Naturally, Yang Genshuo would not let Lin Yue stay here. There were too many secrets here; it was unsuitable for anyone to live in.
He called a DiDi to send Lin Yue away, then returned to the study. Time in the game was still flowing at its normal pace. Yang Shi was studying the plain-language version of The Art of War, utterly engrossed.
He had been busy for most of the day. If he was not home, he feared something might happen in the game.
"The Yang Family's foundation is still too weak. One careless misstep, and the whole army could be wiped out."
"I need to hurry up and leave some descendants for the Yang Family."
"Let me make this clear first: I like Yang Shi very, very much. Even if he cannot cultivate, a lineage having only one bare-pole commander is still hard to justify."
"Xiao Bai will be an adult in another year. When the time comes... work hard and make babies."
When he had first seen Jiang Xiaobai's aptitude, he had already settled on this marriage. He would let them nurture their feelings for four years first; afterward, everything would fall into place naturally.
Last year, Yang Shi had learned a great deal more from Liu Wuhen. Liu Wuhen knew far more than Shopkeeper Liao, treating cultivation knowledge like treasures counted off from his own household, and had studied it deeply.
Shopkeeper Liao had once told Yang Shi that Liu Wuhen was by no means an ordinary Innate Grandmaster Realm expert.
Yang Genshuo deeply agreed. Liu Wuhen must have encountered some immortal opportunity.
Among them, one piece of common knowledge Liu Wuhen had mentioned about the Cultivation World confirmed Yang Genshuo's earlier suspicions.
It was almost impossible for ordinary mortals to give birth to a child with a Spiritual Root.
Only if at least one parent possessed a Spiritual Root could their descendants possibly produce offspring with Spiritual Roots.
Thus, everything was proceeding according to Yang Genshuo's plan.
Acceleration activated.
The cultivation world saw the sun rise and set as the fourth year of evolution began.
Year 3, Day 50. Every bone in Yang Shi's body thundered as his bone tempering reached great completion! Supplemented by the Qi Nurturing mental cultivation method of the Mind Illumination Formula, he successfully broke through to the Body Tempering Sixth Layer: Inner Force Infusing the Body.
The Yang Family's martial virtue increased. Incense Value +60.
New Blessing acquired—Tranquility: Rapidly calms one's state of mind and slightly increases comprehension. 2 Incense Value/person/day.
Due to the characteristics of the Mind Illumination Formula, Yang Shi's talent underwent a slight change.
On the fiftieth day after the beginning, something new happened.
"A new Blessing that improves one's mental state and comprehension. Two Incense Value a day—not bad. The latter five levels of Body Tempering are about Qi Nurturing, so it will come in handy during cultivation."
"Hmm, this can be used on Xiao Bai too. For cultivators, comprehension should be even more important, right?"
Use Blessing: Tranquility on "Yang Shi."
Use Blessing: Tranquility on "Jiang Xiaobai."
A thread of golden light entered the crowns of the two people in the manor. Their minds immediately became clear, as though they had seen through many things.
Yang Shi was experienced and said directly, "It is a blessing bestowed by the Yang Family's ancestors. Xiao Bai, hurry and thank the ancestors."
"Xiao Bai thanks the ancestors~"
Yang Shi, meanwhile, fell into thought.
Did the ancestor's blessing mean he approved of Xiao Bai?
He glanced again at Jiang Xiaobai, who had developed more and more beautifully and had already become a grown young woman. His expression turned slightly unnatural. He turned away and sat cross-legged to cultivate the Mind Illumination Formula.
Under Tranquility's enhancement, those obscure, incomprehensible parts that had clogged him up like constipation were swept away by a torrent of inspiration!
His inspiration erupted like shit bursting from the gates!
He comprehended the Dao on the spot, and the proficiency of the Mind Illumination Formula rapidly rose!
Seeing this, Yang Genshuo applied another Blessing: Vitality, using heightened metabolism to stimulate Yang Shi's brain and give it more energy.
At this moment, Yang Shi's character card had changed noticeably compared to two years ago.
Name: Yang Shi Identity: The Yang Family's sole heir, owner of Yang Family Board Game Teahouse, master of Yang Family Manor. Lifespan: 21/71 Realm: Body Tempering Realm, Sixth Layer Spiritual Root: None Comprehension: 30 (↑) Fortune: 10 Talent: Mirth-Seeker (Mortal Grade), Neither Laughing Nor Crying+ (Mortal Grade) Skills: Basic Fist Technique (Mastery), Dog-Beating Staff Technique (Mastery), Hundred Lightning Whips (Getting the Hang of It), Trace-Free Sword Technique (Superficial Understanding), Mind Illumination Formula (Beginner) Status: Qi Valve Body, Tranquility, Vitality, Pleasure.
"His lifespan increased by one year. Is this the effect of eating Spirit Rice for half a year? Not bad. Keep eating—aim to live to a hundred."
"Tranquility can increase comprehension by ten points. That's really good!"
From twenty points to thirty was a fifty percent increase. Yang Shi's comprehension had already been stronger than that of ordinary people; now he would stand out even more.
Among these changes, the one in the talent section caught Yang Genshuo by surprise.
"Why does Neither Laughing Nor Crying have a plus sign?"
Neither Laughing Nor Crying+ (Mortal Grade): Work efficiency fluctuates greatly according to one's mood. When happy, +25%; when downcast, -25%. (Affected by the Mind Illumination Formula)
This talent had actually leveled up!
"It used to fluctuate by twenty percent up or down, but now it's twenty-five. If he can maintain a good state of mind, that means five percent more martial training efficiency, and it's permanent. Not bad!"
"I remember Liao Cao saying that successfully cultivating a superior mental method could bring special abilities. For example, after cultivating the Overbearing Qi Formula, one's muscles become hard as iron and one gains immense strength. Liu Wuhen's Mind Illumination Formula strengthens existing talents. Each has its own merits."
Yang Shi was not following the fierce, hard-hitting path, so he had chosen Liu Wuhen's Mind Illumination Formula back then. Huzi, that one-track-minded brute, had been taught the Overbearing Qi Formula.
Time continued to flow.
Under the fourfold enhancement of Qi Valve Body + Vitality + Tranquility + Neither Laughing Nor Crying+, Yang Shi cultivated at an incredible pace!
Even Liu Wuhen praised him for having the bearing of a grandmaster.
Yang Genshuo had only four words to say about that: spending money to change fate.
Year 3, Day 66. Liu Wuhen brought his daughter Liu Zihan to Yang Family Estate, proposing that since Yang Shi and his daughter were of similar age, they should spend more time together. Liu Zihan was twenty this year. After recovering, she had become beautiful as a flower, cultured and courteous. Whenever her eyes fell upon Yang Shi, they were always brimming with tenderness. Jiang Xiaobai sent the Spirit Beast Little Flame to frighten Liu Zihan into tears.
Year 3, Day 76. Someone from Treasured Goods Pavilion headquarters arrived and asked whether Liao Cao had encountered any Ge Family swordsmen. Liao Cao said he had not. The person who made Fasting Cakes had also been persuaded to leave Bluestone County, and their whereabouts were unknown. The headquarters representative reminded Liao Cao not to become entangled in the Ge Family's karma, lest he invite a fatal disaster.
"Brother Yang, it seems the Ge Family still suspects us. If immortals come to demand answers, what should you and I do?"
"Don't panic. You only need to insist that you have never seen any swordsman. My master said that Qi Refining Stage cultivators are not omniscient or omnipotent either. Do not panic. Without evidence, Ge Family cultivators will not attack you, a branch manager of Treasured Goods Pavilion—especially when you are merely a mortal."
For cultivators to slaughter mortals was taboo in every nation.
Especially for a cultivation family with a name and reputation, they had to care about their family's standing.
After all, not every descendant of your Ge Family was a cultivator. Most were mortals.
If you did it today, other cultivators could freely slaughter your Ge Family's mortal descendants tomorrow.
These were the rules of the cultivation world that Liu Wuhen had told Yang Shi.
However, there was one exception to this rule—Innate Grandmaster Realm experts.
Before you continue