Chapter 116: The Partial Head of the Family
“Dad, I want to continue my studies...”
“Haven’t you already graduated? Why would you need further studies?”
Hearing his eldest son’s words, Yang Yu frowned.
After graduation, further specialization requires a significant amount of money, which Yang Yu could afford. However, in his impression, his eldest son was never particularly bright. He felt it would be better for him to enter the workforce early rather than spending money on further studies.
“But, Dad!”
“No buts,” Yang Yu interrupted his son sharply. “Your third brother’s grades are better than yours. If we invest in him, our whole family’s life will improve.”
“Third brother, third brother again! I’m your own son too!”
“But your third brother is the top student in the entire school. And you? You went to a second-tier university. I can’t invest more money in a lesser talent just because you’re my eldest?”
“But it’s different! Third brother’s personality isn’t focused on studying.”
“Exactly. Even without focusing, he still topped the school. Imagine if he did put his mind to it.”
“Xiao Tian, you should understand, Dad is doing this to ensure the family’s future. With your third brother’s talent, he’s bound to achieve great things.”
“Bang!”
Watching his eldest son slam the door and leave, Yang Yu sighed deeply. “This child... you’ll understand someday.”
His son’s lack of understanding weighed heavily on Yang Yu’s heart.
He had three children in total.
Because he firmly believed in a saying: “When one person achieves greatness, the whole family rises with him.”
Therefore, he devoted most of his energy and money to the youngest son, who had the greatest talent, hoping that the Yang family would produce a true prodigy.
However, this approach caused resentment and misunderstanding from his eldest and second sons, often leading to disputes that left him feeling distressed.
Despite the pain, he had no intention of changing his approach, convinced he was doing the right thing.
When he heard footsteps fade away outside, Yang Yu sighed again.
He rubbed his chest, feeling a slight tightness.
After a moment of thought, he sat at his computer desk and powered it on.
He opened the gaming platform.
Whenever he felt down, he would play a game to vent his frustrations. Today was no different.
“Virtual games have fallen out of favor,” he muttered, staring at the interface.
Times were changing too swiftly. What was once a booming virtual game scene had become niche and largely unknown to the public.
Many complex thoughts flashed through his mind, but Yang Yu shook his head, pushing them aside.
He began browsing for games that caught his interest.
Soon, one caught his eye.
“Cultivation Family?”
Seeing the title, he instinctively clicked in. His recent family troubles made the word “family” resonate deeply.
Reading the game’s description, he paused in surprise.
“Is this an educational simulation game about nurturing descendants?”
After hesitation, he entered the game, eager to prove his belief: only by cultivating talents can a family prosper.
...
His consciousness connected to the game.
After a brief darkness, a city appeared below him.
It was an ancient city, but with added mythical elements in its architecture.
After observing the city, Yang Yu looked up at the game prompt before him.
“Please choose your talent:
Inheritance Points: 0
Five Elements Spirit Root
Choose four out of five roots:
Gold
Wood
Water
Fire
Earth
Three Roots: 20
Two Roots: 30
Single Root: 45
Mutated Root: 60
Heavenly Root: 80
Mutated Heavenly Root: 100
Tip 1: Spirit roots affect cultivation talent, techniques, comprehension, combat power, breakthrough probability, and more.
Tip 2: Cultivation speed:
Five Elements Root: 1
Four Roots: 1.5
Three Roots: 2
...”
Reading the tips, Yang Yu pondered briefly and chose the four roots option.
He thought the designer had a flaw here: the cultivation speed difference of 50 was so significant that anyone with sense wouldn’t pick the Five Elements root. This choice seemed pointless.
Still, he didn’t dwell on it much. After selecting the spirit root, a new interface appeared.
“Family Inheritance
Content coming soon...”
“Can’t choose anything?”
Frowning, Yang Yu clicked to skip.
All prompts vanished as his view was drawn closer to the city below.
When he realized it, he found himself inside a somewhat dilapidated stone house, embodying a middle-aged man.
At the same time, a flood of information surged into his mind.
In moments, he understood the full status of the character he controlled.
Yang Yu was the clan leader of a declining family in Luo City, possessing a cultivation level of Qi Refining Stage, third level.
Besides him, the small clan had four other members:
His younger brother Yang Zhou, at Qi Refining Stage, second level.
And three children aged eleven or twelve, just beginning cultivation.
The family’s background was that of refugees on the run.
As he contemplated how to play this game, a small red dot appeared beside his vision.
Using his will, he opened the dot.
A panel appeared with family details:
Clan Leader: Yang Yu
Age: 32
Talent: Four Roots
Technique: Qi Refining Manual, cultivation efficiency 50
Cultivation Speed: 0.75 days
Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Stage, Third Level 0300
Breakthrough Chance: 100%
Artifact: None
Family Members: 4
Yang Zhou, Male, 31, Five Elements Root, Qi Refining Stage 0200, Qi Refining Manual
Yang Dazhu, Male, 12, Five Elements Root, None
Yang Xiuer, Female, 10, Four Roots, None
Yang Tian, Male, 11, Three Roots, None
Spirit Stone Consumption: 2 per month
Note 1: Qi Refining Stage consumes 1 spirit stone monthly
Note 2: Insufficient monthly spirit stones halt cultivation progress
Remaining Spirit Stones: 5
Time acceleration can be used when confirming actions
Current Game Year: 0
“Develop the family?”
Closing the panel, Yang Yu was about to explore the gameplay when a middle-aged man resembling him entered.
“Clan Leader, I’ve found ways to earn spirit stones.”
Yang Zhou bowed politely before speaking.
Yang Yu realized this was the game’s tutorial and asked, “What ways? Tell me.”
“There are two paths: one is to go to the Hundred Demon Mountain to gather medicinal herbs for sale.”
“I’ve heard each person can earn at least ten spirit stones a month there. But the mountain is full of dangerous demon beasts at Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, so it’s risky.”
“The other is to work at the Li family’s mine, the top family in Luo City. It pays five spirit stones a month—less than gathering herbs but much safer.”
After considering, Yang Yu said, “Then the two of us will mine.”
Their small family couldn’t afford to lose anyone.
“Alright, I’ll prepare immediately.” Yang Zhou turned and left, presumably to sign up at the Li family’s mine.
Yang Yu stepped outside the stone house.
The Yang family lived in a traditional courtyard home.
His room was the main chamber, directly facing the main gate.
Two adjacent rooms were for Yang Zhou and the three younger children.
Thinking of the three children, Yang Yu headed toward their room.
Creak—
He opened the wooden door and saw the three children sitting cross-legged on their beds, meditating.
Two boys and a girl, all quite ordinary-looking.
Coincidentally or not, as he stepped in, one boy’s body was surrounded by spirals of spiritual energy.
Yang Yu knew this was a sign of imminent breakthrough.
Sure enough, as the energy dissipated, the boy’s aura stabilized at Qi Refining Stage, first level.
“I’ve broken through!” Yang Tian’s eyes opened, his voice filled with excitement.
Clearly, he was overjoyed.
“Well done, well done.” Yang Yu praised him warmly, already resolved to invest more resources in Yang Tian.
This three-rooted child was a genius compared to the other two.
From a purely utilitarian standpoint, it made sense.
“Clan Leader, can I start learning cultivation techniques now?” Yang Tian asked, looking up at Yang Yu.
At this, a prompt appeared:
“Do you want to teach Yang Tian the Qi Refining Manual?”
Without hesitation, Yang Yu chose yes.
A brief animation played, showing him imparting the technique.
Afterward, Yang Yu checked the family panel again.
Yang Tian, Male, 11, Three Roots, Qi Refining Stage 1st Level 0100, Qi Refining Manual
Yang Yu complimented him once more.
Just as he was about to leave to explore outside, he noticed breakthrough signs behind the other two children as well.
He waited patiently until both had broken through, then taught them the Qi Refining Manual too.
Afterwards, he gave Yang Tian some words of encouragement to cultivate diligently before leaving the courtyard.
Outside was the scene he had seen upon entering the game.
Exploring, he discovered many special locations:
Cultivation Academy, Alchemy School, Qi Refining School, Auction House, Land Deed Office...
After familiarizing himself with Luo City, Yang Yu returned home to find Yang Zhou waiting.
“Clan Leader, I’ve arranged everything. Tomorrow we start work at the mine.”
Yang Zhou stood as Yang Yu arrived.
Nodding, Yang Yu accelerated time by clicking the button.
The scene swiftly changed.
He found himself at the mine, a crimson pit filled with burly men mining with bare hands.
Trying a few digs, Yang Yu quickly grew bored and skipped ahead.
Time sped up, and a year passed.
He and Yang Zhou worked in the mine without cultivating, so their power remained stagnant.
Meanwhile, the three children stayed home cultivating, advancing rapidly.
Two reached Qi Refining Stage, second level. Yang Tian exceeded expectations, reaching Qi Refining Stage, third level, edging close to the fourth breakthrough.
After some thought, Yang Yu spent spirit stones to enroll Yang Tian in the Cultivation Academy.
The teacher was a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator who could boost Qi Refining students’ training speed by 20%.
Cost: ten spirit stones per month. Yang Tian’s daily cultivation speed rose to 1.5. Yang Yu considered it a worthy investment.
The earlier Yang Tian reached Foundation Establishment, the sooner he could support the rest of the family.
It was like an investment: the more you put in early, the greater the returns later.
“But if I enroll him, spirit stone supply won’t be enough...”
Yang Yu stopped accelerating time.
He gathered the family together inside.
Feeling the curious gazes of his descendants, Yang Yu cleared his throat and shared his plan:
“Dazhu and Xiuer have reached Qi Refining Stage two. It’s time for them to share some of the family’s burden. I plan to have you two work at the Li family’s mine with us.”
“What about Yang Tian?” Xiuer asked.
Before Yang Yu could answer, Yang Tian spoke up, chin raised disdainfully: “With my talent, of course I’ll keep cultivating. Unlike you two, you’re just wasting resources.”
Yang Yu frowned but did not scold. Instead, he explained:
“Xiao Tian has the best talent. The sooner he reaches Foundation Establishment, the better it is for us all.”
“So for now, spirit stone use will be paused for the rest of you.”
“Clan Leader, won’t that be too...” Yang Zhou hesitated.
“Let’s leave it like this for now. Xiao Tian’s talent is extraordinary. If we bear with it, better days will come.”
Though just a game, the story mirrored his real life so closely that he fully immersed himself in the role.
After a long silence, Yang Zhou finally said, “Then we’ll follow your decision, Clan Leader.”
With the two heads of the family in agreement, Dazhu and Xiuer said nothing further.
Satisfied, Yang Yu nodded with relief.
If only his real sons could understand his intentions like this in real life, he wouldn’t feel so weary.
With the plan settled, Yang Yu resumed time acceleration.
He eagerly awaited the outcome, imagining the shocked expressions of the game characters at his foresight.
But then...
Notification: Yang Dazhu has defected from the family due to disagreement with your decision.
Notification: Yang Xiuer has defected from the family due to disagreement with your decision.