Chapter 007: Like Mother, Like Daughter

"Alright, I'll listen to you," Qingzhen finally conceded. The key point was that if Qinghu refused to provide the funds, Uncle Zhao would never give him money to hire a tutor. Qingzhen gritted his teeth, thinking, his mother was truly formidable!

Qinghu could choose to stay uninvolved, but she managed the finances. As long as she refused, Uncle Zhao would not release a single coin. The problem was that Qinghu was notoriously stingy. The three thousand red gold coins left by their father before he departed would likely be hoarded until their elder brother returned—Qinghu wouldn't spend a single coin.

How could he have such a miserly little sister?

Oh, thinking of his stingy sister, Qingzhen suddenly remembered his own mother, who was even more frugal!

He thought to himself, truly, like mother, like daughter.

Madam Feng sneezed three times in succession. "Who is so diligent in thinking about me? It's probably either Qinghu or Qingzhen. Those two just can't bear to be away from me! They've only been gone a few days, and already they're missing me."

The stewardess standing beside Madam Feng was speechless.

Her lady's narcissism was growing ever more severe.

Teaching mortals to cultivate had a significant impact; all through the night, people remained awake, meditating, eager to sense spiritual energy as soon as possible.

Early the next morning, Qinghu heard a commotion outside.

After she finished her ablutions and stepped out of the tent, she heard someone say that Deng Xiaolai had actually sensed spiritual energy.

Such cultivation aptitude was impressive.

At that moment, Deng Xiaolai stood proudly beside Qingzhen, chest out, head high, basking in everyone's praise.

"Fourth Brother, good morning. I heard that Deng Xiaolai has sensed spiritual energy? That's quite good; should count as second-tier cultivation aptitude, right? His spiritual roots must be decent, too. I remember that both Qingquan and Xiaobai sensed it within two hours; Deng Xiaolai is only a little behind them."

The previously elated Deng Xiaolai instantly wilted. He looked incredulously at the expressionless Qingquan and the silly maid Xiaobai.

He kept turning it over in his mind—why were those two so strong?

"Eldest Brother sensed spiritual energy almost immediately upon starting cultivation, and so did you. It took me nearly an hour. So we should be first-tier aptitude, Qingquan and Xiaobai a bit less. Xiaolai probably counts as third-tier," Qingzhen speculated.

If Qingzhen's real father, Shen Fangxu, were present, he would have solemnly told his son: No, you're wrong, boy. Your eldest brother and little sister are prodigies; their aptitude is not what normal humans possess. Qingquan and Xiaobai—one from a family fallen from grace, the other from poverty since childhood—never had a proper foundation. In fact, their aptitude is the same as yours.

You are the standard first-tier cultivation aptitude.

Deng Xiaolai's is still quite good, at least considered peak second-tier. If he'd been carefully nurtured from a young age and had a solid foundation, he might have been first-tier as well.

After hearing this, Deng Xiaolai looked even more dispirited.

"Don't worry, third-tier aptitude is still quite good. My mother is third-tier, and she reached the peak of the Qi Refining stage," Qingzhen said, patting Deng Xiaolai's small shoulder. "Aptitude is only a boost in the early stages. If you wish to go far, it depends on whether your heart is steadfast in pursuing the Way."

These words were what Shen Fangxu had told young Qingzhen years ago—mainly because his youngest son's talent was quite average, too ordinary, incomparable to his monster-like eldest son and little daughter.

So as not to dampen his son's motivation, Shen Fangxu explained, using himself as an example: "Slightly poorer aptitude is nothing. Look at me—my aptitude is a tier below your second uncle's. He is first-tier, I am second-tier.

No one expected much of me back then, but now I've already built my foundation. Your second uncle is still stuck at the peak of Qi Refining, chasing after a wife.

So whether your heart is truly steadfast in seeking the Way is the fundamental factor that determines your future achievement."

He never imagined that the young Qingzhen would immediately be led astray. Truly, women affect my sword-drawing speed!

Without women in my heart, my sword draws as the gods!

So in the future, he vowed to be a solitary god!

After hearing this, Deng Xiaolai nodded solemnly. Yet the pride that had previously shone on his face was gone.

Qingquan's aptitude was so outstanding, and he wasn't arrogant at all.

He was merely the most prominent cultivator among a group of mortals—what was there to be proud of?

Since sensing spiritual energy overnight, Deng Xiaolai, whom Shen Qingzhen had hardly noticed before, thought that once he became a great cultivator, perhaps even Shen Qingzhen would have to salute him.

But now, he dared not think such thoughts. Qingzhen also cultivated, and perhaps he would never catch up to him in his lifetime. Deng Xiaolai immediately shifted his cultivation benchmark—his pursuit target—to Qingquan.

Forget the young master; catching up to Qingquan would be a victory.

"Besides Deng Xiaolai, has anyone else sensed spiritual energy?" Qinghu asked.

"No, just Deng Xiaolai. But a few others have truly entered meditation. Their cultivation aptitude is decent; I estimate they'll sense spiritual energy within a month," Qingquan reported.

"That's good enough. On our territory's very first day, someone has opened the gate to cultivation, and a few others will soon follow within a month. Our entire territory has only about two hundred people—such results are a fine opening, don't you think?" Qinghu turned to ask her fourth brother.

Qingzhen nodded in satisfaction. "No wonder Father and Eldest Brother always said they wanted to pioneer and become lords, that being a lord was the path to success."

"Father and Eldest Brother really said such things?" Qinghu asked, suspicious. "How come I've never heard it?"

"You're a girl. Originally, Father and Eldest Brother planned to find you a good match to marry."

"Fourth Brother, if you keep talking like this, you'll have no friends," Qinghu retorted angrily.

"I'm just stating facts. Our family never expected you to make great achievements—find a good man to marry, have a brood of children so I can be a good uncle, isn't that just right? Who knew you'd be unlucky enough to be dragged here by the Ren family to pioneer and become a lord?

This place is so desolate; aside from our territory, there isn't a soul within thirty miles, let alone any people.

If you stay here forever, how will you ever find a good man to marry? Ow~"

Before Qingzhen could finish his long lament, his foot was violently stomped by the fierce little Shen girl.

She actually used magic!

Ow ow ow, the pain! His poor foot—would it be fractured?

"Qing Xiaohu, being a shrew has no future. No man loves a shrew!"

"Fourth Brother, didn't you say that without men in your heart, your sword draws as the gods? I won't marry in the future," Qinghu declared, hands on her hips.

"Oh, no, no, no, I never said that," Qingzhen felt a chill. If his little sister really never got married, wouldn't Eldest Brother kill him? "Sister, you mustn't think that way. There are good men out there, and even if you're a shrew, someone will gladly marry you," Qingzhen howled in anguish.