Longevity Starts With Dual Cultivation - Chapter 6
After finishing his conversation with Ling Zifeng, Ling Changqing returned to the cabin to rest and continue his cultivation.
Most pearl divers had cultivation levels around the first or second layer of Qi refining, with only a handful reaching the third layer.
As for the fourth layer of Qi refining, it was rare to see one emerge even after several years.
Once a cultivator reached the fourth layer of Qi refining, they would have the opportunity to choose safer assignments, no longer needing to risk their lives at sea.
However, in Ling Changqing’s view, every family had its own difficulties. Leaving the pearl diving profession didn’t necessarily mean other jobs would be much better.
Safe assignments didn’t always come with generous income, while high-paying jobs inevitably carried significant risks.
Only the direct descendants of the Ling family and the high-ranking elders, who were the true ruling class within thousands of miles around Zen Heart Island, could live comfortably.
Inside the room.
Ling Changqing sat upright on the bed, sinking his mind into his body to continue communicating with the Epoch Star Palace.
In his sea of consciousness, mysterious and profound messages silently emerged:
[Lord of the Epoch Star Palace: Ling Changqing]
[Bone Age: 14]
[Cultivation: Second Layer of Qi refining]
[Destiny: 10+81]
[Fortune: 10+56]
[Physique: 9]
[Bone Structure: 8]
[Comprehension: 10]
[Spirit: 12]
[Primary Cultivation Technique: Water Control Art (Third Layer) ??????]
[Spiritual Root: Low Grade Human, Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth]
[Benefactor: Ling Zifeng]
Compared to yesterday, there were no changes in his physical attributes, with the only improvement being the breakthrough of the Water Control Art to the third layer. However, it could no longer advance further.
The reason was simple: the Water Control Art obtained by pearl divers was of this level, not only low-grade but also incomplete.
To acquire the latter part of the Water Control Art, pearl divers had to exchange it with spirit stones or Family Merit Points; there was no chance to get it for free.
Ling Changqing sighed softly. Steward Ling Zifeng certainly possessed the complete Water Control Art, likely even a higher-grade version.
Unfortunately, without showing sufficient benefits, the other party would not easily share it with him. He would have to find another way.
“…The task of collecting one hundred Jade Crystal Winterglow Pearls is somewhat troublesome but still manageable. If I can secure a loan quickly with the steward’s guarantee, breaking through to the third layer of Qi refining shouldn’t be difficult…”
Ling Changqing silently calculated. In this vast world dominated by the law of the jungle, improving one’s cultivation as quickly as possible was always the primary goal.
The weak could face unexpected dangers at any time, with no one to seek justice for them.
The various resource loans offered by the Ling Family Bank naturally had eligibility requirements; not just any mediocre or worthless cultivator could apply.
Simply put, only young cultivators who showed promising talent and a high likelihood of future advancement had the chance to obtain resource loans.
Given Ling Changqing’s conditions, he clearly met the requirements.
The advantage of borrowing to cultivate was the ability to acquire needed resources in advance. Once his cultivation broke through in the future, the difficulty of earning spirit stones to repay the debt would correspondingly decrease. According to steward Ling Zifeng, borrowing for cultivation has become commonplace in this world. Not to mention the numerous low-level cultivators, even many Foundation Establishment experts cannot do without such resource channels.
For instance, Foundation Establishment Loans, Golden Core Loans, Nascent Soul Loans, even higher-level figures inevitably resort to borrowing from various sources when breaking through to new realms due to resource shortages.
Of course, lending at such levels can only be provided by certain ancient families and top-tier sects in this world.
To digress further, the great vows made by legendary ancient mighty ones to prove their Dao and achieve transcendence could, in a way, also be seen as a form of borrowing, borrowing from the supreme and eternal Heavenly Dao.
Thus, borrowing for cultivation aligns with the Heavenly Dao and is part of the world’s system of laws.
As for those who consider fleeing with their buckets or using secret methods to change their appearance and feign death after borrowing and being unable to repay, such tricks are essentially futile.
The sects, families, and organizations daring enough to offer loans are no simple characters; they naturally employ numerous targeted measures to prevent risks, ensuring no borrower can exploit loopholes or evade repayment.
On the deck at this moment, Ling Zifeng continued to drink alone.
“Esteemed Steward,”
The white-robed elder Tian Wenhu beside him, fanning himself with a paper fan, asked softly, “This Ling Changqing seems to have some potential fortune. Are you planning to take him under your wing?”
Ling Zifeng held his wine cup, his tone indifferent: “It’s still too early to say. Let’s see if he can pass this trial first. If he truly succeeds, it wouldn’t hurt to form a favorable connection.”
The white-robed elder pondered thoughtfully. As part of the family head’s faction, Ling Zifeng naturally had the desire to scout talents for his own use and strengthen his influence.
Ling Changqing, coming from a poor background with no connections or resources, had already reached the second level of Qi refining at a young age, indicating decent innate potential. If he were willing to strive, perhaps he would indeed be worth nurturing?
After a moment of contemplation, Ling Zifeng turned to his steward and said, “After this mission is completed, try to recruit another group of wandering pearl divers from outside. It doesn’t matter if the cost is higher. While the situation hasn’t drastically changed yet, stockpiling more resources is never a bad thing.”
The white-robed elder’s expression shifted slightly, and he instinctively lowered his voice: “The negotiations over there… still no results? Could it really come to war?”
Ling Zifeng snorted: “The Wu family has always been wolves with ambitious hearts, coveting our Zen Heart Island’s foundation for a long time. How could they easily give up?”
The white-robed elder fell silent. The Wu family, a cultivator clan from the neighboring sea area, had repeatedly clashed with the Ling family for decades, and now the conflicts were intensifying.
Originally, the overall strength of the two families was evenly matched, so neither could overpower the other. However, the Ling family now showed signs of lacking successors, while the Wu family had recently added two new Foundation Establishment experts, making them increasingly confident and aggressive.
Given this trend, war between the two families in the future is almost inevitable. Moreover, once hostilities begin, it’s unlikely to cease until one side is completely defeated.
Thus, the Ling family’s situation is undeniably severe. If more Foundation Establishment experts do not emerge within the family in time, they will inevitably suffer losses when war arrives. Life at the bottom has its hardships, while those in higher positions have their own troubles. In this world, no one truly has it easy.
…
By evening, Ling Changqing, having completed his cultivation, stepped out of his room as usual and headed to the dining hall.
The steward had kept his word, the dinner standards had indeed improved. The portions of low-grade spirit rice and beast meat were more generous, and there was even low-grade spiritual wine, much to the satisfaction of the pearl divers.
Seated at the table, Ling Changqing focused on his meal, occasionally overhearing the idle chatter of the pearl divers around him:
“…Gou Zai’s luck was truly rotten. He was almost free, but then a Ghoul-Eyed Octopus wrapped around him and dragged him away. What a pity!”
“Yeah, including him, six brothers didn’t make it back today. Niu Lao San’s new bride just entered his household not long ago, and now she’s already a widow…”
“This job is inhuman. Tomorrow, I’ll find someone to pull some strings, I must switch to another assignment. I don’t want to end up as a snack for those deadly sea beasts one day…”
“I heard Qian Guang had a stroke of luck today, he brought back three pearls at once. Even the steward praised him a few times…”
“Hmph, what’s so great about that? Tomorrow, I’ll bring back even more!”
“Stop bragging. With your mediocre skills, you’re lucky to make it back alive…”
…
By listening in, Ling Changqing pieced together the day’s events. Although more Jade Crystal Winterglow Pearls had been harvested, the loss of lives was an unavoidable reality.
However, the Ling family’s higher-ups cared little for the lives of these low-level cultivators, they only wanted more Jade Crystal Winterglow Pearls.
Ling Changqing’s gaze swept across the crowd, and he was somewhat surprised to find Chen Tong still there. The man’s luck was abysmal, he had returned empty-handed again today and received another lashing, his face unnervingly pale.
Still, the fact that he managed to survive each time was a small mercy amid the misfortune.
After swallowing the last piece of beast meat from his bowl, Ling Changqing had no intention of engaging in small talk. He quietly stood up and left without a word.
It wasn’t that he was cold-hearted, it was just that, as time passed, everyone here would inevitably meet their end at the bottom of the sea. Forming connections and friendships now would only be a waste of time.
Leaving the dining hall, Ling Changqing patted the storage pouch in his robe and decided to visit the ship’s trading area to buy a few pills for his cultivation.
For the majority of low-level cultivators, spatial artifacts were luxuries, typically only affordable and usable by those at the mid to late stages of Qi refining.
Ling Changqing’s storage pouch was an inheritance left by his parents, and it was of the lowest grade, its capacity was equivalent to just two small chests, barely enough to hold items like Elixir Pills and spirit stones.
The trading area inside the sea vessel wasn’t far. After passing through two doors and walking down a corridor over ten zhang long, he arrived.
In the spacious cabin, dozens of small shops were neatly arranged in rows. The walls and arched ceiling were embedded with numerous night-luminescent pearls and glowing gemstones, illuminating the surroundings as brightly as daylight.
Besides resources like Elixir Pills, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans, there were also establishments like taverns and brothels. The female cultivators inside were all seductive and enchanting little temptresses, and many pearl divers came here seeking pleasure.
“…Come in and have some fun, sir!”
Under the red lanterns at the entrance of a certain brothel, several scantily clad, bewitchingly beautiful female cultivators smiled invitingly as they called out to passersby. Several pearl divers arrived together, each embracing a woman as they tumbled into the courtyard.
Under the pressure of living day by day with no guarantee for the morrow, many low-level cultivators with poor aptitude and no hope of advancement chose to indulge in momentary pleasures. The spirit sand they painstakingly obtained during the day was entirely spent on women here at night.
Ling Changqing paid no attention to them and went straight to the shop selling elixir pills. The shrewd-looking shopkeeper immediately beamed with enthusiasm upon seeing him.
“Young sir, here to buy pills again?”
The shopkeeper greeted him cheerfully: “What would you like to purchase this time? Still the Qi Replenishing Essence Pills?”
Ling Changqing nodded: “Ten Qi Replenishing Essence Pills, one Flesh Regenerating Healing Pill, and… one Spirit Returning Pill!”
The Spirit Returning Pill was an elixir that replenished both spiritual power and physical energy. Even if a third-level Qi refining cultivator was completely exhausted, just one pill could restore them to peak condition.
The shopkeeper nodded: “Ten Qi Replenishing Essence Pills cost three low-grade spirit stones, the Flesh Regenerating Healing Pill is half a low-grade spirit stone, and the Spirit Returning Pill is three low-grade spirit stones. No discounts, I’m afraid!”
Ling Changqing readily agreed, took out the spirit stones to pay, received the elixir pills from the shopkeeper and stored them away. He discreetly observed his surroundings and only left after confirming nothing was amiss.