7: Chapter 7: Online System "Observation" - Rewarded with Ten Years of Lifespan!

In the inner chamber, a pair of red candles had been lit at some unknown time.

The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of the two onto the window paper, stretching, twisting, and intertwining them.

The furnishings in the room were simple and plain, without a hint of festivity; only this pair of red candles stubbornly dripped wax, staining this absurd ceremony with a touch of fatalistic crimson.

Shen Qingxue had already removed her outer robe, wearing only a plain white undergarment, sitting quietly on the edge of the bed.

Her long hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, making her face, which already lacked color, appear even paler.

She did not look at Gu Yan; her gaze fell hollowly upon the flickering candlelight.

She looked like a jade sculpture without a Soul—beautiful, yet devoid of Life Qi.

Gu Yan sat beside her and could smell the faint, clean scent of soap locust coming from her.

His heart was a complex mix of emotions.

There was guilt for dragging a wonderful woman into the mire, remorse for his deceased son, and also... a trace of an unspeakable anticipation for the new life about to be born.

He knew that at this moment, any words would be superfluous and would only deepen their mutual awkwardness and pain.

He reached out his hand, which had regained some strength but was still covered in age spots, and gently grasped her fingers, which were curled on her lap from nervousness.

Her hands were cold, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

Gu Yan did not speak, simply using his palm to completely wrap around her hand, attempting to convey some warmth.

This was a silent promise, and also a silent transaction.

The atmosphere was solemn to the point of oppression.

Just at this awkward and solemn moment, that untimely voice exploded in Gu Yan's mind once again.

[Beep—]

[Detected that the host is performing the core act of "Spreading Branches and Scattering Leaves," meeting the System KPI assessment standards!]

["Online Observation" mode activated!]

[Data panel generating...]

Gu Yan's consciousness was instantly flooded by a screen full of high-tech light.

[Target locked: Shen Qingxue.]

[Identity: Wife of the host's foster son.]

[Age: 21.]

[Aptitude Rating: Mortal Grade High Grade (Mortal Physical Body, but with unique bone structure, has a certain chance to give birth to excellent offspring).]

[Luck Rating: Yellow Grade Low Grade (Born in poverty, widowed by husband, but destined with a touch of nobility; combining with the host can boost the Gu Family Luck).]

[Overall Evaluation: B+. As the first target in the newbie village, the performance is good and worthy of encouragement!]

Gu Yan almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

What is all this?

He was in the middle of a serious ceremony concerning the fate of the Gu Family, filled with tragic colors, yet this System was like a researcher observing a white mouse in a laboratory, calmly analyzing data.

He suppressed the urge to complain and tried hard to focus on what was in front of him.

[Warning: Detected that the host's Physical Body functions are in an "elderly" state, with various indicators below average. To ensure the success rate of "Spreading Branches and Scattering Leaves" and user experience, it is recommended that the host finish quickly to avoid excessive consumption.]

[Behavior analysis in progress... The host's technique is slightly raw, and emotional investment is insufficient; it is recommended to increase foreplay...]

[Beep beep! Detected that the target's heart rate is too fast, and emotions are in a mixed state of "sadness," "numbness," and "nervousness," which is unfavorable for the smooth progress of the great harmony of life. System suggestion: The host can try saying some sweet nothings to alleviate the target's nervousness... Forget it, looking at your age, you probably can't say them anyway.]

The veins on Gu Yan's forehead twitched uncontrollably.

He had lived two lifetimes and had never experienced such an absurd scene.

He could even imagine that in some dimension he couldn't see, this so-called System was holding a bucket of popcorn, "observing" while shaking its head and providing live commentary.

Hold it in!

Must hold it in!

For the sake of his Lifespan, for the Gu Family, and to avoid being angered to death by this unscrupulous System.

...

After the clouds and rain.

When everything returned to calm, the red candles had burned down by a small portion.

Shen Qingxue curled up in the quilt, her back to Gu Yan, her thin shoulders slightly heaving as she suppressed silent sobs.

Gu Yan lay silently beside her, not disturbing her.

He knew she needed time.

And he was waiting for the verdict of fate.

In his mind, the System's cold, mechanical voice finally sounded again, but this time, it sounded like music to his ears.

[Ding—]

[Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the newbie task: The first step to continuing the Family line!]

[Task settlement in progress...]

A waterfall of azure data streams poured down into Gu Yan's consciousness, eventually converging into a futuristic settlement interface.

[Task Goal: Take a concubine and consummate the marriage.]

[Completion Status: Perfect.]

[Task Reward: Lifespan + 10 years, one Newbie Gift Pack.]

[Rewards being distributed...]

A warm current of life, even more massive and pure than the medicinal power of the "Rejuvenation Pill" from before, burst forth from the deepest part of his body without warning!

If the previous medicinal power was a stream, then this warm current was a bursting river!

It was no longer a gentle washing, but was tyrannically reshaping every inch of Gu Yan's flesh and blood.

He could clearly feel the wrinkles under his skin being rapidly smoothed out by an invisible force.

The age spots on his face faded at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His hair, which had been somewhat gray, was quickly replaced by a rich, ink-black color starting from the roots.

His body seemed to have become a piece of refined iron being repeatedly tempered, having its Impurities removed and its form reshaped.

Under the push of this force, his physical functions, which were originally in their early sixties, advanced irresistibly toward a younger stage.

Sixty... Fifty-eight... Fifty-five...

Finally, when the warm current slowly subsided and merged into his body, his physical state had steadily settled at the appearance of someone in their early fifties!

Although still not young, compared to the octogenarian on the verge of death from before, it was a world of difference!

He could feel his heartbeat steady and powerful, his breathing long, and his limbs filled with explosive strength.

[Newbie Gift Pack has been automatically opened.]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the basic Cultivation Technique: "Long Spring Art"!]

[Technique Introduction: "Long Spring Art," a Yellow Grade Low Grade Cultivation Technique. Cultivating this method can prolong one's Lifespan and nourish the Physical Body; it is the best choice for entering the path of Cultivation.]

[The technique has been automatically loaded for you. Please Cultivate as soon as possible, step onto the path of immortality early, marry more high-quality concubines, and contribute to our great cause!]

As the System prompt fell silent, a profound set of incantations was directly branded into the depths of Gu Yan's memory.

He didn't even need to understand it; his body had already instinctively begun to try to draw in the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth according to the routes of the technique.

A wisp of warm Qi flow, so weak it was almost non-existent, was captured by him from the air and slowly drawn into his Dantian.

This was the sense of Qi!

The path of Cultivation had officially opened for him!

Gu Yan slowly opened his eyes, feeling the unprecedented sense of power within his body and that incomparably precious sense of Qi in his Dantian, a surge of great ambition rising in his heart.

Sixty years!

He had finally broken free from the shackles of his Useless Spirit Root and taken the first step on the path to immortality!

He turned his head to look beside him.

Shen Qingxue seemed to have cried herself to exhaustion; her breathing had become even, and she had fallen into a deep sleep.

Crystal tears still hung on her long eyelashes, and in her sleep, her brows remained tightly furrowed, appearing so pitiful.

Gu Yan's gaze softened.

He knew that everything he had today and everything he would have in the future was all thanks to this kind and resilient woman.

From now on, he, Gu Yan, would definitely not fail her.

He gently pulled the corner of the quilt for her, then sat cross-legged and began to officially operate the "Long Spring Art" to stabilize this hard-won new life.