27: Where can mortal desires find solace? Why strive for the path to immortality?

After a bout of lingering passion, Ye Yao was drenched in fragrant sweat, her skin glowing with an alluring pink hue.

Like a fish out of water, she leaned weakly against Qi Yuan's solid, warm chest, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Since Qi Yuan revealed the truth of the cultivation world to the four of them three years ago, a sense of panic that was hard to dispel had been buried deep in Ye Yao's heart.

She lacked a Spiritual Root and was destined to never step onto the path of immortality and longevity.

She often remembered that she had only been taken in as a concubine by the Master because of the influence of the primary wife, Liu Yueer; it was the Madam's kindness that had given her a place to settle down.

Over the past few years, she had exerted all her strength to manage the Family's internal affairs, terrified of making even the slightest mistake.

She wanted to prove that even if she could not Cultivate, she was still a useful person by the Master's side.

Qi Yuan lowered his gaze to look at the beautiful face in his arms, which bore signs of weariness but could not hide her unease. Having spent years gaining experience, he was accustomed to reading people's hearts; how could he not understand her hidden thoughts?

He reached out and gently stroked the black hair scattered on the pillow beside Ye Yao, sighing.

"These years have truly been hard on you."

Ye Yao's nose tingled with emotion. She looked up, her eyes filled with a trace of hope as she asked timidly:

"Master... without a Spiritual Root, is it truly... truly impossible to Cultivate?"

Qi Yuan gave a bitter smile and shook his head, his tone certain:

"Yao'er, if there were such Heaven-Defying methods to change one's fate and seize the fortune of others, this cultivation world would have long been a scene of blood and gore. How could there be a stable place for our generation to seek the Dao?"

He was widely experienced and knew that Spiritual Roots were formed by nature, a gift from heaven and earth that could not be forced.

Even the "Evergreen Soul Tracing Seal" only served to nourish and enhance, not to plunder.

Seeing Ye Yao's eyes dim and her long eyelashes tremble as she hid her disappointment.

Qi Yuan changed the subject at the right time, his palm gently stroking her smooth back as he asked:

"Has the Family business been going smoothly lately? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

Mentioning this, Ye Yao's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she set aside her tender emotions and replied:

"The business in the county town has become somewhat difficult to manage lately."

It turned out that a new Gang called the "Money Gang" had emerged within Cloud Dream County, and its power was expanding rapidly.

They had begun to forcibly interfere in various industries in the county town and surrounding towns, even forcing merchants to pay high "Peace Money."

The shops under the Qi Family's name were naturally affected as well, with profits being squeezed significantly.

What was even more alarming was that in several families who refused to submit, their heads or capable descendants had died in succession from accidents.

"Money Gang..."

A cold light flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes, yet his face remained calm as he said indifferently:

"I've noted this matter. I will handle it."

He turned to ask about something else:

"What happened with Fenger?"

He had already learned from Xuan Tian about Ye Yao punishing Fenger.

Upon hearing this, Ye Yao's expression grew even more dejected, and she said irritably:

"What else? He's protesting on behalf of his fourth brother, Xuan Tian!"

It turned out that Qi Xuanfeng saw his eldest and fourth brothers being called into the mountains by their father and no longer going to school, so he thought his father was being biased and treating those two brothers poorly.

"He's just a child; how could he know the intricacies of the situation!"

Qi Yuan's expression did not change upon hearing this.

Children's Heart-Natures were simple and could not keep secrets. Currently, those in the residence who knew for certain about the matter of cultivation, aside from the five of them as husband and wives, were only Xuan Jin and Xuan Tian, who were training on the mountain.

The matter of the Qi Family's cultivation must remain hidden until they possessed the power to protect themselves.

As for secretly passing on Cultivation Techniques to his offspring, Qi Yuan had no such intention; there was no need for such distance within the Family.

Instead, he said with a hint of approval:

"It's a good thing that Fenger can love his brothers and has a pure and kind heart."

Ye Yao let out a faint sigh, her soft body rubbing against him in his arms as she said softly:

"I'm just afraid... that in the future, when Fenger realizes he has no affinity for the immortal path and watches his brothers drift further and further away, how sad he will be in his heart..."

In her words, there was not only pity for her son but also for herself.

Just as she finished speaking, Ye Yao suddenly flipped over and actively straddled Qi Yuan, her soft waist and full breasts pressed tightly against him, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with shimmering tears.

Qi Yuan was slightly startled:

"What are you doing?"

"Master..."

Her red lips parted slightly, her breath like orchids with a slight tremor, her warm breath spraying against his lips.

"Yao'er asks for nothing else... only that you grant me another child..."

...Qi Yuan gently pushed away Ye Yao's jade-like arm wrapped around his bicep and tucked her into the brocade quilt.

Looking at her face as she fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion, a trace of complexity flashed in his eyes.

He rose silently and dressed himself neatly.

Outside the window, the moonlight was bright, its clear radiance spilling into the room and dispelling some of the lingering passion from within the curtains.

He stood by the window with his hands behind his back.

How could he not know Ye Yao's thoughts?

She was so eager to have another child, even going so far as to cast aside her modesty and take the initiative, all for the sake of her lineage's future.

Fenger had no Spiritual Root and was destined to be a Mortal.

According to his investigation, Linger also had no Spiritual Root.

If her branch of the Family had no offspring with Spiritual Roots, then after a hundred years, in this Qi Family that was increasingly taking cultivation as its Foundation.

Fenger and Linger's status would inevitably be awkward and they would find themselves in a weak position.

When parents love their children, they plan far ahead for them.

"Forget it..."

Qi Yuan sighed softly.

He shook his head, momentarily putting these domestic thoughts to the back of his mind.

"Now that I have reached Late Stage Qi Refining, according to the custom of the Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world.

"I am qualified to go to the Nanyue Market and formally apply to the Zhao Family, who oversees this province, to establish a Family."

Once the application was successful, the Family would be officially registered and protected by certain rules.

Although they would still need to be cautious, at least they would no longer have to be like a firefly in the dark, constantly afraid of being noticed and blown out by others.

"However, before that, I must first uncover the background of this Money Gang."

Qi Yuan's gaze turned cold.

A mundane Gang dared to reach its hands into his Qi Family's properties and even caused deaths.

If there were no one pulling the strings behind them or no backing to rely on, it would be absolutely impossible for them to be so arrogant.

He wanted to see who gave them such courage!

With his mind made up, Qi Yuan's figure flickered, and he disappeared from the spot like a ghost, appearing outside Cuiyun Town in the next moment.

The night wind was fierce, blowing his robes.

He did not use the Sword Kinesis Art but instead circulated the Bone Changing Breath Exchange Art, perfectly concealing his aura and blending into the night.