Why is my Hundred Lifetimes Book different?

In the main hall of the house.

Ren Jiaping sat in the main seat, Ren Qingshan sat opposite him, and Li Yao, Liu Yunsong, and Lu Jiyue sat in turn.

"How is Professor Liu doing lately?"

Ren Qingshan asked with a smile.

I had seen him once when I went home before. I couldn't help him much with the matter of guarding the immortal master, nor was I able to.

However, their current situations are vastly different, and if Ren Qingshan can help, he certainly won't hesitate to lend a hand.

Although the Ren family currently only has one Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator and two others at Qi Refining Level 1, in some counties with lower ratings, they can still be considered a cultivation family.

Since they are a family of cultivators, they can recruit followers, and both sides can get what they need.

For the retainers, having an extra income of spirit stones is naturally a good thing.

For a family, things that are inconvenient or impossible for other family members to do can naturally be entrusted to retainers.

"Just barely scraping by."

"After this year, I plan to go to the Endless Sea to see if I can find any opportunity to obtain true Qi."

"I am ashamed to say that so many years have been wasted."

After a moment's thought, Liu Yunsong did not try to show off or act arrogantly, but objectively recounted his own experience.

True Qi is an insurmountable barrier for cultivators at the second level of Qi Refining.

This item cannot be preserved, so the Immortal Sect does not sell it; one can only search for it in the world or rob other cultivators.

In his quest for true Qi, Ren Qingshan endured three years of hardship in the Immortal Prison and five years in the mortal world, spending a total of eight years to refine a ten-thousand-foot-long mortal Qi.

Liu Yunsong guarded Shanyang for twenty years, but had no chance.

He waited in Tiandu City for another three years, but still had no chance.

They say they have no opportunity, but actually they lack ambition, courage, and are too concerned with playing it safe.

But why be so harsh on this matter?

If you go out, you might find true Qi, but you might also end up as a pile of yellow earth, already several years old.

"Oh?"

"The Endless Sea—are the opportunities at sea greater than those on land? And now, the land is reviving..."

As Ren Qingshan spoke, he thought of a former friend, a friend in name only, whom he had only met once, a young man named Qin Guanhai.

However, cultivators often travel to different parts of the world, and it is common for them to meet and part ways. To be able to meet someone and find a friend rather than an enemy is already quite difficult.

"Even if the Earth Machine is revived, the land has already become the territory of various people, and it is beyond the reach of a small rogue cultivator like me."

"There are more opportunities at sea, after all."

Liu Yunsong explained softly.

It's difficult for a lone cultivator to go anywhere!

"I have now advanced to the fourth level of Qi Refining and am about to condense my wealth energy to broaden my sources of income. However, my Ren family's foundation is still shallow and we lack manpower..."

Ren Qingshan noticed his worry, thought for a moment, and then cut to the chase, speaking directly.

Although Liu Yunsong's character is only average, compared to many cultivators, he is already quite good and barely usable.

"This... Qingshan, I know you mean well."

"To be honest, I'm really tired of making talismans and want to go to the mountains and seas to see the vastness and the waves."

"However, my apprentice has already mastered ninety percent of my talisman-making skills. Now that you have achieved some success in your cultivation, you might as well give her a hand."

Liu Yunsong declined the offer himself, but recommended Lu Jiyue instead.

Lu Jiyue was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening.

After her master left, she still had to take care of her young son. However, as a female cultivator, she had no powerful backing or background, and it was difficult for her in this capital city.

Now that Ren Qingshan has achieved some success, if we can get his help, even if we encounter difficulties, at least we will have someone to turn to for help.

"I... if there's anything I can do, I'm willing to."

Lu Jiyue immediately bowed slightly, making a brief statement.

Ren Qingshan looked at her and recalled her outstanding temperament when she was a child. This girl was not arrogant, but rather had a faint sense of fragility and melancholy. She always gave people the impression of being preoccupied, but she was very well-behaved.

"I've always wondered, where are you from?"

Ren Qingshan then asked.

"She was originally from Tiandu. Her father and I were sworn brothers. He sold his property and went to sea to seek opportunities. Before he left, he entrusted her to me, but... she has not returned to this day. It has been almost twenty years."

"I also had this intention when I went out to sea this time. Perhaps I could help her inquire, after all, it would put my mind at ease."

Liu Yunsong sighed and explained that twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye, and the long road of cultivation had been filled with both storms and sunshine. It was truly hard to describe; to be alive was already a great blessing.

"Alright, then let's settle this matter as it stands for now."

Ren Qingshan chatted with them for a while longer, ate at their home, inquired about Lu Jiyue's current residence, gave her a thousand spirit stones, and told her to go find her soon before bidding farewell.

……

into the night.

In the study.

Ren Qingshan and his father had a quiet chat.

Ren Qingshan took out two spirit seeds from his storage bag and gently placed them on the table.

"Father, these two spirit seeds, one is called the Divination Spirit Seed and the other is called the Nine-Turn Heart Lotus Spirit Seed. The Divination Spirit Seed is for you, and the Nine-Turn Heart Lotus is for my cousin."

The divination of the spirit seed cost 190,000 spirit stones.

The Nine-Turn Heart Lotus is exclusive to alchemists and can increase the success rate of alchemy. It costs 60,000 spirit stones.

I currently have nearly a million spirit stones on hand, so I need to acquire the necessary resources.

Ren Jiaping nodded silently.

He carefully put away the two spirit seeds, then thought for a moment and asked, "Qingshan, are you considering taking a concubine?"

Ok?

This question caught Ren Qingshan off guard, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Let's put that aside for now. Speaking of wealth, the key to advancing from the fourth to the fifth level of Qi Refining lies in opening up avenues for wealth and accumulating wealth energy..."

After explaining the key points, Ren Qingshan looked at his father and continued, "Our family does have a technique called the Golden Stone Returning to Origin Technique, but we don't have enough manpower."

"To neglect the cultivation of our clansmen in order to manage these things is to put the cart before the horse."

"Therefore, whether it's alchemy, weapon crafting, talisman making, or the restoration of metal and stone, we need to hire retainers for now. Once the children in the family grow up and are in their teens, we can gradually take over these businesses."

"Once the family has sufficient resources, we can train more warriors, expand our resources externally, and gradually make our move."

"This is a plan for the ages!"

"If I can reach the Foundation Establishment stage one day, I might be able to compete for the title of Foundation Establishment family in the Immortal Sect. My Ren family could very well be called the Ren Clan Immortal Clan in the future."

As Ren Jiaping listened to these words, his eyes shone brightly, filled with excitement and longing.

These are things I wouldn't even dare to dream of!

But it's not impossible!

"For a family to thrive, people are the foundation."

"In my generation, your eldest uncle and third uncle are clearly no longer capable. But in your generation, you are the true main line."

"Qingshan, let me be frank with you, our main branch is not thriving, how can the family possibly be secure?"

"Besides, when your cousin's branch of the family, or your younger brother, grows up, they might have other ideas..."

"You must know that if you do not plan for the future, you will have trouble in the present. You should prepare for this matter in advance."

The father's words implied that he still wanted his children to have offspring.

Ren Qingshan understood what he meant, of course.

"Of course."

"Of the five sources of wealth, one is children, but the relevant methods have long been lost. Recently, I plan to go to Tianxu to investigate the situation and see if there is any opportunity."

Ren Qingshan was neither opposed to taking a concubine, nor did he particularly desire it.

Breeding like livestock is not what I desire.

However, if things go smoothly, and the two are mutually attracted, or if the woman comes from a prominent family and has the resources to support them, then it is perfectly acceptable.

at this time……

Ren Qingshan recalled the boast he had made in his youth: "If I cannot achieve the Great Way, I will not concern myself with worldly affairs."

I couldn't help but smile knowingly.

This path to immortality is truly different from what I imagined in my youth. It lacks any of that ethereal, otherworldly feeling. Instead, it is filled with deceit, intrigue, and fierce battles.

But... we're already here.

……

……