His realm was originally at the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, and recovering his cultivation was easy, requiring only continuous refining of Spiritual Power.
The returning strength engrossed Shen Wang; he cultivated throughout the night until he finally stopped.
The Spiritual Qi in his Dantian increased by nearly ten percent. Shen Wang could continue cultivating, expecting a thirty percent improvement by the next day. In about three days, his cultivation could be restored to the Second-Layer Qi Cultivation.
Furthermore, as the Dantian recovered further, the retained Spiritual Power increased, likely requiring less than three days.
"Tomorrow will be the second day. Could I recover another three percent directly?"
Shen Wang came out of his cultivation, anticipating the arrival of the next day.
Splash, splash.
He heard the sound of running water in his ears and opened his eyes: "I forgot to change my daughter's diaper!"
He hastily got up and went outside; it was snowing again. Jia'Er, wearing a red cotton jacket, was by the well fetching water to wash the diaper.
"Husband."
Jia'Er called happily. She was too happy to sleep tonight and stayed by Shen Chuxue's side.
"My fault for being immersed in cultivation, forgetting all about this."
Shen Wang quickly approached and glanced at the diapers hanging to dry: "How many times have you changed them?"
"Twice. This is the third time. Husband, you don't need to worry about this; it's a woman's affair."
Jia'Er reached out to wash the diaper in the water.
"The child is mine too; how could it be just a woman's affair?"
Shen Wang shook his head, grabbed the diaper, diligently washed it with soap, and laughed: "This little one's urine smell is really strong."
Jia'Er watched with a smile; her husband was indeed different from other men. Who among other husbands would handle such affairs?
Shen Wang earnestly washed the diaper clean and hung it up.
[For washing the diaper of your daughter Shen Chuxue, Water Attribute Spiritual Power insight +1, current 4/100]
The appearing text made Shen Wang's lips curl, granting him newfound insights as if he had cultivated Water Attribute Spiritual Power exclusively for days.
These basic insights targeted the Spiritual Power cultivated within, allowing better command over its attributes and enhancing its ease of use.
"Husband, let me empty the water."
Jia'Er had just picked up the dirty water.
Woo, woo, woo—
A gust of eerie wind blew through, chilling to the core.
Sounds of ghostly wails and howls echoed from behind the ancestral home.
"Hehehe..."
Someone seemed to be laughing sinisterly; the lantern beside them suddenly extinguished.
Shen Wang's expression changed. He rushed to his sleeping daughter's side, a crimson talisman appeared in his palm, ready to activate it.
"Wah, wah, wah!"
His daughter, Shen Chuxue, started to cry uneasily. Shen Wang held her in his arms, comforting: "Xue'Er, don't be afraid; Daddy's here."
He coldly looked outside; windows and doors flapped wildly from the ghostly wind. The interior candles were out, shrouding them in darkness.
Yet both Shen Wang and Jia'Er had some cultivation, allowing them to see something hovering in the air outside.
"Husband, are these some evil creatures trying to harm us?"
Jia'Er clung fearfully to Shen Wang's arm.
"Who knows where the wandering ghosts come from; how dare they frighten my daughter? Beware; I'll make you vanish into thin air!"
Shen Wang shouted angrily, appearing full of vigor while inwardly uncertain.
He was merely at the First-Layer Qi Cultivation; even the activation of the Fireball Talisman seemed unlikely to defeat this entity.
"Hehehe!"
The ghostly laughter within the wind showed no fear; soon, a black mist appeared outside, accompanied by a green and red whirlwind, charging toward the window like a malevolent spirit.
Jia'Er swiftly drew her sword, suitable enough for wielding in her hand, while Shen Wang flipped his palm to brighten the Fireball Talisman.
But just as the sinister wind approached the ancestral home's window, a burst of golden light erupted from the dilapidated home.
Intricate runes flew out like birds, rapidly forming a barrier exuding Supreme Yang and Yang Power.
Bang!
The black mist was flung away by the golden light, unable to advance, losing part of its whirlwind.
The black mist rolled violently, with ghostly shadows inside expressing frantic anger and resentment, greedily, and hatefully gazing at Shen Chuxue in Shen Wang's arms, continuing its desperate charge.
The ancestral home trembled as more runes illuminated, humming like a resounding Dao voice, emitting golden rays capable of suppressing all evil.
The entire house brightened, shining like daylight. The Yang Power evaporated the black mist. Ultimately, the entity could not endure, unwillingly retreating.
After repelling the spirit, the arranged runes quickly dimmed, retreating back to the walls like flags lowered, becoming faint patterns again.
"I didn't know the ancestral home concealed so much; no wonder it's lasted for so many years."
Shen Wang was astonished, realizing the home's secret strength for the first time.
Jia'Er was equally stunned. She initially intended to protect her husband's child at all costs, only to find the evil spirit already repelled by the runes.
In the swaddling, Shen Chuxue stopped crying, her big eyes gazed at Shen Wang, seeming relieved.
"Xue'Er, don't be afraid, the monster has been scared away by Daddy."
Shen Wang reassured her, noticing his daughter blinked sleepily, gradually falling asleep.
"Such a good girl."
Jia'Er lovingly remarked, having seen other babies crying fussily until comforted.
Shen Wang handed his daughter to Jia'Er, walked to the exterior wall, touched the patterns, faintly warm beneath the dust, believing them to be mere decoration, unaware they composed an array rune system.
Despite his lack of expertise in array talismans, he could feel the high level of these items, potentially part of a Spirit Array.
"Why would these be engraved in the ancestral home? Is it to protect Grave Mountain or suppress something inside?"
Shen Wang wondered, wiping dust away to reveal runes, noticing their significant erosion over possibly thousands of years, rich in historical value.
"It's rumored the Shen Family was once a Major Cultivation Clan; apparently, it's true. Not just boasting by those elders."
Shen Wang murmured, sighing: "Regrettably, its glory has passed. Nowadays, the Shen Family lacks even a Golden Core Zhenren, barely a small family in the Ningbei Cultivation Realm."
He shook his head, studying the mysterious runes, thinking mastering a few could be powerful.
Jia'Er approached with the relit lantern, expressing concern: "Husband, it's cold outside. Let's look into this tomorrow."
"No worries. Although my cultivation has regressed, my physical condition remains at Qi Cultivation achieved levels, comparable to those at the Grandmaster Level of Martial Arts Training. This temperature won't bother me."
Shen Wang shook his head; through this incident, he dared not relax.
The haunting seemingly targeted his daughter. Thinking only he knew his daughter's talents, he hadn't expected the apparition to discover them.
The ancestral home's Talisman Array had clearly deteriorated; relying solely on this for safety was unwise—urgent growth was essential to avoid life-threatening danger.
"Then I'll accompany you, providing light." Jia'Er brought the lantern closer to the wall.
"I can manage alone, Jia'Er. You also should spend more time on cultivation. Though lacking a Spirit Root, practicing Martial Arts can lead to Dao. Achieving the Innate stage parallels Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivators."
Shen Wang spoke solemnly, prepared to recover his Dantian, ready to reenter his cultivation path. If Jia'Er didn't pursue martial dao, she might lag behind him, risking separation of lives and destinies.