Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 43 - 42: Seeing Meng Ye Again
To be fair, the three Musician sisters had a lot going for them.
But for that very reason, their demands were just as high. An ordinary male cultivator couldn’t even hope to meet them.
Anyone who wanted to marry all three sisters as Dual Cultivation Companions would face a bride price of 10,000 Spirit Stones. A Spirit Vein Cave Mansion and a Flying Ship for travel had to be turned over to them, along with Top Grade Magical Artifacts such as a Flying Sword and a Magical Robe. Not one of these items could be missing.
Furthermore, Ling Changqing would have to provide them with resources such as Qingyuan Cloud Dew Pills to help them break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation as quickly as possible.
Of course, Ling Changqing couldn’t care less about all that. He had come to the Celestial Fate Pavilion simply to game the system, not because he actually wanted to take a few Female Cultivators home.
In the end, the three sisters did not get the result they wanted and stormed out, slamming the door in frustration.
Wang Po, who was waiting outside, was unfazed. She offered them a few words of comfort and then arranged for the next Female Cultivator to come in.
And so, one after another, Female Cultivators with outstanding qualities—or who thought they had outstanding qualities—streamed into the VIP room to meet with Ling Changqing.
Every Female Cultivator who entered would emerge after barely fifteen minutes, her face a mask of frustration and resentment, cursing under her breath as she left.
Before he knew it, the day was over.
By evening, a satisfied Ling Changqing set down his teacup, planning to see the last few candidates before settling the bill and leaving.
The one who entered this time was a Female Cultivator in her early twenties, dressed in a green robe. Her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, her long skirt trailed along the floor, and she possessed a refined and aloof beauty.
"...Fellow Daoist Ling, with your qualifications, you must be an Immortal Seedling receiving special nurturing from your clan’s elders."
After sitting down, the female cultivator surnamed Lin spoke unhurriedly, "So it’s understandable that your standards are a bit high. All of us sisters here can understand that."
"You’ve already met so many of the sisters. Surely there was one who caught your interest, even a little? Could you tell me what qualifications are truly required to become your Dao Companion? Let’s see if I can meet them."
Ling Changqing smiled. "My requirements aren’t too high. Gentle, virtuous, knowledgeable, and well-mannered. Good character is what matters most."
It sounded like he had stated his requirements, but in reality, he had said nothing at all.
After all, "character" is a subjective matter. Even the most wicked Evil or Demon Cultivators wouldn’t consider their own character to be all that bad.
In any case, Ling Changqing had no intention of being specific. That way, he could plausibly turn her down later by claiming they weren’t a good match.
"..."
The female cultivator surnamed Lin furrowed her delicate brows. Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes appraised him for a moment before she said in a low voice, "If that’s all it is, I think I can do that!"
"So, are you willing to give me your contact information now and take me home with you in the near future?"
Ling Changqing nodded. "I can give you my contact information. However, you don’t seem to have mentioned your own requirements yet?"
The female cultivator surnamed Lin smiled self-deprecatingly. "Your Cultivation is higher than mine, as is your status. The ball is already in your court; what right do I have to make any demands?"
"As long as you’re willing to take me home, Fellow Daoist, that’s all that matters. There’s no need to discuss worldly possessions; I’ll leave that up to you."
’It wasn’t that she didn’t want to make demands, but countless past rejections had finally made her understand her place.’
’If she kept on like this, she feared she’d still be a regular at the Celestial Fate Pavilion ten or even twenty years from now.’
Ling Changqing was slightly taken aback, and his tone grew more serious. "Fellow Daoist Lin, your attitude... is truly rare. It seems I was the one who misjudged."
"Alright. Let’s leave it at that for today. We can arrange to have a meal when we’re both free, and we can discuss things in more detail then."
"Then I shall await your good news."
The female cultivator surnamed Lin breathed a small sigh of relief. She took out a Communication Jade Talisman and exchanged contact information with Ling Changqing.
’It seems my gamble paid off. Then, at our next meeting, I should have a hope of my wish coming true, right?’
’Even sharing a husband with several other women wouldn’t be unacceptable. With such a promising Dao Companion to support me, my future path wouldn’t be too difficult.’
Ling Changqing also felt a flicker of emotion. ’After seeing so many Female Cultivators, I’ve finally met one who seems relatively level-headed, regardless of whether she’s putting on an act or is actually sincere.’
After meeting the last few Female Cultivators, Ling Changqing rose unhurriedly, took a handful of Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch, and handed them to an abashed Wang Po.
"Young man, still no suitable candidates for you today?"
Wang Po said in a low voice, "Why don’t you come again tomorrow to keep looking? I still have some excellent candidates. I definitely won’t let you leave empty-handed again."
The fact that he had spent so many Spirit Stones and still come up empty made Wang Po, who took pride in her professional integrity, feel quite bad.
"Alright, then I’ll trouble you to make the arrangements, Fellow Daoist Wang!"
Ling Changqing smiled and nodded. ’When it comes to a good deal like this, the more the merrier, of course.’
After bidding farewell to Wang Po and leaving the Celestial Fate Pavilion, Ling Changqing mulled it over for a moment and decided to pay a visit to the Independent Alchemist, Meng Ye.
The Marketplace was shrouded by the night, yet it was brightly lit, and the main streets were still bustling with activity.
Zenxin Island hadn’t suffered any invasions from outside forces in recent years, so its development had been quite prosperous. Numerous neutral factions came to do business here. This included many capable Loose Cultivators who were willing to choose the island as their long-term base.
Meng Ye was one such individual. As a Pill Master with unique skills, he would be treated with the utmost respect no matter which Foundation Establishment Clan’s territory he chose to reside in.
For Tang Qiu Yao to have persuaded him to stay on Zenxin Island, she must have offered a sufficient price on behalf of the Ling Family’s leadership, including the most crucial guarantee of all: his safety.
Half an hour later, Ling Changqing once again walked into Meng Ye’s shop.
Unfortunately, Meng Ye was not in. A young Pill Master Apprentice and two Maids were there to receive him.
"...Master is in the rear courtyard Opening the Furnace and Refining Pills. I expect he’ll be done in a little while. You can have a seat and wait, Fellow Daoist!"
The Pill Master Apprentice was quite respectful, though there was an unmistakable hint of envy in his eyes as he looked at Ling Changqing.
’Come to think of it, this handsome, purple-robed young man before me is younger than I am, yet he’s already at the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer with a stable foundation. In a few more years, he’ll probably have a real shot at Foundation Establishment.’
A nearby Maid served some Spirit Tea. Ling Changqing thanked her, took the cup, and after a single sip, couldn’t help but shake his head to himself.
’This Meng Ye is really something else... so stingy, even with this. I remember the Spirit Tea being better the last time I was here.’
’But that’s not the point. The thing is, this Pill Master doesn’t lack for Spirit Stones at all. He might even be richer than some new Foundation Establishment Powerhouses. So where is all his money going?’
No one on the outside knew Meng Ye’s true age, but given his current Cultivation Level, he was likely planning his own breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
But Meng Ye himself was only a Rank One High-grade Alchemist; he still lacked the ability to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill. To achieve his goal, he would eventually have to seek help from a Second Rank Alchemist.
Ling Changqing’s thoughts naturally turned to the Patriarch, Ling Qiyue. ’I wonder if she would be willing to help Meng Ye when the time comes? Assuming this Independent Alchemist agrees to remain on Zenxin Island for life, that is.’
Lost in his thoughts, Ling Changqing waited for a while longer before a weary-looking Meng Ye finally emerged from the rear courtyard.
Just like last time, he carried himself with the extreme caution of someone terrified of death. There were more than twenty obscure fluctuations of Spiritual Power emanating from all over his body.
"Your Cultivation has improved again?"
Meng Ye glanced indifferently at Ling Changqing, then turned and sat down behind his desk. Two layers of a silvery light screen immediately enveloped him.
The Pill Master seemed to have noticed something about Ling Changqing but had no intention of pointing it out. After all, everyone has secrets they cannot speak of.
"I’m here to deliver something to you!"
Ling Changqing spoke curtly, retrieving two red Jade Boxes from his Storage Pouch and handing them to the nearby Pill Master Apprentice.
"Don’t bring them over yet. Just open them right there!"
Meng Ye stopped the Pill Master Apprentice from approaching and gave the order cautiously.
Ling Changqing: "..."
’This paranoid bastard... Does he really have to be like this?!’
The Pill Master Apprentice glanced silently at Ling Changqing before opening the Jade Boxes in front of him.
Inside the Jade Boxes were two types of Spirit Medicine from the ocean floor: the Jade Flower and Huailing Grass. Both were resources that Meng Ye had previously commissioned Ling Changqing to collect. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Once he confirmed there were no issues, Meng Ye finally let out a sigh of relief and told the Pill Master Apprentice to bring them over.
"These are good, but the quantity is a bit small."
Meng Ye said, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice as he inspected the Spirit Medicine in the Jade Boxes.
Ling Changqing said, "Even though they’re only considered Grade One Spirit Medicine, they grow in extremely remote areas and are very hard to find. I’ll see if I can get more for you next time."
"You’ve gone to a lot of trouble,"
A trace of a smile finally appeared on Meng Ye’s face. "These items aren’t exceptionally precious, but they are quite important to me. How about this: I’ll give you fifty Profound Yin Blood Essence Pills as payment. What do you think?"
Ling Changqing considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Acceptable."
