Before long, news of Ling Changqing’s advancent to Foundation Establishnt had spread.
Compared to the age at which most cultivators advanced to Foundation Establishnt, Ling Changqing was indeed quite young, not to ntion he was also a rather talented Pill Master.
Certain interested parties were already speculating in secret. ’Is the Spirit Root Talent of this most outstanding Ling Family disciple truly just High Rank Character? Could he have deliberately hidden its true grade?’
This suspicion was perfectly reasonable. After all, cultivators with Spirit Root Talent on his level usually had to struggle until their thirties or forties for a chance to advance to Foundation Establishnt, and that was on the premise that they had no shortage of Cultivation Resources.
Therefore, many believed that Ling Changqing’s Spirit Root Talent was likely on par with that of the Patriarch, Ling Qiyue, and that he had a significant chance of becoming a Golden Core Master in the future.
The other possibility was that he had obtained so special opportunity, allowing his cultivation to advance so rapidly.
The Ling Family’s upper echelons were mostly delighted to hear this conclusion. For the Ling Family’s enemies, however, this was anything but good news.
"...Can we think of a reliable way to lure this junior out of Longhuan Island?"
In the Wilderness Islands, Patriarch Mu Yesheng asked in a heavy tone after receiving the intelligence report.
From his perspective, the Ling Family already had one Golden Core Master. If another one were to appear in the future, how would the Mu Family survive?
With a grave expression, Mu Wenxiu shook her head and said softly,
"That would be extrely difficult. According to the information our people have gathered, this junior is usually quite low-key. He has no close relatives or friends and never travels alone.
When he isn’t studying the Alchemy Dao under their Patriarch, he’s in Cultivation in Seclusion. He has almost no contact with outsiders."
Mu Yesheng’s expression turned cold. "No matter how difficult, we have to find a way. We can’t just stand by and watch him grow stronger, can we?"
Assassination, abduction, temptation with wealth, seduction with beauty... They had to try every thod imaginable. ’What if one of them succeeds?’
"Understood. We’ll do our best."
Mu Wenxiu pressed her lips together, agreeing with a sense of resignation.
’As long as that Ling Changqing doesn’t make a simple mistake like leaving Longhuan Island alone, the Mu Family truly has no way to deal with him.’
’Even for an assassination, they couldn’t send too much manpower. After all, that was the Ling Family’s ho turf.’
’As for temptation with riches, even if the Mu Family were to offer up all its assets, they likely couldn’t produce anything that would sway Ling Changqing.’
’Seduction, however... that seed to have so potential.’
’After all, Ling Changqing was so young. He was full of vim and vigor, his passions and desires at their peak. He surely wouldn’t refuse that sort of pleasure, would he?’
’But anything she could think of, the Ling Family could think of too. They certainly wouldn’t neglect Ling Changqing in that departnt.’
’If they wanted to succeed in one stroke, they would have to dispatch the Mu Family’s most outstanding woman. Only then might they have a chance to poach him.’
As this thought crossed her mind, Mu Wenxiu’s gaze fell on the stunningly beautiful young woman beside Patriarch Mu Yesheng. Dressed in a deep purple gown, she had a graceful figure, hair like a black waterfall, and features as exquisite and perfect as if carved from jade.
She was Patriarch Mu Yesheng’s youngest daughter, Mu Yuxin, who was currently at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishnt Cultivation realm.
Mu Yesheng had many children. Over the past century, he had taken more than fifty wives and concubines, siring over thirty sons and daughters in total.
However, most of these children were of diocre talent; only a precious few possessed a Spirit Root and were suited for Cultivation.
And this Mu Yuxin was the Patriarch’s most outstanding daughter, a cut above even his eldest son, Mu Shun.
Although Mu Yesheng had never explicitly stated it, the high-ranking elders knew full well that Mu Yuxin would almost certainly be the Mu Family’s next Patriarch.
"Patriarch, this plan might require... Yuxin’s cooperation."
Mu Wenxiu did not hesitate, making her request at once.
Mu Yesheng faltered for a mont. He turned to look at his daughter and instantly understood Mu Wenxiu’s intent.
Mu Shun’s expression changed, and he imdiately objected, "Absolutely not! The mission is too dangerous. How can we let our little sister put herself in harm’s way?"
Several Core Elders exchanged silent glances, and Mu Zhongning spoke after a mont of thought.
"This concerns the rise or fall of our family, our very survival. I’m afraid no one can stand aside. If we ask Miss Yuxin to cooperate, perhaps only then will we have a hope of luring that Ling Changqing over to our side?"
’If that Ling Changqing truly has the potential to break through to the Golden Core Realm, it would be for the best if they could find a way to poach him now.’
’Otherwise, the longer they waited, the more profound his cultivation would beco, and the more difficult it would be for the Mu Family to make their move.’
"Yuxin, what do you think?"
After a mont of silence, Mu Yesheng finally asked.
The young woman nad Mu Yuxin rose gracefully. She bowed slightly, her voice sweet and pleasant.
"If the situation requires it, I am willing to make a sacrifice for the family."
"Very good,"
Mu Yesheng nodded, quite satisfied. "I am very pleased that you can put the family’s interests first. As long as this matter is brought to a successful conclusion, you will be the designated heir to beco the next Patriarch of the Mu Family!"
With such an achievent to her na, Mu Yuxin’s succession would be guaranteed; there would be no more voices of doubt or opposition among the family’s upper echelons.
Mu Yuxin agreed and left with Mu Wenxiu to make their preparations for departure.
...
「Longhuan Island.」
After a gap of several years, the Xingyun sun Comrce Association’s fleet of Tianzhou Skyboats arrived once again.
As a sign of the importance they placed on the Ling Family, the person in charge was once again Shentu Hong, with Xue Qingtan accompanying him as before.
「In the Council Hall.」
"...It’s only been a few years, and to think this young man has already successfully reached Foundation Establishnt."
The elegant, clean-shaven Shentu Hong spoke warmly, his gaze falling upon the handso youth in purple, whose eyes were clear and spirit bright, possessing a refined and noble bearing.
Xue Qingtan, youthful and radiant with crescent brows and almond-shaped eyes, was all smiles. Her lovely eyes scanned him up and down, her expression one of utter delight.
’Though they hardly knew each other, after not seeing him for several years, she found that her impression of the young man hadn’t faded in the slightest.’
Ling Changqing replied humbly, "It was just a fortunate breakthrough. I don’t deserve such praise, Senior."
Silently communicating with the Era Star Palace, Ling Changqing discreetly filled in Shentu Hong’s na in the empty slot for [Noble].
He hadn’t added him last ti because the gap between their Cultivation Realms was too large—a full two Great Realms—making it impossible.
Now that Ling Changqing was a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator, that was no longer an issue.
Furthermore, according to the cryptic information fed back from the Era Star Palace, Shentu Hong’s true cultivation was currently close to the Middle stage Golden Core, making him slightly stronger than Ling Qiyue.
However, Shentu Hong’s Bone Age was likely considerable. With less than a century of lifespan remaining, he could probably reach the Middle stage Golden Core at most; the late stage was essentially out of the question.
Xue Qingtan’s true cultivation was likely sowhere between Foundation Establishnt Peak and a Pseudo Core master. Whether she had any hope of forming a True Pill in the future was still uncertain.
The Quasi Rank Three Array Master, Xue Yuchen, who had co on the last visit, was not present this ti, and his whereabouts were unknown.
"Fellow Daoist Shentu, here is the list of the types and quantities of resources we are able to sell this ti. Please, take a look,"
Ling Qiyue said, handing a Jade Scroll to the Maid beside her, who in turn presented it to Shentu Hong.
anwhile, Tang Qiu Yao gently shifted her perfectly round hips, moving discreetly closer to Ling Changqing. Her slender, delicate hand wrapped around his arm in a very direct and possessive gesture.
This move was, of course, ant for Xue Qingtan to see. The way the other woman was sizing up Ling Changqing had made Tang Qiu Yao feel that sothing was amiss.
As expected, her action caught Xue Qingtan’s attention. Seeing that Ling Changqing didn’t resist, their true relationship was plain to see.
Xue Qingtan’s expression froze for a mont before her brows relaxed. ’I’m not here to fight over a man,’ she thought. ’Does she really need to be so on guard against ?’
’If anything, this Tang Qiu Yao’s actions reveal a narrow-minded and controlling personality, sothing n find completely unattractive. I wonder how much longer she and Ling Changqing will last?’
Shentu Hong took the Jade Scroll and quickly scanned its contents. His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise in their depths vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
’The Ling Family’s efficiency in gathering resources is rather high,’ he thought. ’And the list contains quite a few rare and uncommon items.’ The total value was ten tis what he had anticipated.
’It seems the Ling Family has certain special thods that other powers of a similar scale—like the Mu Family, the Bai Family, the Yuan Family, and Yu Long Island—do not possess.’
’Perhaps... even Ling Qiyue, a Golden Core Master, has been personally gathering resources from the Deep Sea, regardless of her status?’
After a mont of contemplation, Shentu Hong finally spoke.
"These resources are excellent. Our association will take them all. In addition, if there is anything your esteed family wishes to purchase, you can bring it up now."
Ling Qiyue nodded slightly and presented another prepared list, this one containing the resources the Ling Family wished to procure.
The other resources were one thing, but the very first item on the list was a request from Ling Qiyue to lease a defensive Magical Treasure from the association for a period of twenty years.
Shentu Hong pondered this briefly, believing he understood the reason.
’After all, Ling Qiyue had only recently broken through to the Golden Core Realm. She didn’t have her own Lifebound Magical Treasure yet, so she needed to acquire one for protection as soon as possible.’
’It was a tall order, but for the Xingyun sun Comrce Association, as long as the price was right, the matter was certainly negotiable.’
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