Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 82 - 77: Tang Qiu Yao: I Must Not Let Another Fox Spirit Get There First...
And so, Ling Changqing and his senior sisters took turns refining, producing batch after batch of elixirs with various effects and uses.
With Ling Qiyue’s current cultivation level, her alchemy efficiency was incredibly high. In just under three months, they had completely used up the newly acquired medicinal herbs.
After the last batch of Healing Pills was refined, Ling Changqing silently checked his status:
[Alchemy Dao: 9361/10000 (Rank One Middle Grade)]
[Primary Cultivation Technique: Profound Truth Black Water Scripture (3rd Floor) 5811/20000]
[Spirit Root: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, High Rank Character 3590/20000]
[Noble: Tang Qiu Yao/Ling Qiyue/Xue Qingtan]
[Noble: ?]
After several months of frequent practice, Ling Changqing’s Alchemy Dao level was approaching the threshold of Rank One High Grade. It wouldn’t be long before he could advance.
His Primary Cultivation Technique and Spirit Root Talent had also improved accordingly. This tangible progress made Ling Changqing feel incredibly confident.
As for the Noble slots, since Ling Zifeng’s status and cultivation were now lower than Ling Changqing’s, he was naturally removed from the list.
Of course, being removed didn’t mean they would become strangers and never interact again. It simply meant the Era Star Palace would no longer influence the target’s Divine Soul and will.
The next time Ling Changqing saw Ling Zifeng, the latter wouldn’t feel anything was amiss, and the goodwill from their past relationship would still remain.
As for Xue Qingtan, she was a new target Ling Changqing had added after careful consideration.
With the Era Star Palace’s influence, Xue Qingtan would gradually develop friendly and favorable feelings toward Ling Changqing. As a result, she would provide him with whatever care and convenience she could, as long as it didn’t harm her own interests.
Originally, Ling Changqing had also wanted to add Shentu Hong’s name, but the Era Star Palace prompted that the target’s Cultivation Realm was too high and he couldn’t be added.
From this, Ling Changqing understood that the old man’s true cultivation must have already reached the Golden Core Level—at least True Pill. He was two Great Realms higher than himself, which was why he couldn’t be added.
Ling Qiyue, on the other hand, had been added before her promotion, so she wasn’t subject to this restriction.
"...Alright, it looks like we’ll be idle for a while."
Ling Qiyue sighed softly as she tallied the number of elixirs on hand.
There was nothing to be done about it. Only Pill Masters from major powers at the Nascent Soul Level could possibly obtain enough medicinal herbs to practice endlessly without ever stopping.
In fact, thanks to Ling Changqing’s help, Ling Qiyue had been Opening the Furnace and Refining Pills far more frequently in recent years. Pill Masters in other small factions were even more idle.
With a scarcity of medicinal herbs, Pill Masters had fewer opportunities to practice. Naturally, they couldn’t accumulate experience and proficiency, making any thought of improving their skills an extravagant hope.
Under such a vicious cycle, one could only imagine how difficult it was for a small faction to cultivate a skilled Pill Master.
If Ling Qiyue hadn’t had a fortunate encounter in the outside world back then, it would have been impossible for her to become a Second Rank Alchemist so easily.
But for her, meeting and deciding to cultivate Ling Changqing was an even greater opportunity—one that could benefit the entire clan.
Tang Qiu Yao suggested, "Why don’t we rest for a few days, and then we can go back to work in the deep sea with our junior brother?"
The Deep Sea Region was an effective channel for acquiring high-quality resources, and with the improvement in Ling Changqing’s cultivation, this channel was becoming increasingly important.
Ling Qiyue mused, "The Elixir resources in the Clan Treasury are sufficient for now. Shouldn’t we first take care of selecting the new batch of Immortal Seedlings?"
"That works too."
Tang Qiu Yao nodded in agreement. This was actually a custom within the Ling Family: all children of the new generation from the direct lineage had to be tested by an Elder in their youth for the selection of Immortal Seedlings.
Once a child was discovered to possess a Spirit Root and meet the conditions for cultivation, they would immediately receive the attention and nurturing of the clan’s upper echelons, and would be given a certain amount of Cultivation Resources each month.
Now, Ling Qiyue had changed the rules. As long as a Ling Family disciple possessed a Spirit Root, they would receive the clan’s support and nurturing, regardless of whether they were from the direct or a branch lineage.
But even that wasn’t enough. Ling Qiyue also intended to select and search for Immortal Seedlings among the vast mortal population, bringing them back to the clan to be cultivated in order to strengthen the Ling Family’s foundation.
Although the probability of someone with Spirit Root Talent being born among mortals was very low, the sheer size of the population was immense. As long as they searched diligently, there would always be some finds.
The upper echelons of the Xingyun sun Commerce Association had such a plan, and they had been executing it for several thousand years, discovering a large number of Immortal Seedlings from various places each year and bringing them back to the organization for cultivation.
Ling Qiyue had long had this idea, but in the past, resources were limited—not even enough for their own people. They simply didn’t have the means.
Now that the Ling Family’s resources were much more abundant and they needed to rapidly increase their strength, it was a good time to put the plan into action.
"Senior Sister, I’ll head back to rest then?" Ling Changqing asked. ’There’s no work here for the time being, so I can go do something I enjoy.’
"Mm, go ahead. We’ll call you if anything comes up."
Ling Qiyue patted his hand, her voice full of smiles. With Tang Qiu Yao nearby, she couldn’t act too intimate.
Once Ling Changqing’s figure had disappeared out the door, Tang Qiu Yao, who had been busy with her head down, shot her a look and whispered:
"You said you had no feelings for him, so why are you still all over him? You’re not being hypocritical, are you?"
Ling Qiyue’s beautiful face flushed slightly as she retorted in a low voice, "Aren’t you the same? The way you’re always sizing him up, you look like you’re about to pounce on him and eat him alive. And you have the nerve to lecture me?"
Tang Qiu Yao couldn’t help but get flustered. "You hussy, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever... want him?"
Ling Qiyue gave a slight sneer. "You dare say you don’t? Then you’re not allowed to look at him from now on!"
Tang Qiu Yao’s face flushed red. "You’re just being difficult, aren’t you? You’re the one who looks at him the most, yet you’re calling me out?"
Ling Qiyue snorted. "If you have them, you have them. If you don’t, you don’t! Who do you think you’re fooling?"
"Enough. What’s the point of us arguing about this?"
A rosy blush appeared on Tang Qiu Yao’s beautiful face as she said in a low voice:
"You know, there are plenty of girls out there with their eyes on him! Take that Qin Yun, for instance. She’s always wanted to marry her daughter off to our junior brother! Don’t you dare be careless and actually let her succeed!"
"Her..."
Ling Qiyue looked slightly stunned before finally reacting. "That Ling Bingyun’s cultivation is completely ordinary. How could our junior brother possibly be interested in her? It’d be a different story if it were Qin Yun herself!"
"Hmph! And who’s to say that won’t happen?"
Tang Qiu Yao’s fine brows furrowed slightly. Thinking of that elegant and beautiful woman’s appearance, an unprecedented sense of urgency quietly began to grow in her heart.
’Perhaps I can’t keep acting so reserved. I should hurry up and settle this matter. I absolutely cannot let some other Fox Spirit beat me to it.’
Ling Qiyue hesitated for a long moment before finally saying with a blush, "You should keep a closer eye on him from now on. Our junior brother is still young and naive, after all. We can’t let him be deceived by some vixen from the outside!"
In truth, she wasn’t even sure if she really wanted to find a Dao Companion.
But regardless, she would never allow some other flirt to swoop in and steal away the successor to the Alchemy Dao she had worked so hard to train.
"Hehe, I understand."
Tang Qiu Yao shot her a look that was half-smile, half-smirk and quietly agreed. After all, she had a stake in this matter too.
...
「In the bustling Marketplace.」
Ling Changqing strolled leisurely down the main street, a pleased expression on his face as he took in the lively, worldly atmosphere that washed over him.
The Ling Family’s upper echelon had moved en masse, bringing with them the many businesses they had on Zenxin Island. In addition, many well-connected mortal merchants had followed, bringing their entire families with them.
Combined with the numerous original merchants of the Longhuan Island Marketplace—of which all but those too deeply entangled with the Wu Family had been allowed to remain—the place was thriving.
Furthermore, many Loose Cultivators from the surrounding sea regions had flocked to Longhuan Island to make a living after the war, making the place increasingly popular.
As far as the eye could see, this Marketplace was more than four times larger than the one on Zenxin Island, and the variety of goods in the shops was much richer as well.
Optimistic about the Ling Family’s future prospects, many outside merchant guilds had expanded their business here, bringing more sources of revenue to the clan.
’It’s been a while since I’ve been in touch with Meng Ye. I wonder how he’s doing now?’
Ling Changqing thought of this cowardly Pill Master. The last he had heard of him was when Xue Qingtan mentioned him.
’With the resources provided by the Xingyun sun Commerce Association, he should succeed in his Foundation Establishment soon, right? I wonder if he’ll continue to stay with the Ling Family in the future, or go somewhere else to develop his career.’
’Of course, if he still hasn’t repaid that debt in twenty or thirty years, he’ll probably have to sell his entire being to the Xingyun sun Commerce Association, bound for life with no hope of freedom.’
After pondering for a moment, Ling Changqing took out a Communication Jade Talisman and tried to contact Meng Ye. To his surprise, the other party responded quickly.
Following the address Meng Ye provided, Ling Changqing found the place without much trouble.
It was still an inconspicuous shop, with a deserted storefront and no customers in sight.
Ling Changqing pushed the door open and went inside. The layout and furnishings were the same as before. Two Pill Master Apprentices in green robes and small caps stood by the wall, their gazes fixed straight ahead.
Meng Ye, dressed in a jet-black Magical Robe, sat sternly behind a desk. His lips were tightly pursed, giving him a profound and inscrutable air.
The list of elixirs hanging on the wall now included several more types of Rank One High Grade elixirs, and the prices were naturally not cheap.
"...Fellow Daoist Meng, long time no see!"
Ling Changqing greeted him and sat down on a chair brought over by an apprentice, accepting the teacup that was handed to him.
Meng Ye nodded nonchalantly and said in a low voice, "Young friend, your cultivation has improved quite quickly. Have you prepared the resources for your Foundation Establishment? I imagine that with how much the Patriarch values you, these things are not an issue." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Ling Changqing smiled faintly and looked the other man up and down. "You’re already at the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer. With that investment, Foundation Establishment shouldn’t be a problem for you either. I was wondering, are you still willing to stay and develop on Longhuan Island in the future?"
Meng Ye reacted calmly. "Are you asking on behalf of the Patriarch?"
"You could see it that way," Ling Changqing said. As long as it wasn’t a major issue, he was indeed qualified to represent Ling Qiyue’s position now, and she wouldn’t mind finding out about it later.
Meng Ye nodded. "I’ve grown accustomed to staying on the Ling Family’s territory. Even if I successfully reach Foundation Establishment in the future, I have no plans to switch allegiances. You can rest assured on that point."
"That’s good to hear."
Ling Changqing breathed a small sigh of relief. Pill Masters were, without a doubt, a rare talent. This was especially true for Second Rank Alchemists, whom many factions were willing to recruit with extremely generous offers.
Even though the Ling Family was no longer short on Pill Masters, there was no reason to let one go to a rival power.
Immediately, Ling Changqing took four Cold Jade Boxes from his Storage Pouch and handed them to the Pill Master Apprentice beside him, who opened them on the spot.
Inside the Cold Jade Boxes were the resources Meng Ye had specifically requested: Jade Flowers, Huailing Grass, and Shen Soul Pearls. All were Rank One Spirit Medicines that only grew in specific areas of the seabed.
Meng Ye took them and had a look, unable to hide his delight. "Excellent. Two hundred Profound Yin Blood Essence Pills, or five thousand five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones. Which will you choose?"
Ling Changqing replied, "I’m not short on elixir resources at the moment. I’ll take the Spirit Stones!"
"Very well."
Meng Ye agreed, taking fifty-five Middle-grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch. He handed them to the apprentice beside him, who then passed them to Ling Changqing.
Ling Changqing confirmed the amount was correct and put them away.
