In the world of cultivation, one grinds for proficiency and longevity.

As expected, the Zhou family head continued speaking:

"Our requirements are that you marry into the Zhou family, betroth to a daughter of the Zhou family, and leave behind at least twelve offspring for the Zhou family. The more children with spiritual roots you have, the greater the reward and the higher your status."

"Of course, if you really don't want to take this path, we also have the option of becoming a guest retainer. For eight years, the Zhou family will provide spirit stones, spirit rice, spirit tea, etc., according to certain standards and qualifications."

"They are allowed to choose one skill from the various arts of cultivation and become an apprentice in that skill. If they can advance to the next level, they will be considered successful. Their status and resources will also improve accordingly."

"However, if it fails, let me make this clear beforehand: as a member of the Zhou family, you will have to bear the responsibility of pioneering the wilderness, which is extremely dangerous."

I have experience with liver-related issues, so I should be able to succeed in less than eight years.

God help me too!

Upon hearing the second option, Chen Changqing had already made up his mind, but his face remained expressionless.

Twelve children... I think I can manage...

As for the second option, if I can't learn it... I'll have to become cannon fodder in eight years, so I won't choose the second option...

Li Erniu looked at Chen Changqing with eager eyes, clearly tempted. "Brother Chen, I choose the first option. What about you?"

"You don't mind if I marry into your family?"

"Brother Chen, I have many brothers in my family! Besides, there's a place to cultivate immortality, and I can also get married and have children... This deal is really worthwhile."

Buying and selling?

"That makes sense." Chen Changqing nodded, but did not object to Li Erniu.

For Li Erniu, who came from a farming family, getting married and having children was his life goal, and cultivating immortality was probably just a side effect.

Chen Changqing was interested in the Zhou family's spiritual vein dojo, and as for marrying and having children, one could say he wasn't opposed to it.

"Young friend Chen can consider it first. The cultivation world in Lu Kingdom is in chaos right now. Our Zhou family is a righteous family with a guaranteed reputation and credibility."

The Zhou family head did not insist and walked over to the other teenagers.

Chen Changqing wanted to join, but being cautious by nature, he felt it was safer to find out more about the situation first.

Young Marquis Wang Feng was well-informed, so Chen Changqing asked him about it.

Wang Feng did not refuse and turned around to ask someone for information.

After a short while, he replied, "I have found out that the Zhou family of Cuiya Lake is a legitimate family of cultivators, and there are no bad rumors circulating about them for the time being."

Five or six years ago, this clan fought with the Ye family over the ownership of a spirit mine, losing nearly half of their able-bodied members. Furthermore, the Zhou family has had few new members in the last two years and urgently needs to replenish their ranks with fresh blood!

After hearing this, Chen Changqing breathed a sigh of relief and made up his mind to join the Zhou family to learn one of the hundred arts of immortal cultivation.

"Rumor has it that the Zhou family's only Foundation Establishment ancestor was severely injured in a battle several years ago and probably won't live past ten years."

Wang Feng suddenly lowered his voice.

The implication is that the Zhou family's future is not very bright.

"I understand, thank you for reminding me, Brother Wang."

Chen Changqing didn't mind.

How long will the Zhou family patriarch live, and what are his future prospects?

He doesn't choose to marry into the family, so what's it to him?

Anyway, the Zhou family is just a temporary place for Chen Changqing to cultivate. If he really encounters something that concerns his life, he will definitely run away decisively.

……

"Young friend Chen, what do you think?"

In the crowd, the Zhou family head, who had returned, came to the two of them again.

"We both agree to join the Zhou family. My brother Erniu chose the first option: to marry into the family; I chose the second option: to learn one of the hundred arts and cultivate immortality."

"What a pity, with your spiritual root... But it would be good if you could join us..."

Half an hour later.

The Zhou family head selected fifteen teenagers with spiritual roots, including Chen Changqing and Li Erniu.

"Alright, from now on you are all members of the Zhou family outside the family. Now follow me back to Cuiya Lake."

The Zhou family head led a group of teenagers down the mountain.

Besides Zhou Dezheng, there were five family retainers accompanying him, all of whom were at the fourth to sixth level of Qi Refining.

After leaving Liuyun Valley.

The Zhou family members did not fly, but instead rode ordinary horses that had been prepared in advance.

These horses seemed to have been trained; even Li Erniu, who had never ridden a horse before, was able to ride them smoothly.

"Brother Chen, why don't these immortal masters let us ride flying boats like they do when we go for assessments?"

Li Erniu was somewhat disappointed.

"It's probably... an attempt to toughen our bodies and wills along the way."

Chen Changqing thought for a moment and then said.

Although he could somewhat guess that the Zhou family might not be able to afford it, or rather, they didn't have a flying boat, he would never be foolish enough to reveal the reason.

Moreover, the speed of this airship is not very fast, it feels about the same as the speed of fifty or sixty miles per hour on Earth.

"To hone our physique and willpower? That makes perfect sense! Brother Chen, you know so much." Li Erniu was convinced of this without a doubt.

The conversation between the two could not be hidden from the Zhou family cultivator who was leading the way.

The Zhou family head remained silent, but the corners of the mouths of the five Zhou family members twitched slightly, their expressions strange.

……

The sun is setting.

The Zhou family rested in the wild.

Five Zhou family cultivators instructed the young men to set up tents, light campfires, cut grass, and feed the horses.

Chen Changqing was sent on a hunting trip.

"They can't even afford to use fasting pills?"

"This suggests that the Zhou family's actual situation may not be as good as imagined."

On the way, Chen Changqing analyzed.

[Flick of spiritual power, experience +1]

[Flick of spiritual power, experience +1]

……

[Spell: Spiritual Flick (Expert 1/800)]

Taking advantage of the hunting opportunity, Chen Changqing finally upgraded this spell to a higher level.

I could clearly feel a significant increase in the strength of my fingers and wrists, especially in my middle finger, which is the primary firing finger.

"Although this technique isn't particularly advanced, I've trained it to the 'expert' level, and it should have amazing effects when I use it."

Another technique.

"Changchun Gathering Qi Gong" is also a common technique in the cultivation world. As a health-preserving exercise, it has mediocre power and extremely slow cultivation speed.

Therefore, apart from some down-on-their-luck rogue cultivators who know they have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and use it to prolong their lives for a few more years, almost no one would practice it.

Its advantages include prolonging life and enhancing spiritual awareness.

But Chen Changqing valued these two points.

This idea became even more deeply ingrained, especially after the Golden Finger was awakened.

The "Changchun Qi Gathering Gong" must be practiced from the Qi Refining stage onwards, and it must be the primary practice to increase lifespan. If one switches to another practice midway, the lifespan-increasing effect will be lost!

The life-extending effect is roughly half again as long as other cultivators of the same level at each cultivation realm.

For example: the Qi Refining stage extends lifespan by about sixty years; the Foundation Establishment stage extends lifespan by one hundred and twenty years; and the Core Formation stage extends lifespan by three hundred years.

"My spiritual roots are water, wood, and fire, which are only so-so. With the help of the cheat system, I'll set a small goal of reaching the Nascent Soul stage."

The spiritual roots of cultivators are generally divided into Heavenly Spiritual Root (I), Earthly Spiritual Root (II), Middle Spiritual Root (III), Pseudo-Spiritual Root (IV), and Miscellaneous Spiritual Root (V).

In addition, there are rare special spiritual roots such as wind, thunder, lightning, and ice.

……

"Cheer up! We'll reach the Zhou family's camp in just one more day," the Zhou family leader shouted.

After nearly a month of arduous travel, enduring wind and rain and sleeping outdoors, the boys traveling together were exhausted and their steps were heavy.

Only Chen Changqing, who possessed the "Eternal Spring Skill," benefited from the skill's long and abundant energy, resulting in a full and energetic body.

During this time, he even made time to practice martial arts.

Zhou Dezheng saw all of this and felt that he was "neglecting his duties".

……

"We've arrived at Emerald Lake!"

Another day passed, and the Zhou family cultivators' expressions brightened.

"Look, that's the spiritual lake water resource controlled by the Zhou family. It can produce plump spiritual fish."

"Wow, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is so rich. We definitely came to the right place."

A gentle breeze, carrying a slight moisture, refreshed everyone.

As they approached the Zhou family's territory, the Zhou family members, who had remained vigilant throughout, breathed a sigh of relief.

The mission to escort the fairy seedlings is finally complete.

Just when everyone was starting to relax.

call out!call out!

Several black, honeycomb-like objects shot out from the forest and exploded above the crowd!

Immediately afterwards, a loud buzzing sound arose, and countless giant bluish-purple bees swarmed out of their hive!

These venomous bees were as big as eggs, with menacing mouthparts that gleamed with a chilling light.

Apart from Zhou Zhengde's steed, which managed to remain calm, the other horses were instantly terrified and collapsed to the ground, or ran around in panic.

"Oh no! Enemy attack!"

"It's a wolf-toothed poisonous wasp! Quick, defend yourself! Don't get stung!"