation Technique, and his Divine Embryo fled from the bead in a sorry state.

Even after returning to the Divine Hall Acupoint, his Divine Soul felt dazed and bloated, like he’d stuffed himself to the point of sickness.

But the results were instantaneous!

Upon Introspection, he saw that the Divine Embryo, originally the size of a soybean, had swelled to the size of a thumb joint.

Its inner light was contained, and it was incomparably solid.

And this was only from the initial intake; most of the Primordial Qi had yet to be fully refined and absorbed.

’It works! And the results are astonishing!’

A delighted light erupted in Chen Li’s eyes.

This bead was a true treasure for cultivating the Innate Qi Gathering Technique.

But his joy was tinged with concern.

His Divine Embryo had absorbed too much Primordial Qi at once, and his Divine Soul now felt heavy and dazed.

It was like a mortal who had overindulged in food and wine, feeling bloated and dizzy.

He wouldn’t be able to cultivate again anytime soon. It would take at least ten to fifteen days of slow, patient work to digest it all.

’Haste makes waste. But with this bead, I fear it won’t even take me a year to reach the Spirit Realm Seventh Level.’

Chen Li suppressed his joy, sat down cross-legged, and slowly circulated his Heart Method, guiding his Divine Embryo to gradually digest the surging Primordial Qi.

...

Several days later, Chen Shouye returned to Lingxi from the county seat, with an obsequious Qian Laibao trailing behind him.

The story began with Chen Shouheng’s wedding.

As Shouheng’s senior martial brother from the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall, and a frequent visitor, Qian Laibao had naturally come to offer his congratulations with a gift in hand.

Amidst the lively toasting at the banquet, Qian Laibao caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the crowd: Liu Ruoyi.

That one glance was enough to sober him up instantly.

He had taken a great liking to Liu Ruoyi during the County Examination all those years ago and had never forgotten her.

But at the time, she had passed the examination to become a Martial Scholar while he had failed, so he hadn’t dared to make a move.

Now, seeing her again, as beautiful as ever, the long-dormant feelings in his heart resurfaced with an irrepressible surge.

From that day forward, he found excuses to linger in Lingxi for several days, contriving ways to "accidentally" run into Liu Ruoyi, striking up conversations on some pretext, or gifting her fashionable cosmetics and exquisite trinkets.

At first, Liu Ruoyi tolerated his advances out of politeness, but as time went on, she grew increasingly annoyed.

Finally, one day, Liu Ruoyi frowned and told him bluntly, "Young Master Qian, if you are truly sincere, then go earn the title of Martial Scholar for yourself. We can speak again then."

Seeing that the beauty had given him an opening, Qian Laibao was instantly fired up, his motivation soaring.

He returned home, truly knuckled down, and trained hard for several months.

However, reality soon dealt him a harsh blow.

He simply wasn’t cut out for that kind of hardship and loneliness.

Training through the harshest cold of winter and the most sweltering heat of summer, tempering his sinews, forging his bones, and building his strength day after day—the monotonous hardship was far greater than he had imagined.

Although he had some foundation in Martial Arts, he had never been able to endure hardship, even as a child. His foundation from his early days of Cultivation was weak.

Now, trying to improve without a master’s guidance was harder still.

More importantly, ever since the County Examination was reformed in the 24th year of Yuan Jia—a change that involved hiring battle-hardened military veterans to assist with the assessments—the difficulty of the Martial Array trial had skyrocketed.

Only the very best of those at Qi Realm Perfection, individuals with extensive combat experience, had any real hope of passing.

Qian Laibao assessed his own capabilities and couldn’t help but feel dejected.

The title of Martial Scholar, he feared, was likely beyond his reach in this lifetime.

Unless... he could break through the Spirit Realm Pass.

After two branch families of the Liu Family were wiped out, Liu Zongying had passed the family’s ancestral Heart Method on to Liu Ruoyi.

By the time Qian Laibao saw Liu Ruoyi again, she had already reached the first level of the Spirit Realm: the Meridian Passage.

Qian Laibao felt that if he couldn’t break through to the Spirit Realm, even if he were fortunate enough to win her hand, he would have no authority in their household.

Thus, breaking through to the Spirit Realm became an urgent, burning desire.

But he also knew his own situation clearly. He was from a minor, wealthy family in a simple county seat.

He had no access to a Superior Inner Power Heart Method or high-grade Medicinal Cuisine to aid his breakthrough.

His own aptitude was average, and he was far from being a heaven-sent genius.

Breaking through to the Spirit Realm? It was virtually impossible.

A few days prior, Chen Shouye had come to the county seat to find him again, this time to discuss opening a silk shop.

Looking at Chen Shouye, an idea began to grow like a weed in Qian Laibao’s mind.

He, Qian Laibao, wasn’t stupid; he just couldn’t handle hardship.

To make his way among merchants, he had to have a keen eye.

That night at the Dragon Bone Temple, Chen Li had dispatched the Tuo Long Bang’s Vice Gang Leader, Li Sanli, as easily as slicing a melon.

He didn’t know Chen Li’s specific Realm, but his strength was clearly far beyond that of any Jianghu master.

The Chen Family possessed a true Martial Dao legacy!

And so, for the past few days, he had used every trick in the book, pestering and wheedling Chen Shouye relentlessly.

Everything he said, both directly and indirectly, was a plea for Chen Shouye to put in a good word for him and get him an Inner Qi Heart Method.

Chen Shouye grew so tired of the pestering that he finally relented, saying he couldn’t make such a decision himself. He would have to return to Lingxi and let his father decide.

This was exactly what Qian Laibao wanted to hear. How could he let such a golden opportunity pass?

He immediately packed his bags, claiming he hadn’t paid his respects to Chen Li in a long time and ought to do so, and insisted on following Chen Shouye back to Lingxi.

「In the study.」

After listening to his second son Shouye’s explanation, Chen Li’s calm gaze fell upon Qian Laibao, who stood below with a slight bow, looking rather uncomfortable.

He looked at the young man and asked, "You want an Inner Qi Heart Method and superior Medicinal Cuisine to break through to the Spirit Realm?"

"Yes! I implore Uncle Chen to grant my request!"

Qian Laibao hurriedly replied.

"The Chen Family does indeed possess an Inner Qi Heart Method. And I can provide you with superior Medicinal Cuisine as well."

Chen Li’s tone shifted. "However, these things are priceless and not for sale. We are neither friends nor family. On what grounds should I give them to you?"

Qian Laibao had clearly rehearsed this on his way here. He answered without hesitation, his tone firm. "Uncle Chen, from this day forward, I am willing to serve the Chen Family as my master and follow your every command. Whatever you ask, I will go through fire and water to achieve it. I am willing to pay any price."

He understood that Chen Shouye seeking him out for business on multiple occasions proved that he, Qian Laibao, was of some use to the Chen Family.

That was his bargaining chip.

’He’s known Shouheng and Shouye since they were young, so there’s some history there. And now he’s asking a favor of me. I could make use of him.’

"In that case, we will do this by the book."

Chen Li mulled it over for a moment before nodding in agreement. "You may join my Chen Family, for now as a Guest. If you can break through to the Spirit Realm, you will be promoted to Honored Guest and enjoy the corresponding stipend."

Qian Laibao was overjoyed and about to bow in thanks when Chen Li continued, "As for the Cultivation Technique and Medicinal Cuisine you seek, they are not free. We will keep a tab for now. In the future, you will need to perform meritorious deeds for the Chen Family to gradually pay off the debt. Do you accept?"

"I can! I absolutely can!"

Qian Laibao nodded again and again without the slightest hesitation.

’Even if it comes with strings attached and I have to work to pay it off, as long as there’s a path forward and a glimmer of hope, how hard can it be to serve the family and earn merit?’

Chen Li nodded, saying no more.

From his desk, he produced a thin booklet—the Inner Qi Heart Method of the Yin Yang Unity Scripture—and also portioned out three packets of herbs for the Eight Treasures Spirit Nourishing Soup.

"Here is the Cultivation Technique. Memorize it on the spot. You are not to copy it or pass it on to others."

Chen Li handed him the booklet and the Medicinal Cuisine. "Take the ingredients for the Medicinal Cuisine. Whether or not you can break through will depend on your own fortune."

"Thank you... Patriarch, for your generous gift. Laibao will certainly cultivate with all his might and serve you with loyalty."

His hands trembling slightly, Qian Laibao accepted them and bowed profusely in thanks.

Chen Li nodded. "If you encounter anything you don’t understand in your Cultivation, you can ask Shouheng or Shouye. As for the shop in the county seat, I’ll have to ask you to put more effort into that."

"Yes! Rest assured, Patriarch!" Qian Laibao nodded hastily in agreement.