Chapter 48: Xiao Zheng’s Friend (Please Add to Favorites)
Three hours later, the dual cultivation came to an end.
Through their candid exchange this time, Li Guanxuan had gained a clear understanding of Qin Jiuyue's feelings. This astute and capable woman had now begun to consider how to plan for her Foundation Establishment and was wholeheartedly dedicated to contributing to their family.
After all, in the days to come, the only ones who could accompany her were Li Guanxuan and Wen Rongxin.
In truth, these changes had been evident since Qin Jiuyue started helping with household chores.
Yet, what troubled Li Guanxuan most was something Qin Jiuyue said after their battle, when she had grasped his secret. She still didn't know about the Velvet Blossom Spirit Tree within him and assumed the spiritual energy in his body came from her, which was why she forbade him from taking concubines.
No concubines...
How was he supposed to gain more spiritual energy in the future?
Moreover, the small rewards from the Velvet Blossom Spirit Tree would be gone as well!
Wouldn’t that mean that his wood and earth spirit roots would forever remain of inferior grade?
His cultivation would only slow down even more...
Li Guanxuan sighed deeply in his heart.
It was certainly good that Qin Jiuyue was now willing to devote herself wholeheartedly to the family.
But forbidding him to take concubines—this was rather distressing.
"Oh well, we’ll see how it goes. Maybe in the future, when her back aches and she can’t handle it anymore, she’ll naturally let me take concubines," Li Guanxuan mused to himself.
In the future, their dual cultivation sessions would have to be lengthened.
And as for the “Dragon and Phoenix Soaring Technique,” it seemed ineffective against this formidable woman. He’d have to find a more potent dual cultivation secret art—ideally one that would keep her wanting more...
Casting a sly glance at the sorceress who’d fallen into deep slumber, Li Guanxuan chuckled inwardly, then opened the door and stepped out.
In the courtyard, Wen Rongxin was diligently practicing martial arts. When she saw her husband emerge from the side room, she asked in a hushed voice, “Is... Is my sister asleep?”
“Yes, as usual—she’s out cold,” Li Guanxuan replied calmly.
Wen Rongxin’s cheeks reddened as she spat lightly, feigning disapproval.
“Go on with your practice. I’ll have some spirit wine,” Li Guanxuan said, grinning.
Her face flushed even deeper, her ears burning, but she refocused and continued her training.
Li Guanxuan watched his wife from the side, and before he knew it, she’d grown more curvaceous and full—his own handiwork, he thought with satisfaction.
“If I have the chance, I should make them some new clothes to wear—something like black silk pencil skirts, perhaps...”
He admired the graceful curves before him, thinking to himself.
He’d seen enough of ancient attire—it was time for a change of taste. Otherwise, how would he endure the long days ahead?
Once the mood struck, Li Guanxuan walked over, scooped Wen Rongxin up in his arms, and carried her into the main room to begin their intimate cultivation.
At dawn, Li Guanxuan made his way to the cultivation room that Wen Rongxin had tidied up the night before. With a thought, the little explosive boy standing at the doorway stepped forward, closed the door, and saluted the cultivation chamber.
Li Guanxuan sat cross-legged and refined some of his spiritual energy. He felt the energy within him grow ever more abundant; it seemed the time had come to prepare for the breakthrough pills.
“Guardian Meridian Pill, Vitalizing Blood Pill, Spirit Marrow Pellet, Ascending Dragon Pill—these are the four types I need to prepare,” he considered, analyzing the situation.
He could concoct the Guardian Meridian and Vitalizing Blood Pills himself, though only at mid-grade first rank. To refine top-grade first-rank pills might take another year or so.
Still, there was no rush; he wouldn’t be able to reach the seventh level of Qi Refinement that quickly anyway, so he could take his time.
But as for the Spirit Marrow Pellet and Ascending Dragon Pill, he could only purchase those.
These two fine pills were difficult to make, and their ingredients even harder to find. He’d have to check at the shops, and only the finest or supreme quality would do—anything less was unacceptable.
As a four-attribute spirit root cultivator, with two of his roots still inferior, he would need the finest Spirit Marrow Pellets and Ascending Dragon Pills if he ever hoped to establish his foundation.
“I’ll spend the morning refining mid-grade pills to hone my alchemy skills, continue talisman-making in the afternoon, and cultivate at night,” Li Guanxuan planned for himself. Only with such discipline could he efficiently balance earning money and advancing his practice.
...
More than three months passed.
It was now February.
Li Guanxuan had just turned fifty.
As usual, Wen Rongxin prepared him a bowl of longevity noodles, but this time, Qin Jiuyue enthusiastically insisted on cooking herself.
Unable to dissuade her, Wen Rongxin gave her the opportunity.
Qin Jiuyue, worried she’d mess up, asked Wen Rongxin to guide her through the process.
Once finished, Qin Jiuyue happily brought over the noodles.
Li Guanxuan took a sip of the broth and raised an eyebrow, “Not bad at all.”
“Really? I think my sister and I could open a noodle shop together!” Qin Jiuyue’s eyes sparkled.
“There’s no need for that—you’d likely lose money,” Li Guanxuan retorted, quickly finishing the noodles and even draining the soup.
Unconvinced, Qin Jiuyue snorted and said, “Just now, my sister and I discussed it. Opening a shop in Shanggu City isn’t practical and won’t earn much. We’re planning to turn the courtyard into a medicinal herb garden instead. That way, you’ll have ingredients for your alchemy.”
“That sounds fine,” Li Guanxuan nodded. Selling ingredients would bring in some money and was far better than sitting idle at home.
“All right, then my sister and I will get to work on it. Be careful when you go out to sell things,” Qin Jiuyue said.
“You two take care as well.”
With that, the three of them set off.
Li Guanxuan had already learned from inquiries that there was a Myriad Wonders Pavilion in the inner eastern city, which was why he chose to rent a house in the outer eastern city.
To be safe, Li Guanxuan disguised himself before heading out, not letting down his guard despite Shanggu City’s good security.
He wandered through the eastern district to get a sense of the surroundings, then entered the inner city, soon spotting the grand and imposing Myriad Wonders Pavilion.
Inside, a receptionist promptly approached to inquire whether he wished to buy or sell.
“I’m here to sell something. This is a letter from the former manager of the Myriad Wonders Pavilion in Qing’an City. Please help me deliver it to Steward Liu,” Li Guanxuan said, handing over a letter and slipping five spirit stones to the receptionist.
“Steward Liu?” The receptionist hesitated, then smiled, “You may not know, but Steward Liu has become the manager now.”
A promotion?
Li Guanxuan was a little surprised but smiled, “Then I’ll trouble you to deliver it to her.”
“Of course, no problem.”
Given the letter, the receptionist realized he was someone with connections and went to report it.
Soon, the receptionist returned with a smile. “Please, come with me.”
Li Guanxuan followed, quickly ascending to the top floor of the pavilion.
“The manager is inside. Please go ahead,” the receptionist said, opening the door.
Li Guanxuan thanked him and stepped in, immediately greeted by a faint, elegant floral fragrance.
Before him was a blonde woman, amusing herself with a caged bird, the letter resting on her desk.
“A friend of Little Zheng?” she asked, glancing at Li Guanxuan coolly.
Little Zheng?
Could this woman before him be a centuries-old monster... Li Guanxuan wondered silently.
“Hm?” The blonde woman turned, fixing her gaze on him. Her red lips curled in a half-smile, “I’m far older than just a hundred years. Would you care to guess again?”
...