"Haha, I always said my son was a genius."

Zhao Jincheng was the first to react, and he was overjoyed.

No wonder his son became a deputy regimental commander right after joining the army. It was because he was already a Grandmaster.

Although he didn’t practice Martial Arts himself, the recent intensive training at his workplace had taught him exactly what a Grandmaster signified in the world of the Martial Dao.

At this thought, his posture straightened, and he seemed to stand a little taller.

"Son, I don’t care if you’re a Grandmaster or not. I just want you to be safe!"

Xue Wenhui squeezed her son’s hand, still worried about his military service.

She’d heard many people had died.

Grandmaster or not, bullets and shells don’t discriminate. That was what truly worried her.

Zhao Rui sighed. ’Forget it,’ he thought. ’Looks like a show of force is useless here.’

He lowered his head and began to comfort her in a soft, gentle voice.

Only after he repeatedly promised to take care of himself did Xue Wenhui start to feel a little better.

Zhao Rui had only returned once in the last six months, a short while ago. Although his third uncle knew he was a Grandmaster, he had told him not to say anything.

He had planned to tell his family in person to give his parents a surprise.

But it turned out that the surprise couldn’t outweigh the worry they felt about him going to the battlefield.

’Sure enough,’ he thought, ’when it comes to a parent’s love for their child, safety always comes first.’

After calming his mother down, Zhao Rui washed his hands and started making dumplings, chatting idly with his parents.

After about ten minutes of wrapping dumplings, Zhao Rui’s ears twitched. He made an odd face and said, "Don’t tell me my little brother’s got a girlfriend?"

"I haven’t heard anything!"

Xue Wenhui paused, taken aback.

"Oh! Just a wild guess. He’s not even home for winter break," Zhao Rui said with a faint smile.

"He said a classmate needed to see him."

Zhao Jincheng commented casually. Just as he spoke, the door opened, and Zhao Ke walked in, looking cheerful and relaxed.

"Bro! When did you get back?" Zhao Ke asked, his surprise turning to delight.

"Just got back."

"Bro, how’s the..."

"Hey!"

Zhao Ke had just started to speak when Zhao Jincheng cut him off.

Zhao Ke quickly stuck out his tongue and stopped himself.

’Best not to mention the army.’

"It’s going well!"

Zhao Rui knew what his brother wanted to ask, so he gave a casual reply.

"Bro, guess what? Tian Yaru developed Qi Sensing!" Zhao Ke said with a hint of excitement.

Like him, Tian Yaru had no talent for martial arts.

But now that Tian Yaru had succeeded, it meant he could too.

He had accepted his fate before, but now that there was hope again, his heart was itching with anticipation.

"Oh, really? That’s great. I was just about to tell you, Mom, and Dad that I’ll be performing a Purification of Essence and Marrow on all of you this trip. It will help you embark on the path of the Martial Dao," Zhao Rui said seriously, glancing at his parents.

"Us? Bro, you mean... us?" Zhao Ke was stunned, his voice filled with incredulous joy.

"Yes. This Spiritual Qi Revival is much stronger than any before, and I’ve broken through to the Grandmaster Realm. A Purification of Essence and Marrow is no difficult task for me now."

"Bro, you’re a Grandmaster?"

Zhao Ke couldn’t contain his excitement. He slapped his fist into his palm and exclaimed, "You’re incredible! I can’t believe my brother is a Grandmaster! Haha!"

"Honestly, you’re so immature!"

Xue Wenhui gave her younger son a light swat.

Zhao Ke just chuckled and said, "Mom, Dad, you don’t understand what being a Grandmaster means!"

"Our family’s fortune is made!"

Zhao Ke couldn’t hide his glee.

A Grandmaster’s value wasn’t just in their martial prowess; it was also about status, position, and a guarantee of security.

In all of Lincheng City, you might not be able to walk sideways, but you could definitely walk straight without anyone daring to block your path.

"Alright, alright, what are you so excited for? You can get excited when you become a Grandmaster yourself!"

Zhao Rui smiled genuinely as he watched his brother’s excitement.

"Me, a Grandmaster? I wouldn’t dare to dream of it. Just being able to start my Cultivation on the Martial Dao is enough for me. Hehe!"

Zhao Ke chuckled foolishly for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh, crap!" he exclaimed. "I forgot, I have to do something!"

With that, he rushed back to his room, grabbed his backpack, and headed out the door again.

"That kid!"

Zhao Jincheng and his wife couldn’t help but shake their heads. Though only two years separated the brothers, the younger one still seemed like a child.

The older one, however, was mature beyond his years.

"Son, we’re getting on in years. We don’t need that... Purification of Essence and Marrow, do we? Will it be a drain on you?"

"Don’t worry, Mom, it’s fine. And besides anything else, with proper Cultivation, you can even become younger!"

Zhao Rui played his trump card.

"Ah? Is it really that miraculous?"

Xue Wenhui’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Would your son lie to you? Besides, I’m cultivating too. A lot of people at my workplace have started. Who knows, maybe the next reform will tie our pensions to this..."

The three of them chatted idly for a while longer before Zhao Ke came running back, out of breath. He put his backpack back in his room.

"Who was that young lady?" Zhao Rui asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Huh? Bro..."

Zhao Ke jumped.

Zhao Rui pointed to his ear, indicating his enhanced hearing.

Zhao Ke gave an embarrassed laugh. "A classmate. She was just borrowing my homework."

"Oh. She has a nice voice," Zhao Rui said with a grin.

Zhao Ke scratched his cheek, looking bashful. Clearly, this girl was special to him.

The days at home were simple and heartwarming.

The next day, Zhao Rui decided to strike while the iron was hot, performing the Purification of Essence and Marrow for his parents and brother.

With his current power, this was a trivial matter, something he could accomplish effortlessly.

Zhao Rui not only opened their Meridians and helped them experience Inner Strength, he also taught them the Guiyuan Skill.

While this Cultivation Technique wasn’t top-tier, its strength, as a form of Taoist Martial Arts, lay in its deep, stable foundation and its gentle, balanced nature.

Since none of the three had any prior experience, learning it was clearly a laborious process. Zhao Rui had to teach them personally, step-by-step.

It took a full five days for them to finally learn it.

They didn’t even return to their ancestral home for the New Year holiday that fell in the middle of the week, instead having a simple celebration in Lin City and spending the rest of their time on Cultivation.

After all, Zhao Rui’s time was limited.

"Son, can’t you stay just a few more days? When will you be back next?"

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the day of Zhao Rui’s departure arrived.

The army wasn’t like school; taking leave wasn’t easy. Zhao Rui didn’t know when he would be able to return.

"I’ll be back when I can! Take care of yourselves. If you run into any trouble you can’t handle, go find my master. He’s a Grandmaster now, too!"

After giving a few more instructions, Zhao Rui stepped through the boarding gate.

Watching his son’s receding figure, Zhao Jincheng squeezed his wife’s hand. "Our boy is grown up now, with his own path to walk. He’s so exceptional; we should be happy for him."

"I know! I just can’t bear to see him go!"

In the crisp, cold wind, golden light burst through a break in the clouds, spilling its warmth upon the world.

The morning glow, as thin as a cicada’s wing, spread like blush dissolving in water, radiating a vibrant, colorful sheen.

A roaring plane ascended, streaking across the sky. It broke through the clouds and flew toward the horizon, leaving a faint trail in its wake.

...

Qingcheng Mountain, Main Hall!

Yun Hao staggered, using the longsword in his right hand to prop himself up. His usually neat hair was in disarray.

A trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

But his eyes remained as sharp as a blade, his solemn expression laced with killing intent.

"How dare you! We are the fifth-generation direct disciples of the Qingcheng Sect, returning to our ancestral home today. You dare show us such disrespect!"

Over thirty Daoists in Daoist Robes stood before the entrance to the main hall.

Their ages varied, from an old Daoist with a grizzled beard to fresh-faced youths not yet twenty.

The speaker was a tall, middle-aged Daoist with a thick beard. He held a longsword inverted in his hand, and his sharp eyes glinted with a cold light.

"This is the Qingcheng Sword Sect. We have nothing to do with the Qingcheng Sect. You’ve come to the wrong place. Please leave!" Yun Hao said coldly.

This group had appeared abruptly at the foot of the mountain this morning.

They were so fast that they had already entered the Daoist Temple before the Mountain Guard Disciples could even send a report.

Their Martial Arts were profound and unfathomable; the disciples they encountered along the way were subdued before they even had time to react.

It wasn’t until they reached the main hall that they were stopped by Yun Hao, who had rushed to intercept them.

"You’re not very old. I presume your sect’s lineage was lost to the ages, but your innate talent and Martial Arts are quite impressive..."

The old Daoist in the lead stroked his beard, affecting the air of a sagacious elder.

"Seize him..."

"Wait! We will give you the Daoist Temple!"

Before the man could finish his sentence, Yu Zhengnan came running, dressed in a Yu Luo Xiao’s Robe, a Cyan Jade Belt cinched at his waist, and a Furong Crown upon his head.

Hearing the commotion, the leader raised a hand slightly, halting the men behind him.