Chapter Sixteen: Another Lantern Festival Arrives

Once Chen Yi and his brother Chen Yuan had fully recovered, they resumed the previously unfinished foundation-building assessment.

Though Chen Yi hadn’t left the house these past two days, he learned from the incessant chatter, especially from Yang Shuang, about what had transpired during his unconsciousness.

Zhao Xing, who had gone to the storage room to retrieve medicinal pills, was found dead in the woodshed.

The second master, Chen Lixin, and the third master, Chen Lide, investigated the clues but uncovered nothing.

In the end, the matriarch intervened, decreeing that the matter be dropped, bringing the investigation to an abrupt halt.

As if nothing had happened, the Marquis’s residence returned to its usual tranquility.

However, Chen Yi did not believe the Chen family would truly let the matter rest; at best, they had shifted the inquiry from public view to secrecy.

For a thousand-year-old noble marquis family, such an incident could not simply be ignored without causing outsiders to speculate.

“Careful, it’s hot,” Chen Taihang said, gesturing for the two of them to step into the wooden tubs on either side of the side chamber.

Chen Yi nodded and plunged into the tub, grimacing at the scalding water.

Chen Yuan, braver, dove in headfirst.

“Hot, hot, hot…”

“I told you to be careful!”

“Help!”

Chen Taihang didn’t rescue him but instead pressed his hand down firmly.

“Endure for one full hour. You cannot come out before time’s up!”

“Second uncle, boo hoo,” Chen Yi saw his elder brother start crying and grinned wickedly. “Big brother, let’s see who lasts longer.”

“Compete?” Chen Yuan immediately wiped away his tears, clenched his fists, and lifted his chin proudly. “Let’s do it then!”

Chen Taihang chuckled silently, glancing at Chen Yi, thinking the little one certainly had his ways.

From now on, Chen Yuan would likely be firmly under Chen Yi’s control.

“Second uncle, how long does it take to temper the body with the medicine?”

While competing, Chen Yi did not forget to ask about what came after foundation building.

“It depends on your body’s endurance, usually about half a month,” Chen Taihang answered casually. “If your talent is higher, it could take a month.”

“Your father took a whole month to complete his foundation-building assessment, causing a sensation throughout the entire capital.”

“Father’s that strong? Then I—I’m going to do it for a full month too!” Chen Yuan, sweat dripping from his face, gritted his teeth in determination.

“The longer you endure, the better!”

Chen Yi understood this unspoken rule but kept his own expectations modest.

Everyone knows their own limits.

From the moment he saw his status panel, he knew his body’s talent was not exceptional; otherwise, his life trajectory wouldn’t have been so miserable.

Although after completing two comeback missions he gained some swordsmanship skill and the Jade Sword artifact, his talent was still classified as “Late Bloomer.”

Therefore, for this foundation-building assessment, Chen Yi’s expectations were low—anything above average would suffice.

“Once you pass the foundation-building assessment, you can enter the training arena to practice martial arts with other disciples.”

“Don’t slack off then; if any of you dares to laze about, second uncle will teach you a lesson instead of big brother.”

Chen Taihang put on a stern face, glaring at them before moving on.

“The nine grades of martial arts, also called the nine realms, range from the lowest ninth grade to the highest first grade…”

The nine grades start from the Mortal Realm, then the Element-Absorbing Realm, the Element-Transforming Realm, the Element-Returning Realm, and so forth, up to the first-grade Void Extreme Realm.

Chen Yi was somewhat familiar with these basics but not in detail.

For example, the Mortal Realm signifies the ordinary worldly realm, where one begins cultivating techniques to strengthen muscles, bones, flesh, or true energy.

Above the first grade lies the Master Realm.

According to Chen Taihang, there are no more than two martial masters of such caliber in the entire Wei Dynasty.

Chen Yi was skeptical.

After all, the higher one’s cultivation, the longer the lifespan—there could be reclusive old monsters hidden away.

“What realm is father at now?”

“Fourth grade Spiritual Aperture Realm,” Chen Taihang said with envy. “Big brother’s talent is exceptional; he’ll likely reach third grade within ten years.”

“By then, our Chen family won’t have to worry about political strife nor fear the demon incursions beyond the Northern Hero Pass.”

Hearing this, Chen Yi couldn’t help but ask,

“Second uncle, does political turmoil affect us?”

“Of course…”

Just as he was about to elaborate, Chen Taihang caught himself, laughed, and scolded, “Children shouldn’t ask so many questions. Your main task now is to pass the foundation-building assessment and train hard in martial arts.”

“If luck is on your side, you may pass the Tai Xu Dao Sect’s evaluation at next year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which will benefit both your cultivation and the Chen family!”

Chen Yi chuckled and decided not to ask further.

One hour later.

Chen Yuan climbed out of the tub, face flushed red and white, utterly exhausted.

“Second brother, tom—tomorrow we’ll battle again. Today, I lost.”

Chen Yi was no better off and weakly replied, “Good.”

“After tempering, eat more to help absorb the medicine’s effects.”

“Thank you, second uncle…”

Half a month passed swiftly, and as Chen Yi expected, his foundation-building assessment concluded.

Chen Taihang shook his head, feeling some regret but said nothing.

After all, the foundation-building assessment does not guarantee future achievements nor fully reveal one’s innate talent.

For example, Chen Yi’s fearless reaction to the demon corpse’s lingering aura was a sign of personal gift.

Yet, unexpectedly, Chen Yuan’s assessment was still ongoing.

Even after half a month, he could completely absorb the medicine’s effects and continue strengthening his body.

His foundation-building assessment was at least “Good,” and if he inherited Chen Taiping’s bloodline, he might even reach “Excellent.”

This discovery delighted the entire Chen household.

It also dispelled the dark cloud cast by the earlier sabotage during the foundation-building opening.

Even the matriarch smiled upon hearing the news.

Chen Yi was pleased as well.

He believed that under his “teaching by example,” his extraordinarily gifted elder brother would never become someone who bullied the weak.

“Second brother, see how long I lasted? You lost!”

Seeing Chen Yuan curled up in the tub with a triumphant expression, Chen Yi rarely refrained from teasing him and laughed, admitting defeat.

Occasionally conceding would also boost Chen Yuan’s confidence, wouldn’t it?

...

Soon, the annual Lantern Festival arrived.

Xia Wanwan planned to take Chen Yi out for a stroll outside the mansion, both for relaxation and to prepare him for his upcoming martial arts training.

However, with Zhou Wanyi about to give birth and Chen Yuan still in foundation-building, neither could go out.

After some thought, Xia Wanwan sent an invitation to the Duke Xing’s residence, inviting Lin Xueru and her mother to join them.

To make up for last year’s regrets, the four set out in the mid-afternoon.

After visiting the Great Sky Temple, they planned to enjoy the lantern displays on Baohua Street while the night was still young.

“Brother Yi, how did your foundation-building assessment go?”

Lin Xueru, who hadn’t been seen for a long time, was still petite but her complexion and features had grown more delicate after passing foundation-building.

Her rosy little face was not only round but radiant.

Dressed appropriately, she gave Chen Yi a fleeting sense of seeing the young version of the “Ten Immortal Maidens of the Dao.”

“Average. How about you?”

“I’m Excellent! Brother Yi, when I grow up, I’ll protect you.”

Chen Yi was speechless.

He noticed that everyone around him was some kind of prodigy.

Chen Yuan was like that, Lin Xueru as well.

Compared to them, he felt the most ordinary.

“Pinky promise, if you dare not take care of me, I… I’ll die to show you,” Chen Yi stretched out his pinky.

Little Lin Xueru didn’t understand his teasing words but earnestly linked her pinky with his.

“Pinky swear, a hundred years no changing!”

Her childish promise echoed far and wide with the clip-clop of the carriage wheels...