Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 37 - 36: Tang Qiu Yao: Don’t Tell Me You Have Designs on Your Senior Sister?
Seeing Ling Changqing’s polite refusal, Tang Qiuyao didn’t press the matter.
Before long, all six Qingyuan Cloud Dew Pills had been purchased by various clan disciples.
The next items presented were a set of three Flying Swords, a woman’s Magical Robe, and two Spiritual Ships. All were Top Grade Magical Artifacts.
’I already got a few decent Magical Artifacts after dealing with those Tribulation Cultivators last time,’ Ling Changqing thought. ’So I don’t need to spend any more Spirit Stones on them for now.’
"...Young Master, this is a gift from my lady. Please, do not refuse it!"
A maid in white with bright eyes and pearly teeth walked up to Ling Changqing’s seat, holding a delicate Jade Box. She gave a slight curtsy and spoke in a soft voice.
Ling Changqing glanced over and recognized her as Ling Bingyun’s maid. The gift in the Jade Box was one of the six Qingyuan Cloud Dew Pills.
Ling Changqing had been a little puzzled when Ling Bingyun bid on a Qingyuan Cloud Dew Pill earlier. After all, she had no use for it herself. He never imagined she had bought it for him.
"Well..."
Ling Changqing couldn’t help but look toward Tang Qiuyao. This gift was a bit of a hot potato.
The stunning beauty smiled. "It’s fine, just accept it. You can simply return a gift of similar value later."
Ling Changqing nodded, taking the Jade Box from the maid’s hands. "Please thank your lady for me," he said warmly.
The maid breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Ling Changqing had accepted the gift, she could report back and complete her task.
’Then again,’ she thought, ’if my lady really does end up marrying this ridiculously handsome young master, maybe I could be her dowry maid and serve him too?’
A faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks. The maid stared at Ling Changqing for a moment before bowing and taking her leave.
Ling Changqing studied the Jade Box in his hands for a moment before putting it into his Storage Pouch.
’Next time I go out to sea, I’ll find a couple of rare treasures of similar value to give her. That way, we’ll be even.’
"...That shameless hussy!"
Sitting on one side of the stands, Ling Xueyu’s expression turned cold. She had, of course, seen what Ling Bingyun did. Annoyed, she secretly regretted not making a move herself.
On the other side, after hearing her maid’s report, a smile touched Ling Bingyun’s eyes. ’As long as he’s willing to accept my gift,’ she thought, ’there’s still hope.’
On the high platform, the Top Grade Magical Artifacts quickly found their new owners. The next items were more elixirs: six Bi Ning Pills, specifically for breaking through the Late stage Qi Cultivation.
This time, it wasn’t just the younger disciples; even some of the Steward Elders joined the bidding, making the scene quite lively.
After all, most Cultivators had limited aptitude, and the three minor realms of Late stage Qi Cultivation were notoriously difficult to break through. An elixir like this was a temptation few could resist.
"Do you want one? I can get it for you!"
Tang Qiuyao stroked Ling Changqing’s hand, asking with a radiant smile.
Ling Changqing shook his head again. "I can’t use it at my current level. It won’t be too late for you to give me one after I reach the Qi Cultivation 7th Layer."
Tang Qiuyao shot him a playful glare but didn’t press the issue.
Before long, all six Bi Ning Pills were snatched up by the eager crowd.
"Senior Sister," Ling Changqing asked quietly, "does the clan hold internal auctions like this every year?"
"Yes, normally there are two a year,"
Tang Qiuyao replied. "If the Patriarch refines certain High-grade Elixirs, there might also be a special, unscheduled auction. For example..."
She didn’t finish her sentence, but Ling Changqing understood. ’Could it be,’ he wondered, ’that aside from Rank Breaking Elixirs for the Qi Cultivation Stage, the most precious item of all—the Foundation Establishment Pill—is also included?’
’Of course, that elixir is incredibly difficult to refine, and the ingredients are hard to gather, so it’s unlikely Ling Qiyue has any in stock.’
The output of other elixirs was relatively high, however. This showed that the average cultivation level of the Ling Clan’s disciples was a clear notch above that of the neighboring Foundation Establishment Clans.
This was the advantage of having a High-Rank Alchemist overseeing the clan. Disciples could obtain a wealth of elixir resources at fair prices, allowing their Cultivation to advance more rapidly.
"Senior Sister, you must... be close to Foundation Establishment, right?"
Ling Changqing’s eyes drifted over the stunning beauty’s enchanting figure. She was already at the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, her potential was far from exhausted, and she was still young. She had an excellent chance of taking the next step.
Tang Qiuyao didn’t shy away from the topic. "A few more years, probably. I only recently reached the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, so I need to wait until I reach the peak of my accumulation before I can attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."
Ling Changqing grew thoughtful. ’Since she’s the Patriarch’s confidante, she surely won’t lack a Foundation Establishment Pill. Does that mean that in a few years, the Ling Family will have another Foundation Establishment Cultivator?’
’I wonder how the rival clans in the area will react when they find out? They’ll probably be too worried to eat or sleep, won’t they?’
The auction continued. Several Spirit Companions, a set of Top Grade Array Banners, and a batch of high-quality Talismans appeared in succession.
Ling Changqing made a few bids, winning thirty high-quality Talismans and sixty Profound Yin Blood Essence Pills.
These elixirs were personally refined by Ling Qiyue, and their quality was no less than those made by the Independent Alchemist Meng Ye. It was just a shame there were so few of them.
Next came ten Beauty Pills. The starting price for each was no lower than that of the Bi Ning Pills, yet that did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the Female Cultivators.
Ling Changqing also bid on one and won. Although this type of elixir couldn’t increase one’s Cultivation, it could delay aging and help a Female Cultivator maintain her youthful beauty. As such, it was extremely popular.
"Senior Sister, this is for you!"
After receiving the elixir, Ling Changqing immediately handed it to Tang Qiuyao.
A faint blush touched Tang Qiuyao’s beautiful face. She gave him a sly smile. "Giving me such a valuable gift... Don’t tell me you have improper thoughts about your dear Senior Sister?"
Ling Changqing nodded brazenly. "That’s right. I do."
"???"
Tang Qiuyao froze for a second. ’This kid... he’s not even going to pretend anymore, is he?’
"You audacious lecher! We can talk again when you’re strong enough to beat me!"
Tang Qiuyao snorted softly and turned her head away, refusing to look at him. But she carefully placed the Beauty Pill into her Storage Pouch.
Ling Changqing just smiled and turned his attention back to the bidding on the stage.
A moment later, the clan elder hosting the auction announced in a booming voice:
"Next up, we have five Heavenly Life Extension Pills! Each elixir can extend one’s life by five years! Any interested Ling Clan Members should get ready to bid!"
At once, all the elderly Ling Clan Members grew excited. For them, whose Lifespans were nearing their end, no resource was more important than the Heavenly Life Extension Pill.
"Senior Sister,"
Ling Changqing stroked Tang Qiuyao’s smooth, delicate hand and asked quietly, "The Patriarch can refine Life-extending Elixirs for Foundation Establishment Cultivators too, right?"
Tang Qiuyao didn’t hide anything. "The Patriarch has the Pill Formula, but we can’t find the ingredients anywhere!"
"What a pity."
Ling Changqing was a little disappointed. The Heavenly Life Extension Pill was only effective for Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Stage, and it only worked the first time one was consumed.
A Life-extending Elixir that could be used by a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator was an extraordinary item, with a value no less than that of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
"There’s no need to be disappointed," Tang Qiuyao said with a smile. "If we can find the right rare materials in the Deep Sea Region in the future, the problem can be solved."
Although the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Ling Tianque and Ling Tianhe, had their own little schemes, they generally prioritized the clan’s interests and wouldn’t betray it for outsiders.
Therefore, if conditions permitted, Ling Qiyue wouldn’t mind letting them live a few more years. The clan, after all, still needed their strength.
Fierce bidding erupted throughout the hall. In order to snatch a single elixir, these old-timers were practically throwing their life savings at it!
Before long, all five Heavenly Life Extension Pills had found their owners.
Those who won an elixir were beaming with joy, while those who lost out could only sigh in frustration and grit their teeth.
Fortunately, the Patriarch frequently engaged in Opening the Furnace and Refining Pills, so there would be more of these Life-extending Elixirs in the future. They would just have to try again next time.
Next came a few more decent Magical Artifacts, as well as some Daoist Soldier Puppets. Then came the final item, which instantly made Ling Changqing’s expression change.
It was a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.
"...Was it refined by the Patriarch herself?"
Ling Changqing asked tentatively, glancing at Tang Qiuyao’s expression.
Tang Qiuyao nodded lightly. "That’s right."
Ling Changqing fell silent. The emergence of a new Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator would inevitably change the balance of power between the Ling Family and the neighboring clans.
It was easy to imagine how the situation would develop from here.
Moreover, the materials needed to refine a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills would likely yield more than a single pill.
With Ling Qiyue’s Alchemy Mastery, it was entirely possible she had refined two, or even three, Foundation Establishment Pills.
Barring any accidents, in a few years, wouldn’t it be a simple matter for the Ling Family to swallow up their arch-rival, the Wu Family, and absorb the surrounding factions?
