Chapter 7
Four months quietly passed after the birth of Zan Wei.
The once peaceful wooden house had become even livelier with the presence of another child. Xueyun spent most of her days caring for baby Zan Wei, while Tianming gradually grew more energetic as he got older, constantly asking questions about the outside world and the legends of immortals.
This morning, sunlight gently illuminated the village roads as Zan Yunxiao and Zan Tianming walked outside together. Nearby, villagers worked in the rice fields as usual, creating the calm atmosphere of ordinary mortal life.
Zan Tianming suddenly looked up at his father.
“Dad,” he called sincerely, his young eyes filled with expectation, “can I become an immortal master like you someday?”
The moment those words entered his ears, Zan Yunxiao fell silent.
His footsteps unconsciously slowed.
For a brief moment, he did not know how to answer.
Because he already knew the truth.
Zan Tianming…
Had no spiritual root.
And without a spiritual root, stepping onto the path of cultivation was nearly impossible.
A heavy feeling quietly surfaced within Zan Yunxiao’s heart.
He could already imagine the future clearly.
As time passed, he would continue living for centuries while his son gradually aged like an ordinary mortal. One day, he would eventually watch Tianming grow old and die before him.
Just the thought alone made his chest tighten slightly.
Silently, Zan Yunxiao called inwardly.
“System… is there another Reconstruction Pill?”
The mechanical voice quickly responded.
[No additional Reconstruction Pills are available.]
The hope that had just surfaced in Zan Yunxiao’s heart immediately dimmed slightly.
However, the system continued.
[Host may gather the required materials and refine another pill personally.]
The moment he heard this, Zan Yunxiao’s eyes instantly brightened again.
“There’s a way?” he asked immediately. “Where are the materials?”
A brief silence followed.
Then the system answered calmly.
[The required materials do not exist within this world.]
Zan Yunxiao froze.
“What do you mean—”
But before he could finish speaking, realization suddenly struck him like lightning.
If the materials did not exist in this world…
Then that meant only one thing.
They existed in another world.
The small spark of hope within his heart instantly became distant once more.
Another world.
Such a thing was far beyond his current reach.
A faint helplessness quietly appeared on Zan Yunxiao’s face as he lowered his gaze toward Tianming beside him.
The child was still looking at him expectantly, completely unaware of the cruel reality.
Seven years quietly flowed by like drifting clouds across the endless heavens.
Within those passing years, the Zan household changed greatly.
Zan Tianming had already grown into a young man full of vitality, while little Zan Wei also gradually became mischievous and lively throughout the village. As for Zan Yunxiao and Xueyun, both had long stepped beyond the boundaries of ordinary mortals.
Inside the wooden house, spiritual energy quietly circulated through the room.
Zan Yunxiao sat cross-legged upon a cultivation mat while faint streams of Qi revolved around his body like invisible mist. Beside him, Xueyun was also cultivating peacefully.
Seven years earlier, after consuming the Reconstruction Pill, Xueyun’s body had completely transformed. Her once mortal aura had become ethereal and refined, while her appearance gradually grew increasingly beautiful over time. Her skin seemed flawless like polished jade, and her temperament carried an elegant grace that made her resemble a fairy descended into the mortal world.
At this moment, a faint aura belonging to the 1st Qi Refinement Realm quietly lingered around her body.
After several breaths, Xueyun slowly opened her eyes and looked toward Zan Yunxiao beside her.
“Dear,” she called gently, “let’s eat.”
Hearing her voice, Zan Yunxiao also withdrew from cultivation and opened his eyes slowly.
“My love,” he replied calmly, “we’re cultivators now. Technically, we don’t need to eat anymore.”
However, before he could continue speaking, Xueyun immediately narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Grr… whatever,” she muttered while grabbing his arm. “We’re still eating.”
Without waiting for agreement, she directly pulled him up from his cultivation spot.
Seeing his wife’s stubborn expression, Zan Yunxiao could only laugh helplessly before following her toward the dining table.
Sometimes, he felt that no matter how powerful a cultivator became, they still could not win against their wife.
Soon, the two quietly sat together while eating breakfast.
At the same time, Zan Yunxiao casually opened his system panel inwardly.
[Name: Zan Yunxiao]
Cultivation Level: 9th Qi Refinement Realm
Cultivation Technique: Heaven Veiling Scripture
Age: 35 / 580
Body Constitution: Clear Spirit Body]
Zan Yunxiao silently stared at the panel for a moment.
“…Thirty-five years old already, huh.”
Yet despite those words, there was not the slightest trace of aging upon his face. Thanks to cultivation, he still looked no different from the young man he had been at twenty years old.
Thinking about this, Zan Yunxiao unconsciously became somewhat smug inwardly.
After all, remaining forever youthful was something countless people from his previous life could only dream of.
Beside him, Xueyun suddenly noticed the self-satisfied smile on his face.
She could not help but laugh softly.
“Husband,” she asked curiously, “why are you smiling like that?”
Zan Yunxiao immediately straightened his posture and answered shamelessly.
“Nothing,” he said confidently. “I was just thinking how lucky you are to have such a handsome husband.”
Xueyun blinked once.
Then a playful smile slowly appeared on her beautiful face.
“Oh?” she replied lightly. “Then you should also feel lucky, Husband… that a goddess-like beauty is sitting right in front of you.”
She leaned slightly closer, her smile becoming teasing.
“And not only that…” she whispered softly, “you can even keep me beside you all night.”
The moment those words landed, Zan Yunxiao instantly coughed awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Xueyun only laughed happily after seeing his rare embarrassed expression.
While Zan Yunxiao and Xueyun continued teasing each other during breakfast, a loud youthful voice suddenly echoed from outside the house.
“Dad! Mom!”
The couple immediately turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing at the doorway was Zan Tianming, who had already grown into a fifteen-year-old youth. His appearance carried traces of both his parents, his father’s calm features and his mother’s gentle temperament. Beside him stood his younger brother, Zan Wei, who was now seven years old and clinging to Tianming’s sleeve while curiously looking inside.
Seeing the two brothers together, Xueyun smiled warmly.
“What is it?” she asked.
Zan Tianming stepped forward with a serious expression rarely seen on his usually lively face.
“Dad,” he said firmly, “Mom… I want to go to the city.”
The atmosphere instantly became quieter.
Xueyun blinked slightly in surprise.
“To the city?” she repeated. “Why?”
Zan Tianming took a deep breath before answering honestly.
“I know I don’t have talent for cultivation,” he said calmly. “So instead… I want to become a government official.”
The moment those words were spoken, both Zan Yunxiao and Xueyun looked at him carefully.
Zan Yunxiao rested his chin on one hand before asking casually.
“And why do you want to become a government official?”
Tianming’s expression became even more determined.
“To protect this village,” he replied seriously. “And also… to help hide you from the outside world, Father.”
Pfft—
Zan Yunxiao nearly choked on the tea he was drinking.
He coughed repeatedly before looking at his son with disbelief.
“What exactly do you think I am?” he asked speechlessly. “Some wanted criminal hiding from the world?”
Zan Tianming immediately became slightly embarrassed after being scolded, but he still stubbornly defended himself.
“But Father,” he said seriously, “you always want to keep a low profile. If outsiders discover an immortal cultivator living here, trouble will definitely come someday. That’s why I need influence and authority first.”
Hearing this explanation, even Zan Yunxiao became slightly stunned.
For a moment, he quietly looked into Tianming’s eyes.
They were firm and sincere.
Eventually, Zan Yunxiao let out a helpless sigh as though admitting defeat.
“…Do whatever you want,” he said casually.
The moment he heard permission, Tianming’s face immediately brightened.
“Thank you, Father!”
Beside them, Xueyun gently fed little Zan Wei while watching the scene unfold.
“Are you really alright with this, Husband?” she asked softly.
Zan Yunxiao leaned back slightly before replying calmly.
“He’s already grown up. If he has his own ambitions, then let him pursue them.”
Xueyun looked at Tianming for a moment before softly nodding.
“If you say so.”
Meanwhile, little Zan Wei suddenly tugged on his older brother’s clothes with sparkling eyes.
“Big Brother,” he asked innocently, “if you become a government official… are we going to become rich?”
The moment those words came out, the room instantly became silent for a second.
Then Tianming laughed proudly.
“That’s right!” he declared confidently. “We’re definitely going to become rich!”
The two brothers immediately began chatting excitedly about wealth, authority, and grand futures while Xueyun smiled helplessly nearby.
As for Zan Yunxiao.
He quietly narrowed his eyes while observing little Zan Wei.
Where exactly did this child learn words like that?
For some reason, he increasingly felt that his second son seemed unusually clever compared to ordinary children.
Whether it was his quick reactions, strange curiosity, or occasional sharp remarks, Zan Wei often displayed traces of intelligence beyond his age.
“…Could he actually be some kind of genius?” Zan Yunxiao thought inwardly.
However, after a brief moment, he shook his head slightly and dismissed the thought.
“He’s probably just imaginative.”
After all.
Children often said strange things.
Right?