I've announced that I'm destined to have many children, and my father has bestowed upon me

Watching his daughter grab the little golden crow's feet and squish them like a toy, Zhao Chen'an couldn't help but chuckle.

Xiao Chuchu was filled with worry, fearing that her daughter might accidentally break the noble ancient divine bird.

"My husband, this..."

Zhao Chen'an waved his hand, indicating that she should not worry.

"It's alright, this little guy is a Golden Crow, his physical body is very strong."

"You see, although it cries out pitifully, it doesn't show the slightest sign of struggling or resisting."

This is the suppression of bloodline, an innate talent of the King of Beast Tamers.

All beasts are friendly, and all spirits submit.

After a few more tender moments, seeing the undisguised weariness between Xiao Chuchu's brows, Zhao Chen'an spoke softly.

"You've just given birth, you're weak, so please rest well."

"I have to go back to the Tianjiao Tournament."

Xiao Chuchu nodded obediently.

"Husband, go quickly. Don't worry about us, mother and daughter. Sister Wulan is taking care of us here."

She also understood the importance of the Heavenly Pride Competition to Zhao Chen'an and the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

Zhao Chen'an bent down and kissed Xiao Chuchu and his daughter on the forehead before turning to leave.

Stepping out of the room, his face returned to calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

Two sacred cultivation techniques!

The Daoist Alchemy Technique: The Nine Revolutions Weapon Refining Skill!

And that special title of "Master of Both Alchemy and Artifacts"!

Any one of these rewards would be enough to drive the entire Central Heaven Main World crazy!

Sacred items are a rank that only exists in legends, a foundation that only holy dynasties and divine courts can possess!

Zhao Chen'an kept walking, his thoughts racing.

He now possesses a treasure trove but cannot access it.

The Nine Provinces Universe Cauldron is a sacred magical artifact, which can theoretically be used to refine elixirs and magical artifacts.

The spiritual energy required to activate it is an astronomical figure.

With his current cultivation level at the Fourth Extreme Realm, he probably wouldn't even be able to preheat the cauldron before it was instantly drained.

This is like a three-year-old child holding a giant hammer weighing ten thousand pounds, which he cannot swing at all.

Unless... there is external assistance!

The final reward of the Heavenly Pride Competition instantly flashed into his mind.

A Yellow-grade Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object—and it just so happens to be the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire!

If we could obtain this spiritual fire of heaven and earth, we could use the fire as a catalyst and the cauldron as a furnace.

His path of alchemy and weapon crafting will then officially begin!

At that time, elixirs and magical artifacts will be continuously created from his hands!

The strength of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty will therefore experience an explosive surge!

With this in mind, Zhao Chen'an's determination grew even stronger.

He's determined to win first place in the Prodigy Tournament!

……

When Zhao Chen'an returned to the viewing area above the imperial city, the battle on the Golden Ranking Arena was in full swing.

The deafening cheers and the roar of clashing weapons mingled together, creating an atmosphere of extreme excitement.

He glanced around casually and noticed something interesting.

The duels on the ring were almost always evenly matched.

There is no longer a situation where top-ranked geniuses would choose to pick on lower-ranked opponents for the sake of stability.

Every young prodigy who steps onto the stage chooses an opponent of similar or even greater strength.

Their faces bore a fierce fighting spirit and an indomitable pride.

Clearly, Zhao Chen'an's initial choice of Qian Wushuang, the crown prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, was a strategic move.

Like a match, it ignited the pride in the hearts of these young geniuses.

They were all around twenty years old, a time when they were full of vigor and valued their reputation more than their lives.

No one wants to be labeled as a "bully who bullies the weak and fears the strong" on such a high-profile stage.

"My husband, you're back!"

A clear, cool voice, tinged with concern, rang out.

Liu Ruoshuang and Li Qingluan walked over quickly; their battle was clearly over.

"How are Chu Chu and the baby?"

Li Qingluan asked anxiously.

Zhao Chen'an smiled gently.

"Mother and daughter are safe and sound. It's a girl, and I named her Zhao Lanyu."

"Zhao Lanyu..."

Liu Ruoshuang softly murmured the name, "It's a good name."

Upon hearing this, both women breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with genuine joy.

"Where's your match?"

Zhao Chen'an asked.

"We won everything."

Li Qingluan spoke concisely, her brows radiating confidence.

As the daughter of a military family, fighting is as natural to her as breathing.

Liu Ruoshuang nodded as well. Although their opponents were not weak, they were not as strong as those who had already broken through to the fourth level of the realm.

Even though they had cultivated top-grade martial arts techniques, they were still far from perfect.

Just as the three were talking, a sharp, sword-like aura locked onto Zhao Chen'an.

Zhao Chen'an sensed something and turned to look.

Not far away, a young man dressed in white and carrying a long sword was quietly watching him.

The young man stood upright, like a drawn sword, exuding a sharp aura that seemed capable of cleaving through the void.

Ye Shenglin, the chief disciple of Tianjian Mountain!

He was second on the previous ladder rankings, a pure sword cultivator.

In his world, there is only the sword.

Sensing this undisguised fighting spirit, the surrounding noise seemed to quiet down considerably.

Countless gazes converged upon them, filled with astonishment, curiosity, and anticipation.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ye Shenglin walked over step by step.

With each step he took, the sword intent on his body became more concentrated.

When he was three steps away from Zhao Chen'an, his sword intent had reached its peak, making the surrounding air thick and sticky.

Li Qingluan and Liu Ruoshuang subconsciously stepped forward, blocking Zhao Chen'an's path. They began to circulate their spiritual energy, watching the newcomer warily.

Ye Shenglin stopped in his tracks, his gaze passing over the two women and landing directly on Zhao Chen'an.

His expression was calm, without provocation or arrogance, only a pure, swordsman-like seriousness.

"I hope you can choose me in the next round."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.

These words caused an uproar in the room!

This is practically issuing a challenge in public!

Ye Shenglin of Tianjian Mountain will challenge Zhao Chen'an, the sixteenth prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who is the biggest dark horse of this year's Tianjiao Tournament!

This is absolutely a showdown of epic proportions!

The atmosphere in the stands was instantly ignited, with countless people standing up excitedly, craning their necks, afraid of missing any detail.

Faced with this sudden challenge, Zhao Chen'an signaled to Li Qingluan and Liu Ruoshuang not to be nervous.

He stepped out from behind the two women, facing Ye Shenglin's sword intent, which was almost tangible.

That pressure was enough to make an ordinary cultivator at the Fourth Extreme Realm lose his composure, but he felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze and was not affected in the slightest.

He looked at Ye Shenglin, at those pure eyes that held only the essence of swords, and suddenly smiled.

This Ye Shenglin is an interesting opponent.

He is not an enemy, but a respectable seeker of the Way.

Zhao Chen'an stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Ye Shenglin to within one step.

The energy emanating from the two collided in the void, producing a faint crackling sound.

He met the opponent's burning fighting spirit and spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an unshakable confidence.

"Can your sword cleave my cauldron?"