Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 28 Persuasion
Since Qingyang Daoist is willing to take on disciples, Li Xiangming's task is more than half completed. All he needs to do is reveal that one of them is a dual-spiritual-root seed, and the old Daoist will surely be unable to restrain himself.

However, shoving people into Qingyang Temple was Li Xiangming's task, not the Li family's goal.

What the Li family ultimately wants is the future of these children.

How to gently hand over the future of these children to the Li family is something Li Xiangming must consider. He does not want the Li family and Qingyang Temple to break off relations in the future.

Therefore, he did not choose to strike while the iron was hot.

After a brief conversation, Li Xiangming successfully completed his mission as envoy and made an appointment with Qingyang Daoist to go to Danggui Mountain on the tenth of next month to use the Earth Fire.

"Thank you for your trouble, Layman Li."

The Taoist priest bowed to express his gratitude.

Li Xiangming then took the opportunity to hint that the Li family might seek out the Taoist Qingyang to refine elixirs.

Qingyang Daoist was used to such things and nodded in tacit approval.

Using someone else's firewood should always be done in some way, and this is not unacceptable.

"By the way, what kind of pills does the Taoist priest plan to refine?"

Li Xiangming suddenly thought of something and asked.

"The Herbal Elixir".

Qingyang Daoist did not hide anything. The earth fire was from someone else, and the alchemy furnace was naturally from someone else as well. Even if he did not say it, the Li family could see the clues from the furnace slag.

"The Herbal Elixir?"

After hearing this, Li Xiangming froze on the spot.

It should be noted that the Herb God Pill is a second-tier pill, and a rare and difficult-to-refine one.

Could it be that I've been guessing wrong all along?
The Green Sheep Taoist is actually a second-level alchemist?
Upon seeing Li Xiangming's appearance, Qingyang Daoist chuckled and said, "It's not what you think. I happen to have a recipe for the Herbal God Pill, and since I had nothing else to do, I decided to try refining it."

This is also my first time refining herbal elixirs, and I'm not very confident, which is why I thought of borrowing the earth fire from your Li family.

Even with subterranean fire, the success rate is less than 20%.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming breathed a sigh of relief. If Qingyang Daoist was a second-tier alchemist, he would have to return to Dangui Mountain immediately to persuade Li Qianxiong to bring Qingyang Temple into the Li family system.

Second-tier alchemists are extremely important.

"So, Daoist Master came to Puyin Mountain to collect materials for the Herbal God Pill?"

"Yes."

Qingyang Daoist nodded. As a second-tier pill, the materials for the Grass God Pill were naturally expensive.

It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but he had heard that in addition to the monsters that roamed the Puyin Mountain, there were also countless spiritual herbs that no one had picked.

Since we've come all the way to Puxian, there's no reason not to try our luck here.

Actually, there was a deeper reason why Qingyang Daoist came here.

Several years ago, he was thrilled to hear that someone had found a thousand-pound grass in Qishan.

This thing is a key ingredient in a special Foundation Building Pill recipe. He happened to know something about it, so he went to Qishan immediately and searched for it for two whole years.

Nothing came of it.

He then searched for another six months in Wumu Mountain, but still to no avail.

Mount Wumu is teeming with independent cultivators, making it arguably the most troublesome place in Shun'an Prefecture. Finding them might not be a good thing.

He eventually arrived in Puxian County and set his sights on the sparsely populated Puyin Mountain.

Compared to the Herb God Pill, the Thousand-Pound Grass and even the Foundation Building Pill behind it are his true targets.

However, this goal was too far-fetched, and he himself had no hope for it, much less tell others.

Li Xiangming was unaware of Qingyang Daoist's thoughts, but his mind worked quickly. Knowing that the first attempt to refine a second-tier pill would most likely end in failure, he hurriedly asked, "What if the first attempt fails?"

"That means we are not destined to be together."

Qingyang Daoist smiled and didn't take it too seriously. Having lived most of his life, he naturally wouldn't be troubled by a failed alchemy attempt.

For him, gathering the materials for a Herbal Elixir was not easy.

He started from Qishan and spent three years gathering materials, including supplementary materials in Pushui Market, before he could collect enough for six portions of the Herbal God Pill.

If he fails to produce pills in one batch, it proves that his skills are not yet up to par. Even if he wanted to continue refining them then, it would take two or three years, and the Li family might not be willing to lend him earth fire again.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming fell silent.

Spirit stones can shorten the time spent searching for alchemy materials, but Qingyang Daoist obviously wouldn't spend too much time on a herb-based elixir that he wasn't confident about.

After thinking for a moment, Li Xiangming slowly said, "The Herb God Pill is quite valuable, and the formula is also rare. It would be a pity for you to keep such a treasure on a shelf."

"I have a plan. I can't guarantee that you will succeed in refining the elixir, but it can make the Li family willingly open their earth fire to you."

"really?"

The Taoist Qingyang was intrigued. He knew that the young man in front of him was steady and wouldn't speak without reason, so he grabbed the other's arm and said, "Please enlighten me, Layman Li."

"Master Daoist's alchemy is extraordinary, and now that you are the head of a temple, you must have the intention of passing on your mantle. Since those four children are not destined for you, why not choose a child from the Li family and take him under your wing?"

"When the two families become one, wouldn't it be only natural for the master to visit the disciple's home?"

"This is not right, this is not right!"

Qingyang Daoist shook his head repeatedly, "To be honest, although I am a rogue cultivator, I had a master when I was young. Your Li family also has its own traditions, so it is inconvenient for you to come here."

The Taoist Qingyang spoke tactfully, but his tone clearly showed his refusal.

Li Xiangming understood the Taoist priest's concerns, because no matter how well he taught the Li family's child or how deep the bond was, the disciple would eventually return to the family.

So, who will inherit the mantle of Qingyang Temple?

Wasn't all of Qingyang Daoist's decades of hard work just wasted?
"Rest assured, Daoist Master. Who says that accepting a disciple means passing on the torch? Your goal is to reach the Earth Fire realm. Accepting you as a disciple in name only requires teaching you a few simple alchemy techniques."

"what?"

The Green Sheep Taoist was shocked.

He pretended to accept disciples, but did not teach them any Dharma. Afterwards, he used the disciples' names to enjoy the earth fire.

Isn't this a scam?
Wait a minute, I'm starting to feel a little tempted.

No, no, how could I, the Green Sheep Taoist, be that kind of person?
The Taoist priest shook his head, and as he came to his senses, he caught Li Xiangming's ambiguous smile.

"is this okay?"

The Green Sheep Taoist's voice was somewhat hesitant, but Li Xiangming knew that this was a sign that he was moved.

"Why not?"

Then Li Xiangming recounted his ten years as a disciple of Green Cloud Cave.

"This is what my family has always done: we select a few bright children to send to our neighbors to serve as a bridge connecting the two families."

Today, Qingyang Temple is located near Danggui Mountain, and the family's attitude towards the Taoist priest is quite friendly, which meets the requirements.

The reason I haven't contacted you yet is mainly due to concerns about your cultivation level, Daoist Master. Hehe, I don't mean to belittle you, but I was worried that Qingyang Temple wouldn't have a Foundation Establishment cultivator to protect the Li family members—as you know, my family head cherishes his clansmen.

"The head of the Li family cherishes his family members and is a good head of the family."

The Taoist Qingyang replied slowly.

"The Taoist priest is kind-hearted and has the demeanor of an elder."

Li Xiangming chuckled and said, "Does the Daoist have any intention? If so, I am willing to strongly persuade the patriarch to bring the first disciple to Qingyang Temple. If not, then just pretend I didn't say anything and save yourself the trouble of explaining."

Upon hearing this, Qingyang Daoist fell into deep thought.

"Oh, by the way, all the expenses incurred by the Li family children at Qingyang Temple are reimbursed by Danggui Mountain," Li Xiangming added.

Qingyang Daoist shifted his position slightly.

Li Xiangming's voice came again: "The weather has been humid lately. I wonder if anyone has brought out the medicinal herbs from the storeroom to air them out."

Qingyang Daoist stood up abruptly.

"Young Master Li, I'd like to ask, where are you going to send those four abducted children?"

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances."

"Stay at Qingyang Temple."

(End of this chapter)