Even if they waited for the Elders to recover and performed the divination again, the result would likely be no different.

Rather than waste resources for nothing, it was better to cut their losses and stop.

It seemed the two families would have to find another way if they wanted to locate the Child of Destiny, Ling Changqing.

"If all else fails, should we pull in those other families to help us come up with a plan?"

Liu Ying Ziyi said, "No matter what, we can’t let Ling Changqing be taken by a power from another continent. As long as he’s still in Yuzhou, we have a chance."

Qin Mengxuan weighed the options for a moment before slowly saying, "Then it’s settled. This is a matter concerning the rise and fall of the entire Yuzhou Cultivation Realm. I believe they won’t dare to treat it lightly."

If Ling Changqing joined a power from another continent, then within a century or so, that faction’s strength would skyrocket. They would begin expanding into other continents until they unified the entire realm.

...

「Changqing Continent.」

Ling Changqing hid inside the Era Star Palace for a day and a night, only coming out after Gong Ling confirmed there was no longer any danger.

As he walked out of the Inner Study, he saw Tang Qiu Yao hurrying over, a tense look on her face.

"What’s wrong?"

Ling Changqing asked.

The moment Tang Qiu Yao saw him, her expression instantly softened.

"Husband, where did you go? The sisters couldn’t find you anywhere, and you weren’t responding to the Communication Jade Talisman. We were getting worried!"

Usually, even if Ling Changqing left for a while, he would explain the situation to the women beforehand. Disappearing without a word like this was indeed a bit unsettling for them.

Ling Changqing wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss, offering a simple explanation. He said it was a special Talent Divine Technique he had recently awakened, one that allowed him to evade the detection and tracking of those other powers. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Those fox spirits still refuse to give up?"

Tang Qiu Yao’s face instantly grew cold. No one would be happy knowing a group of outsiders was constantly coveting their husband.

"Don’t worry, they’ll never succeed,"

Ling Changqing said with a smile.

’It’s true. Whenever I face a danger I can’t handle, I can just hide in the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, and no one can do a thing to me.’

"But, I just had a bold idea!"

Tang Qiu Yao said, her beautiful eyes blinking as her spirits suddenly soared.

"What idea?"

Ling Changqing asked.

"Go to work in the sea, of course!"

Tang Qiu Yao said with a radiant smile, "That Talent Divine Technique of yours is much better than any Magical Treasure! You can dive twenty thousand feet to the bottom of the sea to gather resources without having to worry about danger. Won’t our harvests be much greater that way?

Furthermore, if you could somehow sneak into the vaults of those major powers, couldn’t you just empty out their entire treasuries?"

Ling Changqing was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. "That sounds simple, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t be so easy in practice. Besides, we don’t seem to have a need to take such risks right now, do we?"

Working in the sea was one thing. An Early Stage Magical Treasure could still hold out for a short while at a depth of twenty thousand feet. He could grab the resources and immediately hide in the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land to recover. That wasn’t a big problem.

Another benefit was that it would avoid a massive drain on his Luck and Fortune, allowing him to stay at the bottom of the sea for much longer.

However, while resources below Rank Four were easy to sell—after all, the Ling Family was now a Golden Core Level power—Rank Four resources were another matter. If he sold too many, it would inevitably arouse the suspicion of the Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s upper echelons. Even Xue Qingtan might not be able to cover for him.

’How could all sorts of Rank Four resources be appearing in large quantities within the territory of a mere Golden Core power?’

Anyone would be able to tell something was amiss. Once it attracted the attention of the Association’s powerful experts, who would surely investigate the root cause, the situation could become difficult to resolve.

As for sneaking into the headquarters of those major powers to commit theft, that would be even more difficult. Their treasuries were certain to be protected by layers of Array Restrictions. Slipping in without a trace was easier said than done.

"You’re right. I was being too naive."

Tang Qiu Yao’s lovely face flushed slightly as she gave an embarrassed smile.

Ling Changqing reached out and wrapped his arm around her smooth, firm waist, saying,

"Go discuss it with Sister Yue and the others. Some things aren’t impossible to try, but they must be kept secret."

"Mm, you’re right, Husband."

Tang Qiu Yao said softly, a flirtatious glint rippling in her shimmering, beautiful eyes.

A moment later, in the Female Patriarch’s private chambers.

"...So Husband has such a Talent Divine Technique? In that case, why don’t we just focus on getting more resources from the sea for now? Let’s not overthink the other things yet."

Ling Qiyue said gently.

"Yes, the family is still in the stage of accumulating power. Our demand for all kinds of Cultivation Resources is limitless."

Xue Qingtan agreed.

Ling Changqing nodded. "What you’ve said is excellent. Let’s do that."

And so, the next morning, Ling Changqing went out to sea with Ling Qiyue and Xue Qingtan.

This time, the three of them spent three days and three nights at a depth of over ten thousand feet.

Only when all their Storage Magical Artifacts and the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land were completely full did Ling Changqing bring the two women back to the family headquarters.

The total value of the resources they brought back this time was enough to cover all of the Ling Family’s expenses for three years.

Moreover, by sacrificing a large number of Inner Cores from fierce beasts, Ling Changqing restored his maximum Lifespan from the original 403 years to 531 years.

After resting for just half a month, Ling Changqing went out to sea again, this time taking Tang Qiu Yao and Fu Yin Xue with him.

Three days and three nights later, Ling Changqing returned, unsurprisingly, with a full haul.

This time, by sacrificing Inner Cores, Ling Changqing restored his maximum Lifespan to 639 years.

Apart from the portion of the resources that the three of them divided amongst themselves, the vast majority was handed over to Xue Qingtan, who would purchase it at a reasonable price on behalf of the Xingyun sun Commerce Association.

Of course, Ling Changqing had no intention of taking too many Spirit Stones. Nearly eighty percent of the payment was exchanged with the Association for various resources the family needed, such as Elixirs and Talismans, high-grade food ingredients, medicinal herb materials, Magical Artifact Puppets, and so on.

Once these development resources entered the family treasury, the average Cultivation speed of the Ling Clan Members would increase, as would the development and construction of their territory.

「A year passed in the blink of an eye.」

When Ling Changqing returned from the sea for the tenth time, Ling Qiyue and the other women finally decided to pause these expeditions, telling him to enter a period of Cultivation in Seclusion.

The family treasury was now piled high with resources. Even if they spent extravagantly, it would be enough to support their development for the next twenty to thirty years.

As for Ling Changqing, his own maximum Lifespan had reached 997 years, nearly double that of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator.

Furthermore, during this period, he had spent an additional four hundred years of Lifespan to raise his Alchemy Dao proficiency from Third Rank Low Grade to the Third Rank Middle Grade level.

In the inner chamber of the boudoir.

Deep within the layers of embroidered curtains, after round after round of fierce "battle," a brief period of peace finally fell upon the Beautiful Jade Embroidery Couch.

"...Sister, I think we should further strengthen the Protective Array at the family headquarters. What do you think?"

Ling Qiyue turned her head, looking at Xue Qingtan, whose beautiful eyes were half-closed and who had just been "tormented" to the point of breathlessness.

"Oh, o-okay..."

Xue Qingtan replied languidly, her delicate body limp.

Fu Yin Xue, who was currently lording it over Ling Changqing from her perch, blushed and whispered with a laugh,

"I think the Grand Array’s defenses are pretty good already. How much stronger can we make it? Rank Four Arrays aren’t that easy to buy, are they?"

It was indeed extraordinarily difficult for a Golden Core Level power to purchase Nascent Soul Level resources. It was like a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator trying to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill—not something you could get just because you wanted to.

Ling Qiyue said, "Then let’s add two more layers. We’ll set up two more Third Grade high rank Grand Arrays outside the original Protective Array.

In addition, the areas around the Marketplace, the rare Spirit Ore mines, the Medicine Mountain Medicinal Gardens, and those islands with Third Grade Spirit Veins must all be protected by arrays.

Furthermore, we need a batch of Mechanical Puppets specifically for manual labor. We’ll have them clear the untamed lands, developing all the areas covered by the Spirit Veins into new Spirit Field Medicinal Gardens."

"That’s no problem. It’s just a matter of spending Spirit Stones."

Xue Qingtan, having finally caught her breath, said in a honeyed voice.

The Ling Family wasn’t short on Spirit Stones anymore. As long as it could accelerate the territory’s development and increase the family’s overall strength, they would take the most convenient path.

Qin Yun, who was massaging Ling Changqing’s legs with her head lowered, took a moment from her task to look up and say softly,

"Also, the family’s next selection for Immortal Seedlings—we can start that after the new year, right? How many people are we planning to choose this time?"

Tang Qiu Yao squeezed Ling Changqing’s arm and said with a grin,

"Does that even need to be said? The more, the better, of course! As long as they’re qualified Immortal Seedlings, we should bring them all back to be nurtured!"

"Yes, that’s as it should be."

Ling Qiyue chimed in. The family was still short on people, so when it came to youths with the aptitude for cultivation, their principle was naturally to accept every single one they could.