Chapter 136: A Master of Parenting

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A five-colored radiance transformed into a jeweled canopy above Xu Chen’s head. Feeling the surging vital blood within him, so immense that it seemed ready to burst forth, Xu Chen suddenly recalled what Yun Yue had said back then.

“It’s going to explode.”

“Looks like even the most supreme method of building a foundation through vital blood truly cannot be cultivated too much.”

Looking toward the sparring puppet in the distance, Xu Chen struck out with all his strength.

His force crossed dozens of yards before crashing into the sparring puppet.

“Boom!”

The sparring puppet was sent flying at an astonishing speed, slamming into the inner wall of the formation in the distance.

Only after a long while did it slide down from the formation wall. A palm print half a foot deep in its body was slowly healing.

“Strength of nine dragons and seven tigers,” the sparring puppet announced.

“Not bad. That’s a little more vital blood than I expected.”

Xu Chen reined in the vital blood surging through his body.

“Only the final step remains—the Nine Transformations of the Candle Dragon. Junior Grandmaster cultivated the Nine Transformations of the Candle Dragon as well. Should I go ask for his guidance?”

The thought had barely arisen when Xu Chen suppressed it. It was only the introductory stage; there was no need to trouble Junior Grandmaster for instruction.

As he spoke, Xu Chen took out another multicolored jade slip and slowly brought it toward his brow.

Just then, the communication artifact in his spatial ring suddenly rang.

Xu Chen picked it up and saw that it was an unfamiliar communication artifact. A friend request had been sent through its identification code.

“Could it be Father?”

Xu Chen immediately accepted it.

A call request came through at once, and Xu Chen tremblingly pressed accept.

As soon as the call connected, a slightly trembling voice sounded.

“Son, is that you?” Xu Qiangjia asked nervously.

“Dad, it’s me,” Xu Chen replied excitedly.

Eight years had passed. At last, he could speak with his own father.

“Son, listen. Although the communication artifact can make calls, we’re an entire continent apart. Each breath costs at least fifty spirit coins.”

“Sending messages is even more expensive than sending letters. We should continue corresponding by letter in the future,” Xu Qiangjia said quickly. He missed his son, but he also could not bear to waste spirit coins.

“Dad, the one thing I have no shortage of right now is spirit coins. We can talk as much as we like.”

“What about Mom?” Xu Chen asked.

“Having spirit coins doesn’t mean you should throw them away. Besides, the charges apply to both sides.”

“Your mother is at home copying talismans. I’ll have her call you when I get back.”

“Son, how has your cultivation been going at the sect lately? Can you reach the Treasure Body Realm by the age of twenty-five?” Xu Qiangjia immediately began asking about his son’s progress.

“Dad, you might not believe me, but your son is very powerful now. I possess the strength of nine dragons and seven tigers!”

“After a while, I’ll cultivate to the limit of the Vital Blood Realm before advancing to the Treasure Body Realm. Then I’ll go to Hillcrest City to see you and Mom.”

Ever since the call had connected, the smile on Xu Chen’s face had never faded.

“After not seeing you for a few years, how did you learn to spout such nonsense? The strength of nine dragons and seven tigers? Have you forgotten how you nearly drove me mad when I taught you the Six Forms of the Sacred Ape?”

“We’re family. You don’t have to hide anything from me. No matter how many dragons you’ve cultivated to, reaching the Treasure Body Realm is what matters.”

“If you can also find a companion at the sect, that would be perfect.”

“Your previous letters all said that things were going well, so I’ll take your word for it. Have you spent all the spirit coins you received before?”

“I’ve saved quite a few spirit coins over the years. Together with the bits and pieces your mother has put aside, we have more than a million. I’ll send you one million spirit coins in a little while.”

At that moment, Xu Qiangjia was accompanying a battalion of soldiers as they collected taxes from various officially recognized Loose Spirit Daoist Grounds. After the call began, he had found a corner and was happily speaking with his son.

“Look at our Battalion Commander’s radiant smile. Is he taking a concubine?” A Centurion spotted Xu Qiangjia in the corner.

“You don’t understand. Our Battalion Commander has three great loves.”

“First, the wife who has shared his hardships. Second, the son who is at the Great Creek Sect.”

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“Third, the treasured artifact his son gave him.”

“Our Battalion Commander must be speaking with his son right now,” another Centurion said with absolute certainty.

As they spoke, a courier ship bearing the emblem of the Human Emperor broke through space in the sky and flew toward them.

Xu Qiangjia saw it as well.

“Son, wait a moment. A courier ship bearing the Human Emperor’s emblem has arrived. I’m going to take a look.”

“All right, Dad. Go ahead.”

The call ended.

Courier ships bearing the Human Emperor’s emblem usually transported rewards from the Human Emperor’s Holy Dynasty.

When he saw the ship hovering overhead, Xu Qiangjia hurriedly gathered the troops into formation.

The courier ship bearing the Human Emperor’s emblem slowly descended, and the entire earth trembled beneath it.

The Human Emperor’s courier ship was more than a hundred yards long. Though it was not particularly large, it gave off an incomparably solemn and sacred presence.

A man dressed in the ninth-rank Immortal Official robe of the Human Emperor stepped down from the ship, accompanied by a squad of guards and palace maids carrying brocade boxes.

Xu Qiangjia and the other soldiers stood in formation and merely saluted with their eyes.

“Is Xu Qiangjia, father of the Great Creek Sect’s prodigy Xu Chen, present?” The ninth-rank Immortal Official’s voice was exceptionally gentle.

“Xu Qiangjia, Centurion Commander of Hillcrest City, is present.” Xu Qiangjia stepped forward, his expression puzzled.

“Xu Chen performed outstandingly on the Ancient Battlefield. He slew foreign-race prodigies and stood against the Nether River Clan’s inheriting beast in battle formation, bringing glory to the human race.”

“Parents’ love is compassionate. They establish principles through words and actions, build trust through their own conduct, and never abandon their children in teaching them. Thus are fine talents nurtured.”

“You have taught your son well and raised a talent for the nation.”

“Xu Qiangjia and Wei Miaoqiu are hereby granted…”

“Ten crystal jades, three phoenix feathers from the Immortal Garment Pavilion, a pair of Spirit-Nurturing Ruyi scepters, and a plaque personally bestowed by the Human Emperor.”

“Please accept them, Lord Xu.”

A spatial brocade box appeared before Xu Qiangjia.

Xu Qiangjia accepted it in a daze. He knew about the Ancient Battlefield, but given his son’s aptitude, how could Xu Chen possibly have gone there?

Then he suddenly remembered the call. Could it be that what his son had said was true?

“Commander Xu, don’t just stand there. Hurry and see the Immortal Official off.” The excited Centurion beside him nudged Xu Qiangjia.

Only then did Xu Qiangjia recover. He quickly handed the spatial brocade box to the Centurion beside him and escorted the Immortal Official away.

Meanwhile, at the Great Creek Sect, on Heavenly Cloud Island, at Xu Chen’s Daoist estate—

Xu Chen was lying leisurely in a recliner, gazing at the sky.

Two figures appeared outside the formation.

“Let them in.”

The formation opened a gap, and the two men quickly walked over.

“Junior Brother Xu, we have wonderful news!”

“Our Human Emperor has rewarded those who performed outstandingly on the Ancient Battlefield.”

“Those with families received rewards for their families. Those without families had their parents rewarded. If neither had fulfilled the duty of teaching them, then their masters or sects were rewarded instead.”

“The families that received rewards have all gone mad with joy. One of the gifts is even a plaque bestowed by the Human Emperor. It’s something that can be passed down for countless generations!”

“Junior Brother Xu’s parents should have received theirs by now, right?” Li Chengfu asked excitedly.

“Huh? They probably have,” Xu Chen said, recalling that his father had mentioned a courier ship before ending the call.

“Junior Brother Xu, with that plaque from the Human Emperor hung in your home, not even a Golden Immortal or Great Zenith Immortal would dare fly over your house.”

“From now on, any guest who visits your family must first pay respects to the plaque bestowed by the Human Emperor,” Zong Changshou added excitedly.

“Is it really that exaggerated?”

“Among the human race, there are no more than a thousand plaques bestowed by the Human Emperor of the Ninth Age, or plaques bearing the Human Emperor’s authentic inscription.”

“This time, the harvest from the Ancient Battlefield may have far exceeded expectations. With a sweep of his brush, the Human Emperor bestowed authentic plaques. There are ninety in the entire human race.”

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“Don’t you have one?” Xu Chen looked at the two men.

“Only those who slew foreign-race enemies listed on the rankings and then stood against an inheriting beast in the final battle could receive a reward.”

“Right now, in the entire Thunder Continent, only the Supreme Grand Elder has one.” Zong Changshou knew that Xu Chen’s father was on a newly established continent at the front line.

At that moment, all three of them looked up at the sky.

One imposing figure after another, each radiating a terrifying aura, crossed through space and arrived.

“So we can finally hold our heads high,” Xu Chen said happily.

“More than that. The plaque is strengthened by the fortune of the human way. As long as it hangs in your home, your parents can enjoy the enhancement of human fortune in their cultivation. Before reaching the Golden Immortal Realm, they will cultivate at least twenty percent faster.”

Xu Chen noticed that Li Chengfu and Zong Changshou began smiling sheepishly as they continued speaking.

“If you have something to say, just say it. If you keep circling around the subject, I won’t agree to anything,” Xu Chen said lazily from his recliner.

“We certainly can’t see the plaque at the Supreme Grand Elder’s home. We were wondering whether the two of us might be allowed to admire the plaque at your parents’ home,” Li Chengfu said shamelessly, rubbing his hands together.

“My father is in Hillcrest City. Once I reach the Treasure Body Realm, I’m planning to go there and visit my parents.”

“If you want to see it, come with me then.”

“Thank you, Junior Brother Xu!”

“It’s nothing.”

The three of them continued chatting about other matters.

“Junior Brother Xu, when do you plan to advance to the Treasure Body Realm?” Zong Changshou asked.

“I’ll wait another year. I’ll advance after my aptitude improves.”

“That works. By then, Changshou and I should also be close to the Treasure Body Realm.”

While the three men chatted, Hillcrest City, far away on the front line, had erupted into turmoil.

Xu Qiangjia’s residence—and even the streets outside—were packed with people.

The City Lord of Hillcrest City and a group of Immortal Officials stared at Xu Qiangjia with eager anticipation.

“Old Xu, stop hiding it. The Human Emperor bestowed that plaque upon you so that you could spread this spirit.”

“If we don’t admire the plaque, how can we learn from that spirit?”

“Quick, hang it in the main hall and let us see the Human Emperor’s authentic inscription.”

The City Lord of Hillcrest City had already embarked upon the immortal path. The thought of personally admiring an authentic work of the Human Emperor left him tremendously excited.

“My foolish son entered the Ancient Battlefield without telling his mother and me. We haven’t even had time to process it. Could you give us a little more time?”

“Would it be all right if we hung the plaque after we’ve confirmed everything?” Xu Qiangjia’s greatest desire at that moment was to call his son and demand to know why he had gone to the Ancient Battlefield without telling them.

“That’s understandable. But since the Human Emperor has bestowed the reward, the records of human fortune will confirm it as well. There can be no mistake.”

“And I won’t allow you to call your son a foolish boy. He slew foreign-race prodigies on the Ancient Battlefield, entered battle formation, and withstood the most powerful inheriting beast.”

“Your son is a hero!” the City Lord of Hillcrest said enviously.

If that was merely his foolish boy, then what did that make his own son?

“Judging by your expression, you have a lot on your mind as well. Forget it. We’ll come back in three days to admire the plaque.”

“All right.” Xu Qiangjia immediately nodded.

After everyone had left, Xu Qiangjia and Wei Miaoqiu immediately sat together and called Xu Chen’s communication artifact.

Xu Chen was chatting with Li Chengfu and Zong Changshou at the time. When he saw the call request from his father, he knew exactly what it meant.

“You two keep talking. I’m going in to get scolded for a while.”

Chapter Three.