Lifespan Extended: The First Child
In Qin Changqing's residence.
Steward Qin Wenbo had heard the news and hurried over with a few Qin family disciples. After carefully verifying it, he couldn't help but beam with joy. "Changqing, you're the first cultivator we recruited this time to get someone pregnant. Excellent! Here's your reward from the clan—fifty spirit stones! I'll send some more clan women over later. Pick another one."
With that, he pulled a box from his storage pouch. It was filled with thumb-sized, transparent stones.
"Thank you for the guidance, Steward. I'll do my best!"
Qin Changqing grinned on the surface, but inwardly, he was cursing up a storm.
Pick another? You old bastard, you think I'm not dying fast enough?
He was already plotting in his mind whether to find a chance to bolt. Otherwise, at this rate, he wouldn't last long!
The two exchanged a few polite words, and Qin Wenbo left with a smile.
Once Qin Wenbo was gone, Qin Changqing rubbed his hands and eyed the box the steward had left behind.
He'd never seen spirit stones before. He picked one up for a closer look—and froze in place.
Energy detected. Can absorb and convert to extend lifespan. Absorb?
Qin Changqing's eyes lit up in an instant. He was thrilled.
The energy in spirit stones could turn into lifespan? That meant as long as he had enough spirit stones, he could live forever even without becoming a high-level cultivator!
And no more worrying about marrying too many wives and turning into a short-lived ghost. With spirit stones, he could ride as hard as he wanted—no need to run away anymore!
"Absorb!" Qin Changqing silently commanded without hesitation.
The spirit stone in his hand instantly crumbled into a pile of sand and drifted away.
Absorption successful. Lifespan increased by 1 year.
Qin Changqing was overjoyed. One spirit stone for a year of life—fifty stones meant fifty extra years!
Soon enough!
He absorbed all fifty spirit stones. Just as he'd guessed, his lifespan shot up by a full fifty years.
Right after he finished, a servant came to report that Qin Wenbo was back. Qin Changqing knew it was time to pick another concubine.
"Got it!" Qin Changqing waved dismissively, cool as a cucumber.
With fifty extra years under his belt, what was one more wife? Just ten years off his life? Piece of cake!
A month later, Qin Changqing's second wife was pregnant too. The news spread like wildfire through the Qin family.
"No way, is Qin Changqing that good? Another one already? Talk about lucky!"
"Mine still hasn't given any sign, and he's got two. Driving me nuts!"
"What's the rush? So what if he knocks up a bunch? The Qins are a cultivation clan—we need kids with spiritual roots! It's about quality, not quantity!"
"Well said, friend!"
The Qin family buzzed with talk of Qin Changqing. Two pregnancies in two months? Lightning fast.
The clan sent rewards again—but this time, just twenty spirit stones, the standard quota.
Still a windfall for Qin Changqing.
A second child on the way meant he qualified for another concubine. Bliss upon super bliss.
Time flew. Eight months passed in a blink.
The Qin estate was lively now, with folks gathered in Qin Changqing's residence, whispering.
Qin Changqing paced anxiously, eyes flicking to the inner room.
Suddenly, a loud infant's cry pierced the air. Everyone fell silent and turned.
The inner room door opened. A midwife emerged, cradling a swaddled bundle with a grin. "Congratulations! It's a boy!"
Qin Changqing trembled with excitement, fumbling as the midwife handed him the child.
"Brother Changqing, you gonna hold him or should I?" someone teased with a laugh.
Good-natured chuckles rippled around.
Qin Changqing cradled the baby carefully, a wave of emotion hitting him. First child in two lifetimes.
"The lady says to name him," the midwife beamed.
"Qin Qiming, then!" Qin Changqing said.
The generation name was Qi, and he'd thought of it long ago.
Everyone crowded in with congratulations—sincere or not—envy plain on their faces.
Qin Changqing was a legend now: ten wives, one born, nine pregnant. Unmatched in Qin history.
Big deal. No spiritual roots, they're all trash! In a corner, Jia Qiang glowered bitterly.
He'd entered the clan in glory—the only one to marry a spiritual root wife.
Now he was the after-dinner joke. His wife's belly? Still flat.
Jia Qiang was desperate, tried everything. The clan cared, called top physicians—still no answers.
Back at his residence, Qin Rongrong waited at the door.
She was stunning already, a cultivator kept young and ripe. Motherhood added allure; her eyes seduced with every glance.
"How'd it go? Boy or girl?"
Jia Qiang's temper flared. "Not your kid—why do you care?!"
Qin Rongrong's brows shot up, hurt flashing. "What the hell, Jia Qiang? Can't knock me up, so it's my fault now?"
Jia Qiang exploded. "How dare you blame me!"
She snorted. "No one's had this problem in the Qin line for generations. Gotta be you!"
"You... spitting lies!"
"I'd love to, but you can't even get it up!"
Their shouting drew a crowd of onlookers, who shrugged it off. They'd bickered plenty these months.
"Disgraceful—I won't argue with you!" As more gathered, Jia Qiang's face turned liver-red. He stormed off.
Humiliated to his core!
"Hey, wanna come in and watch?" Qin Rongrong sniped at the gawkers. They scattered.
Door shut, she stood lost. In the clan, barren women were worthless—gossiped about endlessly. It gnawed at her day and night.
Qin Changqing... really that fertile?
Thoughtful, her gaze hardened with resolve. Some big decision made, she headed inside.
The next day, Qin Rongrong showed up with gifts. Qin Changqing was surprised.
Jia Qiang was proud; except when necessary, they kept to themselves, especially with the kid issue.
After the gift, she fidgeted. "Brother Qin, I have a favor to ask..."
He smiled. "We're family. Spill it—if I can help, I will!"
Her eyes lit up. She glanced around. "Not convenient here."
He paused, then nodded. "Follow me."
Into a side room. He turned to speak—and something round and plump popped into his mouth. Instinctively, his throat worked, and he swallowed.