Chapter 26
Zan Moxuan hesitated for a moment before finally voicing the question that lingered in everyone’s heart.
“Grandfather…”
His grip tightened slightly.
“…Can we become immortals too?”
The hall instantly quieted.
Even the younger children stopped fidgeting.
Zan Yin looked at him, then at Zan Yunxiao, clearly curious but also nervous about the answer.
Zan Yunxiao did not respond immediately.
Instead, his gaze slowly swept across the gathered descendants.
As if he was seeing something deeper than flesh and bone.
In his vision.
Through the system’s clan interface.
He could faintly perceive the potential within each of them.
Some had weak spiritual roots.
Some had average talent.
But a few…
Carried genuine cultivation potential.
After a brief silence, Zan Yunxiao finally spoke.
“Of course.”
The single word caused several people to stiffen slightly.
Zan Yunxiao continued calmly:
“As long as there is spiritual root and talent, there is a path to immortality.”
He looked toward the younger generation.
“Many of you… already possess the qualifications.”
Zan Moxuan’s eyes widened slightly.
“…Really?”
Zan Yunxiao nodded.
“Yes.”
At those words, Shenyuu’s expression softened.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
For a brief moment.
A memory resurfaced in her mind.
When she was in her village, an immortal cultivator once passed through her village.
That man had selected children with talent… offering them a chance to step into a completely different world.
She had watched from afar.
Fascinated.
But at that time.
Her adopted parents forbade her to participate. So, she didn't know if she can cultivate or not.
Her window of opportunity had closed.
She never forgot that moment.
Now, hearing Zan Yunxiao’s words…
Something inside her quietly loosened.
“…So it’s not impossible,” she murmured.
Zan Yunxiao glanced at her briefly, noticing the faint emotion in her expression, but did not interrupt.
He calmly observed everyone in silence.
On the surface, he merely appeared thoughtful.
But within his vision, the clan interface quietly displayed the talents of each descendant before him.
His eyes first landed on Zan Moxuan.
[Mediocre Cultivation Talent]
Then Zan Yin.
[Mediocre Cultivation Talent]
Zan Yunxiao inwardly nodded.
“At the very least, they can cultivate,” he thought.
Although their talent was far from exceptional, entering the path of cultivation would not be impossible for them.
Their future achievements might be limited.
But they could still extend their lifespan and step beyond mortality.
His gaze then shifted toward Ranxi.
[Mediocre Cultivation Talent]
Again, average.
Nothing outstanding.
But enough.
His eyes landed on Shenyuu.
And this time, Zan Yunxiao raised an eyebrow slightly.
[Lower-Grade Cultivation Talent]
“Oh?”
That result somewhat surprised him.
Compared to the others.
Shenyuu’s talent was clearly superior to them.
Not a genius by immortal sect standards…
But within a mortal kingdom?
Her aptitude was already considered quite good.
After the inspection, Zan Yunxiao simply raised his hand.
A faint ripple of spiritual energy spread through the hall.
From his storage space, a simple-looking book appeared plain cover, but faintly glowing at the edges like it contained something far beyond mortal understanding.
He flicked his fingers, and the manuals floated gently toward the group.
“Take this,” he said calmly.
“Start cultivating from the basics.”
Zan Moxuan and Zan Yin received theirs carefully, while Ranxi held hers like it was something sacred. Shenyuu immediately began flipping through it with focused eyes, already absorbing the content.
Zan Yunxiao didn’t say much more.
For him, this was just the beginning.
A few months passed quietly within the Zan Family Grounds.
At first, it was difficult.
Zan Moxuan often complained that circulation felt like “trying to force a river through a needle.” Zan Yin struggled with focus, constantly comparing cultivation to political strategy and getting frustrated when it didn’t work the same way.
Ranxi progressed slowly but steadily, never skipping a single instruction.
Shenyuu, however, stood out again.
She was the first among them to successfully sense and guide spiritual energy through her meridians.
And soon after.
She entered 1st Qi Refinement Realm.
That alone shocked the rest of the group.
While the younger generation rested from cultivation and the courtyard returned to its usual calm, Zan Yunxiao sat alone in the main hall.
His eyes drifted slightly, unfocused, then the familiar system panel quietly appeared before him.
A faint glow only he could see.
[Mission Issued
Option 1: Teach the younger generation to cultivate
Reward: Star Thread Reflection
Option 2: Kill the Demon King in the Northern Region
Reward: 50 years of cultivation]
Zan Yunxiao barely even blinked.
“…Again with this extreme option.”
He leaned back slightly on the patriarch seat.
Then casually chose Option 1 without hesitation.
The system immediately responded.
[DING!]
[Congratulations Mission Complete. Reward Granted.]
A strange warmth spread through his mind and body.
At the same time, a new understanding surfaced naturally in his consciousness, like a technique that had always existed within him but was only now being revealed.
Star Thread Reflection
A defensive technique that felt delicate at first glance.
But when Zan Yunxiao analyzed it, his expression slightly changed.
“So it reflects attacks…”
He raised his hand lightly.
A faint thread-like shimmer appeared around his fingers, almost invisible, like starlight stretched into silk.
He continued reading the deeper understanding that came with it.
Reflects a portion of incoming spiritual or energy-based attacks.
Stronger against techniques, weaker against brute force.
Reflection scales with mastery.
Zan Yunxiao nodded slowly.
“Interesting.”
Not overpowering in raw defense.
But extremely effective against cultivators who relied on techniques.
A counter-style ability.
He closed his hand, and the threads vanished.
"This will be my trump card"
After obtaining the Star Thread Reflection technique, Zan Yunxiao spent several days familiarizing himself with its properties. The more he studied it, the more he realized the technique was far from simple.
Especially against cultivators.
“If mastered properly…” he muttered while examining the faint starlike threads around his fingers, “this could even turn an enemy’s own attack against them.”
But after understanding the technique, Zan Yunxiao no longer focused on himself.
Instead, his attention shifted toward the future of the clan.
One evening, he summoned Zan Wei to the main hall.
Zan Wei arrived wearing his usual loose robe, looking more like a lazy merchant than a core member of an immortal clan.
“You called, Father?”
Zan Yunxiao nodded and waved his hand.
A stone tablet appeared beside him.
The tablet was dark gray, covered with faint glowing runes that pulsed like veins beneath the surface, a Spirit Detection Tablet was given by the system.
Zan Wei raised an eyebrow.
“…What’s this?”
“A Spirit Detection Tablet,” Zan Yunxiao replied calmly.
“If someone places their hand on it, the tablet will react if they possess spiritual roots.”
Hearing this, Zan Wei’s lazy expression gradually became serious.
Zan Yunxiao continued,
“From today onward, begin recruiting.”
“Search for those with cultivation talent.”
“Children. Orphans. Anyone suitable.”
The Zan Clan was no longer just a family.
It was slowly becoming a true cultivation clan.
And every cultivation clan needed fresh blood.
Zan Wei crossed his arms thoughtfully.
“So we’re officially building a sect now?”
“A clan,” Zan Yunxiao corrected.
Then after a pause, he added:
“…For now.”
Zan Wei grinned slightly.
“I understand.”
Zan Yunxiao looked toward him one last time.
“While I’m gone, the family matters will temporarily fall to you.”
Zan Wei blinked.
“…Gone?”
“I’m entering seclusion.”
The atmosphere immediately shifted slightly.
Although Zan Yunxiao often secluded himself for cultivation, this time felt more formal.
Zan Wei slowly nodded.
“Alright.”
“I’ll handle things here.”
Zan Yunxiao trusted him enough for that.
Despite his obsession with money and lazy attitude, Zan Wei was surprisingly capable when serious matters arose.
After giving the final instructions, Zan Yunxiao stood.
Without unnecessary words.
He walked deeper into the inner grounds of the clan.
Toward the secluded cultivation chamber prepared beneath the mountain behind the Zan Family Grounds.
The heavy stone doors slowly opened.
Dense spiritual energy immediately flowed outward like mist.
Zan Yunxiao stepped inside calmly.
As for why Zan Yunxiao suddenly chose to enter seclusion.
The reason Zan Yunxiao chose the mountain behind the Zan Family Grounds for his seclusion was not without purpose.
A year ago, while inspecting the area personally, he had discovered something hidden deep beneath the mountain range.
A spiritual vein.
At first, it was only a faint trace of spiritual energy leaking from the earth, almost impossible for mortals to notice. But after investigating further, Zan Yunxiao discovered a massive deposit of spiritual stones buried beneath the mountain itself.
The entire mountain was practically sitting atop a spiritual vein.
And not a weak one.
Ever since then, the surrounding spiritual energy around the Zan Clan Grounds had gradually become denser year after year. Even ordinary people living nearby unconsciously became healthier, while plants and crops grew far better than normal.
Zan Wei even joked before that if this continued, chickens raised near the mountain might start cultivating too.
Because of this discovery, Zan Yunxiao ordered the construction of the cultivation chamber directly beneath the mountain.
The place was perfect for cultivation.