Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 55 - 53: Refusal

Inside a spacious and bright, antique-style study.

Sitting in the main seat was a Female Cultivator in a green skirt. Her temperament was cool and aloof, her lovely face as fair as snow, and her graceful figure was exquisitely curved.

Ling Changqing’s gaze swept over her, and he discovered that her cultivation had actually reached the Foundation Establishment Peak level. Her entire body was wreathed in spiritual light, and he could sense more than ten points of obscure, unfathomable magical power fluctuating around her.

’And this might not even be her true Cultivation Realm.’

Anyone who could run a successful intelligence business in the Hanyue Continent Marketplace for so many years had to have some special skills to survive.

"...Yue’Er, you actually brought someone new this time? I must say, I’m a little surprised!"

The Female Cultivator, whose name was Fu Yin Xue, spoke as her lovely eyes studied the handsome, purple-robed young man sitting beside Ling Qiyue, unable to conceal her surprise.

In the past, Ling Qiyue had always visited alone or with Tang Qiu Yao. She never brought a Male Cultivator with her. To think she would make an exception this time.

’Of course, with her keen eye, she knew this handsome, purple-robed young man was probably not as simple as he appeared.’

"This is the most outstanding Direct Lineage disciple in the family,"

Ling Qiyue smiled faintly. "He has also recently begun studying the Alchemy Dao under me. I intend to pour all my resources into training him, so don’t get any ideas, Senior Sister."

Fu Yin Xue smiled, her lips pursed. "I can see that. I won’t make things difficult for you. I’m just curious, when did the Ling Family produce such a fine prospect? You’ve never mentioned him before!"

She remembered Ling Qiyue’s last visit. Back then, she had been lamenting that her family was filled with mediocre people, with very few worth nurturing. She had worried that there would be no worthy successors.

’This Ling Changqing’s cultivation is still only at the Qi Cultivation Level. He’s young, but as for his future potential... reaching Foundation Establishment should be no problem, but it’s hard to say if he can reach Core Formation.’

"Senior Sister, shall we conduct this intelligence trade according to our usual arrangement?"

Ling Qiyue changed the subject. She didn’t want to talk too much about Ling Changqing in front of an outsider.

Even if her relationship with Senior Sister Fu was good, some lines could not be crossed.

"Alright."

Turning to business, Fu Yin Xue’s expression grew serious. She set down her teacup and retrieved a Jade Scroll that shimmered with Spiritual Light from the Storage Pouch at her waist.

With a slight flick of her hand, the Jade Scroll flew into Ling Qiyue’s grasp, trailing a faint tail of Spiritual Light.

"This is the intelligence our organization has collected on all the Foundation Establishment powers in the Feiyu Sea Region over the past three years,"

Fu Yin Xue explained, "It especially details the movements of the powers around Zenxin Island, such as the Yang Family, Zhou Family, and Mu Family. It covers their internal personnel changes, resource reserves, and the cultivation changes of key figures... Everything you’re interested in is recorded inside!"

Ling Qiyue unfurled the Jade Scroll and quickly scanned it, nodding in satisfaction.

"You’ve done well, Senior Sister. The contents are indeed very detailed. As for the payment, shall we settle it according to the old rules?"

Fu Yin Xue’s gaze was deep. "The current market price has risen a bit. By convention, I should add a twenty percent surcharge. However, for a valued client like you, we’ll let it slide this time. Next time, we’ll trade at the new price, alright?"

"It’s a deal."

Ling Qiyue had no intention of haggling with her. She took out a Storage Pouch and handed it to Fu Yin Xue.

Fu Yin Xue opened it and saw that it was filled with standard-cut Middle-grade Spirit Stones. Besides the payment for the intelligence, there were several hundred extra stones.

"Are you planning to repay part of your debt early?"

Fu Yin Xue was slightly surprised. Last time, Ling Qiyue had borrowed a high-value resource from her, agreeing to repay it in installments with Spirit Stones, including interest.

’But from the looks of it, the Ling Family’s financial situation is a bit better than I imagined? They can actually afford to make an early repayment?’

Ling Qiyue smiled. "While traveling recently, I indeed had some unusual fortuitous encounters, so... it’s better to pay off this debt early. Otherwise, I can’t sleep soundly."

Fu Yin Xue stared deeply at Ling Qiyue for a moment, then nodded. "Of course, that’s no problem. We’ll do as you say!"

"So, do you need another loan to manage your cash flow? I can offer you a higher credit limit!"

Besides the intelligence business, this Female Cultivator also ran a side business of lending Spirit Stones and resources.

Of course, her services were limited to cultivators Above Foundation Establishment; those below this level were not qualified.

Ling Qiyue smiled. "Thank you for your generosity, Senior Sister. I have no such needs for now, but if I do in the future, I will definitely ask you."

’With Ling Changqing around, she wasn’t worried about resources. Of course, there was no need for outsiders to know this; it was enough that she knew.’

Fu Yin Xue thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "You should be careful of those Foundation Establishment Clans around Zenxin Island. They have their own intelligence channels, so they should also know a lot of the Ling Family’s internal news."

"Hmph, I’m well aware of that!"

Ling Qiyue’s voice turned cold. "Those traitors who betray their own better not fall into my hands, or I’ll make sure they suffer a fate worse than death!"

Intelligence comes before any military action.

Intelligence is the last thing you should skimp on.

This was a principle that the leaders of all powers, big and small, in the Cultivation Realm understood. Thus, they never hesitated to invest in it.

What Ling Qiyue could do, those Foundation Establishment Clans could also do.

However, investing in intelligence was a massive and continuous undertaking that placed extremely high demands on a power’s financial and material resources.

Right now, when it came to throwing around Spirit Stones, probably none of the Foundation Establishment powers around Zenxin Island could compare to Ling Qiyue.

Fu Yin Xue mulled it over for a moment before continuing, "About my proposal last time, have you given it any thought, Junior Sister?"

Ling Qiyue shook her head. "There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. The more benefits you receive now, the more you’ll have to pay back in the future!"

"The Ling Family may be small, but it’s a foundation that our ancestors painstakingly built and passed down through several generations. If I were to just hand it over, wouldn’t I become a traitor to the family?"

Fu Yin Xue tried to persuade her, "But if you accept the organization’s help, you can easily crush those Foundation Establishment Clans and become the most powerful family in the Feiyu Sea Region."

"In the future, you could even achieve the Golden Core Dao Fruit. At that point, unifying the entire Feiyu Sea Region would be a natural next step. Isn’t that much better than your current situation, struggling with every step as if walking on thin ice?"

In short, the organization behind Fu Yin Xue hoped to use the Ling Family as a chess piece to gradually gain control over the territory and resources of the entire Feiyu Sea Region, which was why they offered Ling Qiyue such seemingly generous terms.

As long as she agreed, the organization would invest resources to help the Ling Family produce a batch of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, along with all sorts of financial and material support, to help them annex and integrate the surrounding Foundation Establishment Clans.

However, Ling Qiyue refused outright. Good things don’t just fall from the sky. Once the Ling Family lost its independence, it was hard to say what fate would await them after a brief period of glory.

Ling Qiyue smiled. "Let’s talk about this later. The Ling Family hasn’t reached its breaking point yet. If one day we really can’t hold on anymore, I’ll come and beg you to take us in, Sister!"

Fu Yin Xue gave a helpless smile. "Alright. Yue’Er, you’ve always had a mind of your own. I can’t persuade you much further."

"The organization’s main focus right now is on developing the Underground Dark Spirit Realm. They aren’t paying much attention to other regions. Once they have a free hand, I’m afraid they might consider choosing a more suitable candidate to support!"

The implication was that Ling Qiyue was running out of time. If the organization’s upper echelons decided to start fresh with someone else, it was highly likely that another family would one day unify the Feiyu Sea Region.

At that point, the Ling Family would not only lose its chance to become a Golden Core Family, but it might not even be able to hold onto its current foundation.

"I will seriously consider your kind intentions, Sister."

In the end, this was Ling Qiyue’s reply.

Fu Yin Xue sighed and didn’t press the matter further.

"Oh, right. Do you have any internal intelligence on Hanyue Gate and the Paradise Celestial Maiden Palace, Sister? How about giving me a copy?"

Ling Qiyue added.

Fu Yin Xue’s eyes flickered slightly. "Hanyue Gate is no problem. As for the Paradise Celestial Maiden Palace... you don’t seem to have any dealings with them, do you?"

The Paradise Celestial Maiden Palace was far away on the Yuanqing Continent. It was a Sect composed entirely of female cultivators. Their methods were similar to those of the Demon Sects like the Hehuan Sect, Tianyu Sect, and Xuannü Gate; they all majored in the Yin Yang Replenishment Dao.

Within these powers, Male Cultivators were nothing more than dregs for cultivation, tools, and consumables. They weren’t treated as human beings at all.

Ling Qiyue said, "It’s just a precaution. They might be a threat to Ling Changqing, so I have to prepare in advance."

Fu Yin Xue glanced at the handsome, purple-robed young man beside her and said meaningfully,

"A child walking through a bustling market with gold in hand will inevitably attract covetous eyes. Yue’Er, with your current strength, it won’t be easy to protect him. Why not... reconsider my proposal, Sister?"

The Paradise Celestial Maiden Palace was a major power with a Nascent Soul Cultivator presiding over it; they were not to be trifled with. Of course, as long as her organization intervened to mediate, it wouldn’t be much of a problem.

"That’s impossible right now,"

Ling Qiyue’s tone was gentle yet firm. "Just let me be willful this once, won’t you, Sister?"

"...I really don’t know what to do with you,"

Fu Yin Xue said helplessly, taking two more Jade Scrolls from her Storage Pouch and handing them over.

"The intelligence on Hanyue Gate is one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. I don’t have much information on the Paradise Celestial Maiden Palace, so I’ll just throw it in as a bonus!"

"Then thank you, Sister!"

Ling Qiyue nodded in satisfaction.