After harvesting the Silver Ganoderma Flower, Ling Changqing rested for a while. Only after recovering over half his stamina and Spiritual Power did he resume his search for another suitable target.
'I can stay here for two more hours at most, assuming nothing unexpected happens...'
Ling Changqing easily estimated his current limits, and that was with Elixirs and seafood to constantly replenish what he consumed.
Even at the same Fifth Layer Qi Cultivation, an ordinary Loose Cultivator or Pearl Gatherer could never hope to match Ling Changqing's endurance.
Bypassing a nest of Sea Snakes coiled into a small hill and avoiding two Dragonhorn Manatees fighting over a mate, Ling Changqing slowly approached a cluster of undersea hills nearby.
Hundreds of strange, blood-colored trees grew here. Each was taller than two men and about a meter thick. Their gnarled, twisted branches were almost leafless, with only a single, egg-sized, green-skinned fruit hanging from the very tip of each bough.
Upon closer inspection, the fruits emitted a faint, crimson glow in the water—a concentrated light that did not disperse. They were clearly no Mortal Grade items.
This was the Sea Soul Wood Fruit. Consuming it directly could slightly strengthen a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator's Divine Soul Origin and repair injuries to their Divine Soul.
If one could gather enough Sea Soul Wood Fruits and supplement them with the right Spirit Medicine and Spiritual Herbs for Alchemy, it would be possible to refine the Returning Truth Pill.
The Returning Truth Pill could strengthen a Cultivator's Divine Soul, stabilize their Dao Foundation, and help them resist damage from certain Soul Attack Divine Techniques. It was an elixir desperately needed by Cultivators at the late stage of Qi Cultivation and the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
Ling Changqing scanned the area. According to the information in the Jade Scroll, this grove of Sea Soul Wood held over a hundred mature fruits ready for harvesting.
The remaining fruits were still growing, and it would take anywhere from a few dozen to nearly a hundred years before they could be harvested.
However, a jet-black Spirit-Devouring Squid currently lurked at the edge of the Sea Soul Wood grove, its long tentacles swaying about aimlessly. It was one of the more troublesome types of Second Rank Demon Beasts.
Ling Changqing waited patiently nearby for quite some time. Only when the creature left to hunt for fish and shrimp did he seize the opportunity, swim over, and deftly begin harvesting.
Since Spirit-Devouring Squids liked to nest in Sea Soul Wood groves, Ling Changqing didn't dare to linger. Once he had harvested the mature fruits, he quickly swam away.
This time, however, his luck wasn't so good—or perhaps he had made too much of a commotion—and he was targeted by a Jade Horned Dragon Whale.
The terrifying Third Grade Sea Beast opened its massive maw, parting the seawater as it lunged viciously toward Ling Changqing with precise and ruthless movements.
Ling Changqing instantly reached a conclusion: even if he used every trick up his sleeve, he was no match for this Third Grade Sea Beast.
'Forget it...'
Ling Changqing activated the second rank Water Escape Talisman in his hand. A great expanse of deep blue light surged forth, wrapping around him in a brilliant flash before he vanished on the spot, leaving the massive beast to lunge at empty water.
'Besides, my Storage Pouches are already full of loot. It's no loss to head back now.'
When he reappeared, Ling Changqing found himself on the surface of the sea. The familiar, azure Celestial Vault filled his vision, and a gentle, salty sea breeze drifted past.
In the distance, servants in a small boat had already spotted Ling Changqing and immediately began rowing toward him.
A few moments later, Ling Changqing was safely back on the foredeck of the Sea Boat.
Ling Zifeng was no longer surprised by the young man's extraordinary luck. He waved for a group of servants to come and help take stock of the haul.
Ling Changqing nodded, opening the Storage Pouches on his person one by one and pouring out the spoils.
Of course, Ling Changqing did not reveal high-value resources like the Silver Ganoderma Flower and the Sea Soul Wood Fruits. He planned to take those back and give them directly to Tang Qiu Yao.
After everything was tallied, Ling Changqing still came away with over a hundred Spirit Stones and more than one hundred clan contribution points.
"Changqing, the family's upper echelons are holding a rather important gathering soon,"
Ling Zifeng said. "All the family disciples can attend. You've been out here for over a month now, so isn't it time you went back to check it out?"
According to him, these gatherings were held annually. The upper echelons organized them to enhance clan unity and to provide the younger disciples with an opportunity for friendly networking and collaboration.
Sparring to test one's Cultivation, exchanging insights, trading resources, finding partners to travel and seek fortuitous encounters, and even scouting for a suitable Dao Companion—all of this could be accomplished at the gathering.
Ling Changqing asked pensively, "Senior Sister asked you to pass this on, didn't she?"
Ling Zifeng nodded. "That's right. As a newly promoted Direct Lineage disciple, you've never attended one of these gatherings. It wouldn't look right if you missed it, so you should go and see for yourself!"
"Alright."
Ling Changqing thought for a moment and, finding no reason to refuse, nodded in agreement.
'After more than a month of hard work, I've accumulated a good sum of Spirit Stones,' he thought. 'It's time to go back and do some Cultivation in Seclusion.'
「Two days later.」
Tang Qiu Yao came again to collect resources. Ling Changqing naturally took the opportunity to catch a ride back, returning to Zenxin Island with his stunningly beautiful Senior Sister.
"Senior Sister, these are for you!"
Inside the ship's cabin, seeing that they were alone, Ling Changqing took out a Storage Pouch he had kept hidden on his person and handed it to Tang Qiu Yao.
"You're already daring to venture into the Deep Sea Region? Whoa! There's so much..."
Tang Qiu Yao said in astonishment as she took the Storage Pouch and opened it. Her breathtaking eyes, which seemed to hold the moon and stars, flashed with a mixture of shock and delight.
Ling Changqing chuckled. "I just decided to give it a try on a whim. Luckily, I didn't come back empty-handed."
"This is already a very impressive haul!"
Tang Qiu Yao remarked with a soft sigh. These Silver Ganoderma Flowers and Sea Soul Wood Fruits were enough for Ling Qiyue to refine two whole batches of Elixirs—provided, of course, that all the auxiliary herbs and resources were also gathered.
"Alright, Little Junior Brother, you did a fine job this time. How about five hundred Spirit Stones and five hundred clan contribution points for your troubles?"
Tang Qiu Yao asked, her voice sweet and her smile radiant.
Ling Changqing nodded. "Since you're the one offering, Senior Sister, that's fine with me."
He wasn't worried Tang Qiu Yao would try to cheat him. His Divine Soul Origin Power, which far surpassed that of other Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, allowed him to easily tell who held malicious intent toward him and who was a true friend.
Only a Great Cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, or perhaps even one in the Golden Core Realm, could possibly hide their true intentions from him.
Tang Qiu Yao smiled, satisfied. She took out five middle-grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Ling Changqing. As for the clan contribution points, those would be officially recorded at the Clan Treasury once they returned to Zenxin Island.
Next, the stunning beauty asked about his expedition into the Deep Sea. Ling Changqing had little to hide, so he gave her a detailed account.
"Now I'm finally certain. Little Junior Brother, your luck is truly far, far greater than that of ordinary people,"
Tang Qiu Yao said, leaning her curvaceous figure closer and lowering her voice.
"Back when the Patriarch took me to the Deep Sea Region to search for resources, we came back empty-handed the first several times. We were constantly harassed and attacked by all sorts of ferocious undersea creatures. It wasn't until our fifth trip that we finally found what we were looking for."
Ling Changqing found that a little hard to believe. "Really? But I wasn't even searching that hard. I just followed my instincts and happened to find these things."
Thinking back on it, he realized he truly hadn't put much effort into finding resources on the seafloor.
'If I hadn't been limited to a two-hour stay, and if I hadn't been targeted by that Jade Horned Dragon Whale at the end, couldn't I have found even more treasures?' Ling Changqing wondered.
"How about this," Ling Changqing mused aloud, "I'll try the Deep Sea again next time and see if I can get an even bigger haul?"
Being targeted by the Jade Horned Dragon Whale was proof that his Luck and Fortune had its limits; it wasn't nearly strong enough to let him do as he pleased in the ocean.
'Still, as long as I play it safe and don't push my luck, and as long as I don't stay in the Deep Sea for too long, I should be able to avoid any unmanageable crises.'
A flirtatious glint danced in Tang Qiu Yao's beautiful eyes. She looked Ling Changqing up and down and said with a radiant smile,
"Little Junior Brother, I've just had a rather bold idea. I wonder what you'd think of it?"
"What idea?" Ling Changqing asked, a little puzzled.
Tang Qiu Yao was about to explain, but on second thought, she changed her tune. "No need to rush. I'll make a decision after I get back and discuss it properly with the Patriarch."
"Oh, and by the way, when you get back this time, remember to attend the gathering at the main family compound. Don't be a no-show."
"I'll be there. Steward Ling already told me about it."
Ling Changqing agreed. 'It's just to take a look, anyway,' he thought.
As for getting to know other Direct Lineage disciples, networking, or finding companions to travel with, he currently had no interest.
Tang Qiu Yao's eyes glinted playfully. "You know," she said with a sudden grin, "I just remembered that there are several outstanding young women among this generation of Direct Lineage disciples!"
"None of them have found an ideal Dao Companion. How about it... want your Senior Sister to play matchmaker for you? I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"
Ling Changqing's expression changed, and he immediately refused. "That... won't be necessary, will it? I'm focused on my Cultivation right now. I don't have the energy to look for a Dao Companion."
'The Era Star Palace needs to harvest Divine Soul Origin,' he thought frantically. 'If I'm really saddled with a female Ling Family Cultivator as my Dao Companion, how will I ever be able to go fleece the sheep at the Celestial Fate Pavilion again?'
'Besides, from my perspective, a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator's situation is already precarious. Cultivation is difficult, and our Lifespans are limited. I absolutely shouldn't be wasting my time on a Female Cultivator.'
'Even if I did have... those kinds of ideas, couldn't I wait until after I reach Foundation Establishment? My options would be much better then, right?'
Tang Qiu Yao, however, didn't see it that way. Her smile never faltered as she said, "Oh, don't be shy, Little Junior Brother. The family does have methods for Dual Cultivation, you know. With a compatible Dao Companion, you can support each other, and your Cultivation speed will actually increase!"
"And with your potential, it wouldn't be a problem even if you wanted to find several Dao Companions. No matter who catches your eye, I, your Senior Sister, will make it happen for you! How's that?"
"..."
Ling Changqing shook his head. "I appreciate the thought, Senior Sister, but right now I'm only focused on how to raise my Cultivation as quickly as possible. Let's just put this matter off for another day."
"Fine, fine. Just go and have a look first, then we'll talk."
Seeing the young man's insistence, Tang Qiu Yao finally relented, though an unreadable expression flickered in the depths of her eyes.
At the Ling Family's main compound on Zenxin Island, the Flying Ship gracefully descended, landing smoothly in a large square.