Celestial Splendor Pavilion.
In a study as bright as day, a sharp and capable-looking maid in a black dress entered silently, carrying a tray with a tea set.
"...How are things progressing?"
Xue Yui, who sat behind the desk, set down the account book in her hands and asked with a calm expression.
The maid in black set down the tray and answered softly,
"That person has checked into the Mu Xi Inn. He rented their best courtyard and paid three months' rent upfront, saying he plans to enter cultivation in seclusion there."
Xue Yui was taken aback for a mont before she chuckled. "He dares to enter cultivation in seclusion in the Marketplace? He's certainly bold. I thought he would leave imdiately."
Although the Marketplace area was sufficiently safe, visiting Cultivators were generally unwilling to enter secluded cultivation in such a place unless they had no other choice.
The Cultivation Realm was an age of great conflict. Deceit, backstabbing, and the constant flash of blades were its eternal thes.
So-called safety was always relative, while danger was absolute.
That Foundation Establishnt Cultivator nad Ling Changqing, carrying a massive amount of Spirit dicine resources on him, actually dared to take up long-term residence in the Marketplace. Such a thing was rarely seen in the past.
The maid said in a low voice, "Perhaps he has sothing to rely on? He might not even be worried about those people lurking outside."
"That may be so, but it's still a bit reckless, even if he cos from so major power."
Xue Yui shook her head slightly.
Although nothing would happen to Ling Changqing as long as he didn't leave the Marketplace, the longer he delayed, the more unwanted attention he would attract.
Of course, if he had indeed hidden part of his cultivation and had a special trump card up his sleeve, dealing with a group of potential Tribulation Cultivators wouldn't be a problem.
"Lord Steward, is there anything we need to do?"
The maid in black asked.
Xue Yui said, "Not for now. However, after he finishes his seclusion, you can arrange for soone to greet him. Tell him that if he wants to leave the Marketplace safely, he can co to us for help."
"Understood."
The maid in black nodded.
...
「Three months passed in the blink of an eye.」
Ling Changqing had indeed remained in the inn for secluded cultivation, not once taking a single step out of his courtyard.
This forced certain interested parties to wait patiently.
No matter how good the reason, conflict was strictly forbidden in the Marketplace. Violators would face joint sanctions and annihilation from all the major powers.
Breaking the rules for a single Foundation Establishnt Cultivator was clearly not worth the price.
Inside the Cultivation Chamber.
Ling Changqing slowly concluded his cultivation session, feeling a little unsatisfied. 'Perhaps it's because I don't have a Dao Companion with for Dual Cultivation? The efficiency isn't what it used to be.'
Ling Changqing was, of course, well aware of the prying eyes outside, but he paid them no mind.
'If I truly had no way to deal with them, I wouldn't have co out here alone.'
Looking at the Spiritual Energy Transmission Array on the floor, Ling Changqing felt a flicker of satisfaction. This place was a bit expensive, but it was worth every penny. The cultivation environnt was impeccable.
After bathing and changing his clothes, Ling Changqing stepped out of the courtyard and summoned the maids, asking them to arrange a feast for him, complete with gourt dishes and Spirit Wine.
Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, Ling Changqing leisurely left the inn and began to stroll through the Marketplace.
In truth, the Xingyun sun Comrce Association had a branch in the Fuyue Continent Marketplace. If Ling Changqing wished, he could take the token Xue Qingtan had given him, go to them, and receive any help he needed.
Stalls run by Loose Cultivators occasionally dotted the sides of the wide street. With a relaxed expression, Ling Changqing walked at a leisurely pace, stopping to take a look whenever he spotted sothing interesting.
After half a day, Ling Changqing's Storage Pouch held a few new acquisitions.
Although the buyer could never be shrewder than the seller, making it unlikely to find a hidden treasure, there was always that "what if" possibility.
Ling Changqing didn't think he'd found any such treasures, but along the way, he had managed to buy quite a few Grade One and Grade Two Materials that he could use at a rather good price.
Before he knew it, Ling Changqing turned down a street and found himself before a magnificent, three-story-tall, luxurious pavilion painted in a bright red style.
This was the Fuyue Continent branch of the Celestial Fate Pavilion.
A flight of twelve White Jade Steps led up to the entrance, upon which stood a large group of female cultivators in colorful skirts, all with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and enchanting smiles.
Compared to Zenxin Island and Longhuan Island, this place was far more popular. Elegantly dressed male and female cultivators could be seen coming and going at all tis.
Ling Changqing did not hesitate. He set foot on the steps and walked toward the main entrance.
The female cultivators at the door bowed slightly in greeting, their chirping voices like a flock of orioles and swallows, revealing the large swathes of snow-white skin on their chests.
Just as he stepped inside, a female cultivator in a red dress with her hair in a high coiffure and a plump, charming face imdiately ca forward to greet him.
Ling Changqing briefly explained his purpose, and this early-stage Foundation Establishnt female cultivator promptly invited him into a private room.
This ti, of course, Ling Changqing did not use his real na. Instead, he assud the identity of a collateral disciple of the Mu Family, nad Mu Fanqing.
The specific personal details, assets, and interpersonal relationships were all prepared for him by Xue Qingtan. As long as the investigation wasn't too rigorous, this identity should hold up.
"...Fellow Daoist Mu, your qualifications are truly excellent. You absolutely qualify as one of Celestial Fate Pavilion's top-tier clients. I wonder, do you have any specific requirents for your Dao Companion?"
The red-robed female cultivator nad Yu Xin studied the Jade Scroll in her hand, offering her assessnt with a beaming smile while her mind raced...
'He cos from the Mu Family, one of the Nine Great Families of Yuzhou, and his own cultivation and talent aren't bad. Logically, he shouldn't be short of won.'
'But nothing is absolute. Perhaps he belongs to a branch of the family that has fallen out of favor and is being suppressed and ostracized by the direct lineage?'
'In any case, such things are commonplace within large families, so it's nothing to be surprised about.'
Ling Changqing nodded slightly. "I don't have any specific requirents. As long as she's a good person—gentle and virtuous—that will be enough. I'll leave the arrangents to you, Fellow Daoist."
He was here, of course, to continue his grand undertaking of 'shearing sheep,' not to actually take a few female cultivators ho with him.
Ever since Tang Qiu Yao and Ling Qiyue beca his Dao Companions, Ling Changqing hadn't co to the Celestial Fate Pavilion to 'shear sheep' in a long ti.
Yu Xin nodded. "Alright, then I'll make the arrangents for you, Fellow Daoist Mu! We have quite a few female cultivators with outstanding qualifications here. I'm sure we can find a candidate who will satisfy you!"
'Then again, with his superior qualifications, it wouldn't be a problem even if he wanted to choose several. The Cultivation Realm has always revered the strong.'
'It wasn't uncommon for High Rank Cultivators, if they were so inclined, to marry hundreds or even thousands of wives and concubines.'
Yu Xin rose gracefully and, swaying her hips, walked out the door.
A mont later, with the pleasant rustle of a beaded curtain, a female cultivator with a lon-seed-shaped face and elegant, dark eyebrows walked in gracefully. Dressed in a snow-white Magical Robe, both her looks and her figure were quite outstanding.
A faint smile on his face, Ling Changqing greeted her in a warm voice, and the two began to chat.
This female cultivator, with the surna Lu, was clearly quite satisfied with Ling Changqing. After the routine opening pleasantries, she said in a soft, delicate voice,
"Fellow Daoist Mu, my impression of you is acceptable. If you are also interested in , shall we discuss the matter of the betrothal gift now?"
'As expected, here we go again...'
Ling Changqing complained inwardly, but the smile on his face didn't falter. "Fellow Daoist Lu, what are your requests? Please, feel free to share them."
The female cultivator surnad Lu nodded. "My current cultivation is at the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer. Calculated at five thousand Spirit Stones per layer, you'll need to give a betrothal gift of forty-five thousand Spirit Stones!
"Moreover, you must help reach Foundation Establishnt. My Spirit Root Talent isn't the best, so you'll have to prepare several Foundation Establishnt Pills!
"As for the Spirit Vein Cave Mansion, it must be no less than Second Rank High Grade, and the deed must be in my na! The Flying Ship for travel must also be of the Spiritual Artifact Level!
"You must give five hundred Spirit Stones a month for pocket money, and all your inco must be handed over to . I will manage your expenses..."
She listed over twenty demands, so outrageous and so not, all with an expression that said it was only natural. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was the daughter of a Nascent Soul True Monarch recruiting a live-in son-in-law!
"Fellow Daoist Lu, you've listed so many demands. What can you offer to match them?"
Ling Changqing asked with a cold expression once she had finished her "wish list."
The female cultivator said in astonishnt, "I am a woman. I can bear your children and serve you for a lifeti. Isn't that enough?"
Ling Changqing sneered. "I already have everything you're asking for. But if you want to marry into my family, you only need to et one condition!"
"What condition?"
The female cultivator surnad Lu asked, bewildered.
"You should be aware that the Celestial Fate Pavilion has a certain Secret Technique for inspection. As long as you pass it, we have a deal!"
Ling Changqing said flatly. Just like in his past life, the Cultivation Realm naturally had its own thods for a "pre-nuptial check-up." There were countless Divine Secret Techniques that could thoroughly investigate a female cultivator's past experiences.
At once, the female cultivator Lu's expression changed drastically. "Are you out of your mind? Did you drink too much this morning? How dare you make such an outrageous demand? Who do you think you are?"
Ling Changqing chuckled. "Then there's no need to continue this conversation. We are not a good match, Fellow Daoist. You should go find soone else!"
With that said, he made the gesture of 'lifting a teacup to see a guest out.'
"You... Just prepare to be a bachelor for the rest of your life!"
The female cultivator Lu's face flushed red. She wanted to argue, but her usual, inexplicable self-confidence wouldn't allow her to lose face. In the end, she could only flick her sleeves resentfully, rise, and slam the door on her way out.
Ling Changqing smiled silently. 'I'm no bachelor. After all, there are still plenty of clear-headed, sensible, and outstanding female cultivators in this world.'
'Ling Qiyue, Tang Qiu Yao, Qin Yun and her mother, Xue Qingtan... Which one of them isn't a thousand tis better than her?'
But it didn't matter. According to the feedback from the Era Star Palace, he had obtained another wisp of Divine Soul Origin. To Ling Changqing, that was the most aningful reward.
Out in the waiting room, Yu Xin listened to the female cultivator Lu's teeth-gnashing accusations and curses, and simply shook her head.
As a top matchmaker who had been in this business for many years, she knew the disposition of these female cultivators all too well. She couldn't be bothered to persuade her further, so she offered a few perfunctory words of comfort before arranging for the next female cultivator to go in.
With another rustle of the beaded curtain, a female cultivator in a cyan palace gown walked in gracefully. Her jade-like face was bright and her makeup was exquisite.
Ling Changqing glanced over and was sowhat surprised, because this female cultivator had already reached Foundation Establishnt.
'I've been on so many of these blind dates, but this is the first ti I've t a female cultivator at the Foundation Establishnt Level. Logically, they shouldn't be short of suitors.'
However, Ling Changqing soon understood. This female cultivator, with the surna Su, had gathered her Foundation Establishnt resources by taking out a "Foundation Establishnt loan."
And even after reaching Foundation Establishnt, she hadn't managed to change her extravagant, spendthrift habits. As a result, her debt had only continued to snowball!
"...Fellow Daoist Mu, I still have a loan of forty-two thousand Spirit Stones that I haven't paid off. You must first help clear this debt, and only then can we beco Dao Companions!
"Furthermore, I intend to try for the Golden Core Realm in the future, but my Spirit Root Talent is limited, so you'll have to prepare multiple sets of Core Formation Resources for !
"As for the Spirit Vein Cave Mansion, it must, of course, be Third Grade high rank to be suitable, and the deed must be in my na. You'll also have to purchase Treasure Level Flying Swords and Flying Ships, paid in full..."
This female cultivator Su sat upright and proper, speaking with a reserved smile.
Ling Changqing's tone was indifferent. "Fellow Daoist Su, don't you think your demands are a bit outrageous?"
The female cultivator Su snorted in displeasure. "I'm a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator, what's wrong with these conditions? After my best friend succeeded in her Foundation Establishnt, she found a Pseudo Core master to be her Dao Companion!"
Ling Changqing was left speechless.
'To put it bluntly, she's just like those 'Little Fairies' from his past life who took out loans for plastic surgery, thinking that a pretty face and a good figure would be their ticket into high-end matchmaking circles.'
'The end result goes without saying: they would return disappointed ti and ti again, their hearts filling with more and more resentnt and indignation, blaming everyone and everything but themselves.'
"Forget it. We are not a match! Fellow Daoist Su, you should go find soone else!"
Ling Changqing waved his hand, having lost all interest in continuing the conversation.
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