You're just a single demon beast? I have a whole army of beast tamers!

Shui Qingli returned three days later.

That morning, just as Qin Shou finished putting away a batch of Grade 9 Nourishing Essence Pills, a clear knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.

He scanned the area with his divine sense and saw that it was Shui Qingli. He then waved his sleeve to release the restriction and got up to go to the outer room to greet her.

Shui Qingli wore a moon-white dress today, without any makeup. Her eyes still held their usual shrewdness, but her smile was a little more intimate than before.

She entered the room, but did not rush to sit down. She first looked Qin Shou up and down before smiling and saying, "Fellow Daoist Qin is quite famous in the clan now."

Even the usually arrogant Master Xun dared not utter a harsh word about you anymore.

"It's just luck."

Qin Shou adopted a humble demeanor and personally poured her a cup of tea. "Senior, you didn't come here just to exchange a few polite words, did you?"

Shui Qingli sat down, took a teacup to moisten her throat, and glanced around as if she was carefully considering her words.

After a moment, she slowly spoke: "I have come today because I have a few things I would like to discuss with you, fellow Daoist."

Firstly, the clan has already decided to waive the one thousand immortal crystals.

Not only that, but if you ever wish to enter the Immortal Spirit Power Pool again, the clan will make things easier for you, and you won't have to pay the usual price in the manor.

Qin Shou slightly raised his eyelids, but his face remained expressionless.

He knew in his heart that there was no such thing as a free lunch.

The Shui family's sudden relent and their gesture of kindness suggests they have a bigger scheme behind it.

"I feel unworthy of the kindness shown to me by my clan."

He put down the teapot and said slowly, "Senior, you might as well explain what you mean, so I don't have to guess."

Shui Qingli smiled, her tone becoming even gentler:

"The clan chief said he wants you to stay with the Shui family and become a master alchemist."

You don't need to go on missions on a regular basis; you just need to sit in the alchemy hall and occasionally mentor a few apprentices.

In addition, the clan will give you a monthly allowance of immortal crystals, with no limit on your expenses.

Qin Shou's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

He didn't immediately agree, but instead asked, "Just alchemy and teaching apprentices?"

"Of course, it's not just that."

Shui Qingli sighed softly, "You have such great skills, and the clan doesn't want to waste them."

If you have some free time someday, I hope you can refine some Immortal Essence Pills for the clan.

You only need to contribute your skills, not your materials.

As for the Immortal Spirit Power Pool, you can use it at any time, and the clan will decide the number of times based on your contribution.

Just keep these things in mind.

Qin Shou pondered for a moment.

These conditions, though seemingly generous, actually bound him even closer to the Shui family.

However, he was already looking to establish himself by leveraging the Shui family's influence.

As long as one doesn't relinquish their lifeline, the benefits of this status of worship outweigh the drawbacks.

"Okay." He nodded. "I can stay."

However, there is one condition: I do not wish to be ordered around when it comes to alchemy.

"When to refine it, and how much to refine, is entirely up to me."

Upon hearing this, Shui Qingli's smile deepened: "Of course."

You are now a respected member of the clan; who would dare to treat you badly?

"Since we're on the topic, there's one more thing."

Shui Qingli placed the teacup on the table, her gaze suddenly turning serious. "Do you still want a cultivation partner?"

Qin Shou was startled and looked up at her.

"The clan said that you are new to the Immortal Realm and your foundation is still shallow."

"Having more marriages will mean more offspring in the future, which will be more beneficial for your position in the Shui family," Shui Qingli said. "If you are willing, the clan can select two more outstanding individuals from the direct line to send to you."

You don't need to provide betrothal gifts, nor do you need to follow the usual marriage customs.

Qin Shou showed no outward expression, but inwardly he sneered.

The more a partner gives, the deeper the bond becomes.

The Shui family intends to use the three relationships of marriage, offspring, and alchemy to firmly bind him to the clan.

"Senior, I have a habit."

He said in a deep voice, "I can take in a Daoist partner, but they must be of one mind with me."

If my heart isn't in this place, simply placing an empty shell in the yard will do me no good.

Shui Qingli looked at him for a long time, then chuckled softly:

"You're certainly cautious. Fine, I'll take that sentence back exactly as it is."

If there's a suitable match, I'll let you meet her. If she doesn't like it, I won't force her to.

Qin Shou nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, senior."

Half a month later, Shui Qingli indeed brought another woman to the door.

The woman looked to be in her early twenties, with a slender figure, wearing a pale yellow, narrow-sleeved dress, and a hint of undisguised arrogance in her eyes.

Upon seeing Qin Shou, she first sized him up several times, her gaze scrutinizing him, her lips slightly pursed, as if she was not very willing.

Shui Qingli introduced, "This is Shui Yao, a direct descendant of the Shui family, in the late stage of Tribulation Transcending, and has achieved minor mastery of the Fire Element Law."

"Among the clan members, she's the only one around your age and with similar cultivation level."

Qin Shou's gaze fell on the woman, but he was in no hurry to speak.

Shuiyao met his gaze and snorted softly, "So you're that three-patterned immortal alchemist?"

I thought he'd grow up to be some kind of three-headed, six-armed being, but he's just average.

"Yao'er." Shui Qingli frowned.

"I didn't say anything wrong." Shuiyao turned her head away.

Qin Shou said calmly, "If you are unwilling, leave now."

I don't cater to those who are unwilling or reluctant.

Shuiyao paused, then her face turned red and then white.

She was indeed resentful when she came, but if she were sent back as before, her grandfather would definitely not let her off easily.

Remembering her father's stern words before she left, she bit her lower lip and finally gave a hesitant bow: "I...I'll stay."

"You can stay, but you have to follow my rules."

Qin Shou glanced at her and said, "I don't care what you were like at home before. Once you've entered this door, you're under my control."

"If you can do it, do it; if you can't, you can always go back."

Shuiyao's face flushed at his words, but she didn't retort. She simply lowered her head and whispered, "I understand."

Shui Rou stood to the side, glanced at Shui Yao's back, and didn't ask any further questions.

Qin Shou didn't say much.

His reason for choosing to stay was simple: having another Daoist partner at the late stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm would only improve the aptitude of his future offspring.

Immortal families place the greatest importance on bloodlines. Since he intends to establish an immortal clan, he naturally needs to pave the way from the very beginning.

For more than a year afterward, life gradually settled down.

After Qin Shou became the Shui family's honorary alchemist, he would visit the alchemy hall several times a month.

The first few times, the other two alchemists in the hall ignored him.

Later, the old alchemist surnamed Xun, under the guise of seeking advice, first asked a few questions about controlling the heat. Qin Shou answered all the questions, but only touched on the surface.

The other person gradually lowered his guard and would occasionally bring him difficult prescriptions to ask him.

Qin Shou was unwilling to push the road to its limits, so he would occasionally offer a word or two, from which the two benefited greatly.

"Master Qin, why is the condensation of the Immortal Essence Pill always just a hair's breadth away?"

An old man surnamed Xun asked.

"The heat is too even," Qin Shou said. "The Immortal Essence Pill is mainly composed of water-attribute medicinal power. When it condenses into liquid at the end, a trace of fire must be left to force out the lightning tribulation."

"Your furnace fire, though imbued with celestial energy, is far too steady."