Chapter 4: The Innate Baptism! The First Skill!
“Innate Baptism.”
As the command was issued, a faint red glow flowed over the tiny infant’s body. Cool streams of energy coursed through his small frame, purifying every limb and bone.
Xu Ran felt light as a feather, as if he had been carried back into the womb for a second gestation. In this ethereal state, he broke through the limits of life itself.
His eyes grew brighter, his limbs stronger, his breath deeper and more sustained. His height increased slightly, his spine took shape, and his brain’s computing power enhanced.
His life level had ascended!
The sensation was vivid and unmistakable!
It was like emerging from a cocoon into a butterfly—a confidence and joy that arose from the very depths of his soul flooded over him, overwhelming Xu Ran.
He couldn’t help but wave his arms and kick his legs excitedly, quickly glancing at the system interface to examine his progress.
[Name]: Xu Ran
[Age]: 165 days into infancy
[Vitality]: 100/1000 (Your vitality is abundant)
[Spirit]: 8/100 (Ordinary adult: 10 points)
[Appearance]: 100/100 (Will possess celestial beauty as an adult)
[Fate]: 23 points/∞ (You will encounter many adventures)
[Constitution]: None
[Divine Power]: None
[Achievements]: Celestial Beauty (gold); Self-Disciplined Baby (blue)
[Innate Baptism Task]: Vitality must reach 1000 to unlock the second innate baptism.
[Crawling Task]: Learn to crawl and complete a one-meter sprint for a great surprise. (After completing the crawling task, feel free to explore—life is full of surprises!)
“Hm, the innate baptism has brought tremendous improvement!”
What was immediately clear was that his life limit had soared—from a max of 100 points to 1000 points.
Simply put, Xu Ran’s potential expanded from being ten times that of an ordinary adult to one hundred times.
Judging by this, at full power, he could overwhelm a hundred ordinary adults.
How gratifying!
“After the first innate baptism, my spine has formed and I now have the strength to crawl freely.”
“I can try that crawling task now…”
[Learn to crawl and complete a one-meter sprint to receive a great surprise.]
What kind of surprise could possibly be so great?
Xu Ran’s curiosity was piqued.
He was eager to start crawling immediately.
But it was late at night.
His mother was going to sleep, and he needed rest too, so he closed his eyes and drifted off.
***
The next day.
Xu Ran woke early.
After breakfast—a mix of formula and fruit puree—he was full and took a short nap.
He struggled to crawl on the bed.
Mother said, “What are you doing? Twisting around like a little pretzel today?”
“All right, all right, I’ll put you down and see what you want.”
Xu Ran sat on the bed, hands supporting him.
He had long been able to sit, but his mother wouldn’t let him sit for too long, fearing it would harm his spine.
But after the first innate baptism, there was no such worry.
Xu Ran propped himself up, his diapered bottom raised, and knelt on his knees.
***
He crawled!
He had learned to crawl!
Taking a few steps felt wonderful; his body control was more precise, and a surge of joy electrified him internally.
He couldn’t help but laugh like a Teletubby.
Mother stared in amazement. “Seven months old and no one taught you—yet you can crawl?”
“Come on, baby, crawl a few more steps.”
Xu Ran crawled toward his mother sitting at the foot of the bed.
Then he turned and crawled back to the headboard, back and forth a dozen times.
He became a pro.
His crawling speed was swift.
“Wow, you’re amazing—a little genius!” his mother clapped, offering emotional encouragement.
Xu Ran focused. “Learn to crawl and complete a one-meter sprint to get a great surprise. I want to see what this surprise really is!”
With that thought, he sped from head to foot of the bed, like a wobbly little tiger.
“Phew… a bit tiring. Does this count as a sprint?”
Just then, a notification sounded.
[Congratulations, crawling task complete. You have acquired a new skill—Baby Crawl.
Training diligently will increase your Baby Crawl progress. When progress reaches maximum, you may advance to the next sequence. (Advancement sequence: Baby Crawl—Gecko Wall Climbing—Air Wall Rubbing—Unknown…)]
What?
This is strange! Did I read that wrong?
Xu Ran scanned the message three or four times.
Advancement sequence? What does that mean?
From baby crawl to gecko wall climbing?
From gecko wall climbing to air wall rubbing?
Are you kidding me?
He was stunned!
He quickly opened the detailed description of Gecko Wall Climbing.
[Gecko Wall Climbing]: A superior lightness skill. With focused intent, you can move along walls like a gecko.
[Air Wall Rubbing]: Creates an air wall upon which you can crawl at high speed.
“Such a wildly creative advancement sequence!”
“I don’t fully understand it, but I’m amazed.”
“Coach, I want to train this!”
Without hesitation, Xu Ran began practicing.
[You trained Baby Crawl for a day, progress +100 points. Current Baby Crawl progress: 100/10000…]
“One day gives 100 points. To advance to Gecko Wall Climbing requires at least 100 days, so I can reach it soon…”
Xu Ran nodded silently.
Simple enough, a piece of cake!
Thus, for the next stretch of time, he trained with relentless discipline.
[You trained Baby Crawl for 100 days, Baby Crawl proficiency +10000, current progress: 10000/10000…]
[Current Vitality: 200/1000…]
[Congratulations, Baby Crawl progress is full. Automatically upgraded to Gecko Wall Climbing.]
[Current Gecko Wall Climbing (Beginner): 0/10000…]
***
After a grueling 100 days, Xu Ran finally mastered Gecko Wall Climbing.
A smile spread across his face.
He was itching to try it out.
But he dared not show it to his mother—she might have a heart attack on the spot.
“I’ll keep it secret for now. I’ll practice stealthily at night when it’s quiet.”
He steadied his breath, patiently waiting for nightfall and his mother’s deep sleep.
***
By nine o’clock at night, the room was pitch black.
Mother’s breathing was deep and steady, peaceful.
Having rested his spirit for hours, Xu Ran suddenly opened his wide, dark eyes.
He rolled over.
He crawled up.
He began to use Gecko Wall Climbing. Perhaps due to his excess strength and light weight, the skill was almost unbeatable. He silently slid down from the crib.
Using all four limbs, like a flying gecko, he moved with the lightest, quietest grace, sliding belly-down straight to the wall.
The moment he touched the wall,
What appeared to ordinary eyes as a sheer vertical cliff was, to Xu Ran, as flat as the floor.
He moved his body lightly, his short arms and legs flickering rapidly, and smoothly ascended three meters, his head touching the ceiling.
“…Such a cool Gecko Wall Climbing skill!”
Xu Ran was thrilled, feeling at home on the wall.
Gradually,
He could crawl along the wall using only one hand and one foot.
Sometimes, he would transform into a spooky little ghost, limbs spread wide, back against the wall, perched in a corner, looking down on the entire room.
If he suddenly let out a creepy laugh at such a moment, he could scare his mother awake and faint her again…
Of course,
He wasn’t that filial yet—he simply practiced silently on the wall.
He visibly improved.
Minutes later, his back stuck to the wall like a magnet as he swiftly traced five rings on the surface…
Silky smooth.
Absolutely flawless.
With his growing strength, Xu Ran confidently crawled onto the ceiling.
Thanks to his hands and feet having grip like suction cups, within minutes he mastered the technique of moving on the ceiling.
Before long,
A ghostly black shadow with a small face down slid back and forth on the ceiling.
Gravity? What’s that?
Newton? Not my concern!
Xu Ran grinned.
He wildly crawled over ceiling and walls.
[You practiced Gecko Wall Climbing, proficiency +50 points. Current Gecko Wall Climbing (Beginner): 50/10000…]
***
“What’s that sound?”
Mother Lin Qian stirred groggily, hearing faint rustling.
Slowly opening her eyes,
In the pitch darkness, she vaguely saw what seemed like a black shadow crawling back and forth on the ceiling above her.
“Who! Who’s there?!”