Why is my Hundred Lifetimes Book different?

After dealing with the aftermath, Ren Qingshan handed the gold contract to Li Yao, instructing him to sell it through a pawnshop, and then left.

They left Tiandu and headed north.

When passing through Zhenbei City, he went in briefly, gave the "Golden Stone Returning to Origin Technique" to his cousin Ren Jiangtao, bought some gifts, went home to see his wife and children, and told them about the position he had secured in the Immortal Sect... He spent a day with them before leaving and returning to Shanyang.

……

"What does Father think: should this calligraphy be hung up, or hidden away?"

Shanyang County Government Office.

In the study, Ren Qingshan met his father, introduced his recent experiences and Jin Wujiu's background, and slowly unfolded the calligraphy before asking with a smile.

Ren Jiaping glanced at his son and remained silent for a moment.

"If I were you, I would frame it and carry it with me. If I encounter a powerful enemy, I would immediately unleash it and hang it high above my head."

Ren Qingshan chuckled to himself.

My dad!

This... old ginger, so spicy?

Ren Qingshan found his father's suggestion amusing, but of course he refused.

This method might have some use, but since I already have the status of a wandering knight, it's clear that hanging this calligraphy at home is more suitable.

"Father, does the Ren family currently have any mature and reliable young men?"

"Two months ago, I bought a Qi Refining Talisman in Zhenbei City and gave it to my cousin to refine."

"Now that I have some spare money, I'm thinking of buying a few more Qi Refining Talismans to add a few more cultivators to my family!"

Ren Qingshan simply changed the subject.

With many people, there is great strength. Once the family prospers, how can training more cultivators to draw talismans and refine weapons not be considered a way to make money?

Moreover, he also obtained the Golden Stone Returning to Origin Technique.

Ren Jiaping's fingers trembled... Jiang Tao had actually embarked on the path to immortality.

Although he had anticipated that this day would come sooner or later as his son's cultivation progressed, he did not expect it to come so soon!

Suppressing the pounding in his heart, Ren Jiaping took several deep breaths before gradually calming down and focusing his mind on the matter.

"How is Bingce?"

"Yes, but Bingce is still young and immature. My Ren family is not like a powerful clan. If we need someone to be the pillar of our family right now, let's wait two more years."

Ren Jiaping nodded silently: "My Ren family got rich late in life, and although it has many branches and leaves, they are still young at the moment."

A thought stirred within him, and Ren Qingshan pondered for a moment: "Father? Would you like to cultivate?"

Ren Jiaping's gaze suddenly froze.

He was already in his forties and considered himself old and frail. This idea had never crossed his mind before. Even if he had a Qi-refining talisman, he would naturally prioritize the children and youths of his clan.

But...me?

"What can I do?"

This matter needs to be weighed. If cultivating oneself can maximize the benefits for the family, then one should cultivate; otherwise, then it needs to be discussed further.

"With Father's character, he can do so much; he is truly the pillar of the family!"

"I'll go find a Qi-refining talisman for Father right away!"

Ren Qingshan was filled with interest and enthusiasm.

An old horse in its stall may still aspire to gallop a thousand miles; who says one cannot cultivate immortality in their forties?

Back then, the first person I took was an old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) from a镖局 (escort agency), who was over sixty years old and still had to sell his business and his daughter to obtain a Qi Refining Talisman.

Father is a man of deep thoughts, capable of thriving in the mortal world. With such a temperament, why shouldn't he cultivate immortality?

……

That night.

Ren Qingshan then went out.

Wearing the clothes of the Ten Directions Traveler, he first went to the neighboring Zhuolu County to visit the local guardian immortal master.

His divine sense had already swept across the area, and Hua Zhiyan of Shanyang County was not in the city.

The Immortal Master's Mansion in Zhulu County was brightly lit. When Ren Qingshan probed it with his divine sense, he was immediately detected: "Who are you, fellow Daoist?"

"The Immortal Sect roams the ten directions, freely traversing the green mountains!"

After showing his waist badge, Ren Qingshan was invited inside and successfully met the guardian immortal master of Zhuolu County.

This is the benefit of the Ten Directions Traveler identity.

A position in the Immortal Sect carries prestige wherever you go.

The guardian immortal of Zhulu County looks exceptionally young, yet possesses a calm and composed demeanor.

After introducing themselves, they learned that his name was Liang Dingqian and he came from the Liang family in Zhenbei.

Ren Qingshan exchanged pleasantries with him, without revealing his past connection with the Liang family. He only mentioned that he wanted to borrow a Qi Refining Talisman from him, in his capacity as a Ten Directions Traveler.

After careful consideration, Liang Dingqian said that there were no quotas available, but if they insisted on squeezing one out, they could do so, though it would offend people.

One can understand the refined meaning by listening to the music.

Ren Qingshan, of course, understood the meaning of these words, so he generously offered three thousand five hundred spirit stones.

It should be noted that at the last auction, the Qi Refining Talisman I won only cost three thousand two hundred spirits.

This price is already considered very high.

After much polite conversation, Liang Dingqian relented, and the deal was completed.

Ren Qingshan asked him if he had any extra Qi Refining Talismans, and offered to buy them all for 3,500 spirit stones.

It seems that Liang Dingqian has completely lost his chance, but he said he could help inquire about it.

As a member of the Liang family and a guardian immortal master, he naturally had his own channels.

Ren Qingshan entrusted this matter to him, and after receiving a Qi-refining talisman, he rushed home and handed it to his father.

He personally protected and refined it.

I also felt a bit emotional.

Here you are.

That's how all the prominent families of the Immortal Sect came to be.

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and the dog ascend to heaven.

However, on this arduous path of cultivation, the only people he can rely on right now are himself and his blood relatives.

Unless one day I stand at the pinnacle, becoming the master of this immortal sect, a supreme being, perhaps I can break the old rules and establish new ones, bringing more fairness to rogue cultivators, mortals, and all living beings...

However, right now, being poor means you can only try to take care of yourself.

……

Ren Jiaping refined the Qi-refining talisman within his body, feeling the spiritual energy surging into him, the unusual movement of his blood and qi, and the initial changes the talisman brought to his body: copper skin, iron bones, jade marrow, silver blood, golden eyes, and even an extension of ten years in lifespan...

Even though he was a man of deep cunning and rarely showed his emotions, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy at this moment.

Unexpectedly, this old man, thanks to his son, was able to embark on the path to immortality!

"Ren Jiaping, ranked 17329th on the Qi Refining Ranking."

Ren Jiaping murmured to himself, his transformed eyes as bright as a young boy's, but his weathered and wistful gaze carried the patina of time.

"It seems that the number of newly recruited cultivators in the Immortal Sect has increased considerably over the years."

"When I first entered Qi Refining, my ranking was still within the top 10,000, around 9,800."

Ren Qingshan said with a smile.

Ten years have passed, and the number of cultivators has doubled!

This doesn't even include those that perished midway.

Of course, it may also be related to the recent revival of the Earthly Mechanism, as the Immortal Sect has greatly increased the supply of Qi Refining Talismans.

The competition for cultivation resources among cultivators of my father's generation will likely become increasingly fierce.

Thinking of this, Ren Qingshan felt inexplicably conflicted.

"Father, cultivate diligently. The future of the family rests on your shoulders."

Upon hearing this, Ren Jiaping glanced at his son, realizing the sarcasm in his voice, shook his head and smiled, somewhat speechless.

This child...

He couldn't help but think of the night Ren Qingshan left home when he was eight years old, and the cold morning when he saw his son off on his way home... The little child, with his thin back, is now an adult and the pillar of the family.

So Ren Jiaping pretended to cup his hands in a gesture of respect, trying to make his son laugh.

"Ren Jiaping, a cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining from the Ren family of Shanyang, greets fellow Daoist. You are very polite."

Ren Qingshan's pupils constricted sharply, and he quickly reached out to support him, saying, "No, no, Father, you're making me feel terrible. I call you Father, and you call me Brother?"

But I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The father and son looked at each other, and their laughter was particularly hearty.

A few moments of laughter and merriment.

Ren Qingshan's expression turned serious: "When you first enter the Qi Refining stage, you need to work hard to fill your dantian with spiritual energy. Only then can you proceed to the second step: planting a spiritual seed and cultivating a spiritual root. This process can take anywhere from half a year to several years. I hope you will work hard, Father. I will find a suitable spiritual seed for you first."

Ren Jiaping took a deep breath, nodded, and looked determined.

Time waits for no one!

The son has worked tirelessly and made every step of the way to the rise of this family. How can I not share his burdens?

……

……