Family Cultivation: My Ancestral Home Gets Infinite Upgrades

"I am Jiang Fu'an, and I pay my respects to Patriarch Wang."

Outside the crowd, Jiang Fu'an bowed forward and greeted the woman in front of him.

He didn't actually want to curry favor with this female cultivator in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, but the look she gave him just now clearly indicated that she wanted to talk to him about something.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he had no choice but to squeeze through the crowd and approach her.

Wang Zhiyue reached out her hand and offered a gentle support, her voice clear and crisp, like a mountain stream flowing through a valley:

"Fu'an, there's no need for such formalities. Thanks to you for providing the whereabouts of those people from Zhenyue Martial Arts School, our Wang family was able to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"Since we've run into each other today, I'll treat you to a meal at Juxianlou Restaurant. Would you do me the honor?"

Jiang Fu'an was taken aback.

He wasn't surprised that the Zhenyue Martial Arts School was completely wiped out.

He had guessed this outcome ever since he revealed the gang's hideout to Ma Ping half a month ago.

For a cultivation family to deal with a group of mortal martial artists is as easy as reaching out and picking fruit.

Why should Wang Zhiyue be so polite to me over such a trivial matter?

They even have to hold a banquet and invite guests.

He hadn't forgotten that a while ago, when he wanted to rent a few acres of spiritual land from the Wang family near Qinglu Mountain, he was turned away by this woman with the words "already arranged."

After a few thoughts raced through his mind, Jiang Fu'an hesitated for only a moment before cupping his hands and saying:

"I am truly honored by the personal invitation from Patriarch Wang, and naturally I have no reason not to accept it."

"But this time I'm going out with a few fellow villagers, which might be a bit inconvenient."

Wang Zhiyue replied with a smile:

"What's the big deal! Just let them come along!"

Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Jiang Fu'an had no choice but to agree.

He knew this meal wouldn't be for nothing; the other party must have something to gain.

But given the current situation, there is no other choice but to proceed with caution.

He turned and walked back to where Miao Ruolan and Shi Tou were standing, briefly explained Wang Zhiyue's invitation to dinner, and finally looked at Miao Ruolan:

"Ruolan, do you want to come along too?"

Miao Ruolan raised her eyes, her gaze falling on the stone face, as if she had thought of something.

But she didn't say it aloud; she just shook her head gently.

"Ruoshan, Ruohai, and I won't go. You take Shitou instead."

Jiang Fu'an knew she was feeling down and probably wouldn't be in the mood to eat, so he didn't try to persuade her further.

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In a private room on the second floor of Juxianlou.

Shi Tou and Ma Ping sat side by side, both with their heads down, focused on the food in front of them.

Jiang Fu'an barely touched his food.

He sat opposite Wang Zhiyue, his mind entirely focused on handling the conversation.

After several rounds of drinks, Wang Zhiyue turned her gaze to Shi Tou, her voice gentle:

"This child, Shi Tou, actually has quite good talent. Although major sects look down on pseudo-spiritual roots, he is still a rare seedling of immortality in an ordinary family."

"Fu'an, do you have any plans to let him cultivate?"

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Jiang Fu'an's heart skipped a beat; he knew they had arrived at the main topic.

He put down his chopsticks, carefully considering his words:

"To be honest, when the stone was found to have a pseudo-spiritual root, I was caught off guard and had no time to make any long-term plans."

Wang Zhiyue nodded slightly, then spoke:

"Since we haven't made any plans yet, why don't we let Stone come to Sparrow Forest to cultivate?"

"Our Wang family's spiritual vein is a first-grade superior quality, more than enough to support his cultivation to the late stage of Qi Refining."

These words are quite tempting for those who have cultivated in the mortal realm.

Jiang Fu'an was indeed tempted; a day of cultivation on a spiritual vein could probably be equivalent to more than ten days of hard work at home.

But since the other party's purpose was unclear, he dared not respond rashly, and only tentatively replied:

"Being able to cultivate on a spiritual vein is naturally a blessing for the stone."

"But as an outsider, his long-term occupation of the noble's sacred land might invite criticism from the clansmen, wouldn't it?"

Wang Zhiyue seemed to have anticipated his response and nodded in agreement:

"Fu'an has considered everything thoroughly. In that case, I have a solution that satisfies both sides."

"Do you still remember Zhao Yun, the girl who was found to have spiritual roots along with He Miao back then?"

Jiang Fu'an recalled for a moment.

Back then, when the Wang family tested the spiritual roots of their children, they ultimately discovered three children:

He Miao, Sun Zhiwei, and a little girl.

However, this girl had five elemental spiritual roots and was not selected.

I vaguely heard Ma Ping mention it before, and it seems that his name is indeed Ruyun.

"I have some recollection of it."

He nodded.

Wang Zhiyue continued speaking:

"Ruyun, that child, has grown into a beautiful young lady. Why don't we arrange the marriage between the two children today?"

"Once we're family, it's perfectly legitimate for Stone to cultivate in the Sparrow Forest, and no one can gossip about it."

A marriage alliance?

Jiang Fu'an was very surprised to hear this.

The Jiang family were just ordinary farmers, so why would Wang Zhiyue be so eager to arrange a marriage?

They used one of their children who had spiritual roots.

The only explanation is:

This isn't a marriage ceremony at all; it's a marriage where a stone is brought into the family.

Having figured this out, he looked up at Wang Zhiyue almost without hesitation:

"Patriarch Wang, I am truly sorry. Our Jiang family line still depends on Shi Tou to continue our lineage."

Wang Zhiyue showed no surprise and nodded in agreement:

"Continuing the family line is indeed a big deal. But I remember that Fu'an later had another son, right?"

"Besides, you are still young and can have more children in the future, so you don't need to worry too much about the bloodline."

"If we agree to this marriage, our Wang family will certainly prepare a generous dowry."

"I heard you're also cultivating now. You should be able to use the spiritual rice and semi-spirit beasts in your dowry."

"In addition, you can also rent those thirty acres of spiritual fields near Qinglu Mountain at a low price to cultivate."

Jiang Fu'an paused slightly.

To be honest, the value of this gift even exceeds the reward given by the imperial court last time.

Spirit rice and semi-spirit beasts can all increase his cultivation speed, which is what he desperately desires.

Sending a child to a sect and having them marry into another family are two completely different things.

The former brings glory to the family, while the latter inevitably attracts criticism.

As for his future prospects—with He Miao in the Miaoyin Sect, he has the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, and even the Core Formation stage is not out of the question.

But if Shi Tou were to enter the Wang family, he would probably be stuck in the Qi Refining stage for the rest of his life.

Jiang Fu'an took a deep breath and declined again:

"Master Wang, I appreciate your kindness."

"But I promised my late wife that I would raise this child well, and that he would marry and have children."

"I really cannot comply with the offer to marry into the family."

Ma Ping, who was picking up food from the side, paused for a moment and glanced at Jiang Fu'an with some surprise. He didn't expect that Jiang Fu'an could resist such temptation.

But he said nothing and quickly lowered his head again, as if the plate in front of him was the whole world.

A hint of surprise flashed across Wang Zhiyue's eyes.

She originally thought that with such conditions presented, a country bumpkin who had never seen the world would have no reason to refuse.

However, she still did not give up trying to persuade her.

After a moment's hesitation, she turned her gaze to the small figure who had been engrossed in eating and asked gently:

"Stone, do you want to be a cultivator like Sister Hemiao, capable of flying and escaping through the earth?"