The Cloud Sea atop Yunlan Peak flowed quietly like the finest white silk.
On this day, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi suddenly erupted into motion.
A pillar of light abruptly surged from deep within the mountain, where the five-colored spiritual energy of red, green, yellow, white, and black wove together in midair like five giant dragons, forming a tremendous vortex that covered a two-hundred-mile radius of mountains and hills.
When the rainbow light pierced through the clouds, it dyed the flowing clouds in the sky into a colorful tapestry, even causing the streams at the foot of the mountain to shimmer with variegated light, startling birds in the forest into flight and causing animals to crouch low. The entire Yunlan Mountain was bathed in the auspicious phenomenon celebrating with heaven and earth.
The Observation Cloud Platform halfway up the mountain was carved from a whole piece of cyan jade, with cloud patterns along the edges that shone brilliantly under the spirit light.
At this moment, nearly a hundred streaks of rainbow light descended like meteors onto the cloud platform. As the brilliance faded, the figures of Chen Xixing and other second-generation elders of the Chen Clan were revealed.
They wore daoist robes of various colors, with family-specialized jade pendants hanging from their waists, their gazes collectively directed towards the mountain peak enshrouded in five-colored glowing clouds, where the flowing bands of spiritual energy were reflected in their eyes.
There was both the joy for a clan member reaching Core Formation and an infinite yearning for the Great Dao.
"Brother Jiu is finally about to form his Golden Core!"
Chen Xiyue, seventeenth in rank, could not suppress her excitement, her voice crisp like clashing jade pendants, breaking the silence of the cloud platform.
At the forefront stood Chen Xiyue, holding a small jade qilin in his hand, gazing at the five-colored glow with admiration:
"Old Jiu's grandeur is truly deserving of using the Five Elements Golden Core Pill! The spiritual energy phenomenon for an ordinary cultivator forming a Golden Core spans but a hundred miles."
Chen Xihua, as the first of the Chen Clan second generation to join the Three Elements Dao Sect, was already outstanding with his Earth Grade Spiritual Root.
In recent years, with the sect's resources invested into his cultivation, he advanced rapidly, finally reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection not long ago.
Artsen zijn verbijsterd: deze groente verbrandt vet terwijl je slaapt!Open
The crowd naturally paid close attention to his cultivation, knowing that Chen Xihua obtained a Five Elements Fruit from the Dao Sect's Five Elements Secret Realm over ten years ago.
Later, Chen Sheng personally intervened, using eighteen kinds of Tier Three Spiritual Materials to refine the Five Elements Golden Core Pill. At this moment, feeling the increasingly dense spiritual energy between heaven and earth, no one doubted the outcome of this Core Formation.
A quarter of an hour later, a faint golden Sword Light swept down from the sky, where the Five Elements Spiritual Qi waves parted automatically, revealing a clear path.
The Sword Light, carrying an overwhelming Sword Intent, landed on the cloud platform, bringing with it a gust of whirlwind that made everyone's daoist robes flap loudly.
"Father is here!"
Chen Xixing was the first to react, quickly stepping forward respectfully and lowering his gaze.
As the eldest son, the jade pendant at his waist carried an extra gold rim compared to others, his slightly bowed posture reflecting the steadiness of a big brother.
The crowd turned sideways at his words, creating a square clearing about ten feet wide at the cloud platform's center, led by Chen Xixing.
As the glow dispersed, Chen Sheng's figure gradually emerged, wearing a dark-gold trimmed daoist robe with intricate pill patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
"Greetings, Father!"
Nearly a hundred voices united as one, filled with filial affection and awe, reverberating above the cloud platform.
Chen Sheng's gaze swept over his children, who, despite being over forty, still displayed the same respect as they did years ago on Nine Cloud Peak.
He nodded lightly, his gaze passing over the churning spiritual energy vortex in the sky, then turned to Chen Xixing:
"How long has the phenomenon been underway?"
"Father, it's been a quarter of an hour."
Chen Xixing's voice was steady, subtly smoothing the creases on his daoist robe that the wind had raised.
Chen Sheng acknowledged with a "hmm" and didn't dwell on the phenomenon there.
During Core Formation, the gathering of spiritual energy was only the beginning; the true crucial phase of forming the Pill Domain still required several hours.
He turned to look at his children behind him, fixing his gaze on a young man at the far left:
"Xiyang, come here, how have you been progressing in your cultivation lately?"
Chen Xiyang, the youngest of Chen Sheng's children, was ranked last among his one hundred and eight offspring, having just turned forty, with his High Grade Wood Spirit Root always exuding a faint herbal aroma around him.
Upon hearing his father, he hurried forward, a shy smile on his face, carrying more youthful essence than the steadiness of his elder brothers:
"At present, I'm tending to the Spirit Plants in the clan's Spirit Plant Garden. Under elder brother's guidance, I recently married a lady from the renowned Lin Clan of Suiyang, and just last month, our daughter was born. She somewhat resembles her mother...
Chen Sheng observed the grass stains on his son's daoist robe, recalling how this youngest child always loved squatting in the medicine plots of Nine Cloud Peak, and nodded lightly.
Now a Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Plant Master, Chen Xiyang could cultivate Condensed Dew Grass, which greatly benefited Foundation Establishment Cultivators, making him quite distinguished in the clan.
As for his children's marriages and progeny, Chen Sheng, though focused on cultivation and unable to inquire one by one, was generally aware through the clan records revised every ten years by Chen Xixing.
The Lin Clan of Suiyang was a well-known spiritual plant noble family, and this engagement suited Xiyang's nature well.
"Good."
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, retrieving a jade scroll of a jade green hue from his storage ring:
"This is 'The Green Spirit Cultivation Method,' which might help you care for wood attribute spirit plants."
Chen Xiyang received the jade scroll with both hands, his palms warming at the smooth jade surface, feeling his eyes grow slightly warm:
"Thank you, father."
Chen Sheng then called each of his children in turn, inquiring about their conditions, patiently listening.
He nodded occasionally, sometimes asking about cultivation difficulties, or taking out suitable cultivation technique jade scrolls or spiritual materials to aid their spiritual roots.
When Chen Xihuo, ranked fifty-three, stepped forward, a faint pill fire aura emanated from him:
"Father, I am currently overseeing the refining of elixir pills at the Commerce Association's affiliated Pill Workshop. Last month, I successfully refined a batch of Tier Two High Grade Qi Storage Pills."
He spoke, taking out a jade box from his chest, with twelve smooth elixir pills neatly arranged inside. The pure fragrance of the pills caused the surrounding spiritual energy to faintly ripple.
Chen Sheng took the elixir pills and sampled them, then nodded gently:
"The pills are refined well, but..."
He began to offer some pointers, and Chen Xihuo's eyes immediately lit up, revealing a look of sudden understanding.
Chen Sheng had a good grasp of his situation and bestowed a few suitable alchemy heritages.
Chen Xilong, ranked fifteenth, proudly spoke:
"Father, I have married fifty-seven wives in total and now have over a hundred descendants, nearly a thousand grandchildren..."
Chen Sheng heard this and revealed a faint smile:
"Well done, spreading the family branches, you have contributed significantly!"
Most of these children were raised on Nine Cloud Peak before they turned twenty, when Chen Sheng often personally guided them in breathing techniques.
At this moment, seeing them having achievements in alchemy, artifact dao, spiritual plants, or family affairs, Chen Sheng was quite gratified.
Finally, he gestured for Chen Xixing to come forward, placing his hand gently on his eldest son's shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles.
Chen Sheng's voice softened slightly:
"Eldest, you've worked hard all these years, taking good care of your siblings."
Eet je dit voor het slapengaan, dan val je in 14 dagen 17 kg af!Open
The name most mentioned by everyone just now was Chen Xixing's.
Xihuo's Pill Workshop runs smoothly relying on his coordination of family resources... Xilong's marriages were personally hosted by him... Even the expansion of Xiyang's Spirit Plant Garden was initiated by him...
Like a father, Chen Xixing supported the ever-growing family in his own way.
Almost all matters, big or small, were handled by him for his brothers. He led by example, treating everyone equally, earning unanimous respect.
On hearing these words, Chen Xixing's always tense shoulders slightly trembled, and his eyes reddened immediately.
Every man yearns for his father's recognition!
Though he was the eldest, he had known from a young age that his spiritual root was inferior to his siblings'.
From his youth, he took the initiative to manage Yunlan Mountain's affairs, focusing more on family matters and taking care of his siblings.
At this moment, hearing his father's words of acknowledgment, the years of suppressed grievances and perseverance found an outlet, and tears uncontrollably streamed down:
"Father, this is what I should do."
Chen Sheng noticed the few white hairs silently appearing at his temples. Despite these years, he remained at mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Moved, Chen Sheng reminded him:
"Even with many affairs, don't forget your cultivation. Your aptitude isn't that poor. Even if you can't achieve a Golden Core, forming a Fake Pill isn't a big challenge."
With that, he flicked his finger, and several streams of spirit light fell in front of Chen Xixing. A few bottles of Tier Three Enhancement Pills shimmered with a white glow, capable of rapidly enhancing cultivation.
A fist-sized Inner Core, entirely pitch-black, was the trophy from slaying the Unihorn Demon King. Even if unable to form a Golden Core, refining the Demon Pill into a Fake Pill could grant a lifespan of five hundred years.
Chen Xixing quickly wiped away tears with his sleeve, carefully collected the items with both hands, and nodded heavily:
"I understand, father! I will not disappoint your expectations!"
At this time, the five-colored rays of light in the distance suddenly churned fiercely, and a more intense pill fragrance penetrated through the clouds.
Chen Sheng looked up to see the golden pill pattern faintly circulating in the center of the spiritual energy vortex— the Pill Domain was forming.
The spiritual energy vortex above the sky suddenly contracted violently, the five-colored rays of light seemed to be kneaded by an invisible giant hand, gradually forming a pill domain covering ten miles.
Scarlet, green, yellow, white, and black streams of spiritual energy swirled within the domain, eventually transforming into a funnel-shaped massive cyclone, the funnel's tip piercing straight into the peak of Yunlan Mountain, emitting a "woo woo" howling sound.
The spiritual energy extending two hundred miles was swept into it like hundreds of rivers converging into the sea, even the people on the Observation Cloud Platform could feel their surrounding spiritual energy being drawn in, their daoist robes fluttering without wind.
"The Pill Domain is formed!"
Chen Xiyue looked from afar, seeing the spiritual energy at the funnel's tip rapidly pouring into the mountaintop, the rocks atop the mountain trembled slightly under spiritual pressure, even exuding crystalline spiritual liquid.
In merely half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a powerful Golden Core pressure suddenly exploded from the mountaintop, sweeping across the land like thunder from a clear sky.
Five-colored spiritual light expanded alongside the pressure, dyeing the vegetation on Yunlan Mountain in resplendent colors. Even the air thickened, causing one's dantian to slightly heat upon inhalation.
Immediately, a dazzling golden light shot out from the mountaintop, piercing through the glow to land in front of the Observation Cloud Platform.
As the golden light dispersed, Chen Xihua stood before everyone.
He wore the cyan daoist robe of the Three Elements Dao Sect, with his originally tied long hair now cascading over his shoulders, a few condensed spirit beads clinging to the tips.
The Five Elements Pill Qi swirling around him was so dense it nearly took form, sometimes transforming into crimson flames, other times condensing into verdant bamboo leaves, the smile on his lips fully expressing the ease of breakthrough.
"Greetings, father, eldest brother, second brother..."
Chen Xihua deeply bowed to Chen Sheng, then turned to respectfully greet everyone, his voice still quivering slightly with mana.
Chen Sheng stepped forward, sensing the rich aura emitted from the Five Elements Golden Core in his dantian, he cheerfully patted his shoulder:
"Good lad, you've not wasted that Five Elements Golden Core Pill."
"Your eldest brother set an example for the family in affairs, and you've set a benchmark for future generations in cultivation, well done."
Chen Xihua hurriedly bowed and said:
"Father overpraises me; my achievements are far from the efforts my eldest brother has made for the family. He manages all matters, allowing us to cultivate in peace..."