Night fell, and Qin Guiya stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky.
Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the ancient tree swayed gently under the moonlight.
In just over half a year, he had transformed from a Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator who was despairing of his Dao path into a fortunate individual with a Spirit Body son, a mysterious ancient tree, and talent in the Dao of Pills.
Qin Yuexian's birth seemed to have opened a brand new door.
What lay behind that door, Qin Guiya could not yet imagine.
But he knew that from now on, his path of cultivation would no longer be solitary.
One night, in the Immortal Cave.
Qin Guiya leaned over, looking at his sleeping son, and gently touched the infant's brow with his fingertip.
A wisp of Divine Sense carefully probed, and the trajectory of the spiritual power circulating within Qin Yuexian's body immediately became clear.
Among the three Main Branches, the azure wood Spiritual Qi was the most potent, while the blue water Spiritual Qi and yellow earth Spiritual Qi circulated obediently around it.
"Nine inches for wood, six inches for water, five inches for earth..."
Qin Guiya murmured softly.
Such Three Spiritual Roots Aptitude would be an excellent choice in any School, because a Spiritual Root length exceeding nine inches was already comparable to Dual Spiritual Roots Aptitude.
But compared to the truth of the "Azure Wood Spirit Body" displayed on the stone tablet, it was a world of difference.
"Is Husband checking Yue Xian's Spiritual Roots again?"
Liu Qingchan walked in, wearing an outer garment, her hair still disheveled from waking up.
She naturally leaned against Qin Guiya's shoulder, her gaze gently falling upon the child.
Qin Guiya put his arm around her waist: "I must ensure the disguise is foolproof."
As he spoke, the ancient tree in his Sea of Consciousness swayed gently, seemingly understanding his thoughts, and a subtle green ripple gently covered Qin Yuexian's body.
Immediately after, the astonishing wood Spiritual Qi within the infant's body was suppressed, only exhibiting the fluctuations expected of ordinary Three Spiritual Roots.
Qin Guiya looked at his Dao Companion and found that she had not noticed the green ripple, clearly only he was aware of the ancient tree's actions.
He probed the infant's Spiritual Roots again, and after finding that the wood Spiritual Root was only six inches, his heart felt a little more at ease.
Ever since discovering his son was an Azure Wood Spirit Body, Qin Guiya had been worried day and night.
In a large Family like the Qin Family, talented disciples often found themselves without control over their own destiny.
If the Main Branch knew that a Spirit Body had emerged from a collateral branch, they would either forcefully take him for their own use, or... secretly eliminate him.
Of course, it was highly probable they would take him for their own use, after all, a Spirit Body Cultivator was a highly valued existence, appearing only once in a thousand years in Void Refining powers.
It was said that the Qin Family's current Refining Void Ancestor possessed a Fire Spirit Body.
Qin Guiya hoped to wait until Qin Yuexian's mind was mature before the Main Branch discovered he possessed a Spirit Body; by then, he would be able to control his own thoughts and not become a Puppet of the Main Branch's Elders.
"Are we really going to the Spirit Testing Hall?"
Liu Qingchan bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with worry, "Can't we... not go?"
Qin Guiya shook his head with a bitter smile: "The Clan rules are strict; all newborns must have their Spiritual Roots tested at one month old."
He gently stroked his wife's tense back, "Don't worry, for now, the Spirit Testing Pillar will only show ordinary Three Spiritual Roots."
Liu Qingchan buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled:
"This concubine is just afraid... Yue Xian is still so small..."
How could Qin Guiya not be worried?
But the Spirit Testing ceremony was a Qin Family rule that had been passed down for a thousand years; even the Clan Chief's son was no exception.
Fortunately, the Spirit Testing Pillar could only detect Spiritual Root attributes and strength, not special Physiques.
As long as the Spiritual Root data appeared normal, it shouldn't attract too much attention.
"Oh, right,"
Qin Guiya changed the subject, "How is your cultivation progressing lately?"
At the mention of this, Liu Qingchan's eyes lit up: "I've already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"
She held out her palm, and a wisp of vibrant green spiritual power appeared, within which were tiny specks of golden light, "And my spiritual power seems... a bit special."
Qin Guiya swept it with his Divine Sense, and his heart trembled slightly.
The purity of this spiritual power was already comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator, and those golden specks... he had seen similar patterns on the ancient tree's leaves.
It seemed that frequent Dual Cultivation and taking Flawless Pills were causing subtle changes in Liu Qingchan's Aptitude.
"Continue taking Flawless Pills."
Qin Guiya took out a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, containing ten second-grade Flawless Spirit Nurturing Pills, "These should help you Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage."
Liu Qingchan took the jade bottle, but hesitated to speak.
Qin Guiya knew what she wanted to say—all the Flawless Pills he had refined during this period had been given to her.
This was an incredible thing in the cultivation world; who would give all their precious resources to their Dao Companion and not use any themselves?
"My Golden Core Stage cultivation means second-grade Flawless Pills have limited effect, and my current goal is to Break through the Bottleneck."
Qin Guiya explained lightly, "And your Realm is low, so your improvement will be fast, which is good for the entire Family."
The word "Family" made Liu Qingchan's eyes redden slightly.
She suddenly stood on tiptoe and lightly pecked Qin Guiya's lips: "Husband is too good to this concubine..."
This intimate gesture warmed Qin Guiya's heart.
Since the child's birth, Liu Qingchan had become even more gentle and charming; the timidity of their first meeting had long disappeared, replaced by an inner resilience.
In the Sea of Consciousness, the ancient tree's fourth leaf had fully grown, and the fifth bud had also poked out its tip.
Qin Guiya noticed that ever since Qin Yuexian's birth, even with reduced Dual Cultivation frequency, the ancient tree's growth rate had actually accelerated.
It seemed that if his Dao Companion's cultivation improved, it also had an effect on the growth of these tender leaves, even far surpassing simple Yin and Yang intercourse.
"Husband..."
Liu Qingchan suddenly spoke softly, "This concubine has something to say..."
"Hmm?"
"This concubine thinks... Husband should perhaps consider taking a concubine."
Liu Qingchan's voice became softer and softer, "To further extend the Bloodline..."
Qin Guiya was stunned.
This was the fourth time Liu Qingchan had suggested taking a concubine.
Before, he thought it was just a test, but he didn't expect her to be serious.
Thinking about it carefully, ever since giving birth, Liu Qingchan had indeed intentionally reduced their intimate moments, always refusing on the grounds that her body had not recovered.
Now it seemed she was worried she couldn't satisfy her Dao Companion's needs... "You don't have to be like this."
Qin Guiya held her hand.
Liu Qingchan shook her head, a complex light flickering in her eyes:
"This concubine heard that having many children and many blessings is equally important in the cultivation world. Why is Second Uncle's branch so stable in Peach Forest Island? Isn't it because they are prosperous with descendants?"
This was indeed true.
Second Uncle Qin Faha, relying on the Family's unique "Impregnating Immortal Pill," had over twenty children, and more than a hundred grandchildren.
In a cultivation Family, the number of Bloodline descendants often signified the Foundation of power.
"And..."
Liu Qingchan's voice grew even softer, "This concubine wants to give Yue Xian some siblings, so he won't be lonely in the future..."
Qin Guiya's heart softened.
He had grown up in a cold cultivation Family since childhood; how could he not understand the difficulties of an only child?
If Yue Xian could have a few Bloodline-connected siblings to support each other, it would indeed be beneficial to him.
"I will consider it."
He finally nodded, "But we must find someone trustworthy."
He did want to see what a second Dao Companion could bring him; his first Dao Companion was an Enlightenment Leaf, so his second Dao Companion should not be bad, right?
Liu Qingchan visibly relaxed, a smile reappearing on her face:
"Second Uncle knows many people, perhaps he can..."
That afternoon, Qin Guiya went alone to Second Uncle Qin Faha's Immortal Cave.
This was an elegant courtyard built deep in the peach forest, and the sounds of children playing could be heard from afar.
Second Uncle's branch was indeed prosperous with descendants.