Talisman Reincarnation - All My Clones Are Dao Ancestors-Chapter 149: Harmonious Family

When chatting with the shadow cultivator, Fu Xian felt that he was a lot more cheery than his first impression.

He asked for his name, which was Mingling, a name he had chosen himself after he became a cultivator and awakened his abilities.

Fu Xian told the young man to wait in the capital until he got back to bring him to the immortal city. After all, even with an invitation, the process would be a lot lengthier than if he were to be taken directly be a citizen.

Sending him out, Fu Xian sat in his seat and asked Ye Long who had been quiet and invisible the whole night, "Ye Long, what have you learned and what will you do in the future in such a situation?"

Ye Long had waited for such a question the whole night. Still, he took his time to contemplate his answer before he replied, "Master, I have learned three things today –

First, the difference in cultivation stages is only a matter of perception. For those who have seen high and low, the difference lies in whether they have the talent to reach further. Someone like Senior Ruan deserves true reverence. All the uncles and aunts also deserve real respect. But someone like the Di Elder..."

Fu Xian nodded imperceptible but didn’t interject.

Seeing his master not commenting on it, Ye Long continued with his analysis.

"The second thing I learned is that during negotiation, one should take the lead, explain the pros and cons, and directly use the momentum to complete the deal. Questions and such should be asked right before fully completing the deal as a last-minute request that might dissolve the deal, to create a situation where your questions will be asked."

Once again, no reaction came, so Ye Long explained the last point.

"Lastly, the third point I learned is that benefits are the true foundation for cooperation. Master knew neither the Di family nor the shadow cultivator, but because there were benefits for both sides, the cooperation was very smooth and completed in one discussion."

Finally, Fu Xian nodded and replied to each of them, "Your first point is right, but you have to include a baseline of respect for those stronger than you, simply because they have already reached the stages you only have the potential to reach.

Everyone has their own negotiation techniques. I have learned to see both sides and present them in a way to manipulate the arguments towards the sides I favour. Discussing them too deeply will create holes and arguments you might not have answer to, but if you create the outline for the discussion and force your component to follow your pace, then they won’t be able to win.

As for your third point, that is true. I don’t have anything to add.

Your insight into today’s banquet is quite good.

I hope you take what you learned today and are able to use it on your own next time.

Your cultivation isn’t far from breaking through. By then, I hope you can take care of the courtyard.

In the future, when I open my talisman business, you will also become the storekeeper, or at least oversee it.

Many things I am thinking of right now can’t be solved in a matter of days, they require many years to truly blossom.

I just hope that when those days come, you can take care of things on your own."

Fu Xian hoped Ye Long would become the true disciple of his lineage. Whether he took disciples in the future, or whether he introduced his own clones as disciples or members in his lineage, he hoped that with the help of Ye Long, he could have a clear control.

After all, his own mind could only have that much capacity.

During this whole trip, he was effectively not learning or progressing at all. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

In the future, such situations should become less and less, until he reaches a point where even during his trips, he can progress in his cultivation, without having to worry about several things, without having to create an avatar and split his mind, and without having to pay attention to projects.

’Worldly affairs truly dim a cultivator’s mind. It’s only because I am not a taoist that such a matter is fine and can be solved by simply calming down. But if I was a taoist, then my mind state would be disturbed and I might develop inner demons.’

He then sent Ye Long to sleep, plunging his own mind to calm down too.

While there were many things he had to attend to, one thing he never neglected was proper sleep and rest.

Other cultivators might look down on sleep, but they achieved a lot less in their day than he did.

...

Stone Lotus County

Mu Yan sat with his two children at the table, eating breakfast prepared by the third-stage agent.

He stood on the side, his expression not showing much emotion.

"Father, I have tried out the glaive yesterday when we fought the pirates. I feel like it’s quite good and should be usable for some time." Yuanhan said while eating.

"That’s good. Still, we should find a good smith to forge you a glaive that would accompany you for a long time. Well, it won’t be too late to do so when you reach the second stage.

What about you, Yuanyun? Is the pen you write with good? What about the paper and ink?"

"Father, to be honest, the smell of this ink is a bit irritating."

"Is it? What kind of ink do you use?"

"It’s normal cinnamon ink mixed with some sandalwood..."

"Sandalwood? Well, some people do get a headache when they smell too much of it. Next time, I’ll get you some grassy or flowery ink. We could also try non-smelling ink, but in that case, it will be a bit too stuffy in your room. Why won’t we look at them in the city and you decide which one you like?"

"Yes father!" Yuanyun was excited when he heard he could decide his own ink. In the Royal School, everything was uniform, which was quite annoying.

The agent saw the small family and felt that the future of the county was harmonious.