Chapter 18
Under Zan Yunxiao’s personal guidance, Zan Feilan officially stepped onto the path of cultivation at merely six years old.
The moment she successfully absorbed spiritual energy into her body for the first time, even Zan Yunxiao became slightly emotional inwardly.
After all.
Among all his children, she was the first true cultivator born within the Zan Family.
And from that day onward, Zan Yunxiao personally taught her every morning within the quiet courtyard of the manor.
Sword principles.
Meditation.
Spiritual circulation.
The fundamentals of cultivation.
Meanwhile, Zan Feilan displayed astonishing talent.
Not only was her comprehension extremely high, but her temperament was also naturally suited for cultivation, calm, patient, and focused far beyond her age.
Even the usually playful Zan Wei once muttered:
“This little sister is genius…”
Years quietly passed once more.
In the blink of an eye.
Another six years flowed by.
The once-small Solhaven Village had now completely transformed.
Wide roads gradually replaced muddy paths.
Merchant caravans continuously entered and exited the settlement daily.
New homes, markets, warehouses, and inns were constructed one after another as the population steadily increased.
The fertile land surrounding Solhaven became famous throughout nearby regions due to its astonishing harvests of grain and wheat.
Many merchants traveled enormous distances specifically to trade with Solhaven.
Some even permanently settled there after realizing the town’s potential.
And naturally.
The center of everything was the Zan Family.
The villagers respected the Zan Family almost like protectors blessed by heaven itself.
After all, ever since Zan Yunxiao settled there, Solhaven had only continued prospering year after year.
At this point, everyone already understood one thing clearly:
It was only a matter of time before Solhaven officially became a city.
Meanwhile, the Zan Family Manor had also changed tremendously over the years.
The once-simple home had gradually expanded into a grand estate filled with servants, guards, and attendants.
Yet despite the family’s growing influence, Zan Yunxiao still preferred living quietly and avoided unnecessary arrogance.
Inside the family.
Everyone had also begun walking their own paths.
In the imperial capital.
Zan Tianming had long since established himself successfully.
Not only did he rise steadily within the government, but he also eventually married and started his own family.
Now, he already had two sons of his own.
Whenever letters arrived from the capital, Xueyun would always smile warmly while reading about her grandchildren.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao occasionally fell into strange silence afterward.
I’m already a grandfather…
Yet physically.
He still looked like a young man in his twenties.
Every time he thought about it, the situation felt increasingly surreal.
As for Zan Wei.
He had completely become consumed by business.
At this point, his reputation as a merchant had already spread far beyond Solhaven.
His talent for negotiation, trade, and wealth accumulation was so absurd that even veteran merchants became speechless after dealing with him.
He seemed born to pursue wealth itself.
Many of the trade routes, merchant agreements, and development projects responsible for Solhaven’s future growth into a city were personally negotiated by him.
Even imperial merchants now treated the Zan Family with extreme respect because of Zan Wei’s influence.
Sometimes, Zan Yunxiao genuinely wondered:
“ Did this child accidentally awaken some Money Dao instead of cultivation talent…”
Meanwhile.
Within the quiet courtyard of the Zan Family Manor, moonlight gently illuminated the drifting leaves as the sound of sword strikes echoed softly through the night.
Zan Yunxiao stood nearby while watching his daughter practice.
At twelve years old, Zan Feilan had already grown into an extraordinarily beautiful young girl. Combined with her calm temperament and natural spiritual aura, she already carried the faint presence of a young fairy cultivator.
Her sword movements were smooth and disciplined.
Clearly, she had inherited considerable talent.
After observing for a while, Zan Yunxiao suddenly spoke.
“Feilan.”
The young girl immediately stopped and looked toward him.
“Yes, Father?”
Zan Yunxiao lightly smiled.
“How about a spar?”
The moment she heard that, Zan Feilan’s eyes brightened slightly.
“Really?”
“Mn.”
Without hesitation, she immediately adjusted her sword stance seriously.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao casually summoned the Heaven Moonveil Sword into his hand.
Shing~
The silver blade reflected the moonlight beautifully.
Soon.
The spar began.
Zan Feilan moved first.
Her small figure dashed forward gracefully as her sword slashed toward Zan Yunxiao with impressive precision for her age.
However.
Zan Yunxiao merely raised his sword lightly.
Clang.
The attack was effortlessly redirected.
Yet Zan Feilan did not become discouraged.
Instead, she continuously attacked again and again while using the sword principles he had taught her over the years.
For a brief moment.
Sword shadows danced beautifully beneath the moonlight.
Naturally.
The outcome was obvious from the start.
Within only a dozen exchanges, Zan Yunxiao gently tapped her sword aside before placing the tip of his blade near her shoulder.
The spar ended.
Zan Feilan lowered her sword obediently without complaint.
“I lost.”
Zan Yunxiao smiled faintly.
“You’ve already done very well.”
At this moment, Zan Feilan suddenly looked toward him with admiration in her eyes.
“Father’s swordsmanship is truly beautiful…”
She paused slightly before adding honestly:
“It feels like watching a goddess dancing beneath the moon.”
The moment those words entered his ears.
Zan Yunxiao’s expression subtly froze.
“…A goddess?”
“Yes,” Zan Feilan replied seriously. “Elegant and graceful.”
For a moment, Zan Yunxiao fell completely silent.
Then inwardly.
He sighed.
Truthfully, he had already noticed this problem years ago.
The Moonveil Severing Art was incredibly elegant and graceful to the point where every movement resembled celestial dancing rather than fierce combat.
Especially when performed beneath moonlight.
The technique looked overwhelmingly ethereal.
Beautiful.
Refined.
Almost… feminine.
At first, Zan Yunxiao ignored it.
But after practicing for years.
Even he occasionally felt strange using it.
Particularly when villagers or servants secretly watched him train.
Sometimes their expressions became oddly dazed afterward.
And now.
Even his own daughter compared it to a goddess.
Zan Yunxiao silently looked at the Heaven Moonveil Sword in his hand.
Then inwardly muttered:
Why does this sword art feel more suitable for female cultivators…
The more he thought about it.
The stranger it felt.
At this point, Zan Yunxiao genuinely suspected the system intentionally gave him an excessively feminine sword technique.
For a brief moment, he even wondered:
Does this look weird when I use it…
Meanwhile, Zan Feilan remained completely unaware of her father’s internal struggle.
Instead, she looked at him seriously and said:
“Father, when I grow up, I want swordsmanship as beautiful as yours.”
Hearing this.
Zan Yunxiao paused briefly.
Then suddenly felt somewhat relieved inwardly.
…Fine.
At least my daughter truly suits this technique.
While Zan Yunxiao was still inwardly questioning the dignity of his sword technique, a gentle voice suddenly drifted into the courtyard.
“Husband, Feilan… come inside. Dinner is ready.”
Both father and daughter turned around.
Jin Feixue stood near the courtyard entrance while smiling softly beneath the warm lantern light.
Years had passed, yet because of cultivation, her appearance remained youthful and graceful like before. Instead, her temperament had only become gentler and more refined over time.
Seeing her, Zan Feilan immediately sheathed her sword and happily ran toward her mother.
“Mother!”
Jin Feixue smiled warmly and gently fixed the slightly messy hair of her daughter.
Meanwhile, Zan Yunxiao slowly walked behind them while storing the Heaven Moonveil Sword back into his system space.
As cultivators.
They technically no longer needed mortal food to survive.
Especially Zan Yunxiao whose Foundation Establishment cultivation already allowed him to endure long periods without eating.
Yet despite that.
The Zan Family still preferred eating together daily.