Chapter 97: Giving Birth and Gaining Luck!

Time flew by, and over two months passed.

Due to the addition of drawing Second-Tier talismans and crafting puppets to his routine, Lu Changsheng became busier every day.

But despite being busy, he never forgot his main tasks.

In these two months, both Jiang Louyue and Yuyao successfully became pregnant.

For these maids with Spirit Roots, Lu Changsheng gave them special attention.

Additionally, both Xiaoqing and the maid Canglan were expecting their second child under his favor.

On this day, in the third floor of the Talisman Shop.

After completing his daily talisman drawing, Lu Changsheng went to the storage room to refine puppet parts using spiritual energy.

In the corner, puppet parts and components were piled up.

Although the materials for the Second-Tier puppet weren’t complete, it didn’t stop Lu Changsheng from crafting some parts in advance.

After all, these things can’t be completed in one or two months.

It was more of a long-term project.

It would probably take three to four months, or even longer.

Suddenly, a mysterious feeling surged.

Lu Changsheng felt an inexplicable and profound sensation.

“Hmm? Is it the Spirit Root’s sensation!?”

“Yueru’s child is born.”

“This child has a Spirit Root!”

“And it’s a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root!”

Sensing this tremor, Lu Changsheng was initially stunned, then immediately showed joy.

He’s experienced Spirit Root augmentation many times, so he could roughly judge the quality of the child’s Spirit Root based on the feeling.

At this moment, feeling this Spirit Root sensation.

Plus, he knew the pregnancy durations of his wives and concubines.

He realized it was Xiao Yueru’s child that was born.

And it had a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root.

This filled Lu Changsheng with immense excitement and joy.

However, despite his enthusiasm, Lu Changsheng did not immediately rush home to see the child.

After all, he couldn’t be waiting at home or rushing back every time a child with a Spirit Root was born.

Occasional instances were fine, but if it happened too frequently, others may notice something unusual.

Lu Changsheng took a few deep breaths to calm his joy.

He set down the parts and began meditating.

Half an hour later.

Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, feeling a significant improvement in his training speed.

It had increased by about ten percent.

“I feel if I get two or three more Seventh-Tier Spirit Roots, my Spirit Root could advance to Sixth-Tier!”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes shone with expectation.

He felt that as long as he continued having children steadily, the Middle-Tier Spirit Root was not far away.

Afterward, Lu Changsheng continued fastening screws.

However, thinking about his child at home made it hard to focus.

When the outside light seemed right, Lu Changsheng got up and went home to see his child.

Upon returning home, a wife told Lu Changsheng that Xiao Yueru had given birth.

It was a daughter.

Lu Changsheng went to the backyard to visit.

Looking at his daughter with a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root, Lu Changsheng grew happier the more he looked.

Seeing this made Xiao Yueru smile with happiness.

Other women envied her.

They thought their husband truly loved children.

They decided to have more children for him.

Meanwhile, in a Cave Dwelling.

A frail young man holding a black jar had a face full of joy.

Inside the jar was a nearly lifeless blood-red Gu worm.

“This is the Locking Emotion Gu!”

“Anyone bitten by this Gu will develop feelings of affection for its host!”

“Before my grandmother passed away, she said Ancestor was initially a down-and-out cultivator who, by chance, obtained this Locking Emotion Gu, causing many fairy maidens to fall in love with him, eventually becoming a Golden Core cultivator!”

The young man said with a joyful expression.

He put down the jar and performed a technique over the blood-colored Gu worm, letting a drop of his Essence Blood drip from his fingertip.

After seeing the blood, the nearly lifeless Gu worm revived, licking the blood.

Its entire body became more glossy and lustrous, like a blood jade.

“Come on, little one.”

The frail young man, seeing the Gu worm lick his Essence Blood, took a dagger and cut his palm.

The blood-colored Gu worm drilled into the young man’s palm and flesh.

“The Locking Emotion Gu can capture at most three people, and their cultivation cannot be much higher than my own.”

“The Ancestor was too greedy, causing the Gu to fail, leading his wives to kill him in anger.”

“So I must use it cautiously and pick targets wisely.”

The frail youth murmured while looking at the Locking Emotion Gu in his hand.

In his mind flashed an image of a handsome and upright young man.

Two months flew by again.

During these days, Lu Changsheng’s life remained mostly unchanged.

Thinking that the two wives who followed him from Qingzhu Mountain were almost due to leave.

With their pregnancy lasting over half a year, Lu Changsheng paid them more attention, resulting in both becoming pregnant.

Shao Yuyao also conceived her second child under his favor.

Bringing the total number of his children to fifty-eight!

On the third floor of the Talisman Shop.

Lu Changsheng was installing a humanoid puppet.

This puppet stood about two meters tall.

It was entirely black, glowing with a metallic sheen.

One hand held a knife, the other a shield, with five black spears on its back.

“When there are more Artifacts, they can be installed on this puppet directly.”

“While it can’t fully utilize Artifact effects, it’ll still be effective.”

Lu Changsheng observed the puppet he assembled.

Puppets aren’t as restricted as talisman crafting.

Once you understand the principles, you can adjust minor things flexibly.

He then removed the puppet’s golden breastplate.

It had a hollow core – the puppet’s spiritual control core.

If damaged, the puppet would be useless, needing major repairs.

Lu Changsheng took his Spirit Pattern Knife, infusing spiritual power as he sketched on the puppet’s spiritual core.

To activate the spiritual patterns and formations on the puppet, linking them together.

This was the final and most crucial step.

If it failed, he’d have to recheck and reinstall the patterns.

Lu Changsheng focused intensely during this process.

Each stroke of the knife was precise and calculated.

Time passed slowly.

Finally, Lu Changsheng completed the final stroke.

He poured a jar of thick Spirit Liquid in, embedding ten Spirit Stones.

Instantly, spiritual light shimmered over the puppet’s body.

Lines appeared, ancient and mysterious, exuding a faint spiritual pressure.

“Phew, it’s finally done!”

Lu Changsheng looked at the metal puppet with a tired but satisfied smile.

Creating this Second-Tier puppet took over four months.

Now complete, he felt a sense of achievement.

With a flick of his mind, Lu Changsheng controlled the puppet.

The puppet’s body emitted a jet-black luster, buzzing from within.

It felt like a war machine awakening with a terrifying spiritual pressure.

With just a thought.

“Whoosh!”

The puppet slashed forward with a black-gold long knife, tearing through the air.

“Looks good, though it’s too small here to test its real power!”

“Going too hard might tear the house down.”

Lu Changsheng clicked his tongue and shook his head.

This puppet was a Second-Tier low-grade humanoid combat puppet.

Designed for close combat with an all-in-one attack and defense.

Although primarily for close combat, it could also attack from a distance.

The five spears on its back could be thrown from afar.

Each strike comparable to an early Foundation Establishment strike.

For Qi Refining cultivators, encountering this puppet would be a dead end if they couldn’t run fast.

As for Foundation Establishment masters.

Unless they’re old, exhausted from a battle, and have spent their techniques.

Defeating a Foundation Establishment master with just a puppet was dreaming.

To become a Foundation Establishment master, one must be extraordinary.

Each has remarkable methods.

“To fully unleash this puppet’s power and sustain combat, I need mid or high-grade Spirit Stones.”

“Ten low-grade Spirit Stones can’t support prolonged battles.”

Lu Changsheng inspected the puppet, touching his chin.

Though it had a spirit-gathering formation to store spiritual energy.

The stored energy was insufficient for long battles.

To run it continuously, it needed Spirit Stones.

“For now, it’ll do; when I have Spirit Stones, I’ll exchange for ten mid-grade ones.”

Lu Changsheng thought, not worrying too much.

After crafting a Second-Tier puppet, he didn’t mind spending.

Though ten mid-grade Spirit Stones were quite a bit.

That’s a thousand low-grade stones.

But he rarely used the puppet, so it wouldn’t consume stones.

For emergencies and protection, conserving shouldn’t be priority.

Nine days later.

The Second Elder was about to return to the Lu Family and sent word to Lu Changsheng.

Knowing the airship could hold three, he took his two wives and Jiang Louyue back.

To have Jiang Louyue teach the children martial arts.

The Second Elder saw Lu Changsheng with another wife.

Pregnant and holding babies, shaking his head in resignation.

He thought about advising him, but held back.

Only reminding him to take care and be mindful of his health.

Planning that the Fourth Elder should discuss this with him.

If Lu Changsheng continued, he’d truly worry.

A day and a half later, the airship returned safely to Qingzhu Mountain.

Upon his return, Lu Changsheng spoke with his wives about Jiang Louyue teaching martial arts to the children.

They understood.

Knowing that children without Spirit Roots would benefit from martial arts.

At least it could strengthen their bodies.

Seeing Jiang Louyue pregnant, they wondered about their husband not sparing even teachers.

Staying three days at Qingzhu Mountain.

During which, under the Fourth Elder’s guidance in talisman crafting, Lu Changsheng showed his progress.

He began learning High-Grade Talismans.

Matching his original plan.

On his next return, he’d naturally show his skill as a High-Tier Talisman Master.

He also paid a visit to Li Feiyu.

Chatting and requesting his training for the children.

Planning to send his first batch of children to the secular world in two or three years.

Having Li Feiyu teach martial arts and worldly knowledge would benefit them.

Li Feiyu readily agreed to Lu Changsheng’s request.

As expected, he had agreed to teach martial arts long before.

And teaching his nieces and nephews couldn’t involve charging fees.

After insistence, Lu Changsheng offered a fee of five Spirit Stones a month.

Three days passed quickly.

Lu Changsheng left with the Second Elder.

He planned to release the Nine Abyss Mastiff while leaving.

But realized the beast had blended into the family.

All the children loved the Nine Abyss Mastiff.

Taking it away would have upset the children.

So he decided to leave the mastiff in the family.

It would be a significant help with the children.

Though it seemed a bit unfair for a Heaven-Tier Spirit Beast.

Bringing Lu Zi’er and Lu Qing’er sisters to Jiulong Market.

Taking the girls out for fun.

Upon arriving at Jiulong Market, the girls were shocked by the myriad women at Lu Changsheng’s place.

Though they didn’t mind him having wives and concubines.

They saw it as normal.

Other men with wives and concubines would pamper them occasionally.

Many wives might only receive a few visits a year.

Yet Lu Changsheng favored them all evenly.

Each receiving occasional visits, often resulting in pregnancies.

They worried if he wasn’t physically robust at night.

After a month.

Inside the Talisman Shop.

Lu Changsheng meditated.

With the automatic cultivation of the Immortal Grace Technique and improvements from Peach Blossom Gu, he grew more handsome.

Quietly meditating, serene as jade, elegant and transcendent, gentle as spring breeze, peaceful and calm.

A long while passed.

“At this rate, reaching the peak of the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining would take six or seven years.”

“It’s too slow; I wish I could draw a technique to replace Return Yuan Technique.”

Lu Changsheng sighed, looking inward at his Qi Sea Dantian, seeing the spirit energy pool.

He meditated for two hours daily.

Using Yellow Dragon Pill and Refining Qi Powder as aids.

But progress was still unsatisfactory.

Aside from time and his Spirit Root.

The problem lied in his Return Yuan Technique.

This basic technique was too stable and balanced.

Making cultivation too slow.

Suddenly, a profound sensation emerged.

Another familiar Spirit Root sensation.

Another child with a Spirit Root was born, granting him augmentation.

Simultaneously, a system notification: “Congratulations, seven offspring with Spirit Roots! Awarded one draw!”

“Is it Yun’r or Zhenzhen’s child?”

Counting the timing, he guessed it was either Qu Zhenzhen or Lu Miaoyun’s child’s birth.

“If it’s Miaoyun’s child, I’ve neglected my duty as a husband.”

Remembering he wasn’t present when Lu Miaoyun gave birth last tim.

If it was Miaoyun’s child again, being absent would be neglectful.

“Phew!”

Shaking his head, taking a deep breath, calming his mood.

Feeling the child’s Spirit Root shouldn’t be great.

The augmentation was minimal.

Highly likely a Ninth-Tier Spirit Root.

But such occurrences were normal.

Parental Spirit Roots affect the child’s potential.

Enhancing their maximum potential.

But not guaranteeing better Spirit Roots than parents.

Many have lesser or no Spirit Roots.

“Seven children with Spirit Roots; is it two pays per draw chance?”

Considering the system’s draw rhythm.

Without further thought, “System, I wish to draw!”

Immediately, a red system wheel appeared.

“A cultivation technique would be nice.”

Seeing the wheel, he thought.

With a thought, the draw began.

A golden light emerged on the wheel, rapidly rotating.

A few seconds later, it slowed and stopped on “Pills.”