A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

”With your status as a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, Senior, you just need to be careful not to offend these major powers or violate the rules they’ve set. Then you can settle down in the city in peace.” As she spoke, Mei Xiang handed him a small, fragrant booklet.

”This booklet is a directory of these powers. If you have a moment, Senior, I suggest you look it over.”

”At the end, there are also some underground organizations. They are secretly connected to the major powers but operate in the shadows. Unless absolutely necessary, Senior, it’s best not to get entangled with them.”

Pot after pot of tea was refilled. From Mei Xiang’s explanations, Lü Zhong finally gained a preliminary understanding of Lingyue Immortal City.

To put it simply, this was a place brimming with opportunity.

Foundation Establishment Pills, a rare sight in the outside world, were sold at dedicated auctions almost daily. As long as you had enough Spirit Stones, you could outbid the many competitors and claim this treasure of Foundation Establishment for yourself.

Various Pills for the Foundation Establishment Stage were also easily obtainable in the city.

Mei Xiang even knew of places in the city that sold the rare Spiritual Objects needed to assist with Core Formation year-round. Although the prices started in the tens of thousands at a minimum, it was still an excellent way to acquire Core Formation Spiritual Objects.

Once he had learned everything he wanted to know, Lü Zhong hired a Beast Vehicle and set about the task of finding a place to live.

The vast Lingyue Immortal City was divided into three major ring-districts.

The Inner, Middle, and Outer Rings.

The Inner Ring of Lingyue Immortal City was where the finest things were gathered; the shops that sold Core Formation Spiritual Objects could only be found here. It was also densely packed with immortal abodes, which were available for rent or sale year-round. However, due to the extremely high concentration of Spiritual Qi, the prices were typically astonishing.

No one below the Core Formation Stage could possibly afford it.

Considering Lü Zhong’s plan to open a shop, Mei Xiang ultimately recommended an immortal abode in the Middle Ring, near the border with the Outer Ring. Although the Spiritual Qi concentration was far from that of the Inner Ring, it was still sufficient for a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator’s needs. Furthermore, the living space was much more generous, so it wouldn’t feel too cramped.

After searching for three straight days, Lü Zhong finally selected a suitable manor in Immortal Intent Square.

It was a large, three-courtyard manor with a small garden attached. The backyard backed onto a small river where boats rarely passed, so living here meant he wouldn’t have to worry about being disturbed.

The front courtyard faced a bustling street and currently had a single vacant storefront. Later, once business picked up, it could be expanded to five storefronts as needed, which was perfect for the Talisman Shop he wanted to open.

Next to the manor was a large, empty plot of land, which Lü Zhong also planned to acquire.

The Spirit Stones he could earn from his own Talisman Making would barely be enough to get by. So, he planned to build a workshop on the empty plot. Whatever he ended up using it for, it would provide an additional stream of income.

Otherwise, there was no telling how long it would take to gather the resources for Core Formation.

With Mei Xiang handling all the legwork, who knew the procedures inside and out, all the paperwork was completed quickly and smoothly.

The benefits of hiring someone from Hyacinth were once again apparent.

Since Lü Zhong was a Talisman Maker, he would be eligible for a series of tax breaks as long as he passed the certification at the Talisman Master Guild. This would save him nearly a thousand Spirit Stones a year on rent alone.

Because of this, the combined annual rent for the manor and the empty plot could be as low as one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.

After they agreed to head to the Inner Ring Talisman Master Guild together the next day, Mei Xiang took her leave.

”So we’re going to live here from now on?” Li Hejun asked, her face alight with joy.

”That’s right!” Lü Zhong replied with a smile.

’Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I’ll probably live here until I reach the Core Formation Stage.’

Lingyue Immortal City dominated the Southern Barbarian lands, and it was surrounded by numerous perilous and secret realms—perfect places for exploration. ’If I want to go out for some practical experience in the future, I won’t have to travel far. I can just venture into these dangerous realms, where I might also have a chance to find rare resources.’

Lü Zhong looked at the empty manor. ’It’ll be far too deserted with just the two of us,’ he thought. ’After all, there are thirty-six rooms. Even if I use the rear courtyard for cultivation and set up a Talisman Making Room, a library, and a Quiet Chamber, there will still be many rooms left over.’

’It’s about time I bought some maids and concubines,’ he thought to himself, glancing at Li Hejun.

Due to the scarcity of resources, quite a few cultivators, both male and female, were willing to become concubines in exchange for a steady supply of cultivation resources. A Sect like the Jade Flower Sect, for instance, even had a dedicated establishment in the Inner Ring market that specialized in arranging for and selecting said concubines.

Lü Zhong planned to bring home one or two concubines. After all, he was accustomed to using Yin Yuan to soothe the Fire Qi in his True Essence. Besides, the Yin Yuan from a female cultivator was more effective than that of a mortal and had fewer side effects. All in all, the Spirit Stones spent this way wouldn’t be much more than what it would cost to use Pills for refining his True Essence.

This way, he could have his fun and ensure his cultivation progressed.

When he told Li Hejun his idea, she, who never went against his wishes, simply gave him a reproachful look. Only after he assured her that she would still be the primary wife did her face break into a smile.

The house was empty of furniture, but that was no trouble for Lü Zhong. He simply took a piece out of his Storage Bag.

...

Early the next morning, Mei Xiang was already waiting outside.

Lü Zhong left Li Hejun at the manor, leaving a Spirit-Hosted Puppet to protect her. He put her in charge of supervising the renovations and cleaning, as well as purchasing necessary furniture and handling other miscellaneous tasks.

He then boarded the Beast Vehicle and headed for the Talisman Master Guild in the Inner Ring.

Feeling bored during the journey, he flirted with Mei Xiang until she was blushing beet-red, and only then did he stop.