In a corner of the courtyard.
Several elderly Ling Clan Elders sat together, sipping tea and discussing the Dao.
"...This gathering has a few new faces. It seems the number of promising juniors in the family worthy of nurturing is growing."
A brocade-robed old man with graying hair and a sharp gaze sighed faintly.
He was the Elder in charge of the family’s Zhi Xing Hall: Ling Rensong. His cultivation was at the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation.
"The number of outstanding juniors has indeed increased, but the family’s internal resources are limited. Their future paths... will largely depend on themselves."
Another Elder, this one fair-skinned and slightly plump, spoke up. He was the Elder of the family’s rit Reward Hall: Ling Rende. He possessed a Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation.
"Second Brother is right."
Ling Rensong smiled. Compared to the sheer number of Ling Family disciples, the family’s annual output of resources was nowhere near enough to go around.
Even the disciples of the Direct Lineage and the Powerful Elders had fixed monthly and yearly resource allotnts, not a single bit more.
For a Cultivator, however, the amount of Cultivation Resources one had almost directly determined the upper limit of their achievents in this life. The other key factor was one’s own Spirit Root Talent.
Therefore, any disciple who aspired to advance further would leave the family to travel the world once they reached the late stage of Qi Cultivation, seeking their own opportunity for Foundation Establishnt.
Seated in the place of honor above Ling Rende was a short, gaunt old man in a silver robe. He was gently stroking a Bronze Ruler hanging from his waist as he asked in a raspy voice:
"Among these juniors, who do you think are the most promising prospects to reach the late stage of Qi Cultivation, or even attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishnt Realm?"
This stick-thin old man was one of the family’s three living Foundation Establishnt Great Cultivators: Ling Tianque.
The mont he spoke, the expressions of the other Elders imdiately beca deferential. Ling Rensong said softly:
"This junior believes that Ling Ziqi from Eldest Brother’s line and Ling Zihua from Fourth Uncle’s line both show so promise. After all, they both have Bottom Rank Character and three-elent Spirit Root Talent, and they are diligent enough!"
Ling Rende added, "And there is Ling Xueyu from your own lineage. She has a Middle Rank Character, four-elent Spirit Root Talent, and is already at the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation. She also has a promising future for Foundation Establishnt!"
Ling Xueyu was Ling Tianque’s great-granddaughter. She was in her early twenties, and because this ancestor favored her, a great deal of resources had been invested in her training. As a result, she had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation at a young age.
Ling Tianque nodded lightly, then shook his head, his expression a bit wistful. "The girl’s talent is acceptable, and she works hard enough, but she’s lacking in fortune. Her Life Chart is flawed. In the future... who knows how far she can go."
Beside Ling Rensong, a graceful and curvaceous beautiful woman in a red dress chuckled softly:
"Second Grand-uncle, why worry? This is not difficult to handle. We just need to find an outstanding husband for her. With Dual Cultivation, they can share their Destiny and link their fates. The Great Dao will naturally be within her reach!"
This beautiful woman in red was an Elder from Ling Tianque’s lineage: Ling Yuzhu. She had an Eighth Layer Qi Cultivation and had never had a Dao Companion.
Ling Rensong glanced at her, then secretly peeked at Ling Tianque’s expression. ’This must be what the old ancestor wants,’ he suddenly understood, ’he’s just using Ling Yuzhu as a mouthpiece.’
Ling Rende thought for a mont and said in a low voice, "That child Xueyu is a future hope of the family. She can’t marry out, so we can only recruit a live-in son-in-law. Or perhaps, we could find a suitable junior from within the family..."
Ling Rensong frowned, calculating. "Ling Ziqi is already engaged. Ling Zihua is a bit too old, and his talent is inferior to Xueyu’s, so he doesn’t feel like a good match. Then there’s Ling Zhongtao... that boy’s character seems poor. He’s not a good partner for Xueyu..."
Soon, they had discussed the backgrounds and details of the most outstanding juniors in the family, but none of them seed quite suitable.
Ling Yuzhu frowned and reminded them, "Have you forgotten? There’s also the newcor, Ling Changqing. His qualifications are certainly not inferior to those other juniors!"
"Him..."
Ling Rensong was suddenly enlightened. ’So the old ancestor Ling Tianque has his eyes on soone from the Patriarch’s lineage. He wants to use the pretense of recruiting a son-in-law to poach her talent.’
"That... might be difficult to arrange!"
Ling Rende said cautiously. Although the Female Patriarch, Ling Qiyue, was young, she was a formidable character who tolerated no nonsense. Since Ling Changqing was one of her people, persuading her to let him go would be impossible.
Moreover, Ling Tianque’s true intention wasn’t just to recruit a son-in-law, but also to weaken the Patriarch’s lineage and prepare for the future benefit of his own.
After all, his own ti was short, so he had to arrange his affairs as soon as possible.
Ling Yuzhu said flatly, "As for the juniors’ affairs, as long as they are mutually in love, even if she is the Patriarch, she can’t be the villain who breaks up a happy couple, can she?"
With that, she turned her head and called out softly, "Xueyu."
A graceful, petite young woman in a green dress erged from behind a screen at the call. With poised and elegant bearing, she bowed and greeted the Elders present.
A hint of a smile appeared in Ling Yuzhu’s eyes as she spoke gently, "You already understand Ling Changqing’s situation. This man’s fortune is extraordinary; he is the perfect match for you!"
"Go now, send soone to deliver him an invitation in my na, and ask him to co for a talk."
"Yes."
Ling Xueyu’s pretty face flushed slightly as she agreed in a low voice.
...
In the pavilion at the center of the lake.
"...Are you sure you won’t reconsider?"
"No need."
Ling Changqing’s expression was as tranquil as an old well.
Regarding Tang Qiu Yao’s proposal—whether it was a test or a genuine suggestion—Ling Changqing had no interest whatsoever.
"...Little Junior Brother, you are single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, but so of the family’s Elders don’t seem to trust you, do they?"
Tang Qiu Yao said with an unfading smile, "If you don’t marry one or two won from the clan as Dao Companions, they will feel you are all alone with no ties, that you lack a sense of belonging to the family. In the long run, that’s not a good thing."
"Is that the Patriarch’s intention?"
"No, it’s just what so of the Elders are thinking."
"Then what do I need to care about? They can’t possibly tie up and force into the bridal chamber with those clan won, can they?"
The smile on Ling Changqing’s face faded slightly. He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Even though his current cultivation wasn’t high and he had little say, he would not tolerate others using his Dao Companion situation to sche, no matter who they were.
Tang Qiu Yao said with satisfaction, "Your words are enough. The Patriarch will reprimand them. She definitely won’t let things beco difficult for you."
Ling Changqing looked at the stunningly beautiful woman before him with a hint of doubt. Today, she wore an exquisite, magnificent, bright yellow dress that perfectly highlighted her sultry, fiery curves. The low-cut neckline revealed towering, round, and firm snowy peaks, outlining a bottomless, creamy-white ravine.
’I don’t know if it’s just my imagination,’ he thought, ’but I always feel that this Senior Sister’s intentions aren’t so pure either.’
As for Patriarch Ling Qiyue’s true intentions, it was hard to judge right now, as he had few opportunities to et her.
"Let’s not talk about this,"
Ling Changqing gently set down his teacup, sized up Tang Qiu Yao’s full and slender figure, and asked:
"Senior Sister, now that you’ve broken through to the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, you must be starting to plan for Foundation Establishnt, right?"
Tang Qiu Yao glanced around, then began communicating secretly via Spiritual Sense: "There’s no harm in telling you this. The Patriarch has already bestowed a Foundation Establishnt Pill upon . The other resources aren’t hard to gather, so there’s nothing to worry about. I just need to complete my accumulation step by step."
The Foundation Establishnt Pill was an out-and-out strategic resource, and as such, it was monopolized by the Major Sects and Noble Family powers to the best of their ability.
The main raw materials for refining the Foundation Establishnt Pill, as well as High Grade Pill Furnaces and qualified High Rank Alchemists, were all firmly controlled by those major powers.
Therefore, the vast majority of low-level Loose Cultivators, as well as Sects and families with insufficient strength, had to go to great lengths to obtain a Foundation Establishnt Pill, often paying an enormous price without any guarantee of success.
This generation of the Ling Family, however, was different. Because the Patriarch, Ling Qiyue, had obtained a powerful Alchemy Dao inheritance during her travels in her youth, she now possessed the ability to refine Foundation Establishnt Pills.
"Unfortunately, the core ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishnt Pill are incredibly difficult to acquire. Otherwise, the Patriarch wouldn’t be in such a difficult position right now."
Tang Qiu Yao sighed faintly.
Ling Changqing said, "But there isn’t just one Pill Formula for the Foundation Establishnt Pill. Have the core ingredients for all the formulas been monopolized by those major powers?"
Given the importance of the Foundation Establishnt Pill, over the long course of history, generation after generation of Pill Masters have developed many new usable formulas through countless experints.
The effects of these elixirs vary in strength, capable of increasing the success rate of breaking through by five to forty percent.
Without exception, their core ingredients were controlled by those major powers, who went to great lengths to strictly control their outflow.
"There must be cases of people successfully breaking through to the Foundation Establishnt Realm without relying on a Foundation Establishnt Pill, right?"
Ling Changqing asked.
"Of course, but the probability of success is abysmally low! And generally, only Cultivators who possess a Celestial Grade Spirit Root would dare to even try."
Tang Qiu Yao said softly.
Ling Changqing imdiately gave up on the idea. Even with the Era Star Palace, it was impossible for him to transform and ascend to a Celestial Grade Spirit Root during the Qi Cultivation Stage.
’As for trying to reach Foundation Establishnt through other ans, it was even more unnecessary. It wouldn’t bring any extra benefits, so why bother trying to be unconventional?’
"If there were enough raw materials, could the Patriarch refine more Foundation Establishnt Pills?"
Ling Changqing thought for a mont and asked. He just didn’t know if these things could be found in the Deep Sea. If they were anywhere else, he would be equally helpless right now.
Tang Qiu Yao smiled radiantly. "They do exist there, but the place is far too dangerous. So even those Sects with Golden Core Great Cultivators garrisoning them are unwilling to risk going to the bottom of the sea to collect them."
Ling Changqing breathed a sigh of relief. "If that’s the case, perhaps I can try to pick up the scraps in the future?"
Just as Tang Qiu Yao was about to speak, a maid in colorful attire holding an invitation suddenly ca walking briskly along the lakeside path.
"You are..."
Ling Changqing asked.
The Maid curtsied slightly and said in a soft, charming tone, "Our young miss has prepared a banquet and invites Young Master Changqing to join her for a chat!"
Ling Changqing: "..."
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