Longevity starts with dual cultivation

Chapter 32 Family Gathering
The family treasury is heavily guarded.

In the courtyard, three old men sat behind a table with indifferent expressions, silently watching the beautiful young man in purple clothes flipping through a jade book not far away.

This time, Ling Changqing came here, in addition to receiving the resource quota, he also planned to exchange some resources with his family merits.

In addition to the indispensable spiritual rice, spiritual wine, and monster meat, Ling Changqing also plans to exchange for some top martial arts secrets in the secular world to enhance his ability to fight against the enemies.

However, Tang Qiuyao obviously had a different opinion: "Junior Brother, no matter how powerful the martial arts masters in this world are, they basically have no advantage against cultivators in the middle stage of Qi training, so there is no need to do anything unnecessary."

"These martial arts secret manuals collected in the family treasury are all prepared for disciples who have just entered the Qi training realm. At your current level, it doesn't matter whether you have them or not."

Faced with a cultivator in the middle stage of Qi training, the so-called innate master would have difficulty in protecting himself, let alone defeating him.

As long as a high-quality thunder talisman is smashed down, even an innate master will inevitably be injured, not to mention the threat of magic weapons and flying swords.

Generally speaking, with the power training system in this world, the so-called innate master of martial arts can at most threaten cultivators at the third level of Qi training, and it would be difficult to go higher.

If a cultivator has a powerful magical weapon in his hand, he does not need to be afraid even when facing siege by a group of martial arts masters. This is the essential difference in strength.

For example, with Tang Qiuyao's current level of cultivation, even if a group of legendary martial saints came to besiege her, they would not be able to hurt her at all.

But for ordinary people, martial saints are already rare. Because of the strict requirements on physique, qualifications, and resources, it is difficult to find one among hundreds of thousands of warriors.

Especially since warriors have a limit to their lifespan, the top martial saints in this world can only live for a little over a hundred years at most. However, as long as a cultivator can break through the foundation-building level, he can easily have a lifespan of more than two hundred years.

"Since Senior Sister said so, I won't consider it."

Ling Changqing nodded. Thinking about the extremely dangerous environment of the deep sea, it seemed that the methods of a Martial Saint would not be of much use and were far less useful than the magical powers and spells of a cultivator.

Tang Qiuyao smiled and said, "With a cultivator's physique, practicing martial arts is a very easy thing. When you have free time in the future, it would be fine to try it as a personal hobby."

Generally speaking, only those low-level cultivators with extremely poor aptitude and no hope of promotion would consider the path of martial arts in the secular world, at least to add some means of self-protection and fighting against the enemy.

In Tang Qiuyao's opinion, Ling Changqing has already reached the fifth level of Qi training, and it will be a natural thing for him to break through to the sixth or seventh level in the future. There is really no need to consider this.

In the end, Ling Changqing used his family's merits to exchange for a magical power called "The Art of Retaining Breath" and a magical power called "The Art of Attracting Thunder with Mysterious Water".

The Breath-Containing Technique can restrain and conceal one's own aura, thus covering up one's true cultivation level and identity. It is actually a common magical power in the cultivation world.

Over the course of a long period of time, the Breath-Resisting Technique has evolved into numerous schools and branch versions, with varying degrees of effectiveness.

The Breath-Containing Technique in the Ling family treasury is quite effective in the Qi training and foundation-building stages, but it is not effective beyond that.

However, Ling Changqing doesn't need to think so far ahead now. It's enough for the current stage.

The Mysterious Water Lightning Art is an offensive magical power with considerable destructive power. Once mastered, it can significantly enhance Ling Changqing's ability to fight against the enemy.

In addition to his skills and magical powers, Ling Changqing also exchanged for some medicinal resources, as well as twenty jars of spirit wine, five hundred kilograms of red jade crystal rice, and one hundred and fifty kilograms of monster meat such as silver-bearded snowflake fish and ice-kissed short-tailed spotted fish.

Of course, the types of elixirs that Ling Changqing is exchanging now are not available from alchemist Meng Ye.

As for what he has, Ling Changqing is willing to buy it there even if the price is a little higher, after all, the effect is better.

It didn't take long for the maids and servants to pack up all the resources and send them out.

After Ling Changqing checked and found everything was correct, he put everything into the storage bag and said goodbye to Tang Qiuyao and left.

"Go back. The family gathering will be held in three days. You can still have a good rest."

The stunningly beautiful woman spoke to Ling Changqing, and the two of them walked into the flying boat.

Since Ling Changqing was her tenant now, it was natural for them to go home together.

In the cabin, Ling Changqing looked at the beautiful, elegant and charming woman opposite him, and swallowed the words back.

He was a little curious. Tang Qiuyao was not a member of the Ling family, but she could hold a high position in the family and had a good relationship with the head of the family, Ling Qiyue. Maybe there was another hidden story?
Of course, given my identity, it is not appropriate for me to delve into this matter now. Perhaps the truth will come out one day in the future.

After returning to the Lingmai Cave, Ling Changqing didn't say much and went directly to the courtyard where he lived to rest.

Three days later, a grand party was held as scheduled in a palace at the family headquarters.

Tang Qiuyao seemed to care a lot about Ling Changqing. She sent her maid Long Yun to call him early in the morning. The two had breakfast together and then went there together.

"Hmm? Has the family headquarters' protective formation been activated?"

Ling Changqing looked at the colorful rippling light curtain in the sky above his head and was a little surprised.

This kind of protective formation is related to the foundation of the family and consumes a lot of energy. It will not be easily used unless facing foreign invasion.

"The present is different from the past. Most of the younger generations of the family have gathered here. If we are not careful, what if a powerful foreign enemy takes advantage of this opportunity to launch a surprise attack and wipe us out?"

Tang Qiuyao explained that in the cultivation world full of swords, sabers, and intrigues, such things were not too uncommon.

Over the past few thousand years, there have been more than one tragic incidents in which some powerful sects or families relaxed their vigilance during celebrations and were severely damaged or even wiped out by hostile forces.

Ling Changqing nodded. The mortal enemies of the Ling family were like poisonous snakes in the shadows, always lurking. Once they got the chance, they would pounce viciously. A moment later, the two arrived at their destination smoothly. The spacious courtyard was bustling with people, mostly young male and female monks in bright and beautiful clothes, and some elderly people as well.

The pleasant courtyard covers a very large area. It is not only full of spiritual energy, but also has pavilions, towers, flowing springs and waterfalls, rockery and stone bridges.

These monks seemed to have their own small circles, sitting together in groups of three or five, discussing scriptures, drinking tea, playing chess, reciting poems, or discussing sword skills...

Ling Changqing looked around and saw that there were about four to five hundred family members present, with their cultivation levels ranging from the initial stage of Qi training to the seventh level of Qi training.

As for those who have reached the seventh level or above, no matter their age, they can become elders of the family, and their status and position are incomparable to ordinary members of the family.

"There should be quite a few people who haven't returned yet, right?" Ling Changqing asked.

"Of course. Many important industries and strongholds in the family territory need people to man them. There are also many children who are in seclusion or traveling. It is impossible for all of them to come here."

Tang Qiuyao explained softly.

Although all the new generation of the family are required to participate, those who have work to do and cannot leave will certainly not be made difficult by the family leaders.

"Now that you're here, don't you want to go talk to them and get to know them?"

Tang Qiuyao asked with a smile.

Ling Changqing shook his head: "Except for you, Senior Sister, I don't know anyone else, so forget it."

Ling Zifeng was still supervising the pearl divers at sea, so Ling Changqing didn't recognize any of the Ling family members present.

"Okay then, just follow me!"

Tang Qiuyao said with satisfaction, leading him through the corridor, to an empty pavilion in the middle of the lake, and sat down at an exquisite stone table.

Immediately, a maid brought some spiritual tea. After all, with Tang Qiuyao's cultivation and status, no one in the Ling family dared to neglect her.

Ling Changqing observed his surroundings calmly and found that the identities and status of these family members were distinguished by the styles of jade pendants and sachets hanging around their waists.

The jade pendants and sachets of the direct descendants of the family are all light purple, with the most delicate and complex cloud patterns on them. The jade pendants and sachets of the close descendants are less colorful, and are bright yellow.

As for the side branches and distant branches, the jade pendants and sachets are white and of the simplest style.

Moreover, the cultivation level of the collateral descendants who are able to appear here must not be too bad, otherwise they would not be qualified to participate in such a gathering.

"...It seems that my current status and position are not low at all."

Ling Changqing looked at the purple jade pendant tied around his waist and gained a deeper understanding of the support and care that Ling Zifeng and Tang Qiuyao had given him.

Ordinary descendants of the Ling family's side branches and distant branches, if they do not have special qualifications and talents, and are not favored by powerful figures in the family, will never have a chance to turn things around in their lifetime.

Tang Qiuyao said with a smile: "It's mainly because you are determined to do your best. If it were someone else, even if we were willing to give them a chance, they might not be able to seize it."

"Of course, the head of the family thinks highly of you. You can't get the status of a direct descendant so easily without her approval."

"understood."

Ling Changqing nodded slightly. It seemed that the head of the family, Ling Qiyue and Tang Qiuyao, had been secretly paying attention to his performance.

This is not a bad thing for him. If he wants to reach the peak of the Qi training stage and successfully build his foundation in the future, he will definitely need their help.

"Hey, there are a few girls who seem to be paying attention to you!"

Tang Qiuyao said suddenly.

Ling Changqing turned his head with a bit of confusion, and found that behind a rockery, four girls from the Ling family with delicate makeup and beautiful faces were gathered together, looking at him with their bright eyes.

Looking at the sachets on their waists, two are bright yellow and two are white. Their cultivation levels are only at the second or third level of Qi training, which is lower than Ling Changqing's.

"I guess they all want to climb up the social ladder!"

Tang Qiuyao said with a half-smile, the purple-clothed beautiful young man in front of her had a great appearance and temperament, his cultivation was also quite outstanding, plus he was also a direct descendant of the clan, so it was not surprising that he attracted the attention of these clan girls.

Ling Changqing was speechless: "Sister, you don't need to be so straightforward, right?"

"Just telling the truth,"

Tang Qiuyao snorted: "It is women's nature to admire the strong. Their talents are limited and their resources are scarce. Their achievements in this life are predictable."

"If there is no special opportunity, their lives will be like this, so committing themselves to a promising legitimate son is their most pragmatic choice."

"How about it? As long as you move your fingers, these girls will come over to you on their own initiative. Do you want to consider it?"

Ling Changqing: “…”

(End of this chapter)