Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 77 - 72: Level 8 Qi Cultivation
In the end, Ling Changqing tactfully declined the rather tempting proposal.
The intentions of those women from the Ling Family’s direct lineage were clear as day: they wanted to grow closer to Ling Changqing until they had an opportunity to become his Dao Companion.
However, Ling Changqing had no interest in them. He wasn’t even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator yet; his true priority was to focus on his Cultivation. ’Why would I waste my time on women?’
"Very well. Since you have made your decision, Young Master, I will reply to them later."
Song Xuelan said in a soft voice, her beautiful eyes filled with blissful adoration as she gazed at him.
The status of those women from the direct lineage was worlds apart from her own. But she belonged to the Young Master, and naturally, she would only follow his orders.
After his bath, Ling Changqing changed into a dark teal Magical Robe with Song Xuelan’s assistance and then returned to the Inner Garden Flower Hall.
On the wide Golden Silk Cloud Sandalwood Table, a Maid had already set out a sumptuous spread of Spiritual Delicacies: Hundred-Year-Old Ice Leaf Xuan Gan Soup, Rainbow Shadow Shrimp, the heart and liver of a Rock-Armored Earth Dragon, Silver-Whiskered Snowflake Fish meat, and more.
Of course, there was also no shortage of various Spirit Fruit Snacks and Spirit Wine Nectar. The air was filled with a fragrant aroma.
Ling Changqing calmly sat down at the table, poured himself a cup of Spirit Wine, and began to feast heartily.
A moment later, Song Xuelan emerged from the inner chamber, a blush gracing her cheeks.
She had changed her outfit again. Now she wore a snow-white, tight-fitting Samurai Armor that accentuated her upright, curvaceous figure. Her magnificent peaks strained against the fabric of her top, revealing every exquisite detail of her graceful curves. Her slender waist swayed as her long, shapely legs carried her lightly toward him.
"There’s no one else here. You should sit and eat, too," Ling Changqing said.
"Yes, thank you, Young Master!"
Song Xuelan agreed joyfully and sat beside him. Her slender, fair hands picked up the wine pot, and she delicately poured him more wine.
’This young man before me... he hadn’t seemed particularly amazing when I first met him, but now, all I can do is look up to him in awe.’
’As long as I can stay by his side for the rest of my life, that would be the greatest happiness. I dare not ask for anything more.’
"Starting tonight, I’m going into Cultivation in Seclusion for a while."
Ling Changqing told her after taking a sip of Spirit Wine,
"While I’m in seclusion, don’t receive any visitors or accept any gifts. We’ll deal with everything after I emerge."
"Mm, I’ll remember that."
Song Xuelan agreed in a low voice, shifting her plump, perky bottom to sit gently on his lap.
She took a sip of Spirit Wine, then turned her head and gently kissed Ling Changqing, passing the fragrant liquid from her lips to his.
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Ling Changqing did not linger. He returned to his Cultivation Chamber and activated the Array Restriction.
As the Gathering Spirit Array activated, wisps of Spiritual Qi gathered in the room, forming a milky white mist and creating an indescribably pleasant sensation.
Ling Changqing sat on the Cold Jade Bed in the center of the Cultivation Chamber and took out a dozen or so differently shaped Pill Bottles from his Storage Pouch.
These were all resources Ling Qiyue had prepared for him. Both the quantity and quality were impeccable—privileges that even a Foundation Establishment Elder might not enjoy.
Ling Changqing opened a Pill Bottle, consumed one Profound Yin Blood Essence Pill, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing. With practiced ease, he entered a state of deep comprehension.
This was another of the Era Star Palace’s wondrous powers. As long as Ling Changqing willed it, he could enter a state of deep Dao comprehension at any time, anywhere, making his Cultivation twice as efficient.
For low-level Loose Cultivators with scarce resources and mediocre talent, they would be lucky to succeed in entering such an optimal state for Cultivation even once in ten attempts, relying almost entirely on luck.
...
「In the Council Hall.」
Radiant and dignified, with an impeccable bearing, Ling Qiyue sat on the main seat. Her brows, like the dark hills of early spring, were slightly furrowed as she gazed at the Jade Scroll in her hand, lost in thought.
A few family Elders sat on either side below her, all of them silent as they quietly awaited the Patriarch’s decision.
Ever since she successfully took over the assets on Longhuan Island, Ling Qiyue’s prestige within the family had reached new heights.
Even the most senior and unruly of the family Elders no longer dared to defy the will of the Female Patriarch.
"...What do you all think? Should we respond to their requests?"
After a long silence, Ling Qiyue’s coolly beautiful voice finally broke the silence.
Ling Yulu’s expression was impassive. "There’s no need to respond. We’re too busy with our own affairs to have time for them."
Tang Qiu Yao chuckled. "They want the Patriarch to help them refine Foundation Establishment Pills and sell various Rank One and Two elixir resources at a fair price? They really know how to dream!"
"To put it bluntly, those small powers in the surrounding seas are getting cocky. They think that since the Ling Family isn’t doing anything to them right now, they can push their luck?"
Ling Tianhe snorted coldly. "Just refuse them outright. It’s not like they’d dare do anything to the Ling Family."
Over the past few months, seeing that the Ling Family’s leadership was focused solely on internal affairs—consolidating industries in their new territory and training new members—with no intention of further expansion, certain powers had grown bold again.
They had jointly sent a letter to the Ling Family’s leadership, requesting that Ling Qiyue help them refine Foundation Establishment Pills and other scarce elixirs. They would provide the materials themselves, and stated that compensation was negotiable.
Moreover, if the Ling Family agreed to their requests, they were even willing to form an alliance and nominally acknowledge the Ling Family’s leadership.
Of course, Ling Qiyue wouldn’t take such a superficial gesture seriously. No one was a fool; they couldn’t expect to take advantage of the Ling Family with such tricks.
The current situation was obvious. Selling even a single elixir to an outside power meant arming a potential enemy. It was better to forgo the profit than to give those smaller powers an opportunity to grow stronger.
Ling Qiyue nodded slightly. "Then it’s settled. For the next twenty years, the family will not sell any elixirs to outsiders. We will concentrate all resources on cultivating our own disciples."
"The Patriarch is wise!"
the Elders chorused in agreement.
...
「Several months passed in a flash.」
In the Cultivation Chamber, Ling Changqing sat on the Cloud Bed, his body enveloped in a shadowy Spiritual Light. The aura of Profound Yin Water Essence he emitted was both dense and pure.
After a long while, he slowly awakened from his state of deep comprehension.
’I’ve reached the Qi Cultivation 8th Layer. One step closer to the Foundation Establishment Realm!’
Ling Changqing exhaled, thinking to himself.
In his sea of consciousness, a message imbued with a mysterious Dao Rhyme silently materialized:
[Master of the Era Star Palace: Ling Changqing]
[Bone Age: 20]
[Cultivation: Qi Cultivation 8th Layer]
[Destiny: 49+153]
[Blessed Fortune: 47+129]
[Physique: 24]
[Root Bone: 24]
[Comprehension: 27]
[Divine Soul: 60]
[Alchemy Dao: 6971/10000 (Rank One Middle Grade)]
[Primary Cultivation Technique: Profound Truth Black Water Scripture (Layer 3) 3970/20000]
[Spirit Root: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, High Rank Character 1990/20000]
[Noble: Ling Zifeng/Tang Qiu Yao/Ling Qiyue]
[Noble: ?]
With his Cultivation breakthrough, his depleted Luck and Fortune had not only been restored but had even increased.
Furthermore, the strength of his Divine Soul Origin and the improvement in his Innate Talent and Comprehension would make Ling Changqing’s future Cultivation efficiency ever greater.
’A High Rank Character Spirit Root isn’t considered particularly amazing by my current standards,’ Ling Changqing thought. ’But it’s enough to cultivate to Foundation Establishment Peak without issue, and becoming a Pseudo Core master in the future won’t be difficult.’
However, once Ling Changqing reached Foundation Establishment, his Spirit Root Talent had the potential to evolve into an Earth Grade Spirit Root. From there, becoming a true Golden Core Master would only be a matter of time, provided he had enough resources.
’In my current state, I shouldn’t face any bottlenecks in reaching the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer or even breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. As long as I accumulate enough power, I can advance...’
Ling Changqing mused. With Ling Qiyue’s support, he wasn’t lacking for the necessary Cultivation Resources either. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Such superior conditions truly eclipsed those of all other Ling Family disciples. Even in a Golden Core power like Hanyue Gate, the treatment afforded to the Sect Leader’s Direct Disciple was likely no better than this.
However, Ling Changqing had already decided to pursue three paths simultaneously—as a Sword Cultivator, a Magic Cultivator, and a Body Cultivator. He also needed several high-powered offensive Divine Techniques to enhance his combat prowess.
This would require not only a massive amount of Cultivation Resources but also High-Grade scriptures for both Cultivation Techniques and Divine Techniques. Even Ling Qiyue might not be able to help with that, so it was a matter that required long-term planning.
