Superior Spiritual Root, Shocking the Family
“Was that mess last time Qifeng's doing?”
Qin Changqing's eyes widened.
About half a year ago, Jia Qiang had suddenly shown up at the courtyard gate in a rage, cursing up a storm while covered head to toe in filth. Everyone had laughed at him for ages.
Jia Qiang had lost all face over it and nursed a grudge ever since, but he'd never figured out who'd done it.
“That little rascal! Just wait till I get home and deal with him!” Qin Changqing knew his second son was a handful, but he hadn't realized the kid had this much nerve.
The Spirit Burst Talisman was a basic talisman that didn't even need spiritual power to activate—just a spirit stone would set it off. Its power wasn't huge, but more than enough to blow up a latrine pit.
Qin Mengrou said, “It wasn't just Second Brother. Third Brother, Sixth Brother, Little Brother Qipeng, and even Little Brother Qihu from the Xu family...”
Qin Mengrou ticked them off on her tiny fingers, one by one. Qin Changqing's mouth twitched as he listened.
Well, damn—a whole gang of them! Even Qin Qipeng was in on it? No wonder Jia Qiang got what was coming to him!
“You kids... you really don't give me a moment's peace. No more stunts like that from now on, got it? When we get home, Dad'll make you some spicy rabbit heads!” Qin Changqing scooped up Qin Mengyao and headed into the schoolhouse.
“Rabbits are so cute... why eat their heads?”
“Fine, no heads then?”
“I want rabbit legs.”
“...Alright.”
Another three years flew by.
Qin Changqing's residence was now the grandest among all the son-in-laws', thanks to his terrifying brood of forty-nine children. It had to be big—and the Qin family had specially approved the expansion. After all, who could argue with results like that?
“Husband, do you think Qiming might have a spiritual root?”
That morning, Qin Weiwei fussed over Qin Changqing's robes, her voice laced with worry.
Six years had passed, but Qin Changqing's face hadn't aged a day—thanks to the system and its spirit stones extending his lifespan, locking his looks at their absolute peak.
“Don't worry. Our boy's gonna turn out just fine!” Qin Changqing grinned.
“How can you be so sure?” Qin Weiwei shot him a playful glare.
Pfft, it's my enhanced seed—of course I know.
Qin Changqing just chuckled without answering.
The Qin family plaza was already filling up with people—Qin clansmen and visiting son-in-laws with their kids in tow.
“Wonder if we'll see any immortal seedlings today. Last year, we didn't get a single one.”
“Who knows? It's all luck. Could be a bunch pop up out of nowhere!”
“Eh, I'm not holding my breath. Even one low-grade spiritual root would be a blessing!”
The crowd buzzed with chatter.
Once everyone had gathered, Qin Wenbo stepped to the center and called out, “Qin Jiang!”
A six- or seven-year-old boy shot up from the crowd and scampered over.
Qin Changqing might've been the first son-in-law from their batch to have kids, but the Qin family was massive—not just their group of grooms, and the main branch had heirs of their own. At least a dozen or so kids got tested every year.
Qin Wenbo nodded. “Put your hand on the spirit-testing stone. Empty your mind.”
Qin Qiling did as told.
After a dozen breaths or so, nothing happened. The crowd let out a collective sigh.
Disappointment flickered in Qin Wenbo's eyes. He waved the boy off. “No spiritual root aptitude. Next!”
Qin Qiling bit his lip as he trudged back to his parents, then burst into sobs. He knew what it meant—no spiritual root, just a mortal life ahead.
His parents looked crestfallen too, but they quickly pulled him into a hug, murmuring comforts.
“Qin Yu—no spiritual root. Next!”
...
“Qin Shan—no spiritual root. Next!”
...
Qin Wenbo's flat voice droned on, hearts rising and falling with each call amid waves of groans.
“Qin Xiaoyue—low-grade spiritual root!”
Qin Wenbo's voice carried a hint of delight, sparking cheers across the plaza. Eyes turned to the little girl by the stone.
“Congrats, Brother Zhou—a fine daughter!” The crowd cupped their hands in distant salute.
A burly man with a swarthy face stood, beaming as he returned the gesture, grin splitting his face.
“Excellent!” Qin Wenbo smiled, ruffling Qin Xiaoyue's hair. “Go back to your father for now.”
That was the perk of being an immortal seedling—the other kids hadn't gotten that kind of warmth.
“Next, Qin Qiming!”
Qin Wenbo's call made Qin Qiming tense up. He glanced back at Qin Changqing.
Qin Changqing gave his shoulder a reassuring pat and a smile. “Go on—you're gonna be the best!”
Qin Qiming stepped forward. Qin Wenbo knew the boy well, after all—he was the son of the Qin family's top stud. He'd even visited when the kid was born.
Following instructions, Qin Qiming placed his hand on the spirit-testing stone.
Whoosh!
Instantly, the stone blazed with light—far brighter than Qin Xiaoyue's glow.
The plaza fell silent, then exploded in gasps.
“Heavens, am I seeing this right? A superior spiritual root?”
“Hasn't been a superior one from the Qin family in over a decade!”
“Whose kid is that? I'm green with envy!”
Qin Wenbo's face lit up with shock and joy. He'd had low expectations for Qin Qiming—Qin Changqing bred like a machine, after all. Quantity up usually meant quality down. What a surprise!
Qin Xiaoyue's earlier shine was utterly eclipsed.
“Excellent, excellent! What a fine boy!” Qin Wenbo laughed heartily, scooping Qin Qiming up and turning to grin at Qin Changqing. “Brother Changqing, you've got one hell of a son!”
Qin Changqing returned the cupped-hands salute with a smile, cool as ever inside.
Tch, this is nothing. A single superior root and you're all losing it? If you knew all my kids were superior-grade, your eyes would pop out.
Wait, no—not all. There's that perfect one, but that's staying under wraps.
In the crowd, Jia Qiang stared in stunned disbelief. He'd come hoping to see Qin Changqing flop—the guy had nearly fifty kids in seven years, like some beast! Meanwhile, he'd scraped by with just Qin Qipeng in six. It grated on him.
But not only was Qin Changqing prolific, the quality was top-tier. Jia Qiang's fragile ego shattered.
Bathing in the crowd's envious stares, Qin Changqing's lips curved up. Pride swelled in his chest.
That's my boy.
“Brother Changqing, this is the family's reward for you—two hundred spirit stones!”
Back at the Qin residence, Qin Wenbo arrived with two Qin elders to congratulate them personally.
Qin Changqing and his wife could feel the shift in attitude. No more brusque name-calling—it was “Brother Changqing” now.
The father rises by the son's glory. Another hidden perk from the system, perhaps.