Immortal Ascension Through My Daughter's Blessings

Dajing, Yunzhou, Feilei City.

A heavy snowfall had blanketed the entire dilapidated city in silver overnight, the biting cold seeping into every corner like an unrelenting specter.

The gray sky hung low, oppressive and leaden, while the icy wind howled like a blade, cutting deep into the marrow.

Li Che tugged his thin cotton coat tighter around himself, his breath escaping in frosty clouds. In his hand was a frozen crucian carp, its surface as hard as stone. Acquiring it in the dead of winter had cost him a hefty portion of his meager savings, but it was all for his pregnant wife.

Rubbing his roughened beard with one hand, he breathed warm mist into his cupped palms, then tucked his free hand beneath his coat. Gritting his teeth against the cold, he trudged along the snow-covered streets of Feilei City, making his way home with hurried steps.

Nineteen years had passed since he transmigrated to this world. From a helpless infant to a struggling commoner, Li Che had long abandoned any fantasies about miraculous cheats or super powers that often accompanied such stories.

Skyscrapers and neon lights, once symbols of his former life, were now nothing more than distant dreams—wistful memories of a world that no longer belonged to him.

This new world was like an ancient era, yet far more perilous. Natural disasters, human strife, and the constant threat of malevolent spirits made survival a challenge for the common folk. Life here was fragile, unpredictable, and bitterly harsh.

After years of enduring this harsh reality, Li Che resigned himself to a simple wish: to protect his wife, his child, and his modest home. He sought no grand destiny, only a steady and peaceful life in this unforgiving world.

Married at eighteen through the arrangement of his uncle's family, his married life began with a single consummation on their wedding night. Now, ten months later, his wife was on the brink of giving birth.

Feilei City was vast, its layout divided into two distinct areas: the affluent inner city, where nobles and officials resided in luxury, and the outer city, home to the struggling commoners. The inner city boasted wide streets, tight security, and prosperity, while the outer city was a patchwork of narrow alleys and ramshackle homes.

Li Che lived in the latter.

After trudging several miles down the main street, he turned into a narrow alley where rows of black-tiled, earthen houses lined the path.

His boots crunched against the snow, the sound mingling with the distant chatter of his neighbors.

"Che! Oh, Che, you're finally back!" an elderly woman called out from her doorway, her voice tinged with excitement. "Your wife's about to give birth! Hurry home!"

"You're going to be a father!" added another neighbor.

The news tightened Li Che's chest. Anxiety and excitement surged through him in equal measure. Without pausing to respond, he quickened his pace, the snow flying up behind him as he sprinted toward his humble home.

By the time he arrived, dusk had settled over the city. The wooden door of his house stood ajar, and the faint sounds of his wife's labored groans and the midwife's steady encouragement drifted into the snowy air.

"Back already?"

In the small courtyard, an elderly man sat on a rickety bench. He wore a patched scholar's robe layered over a cotton-padded jacket, a long-stemmed pipe resting between his fingers.

This was Li Liang, Li Che's uncle.

After losing his parents to illness at the age of eight, Li Che had been taken in by his uncle, who raised him with care. It was Li Liang who helped arrange his marriage, allowing him to build a family of his own.

"Don't fret," the old scholar said reassuringly, puffing on his pipe. "Granny Lei is the best midwife within ten miles. Little Ya will be fine, and the child will be safe."

Despite the comforting words, Li Che's nerves refused to settle. Though he had lived two lifetimes, this was his first experience as a father. His pacing betrayed his anxiety, the frozen fish still clutched tightly in his hand.

The old scholar, visibly irritated, clicked his tongue. "What's with all this pacing? You're about to become a father—act like it! And for heaven's sake, put that fish down."

Li Che glanced at the fish in his hand but made no move to set it aside. His steps faltered momentarily, though his heart remained restless.

Then, a piercing infant cry rang out from within the house, clear and sharp against the night air.

Li Che froze, his body rigid as emotion surged within him. His heart swelled with indescribable joy, relief, and awe.

Even the old scholar leapt to his feet, his pipe forgotten. "A strong cry," he murmured, his voice tinged with pride.

But just as the cry echoed into the snowy evening, the sky above let out a deep, rumbling thunderclap.

Li Liang's expression shifted, his brow furrowing. He muttered something under his breath, his gaze lifting toward the heavens.

Li Che followed his uncle's line of sight. Above the gray expanse of the sky, faint flashes of lightning danced erratically, coiling like serpents. For a moment, he thought he saw the outline of a dragon-like figure among the clouds, its presence both awe-inspiring and unnerving.

A birth accompanied by celestial phenomena?

The absurdity of the thought made Li Che shake his head. "This... isn't a fantasy novel," he muttered under his breath.

The midwife's voice called him back to reality. Without hesitation, Li Che rushed into the house.

Inside, the warmth from the coal stove drove away the chill, casting a soft glow over the small room. The midwife held a tiny, wrinkled newborn in her arms, her smile radiant.

"Congratulations, Master Li! It's a lovely daughter!"

Li Che's heart soared. For a moment, he stared at the midwife, unsure of what to do with the frozen fish still in his hand. He muttered his thanks over and over, bowing deeply to the midwife.

Finally, he set the fish down.

Taking the baby into his trembling arms, he gazed down at her tiny face, wrinkled yet perfect in his eyes.

At that moment, an inexplicable connection bound him to the infant in his arms. She was his daughter, his treasure, his future.

Yet, as he looked into her small face, his vision suddenly blurred.

A vast, barren land unfolded in his mind's eye—a desolate expanse where the earth split and rocks burst skyward. From the cracks, a jade-green sprout emerged, growing at an impossible speed.

In an instant, it transformed into a towering tree, its branches sprawling and its leaves dense.

Li Che's heart raced.

The scene shifted as the tree trembled. Its countless leaves reflected a radiant light, replaying the sound of his daughter's first cry.

Then, as quickly as it appeared, the vision condensed. The towering tree and its sprawling branches spiraled inward until only a single, radiant fruit remained, shimmering with seven colors.

A voice resonated in his mind:

[A Daughter Born, a Bond Formed]

[The Birth of Your Daughter Brings Forth the Dao Tree's Fruit.]

[Your daughter has been born safely. You have obtained a Dao Fruit.]

Li Che snapped back to reality, his daughter's cries filling the room.

"Husband, let me see our daughter…"

The weak yet melodic voice came from Zhang Ya, the pale but delicately beautiful woman lying on the bed. Her face was tired, her complexion drained, but her eyes shone with joy.

Li Che immediately stepped closer, cradling the tiny bundle with utmost care. His rough hands trembled slightly as he lowered their newborn to his wife.

"Look, dear. Our baby!"

Unconsciously, a wide, radiant smile spread across his face, erasing the fatigue and tension he had carried.

For now, the mysterious Dao Fruit that had appeared in his mind could wait. At this moment, his entire being was devoted to his wife and their newborn daughter.

Zhang Ya, his other half in this chaotic world, had entrusted her life to him—a responsibility he held sacred. He couldn't fail her or their child.

Zhang Ya's gaze softened as she looked at their daughter. "Husband, her nose looks just like yours—so straight." Her voice was weak but filled with warmth as she extended a slender finger to gently touch the baby's tiny nose.

Li Che's heart softened even further. Sitting beside her, he held Zhang Ya's cold hand and gazed at her with tender concern. "Does it hurt?"

She shook her head with a faint smile, her pale lips curving upward. "It doesn't hurt. I'm happy."

After a moment's silence, she looked at him expectantly. "Husband, what will we name her?"

Li Che opened his mouth to reply but noticed her gaze shifting past him. He followed her eyes to see his uncle, Li Liang, standing silently in the doorway. The old scholar's face was thoughtful but hesitant, his long pipe tucked away, as though searching for a literary name fitting for the occasion.

Understanding his uncle's unspoken thoughts, Li Che smiled faintly and turned back to his wife. He gently squeezed her hand. "I've been thinking about this for a while."

"The winter has been bitter and harsh, yet it brought us the warmth of her birth. I hope she grows up safe and joyful, always surrounded by light and love. Let's name her Li Nuanxi—'Warm Dawn.'"

"Like the warmth of the morning sun, may she dispel sickness and pain as she grows, bringing brightness to all around her."

His voice was gentle and steady as he explained the meaning behind the name.

Zhang Ya's smile deepened, a flicker of color returning to her pale cheeks. "Nuanxi… what a beautiful name."

As if understanding her new name, the baby stopped crying for a brief moment. Her tiny lips curved in what could have been a smile, her small hands moving slightly as she nestled in Zhang Ya's arms.

But moments later, the room was filled with her loud wails once more.

The midwife, who had been tidying up nearby, stepped forward and said with a knowing smile, "The little one must be hungry. She needs to be fed."

Hearing this, Li Che quickly nodded. He and his uncle left the room, giving mother and daughter privacy.

Outside, in the small courtyard, snowflakes drifted softly from the gray sky.

The cold was biting, and the silence of the evening was broken only by the faint cries of the newborn.

Li Che stood in the courtyard, his lips curved in a smile that hadn't left his face since hearing his daughter's first cry. He couldn't help but feel a profound sense of fulfillment.

So this is what it feels like to be a father.

A powerful sense of responsibility rose within him. He vowed silently to protect his wife and daughter from all the hardships this world had to offer.

Nearby, his uncle Li Liang resumed puffing on his long-stemmed pipe. His expression, however, remained less celebratory.

Smelling the faint tang of smoke, Li Che frowned. "Uncle, please put that out. The baby's here now."

The old scholar sighed heavily but obediently extinguished his pipe. He muttered under his breath, "It's just a girl… Why couldn't it have been a boy? The Li family…"

Li Che chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Boy or girl—does it really matter? Are we inheriting a throne or something?"

The old scholar grumbled incoherently but didn't argue further, his old-fashioned preference for sons evident in his expression. However, seeing Li Che's calm demeanor, he chose to stay quiet, muttering inaudible complaints to himself.

Li Che didn't bother arguing. Instead, he picked up the frozen crucian carp he had carried all the way home and walked toward the kitchen. There was soup to be made—a warm crucian carp and tofu soup that would help his wife recover her strength.

As the soup simmered over the fire, the faint aroma of fish filled the air.

Li Che sat at the small kitchen table, finally allowing himself a moment to relax. His thoughts drifted to the mysterious vision he had experienced earlier—the barren land, the towering tree, and the radiant Dao Fruit.

It had appeared at the exact moment his daughter was born.

What did it mean?

His brow furrowed slightly as he thought. Was it some kind of sign, or had her birth triggered something profound?

The kitchen grew warmer as the fire crackled, but in his mind, questions swirled like the snow outside. With his daughter now sleeping soundly and his wife safe, it was time to unravel the mystery of the Dao Fruit.