Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 90 - 85: Conflict

In the Inner Garden Flower Hall.

"...It’s been a long time since we last parted. I haven’t seen Steward Ling in a while. How has he been?"

Ling Changqing, seated in the host’s chair, set down his teacup and asked in a gentle voice.

Regardless, Ling Zifeng had taken good care of him back in the day. He was his first noble benefactor, so Ling Changqing remembered this favor.

The young girl in the green skirt looked flustered. Her bright, large eyes and delicate eyelashes trembled slightly as she spoke timidly:

"Uncle is the same as always, braving the wind and rain, managing a large group of Pearl Gatherers. He goes out to sea every day to gather resources for the family..."

Ling Changqing nodded. After breaking through to the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer, he had rarely visited Ling Zifeng’s Sea Boat. In recent years, he had spent all his time by his senior sister’s side.

According to the young girl, Ling Menghuan, Ling Zifeng’s Cultivation had already broken through to the Qi Cultivation 7th Layer. However, due to his mediocre aptitude and advanced age, it was unlikely he would make any further progress in this life.

Of course, given the Steward’s status, his annual side income should be substantial, so he had the resources to cultivate his own children.

Ling Menghuan was his niece. Her parents had died when she was young, and she was raised by Ling Zifeng’s wife. Furthermore, her innate aptitude was relatively better.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Ling Zifeng ultimately decided to give up on his own daughter and send Ling Menghuan to Ling Changqing instead.

A favor was a valuable thing and had to be used where it counted most. If he sent an unworthy candidate, it would only be a wasted opportunity—the loss would outweigh the gain.

"From now on, you can stay here in this Spirit Vein Cave Mansion to practice your Cultivation,"

Ling Changqing said. "Song Xuelan will arrange a room for you. Your monthly Cultivation Resources will be triple the standard amount for a Direct Lineage disciple. What do you think?"

Ling Menghuan was momentarily stunned, then her lovely face flushed red. She replied joyfully, "Yes, I’ll follow all of Senior Brother’s arrangements."

In the past, although she was a Direct Lineage disciple of the family, her limited aptitude meant she would never receive much attention from the higher-ups. She could only collect a single share of resources from the Clan Treasury each month, with no other special treatment.

But here with Ling Changqing, not only could she receive triple the resources every month, but she could also enjoy the Cultivation environment of a Grade Two Spirit Vein Blessed Land year-round. Her Cultivation speed would surely be several times faster than before.

"However..."

Ling Changqing sized her up and asked with a frown:

"You have a rather frail constitution. Were you injured in the past? It looks like you haven’t fully recovered."

Ling Menghuan’s expression changed slightly. She hesitated for a moment before nodding gently.

"Yes, but my uncle said the injury wouldn’t affect my Cultivation. He said I just need to recuperate slowly to recover."

Ling Changqing beckoned. Her face grew even redder, but she still rose gracefully and glided over, extending her fair wrist for him to examine.

"Hmm, it’s a bit troublesome, but not a major problem."

After a moment, Ling Changqing withdrew his hand and said:

"I’ll find a way to refine a batch of Qi Replenishing and Essence Cultivating Elixirs for you. Just take them on schedule to recuperate. You should be fully recovered in half a year at most."

The girl’s injury was likely a hidden issue from an accident in her early years. Fortunately, it wasn’t serious, and with his abilities, it wouldn’t be difficult to resolve.

After they talked a while longer, Song Xuelan led her away to the rear courtyard to arrange her living quarters.

Ling Changqing, on the other hand, got up and went to the Inner Study. He planned to study the Vajra Tula Demon Suppression Technique he had just obtained. Even though he didn’t intend to practice it yet, it was a good idea to familiarize himself with the content.

Cultivation consumes resources, and the demand for resources for a Body Cultivator is particularly exaggerated, just like for technical talents in the Pill Talisman Array fields.

Unless it was a major power at the Golden Core realm or above, it would be impossible to nurture a decent Body Cultivator expert. It simply burned through too many resources.

If Ling Changqing weren’t already quite wealthy, he wouldn’t even be able to consider such an extravagant and profligate path of development.

Of course, with sufficient resources as a foundation, pursuing the three paths of Sword Cultivator, Magic Cultivator, and Body Cultivator simultaneously would lead to outstanding achievements in the future. His combat power would completely dominate ordinary Cultivators of the same Realm.

"...Young Master, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wishes to see you. He claims to be a high-ranking Elder of the family."

A moment later, Song Xuelan came in to report. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Which Elder?"

Ling Changqing was slightly surprised. Aside from Ling Qiyue and Tang Qiu Yao, he had no interactions with any of the other high-ranking Elders of the Ling Family.

He had only had some contact with the elegant and beautiful Elder Qin Yun, mainly because both she and her daughter, Ling Bingyun, were rare beauties.

"Fine, I’ll go take a look," Ling Changqing said. Since Ling Qiyue’s third batch of Foundation Establishment Pills had been refined, several more Foundation Establishment Cultivators had emerged within the Ling Family.

Based on the principle that rarity creates value, the family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators were no longer considered overly prestigious.

At least compared to the initial era of only three Foundation Establishment Cultivators, their status and influence had waned, especially with a genuine Golden Core Master presiding over everything.

When he arrived at the front hall, a yellow-robed old man with grizzled hair and an arrogant gaze was seated imposingly in a chair, his thin lips pressed tightly together.

Behind him stood a foppish young man in brocade robes, a Qi Cultivation 5th Layer. He fanned himself with a folding fan, his shifty eyes darting around, looking at everything with envy.

Ling Changqing emerged from behind a painted screen of black jade. Seeing the ill-intentioned old man and youth, he frowned almost imperceptibly.

’He remembered seeing the young man in brocade robes at a family gathering. His name was Ling Yang, and he had once tried to pester Ling Bingyun, only to be bluntly rejected.’

"Elder, you are...?"

Taking a step forward, Ling Changqing asked patiently. He wasn’t familiar with the Ling Family’s upper echelons, so of course he couldn’t remember the names and faces of all the Elders. ’Besides, this old fellow has clearly just succeeded in his Foundation Establishment. He was likely an obscure clan elder at the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer before. If not for Ling Qiyue having enough Foundation Establishment Pills, it would never have been his turn.’

Hearing this, the yellow-robed old man’s expression soured. He snorted coldly.

"I am Ling Yuanji, a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Elder of the family. You little brat, you really... relying on the Patriarch’s favor, have you forgotten your place?"

Ling Changqing’s voice turned cold. "Indeed, I do not know you. It seems we’ve had no dealings with each other. May I ask what business brings the Elder to my door today?"

’It’s true that I understand social etiquette, but that doesn’t mean I have to be pleasant to every piece of trash, especially since this guy clearly has malicious intentions.’

A flash of anger crossed Ling Yuanji’s eyes, but he suppressed it after a moment’s thought and said stiffly:

"Young Master Changqing, I came here today specifically to discuss a matter with you. You are merely a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator right now. You have no use for a Second Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion."

"Why not listen to my proposal? Lend this Cave Mansion to me for my Cultivation for the time being. I will return it to you after you reach Foundation Establishment. How about it?"

"..."

’So this old geezer is after my Cave Mansion Hall. He wants to ’borrow’ it with just empty words? It’s probably the kind of ’borrowing’ where it’s never returned!’

"How about it?"

Ling Yuanji forced a smile onto his old face. "As long as you agree, Young Master, this old man will owe you a favor. I will surely repay you in the future!"

Although Longhuan Island was large, the number of Second Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansions was limited.

As the Ling Family had more and more newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators, by the time Ling Yuanji succeeded in his Foundation Establishment, there were no suitable Second Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansions left on the island to be assigned.

This narrow-minded old man was naturally unwilling to accept this, but he didn’t dare protest to Ling Qiyue, so he set his sights on Ling Changqing instead.

In his view, how could a mere junior of the Qi Cultivation Stage possibly occupy the best and largest Spirit Vein Cave Mansion as his own hall, a privilege almost on par with the Patriarch? On what grounds?

And so, the scene today unfolded.

’In my opinion, I’ve dedicated my entire life to the family. What’s wrong with me occupying a Second Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion? Isn’t it only natural?’

"I will not lend it. You should look elsewhere, Elder!"

Ling Changqing said coldly. The old dog was pulling rank, and he couldn’t even be bothered to humor him.

"You..."

Ling Yuanji was stunned for a moment, his old face instantly turning the color of pig’s liver. Ling Yang’s expression was just as ugly.

"Brat, you’d better think this through!"

Ling Yang shouted angrily, "Offending my grandfather will do you no good! You used to be nothing but a disciple from a distant branch. What right do you have to act so high and mighty in front of my grandfather?"

Ling Changqing said coolly, "You’re a Direct Lineage disciple? And yet you’ve muddled your way to forty or fifty years old and are still just a good-for-nothing at the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer. What right do you have to spout such nonsense in front of me?"

"Get out. You are not welcome here!"

’Since we’ve already torn off all pretenses of civility, I have no more reservations. The worst that could happen is a fight.’

"Good. Very good!"

Ling Yuanji laughed in extreme anger. "As expected of a presumptuous, rude, and uneducated wild brat! Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of the Patriarch..."

A clear, pleasant, yet chillingly murderous voice echoed softly:

"Ling Yuanji, what do you think you are? My person, Tang Qiu Yao’s person, is it your place, you old dog, to teach him a lesson?"

As she spoke, the surrounding temperature plummeted to freezing. Over a hundred sharp, lightning-fast Sword Auras tore through the air, enveloping the grandfather and grandson...