Chapter 642 359: Bai Qingyi: Husband, how can you favor one over the other?

"You're not wrong, darling. Let's drop the matter for now. We can talk about it again after I step into the Void Refinement Realm!"

The terrifying prowess of Integration and Void Refinement Realm female cultivators in the bedchamber was no exaggeration. Even Ling Changqing, a High Rank Body Cultivator, found it a bit much to handle.

Therefore, if he didn't want to be squeezed dry by them, Ling Changqing had to exercise some restraint for now, not daring to completely let himself go.

"Alright, then it's settled!"

Yun Qingxue wisely conceded, no longer pressing the issue.

Of course, this was just a stopgap. Once Ling Changqing's cultivation advanced again, she was determined to bring the most beautiful and outstanding female cultivators in the Sect before her husband and let him take his pick.

Over the next few months, Ling Changqing remained secluded in his residence. The seventy-two female cultivators from Shenluo Celestial Palace, through a selection process of drawing lots, all had their wishes granted and truly became Dao Companions of the Child of Destiny.

Of course, all the women of his harem were equally important to him, and he couldn't neglect any of them.

Thus, Ling Changqing once again began a life of continuous Dual Cultivation, working day and night, and night and day.

The cultivation of his harem progressed rapidly, as did Ling Changqing's own. Thanks to this grueling, almost bone-shattering effort, the Middle Stage Divinity Transformation Realm was now within reach.

...

「Yaozhou, the Taiqing Plain.」

Today, the capital city of the Divine Dynasty welcomed a rarely seen, distinguished guest.

A magnificent traveling palace, a thousand zhang wide and shrouded in a golden radiance, slowly descended from mid-air. Its immense pressure caused the very void to tremble.

The Divine Dynasty's Emperor, Lu Mingde; the Crown Prince, Lu Yunhuang; the National Preceptor, Lu Tinglan; Elder Zong, Lu Qingyuan; and all the other top officials were present to greet them.

A moment later, the golden radiance enveloping the traveling palace receded. The heavy gates rumbled open, and a tide of cultivator guards in fine brocade robes surged out, falling into formation outside.

They were followed by troupes of stunningly beautiful female cultivators in colorful robes, who filed out gracefully holding incense burners, painted fans, flower baskets, banners, and other such Magical Treasures.

With the Patriarch of the Beichen Family visiting in person, the pageantry was naturally nothing short of spectacular.

After a short wait, a large, portly man in a red robe finally appeared, flanked by numerous High Rank Cultivators. He was fair-skinned and plump, with a charmingly simple, Buddha-like demeanor.

This was the current Leader of the Beichen Family: Beichen Wuxin. His current cultivation was at the Late Stage of the Void Refinement Realm, the same level as Lu Mingde.

In terms of top-level strategic strength, both the Beichen Family and the Taiqing Divine Dynasty had only a single Integration Realm Great Power watching over them. However, the Beichen Family had more Refining Void Powerhouses, giving them an edge in overall strength over the Taiqing Divine Dynasty.

A perfectly appropriate smile on his face, Lu Mingde personally stepped forward to greet him. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Beichen Wuxin, they boarded the Emperor's imperial carriage together and, escorted by a retinue of powerful experts, proceeded toward the inner Royal City.

"...Brother Lu, still no word from Shenluo Celestial Palace?"

Beichen Wuxin asked languidly, leaning back in the magnificent, imposing throne.

Lu Mingde shook his head. "Don't even get me started. I've sent several waves of envoys to their gates, but they couldn't even get an audience with the Grand Palace Master, Ye Yunni."

Beichen Wuxin frowned. "So, you're saying they have no intention of cooperating at all? The situation over in Yuzhou is deeply unsettling. If we three powers of Yaozhou don't join forces, I'm afraid things will become difficult for us in the future."

Just because the Ling Family in Yuzhou and their patrons have chosen to lie low for now doesn't mean they've had a change of heart and decided to behave.

If that great province is truly unified in the near future, it would be anything but good news for its closest neighbor, Yaozhou.

Therefore, after their pawn in the game was taken, the upper echelons of the Taiqing Divine Dynasty did not hesitate, immediately deciding to ally with the Beichen Family to jointly face the impending crisis.

Of course, this pact also had a place reserved for Shenluo Celestial Palace. In Lu Mingde's view, as long as the three great powers of Yaozhou were twisted together into a single rope, they would have a much stronger foundation from which to make a move on Yuzhou.

Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the leadership of Shenluo Celestial Palace seemed uninterested in their proposal and had never given them a direct response.

Lu Mingde gave a cold sneer. "The minds of those arrogant women have always been impossible to fathom. If they don't want to come, then so be it. The combined strength of our two families isn't any less than theirs."