Longevity Starts With Dual Cultivation - Chapter 24
Time passed quietly.
Under Granny Wang’s arrangements, female cultivators with graceful figures and considerable beauty successively entered the VIP room.
Yet often within less than half an incense stick’s time, these female cultivators would emerge with darkened expressions.
Some with worse tempers couldn’t help muttering curses under their breaths, weaving various malicious and venomous criticisms as if they bore some deep-seated grudge against the purple-robed youth inside.
Inside the VIP room, Ling Changqing was equally speechless. While these female cultivators’ personal qualifications were quite decent, precisely because of this, their standards were unimaginably high. Their wildly creative fantasies continuously refreshed his understanding.
However, Ling Changqing had no intention of being a simp. He refused to compromise on matters of principle, so negotiations breaking down became the expected outcome.
Fortunately, he hadn’t actually planned to bring a female cultivator back with him. If these women didn’t change their unrealistic expectations, they were destined to remain single.
“…Even without any expectations about this matter, is there really not a single female cultivator with a sound mind in the entire Heavenly Match Pavilion?”
Ling Changqing muttered inwardly as he watched yet another female cultivator storm out in a huff.
Shortly after, the next candidate entered – a female cultivator surnamed Yun wearing a cyan dress, appearing to be in her late twenties with gentle, refined features. She greeted him softly.
She was at the fifth level of Qi refining with a high-grade mortal spiritual root. Her appearance and figure were indeed quite outstanding, though her actual age had already passed forty.
“…Fellow Daoist Ling, to be frank, I already have two daughters, so you must treat them as your own!”
The female cultivator surnamed Yun said softly: “Perhaps you might feel this is somewhat unfair to you, but they will call you father and support you in your old age! As a man, you should be broad-minded and not overly calculating!”
“Female cultivators have difficulties bearing and raising children. I hope you can understand my situation – I don’t wish to have more children in the future!”
“As for the bride price, I don’t want much – just two thousand spirit stones! Of course, a cave adobe blessed land and a flying boat for travel are essential – you can’t let me and my daughters suffer…”
Ling Changqing sighed. Indeed, in a large forest, you’ll find all kinds of birds.
Looking across both his current and previous lives, why hadn’t he realized that women from different times and spaces were actually quite similar in certain aspects?
“Fellow Daoist Yun is heavenly beautiful, but I’m not fortunate enough to enjoy such blessings. Please return!”
Ling Changqing raised his teacup in the traditional gesture of seeing off guests.
“…You men, truly none of you are any good!”
The female cultivator surnamed Yun’s expression turned unpleasant as she reluctantly stood up to leave.
Outside the door, seeing Granny Wang waiting at the corridor corner, the female cultivator surnamed Yun snorted heavily, her expression still seeming somewhat indignant.
“Fellow Daoist Yun, you…”
Granny Wang approached to inquire.
The female cultivator surnamed Yun said angrily and unwillingly: “He actually didn’t fancy me! What more could he possibly be dissatisfied with when he could directly become a father after marriage?”
“I simply don’t believe it! Divorced male cultivators can find unmarried female cultivators, so why can’t I find an unmarried male cultivator?”
“…” Granny Wang smiled helplessly. Originally, she hadn’t wanted this woman to come, but the other party had some distant family ties with her clan, and on top of that, was willing to pay double the introduction fee. Only then did she reluctantly agree.
How could Granny Wang not understand a man’s thoughts? Even if other matters were negotiable, raising someone else’s child was something no normal man would ever agree to.
It was blatantly treating the other party as a fool, how could they possibly give you a friendly look?
After barely comforting the female cultivator and sending her away, Granny Wang entered the VIP room. Seeing Ling Changqing silently sipping tea, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat guilty.
“Young master Ling, this matter is truly… rather inappropriate. She insisted on coming to see for herself.”
Granny Wang explained in a low voice.
In high spirits, Ling Changqing didn’t mind at all. Setting down his teacup, he said: “No matter. Do you have any other suitable candidates here, fellow Daoist? Bring them all over for a look!”
The feeling of taking advantage of gold-digging green tea women was simply too satisfying, to the point where Ling Changqing was still craving more.
“Well…”
Granny Wang thought for a moment and explained: “We do have some outstanding female cultivators here. However, their cultivation levels are relatively high, mostly at Qi refining level six or above, so they have strict requirements for their partner’s cultivation realm as well!”
“To meet them, the man must at least be at Qi refining level eight or above, or even a Foundation Establishment expert. That’s why it’s difficult for me too.”
Ling Changqing shook his head. How many Foundation Establishment experts were there in the entire Ling family territory?
Moreover, once one reached that level, they certainly wouldn’t lack high-quality female cultivators around them. Would they still need to come to the Heavenly Match Pavilion to find one?
“It seems I won’t be able to get what I want today?”
Ling Changqing said helplessly.
Those with poor conditions found it hard to find partners, but those with good conditions didn’t necessarily find it as easy as one might think to get into relationships either, since their expectations were different.
Just like in the matchmaking market in his previous life, men and women who were clearly only sixty-point material always thought they deserved seventy-point standards and wanted to find an eighty-point partner.
But when they finally met someone who was eighty points, that person would think they were ninety points and wanted to find a perfect hundred-point partner!
Granny Wang thought for a moment and continued suggesting: “Actually, young master, your conditions are quite good. If you’re willing to slightly lower your standards a bit, I still have many candidates here.”
“Besides, if one doesn’t satisfy you, you can always find several more! I have some good pairs of sisters here, and even… if you’re interested, young master, you can take a look at them all!”
Ling Changqing nodded, readily accepting the advice: “That would be excellent. Then I’ll trouble Fellow Daoist Wang to make the arrangements!”
As long as he could take advantage of the situation, Ling Changqing didn’t care about these female cultivators’ conditions. He wished Granny Wang would bring all the female cultivators from the Heavenly Match Pavilion for him to see.
Anyway, no matter what requests they made afterward, he could just say they weren’t suitable.
Granny Wang breathed a sigh of relief and happily went to make arrangements. With such a quality client, her income this month was going to increase again.
Ling Changqing didn’t have to wait long before a new batch of female cultivators arrived one after another, entering to meet him under Granny Wang’s arrangements.
This time, the styles were somewhat varied, there were sisters coming together, aunts and nieces arriving together, and even mothers bringing their daughters… all sorts of different situations. Unknowingly, the day passed just like that.
After seeing off another pair of sisters, Ling Changqing set down his teacup with a relaxed expression and stood up without showing much disappointment.
“Young sir, I’m truly sorry about today…”
When Granny Wang received a large handful of spirit stones from Ling Changqing, she indeed felt somewhat embarrassed.
“It’s alright. I’ll come back to continue looking tomorrow. Could I trouble Fellow Daoist Wang to keep an eye out for me as well?”
Ling Changqing spoke gently.
Granny Wang’s expression brightened slightly, and she quickly patted her chest in assurance: “Young sir, rest assured! I’ll definitely make proper arrangements for you. If any suitable candidates appear, I’ll notify you immediately!”
Ling Changqing chuckled, exchanged contact information using his communication jade talisman, and took his leave feeling quite satisfied.
According to the feedback from the Epoch Star Palace, his soul power had increased from 23 to 25, and even his comprehension had risen by 1 point.
This showed that as long as such fleecing activities could continue, Ling Changqing’s soul, comprehension, and innate talent would all grow and strengthen rapidly, eventually surpassing even Foundation Establishment experts.
Returning to the inn, the communication jade talisman in Ling Changqing’s bosom vibrated slightly, indicating someone was trying to contact him.
Ling Changqing took out a palm-sized green jade talisman – a special magical artifact issued by the Ling family’s bank.
As long as they were within several thousand li around Zen Heart Island, cultivators could use this artifact to communicate without obstacles, with minimal spiritual power consumption.
Though expensive, Ling Changqing had gritted his teeth and bought one during his last loan application. After all, as a direct descendant of the Ling Family, not having one would be somewhat embarrassing.
Among wandering cultivators, this communication jade talisman was also one of the standard indicators of status and wealth. Whether one had it or not completely changed how others viewed you.
Ling Changqing glanced at the jade talisman and found it was a female cultivator he had met before.
“Fellow Daoist Ling, the conditions aren’t completely non-negotiable…”
This female cultivator surnamed Ma transmitted.
Ling Changqing replied: “What do you propose?”
He seemed to remember this female cultivator’s demands were the most outrageous – not only did she want a cave abode in a blessed land for herself, but also demanded buying a spiritual vein cave dwelling for her younger brother, and it had to be paid in full without loans.
“How about this: let’s meet at Immortal Flavor Workshop tomorrow at noon, have a meal together and discuss properly? I’ll bring my close friend along too!”
The female cultivator surnamed Ma said. Immortal Flavor Workshop was one of Zen Heart Island’s top high-end restaurants, serving only the cultivator community.
The ingredients served here were all premium spirit rice and meat from second-grade or higher demonic birds and beasts, along with aged spiritual wines and such. The cost was unimaginable, something ordinary wandering cultivators simply couldn’t afford.
“…”
Ling Changqing immediately guessed some possible tricks the other party might employ, but he didn’t mind – this was exactly the outcome he needed.
“Alright, it’s settled then!”
Ling Changqing chuckled inwardly and readily agreed.