Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 466: Chapter 263: Xia Qingying: I Want the Things, and I Want You Too. What to Do?

Seeing that the hour was growing late, the City Lord, a man named Qi Tianyue, stood up. After a few pleasantries, he announced the start of the banquet.

The beautiful woman in the azure Magical Robe was seated not far away. Her sparkling, enchanting eyes still glanced toward Ling Changqing from time to time, as if she wanted to come over and strike up a conversation.

However, her maids and guards had not followed her in. Aside from the young woman in white who accompanied her, the rest of her retinue was resting in a side hall.

Ling Changqing said little, silently savoring the Spirit Wine Nectar and tackling the delicacies before him.

Given the standard of this banquet, the ingredients served to the host of Cultivators were naturally far from Mortal Grade. Not only was the food exquisitely delicious, but it was also rich in Spiritual Essence Qi. ’It would be a disservice to my gluttonous appetite not to eat my fill.’

The City Lord, Qi Tianyue, drank his wine at a leisurely pace, his eyes also scanning left and right as he discreetly sized up the many Loose Cultivators attending the banquet.

’The main force of the Cui Family’s Cultivator Army will arrive in two days,’ he thought. ’The pressure on Jinchun County will be immense. I just don’t know if the Immortal Dynasty’s reinforcements will make it in time.’

’However, there are a good number of Loose Cultivators in the city, especially those with a Cultivation at the True Pill Realm or higher. If they are willing to lend their full support, perhaps we can survive this crisis?’

Qi Tianyue sighed inwardly. ’The Taiqing Divine Dynasty is insatiably ambitious. Using the Cui and Mu Families as their vanguard to attack the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty... what they’re truly draining is the Primordial Qi of the entire Yuzhou Cultivation Realm.’

’Who knows when this war will finally end? I can only hope that when it does, the Immortal Dynasty will still have enough strength left to face the greater calamities to come.’

A short while later, as the music and dancing in the hall ceased, a large group of female cultivators in colorful skirts flowed in gracefully, each holding a magnificent tray inlaid with gold and jade.

Seated in the main seat, Qi Tianyue rose and clapped his hands. The numerous Loose Cultivators in the hall stopped what they were doing, and all eyes focused on the City Lord.

"War is upon us, and the Defense of my Jinchun County is strained. Fortunately, you, my fellow Daoists, have extended a helping hand to overcome these difficult times with the Immortal Dynasty."

"I am eternally grateful and will certainly not be stingy with resources. This is half of the agreed-upon payment. I ask that you all accept it."

"Once we have repelled the foreign invaders, not only will the remaining payment be delivered in full, but for any fellow Daoists willing to stay and continue assisting in the city’s defense, I will also have grand gifts to offer!"

Qi Tianyue said with a smile.

The Cultivators in the hall exchanged a few token pleasantries before taking the Storage Pouches from the trays.

This was an established custom. Every Loose Cultivator assisting in the city’s defense would receive half their payment before the battle, with the other half to be paid out after the defense was over.

Of course, for those Cultivators who unfortunately died in battle, though there would be corresponding compensation, it would no longer have anything to do with them.

Ling Changqing looked at the female cultivator standing before him, reached out, and lifted the Golden Cloud Brocade from the tray, revealing an exquisite Storage Pouch covered in a hundred-flower cloud pattern.

He picked up the Storage Pouch and probed it with his Divine Thought. Inside was an Azure Jade Pill Bottle and fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones.

The bottle contained two Jade Spirit Supreme Pills. This was a Third Grade Longevity Elixir. Consuming one could extend a Golden Core Master’s life by forty years, but its effect was most potent only the first time.

Ling Changqing chuckled inwardly. ’The City Lord’s reward is indeed generous, but this is blood money. If a Cultivator unfortunately perishes in the defense of the city, they won’t be alive to spend any of it.’

Besides the Elixir and Spirit Stones, the Storage Pouch also contained a Jade Scroll which recorded a list of resources available for exchange.

Elixir Talismans, Spirit Gold, Medicinal Herb materials, Array Puppets, Demon Beast Cores, and more—over half of the items were specialty resources found only within the territory of the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty.

’The items are all quite good,’ Ling Changqing mused. ’However, to get my hands on them, I’ll have to fight bravely in the city’s defense and then exchange them at the City Lord’s Mansion with sufficient merit.’

Ling Changqing silently assessed the situation. ’Surviving until after the battle won’t be a problem for me. I should be able to exchange for some of the resources on the list. I trust the City Lord won’t go back on his word.’

He looked up and saw that the beautiful woman in azure had also received a Storage Pouch. The contents within were presumably even better.

This was perfectly normal; the City Lord’s Mansion wasn’t a charity like Kaisan Hall. The amount of remuneration everyone received corresponded to their own Cultivation Realm.

"...Fellow Daoists, you may continue to drink to your heart’s content for another hour. After that, please proceed to the city walls to take up your posts! Rest assured, if you are injured in the city’s defense, the City Lord’s Mansion will cover all healing expenses!"

Qi Tianyue concluded.

The crowd of Loose Cultivators were naturally pleased to hear this. Amidst the clinking of glasses, they would leave their seats to speak with familiar friends, discussing plans to act together and watch each other’s backs when they went up to the city walls to fight.

"...You there, young man?"

A clear, gentle voice, like water flowing over shattered jade, reached him.

Ling Changqing looked up to see the beautiful woman in azure holding a Wine Jar, already standing before him.

"Yes?"

Ling Changqing’s expression was calm. "We don’t seem to know each other. May I ask what business you have with me, Fellow Daoist?"

The woman in azure smiled, her beautiful eyes, as bright as stars, sizing him up.

"I am Xia Qingying. I’m a little curious about you, young man. So... when the battle starts later, why don’t we team up?"

Ling Changqing shook his head. "I’ll have to decline. I’m used to being on my own and would likely just drag you down, Fellow Daoist."

"Is that so? How heartbreaking for me! A dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch, being rejected by a mere Golden Core Master?"

Xia Qingying’s smile didn’t fade. From the time she began her regency hundreds of years ago until her recent official ascension, very few people had ever dared to say no to her face.

Ling Changqing looked at her and said cautiously, "You have plenty of powerful guards around you. I don’t think you’re in dire need of me as a teammate, so let’s not bother with such flimsy excuses, shall we?"

"It would be more believable if you just said you were after the reward I’m holding."

"Hmm, that’s true!"

Xia Qingying nodded slightly. "However, it’s not just your things I want. I want you, too. What’s to be done about that?"

Ling Changqing: "..."