Chapter 627 352: Decision to Go to War

「Linsha Continent.」

In a hall of antique charm and lavish refinement, a procession of stunningly beautiful maids in gorgeous, light dresses filed in, each carrying a fine jade tray.

Most of the maids had cultivation at the Golden Core Level. They carried all sorts of delicacies, Spirit Wine, and Spirit Fruits, placing them one by one on a wide Golden Silk Cloud Sandalwood Table until a rich aroma filled the air.

His hair held in place by a jade crown, Ling Changqing sat at the table, dressed in a magnificent blue and purple cloud-patterned robe that shimmered with spiritual light. With eyes as dark as lacquer, he held a cup in his left hand and chopsticks in his right, feasting with great gusto.

As he consumed a variety of rare Rank Four and Rank Five ingredients, his nearly depleted Essence, Qi, and Spirit began to recover at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Needless to say, this was Ling Changqing's daily routine after emerging from his bedchambers at the end of a long Dual Cultivation session. It had been this way for years.

As for these priceless ingredients, some were procured from the three major merchant guilds of Yuzhou, while others were contributions from the Xuannü Palace, the Ye Family, and several other Female Cultivator factions.

The expense of a single feast was roughly equivalent to what a Divinity Transformation Cultivator required for an entire year of Cultivation. But the women of his court felt no heartache over the cost. After all, only when Ling Changqing ate and drank his fill could they, in turn, do the same.

And once they had their fill, the pace of their Cultivation progress would naturally quicken.

Wearing a phoenix crown and golden hairpins, Ling Qiyue was seated to one side. Her bright yellow palace gown, a brocade embroidered with suns, moons, and phoenix medallions, made her appear cold yet alluring, her every movement radiating an inner majesty. Her eyes shimmering, she spoke in a voice that was both chilly and melodious:

"…The family's new batch of selected Immortal Seedlings have all been settled in. I've made separate arrangements for the most outstanding candidates. When will you go and inspect them personally?"

"If there are no issues, let them train under you from now on. For the family to one day smoothly unify the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm, you, our official Patriarch, can't afford to slack off!"

"Alright, I understand."

Ling Changqing responded, draining the Spirit Wine from the Azure Jade Wine Pot in one go. At his side, Luo Binghu, draped in sheer gauze with dazzlingly fair skin, raised a wine flagon and poured him another full cup.

This renowned vintage from the Deep Sea Dragon Race, "Drunken Dragon Chant," could incapacitate an ordinary Divinity Transformation Cultivator with just a single small cup. Only a Divinity Transformation-level Body Cultivator could handle a few more.

Of course, its effects were also exceptional. The essence of Spirit Medicine contained in a single cup of this mellow brew was equivalent to three years of arduous cultivation for a Divinity Transformation Cultivator.

Not only was Ling Changqing a Body Cultivator, but his Physique also far surpassed that of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, so he could drink to his heart's content. Besides, with Gong Ling secretly assisting him, he had no fear of becoming intoxicated.

However, the brewing recipe for Drunken Dragon Chant was a top secret of the Dragon Race, and its cost was exorbitant—almost on par with Grade Six Cultivation Resources. As such, it was something an ordinary Divinity Transformation Cultivator couldn't even dream of obtaining.

Of course, Ling Changqing could have as much as he wanted, provided he could handle it.

Gazing at Ling Qiyue's incomparably beautiful Yu Yan, Ling Changqing set down the Wine Jar in his hand and mused for a moment.

"My dear, your Void Refining Realm is stable now. When do you plan to begin our expansion and conquer the surrounding sea regions?"

The Ling Family currently controlled over twenty sea regions, with another seventeen yet to be brought into their domain.

After being ravaged by the demon scourge, the remaining forces in these regions were exceptionally weak. In Ling Changqing's view, they were hardly worth mentioning; conquering them would be effortless.

Thanks to the meticulous planning of Ling Qiyue, Tang Qiu Yao, and the other women, the family's many storehouses were filled to the brim with logistical resources—enough to cover the expenses of a decade-long military campaign.

Therefore, Ling Changqing's plan was to first conquer these sea regions and then set his sights on the vast Yuzhou mainland.

Ling Qiyue smiled. "Perhaps we can wait a while longer. It seems the Primordial Demon Palace is still holding out. Let's wait until they've exhausted each other!"

It had been over a decade since their return from the Doumu Immortal Palace, and Ling Changqing had not been in a hurry to launch an external war. Instead, he remained secluded, content to stay within his private palace and keep his wives company.

This was, of course, a strategy to further enhance the family's overall strength and solidify its foundation. They had waited this long; there was no need to rush now.

The effects of Dual Cultivation with a Child of Destiny at the Divinity Transformation Realm were astonishingly potent. By now, both Ling Qiyue and Tang Qiu Yao had become experts at the Void Refinement Realm.

Furthermore, Yu Yalan, Mu Xinlan, Liu Qianlan, Fu Yin Xue, Luo Qingxuan, Luo Binghu, Shangguan Qingying, and Yu Ruoshuang had all broken through to the Void Refining Realm and stabilized their Cultivation.

It was fortunate that Ling Changqing had gained control of the Doumu Immortal Palace; otherwise, it would have been impossible to gather enough resources for so many breakthroughs.

Then there were the nine Female Cultivators who had broken through to the Void Refinement Realm long ago: Xue Qingtan, Meng Feiyu, the Kunpeng Maiden Qingsi, Liu Ying Ziyi, Qin Mengxuan, Ziyunxi, Su Qinglian, Ye Binghua, and Qin Yanran. They were now all powerful experts at the Void Refining Peak, just one step away from the Integration Realm.

Of course, the one with the highest Cultivation was the newcomer, Immortal Venerable Doumu; she was already a true Great Power of the Integration Realm. As for Bai Qingyi, after several years of accumulation, she too had recently broken through to the Integration Realm.

The Heavenly and Earthly Treasures she required for her breakthrough had, of course, been secretly delivered by the high-ranking members of the Deep Sea Dragon Race.

Thus, within the current court, Bai Qingyi and Immortal Venerable Doumu possessed the highest Cultivation. The next most likely to achieve a breakthrough was the Kunpeng Maiden, Qingsi.

As for the twin sisters Zhao Wanyi and Zhao Wanqing, along with Xue Yuqing, Luo Qingyu, Jin Yuexi, Song Qingyan, Zhao Qingzi, Liu Ying Bingchan, Liu Xiuyan, Yu Youqin, Mu Yunxiu, and Luo Qingyi—all of them were now Cultivators in the middle or late stages of the Divinity Transformation Realm.