Chapter 565 - 306: Contractual Spirit = Contract-Abandoning Spirit (Part 2)

A ten percent resource tribute wasn’t much, falling into the standard, middle-of-the-road category.

Of course, there was still considerable leeway, since the Zhao Family didn’t know the true income of these powers; at most, they only had a rough estimate.

Besides, this wasn’t the main point for the Zhao Family. Whether or not readily accepting such a group of vassal powers would be good or bad for the family’s future development was still difficult to say.

"This is a matter of great importance... Allow me to consider it for a time. How about I give you an answer in two months?"

Shangguan Qingying fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

From the Zhao Family’s perspective, she had no intention of letting them off so easily. ’If they want to protect their foundations, they’ll have to bleed for it. That’s non-negotiable.’

"Then, we shall await your good news!"

Zhong Yan Tian understood that a matter of this magnitude couldn’t be settled in one or two meetings, and so he agreed.

Then, on behalf of all the powers present, he presented a gift: a set of five Top grade Treasure Level Flying Swords. Their value was considerable, so Shangguan Qingying did not refuse.

Finally, Ling Changqing, on behalf of the Patriarch, saw the special envoys out, making some lukewarm small talk along the way.

They were very curious about Ling Changqing’s identity. ’This handsome youth in purple robes can’t have a high Bone Age, yet he’s already at Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation? Just how incredible must his Spirit Root Talent be?’

’And his relationship with Shangguan Qingying... they’d originally thought he was the Patriarch’s son-in-law, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case?’

However, in response to the envoys’ various probing questions, both subtle and overt, Ling Changqing remained evasive and never gave a straight answer.

A moment later, in the plaza before the family headquarters, Ling Changqing watched as the envoys boarded their Tianzhou Skyboat, ascended into the sky, and departed.

As for how they might form alliances and build factions to bolster their position after they returned, Ling Changqing couldn’t care less.

To the Zhao Family, all plots and schemes were meaningless. These Nascent Soul powers had no better choice than to unconditionally submit.

Back in the Council Hall, the beautiful woman was no longer on the high platform.

Ling Changqing didn’t mind. He immediately went to the Inner Study and, just as he expected, found Shangguan Qingying waiting for him. She had changed into a flimsy, sheer gown, with a bright red, gold-embroidered tube top that did little to conceal her dazzling, snow-white cleavage, a seemingly bottomless ravine.

"What do you think?"

Seeing Ling Changqing bolt the door and pull her into his arms with practiced ease, Shangguan Qingying shot him a playful glare and asked softly.

Ling Changqing embraced the beautiful woman’s warm, voluptuous body, his hands beginning to wander mischievously as he spoke:

"It doesn’t matter to me. Arrange it however you see fit. The family is bound to expand its territory in the future anyway. As for which specific target to start with, does it really make much of a difference to us?"

"It does make a difference,"

A slight waver entered Shangguan Qingying’s soft, elegant voice. She gently pressed down on the hand Ling Changqing had slipped inside her magnificent gown and said,

"These powers happen to surround our family’s territory on three sides. Not far to the east lies the border of the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty, which is obviously not a suitable direction for expansion. So we must consider this matter carefully..."

East of the Zhao Family’s territory, past a dozen or so powers of various sizes, lay the border of the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty. Furthermore, all those powers were vassals of the Immortal Dynasty.

Therefore, the Zhao Family certainly couldn’t make a move in that direction, leaving only the other three as options.

If they agreed to let these powers, led by Vast Cloud Peak, become their vassals, the Zhao Family’s future expansion plans would be directly affected. It would no longer be as easy or convenient as they had anticipated.

Even if they conquered new territories, they would be difficult to manage if they weren’t contiguous with the Zhao Family’s existing lands.

"In that case, let’s just reject them outright!"

Ling Changqing was unconcerned. By now, the strategic initiative was firmly in the Zhao Family’s hands; the opinions of the leaders of the surrounding powers were irrelevant.

Vassal powers still retained a degree of autonomy, their internal affairs free from the interference of their suzerain. How could that compare to direct annexation, where the suzerain power would have complete control?

"But the family’s manpower is limited right now. We aren’t ready for large-scale external expansion. We’d need to wait at least another twenty or thirty years."

Shangguan Qingying said, frowning.

Aside from her, a Divinity Transformation Powerhouse, the Zhao Family’s overall strength was still only at the level of a veteran Nascent Soul power.

The number of Nascent Soul True Monarchs, as well as Golden Core and True Pill Cultivators, had yet to reach the standard expected of a Divinity Transformation power.

In short, even if the Zhao Family conquered several Nascent Soul powers right now, they couldn’t spare enough people to control the new territories and govern them effectively.

If the surrounding Nascent Soul powers knew their doom was inevitable and became determined to unite against the Zhao Family, even Shangguan Qingying would have a difficult time. After all, she was only one person and couldn’t be everywhere at once.

If the Zhao Family had two Divinity Transformation Powerhouses, things would be much simpler. One could guard the family headquarters while the other campaigned abroad, solving most of their problems.

"So... why not agree to their terms for now? We can reconsider the matter in the future, once the Zhao Family has built up enough core strength."

Ling Changqing suggested. It was merely a delaying tactic, and he had no qualms about it.

’One shouldn’t think that signing a treaty means they can rest easy.’ Whether in his past life or his current one, Ling Changqing had never seen a treaty that lasted forever or had never been broken.

True powerhouses—or rather, sufficiently powerful factions—were never constrained by mere pieces of paper.

As long as the expected gains outweighed the costs, or if one party felt they were getting a raw deal, it was inevitable that the treaty would be torn up.

The spirit of the contract was the spirit of retracting it.

It had been that way in his past life, and it was even more common in the Cultivation Realm, an era of constant conflict.

"Very well. We shall do as you say, my husband."

Shangguan Qingying said softly. She was, of course, no naive damsel who would consider a mere treaty more important than anything else.

As the Patriarch, the family’s interests always came first.

As for the slight blow to their reputation, no one in the Cultivation Realm would take it too seriously.

After they spoke for a while longer, Ling Changqing could no longer restrain himself. With practiced ease, he stripped Shangguan Qingying bare and began his... Cultivation.

The beauty’s fair face flushed crimson as she cooperated with feigned resistance. When the "battle" reached a critical point, she didn’t forget to call over Zhao Wanyi, who had been watching silently from a corner, to lend a hand. Only then was the precarious situation on the "battlefield" stabilized.

Far away, hundreds of thousands of miles away in Zhao Family territory, Zhao Wanqing, who was busy in her study, felt her delicate body tremble. Her beautiful, jade-like face instantly flushed crimson, and she cursed under her breath.

The subtle connection between the twin sisters allowed her to instantly understand what her sister was doing with their husband. ’And Shangguan Qingying is probably there too...’

’In broad daylight, no less! It’s absolutely outrageous!’

Zhao Wanqing thought resentfully. But given Ling Changqing’s usual, unbridled ways, this sort of thing was practically a daily occurrence.

Ten-odd days later, once matters on their end were concluded, Ling Changqing and Shangguan Qingying returned to the Zhao Family’s main headquarters, leaving Zhao Wanyi to remain on duty.

She now had a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation, and with the assistance of Qin Zhongqi and Qin Zhongyuan—two Nascent Soul True Monarchs whose Divine Souls were shackled—it was more than enough to ensure peace in the territory.

Zhao Wanyi was clearly a little unhappy, as this meant she wouldn’t be able to engage in Dual Cultivation with Ling Changqing for a long time.

Fortunately, Shangguan Qingying had already promised that she would be allowed to return to Ling Changqing’s side in a year at most, which turned her pout into a smile.

On their return, Shangguan Qingying packed up and took all the remaining resources from the Qin Family’s treasury. Additionally, she brought several hundred carefully selected Female Cultivator slaves from the Qin Family.

Their looks and figures were all quite outstanding. In the future, they could serve as Ling Changqing’s maids, performing relatively light tasks. However, obtaining the status of a concubine was unlikely, unless one became a particular favorite of his.

Upon returning to the family headquarters, Shangguan Qingying immediately got busy. Her first priority was to arrange a new selection and training program for the family’s next generation of members.

For any power in the Cultivation Realm, this was a matter of utmost importance, one that concerned the future rise or fall of a family or Sect and had to be handled with extreme care.

Of course, the main purpose of the Zhao Family’s selection program this time was to place more people by Ling Changqing’s side, though Shangguan Qingying never said so explicitly.

Compared to toiling through step-by-step Cultivation on their own, the women who followed Ling Changqing saw their Cultivation Realms advance at least ten times faster. Was the choice even a question?

With his help, it wouldn’t be long before the Zhao Family had a large new batch of Female Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation Levels, which would significantly boost the family’s overall strength.