[Primary Cultivation Technique: Taiyin Moonlight Divine Heart Refining Scripture (2nd Floor) 6679/30000]

[Sword Cultivation Technique: True Understanding of the Sword Dao (1st Floor) 27790/30000]

[Primary Cultivation Technique: Langhuan Celestial Essence Secret Manual (1st Floor) 24301/30000]

[Body Cultivation Technique: Long Xiang Fan Brahma Scripture (2nd Floor) 3396/20000]

[Spirit Root: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Top Rank Earth Grade 9871/30000]

[Nobles: Shentu Hong/Luo Qingning/Luo Qingyu/Flow Shadow Ice Cicada]

[Nobles: Liu Ying Meng Luan/Yu Yalan/Yu Youqin/Tang Qingwan/Mu Yunxiu]

[Dao Companions: Tang Qiu Yao/Ling Qiyue/Ling Bingyun/Luo Qingxuan/Xue Qingtan/Meng Feiyu]

Several years had passed since his return, and his various Primary Cultivation Techniques had all improved to varying degrees.

His Supreme Profound Oceanic Soft Water Technique and Long Xiang Fan Brahma Scripture had both reached the 2nd Floor, while his Alchemy Dao skill was still a considerable distance from Second Rank High Grade.

This was mainly because he had too much to do. In particular, teaching that group of female students had taken up a great deal of his time, causing Ling Changqing's own Cultivation progress to slow down.

Otherwise, 'If I had focused solely on Cultivation in Seclusion, I could have improved much more. Reaching Rank One Middle Grade as a Talisman Master and Second Rank High Grade as a Pill Master would have been no problem.'

Of course, the benefits to his Cultivation from his continuous Dual Cultivation with Ling Qiyue, Xue Qingtan, and the others were also obvious.

After a long time, as Ling Changqing slowly concluded his technique, the massive whirlpool around him silently vanished, and the surrounding seabed returned to tranquility.

"…Master, why not try sacrificing some of your Lifespan? Otherwise, this speed is a bit slow, isn't it?"

Gong Ling's sweet and gentle voice rang out.

She was referring to the option for Ling Changqing to sacrifice a portion of his Lifespan in exchange for an increase in the level of certain Art Skills.

For example, ten years of Lifespan could raise his Talisman skill to Rank One Middle Grade. Consuming another twenty years could raise it to Rank One High Grade.

To become a Second Rank Low Grade Talisman Master, it would likely cost over fifty years of Lifespan.

Pill Master, Array Master, Artifact Refiner, and the Path of Celestial Secret Art and Divination... all of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation could be rapidly improved through this method.

But the amount of life it consumed was too outrageous, and Ling Changqing had no compelling reason to do so. Thus, he hadn't considered accepting the offer.

"There's no need to rush this," Ling Changqing said. "For now, I'll just train slowly. We can revisit this when the need arises in the future."

"Alright."

Gong Ling didn't press the matter. After all, her role was only to advise; the final decision still rested with Ling Changqing himself.

Their exchange finished, Ling Changqing finally opened his eyes and slowly rose to his feet.

"Husband, are you finished already?"

Tang Qiu Yao said with a smile, leaning closer.

Ling Changqing nodded. "That's enough for today. Let's go back."

Xue Qingtan agreed, and the two women flanked him, each taking an arm as they surfaced from the sea.

Upon returning to the outer seas of the Changqing Continent, Xue Qingtan suddenly noticed a massive fleet of Tianzhou Skyboats hovering in the air a hundred li away.

The fleet consisted of over a hundred jet-black Tianzhou Skyboats, each more than a hundred zhang long. In addition, there were some smaller Tower Boats guarding the perimeter.

Figures could be seen standing on the foredecks of some Tower Boats, their Cultivation mostly at the Late stage Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Level.

All the Tianzhou Skyboats had raised thick defensive light screens, and the prows were adorned with the emblem of an azure full moon.

"…Where did this fleet come from? They don't seem like a local Yuzhou power."

Xue Qingtan said with a solemn expression.

Ling Changqing glanced over. Although he didn't know their identity, the Tianzhou Skyboats gave him a very uncomfortable feeling. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Tang Qiu Yao looked at the Communication Jade Talisman on her fair wrist and said softly,

"It seems they've sent an Envoy to pay a visit. Elder Sister is receiving them now. Should we hurry back and see?"

"Alright."

Ling Changqing agreed. The three of them steered their Flying Ship and flew towards the clan's headquarters.

「In the Clan Assembly Hall.」

Dressed in a bright yellow Sun, Moon, and Star Cloud Pattern Embroidered Phoenix Palace Robe, the beautiful, dignified, and elegant Ling Qiyue sat upon the main seat, her face devoid of expression.

Below, by the jade steps, an old man with a large beard, dressed in magnificent black robes, was speaking endlessly:

"…Our Haoyue Sect does not ask for much. We only need a small island to serve as a place of refuge. Of course, an island with a second rank or Third Grade Spirit Vein would be best!

As long as your clan agrees, we will present you with generous gifts and will henceforth serve the Ling Family as our masters, sharing in all fortunes and misfortunes..."

He rambled on and on, but Ling Qiyue's eyes remained serene, showing no hint of emotion. The surrounding Ling Family Elders also remained silent.

The Haoyue Sect's Envoy had come with a simple request: they wanted the Ling Family to lease them an island as a refuge for their Disciples.

'Lease an island territory? This is no small matter. No power would agree to this lightly.'

Especially since the Feiyu Sea Region's defensive forces were currently insufficient. Once they made this concession and gave the other party a chance to gauge their true strength, it went without saying what sort of fatal troubles would follow.

History was rife with examples of guests ousting their hosts and cuckoos taking over other birds' nests.

Accompanied by the sound of soft footsteps, Ling Changqing hurried in, surrounded by the women, and took a seat beside the high platform.

Upon seeing him, a hint of a smile finally appeared in Ling Qiyue's beautiful, lustrous eyes. She used her Divine Thought to inform him of the situation.

The Haoyue Sect was originally a Nascent Soul power from Yaozhou, a continent adjacent to Yuzhou. The Sect had been presided over by a Nascent Soul True Monarch, with over a dozen Golden Core Masters.

Several decades ago, the Haoyue Sect went to war with its nemesis, the Yunhe Sword Sect, and was defeated. This led to their sole Nascent Soul True Monarch being grievously injured and perishing.

Most of the remaining Golden Core and True Pill Cultivators in the Haoyue Sect were also killed or injured in the war, and even their main stronghold was breached.

The last few Elders fled with a group of surviving Disciples, hastily grabbing some wealth and resources. After a long and difficult journey, they finally escaped to Yuzhou.

After annexing the Haoyue Sect's territory and foundation, the victorious Yunhe Sword Sect did not give up on hunting down these remnants. They sent out several waves of forces in relentless pursuit.

As a result, this final contingent of the Haoyue Sect could only continue to flee. After many years on the run, they only recently managed to shake off their pursuers.

Now, everyone in the Sect, from top to bottom, was exhausted and desperately needed to find a suitable territory to settle down and recover their strength.

The Feiyu Sea Region happened to be vast enough, with a considerable number of islands that were Spirit Vein Blessed Lands, which was why they had set their sights on it.

'Absolutely not!'

Ling Changqing made his decision instantly. 'If we give in on something like this, there will be no peace for us in the future.'

'No matter how many islands there are in the Feiyu Sea Region, it's better to let them lie fallow than to give them to outsiders.'

"You are absolutely right, Husband. I was thinking the same thing."

Ling Qiyue nodded slightly, her gaze turning to the large-bearded old man as she spoke in an icy tone:

"Fellow Daoist Qiangli, this matter is not up for negotiation. Every inch of my Ling Family's territory was bought with the blood and desperate struggles of our clan's children. There is absolutely no reason to cede it to outsiders!

So, please see yourselves out. You are not welcome here!"

Master Pangli's expression changed slightly, but he still said, unwilling to give up:

"But... our Haoyue Sect is sincere in its desire to submit. Patriarch, won't you reconsider..."

"Show them out!"

Ling Qiyue couldn't be bothered to waste any more time with him and waved her hand, giving the order.

A group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators walked in and silently stood beside Master Pangli.

The big-bearded old man's face turned pale, then flushed, and a flash of resentment flickered in the depths of his eyes before vanishing.

However, after weighing the strength of both sides, this Middle stage Golden Core expert ultimately didn't dare to make any threats. He silently turned and left with his two attendants.

The Ling Family Cultivators responsible for escorting them followed close behind until they boarded the Tianzhou Skyboat, then maintained surveillance from a distance.

Meanwhile, in the Women's Embroidery Tower, Ling Changqing had already told Ling Qiyue about his ominous premonition.

"…In other words, the origins of this group are nowhere near as simple as they claim!"

Ling Changqing concluded, "From our perspective, we might as well treat them as an extremely vicious gang of Tribulation Cultivators."

Fu Yin Xue said gently, "Husband is right. We certainly can't let our guard down. Since their overtures failed, they will probably turn hostile and attack next."

Ling Qiyue nodded. "Arrange for capable personnel to monitor that fleet of Tianzhou Skyboats day and night. Report any unusual movements immediately."

If the other party's intentions were hostile, the Ling Family's upper echelon would definitely have to take precautions and prepare for war.