Chapter 9

Zhu Lingwu's adoptive father, named Zhu Junyan with the courtesy name Le Lian, was already the 35th generation descendant in the Zhu family's genealogy.

Excluding those ancestors who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage and could live for three to five hundred years, Zhu Junyan was considered the third generation in the current Zhu family, ranking below the family's patriarch. Zhu Lingwu was the fourth generation.

Their branch of the family was not the main line of the Zhu family, but rather the seventh branch. This kind of division within the family was based on the support of direct-line ancestors who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage.

The branch with the highest cultivation realm among its ancestors had the potential to become the head of the entire family, representing the family in external affairs.

In this regard, being of the main line was not everything; strength was the most important support, as it also related to the family's rank among the Nine Grades of Gentry.

However, generally speaking, members of the main line had a higher bloodline rank than other branches, so most heads of the family came from the main line.

If there were no direct-line ancestors who had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage, even if one had the bloodline of a gentry family and innate spiritual energy, they would not have the qualifications to obtain an independent branch title. They could only be considered family members, supported by the family's communal assets, but unable to share in the family's wealth or gain more family benefits.

Over time, if the innate spiritual energy in one's bloodline disappeared, one might be removed from the genealogy, falling from a gentry family to an ordinary commoner family. At that point, they would be no different from the commoner children under the gentry family, unable to enjoy the family's free support.

The original owner of Zhu Lingwu's body was struck by lightning. Upon receiving the distress message sent by Zhu Junyan using his magical power, the family's cultivator ancestor, who was the direct-line ancestor of their branch, was unwilling to travel a thousand miles to come.

These cultivators who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage were also considered elders in the Zhu family, having a certain decision-making power in important family matters.

Therefore, for the children of a gentry family, each person was born with an obligation to cultivate diligently and strive to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

Well, these things were temporarily irrelevant to Zhu Lingwu. With his current low-grade innate mixed spiritual veins, he had little hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

He might not even reach the third level of Qi Cultivation, so according to Zhu Junyan's opinion, Zhu Lingwu might as well just eat and drink for the rest of his life. Why go through the hardship of cultivating?

Unfortunately, not only the current Zhu Lingwu, but even the original owner of his body, that eight-year-old child, would not let Zhu Junyan have peace of mind.

"No, I must try! Father, even if I can't successfully cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage, I can't be completely useless. If I practice martial arts, there might be a chance! Father, I will try no matter what! You can't stop me!"

Zhu Lingwu replied in a stubborn child's tone, but he couldn't really act like a child and throw a tantrum. Otherwise, he would have wanted to lie on the ground like the mischievous children of his past life.

"Nonsense! If you keep saying this, I'll have these jars smashed. I'll see who in the county office dares to help you make these children's toys. However, Xiao Wu, who taught you to make these things? Although they have no practical use, they are quite peculiar. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to have them made!"

Zhu Junyan had to put on a stern face to scold him, but he quickly realized that this was useless against Zhu Lingwu. He had to change the subject, using delay tactics to distract Zhu Lingwu, perhaps with something else to divert his attention.

Of course, Zhu Junyan was also genuinely curious about the Baghdad batteries. He was told they were magical treasures that could generate electricity without using magical power. As a Qi Cultivator at the seventh level, he initially didn't believe it.

In his doubt, Zhu Junyan agreed to let Liangcai help Zhu Lingwu with his antics, thinking it would give Zhu Lingwu something to focus on and prevent him from seeking out lightning again, which had worried him for a long time, fearing he would lose his son.

But when the Baghdad batteries were made and he saw that they could indeed generate electricity, Zhu Junyan was shocked.

He soon realized that although these batteries could generate electricity without magical power, the electricity was harmless and couldn't compare to the power of lightning released by a magical lightning talisman. They were still just children's toys.

But Zhu Junyan couldn't help but wonder where Zhu Lingwu had learned the method to make these Baghdad batteries. Whether or not they were magical treasures, the knowledge contained in them was certainly beyond what an eight-year-old child could know.

Someone must have taught Zhu Lingwu.

Zhu Junyan knew his Xiao Wu well. If Xiao Wu truly understood how to make these things, he wouldn't have run out to seek lightning.

Each time he thought about it, Zhu Junyan couldn't help but want to grab Zhu Lingwu and give him a good beating to teach him a lesson, to prevent him from doing any more life-threatening foolish things.

At the same time, he realized that these Baghdad batteries were specifically designed for Zhu Lingwu to cultivate the Ninefold Lightning Body Technique. This made him even more curious about who had taught Zhu Lingwu this.

"It was the family's ancestor! He knew I wanted to practice and told me I could make these electric bottles to cultivate the Ninefold Lightning Body Technique!" Zhu Lingwu pretended to be naive.

"Hmph, Xiao Wu, the ancestor was in seclusion for seven days, and you were unconscious like charcoal. How could the ancestor tell you this?"

Zhu Junyan was not like the family servants; he couldn't be fooled by such an excuse. Besides, he often visited the family's ancestor during holidays and festivals. As a child, the ancestor had taught him Qi Cultivation techniques, but he had never heard of the ancestor making such things.

Zhu Lingwu pouted slightly. He knew that while he could fool others, he couldn't fool this adoptive father. So he deliberately put on a troubled expression and muttered, "This, this, I can't say!"

"Nonsense! Hmph, no matter what, it's just a children's toy. But this person has some cleverness to create such a device. How did he pass this information to you? What are his intentions? Could he be trying to harm the children of the county? Strange, who could it be? No, could it be a demon from the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge! Xiao Wu, you must tell your father the truth!"

Seeing his son clench his lips and refuse to speak, Zhu Junyan couldn't help but have several thoughts. He was most worried about a demon from the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge secretly infiltrating the Tongshan County office without triggering the protective wards.

That would be terrifying...