Chapter 84: The Pathway Shouldn’t Be So Narrow, Nor Should the Dao Companion Be So Few!

“Hmm, thirty offspring!?”

“Are Jiu’er and Shui’er’s babies born?”

Hearing this sudden system alert, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but perk up, the joy evident on his face.

He immediately realized that Jiu’er and Shui’er from Qingzhu Mountain had given birth to their children.

There was no sense of unease during this time, which means the children of both did not possess Spirit Roots.

“I wonder what the hair and eye color of the newborns are.”

Lu Changsheng thought to himself.

He was quite curious about this matter.

Previously, he had looked up information on this topic.

But the books didn’t give a clear explanation, only stating that it largely depends on the bloodlines of both parents.

Without thinking much more about it, Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, silently murmuring, “System, I want to draw a lottery!”

Immediately, a faint red virtual lottery wheel appeared.

“I wonder what I’ll get this time.”

Lu Changsheng murmured to himself as he looked at the lottery wheel, then said directly, “Start the lottery!”

With a thought, a golden glow appeared on the faint red wheel and it began to spin.

Five seconds later, the golden light gradually slowed down, moving step by step until it finally landed on the Magic Treasure prize.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Magic Treasure: Black Dragon Pearl!]

[The reward has been dispatched to the system space, and the host can check it at any time.]

A black light flashed, revealing a pearl with the faint image of a dragon on the lottery wheel, accompanied by a system alert sound.

“Magic Treasure!?”

“Goodness, finally something I wanted!”

Seeing the prize he won this time, Lu Changsheng’s eyes immediately brightened, showing joy and excitement.

For cultivators, the tools used are classified from low to high as: tools, spirit tools, magic treasures, spirit treasures, and heavenly spirit treasures.

These correspond to the different stages of Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Divine Transformation.

Only a true person who has formed the Golden Core can manipulate a magic treasure.

Naturally, Lu Changsheng couldn’t control a magic treasure.

But with his cultivation of the Hundred Refined Body Technique, he could condense the magic treasure into his body to accelerate his cultivation.

Before, even a heavily damaged fragment of a magic treasure allowed his Hundred Refined Body Technique to improve rapidly.

Now that he has a complete magic treasure, wouldn’t he soar?

Lu Changsheng immediately looked at the system space.

To see what grade and effects the magic treasure he got has.

[Magic Treasure: Black Dragon Pearl]

[Grade: Mid-grade Magic Treasure]

[Description: Made from the Black Yin Pearl as a container and refined with the soul of a third-level evil dragon. Initially releases black light, can immobilize physical bodies, pollute souls, and if used to the extreme, can control the dragon soul inside to attack enemies. The longer it’s used, the more potent the evil dragon’s influence becomes, making it harder to control.]

“Black Dragon Pearl, Mid-grade Magic Treasure!”

“Can release black light, immobilize physical bodies, pollute souls, and control the dragon soul to attack.”

Lu Changsheng was very satisfied after seeing the grade description of this magic treasure.

He felt that a mid-grade magic treasure was already very satisfactory.

Looking at the effect description of the treasure, he realized it was inclined towards attack.

In fact, Lu Changsheng wasn’t too concerned about the effects and roles of magic treasures.

He had always hoped to draw a magic treasure just for cultivating the Hundred Refined Body Technique.

As for its specific functions, it didn’t matter much to him, as long as they were decent.

“However, the fact that this magic treasure has an offensive method is also a good thing.”

“After all, in the Treasure Bone Technique of the Hundred Refined Body Technique, nurturing the treasure bone with a magic treasure can enable the bone to exert part of the magic treasure’s power.”

“When my treasure bone is complete, maybe I can directly control the dragon soul inside to slay enemies!”

Lu Changsheng licked his lips, still quite eager for this magic treasure’s effect in nurturing his treasure bone.

He imagined that once the bone was complete, in case of danger, he could directly manipulate the Black Dragon Pearl, commanding a dragon soul to attack the enemy.

Anyone encountering such an attack from Foundation Establishment or Qi Refinement cultivators might be caught off guard and astonished.

Then.

Lu Changsheng, with a thought, retrieved the Black Dragon Pearl from the system space.

A pearl the size of an adult’s fist fell into Lu Changsheng’s hand.

The pearl was heavy, weighing perhaps hundreds of pounds.

When held, it felt slightly cool, but not cold.

The surface of the pearl was very pure, without any impurities, only a faint dark glow flowed over it.

Inside the pearl, a miniature ink-colored dragon could be clearly seen coiled.

“So this is a magic treasure.”

Lu Changsheng curiously examined the Black Dragon Pearl in his hand.

It was his first time seeing a magic treasure.

But after a few glances, he didn’t notice anything particularly strange and found it just ordinary.

Lu Changsheng went to the third-floor lounge, ready to start refining the Black Dragon Pearl.

Eager to condense it into his body for cultivating the Hundred Refined Body Technique and nurturing his treasure bone.

After all, not long ago, successfully entering the Hundred Refined Body Technique gave Lu Changsheng a clear understanding of the benefits of a strong and energetic body.

Although his body was originally quite good and very healthy.

But compared to achieving the refining body technique, full of energy, the feeling was entirely different.

“Chirp!”

Lu Changsheng operated the Hundred Refined Body Technique, transforming the spiritual energy in his body into a flame to begin refining the Black Dragon Pearl in front of him.

Under the refining of the spiritual energy flame, a trace of black air swirled and rose from the Black Dragon Pearl.

The evil dragon soul within also came to life at this moment, vivid and lifelike, as if about to break out of the pearl.

Lu Changsheng remained calm, knowing that the magic treasure was in an activated state, and continued refining with the spiritual fire.

As time passed.

After a long while, Lu Changsheng opened his eyes with a wry smile and said, “It’s not easy to refine this Black Dragon Pearl and condense it into the body.”

“With my current cultivation at the peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, refining this pearl completely may take two to three months.”

During the earlier refining, his spiritual energy was exhausted, and yet he had not even managed to refine one percent of the pearl.

Having previously refined black iron pieces, he knew that it wasn’t easy to refine magic treasures.

But he hadn’t expected it to be this difficult.

“Two to three months is fine since it’s a magic treasure; some time is expected.”

Lu Changsheng exhaled lightly, storing the Black Dragon Pearl.

He took out a Spirit Stone and sat down to cultivate, restoring his spiritual energy.

He hadn’t drawn the talisman today.

After restoring his spiritual energy, Lu Changsheng took out his talisman-making tools in the talisman room and drew two mid-grade talismans and two high-grade talismans.

Now that his cultivation was sufficient, he didn’t need to use top-grade talisman paper and ink to create high-grade talismans.

For ordinary high-grade talismans, using high-level talisman paper and ink could suffice, also saving a lot of cost.

After all, continuously using top-grade materials to draw talismans might incur significant costs if they couldn’t be exchanged for Spirit Stones promptly.

After making the talismans and realizing it was almost dark, Lu Changsheng thought of taking a day off and visiting the White Jade Tower.

Now he had over three hundred Spirit Stones, enough to rescue a few more unfortunate women.

Perhaps even find someone with a Spirit Root among them.

After all, if he truly wanted more offspring with Spirit Roots, he needed women with Spirit Roots.

He had thirty children now, but only four of them had Spirit Roots.

Among these four, Qu Zhenzhen and Lu Miaoyun each accounted for ne.

Other wives and concubines had only two children with Spirit Roots despite having many kids.

This inevitably made Lu Changsheng hold some hope for the children in Shao Yuyao’s, Xiaoqing’s, and Guan Xin’s wombs.

Lu Changsheng informed Zhang Shan, the shopkeeper, before heading out, walking toward the White Jade Tower.

“Brother Lu, where are you headed?”

Passing by Yushan Pavilion, Yu Maocheng, the owner, greeted Lu Changsheng.

Since they lived nearby with shops close by, they would greet each other and chat occasionally.

Especially before, when Yu Maocheng learned that Lu Changsheng wasn’t a Lu Family disciple but a son-in-law, he felt like finding a confidant.

He complained to Lu Changsheng about marriage, expressing slight regret about marrying into a cultivation family.

Though having backing, it also easily led to a subservient marital life.

Being a spiritual chef, busy daily, only having ten Spirit Stones of pocket money a month.

Lu Changsheng couldn’t resonate with such words.

But he didn’t have much to say, merely acknowledging the difficulty, noting his wife was understanding in such matters.

Yu Maocheng didn’t notice Lu Changsheng’s tone then, often drinking and chatting with him.

Until a while later when Yu Maocheng saw Lu Changsheng’s courtyard full of women, and his whole demeanor changed.

At that moment, his perspective on Lu Changsheng shifted entirely.

However, this didn’t lead to distancing due to that one event.

They still greeted, chatted, and sometimes dined at Yushan Pavilion.

But he stopped inviting Lu Changsheng to drink and complain about his marriage.

Realizing that airing grievances to Lu Changsheng was completely futile.

The latter couldn’t understand his suffering, lacking that resonance.

“I feel the servants at home are few; I’m going to check out White Jade Tower.”

Lu Changsheng replied with a smile.

Then he earnestly invited, “Brother Yu, would you like to join? Let me tell you, this White Jade Tower…”

“Go, go, go!”

Yu Maocheng’s face turned black upon hearing this and he quickly waved his hand.

“Brother Yu, as the saying goes, the path shouldn’t be so narrow, nor should the Dao Companion be so few. Therefore, the more Dao Companions, the firmer the path!”

Lu Changsheng joked, stepping with vigor towards White Jade Tower.

Watching Lu Changsheng’s back, Yu Maocheng sighed softly, a bit of envy involuntarily appearing in his eyes.

He knew Lu Changsheng had more than ten maids at home, yet now he was going to White Jade Tower again.

Thinking of himself, he sighed slightly.

At this moment, a beautiful woman around thirty came to Yu Maocheng’s side and said, “Husband, are you envious of that Lu Changsheng too? Want to take a few concubines?”

These words startled Yu Maocheng, who didn’t expect his wife to be beside him.

Immediately he said seriously, “No, no, absolutely not!”

Though he might have the desire, he could never admit such things.

However, before he could explain, his wife sighed and said softly, “Husband, I’ve been married to you for twenty years.”

“Over these years, I’ve borne you Feng, Yun’r, Yu’r, Xue’r. Only Xue’r has a Spirit Root to cultivate. Maybe you should take some concubines.”

“That wouldn’t be right.”

Yu Maocheng said awkwardly.

“No worries, husband. Whichever type you like, I’ll help you choose,”

His wife smiled gently, “How many do you want? Three, five, or ten?”

“No, no, just one is fine, just one,”

Yu Maocheng said with a smile.

“Oh, Yu Maocheng, I married you as a young maiden, helped you set up this restaurant, bore you four children, and now you think I’m old and want concubines, huh!”

Happy faces a moment ago, her face suddenly turned cold, and she walked away in a huff.

Seeing this, Yu Maocheng sighed deeply, realizing he was tricked again.

He immediately went after her, pleasing her: “Wife, wife, listen to me. My heart towards you is like the sun and moon, how could I think such things, just joking…”

When Lu Changsheng arrived at White Jade Tower, the woman in a red dress remembered him.

She immediately smiled warmly and invited him to a room on the second floor.

“Young Master Lu, long time no see. Jiu Niang misses you~”

Inside, in a black phoenix bird fog gauze long dress, seductive and charming, Feng Jiuniang smiled at Lu Changsheng.

“Haha, Manager Feng, I’m here this time to buy some maids.”

“Is there any maid with a Spirit Root available in the White Jade Tower, preferably under three hundred Spirit Stones?”

Lu Changsheng’s eyes subconsciously swept across that area of her chest and the plump thighs under her skirt, then he spoke.

Every time he came to White Jade Tower and saw this Feng Jiuniang, he couldn’t help but marvel at her allure.

This made him think this was just a manager of the White Jade Tower at Jiulong Market.

Imagine what it would be like in a larger city or the main branch, how seductive she might be.

“Young Master Lu, please have some tea; I’ll check if there’s a suitable candidate.”

Feng Jiuniang didn’t mind Lu Changsheng’s gaze, gently smiling.

Bending to pour tea, she swayed her slender waist as she walked out of the room.

Soon after, Feng Jiuniang returned, placing two Jade Slips on the table and said: “I just checked, and currently only two match your requirements. Please see if you’re interested.”

“Okay.”

Lu Changsheng nodded, placing a Jade Slip to his forehead to sense it.

He immediately saw a youthful, petite girl of fifteen or sixteen, with a lovely face.

Her sweet face showed reluctance and unwillingness.

It was clear such cases ended up in places like White Jade Tower due to various circumstances, as in Shao Yuyao’s case.

That’s exactly why he wanted to rescue them.

Lu Changsheng picked up the second Jade Slip.

Inside was a woman around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a gentle face, a full figure, but looked slightly frail, with a hint of numbness in her eyes.

“What are the circumstances and prices of these two maids?”

From his previous experiences, Lu Changsheng was now adept, directly asking.

“This girl has a Second Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, with a Ninth-Tier Spirit Root, price is 210 Spirit Stones.”

“This lady has a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root with no cultivation, price 300 Spirit Stones.”

Feng Jiuniang pointed to the Jade Slips and introduced.

“Why does she have a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root yet no cultivation? And isn’t Seventh-Tier Spirit Root priced higher?”

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow and asked.

He roughly knew the pricing of maids here at White Jade Tower.

A maid with a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root typically started at five or six hundred Spirit Stones.

“This woman originally had a Fifth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, but her Qi Sea Dantian was damaged, leading to the loss of her cultivation, hence the price.”

“That’s why, despite having a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root, she’s only 300 Spirit Stones.”

Feng Jiuniang explained.

“I see.”

Lu Changsheng nodded slightly upon hearing her.

No wonder when sensing through the Jade Slip, she appeared slightly frail.

It seemed she had just recovered and was still a bit weak.

Thus, this woman likely endured much hardship compared to the young girl.

With this in mind, he decided to rescue this woman.

Immediately, Lu Changsheng said, “May I see detailed information on her, Manager Feng?”

Feng Jiuniang took out the information on the maid.

Lu Changsheng inspected it carefully.

The woman’s name was Xiao Yueru, thirty years old, from a small Qi Refining family like Shao Yuyao.

Her family was wiped out, leading her to White Jade Tower.

Her body was harmed in battle, damaging her Qi Sea Dantian, dispersing her cultivation, and unable to practice again.

However, there were no residual effects in other areas, and she could still bear children.

Yet she wasn’t a virgin, having birthed a child before.

This likely affected her pricing at White Jade Tower.

“Alright, I’ll choose her.”

After looking through, Lu Changsheng said directly.

Since he came with a purpose to buy maids, he had no moral qualms.

Besides, she still qualified as a virtuous woman.

Not like the courtesans of Drunken Immortal House or Spring Blossom House, whose lips were tasted by thousands.

As for cultivation, Lu Changsheng wasn’t concerned.

What mattered to him was her Seventh-Tier Spirit Root.

If it wasn’t for her damaged dantian Qi Sea, in normal conditions per White Jade Tower’s pricing, a woman with a Seventh-Tier Spirit Root would start at five to six hundred Spirit Stones.

For Lu Changsheng, this was a minor windfall.

He then paid a sixty Spirit Stone deposit, waiting for the delivery.

Additionally, he spent fifty Spirit Stones to buy four ordinary maids without Spirit Roots.

Lu Changsheng instructed White Jade Tower to deliver the four maids to his residence later instead of taking them himself.

Otherwise, walking down the street attracting undue attention.

For such small requests, Feng Jiuniang readily agreed, indicating no concerns.

As he was about to leave White Jade Tower, something came to Lu Changsheng’s mind.

He asked Feng Jiuniang, “Manager Feng, does White Jade Tower have any women with Spirit Bodies?”

He had only briefly read about Spirit Bodies in books.

The matter about the woman in a colorful dress sparked this thought.

Thinking White Jade Tower had broad connections, they might have women with Spirit Bodies.

Hearing his words, Feng Jiuniang’s expression paused.

She then gently smiled, “That indeed, we do.”

“Hmm!?”

Lu Changsheng was surprised.

Unexpectedly, White Jade Tower indeed had women with Spirit Bodies.

It seems White Jade Tower was more powerful than he initially thought.

Seeing his surprise, Feng Jiuniang softly laughed and continued, “Yet, those with Spirit Bodies are extremely rare, one in ten thousand. Even in White Jade Tower, they are hardly seen.”

“Most aim to find a Dao Companion via White Jade Tower, to marry their ideal partner.”

“If Young Master Lu seeks to purchase a maid for Spirit Stones, he might be disappointed.”

“Even at White Jade Tower, those with Spirit Bodies are rare, with many pre-arranged.”

“If Young Master Lu is interested, he can leave a deposit, and we’ll notify when someone with a Spirit Body is found.”

Feng Jiuniang’s face carried a seductive smile as she spoke unhurriedly.

“I was merely asking,”

Lu Changsheng didn’t feel disappointed, thinking such was natural.

Otherwise, if White Jade Tower casually sold women with Spirit Bodies, their influence would be indeed terrifying.

He didn’t further question.

Currently, acquiring women with Spirit Bodies was out of his reach, not something for his stage.

If encountered, that would naturally be great.

But spending to buy Spirit Body maids, he thought not.

With such funds, he could buy several with mid-grade Spirit Roots.

After all, the quality of parents’ Spirit Roots directly affects the children’s Spirit Root potential.

With both parents possessing low-grade Spirit Roots, producing children with mid-grade Spirit Roots is challenging.

If one parent has mid-grade Spirit Roots, the probability of children obtaining mid-grade Spirit Roots increases substantially.

Subsequently, escorted by Feng Jiuniang, Lu Changsheng exited White Jade Tower.

“Hmm?”

As Lu Changsheng walked back, noise caught his ear, turning to see a familiar figure inside a nearby shop.

PS: Finished writing and uploading earlier without a backlog, causing irregular update times. Henceforth, updates will be at set times.