...
Time slowly passed by.
Two years slipped away.
Every morning, in the courtyard.
The five little ones sat cross-legged on the ground, starting their energy introduction and foundation cultivation.
Huang Yueyang held a ruler in his hand, supervising them from the side.
Apart from that.
A few brand-new little lives had joined them in the swaddle.
It was the result of Tang Yijing's two years of dedication.
Seeing this, Chen Sheng couldn't help but sigh in his heart:
"I didn't expect this child Yijing to have quite a resemblance to me."
...
Fire Room.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on a jade mat.
In front of him was a pill furnace burning fiercely.
"Breathe in—breathe out—"
The low, rhythmic sounds of breathing echoed in the room, carrying a peculiar rhythm.
Chen Sheng placed his hands in front of him.
Slowly operating a spell, his finger techniques were constantly changing.
Each sealing drew in the furnace's fire, gradually absorbing it into his body.
A glow of firelight wrapped around him, resembling a red dragon entwining his body.
His entire aura appeared to be more scorching.
At this moment.
He was concentrating his heart spirit on a particular area within his body.
It was a newly opened meridian, arduously developed through the simultaneous impact of mana and fire evil power.
After a long time.
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, introspected the newly developed meridians within himself, and his eyes revealed a smile.
"It's done!"
"Two years of hard work didn't go to waste, I finally got started!"
After the joy subsided.
Chen Sheng was moved at heart.
With a swift forming of the core hand seal of the first layer of the "Red Flood Dragon Burning River Seal" with his hands.
The dantian mana immediately flowed into the newly created hidden vein as if directed by his will!
With the infusion of mana.
A layer of fine crimson scale armor emerged.
At a speed visible to the naked eye, it spread out from the shoulder of his right arm.
Instantly covering the entire right forearm.
The spirit light surged to form a continuously flowing protective shield.
"So this is the Red Scale Armor!"
With a thought, Chen Sheng patted his storage pouch.
A completely black high-grade ghost head saber immediately emerged.
Twisting and turning in mid-air, it gleamed with a cold light!
He skillfully controlled the blade with precise mana, using it to slowly slice across the protective light shield.
Chhh!
A faint sound of friction resounded.
The spirit light on the Red Scale Shield shimmered without leaving any trace.
"According to the cultivation technique record, the defense of the Scale Armor Seal is comparable to a high-grade protective shield, indeed not lacking."
"Let's try again."
Chen Sheng squeezed the Artifact Control Technique with one hand, adjusting the direction.
The ghost head saber transformed into a black light, slashing with full force at the very edge of the scale armor on his right arm.
He was confident.
Even if it was cut through, it wouldn't harm the dharma body.
However.
With merely hearing a crisp "clang".
The black light fell upon it, only sparking a series of sparks and leaving behind a very deep cut.
The protective shield wavered for a moment, then quickly stabilized.
The scale armor on the body surface also began to gradually repair, the knife wound soon restored as if it hadn't been damaged.
Chen Sheng's heart was immediately filled with joy:
"The defense exceeds even the Golden Light Talisman, ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cannot harm me."
He stroked the red scales covering his right arm, quickly moved in heart:
"Since I've started, the next step is to cultivate step by step."
"Soon, fully cover the body with red scales, completely cultivate the first layer."
...
After several days again.
Chen Sheng was sipping tea in the courtyard.
In the southeast corner.
The seclusion stone chamber burst open with a rumble.
A gentle figure slowly walked out.
His entire body was filled with harmonious spiritual power, clearly finely refined, without any trace of leak.
Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer!
It was Qin Yuan.
Upon seeing his master, he immediately stepped forward quickly, saluted:
"Greetings, Master."
Chen Sheng was also happy for him, happily patting his disciple's shoulder:
"A successful endeavor, well done, well done!"
Qin Yuan revealed a humble smile:
"It was all thanks to Master imparting his breakthrough experience to me."
"I meticulously refined my mana for a year, also consumed the Xinghuang Pill to stabilize my dantian, only then I took the pill to breakthrough."
Chen Sheng heard this, and immediately laughed heartily.
He initially referred to his father-in-law's experience to breakthrough.
It didn't work!
Then he referred to his and his wife's experience, summarized small techniques for his disciple.
Unexpectedly, he indeed succeeded in breaking through once!
Chen Sheng smiled:
"Today is a good day for your breakthrough."
"Later, let your master's wife prepare some dishes. Let's have a good drink and celebrate, just us two."
Qin Yuan nodded: "Yes."
Evening.
Huang Wangyou prepared a few dishes for the two, then went to meditate and cultivate.
The sixty-year lifespan limit was approaching.
Chen Sheng urged her to cultivate diligently every day.
On the stone table.
The master and disciple sat down and drank a few cups.
"The dishes that your master's wife makes are always so delicious."
Qin Yuan picked up a piece of fish and praised it.
Chen Sheng laughed heartily:
"Your master's wife's culinary talent is undeniable and widely recognized."
After a few rounds of drinks.
Chen Sheng directly asked:
"Yuan'er, what are your plans next?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuan couldn't help but feel anxious.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"Like my senior sister, I too am focused on the path of cultivation, without personal attachments..."
Chen Sheng laughed heartily:
"Don't worry, I won't rush you."
"It's I who fended off your master's wife for you."
"Speak your mind freely."
Hearing this, Qin Yuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief:
"Thank you, Master. I plan to train around the Thousand Machines Workshop for a few years, like Senior Sister did."
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng immediately understood his disciple's intentions.
It was nothing more than training for a few years, then going to find Chen'Er.
Chen Sheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
All his skills had been learned by Qin Yuan.
He couldn't offer this disciple a better path.
Should he force him to stay in the Pill Workshop?
In a few decades, it would just be another 'himself'!
He could not establish a foundation this time, but there would be another life after; Qin Yuan didn't have that!
Chen Sheng pondered for a moment, then nodded:
"Then be careful yourself."
Qin Yuan nodded:
"Master, rest assured."
...
Another year passed, and the peach blossoms fell completely.
A wooden box from a distant place appeared in Huang Wangyou's hand.
It was a delivery from Tang Xichen.
Chen Sheng stood by her side as well.
"It's still a secret box. Let me try."
Chen Sheng quickly attempted several decrypting spells.
Finally.
On the fourth attempt, he successfully opened the wooden box.
Inside was a letter and a jade scroll.
He unfolded the letter.
Familiar writing.
Tang Xichen soon said in the letter that she had received a letter from home.
She again inquired about the family situation.
And stated that everything was well with her currently.
She had smoothly cultivated to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.
And had organized a demon beast hunting team, becoming somewhat famous in the city.
At the same time.
She unexpectedly obtained a complete superior body refining technique.
She had already begun to practice it, finding it quite beneficial.
She also sent this technique back home.
Specifically advised that this technique would help break through the Qi and Blood Barrier, and those aspiring to establish a foundation could practice it.
Chen Sheng chuckled lightly:
"A superior body refining technique, not bad. It seems that Chen'Er has taken another step toward Foundation Establishment."
Body refining techniques are not that hard to come by.
The rare ones are complete, continuous, with various secret medicine assistance, without leaving hidden injuries.
Many body refining cultivators' techniques don't have continuity.
Getting stuck at a certain realm, they find it hard to advance.
More so, some body cultivators have strong combat power but many hidden injuries.
Although Qi and blood are abundant, they are not conducive to ascending to a higher realm, effectively cutting off their own path forward.
Furthermore, body refining is also a money-burning path.
The resources consumed exponentially surpass those of ordinary Qi Cultivation, making it hard for ordinary people to maintain.
Huang Wangyou's gaze fell on the last few sentences, and she couldn't help but smile softly:
"It seems this technique was sent specifically for Yuan'Er!"
Chen Sheng laughed heartily:
"Could it not be for her nephews and nieces?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Wangyou rolled her eyes at him:
"Playing dumb while knowing what's going on."
Several days later.
Chen Sheng memorized the body refining technique by heart.
Then handed the jade scroll to Qin Yuan.
"This is the body refining technique your senior sister sent back, it will aid in breaking through the Qi and Blood Barrier."
"Cultivate well."
Qin Yuan took the jade scroll and gently nodded:
"Disciple understands."