Deep within Zhendong Marquis Manor.
Inside a magnificent seven-story ancient pagoda, radiating a unique Aura.
“The Basic Blade Technique has truly been improved!”
Seven old men, each with an extraordinary Aura and white hair, reacted in various ways: some stood up directly from their seats, some accidentally pulled out their white beards, and some spilled the tea from their cups. Their hearts were all in turmoil.
The Basic Blade Technique, as its name suggests, is used to forge the foundation of martial arts; it is a fundamental Cultivation Technique.
A person's combat power and future potential are greatly related to their fundamental Cultivation Technique.
Therefore, the Marquis Manor's Basic Blade Technique is a secret that is not passed on; only direct descendants of the Marquis Manor and exceptionally talented collateral disciples who have passed tests are qualified to practice this blade technique.
This blade technique is the cornerstone of their Xia Family's 600 years of prosperity.
Every martial arts Family has its own unique fundamental Cultivation Technique, all of which are closely guarded secrets, creating a knowledge monopoly to ensure their continued prosperity.
And their Xia Family's fundamental Cultivation Technique, created by the ancestor Xia Xuanzhen, has been modified by successive generations of Family heads and elders. They believed this blade technique had long since reached Perfection.
It would not be inferior to the royal Basic Blade Technique.
But now it has been improved again, and by a junior at that. How could they not be surprised?
Yet, looking at the fiery crack on the ground, Xia Chen had just demonstrated it in front of them. Although they questioned it verbally, they had already believed it in their hearts.
The reason for such a strong reaction was simply that it felt too unbelievable.
“Good, good, good! Although your martial arts talent is lacking, I never expected your Comprehension Ability to be extraordinary and unparalleled. In terms of contributions to the Family, you are even greater than that boy, your father Xia Yuan!”
The leading white-haired old man spoke directly, laughing loudly. At the same time, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken: how unfair heaven was! It gave this child extraordinary Comprehension Ability but no martial arts talent. Otherwise, their Xia Family would have produced another peerless Prodigy!
His name is Xia Yu, the elder brother of Zhendong Marquis Xia Chutian, and the paternal granduncle of Xia Qian and Xia Yuan. In terms of seniority, he is Xia Chen's granduncle.
Xia Chutian's generation had eight brothers. Xia Chutian was the third born, but because of his outstanding talent and highest intelligence, he was chosen as the head of the Xia Family and inherited the Zhendong Marquis title. The other seven brothers also served in the military in their youth.
Thirty-six years ago, the Huaiyang Battle broke out between Great Wu and Great Feng. Xia Chutian became a god in that battle, eventually voluntarily returning his military power and withdrawing from the army. His other seven brothers also successively handed over their military power and returned to the Marquis Manor to serve as Family elders, beginning to teach the younger generations and enhance the Family's foundation…
“No matter how many military merits, they can't compare to your creation of this Cultivation Technique!”
Another old man followed, saying, he was Xia Chen's fifth granduncle, Xia Xuan.
The Marquis Manor has enjoyed 600 years of glory, with generations of talented generals emerging. Over 300 years ago, their ancestor was re-enfeoffed as Anwu Marquis for his great contributions. 173 years ago, they obtained another marquisate, Lord Antong.
Since then, the Xia Family has had three marquisates.
Therefore, for them, the Family simply did not lack military merits.
And Xia Chen's improvement of the basic Cultivation Technique, for the Family, meant that future generations would undoubtedly be more outstanding and cultivate at a much faster pace.
Its significance was immense!
...
...
Xia Chen left the Merit Pagoda. To be honest, this was his first time entering this Merit Pagoda, and it was also the first time in 17 years that he had met those granduncle-generation Family elders. But judging by their reactions, they must have heard of Xia Chen's reputation as a waste body.
“This time I made my presence known, which will greatly benefit my standing within the Marquis Manor. The seven Family elders all have a good impression of me. Exchanging the Shouyang Demon-Piercing Blade for this is not a loss!”
Xia Chen pondered. As for what the seven Family elders said about his name being written into the Family History and being moved into the ancestral temple after his death to enjoy the incense and Luck of future generations along with many great talents in the Family's history, Xia Chen didn't care.
He only sought fame while alive!
Posthumous fame was not something he needed to consider now.
Xia Chen bypassed the winding backyard and walked through the training ground. The training ground was bustling with activity. Five or six-year-old children were practicing boxing for Foundation Establishment under the guidance of martial arts instructors, and eleven or twelve-year-old boys were practicing spear techniques, wielding long spears with flashes of cold light and impressive formations.
There were also boys lifting thousand-pound boulders, sweating profusely, but their eyes revealed determination and perseverance.
“Chen Ge!”
Just then, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy dropped the boulder in his hand. His figure was like a monkey's, and in a few steps, he quickly arrived in front of Xia Chen.
“Chen Ge, are you here to see me?”
The boy, with a sturdy build, scratched his head and said with a grin, appearing endearingly simple-minded.
This boy was named Xia Wen, the son of Xia Chen's third uncle, Xia Han. Although Xia Han was born into a military Family, he preferred literature over martial arts and pursued a scholarly official career.
He named his son Xia Wen, placing high hopes on him, originally thinking he would be a Prodigy in studies. However, Xia Wen preferred martial arts over literature from a young age and showed extraordinary talent in the martial Dao. As for studying, that was another story.
Because Xia Chen lacked martial arts talent and had no hope in martial arts from a young age, Xia Han kept Xia Chen by his side, teaching him to read and cultivate a righteous Aura, following the Confucian cultivation method of nurturing Qi and establishing words!
Therefore, before Xia Chen was ten years old, he often ate at his third uncle's courtyard and naturally became familiar and had a good relationship with his third uncle's children.
“I'm going to the Cultivation Technique Repository to choose a Cultivation Technique. I just passed by here and came to see you.”
Xia Chen smiled. Children of the Marquis Manor, regardless of gender, had to go to the training ground at five years old and persevere daily, come rain or shine.
But Xia Chen lacked martial arts talent from a young age, and his granduncle Xia Qian, to protect his self-esteem, specially allowed him not to go to the training ground every day.
When he was young, Xia Chen was unwilling and gritted his teeth to insist on coming to the training ground. But as his peers made rapid progress daily, while he himself found it difficult even to get started, he gradually stopped coming to the training ground.
Xia Chen glanced around and found that the training ground was full of young faces. Most of the people who were his age or even a year or two younger were no longer there.
Xia Chen knew that most of them had already broken through to the Eighth Realm of Essence Refining and had begun to train in the army. This was a tradition in the Marquis Manor; it did not matter one's age, only one's cultivation Realm.
Upon breaking through to the Eighth Realm of Essence Refining, one could enter the world and display their ambitions.
“Chen Ge!”
Another voice came. Xia Chen looked in the direction of the sound. A delicate little girl, dressed in small clothes and appearing to be around ten years old, walked over timidly.
Her cheeks were flushed, having just finished a set of boxing moves.
This was the youngest daughter of Xia Qian and Cui Mengrou, named Xia Yuxi.
“Chen Ge!”
“Chen Ge!”
...
Several more people walked over, all disciples from the lines of the seven Family elders, as well as a few exceptionally talented collateral young men who, seeing everyone else come over to greet him, hesitated for a moment and then followed.
Listening to the whispers of those nearby, they knew this was a direct descendant.
Although Xia Chen had been somewhat inconspicuous in the Marquis Manor all these years, his reputation was not small.
After all, the Marquis Manor was founded on martial arts, and this was the first time in so many years that a waste body with no martial arts talent had appeared.
Some smiled and greeted Xia Chen, while others had calm expressions, merely nodding, neither befriending nor offending. But no one spoke mockingly. Everyone was still young, but most were precocious, with high intelligence and emotional quotients.
No one would easily offend a direct descendant, even if that person had no martial arts talent. Moreover, everyone already knew that Xia Chen had become a consort, which gave them even less reason to mock or suppress him just because he lacked martial arts talent.
Furthermore, in terms of seniority, Xia Chen was everyone's elder present. The Marquis Manor, having lasted 600 years, placed great emphasis on brotherly respect.
Xia Chen smiled and greeted everyone in return, his tone gentle, making people feel as if they were bathed in spring breeze. His gaze fell upon several young men present, his eyes solemn.
These individuals would all shine brightly in the future!
...
【"Xia Wen, courtesy name Xuanba, is the younger brother of the Heavenly Emperor. The Heavenly Emperor taught him from a young age, thus Xia Wen held both affection and reverence for the Heavenly Emperor.
When the Emperor was young, he was like a Dragon hidden in the abyss, biding his time and waiting for the opportune moment, thus not appearing extraordinary among his peers.
Within the Emperor's Family, only Wen did not let external influences sway his feelings, remaining close to the Heavenly Emperor, their brotherly bond exceptionally strong."
—“Xia History”, Volume One, Family Chapter Three】