Breakfast with Family [2]

Yu Xuan walked into the hall, lazily rubbing his eyes, and greeted his parents,

"Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Father."

Huan Lianhua looked up from her tea, smiling warmly. "Good morning, Xuan'er."

She seemed pleased to see the family gathering together for breakfast.

Yu Changming gave a simple nod. "Morning."

His gaze, however, remained focused on his glowing Universal Talisman, eyes scrolling through floating golden script.

Yu Xuan leaned a bit to peek.

'Looks like he's reading Daily Cultivation again.'

Daily Cultivation was a well-known newspaper run by a bunch of rogue, powerful cultivators.

Famous or perhaps infamous — they were known for publishing juicy news, heavy speculation, the occasional actual truth, and plenty of propaganda.

All of which earned them money, spiritual stones, and occasionally artifacts.

Their headquarters were actually within the Yu Clan's domain, so their relationship with the clan was friendly — and sometimes hilariously useful.

Once, when Yu Xuan had asked what his father was reading, Yu Changming casually said, "Apparently, the Holy Daughter of the Ice Palace ran away with a mortal."

The Ice Palace, a sect in the Wuxing Clan's territory — had hunted the couple down, only to discover the mortal man possessed a dormant Sacred-Grade Ice Physique.

Not only was he spared, he was made Holy Son and engaged to the very same Holy Daughter of the sect.

At the time, Yu Xuan had only one thought: 'Heaven's Chosen bastard.'

Shaking the memory, Yu Xuan sat beside his sister and gave her a nod. "Morning, O fearless bush warrior."

Lingluo grunted, chewing on her porridge. "You still smell like the purification pool."

"You dragged me into it."

"And you needed it."

The family shared a light laugh. Plates of breakfast were brought forward by their mother — spirit rice, warm beast-bone broth, peach cakes and dumplings.

Yu Xuan took a bite of a steamed dumpling stuffed with spirit mushrooms and chicken, then blinked in surprise.

"This is amazing. Who made it?"

"One of the new chefs from the Inner Pavilion," his mother said proudly. "They were recommended by the Huan Clan's Culinary Hall."

"You've both been very lively lately," Huan Lianhua said as she took a sip of tea, her voice light but meaningful. "Care to tell us about your little… raft adventure?"

Yu Xuan froze with a dumpling halfway to his mouth. Lingluo choked on her porridge.

They ate peacefully for a while.

Then, the silence broke.

"Listen, you brats. Your training begins today," Yu Changming said suddenly.

Both children froze.

"Can I not do it?" Lingluo asked, but was ignored and puffed her cheeks.

"But why now?" Yu Xuan asked. "I thought we had time until we turned ten to start!"

"You do," Changming said. "Which is why this isn't cultivation training. Not yet. It's preparation."

Lianhua covered her mouth as she laughed softly.

"No, little ones. This is for your future… and there's an opportunity tied to it."

Lingluo's ears twitched.

"What kind of opportunity?" she asked, her big eyes sparkling.

Yu Xuan looked up as well, interested.

"There is a sect," their mother said, "called the Heaven Immortal Sect. It exists far above the Immortal Realms. Normally, I wouldn't mention this to children, but… you two might have a chance."

Yu Changming picked up where she left off.

"Usually, they only accept disciples from the Immortal Realm. But for some reason, this time they've decided to look toward the lower realm."

Yu Xuan blinked. "You mean… they're actually coming here?"

"That's right," Lianhua said. "It'll take several years for them to begin their selection, but starting now we prepare."

Yu Changming looked at both children, his gaze firm. "Until their arrival, you're forbidden from cultivating."

"WHAT?!" they both cried out.

"Noooooooo!" Yu Xuan groaned. "This is like… handing us a divine pill and saying we can't eat it!"

"It's for your benefit," their father said patiently. "Once you begin cultivation, your potential is shaped. They are seeking raw talent — not developed strength."

Lingluo slumped in her seat. "This is the worst plot twist ever…"

Yu Xuan silently cursed the Heaven Immortal Sect in his mind.

But despite their grumbling, he understood this opportunity.

After a moment, he asked quietly, "So… how strong is this sect, compared to our Yu or Huan Clans?"

His parents exchanged a brief glance — one of those deep, mysterious, shared-history kinds of looks. Then they both smiled.

"It's stronger than our clans," Changming said simply.

"Definitely," Lianhua added, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Yu Xuan sighed. "Alright… let's train, then."

Lingluo grinned. "Let's become strong enough to scare an immortal."

"Or trick one into taking me as a disciple," Yu Xuan offered.

"You take the clever path, I'll take the punchy one."

"Deal."

And just like that, their fate and their long road toward the Heaven Immortal Sect — had begun.