And so, for the next several hours, the high-ranking female cultivators from both sides engaged in a war of words over where Ling Changqing should live, arguing themselves hoarse.

In the end, the female cultivators of Lu Hua Palace proved more skillful in their arguments, narrowly persuading the women of the Liuying Family, who reluctantly made a concession.

"...Little sister, you must understand. Our Lu Hua Palace’s Mountain Protection Array is a legacy from the Ancient Era. Its defensive power is second to none in the Yuzhou Cultivation Realm!"

The graceful and majestic Qin Mengxuan, a picture of perfect poise, spoke in a soft, charming voice:

"Once we find Ling Changqing, it won’t be long before the higher-ups from those major powers catch wind of the news.

If they join forces and show up at our gates, attempting to force us to hand over the Child of Destiny, can we really let them succeed?"

As long as the Lu Hua Palace stronghold remains secure, we could hold out against a siege from those major powers for eighty to a hundred years without issue.

By then, not only will Ling Changqing have grown powerful, but a great number of experts will have also emerged from within both Lu Hua Palace and the Liu Ying Clan. We will naturally no longer need to fear the military threats of those external forces.

At that point, our alliance of female cultivators will not only be able to counterattack, but we could even eliminate those powers one by one and unite the entire Yuzhou Cultivation Realm.

"Fine. Then it’s settled."

Liu Ying Ziying sighed and continued, "However, your Lu Hua Palace must be responsible for the daily Cultivation Resources required by the female cultivators of our clan who move here to live!"

"We’ll cover half, at most!"

Qin Mengxuan flicked her sleeve and said with a stern face, "And the number is capped at three hundred people. Their Realm cannot be higher than Golden Core Peak. You’ll have to cover any costs beyond that yourselves!"

"Sister, you really... refuse to suffer the slightest loss, don’t you? Aren’t you going too far?"

Liu Ying Ziying almost laughed out of exasperation. ’She’s the supreme leader of Lu Hua Palace, yet she’s this cheap and stingy?’

Qin Mengxuan spread her slender, porcelain-white hands in a gesture of helplessness: 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Little sister, you have to understand my predicament. I’m managing such a large family, with so many people, high and low, needing to make a living. Do you think that’s easy for me?"

"Always the master of meticulous calculation!"

Liu Ying Ziying shot her a look, then said thoughtfully, "But I suppose that’s fine. If you’re going to plead poverty, our Liu Ying Clan will cover all of Ling Changqing’s future daily Cultivation Resources..."

"No, no, no,"

Qin Mengxuan immediately objected. "We can certainly cover Ling Changqing’s expenses. No matter how much he wants to use, it’s not a problem!"

’Is she kidding? This isn’t just about resources. It’s about the relationship our female cultivators will build with Ling Changqing, about our standing in his heart. This is no time to be stingy.’

"Fine, fine! We’ll split it fifty-fifty!"

Liu Ying Ziying said irritably.

"It’s a deal!"

Qin Mengxuan beamed, her eyes crinkling in a smile. Both of them were shrewd, so there was no real question of one taking advantage of the other.

Su Qinglian mused, "But speaking of which, our two families’ Sect’s Foundation Technique Manuals, as well as some of our most hidden Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, are all only suitable for female cultivators."

"Ling Changqing is a male cultivator. If he comes here, there won’t be many resources suitable for his use, will there? That would be detrimental to his rapid growth."

The crowd of female cultivators looked startled for a moment, then all furrowed their brows in thought.

In the past tens of thousands of years, neither family had any precedent for pouring all their resources into cultivating a male genius.

So now that such a situation had arisen, they found it truly difficult to make proper arrangements on the spot.

Liu Ying Ziying said thoughtfully, "In that case, perhaps we should prepare ahead of time and start acquiring some suitable resources for him now?"

Both families had numerous trade channels, both overt and covert, as well as extensive personal networks. Acquiring Cultivation Resources suitable for a male cultivator would naturally not be a problem.

Even the rarer, high-end resources were not unobtainable, given the two families’ deep foundations and various methods.

"Yes, let’s do that!"

Qin Mengxuan nodded. "Little sister, why don’t you go and rest for now. We can set up the Grand Array after the Elders and resources from both sides have arrived."

With the matter settled, the higher-ups of the two female cultivator factions spent the next month in a flurry of intense activity.

As numerous rare and precious resources continued to arrive, the Celestial Secret Mixed Cave Origin Array, a legacy from the Ancient Era, was finally set up.

「Inside the heavily guarded Secret Hall.」

A Grand Array, dozens of yards in diameter and emitting an immense pressure, was already active. A rosy mist swirled within it, and a mysterious, profound Dao Rhyme filled the space.

Eight stunningly beautiful women, each with her own unique charm and grace, sat upright in the core of the Grand Array. They merged their Magical Power with the array, working in concert to maintain its stable operation.

In the very center lay the marriage contract personally signed by Ling Changqing, his aura having already been precisely recorded by the Grand Array.

Beyond these eight women, another twenty-four Elders of the Nascent Soul True Monarch realm sat in the outer regions of the Grand Array, serving in support roles.

As the Array fully activated, the sky above the Lu Hua Palace stronghold began to transform. The Celestial Vault, once a clear, washed-out blue, slowly dimmed as thick layers of black clouds gathered.

Deep within the clouds, thick bolts of crimson lightning snaked and crackled, and the heart-stopping sound of thunder echoed across the Celestial Vault.

Qin Mengxuan and Liu Ying Ziying stood to the side with the other high-ranking leaders, silently watching the Grand Array operate.

"Sister, how long until we get a result?"

Liu Ying Ziying asked.