It turns out that conceiving life is so difficult.
Donning an open-fronted robe and a pair of long boots embroidered with formidable and fierce beasts, Wu Wang sat on the wooden steps in front of the cabin, revealing his smoothly muscled contours as he fretted inwardly.
After half a year of effort, he had tried almost every conceivable method, and his parents had also remained together at the Peak of the Snow Mountain.
Yet, there had been no joyful news.
What, had the Star God not implemented a two-child policy?
"Young Master."
Dressed in a pink fairy dress, Lin Suqing asked softly, "What about those traders over there, how should we deal with them?"
Hearing this, Wu Wang looked to the side, where several traders from the Circle Dog Country dangled.
These traders were short in stature and looked rather similar to the human race, but their heads were covered in fluffy black and white dog fur, and they naturally bore a kind of honest-looking temperament.
The people of Circle Dog Country seemed to share ancestry with the Rong Dog Tribe of the Northern Wilderness, with the most notable distinction being in the head; the former resembled mature and sensible huskies, while the latter had more of a Shiba Inu's charm.
This nation was known throughout the Great Wilderness for its trading, and they were active across the Nine Wildernesses and the Four Seas, even being found in overseas nations.
With a flick of his fingers, Wu Wang sent out several ice spikes that whistled past, causing the Circle Dog Country men to fall to the ground.
Having obtained their freedom, these traders did not flee but instead kept bowing and saluting, shouting:
"Young Master, you have wronged us!"
"Everything we sold you was genuine! The Shudeer beast is nearly extinct due to Human Domain cultivators—it was extremely difficult to find that pelt!"
"You are still young, there's no rush to have children or many children! Perhaps, it's not that there's something wrong with what we sold you!"
Lin Suqing, adopting a stern demeanor at his side, rebuked them, "Keep quiet, all of you. My Young Master hasn't spoken yet—what's the rush?"
Wu Wang sighed softly, his composure restored.
"I'll trust you this time—continue to help me seek treasures that aid in child-rearing."
He spoke slowly, his gaze falling on the traders, and although his voice was calm, it carried an inherent sense of authority.
"You've already earned quite a bit from me. We each have our needs, and trading is about integrity.
Under the watchful eye of the Star God, you should know the consequences if you have any ulterior motives."
The traders quickly replied, "We know, we know."
"Rest assured, Young Master. We have rules—we only take what we're allowed, and we have faith!"
"Young Master, we've come this time mainly to bring you some good items..."
One of the Circle Dog Country men smiled apologetically and gave a few whistles. Immediately, several Spirit Beasts that looked like dogs and were carrying luggage ran over.
The traders rummaged through their bags and took out several well-preserved books, respectfully offering them to Lin Suqing, who then passed them to Wu Wang.
"Hey," he chuckled, "take a look. These are some cultivation Spells from the Human Domain that are especially hard to obtain."
"Is that so?"
Wu Wang glanced at the books and tossed them to Lin Suqing, saying with a smile, "Suqing, see if you can learn anything. I practice the Praying Star Technique, so these aren't of use to me."
Lin Suqing dutifully responded, "Thank you, Young Master."
The traders from the Circle Dog Country exchanged glances, immediately catching onto something.
Next time they brought gifts to maintain good relations, they'd have to start with this woman!
Having sent the traders on their way, Wu Wang and Lin Suqing looked at each other and tacitly returned to the cabin. They secured the wooden door, drew the curtains, activated the Soundproofing array, and then...
Sat on either side of the desk, holding those spell books and pondering over them thoroughly.
Urging one's parents to try for another child wasn't as comfortable as cultivating oneself!
Unknowingly, the grassland sky had been rendered inky, and Lin Suqing lit the magical lamps inside the cabin.
After taking the Spirit Pill made from Xun Grass, which enhanced her cultivation and made her look even more delicate and lovely, she could be said to have undergone a complete transformation, satisfying Wu Wang's childhood wish of 'a silent fragrance filling the sleeves, a beautiful woman by the side' to some extent.
Her skin was as white as winter plums that shame the beauty; bright teeth and sparkling eyes that outshone the dew of autumn.
Her slim figure was wrapped in immortal silk, with a jade hairpin beautifully holding up her black hair.
Wu Wang wondered if that certain junior brother who chose the junior sister would regret it; after all, he felt that this housekeeper, assistant, and secretary wouldn't make him, the Young Master, lose face when they went out.
Lin Suqing was puzzled and asked, "Young Master, haven't you already reached the Qi-gathering realm? Why are you still interested in these basic Spells?"
"To absorb the strengths of various schools and gather more nutrients."
Wu Wang rubbed his sore eyes and explained,
"Once you choose a Cultivation Technique, it's hard to change. The Spirit Gathering Technique can only take you to the Returning Origin Realm.
Thinking long term, I can't make a breakthrough to the Returning Origin Realm before I find a suitable main Cultivation Technique, but I can keep accumulating cultivation.
It's worth pondering over the first two realms of Spirit Gathering and Qi Gathering; there might be unexpected gains."
Lin Suqing said softly, "My master told me that the Cultivation Technique is secondary, the person doing the cultivation is what's most crucial."
Wu Wang responded, "Then why do talented young people squeeze into the big Sects? What do small Sects long for the most if not a complete set of high-level mysterious methods?"
"That..."
Lin Suqing was at a loss for words.
"There are indeed differences in the strength of Cultivation Methods, but what fits one the best is of utmost importance."
Wu Wang smiled and said, "Since I have chosen the path of Cultivation, naturally, I need to obtain the most suitable Cultivation Technique within my abilities.
So for now, I can't rush."
Lin Suqing blinked and said, "But, Young Master, if you don't go to the Human Domain to find a mentor, it would be very difficult to obtain such wonderful methods here."
"Isn't that why I'm striving to get to the Human Domain."
Wu Wang threw the book in his hand onto the table, feeling somewhat frustrated.
If his parents could successfully have another child without a hitch, he could head to the Human Domain without any worries and be a low-profile Cultivator, striving to grow stronger and hoping to cure his strange illness as soon as possible.
But now, with no good news coming from his parents for a long time, he could only head to the Human Domain with these concerns.
It was not just for himself, but also for his parents and clan that he had to be especially careful with his life and avoid unnecessary risks.
Though he had never planned on taking such risks.
"Right," Wu Wang suddenly said, "try poking me with your finger."
"Huh?" Lin Suqing was immediately startled. For several years now, even though she sometimes teased the Young Master playfully to cheer him up, she had never been closer than a foot to Wu Wang, and even more so, she stayed more than three feet away from him outside, fearing that it would remind the Young Master of his strange illness and make him upset.
"Are you tired, Young Master?"
"Just poke me," Wu Wang said, revealing a slightly confident smile.
Lin Suqing's small hand trembled lightly; first, she moved to Wu Wang's side, then behind him, lifting her hand without a place to land it, and in the end, she carefully poked at the back of Wu Wang's hand.
A glimmer of flowing light flickered, and a light blue halo appeared around Wu Wang, like fine Ice Crystals spontaneously forming a transparent thin film half an inch above the back of his hand, enclosed in a layer of clear water, stopping Lin Suqing's fingertip in front of it.
Her finger almost touched the back of Wu Wang's hand, and she could still feel a slight soft touch.
"What! What is this!?"
Lin Suqing instantly poked a few more times, hopping and jumping behind Wu Wang.
"It's a combination of the Praying Star Technique and the Water Condensing Technique," Wu Wang said with a smile. "In a Duel, I would naturally condense a close-fitting Ice Armor, no need for this little Spell.
With such a technique for protection, I no longer have to fear walking in crowds."
Lin Suqing asked curiously, "But can you feel being touched?"
"Of course not, if I had any sensation I'd faint," Wu Wang's lips quirked. "This only makes me appear normal, but in reality, I still can't feel anything. It's just to avoid drawing too much attention."
Wu Wang tilted his head slightly upward with a soft "Hmm?", just in time to see Lin Suqing looking down at him.
Strands of her long hair cascaded down but were halted by a thin film of Ice Crystals that had formed on Wu Wang's neck. Under her gaze, a faint soft light emanated from around him at that moment.
His dark pupils seemed like swirling vortices, capturing Lin Suqing's gaze and making it difficult for her to look away.
"Young Master..."
Suddenly, Wu Wang stood up, startling Lin Suqing, who hastily retreated but, caught off guard, stumbled backward onto the bed.
With a light cry, Wu Wang's face suddenly filled Lin Suqing's view. She subconsciously covered her collar with her hands, her eyes brimming with panic;
But at the sound of the call "Suqing", all her panic was replaced by the thumping of her heart.
To repay a kindness, that's what this was! I agreed to stay for six years as a servant, not because I'm truly smitten with the Young Master. There's no way the two of us could ever become Dao... companions...
Closer and closer, the distance between them continued to narrow.
Lin Suqing's gaze turned languid, her lips slightly trembling, but she suddenly felt lighter.
Without notice, Wu Wang vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a human-shaped film of Ice Crystals. Caught off guard, Lin Suqing was doused by the icy water that cascaded down, sending shivers down her spine.
"Ah!"
"HAHAHA! That'll teach you to torment this Young Master all the time! HAHAHA!"
Laughter from Wu Wang echoed outside the wooden house, and Lin Suqing, her cheeks flushed, charged out with a Short Sword in hand, shouting after him in a mock angry pursuit.
The guards in the distance witnessed the scene, each flashing a relieved smile.
"The Young Master and Lady Lin really have a good relationship."
"Friendship, this is friendship. How could our Young Master marry a woman from another tribe? That would break the hearts of all the girls from our Bear Hug Tribe."
That day, until the sunset, Wu Wang and Lin Suqing were still running.
But later on, Wu Wang, while laughing, found tears trailing down his eyes.
In the early morning, the Sun Star had just risen from the east of the great plains.
A magnificent horn sounded from the horizon. Beneath its call, the heavy pounding of ten thousand hooves resounded, and the earth itself trembled slightly.
"The leaders are back!"
Cheers erupted from all around the hillside. Uncountable numbers of young girls, young men, old aunts, and robust ladies converged from every direction, rushing toward the open land beneath the slopes.
Before long, a 'tsunami' seemed to rise in the distance on the plains.
Countless Huge beasts were galloping furiously, and the Giant Wolf Riders, though showing signs of fatigue, began to howl excitedly upon seeing the endless stretch of tents.
Wu Wang, who had already received the news of 'the leader's return to the Royal Court', didn't rush out to join in the excitement.
There was no helping it; he was now seventeen, fair-skinned, and tender, attracting commotion wherever he went as the clan's unmarried girls waved various styles of wooden sticks, frantically cheering for the Young Master.
He had put on a robe that marked his status as the Young Master and a helmet made of beast bones and sat quietly in front of the Royal Court, holding a tortoiseshell inscribed with intricate runes, pondering over the ancient Praying Star Technique it recorded.
His father would be busy for half a day upon returning, sharing drinks and discussing clan affairs with the Generals and Priests who had stayed behind. They would only have time to chat in the evening.
Hmm, I'll have to see how Dad's health has been lately.
But today, it seemed there was an exception...
As the massive herd of Huge beasts and Giant Wolf Riders started to slow down in the distance, a Snow Bear over five fathoms tall didn't decrease its pace. Just before it was about to crash into the crowd, it leapt into the air.
The Snow Bear extended ice-blue Light Wings from its ribs and soared directly towards the hillside. It flew overhead Wu Wang, and the brawny man on its back jumped off, exuding an expansive, intimidating aura.
Lin Suqing and the surrounding guards promptly stepped back in deference to the great respect owed to the Clan Leader.
The Clan Leader, who had just returned, glanced at her and headed straight for Wu Wang, muttering, "Miss Lin, why can't she put on any weight?"
Lin Suqing could only secretly inhale, puff out her chest, and lift her head.
Wu Wang wondered, "Dad, do you have something urgent?"
The burly man with his stern face suddenly beamed like a radiant chrysanthemum, tossing his twin axes to a guard beside him and coming over with his large hands rubbing together, bending down close to Wu Wang.
"Son, do you want a maiden to share your bed?"
Wu Wang: ...
"Dad, you forget, I'm not even twenty yet."
"That's exactly why!"
The burly man, with a wave of his big hand, carrying the countless admiring gazes from the mountain slope above and below, and lowering his voice confidently and excitedly, said:
"I named you Xiong Ba because you were weak, to give you more of a domineering air!
Your great-grandfather, when he was alive, used to tell me all the time that the more difficulties there are, the more you have to face them head-on. Even if there aren't difficulties, you have to create them to face them head-on!
Tonight, you're going to get a taste of manhood early!"
With that, the burly man turned and bellowed, "Bring that cart of slaves over here first! It's a gift for my son!"
Cheers erupted throughout the clan.
Amidst the cheers, a faint sound of something tearing through the air arose, first a tiny snowflake blossomed, followed by a graceful ice-blue figure quietly appearing behind the burly man.
The cheers then became even more raucous.
She was quite beautiful, and what was rare was the charm emanating from her, with just a fitted ice-blue dress, she looked like a goddess who had just stepped down from the Peak of the Snow Mountain.
And indeed, this great figure had just moved here from the Peak of the Snow Mountain.
She hovered behind the burly man, her pretty face already frosted over, but the surrounding cheers were too noisy, and the burly man, caught up in his excitement, didn't notice at all.
Wu Wang blinked at his own father and said earnestly:
"Dad, I feel that at seventeen, I shouldn't get involved in these things."
"Ah! Silly child!"
The Clan Leader, waving his hand and chuckling, said:
"Your dad fell for the disadvantage of being childhood sweethearts with your mom. Aside from her, I haven't touched the hand of another girl.
Don't say you're the Young Master here; even the ordinary youngsters in our clan get knocked out two or three times before finding a devoted partner.
I'm doing this to cure you!"
Wu Wang looked conflicted and shook his head, "Dad, I don't think you're right, two people should respect each other, you and mom are very loving."
He emphasized the word "loving" quite heavily.
"Of course we're loving, but there's always a bit of regret. Ba'er."
Wu Wang: Forget it, it's hopeless.
"Sigh... Dad."
The Clan Leader, still chuckling, said, "This time, Dad has bought you seven or eight specially hard-to-find slaves, just enjoy yourself! Your dad never had such treatment when I was young; your grandpa would beat me every day!
You just don't tell your mom first, wait until she gets back, I'll talk to her first, then..."
Xiong Han's words came to an abrupt halt as he suddenly saw a hint of ice-blue through Wu Wang's eyes.
"Seal."
The woman floating behind the Clan Leader parted her lips lightly, a hexagonal Treasure Wheel like a snowflake already appearing behind her.