Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 188 - 152: Overworked

This new Cultivation Technique would benefit Ling Changqing far more if they practiced it together, putting Luo Qingxuan at a disadvantage.

To be blunt, until he reached the Golden Core Master Realm, Luo Qingxuan’s cultivation would stagnate at the early stage of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, making any progress difficult.

It would essentially be sacrificing Luo Qingxuan’s cultivation for his own gain, which was why Ling Changqing was reluctant to try.

"What does that matter? As long as you’re the one benefiting, my dear, I don’t mind."

Luo Qingxuan’s smile was radiant. The main reason was that she didn’t want to wait so long.

Ling Changqing currently possessed Earth Grade Medium Spirit Root Talent and a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation. Assuming he didn’t try to rush his progress unnaturally, it would probably take him another eight to ten years to reach the Golden Core Master Realm.

However, Luo Qingxuan couldn’t be bothered to wait even a few months. For her, Dual Cultivation with Ling Changqing was the number one priority.

"Alright."

Seeing her so determined, Ling Changqing couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

"...Your Highness,"

A tall, curvaceous female official with crimson lips and pearly teeth walked in, her voice sweet and charming as she spoke:

"Supreme Elder Luo Qi has sent a messenger. She wishes to summon Your Highness and Master Ling to offer some guidance on your cultivation!"

"..."

At the mention of her name, a subtle change crossed Ling Changqing’s eyes as an inexplicable sense of unease surfaced within him.

Perhaps it was the subtle warning from the Era Star Palace, or maybe it was just his own cautious nature, but he had an instinctive aversion to being on the radar of such a powerful figure.

"Her?"

Luo Qingxuan was stunned for a moment, her dark, shapely eyebrows knitting together slightly.

"I recall she always stays in her Cave Mansion Hall and rarely ventures out. Why would she suddenly summon me? It couldn’t be because of..."

Among the great powers of both the Dragon Race and the Human Race, it wasn’t unheard of for a Supreme Elder to take a promising junior under their wing and offer guidance.

However, this particular Elder, Luo Qi, had always maintained a lukewarm relationship with the Patriarch’s line. They had no private dealings outside of official clan business, which naturally aroused suspicion.

Luo Qingxuan was no naive fool. A moment’s thought was all it took for her to grasp the reason. ’She must have her eyes on my husband. In the past, even my supremely talented older sister, Luo Qingyi, was never summoned by her. I doubt I’d be the exception.’

"Then let’s not go. We can have the Queen turn her down for us."

Ling Changqing suggested readily.

’Friend or foe, I don’t want to appear before her. Who knows what might happen?’

"Yes, let’s do that."

Luo Qingxuan nodded, pleased that her husband’s thoughts aligned with her own.

She wasn’t concerned about whether Luo Qi would be displeased. Her father the King and mother the Queen would deal with it when the time came.

And if worst came to worst, the Supreme Elders from the Patriarch’s own line wouldn’t just stand idly by.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Luo Qingxuan eagerly pulled Ling Changqing to the bedchamber.

Beneath the glow of crimson pearls, a faint fragrance filled the air. There stood a crystal screen, a snow-white carpet, and low-hanging brocade curtains. A wide Beautiful Jade Embroidery Bed rested atop nine-tiered White Jade Steps.

Ling Changqing and Luo Qingxuan first soaked in a bath before emerging hand-in-hand from the hot springs. They disappeared behind the deep curtains, and as for the amorous scene that followed... it is not for others to know.

Early the next morning, Bai Qingyi sent her trusted maid with a message, summoning the young couple.

Luo Qingxuan didn’t dare to delay. After she and Ling Changqing finished getting ready, they went to the Dragon Palace via the Teleportation Array.

Bai Qingyi had already been waiting in her bedchamber for a short while.

A fragrant and delightful spread of various delicacies already covered the White Jade Table before the Queen.

Seeing her daughter walk in with Ling Changqing, she smiled slightly.

"You’re here? Come, sit down and have something to eat."

Luo Qingxuan agreed and sat down with Ling Changqing across the table.

Bai Qingyi’s shimmering gaze swept over the handsome, purple-robed young man. Noticing his slightly weary expression, which contrasted with her daughter’s radiant and vibrant glow, she understood perfectly well what had happened.

’This girl... honestly. How could she wear Ling Changqing out like that? The man hasn’t even reached the Golden Core Master Realm yet!’

She grumbled to herself, but her fair, beautiful face remained wreathed in a warm smile as she spoke:

"As for Elder Luo Qi, I will handle it. You don’t need to worry about a thing."

"That’s a relief."

Ling Changqing breathed a sigh of relief, and then voiced the doubts and suspicions in his heart.

Bai Qingyi mused, "That Elder Luo Qi has no descendants or even a Dao Companion; she’s always been alone. Her reputation within the Dragon Race has always been decent...

"This invitation is indeed unusual. I will inform Elder Luo Cangli and have him look into it."

At this point, Bai Qingyi didn’t yet suspect that the elder might be a mole planted by another power.

After all, this Elder Luo Qi had been famous for tens of thousands of years and had made many contributions to the Deep Sea Dragon Race. Even if her personality was a bit reclusive, she still held considerable prestige among the Dragon Race’s upper echelons.

Luo Qingxuan huffed, "Good. In any case, I never want to see any more of these troublesome invitations again!" Nowadays, anything related to Ling Changqing made her particularly sensitive.

Bai Qingyi gave her an amused sidelong glance and said to Ling Changqing:

"Regarding the Spiritual Object, I have a lead. The item should be inside a certain hidden Grotto Heaven Blessed Land."

She had promised to find Ling Changqing a superior Heavenly and Earthly Treasure capable of raising his Spirit Root Talent to Top Rank Earth Grade, and she had finally found something.

"A Grotto Heaven Blessed Land?"

Luo Qingxuan immediately asked, "Which one? I should be able to enter, right?"

’Ling Changqing’s cultivation is still limited,’ she thought. ’His safety can’t be guaranteed. It would be better if I went and brought the resource back myself.’

Bai Qingyi shook her head, rejecting her daughter’s idea.

"The spatial structure of that Grotto Heaven Blessed Land is too fragile. Forget about Nascent Soul True Monarchs, even Golden Core Masters can’t enter."

Ling Changqing looked slightly startled. "Does that mean only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Level can come and go freely? Then I’m the only one who can go."

Bai Qingyi nodded. "That is indeed the case. Moreover, the ownership of this Grotto Heaven Blessed Land doesn’t belong entirely to the Dragon Race. It is jointly held with the Nine Great Cultivation Families of Yuzhou."

This Grotto Heaven Blessed Land was discovered and opened jointly by experts from the Dragon Race and the Nine Great Families of Yuzhou, so naturally, any benefits found within are divided equally between the two sides.

"Mother, you mean..."

Luo Qingxuan’s dark brows furrowed slightly. She vaguely realized that this matter was not so simple.

’I can’t go in, so Ling Changqing has to retrieve it himself. Who knows what kind of dangers are waiting inside?’

Bai Qingyi sighed and explained further:

"This Grotto Heaven Blessed Land has always served as a trial ground for tempering the younger generation from both sides. For Ling Changqing to get that Spiritual Object, he will have to participate in the upcoming trial for new disciples.

"According to the agreement between the nine families and us, the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land opens once every fifty years. Coincidentally, the next opening is just a few months away!

"When the time comes, Changqing, you will pose as a young disciple of the Dragon Race and enter the trial alongside their newcomers. Who knows, you might even stumble upon other opportunities and rewards!"

Ling Changqing: "..."