NOVEL NEXT Chapter 281: Ascending Generations
Chapter 281: Ascending Generations
The entire Wuguang City was abuzz with excitement as the Origin Tracing Realm experts, their eyes red with envy, tried to figure out who had managed to secure the Origin Tracing Light. This wasn’t just a single strand of Origin Tracing Light-it was an entire “nest”.
According to past patterns, a single strand of Origin Tracing Light would appear every decade or so. However, the appearance of an entire nest was a once-in-a-century event.
Unfortunately, the chaos during the search for the nest had been overwhelming. Everyone had pushed their movement techniques to the limit, creating countless afterimages, making it nearly impossible to identify who had found the nest. Even if the famous Detective Conan were here, he’d be scratching his head in confusion.
Xu Lian, on the other hand, was secretly thrilled. It felt as refreshing as eating ice-cold watermelon in the summer or drinking hot soup in the winter.
Of course, he wasn’t about to announce, “I’ve found it, come and catch me!”
Not even his father-in-law, Ye Rushang, was informed. After all, this wasn’t a world where father-in-law relationships were particularly close. At best, they were slightly closer than ordinary friends, and Xu Lian wasn’t about to share his spoils.
“Ah, another eleven years wasted,” Xu Lian sighed to Ye Rushang.
Ye Rushang comforted him, “I have been guarding Wuguang City for nearly a thousand years. I’m used to it. You should learn to let go, my son-in-law. With so many people competing for the Origin Tracing Light, it’s impossible for us to get it every time.”
“You’re right…” Xu Lian replied. “Since a nest has just appeared, it’ll be a while before the next one appears. I think I’ll go back for a while.”
Ye Rushang smiled, “It’s been eleven years. My grandson must be grown up by now. If you have time, bring him back to visit.”
Xu Lian nodded without saying much more. He then traversed space and returned to the ancestral lands of the Divine Clan.
“Father’s back!”
“Quick, bring the children over so Father can see them!”
A group of young men and women approached carrying small children. Some of the children were shy, while others shouted boldly, “Grandpa!” or “Grandpa!”
Xu Lian was stunned for a moment. He had become a grandfather? It seemed that during his absence, he had “ascended a generation”.
It was a surreal feeling. Eleven years had passed, and some of his children were already in their twenties, married with children of their own.
“Good, good children,” Xu Lian said with a smile, taking each grandchild into his arms and giving them a kiss, expressing his joy.
Upon hearing of their father’s return, some of his children who were away hurried back with their own children, eager to introduce them to their grandfather.
Xu Lian’s family had indeed grown. He took the time to inquire about each of his children and grandchildren and their situations, but he didn’t linger on the topic. After all, each generation had its own path to follow.
As the patriarch, he wasn’t the type to nag like an ordinary old man.
Fang Shaoze wasn’t far behind. His children had grown up and started their own families, making him a grandfather as well.
However, Lin Bufeng hadn’t reached the status of “grandfather” yet, even though he did have his own children now.
To Xu Lian’s surprise, Qin Liu also had a son. He had married the beautiful-faced black spider spirit, and from the constant smile on his face, it seemed that he was living a happy life.
“Youth doesn’t know the beauty of spirits… mistaking humans for treasures?” Xu Lian mused.
It was worth noting that under the guidance of the Divine Clan’s portrait spirits, the black spider spirit had shed her spider form and fully transformed into a human. Otherwise, Qin Liu might have had a harder time.
Even the always serious Yun Conglong and Feng Conghu had married and started a family. As they put it, their master had become a powerful figure, and their duties as sword disciples were complete. It was time for them to settle down.
“Zhaoxi, prepare a family banquet tonight. Everyone must attend, no exceptions,” Xu Lian instructed Pei Zhaoxi, who could no longer be described as a “spicy little pepper”. She had matured into a voluptuous and beautiful woman.
Pei Zhaoxi was delighted. Being in charge of organizing the family banquet was a privilege usually reserved for the head wife. “Understood, husband,” she replied.
And so, under Pei Zhaoxi’s direction, the family prepared a feast, slaughtering sheep and cattle for the occasion.
Over the years, Pei Zhaoxi had come to understand Xu Lian’s tastes. Knowing that he disliked extravagance, she kept the menu simple, focusing on homely dishes.
As the patriarch, Xu Lian naturally took the place of honor. His sons, daughters, and their spouses came forward to toast him, and Xu Lian offered words of encouragement: “Work hard in your cultivation,” “Don’t quarrel,” and “Harmony brings prosperity.”
The grandchildren, full of energy, performed sword dances and martial arts demonstrations, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Xu Lian distributed ten billion Spirit Stones among his children to aid their cultivation. While the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands provided the resources, as a father he felt it was his duty to contribute as well.
He also decided to pass down two techniques from the Sacred Spirit Record-Calamity Finger and Seal Light Sword Wheel-to his children as their signature skills.
Having grown up under the guidance of the Divine Clan’s Portrait Spirits and trained in the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, Xu Lian’s children were already far ahead of ordinary cultivators. However, they lacked access to immortal-level combat techniques, which were closely guarded by the major factions.
Learning their father’s secret techniques filled the children with joy, and they expressed their gratitude.
However, the depth of their affection for Xu Lian was limited. After all, he had spent most of his time away from them, and his presence in their lives had been sporadic. With so many siblings, the emotional bonds were inevitably diluted.
Their respect and filial piety was partly due to family ties, but it was also largely influenced by Xu Lian’s status and power.
As the most talented Ninth Heaven Holy Son in history, blessed by the laws of the Divine Kingdom, a top-tier Origin Tracing Realm expert, and connected to the Goddess of Time, Xu Lian’s children knew that clinging to their father’s coattails was their best bet for a secure future.
It was likely that their mothers had drilled this into them.
Xu Lian understood this dynamic. With a large family and enormous responsibilities, such complexities were inevitable. Even the most powerful figures in the world faced similar challenges – surrounded by family, yet constantly navigating hidden agendas.
Although Xu Lian still looked like a young man, he was already experiencing the joys and sorrows of being a patriarch.
In some ways, he envied Fang Shaoze, Lin Bufeng, and Qin Liu, who had only a few children and seemed to enjoy more genuine familial bonds.
But life went on.
After the banquet, Xu Lian spent the night with Pei Zhaoxi, rewarding her for organizing such a successful event.
Over the next few months, Xu Lian made the rounds, spending time with each of his wives and concubines. Maintaining their affection was essential, especially since there was always the possibility of more children.
True to form, Liu Yixuan, Jing Se, Jiang Xianyu, and Huo Xin’er soon announced their pregnancies.
This seemed to be a pattern. As Xu Lian’s cultivation level increased, it became easier for women with strong bloodlines to conceive, while those with weaker bloodlines like Pei Zhaoxi, Chuntao, and Caixia struggled to keep up.
With family matters settled, Xu Lian turned his attention to the Elder Council of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, applying for more Origin Tracing Light.
After some negotiations, the council approved five strands for him.
“To advance to the sixth stage of Origin Tracing Realm, I need thirty-two strands. This still isn’t enough,” Xu Lian thought.
He currently had sixteen strands – five from the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands, seven from Wuguang City, and four from the Yin Dynasty’s royal family. He had used sixteen strands to reach the fifth level.
[Name: Xu Lian]
[Rank: Origin Tracing Realm, Fifth Stage]
[Techniques: Nine Elements Escape Techniques, Four Symbols Battle Tactics, Great Desolate Dragon Grasping Technique, Sacred Spirit Record (Immortal Techniques Supplement), Breaking Wind Sword Technique (Volumes 1-3)…]
[Items: Skull (Immortal Bone), Left Hand Bone (Divine Bone), Sword of Destruction (Not Equipped)]
[Note 1: You currently have 36 progression points available].
[Note 2: Add 32 strands of Origin Tracing Light to advance to the sixth stage of the Origin Tracing Realm].
Xu Lian quietly reviewed his status. He was still sixteen strands short. At the rate the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands granted him Origin Tracing Light-a few strands every decade or so-it would take decades to gather enough.
“It looks like I’ll have to spend more time in Wuguang City,” he concluded.
After spending another half year in the Divine Clan’s ancestral lands, Xu Lian took Ye Qingyu and her son to Wuguang City. They stayed there for a few months before Xu Lian sent them back. Wuguang City wasn’t safe, especially with the unpredictable appearance of Origin Tracing Light and the inevitable battles that followed.