First Time with a Nascent Soul: Perfect Variant Spirit Root!

Guan Zilan was fine with it all—nothing more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than a slightly improved impression of Qin Changqing. After all, they'd only just met, and she found him rather intriguing.

Huang Miaoying was a different story. Perhaps because they already had a child together, her heart began to pound uncontrollably as she gazed at Qin Changqing's handsome profile, utterly focused on telling the story. A flush crept across her cheeks.

Qin Changqing noticed the figures outside the window. Once the story was done, he stepped out, glanced at the child in her arms, and shook his head. "You're holding her all wrong. Sure, the kid's got an extraordinary constitution and heaven-defying talent, but she's still too small for that. It'll make her uncomfortable—you see? She's about to cry!"

Huang Miaoying let out an "Ah!" in a fluster, fumbling a bit. "Th-then... how should I hold her?"

As a new mother, there were still things she didn't quite get.

Qin Changqing chuckled and took the child into his arms, demonstrating gently.

Strangely enough, the moment the baby was in Qin Changqing's embrace, her scrunched-up little face relaxed instantly. Her tiny hand gripped his finger tight, and she burst into delighted "giggles."

"She's laughing! She's laughing!" Huang Miaoying exclaimed in delight.

Qin Changqing grinned. "Taking care of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kids is a skill in itself. You have to be attentive—figure out why she's crying, what she needs. You'll get the hang of it with time."

With the child swaying gently in Qin Changqing's arms, her eyelids drooped, and soon she was fast asleep.

Huang Miaoying stared at Qin Changqing, now radiating paternal warmth, completely entranced.

No denying it—a man who knew how to handle kids was irresistibly charming. In that moment, Huang Miaoying thought maybe spending her whole life with him like this wouldn't be so bad. A happy family of three, blissfully content—the mere image warmed her heart.

"Changqing..." Huang Miaoying spoke suddenly, her voice impossibly tender. "The baby doesn't have a name yet. Why don't you give her one?"

Qin Changqing paused, shooting her a surprised glance. "Me, name her?"

"Mm!" Huang Miaoying's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Qin Changqing pondered briefly.

He had plenty of children, but few he'd named himself—especially the talented ones, many of whom he'd never even met. That was one of his regrets.

This child in his arms had the best talent of all, so the chance to name her made him extra careful.

"Xi... How about Meng Xi?" Qin Changqing suggested. "Xi evokes the dawn sun, still slumbering beneath the waves, gradually rising to shine upon the world!"

He didn't mention the surname. With his current status, the Huang family would never let the child take his—something he knew full well.

"Meng Xi... Meng Xi!" Huang Miaoying murmured the name, her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes shining bright. In a soft voice, she said, "Perfect. From now on, she'll be Meng Xi!"

"Meng Xi, huh..." Inside the room, Guan Zilan echoed softly, her eyes lighting up too. "Sounds pretty nice!"

...

Time flew by. These days, Huang Miaoying often brought the child to visit Qin Changqing. The three of them strolled the courtyard, silver-bell laughter ringing out now and then. It was clear Huang Miaoying was truly happy.

Guan Zilan didn't stay cooped up indoors either. She'd venture out, casually pulling Qin Changqing aside for a game of go, then "accidentally" chatting about topics that interested her—or quietly asking him to continue Zhu Xian.

"Um... what happened to Lu Xueqi in the end? Did she end up with Zhang Xiaofan?"

"The immortal lady knows Zhu Xian too?"

"...I overheard bits and pieces by chance. If you don't want to tell, forget it."

"It's just a story. Since the lady enjoys it, I'm happy to share."

...

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

Qin Changqing had finally absorbed all the spirit stones.

As night fell, just as Qin Changqing was about to turn in, a faint, heart-stirring fragrance wafted in. He whipped around to find Guan Zilan had silently entered his room.

"Fairy Guan!"

Qin Changqing had known this day would come, but with her standing there now, he couldn't help feeling a touch of nerves.

This was a Nascent Soul cultivator, after all!

A mere Qi Condensation scrub like him, galloping across a Nascent Soul True Lord's body... What pose could even dream of such a thing?

"Are you ready?"

Guan Zilan had changed into an elegant pleated gauze dress, her icy beauty softened with a hint of allure. Bathed in candlelight, she looked even more breathtaking.

Qin Changqing's heart itched. Who could resist such an immortal beauty? Even with his growing immunity to women, facing a top-tier like Guan Zilan still stirred him like an eighteen-year-old.

"All ready!"

Qin Changqing took a deep breath and nodded.

Guan Zilan sat awkwardly on the bed, murmuring softly, "Then... let's begin. I have no experience..."

"Got it!" Qin Changqing smiled, snuffing the candle with a wave. In the darkness, his gentle voice rang out. "Relax, Fairy. Leave everything to me."

"Mm."

Her tense voice carried a hint of tenderness, her breath like orchid fragrance. "Tonight... you may call me Zilan..."

Qin Changqing smiled faintly, leaning close to her ear. Unable to hold back, he whispered, "Zilan... call me brother!"

Already tipsy with desire and inexperienced, Guan Zilan followed his lead. "Bro... brother!"

Hearing a Nascent Soul True Lord coo "brother" like that was like uncorking a volcano. Qin Changqing unleashed unprecedented power.

The long night stretched on, the beauty like a dream. At the humble door, guests were welcomed; layer upon layer of jade lotuses bloomed...

In the heat of passion, as Qin Changqing reveled in conquest, the system yanked him back to reality. The familiar multiple-choice prompt appeared.

"666, pick 6!"

"Begone!"

With his choice made, Qin Changqing dismissed the system outright. The emotionless thing ruined the mood.

Who had time for quizzes now? He wanted to hear Guan Zilan call him brother.

Deep in the throes, she was obedient, calling it smoothly.

Qin Changqing pushed further, having her call him "Dada." Lost in ecstasy, Guan Zilan obliged without question.

This world was all about calling "daddy," but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she had no idea what "Dada" meant.

Guan Zilan might not know, but Qin Changqing did—it satisfied his little kink, boosting his prowess by 999...

He didn't dare go too obvious aloud, settling for mental chants: "Nascent Soul True Lord, huh?" "Take that, Nascent Soul!" "Still a Nascent Soul?" "Surrender yet?"

Ancient sages were all lonely!

Qin Changqing ascended to sagehood, everything calm as still water.

Only then did he ponder spirit roots.

Over this time, he'd learned plenty about spirit root grades.

Spirit roots came in the basic five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth.

Heavenly Spirit Root meant a perfectly pure single-attribute root—the best most knew of.

But above that lay even superior ones.

Next were multi-attribute Heavenly Spirit Roots: perfectly pure roots in two or more attributes. Cultivation speed matched single Heavenly roots, but with multiple paths to choose from.

Each extra attribute meant another power, another dao. Later on, the advantages shone, dominating peers.

Above that: perfect variant spirit roots—fused Heavenly roots, born from perfectly blending multiple pure attributes into something new. Stronger than Heavenly: thunder spirit root, yin spirit root, yang spirit root, and so on.

Perfect variant roots offered terrifying cultivation speed plus unique abilities beyond the five elements—rare and potent.

They meant overwhelming combat power, sweeping same-realm foes or even challenging higher realms.

Late-stage cross-realm fights were incredibly rare.

Higher cultivation turned every minor realm into a chasm. For a Nascent Soul like Guan Zilan, advancing a single minor realm could take decades or centuries.