Cultivation: Starting with a Dual Cultivation Technique at the Immortal Rank

65: Chapter 65 A Scholarly Beauty for AllHearing this, Shen Shurou was somewhat surprised, then smiled sweetly. ”It was just a small effort. Being able to see those hardworking children have a chance to succeed is what makes me happiest. Now that they can have better development on Yifei Peak, I am also gratified for them.”

Her words were sincere, without a hint of hypocrisy.

Li Yifei nodded, his evaluation of her rising a few more points in his heart. He didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, ”I wonder what brings Senior Sister here today?”

Shen Shurou put down her teacup, her expression still gentle, but her eyes held a touch more seriousness and helplessness.

”To be honest with Senior Brother, I have come for my path of Dao,” she said frankly. ”I have cultivated for decades now and am currently at the tenth level of Qi Refinement. It seems I am not far from Perfection, but in reality, I have been stuck for years, unable to make a Breakthrough. If I don’t find another Opportunity, I fear I have no hope of Foundation Establishment in this life.”

Her tone was very calm, as if she were speaking of something unrelated to herself. She lacked the desperate determination of Gu Manqing or the calculated schemes of Feng Qianyu, possessing only a sense of helplessness and acceptance toward reality.

”I have heard that Senior Sister Qin Mengyao and Senior Sister Murong Xue have both forged High Grade Dao Bases with Senior Brother’s help. I know my talent is inferior to theirs, so I do not dare to hope for a High Grade Dao Base; I only seek a chance to step through the threshold of Foundation Establishment.”

After speaking, she quietly looked at Li Yifei, waiting for his response.

Li Yifei was silent for a moment.

He could tell that Shen Shurou was speaking from the heart. Unlike others, she didn’t treat herself as a bargaining chip; she was simply striving for one last chance in the face of her Lifespan’s limit.

Li Yifei looked at her, a gentle yet slightly melancholic smile appearing on his face. ”Senior Sister, I understand your intention. But before that, I would like to ask you a question. What do you think is the most important Foundation of a cultivation Family?”

Shen Shurou was taken aback, not understanding why he would ask this, but she still thought about it and replied, ”Is it top-tier combat power? Or vast amounts of resources?”

”Both are important, but neither is the most important.” Li Yifei shook his head, his expression becoming more serious than ever before. ”The most important thing is the Legacy, and the future descendants.”

He looked at Shen Shurou, a strange sincerity in his eyes. ”I established Yifei Peak and took in many Dao Companions for the purpose of spreading the lineage and building an immortal Family that will last for ten thousand generations.”

”Now, the Foundation of Yifei Peak has just been established, and it can be considered a small success. But a new problem has also arisen, one that gives me more of a headache than any other.”

A look of confusion appeared in Shen Shurou’s eyes.

Li Yifei sighed, his tone full of a father’s worry. ”To be honest, Senior Sister, Yifei Peak already has seven infants in swaddling clothes who are less than a year old. In addition, there are dozens of unborn fetuses. In the future, this number will only increase.”

”What?!”

Even with Shen Shurou’s gentle nature, her beautiful eyes widened in shock and her red lips parted slightly upon hearing this number.

Seven infants and dozens more unborn? What a staggering sight that would be!

Li Yifei smiled bitterly. ”Senior Sister finds it shocking too, right? Children are the future of the Family and its hope.”

”But both their mothers and I must run about and Cultivate for the sake of the Family, leaving us no time to be distracted. Qingxue and the others are either obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy or busy with their cultivation. Although they love the children, they truly lack the patience and methods to care for and teach them.”

”The children of Cultivators are born extraordinary, but if they lack a good teacher to guide them, causing their Heart-Nature to be clouded, their future achievements will be limited. I need someone—someone trustworthy, patient, knowledgeable, and more importantly, someone with a benevolent heart to help me. Not to help me manage affairs, but to help me... raise the children.”

Li Yifei’s gaze became incredibly earnest. He stared into Shen Shurou’s eyes and said word for word, ”I need a motherly elder to be the Enlightenment Mentor for these children. To teach them to read, to understand reason, to distinguish between good and evil, and to shape their character. Before they embark on the path of immortality, I want them to have the most solid Foundation.”

”I have looked throughout the Sect and cannot think of anyone more suitable than you, Senior Sister. Your image in the hearts of the Outer Sect Disciples and your care for the younger generation are things I have seen for myself. What I need is not a powerful combatant, but a guide who can light the first lamp in the hearts of all the descendants of Yifei Peak. Senior Sister Shen, are you willing to do me this favor?”

Shen Shurou was completely stunned.

She had imagined countless possibilities, whether it be a trade or a test, but she never expected that the request Li Yifei would make of her would be this.

Raising children...

To be the Enlightenment Mentor for hundreds or even thousands of children...

This request sounded somewhat absurd, but for some reason, it caused a great ripple in her heart, which had been as calm as an ancient well.

An image even involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

In a sun-drenched courtyard on Yifei Peak, a group of adorable children surrounded her, calling out ”Teacher” in their milky voices as they listened to her read and tell stories...

This image made her feel an unprecedented warmth and excitement.

Throughout her life, she had been silently helping others, but she never thought that one day, someone would entrust the future of a Family to her because of her kindness and gentleness.

This trust shook her more than any Heaven And Earth Treasure.

Looking at Li Yifei’s sincere and expectant gaze, she suddenly realized that this might be the ”Dao” that suited her best.

It was a long time before she found her voice, which carried a hint of trembling that she hadn’t even noticed herself. ”Senior Brother... do you really... feel at ease entrusting so many children to me?”

”I am at ease.” Li Yifei nodded without hesitation. ”Because Senior Sister is worthy. A person’s character is more important than their talent. Yifei Peak needs an elder like Senior Sister to set a benchmark of kindness and integrity for the future generations of the Family.”

After Li Yifei finished speaking, he said no more, just quietly looking at her, leaving the choice entirely to her.

Shen Shurou slowly raised her head and looked at Li Yifei.

She suddenly smiled, a smile so gentle and bright that it seemed to melt all the ice and snow in the world.

She stood up and gave Li Yifei a graceful bow.

This bow was more solemn than Gu Manqing’s determination and more sincere than Feng Qianyu’s submissiveness.

”Husband.”

She spoke softly, the title coming naturally without the slightest reluctance, instead carrying a sense of peaceful belonging.

”Since Husband does not disdain me, Shurou is willing to do her meager part for Yifei Peak and for the children.”