Longevity Starts With Dual Cultivation - Chapter 23
In the VIP room.
While making casual conversation, Ling Changqing was discreetly observing the glamorous female cultivator before him. She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old on the surface, with a cultivation level at the third layer of Qi refining. However, her aura seemed somewhat unstable, likely indicating an unsteady foundation.
In terms of appearance and figure alone, this female cultivator could indeed be considered top-tier. Granny Wang hadn’t deliberately misled Ling Changqing about that.
Yet for a cultivator, mere looks and physique were clearly insufficient. Spirit Root Quality, cultivation level, development potential, and most importantly, character and disposition were the primary considerations.
“…Alright, Fellow Daoist Ling, I have a fairly good impression of you. Shall we now discuss the betrothal gifts?”
The glamorous female cultivator sitting across from him smiled reservedly. After numerous matchmaking sessions at the Heavenly Match Pavilion, she had finally encountered a relatively satisfactory candidate.
Good looks, decent background, exceptional Spirit Root Quality and potential, plus ample spirit stone resources, in her view, he barely qualified as a golden bachelor.
“Betrothal gifts?”
Ling Changqing thought, here it comes, as expected. Maintaining his composure, he said, “Go ahead, let’s hear them.”
The glamorous female cultivator nodded: “Three thousand spirit stones, one spiritual vein cave dwelling, one Superior-grade artifact flying sword, and one Superior-grade artifact robe. The cave abode deed must be registered under my name!”
“Additionally, your monthly spirit stone income should be handed over to me for management and distribution from now on, since Dual Cultivation Partners are one entity.”
“Moreover, my current cultivation realm is still unstable. For our future happiness, you should fully assist me in improving my cultivation. We can only begin dual cultivation after I reach the fourth layer of Qi refining!”
“And before Foundation Establishment, I don’t wish to consider having offspring. I hope you can understand…”
She listed numerous demands one after another. The fervent gleam in her eyes and the way she looked Ling Changqing up and down were no different from regarding a fattened sheep ready for slaughter.
“These demands are somewhat excessive,”
Ling Changqing said tonelessly: “You’ve listed so many conditions for me, but what can you offer in return?”
The glamorous female cultivator looked momentarily stunned, then said: “After marriage, I would have to serve you for a lifetime, accompany you in dual cultivation, and eventually bear your descendants to continue your bloodline. Isn’t that enough?”
“Then how much is your monthly income?”
“I work as a manager at the Immortal Flavor Workshop, earning twenty spirit stones per month. That’s equivalent to a male cultivator earning two hundred spirit stones! What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?!”
“With that income, how dare you make so many demands? Is that reasonable?”
“Why wouldn’t it be reasonable? With my talents and appearance, many high-level male cultivators at the seventh or eighth layer of Qi refining have pursued me, and I’ve rejected them all! If not for your honest and good character, do you think I would even consider you?”
The glamorous female cultivator spoke with an air of self-righteousness.
Honest man again? Did honest men eat your family’s spirit rice?
“Heh…”
Ling Changqing shook his head: “Fellow Daoist, please return. We are not well-suited for each other!”
The glamorous female cultivator’s expression turned cold: “What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist? With my talents and appearance, am I still not worthy of you?”
“We’re not compatible. Please find someone else.”
Ling Changqing’s tone cooled several degrees as he lowered his head to silently drink his tea, never looking at her again.
The female cultivator’s face abruptly changed color. With her arrogant temperament, when had she ever been so utterly disregarded?
“Pfft, what’s so great about him? Without you, I refuse to believe I can’t get married!”
The female cultivator muttered resentfully, then stood up and stormed off in a huff.
Well, another strand of Soul Essence acquired!
Ling Changqing looked at the feedback message from the Epoch Star Palace and found this method truly effective.
These delusional little fairies were just too easy to take advantage of.
At the corner of the corridor outside, Granny Wang was waiting with two maids. Seeing the glamorous female cultivator emerge in a rage, she quickly stepped forward to ask: “Fellow Cultivator Qin, how did your discussion go?”
The glamorous female cultivator said irritably, “That guy actually… actually didn’t fancy me! He must be blind!”
Granny Wang smiled helplessly: “Fellow Cultivator Qin, you’ve already visited me over a hundred times. There are truly few male cultivators whose conditions can compare with this young master Ling, yet you still can’t find anyone suitable…”
“Besides, you’re already over forty. Your cultivation realm has been stuck and unable to progress. When you grow old and lose your looks, it’ll become even more difficult!”
For cultivators at the Qi Refining Stage, their vitality begins to decline after sixty. Not only does their cultivation become difficult to breakthrough, but their external appearance will gradually age as well.
Even with resources like Youth Preservation Pills, they’re not only expensive but also merely temporary solutions that can’t increase a cultivator’s lifespan or cultivation.
The glamorous female cultivator snorted: “My standards aren’t high at all! If he’s unwilling, so be it! Good food isn’t afraid of being late – I’ll never settle when looking for a cultivation partner!”
With that, she turned and strode away.
Granny Wang sighed, then turned to signal the maid: “Have the next one come in for discussion. I hope she can see things more clearly!”
The maid nodded and hurried off to notify the second female cultivator.
Shortly after, Ling Changqing in the room saw a tall female cultivator with an oval face and phoenix eyes gracefully enter.
She wore a water-red dress, with delicate and refined features and a slender figure. Superficially, she appeared to be in her early twenties – clearly having dressed up carefully. Her cultivation was at the fourth layer of Qi Refining.
This female cultivator’s surname was Su. With slightly high cheekbones and sharp, cold eyes, she looked as if everyone owed her a large sum of spirit stones.
“Fellow Cultivator Su, what would you like to ask?”
Ling Changqing said lazily.
The Su female cultivator curled her lip and got straight to the point: “I’m in charge of an entire counter at Mirror Flower Pavilion, specializing in buying and selling various Talismans and materials. My monthly income of eighteen spirit stones isn’t nearly enough to cover my expenses! How much can you give me each month?”
Ling Changqing was momentarily stunned, somewhat incredulous: “So you came here for matchmaking just to find a male cultivator to give you spirit stones to spend?”
“Of course, otherwise why would I seek marriage with you?”
The Su female cultivator looked completely matter-of-fact: “Seeing how honest and obedient you appear, I’ll reluctantly accept you! Give me two hundred spirit stones monthly for expenses. The cave adobe blessed land and the flying boat for transportation must be fully purchased, with the title deeds in my name.”
“Oh, and I still have over two thousand spirit stones in loans unpaid. You’ll need to help me repay them. We can complete our marriage and dual-cultivate after this matter is settled!”
“Don’t think these conditions are high – what I want is security. Otherwise, why would I need to find you?”
“Fellow Cultivator Su, we’re not suitable for each other. You should seek better marriage prospects elsewhere!”
Ling Changqing couldn’t be bothered to waste more time with her, picking up his tea to signal the end of their meeting.
“You…”The female cultivator surnamed Su glared at him with knitted brows: “What do you mean? Am I not good enough for you? No spirit stones, no sincerity, why did you even come to this matchmaking session? Are you deliberately messing with me?”
Ling Changqing shook his head, not wanting to waste another word.
The female cultivator surnamed Su gritted her teeth, stood up, and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
The second Soul Essence was obtained.
Outside, Granny Wang, who had learned the reason, sighed helplessly: “Since that’s the case, let the next female cultivator give it a try!”
Soon, a third female cultivator appeared before Ling Changqing. Dressed in a white gown, she had an innocent appearance with delicate features and just the right amount of shyness in her eyes.
Her apparent age was around seventeen or eighteen, with exceptional looks and figure. Her cultivation was at the fifth level of Qi refining, and her spiritual root quality was low human grade.
“Fellow Daoist Ling,” The female cultivator surnamed Bai sat upright, speaking timidly: “My personality is the slow-burning type, so how things develop next depends entirely on your attitude! If you truly have sincerity, prove it with your actions!”
Her words… Ling Changqing felt an overwhelming aura of a gold-digging green tea girl.
“Then what do you expect me to do?”
Ling Changqing asked indifferently.
The female cultivator surnamed Bai replied softly: “With your qualifications, the issues of betrothal gifts and a spiritual vein cave dwelling should be easy to resolve. My demands aren’t high, five thousand spirit stones, one spiritual vein cave dwelling, and the deed must be under my name!”
“Additionally, I have two younger brothers at home. Their aptitudes are poor, and they urgently need cultivation resources. You must help both of them reach the fifth level of Qi refining…”
Ling Changqing felt utterly speechless: “But what do your brothers have to do with me?”
The female cultivator surnamed Bai stared straight at him: “Why wouldn’t they? If we become cultivation partners, wouldn’t they be your family too? Otherwise, if you’re so selfish, why should I marry you?”
“…”
Faced with such a brother-obsessed woman, what could Ling Changqing say? He could only urge her to leave immediately.
It seemed there were reasons why these female cultivators remained unmarried, they were so lost in their delusions that their minds had gone astray.
“You’re the coldest and most heartless man I’ve ever met!”
Before leaving, the female cultivator surnamed Bai hurled these words at him resentfully and stormed out, slamming the door.
Ling Changqing, however, felt no displeasure. Judging by the feedback from the Epoch Star Palace, his visit to the Heavenly Match Pavilion was truly worthwhile.
“Fellow Daoist Wang, please send in the next one!”
Ling Changqing said with a smile: “Don’t worry, no matter how many I meet, I’ll pay the full amount in spirit sand and spirit stones!”
“Good, good! Young Master Ling is so straightforward. I’ll arrange the next one for you right away!”
Granny Wang chuckled in agreement, swaying her plump waist as she left.
According to the Heavenly Match Pavilion’s custom, every meeting between male and female cultivators required a payment of spirit sand to the matchmaker, regardless of the outcome.
Thus, the more female cultivators Ling Changqing met, the higher Granny Wang’s earnings. She was naturally delighted and wished the young man would come for matchmaking every day.