Longevity starts with dual cultivation

Chapter 37: Rise and Fall
Compared with previous resources, the bidding restrictions for Foundation Establishment Pills are much stricter.

Only family elders who have reached the ninth level of Qi training can participate, and in addition to sufficient spirit stones, they must also pay at least 15,000 family merits to be eligible to bid.

But even so, there are still five or six family elders participating in the competition.

Obviously they understood the rules in advance and were fully prepared for it.

"...I feel like this price isn't particularly exaggerated?"

Ling Changqing spoke softly to Tang Qiuyao beside him.

He didn't know about others, but Ling Changqing felt that when he reached the ninth level of Qi training in the future, he would be able to afford these costs.

Tang Qiuyao looked at him and responded, "That's because this elixir was made by the patriarch, so the bidding price was discounted. If it was another family, do you think it would be so easy?"

She clearly remembered that before Ling Qiyue became a foundation-building person, the average exchange price of the Ling family's internal medicinal resources was at least one to two times more expensive, and the quantity was also small.

For example, Qingyuan Yunlu Dan, Bi Ning Dan and Tiannian Yanshou Dan, it would be great if one or two of them appeared at every family auction.

As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, it is even more difficult to obtain, and it is rare for one to appear in twenty or thirty years.

It was only after Ling Qiyue seized power as the head of the family that this embarrassing situation was effectively improved.

However, this time, Ling Qiyue was actually willing to take out a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill for bidding. This was the first time in an internal family auction.

"It seems that the Ling family will soon have a fourth foundation-building cultivator?"

Ling Changqing said that this was certainly a good thing for the family.

Tang Qiuyao smiled and said, "The effect of the foundation-building pill is not 100 percent guaranteed, so it's only a 50 percent chance, right?"

Although these elders who were bidding had all stayed in the ninth level of Qi training for many years and their accumulation was not too bad, one still had to be prepared for the worst.

In the past, it was not uncommon for people to fail to advance through seclusion even with Foundation Establishment Pills and other auxiliary resources.

Ling Changqing looked at the stunningly beautiful woman beside him and asked with his spiritual sense:

"Senior Sister, how confident are you in the future?"

Tang Qiuyao tilted her head slightly, pursed her lips and smiled, "If other auxiliary resources can be gathered, it will probably be about 60% to 70%."

Ling Changqing nodded thoughtfully. This senior sister had always treated him well, so of course he hoped that she could successfully break through.

It didn't take long before the fierce bidding finally decided the winner.

The winner was the elder who was in charge of the family's law enforcement hall: Ling Yulu, a dignified, serious-looking beautiful woman in black. She was still single, but she had an adopted daughter named Ling Zhiqing, who was also from the family head Ling Qiyue's lineage.

When the elder who presided over the auction announced the result, the remaining losers could not hide their disappointment.

They also don't have much time left. After losing this competition, who knows when they will have another chance?
Ling Yulu stood up, walked up to the platform, paid a sufficient amount of spirit stones and a jade plaque recording the family's merits, and then got the precious foundation-building pill as she wished.

"Just as I expected, she got it. It's worth the spiritual stones I lent her before!"

Tang Qiuyao nodded with satisfaction. As long as Ling Yulu succeeded, the influence of the family head's lineage would become even stronger.

Ling Changqing's eyes were deep. As a person who had lived two lives, it was not difficult for him to see some mysteries hidden in it.

It is worth considering whether the spirit stones were borrowed by Tang Qiuyao or Ling Qiyue secretly instructed it.

Things like behind-the-scenes manipulation are not uncommon throughout history, no matter in which time and space.

The superior is determined to take care of his own people, and others cannot stop him. The so-called absolute fairness will never exist.

At this time, Tang Qiuyao slowly stood up and said loudly:

"Don't be disappointed, elders. The head of the family will continue to refine pills in the future. As long as you work hard and serve the family, everyone will have a chance when the new foundation-building pill is produced in the future!"

"That's great, then we'll be waiting!"

An elder with gray hair on his temples forced a smile, but he no longer had much hope in his heart.

The Foundation Establishment Pill is not something that can be made just by wanting to.

Even with Ling Qiyue's attainments in alchemy, there is no definite answer as to when the next foundation-building pill will be refined.

When a cultivator in the Qi training stage reaches the age of sixty, his physical strength, vitality, and blood will begin to decline, and the possibility of successfully building a foundation will become lower and lower.

"You go back first, I still have to protect Senior Sister Yulu!"

Tang Qiuyao whispered to Ling Changqing.

Even within the family, there is no guarantee that there won't be people who are jealous of Ling Yulu's opportunity and try to sabotage her.

Although the probability of such a thing happening is low, Tang Qiuyao still dare not take it lightly.

"Ok."

Ling Changqing agreed and followed Tang Qiuyao out of the courtyard and came to the flying boat in the square.

Ling Yulu and a group of maids and guards were already waiting here. She had a face as white as jade, dark eyebrows slanting into her temples, and her beautiful facial features were stern and majestic.

"Junior Sister Tang."

She called softly, her expression unable to conceal her joy, but also her obvious nervousness and uneasiness.

Tang Qiuyao nodded slightly and said softly, "Let's go. If we can help you get this done sooner, the burden on the head of the family will be lighter in the future."

Ling Yulu responded, and boarded her own flying boat with Tang Qiuyao and took off.

The place where this elder retreated and broke through was, of course, in her own spiritual cave. Tang Qiuyao went there to help her protect the law this time, and it was estimated that she would not be able to return for ten days or half a month. Ling Changqing walked into the flying boat left by Tang Qiuyao, and the maid controlled the flying boat to take off and fly towards the manor.

After returning to the manor, Ling Changqing did not delay and returned to his own courtyard to meditate in seclusion.

Tomorrow is the last day of the family gathering, which is specially held for the new generation of family members who are looking for a Taoist partner. As long as the age and cultivation level meet the requirements, anyone can participate.

However, Ling Changqing no longer planned to join in the fun. Tang Qiuyao was not around, and if he really went, he would definitely be entangled by those outstanding girls from the clan and would have difficulty in getting away.

In the training room, Ling Changqing took a Xuanyin Blood Yuan Pill and entered a state of deep enlightenment with ease.

Early the next morning.

In the magnificent palace, many well-dressed young male and female monks were present, and their relatives, friends and elders were also present.

The rules are very simple. As long as the man and woman are attracted to each other and their parents and elders have no objection, the relationship is considered a done deal.

As for the various possible exchanges of interests behind the scenes, the elders of both sides will naturally sit together and discuss them in detail.

In fact, this is no different from family marriages in the secular world. They both emphasize equal status, and it won't work if the gap between the two families' conditions is too big.

"...Eh? Ling Changqing hasn't arrived yet?"

In the palace hall, Ling Bingyun, who was beautiful and dressed in gorgeous clothes, searched carefully for a while, but could not find the figure of the beautiful young man in purple, and she could not help but become anxious.

The maids around him all shook their heads. They had been searching inside and outside the hall for a long time, but indeed did not see anyone.

"Could it be that some shameless vixen got there first?"

Ling Bingyun frowned. She was of course aware that she was facing more than one competitor.

"There shouldn't be any. Those guys are also looking for people everywhere!"

A maid replied.

Ling Bingyun looked around and found that Ling Xueyu and several other girls in the clan were the same.

She thought about it and decided to ask her maid to invite the other party to come over and talk and discuss the situation.

It didn't take long for these outstanding girls from the clan to gather together. After checking the information, they finally confirmed that Ling Changqing did not come today.

"So, the Patriarch and that Tang Qiuyao were doing something bad together? They didn't allow him to participate?"

Ling Xueyu said with a bad look on her face.

Ling Bingyun sighed: "This is the only possible reason. They really are... do they still want to occupy him and not let go?"

All the girls in the clan looked at each other in bewilderment. Not to mention them, even the girls from the clan head's lineage were not given a chance. It was really too much!
"We still have to discuss this matter with the ancestor."

Ling Xueyu thought for a moment and said, with the tyranny and strength of the family head Ling Qiyue, only the two elders who were also at the foundation-building stage could negotiate with her on an equal footing.

"so be it."

The women had no objection to this.

……

Thousands of miles away, Longhuan Island.

"...What? Another foundation-building pill appeared in the Ling family?"

In the quiet and elegant courtyard, Elder Wu Jinghong, who was in charge of intelligence affairs, had a livid face and questioned in a deep voice.

"It is absolutely true,"

The deacon who came to report bowed and answered:

"Our secret informant over there told us that the elixir was made by the head of the Ling family himself, and it is now in the hands of Ling Yulu, the elder of the Law Enforcement Hall."

"What a bastard..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jinghong's face became even gloomier.

Ling Yulu's identity information is certainly not a secret. Once this important figure of the Ling family successfully builds his foundation, it will definitely not be good news for the Wu family.

Moreover, she is still quite young. Even if her cultivation level does not improve at all after building her foundation, she can still protect the Ling family for more than 200 years.

Without taking into account the effects of certain life-extending elixirs, the lifespan of a person undergoing foundation building is usually around two hundred and fifty years.

The lifespan of a Jindan cultivator is generally more than 500 years, not counting some means of prolonging life.

"...The level of the several alchemists supported by our family is too poor. They can't be compared with Ling Qiyue!"

A deacon nearby sighed, saying that the head of a hostile force who was well versed in alchemy had brought tremendous pressure to the Wu family.

It is conceivable that the Ling family will soon become a family with four foundation-building masters, and the Wu family's strength advantage will no longer be significant.

And who knows if Ling Qiyue has a second or even a third Foundation Establishment Pill in her hand?
If so, with the strength of both sides increasing and decreasing, the top leaders of the Wu family would probably be so depressed that they would vomit blood.

In the long run, the rapid increase in the high-end combat power of the Ling family will be a disaster not only for the Wu family, but also for several other family forces in the surrounding area!
"Let our informants keep a close eye on this matter, and don't act rashly!"

After weighing the pros and cons, Wu Jinghong spoke slowly.

Next, I have to discuss with the head of the family and others. No matter what, I have to come up with a feasible solution. I can't let the Ling family develop smoothly like this.

(End of this chapter)