Shen Liqian's question made all the kids think deeply about their futures.
It was quite cruel to ask the little ones about it so early, as Shen Liqian himself hadn't known who he wanted to be in his past life.
But in this life, things were simpler and more dangerous.
Kids didn't have many paths, and most were pushed into hard labor or dangerous hunting.
To be a hunter was both a privilege and a risk.
Every adult in the village understood that trade-off.
None of the kids understand this, but I must talk about it and explain things without letting my past self's experience hinder them.
If he could, Shen Liqian would rather talk about something else with the youngest generation.
Sadly, that couldn't be the case.
His clan hadn't progressed fast enough to give them many options for their futures.
"I want to be a strong hunter, Chief Liqian!" a kid around five years old raised his hand and declared what most kids in the Shen Clan would say.
Shen Liqian nodded at him.
His nod carried weight.
"Hunters are heroes of our village.
"You already have my thanks and appreciation for wanting to become one.
"A lot of hardships will bar your way on this cultivation path.
"That's why you must remember a few things.
"You aren't alone.
The line eased a few tight shoulders.
"It's okay to hesitate and begin anew.
"It's okay to give up and find a new cultivation path.
"It's precisely because of this that I want to push our clan further and develop various means for everyone.
"I can't offer you much right now besides being available whenever you need me, so you can consult me about anything.
"So please, give the currently available paths a try, for me and for the Shen Clan."
The little one nodded, and so did the other kids.
They didn't understand much, just as he'd expected, but they were more decisive about their futures and more willing to give cultivation a try.
Shen Kexin raised her hand.
"I want to be a flower cultivator!"
Shen Liqian smiled brightly.
"That's a beautiful idea."
Smiles stirred along the row.
She sparked dreams in the other kids, who stood and shared their own.
"I want to be a snow cultivator!"
"I want to be a tree cultivator!"
And so on.
It was great to hear about cultivation paths no adult in the Shen Clan dared to mention, because they considered them impossible.
But with Shen Liqian's system and Zhiyin's knowledge, there was surely a chance for him to turn the youngest generation's dreams into reality.
Shen Liqian calmed the kids, inspired by their excitement for the vast cultivation world, who had been excitedly sharing their bottled-up dreams.
All of them sat down and stared at him with shining eyes.
Shen Liqian said, "So far, our clan has a few cultivation methods you can try.
"That doesn't mean your dreams can't come true.
"Severing your cultivation at the first realm, Qi Attunement, is common!"
Shen Kexin raised her hand again.
"Um, big brother Xian often complains that his cultivation is slow…"
Shen Liqian's eye twitched.
Thank heavens he's not here right now.
Shen Liqian coughed.
"He's not the first or the last to complain about that.
"It's true that cultivation can be slow and difficult.
"Many can't advance past a few realms.
"But you can do it with my help, as I've delved deep into cultivation."
He didn't need to explain everything to them, of course.
As he spoke in a roundabout way about his system, the kids regained their confidence and seemed to have even more.
Shen Liqian chuckled.
"Who says your sword cultivation can't become a tree?
A kid who wanted to be a tree cultivator brightened.
"Who says your arrows can't turn into snowballs?
A kid who wanted to be a snow cultivator beamed.
"Cultivation is also a path where we pursue our dreams.
"And this path is split into four categories.
"Please, listen attentively."
Now that he had helped the kids form some idea of cultivation and their own paths, Shen Liqian turned to the fundamentals he had learned from Zhiyin.
He took four scrolls from his storage ring and set them in front of him.
He unscrolled the first one, which read 'Dantian'.
The other three read, respectively: 'Body', 'Spirit', and 'Intent'.
Shen Liqian explained the first two clearly.
He shared his experiences.
He said cultivation often came with pain everyone had to swallow.
"Intent is a path where you give your cultivation a part of yourself."
Taking out his Spirit Seal Sword, Shen Liqian clenched it tightly and held it horizontally before the children.
"My Sword Intent is about a decisive sword that doesn't question its path.
"It's because of this Intent that my sword was powerful enough to easily sever the head of my uncle, the traitor.
"But can you believe it?
"I actually questioned myself.
"It became a Heart Demon."
The words sat heavy.
The term 'Heart Demon' sounded so sinister that the kids gasped and sat up straighter.
Shen Liqian chuckled at the sight.
"Never fear your own Heart Demon or reject it.
"It comes to you for a reason.
"And that reason will help you steady yourself.
"It helped me, and I grew ever stronger thanks to it.
Shoulders loosened again.
"I defeated my Heart Demon, and so can you, should it ever appear in your hearts."
The kids nodded.
Shen Liqian set his sword aside and closed his eyes.
It was now time to talk about the last path—Spirit Cultivation.
This path was so difficult that it wouldn't be unusual for most of his clan members to fail at it.
It could create miracles, such as Zhiyin, whose spirit reincarnated with her memories intact because of how advanced her Spirit Cultivation was.
Perhaps it was the reason she became the guide for the Clan Cultivation System.
"If Body Cultivation is a path that strengthens the vessel, Spirit Cultivation is a path that elevates your spirit, which resides in the vessel.
"It comes with many advantages, such as a Sixth Sense."
And it was also the path that would help Shen Liqian turn his sword into his first Spiritual Root.
The kids nodded again.
Shen Liqian began imprinting methods, one by one, to help them begin the cultivation path and try them.
Once all the kids were in a cultivation trance, he stood up and went to his mother and Shen Wenwan, so the two of them could keep an eye on the little ones and wake them up for dinner.
The room settled into careful, even breathing.