“Hmm, that makes sense.”
Lu Chang’an smiled, not refuting Li Ergou.
For Li Ergou, who came from a farming Family, marrying and having children was the pinnacle of life; Cultivation might just be an afterthought.
Lu Chang’an, on the other hand, valued the Mu Family’s Spiritual Vein Daoist site and had no interest in marrying or having children.
In his previous life, he came from a Cultivation Family, Cultivated to the Core Formation Peak, had numerous wives and concubines, and many descendants.
“Little Friend Lu can consider it. The Cultivation World in Liang Country is not peaceful right now, and our Mu Family, as a Righteous Path Cultivation Family, has a good reputation.”
Mu Family Head did not press the issue and turned to the other youths.
Lu Chang’an did not make a decision yet, first inquiring about the Mu Family’s situation.
Little Marquis Lin Yi was well-informed, so Lu Chang’an sought him out for information.
Lin Yi did not decline, musing, “The Emerald Moon Lake Mu Family, I seem to have heard of them…”
“Don’t rush, I’ll help you ask.”
Lin Yi left a remark and went into the crowd to inquire among people from Cultivation Families.
“Lu Dage, why is Little Marquis Lin Yi so easy to talk to now?”
Li Ergou mumbled.
Before this, Lin Yi, relying on his status and superior Cultivation, was not very enthusiastic towards the two of them, even showing some disdain.
Lu Chang’an smiled; Lin Yi was adapting to the role of a Cultivator.
Everyone had been eliminated by the Sects and were at the bottom of the Cultivation World.
Once Lu Chang’an and Li Ergou joined a Cultivation Family, their future prospects would at least be better than those of bottom-tier Loose Cultivators.
It was always better to form good relations than to offend people.
…
A moment later, Lin Yi hurried back, saying seriously:
“I’ve inquired, the Emerald Moon Lake Mu Family is a legitimate Cultivation Family with no bad reputation.”
“A few years ago, the Family competed with the Zheng Family for ownership of a Spiritual Ore mine, losing nearly half of their young and strong Cultivators. In addition, the Mu Family has had very few new Spiritual Root bearers in the past two years, so they urgently need to replenish their ranks!”
Lu Chang’an understood after listening.
These eliminated immortal seedlings, apart from having Spiritual Roots, had no other valuable assets.
Mu Family Head personally appearing to recruit publicly at the foot of Golden Cloud Valley Mountain meant they wouldn't resort to malicious behavior.
“Rumor has it that the Mu Family’s only Foundation Establishment Stage Old Ancestor was severely injured in a battle several years ago and likely won’t live for more than ten years.”
Lin Yi suddenly lowered his voice.
The implication was that the Mu Family’s future prospects were not optimistic.
“I understand, thank you, Brother Lin, for the reminder.”
Lu Chang’an didn’t mind.
If not for such special circumstances, how could outsiders like them have a chance to enter a Cultivation Family?
As for how long the Mu Family Old Ancestor would live, or what the Mu Family’s future prospects were?
What did that have to do with him?
In any case, the Mu Family was just a temporary place for Lu Chang’an’s Cultivation. If he encountered thorny trouble, he would decisively flee.
…
“Little Friend Lu, what have you decided?”
Mu Family Head, dressed in a green robe, elegant and fair-faced, looked at the returning Lu Chang’an and Li Ergou.
“We both agree to join the Mu Family. But this Junior personally has a small request.”
Lu Chang’an cupped his hands.
“Oh, what are your thoughts?”
“This Junior is sincere in the Immortal Dao and, at the stage of entering Cultivation, does not wish to indulge in female beauty. I hope Senior Mu can grant me a ten-year grace period. After ten years, this Junior will then consider marrying and having children.”
“Ten years?”
Mu Family Head snorted coldly, as if a muffled thunder echoed in the Void Realm.
Li Ergou staggered, his face pale, too frightened to utter a word.
Qi Refining Stage eight had absolute suppression over Qi Refining Stage one.
Lu Chang’an struggled to steady himself, feigning a look of terror.
However, he did not withdraw his request.
“Good will.”
Mu Family Head was silent for a moment, then commented lightly, finally making a concession:
“My Mu Family does not support idlers; I can give you five years at most!”
“Five years… alright!”
Lu Chang’an reluctantly agreed.
In fact, he hadn’t hoped for a ten-year delay; he just wanted to leave room for “bargaining.”
Five years met his expectations.
“After five years, if you violate the agreement, you will have to pay three times the Cultivation resources my Mu Family provided.”
Mu Family Head said meaningfully.
He wasn't foolish; how could he let a Junior freeload on the Family’s resources and then run away years later?
His willingness to make a concession was due to Lu Chang’an’s Medium Grade Spiritual Root.
…
An hour later.
Mu Family Head selected ten Spiritual Root youths, including Lu Chang’an and Li Ergou.
They were all youths without background.
“Alright, from now on, you are external disciples of the Mu Family. Follow me back to Emerald Moon Lake.”
Mu Family Head led the ten youths down the mountain.
Besides the Family Head, Mu Maode.
There were also four Mu Family Cultivators of the Qi Refining Middle Stage accompanying them, with Cultivation levels between Qi Refining Stage four and six.
After leaving Golden Cloud Valley.
The Mu Family members did not fly but rode mundane horses.
These horses obeyed the lead spiritual steed, so Li Ergou, who couldn’t ride, was unaffected.
“Lu Dage, why don’t these Immortal Masters take us flying back to the Family’s residence?”
Li Ergou was somewhat disappointed.
When they went to Golden Cloud Valley for the assessment, they rode an Immortal Sect flying boat.
“Hmm… perhaps the Immortal Masters want to temper our bodies and wills during the journey.”
Lu Chang’an said with a profound expression.
Although he knew the reason, as a novice with no background just starting on the immortal path, he absolutely couldn't act like a know-it-all.
Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, after all, had shallow magical power and could only fly with the aid of Magical Artifacts, which was not suitable for long-distance travel.
Moreover, their flying speed wasn’t great, not even comparable to an ordinary car on Earth.
Let alone carrying a bunch of burdens.
As for flying boats? They were quite valuable, and given the Mu Family’s situation, they might not have one available or wouldn't easily use it.
In comparison, traveling by horse was more practical.
It could save magical power.
If they depleted too much magical power from long-distance flying and were ambushed by enemies, it would be a huge joke.
“Temper our bodies and wills? It must be! Lu Dage, you know so much.”
Li Ergou suddenly understood and believed him implicitly.
Their conversation did not escape the Mu Family members leading the way.
Mu Family Head remained silent, while the four Mu Family Cultivators had strange expressions, their mouths twitching slightly.
…
As night fell.
The Mu Family group rested in the wilderness.
Hunting, lighting a bonfire, feeding fodder… the four Mu Family Cultivators instructed the youths to work.
“They won’t even spare a Bigu Pill?”
Lu Chang’an looked at the wild boar and rabbits on the bonfire and couldn’t help but fall into contemplation.
The Emerald Moon Lake Mu Family’s financial situation might be worse than he imagined.
“May I ask Family Head, how long will it take to return to the Family’s residence?”
A youth asked.
“The horses you are riding have a trace of spiritual steed bloodline; it will only take three months to reach the Family.”
Mu Family Head sat cross-legged in front of a separate bonfire, with several Mu Family disciples on guard around him.
Three months?
The Spiritual Root youths exchanged glances.
Some of those who were sitting cross-legged Cultivating looked displeased.
Before reaching the Mu Family, they would constantly be in the mundane “Spirit-poor Land,” making Cultivation progress very slow.
This didn’t even account for the travel and rest time.
It meant that for two or three months on the road, their Cultivation would be almost abandoned!
“Yunfei, give each of them a portion of Spirit Stones.”
Mu Family Head hesitated slightly and called over a handsome Mu Family youth at Qi Refining Stage five.
“Distribute Spirit Stones?”
Lu Chang’an felt a surge of joy; it seemed he had misjudged Mu Family Head.
Soon, the ten Spiritual Root youths received their allocated Spirit Stones.
Speaking of Spirit Stones…
Lu Chang’an looked at the small handful of crystal particles in his palm, emitting faint Spiritual Qi fluctuations, and his lips twitched slightly.
This was Spirit Sand.
In the Cultivation World, it was a smaller unit of currency than Spirit Stones.
Both Spirit Stones and Spirit Sand were mined from Spirit Stone mines.
1 standard Low-Grade Spirit Stone = 50 taels of Spirit Sand.
“Hmm, about 20 taels of Spirit Sand, less than half a Spirit Stone.”
Lu Chang’an weighed it in his hand and fell into contemplation again.
Forget it!
He shouldn’t have hoped for so much.
Anyway, what he valued was the Mu Family’s Spiritual Vein, a place for Cultivation.
Spirit Stones, he would find a way to earn later.
“We have Spirit Stones! Thank you, Family Head…”
The youths who had just embarked on the immortal path beamed with joy.
Spirit Sand could also provide Spiritual Qi for Cultivation.
“As long as you sincerely join the Mu Family and have many descendants, you will receive more rewards in the future.”
Mu Family Head looked generous.
Looking at the distributed Spirit Sand, his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Having obtained Spirit Sand, the youths with Cultivation Techniques began to Cultivate, absorbing the pure Spiritual Qi from the Spirit Sand.
“The first layer of the Open Source Sutra, just getting started?”
Lu Chang’an examined the magical power in his body.
He was the Young Leader of the Nujiang Gang, and he embarked on the immortal path by befriending a down-and-out Loose Cultivator Daoist.
The Open Source Sutra was an introductory Cultivation Technique he obtained from the other party at a great cost.
This technique had no specific attribute, but its advantage was that it allowed for smooth transition to other Cultivation Techniques.
Lu Chang’an, who had experienced two lifetimes of Cultivation and Reincarnation, naturally wouldn't Cultivate such a common technique.
He closed his eyes, recalling the Cultivation Technique reserves he possessed when he reached the Core Formation Stage Peak in his previous life.
“The Nine Heavens Blazing Arts, a high-level Fire-attribute Cultivation Technique, Cultivates nine layers of flame, incinerating all things; its Divine Ability combat power is quite outstanding among those of the same rank…”
“The Wind deep Sutra, a Demonic Path Cultivation Technique, with bizarre methods and first-rate escape speed, providing excellent self-preservation ability…”
…
“No, the goal of this life is the Nascent Soul Stage!”
Lu Chang’an quickly shook his head, rejecting several powerful high-level Cultivation Techniques.
In his previous life, he deeply experienced the meaning of “all below Nascent Soul are ants.”
The difficulty of the Nascent Soul Stage, even with his memories of the Core Formation Peak, he didn't have much confidence in re-Cultivating this life.
One must know that in his second life, he had a High Grade Spiritual Root and came from a Cultivation Family, a much higher starting point than this life.
After a long time, he finally made a decision:
“It seems I can only choose that ancient Cultivation Technique…”