Chapter 50

As he turned the corner, Long Chen couldn’t help but widen his eyes when he looked at the entrance to his own home.

"What’s going on?"

He saw that the usually quiet and empty entrance of the Marquis’s residence was now lined with a long queue, all of them middle-aged women.

Looking left and right, he confirmed that this was indeed his home. Long Chen walked towards the entrance.

At that moment, he saw Bao’er, who was cheerfully receiving them: "Everyone, please take your time. Register your name, height, measurements, portrait, and any special skills clearly."

"Miss, can you reveal what kind of daughter-in-law our lady prefers?" one woman asked with a flattering smile.

"Hehe, as long as they are virtuous and beautiful, they can generally pass. But if I were to say what the lady likes the most, it’s best if they have a slightly larger buttock. I heard the lady say that women with larger buttocks are the easiest to bear children. Let me tell you, our lady has been eager to hold a grandchild... Ahem, young master, you’re back," Bao’er said excitedly, but then suddenly saw Long Chen’s gloomy face and quickly added.

"Welcome back, Young Master," the women hurriedly greeted.

Long Chen nodded, then pulled Bao’er into the inner courtyard, pointing at the women and angrily whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Young Master, yesterday at the lantern festival, you defeated the strong enemies of Daxia, becoming the first hero of Fengming, and the idol of countless young girls. These are all people coming to propose marriage," Bao’er said, covering her mouth with a smile.

"You’re just causing trouble. Where’s my mother?"

"The lady is inside. Oh, I almost forgot, the lady instructed me to tell you to come over quickly," Bao’er said, slapping her forehead.

"Alright, I’ll go. You better find a way to get rid of them. This looks like a market," Long Chen said irritably.

"Hehe, I can’t do that. The lady arranged for me to receive them. I have to go now," Bao’er said, ignoring Long Chen and happily went back to registering the women.

Long Chen rolled his eyes and hurried to see his mother, his mind racing to think of a reasonable explanation for yesterday’s events to avoid worrying her.

However, as soon as he entered his mother’s room, before he could speak, his mother said angrily, "Brat, get in here quickly."

Great, it looks like I’m in for it, Long Chen thought bitterly, still not having thought of an excuse.

But to his surprise, Lady Long grabbed Long Chen and pointed to the portraits of beauties on the table.

"Chen, look, these nineteen women are carefully selected from hundreds. Their appearance, character, and background are all very suitable for you. Take a look, do you like any of them?"

Seeing Long Chen still dazed, Lady Long urged, "What are you waiting for? Look quickly."

"Ah... Okay, I’ll look."

Long Chen finally reacted, but he couldn’t help but feel a bitter smile. It seemed his mother had completely forgotten about yesterday’s events.

However, when he saw the portraits of the young girls, his expression became slightly strange. Lady Long, somewhat proudly, said,

"Chen, look at their figures, especially their waists. And their buttocks, hehe, they are definitely the type that can bear children easily. If you marry them, I guarantee they will conceive within two months."

As she spoke, Lady Long seemed increasingly pleased, as if she could already see herself holding a group of children.

Drip!

Long Chen’s sweat dripped from his chin onto the portrait, landing on the buttocks, making the already plump area even larger.

"Mother, actually, I think—"

"Stop it. Don’t try to delay. In the past, I was worried you wouldn’t find a suitable wife, but now with so many offering themselves, you can’t waste this opportunity. I won’t be too hard on you, but today you must choose three. When the next batch arrives, choose again. This time, at least ten, or you won’t be allowed to leave the house," Lady Long said sternly.

Long Chen’s face turned green. Is this like breeding cattle? But seeing his mother’s serious expression, it seemed she was very serious.

Just as Long Chen was at a loss, a rough voice called out, "Brother Long."

A tall figure rushed in, grabbing Long Chen, "Brother Long, I heard you fought yesterday. Why didn’t you bring me?"

Seeing Ahman come in, Long Chen felt a sense of relief. He had come at the right time.

"Mother, I have something to discuss with Ahman. You can continue selecting. I’ll come back when you’re done."

"Brat, you—"

Before Lady Long could finish, Long Chen had already pulled Ahman away.

"That brat."

Muttering under her breath, but when she saw the portraits of the plump-hipped and full-breasted girls, Lady Long immediately smiled, looking very pleased.

"Brother Long, did you get hurt in the fight yesterday?" Ahman asked concernedly once they were back in Long Chen’s room.

"No, Brother Long is getting better at fighting. By the way, Ahman, how is the technique I taught you coming along?" Long Chen asked.

He had taught Ahman the route for the flow of spiritual energy, but Ahman’s intelligence was not something to be praised.

If it weren’t for Long Chen’s strong soul power, which allowed him to teach Ahman step by step, anyone else would have either died from exhaustion or frustration.

At the mention of cultivation, Ahman became very excited, "Brother Long, I can now use the method you taught me to exert force."

"Really?" Long Chen was also very pleased.

Thinking for a moment, he pulled Ahman to an open area in the back of the residence and pointed to a stone as tall as a person, "Use your fist to shatter it with the wind."

"Sure thing."

Ahman agreed, crouched down, and swung his fist.

"Whoosh."

A gust of wind blew, but the stone didn’t budge.

"This didn’t work, let me try again," Ahman said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Whoosh."

Another punch, another gust of wind, but the stone remained unmoved.

"Strange, let me try again."

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

Three more punches, and the stone still didn’t move. Long Chen’s face turned dark.

"Ahman, is this what you call learning?"

"Yes, usually out of ten punches, at least three work. Why isn’t it working today?" Ahman said, puzzled.

Hearing Ahman’s words, Long Chen almost stumbled. In a fight, does it depend on success rates?

Long Chen felt a headache. Ahman was like having a gold mine but still begging for food, truly speechless.

Placing a hand on Ahman’s back, he said, "Try again."

"Okay."

Ahman swung his fist again, but there was still no effect.

"Ahman, before you punch, your mind must move first. Activate your dantian first, then punch. Remember, the dantian drives the fist, not the other way around," Long Chen said.

He had finally identified Ahman’s problem. Ahman was punching first and then using the meridian energy to activate the dantian, which could work, but it was unreliable.

"For cultivation, that’s fine, but for Ahman, it’s too difficult. Try again, don’t rush to punch, activate your dantian first. Good, the dantian is activated, now punch."

"Boom."

A loud explosion, and the stone, which was over a thousand pounds, was shattered by Ahman’s punch, sending sand and rocks flying, a shocking display of power.

"Brother Long, I did it!"

Ahman was overjoyed.

Long Chen nodded, though he remained calm on the surface, he was deeply impressed. Ahman’s strength had grown significantly.

Just that one punch, Ahman’s strength was almost comparable to Huang Shang in the late Blood Condensation stage.

Though it still couldn’t match Long Chen’s beast transformation, Ahman had his advantages. That punch had many flaws, and he had only used a fraction of his dantian’s power. Ahman’s potential was terrifying.

"Good, try again," Long Chen encouraged.

"Whoosh."

Ahman swung his fist again, but it was another empty punch.

For a moment, Long Chen and Ahman looked at each other, neither speaking for a full quarter of an hour. Finally, Ahman, feeling frustrated, slapped his head, "Brother Long, am I too stupid?"

"I want to say you’re not, but they say liars get struck by lightning, so I can’t say that," Long Chen said, looking worriedly at the sky.

"What should I do?" Ahman said, very dejected.

"Starting tomorrow, don’t stay in the residence. Go back to the ranch," Long Chen said.

"Brother Long, you... don’t want me anymore?" Ahman was shocked, his face full of fear.

Long Chen couldn’t help but laugh, patting Ahman’s thick shoulder, "What are you talking about? We are brothers in life and death."

"Then why send me to the ranch?" Ahman asked.

"Starting tomorrow, you’ll go to the ranch. You must solve your own meals. If you want beef, you must kill the cattle yourself. But you must use your true essence to kill the cattle, or you’ll go hungry. Go on," Long Chen said.

Ahman agreed and left. Watching Ahman’s departing back, Long Chen felt a sense of helplessness.

Ahman’s intelligence was truly worrying. Sometimes he hesitated whether to keep Ahman by his side, as his intelligence was too dangerous.

Ahman was honest to a fault, so he would never slack off on what Long Chen told him to do.

Long Chen did this to make him accustomed to using spiritual energy. Otherwise, in a fight, relying on probabilities would be no different from suicide.

Ahman’s appetite was growing, and he could eat over a hundred cattle a day, which was enough for him to train.

This was turning food into strength. When using spiritual energy became a habit, Ahman’s strength would increase to a terrifying level, even for Long Chen.

After arranging Ahman’s affairs, Long Chen returned to his room. On the way, he saw the queue of women and Bao’er, who was still busy, and he broke out in a sweat.

He instructed the servants that he would be in seclusion and not to disturb him unless it was a matter of great importance.

After settling everything, Long Chen began his seclusion. Already at the eighth level of Qi Gathering, he needed to advance to the ninth level and then directly enter the Blood Condensation stage.

Only after entering the Blood Condensation stage would he have the true strength to protect himself. He didn’t like being out of control.

"Wait and see, those who have been plotting against me, let me see your true faces."