Poison Cultivation

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Li Ruosheng was able to move again.

Chen Luodao:

"It will take some time for the medicine to take effect throughout the body. If you want to recover faster, you can take another dose of Qingling Powder in the morning and evening."

Li Chongyun nodded repeatedly, praising:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you truly have miraculous healing skills. If it weren't for you, Ruosheng would have lost her life."

Xiao Qiyuan and the other alchemists echoed his praise.

Chen Luo cupped his hands in a humble manner and said, "You flatter me, everyone."

"If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Xiao's help in restraining the Hard-Shelled Turtle, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this."

His humility in denigrating the credit only made people like him even more.

Immediately, Li Chongyun asked everyone to leave so that Li Ruosheng could focus on regulating her breathing and refining the medicinal power.

Once outside, the old man said seriously:

"Fellow Daoist Chen's skills in detoxification are unparalleled. My Li family sincerely wishes to invite you to serve as a retainer in our household. What do you say?"

Xiao Qiyuan also laughed:

"If you would be willing to stay and work with the Li family, that would be wonderful. I've been wanting to exchange ideas with you more on pharmacology."

The people around also tried to persuade him.

Chen Luo had already planned to temporarily rely on the Li family's influence to avoid the danger of the beast tide, so he immediately agreed upon hearing this.

Li Chongyun was overjoyed and ordered someone to bring over a spiritual contract and hand it to Chen Luo.

Chen Luo opened the scroll and discovered that the treatment promised by the Li family was quite generous:

First, the Li family's retainer can recommend one person to join the Sanxia Sect as an outer disciple;

Secondly, I purchase medicine from Li's Pharmacy, paying only the cost price; I also receive a monthly stipend of twenty low-grade spirit stones.

In addition, the Li family provided a residence for the worshipper, entrusting him with their safety.

The most enticing part was the recommendation to join the Sanxia Sect, which was tantamount to providing a ladder to heaven for independent cultivators.

At the same time, they also tied talented people to the Li family and the Sanxia faction.

As for the duties of offering sacrifices, everyone only needs to use their strengths, and the Li family can lend a hand whenever needed.

For example, Chen Luo was skilled in detoxification, and when the Li family disciples were poisoned in the future, they asked him to save them;

Alchemists like Xiao Qiyuan were required to produce a fixed quantity of pills for the pharmacy each month.

In comparison, Chen Luo's responsibilities were the lightest.

However, since the two parties have different levels of cultivation and abilities, the contracts they sign will definitely be different as well.

Chen Luo had only come to avoid trouble, and was happy to agree to such lenient terms, immediately signing the papers and registering.

then,

Li Chongyun immediately took an identity token and handed it to him, and also settled and paid his monthly salary in advance.

They even prepared a courtyard within the Li family's residence for him to live in.

It was a courtyard house built of bricks and stones, with its own entrance, quiet and elegant.

The spiritual energy in the courtyard was much richer than that of ordinary hermitages.

However, the Li family had set up an array on their ancestral land to gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, specifically for the clan's members to use for cultivation.

Xiao Qiyuan was familiar with him, and took the initiative to lead Chen Luo around the courtyard, smiling as he said:

"How is it? Are you satisfied with this accommodation, fellow Daoist?"

"Satisfied, of course I'm satisfied!" Chen Luo nodded repeatedly, a broad smile on his face.

He used to live in a simple wooden hut, but now he has a brick and stone house. How could he not be satisfied?

"I'm satisfied as long as I'm satisfied."

Xiao Qiyuan looked at him, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and said again:

"I have gone out to sea with my fellow Daoist and faced many dangers together. We have gone through thick and thin together. Now we are colleagues again. There is something I want to ask, but I don't know if I should."

Chen Luo was still immersed in the joy of getting a big house when he casually said:

"Brother Xiao, please speak freely."

Xiao Qiyuan's smile became even more peculiar. He put his hands behind his back and led him to sit down on a stone bench in the courtyard, then slowly asked:

"May I ask your age this year? Are you married? Do you still have relatives?"

Chen Luo was taken aback, not expecting him to suddenly ask about these private matters. After a moment's thought, he replied:

"To my shame, I am over thirty years old and have not yet married, nor do I have any relatives living in the world."

Xiao Qiyuan immediately clapped his hands and laughed, repeatedly bowing with his hands clasped in greeting:

"In that case, congratulations, fellow Daoist!"

"I imagine someone will come to propose marriage soon; your good day is just around the corner!"

"A good day?"

Chen Luo frowned slightly. He was carrying the legacy of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and was single-mindedly pursuing the Dao. How could he easily talk about marriage?

He shook his head and said:

"Brother Xiao, please don't make fun of me. If I were to marry, I would have already started a family. Why would I wait until today?"

Seeing his solemn expression, Xiao Qiyuan's smile became even more mischievous:

"Since you have no intention of getting married, I'm afraid there will be no shortage of troubles ahead."

"What do you mean?" Chen Luo sat up slightly.

He entered the Li family to escape the beast tide, so how did this trouble arise again?

Xiao Qiyuan said slowly:

"By accepting the position as a servant, we can be granted the opportunity to recommend our relatives and friends to join the outer sect of the Sanxia Sect."

This is both a way for the Li family to win us over and an opportunity.

Just imagine the prestige of the Sanxia Sect; which rogue cultivator wouldn't be proud of it?

"Fellow Daoist, you are all alone, already thirty years old. Do you perhaps intend to join the sect on your own?"

"That's impossible," Chen Luo shook his head.

He possesses the secret teachings of poison cultivation and can cultivate on his own; why should he need to join the Sanxia Sect and depend on others?

However, having said all that, he already understood:

He had no interest in the nomination quota, but others were eager to get it;

If one were to marry him, one could legitimately borrow this name.

Since he was unwilling to marry, those who came to propose marriage became an inescapable nuisance.

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is in turmoil, all for gain."

He sighed, feeling that cultivating immortality was a worldly pursuit, yet it was also reasonable.

Just then, a knocking sound came from the courtyard gate.

Xiao Qiyuan laughed and said, "Look, the news spreads even faster than you and I thought."

Chen Luo looked at him with some surprise and asked, "How could it be so fast?"

Disbelieving, he got up and went to open the door.

As the door opened, an old man stood outside, accompanied by a pretty young girl.

"May I ask if you are Fellow Daoist Chen Luo?"

Chen Luo nodded and cupped his hands in greeting: "May I ask who you are...?"

"I am Li Qing from the third branch of the Li family, and this is my daughter, Li Lingling."

The old man, with a smile on his face, pushed the girl forward.

"Having heard that you have recently come to my residence as a retainer, I fear that you may lack someone to take care of you, so I have brought my daughter with me to await your service."

After finishing his sentence, he added:

"Although she is only at the second level of Qi Refining, she is very nimble."

Chen Luo stared at the girl in front of him, then at Li Qing's expression, and was immediately stunned.

A cultivator at the second level of Qi Refining actually came to serve as a maid.

It seems that, just as Xiao Qiyuan predicted, he had already been targeted as soon as he arrived.

He quickly declined, saying:

"Thank you for your kindness, but I prefer solitude and do not need anyone to serve me."

Li Qing's face grew anxious: "Fellow Daoist, do you find my daughter ugly?"

Chen Luo quickly waved his hand: "No, no, it's just that the young lady is still too young to trouble you."

"Oh, so you prefer older women?" Li Qing suddenly realized, "My fourth brother also has a daughter..."

"That's not it," Chen Luo interrupted urgently. "I just... um... prefer peace and quiet and don't want..."

"Oh, so you like quiet girls," Li Qing added. "I have a cousin who is very quiet..."

Chen Luo was speechless for a moment, holding his forehead, feeling that whatever he said would be wrong.

Just as he was wondering how to face it, figures moved in the distance, and several more families arrived with their daughters.

Seeing that someone had gotten there first, everyone hurriedly called out to Luo:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, my daughter is beautiful and well-educated."

"My son is a filial son; he may become Fellow Daoist Chen's godfather and be your care in your old age..."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, my husband has recently passed away, leaving behind only one son. I am of modest beauty and wish to serve you by washing your clothes, cooking your meals, warming your bed, and making your quilts..."