Chapter 362: Chapter 222: Ling Qiyue: Why Don’t You and Your Disciple Marry In Together?

Faced with such a blunt question, Ling Changqing naturally wouldn’t fall for it so easily.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, you misunderstand. That is not what I meant."

Ling Changqing said impassively.

Liu Qianlan blinked her lovely eyes and sighed with a touch of regret. Her voice was laced with wistfulness as she said,

"What a true pity. I was just thinking, if you were interested, Fellow Daoist Ling, I might have even considered marrying you!"

’Heh, consider?’

At his side, Ling Qiyue showed no sign of displeasure. Her lovely eyes narrowed as she scanned Liu Qianlan’s enchanting curves up and down, a broad smile on her face as she spoke.

"Sister, you alone aren’t quite enough. This husband of mine has a rather large appetite. You and your disciple would have to marry in together, otherwise you won’t be able to handle him!"

"..."

No matter how mentally tough this peerless beauty was, she couldn’t help but blush at the words. A clear look of flustered indignation flashed in her shimmering, lovely eyes.

’The dignified master of a clan... how could she speak so bluntly and crudely?’

After all, she had never had a Dao Companion before, yet now she was being told to marry in with her own disciple to serve the same man. The very idea was simply... too preposterous.

Ling Changqing glanced helplessly at Ling Qiyue and sent her a Divine Thought transmission:

"Wife, can you please not ruin my reputation like this? I have face to consider, you know?"

"Isn’t this exactly what you secretly hope for?"

Ling Qiyue shot him a playful glare and replied, "I was just saying what you were thinking. You should be thanking me!"

’Judging by the way the scoundrel sized up Liu Qianlan and Liu Xiuyan, how could I not know what he was thinking?’

’Anyway... men are all the same. Always eating from their bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot!’

Ling Changqing shook his head and said directly to Liu Qianlan, "From now on, half of the Cangyu Islands’ annual income must go to our Ling Family. Is that a problem?"

Liu Qianlan’s fine, dark brows knitted together. She looked troubled as she said,

"That’s not a problem, but they still have several Core Formation Cultivators at their main sect grounds. Breaking through that Mountain Protection Array will not be easy.

If we launch a frontal assault, I’m afraid the casualties will be difficult to control. What do you suggest, Fellow Daoist Ling?"

To put it bluntly, if those men insist on hiding in their shells, the Longevity Hall will have no way of dealing with them for some time.

Ling Qiyue said calmly, "You can ignore that tough nut to crack for now. Focus on taking over all the Marketplace assets throughout the Cangyu Islands first. We can discuss the rest later."

In other words, aside from the area protected by the Mountain Protection Array, the rest of the Cangyu Islands’ territory, including the Disciples outside, would be powerless to resist the Cultivators of the Longevity Hall and could only surrender unconditionally.

Once the overall situation is settled, the Longevity Hall can then come and persuade them to surrender. Those last few Core Formation Cultivators will have no better choice than to submit.

"Given the current situation, it’s impossible for our Ling Family to directly support you, so you’ll have to rely on yourselves for these matters."

Ling Qiyue said in a gentle voice, "If you need to purchase any Elixir resources, even Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pills, we can provide them without issue. We can even give you a certain discount."

Liu Qianlan frowned, weighing her options for a moment. She looked at Ling Qiyue with a complex expression and said in a low voice,

"Your Ling Family... you don’t want to expand on a large scale right now, so you’re pushing us out to attract everyone’s attention. But in a few decades, you’re going to do it yourselves, aren’t you?

If my guess is correct, this vast Chixue Sea Region will sooner or later fall into your family’s hands?"

’A colossal family that controls two great sea regions will surely produce a Nascent Soul True Monarch eventually, won’t they? And Ling Qiyue is already at Golden Core Peak Cultivation. Perhaps she really could take that step in the future?’

"Mm, you’re not wrong,"

Ling Qiyue made no attempt to hide it, stating frankly:

"So, what does your Longevity Hall plan to do? Will you submit directly, or wait and see? Or perhaps you’ll join forces with those other powers to fight the Ling Family together?"

She wasn’t afraid of Liu Qianlan having other ideas. The Ling Family already had enough hard power to back them up. No matter what the other party chose, they wouldn’t be able to make much of a splash.

Besides, as long as Liu Qianlan decided to take over the Cangyu Islands’ foundation, there would be no possibility of easing relations with the remaining nine powers in the Chixue Sea Region. Her only choice would be to follow the Ling Family down this path to the very end.

Seeing the peerless beauty fall silent, Ling Changqing smiled.

"As long as you gather enough of the raw Medicinal Herbs, I can refine Elixirs for you—even Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pills. It’s no problem if you want several batches made!

Our Ling Family won’t intentionally use our allies as cannon fodder. Since we’re asking the Longevity Hall to be on the front lines, we will naturally provide the necessary support from behind the scenes. You don’t have to worry at all."

He could naturally understand Liu Qianlan’s concerns. The life and death of her entire Sect was at stake. One wrong move could lead to eternal damnation, so she couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

Liu Qianlan said in a low voice, "If that’s the case, then our Longevity Hall will go all out! Fellow Daoist Ling, you’d better not forget your promise!"

Once the words were spoken, the peerless beauty felt a great weight lift from her heart, as if she had just made the single most correct decision of her life.

Ling Changqing nodded lightly. "Excellent. Take these Core Formation Resources. Consider them a gift from the Ling Family."

He took an exquisite Jade Box from his Storage Bracelet, placed it on the table, and pushed it over.

Inside the Jade Box was a genuine Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pill, a portion of Primordial Pure Well Essence Water, and several other supplementary resources.

If one’s luck was good enough, these resources were perfectly capable of producing a new Core Formation Cultivator.