Ling Changqing didn't care whether Tang Qiu Yao's offer was a genuine gesture of goodwill or if she had other motives.
Even a legendary Nascent Soul Great Cultivator couldn't see through the secrets of the Era Star Palace, so he had nothing to worry about.
'This senior of his wasn't a Demon Cultivator. If he was just renting a space in her Spirit Vein Cave Mansion, what could she possibly do? It's not like she'd find an opportunity to eat him.'
"...According to market rates, a Cave Mansion Blessed Land nourished by a Second Grade Spirit Vein costs one hundred Low grade Spirit Stones per month. The rent for a full year must be paid upfront. You, Junior Brother, can pay half that, and as for the security deposit, we'll waive it!"
Tang Qiu Yao spoke at a relaxed pace, her lips slightly parted.
Ling Changqing nodded. "Alright, then it's a deal!"
'That price was more than fair.' He still had some Spirit Stones on him, so paying a year's rent upfront wasn't a problem.
'As for next year, given his growth rate, Ling Changqing felt confident he could earn enough to cover the rent. There was nothing to worry about.'
Ling Changqing immediately took out six hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and handed them to Tang Qiu Yao. The beautiful woman gave a slight nod. With a faint shimmer of light, she swept them all into her Storage Pouch.
"I happen to be free right now, so I'll take you there to have a look."
As Tang Qiu Yao spoke, she put down the Jade Scroll in her hand and rose gracefully. She walked away from the desk and headed outside, her gait graceful and elegant.
Ling Changqing followed silently behind her. His ink-black eyes reflected the beautiful woman's elegant back. Her waist was voluptuous yet slender, and her hips, round and firm like a ripe peach, were hidden beneath her magnificent dress. As her graceful figure swayed, it created layers of enchanting curves.
Ling Changqing's gaze grew dazed for a moment before quickly returning to normal.
Tang Qiu Yao, walking ahead, seemed completely unaware as she continued on at her unhurried pace.
Leaving the courtyard, they followed a winding corridor until they reached the plaza outside the Council Hall, where Tang Qiu Yao's Flying Ship was parked.
Tang Qiu Yao led Ling Changqing and two of her Maids aboard the Flying Ship. The Top Grade Magical Artifact then ascended lightly into the air, flying toward the southeast corner of the city district.
In just a few moments, the Flying Ship arrived at its destination, landing before a lush, picturesque manor.
As he followed Tang Qiu Yao through the manor's main gate, groups of maids, servants, and guards came out to welcome them. All were dressed smartly and greeted them in unison.
As a Cultivator at the Peak of the Eighth Level of Qi Cultivation, and a trusted confidante of the Patriarch, it was no surprise that Tang Qiu Yao commanded such a retinue.
"Alright, you are all dismissed!"
Tang Qiu Yao waved her hand. After bowing once more, the crowd dispersed to attend to their duties.
Ling Changqing followed her into the inner residence, with only a few of her personal Maids still in tow.
Since their mistress Tang Qiu Yao didn't speak, the Maids didn't dare to ask any questions. They only stole glances at the handsome, purple-robed youth, and a few of the bolder girls were practically staring, mesmerized.
In the flower hall of the inner courtyard, after Tang Qiu Yao had gracefully taken the main seat, she instructed the head Maid beside her:
"This young man is Ling Changqing, a member of the family's Direct Lineage. From now on, he will be a long-term tenant here. Longyun, give him a Jade Token to control the Array's entrance!"
The pretty young woman in the white dress studied Ling Changqing with surprise, then replied in a low voice, "Yes, Mistress. I will see to it at once."
The Jade Token was also a Magical Artifact. By recording Ling Changqing's likeness and aura into it, along with a wisp of his Spiritual Sense, he would be able to come and go from Tang Qiu Yao's Cave Mansion Blessed Land as he pleased.
After receiving the Jade Token, Longyun led Ling Changqing to the adjacent courtyard to show him the place.
"Sir..."
Longyun's eyes shimmered as she said softly, "From now on, this entire section of the courtyard is yours to use. The Spiritual Energy Array in the Cultivation Chamber has already been adjusted. You can activate it yourself when you need to enter Cultivation in Seclusion."
"Furthermore, if there is anything else you need, Sir, you can tell me directly."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble."
Ling Changqing said gently, taking out two Qi Nourishing and Essence Storing Pills and handing them to her as a tip.
Longyun's fair cheeks flushed slightly. After accepting the Elixirs, she gave him a few more careful instructions before leaving, seemingly a bit reluctant to go.
Once he was alone in the courtyard, Ling Changqing walked around and found himself quite satisfied with the environment.
The courtyard he had used for Cultivation in Seclusion at the Ling Family Bank couldn't compare to this place in terms of quality, yet its price had been absurdly high.
'Of course, the price of a five-star hotel and an apartment are two different things, and Tang Qiu Yao had clearly given him a 'friends and family' discount.'
'After looking around, he thought about how he had nothing else to do at the moment. Why not just spend some time in Cultivation?'
Ling Changqing was pondering this, but before he could act, Longyun returned, saying that Tang Qiu Yao had summoned him.
A moment later, Ling Changqing once again found himself in the Inner Study, face to face with the radiant Tang Qiu Yao.
"You're here?"
The beautiful woman was sitting perfectly upright, her elegant spine straight. On the desk before her lay a Jade Scroll Atlas shimmering with a precious light, and a vermilion Jade Box.
Ling Changqing nodded. "What can I do for you, Senior Sister?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to chat,"
Tang Qiu Yao said gently, "You've been working in the sea for so long, you must be quite familiar with the underwater environment there. Have you ever been to the sea region deeper than two hundred zhang?"
Ling Changqing looked slightly startled and shook his head. "How could I? My Cultivation is still low, and I don't have a suitable Top Grade Magical Artifact for protection. Wouldn't going into such deep waters be suicide?"
Given the average Cultivation level of a Pearl Gatherer team and the effectiveness of a Low grade Water Repelling Talisman, they could at most operate in the shallow sea area within one hundred zhang, and even that was fraught with danger.
As for the Deep Sea Region, Pearl Gatherers wouldn't dare set foot there. Even though there were more valuable Cultivation Resources, there were also more dangerous sea fish and Sea Beasts. Even Cultivators at the 7th to 8th Layers of Qi Cultivation could not guarantee their absolute safety.
Tang Qiu Yao smiled, pursing her lips. "With your current Cultivation Realm, it's true that you shouldn't go to such a place. But you're growing so fast. Perhaps in another twenty or thirty years, you'll be able to catch up to me, don't you think?"
"Well... I can only say I'll do my best. I wouldn't dare to make any guarantees."
Ling Changqing said cautiously. 'Always leave some leeway in one's words and actions; that is the creed of a Way of Survival Practitioner.'
Tang Qiu Yao's eyes seemed to flow with light, and her voice was soft and beautiful. "To be honest with you, years ago, the Patriarch took me down to the seabed, over two hundred zhang deep, to gather certain resources for Refining a batch of Qingyang Yi Essence Pills. She wasn't even a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator back then..."
"On the way, we were besieged by several powerful Sea Beasts. The Patriarch protected me as we fought a bitter battle, and we barely managed to escape!"
Ling Changqing's expression changed slightly. He was familiar with the name Qingyang Yi Essence Pills; they were resources that were remarkably effective even for Cultivators in the Late Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. 'The Patriarch, Ling Qiyue, is so young, yet she's already not far from the Golden Core Realm. This must be one of the reasons.'
"So the Patriarch is skilled in the Alchemy Dao?"
Ling Changqing murmured. 'That time before, when Steward Ling Zifeng pushed the Pearl Gatherers to desperately collect Jade Crystal Winter Beauty Pearls, it must have all been in preparation as Alchemy Materials.'
Tang Qiu Yao did not deny it. "That's right. The Patriarch is a Pill Master, and the Alchemy Dao inheritance she received is extraordinary. As a result, she has a great demand for all sorts of materials suitable for Alchemy."
As she spoke, she handed over that Jade Scroll and the Jade Box:
"These are the more valuable and relatively easy-to-find types of resources in the Deep Sea Region. Take it and have a look!"
"Once your Cultivation in the future is close to mine, you can consider giving it a try."
Ling Changqing took them and gave them a brief inspection. He already understood. The main ingredients for the Qingyang Yi Essence Pills could mostly be found in the Deep Sea Region.
The Jade Scroll recorded nearly a hundred types of resources, all of considerable value. The six most precious treasures among them were highly sought after even by Golden Core Great Cultivators.
Of course, the locations where these treasures grew were all in sea regions deeper than seven hundred zhang. Without reaching the Foundation Establishment Level of Cultivation, one couldn't even dream of trying to get them.
Spiritual Light shimmered from within the Jade Box. Inside was a thick stack of Water Repelling Talismans, as well as Protective Talismans and Water Escape Talismans. All of them were High quality Talismans.
With these Talismans, Ling Changqing could be guaranteed to move freely in seawater up to two hundred zhang deep, and could even linger for a short time in waters between two hundred and three hundred zhang.
"Does this mean you want me to go try now, Senior Sister?"
Ling Changqing asked. 'These Talismans are quite valuable; they must have come from the family's public treasury.'
Tang Qiu Yao smiled. "Of course not now. You should at least wait until you've reached the Qi Cultivation 6th Layer. For now, just hold on to these things."
"Consider it a long-term assignment. Whenever you feel confident, Junior Brother, you can give it a try. If you bring back any of the resources on the list, you don't need to hand them over to Ling Zifeng. Just bring them directly to me, and I'll make sure you get a fair price."
"Alright, I understand."
Ling Changqing nodded in agreement.
After they talked for a while longer, Tang Qiu Yao gestured for him to leave.