Chapter 154: Your Mother Tells You to Accept It

Xu Chen carefully comprehended the inheritance of this divine ability, a look of pleasant surprise appearing on his face.

"Isn't this basically HP regeneration plus mana recovery!"

The Three-Turn Fate Cicada condenses a fate cicada within the Dantian, which naturally gathers the power of vitality.

When injured, it can release this life force to heal wounds.

When the practitioner reaches a life-or-death crisis and is at their wit's end, it will release all life force and spiritual power, restoring the practitioner to their absolute peak state.

Once this divine ability is refined to mastery, it can be anchored within the soul to transform into a second avatar.

"Considered a major divine ability. Impressive, those twenty contribution points were well spent."

Xu Chen instantly entered the sacred white space, where he saw a golden gate standing among numerous wooden doors.

"Even though I can't beat it, going in for a look won't hurt."

Pushing open the door, he was greeted by a scene teeming with vitality.

It was like being in the most pristine and beautiful forest, with a small lake in the center, and the avatar standing by the waterside.

"I didn't expect us to meet again so soon." The avatar looked at Xu Chen.

"It's you again?" Xu Chen thought of the avatar from the Three Cicada Transformation Arts.

"Yes, it's me again."

"Before, I let you pass, but now the rules don't allow it."

"Moreover, the foundation you've accumulated within yourself is too strong, which makes me very strong now as well."

The avatar raised a hand, and Xu Chen instantly felt as if the entire forest was about to spring to life.

"I never expected to win anyway, let's just chat."

Joking aside, a bunch of wooden doors outside could already thrash him black and blue, let alone this kind of golden door.

"Since that's the case, I will teach you about this divine ability, the Three-Turn Fate Cicada."

"Alright." Xu Chen nodded. With such a prime opportunity, he certainly wouldn't let it slip away.

The avatar then began to instruct Xu Chen on the essentials of cultivating the Three-Turn Fate Cicada divine ability, causing Xu Chen to fall into a trance filled with an inexplicable sense of enlightenment.

A tiny, rice-grain-sized Three-Turn Fate Cicada condensed within Xu Chen's Dantian.

"Many thanks, senior." Xu Chen saluted gratefully.

After receiving the inheritance of the Three-Turn Fate Cicada, he knew that the most troublesome part of initial cultivation was condensing the fate cicada itself—it was the trickiest step, and the avatar had helped him bypass it.

"Given your comprehension, this was just a flick of the finger."

"Very well, it's time to send you back." The avatar pointed a finger.

Just as Xu Chen wanted to resist and test the strength of this senior avatar, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

When he recovered his senses, his conscious incarnation had re-condensed within the sacred white space.

"This one is amazing, at least it doesn't shatter me into pieces."

With that said, Xu Chen cast his gaze toward the chamber of the Fire Bird Art.

He had been intensely struggling with the Fire Bird Art lately, for no other reason than that this flying bird art possessed the greatest destructive power among the basic spells, even if its overall dominance wasn't the absolute highest.

The avatars of other spells either couldn't be touched, couldn't be found, possessed terrain advantages, or inflicted psychological light pollution that was utterly unsolvable.

Only the Fire Bird Art showed some glimmer of hope; at least it was a direct, head-on collision.

"You're back. Let's test those special tricks you mastered previously."

Separated by hundreds of feet, the avatar instantly formed hand seals.

A sparrow-sized fire bird, condensing terrifying energy, flew precisely toward Xu Chen's glabella like a sniper bullet.

"What utter nonsense!"

Xu Chen formed hand seals in a flash, and two sparrow-sized fire birds of equal size rushed toward the fire bird fired by the avatar.

One against two, it directly pierced through the first one and collided with the second before exploding mid-air.

Following that, Xu Chen and the avatar exchanged no further nonsense and directly initiated a barrage of spell combat.

Water Sword Art, Fire Bird Art, Golden Blade Art, Wind Blade Art, Earth Spike Art, Thunder Spear Art.

Previously, Xu Chen simply hurled whatever came to mind, acting purely on impulse.

Gradually, as the spell bombardment continued, coordination began to emerge between the spells.

Initiating with the Water Sword Art, using the Fire Bird Art to counter explosions with explosions, the Golden Blade Art precisely cutting down the avatar's sly sniper fire bird, and the Wind Blade Art dividing the avatar's Greater Fire Bird Art.

The Earth Spike Art forced the avatar's movement, with the Thunder Spear Art serving as the ultimate finishing stroke.

This combination felt very perfect to Xu Chen, but that was just a feeling.

Reality always goes against expectations.

Just like now, a dozen sparrow-sized sniper fire birds hovered erratically around Xu Chen, inspiring him to try and learn the trick, though he temporarily had no idea how to control it.

His conscious incarnation re-condensed in the sacred white space once more, and Xu Chen habitually reviewed the session.

"I still need to gather the strengths of all schools." Xu Chen couldn't help sighing, now realizing how massive the pit he had dug for himself truly was.

There are only garbage people, no garbage spells or divine abilities.

For an entire day, Xu Chen battled the avatar in various basic spell chambers while practicing his spells.

"Another damn day of profound spell advancement."

After exiting the sacred white space, Xu Chen began studying Dao scripts, and right then, his communication artifact chimed.

Pulling out the communication artifact to check, he discovered the message had actually been sent by his uncle.

"Finally unable to hold back?"

Reading the message, his uncle was inviting him to the provincial capital of Leizhou to meet and foster familial affection.

"This familiar face-slapping plotline has finally come around to me."

Inside the main living room of the Wei family in Leizhou provincial capital.

Delicacies, spiritual wine, and fresh fruits filled the table.

"Greetings, Uncle." Xu Chen gave a slight cupped-hand salute. Among the human race, barring improper actions by the older generation, showing disrespect to elders or unfiliality to parents was a grave crime.

"No need for formalities, no need for formalities, we are all family."

"Quickly, come in and take a seat."

Wei Chaoqing enthusiastically pulled Xu Chen's hand and led him into the Wei family's living room.

Upon entering, Xu Chen immediately noticed the dazzling array of delicacies on the table, and the spiritual wine could be told at a glance to be of the absolute highest grade.

"Please sit down quickly. Because of you, our branch family—and even the ancestors—have truly gained immense prestige over at the main lineage."

"It's just that you recently returned from the Primordial Battlefield and were busy with various affairs, so I didn't dare to disturb you."

Wei Chaoqing spoke with a hint of caution. When he learned that his nephew—who had been unremarkable since childhood and only slightly talented—had returned from the Primordial Battlefield laden with contribution points, he indeed harbored some minor thoughts.

Their family ancestor also held similar thoughts, but because of those minor thoughts, both he and the ancestor had been warned several times over.

Several older cousins stood in the room, looking at Xu Chen with flattering expressions, completely devoid of the aloof and dismissive attitudes they had during their childhood.

"Since Uncle invited me, Xiaochen will come no matter how busy I am," Xu Chen replied politely.

After Xu Chen and Wei Chaoqing took their seats, those cousins finally dared to sit down. Even though they were all in the Void Return realm or even the Soul Nourishment realm, they still behaved with utmost caution.

"Wait a moment, Chen'er. Several major dishes are still being prepared, let's taste some spiritual tea first."

"We'll start the banquet once the main dishes are served."

As Xu Chen sipped the tea, the conversation entered the realm of lavish praise.

His uncle and several cousins spoke with eloquence and floral language, which Xu Chen found quite pleasant to the ear.

In less than a quarter of an hour, those major dishes were served.

While the ingredients were not dragon livers or phoenix gallbladders, they were rare and exquisite true-spirit delicacies of the human race.

A peculiar fragrance drifted over, instantly awakening Xu Chen's taste buds.

"Snow Dragon Crispy Mountain Moon, this is a famous delicacy from neighboring Shenmu Continent, requiring top-tier master chefs to begin preparation a full month in advance."

"Chen'er, do try it. The spiritual toxins have already been treated, so you can enjoy it to your heart's content," Wei Chaoqing said warmly.

Xu Chen picked up a piece of snow dragon meat with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a distinct and wonderful flavor bloomed within.

"Delicious, Uncle has gone to great lengths."

Shortly after, the second major dish was served, which once again left Xu Chen feeling immensely satisfied.

The third and final major dish was fruit harvested from a jade tree.

"Jade Heart Tree fruit. Eating just one grants a spring-and-autumn dream of bliss, another rare delicacy."

Having observed all three major dishes and finished tasting them, Xu Chen looked over at Wei Chaoqing.

"Uncle is going to such great lengths, is there something the matter?"

Xu Chen felt that if he didn't clear the air now, he was going to walk right into a trap.

"Chen'er, our main lineage is primarily rooted in the Jade Clear Palace."

"Our branch lineage certainly cannot insert ourselves there, nor can we help you with anything, Chen'er."

"In the past, that was fine, but now that you've become a personal disciple of the Great Stream Sect, you surely need someone of your own by your side to attend to you."

"Among our branch, you have several younger cousins who are quick-witted and possess decent aptitude. Let them enter the Great Stream Sect, and they can handle whatever errands you need."

"In addition..." Wei Chaoqing winked at someone nearby.

A pair of sweet-looking twin maidservants walked into the living room, bowing slightly to everyone present.

"These are maidservants cultivated by the Wei family since childhood, in the prime of their youth, and they have never served anyone else. Knowing you had no one by your side, I specially requested them from the main branch."

"With spiritual-grade aptitude, they will undoubtedly serve you well."

Xu Chen continued eating his food while looking at the sweet-looking twins.

Just as Xu Chen was about to refuse, his communication artifact suddenly chimed, and a message flashed into his mind.

"Son, your mother told me to message you and tell you to accept them. She didn't specify what you're accepting though?"

Xu Chen looked at the two sweet-looking twins, harboring some hesitation.

"Chen'er, as long as you agree, they will swear an oath before the Human Emperor Temple to loyally serve by your side from now on." Wei Chaoqing noticed Xu Chen's hesitation.

"So this is the family's sugar-coated cannonball. It's somewhat different from the scenarios I imagined."

Though Xu Chen possessed a mature mind across two lifetimes, he had never experienced this kind of situation. Besides, his mother had spoken up, and since he was a filial child, he could not go against his parents' wishes.

"Uncle has gone to great trouble and considered everything most thoroughly," Xu Chen remarked with a subtle undertone.

Wei Chaoqing chuckled heartily.

"What are your names?"

Xu Chen looked toward the sweet-looking twins.

"My name is Lihua, and my elder sister is Xueyao," a sweet, soft voice sounded as the young woman on the left spoke.

"Then follow by my side from now on."

As a personal disciple of the sect, Xu Chen was fully qualified to bring maidservants into the sect.

"Thank you, Master," Lihua and Xueyao chorused, bowing together.

"Chen'er, and what about your younger cousins?" Wei Chaoqing asked.

"Let them enter the sect through this generation's examinations. Those who pass the tests naturally deserve some of my care," Xu Chen thought for a moment and replied.

"No problem!" Wei Chaoqing was overjoyed, the stone in his heart finally dropping.

For a human prodigy who would at least step onto the immortal path in the future, the absolute best time to invest in him was right at the beginning of his cultivation journey.

And now, this prodigy happened to be his nephew. As long as they didn't do anything foolish in the future, they would soar to success right along with him.

With food and drink thoroughly enjoyed, Xu Chen took Lihua and Xueyao from the Leizhou provincial capital teleportation hall back to the Great Stream Sect.

A spiritual boat flew from the Great Stream Sect's teleportation hall toward the General Affairs Hall.

On the spiritual boat, Lihua and Xueyao huddled close together, shrinking into a corner like newly rescued puppies.

"Just call me Young Master from now on," Xu Chen instructed.

"Understood, Young Master," Lihua and Xueyao replied in unison.