Immortal Refiner

Nature is the greatest painter.

After Liu Sheng had taken him on a tour of Longevity Valley, this was the only thought that remained in Li Qing’s mind.

The scenery and environment here were simply too beautiful, like a true paradise.

Hidden by the array formation, the valley’s true beauty had been concealed from view outside. Now that he was within it, Li Qing felt as if he had stepped into a dream.

Longevity Valley was vast. Within its depths lay a serene lake, its shores lined with swaying willows and lush, shady trees. Scattered along the banks were numerous buildings belonging to the Liu Clan.

A gentle breeze stirred the air, causing a thin mist to ripple across the lake’s surface, partially unveiling the mysterious veil that shrouded the island at its center.

This island was the heart of the second-tier Spiritual Vein that the Liu Clan occupied, the place where spiritual energy was most concentrated. It was more than enough to sustain the cultivation needs of five Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

Unfortunately, access to the island was restricted to the clan’s highest echelons. Outsiders like Li Qing weren’t even permitted to visit.

”After hearing about your extraordinary life experiences, Brother Li, I’m truly envious,” Liu Sheng said, his eyes burning with passion. His tone suggested a genuine desire to leave the clan and explore the secular world.

Li Qing merely smiled at this. During their tour of the valley just now, Liu Sheng had asked about his background, and Li Qing had spun a half-truthful tale.

He claimed he began practicing Martial Arts as a youth, later achieving mastery and gaining fame in the Jianghu. However, his path was disrupted by the invasion of Grassland Marauders, leading to the downfall and southward migration of the Maple Country.

While preparing to migrate south himself, Li Qing stumbled upon the inheritance of a Qi Refining Realm cultivator. Through a twist of fate, he was drawn onto the Immortal Path.

”Ah, then I must advise you, Brother Liu,” Li Qing sighed, shaking his head. ”The spiritual energy outside is thin, especially beyond Small Jade Ridge. It’s so scarce that it’s barely enough to sustain cultivation in the Early Qi Refining Realm!”

The conversation shifted to spiritual energy, and a smile played on Liu Sheng’s lips. ”Then what do you think of our Longevity Valley, Brother Li?”

”The scenery is breathtaking, and the spiritual energy is so dense that I feel as though I’ve entered a paradise. I wish I could stay here forever!” Li Qing exclaimed sincerely.

These children born into cultivation clans have it so easy, he thought. They have everything prepared—cultivation manuals, places rich in spiritual energy...

Unlike him, who had spent so long struggling in the secular world, Li Qing had only obtained his first cultivation manual—a fragmented one at that—after killing an emperor!

Hearing Liu Sheng’s high praise, Li Qing’s smile deepened. He replied in a friendly tone:

”Brother Li, it’s not impossible for you to stay here long-term. The Liu Clan has always been kind and hospitable.”

Thump! Thump!

Li Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

Could he really stay here long-term? Was the Liu Clan truly this generous?

Having spent his life navigating the treacherous waters of the secular world, Li Qing knew that there was no free lunch. A sense of caution stirred within him.

”Oh? What would I need to do?” Li Qing asked cautiously.

Liu Sheng quickly adopted a persuasive tone:

”There are two options. First, you could marry a woman from the Liu Clan and father children with Spiritual Roots. They would then take the Liu surname.”

”In this case, you wouldn’t only be able to stay with the Liu Clan long-term, but the clan would also reward you with cultivation resources—spiritual stones, talismans, even Magic Artifacts and pills are possible!”

”The second option is that my Liu Clan has some businesses, even connections with the upper sect. However, due to the recent Great War in the cultivation world fifteen years ago, our clan’s population has dwindled. We need some cultivators to work for us.”

”Of course, there will be some compensation for your labor.”

Li Qing nodded knowingly, inwardly muttering, So they’re after my body!

The first option meant marrying into the Liu Clan and becoming a heartless baby-making machine, siring as many descendants with Liu Clan blood and Spiritual Roots as possible.

The second option meant accepting the Liu Clan’s ruthless exploitation and working for them as an unpaid laborer!

Seeing Li Qing lost in thought, Liu Sheng pressed his advantage, urging, ”Brother Li, allow me to speak frankly. You’re already twenty-five years old, but your cultivation is still rather weak.”

”Why not take advantage of your youth and vigor to take several wives and concubines? With the Liu Clan’s influence, you can secure a prosperous future for your descendants. Imagine a house full of children and grandchildren—isn’t that a delightful prospect?”

”If any of your descendants show exceptional talent, they might even have the chance to join the upper sect. Wouldn’t you, as their father, bask in their glory?”

Liu Sheng spoke at length, but to Li Qing, it boiled down to a single question: ”Li, do you want a wife?”

Unfortunately, as an immortal who could continually extend his lifespan, Li Qing wasn’t particularly keen on marrying and having children.

He found it hard to accept the prospect of his descendants growing old and passing away while he remained carefree and immortal in the world.

Moreover, having children would inevitably bring additional complications.

Li Qing knew he couldn’t ignore his offspring, so he preferred to remain single if possible.

”Ah, Brother Liu, your words resonate deeply with me. But with such a vast clan as the Liu Clan, surely there aren’t so many immortal maidens who can’t find husbands?”

At this, Liu Sheng’s expression turned awkward. He scratched his head sheepishly and said, ”Ahem, it’s not entirely immortal maidens. We have many important elders and their descendants in the Liu Clan who lack Spiritual Roots.”

”But rest assured, Brother Li, the women of our Liu Clan are all exceptionally beautiful, surpassing even the legendary beauties of old. I guarantee...”

Li Qing’s smile remained unchanged, but inwardly, he was cursing.

Oh, so he was being asked to marry a mortal woman.

He could have accepted being a son-in-law, but to be a son-in-law to a mortal family?

Of course, Li Qing didn’t look down on mortals in the slightest. He simply didn’t want to become a son-in-law.

”Well, this works out,” Li Qing thought, finally finding an excuse to decline. ”Thank you for your kind offer, Brother Liu, but I’ve already dedicated my life to the Immortal Path. I can no longer pledge myself to another. Marriage and children are simply not something I’ve considered.”

Liu Sheng, still unwilling to give up, pressed on. ”Brother Li, hear me out. The Liu Clan has a precedent for this. Once, an outsider cultivator chose to marry into our family and eventually reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, becoming a great cultivator who took control of Lake Heart Island!”

”Moreover, over the years, many cultivators working as laborers for the Liu Clan have grown weary of the constant toil and ultimately chosen to marry our women.”

”You’d be better off heeding my advice. It could save you a decade or more of wasted effort!”

In these few words, Li Qing felt a familiar taste of the toxic motivational speeches he’d heard in his past life.

Having lived two lives, he was naturally immune to such appeals.

Liu Sheng was using a survivor bias fallacy to lure other cultivators into marrying into the Liu Clan.

Unfortunately, Li Qing had long grown immune to such inspirational stories of underdog success, and he remained unmoved.

As for why Liu Sheng was so insistent, Li Qing could guess the reason.

It was simply that recommending an outsider cultivator to marry into the Liu Clan would bring him corresponding benefits, such as rewards of spirit stones or pills from the clan.

After feigning deep thought for a long moment, Li Qing spoke with firm conviction:

”I’m sorry, Brother Liu. My mind is made up. I prefer to earn my cultivation resources with my own hands.”

Seeing Li Qing’s resolve, Liu Sheng opened his mouth as if to speak but hesitated. Finally, he sighed deeply, appearing deeply regretful.

”Ah, well, well. Since Brother Li has made his decision, I won’t press the matter further and risk becoming tiresome.”

”Come, I’ll take you to meet the clan’s managing elder.”

In truth, these two options were merely the Liu Clan’s methods over the years to attract outsider cultivators.

Whether Li Qing chose the first or second option, Liu Sheng would receive a corresponding reward.

The rewards for marrying into the clan were greater, while those for working as a helper were smaller.

And so, Li Qing followed Liu Sheng to the Liu Clan’s management hall to complete his identity registration and choose his helper duties.

(End of the Chapter)

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