Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 121

Faced with the mountain of top-tier “healing” resources sent by various factions, Xiao Yan naturally accepted them with a smile, the more the merrier. While these resources might not directly help him break through his current realm, they were excellent for nourishing his body, consolidating his cultivation, and even for his wives and children who were recuperating and nursing.

He continued to maintain the facade of “slow recovery,” spending most of his time in a secret chamber deep within the manor. He declined almost all visitors and unnecessary matters, fully embodying the image of someone “severely injured and needing quiet recuperation.”

After internally appeasing Lin Wei, Zhao Meng, and his core wives, and unifying their statements, Xiao Yan dedicated most of his energy to secretly consolidating his new realm.

Inside the secret chamber, there was no one else. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. The newly born, dazzling spiritual core was like the center of a universe, emitting a faint yet incredibly tenacious light. He carefully manipulated his spiritual power, attempting to perceive, touch, and guide the active elemental energies in the surrounding space.

This was an extremely delicate and mentally taxing process. He was like an infant just learning to walk, exploring a brand new world. Each successful guidance, even if it was just making a gentle breeze caress his fingertips or a small cluster of flames spontaneously jump, filled him with joy. Each failure and excessive consumption of spiritual power also made him feel tired, but he never tired of it.

He was also continuously purifying and compressing the War King power within his body. This was the nascent power that had integrated vast amounts of heaven and earth energy during his breakthrough; though powerful, it still carried a hint of impurity. He needed to perfectly fuse it with his Royal-grade True Essence, which he had cultivated for many years and possessed the attributes of Tai Chi’s harmonious fluidity and lightning’s dominance, imprinting it with his unique “Xiao Yan” mark, making it more pliable and its power more restrained and terrifying.

This process also required painstaking effort. But he had plenty of patience, and even more, he had continuous, albeit subtle and diverse, “Law Comprehension” feedback from his numerous offspring as reference and assistance. He felt that his understanding of the War King realm deepened every day, and his control over power became increasingly refined.

While Xiao Yan was immersed in this secret strength enhancement, the outside world’s commotions did not cease.

About another month passed, just as Xiao Yan’s “slow recovery” act was playing out perfectly, the War King Manor’s second “inquiry” arrived.

This time, the invitation was not from War King Lie Yang, but from the relatively gentle and steady War King “Cang Shan.” The reason for the invitation was also more “official”—given the recent frequent beast tides and immense defensive pressure around the city, he hoped to invite Xiao Yan, a battle-hardened and experienced peak Ninth-grade War General, to the War King Manor to jointly discuss and formulate a more comprehensive regional synergistic defense strategy.

This reason was high-sounding, making it almost impossible to refuse. A major plan concerning the city’s overall defense, how could a high-ranking, top-tier War General refuse on the grounds of “physical discomfort”?

Xiao Yan frowned again when he received this invitation. Sure enough, what was meant to come, had come. One refusal might be acceptable, but using the same excuse twice would likely arouse suspicion.

He pondered for a moment and quickly thought of a new countermeasure.

This time, he didn’t send Lin Wei or Zhao Meng to reply. Instead, he personally contacted War King Cang Shan’s steward (assuming a figure similar to Steward Qin) via encrypted communication.

The call connected, and Xiao Yan’s image appeared on the screen, still looking “pale” and “slightly weak in aura.”

“Junior Xiao Yan greets War King Cang Shan (and his steward).” He first bowed respectfully, adopting a very humble posture. “Upon receiving War King’s invitation, junior feels deeply honored and understands its great importance. I should have come immediately to listen to your teachings.”

Then, he changed his tone, a perfectly timed “bitter smile” and “helplessness” appearing on his face: “It’s just… alas, to be frank, my physical condition is indeed a bit… uncooperative. The battle with the Dragon King last time seemed like a lucky victory, but in reality, my foundation was damaged. Although I’ve received generous resources from the Alliance and my colleagues and have been recuperating day and night, my recovery has been… truly slow.”

He paused, then continued sincerely: “Especially my spiritual power; the loss was too great, and I still feel weak and often dizzy. If I were to participate in high-intensity strategic discussions, I fear not only would I struggle to concentrate, but I might also risk a relapse of old injuries due to insufficient spiritual power, or even… affect my future martial arts foundation.”

“Therefore, junior dares to humbly request War King’s understanding. Although junior cannot personally attend the manor, I am willing to compile my humble insights and defensive suggestions regarding the Northeast defense line into a detailed report and submit it for War King and the command center’s reference. Once my health improves slightly, I will immediately pay a visit to apologize and listen to War King’s direct guidance.”

This explanation was more “specific” than the last, attributing the “illness” to the difficult-to-verify “spiritual power loss” and “foundation damage.” He also proactively offered to submit a defense report, demonstrating an active willingness to participate, making it difficult for anyone to criticize.

War King Cang Shan’s steward remained silent for a moment after listening, then slowly spoke, his tone still calm and unperturbed: “War General Xiao’s dedication to defense and noble character are admirable. Since your body has not yet fully recovered, recuperation is naturally paramount. This is also War King’s intention. As for the report, your thoughtfulness is enough. Rest and recover well.”

The communication ended. Although Xiao Yan had successfully “maneuvered” his way out again, his vigilance remained undiminished. The more “lenient” the War King’s attitude, the more it indicated that the situation might be more complex than he imagined.

On the military side, Deputy Commander Liu and others’ “concern” never stopped. They would regularly send people to deliver the latest intelligence briefings, or communicate with Xiao Yan under the guise of discussing certain “minor” military affairs, subtly probing his “recovery progress.” Xiao Yan consistently maintained a “slow improvement” pace, occasionally showing a little “progress” in communications, but never revealing too much, expertly controlling the degree.

Other forces also conducted overt and covert probes through various channels. Some sent rare medicinal materials, some invited him to “online” seminars, and some families even tried to insert their younger generation into the special operations team, hoping to observe him up close. Xiao Yan blocked them all, citing “the need for quiet recuperation, inconvenience for visitors, and temporary handling of affairs by the adjutant.”

And just as all these forces were cautiously probing and observing, that seemingly understated invitation from Xiao Yan stirred up a monstrous storm within the Wang family.

Finally, driven by boundless fear and the will to survive, the Wang family patriarch made the most difficult and humiliating decision of his life—to accept the invitation and offer the family’s most precious “sacrifice” in exchange for a temporary reprieve.

Three days later, the Wang family patriarch, accompanied by two core elders whose faces were ashen, and… two exquisite young girls in a comatose state, contained in special energy cages (nominally for easy transport and display), arrived at Xiao Yan’s manor once again.

This time, Xiao Yan did not make them wait.

Still in the study, Xiao Yan maintained his calm and indifferent demeanor, as if the previous meeting, which could have decided the Wang family’s fate, had never happened.

The three members of the Wang family knelt down again, not daring to even lift their heads, and directly pushed the two energy cages containing the girls towards Xiao Yan.

“War… War King adult…” The Wang family patriarch’s voice was extremely hoarse with fear. “These are… the Wang family’s… most talented direct bloodline… a pair of twin sisters, Wang Yuyan, Wang Yuwei… eighteen years old… their talent, by chance… has reached initial Seventh-grade… They… they are willing… willing to serve you… to atone for… to atone for the Wang family’s monstrous sins… we beg your mercy…”

Initial Seventh-grade! And eighteen-year-old twin sisters!

This talent was absolutely among the top of the top even in the entire Fourth New Nanjing City! The Wang family had truly gone all out this time, betting the family’s future hope on this!

Xiao Yan’s gaze lingered for a moment on the two girls, who were in a drug-induced sleep but still showed exquisite beauty and extraordinary bone structure.

Initial Seventh-grade, immense potential, and twins…

System evaluation, most likely… “Excellent”! Perhaps even… higher?

His heart stirred slightly.

But his face remained expressionless. He merely glanced indifferently at the kneeling Wang family patriarch: “You… are quite sincere.”

This bland remark, however, made the three members of the Wang family feel as if they had received a great pardon! They understood the subtext—Xiao Yan seemed to… accept this “compensation”!

“It’s our duty! It’s our duty! It’s the Wang family’s honor to be of service to you!” The Wang family patriarch quickly kowtowed, his voice filled with the joy of surviving a disaster.

Xiao Yan ignored them and simply instructed someone outside the door: “Someone, take these two young ladies away and settle them properly. Find the best physician to examine their bodies, remove the effects of the drugs, and ensure they are unharmed.”

The steward immediately entered in response and respectfully took away the two energy cages.

“As for you…” Xiao Yan’s gaze fell on the three members of the Wang family again, and that subtle War King’s pressure descended once more, his voice cold, “…remember what you said today. Wang family, how you should act in the future, I presume… you know what to do.”

“Yes! Yes! We understand! We understand!” The three Wang family members nodded frantically like pecking chicks, their backs already soaked with sweat.

“Get out.” Xiao Yan waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.

The three Wang family members, as if granted a great pardon, scrambled out of the study, fleeing the manor that felt like hell to them.

They knew that the Wang family… was temporarily saved. But the price was the family’s two most dazzling future stars, and… the fate of becoming a complete subordinate to this terrifying existence.

And Xiao Yan, looking at the two beautiful twin sisters being led away, a subtle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

New “investments” had arrived.

Next, it was time to wait for them to wake up, and then… begin a new round of “in-depth guidance” and “sowing.”

He felt that he was a step closer to the true peak of the War King realm. And the Wang family’s twin sisters were very likely to be that final, and most crucial, catalyst!