Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 401 - 237: Qin Mengxuan: Where Do You Think You’re Going?

He could never abandon the Ling Family of Changqing Continent to join some other power. No faction was worth such a price.

...

Qin Mengxuan was taken aback. Her beautiful brows knitted together as she fell into a thoughtful silence.

’I knew it wouldn’t be easy to get Ling Changqing into my bed and on my side. I was prepared for a long campaign of wheedling and coercion, but I never thought this would be the reason for his refusal.’

As if sensing what she was about to say, Ling Changqing preempted her.

"Don’t press me. I’m not going to say anything. And don’t even think about using my family to threaten me. If it comes to that, then whatever is between us is over."

"Alright. We’ll drop the subject for now."

Qin Mengxuan’s mind raced for a moment before she decided to set aside the nearly impossible issue for the time being.

She tightened her arm around Ling Changqing’s waist, freeing one hand to retrieve an item from her Storage Bracelet. It was a magnificent, palm-sized Jade Scroll, wreathed in purple energy and shimmering with an auspicious, seven-colored light.

"Sign this first, and then we can continue our discussion."

Qin Mengxuan urged, her bright, beautiful eyes blinking with earnest anticipation.

"What is this?"

Ling Changqing asked, probing the Jade Scroll with a wisp of his Divine Thought. A list of unfamiliar female cultivators’ names appeared—thirty-six of them in total.

"A marriage contract, of course,"

Qin Mengxuan said solemnly, "The names on this list belong to the anointed Saintesses and core disciples of my Lu Hua Palace. Their backgrounds are immaculate, their innate talent is one in a billion, and none of them have ever had a Dao Companion!

"With this marriage contract as proof, they will all be your women from now on. Only then can I be at ease."

"...Palace Master, are you sure about this?"

Ling Changqing stared at her. ’Shoving thirty-six female cultivators I’ve never even met at me... This woman is really something else.’

Furthermore, this Jade Scroll was nothing like the marriage contract from the Liu Ying Clan. It was a High Grade Magical Treasure in its own right, placing a powerful, binding oath on both parties. There was no backing out easily.

"Lu Hua Palace can’t afford to lose you, so this is the only way."

Qin Mengxuan’s expression was resolute. "Besides, you have a taste for beauties. They are the most outstanding female cultivators in the Sect. Surely you wouldn’t refuse to let them warm your bed, would you?

"If you’re hesitant, there’s an easy solution. Just get them all pregnant with your heirs. After that, if you want to sever all ties with them, you’re free to do so!"

’Your scheming is so blatant you might as well be shouting it in my face!’

Ling Changqing was rendered even more speechless. ’Once we’re bound by blood, could I really sever ties? How could it be that easy?’

"So? Will you sign it? Whatever your conditions are, I can meet them!"

A captivating light danced in Qin Mengxuan’s lustrous eyes as she pressed him eagerly.

’As long as this marriage contract is in place,’ she thought, ’the Child of Destiny and Lu Hua Palace will be inextricably linked. In the face of the coming world-ending calamity, we might just have a chance at survival.’

Ling Changqing grew thoughtful. "You haven’t notified the Sect’s Elders, have you? There could be spies from other powers among them."

Qin Mengxuan shook her head. "That’s true. That’s why I had them set off for Danyang Valley by themselves. I didn’t tell them where I was going."

She was well aware of the immense risk of information leaking if they moved as a group, which was why she had come alone.

Otherwise, other powers would have likely gotten wind of her movements by now.

Ling Changqing pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "That may be, but you should still erase all these names. There could be... spies among them as well."

If he signed the contract, all the female cultivators on the list would instantly form a Divine Soul connection, and they would know they had become Ling Changqing’s Dao Companions.

In that case, the risk of Ling Changqing’s identity being exposed would skyrocket.

"Well..."

Qin Mengxuan was about to say that was impossible. These female cultivators were the core leadership of Lu Hua Palace; how could they be traitors?

But on second thought, she had to admit Ling Changqing had a point.

In the long history of the Cultivation Realm, such things had happened far, far too many times.

"But if you don’t sign the marriage contract, how can I be at ease?"

Qin Mengxuan felt cornered. Vetting each of those female cultivators properly wasn’t something that could be done in a day or two.

But she had to force Ling Changqing to commit now. If she missed this opportunity, Heaven knew if she’d ever get another one.

"How about this? Why don’t you marry my Direct Disciples first? There won’t be any problem with them."

Qin Mengxuan was making a concession.

The Jade Scroll listed the names of her four Direct Disciples. If Ling Changqing became their Dao Companion, the effect would be the same.

"That’s not a guarantee!"

Ling Changqing still shook his head. Just because they were the Direct Disciples of the Grand Palace Master didn’t guarantee their loyalty.

"Then what do you want?"

Qin Mengxuan asked through gritted teeth. ’No matter what, he has to sign this marriage contract today. He can’t get out of it.’

Ling Changqing stared at the Grand Palace Master for a long moment before he spoke.

"Erase all of their names and write your own. Then I’ll sign. How about it?"

Qin Mengxuan: "..."