Longevity starts with dual cultivation

Chapter 232 Ling Changqing: I can accompany you at worst

In the Zhao family's Dan Palace.

A cyan-gold alchemy furnace, about ten feet tall, with an ancient appearance, majestic and with a hint of vicissitudes, stands steadily in the center of the hall.

The ground and walls around were covered with layers of array patterns. At this moment, as the colorful spiritual flame at the bottom of the alchemy furnace burned fiercely, all the complicated array restrictions lit up, and the scorching heat filled the space.

At this time, Ling Changqing was sitting in front of the alchemy furnace, his lacquered eyes were full of concentration, and from time to time he made a series of mysterious and complex spiritual spells, controlling the changes in the temperature of the spiritual flame with ease.

In the corner of the hall, a pair of twin sisters, as dazzling as the bright moon and pearls, with dresses as white as snow, stood together. Their skin was as white as snow and as smooth as a baby's. Their faces were as delicate as a painting, with exactly the same facial features. Their body curves were ups and downs, and they were graceful to the extreme.

Two pairs of beautiful, sparkling eyes watched Ling Changqing's actions intently, and she subconsciously held her breath, not daring to breathe.

Beside them stood the gorgeous and charming lady and several trusted maids, all of whom were concentrating and not daring to utter a word.

"...Sister, the young man you brought back has a very good level of alchemy. He seems to be much better than that shameless Master Hua."

Zhao Wanyi communicated with her through her spiritual thoughts.

Sister Zhao Wanqing responded calmly: "Indeed, I just wanted him to come over and try it out, but I never thought I would really find a treasure!"

The third-rank alchemist Zhao Hua who ran away had an alchemy level of the third-rank mid-grade. Due to his young age, his realm was not very stable, and his failure rate in alchemy was a bit high.

He was originally a descendant of the Zhao family's side branch. Ever since he was detected to have a talent for alchemy, he has been the focus of training by the family's top brass. He has been given extremely generous resources and treatment, almost everything he wants.

In order to train him, the top leaders of the Zhao family have invested huge amounts of resources over the past hundreds of years.

Just to allow this guy to fully practice and accumulate experience and proficiency, the amount of medicinal resources wasted is an astonishing number.

However, this fellow's appetite became more and more greedy. Not only did he often embezzle precious third-level medicinal materials, he also secretly took orders from outside without telling his family and had an affair with the cultivators of the Qin family, his arch-enemy.

In particular, he was not only greedy but also lustful. He took more than a hundred concubines. He was willing to have fun with women every night, even at the cost of delaying his business.

If he saw any foreign female cultivator with a bit of looks in the market town, he would do everything he could to snatch her back, and the senior members of his family would have to step in to clean up the mess for him afterwards.

With such a bastard around, the female cultivators in the market town can be said to be in danger. Many female cultivators even dare not set foot in the Zhao family's market town in recent years.

Recently, this guy even had his eyes on Zhao Wanyi's sister. He wanted the head of the Zhao family to marry the sisters to him, and also asked the family to provide him with resources to help him reach the Nascent Soul True Lord realm.

The head of the family could no longer tolerate it, so he scolded him severely and ordered him to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors.

As a result, this ungrateful guy held a grudge, and with the instigation and inducement of the elders of the Qin family, he finally made up his mind to rebel against the Zhao family. Before leaving, he destroyed several of the family's most important medicine gardens.

This sudden change was such a devastating blow to the Zhao family that in the next twenty to thirty years, most of the medicinal resources needed for the cultivation of many family members would have to be purchased from outside.

Moreover, if a new third-level alchemist does not appear in time, the lifeline of the family's development will largely fall into the hands of outsiders.

Those profit-driven chambers of commerce are of course easy to talk to at ordinary times, but they are basically not reliable at critical moments.

In order to squeeze more profits from the Zhao family, these forces showed no mercy in hoarding goods, raising prices, and using all kinds of tactics to make things difficult for them.

Meanwhile, the Qin family was still loudly announcing that the Zhao family's Nascent Soul ancestor was about to die, and the family's future was extremely bleak, and that the Qin family would surely take back everything that belonged to them.

Therefore, one can imagine the psychological pressure that the Zhao Wanyi sisters have been under in recent times. If someone were not mentally strong enough, they might have collapsed.

"...Sister, if this person is really reliable, then the family should find a way to keep him here, right?"

Zhao Wanqing whispered.

That Zhao Hua made her feel extremely uncomfortable when they first met. His shifty eyes just stared at her body, which made her feel disgusted.

But Ling Changqing made her feel much more comfortable. His deep, peaceful and mysterious qualities made her feel quite relaxed and subconsciously willing to trust him.

Zhao Wanyi pondered and said, "I would like to do this, but it depends on whether the other party is willing or not!"

Just looking at Ling Changqing's extremely skilled alchemy skills, Zhao Wanyi would not believe that he had no master background. How could an ordinary alchemist reach such a level?
A moment later, with a low roar coming from inside the alchemy furnace, a large mass of milky white clouds rolled out, tumbling up to the dome, and the rich and fragrant alchemy gas filled the space.

"Is it done so soon?"

Zhao Wanyi looked slightly happy, as the time it took to make the pill was more than half shorter than she had estimated.

Seeing the lid of the alchemy furnace slowly rising, nine thumb-sized, golden pills emerged. Zhao Wanyi immediately used the magic of controlling objects to absorb all the pills, put them into a white jade pill bottle and sealed it.

This is a furnace of third-grade Tianhua Yannian Pills. Taking one pill can extend the life of a Jindan cultivator by twenty years.

"It's unbelievable, there are actually nine pills? And they are all genuine?"

The gorgeous and charming woman exclaimed in a low voice.

Normally, when Zhao Hua made pills, he could only make four or five pills in one furnace. Not only was the quality average, but he also often failed in making the pills, wasting a lot of precious medicinal herbs.

If you really count it, the effect of three Zhao Huas can barely match that of the handsome guy in front of you, right?
"Fellow Daoist Ling, I really want to thank you this time!"

Zhao Wanqing couldn't help but said happily, taking the pill bottle and looking at it carefully.

There are several elders in the family who have reached the stage of Dan formation and are already old. They need this kind of elixir to prolong their lives.

Ling Changqing smiled, extinguished the spiritual flame skillfully, closed the formation restriction, and then slowly stood up.

"Speaking of which, it's probably because this alchemy furnace is of a good quality, plus there's a fourth-level spiritual vein supplying spiritual energy, otherwise it wouldn't have been so smooth."

Ling Changqing spoke gently.

This is a top-grade magic weapon-level alchemy furnace. Its various added effects on alchemy are obvious. It is much stronger than the top-grade magic weapon-level alchemy furnace in Changqingzhou.

"If you like it, I'll give you this furnace to use forever. That's fine!"

Zhao Wanyi said with a smile.

Ling Changqing looked at the pair of stunning twin sisters and said with a hint of surprise:
"So you are twin sisters? I didn't think of that before."

The two sisters have exactly the same facial features and temperament. Even their clothes, accessories, and hairstyles are the same, making it difficult to tell them apart at first glance.

"Well, I am Zhao Wanqing, and I was the one who brought you back earlier."

Zhao Wanqing's face turned slightly red, and she said a little embarrassedly.

Before, she reported her sister's name just to have a little fun, but now she naturally told the truth.

Of course, to Ling Changqing, whether it is an older sister or a younger sister, it seems not that important.

"Thank you Miss Wanqing for your hospitality. As for whether the name is true or false, it doesn't matter."

Ling Changqing said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Ling,"

Zhao Wanyi straightened her expression and said in a deep voice: "Now you know the situation of our Zhao family. If you are willing to stay in the family and become a worshipped alchemist, all conditions can be discussed. What do you think?"

The family is in a difficult situation now. If such a high-level alchemist can stay to help, the Zhao family’s predicament will be much alleviated.

If he is really willing to accept it, even letting his sister follow him can be considered.

Ling Changqing shook his head: "I can't stay here for a long time. Of course, as long as the remuneration is appropriate, it won't be difficult for me to make some pills for you in the future."

Changqingzhou is his base, how could he keep working for the Zhao family? Equal cooperation can be considered.

"Sure enough, I knew it!"

Zhao Wanyi sighed. This person really had no ideas about the Zhao family and could not be a spy sent by the enemy.

But because of this, it was impossible for the Zhao family to keep him, even if the family was willing to recruit a son-in-law.

Zhao Wanqing hesitated for a moment, then asked tentatively: "So, little brother, can you stay here for a month? Or, how often can you come here?"

Ling Changqing pondered and said, "I'll stay for fifteen days this time, then I'll go back for a month and come back after I finish dealing with things at home."

"Fifteen days? That's fine, right?"

Zhao Wanyi thought about it and felt that this result was acceptable. At least he was not opposed to helping the family.

"In addition, in terms of cultivation resources, my family can exchange what we have with the Zhao family, so long-term cooperation is not a problem."

Ling Changqing continued, since he had decided to help them, he might as well help them to the end, since he would not suffer any loss anyway.

Zhao Wanyi nodded and said, "Well... we can talk about this in detail later. As for now, can you help us refine some more pills?"

"Of course, just make a list and prepare the herbs and materials!"

Ling Changqing said.

So the Zhao Wanyi sisters invited Ling Changqing to the inner study, and they talked in detail for more than two hours before the two sides reached an agreement on the details of the cooperation.

Most of the dozen or so medicinal yam gardens that the family had cultivated with great effort had been destroyed by that guy. There were not many qualified third-level medicinal herbs left, so some kinds of spiritual medicines could only be purchased from outside.

Of course, as long as Ling Changqing is willing to help, the Zhao family will have no problem getting through the next ten years smoothly with their past inventory of elixirs.

"...Does the Zhao family have a great demand for longevity pills now?"

Looking at the list of pills prescribed by Zhao Wanyi, Ling Changqing asked.

Zhao Wanyi explained: "It's mainly because we've been at war with the Qin family for many years. Some elders have been seriously injured and their life span is limited. So we need your help to resolve this matter first."

"That's no problem. I can make two different recipes of third-level life-extending pills. If your family has other recipes, you can bring them out for me to try!"

Ling Changqing said.

It seems that according to the laws of nature in this world, every elixir that prolongs life can only be taken once. The effect is greatly reduced the second time, and there is basically no effect the third time.

However, after thousands of years of development and evolution in this world, different kinds of life-extending elixirs have naturally been developed by various forces.

The effects of these pills vary in strength, and their medicinal properties do not conflict with each other, so they can be taken in turn as long as you have the ability to get them.

The two life-extending pill recipes that Ling Changqing mentioned are the ones that are widely circulated. However, any force with sufficient foundation may have some more unique recipes, which are the secrets that are kept in the bottom of the box and not passed on.

Zhao Wanyi said, "Our Zhao family does have two secret recipes for longevity pills. Given the current situation, there is no need to ask for a reward. Just consider it as a gift to Fellow Daoist Ling."

As she spoke, she took out a jade slip from her storage bracelet and handed it to Ling Changqing.

Ling Changqing took it and looked at it, and found that they were indeed two new third-level life-extending elixir formulas, which could extend life by twelve and fifteen years respectively after taking them.

Under normal circumstances, this kind of pill recipe could be sold for at least tens of thousands of medium-grade spirit stones at the top auctions organized by the three super chambers of commerce.

"Okay, I don't want to take advantage of you. As long as you prepare the herbs and materials, I can refine thirty furnaces of this kind of elixir for you free of charge, and I guarantee that there will be no failure rate."

Ling Changqing said softly that being able to obtain two new pill recipes was really a good deal for him.

Zhao Wanyi was slightly startled: "Fellow Daoist, please don't joke. This is your first attempt at refining this kind of medicine. How could you not fail?"

Ling Changqing smiled and said, "I'm not bragging. If you fail, I can just accompany you."

Zhao Wanyi hesitated to speak, then said after thinking for a while: "Okay, then it's settled. Daoist friend, do you want to continue working now? Or take a rest?"

"No need to rest, continue refining the elixir."

Ling Changqing said.

Zhao Wanyi didn't say much, and accompanied him back to the Dan Palace with her sister.

For the next ten days, Ling Changqing basically never left the Dan Palace.

As batches of third-level pills of different types and uses were successfully produced, the expressions of the Zhao Wanyi sisters became more and more surprised.

The pills refined by Ling Changqing are basically genuine, and the failure rate is surprisingly low. The number of pills produced in each furnace is also significantly more than that of an ordinary third-level top-grade alchemist.

Not to mention the time it takes to refine each batch of pills, Ling Changqing only takes half of that of an ordinary alchemist.

It can be said that the ten furnaces of pills he refined were equivalent to more than twenty furnaces refined by an ordinary alchemist.

"...Fellow Daoist Ling, my mother...wants to see you."

After another batch of Crystal-Condensing Transformation Pills came out of the furnace, Zhao Wanqing, with a blushing face and shy expression, came over and whispered to Ling Changqing.

"Then take me there."

Ling Changqing felt a little strange. It was just a meeting, not a blind date. Was there any need to be so embarrassed to talk about it?

Zhao Wanqing hummed, not daring to look at him again, and turned away.

The meeting took place in the private inner study. The charming and elegant female owner was still wearing a mask and sitting quietly in the main seat.

Zhao Wanyi was also present, standing next to the owner's mother.

Ling Changqing walked over and greeted him as usual.

"Young man, no need to be polite. Please sit down and talk!"

The head of the family raised his snow-white wrist and spoke softly, his voice was clear and gentle, like pearls falling on a jade plate.

(End of this chapter)