Chapter 586 - 320: Ling Changqing: Since You’re Already Here...

Compared to the other female cultivator factions in the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm, the Tang Family currently had no real advantage.

Though he would never admit it, Tang Zhenghong knew in his heart that if the Child of Destiny, Ling Changqing, were to truly make a choice, he would never come to the Tang Family. He would only go to those female cultivator factions replete with beauties.

However, Tang Wanying and the other beauties didn’t see it that way. Their own looks and talents were in no way inferior to the female cultivators of Lu Hua Palace, Xianyin Pavilion, and the Liu Ying Clan. Why should Ling Changqing only favor those factions?

But thoughts were merely thoughts. Until they met Ling Changqing, any and all schemes were just empty talk.

It was rumored that even some of the outstanding female cultivators from the Mu Family had mysteriously vanished a few years ago. The Mu Family Patriarch claimed they were following his orders, venturing out to track down Ling Changqing. As for the actual situation, no one knew.

"I believe... we could perhaps go and see the Patriarch of the Liuying Clan,"

Tang Wanying said in a low voice. "Our Tang Family has always had a good relationship with theirs. If we could have a frank and open discussion with her, we might achieve an unexpected breakthrough."

"Hmm?"

A flicker of light in his eyes, Tang Zhenghong sank into deep thought.

Over the past several millennia, the Tang Family and the Liu Ying Clan had indeed collaborated many times. Numerous women from the Liu Ying Clan had married into the Tang Family, and some women from the Tang Family had also married male cultivators from the Liu Ying Clan.

Of course, the Liu Ying Clan had always been a matriarchy, with female cultivators in charge. The male members of the clan had little to no say in matters, both internal and external, and a very low profile. They were merely tools for continuing the family line and siring the next generation.

The relationship between the two families was indeed quite good. The Tang Family had even stood firmly with the Liu Ying Clan during certain external wars. One could say that the Tang Family had, to some degree, become almost a vassal to the Liu Ying Clan.

Among the nine great cultivation families of Yuzhou, the Tang Family had always ranked near the bottom, completely incomparable to the second-ranked Liu Ying Clan.

If the political landscape of the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm were to undergo a drastic shift in the future, it was hard to say whether the Tang Family could preserve its legacy and foundation on its own.

’Perhaps the best option is to bind our interests more deeply with the Liu Ying Clan. Only then might we secure a sliver of hope for survival in the future.’ The prerequisite, of course, was that Liu Ying Ziying would not refuse.

"This is a significant matter. We should return and discuss it with the Elders first."

Tang Zhenghong said slowly after a long moment of contemplation.

The family’s very future was at stake. Even as the Patriarch, he couldn’t make such a decision unilaterally. He had to secure the support of the majority of the upper echelons.

Still, Tang Zhenghong himself was already leaning toward approving the idea. If the negotiations went smoothly, and the Liu Ying Clan had indeed located Ling Changqing and would allow the Tang Family’s female cultivators to join the pursuit, it would be the most ideal outcome imaginable.

...

「Linsha Continent.」

In the lavish and elegant Inner Garden Flower Hall, a faint, sweet fragrance permeated the air. A host of beauties, each with her own unique charm and style, were gathered together, their hairpins, rings, and fine clothes a dazzling spectacle of flowing emeralds and crimsons.

As a handsome youth in magnificent purple robes with eyes like polished lacquer walked in, surrounded by a coterie of women, every beauty in the hall turned her head in unison, their fervent gazes all converging upon him.

"My lord..."

With her dark hair coiled high and an air of magnificent grace, Bai Qingyi stepped forward with a radiant smile. She first gave a slight curtsy, then took his arm.

"You’ve met Qingyi, Qing Ning, and the other girls, so I needn’t say more. As for these ladies, this is Sister Binghu, Sister Bing Lan, and..."

She introduced each of the Long Nu Elders to Ling Changqing one by one. These meticulously dressed and dazzling beauties came forward to curtsy, calling him "My lord" in sweet, melodious voices.

This time, Bai Qingyi had brought thirty-six Princesses Long Nu, thirty-six Elders of various ranks, and thirty-six of her and Luo Qingxuan’s personal Female Official guards—each one a heavenly, city-toppling beauty.

Among these Elders, the one with the highest cultivation had already reached the Void Refining Realm, while the lowest was a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch. This meant the Ling Family’s high-end strategic power had received another significant boost.

When Ling Changqing first appeared in the Deep Sea Dragon Palace, most of these Long Nu Elders had been away from the palace, either traveling abroad or in Cultivation in Seclusion. Very few had seen him with their own eyes.

Of course, the opportunity to come and serve Ling Changqing was one they had fought tooth and nail for. They naturally cherished it deeply, each striving to present her most perfect self before the Child of Destiny.

"My lord, you’ve made us suffer through such a long wait all these years..."

The delicate and radiant Luo Qingning, dressed in a gorgeous sea-blue palace gown, came over and pinched his side, her expression tinged with playful resentment.

’It was all Sixth Sister Luo Qingxuan’s fault for keeping such a tight watch on him back then. If they had gotten their wish, they would probably be experts in the Divinity Transformation Realm by now, wouldn’t they?’

’Fortunately, it’s not too late. From now on, they would stay by this man’s side for the rest of their lives, never to be parted. No one could ever make them let go.’

"My lord, will you be joining us for Cultivation in Seclusion next?"

Another Princess Long Nu with an arrogant glint in her eyes spoke in a soft voice. She was clad head to toe in jet-black Soft Armor that accentuated her slender waist and full hips. A long, slender Straight Blade, glowing with a faint crimson light, hung at her side. Her voluptuous and fiery curves were on full display.

Ling Changqing looked at her, recognizing her as Luo Qingzhi, the niece of the Wang Clan’s Luo Du. He had met her once before during the Dragon Soul Valley trials.

"Of course. There’s time for everyone."

Ling Changqing smiled, reassuring each of them in turn. ’Well, now that these Long Nu are here, they’re all my people.’

"My lord, you’re not far from the Divinity Transformation Realm, are you?"

An exquisite loli who looked no more than twelve or thirteen asked in a delicate voice.

She was dressed in an intricate and exquisite golden palace gown, which did little to hide her sinfully curvaceous figure. She toyed with a small, delicate Purple Thunder Hammer in her jade-like hands. Faint sparks of lightning flickered around it, and an immense, contained pressure emanated from it—it was clearly a high-grade Divine Weapon.

Ling Changqing wasn’t deliberately concealing his cultivation at the moment, so he nodded. "I’m currently a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch. It will still take some time to advance."

The eyes of this Long Nu Elder, Luo Binghu, immediately lit up. "In that case, we should all be able to help you, my lord."

She was, of course, referring to the Dual Cultivation Secret Technique. As long as Ling Changqing obtained their Supreme Profound Pure Yin Bodies, his cultivation could take another great leap forward. The time it would take to reach the peak of the Nascent Soul True Monarch realm, and even break through to the Divinity Transformation Realm, would be significantly reduced.

Ling Changqing mused, "There’s no rush for that. Settle in first. Let Sister Yue arrange your residences and help you get familiar with this place."

’I know you’re all eager, but let’s not be hasty.’

Bai Qingyi’s eyes sparkled as she covered her mouth and chuckled. "Sisters, there’s no need to be so impatient. The rules for attending to our lord for Dual Cultivation have long been set. Now that you’ve joined the family, you must follow the established procedures!"

"Very well, then we’ll leave the arrangements to Sister Yue!"

Luo Binghu’s eyes glinted. She cozied up to Ling Qiyue with a beaming smile, discreetly pressing an exquisite Storage Ring into her hand.

She had brought her entire personal fortune this time, and had even borrowed a great deal of resources from the Dragon Race’s high command, all for this very day.

Since this stunning beauty, Ling Qiyue, was Ling Changqing’s principal wife and held the status of the harem’s matriarch, they would certainly have to curry favor with her in the future.

Ling Qiyue did not refuse Luo Binghu’s gesture of goodwill. Her smile was gentle and grand. "The family’s current territory is limited and can’t compare to the Spirit Vein Blessed Land of the Deep Sea Dragon Palace, so I must ask you sisters to bear with the accommodations for the time being."

"However, the family will certainly expand its domain in the future. When that time comes, everyone will be able to acquire a suitable Cave Mansion Hall for their Cultivation in Seclusion."

"It’s no matter. As long as we can cultivate in seclusion by our lord’s side, nothing else is important!"

Luo Binghu smiled radiantly. ’The Child of Destiny is the greatest opportunity of all. No Spirit Vein Blessed Land could ever compare.’

The rest went without saying. As this wasn’t the first time new sisters had joined the family, Ling Qiyue handled the arrangements with practiced ease.

...

「Xuzhou, Primordial Divine Hall.」

On the Qingyao Continent, the name of the Primordial Divine Hall was legendary. The Sect was filled with experts as numerous as the clouds, and it had held dominion over all of Xuzhou for more than two hundred thousand years. One could only imagine the depth of its power and foundation.

It was said that the Primordial Divine Hall was one of the hidden hands behind the unexpected collapse of the Cangyu Immortal Dynasty in ages past. Although the Sect had been pushed into a desperate situation at the time, its foundations on the verge of crumbling at any moment, it ultimately persevered.

To this day, the Cangyu Immortal Dynasty has been lost to the river of time, yet the Primordial Divine Hall continues to prosper. It has been secretly plotting and laying plans for countless years, merely waiting for the right opportunity to seize control of the entire Qingyao Continent.

In the core region of Xuzhou, the Primordial Mountain Range snaked across the land for countless miles. It was the source of the entire state’s main Dragon Vein, and considered one of the most auspicious lands in the entire Qingyao Continent.

The main peak of the Primordial Divine Mountain, towering over one hundred thousand li high, was perennially shrouded in thick, cyan clouds. It was a place of magnificent vistas with steaming clouds and rosy mists. The main stronghold of the Primordial Divine Hall was located here.

The main peak’s slope was not particularly steep. Along its gentle ridges, countless palaces, halls, and Cave Mansion Halls of various architectural styles were built in layers, stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to its summit.

Countless streaks of Escape Light constantly shuttled between the halls and pavilions. Cultivators in various styles of dress were everywhere, their cultivation ranging from the Qi Cultivation Stage to the Divinity Transformation Stage. Occasionally, one could even sense the fleeting, immense pressure of a Refining Void Great Power.

At the peak’s summit, within a grand hall shrouded in rosy light and auspicious energies, over twenty tall, majestic, and exquisitely ornate thrones were arranged in a circle.

On each throne sat a figure exuding a terrifying aura, as immovable as a mountain. They were men and women, old and young.

For most of its history, the position of Elder Sect Leader of the Primordial Divine Hall had been held by a Male Cultivator, but there were, of course, no shortage of female Great Powers among its highest decision-makers.

Just then, a deep and majestic voice echoed faintly:

"...Regarding this whole mess with the Primordial Demon Palace in Shunzhou, should we intervene ahead of time? Or should we just let that pack of Demon Cultivators cause as much chaos as they please and drag all the surrounding factions down with them?"

"Once they’ve worn each other down sufficiently, that will be our time to step in and reap the rewards!"