Yet when the initial joy and novelty of becoming "grandfathers" gradually faded, a very real—almost laughably absurd—problem was laid before these two descendants of Fuxi, men who had lived for over two centuries, whose cultivation was unfathomable, and who had long regarded worldly wealth as mere dirt—
Raising a child costs money!
Formula, diapers, clothes, toys… none of them come free of that yellow-white thing—money!
Back in the day, after discovering that mysterious meteorite jade, the two had hidden from the world for over a century, guarding their secret and devoting themselves entirely to studying the jade and the transformations it brought upon them.
Unexpectedly, under the subtle nourishment and transformation of that vast, indescribable power sealed within the jade, fate smiled upon them. Enlightened by fortune, they both shattered the congenital shackles that had bound ancient martial artists for thousands of years, and caught a glimpse of the true path of cultivation!
Within just a hundred years, aided by the meteorite jade and their profound foundations, they broke through barrier after barrier, soaring like dragons, until both reached the Great Perfection of the Xuan Zhao stage in the cultivation realm.
Their lifespans had also increased by several centuries!
Such a fortuitous encounter—if revealed—would shake the entire hidden world of ancient martial clans!
And yet now…
Even with their transcendental powers—enough to move mountains and fill seas, summon wind and call rain—they were forced to face a sorrowful truth: none of their divine abilities could conjure up a few copper coins to buy milk for the little Qin Yu wailing in their arms!
They couldn't very well reveal their identities and go "borrow" a bit of start-up capital from the national treasury—that would be far too undignified.
With no other choice, for the sake of the precious treasure in their arms, the two descendants of Fuxi—cultivators at the Great Perfection of Xuan Zhao, whose mere stomp could shake a region and whose names commanded reverence—could only smile bitterly, lower themselves from their lofty heights, and return to an "old trade" from their youth, one they had only dabbled in while wandering the mortal world—
They became, once again, wandering mystics—two white-haired "immortal masters" roaming nearby villages and towns, their bearing serene and ethereal, their tongues sharp and certain, capable of dispelling misfortune and driving away evil spirits.
Their "business scope" was wide indeed: reading feng shui, calculating birth charts, divining fortunes, resolving calamities—and occasionally dealing with unexplainable hauntings or demonic disturbances that plagued the villagers, catching stray spirits, and appeasing wandering ghosts.
In short, they had taken up those trades that, in this "new era," ordinary folk dismissed as nothing more than "superstitious nonsense" or "con-artist tricks."
Fortunately, however, these two were not frauds like the charlatans of the street, but possessed genuine, earth-shaking skill.
A few casual displays of power—effortlessly resolving long-standing local hauntings and malicious entities that had even claimed lives—soon spread their reputation far and wide.
Before long, the name of "the two old immortals of Qingliu Village—whose powers are profound and whose aid never fails"—became known throughout all the neighboring villages and market towns.
People came in endless streams to seek their help, to divine their fates, to exorcise evil and avert misfortune—their doorstep never empty.
In this way, they secured a stable, even generous income—enough to ensure that little Qin Yu wanted for nothing, and even lived quite comfortably.
Money, at least, was no longer a problem.
But then came another, deeper worry—one that hung over their hearts like a dark cloud:
Qin Yu's body.
They could never be certain whether, during that century of cultivation with the meteorite jade, when they absorbed its boundless power and broke their mortal limits, they had—unintentionally, like fishermen draining a lake—drawn away the innate essence and destiny that should have belonged to the child born from the jade itself.
Would this, perhaps, plant some hidden danger within Qin Yu—an irreparable flaw that might cripple his foundation or limit his future potential?
This thought was a thorn in their hearts. The more they pondered it, the more uneasy they became.
So, after careful discussion, the two decided to divide their duties and do everything possible to make amends.
One would stay home, caring for Qin Yu's daily needs—teaching him to read, to write, and to practice the Fuxi lineage's foundational cultivation arts.
The other would spend his days wandering the nearby mountains, exploring deep forests and ancient caves shrouded in miasma—using his immense strength and keen perception to seek out all manner of natural treasures infused with spiritual energy, herbs and minerals that could fortify the body and replenish any innate deficiencies.
Before long, the once-ordinary courtyard behind their home had been transformed by their hands into a miniature paradise, a realm of vitality and faint spiritual aura, utterly unlike the other mundane farmyards nearby.
There, they had transplanted rare herbs and spirit flowers, their leaves glowing faintly with spiritual light, each one painstakingly retrieved from deep mountain wildernesses.
Beside them, they dug a small pond fed by a spring from the mountain. The water was clear to the bottom, home to a few leisurely swimming spirit fish whose scales shimmered with strange colors, and along the edge, several spirit turtles rested, their shells etched with mysterious patterns.
All of these were treasures of mild energy and pure essence—perfect for a child's early cultivation, to nourish his body and strengthen his foundation.
Time passed quietly, like the stream flowing endlessly beyond the courtyard walls.
Seven or eight years slipped by before they knew it.
The once wailing, snow-white baby had grown into a lively young boy—round-faced, bright-eyed, brimming with energy.
From a young age, Qin Yu had displayed intelligence and spiritual awareness far beyond ordinary children.
By the time he entered elementary school, he was already excelling in every subject—teachers' favorite pupil, classmates' model student.
At home, he would eagerly follow his two grandfathers around, imitating their gestures as he learned what he saw as wondrous and mysterious "true skills."
The things his grandfathers taught him were endlessly varied:
From the basics—identifying herbs and reading qi—to the more intricate arts of drawing talismans, chanting incantations, forming hand seals, and walking the mystic steps. Then, there were the profound techniques of divination, predicting fortune and misfortune, and even ancient breathing and martial forms designed to strengthen the body and open the meridians.
At first, little Qin Yu showed astonishing interest and talent.
His bright, black eyes would sparkle with curiosity as he peppered his grandfathers with questions, eager to learn everything and understand it all.
And his comprehension was truly remarkable—often, a single demonstration was all he needed to grasp the essence, sometimes even offering insights that surprised the two old men who had seen so much in their long lives.