Eldest Senior Sister and the Little Junior Sisters

Liu Qinghui and the various elders were all wreathed in ecstatic joy and excitement upon hearing the news.

Yin Spirit Root! This was a spiritual root aptitude even more precious and rare than the Jade Marrow Cold Body!

"Congratulations, Sect Master!"

"Joy shared, joy shared—this is the fortune of our Taiqing Sect!"

Liu Qinghui's smile stretched so wide it seemed his mouth might never close again. With a wave of his hand, he declared, "Quickly send some vitality-replenishing pills to Junior Sister Guan. She's a great hero of our Taiqing Sect!"

"Yes!"

A month later, fully recovered, Guan Zilan cradled her child as she sought out Qin Changqing.

"Congratulations, Elder Guan, on the birth of your daughter!" Qin Changqing beamed, genuinely delighted.

"No one's around—just call me Zilan." A newfound tenderness softened Guan Zilan's expression.

Qin Changqing took the child, gazing into her bright, adorable eyes. His heart stirred as he chuckled, "She takes after you—such a beauty!"

A flicker of happiness danced in Guan Zilan's eyes. She pursed her ruby lips and said, "Name her for me."

Qin Changqing blinked in surprise, then grinned. Did this mean he'd finally earned her full recognition? For ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her to entrust him with such a thing meant he'd carved out a real place in her heart.

All those nights of tireless effort hadn't been in vain—he'd gotten his reward at last.

"Alright!" Qin Changqing paced slowly with the baby in his arms, pondering for a moment before murmuring, "How rare to have it both ways in this world, betray neither Buddha nor your beloved... How about Mengqing?"

"Betray neither Buddha nor your beloved..." Guan Zilan's beautiful eyes grew brighter and brighter. She knew "Buddha" from the Journey to the West stories Qin Changqing had told her.

Her gaze all but melted as she looked at him. "It's a perfect name. Mengqing it is!"

One had to admit, Qin Changqing's memories from his past life gave him an unfair edge when it came to charming women.

Two months later, Mei Qiuxue's child arrived safely, and the results of the test stunned everyone once more.

"A legendary Thunder Spirit Root! Excellent, excellent! Hahaha—"

This talent was on the same level as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Yin Spirit Root.

The Supreme Elder, Feng Jun, who held the child, threw his head back in triumphant laughter.

Though the baby wasn't biologically his, Mei Qiuxue was his dao companion on the surface, making him the child's official father.

How could he not be thrilled with such a prodigiously gifted heir?

"Enough gloating—hurry up and name the child!" Mei Qiuxue chided with a playful pout.

Feng Jun reined in his laughter, pondering deeply before announcing, "This child bears a Thunder Spirit Root. As the saying goes, 'wind follows dragon, clouds follow tiger'—wind, rain, thunder, lightning are inseparable. My son has the makings of an immortal and will achieve greatness. Let's call him Fengyun Lei!"

Two perfect variant spirit roots in a row—the Taiqing Sect's leadership had descended into frenzy.

"Senior Brother Sect Master, Qin Changqing's talent is simply too heaven-defying. Even with earth spirit roots, the results are this astonishing. If we could pair him with a heavenly spirit root woman, imagine—we might produce a child with a legendary Immortal Spirit Root!"

In the inner hall, one elder exclaimed in agitation.

The words ignited fervor in the others, their faces alight with excitement.

Liu Qinghui's white beard quivered as his eyes gleamed. Legends spoke of Immortal Spirit Roots manifesting with immortal spiritual qi at birth—bodies pure and flawless, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cultivation progressing at a thousand li per day, utterly free of bottlenecks.

They said anyone with an Immortal Spirit Root could ascend to immortality in a mere century, so long as they didn't perish prematurely!

"It's a pity... our Taiqing Sect has no women with heavenly spirit roots at present." Liu Qinghui sighed deeply.

The elders' faces fell in shared regret.

For now, they needed to play it safe, nurture these children to maturity, and let the sect grow steadily. Heavenly spirit root women would come in time.

——

"Changqing, this is our sect's chief senior sister, Nangong Die."

Elder Cao Feng, who had arrived on a magical treasure, introduced her with a hearty chuckle.

This Elder Cao Feng handled all of Qin Changqing's daily affairs. Given how vital Qin Changqing was to the sect, no detail could be left to outsiders—a dedicated elder had been assigned just for him.

Qin Changqing eyed the chief senior ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sister before him and found himself quietly impressed.

She stood out from the crowd. Unlike the others with their neat daoist buns, she'd simply gathered her hair into a high ponytail at the back of her head—youthful, vibrant, free-spirited, and open.

"You're Qin Changqing?"

Her attire was more casual than most sect women's, yet uniquely stylish. Curiosity sparkled in her bright eyes as she cupped her hands in a bold, straightforward salute.

Qin Changqing hurriedly returned the gesture. "Changqing pays respects to Eldest Senior Sister."

"No need for such formality—we're all sect disciples, one big family." Nangong Die waved it off casually. "This place of yours has great surroundings and abundant spiritual qi. I'll be staying here from now on—no objections?"

Qin Changqing glanced instinctively at Elder Cao Feng, who nodded. Only then did he smile. "It's my honor."

Nangong Die flashed a satisfied grin and strolled right into the residence, hands clasped behind her back.

"Changqing, Junior Nephew Nangong is in your hands now. Here's some spirit stones."

Elder Cao Feng handed over a storage pouch, gave a few instructions, then departed on his magical treasure.

That very night, Nangong Die entered Qin Changqing's room. After some friendly exchange, the familiar multiple-choice question appeared before him once more.

Stick with option five!

"Junior Brother Changqing, focus!" Nangong Die's dissatisfied voice rang in his ear.

……

In the days that followed, the sect sent over one outstanding disciple after another: the second inner disciple senior sister, the third, and so on. They even delivered two brand-new junior sisters.

These two little junior sisters were prodigies themselves—one named Xu Man with an Earth Spirit Root, the other Wu Menglan with the rare Innate Fire Spirit Body!

In the darkness, Wu Menglan's delicate brows furrowed tight, a faint sound of pain escaping her lips.

Qin Changqing's heart filled with pity!

Lately, he'd been entangled with the sect's higher-realm women—elders and peak masters in their hundreds of years, their cultivation intense.

The intensity had been dialed too high!

As the saying went, women at thirty were like wolves, at forty like tigers... Immortal women past a hundred? They were like furnaces, liable to melt him outright.

Suddenly faced with tender little junior sisters like fresh-bloomed roses, he had to be gentle.

……

The familiar multiple-choice prompt surfaced again.