A night of madness, rain dwindling and flowers blooming.
At dawn, Wang Yu Yan left alone, her figure drifting away.
Zhao Sheng could never have imagined that Wang Yu Yan, known for her rational coolness, harbored a fiery passion within.
And she was... so brave!
As a man, he felt somewhat ashamed.
On the eighth day of the ninth lunar month, an auspicious day for weddings and funerals, the Fragrant Swallow Valley was festooned in red, joyful and festive.
Among the throng of guests and family, Zhao Sheng looked forlorn as he watched Wang Yu Yan marry a man with the appearance of a sly rat at a ceremony.
That evening, Wang Yuqi, already mother to three children, suddenly flew into an unexplained rage. It took countless kind words from Zhao Sheng to calm her down.
Time is like sand in one's grasp, the tighter one holds it, the faster it slips away.
As Zhao Sheng toiled for his life's goals, fifteen years flew by in the blink of an eye.
That day, cries of pain echoed from a room in the rear residence of the Zhao Family's Castle.
In the courtyard outside the room, Zhao Sheng paced back and forth restlessly, anxiously glancing towards the birthing room.
Just then, a tall and handsome youth couldn't help but complain, "Dad, can you stop pacing? You're making me dizzy."
As soon as these words were spoken, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl chimed in, "Yeah! Dad, don'worry. Mom has already given birth to seven of us, there's absolutely no danger."
Zhao Sheng turned and looked at his eldest son Zhao Chenggong and eldest daughter Zhao Chengfeng with a serious expression, "You don't understand!"
Zhao Chengfeng was bold and teased him on purpose, "Dad, all of us know what you're thinking, except for Old Seven. Isn't it just that you want to have a younger brother with a Spirit Root?"
"Feng'er, how dare you speak to dad like that! Apologize now!" Zhao Chenggong immediately scolded his sister.
Zhao Chengfeng suddenly felt wronged by her brother's chastisement and pouted.
Zhao Sheng waved his hand, indicating it was alright.
Da Feng was right; he did indeed wish to have a son with a Spirit Root.
On this matter, from the day of marriage, he had been quite open with his wife, Wang Yuqi.
So, over the years, Wang Yuqi had borne him seven children. Although after each birth she would declare she'd never have another one.
But within a couple of years, she was pregnant again.
Zhao Sheng was deeply grateful for his wife's sacrifices over the years, and perhaps his initial reason for marriage was very purpose-driven, but over a decade of life together deepened their feelings for each other and gradually changed his utilitarian thinking.
Another quarter hour passed and suddenly a loud cry came from the birthing room, and Zhao Sheng's suspended heart finally settled.
Old Eight was finally born!
A long time later, just as Zhao Sheng couldn't resist rushing into the birthing room, a slender figure holding a wrapped baby finally emerged.
"Auntie, let me have a look," Zhao Chengfeng said excitedly upon seeing the person, running over and reaching for the bundle.
Wang Yu Yan stepped aside to dodge Da Feng's reaching hands and chided, "Your father hasn't even seen him yet, it's not your turn, you little brat."
So many years had passed, yet Wang Yu Yan still looked young, her appearance seemingly unchanged from fifteen years ago, as if time had stood still upon her.
As he gazed at the beautiful woman approaching, Zhao Sheng couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Ever since the sly-looking man died in an accident eight years ago, Wang Yu Yan had once again sought him out.
Since that day, they had been conducting a secret affair.
In between the thrills, Zhao Sheng inevitably felt a little guilty towards his wife.
Wang Yu Yan thrust the baby bundle into the man's arms with a very complicated look and said, "Here, have a look at your son. Congratulations on getting your wish!"
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Sheng shook violently, nearly failing to catch hold of the child.
"You mean....."
"Hmm, I've already tested it, and it's Four Spirit Roots," Wang Yu Yan nodded, confirming it.
Good, very good!
At this moment, Zhao Sheng was extremely excited, after so many years of struggle, the heavens had finally opened their eyes.
"Haha, let's just call Old Eight 'Zhao Cheng' then," he laughed heartily.
That very night, Zhao Family's Castle was suddenly sealed off tightly, followed shortly by pigeons carrying the news of great joy flying in all directions.
Soon, people from the Wang Family of Fragrant Swallow Valley had arrived, and the important members of the Zhao family who were outside also hurried back without a stop.
The birth of Old Eight was unquestionably significant for the Zhao family, but this time they did not celebrate grandly, instead, they were exceptionally low-key.
Apart from some insiders from the Zhao and Wang families, no outsiders knew that the Nanyang Zhao Family had finally given birth to a child with a Spirit Root.
Time flies, a year later
In the scorching summer, amidst the chorus of cicadas and frogs, Zhao Sheng sat by the table in a parlor within Zhao Family's Castle, slowly wiping a three-inch ancient bronze small sword.
This item was his recently acquired spoils of war, a First Order Middle Grade Magical Flying Sword.
Over the year, Zhao Sheng's cultivation had reached Innate Great Success, and his true combat strength far surpassed his realm, especially his qinggong, which had reached an unbelievable level.
Name: Zhao Zhiqin (Zhao Sheng)
Life Span: 38/120
Realm: Innate Great Success
Constitution: Hundred-year-old Body (Mortal Level), Light as a Feather (Mortal Level)
Talent: Dynamic Vision (Mortal Level)
Skill: Floating Light Sword Skill (Unprecedented), Emerald Tide Technique (Refined), Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations (Unprecedented), Wind Chasing Arrow Technique (Refined), Cross Refining Iron Body (Great Success)
Looking at the data on the Hundred Lifetimes Book Page, Zhao Sheng wore a very proud expression.
It wasn't due to his cultivation, but because he had left a qinggong of extraordinary and peerless quality for the descendants of the Zhao family.
Cloud Dragon Nine Transformations evolved from Cloud Dragon Three Changes; it was a skill that Zhao Sheng had spent eight years and a great deal of effort to develop.
Once cultivated to great success, one only needed to muster a single breath of True Qi to take nine consecutive steps in the air, each step covering thirty feet, with clouds forming beneath each step.
To test this peerless qinggong, Zhao Sheng had traversed the seven states of Liang Kingdom in half a year, challenged the twelve major martial arts sects, and consecutively faced more than twenty Innate Grandmasters. Yet, not one of them could even touch the hem of his garments.
Just two days ago, he personally killed a cultivator at the Qi Refinement Fourth Level.
Suddenly,
Clang!
The door to the parlor was violently thrown open from the outside, and Zhao Sheng, annoyed by the disturbance, looked towards the doorway, only to see his wife Wang Yuqi rush in with her face streaked with tears, looking panicked and distraught.
"Husband, something terrible has happened! Our Wang Family... Wah!"
Wang Yuqi plunged into Zhao Sheng's arms, having managed only a single sentence before bursting into loud sobs.
Seeing her state, Zhao Sheng's expression changed drastically as he quickly comforted his wife while asking, "Don't panic, what has happened? To see Sister Qi in such sorrow, tell your husband all about it, I am here for you."
Wuwu!
Wang Yuqi was crying inconsolably, her right hand trembling as she handed the Thousand-mile Talisman she was clutching to her husband.
Zhao Sheng took it, unfolded it, and his expression grew darker as he read, eventually turning ashen.
"How is this possible!"
At that moment, he was both shocked and furious.
The Wang Family was ruined!