Bloodline Tree – [Clan Building]

‘Like that?’

Shu Yang adjusted the way he circulated his spiritual qi slightly, and he felt it made more sense.

‘Alright, good. The first step is done.’

Shu Yang had just finished polishing the last of the cultivation methods he had in his possession. At least up to the 4th stage of Qi Refining.

It had been a lot easier than he expected, taking him only a few days from start to finish.

‘I guess my comprehension is a lot higher now than when I first started doing this back in Baishu Village. Not to mention how much closer the connection to the Bloodline Tree is. It feels a lot easier to make these low-level cultivation methods suit me as well as they can.’

But he knew this was only the first step; the real challenge would be to combine them all and make a unique cultivation method that held a little of everything.

He guessed that the final result wouldn’t be much different than what he currently practiced. He had deduced his current method mostly from his Sword Bone, and that would still take precedence going forward as his most outstanding trait.

But he felt he should still be able to make it a tiny bit stronger and more versatile.

Either way, he was mostly doing it as a way to practice. He would definitely need to do it all over again once he got to the Sword Sect and came into contact with more cultivation methods.

‘It would be awesome if I could make a cultivation method that could stand out even among the ones practiced over there.’

‘Perhaps I could even figure out a way to combine it with the Shu Art for body cultivation.’

Shu Yang got up to his feet and shook his head. ‘That is still a long way off. One step at a time.’

‘I’ll probably need to get feedback from a few traits like ‘Clear Mind’ before attempting something like that.’

Shu Yang stepped into his house and saw his daughter, Tianyue, lounging on the couch.

“What are you doing sleeping inside in the middle of the day?” Shu Yang asked and flicked his daughter on the forehead.

“I’m not sleeping,” Tianyue answered with a frown, slapping away his hand. “I’m resting. Did you forget that you asked me to come up with a whole system of resource distribution?”

“I remember you being excited about the idea,” Shu Yang said. He had decided to abandon his plans of arranging a competition for his grandchildren; it was too much effort, and he had too many other things to do. Instead, he just went along with his old way of doing things, giving resources to those who needed them, could make use of them, or had earned them, all at his own discretion.

The family was still only three generations, and the most distant family relationship was cousins. It was fine to do things a little sloppily for a while longer.

Still, he knew that things couldn’t remain that way forever. There needed to be a system in place in the future to ensure resources were distributed fairly.

So he had tasked Tianyue and Tianzheng with coming up with it for him.

“It’s still tiring,” Tianyue answered.

“Then why aren’t you resting at your own house?” Shu Yang asked.

“Do you think I have a couch in my house?” Tianyue asked.

‘Oh, right. I forgot how scarce some things are here.’

“Okay, rest well. I’ll go see how the grandchildren are doing,” Shu Yang said, leaving his daughter be.

But before he stepped through the door, he hesitated slightly. “Have you decided if you want to come along to the Sword Sect, by the way?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” Tianyue lifted her head and asked with a confused expression.

“Just making sure,” Shu Yang said. He had not asked any of his children the question before, as there was still plenty of time to think it over.

But he had noticed that both Tianan and Tianren were struggling with the decision, and would ask him about the world of cultivation from time to time. Tianhu, Tianzheng, and Tianyi were all talking about it excitedly, obviously looking forward to going.

Only Tianyue seemed to not give it any thought at all.

“Aren’t we all leaving?” Tianyue asked, looking a bit worried.

“Everyone who wants to leave can go,” Shu Yang said. “I hope you all come, of course, but it’s your decision to make.”

“Well, I’ll go where the family goes, obviously. What’s there to think about?” Tianyue questioned.

“What if some of us leave and some of us stay?” Shu Yang asked. He wanted his daughter to come along, but he also wanted her to make an informed decision.

“Is someone staying? Tianan?” Tianyue asked.

“Not that I know. But it’s possible,” Shu Yang answered.

Tianyue frowned. “Well, I’ll still come along. I can’t miss out on an adventure like this. Besides, I’m curious about Teacher Jiangxi. You say she has a child now, but I just can’t believe it. I’ll have to see it with my own eyes.”

“Good,” Shu Yang said, smiling.

Stepping outside, Shu Yang was in a good mood. If possible, he really wanted everyone to go together.

‘Perhaps it’s good that Tianyue hasn’t married yet. It makes it easier for her to tag along. Nothing ties her down to this place.’

‘Besides, there should be a lot more talented and interesting men in the area of the Sword Sect.’

‘If she can’t find anyone she likes over there, I really don’t know what to do.’

He used to wish that his daughter would remain at home all her life, but he had started changing his mind about that as she grew older. Now, she was already 33 years old, and Shu Yang felt that she would miss out on a wonderful aspect of life if she didn’t start a family soon.

“Grandpa!” A boy yelled as soon as Shu Yang stepped outside.

“Xinchu,” Shu Yang called out with a smile. “What’s got you so worked up?”

The boy, Tianan’s third child, now 14 years old, ran up to him with an excited expression.

“I have something I want to test, and Dad said I should come to ask you about it,” Xinchu said with a cheeky grin.

“What do you want to test? Some alchemy?” Shu Yang asked, noticing the book he was carrying.

Shu Yang had taken out all the books he had brought from the north and encouraged his children and grandchildren to read them.

“Yes,” Xinchu said with a nod. “I want to see if we can use the Red Spring Flower instead of this Longing Lotus that they talk about in the book. If it works as a replacement, we can make our own Breakthrough Pills.”

“Oh? What makes you think that they can be exchanged for one another?” Shu Yang asked. He knew the Red Spring Flower was a common ingredient for various medicine soups used by martial artists, but he knew nothing about the Longing Lotus. He was pretty sure he had it in his storage ring, though, as he had stocked up on pretty much every type of spiritual plant that he could get his hands on and that wasn’t too expensive.

“I read about the Longing Lotus in this, and it should be similar,” Xinchu answered, raising the book in his arms for Shu Yang to see.

Shu Yang grabbed the book and started flipping through it. “How do you know the recipe for the Breakthrough Pill?”

“I read it in another book,” Xinchu answered.

‘I even got my hands on a pill recipe? I should also make some time to read through everything I brought back.’

He really hadn’t had much time for it yet, as most of his time was spent on spells and cultivation manuals.

“What happens if you boil the Longing Lotus for a day and a night?” Shu Yang asked.

“Er, it should say, right?” Xinchu asked.

“But I’m asking you,” Shu Yang said.

Xinchu scratched his head. “I forgot.”

Shu Yang rolled his eyes. “It becomes useless if you boil it for more than a few minutes. Have you really read this book?”

“I wasn’t focused on that part,” Xinchu said.

Shu Yang handed the book back. “Then read it again. I’ll give you the resources you need when you’ve actually put in some effort.”

“Right. Sorry,” Xinchu said, taking the book and running off again with an embarrassed expression.

‘Maybe I should arrange some competitions after all. I can’t let the ones brazen enough to ask for it get everything.’

Shu Yang thought about it and decided to announce an alchemy competition in a few weeks. It would let everyone some time to study. He would then give everyone the chance to show off what they had learned, and reward the ones who impressed him.

‘I’ll do the same thing for the other arts later.’

Just as Shu Yang was lost in thought, thinking about how to arrange everything, he felt a tiny rush of power in his bloodline.

‘A grandchild?’

He recognized the sensation straight away; it was very different from someone advancing.

‘But no one should have a child on the way, right?’

‘Don’t tell me Tianan has taken a mistress in secret.’

Shu Yang hurriedly connected to the Bloodline Tree and felt for the origin of his power boost.

‘Tianxu!’

Shu Yang could hardly believe it. His son had actually started a family while out adventuring.

‘How come I’ve never seen anything when I look over?’

Shu Yang decided to use his Bloodline Ability to see what was going on.

Straight away, he saw Tianxu’s face. But something was off.

He zoomed out, and Shu Yang frowned.

‘He’s not at home? He missed the birth of his daughter?’

Tianxu was currently walking leisurely along a road, looking in no rush to get home.

‘Don’t tell me he isn’t even aware of his child being born.’

“Ha!” Shu Yang let out a short laugh.

‘Looks like he has really forgotten who his father is, huh?’

‘Seems like it’s time to go over there and remind him.’