Yang Genshuo had long discovered that viewing others' Character Cards was an extremely useful tool, one that could help Yang Shi to seek good fortune and avoid disaster.
As long as he was within 100 meters of Yang Shi, he could flip through that person's Character Card and see their basic information at a glance.
Lately, with nothing better to do, Yang Genshuo took to flipping through the Character Cards of passersby.
He wanted to see if there really were any Cultivators in Qingshi County.
After one year, he had finally found one!
[Name: Jiang Xiaobai]
[Gender: Female]
[Identity: Beggar]
[Life Span: 14/100]
[Realm: None]
[Spirit Root: Five Spirit Roots (Metal:17, Wood:23, Water:20, Fire:20, Earth:20)]
[Comprehension: 20]
[Qi Fortune: 20]
[Talent: Wood Element Affinity (Earth Level)]
[Skill: None]
[Wood Element Affinity (Earth Level): Increases speed of Wood Element Cultivation Technique by 10%, increases power of Wood Element Magic by 10%]
"She came from outside, I saw her for the first time."
Yang Genshuo might not remember the faces of these filthy beggars, but such a striking Character Card definitely wouldn't escape his notice.
"Having a Spirit Root proves she can cultivate. Currently, she has no realm or skills, which means she has not yet stepped into the Immortal Cultivation World, a blank slate. I've stumbled upon a treasure."
Yang Shi does not possess a Spirit Root, and may never become a Cultivator in his lifetime, a concern for the Yang Family.
No matter what he achieves, even if he reaches the pinnacle of martial arts and becomes a congenital grandmaster, he cannot compare to even the lowest level of Cultivator.
"All is inferior, only Immortal Cultivation is supreme..."
Observing from a godlike perspective, Yang Genshuo felt this acutely, so he had to ensure that the Yang Family walked the Immortal Cultivation Path step by step, even if Yang Shi could not cultivate in this lifetime, his descendants must.
After observing Qingshi County for a year and listening to rumors from the Treasure Pavilion, Yang Genshuo had come up with some conclusions.
"Among the 70,000 to 80,000 people easily observed in all of Qingshi County, not one possesses a Spirit Root. In terms of statistics, this is already a large enough number to represent a phenomenon, which means the birth of a Spirit Root... is not random. If certain conditions aren't met, it's possible that no children with Spirit Roots will ever be born."
"And this condition... according to the knowledge of genetics from middle school biology, is likely related to whether the parents have Spirit Roots."
Cultivators are also human, and Yang Genshuo believed that some modern knowledge could be used to explain this phenomenon.
"In order for the Yang Family's descendants to have Cultivators with Spirit Roots, Yang Shi needs to marry a Cultivator as his wife!"
Yang Genshuo looked at the young beggar on the screen; even her mud-covered face began to look delicate and attractive.
"Five Spirit Roots, probably the lowest Talent, right? But it doesn't matter, having them is better than not. Moreover, she comes with the Earth Level Talent [Wood Element Affinity], her cultivation speed shouldn't be too slow. If she can step onto the Immortal Cultivation Path, in the future, she could become our Yang Family's..."
While muttering to himself, Yang Genshuo suddenly paused, his expression turning complex.
...
"Ancestral Grandfather, why take her in? What is exceptional about her?"
Yang Shi knelt in the ancestral hall and inquired.
A line of golden characters appeared in the air:
"The workings of destiny should not be revealed. Treat her well, and you will understand in time..."
As the golden text disappeared, Yang Shi was left with questions but didn't think too much of it. The Ancestral Grandfather was a great power among Immortals; there must be his reasons.
He walked to the front courtyard.
Jiang Xiaobai, who had just bathed and changed her clothes, had just come out. She was tilting her head, taking in the Yang Family's large courtyard with a lively and fearless look, very different from an ordinary woman's bashfulness.
After washing off the grime and ridding herself of the stench, Jiang Xiaobai revealed fair skin and a petite figure. Her tangled hair, once combed, became smooth, cascading from her shoulder. The delicate oval of her face complemented by her jet-black hair accentuated the youthful vigor and freshness that sprang forth from the girl.
Yang Shi, who had not dared to look a woman in the eye for 12 years, felt a bit awkward at this moment. His gaze darted away; he wanted to look but was too embarrassed to stare openly, forcibly maintaining the dignity of an elder of the Yang household with hands clasped behind his back.
"Master Yang... my name is Jiang Xiaobai."
"Oh, my name is Yang Shi."
"Master Yang is so young. How old are you this year? Are you engaged?"
"Eighteen, on my own."
"Then from today onwards, I shall live here, serving your daily needs and following your orders, if that's all right?"
"Fine."
"Are there any rules in the Yang Family I should know?"
"Yes, entering the ancestral hall in the back courtyard is forbidden. Step one foot inside, and I will cripple you and throw you out to feed the stray dogs."
"Understood!"
Jiang Xiaobai got a fright from Yang Shi, who stressed each word so seriously. Her body visibly shook.
Yang Shi, with his hands clasped behind his back, turned around, leaving Jiang Xiaobai with a profound and inscrutable silhouette, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly.
He had never lived with someone else before.
"Master Yang, what would you like to eat tonight? Would you like to bathe? This servant will go and prepare in advance."
"Hmm...rest for today, we'll talk about it tomorrow," Yang Shi paused before continuing, "No need to say the word 'servant,' just call yourself Xiaobai, and there's no need to address me as master either, simply call me..."
"Brother Yang?" Jiang Xiaobai ventured softly.
"That works too."
...
[A year has passed, and Yang Shi is conducting the ancestral worship ceremony in the ancestral hall.]
With a respectful expression, Yang Shi placed three sticks of incense and reported to the ancestral tablets:
"Thanks to our ancestor's gift of a safehouse, this year Yang Shi has transformed from an insignificant beggar to an esteemed Master Yang. My strength has improved by leaps and bounds, progressing from the second layer of Body Refining to the fourth layer. I thank the elder ancestor!"
"In the future, I will diligently practice martial arts to reach the innate grandmaster level as soon as possible and ascend upon the Xiang Family to avenge the deep-seated blood feud of the Yang Family!"
Yang Shi's gaze was resolute, a complete change from the self-deprecating jester of the previous year.
Bang, bang, bang!
With utmost respect, Yang Shi kowtowed three times, and as the smoke swirled, the offerings on the altar gradually disappeared.
[Yang Shi has successfully completed the ancestral worship ceremony]
[Incense Fire Value +10]
[You have received tributes from the members of the Yang Family: 20 doses of Qi-Boosting Blood-Tonic Powder and 10 Solid Essence Rejuvenation Pills.]
[Would you like to bestow rewards upon the descendants of the Yang Family?]
One day in the modern world is a year in the Immortal Cultivation World.
Yang Genshuo had been staring at the screen for a day without sleep.
"That feels better~"
Looking at the 20 packets of herbs and 10 porcelain bottles that appeared beside his computer, Yang Genshuo's tired face revealed a satisfied smile.
He had specially manifested once to designate the offerings for Yang Shi, so he wouldn't send over some so-called high-value junk.
In Qingshi County, although there were no cultivators, everyone practiced martial arts with a strong martial cultivation atmosphere.
The diverse medicinal supplements for martial cultivators were not only comprehensive but also of a quality that modern world medicinal materials couldn't match.
These two types of medicinal supplements were not only useful for martial cultivators, but also greatly beneficial for ordinary people. However, they were expensive and unaffordable for anyone but wealthy families.
As for their effects... they were straightforward and found in their names.
"After I bestow the rewards I'll eat one to test its medicinal properties."
As for the rewards for Yang Shi, he had already purchased them around 300 days into the game time.
"I admit that in your world there are superior natural materials than ours, but what if I introduce our modern food industry system? What would you do then?"
"Go, my shopping cart!"
He had ordered takeout three hours earlier, spending his last ten thousand in savings to clear out several supermarket shelves and buy some high cost-performance modern industrial food products. This was the best option he could quickly purchase at the moment.
Duang~Duang~
Five large boxes landed in the backyard, filled to the brim with colorful packaged food. Yang Shi respectfully kowtowed.
"Thank the elder ancestor for the generous reward~"
Then he picked up the instruction manual written by Yang Genshuo and began to read.
On the other end, Yang Genshuo couldn't wait to try one of the specialty supplements for martial cultivators from the Immortal Cultivation World.
He picked up a medicinal pill about the size of a Liuwei Dihuang pill and brought it to his nose for a sniff.
A unique scent of traditional Chinese medicine was present, accompanied by... strands of a fresh herbal aroma that made the pill not only inoffensive to smell but also gave a refreshing, decongesting sensation.
"Definitely good stuff, let's see how effective it is!"
"I hate it when it drips on my hands!"
He swallowed a Solid Essence Rejuvenation Pill in one bite and felt a cool sensation stream down his throat into his body. The strength of the sensation was so intense that he could even feel the outline of his own stomach.
The power of the medicine spread from the stomach, and coolness infused his blood as it circulated throughout his body. The sensation slowly spread everywhere, making him feel as if he had been cleansed from the inside, his vision became clear, and the fatigue from staying up a day vanished.
Then, as his blood flowed more vigorously, the medicinal power gathered in his kidneys, pulled by an unknown force.
Boom!
A gust of hot air burst out of Yang Genshuo's mouth, the coolness faded, and instead, a hot sensation rose from his lower abdomen.
"Hmm?"
Yang Genshuo felt a slight, unusual change in his body, as if he had returned to his eighteenth year when he dared to compete in strength against steel bars.
He promptly took out his phone and dialed his girlfriend's number.
"Wanting, hurry! Come to my place, I've got a surprise for you!"
"Don't dawdle, I'm really fired up right now!"