[Warning!]

[The prosperity value of the Qin Clan, bound with the system and the host, is about to plummet to the last point. When the prosperity value drops to the last point, the system will be forced into dormancy; when the value reaches 0, the trace of the host in this world will be completely erased!]

[Repeat! Warning…]

These words flashed in bold red font in Qin Ruqing’s mind.

Before this appeared, everything was calm.

Today was originally bright with sunshine, the air quality is excellent, and the spiritual energy content in the Qin Clan’s territory normal.

Most importantly, today was Qin Ruqing’s eighth birthday.

Perhaps the heavens knew about this occasion and sent her three pieces of good news.

Firstly, her transmigration apparently came with a system.

Secondly, the newly appeared system was about to go into forced dormancy.

Thirdly, she was about to die.

Instead of fear and worry, Qin Ruqing’s initial emotion was puzzlement.

She exclaimed to the system in surprise, “Wait, you’re about to go dormant, and you’re just telling me now? Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”

[Energy depletion from accompanying host’s transmigration; dormancy just awakened.]

So, it’s still somehow my fault?

Qin Ruqing pursed her lips in silence for a moment, then asked again, “Why does the family prosperity value sound like the game I used to play in my previous life, ‘The First Aristocratic Family’? Are you a game system?”

[Yes and no. You can consider it as such.]

Why does this system sound a bit eccentric?

Qin Ruqing sighed inwardly and continued, “Do you have a main storyline, any missions?”

【Main storyline: Develop and manage your family to become the top aristocratic clan in the cultivation world. Missions will be randomly assigned.】

Sure enough, it sounded just like “Number One Aristocratic Clan”.

“Final question, and the most crucial one. If our family’s prosperity value drops to the last level, the system will force a shutdown. What about the time? How long can our family’s prosperity value hold on?”

This time, the system took longer to respond, seemingly calculating.

【Given the current rate of decline in the Qin family’s prosperity value, without changes, the system will shut down in up to one week, and the host will be wiped out in no more than a month.】

Qin Ruqing’s lips twitched.

So, she only had a month to live, right?

And realistically, even less than that.

Because if the system could shut down in a week, and she was only eight years old now, what could she possibly contribute to the family? Once the system shut down, she would be practically waiting for death.

So, the system absolutely cannot shut down!

She had at most one week left.

Qin Ruqing had intended to ponder this further when suddenly, there was a creak outside the door.

Someone was coming!

In the consciousness space, the image of the little girl instantly dissipated.

Qin Ruqing opened her eyes, and before her stood a young beauty of about thirty years old.

She opened her arms and called out, “Mom!”

The current matriarch of the Qin family, Luo Xian, affectionately nodded at Qin Ruqing, picking her up and heading outside.

As they walked, she said, “Today is our little Qingqing’s eighth birthday. Let’s see what your dad and brother have prepared for you!”

Qin Ruqing sat at the table, eagerly awaiting what her family had prepared for her.

For her birthday, her mother gave her a string of spirit jade bracelets embedded with miniature gathering formations.

Her brother surprised her with a low-grade spirit stone.

When Qin Ruqing looked at the stone in amazement, the young teen, who looked about fourteen or fifteen, shyly explained:

“This is the most I could gather up in spare change. I’ll save more for you next year.”

Qin Ruqing realized her brother misunderstood.

She wasn’t surprised at how little the stone was, but rather, how much! In the cultivation world, as far as she knew, it took ten thousand spirit gold to exchange for a low-grade spirit stone.

Comparing the purchasing power, this was equivalent to ten thousand dollars!

Qin Ruqing immediately showed a sweet smile and said, “Thank you, brother. It’s perfect. I love it!”

Finally, Qin Ruqing turned her gaze to the dignified middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table.

She extended her hand, palm up.

“Dad, it’s your turn!”

The elegant middle-aged man was the patriarch of the Qin family of this generation.

He smiled and nodded at Qin Ruqing, then slowly took out a purse embroidered with auspicious patterns from his sleeve.

Qin Deming rubbed the coarse bag with his fingertips, then handed it solemnly to Qin Ruqing.

“At eight years old, starting today, our Qingqing is officially stepping into the path of cultivation. This spatial storage bag is for you. I hope my daughter will practice diligently and have a smooth cultivation journey.”

Her father’s solemn expression made Qin Ruqing hold her breath involuntarily.

A spatial storage bag was common in cultivation novels but precious in reality. Not all cultivators could afford one.

The path of cultivation was long and required countless resources like spirit gold and spirit stones.

If born into a wealthy family, it was easier, but for lone cultivators without support, how could they afford such expensive storage bags?

Even though Qin Ruqing knew she had only a month to live from the game’s prognosis, she felt grateful deep down to be born into the Qin family in this life.

— She had loving parents and a brother, and a comfortable and affluent living environment.

Qin Ruqing held her first-ever spatial storage bag lovingly in her hands, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Qin Deming.

She joyfully said, “Thank you, Dad!”

The patriarch of the Qin family gently stroked his beard, looking calm on the outside but deeply enjoying his daughter’s affectionate display.

Luo Xian glanced at the enchanted Qin Deming, then took out “Strange Tales of the Immortal World,” a book her daughter liked, and coaxed her aside to play, leaving her son to accompany her.

Watching the scene of the two figures leaving together, Luo Xian turned back to Qin Deming and lowered her voice, “The clan’s aptitude assessment conference is coming soon. What do you think?”

Qin Deming remained calm and slow-paced as ever, saying, “What about it?”

“Our daughter! Qingqing! At eight, she’s starting her spiritual cultivation journey. After the aptitude assessment, we’ll decide her cultivation path. It’s crucial for her future!”

Qin Deming comfortingly patted Luo Xian’s hand. “Don’t worry, my dear. I’ve got it all figured out.”

“You’ve got it figured out my foot!”

The hot-tempered matriarch almost lost her composure.

She glanced in the direction of her son and daughter, then lowered her voice. “I plan to buy Qingqing a Spirit Awakening Pearl. She was born exceptionally intelligent; when I gave birth to her, her body was brimming with spiritual energy. Instead of depleting my cultivation realm, having her actually nourished it, enhancing it somewhat.”

“I have a premonition, our Qingqing is bound to have a great future! We can’t afford to delay her most crucial spiritual nurturing phase!”

Qin Deming’s expression grew more serious.

He hesitated, “But, a Spirit Awakening Pearl… You know the situation in our clan. The clan treasury cannot be accessed, and our private funds are far from enough to buy even one.”

A Spirit Awakening Pearl is a rare heavenly material used to enhance the aptitude of children who have not yet started cultivating qi.

It has the effects of cleansing marrow, enhancing spiritual power, and strengthening meridians.

Once something is associated with enhancing aptitude, its price skyrockets.

The Spirit Awakening Pearl is no exception and is priceless.

Luo Xian gritted her teeth, “When Yu’er was eight and underwent the aptitude assessment, I used a Spirit Awakening Pearl for him. How can we treat Qingqing differently!”

This was an unfounded accusation!

Qin Deming’s emotions finally began to fluctuate significantly.

He anxiously said, “How can you accuse me of favoritism? The circumstances surrounding Yu’er’s upbringing are not the same as Qingqing’s! When Yu’er was undergoing spiritual nurturing, we still had some surplus money, but when it’s Qingqing’s turn, the situation in the clan…”

Conceiving a cultivator is already difficult; he and Luo Xian thought they wouldn’t have any more children after giving birth to Yu’er.

Who knew they would have Qingqing later?

He cherished her like a pearl, how could he not dote on her?

Luo Xian certainly knew how much her husband doted on their daughter.

She was just provoking him.

Having said this much, she slammed her hand on the table. “I am determined to buy a Spirit Awakening Pearl for Qingqing.”

Seeing Qin Deming’s beard quiver, she raised an eyebrow and added, “However, not with the money we have left, but with this.”

Slowly appearing in her palm was a green hairpin.

Qin Deming’s eyes fixed on it. “Isn’t this the Jade Spirit Green Hairpin? This is your last remaining artifact.”

Luo Xian also showed reluctance.

The Jade Spirit Green Hairpin was the last of all the artifacts she brought from her family.

It was also the most precious.

A Rank 8 artifact, after cultivation, it could turn into a needle or a sword.

Originally, she planned to give it to Qingqing after she grew up, but now…

Seeing his wife remain silent, Qin Deming anxiously shook his head. “No, this won’t work. We can buy the Spirit Awakening Pearl, but we can think of another way. Exchanging the Jade Spirit Green Hairpin for it will surely involve a discount, and besides, we agreed to save it for Qingqing when she grows up. Selling it now…”

Luo Xian glared at Qin Deming fiercely.

“Are you getting old and confused?”

“What’s more important now, or in the future? After Qingqing’s aptitude test, she will begin her cultivation path.

This crucial decision will determine how many resources our clan will allocate to her spiritual nurturing in the future!

We must spend money where it counts. Isn’t this the right place to start now?

As for the future, who knows, in another decade or so, we might not even value this Rank 8 artifact anymore?”

Not value a Rank 8 artifact? Qin Deming gave a bitter smile and said nothing.

Maybe during the clan’s most glorious days, there would have been a chance, but now?

He waved his hand and said somewhat dejectedly, “Let’s do as you say! Tomorrow, I’ll…”

“Clean-clear, exchange for the Spirit Awakening Pearl.”

On the other side, Qin Ruqing appeared to be looking at “Strange Tales of the Immortal World,” but she was actually considering her next strategy.

Since the system could be seen as a gaming system, it meant that its operational logic and internal settings were closely related to the game “Top Aristocrat Family in Cultivation World.”

This was good news for her—

Because she was an advanced player on a game of “Top Aristocrat Family,” almost reaching the highest level!

As a gaming anchor with hundreds of thousands of fans on game, there were countless people waiting in her live stream for guides on this game.

If she could apply all this experience to the system, would there be any issues with its development and upgrades?

In other words, as long as she could overcome this difficult situation, with her experience and the system, wouldn’t she and the Qin family have good days ahead?

Feeling more settled, Qin Ruqing began to think about how to save her life.

Firstly, she couldn’t let the system go dormant, which involved the issue of the family’s prosperity points.

In the game “Top Aristocrat Family,” family prosperity points were a crucial attribute that encompassed the economic development, construction, strength, population, and reputation of a family.

The higher the prosperity points, the stronger the family.

There were many ways to increase prosperity points, and Qin Ruqing could immediately think of seven or eight.

However, with the system having only a week left, it would be difficult to rapidly increase prosperity points in such a short time.

After thinking it over, Qin Ruqing could only rely on one approach— “Excellent descendants.”

This was the experience she gained from playing this game.

The younger generation of a family was crucial for increasing prosperity points.

You could say this internal logic was quite reasonable, as everyone knew that the younger generation was the foundation for future development.

And Qin Ruqing wasn’t thinking about this casually.

There was only one reason for everything, four days later was the clan’s family aptitude assessment meeting.

If she, or another younger member of the family, could be found to have extraordinary talent at the family meeting, wouldn’t it raise the family’s prosperity points, helping them through this crisis?

When Qin Ruqing asked the system about this, she received an affirmative reply.

[There is indeed a chance to increase prosperity points, but the prerequisite is that the discovered talent must be high enough to reach the level of “revitalizing the family.”]

Revitalizing the family level…

What kind of talent would be called revitalizing the family level? Qin Ruqing didn’t even dare to think about it.

She frowned and asked again, “What if the talent is slightly lower, just ordinary excellence?”

[Then you would need many, many of them.]

Got it. It’s either one outstanding talent or relying on quantity to win.

Both paths sounded promising, but in reality, they were both nightmare difficulty, with almost no chance of success.

Qin Ruqing furrowed her brow.

She’s doomed.

Could this path really not work? Should she try a different approach? But time was too tight, and the only opportunity she could see was the family aptitude assessment in four days.

Just as Qin Ruqing was worrying, the system’s program seemed to slow down slightly, and a line of text slowly appeared.

It was quite comical how it contrasted with Qin Ruqing’s bewildered expression.

[Your talent is very high. You are only a hair’s breadth away from the “revitalizing the family” level.]

Qin Ruqing: “What?”