Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 241 - 172: Secret Pursuit

Changqing Continent Marketplace, Xingyun sun Commerce Association branch.

In the tranquil reception room, Ling Changqing and Xue Qingtan sat opposite each other, sipping tea and discussing the Dao.

"...You’ve been gone so long. Did you finally decide to come back?"

The beauty before him was dressed in a vermilion gown, her bearing elegant. Her flawless face, free of makeup, was faintly flushed, and her tone held a clear note of flirtatious complaint.

It looked less like a simple business relationship and more like the playful bickering of lovers.

"Things happened out there, so... it’s a long story."

Ling Changqing explained vaguely, his expression calm as ever.

Among the powerful figures who had been lying in wait outside Dragon Soul Valley, there might well have been experts from the Xingyun sun Commerce Association, secretly biding their time.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Xue Qingtan, and he wouldn’t blame her for it.

"Senior Sister Xue, it’s time to make good on the promise I made you."

As Ling Changqing spoke, he took out a Jade Box, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it toward her.

Inside the Jade Box were two stalks of the Third Grade Spirit Medicine, Fire Feather Nine-Night Orchid, and several pieces of Third Grade Spirit Gold Materials.

The last time he left Changqing Continent to travel, he had asked Xue Qingtan to delay her advancement. He promised to give her some resources upon his return to help her break through to the Golden Core Master Realm.

Xue Qingtan hadn’t refused. She had waited all this time, and her Cultivation was still that of a Pseudo Core master.

"I’m surprised you still remembered, Junior Brother Ling. I was starting to think you’d forgotten!"

The beautiful woman was all smiles, a touch of joy added to her gentle voice.

She had previously gathered nearly all the resources she needed to attempt a breakthrough to the True Pill Realm. She had even been planning to request leave to return to her headquarters for secluded cultivation.

It was Ling Changqing’s advice that made her change her mind and wait until now.

The main reason was that she wasn’t very confident of success on her own, not unless Ling Changqing was willing to lend a hand.

Now, with this Spirit Medicine and these Spirit Gold Materials, she could turn them in to the headquarters for contribution points. Then, she could use her internal privileges to purchase even better Core Formation Resources, greatly increasing her chances of forming a True Pill.

Ling Changqing smiled. "Actually, I don’t think you should be satisfied with the True Pill Realm, Senior Sister. Why not try to become a Golden Core Master?"

After a Cultivator achieves a Pseudo Core, they can, with sufficient resources, find a way to dissolve it and try again to form a True Pill.

However, once one reaches the True Pill Realm, going back is not so easy. The required conditions become far more demanding—something ordinary Cultivators couldn’t even dream of.

Xue Qingtan looked stunned for a moment before explaining subconsciously, "My Spirit Root Talent isn’t good enough, and I’m lacking in both luck and Blessed Fortune. I really don’t dare hope for too much."

This was the reality for the vast majority of Pseudo Core Cultivators. With poor Spirit Root Talent, insufficient resources, and lacking Destiny, they could only make do, finding it difficult to advance another step before their Lifespan ran out.

Of course, Xue Qingtan had dreamed of the Golden Core Master Realm, but many things in life can’t be obtained simply by wishing for them.

"I can help you!"

Ling Changqing said, simply and directly.

Xue Qingtan shuddered. Her beautiful, radiant eyes lit up, and her gentle voice quivered slightly.

"Really? Junior Brother Ling, you’re willing to...?"

Ling Changqing gently took her soft hand from the table. He gazed into her eyes, which were filled with irrepressible shyness, and said in a warm voice,

"I don’t think I can live without you from now on, so... call me your husband."

’He knew this beautiful woman had harbored certain feelings for a long time, but had never found the courage to voice them.’

’Besides, the main reason the Xingyun sun Commerce Association had taken so long to notice anything unusual about him was that Xue Qingtan had been helping to cover his tracks.’

’If not for her, he might have been exposed long ago.’

That was why Ling Changqing had decided to be the one to finally break the silence between them and grant her wish.

"...Alright, my husband."

Xue Qingtan’s beautiful face flushed crimson. For the first time, she seemed flustered and uneasy, but deep down, she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

’For the legendary Child of Destiny to become her Dao Companion... there could be no more perfect outcome!’

"Right, this decision won’t cause any problems for you, will it? Do we need to keep this a secret?"

Ling Changqing asked after a moment of contemplation.

A great power with a long history like the Xingyun sun Commerce Association would not only have a strict internal hierarchy, but also an innumerable amount of rules.

If a member serving the organization were to find an outside Cultivator as a Dual Cultivation Companion, they would likely have to report it and apply for approval from their superiors.

If the higher-ups were to disagree, believing it would compromise the organization’s interests, the applicant would have no choice but to obey.

Xue Qingtan thought for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Normally, something like this isn’t allowed. There have been negative precedents in the past.

So, it’s best we don’t make this public for now. In the future, when we can no longer hide it, I’ll... I’ll just resign from my post!"

If a relationship beyond mere friendship developed between a member of the Commerce Association and a client, any resulting collusion would inevitably harm the Association’s interests.

Therefore, one couldn’t blame the Xingyun sun Commerce Association’s leadership for being impersonal; it was a necessary bottom line.

Ling Changqing nodded. "Let’s do that, then. Honestly, it wouldn’t matter if your superiors found out. From now on, I can just provide for you!"

Xue Qingtan shot him a playful look. ’This husband of mine is not the man he once was,’ she thought. ’He’s certainly earned the right to say something like that.’

"So, what about now?"

Xue Qingtan gazed at him intently, a seductive glimmer rippling in her lustrous eyes. Her meaning was self-evident.

One couldn’t blame her for being so eager. This matter was simply too important to her; she couldn’t bear the thought of any unforeseen complications.

When faced with an opportunity capable of Defying Fate, one naturally had to seize it as quickly as possible!

Ling Changqing said nothing. He took her smooth, soft hand and rose to his feet. Xue Qingtan’s delicate frame trembled slightly as she stood up to follow him.