Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 025

Xiao Yan emerged from the dream-reality learning device in the training room. His spirit remained full, yet a subtle weariness and helplessness colored his brows.

The Emperor-Tier Tai Chi Skill was profound and infinitely mysterious, far surpassing any cultivation method he had practiced before. Even with eighty years of Tai Chi foundation and his current extraordinary comprehension, after a night of arduous cultivation, he still felt as though he was looking at a landscape through a thick pane of frosted glass—hazy, unable to grasp the essentials. He had a long way to go before truly grasping it.

“It seems I was too impatient,” Xiao Yan self-mockingly shook his head, composed himself, and rose to leave the training room.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw several familiar figures waiting there.

It was Li Xiuying, her parents, her younger brother Li Wei, and Chen Yuyao.

Today, under Xiao Yan’s arrangements and with military-dispatched special vehicle escort, Li Xiuying’s parents and younger brother Li Wei had finally arrived at this luxurious estate they had only dared to imagine in their dreams.

Upon seeing Xiao Yan, Li Xiuying’s face immediately brightened with a caring and joyful smile. She quickly stepped forward to greet him, “Husband, you’re out! Was your cultivation smooth?”

Behind her, Father Li, Mother Li, and younger brother Li Wei, upon seeing Xiao Yan, clearly showed expressions of respect, even a hint of reverence.

Father Li quickly rubbed his hands, a smile plastered on his face, “Son-in-law, you’ve worked hard!”

Mother Li also hastily tugged at her husband’s sleeve and chimed in, “Yes, yes, son-inlaw, your cultivation is important. We didn’t disturb you, did we?”

Even the usually boisterous younger brother Li Wei had reined himself in considerably, standing obediently behind his parents and respectfully calling out, “Brother-in-law!”

Xiao Yan’s mind was exceptionally clear; he knew at a glance that this must be the result of Li Xiuying’s private “ideological work” with her family.

It seemed she had not only persuaded her parents to accept Chen Yuyao’s presence but also made them deeply understand his current status and power, as well as the importance of relying on him.

Looking at his parents’ slightly stiff but earnestly respectful expressions, his younger brother’s reined-in sharpness and slightly fawning gaze, and his wife’s face, which showed both satisfaction at her family’s change and a hint of expectation for his “praise,” a warm current surged through Xiao Yan’s heart.

He had been somewhat worried, but unexpectedly, Li Xiuying, seemingly delicate, had handled everything so meticulously, managing it all in perfect order, leaving him with no worries.

“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Xiaowei, you’re too polite.” Xiao Yan displayed a gentle smile, stepped forward, and supported Father Li and Mother Li, signaling them not to be so reserved. “We’re all family; there’s no need to be so distant.”

Xiao Yan was a generation older than Father Li and Mother Li, so calling them “Dad” and “Mom” was difficult for him. Thus, he politely called them “Father-in-law” and “Mother-in-law.”

Father Li and Mother Li had always accepted this very well.

Xiao Yan then turned to Li Xiuying, his eyes filled with approval and affection. He reached out and gently brushed a stray wisp of hair from her temple, softly saying, “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”

Li Xiuying’s cheeks flushed at his intimate gesture in front of her family, but her heart swelled with sweetness, as if she had eaten honey. She knew her husband understood her intentions.

“No… no trouble at all, it’s what I should do,” she lowered her head and whispered.

The newly arrived Chen Yuyao was indeed as Li Xiuying had described: gentle-natured, not talkative. Most of the time, she quietly stayed in her room cultivating or helped Li Xiuying look after Xiao Xiuyun. She also got along well with the other servants and showed no signs of restlessness or vying for favor.

With the backyard stable, Xiao Yan finally put his mind at ease.

…

Time flew by, and another month passed.

The morning sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling onto the soft, comfortable carpet. In the living room, little Xiuyun, over half a year old, was already toddling around. Dressed in a pink dress, she looked like a happy little sprite, chasing an automatically rolling teasing ball, occasionally letting out clear, “giggling” laughter.

Li Xiuying sat on a nearby sofa, holding a parenting book, but her gaze gently followed her daughter’s tiny figure.

And the newly arrived Chen Yuyao was meticulously peeling fruit for Li Xiuying, her movements skillful, her eyes gentle and respectful. After this period of getting along, she had integrated well into the family, showing great respect for Li Xiuying, her “elder sister.” The two got along harmoniously, never having any unpleasantness.

Xiao Yan had just finished his morning exercise in the courtyard and walked into the living room, dressed in comfortable loungewear.

Over the past month, as the fetuses in Li Xiuying’s and Chen Yuyao’s wombs developed steadily, two gentle and continuous streams of life energy had continuously fed back to him, nourishing his body and spirit.

His strength was steadily growing, and his perception of transcendent energy became increasingly keen, but the threshold of the Emperor-Tier Tai Chi Skill remained like a thick pane of frosted glass—he could see the outline, but he just couldn’t grasp the essence.

He had repeatedly watched War God Luo Feng’s explanations, every movement detail was ingrained in his mind, but the “artistic conception” of drawing upon the power of heaven and earth and condensing innate true essence remained elusive.

“Husband, you’re back? Come and rest.” Li Xiuying saw him, quickly put down her book, and called out.

Chen Yuyao immediately brought over the peeled fruit, softly saying, “Husband, please have some fruit.”

Xiao Yan nodded, took the fruit plate, and his gaze naturally fell upon his daughter, who was happily playing.

Xiao Xiuyun seemed to sense her father’s gaze, stopped chasing the ball, tilted her little head, and looked at Xiao Yan with bright, black grape-like eyes.

Perhaps the morning sun shone perfectly on her father, making him appear especially tall and warm; or perhaps it was the natural closeness of blood, the little one suddenly stretched out her chubby little hands towards Xiao Yan, and with all her might, in a milky, incredibly clear voice, called out:

“Da… Dad!”

This tender voice, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly rippled through Xiao Yan’s heart!

Even more strangely, at the moment he heard his daughter’s call, Xiao Yan felt as if an invisible lock in the depths of his mind “clicked” open!

An indescribable coolness instantly flowed through his entire sea of consciousness, like enlightenment, or like the parting of clouds to reveal the sun!

His thoughts, which had been somewhat sluggish and chaotic from pondering the Emperor-Tier Tai Chi Skill, became clearer and more transparent than ever before!

The abstruse and difficult cultivation mantras that had troubled him for months, those mysterious energy circulation diagrams, those “artistic conceptions” in War God Luo Feng’s explanations that could only be understood but not spoken…

At this moment, they seemed to lose all their veils, presenting themselves in his consciousness in the most intuitive and clearest way!

“So that’s how it is…”

“Intent guides the spirit, qi pervades the void… It’s not about forceful control, but… resonance?”

“It’s not about condensing from nothing, but using oneself as a cauldron, drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as fuel, and the will of one’s bloodline as a spark…”

Countless insights surged into his mind like a spring. All his previous confusion and incomprehension were instantly resolved!

This sudden spiritual lightness and enlightenment did not come from nowhere.

On one hand, it was the strong emotional impact brought by his daughter’s call of “Dad,” which resonated with his bloodline, touching the softest and most fundamental part of his soul, breaking through a certain mental barrier.

On the other hand, and more importantly, it was the continuous gentle nourishment provided by the system after his two wives successfully conceived!

And his daughter was growing day by day.

This was not just an improvement in physical fitness and qi and blood, but also a subtle enhancement of his mental strength and comprehension!

The combination of these two factors finally allowed him to break through the last barrier to understanding the Emperor-Tier Tai Chi Skill!

Xiao Yan’s eyes instantly became incredibly bright. He didn’t even think much; his body had instinctively and naturally reacted!

He slowly raised his hands, as if embracing a circle. The innate energy within his body no longer needed to be deliberately guided as before; instead, like water finding its riverbed, it naturally flowed according to the infinitely profound routes of the Emperor-Tier Tai Chi Skill!

Buzz—!

The air in the living room seemed to subtly vibrate.

Li Xiuying and Chen Yuyao both watched in surprise as a faint, almost imperceptible, misty white aura seemed to emanate around Xiao Yan. The sunlight shining through the window seemed to be refracted and distorted by this white aura, forming a hazy halo.

A unique aura, as solid as a mountain yet agile and ethereal, emanated from him, making the entire living room atmosphere serene and solemn.

Xiao Yan closed his eyes, completely immersed in this wonderful state.

He could clearly “feel” that as the skill operated, the ubiquitous, invisible energies of heaven and earth in the surrounding space, as if drawn by some invisible force, began to actively and gently gather towards him, slowly seeping into his body through the pores and acupoints on his body, merging, purifying, and transforming with his own innate energy…

The first cycle of circulation was completed incredibly smoothly!

Although it was only an initial operation, the “Emperor-Tier True Essence” he condensed was still very weak, but Xiao Yan could clearly feel that the quality and vitality of this newly born true essence were far superior to before! It was more condensed, purer, and more… “spiritual”!

Emperor-Tier Tai Chi Skill—Initiated!