Chapter 17
Inside the quiet courtyard of the Zan Family Manor, the evening breeze drifted gently through the surrounding trees while the peaceful atmosphere of Solhaven Village remained unchanged as always.
At this moment, Zan Yunxiao sat alone beneath the pavilion while calmly observing the translucent system panel floating before his eyes.
[Zan Yunxiao
Cultivation Realm: 4th Foundation Establishment Realm
Cultivation Technique: Heaven Veiling Scripture
Age: 40 / 878
Body Constitution: Clear Spirit Body
Item: Heaven Moonveil Sword]
Zan Yunxiao quietly stared at the panel for a while.
Compared to years ago.
His current self had already changed tremendously.
A cultivator.
A noble.
A husband with two wives.
A father whose children each possessed extraordinary talents of their own.
Even his lifespan had reached nearly nine hundred years.
If his past self from Earth saw this scene, he probably would not believe it at all.
Yet despite all this.
Zan Yunxiao soon realized a rather embarrassing problem.
“…I actually don’t know how to fight.”
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it became.
Although his cultivation had already reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he possessed almost no real offensive techniques.
No sword arts. No movement skills. No divine abilities.
Even the Heaven Moonveil Sword, a weapon clearly meant for battle, was currently being used by him like an ordinary sharp blade.
If he truly encountered a powerful enemy.
He would probably rely entirely on raw cultivation pressure and instinctive spiritual energy.
That was hardly worthy of a cultivator.
Zan Yunxiao lightly tapped the table while frowning thoughtfully.
“I really need offensive techniques…”
The problem was.
He had absolutely no clue where cultivators normally obtained such things.
Since beginning cultivation, nearly everything he possessed had come from the system itself.
In truth, he still knew embarrassingly little about the actual cultivation world beyond rumors and assumptions.
At this moment, the Heaven Moonveil Sword suddenly appeared in his hand once more.
Shing~
The silver blade reflected moonlight beautifully beneath the night sky.
Zan Yunxiao slowly swung the sword once.
A sharp sword wind instantly cut through the air.
However.
That was all.
No sword intent.
No technique.
No profound mysteries.
Just brute force enhanced by spiritual energy.
Zan Yunxiao sighed softly.
“…This feels wasteful.”
A divine sword without swordsmanship.
A cultivator without combat arts.
While Zan Yunxiao continued pondering his lack of offensive techniques, the familiar mechanical voice suddenly echoed within his mind once again.
[Ding!]
[Mission Issued!]
A translucent panel immediately appeared before him.
[Option 1: Have a child with the second spouse
Reward: Moonveil Severing Sword Art
Option 2: Defeat the Demon King
Reward: 50 Years of Cultivation]
The moment Zan Yunxiao read the rewards.
His eyes instantly lit up.
“A sword technique…”
For the first time in a while, the system had finally offered exactly what he needed most right now.
As for the second option.
Zan Yunxiao merely glanced at it briefly before immediately dismissing the thought.
Defeat the Demon King?
Again?
He still had absolutely no information regarding the so-called Demon King’s strength or even whether the enemy was human or beast.
And if the mission was dangerous enough for the system not to mark it casually…
Then it was definitely not something he wanted to touch yet.
Zan Yunxiao had no interest in gambling his peaceful life for uncertain rewards.
Without hesitation, he made his choice.
“System,” he said inwardly, “I choose Option 1.”
The mechanical voice responded immediately.
[Ding!]
[Host has selected Option 1.]
[Mission Confirmed: Have a child with second spouse.]
The notification disappeared afterward.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao leaned slightly against his chair while holding the Heaven Moonveil Sword in his hand.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
Compared to risking his life fighting some unknown Demon King…
This mission was infinitely more acceptable.
Far safer too.
At this point, even Zan Yunxiao himself had begun noticing a pattern.
Whenever the system gave him choices.
One option usually involved courting death.
The other involved expanding the Zan Family.
And every single time.
The family-related option somehow became the better deal.
“…This really is an Ancestor System.”
Then Zan Yunxiao looked toward the brightly lit manor behind him where Xueyun and Jin Feixue were likely still talking together inside.
For a brief moment.
He silently fell into thought.
Then slowly stood up.
The Heaven Moonveil Sword disappeared into his system space once more.
A calm night breeze passed through the courtyard.
Meanwhile, somewhere within the manor.
Jin Feixue suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine for some reason she could not explain.
. . .
In the blink of an eye.
Seven years quietly passed.
Time flowed peacefully within Solhaven Village as the Zan Family gradually became more prosperous and lively than ever before.
Several years ago, Jin Feixue successfully became pregnant.
The entire manor celebrated joyfully upon hearing the news, especially Zan Yunxiao who immediately remembered the system mission the moment he learned about it.
Months later.
Under the warm light of the manor chambers, Jin Feixue safely gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
Her name was.
Zan Feilan.
And now, six years had already passed since her birth.
Morning sunlight illuminated the training courtyard of the Zan Family Manor.
At the center of the courtyard.
Zan Yunxiao stood calmly beneath falling leaves while holding the Heaven Moonveil Sword in his hand.
Seven years ago, after completing the system mission, he had finally received the reward he desperately lacked:
The Moonveil Severing Art.
It was an elegant yet terrifying sword technique focused on speed, precision, and crescent-like sword energy capable of silently severing enemies before they even realized they had been struck.
Over the years, Zan Yunxiao had continuously practiced the technique in secret.
Shing~
The sword moved gracefully.
A silver arc flashed beneath the sunlight like moonlight cutting through the air itself.
Several leaves drifting nearby were instantly sliced apart before slowly falling to the ground.
At this moment.
A small figure quietly sat nearby watching attentively.
It was Zan Feilan.
Although only six years old, her behavior was unusually calm and mature compared to ordinary children.
While most children played carelessly around the village.
She preferred quietly observing things.
Especially her father.
Her large eyes carefully followed every movement of Zan Yunxiao’s sword as though trying to comprehend something profound hidden within each swing.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao gradually finished his practice and withdrew the sword.
The Heaven Moonveil Sword vanished into his system space afterward.
Only then did he notice the little girl still watching silently.
“You’ve been sitting there for a while,” he said while smiling faintly.
Zan Feilan blinked once before nodding calmly.
“Father’s sword is beautiful.”
Zan Yunxiao chuckled softly.
“You understand swordsmanship?”
The little girl shook her head honestly.
“I don’t understand…”
Then her eyes brightened slightly.
“But when Father swings the sword, it feels… peaceful.”
Zan Yunxiao paused briefly upon hearing that.
Peaceful?
Most people described sword techniques as sharp, dangerous, or powerful.
Yet this little girl described it as peaceful.
Before he could respond further.
Zan Feilan suddenly asked seriously:
“Father… can I learn too?”
Zan Yunxiao looked at his daughter quietly for a moment after examining her body with his spiritual sense.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
“Of course you can.”
The moment those words entered her ears, Zan Feilan’s calm little face immediately brightened slightly.
Although she usually behaved maturely for her age, at this moment she finally looked like a normal child.
“Really?”
Zan Yunxiao nodded.
“You possess a spiritual root,” he explained calmly. “That means you can cultivate.”
The moment those words were spoken.
A soft breeze swept through the courtyard.
Meanwhile, Zan Feilan froze slightly.
Even though she was young, she already understood what cultivation meant within this family.
Her father and mothers cultivated.
They possessed long lifespans.
Power beyond mortals.
And now.
She could walk the same path.
At this moment, Zan Yunxiao gently placed his hand atop her head.
“From today onward,” he said softly, “I will personally teach you.”
Zan Feilan looked up at him with shining eyes.
Then she nodded seriously.
“Yes, Father.”
Nearby, hidden behind one of the courtyard pillars.
Xueyun and Jin Feixue had unknowingly been watching the scene quietly for some time already.
The moment they heard Zan Feilan possessed a spiritual root.
Both women immediately became overjoyed.
Jin Feixue especially covered her mouth emotionally.
“My daughter can cultivate…”
Her eyes even became slightly red.
After all, she knew very well how rare cultivation talent truly was.
Meanwhile, Xueyun smiled warmly beside her.
“Looks like little Feilan inherited her father’s talent.”