At this moment.
Everyone's gaze toward Chen Zhixing changed completely.
A Nine Ancient Patterner!
Such a rare existence in the entire Cangxuan Realm today!
"Regarding the matter of this child Zhixing, there shouldn't be a need for me to repeat myself, should there?" Chen Daoyan spoke gravely.
Chen Tianliang nodded, then glanced sideways at Chen Tianxiong.
"Why are you looking at me like that? What benefit would it be to me if the news about Zhixing being a Nine Ancient Patterner gets out?" Chen Tianxiong retorted irritably as he glanced at Chen Tianliang.
"Alright, that's all for today's matter. Regarding Zhixing being a Nine Ancient Patterner, I'll inform the ancestor. Additionally, the anomaly that occurred today, I'll find an excuse to dismiss it."
"Tianliang, take this token. From now on, whenever Zhixing needs heavenly materials and earthly treasures for cultivation, just use this token to retrieve them from the Treasure Pavilion. Zhixing and Zhaosheng will receive equal treatment."
Chen Daoyan reached out, a loving smile on his face, and touched Chen Zhixing's head, finishing with:
"Grow well, child. Grandpa will come to see you again."
As the words fell.
Chen Daoyan turned around, stepped forward, and instantly sped off toward the restricted area of the Chen Family's back mountain.
"Big brother, I won't keep you any longer."
Chen Tianliang smiled as he looked at Chen Tianxiong, motioning him to leave.
Seeing Chen Tianliang's smug expression, Chen Tianxiong felt a strong urge to punch him.
"Third brother, a child's talent only signifies a high starting point. How far and how fast they can ultimately go isn't just determined by talent."
Chen Tianxiong took a deep breath and his expression gradually became calm.
With those words, he took the three-year-old infant Chen Zhaosheng by his side and turned to leave.
Before leaving.
Chen Zhaosheng silently gave a deep look at the swaddled Chen Zhixing.
In the depths of his mind, an inexplicable premonition arose.
He felt that in the future, he would have some kind of inexplicable bond with this child in the cradle.
...
...
Once the two had left.
The entire hall instantly fell silent.
Chen Tianliang, who had previously managed to keep his composure, immediately turned around, looking at the swaddled Chen Zhixing with excitement.
"Oh my dear!"
"My sweet son!"
"You've really made your father proud this time! Hahaha!"
He held Chen Zhixing, pouting and squinting, ready to shower him with kisses.
"Daddy really hasn't spoiled you for nothing!! Haha!"
Seeing this, Chen Zhixing immediately reacted with disgust, leaning his body backward and raising his tiny feet to block Chen Tianliang's scruffy face.
"Being a father, the child is still young. Don't scare him." Yingy Shuangshuang chuckled helplessly as she pushed Chen Tianliang away.
"Okay, okay, no kisses. Daddy will reward you tonight by telling you the story of the Golden Axe, Silver Axe, and Iron Axe ten times, ensuring you have a good night's sleep." Chen Tianliang laughed.
Chen Zhixing's expression darkened.
From birth until now, a whole month, he had heard this story ninety-eight times!
And that doesn't even count the times when he was in the womb.
"Good, very good."
Silently, he made another note in his mental notebook.
[When he's old, I'll let him experience the feeling of having the Golden Axe, Silver Axe, and Iron Axe story played by his bedside every day.]
[And to add, it must be played until he feels sick.]
Then.
Chen Zhixing yawned, turned around, and prepared to sleep deeply.
He was quite satisfied with today's result.
He naturally knew how to display ten ancient patterns early on, having formed the Innate Primordial Tao Body while in the womb, clearing all blocked meridians and acupoints.
But what significance does that have?
Such a display would only bring infinite troubles for himself and the entire Chen Family.
Some things need to be moderate before having the strength to protect oneself.
...
...
Meanwhile.
On a mountain road leaving Chen Tianliang's family.
"Humph, I don't know what kind of dumb luck Chen Tianliang had to have a child who is also a Nine Ancient Patterner." Chen Tianxiong walked with hands behind, full of resentment.
He glanced down at Chen Zhaosheng beside him, feeling slightly better.
Fortunately, his own son was also a Nine Ancient Patterner and possessed an Innate King's Map.
"Dad, what kind of conflict do you and Third Uncle have that makes you always confront him?"
Chen Zhaosheng asked curiously.
His father wasn't usually a petty person. On the contrary, in the whole Cultivation Realm, he was known as having the demeanor of a leader who could swallow mountains and rivers.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have firmly been the top-ranked younger generation of the Chen Family.
Yet he couldn't understand why his father would act differently when facing Third Uncle.
All his composure and wit, even his ability to remain calm in situations with profound potential for upheaval, would completely vanish.
"This..."
Chen Tianxiong hesitated, then with half words said, "Forget it, you're still young, some things even if I tell you, you wouldn't understand. I'll explain when you're older."
After pausing, Chen Tianxiong smiled and said:
"Zhaosheng, don't think too much of it. You're still the most talented in my heart. Your future achievements will be limitless, far surpassing that of Chen Zhixing."
"Whether it surpasses or not isn't something Dad can just decide." Chen Zhaosheng suddenly said.
"Hm?" Chen Tianxiong was startled, then seemed to grasp something and quickly said with concern: "Zhaosheng, don't be discouraged. Even if that kid Zhixing has nine ancient patterns, it only barely matches your level. But you've got an additional Innate King's Map. What's he got to compete with you?"
Before he could finish.
Chen Zhaosheng shook his head and calmly said: "Dad, you've misunderstood. I just think, if a person goes far ahead and looks back only to find no opponents in sight, how boring that would be?"
He chuckled.
"But if there's always a rival tirelessly striving to catch up, wouldn't that be far more interesting?"
Chen Zhaosheng halted his steps, looked back at Chen Tianliang's residence on the mountain peak, and calmly and firmly spoke:
"Dad, didn't you want to suppress Third Uncle's family?"
"I'll help you achieve that."
He withdrew his gaze, leaving a thought unsaid within:
"Brother, I'll give you the time to catch up, until you can no longer see me."
"I won't lose."
Chen Tianxiong's pupils shrank slightly upon hearing this.
He looked at Chen Zhaosheng hesitantly.
This child of his was maturing in a way that was somewhat terrifying.
.....
.....
Time flies.
In the blink of an eye, two months passed quickly.
During these two months, with the growth liquid refined from various heavenly materials and earthly treasures, Chen Zhixing developed remarkably — changing almost daily.
Currently.
At three months old, Chen Zhixing's length exceeded half a meter, robust and adorable, especially loved by everyone.
But rather than his physical growth, his cultivation advancement concerned Chen Zhixing more.
"The matter of creating a technique has only one final step left."
"I need to study a large number of cultivation techniques, finding one among them to serve as the main framework for my creation."
"Once the technique is successfully created, I can officially begin cultivation."
"Besides, just using my Spiritual Power outwardly is too wasteful. If I could find a technique to turn Spiritual Power into an attack, that would be great."
"Such techniques are extremely rare, but the Chen Family, as a Longevity Family, definitely has one in the Scripture Pavilion."
Chen Zhixing lay in a rocking chair, brows furrowed.
"But... not being able to communicate is too troublesome, having things you can't acquire."
"No, I must find an appropriate moment to speak."
While Chen Zhixing was deep in thought.
Creaaaaak.
The door opened.
Chen Tianliang walked in with a smile, calling from a distance:
"My dear!"
"Have you learned to call Daddy today?"