Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 99 System Update

After his second sister-in-law left, Lin Chen leaned back in his armchair, playing with a warm, smooth jade thumb ring in his hand, his eyes half-closed.

"System, check the mission progress," he called out in his mind.

"Ding! Current mission progress: 100% (All seven core family members have returned to their posts)."

"Oh, it's full?" Lin Chen's lips curled into a smile.

"So, I guess I've accomplished my task of 'carrying on eight households' all at once?"

"The first phase of the mission, 'Uniting the Family,' has been completed, and we are currently evaluating its overall performance..."

"Assessment complete. The host has gradually gained the trust of the core family members, resolved internal conflicts, and enhanced the family's strength and cohesion. Performance rating: Excellent."

"Special hidden achievement reward: [Clan Protector Array - Eight Desolations Returning to Origin Array]!"

"Reward Description: This formation is a top-tier protective formation passed down from ancient times, and it requires the bloodline of one's family to activate.

Once deployed, it can automatically absorb and circulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming an invisible protective barrier that even the most powerful terrestrial immortals cannot break.

The formation has the characteristic of concealment, and outsiders cannot detect its existence or strength.

All one could sense was that the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had "excellent feng shui and a harmonious aura."

"Note: The formation needs to be set up at an auspicious time. It is recommended to activate it on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony when the family bloodline officially takes over the mansion."

Lin Chen's eyes lit up.

nice one!

The clan's protective formation, which even a peak-level terrestrial immortal couldn't break, was essentially an invincible shield for the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Moreover, it has a stealth feature, so it won't be too conspicuous.

"System, is this formation complex?"

"Ding! The host has obtained the array blueprints and deployment methods, and has automatically mastered them to perfection."

The setup requires eight array points, corresponding to the eight trigrams. The materials for these array points have been distributed to the system space along with the reward.

Lin Chen's consciousness sank into the system space, and sure enough, he saw a pile of materials shimmering with spiritual light:

Eight fist-sized pieces of "Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade", eight palm-sized "Five Elements Flags", and a fist-sized "Array Core".

"Okay, we'll put it on on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony." Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction.

"Second phase task assignment: [To expand the family line and ensure the continuation of offspring]."

"Task Description: The family cohesion is at its maximum. The next step is to continue the bloodline and strengthen the clan."

Each time a direct descendant (who must be born to the host) is born, different levels of rewards will be triggered based on the descendant's talents.

Note: This is a long-term main quest with no time limit.

Lin Chen almost choked on his own saliva.

"Wait, system, the way you issued this task... is way too direct!" He was both amused and exasperated.

"So, with eight wives on my shoulders, I really have to work hard to have babies?"

"Ding! Based on the host's world background and family status, continuing the bloodline is the foundation for the family's survival."

Moreover, all seven wives have already submitted to him, making this task a natural progression.

"Alright, alright." Lin Chen waved his hand. "Anyway, I'm quite willing to do this."

As soon as he finished speaking, the system notification sounded again:

"Ding! Host has successfully completed the Clan Condensation achievement. Breakthrough reward issued!"

"Received: [Cultivation Initiation - Great Perfection of Celestial Realm]!"

"Obtained: [Special Physique - Swordsmanship Body]!"

"Obtained: [Clan Guardian - 108 Hidden Dragon Guards]!"

"Received: [Check-in rules adjusted]!"

The series of prompts left Lin Chen somewhat bewildered.

"Wait, one at a time."

First, an indescribable, overwhelming power surged into his body out of nowhere.

Lin Chen felt as if his meridians were being washed by magma, and his bones made a crackling sound.

The true essence within the dantian was compressed and transformed wildly, eventually condensing into a tangible [Martial Arts Golden Core].

Nine profound patterns flow across the surface of the golden core, each pattern containing a martial arts essence.

The entire process took no more than three breaths, yet it allowed Lin Chen to leap from the Great Perfection of the Grandmaster Realm to the Great Perfection of the Celestial Realm.

"The Great Perfection of Heaven and Man..." Lin Chen clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him that seemed capable of shattering mountains with a single punch.

"This feels...so good."

Moreover, due to the characteristics of the system's empowerment, his aura was perfectly contained, without any leakage.

To outsiders, he was still that spoiled young master with only a first-grade cultivation level.

Immediately afterwards, the [Sword Body] was activated.

Lin Chen felt as if all the pores on his body had opened up, and he felt an unprecedented affinity for the "sword intent" in the world.

With a thought, the ordinary decorative iron sword in the corner of the study was drawn half an inch from its sheath on its own, emitting a slight hum.

"The body of the sword, all swords submit..." Lin Chen mused.

"This physique is a perfect match for the 'Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin' skill that I obtained through daily check-ins."

The third reward: [One Hundred and Eight Hidden Dragon Guards].

One hundred and eight palm-sized black tokens appeared out of thin air in the system space.

Each token is engraved with the words "Hidden Dragon" on the front and a complex array pattern on the back.

"Hidden Dragon Guard: All members are at the peak of the Grandmaster level, and are proficient in the arts of concealment, assassination, and protection."

It can form the "Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Hidden Dragon Formation". When the formation is activated, the auras of the 108 people are connected and their combat power is superimposed, which can kill the early stage of the Land Immortal.

They are usually hidden throughout the mansion, invisible to ordinary people, and can only be commanded by those who possess the "Hidden Dragon Token."

Note: The Hidden Dragon Guard has been incorporated into the reasonable background of this world—a secret guard force trained by the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion for generations.

Having retreated from the world due to the decline of his residence, he has now reappeared, sensing the birth of a new head of the family.

Lin Chen picked up a Hidden Dragon Token. The token felt cool to the touch, and he could faintly sense the connection it contained.

"Let one of you come out and let me see."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure silently appeared from the shadows in the corner of the study.

This person was dressed in all black, with an ordinary face; the kind of person you wouldn't notice if you threw him into a crowd.

But as he stood there, he seemed to blend into the surrounding shadows.

If Lin Chen hadn't already reached the Great Perfection of the Celestial Realm, he wouldn't even be able to sense his presence.

"Hidden Dragon Guard, First Class, pays respects to Your Majesty." The man in black knelt on one knee, his voice calm and indifferent.

"Peak Grandmaster?" Lin Chen carefully sensed it. "The aura is solid, the foundation is firm, not bad."

"Thank you, my lord." A stood up and then retreated into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

Lin Chen nodded in satisfaction.

With these 108 Hidden Dragon Guards, the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion was truly impregnable.

Although Guan Yu and Dugu Qiubai were strong, they were too strong, and their actions were extremely inappropriate.

(Li Bai and Lin Chen are preparing to find a suitable opportunity to expose themselves, making others even more wary of the Lin family.)

All three hundred Heavenly Guards are of rank three or above, which is sufficient for handling ordinary crises, but not enough for other situations.

The Hidden Dragon Guards are dedicated to protecting the mansion, which perfectly fills this gap.

Moreover, they can form an array to kill early-stage terrestrial immortals.

This is definitely a treasure that can protect the house.

Finally, there's the adjustment to the check-in rules.

"Ding! Given the host's current strength and influence, the daily sign-in rewards will have a negligible impact on the host's improvement."

Following system evaluation, it has been decided to cancel daily check-in, while retaining monthly and annual check-in options.

Monthly sign-in rewards include: Heaven-rank martial arts techniques, high-level elixirs, rare materials, and more.

"Annual Sign-in Rewards: Immortal-level cultivation techniques and martial arts, rare treasures of heaven and earth, faction, special inheritances, etc."

Note: This month's monthly sign-in reward has been automatically issued. Due to rule adjustments, the reward for this month's sign-in is doubled.

"Obtained: [Low-grade Heavenly Pill - Nine-Turn Golden Pill] ×10 (Each pill can raise a martial artist below the Celestial Realm by one major realm, with no side effects, and can stabilize the cultivation of a Celestial Realm martial artist)."

"Acquired: Thirty-Six Heavenly Guards"

(All members are at the late Grandmaster stage, proficient in combined attack techniques, and can form the "Celestial Big Dipper Formation" to trap and kill peak Celestial Realm cultivators.)

Lin Chen looked at the extra items in the system space and couldn't help but smile.

"This compensation... is quite generous."

Ten Nine-Turn Golden Pills mean he can mass-produce experts.

Thirty-six Heavenly Guards... plus the Hidden Dragon Guards from before, the manor's mid-to-high-end combat power is now completely overflowing.

"System, summon the Heavenly Guards to protect the inner quarters and keep Guan Yu and Dugu Qiubai company."

"Ding! Command being executed..."

Having arranged everything, Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"My strength has broken through to the Great Perfection of the Celestial Realm, and with the Clan Protector Array and the Hidden Dragon Guard, the monthly sign-in rewards have also been upgraded... Now I can finally relax."

However, he also knew that improving his strength was only the foundation.

The real trouble is yet to come.

The Tianyuan Continent has a long history, and its hidden power is unknown, certainly not what is shown on the Heavenly Secrets Ranking.

However, even if there is hidden power, he is not afraid.

With his abilities... cough cough, with the system around, he should be able to keep things stable.