Persuasion Successful: 150,000 Spirit Stones
Seeing Huang Miaoying fall silent, the Huang family elders grew anxious.
Huang Yuanjing said gravely, “Miaoying, do you have any concerns? Speak freely.”
Huang Miaoying gave a wry smile. “To be honest with you, Ancestor, my master hinted long ago that she wants me to marry into the Guan family.”
The Huang family members froze at her words, their faces darkening. Even Huang Yuanjing's eyelids twitched sharply.
Huang Miaoying's master, Guan Zilan, was a renowned figure in Jing Kingdom's cultivation world—a core elder of the Bihai Sect and a genuine Nascent Soul True Lord. The Guan family she belonged to was one of Jing Kingdom's most prestigious cultivation clans, with several Nascent Souls holding the fort.
To the Huang family, the Guan family was an untouchable colossus they couldn't afford to offend.
In the past, if Huang Miaoying had married into the Guan family, the entire Huang clan would have celebrated with lanterns and banners, eager to forge such a marital alliance.
But now, with Qin Changqing in the picture, the Guan family was no longer an insurmountable mountain. Surpassing them was merely a matter of time.
These days, whenever the three families encountered a woman with decent talent, their eyes would light up, instinctively wondering what kind of prodigiously talented child she and Qin Changqing might produce.
“That's the Guan family—I say we forget it...”
“Yeah, we can't afford to provoke them!”
“A Nascent Soul's wrath is unstoppable.”
“It's just a marriage matter. Since Elder Guan hasn't made it explicit, Miaoying has the right to choose. And she's a Huang family daughter—our clan still has a say in her marriage.”
“The Taicqing Sect is a righteous sect, and Elder Guan herself isn't married. She won't hold a grudge just because Miaoying refuses the Guan family.”
“I think we're overblowing this. At worst, it'll displease Elder Guan a bit—no crisis for our Huang family.”
“On the flip side, if Miaoying bears a child surpassing Heavenly Spirit Root, that'd be a monumental boon for us!”
“I'm for giving it a shot!”
“Ancestor, what do you think?”
The Huang elders chimed in one after another—some cautious and fearful, but most eager to try. Ultimately, the decision rested with Huang Yuanjing.
All eyes turned to the ancestor, awaiting his verdict.
“Ahem, I've already considered all these issues. Since we called Miaoying back, it's naturally to give it a go with Qin Changqing.”
“No need to worry about Elder Guan. It was just a hint, so we can play dumb.”
“Besides, we're not asking you to marry Qin Changqing. Keep everything confidential this time—just quietly have the child.”
“It won't take long. Once the baby's born, leave it with the family and return. No one will know.”
“If Elder Guan presses for marriage later, we can deal with it then!”
Huang Yuanjing looked every bit the cunning old fox.
His explanation eased everyone's minds.
Right—have the child first, then act like nothing happened. Deal with the rest later.
This satisfied their needs without openly offending Guan Zilan.
Even if she found out about the child afterward, she'd at most be disappointed in the Huang family. So what? Compared to a child surpassing Heavenly Spirit Root, a little disappointment was nothing!
“Brilliant! Ancestor is wise!”
“Exactly! Just having a kid—no marriage. You don't tell, I don't tell, who's gonna know?”
Huang Miaoying's father grew excited too, chiming in. “Miaoying, your master only hinted at marrying into the Guan family—she didn't formally betroth you. So pretend you never heard it. You're not marrying Qin Changqing anyway, just bearing his child. Leave the baby with the family after birth—who'll be the wiser?”
If the child was born, he'd be the proud grandfather. With Qin Changqing and Huang Miaoying's talents, raising that prodigy would be his joy—no one anticipated the birth more than him.
Patriarch Huang Mingyi nodded vigorously. “It's only a year at most. Qin Changqing's efficient. When you return to the sect, just don't mention the child. If your master insists on the Guan marriage, politely decline. She's your master, after all—at worst, she'll be miffed, not turn hostile. Marrying into the Guan family now? Nowhere near as good as pairing with Qin Changqing.”
“A child surpassing Heavenly Spirit Root means our Huang family will have countless chances to eclipse the Guans in the future.”
“Once the child grows up, any grudges from the Guans will have to be swallowed.”
“Hell, they might even have to watch your face then!”
The Huang family pressed on, their words making Huang Miaoying's beautiful eyes sparkle brighter with temptation.
A seedling surpassing Heavenly Spirit Root—that was a future powerhouse potentially rivaling even the Deity Transformation stage and beyond!
“I defer to Ancestor's decision!” Huang Miaoying curtsied gracefully, her agreement sealed.
……
Three days later!
Huang Miaoying sent a message back to the Taicqing Sect, claiming she'd stumbled upon an opportunity in the family, gained some insights, and would enter secluded cultivation for a while—unlikely to return anytime soon.
In Qin Changqing's residence, the main hall.
“Changqing, we're here to ask: how many spirit stones for a child surpassing Heavenly Spirit Root?”
Huang Mingyi cut straight to the chase.
The sudden question surprised Qin Changqing. Did the Huangs have another top-grade spirit root woman? As expected of a Golden Core clan—their foundations dwarfed the Qin and Lin families.
“From my experience, birthing a child above Heavenly Spirit Root requires no small sum... To be safe, at least 150,000!”
Qin Changqing pondered before replying.
Heavenly Spirit Root took 10,000 stones. Tenfold for the next tier: 100,000. For insurance—and to extend his lifespan—he tacked on fifty percent more.
The gun was in his hand—whoever held it called the shots!
The initiative was his.
No stones? No deal!
“150,000!”
Huang Mingyi was mildly shocked.
Though the Huangs were wealthy, shelling out 150,000 at once wasn't effortless.
But thinking of the child's future potential eased their minds. Surpassing Heavenly Spirit Root? 150,000 was a bargain!
Even Heavenly Spirit Root would be a profit at that price.
They were just used to Qin Changqing's “discounts”—the jump felt steep.
Huang Mingyi paused, then nodded firmly. “Alright. I'll send someone with the stones soon. Absorb them at ease. I'll notify the other two families too. If they don't bother you, make your preparations!”
……
A month later, the Huangs delivered—a storage pouch brimming with stones. Counted: exactly 150,000, no more, no less.
Qin Changqing stowed them straight into his system space, where the system converted them to lifespan far faster than manual absorption.
He didn't rush the Huangs to send her over. So many stones took time to process—especially since he was publicly only at Qi Condensation Layer 1. Too quick, and suspicions would arise.
Plus, dragging it out made him seem hardworking, his gains hard-earned.
Qin Changqing couldn't let the three families think fathering children was a breeze. Easy come, easy go.
Huang Miaoying's matter proceeded in secret—the Qin and Lin families sensed something but dared not pry.
Three months later.
“Daddy, you promised to tell us the Journey to the West story tomorrow—don't forget!”
Qin Qiyun waved his little hands energetically, trailing his mother but glancing back every step, reluctant to leave. He'd just heard about the Monkey King's havoc in Heaven—cliffhanger central, and Daddy stopped!
“I won't forget!” Qin Changqing waved back with a grin, then turned and entered the house.
After months of self-cultivation and slacking off, it was about time to clock in.
Plenty of multiple-choice questions awaited his selection!