Chapter 147: Family Spiritual Land, Rebuilding the Dao Foundation!

“Now that I’ve achieved Foundation Establishment, I can consider establishing a family.”

Lu Changsheng pondered over the idea of building a family.

In the world of immortal cultivation, while Foundation Establishment isn’t considered very powerful,

it allows one to oversee an area and establish a cultivation family.

Like the Lu Family on Qingzhu Mountain and most surrounding families, once someone achieves Foundation Establishment, they become the family patriarch.

“To establish a cultivation family, first, there needs to be a spiritual land.”

“Without a spiritual land, establishing a family is just idle talk.”

Over the years, Lu Changsheng has learned quite a bit about families.

He knows a few general ways to acquire spiritual land.

The first way is the simplest and most direct.

It involves seizing and occupying another’s spiritual land.

This is quite common in the world of immortal cultivation.

However, for those choosing to establish a family, very few do this.

Firstly, if not done thoroughly, it can lead to future troubles.

Also, seizing and occupying without cause greatly affects one’s reputation.

And morally, it won’t stand, inviting criticism and even attacks from others.

After all,

one can act without rules individually.

But when establishing a family, dragging a family along, reputation becomes important.

If actions lack decorum and are too domineering, leading to poor reputation, it’ll invite trouble.

Other cultivators and families won’t wish to associate.

Most who choose to establish a family are those who’ve lost hope in their cultivation journey.

Thus, they shift focus to raising descendants and developing their family’s foundation steadily.

If a family is established through forceful occupation, causing a bad reputation, the family’s development will be hindered.

Just like when the Lu Family allied with the Bai family to attack Red Leaf Valley, they at least had a justified reason due to decades of enmity between the two families.

The Yu and Zheng families, too, found some excuse to share spoils openly.

Therefore, seizing another’s spiritual land isn’t an option for Lu Changsheng.

He wouldn’t do such unreasonable things.

However, if some thoughtless family provoked him, forcing his hand, he wouldn’t mind acting accordingly.

The second way to acquire spiritual land is to develop it yourself.

Though spiritual veins are scarce, some unowned ones can still be found in the cultivation world.

However, their terrain and environment are often poor.

They’re usually in remote, cold places.

Or surrounded by numerous spirit beasts, making it very dangerous.

So, if one is willing to spend time and effort, they can find a spiritual vein to develop into a spiritual land.

But this route is also not considered by Lu Changsheng.

Firstly, he already has a rough plan for his family’s future development.

He intends to train his children in puppetry, talisman making, Spirit Butchery, and other skills gained from subsequent draws.

This will ensure a stable income for the family from these crafts.

Thus, the geographical environment must meet certain requirements.

If it’s too remote or poor, with few market cultivators nearby, conducting business would be inconvenient.

Moreover, finding a suitable spiritual vein and developing it into spiritual land requires extensive time and effort.

It could take several years, even decades.

Hence, this path is completely out of Lu Changsheng’s consideration.

The third way is to buy or rent a piece of spiritual land.

Some cultivation families, facing decline or collapse, opt to sell their spiritual lands, partially as gifts.

Nonetheless, these lands are generally not great.

If Lu Changsheng wished, he could easily take over a first-level spiritual vein.

But developing a first-level spiritual vein into a second-level one requires excessive time and resources, which Lu Changsheng does not consider.

Sects like the Heavenly Sword Sect, Azure Cloud Sect, Sunset Glow Sect, and Spirit Control Sect possess numerous well-situated second-level spiritual veins.

They use some lands to establish markets, but some are available for rent or sale.

“If I could purchase a spiritual land under the Azure Cloud Sect, that would be ideal.”

“However, such spiritual venues are mostly for rent, rarely for sale.”

“Even if they’re for sale, not everyone is qualified to buy them.”

“Moreover, the price of a spiritual venue is exceedingly high, beyond what I can afford.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head slightly, dismissing further thoughts on this.

Considering his current wealth, building a family from scratch is challenging.

After all, a family is accumulated over generations.

Expecting to walk the path of generations in a short time requires substantial cost.

Nonetheless, he’s not in a rush to establish a family.

He plans to wait until his children are older.

“The priority now is to accumulate a foundation.”

“After some years, when my Foundation Establishment level is appropriately revealed, I’ll consider building a family.”

“By then, my hundred or so children should be grown enough to help their old father relieve his burdens.”

“Otherwise, with family spiritual land established, I’d still face a shortage of manpower, attending to everything myself.”

Lu Changsheng knows well.

Building a family requires more than just spiritual land.

Once spiritual land is secured, a great family formation is needed.

Such large formations require more than just a set of formation tools.

They require an array master for setup.

Lu Changsheng isn’t comfortable letting others set up the family formation.

Moreover, the price of such large formations, even ordinary second-level ones, is very high.

With formation protection in place, he must sort the earth veins, cultivate spirit fields and medicine fields.

Then create puppet factories and rear spirit beasts, all requiring significant funds and manpower.

While outsiders and servants can be hired,

core tasks must stay within the family.

Currently, besides wives and concubines, his eldest son, Lu Ping’an, is only thirteen.

Furthermore, Lu Ping’an lacks a Spirit Root, making many tasks unfeasible for him, needing descendants with Spirit Roots.

Lu Changsheng is well aware of these.

He knows building a family from scratch is a monumental task, demanding time and resources for preparation.

Even with a system, achieving in a few years what others have done over centuries isn’t easy.

Yet, if not for the multi-child blessing system, Lu Changsheng wouldn’t entertain the notion of building a family.

After all, family building is planting trees for future generations to enjoy.

Initially, it offers no immediate benefit and is quite exhausting.

Moreover, most founders never enjoy their family’s advantages in their lifetime.

“However, for me, passing the initial stage suffices.”

“After all, as long as the children are well, their father will be too.”

“Once the family is on track and passed down through generations, this old father and patriarch can enjoy leisure.”

Lu Changsheng understands his situation is different from other family founders.

Many founded families out of a lack of cultivation hope.

He, however, strives for stable, long-term prospects, with every effort yielding return.

“Hmm?”

Lu Changsheng noticed Xiao Xiyue’s eyelashes fluttering and her eyes slowly opening.

He expressed concern: “Xiyue, you’re awake.”

“Changsheng.”

Xiao Xiyue, having broken through to Foundation Establishment, completed her transformation.

Her skin, like snow, seemed to flow with a faint moonlight, enhancing her serene sanctity.

“The first layer of Supreme Forgetting Emotions: Cloud Heartless, Moon Heartless.”

Seeing Lu Changsheng, Xiao Xiyue felt conflicted.

Initially, she thought clouds were men, the moon women.

Separated by thousands of miles, they were indifferent—thus Cloud Heartless, Moon Heartless.

But Master Yun Wanshang told her the cloud bore the moon’s light, casting a shadow on the earth.

From the earth’s perspective, the moon was in the cloud, embraced by it—they coexisted.

So Supreme Forgetting Emotions requires experiencing emotion to transcend it.

Over time, however, breakthroughs led to a new insight.

Cloud and moon are intertwined, clouds swirling around the moon, the moon shining upon them, yet aloof and detached.

One is cold and quiet, the other elusive—both heartless.

“It turns out we were wrong from the start, Master included.”

Xiao Xiyue mused.

She and Lu Changsheng, in early cultivation, both were heartless.

It was desire without emotion, paralleling Cloud Heartless, Moon Heartless.

Yet, as they practiced, she was gradually drawn in, desire and emotion mingling.

Though mistaken, she knew Supreme Forgetting Emotions ultimately demands forsaking emotion.

While with Lu Changsheng, desire and emotion existed.

Alone, she’d practice Supreme Forgetting Emotions, devoid of desire and emotion.

During Foundation Establishment, she couldn’t sever emotion to achieve heartlessness.

But with Lu Changsheng nearby, her emotions remained, aiding her breakthrough at the cost of damaging her Dao Foundation.

“Then, what does the second layer of Cloud Emotional, Moon Emotional mean?”

Xiao Xiyue pondered the mind state of Supreme Forgetting Emotions’ second layer.

Vital for her potential Golden Core Formation.

Though her damaged Dao Foundation and cracks made forming a Golden Core elusive,

she couldn’t give up.

“Xiyue, how are you? Is your body alright?”

Noticing her staring at him in a daze, Lu Changsheng asked.

“I’m fine.”

Xiao Xiyue gently shook her head.

In Lu Changsheng’s presence, she realized her heart could never achieve tranquility nor Supreme Forgetting Emotions.

She donned white-gauze innerwear, pants, and skirts.

Despite their intimacy.

Reflecting on her vulnerable breakthrough process, Xiao Xiyue felt shy.

“Xiyue, since you’re fine, let me see if I can repair your Dao Foundation.”

Seeing Xiao Xiyue in her skirt with her flowing black hair, her ethereal temperament neither contrived, Lu Changsheng spoke.

“Repair the Dao Foundation?”

She looked at Lu Changsheng in skeptical curiosity.

Indeed, such a feat was astonishing.

“Exactly. The Dao Foundation I formed during Foundation Establishment is called Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Foundation. The Yin-Yang Dual Qi—”

Lu Changsheng didn’t hide the effect of his Dao Foundation.

Xiao Xiyue, hearing this, showed a bit of amazement, surprised by such a Dao Foundation.

Simultaneously, a blush swept her snowy cheeks.

Familiar with numerous Foundation Establishment texts,

she had considerable knowledge of perfect Dao Foundations.

But she’d never heard of Lu Changsheng’s kind.

Beyond its overly miraculous effects,

the method of repairing via dual cultivation felt like a jest from Lu Changsheng.

“Xiyue, don’t you trust me?”

Seeing her silence and the slight distrust in her cold eyes, Lu Changsheng immediately spoke.

“Of course, I trust you.”

She lightly pressed her gleaming lips.

Despite her words, disbelief lingered over such a Dao Foundation.

Yet, contemplating her return to the Azure Cloud Sect soon, she sighed and agreed with Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng discerned Xiao Xiyue’s remaining doubt.

He promptly intended to prove himself a gentleman incapable of fabricating lies for desire.

Immediate soft rustles were followed by a gentle sigh.

A harmonious symphony began playing.

Time slipped by unknowingly.

The fairy’s pure face covered in blushes, not tranquil like before,

her bright eyes like the moon were somewhat unfocused.

“Hmm~”

Suddenly, she lifted her head, her beautiful hair fluttering.

Her flawless, soft chin raised, her long graceful neck arched like a swan.

Her moist lips released a sweet, melodic sigh with a faint fragrance.

“Ah!”

With a surge of Yin-Yang Dual Qi entering her body, Lu Changsheng exhaled deeply.

He embraced the sweaty Xiao Xiyue, sending his Divine Sense within her.

He observed how the Yin-Yang Dual Qi repaired and cleansed the Dao Foundation.

It was his first attempt, knowing the theory, but never trying.

Moreover, Xiao Xiyue’s condition was peculiar.

The Yin-Yang Dual Qi manifested into a Yin-Yang fish entering her Qi Sea Dantian.

It circled Xiao Xiyue’s Taiyin Xuanyue Dao Foundation.

Gently faint Yin-Yang Qi spread over the cracks on the Dao platform.

“Xiyue, how does it feel? Is there any effect?”

After observing, Lu Changsheng inquired.

He could discern the Yin-Yang Dual Qi seemed to be repairing and cleansing the Dao Foundation.

Yet no evident change appeared in the Dao platform cracks.

He couldn’t determine the efficacy of the cleanse.

Struggling slightly, Xiao Xiyue raised her delicate, soft, alabaster body.

Her hand softly pressed her slightly swollen belly, feeling the changes in her Dao platform.

At that moment, she clearly felt her Dao platform being repaired under the nurturing Yin-Yang Dual Qi.

Surprisingly, the Qi made her Taiyin Xuanyue Dao Foundation resonate.

She had a feeling that with enough Yin-Yang Dual Qi, her Dao Foundation could not only be repaired but also change.

“Changsheng.”

The Yin-Yang Dual Qi’s effectiveness stirred her heart.

Looking towards him, she hesitated, speechless.

The lack of Dao Heart left her Dao Foundation damaged, unsettling her internally.

Seeing her Dao Foundation genuinely repairable, even improvable, excited her emotions.

“Xiyue, see, I was truthful.”

Seeing her state, Lu Changsheng recognized the Yin-Yang Dual Qi had worked.

He lightly pinched her snow-like complexion, slightly resenting her doubt in his ability to repair the Dao Foundation.

“Lu Lang, it was Xiyue’s fault.”

With her delicate nose, she nestled against his chest with teary eyes, softly speaking.

Her coldness lessened, replaced by a sense of vulnerability.

Ordinarily, her Supreme Forgetting Emotions would keep her calm, untroubled by emotions.

But the dual cultivation nearly rendered it ineffective.

She refrained from suppressing her emotions with the art,

allowing no automatic operation of Supreme Forgetting Emotions.

Thus she seemingly gained an understanding of the second layer’s meaning: ‘Cloud Emotional, Moon Emotional’.

The moon’s companionship made it shine brighter, more splendid.

While the cloud had the moon’s illumination, it became more lively and ethereal.

Gazing up from the ground, their combined radiance created a picturesque sky.

“Knowing the mistake is good.”

“Tell me about its effect.”

“Approximately how many times will it take to repair your Dao Foundation cracks?”

Through Divine Sense, Lu Changsheng judged it couldn’t be done in just a few sessions, requiring multiple rounds.

“Perhaps a few dozen times.”

She shyly estimated, thinking about the number of dual cultivations needed, she bowed slightly.

Initially, she planned to return to the Azure Cloud Sect.

But repairing her Dao Foundation hindered that plan.

“A few dozen times?”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow at her statement.

His Yin-Yang Dual Qi wasn’t merely spiritual energy, but essential vitality.

After each session, it required time to recover through cultivation.

The Qi expended earlier needed ten days to half a month for restoration.

If Xiao Xiyue’s Dao platform required fifty times,

it would demand one to two years.

For cultivators, that timeframe for Dao platform repair isn’t long.

“Changsheng, your Yin-Yang Dual Qi not only repairs the Dao Foundation but resonates with mine.”

She continued, describing the Qi’s effect on her Dao platform.

“Oh? It has such effects?”

Surprised, Lu Changsheng murmured.

He honestly didn’t know his Yin-Yang Dual Qi had this effect.

If it could enhance a perfect Dao Foundation, it was extraordinary.

“Wait, maybe it’s because the Seven Luminaries Dao Foundation advanced into the Yin-Yang Five Elements Dao Foundation, merging with Xiyue’s Supreme Moon essence.”

“This could be why the Qi has an added effect on Xiyue’s Dao Foundation.”

He speculated.

Considered with skepticism, further enhancements seemed too groundbreaking.

He shared his guesses with her.

Before her, the notion that his Yin-Yang Dual Qi was formed through her Supreme Moon essence and great sun essence left him surprised.

She couldn’t entirely comprehend the situation.

Her Dao Foundation knowledge was accordingly limited.

“Xiyue, how many times might it take for your Dao Foundation to transform?”

Lu Changsheng queried.

“I’m not sure.”

She gently shook her head.

All she felt was the resonance during repair,

hinting her Dao Foundation might change under the Yin-Yang Dual Qi.

“No matter, with persistence, a pestle can be polished to a needle.”

“Don’t worry, Xiyue, I’ll repair your Dao Foundation and assist in its advancement.”

Lu Changsheng expressed sincere intention.

“Hmm~”

His movement caused her to blush deeply as she moaned softly.

“Oh, Xiyue, I have a technique beneficial for cultivation, perhaps useful in repairing the Dao Foundation.”

He considered his Love-binding Technique, suggesting it to Xiao Xiyue.

Aspiring to test his Dao Foundation’s other effect.