Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 416 - 243: Liu Ying Ziyi: Something Isn’t Right...

With Shangguan Qingying taking action, Zhao Chengdong lost any chance to even self-destruct in a final, desperate struggle. He was killed on the spot, and even his Divine Soul was seized.

"I never thought that old fool would get dragged into the Qin Family’s schemes," Zhao Wanqing said, a lingering fear in her voice as she gazed at the corpse on the floor.

Zhao Chengdong was not from the Zhao Family’s Direct Lineage. He had started as nothing more than a poor and struggling Loose Cultivator. The previous Patriarch had seen his potential, recruiting him into the family and nurturing him with great care.

Back then, he was merely a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. The former Patriarch had provided him with the resources to advance step-by-step to Foundation Establishment and then Golden Core, until he was on the very cusp of the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm.

In those days, Zhao Chengdong had been fiercely loyal to the family, fighting in numerous campaigns and accumulating many merits on their behalf.

However, after the previous Patriarch passed away, Zhao Chengdong’s attitude began to quietly shift. That, combined with his inability to obtain the resources needed to advance to a Nascent Soul True Monarch, inevitably led him to harbor resentment.

Shangguan Qingying sighed. "To be honest, I’ve been debating whether to give him that share of resources. Thank goodness I didn’t. The consequences would have been catastrophic."

The Zhao Wanyi sisters still needed time to consolidate their foundations, but with Zhao Chengdong’s level of Cultivation, becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch was a near certainty if he obtained the resources.

If the Zhao Family had such a Nascent Soul True Monarch watching over them, the Qin Family’s schemes and intrigues would have no room to take hold, and the Zhao Family’s peace would have been guaranteed for decades.

’Who would have thought... that old fool couldn’t resist turning traitor, and he was in such a hurry to reveal himself.’

’As for whether there are other spies within the family... ’ Shangguan Qingying couldn’t be sure, but she suspected there most likely were.

’Of course, after today’s events, perhaps those in the family who are on the fence will be a little more restrained.’

"Mother, Junior Brother Ling..."

Zhao Wanyi stepped forward and communicated with Shangguan Qingying for a moment using her Divine Thought.

A flash of surprise flickered in the Female Patriarch’s eyes, and when she turned her gaze to Ling Changqing, it became even softer.

"So, you’re a Third Grade Talisman Master as well? Excellent. In that case, the more able one is, the more one should do. Help the family by crafting another batch of suitable Talismans!"

"That’s no problem."

Ling Changqing said with a smile, ’It’s not like I’m getting the short end of the stick, anyway.’

And so, the Zhao Wanyi sisters led Ling Changqing to the Inner Garden Flower Hall, where they first enjoyed a sumptuous feast of rare delicacies. Only after they had eaten and drunk their fill did they get back to work.

In the talisman crafting room, with the two sisters watching, Ling Changqing readied his Talisman Pen and materials. He then fluidly drew a Third Grade high-rank Profound Ice Thunder Prison Talisman. The entire process was a single, seamless motion, with no trace of awkwardness.

"Just as I thought. Junior Brother Ling’s skill... it’s really something else!"

Zhao Wanyi remarked with a soft sigh. With this, any last doubts they had were completely erased.

Normally, for a seasoned Third Grade Talisman Master to craft a Third Grade high-rank Talisman, it would consume a significant amount of time and Magical Power, and there would still be a risk of failure.

The materials for Third Grade Talismans are not cheap; a single failure represents a loss painful enough to make one’s heart ache.

Yet Ling Changqing’s efficiency was at least three times that of a Talisman Master of the same rank. Furthermore, his total Magical Power and its purity far surpassed theirs, making failure virtually non-existent. The superior quality of his finished Talismans was plain to see.

"Junior Brother Ling, from now on, the family will be relying on you for all of its Third Grade Talisman needs!" Zhao Wanqing said with a beaming smile.

’Since he’s this capable, we should put him to good use!’

"Alright, it’s settled then!"

Ling Changqing nodded. ’With my current power,’ he thought, ’I can even craft Quasi Rank Four Talismans with ease, and with a high rate of success.’

’As for Grade Four Talismans, I’ll have to wait until I break through to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm before I can even attempt to make them.’

Zhao Wanyi’s face lit up with joy. The family had never had a Third Grade Talisman Master before, only a few second-rank ones. Consequently, they had to purchase almost all their Third Grade and Quasi Rank Four Talismans from outside sources.

The destructive power of Third Grade Talismans was already immense. Not only were they prohibitively expensive at the merchant guilds, but it was also impossible to purchase them freely.

But now with Ling Changqing, the family would soon have a sufficient stockpile of Talismans. They would no longer need to spend exorbitant amounts buying them from others, which meant saving another massive expense.

"The materials for crafting Third Grade Talismans aren’t cheap either," Ling Changqing mused aloud. "Does the family’s territory produce any of these resources?"

Zhao Wanyi replied, "The family’s territory is vast, and we do produce talisman-crafting materials—both Third Grade and Rank Four. In the past, no one in the family could use them, so they were all sold to several merchant organizations.

"Now, however, we can reserve them for you, Junior Brother. For any types we lack, we can still purchase them from those guilds."

Compared to finished Talismans, the raw materials are naturally cheaper, and the purchasing restrictions are far more relaxed, making it possible to buy larger quantities at a time.

For the next month, Ling Changqing remained at the family’s main estate, crafting all sorts of Third Grade Talismans while occasionally going on scenic excursions accompanied by the two sisters.

After the whole affair with Zhao Chengdong, Ling Changqing’s existence was now known to the family’s upper echelons, so he simply stopped hiding his presence and abilities.

It wasn’t for lack of trying—many wished to approach Ling Changqing in private, but with the Zhao Wanyi sisters constantly at his side, they never found an opportunity.

Of course, it wasn’t as if Ling Changqing had any interest in these people. Whatever they might be thinking was of no importance to him.

When the two months were up, Ling Changqing bid farewell to Shangguan Qingying and the sisters, then returned to the Feiyu Sea Region.

...

「Wentian Mountain Range, Lu Hua Palace.」

Inside the Council Hall, bathed in a rosy glow and suffused with dense Spiritual Qi, dozens of High-Level Female Cultivators were seated on either side of a raised platform. Every one of them was a peerless beauty with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and an absolutely stunning appearance.