Three years after Jiang Chen had been living in this courtyard, Ji Ruxue suddenly sent someone to summon him one day.
"What is it, Mother?" As soon as Jiang Chen stepped into the Divine Emperor Palace, he found Ji Ruxue sitting quietly in the center of the main hall, drinking tea.
"You're here, Chen'er. Come, sit down." Seeing Jiang Chen arrive, Ji Ruxue greeted him with a smile, gesturing for him to take a seat.
The moment Ji Ruxue's maidservants caught sight of Jiang Chen, an inexplicable flutter stirred in their hearts. Their expressions, which had originally been as calm as still water, were suddenly suffused with a rosy blush, looking like the morning glow just breaking through—both beautiful and shy. Some of the maids even lowered their heads bashfully, not daring to look directly at that heart-stoppingly handsome face.
"Alright, alright, you may all withdraw first." Ji Ruxue dismissed the maids with a helpless expression.
*Sigh, who knows how many young women this son of mine will bewitch in the future? Putting everything else aside, with looks as peerless and dashing as an immortal's, I'm certain he'll captivate countless women from great clans.* Though Ji Ruxue looked somewhat worried on the surface, her heart was already blossoming with joy. Who wouldn't want their child to be so exceptionally gifted?
"Mother, tell me, why did you summon me in such a hurry? What on earth has happened?" Jiang Chen looked at Ji Ruxue with a puzzled expression.
"Chen'er, could it be that you've forgotten about the family's once-a-decade gathering coming up soon? Previously, you were in seclusion in the Ancestral Land, so we didn't notify you to attend. But now that you've been out for quite some time, you must definitely attend this gathering." Ji Ruxue poured Jiang Chen a cup of tea, then spoke slowly.
"A family gathering?" Hearing this, Jiang Chen frowned slightly.
During this period, he had grown somewhat accustomed to staying alone in his courtyard, living that quiet and peaceful life. He had very little enthusiasm for large-scale gatherings attended by numerous clan members.
"Mother, is there any way I can skip this?" After thinking about it for a moment, Jiang Chen couldn't help but ask.
"Of course not, Chen'er. As the one with the highest seniority among your peers, you must attend this gathering. Besides, several other clansmen of your generation will be participating as well. Your Second Uncle's son and your Third Uncle's son will both be there, oh! I'm sure you all will have a wonderful time chatting!!!"
Looking at the increasingly dense Dao Rhyme on Jiang Chen's body, along with his increasingly immortal-like demeanor, Ji Ruxue couldn't help but worry whether her son might be too lonely. After all, for so many years, she had never once seen her son spend time with other youths of his age; it seemed he only knew how to cultivate blindly.
"Alright, Mother, I understand. Just have someone call for me when the time comes." Not wanting to cause Ji Ruxue any worry, Jiang Chen ultimately agreed.
"That's right, Chen'er. You still need to interact more with people your own age."
"Oh, right, Chen'er, I haven't been to your place yet. After we finish eating later, I'd like to go and see the environment where you live." Realizing she had perhaps lacked concern for her son during this period, Ji Ruxue seized the opportunity to make this request.
"Huh?" Jiang Chen cast a surprised look at Ji Ruxue.
"Very well, Mother, I'll take you over later."
A short while later, Ji Ruxue followed her son to the small courtyard where he lived.
"Chen'er, do you live in a place like this?" Looking at the rustic little courtyard inside, which looked as though it belonged to someone who didn't practice cultivation at all, Ji Ruxue couldn't help but frown.
"Mother, don't look down on this place. Living here is extremely comfortable for your son. Come, step inside." With that, Jiang Chen took Ji Ruxue's hand and slowly led her into the courtyard.
"This is..." The moment Ji Ruxue stepped through the courtyard gate, her expression instantly turned solemn. This courtyard was actually permeated with all sorts of Dao Rhyme and natural laws.
In a place like this, someone with lower cultivation might not be able to perceive anything out of the ordinary for a while.
However, in the eyes of Ji Ruxue—a top-tier Saint—this place was extraordinary. Living in such an environment, even someone with poor innate talent in cultivation could easily become a Mighty Realm expert over time through accumulation.
"Chen'er, did you build this small courtyard yourself?" Ji Ruxue asked with a hint of suspicion.
"Of course not, Great-grandfather gave it to me." As if knowing what Ji Ruxue wanted to ask, Jiang Chen directly shifted the blame onto the Thirteenth Ancestor.
"So that's how it is. No wonder..." Hearing what Jiang Chen said, Ji Ruxue's suspicions vanished.
"Come, Mother, take a look, I even keep some animals here." Following the direction of Jiang Chen's finger, Ji Ruxue looked over and saw a brilliantly colored rooster staring right at her, while golden flashes could occasionally be seen in the pond nearby.
"Chen'er, this rooster of yours must have an extraordinary background, right?" Looking at the rooster not far away, Ji Ruxue's expression suddenly turned grave. She actually sensed a formidable coercive pressure emanating from a mere piece of poultry.
Ji Ruxue harbored a strange premonition that if she were to make a move, she would likely perish at the hands of this rooster. This was simply too incredible.
One had to know that she was a top-tier Saint, just a step away from breaking through to the Saint King realm. Even against a Saint King, the current Ji Ruxue was confident she could escape. Could it be that this rooster was at least at the Quasi-Emperor realm?
Ji Ruxue shook her head, wondering if she had somehow made a mistake.
"Mother, my courtyard doesn't just have a rooster. There's also a black crow up in that willow tree. Would you like to see it?" Jiang Chen said as he pulled Ji Ruxue toward the willow tree.
Jiang Chen raised his finger and pointed at the bird's nest above. A black crow poked its head out and nodded toward Jiang Chen, as if responding to him.
Following the direction of Jiang Chen's finger, Ji Ruxue indeed saw a black crow.
However, this time Ji Ruxue did not sense the same oppressive aura from this crow that she had felt from the rooster moments ago. It seemed she really might have been mistaken earlier.
Jiang Chen continued to lead Ji Ruxue around the courtyard.
When Ji Ruxue saw the stone mill placed by the thatched cottage door, along with the firewood-chopping axe and the meat-cleaving knife beside it, she couldn't help but frown.
"Chen'er, do you chop wood and cook meals yourself? Would you like Mother to send a few maidservants over to wait on you?"
"No need, no need, Mother. Although I chop wood and cook for myself, this is also a form of cultivation for me." Jiang Chen certainly wouldn't tell Ji Ruxue that these were tasks assigned by the System.
"Are you sure?" Ji Ruxue looked at her son and ultimately agreed. She knew her son very well; once he made up his mind about something, changing it was nearly impossible. Moreover, since her son said it was a form of his own cultivation, it wasn't appropriate for her to interfere too much.