Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

Jiang Yining lowered her head and looked at the unlucky guy who was actually one of the child's biological fathers, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"You don't need to go." Jiang Yining tossed him a token. "Take this and go to Yi City to keep an eye on things. I want all the profits, not a single spirit stone less. Also, find me the best craftsmen; I need two cribs made, and I'll need..."

She paused, then her lips twitched as she recalled Ji Lingxiao's Xuanbing Bed, which could freeze people into icicles.

"It must be made of warm jade. If you dare to cut corners, I'll turn you into an abacus bead."

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll go right away! I'll go right away!"

……

In the days that followed, the entire cultivation world was plunged into an unprecedented panic.

Legend has it that Sword Master Ji Lingxiao, in order to obtain a few pieces of "Heavenly Meteorite Iron" for a longevity lock for his unborn child, single-handedly stormed into the "Divine Weapon Valley," renowned for its weapon forging, and forced the Valley Master to open the sword tomb sealed for a thousand years, taking away all the most valuable pieces of material inside.

Before leaving, he threw down the words, "Keep it in the account, and pay me back later," which angered the Valley Master so much that he vomited three liters of blood on the spot.

It is said that Chu Jinglan, a Confucian sage, looted the imperial library of Zhongzhou in order to find the best enlightenment materials for his children. He packed up all the rare books on imperial strategies and governance, and even took the vermilion pen used by the emperor to review memorials.

It is said that the Demon Lord Ye Wuhen blew up a deserted island in the East Sea in order to find snacks for his children, simply because a miniature spiritual vein was buried beneath the island, from which the best-tasting spiritual crystals were formed.

It is said that the Demon King Bai Ze was even more ruthless, leading a group of powerful demons to capture beautiful and docile spirit beasts all over the mountains and fields, saying that he wanted to keep them as pets for his children. He even took away the golden carp that Guanyin of the South Sea kept in her pond.

For a time, all the major sects in the cultivation world were on edge, everyone was in danger, fearing that they would be targeted by these four madmen who would do anything to raise their children.

And these so-called "spoils of war" are being continuously piled into the warehouse of the desolate abyss.

Sitting amidst a mountain of treasures, Jiang Yining munched on the ten-thousand-year-old Vermilion Fruit that Bai Ze had sent from afar, while listening to Da Bao practicing his swordplay, she felt as if she had reached the pinnacle of her life.

"Mother."

Da Bao Jiang Lei ran in, carrying a heavy sword taller than himself, covered in sweat.

Her little face was filled with grievance and exhaustion, and her eyes, which resembled Ji Lingxiao's, had lost some of their former liveliness and gained a heavy look.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Yining put down the red fruit in her hand and tenderly wiped the sweat from her son's forehead.

"Take a break if you're tired, and don't listen to your dad's nonsense."

"It's not that I'm tired."

Da Bao slammed the sword into the ground, creating a crater.

"Father said that we're going to have younger brothers and sisters, and as the eldest brother, I have to become stronger to protect them."

"He said my sword intent was too soft and not ruthless enough, so he forced me to practice swinging my sword 10,000 times a day and made me imagine that the person in front of me was my father's killer..."

Jiang Yining's face darkened.

Ji Lingxiao, that chauvinistic man, is still the same as always.

The Supreme Daoist of Forgetfulness has gone mad, actually teaching a three-year-old such a thing?

"Too soft?" Jiang Yining sneered. "That's because he's blind."

Da Bao's talent lies in "protection," not simply "killing."

Ji Lingxiao's approach of severing all emotional ties and love is simply not suitable for Da Bao.

"Want to try something different?"

Jiang Yining patted Da Bao's head: "Let your father, who only knows how to kill, see what a real sword is."

Da Bao's eyes lit up: "Yes!"

"Go find that uncle in black."

Jiang Yining pointed to Ye Wuhen, who was sitting on the rooftop sunbathing in the distance: "Tell him that your mother wants you to learn how to 'ambush' people... oh no, I mean how to surprise them."

Ye Wuhen was bored and thinking of catching a few birds to roast and eat when he suddenly felt someone tugging at his clothes.

Looking down, I saw Da Bao, who always had a stern face.

"What?" Ye Wuhen didn't have much of a liking for this kind of righteous little brat; he preferred the mischievous personality of his own three children.

"My mother told me to come to you to learn swordsmanship." Da Bao looked up, his face serious. "She said that Father's teaching is too rigid."

"Heh." Ye Wuhen chuckled and jumped down from the roof. "That old fogey Ji Lingxiao doesn't know anything about swords. Come on, let Uncle teach you something fun."

A flash of demonic energy appeared in his hand, transforming into a jet-black dagger that twirled nimbly at his fingertips.

"Remember, a sword is not for demonstrating moves, it's for killing. As long as you can win, stabbing someone in the kidneys, throwing lime, or attacking from behind—those are all good sword techniques."

Da Bao nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

That afternoon, various eerie screams frequently echoed from the training grounds of the desolate abyss.

"Yes! Right there! Don't chop the neck, that's too obvious! Go for the armpit! That's the soft spot!"

Ye Wuhen's voice was filled with excitement: "Why run? Running away when you can't win is a strategic retreat! We'll turn around and launch a counterattack!"

When Ji Lingxiao returned in the evening to inspect the results, he was completely dumbfounded.

His upright and incorruptible son, with his aura of swordsmanship, had actually learned to throw a handful of sand to confuse the enemy before a sword fight, and then take the opportunity to sneak up behind and stab them with his sword.

"You unfilial son! Who taught you these despicable tricks?!"

Ji Lingxiao was so angry that his beard almost stood on end, even though he didn't have a beard, and his sword was trembling.

"I taught you, any objections?"

Jiang Yining stood to the side with her arms crossed, looking protective of her own.

"That's what you call 'all's fair in war.' Your approach of direct confrontation would have killed you eight hundred times over if you encountered a demonic cultivator. Now, Da Bao has learned how to survive when at a disadvantage; that's true strength."

Ji Lingxiao opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but seeing Da Bao's sword precisely pierce the weak point of the wooden stake, the tricky angle and the grasp of timing actually made even this Sword Master feel a bit amazed.

Although... it's really shameless.

But it is indeed effective.

"Hmph." Ji Lingxiao turned his head away. Although he didn't admit it, he didn't force Da Bao to practice the ten thousand sword swings anymore.

The problem with Da Bao was just resolved, but Er Bao is causing trouble again.

Inside Baiyu Academy, the sound of reading aloud filled the air.

But if you listen carefully, you'll notice a hint of gritted teeth mixed in with the reading voice.

Chu Jinglan was kneeling in front of the table, holding the book "The Emperor's Strategy" in his hand, while Erbao Chu Anyan sat upright in front of him.

Because of the Purple Star Emperor Body, Erbao was born with an inherent sense of majesty.

At this moment, he was wearing a miniature version of a scholar's robe, his small face was tense, and he looked even more serious than Chu Jinglan.

"An Yan, what is your name?"

Chu Jinglan patiently explained, "The ruler is the boat; the common people are the water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it. Therefore, a ruler should govern the world with benevolence and righteousness, and be compassionate towards the people's plight..."

"Daddy, that's not right," Erbao suddenly interrupted him, speaking in a childish voice.

Chu Jinglan was taken aback. These were the words of a sage, so how could they be wrong?

"What's wrong?"

"What if the water is poisonous? What if the water threatens to capsize the boat?"

Erbao blinked his big eyes and asked innocently, "Do we still need to be kind and righteous at a time like this? Shouldn't we just evaporate the water or find another river?"

Chu Jinglan was speechless.

This logic... seems reasonable, but why does it sound so much like the rhetoric of a tyrant?

"If the water is poisonous, it should be treated, but the method of treatment also needs to be..."

"Too slow."

Erbao shook his head, a hint of disdain on his little face: "Hesitation only leads to more trouble. Instead of wasting time trying to win over those unruly people, we should just kill the disobedient ones, and the rest will naturally obey."

The book in Chu Jinglan's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

Who taught him this?! He definitely didn't teach him!