He worked at sea during the day and cultivated at night.
Ling Changqing's life was just that monotonous and tedious.
The Spirit Stones he earned each day were almost immediately exchanged for elixirs and other resources, which he then consumed during his cultivation.
Among the Pearl Gatherers, Ling Changqing's income was arguably the highest, yet after more than a month, he had saved practically nothing.
Even Steward Ling Zifeng was rather impressed by his conduct. It would be an injustice if such a self-disciplined Cultivator's cultivation didn't advance rapidly.
That evening after dinner, Steward Tian Wenhua finally sent someone to inform Ling Changqing that he could move. This was something Ling Zifeng had promised him.
Ling Changqing naturally had no objections. From this day forward, his status would be equivalent to that of an official Ling Family disciple.
After packing his few belongings, Ling Changqing followed the maid in the white dress out of his room. They walked down a long corridor toward the upper deck's cabin area on the Sea Boat.
Along the way, he inevitably drew the attention of the other Pearl Gatherers. Their gazes were filled with undisguised envy, indifference, jealousy, and disdain, among other things.
Of course, had the same opportunity been offered to them, any Cultivator in their right mind would have been unlikely to refuse.
After a few turns and passing through a doorway guarded by Daoist Soldier Puppets, the space suddenly opened up before him.
"Sir, it's just ahead!"
The maid in the white dress reminded him softly.
Ling Changqing nodded. The corridor here was spacious and tidy, the floor covered with a thick carpet. The air was filled with the scent of Top Grade Incense, creating a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere.
Lining both sides of the corridor were closed doors made of Golden Silk Mingtan Wood. Behind each door lay a suite of rooms.
The maid in the white dress led him nearly a hundred paces to a door that still lacked a nameplate. Using the Jade Token in her hand, she activated the Array Restriction, and the door swung open silently.
The room was spacious and bright, furnished with a snow-white carpet, antique tables and tea tables, a Golden Toad Swallowing Moon Purple Copper Incense Burner, a hollowed pure-gold Crane-shaped Lamp Holder, and a Glazed Crystal Screen. It was filled with all manner of luxurious and exquisite appointments.
Furthermore, the suite was divided into a bedroom, a study, a Cultivation Chamber, a reception room, and more. The reception room alone was several times larger than the cabin Ling Changqing had previously occupied.
The maid in the white dress asked with a smile, "Sir, this will be your residence from now on. Is it to your liking?"
Ling Changqing smiled. "It's excellent. Thank you for your help."
He took out ten grains of Spiritual Sand from his Storage Pouch and pressed them into her hand as a tip.
The maid accepted it cheerfully and put it away. After offering a few more instructions, she took her leave.
Ling Changqing took a tour of the rooms. Just as he was about to enter seclusion to cultivate, a familiar voice sounded from the Communication Transmission Array by the door.
"Steward?"
Ling Changqing was surprised, wondering why Ling Zifeng's confidant would suddenly pay him a visit.
"That's right. I have something to discuss with you."
Tian Wenhua's voice was steady.
Ling Changqing saw no reason to refuse and immediately invited the man into the reception room.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tian Wenhua got straight to the point. "Young man," he began, "now that you are officially a disciple of the Ling Family, have you thought about which branch you would like to join?"
"Which branch..."
Ling Changqing looked slightly taken aback. He fell into thought, not answering immediately.
As a Cultivation Family with a legacy spanning several hundred years, the Ling Family was an enormous clan. Internally, it was naturally divided into numerous family lines and factions. There were several branches of the direct lineage alone, and the younger generation of Direct Lineage disciples numbered in the thousands.
As for the lesser, cadet, and collateral branches, they were even more numerous, with a younger generation of disciples too vast to count.
This was no exaggeration. In the mortal world, it was common for a Mortal Dynasty, from its founding to its end three hundred years later, to see its Royal Family swell to several hundred thousand members.
Cultivators have longer Lifespans and stronger physiques. Even if their chances of producing offspring are lower, the number of family disciples can still grow to a considerable size over several hundred years.
Of course, among so many Ling Family disciples, not all possessed a Spirit Root; the majority were still ordinary mortals. Even among the Direct Lineage disciples, only a small fraction had the potential for cultivation.
Therefore, to ensure a sufficient supply of fresh blood and to continuously strengthen the family's power, the Ling Family's upper echelons had implemented a series of measures.
For instance, an outstanding disciple from a distant branch might be noticed by an Elder from a Direct Lineage. That Elder could then take them under their wing to train, adding their name to that branch's genealogical records to bolster its strength.
This arrangement was undoubtedly a win-win. The disciple in question gained the status of a Direct Lineage member, along with access to more Cultivation Resources.
Given his outstanding performance, the current Ling Changqing now had value, making him a worthy target for recruitment by an Elder from one of the Ling Family's Direct Lineages.
"In that case, may I ask which family Elder you are representing?"
Ling Changqing asked, pondering. 'He's Ling Zifeng's man, so it's unlikely he'd be speaking for another faction.'
Tian Wenhua smiled. "I am an aide to the Lord Steward, so naturally I've come on behalf of his branch. The Lord Steward's grandfather, in turn, is an Elder in the Patriarch's own lineage..."
He explained Ling Zifeng's factional background to Ling Changqing in simple, clear terms. As a member of the Patriarch's Direct Lineage, Ling Zifeng's standing was impeccable. His status within the clan was even higher than that of Direct Lineage disciples from other branches.
"In that case, I have no objections,"
Ling Changqing said with a serious expression, "The Lord Steward has treated me well. I could not possibly choose to join another direct lineage."
Tian Wenhua nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. I knew I wasn't mistaken about you. Then it's settled!"
"From now on, for anything you harvest from the sea, the Lord Steward can give you a price fifty percent higher than the standard. This is the treatment a Direct Lineage disciple is entitled to!"
"Furthermore, when Steward Tang Qiu Yao arrives next month, this matter can be made official."
Membership in the Direct Lineage was not easily obtained. Many disciples from collateral branches fought and struggled their entire lives, only to die without ever achieving their goal.
Ling Changqing's qualifications, in truth, were still somewhat lacking. But Ling Zifeng understood that delays breed trouble and it was best to strike early.
If Elders from other factions were to take notice of Ling Changqing in the future and try to poach him, things would become complicated.
That was why Ling Zifeng had decided to finalize the matter ahead of time. Even if it bent the rules a little, he couldn't afford to worry about that.
After speaking for a while longer, Tian Wenhua departed, satisfied.
After seeing him out, Ling Changqing had not even had a moment to rest when another voice came from the door.
"???"
He was puzzled, but went to open the door anyway.
This time, three Female Cultivators stood at his door. They had rosy lips, pearly teeth, and hair that fell to their waists. All of them had fair skin and graceful figures, and they were clearly well-groomed.
Their cultivation was all at the Qi Cultivation 2nd Layer, but their innate aptitude didn't seem particularly impressive.
"You are..."
Ling Changqing asked, confused. He vaguely recalled seeing them on the Sea Boat. They were also among the Pearl Gatherers, but he had never interacted with them.
"I am Su Yu, Fellow Daoist Ling. Aren't you going to invite us in for a while?"
The lead woman said with a light laugh, a faint blush coloring her fair cheeks.
Ling Changqing frowned slightly but let them in anyway. "I am busy with my cultivation and have no time for idle chat. If you have something to say, Fellow Daoists, please be direct."
Su Yu and the other two women entered. As they took in the room's lavish decor, and especially when they sensed the abundant Spiritual Qi in the air, a fervent glow appeared in the depths of their eyes.
For low-level Loose Cultivators like them, the appeal of such an environment was self-evident.
"Fellow Daoist Ling, you don't have a Dao Companion yet, do you?"
Su Yu hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
"Dao Companion?"
Ling Changqing's eyes narrowed. He instantly understood what these three Female Cultivators were thinking.
'To put it nicely, they were looking for a Dao Companion. To put it bluntly, they were just looking for a long-term meal ticket and hoping to leech Cultivation Resources off of him.'
'He'd have to be a fool to even consider taking on three such burdens.'
'Although the female cultivators' looks and figures weren't bad, they were hardly peerless, world-toppling beauties. Certainly not enough to move Ling Changqing's heart.'
"I'm not interested. Please leave."
Ling Changqing refused bluntly.
The three women's faces stiffened. Su Yu tried to press her case. "But Fellow Daoist Ling, we aren't unattractive, are we? And we're still pure... As long as you agree, the three of us will follow you from now on..."
"Heh..."
Ling Changqing let out a cold laugh. "I can barely protect myself as it is. I can't afford to support the three of you. You'd better go find someone else!"