"Mm, alright. I’ll be waiting, then!"

Liu Qianlan blinked her beautiful eyes and said with a beaming smile. She still had over two hundred years of Lifespan and no shortage of life-extending resources, so she could certainly afford to wait.

The handsome, black-clad youth before her, graceful as a jade tree with eyes like polished lacquer, was likely younger than her own apprentice. ’Who would have thought he could be so astonishingly talented, already a Golden Core Master at such a young age.’

’Especially with his unbelievable talent in the Alchemy Dao. In the future, his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm will surely be a certainty.’

’With such a genius overseeing things, a great leap in the Ling Family of Changqing Continent’s strength is entirely foreseeable.’

’Come to think of it, the Ling Family’s apparent strength doesn’t seem much greater than the Longevity Hall’s, does it?’

’Yet this family has managed to occupy an entire sea region, their position unchallenged. Ling Changqing must deserve most of the credit for that.’

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Qianlan said in a low voice, "Fellow Daoist Ling, I am interested in a deeper level of cooperation with the Ling Family of Changqing Continent... perhaps even an alliance. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Ling Changqing looked slightly taken aback. He shook his head and said, "This is no small matter. Fellow Daoist Liu, you should probably discuss this with our Patriarch. I will not involve myself."

The relationships between different powers were just like those between nations in the mortal world. Alliances were not based on friendship, but only on practical needs and benefits.

Of course, in Liu Qianlan’s view, if the Longevity Hall could form a solid alliance with the Ling Family, there would naturally be many benefits in the future.

"Very well. I will go see the Patriarch later to discuss this in detail."

Liu Qianlan said, her smile never fading.

Ling Changqing nodded, exchanged a few more words, and then took his leave.

At that moment, watching Ling Changqing’s departing figure, a bold idea suddenly popped into the female Hall Master’s mind.

’I wonder if this Ling Changqing has a Dao Companion. If I could arrange a good match between my apprentice and him, it seems like it would be an excellent choice, wouldn’t it?’

’However, Liu Xiuyan is destined to take over as Hall Master in the future, so it’s obviously not appropriate for her to marry into another family.’

Liu Qianlan’s elegant brows furrowed slightly. After weighing her options for a moment, she decided to wait and see.

’A man this outstanding has probably already been claimed by one of the Ling Family’s own women, one of both excellent character and appearance. It’s unlikely an outsider would even get a chance.’

「In the Pill Hall.」

Ling Changqing skillfully activated the Array Restriction, preparing to refine another batch of Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pills. Yang Yunfei and Mu Yu Xin assisted him from the side.

In his Storage Pouch, he had enough medicinal ingredients to refine ten batches of Elixirs, all from commissioned orders from the Xingyun sun Commerce Association.

Compared to adventuring out at sea, the profits from Alchemy weren’t bad at all. Every qualified Third Rank Alchemist was considered wealthy among Cultivators of the same level, to say nothing of a Pill Master as exceptionally talented as Ling Changqing.

「In the Women’s Embroidery Tower.」

Liu Qianlan successfully met with Ling Qiyue. Tang Qiu Yao, Qin Yun, and Ling Yulu were also present to accompany them.

Studying these Golden Core Female Cultivators—each with a face as exquisite as a painting, unparalleled beauty, and her own unique charm and temperament—Liu Qianlan grew even more certain of her inner suspicions.

’If her intuition is correct, these beauties must all share some sort of intimate relationship with Ling Changqing, right?’

’In comparison, her own apprentice really has no advantage.’

’Of course, compared to me, the qualifications of these four great beauties amount to nothing!’ Liu Qianlan mused to herself.

"...Alright, Fellow Daoist Liu, what exactly do you have in mind? Please speak frankly."

Ling Qiyue asked in a gentle tone.

She naturally understood the stunningly beautiful woman’s intentions. It was just that the situation in the Chixue Sea Region was rather complicated, and it was not suitable for the Ling Family to get involved at the moment.

"Patriarch Ling, the Cangyu Islands in the Chixue Sea Region have always been eyeing the Feiyu Sea Region covetously. After all, their territory is right on the edge of the Feiyu Sea Region."

"So, whether your Ling Family is willing or not, a conflict with this Golden Core power is inevitable in the future. It’s only a matter of time."

"Our Longevity Hall has always been at odds with the Cangyu Islands. We’ve been fighting on and off for nearly a hundred years. If we weren’t holding them back, they might have already made a move on the islands of the Feiyu Sea Region!"

"Forming an alliance with our Longevity Hall to jointly suppress and weaken the Cangyu Islands would be a win-win choice, in my opinion! What are your thoughts, Patriarch?"

Liu Qianlan stated her case in a calm and unhurried manner.

The Cangyu Islands currently have thirteen Core Formation Cultivators, including six Golden Core Masters and seven True Pill Cultivators, as well as dozens of Pseudo Core Cultivators.

This strength was considerably greater than that of the Longevity Hall. If not for Liu Qianlan’s Cultivation having reached the Late stage Golden Core, the Longevity Hall would have had great difficulty holding on.

In the Chixue Sea Region, the Cangyu Islands have a rather poor reputation. Most of the businesses they operate are illicit, and they frequently moonlight as Tribulation Cultivator gangs, launching vicious attacks on passing merchant caravans and Loose Cultivators.

In the long run, once the Ling Family’s strength reaches a certain level, expanding into the neighboring Chixue Sea Region is inevitable. At that time, a confrontation with the Cangyu Islands will be unavoidable.

Choosing to support the Longevity Hall now, allowing them to tie down the Cangyu Islands, would undoubtedly be in the Ling Family’s best interests.

Seeing Ling Qiyue fall silent in contemplation, Tang Qiu Yao spoke up and asked:

"Hall Master Liu, if one day we were to join forces against the Cangyu Islands and succeed in destroying them, how would the spoils of war be divided?"

A glint appeared in Liu Qianlan’s eyes. She thought for a moment before cautiously replying, "If that day truly comes, the spoils would of course be divided based on how much effort each side contributes."

"However, the Ling Family’s territory is already large enough. I imagine you have no need for the lands of the Cangyu Islands."

"Besides, if your forces were to enter the Chixue Sea Region, it would likely provoke a strong reaction from the other surrounding Golden Core powers, don’t you think?"