The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

Xu Changqing looked at the spirit stones on the table and divided them into three piles.

The largest pile was pushed back into the bag, about sixty yuan.

"These sixty coins will go into the public treasury and be used to buy fish fry next spring, as well as some spiritual materials to repair the great formation."

Xu Changqing then pointed to the second pile: "These thirty yuan, Uncle will go to the market again tomorrow to buy some spirit rice and monster meat. Everyone has been working hard for half a month because of the fishpond, and their bodies are severely depleted. They need to see some meat."

Upon hearing the words "monster meat," Xu Dayou's Adam's apple bobbed, and his bitter face finally relaxed.

"If those kids knew there was meat to eat, they'd be jumping for joy on the roof."

Xu Changqing smiled, his gaze falling on the last thirty spirit stones, his expression becoming more serious:

"Use the remaining thirty coins to exchange for some 'Qi-Nourishing Pills' and some top-quality spirit rice. The children of the Yan generation are at the age when they are growing."

Hearing this arrangement, Xu Dayou felt bad that the spirit stones were being spent like water, but he couldn't find any fault with it.

If it weren't for those mortal relatives farming and feeding the fish, these cultivators would be starving.

"Alright, we'll do as the clan leader says."

Xu Dayou responded, carrying the bag of spirit stones that had been put into storage, but instead of leaving, he chuckled.

"Chieftain, you're becoming more and more decisive in your actions these days."

Xu Changqing ignored this and got up to push open the door: "Alright, stop flattering me. I'm going to the training ground to check on those kids."

The snow outside has stopped, and the air is crisp and cold.

He strolled along the corridor and unknowingly arrived at the martial arts training ground on the back mountain of the family.

The terrain here is open, and the snow has been swept to both sides, revealing the hard, dark brown permafrost.

Before we even got close, we heard a childish yet energetic shout.

"Drink! Ha!"

Steam rises.

Seven or eight boys, around fourteen or fifteen years old, were wearing thin training clothes and practicing the basic "Qi-inducing Technique" in the snow, standing in a horse stance.

The leader was a robust-looking young man named Xu Yanfeng, who was currently the most promising member of the clan and had already reached the second level of Qi Refining.

At this moment, he was performing a set of boxing techniques with great force, shouting loudly with each punch, appearing spirited and vigorous.

Beside the wooden frame in the training ground sat a girl wearing a light pink cotton-padded jacket, looking after the thick coats that everyone had taken off.

The girl's name was Xu Yanling. She had gentle features and was holding a cloth in her hand, but her eyes kept glancing at the corner of the training ground.

Under a lush old locust tree in the corner, there was a person sitting.

Xu Yanzhen didn't practice his skills; he just sat there quietly, gripping a wooden crutch tightly with both hands.

Looking down his faded trousers, his right leg was bare from the knee down, swaying gently in the wind.

That was a disability she was born with, caused by blocked meridians, and there was no cure.

Xu Yanzhen lowered his eyes, clutching the cane tightly in his hand.

Why me of all people?

We're all from the Xu family, so why can they run, jump, and cultivate immortality while I'm just a burden?

Xu Yanzhen lowered his head and looked at his useless leg.

Last night, his mother held him and cried again, muttering, "My son has such a hard life," and "Poor thing."

Pitiful?

He hates those two words the most.

This pity disgusted him, making him feel like a mangy dog ​​begging for food on the street.

Sometimes he even hated the woman who gave birth to him. Since she gave birth to a cripple, why didn't she just drown him in a chamber pot instead of making him suffer in this world and be looked down upon by others?

He had tried to join crowds before.

But whenever everyone gets into the fun, they always have to stop because he walks so slowly.

That deliberate waiting, those hesitant glances, that cautious atmosphere created to protect his pride…

It hurts him even more than being directly called a useless person.

"Take a break! I'm exhausted!"

Xu Yanfeng stopped his attack and sat down heavily on the ground, panting.

Everyone relaxed and gathered around, laughing and joking, to drink water and rest.

Xu Yanling quickly grabbed a water bottle and went to greet everyone, distributing water to each person.

After distributing the water around, she glanced at the area under the locust tree, hesitated for a moment, then poured herself a bowl of warm water and quickly walked over.

"Yanzhen, have some hot water. It's too cold today, don't catch a cold."

Xu Yanling squatted down, held the bowl in both hands, and handed it over in a soft voice.

Xu Yanzhen's body stiffened.

Looking at the concerned face in front of him, a nameless anger suddenly welled up inside him.

That look in her eyes again.

It's that kind of altruistic kindness again.

His instinct was to raise his hand and knock over the bowl of water, to shout "Get out!" in order to maintain his ridiculous dignity.

But when he met Xu Yanling's clear, bright eyes, the vicious words that were on the tip of his tongue just wouldn't come out.

There was no mockery, no unpleasant pity, only a calm concern.

It was like looking at an ordinary member of the tribe, not a cripple.

Xu Yanzhen's knuckles turned white as he gripped the cane, but he finally let go in despair.

He silently reached out and took the bowl of water.

He lowered his head and took a sip.

The warm water flowed down my throat and into my cold stomach, dispelling some of the chill.

He both craved this warmth and hated himself for craving it.

Under the eaves in the distance.

Xu Dayou, holding a hand warmer, had somehow appeared behind Xu Changqing. Following his gaze, he sighed.

"It's a pity. Although Yanzhen has spiritual roots, his leg ailment and blocked meridians will put him at a disadvantage in future battles."

Xu Dayou shook his head, his tone tinged with helplessness: "He's got a skewed personality, always gloomy, and doesn't talk to anyone. Let the family take care of him from now on. As long as he has food to eat, he won't starve to death."

As he spoke, he looked at Xu Yanling, who was distributing dry rations to the others, and a look of approval appeared on his face:

"Yanling is a kind-hearted girl, and she's the only one who can tolerate Yanfeng's strange temper. Although she doesn't have spiritual roots, she's a good candidate for managing household affairs."

Xu Changqing did not respond, his gaze remaining fixed on the thin figure sitting under the withered tree.

Looking into the boy's eyes, which held pain yet were filled with resentment.

"not necessarily."

Xu Changqing suddenly spoke.

Xu Dayi was taken aback: "Clan leader, are you referring to Yan Zhen?"

"There are three thousand paths to enlightenment, but one does not necessarily have to walk them. This child is sensitive and prone to extremism, but if properly guided, his willpower will far surpass that of ordinary people."

Xu Changqing withdrew his gaze, tucked his hands into his sleeves, and spoke in a calm tone.

Xu Dayou seemed to understand but not quite, and was about to say something when he saw Xu Changqing turn around and walk back.

"If he uses that ruthlessness towards himself in the right way, he will go much further than those kids who just laugh it off."