Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 199 - 157: Ling Changqing: I Want to Challenge My Weakness...

The higher-ups of the Liu Ying Clan were naturally well aware of how important the legendary Child of Destiny was.

Therefore, all the clan's female cultivators entering the Dragon Soul Valley for training had received a secret order this time: they must find the handsome, purple-robed young man named Ling Changqing and find a way to get close to him.

If they could successfully poach him, it would naturally be the most ideal outcome.

In fact, it wasn't just the Liu Ying Clan; the upper echelons of the other Eight Great Families had the same plan.

The reason was simple. The Nine Great Families had spies within the Deep Sea Dragon Race, so news about Ling Changqing was no longer a secret to those in power.

Then again, the intelligence forces that the Dragon Race had lying dormant within the Nine Great Families were not to be underestimated either.

They had all been old rivals for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, and were more or less evenly matched in this regard.

Now that she had the good fortune to meet him in person, Flow Shadow Ice Cicada would not miss this opportunity for anything. She had to keep him by her side, no matter what.

With a single look from the beautiful woman in the bright yellow palace dress, the other female cultivators silently closed in, forming a wall like a jade screen to block Ling Changqing's path, stopping just short of pressing against him.

In an instant, a warm, sweet fragrance filled the air. The chattering women were like a flock of songbirds, a dazzling floral display that threatened to overwhelm the senses.

In the distance, the group of female cultivators from the Liu Ying Clan who were still cleaning up the aftermath also received the news. They dropped what they were doing and rode the wind to approach.

Ling Changqing sighed. "It seems I have no choice but to go with you today, is that it?"

'He didn't want to start a conflict with others so soon, but when push came to shove, he wouldn't hold back.'

'The Liu Ying Clan had completely disregarded his own position, trying to lure him into switching allegiances right from the start. Their methods were rather unbecoming.'

"Fellow Daoist Ling,"

The woman in the palace dress said in a soft, gentle voice, "The Deep Sea Dragon Race is, through and through, an Exotic Race. They can never truly see you as one of their own!"

"But our Liu Ying Clan is genuinely part of the Human Race. If you are willing to join us, our Patriarch will surely treat you as a guest of honor and, in the future, allow you to enter the clan's core decision-making circle!"

Ling Changqing chuckled. "What a huge pie in the sky... Do you take me for a fool?"

"We would never!"

Flow Shadow Ice Cicada said hurriedly, "The current Patriarch is the direct ancestor of my lineage. I have a Command Token she personally bestowed upon me. No matter what requests Fellow Daoist Ling may have, I can agree to them on her behalf!"

From her waist, she took out an exquisite Phoenix Pattern Jade Talisman that shimmered with a clear light and radiated a solemn majesty, handing it to Ling Changqing for inspection.

If any cultivator familiar with the Liu Ying Clan were present, they would have easily recognized its origin; it was indeed a token that only the Patriarch had the authority to grant.

Of course, this meant nothing to Ling Changqing. 'Who knows what kind of person that Patriarch is? Besides, I have no interest in switching masters.'

'To be precise, the Changqing Continent couldn't do without him. But as for the Deep Sea Dragon Race and the Nine Great Cultivation Families of Yuzhou, his presence or absence wouldn't change a thing.'

Seeing more and more female cultivators from the Liu Ying Clan gathering around, Ling Changqing finally spoke.

"Alright. Since you've invited me with such sincerity, Fairy, I accept!"

Ling Changqing's plan was to feign compliance first, then find a chance to slip away when they let their guard down.

"Really?"

Flow Shadow Ice Cicada's expression wavered. She had thought she would have to spend a great deal more effort trying to persuade Ling Changqing to change his mind.

She never imagined he would yield so quickly. 'Could it be a trick?'

"You don't believe me, is that it?"

Ling Changqing looked at her with a half-smile. "Then should I leave?"

"Of course not,"

The woman in the palace dress quickly took his arm, a charming smile on her face as she said:

"Since Fellow Daoist Ling is willing to forsake the darkness for the light, shall we travel together from now on?"

She shot a meaningful glance, and Flow Shadow Ice Cicada's fair face flushed red. Still, she mustered her courage and reached out with a delicate hand to take Ling Changqing's other arm.

'As long as she could win the favor of this Child of Destiny, her own ancestor would surely not be stingy with a handsome reward upon her return.'

And so, the group of stunningly beautiful female cultivators, with Ling Changqing in their midst, walked back to the spot where they had killed the Dragon Ridge Tree Demon.

By now, the massive creature's corpse had been completely carved up and processed. Aside from the most precious tree heart, they had also found twenty-three fist-sized, gourd-shaped fruits that glowed with a moist, red light.

Ling Changqing said, "I'm rather fond of this tree heart, and I need a few of the fruits as well. Could you give them to me? I can trade you something for them!"

The woman in the palace dress breathed a sigh of relief and said with a beaming smile, "Since Fellow Daoist Ling needs them, what's the need for a trade? Just take them!"

'The fact that he was willing to make a request was a good thing. Compared to securing Ling Changqing himself, these resources were not even worth mentioning.'

At her command, the section of the Demon Tree Heart sealed in a Cold Jade Box, along with ten of the fruits, were quickly delivered into Ling Changqing's hands.

He had intended to give them a bottle of Third Grade Elixirs in return, but the woman in the palace dress adamantly refused, so Ling Changqing had to drop the matter.

Since some members of the group had yet to recover from their injuries, Flow Shadow Ice Cicada ordered a temporary camp to be set up nearby, planning to rest for a few hours before departing.

This would also give them a chance to try and notify people from their own faction to come and rendezvous as quickly as possible, thereby strengthening their numbers.

Flow Shadow Ice Cicada had no intention of letting the great merit, now almost within her grasp, be snatched away by someone else in the blink of an eye.

However, due to the complex and dangerous environment within the Dragon Soul Valley, the cultivators were scattered all over, making communication between them quite inconvenient.

Therefore, Flow Shadow Ice Cicada had no idea how many of her "sisters" would ultimately receive the message in time; she could only hope for the best.

In the temporary camp, the female cultivators lit a bonfire. They took out some of the Spirit Beasts and Spiritual Birds they had hunted along the way from their Storage Pouches, cleaned and prepared them, and then set them over the fire to roast.