You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Martial Arts·Body, Great Success

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a dim, yellow glow on the distant clouds.

An endless stream of carriages and horses flowed in and out of the Xiao Mansion, carrying a multitude of guests.

Guests periodically made their way to the Old Marquis’s Qingjing Residence to pay their respects.

They came in one wave after another.

The Old Marquis, of course, did not object. Despite his frailty, he pushed himself to exchange a few words with each guest.

He offered words of encouragement, inquired about their current situations, and shared a few laughs, feeling a sense of gratification in his old age.

These were all connections the Xiao Family had cultivated over the past two hundred years. He was using his birthday banquet as an opportunity to gather them while he was still alive.

Firstly, it allowed them to reacquaint themselves with the family and meet the next generation of leaders: Xiao Wan’er, Xiao Jinghong, and Xiao Wuge.

Secondly, it allowed the Xiao Family to see some people’s true colors.

As for those who came to offer their congratulations, the Xiao Family would not necessarily grow closer to them, but would offer help in the future if they were able.

And for those who didn’t come, there was nothing more to be said.

Even if a gift arrived in their stead, the family would still distance themselves as planned.

When a Noble Family’s legacy is passed from one generation to the next, certain rules are established and must be observed.

The hustle and bustle continued until nightfall, at which point the more distant guests tactfully took their leave.

Those from the local Shu State returned home, while the Marquis’s Mansion arranged lodging for those from farther away.

Closer relatives and honored guests remained at the Xiao estate, where they were treated to banquets held in various residences, from the central courtyards to the rear ones.

However, only two or three people were permitted to remain in the Qingjing Residence.

At that moment, Duke Qian, Zhang Xuan, watched the Old Marquis wolfing down his food. He wanted to keep pace but found himself unable.

Ever since Chen Yi presented his celebratory poem, the Old Marquis’s appetite had soared. He was now eating two bowls of porridge for breakfast, chicken, fish, meat, and eggs for lunch, and could even manage some fruit in the evening.

Not only had his appetite and mood improved, but his health had also taken a turn for the better.

Zhang Xuan had been able to keep up at first, but after a few days, his appetite began to wane.

Sun Fu noticed. ”It’s a good thing that Old Xiao’s appetite has increased so much.”

Zhang Xuan shot him a glare. ”Did I say anything?”

Sun Fu, chewing his duck meat slowly, replied, ”It’s written all over your face. Do you even need to say it?”

”Hmph. Fine, you old coot, I’ll give you that.”

Having finished half a roast duck, Old Marquis Xiao wiped the grease from his hands and mouth and said with a smile:

”Mingtang, if you want to compete with me, you’re still lacking a bit—both in appetite and in military achievements.”

This provoked Zhang Xuan so much that his eyes went wide and his whiskers bristled. He bellowed that he wouldn’t compete in eating, only in military glory.

He immediately began recounting his exploits in Guangyue Prefecture, from suppressing bandits to wiping out pirates.

But the Old Marquis had a simple retort—he had planted a flag in Poshisu Country.

Sun Fu continued eating on his own. Seizing a lull in their bickering, he said, ”After the banquet tomorrow, I’d like to stay here for a while longer.”

The Old Marquis nodded. ”Stay as long as you like.”

Zhang Xuan immediately jumped in. ”I have the same intention.”

Sun Fu asked in surprise, ”Lord Duke, isn’t your own birthday coming up soon? You’re not returning to Guangyue Prefecture to rest?”

Zhang Xuan shot him a sidelong glance. ”My celebratory poem isn’t secured yet. How could I possibly return empty-handed?”

The Old Marquis, having gotten the better of him in their squabble, replied cheerfully, ”The mansion can spare an extra pair of chopsticks for you.”

”However, you brought up Chen Xuanji earlier. More than ten days have passed, and I haven’t seen you make a single trip to Spring Lotus Garden.”

Zhang Xuan huffed. ”Haste makes waste. Just you wait. I have my own brilliant plan.”

Hearing this, the Old Marquis and Sun Fu exchanged a smile, which only served to irritate him further.

「Inside Jiaxing Garden」

Due to the large number of guests, the women of the family held their banquet in a private room within the wooden building’s main hall.

Chen Yi, meanwhile, led the other gentlemen and young masters to tables and chairs set up right under a tree in front of the building, where they all sat eating and drinking together.

Maids held lanterns or cleared tables, while several household servants scurried back and forth from the kitchen, bringing out an array of delicacies.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Xiao Wan’er and Chen Yi saw their guests out of Jiaxing Garden. As household servants led the men to their guest rooms, the two hosts finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Yi, with his Martial Arts foundation, was still feeling fine. The most taxing part for him had been the sheer amount of conversation with the large, talkative crowd, which included many scholars who discussed every topic under the sun, forcing him to do a great deal of talking.

Xiao Wan’er, on the other hand, was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Normally, a master of the household would have presided over such an event. But with the main branch of the family lacking in numbers and the only male heir, Xiao Wuge, still a child, the duty fell to her as the eldest young lady of the Marquis’s Mansion.

Fortunately, since taking over the family’s business affairs, she had become adept at dealing with people and handled herself with grace and propriety on such occasions.

”Tomorrow and the day after... we still have two more busy days.”

Xiao Wan’er calculated the remaining time, her already pale face showing a hint of exhaustion. She turned to Chen Yi. ”Thank you for your help, brother-in-law.”

Chen Yi met her gaze with a smile. ”We’re family. There’s no need for thanks.”

As he spoke, he glanced toward the quiet Spring Lotus Garden.

’That’s strange. Xiao Jinghong, Pei Guanli, and Xiaodie aren’t back yet?’

Xiao Wan’er noticed his gaze and explained, ”Jinghong went to the Governor’s Office. She must have been delayed.”

Chen Yi gave her a slight bow, bid her farewell, and headed straight back to the Spring Lotus Garden.

Only after he was some distance away did Shen Huatang speak up from her side. ”Miss, the night air is getting chilly. You should go back and take your medicine.”

Xiao Wan’er averted her gaze, murmured in agreement, and followed her back to Jiaxing Garden.

A moment later.

Xiao Wan’er sighed softly. ”Huatang, after Grandfather’s birthday banquet is over, have the chief stewards of those few medicine halls come to the mansion.”

Shen Huatang bowed. ”I will inform them first thing the day after tomorrow.”

Xiao Wan’er nodded, her eyes flickering with thought.

’Chen Yi has both talent and ability.’

’If he can help, I would be pleased.’

...

Chen Yi, still unaware of Xiao Wan’er’s decision, returned to the wooden building and sat down in the study.

After a moment of careful thought, a grin spread across his face.

’I’m worrying over nothing.’

’Xiao Jinghong is an outstanding martial artist, and Pei Guanli is armed with poisons and Gu Insects. Anyone who picks a fight with them would have to be blind and courting death.’

With that thought, Chen Yi stood up, stretched his arms and legs to relax, and with a flicker of his will, opened his status panel:

Opportunity: 123 points. ’Finally, it’s enough.’

He then spent the Opportunity points on ”Martial Arts·Body”.

As ”Minor Success,” the word representing his Realm, was replaced by ”Great Success,” a vast torrent of Profound Mysteries flooded Chen Yi’s mind.

It encompassed everything: muscles, bones, skin, and flesh; the five viscera and six bowels; the four limbs and all the bones of the body; even the twelve Main Meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians—and that was just the beginning.

The Profound Mysteries related to just the muscles, bones, skin, and flesh alone would take more than a few days to fully digest, to say nothing of everything else.

After a quick scan, Chen Yi felt a wave of dizziness and had to rub his temples and close his eyes to recover.

The Profound Mysteries of ”Martial Arts·Body” at the Great Success realm were far more complex than those of the Calligraphy Dao.

It just went to prove the old saying: the human body is a great treasure, and the deeper you delve, the more it feels like a bottomless abyss.

In addition to all those Profound Mysteries, he also sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough in his Big Spear Pile Skill, which had previously been at a standstill.

So, after resting for a moment and feeling slightly better, Chen Yi rose and began to practice the Big Spear Pile Skill right there in the study.

An hour later.

[Cultivation successful. Cultivation Technique: Big Spear Pile Skill, breakthrough to Mastery. Glimpse into the essence of Martial Arts·Body obtained.]

The moment his Pile Skill reached the Mastery Level, the rate at which his body generated Qi Mechanism, which had been gentle until now, suddenly doubled.

It flowed in a ceaseless stream into his Elixir Field and Sea of Qi and his Chest Acupoint, providing him the power to continue clearing the four Main Meridians in his arms and legs.

Not only that, but the breakthrough in his Pile Skill also brought the benefit of tempering his physical body.

Under the vibrations of the Pile Skill, his muscles, bones, skin, flesh, and internal organs were all strengthened at a rate far surpassing what it was before.

In the span of roughly ten breaths, he felt his physical strength increase by one catty.

In other words, he could increase his strength by a hundred and twenty catties for every hour he practiced the Pile Skill.

Not long after, Chen Yi slowly straightened his body, calming and gathering the Qi Mechanism within.

He clenched his fists and immediately felt much lighter and considerably stronger. The mental and physical exhaustion from the afternoon was completely swept away.

Chen Yi glanced out the window and listened intently for a moment.

Seeing that Xiao Jinghong and Pei Guanli still hadn’t returned, he continued to practice his other techniques.

Even though his Mountain Shattering Fist, Hundred Flowers Palm, Wandering Dragon and Phoenix Body Technique, and Meteor Butterfly Step had all reached Skilled Level Perfection, he still practiced them daily.

Perhaps one day he would have another ”epiphany” and could achieve a breakthrough in the Daos of the Punch and the Step without having to spend any Opportunity.

Though he called it diligent practice, in reality, Chen Yi only ran through each technique once.

It took no more than the time needed to drink a cup of tea.

Immediately after, he began to practice the newly learned Black Tortoise Concealment Technique.

After reading through the incantation for the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique, Chen Yi’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

’This is actually a Pile Skill?’

’I thought it would be an Inner Power Heart Method.’

With that thought, Chen Yi assumed the opening stance—Black Tortoise Worshipping the Moon. He raised his head to the sky, drew his limbs inward, and began a breathing exercise in an extremely bizarre posture.

As his breathing gradually smoothed out, wisps of Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism gathered in his body, strengthening his muscles, bones, and skin in a profound and mysterious way.

Unlike the Big Spear Pile Skill, which comprehensively strengthened the body and generated Qi Mechanism, the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique only targeted the muscles, bones, and skin, as well as the hair.

It allowed him to achieve a breath-concealing effect by closing his pores and tightening his muscles, bones, and skin, preventing even a sliver of his Qi Mechanism from leaking out.

When practiced to a high enough level, it would even be possible to disguise oneself as an ordinary person with no cultivation whatsoever.

A moment later.

[Cultivation Technique · Black Tortoise Concealment Technique (Profound Tier) successfully learned. Level: Initial Insight]

Chen Yi subconsciously began to cultivate according to the new Profound Mysteries that had appeared in his mind.

His mind guided his internal Qi Mechanism, thinning it to the size of a hair, and used it to block each pore on his body’s surface, merging it with his tensed muscles, bones, and skin.

Before long, not a single trace of Qi Mechanism was leaking from his body.

He became utterly still, as if he had fallen asleep.

...

Xiao Jinghong returned to Spring Lotus Garden with Su Zhenyue.

The garden was quiet, its lamps burning brightly.

Xiao Jinghong glanced at the candlelit study and listened intently. A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes from beneath her half-mask.

’Why did Chen Yi fall asleep in the study?’

’And where did Pei Guanli and Xiaodie go?’

After a moment’s hesitation, Xiao Jinghong decided not to disturb Chen Yi and headed to Jiaxing Garden instead.

Upon hearing from Xiao Wan’er that Chen Yi had been entertaining guests and drinking that evening, she gave an order:

”Zhenyue, prepare some sobering soup and take it to my husband when he wakes up.”

”Yes, Miss.”

Xiao Wan’er also had Shen Huatang go along to help.

After the two of them left, Xiao Jinghong could see her sister had something to say and asked, ”Sister, did anything happen in the mansion today?”

Xiao Wan’er shook her head and said with some hesitation, ”Nothing happened in the mansion. It’s... it’s your husband who’s about to be busy.”

’It was a request from my younger sister, after all,’ she thought. ’I couldn’t well refuse.’

’I’ll just give him a chance.’

’I just hope he continues to be as polite and proper as he was today.’