Chapter 286

Chapter 286: Changqing

Congratulations, host! Your forty-fifth child has been born, you have obtained a ninety-year lifespan bonus!

Because that child possessed Second Grade Spiritual Roots, the host has gained fifteen talent points!

Current qualification: Eighth Grade spiritual root (367/500)

The notification sound of the system made Zhou Luo, who was standing outside the door, shudder slightly.

As expected, this child did not disappoint him.

It actually had Second Grade Spiritual Roots, which was quite good among top-grade spiritual roots.

Even without any other external assistance, just possessing the Second Grade Spiritual Roots would be enough for him to enter the inner sect of the Immortal Sect.

Not to mention that Zhou Luo had also prepared many good items for this child.

He walked happily into the room.

Giving birth for the first time, Yao Wu was tilting her head, looking at the baby beside her, and revealing a pale smile.

From the time she began to understand such matters, in that family which favored boys over girls, she had rarely felt a mother’s love.

Even later, under her master’s careful cultivation, she could only feel fatherly love as firm as a mountain.

Now that she herself had become a mother, she watched the child lying quietly in the cradle, her inner softness tenderly stirred, her gaze as gentle as water.

Zhou Luo approached and gently stroked her face, saying, "You’ve worked hard."

"Husband, what about naming him Changqing? Changqing; an immortal path forever verdant." Yao Wu smiled as she looked at him.

From the moment she realized she was pregnant, she had been thinking about what to name this child, and today that wish finally materialized.

Zhou Luo pondered thoughtfully.

If this name lacked great fortune, it might not be bearable.

Generally, names that sounded overly grand often met with unfortunate fates; if one couldn’t hold it up, misfortunes would pile onto their life.

But Zhou Luo wasn’t worried that this little one couldn’t withstand it.

Because this little one was his own source of good fortune.

His Foundation Establishment materials and Second Level alchemy skill were both tied to it; not to mention he would give it many treasures others could only envy.

"Mm, it’s a very good name. I hope he will walk an everlasting immortal path in the future."

Zhou Luo happily agreed, extending his left hand to gently stroke the baby’s fragile skin, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

He was curious: how high would this little one rise, blessed with such immense fortune?

Immediately after, a spiritual light flashed in his palm, and a cyan bird egg appeared beside the child.

Seemingly sensing the infant’s aura, the egg lightly glowed with cyan light, and a mysterious power flowed into Little Changqing’s body; the two were establishing a bond.

"Husband, what is this?" Yao Wu asked with a curious expression.

"Companion Spirit Beast," Zhou Luo hid nothing.

Today, they shared a deep understanding and had no need to conceal such things.

Hearing those four words, Yao Wu looked utterly astonished.

She gazed at her husband in disbelief, her pale face filled with shock.

Regarding Companion Spirit Beasts, she had naturally heard of them.

But where did her husband obtain such a rare treasure?

Meeting her gaze, Zhou Luo smiled faintly but offered no answer.

Yao Wu didn’t press further.

For her, Little Changqing having such a wonderful companion filled her motherly heart with pure delight.

"Little Changqing, you must not disappoint your father in the future," she said, her eyes smiling as she looked at the little one.

"Naa~"

The little one seemed to understand, wiggling his small hand.

…

Another three months passed. Aside from Du Linghui, Zhou Luo’s other three concubines conceived again.

He consequently gained three more chances for the prize draw.

However, these three draws yielded relatively ordinary items, such as Qi Refinement techniques and top-grade magical artifacts.

He kept none for himself, bestowing them all upon his children working at the spiritual mine.

Possessing top-grade magical artifacts would significantly enhance their safety.

Now, the Lu Family and Zhang Family were growing increasingly aggressive; Zhou Luo had even heard from Lin Xi that their family’s Foundation Establishment ancestor had already clashed with them once.

The outcome of that encounter remained unknown.

But observing the movements of the Zhang and Lu Families made it seem the situation was far from positive.

It seemed he must achieve Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.

In the days that followed, Zhou Luo engaged in dual cultivation with Yao Wu daily.

Yao Wu could clearly sense his urgency and redoubled her efforts.

When Little Changqing turned one year old, Zhou Luo successfully reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refinement, possessing the ability to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

Before beginning his Foundation Establishment attempt, he needed to escort his wives and children back to Zhou Garden.

Since his three concubines were near their delivery dates, he waited a while longer.

Three children were safely born—one boy and two girls—two possessing Sixth Grade spiritual roots and one possessing fifth-grade spiritual roots.

As all had mid-grade spiritual roots, his lifespan increased by another 160 years, while his talent points grew by 50.

Presently, he possessed 417 talent points; the formidable milestone of 500 points was now within reach.

A few days later, he accompanied all these women back to Zhou Garden.

With Zhou Garden’s protective formation guarding them, unless the Foundation Establishment experts of the Zhang or Lu Families personally attacked, breaching this impregnable residence would be extremely difficult.

Upon his departure, he left behind a high-grade communication talisman.

This talisman possessed an exceptionally wide coverage range; even while he was within Immortal City, he would sense its activation if used.

If things truly reached a point beyond redemption, shattering this talisman would summon him swiftly.

Having completed these preparations, he returned to the Immortal City.

“I entrust the affairs of Yao Yuan Pavilion to you for now,” Zhou Luo stated with solemn seriousness to Wang Lang.

“Brother Zhou, what’s this about?” Wang Lang questioned, puzzled by his grave demeanor.

“I must journey outside to seek Foundation Establishment materials. It’s unknown how long I may be gone,” replied Zhou Luo.

He withheld the truth about commencing his Foundation Establishment, for revealing it now—after previously searching for materials—would surely invite rampant speculation.

He planned to vanish outright. Later, even if he returned having achieved Foundation Establishment, none would suspect anything unusual, assuming only that he had chanced upon the necessary resources.

“Do you require my assistance?” Wang Lang stiffened, sincerity ringing in his voice.

Over these years, Zhou Luo’s aid had steadily improved his circumstances, banishing all fear of living beyond his means.

Truly, this man had reshaped his Fate.

Whenever Wang Lang reflected on this, profound gratitude washed over him for the choice he’d made years prior.

Now that his benefactor faced a challenge, he resolved to offer every ounce of help possible.

“Simply mind the shop for me. Should any troublemakers appear, contact my son Zhou Chang Le,” said Zhou Luo, handing him a communication talisman from the Immortal Sect.

This talisman, akin to the one he’d left in Zhou Garden, was of superior quality—a direct line to Zhou Chang Le.

Wang Lang nodded emphatically.

With matters settled, Zhou Luo departed the Immortal City, changed attire, and re-entered its bounds.

He proceeded directly to the hall marking the entrance to the core district.

After brief registration and payment of spiritual stones, he secured a cave residence.

Entering the brightly lit cave residence, his first act was to deploy a top-grade formation around it, ensuring no disturbances. Only then did he settle cross-legged upon the Dao platform to commence his Closed-Door Training and mental preparation.

Roughly ten days later…

A sudden spiritual clarity washed over him—his body had reached its finest, most unprecedented condition.

Shhh—

Faint blue light emanated lightly from Zhou Luo’s entire form as the Water Spirit Heart Method surged within. His mind entered a state of profound tranquility, deeper than any he’d ever known.

Thirty-four years since his rebirth into this world of cultivation, approaching sixty years of age, Foundation Establishment was finally upon him.

This speed was remarkably swift by any measure, especially for one who’d begun possessing only a Ninth Grade spirit root.

Credit lay with the diverse array of spiritual elixirs he’d consumed over the years… and this very dual cultivation technique, an inheritance from the ancient Hehuan Path.

“For this Foundation Establishment… I hold a ninety-nine percent chance of victory!”

Zhou Luo’s eyes blazed with clarity, his heart of the path illuminated. A surge of unshakeable conviction flooded his being.