Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 105 - 100: One Person Attains the Dao, Chickens and Dogs Ascend?
Longhuan Island, Marketplace.
On the 5th floor of Xianwei Pavillion, Ling Changqing sat in a private room overlooking the street, his gaze sweeping over the bustling, crowded roads below.
Unfamiliar faces of foreign Loose Cultivators were everywhere, most with Cultivation below the Middle stage Qi Cultivation.
However, the number of Late stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators was not small, and one could even occasionally spot a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Life was not easy for Loose Cultivators. Any who managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage through their own efforts could not be a simple character.
The number of shops lining the streets had increased significantly, a sign of booming business. All the good locations had already been snapped up. Even the price of land in the more remote areas had multiplied several times over.
"...This Marketplace is getting more and more popular!"
Ling Changqing sighed with a bit of emotion.
The young, charming girl beside him, dressed in silks and brocades, smiled faintly.
"Young Master is right. Back on Zenxin Island, the Marketplace was much smaller than this! And there were nowhere near this many Cultivators."
This was only normal. The influence of a Foundation Establishment power and a Golden Core power were on two completely different levels.
The establishment of a Xingyun sun Commerce Association branch, in particular, had drawn countless Cultivators from all over the Feiyu Sea Region, all attracted by its reputation.
After all, life was hard for low-level Cultivators, and resources were scarce. Even if they had Spirit Stones, it wasn’t easy to purchase certain high-end Cultivation Resources, and they always had to worry about being robbed.
Only at a place like the Xingyun sun Commerce Association branch would the situation be somewhat better.
"I think this is just the beginning. In the future... Longhuan Island will surely become even more prosperous, especially after you become a Golden Core Master, Young Master!"
Ling Menghuan, the shy, gentle, and quiet girl next to him, said softly.
Both women had complete confidence in Ling Changqing’s future potential and ultimate achievements.
"Perhaps, but that will still take many years!"
Ling Changqing smiled. ’Of course my future path won’t stop at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even the Golden Core Realm might not be the end.’
Song Xuelan pursed her lips into a faint smile. "It won’t be too long. Young Master will definitely become a Golden Core Master!"
Ling Changqing’s eyes sized her up for a few moments before he spoke in a warm voice:
"You are already at the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer. Keep working hard, and don’t worry about Cultivation Resources. I will prepare them for you."
"Yes, this servant will listen only to you, Young Master."
Song Xuelan’s pretty face flushed red as she nodded vigorously.
Her Spirit Root Talent was not originally outstanding, but ever since she started following Ling Changqing, she had lived year-round in a Second Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion with ample resources to back her up. Her Cultivation speed was now no slower than that of the Ling Family’s Direct Lineage disciples.
Song Xuelan cherished this good fortune. She managed the cave mansion’s affairs and served Ling Changqing with ever-increasing diligence, never slacking in the slightest.
Noticing that Ling Menghuan looked a little crestfallen, Ling Changqing smiled and stroked her waist.
"The same goes for you. Don’t think about anything else, just focus on your cultivation. I want you two to accompany me for a lifetime!"
Ling Menghuan’s expression immediately brightened. She responded with a soft sound, her beautiful face flushing a shy red.
Now that her injuries had healed, her figure had become much fuller. Full of spirit and energy, she had recently broken through to the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer.
Song Xuelan thought for a moment, then said with some apprehension, "But Young Master, spending resources to train us... won’t it affect your own Cultivation progress? And Sister Qiuyao..."
In her eyes, Tang Qiu Yao was, after all, the Young Master’s official Dao Companion. If she had an issue with this, she feared the Young Master would be caught in a difficult position.
Ling Changqing shook his head. "It’s fine. She won’t make things difficult for you. You don’t have to worry at all!"
’I don’t lack resources now. Not to mention the distant future, but at least until I try for the Golden Core Realm, supporting a few Qi Cultivation Stage maids is no burden at all. It’s not like I can’t spare what they need.’
’Once I become a Golden Core Master in the future, my resources will only become more abundant. Even a Foundation Establishment Pill, a rare and coveted treasure in the eyes of low-level Cultivators, will be nothing more than a trinket I can obtain at will.’
’When I have the ability, it’s only human nature to take care of those close to me.’
’The reason ordinary people despise nepotism and the phenomenon of "when one person achieves the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven," is, in the end, simply because they aren’t the ones benefiting.’
’No matter the world or the era, what people truly object to isn’t privilege itself, but the fact that they don’t have it. That’s human nature.’
’From my perspective, if I have benefits to give, why wouldn’t I prioritize those close to me? Should I be helping complete strangers instead?’
’Besides, these are Cultivation Resources I earned myself, not the clan’s public property. There’s no question of misappropriating public assets for private gain. I can give them to whomever I wish.’
The two women quietly watched the purple-robed young man beside them, their gazes as gentle as water.
At that moment, at Longhuan Island’s largest port, several more Large Sea Boats were slowly pulling up to the docks.
"...So this is the Ling Family’s Longhuan Island? It seems much more popular than the Wilderness Islands!"
Mu Yu Xin, in disguise, silently surveyed her surroundings as she stepped ashore, surrounded by several maids and attendants.
’I’ve come bearing a heavy responsibility from the family’s upper echelon. I wonder if I’ll be able to complete my mission.’
...
After eating and drinking his fill, Ling Changqing left Xianwei Pavillion. He strolled around with the two women for a while before walking into Xiuhe Pavilion.
This was the shop opened by the Loose Cultivator Hua Jingyi. He had come here once before with Tang Qiu Yao.
A moment later, in the VIP room.
"Young Master Ling, you’ve reached Foundation Establishment already? Truly, your talent is outstanding and enviable!"
The beautiful and elegant Hua Jingyi smiled faintly. She wore a well-tailored, sea-blue dress that accentuated her graceful and slender figure.
Ling Changqing nodded and said warmly, "It’s been a while, Fellow Daoist Hua. Have your injuries fully healed? It looks like you’re not far from the Late stage Foundation Establishment!"
"It’s hard to say right now. I can only hope that day comes!"
Hua Jingyi said. She had been injured before, and her Cultivation had regressed significantly from the Middle stage Foundation Establishment, even affecting her Lifespan.
Later, with Ling Qiyue’s help, she managed to recover completely. Now, her Cultivation was fully restored, and she looked much younger, her skin fairer than snow and radiant with light.
"Young Master Ling, I’ve finished Refining the set of Spiritual Artifact clothing I promised you. You can try it on to see if it fits. If there are any problems, I can make adjustments!"
As she spoke, Hua Jingyi took out a complete set of magnificent deep purple robes from her Storage Pouch and handed them to Ling Changqing. The robes shimmered with Spiritual Light and were covered in a pattern of stars and clouds.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
Ling Changqing accepted the clothes but wasn’t in a hurry to try them on. Instead, he gestured to the two women beside him:
"Could I trouble you to refine a few sets of well-fitting clothes for them as well? Top Grade Magical Artifact level will be sufficient. I will pay the full price in Spirit Stones!"
"That’s no problem."
Hua Jingyi agreed readily. Business coming to her door was naturally a good thing.
She looked Song Xuelan and the other woman up and down for a moment, then couldn’t help but smile. "Are these the concubines you’ve taken, Young Master? Do you plan to have them bear your children?"
Ling Changqing explained with some embarrassment, "Fellow Daoist, don’t misunderstand. Not at the moment."
Hua Jingyi laughed. "Then they surely will be in the future, right? I can see their talent isn’t bad. They should be able to bear children with Spirit Roots, I imagine?"
Song Xuelan and Ling Menghuan immediately flushed beet-red, overcome with shyness, but they did not say anything to deny it.
Ling Changqing shook his head. "That’s not a certainty, and besides, I have no intention of raising children yet."
Hua Jingyi’s expression turned a bit more serious. "On the contrary, I feel that for the future of your family, you should consider this matter as soon as possible, Young Master!"
The descendants of Cultivators were not guaranteed to have Spirit Roots.
In the Cultivation Realm, this was an exceedingly common situation. Even if both parents were Cultivators with high Cultivation, their children were not guaranteed to possess Spirit Roots.
Among a dozen or so children, having even one or two with Spirit Roots was already considered an ideal outcome. Cases where there wasn’t a single Immortal Seedling were also frequently seen.
Therefore, in the Cultivation Realm, regardless of the size of a power or the level of one’s Cultivation, having no successor was one of the most vexing problems.
That was why Hua Jingyi felt that since Ling Changqing was the most outstanding Immortal Seedling of his generation in the family, he should put in the effort in this area as soon as possible and contribute to the family’s growth and development.
Taking many wives and concubines to spread one’s branches and leaves was standard practice. A mere two concubines was still too few.
’Perhaps... I could consider introducing someone to him? That would bring us closer.’
Hua Jingyi pondered this. The young man before her was an important figure in the Ling Family. Building a good relationship with him might bring unexpected benefits for her in the future.
"Well, about that... there’s no hurry right now. Let’s talk about it again in the future!"
Ling Changqing said.
