Nascent Soul's Heart Stirs: 1.5 Million Spirit Stones
Qin Changqing naturally understood that Guan Zilan was just struggling to let go of her pride for the moment. He chuckled awkwardly. "Fairy, don't take offense. I was merely giving an example. If you're unwilling, I certainly can't force you, right?"
Guan Zilan let out a soft hum, her expression saying smart boy as she nodded. "I've heard from Miaoying that nurturing your spiritual root requires absorbing a massive amount of spiritual energy in advance. The more spiritual energy, the stronger the root you can nurture. Suppose... and I mean suppose... a woman had an Earth Spiritual Root. How many spirit stones would you need to absorb to make it sufficient?"
Qin Changqing glanced at her, thinking to himself, So this Taiqing Sect elder actually possesses an Earth Spiritual Root. Impressive talent indeed!
For an Earth Spiritual Root, per the system's rules with its tenfold increments, it required a million years of lifespan—which translated to a million spirit stones.
Qin Changqing gave his answer. "At least 1.5 million spirit stones."
Sticking true to his principle of never selling himself short, he'd tacked on an extra fifty percent.
Guan Zilan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, but she said nothing. 1.5 million spirit stones might be tough for the Huang family to scrape together on short notice, but for her—a Nascent Soul True Monarch and elder of Taiqing Sect with deep reserves—it was... no big issue.
"Here are fifteen thousand mid-grade spirit stones!" Guan Zilan tossed over a storage bracelet without a second thought. "How long will it take to absorb them all?"
Qin Changqing's eyes lit up.
Tsk tsk, worthy of a Nascent Soul True Monarch—such extravagance, pulling out this many spirit stones on a whim!
"Roughly three months."
"Fine. I'll wait three months for you." Guan Zilan nodded, then raised a brow. "I'll be staying here for those three months. Any problem with that?"
Qin Changqing smiled. "A mountain's fame comes not from its height but from the immortals who dwell there. It's my honor to have you grace my humble abode, Fairy."
Guan Zilan gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.
"I'll take this room."
Without waiting for Qin Changqing to arrange anything, she claimed the side chamber next door to his—her intent crystal clear.
That's right. I'm watching you. Got a problem with it?
Her decision to stay was also driven by a desire to observe him more closely during this time. His ability was simply too astonishing; without thorough verification, she couldn't bring herself to entrust herself so readily to a mere Qi Refining cultivator.
Qin Changqing had no objections—of course—and wouldn't dare voice any even if he did. Who could argue with superior fists?
Upon learning her master was staying, Huang Miaoying quickly insisted on remaining too, to tend to her.
It would give her child some quality time with its biological father. Though their encounter had been but a fleeting affair, she didn't want the child deprived of a father's love.
Qin Changqing was delighted and promptly arranged a room for her nearby.
As for his own wives and concubines, he relocated them for the time being. With such a powerhouse residing in his home, one misstep could spell utter disaster.
He might be overcautious, but he had to consider it. The cultivation world wasn't a place for reasoned debate.
From Guan Zilan's current behavior, it was clear she'd taken a fancy to his ability. Thus, sharing a bed seemed inevitable.
It wasn't that she'd fallen deeply in love with Qin Changqing!
People were selfish by nature, possessive at heart—even Nascent Soul True Monarchs were no exception.
Sharing one man with so many women? Even as the newcomer, the sight of it day after day would grate on her nerves.
In matters of the heart, these intangible clashes were the deadliest.
Guan Zilan's arrival hadn't alarmed the Qin family. Huang Yuanjing, who arrived later, immediately reined in the surrounding Qin clansmen and only sought out Qin Zhengyang once things had settled to explain everything.
Qin Zhengyang's expression soured at once, but he swiftly summoned the clan elders and the Lin family representatives for a council.
In the secret chamber, all three families gathered.
"True Person Huang, this is hardly honorable conduct. We agreed not to reveal Qin Changqing's existence, yet you've broken the pact so quickly? We all signed spirit contracts!"
"Exactly! Why go dragging in Taiqing Sect's elder's personal disciple? Now you've drawn a Nascent Soul True Monarch here—how are we supposed to protect Qin Changqing?"
"Friend Huang, don't you owe us an explanation?"
The other two families hurled their sarcastic barbs laced with fury. They wouldn't dare confront Huang Yuanjing, this Golden Core True Person, but Huang Mingyi drew no such restraint.
Huang Mingyi's face flushed red then drained pale by turns, yet he had no rebuttal. Their Huang family was indeed at fault here.
Huang Yuanjing's own face was grim; he wasn't deaf to the veiled insults. Besides, provoking Guan Zilan had left him plenty irritated himself.
Huang Mingyi noted his ancestor's darkening mood and sighed. "What's done is done—words won't change it. For now, we must stabilize Elder Guan and keep her from exposing Qin Changqing... If push comes to shove, we'll have no choice but to collaborate with the Guan family. Otherwise, if they seize him by force, we'll get nothing out of it."
The three families deliberated at length but devised no better plan. They could only await Guan Zilan's next move.
——
"Of human nature at birth, we are inherently good. Our talents are similar; our habits diverge. Without proper teaching, nature veers astray..."
In Qin Changqing's courtyard, the children's clear, unified recitation roused Guan Zilan from her meditative trance. Her divine sense swept out, revealing Qin Changqing instructing the children.
Dressed in flowing white robes, he exuded a gentle, scholarly elegance, his smile brimming with warmth. Guan Zilan couldn't help the flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes.
"Daddy, why doesn't the dog bark?" one child asked innocently.
Pfft! Guan Zilan, who had been listening intently, stifled a laugh. She glanced around—thankfully, no one was nearby, or it would undermine her elder's dignity.
Qin Changqing's face darkened. "It's gou bu jiao! Not 'dog doesn't bark'!"
"Right, it's 'dog doesn't bark'!" The child's face was utterly earnest.
Qin Changqing's expression twitched, his mild demeanor cracking slightly. Fortunately, over the years, he'd grown accustomed to these bear children's endless bizarre questions.
He extended a hand, channeling spiritual power to inscribe the characters in midair. "See clearly now? Gou bu jiao, xing nai qian—it means that without strict discipline, a child's innate character will warp under external influences. That's why Father holds you all to such high standards. Understand?"
The children nodded vigorously in unison. "We understand!"
"Good. Class dismissed for now!"
Qin Changqing smiled. "Next up is story time. What would you like to hear?"
"Immortal Execution!"
"Journey to the West isn't finished yet—I wanna know if Sun Wukong was born a monkey or a stone!"
"I want Xu Xian battling the White Snake Lady!"
"It's Fahai battling the White Snake Lady! Xu Xian's her husband!"
"Oh!"
Qin Changqing smiled indulgently. Xu Xian and the White Snake Lady did have a child, so calling it "Xu Xian battling the White Snake Lady" wasn't entirely wrong...
Of course, he couldn't say that to the kids.
"Alright, then. We'll continue with Immortal Execution."
"Last time, Zhang Fan betrayed the sect, was saved by Biyao, and roamed the world as Ghost Li..."
Guan Zilan found herself utterly absorbed in Qin Changqing's vivid narration. She fretted over Zhang Fan's perils, her brows knitting; mourned Biyao's tragic fate with quiet sorrow; and smiled at the antics of the three-eyed spirit monkey...
This tale had only begun after her arrival, told to the children.
A graceful figure cradling a child stood silently by the window, gazing dreamily at the animated Qin Changqing. It was Huang Miaoying.
This man is so remarkably talented...
The thought bubbled up unbidden in both Guan Zilan's and Huang Miaoying's minds.