"Guiya? A rare guest!"
One of Qin Faha's Clones was in the courtyard, instructing several youths in sword practice. Seeing his nephew arrive, he waved for the Juniors to withdraw.
This Nascent Soul Cultivator looked like a middle-aged scholar, dressed in a green robe, with a refined face. Only the occasional flash of brilliance in his eyes revealed his profound cultivation.
"Nephew greets Second Uncle."
Qin Guiya bowed respectfully.
Qin Faha waved his hand, "No need for such formality among Family. I heard you had a big, healthy boy? Why didn't you bring him for Second Uncle to see?"
Qin Guiya was prepared, "Yue Xian caught a slight cold a few days ago. Once she recovers, I will certainly bring him to greet Second Uncle."
After exchanging pleasantries, Qin Guiya subtly revealed the purpose of his visit.
Qin Faha listened, stroking his beard meaningfully, "You want to take a concubine? It seems the Liu Family girl is quite virtuous."
He narrowed his eyes, "But your sudden enthusiasm for descendants... do you have some plans?"
Qin Guiya's heart tightened.
Second Uncle was indeed a Nascent Soul old monster; he saw the crux of the matter at a glance.
He had already prepared, and with a wry smile, said, "Nephew has Four Spiritual Roots Aptitude, and Golden Core Early Stage is already the limit. I'm thinking of leaving more Bloodline, which would also be worthy of the Family's cultivation..."
This reason was perfectly logical.
Qin Faha, as expected, believed him and sighed, "That's true. However, taking a concubine requires caution."
"Second Uncle is wise."
"How about this,"
Qin Faha pondered for a moment, "I have a daughter of an old acquaintance, surnamed Lin, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator, with good Formation talent. Her parents are deceased, and she has no strong backing at home. Her grandfather is also a Nascent Soul Cultivator, like me. If you are interested, I can act as a matchmaker."
Qin Guiya's heart stirred.
Formation talent?
This was exactly what he wanted.
A Formation Master is superior to many Spell Cultivators, as defending a mountain is more difficult than attacking it.
"I will leave it all to Second Uncle."
When he left Second Uncle's Immortal Cave, Qin Guiya had an extra jade bottle in his hand, containing three "Impregnating Immortal Pills."
It was said that this Medicinal Pill could greatly increase the chances of conception for high-level Cultivators and also increase the chances of giving birth to Immortal Sprouts, which was the key to the prosperity of Second Uncle's branch of the Family.
Returning to his own Immortal Cave, Qin Guiya went straight into the Pill Chamber.
Over the past few months, he had secretly refined a large number of Second-Order Pills, but had not sold a single one.
Although he only refined about one or two furnaces of Second-Order Pills each day, he had accumulated hundreds of them.
On the table, over thirty jade bottles were neatly arranged, categorized and filled with Spirit Pills, Spirit-Nourishing Pills, and Foundation Establishment Pills, with qualities ranging from fine to flawless.
"Counting the time, there are still five years. The Family should be assigning tasks soon. That will be a good time to go out and sell them," Qin Guiya murmured.
Selling so many Second-Order Pills within the Family would be too conspicuous, but if he went to a more distant market, he should be able to dispose of them safely.
Within the Qin Family, Golden Core cultivators are assigned tasks every ten years. Branch Cultivators like him are even more likely to be assigned to the outside world.
His last task was to guard a Family-owned mine for three years.
"Husband."
Liu Qingchan's voice came from outside the door, "Yue Xian's Spiritual Root testing ceremony is scheduled for three days from now."
Qin Guiya put away the Medicinal Pills and walked out of the Pill Chamber:
"So soon?" According to custom, a newborn's Spiritual Root test should be held when they are a month old, but Yue Xian was only half a month old.
"I heard a distinguished guest from the Main Branch arrived and wants to observe the Spiritual Root testing ceremony, so it was moved up."
Liu Qingchan looked worried, "Could there be a trick?"
Qin Guiya frowned deeply.
It was indeed strange!
His Divine Sense swept over the Ancient Tree in his Sea of Consciousness, and he felt a little more at ease:
"No matter, we will proceed as planned."
When night fell and all was quiet, Qin Guiya entered the Ancient Tree Space.
On the two mu of Spirit fields, the Third-Order Spirit Medicine was growing well, especially the two fire blaze bamboo, which were already over a person's height. Their stalks were red like fire, but their leaves were emerald green like jade.
The text on the stone tablet was clearer than last time. In addition to the Family member information, there was an extra line of small text at the bottom:
【"Bloodline continues, good fortune lasts forever. For every generation added, the Space advances one stage."】
"So it is!" Qin Guiya's heart trembled.
The growth of the Ancient Tree Space was indeed directly related to the continuation of the Bloodline.
This discovery made him even more determined about taking a concubine.
If he could have a few more descendants, the Ancient Tree Space might undergo even greater changes.
When he exited the Space, the sky was already showing the first light of dawn.
Qin Guiya quietly returned to his sleeping quarters and found Liu Qingchan and Yue Xian sleeping soundly.
The baby's small hand was tightly clutching a strand of her mother's hair, and a sweet smile still hung on her lips.
Qin Guiya stood by the bed, a warm current flowing through his heart.
This small Family was the most solid backing on his path of Cultivation.
And what he had to do was protect them.
Three days later, Thousand Eye Island.
The area in front of the Spiritual Root Testing Hall was bustling with people. Qin Guiya held Qin Yuexian, wrapped in swaddling clothes, his fingers tightening.
Liu Qingchan followed beside him, her fingers clutching his sleeve.
"Relax."
Qin Guiya transmitted a reminder, "The more nervous you are, the more suspicious you'll appear."
Liu Qingchan took a deep breath and forced a smile.
But Qin Guiya could feel the chaotic spiritual energy within her body—a sign of extreme nervousness.
The Spiritual Root Testing Hall was one of the oldest buildings on Thousand Eye Island, entirely constructed from "Spiritual Root Testing Jade."
The plaza in front of the hall was already packed with over a thousand families, all Qin Family members with newborns needing their Spiritual Roots tested recently.
"Eighth Brother!"
Qin Guiheng squeezed through the crowd, followed by a serious-faced middle-aged female Cultivator.
"This is Deacon Qin Guiyue of the Spiritual Root Testing Hall, in charge of today's Spiritual Root testing records."
Qin Guiya's heart tightened.
A Deacon from the Spiritual Root Testing Hall personally coming to greet them?
This level of treatment was too high.
He showed no emotion on his face and bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Deacon."
Qin Guiyue's gaze swept over Qin Guiya's Family of three, lingering especially long on Qin Yuexian:
"This is the infant born in May?"
"My son was indeed premature."
Qin Guiya replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.
"Follow me."
Qin Guiyue turned and walked towards the side door of the Spiritual Root Testing Hall, "The distinguished guest from the Main Branch wants to see you."
Liu Qingchan stumbled, and Qin Guiya quickly steadied her.
They exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and doubt in each other's eyes.
Why would a distinguished guest from the Main Branch be interested in a branch Family like theirs?
Passing through a deep, winding corridor, the three were led into a simply furnished stone chamber.
In the center of the stone chamber stood a three-foot-tall jade pillar, covered with complex runes—this was the Qin Family's Spiritual Root Testing Pillar, passed down for ten thousand years.
An old man in a purple-gold Daoist robe stood with his hands behind his back, beside him a dignified middle-aged man.
"Elder Liu, they have been brought."
Qin Guiyue said respectfully.
Elder Liu?!
Qin Guiya's pupils contracted slightly.
This Purple-robed Old Man was actually a member of the Liu Family!
No wonder Liu Qingchan was so nervous.
He quietly squeezed his wife's hand, signaling her to remain calm.
The Purple-robed Old Man turned around, revealing a face full of wrinkles but radiating authority.
His gaze pierced directly at Qin Yuexian: "Is this the child? Bring her closer."