Chapter 153 – Tianhu advances

“Did you really not get any good stuff? I don’t believe it,” Tianyi said, looking doubtful as she circled around Shu Yang. She almost looked like she was about to sniff his clothes for clues of his deceit.

“It was an auction for the most powerful cultivators in the province, mainly Golden Core cultivators. How rich do you think I am?” Shu Yang questioned.

While it was true that Shu Yang had secured a few Foundation Pills, he didn’t feel like making that matter known within the family, and he didn’t trust Tianyi to keep the secret.

“Very rich,” Tianyi answered with certainty.

“I used to be,” Shu Yang said with a sigh. “Do you know how much that cultivation technique cost?”

“Alright, alright. You’ve already told me,” Tianyi said, giving up her questioning and backing away from him. “I never asked you to buy it, so you can’t blame me. Besides, I’ve made good use of it, haven’t I?”

“Still a long way to go,” Shu Yang said. Tianyi had managed to reach the 6th stage of Qi Refining just a few months ago. Her rate of advancement had really skyrocketed since her spirit roots advanced.

Shu Yang was in the same position, having also reached the 6th stage of Qi Refining already.

He would probably pass Tianyi from here on out, though.

Over the past few years, Shu Yang had gotten six new great-grandchildren, two of which had 9th-grade spirit roots, and three of them trash-grade.

He also got a new grandson, Tianyue’s second child, Qi Xinlu. Unfortunately, his talent was nowhere near his older sister, only getting the trait Clear Mind, as well as trash-grade spirit roots.

This all made his spirit roots advance to the 6th grade, and his cultivation speed had been boosted once again.

“Is it that long?” Tianyi questioned, “I’ll probably advance to the Foundation stage in a few more months.”

‘I guess that’s true.’

Her cultivation of spirit qi obviously couldn’t get there, but she had already reached the peak of the Master stage in body cultivation.

Shu Yang was very relieved that she hadn’t slacked off in that area, as he felt a lot more confident in his children advancing to the Foundation stage in body cultivation than in spiritual cultivation.

When it was time for her to build her Foundation using spiritual qi, her body should be strong enough to handle any accidents that might occur.

“I meant in spiritual cultivation. Besides, the Foundation stage isn’t the end. I won’t let you rest until you form a core,” Shu Yang said.

“Alright, alright,” Tianyi said, waving him off.

“Dad, I’m ready,” Tianhu said from the distance. He had been meditating in a glade within the Shu Estate, getting into the proper mental state to start his advancement.

Just like he had told Shu Yang before he left, Tianhu was ready to advance to the Foundation stage. If not for Shu Yang’s warning, Tianhu would have probably tried to break through while he was still in Bian Immortal City.

Thankfully, he wasn’t that reckless, and had waited patiently. But as soon as Shu Yang set foot on the estate, Tianhu had been there and told him he was ready to advance, not giving Shu Yang any time to settle.

“Alright, go ahead,” Shu Yang said, giving him a nod.

Xiaoshi was sitting opposite Tianhu, ready to give him any resources he might need.

Shu Yang didn’t have another Taihou fruit to give him, as he did for Xiaoshi when she advanced. He only had one left, and that had been promised to Tianyi, as Shu Yang thought she would be the first of his children to advance back then.

But it didn't matter that much; Shu Yang had access to a lot more resources now than in the past. He had prepared several pills of the 2nd stage, spending over 700 middle-grade spirit stones, just to make absolutely certain that if Tianhu failed, it wouldn’t be because of a lack of resources.

“Has it started?” Tianyi asked in a low voice. She was very curious about the process, as she would be in the same position soon.

“Yes. Stay quiet, don’t disturb him,” Shu Yang communicated through his divine sense.

They were in Xiaorong’s small forest, far away from any other family members. Shen Ye was walking around the area, keeping watch and making sure no one disturbed them. Xiaorong herself was also on the lookout.

Shu Yang wasn’t really that worried; no one in their own home would cause any trouble, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

‘Hopefully, Tianhu didn’t see through my lie, and can properly focus on his breakthrough.’

When Shu Yang returned, Tianhu and Xiaoshi had obviously asked him about their children.

While Shu Yang had gone to Bian Immortal City to accompany Bian Fenglin, he would naturally make some time to visit his grandkids if they were available.

But as he found out from Bian Fenglin, Xinmo was no longer in the sect, and the twins were as hard to meet as always.

Shu Yang didn’t want Tianhu to worry about his son at this crucial moment, so Shu Yang hadn’t told him about his whereabouts, only saying that Xinmo received his message too late, and was unable to meet up.

He also hadn’t mentioned the twins’ recent advancement. It wasn’t anything bad, really. He just didn’t want it to occupy Tianhu’s mind.

Their advancement wasn’t in cultivation; they still hadn’t advanced to the Master stage.

But their sword intent had reached the 4th tier, amazingly enough. And with that, their bloodlines had actually advanced to the Founding grade.

Shu Yang was very eager to meet them and talk through Bloodline Abilities with them, but then again, he probably wouldn’t know any better than the Sword Sect about how to develop Bloodline Abilities.

He would just have to wait and see what came from it.

As for Tianhu’s Bloodline Ability, which he had spent the past years focusing almost all his time and effort on, it was clearly visible from just looking at him.

He was sitting there calmly, his hands on his knees. Both hands.

Shu Yang had no idea how he did it. Tianhu had somehow, without a trait to base it on, made his Bloodline Ability regenerate his lost arm.

Shu Yang had brought it up with Bian Fenglin, completely taken aback when the small stub first started growing. From what he knew, Bloodline Abilities couldn’t just be developed to whatever you wanted them to do. And he had never heard about regenerating lost limbs before.

When Bian Fenglin heard about it, he had also been very shocked. According to him, not even Golden Core cultivators could regrow their lost arms or legs, it was something only Nascent Soul True Lords were able to do.

Of course, Bloodline Abilities were mysterious, capable of doing things otherwise impossible. But Tianhu’s case was still quite spectacular.

When Shu Yang had asked him about it, Tianhu had said that it was his ‘only possible route.’ The one thing he cared about was his sword, and he didn’t need any Bloodline Ability to help him wield it.

The only thing that somewhat weighed him down was the loss of his arm. Shu Yang suspected it wasn’t even for his own sake, but more so for Xiaoshi, as she was the one who he had saved when he lost it, and she must have still felt somewhat guilty.

So, according to Tianhu, he had just ‘decided’ that he would use the power of his bloodline to regrow it.

And just like that, after years of struggle, and a slow, seemingly very painful process, his body was whole once again.

‘It’s good that he made it work before advancing. Otherwise, regrowing an arm at the Foundation stage might be too hard for him.’

Finally, a crack sounded, and Tianhu gritted his teeth. A familiar aura spread out from Tianhu, signifying the most crucial part of his advancement.

Xiaoshi quickly fed him a pill. But it didn’t seem that necessary. Shu Yang could tell that the spiritual qi in the surroundings was rushing toward Tianhu, helping power his advancement as his heart slowly fortified, holding that drop of liquid innate qi.

Still, the pill didn’t hurt, and Tianhu’s body slowly strengthened. Shu Yang found it harder and harder to tell what was going on with his divine sense, as Tianhu’s body reached a higher stage of existence.

Finally, after about an hour, a boom sounded, and Tianhu opened his eyes, now a Foundation cultivator. The first of his children to reach that stage.

“That…He made it?” Tianyi asked.

“He did,” Shu Yang said, smiling brightly. He had been pretty confident in his son’s success, but there was always a small worry.

“It looks so easy,” Tianyi said.

Shu Yang flicked her on the forehead, “Don’t grow complacent. Tianhu made it look easy because he prepared for several years.”

Shu Yang knew very well that it was far from ‘easy.’ He himself had almost died when he advanced.

Mostly because of a stupid lack of preparation, but still, breaking through the Foundation stage required utmost focus; a single stray thought could spell disaster.

Shu Yang suddenly grew a little worried about his daughter’s advancement. She didn’t have Tianhu’s stable temperament.

“Dad. I did it,” Tianhu said, raising to his feet, clenching his fist.

“You certainly did,” Shu Yang said, walking up to him and patting him on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”

“How are you feeling?” Xiaoshi asked, squeezing Tianhu’s arm.

“I feel…powerful,” Tianhu answered.

“Let’s go tell everyone!” Tianyi exclaimed, “We have to celebrate!”

“We certainly do,” Xiaoshi said, smiling from ear to ear.

“Let’s go see your mother first," Shu Yang said. “She’s bound to be worried.”

“Xinying definitely wants to see her new powerful dad, too,” Xiaoshi said.

Qianyue was too anxious to watch her son attempt to break through, and couldn’t stand watching it, so she had been watching Xinying in their house.

“Let’s go,” Tianhu said, nodding.

‘A Foundation stage child, huh. To think Tianhu would be the one. I would never have guessed he’d get this far back when the little boy was born.’ Shu Yang thought to himself as they made their way.

As he walked, he connected to his Bloodline Tree, curious to see the improvements to his Bloodline Power.