57: Finding lost treasures in Linchuan, and forming a marriage alliance with the mountain.

Seeing Jiang Lu die, a look of complexity flashed through Jiang Heming's eyes, followed by complete relaxation.

Jiang Lu was old and frail, his cultivation stalled at the Qi Refining Third Layer for many years, and he no longer contributed to the Family's procreation; it was a clean end.

However... a cold light flashed in his eyes as he whispered instructions to the trusted Elder behind him:

"Sell off the parents, wife, and children of Jiang Lu's Family, as well as those worthless brothers of his.

As for the destination... you know what to do. Handle it cleanly, leave no one behind.

Keeping the kin of such a traitor is useless and will only lead to future trouble."

The trusted Elder's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed to accept the order: "Yes, Patriarch."

Jiang Heming took one last look in the direction Qi Yuan had left, then at the corpse of Jiang Lu on the ground.

With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve, turned, and led his people away quickly, not staying for another moment.

The Jiang Family suffered significant losses tonight, losing face and a "task-performing" clansman; he needed to handle the aftermath properly... Qi Yuan did not immediately flee back to Cloud Dream.

He restrained his aura and changed his appearance.

Transforming into an ordinary-looking, weathered old man in brown clothes, he quietly lingered in Suibo County of Linchuan Prefecture and its surrounding counties for over a month.

Years ago, when preparing to establish his Family, although he mainly searched for those with Spiritual Roots in Cuiyun County, he had also paid attention to the surrounding areas, ultimately only making a discovery in the Liu Family and gaining his primary wife, Liu Yueer.

Now that he had briefly clashed with the Jiang Family, gauged their internal weakness despite their outward strength, and temporarily intimidated them, this territory of Linchuan Prefecture had become a place where he could relatively safely "glean" talent.

After all, according to the scattered news sent by the Tao Family after the tribute incident two years ago, that Zhao Family Tribute Inspection Envoy, Zhao Changqing, acted with extreme severity.

He seemed to have a habit of making an example of someone whenever he visited a prefecture; the Qi Family had merely been caught in the crossfire last time.

If one truly offended such a figure, the Tao Family would likely avoid them at all costs, let alone cooperate.

It was precisely for this reason that Jiang Heming, under the weight of solid evidence and being at another's mercy, ultimately chose to pay his way out of trouble and settle the matter quickly.

Linchuan Prefecture was currently surging with undercurrents due to the fall of the Bai Family and the vacancy of the second-grade spiritual land.

The Jiang Family was too busy with their own affairs and was truly unwilling to completely burn bridges with a new neighbor of unknown strength and decisive methods.

In the cultivation world, a Cultivator's Spiritual Sense can sweep over Mortals to see if they possess Spiritual Roots and what their elemental attributes are; most cannot hide, making it far more efficient than using Spirit Testing Stones.

Therefore, large-scale "Ascension Assemblies" hosted by Disciples are rare in the Zhao Kingdom; it is mostly high-level Cultivators who travel to find Disciples, or those with a heart for the Dao who seek out immortal opportunities themselves.

In the Zhao Kingdom, especially in the newly expanded Southern Yue province, Family forces hold absolute dominance, while Sects are scarce and have higher entry thresholds.

Qi Yuan hadn't been without the thought of sending Xuan Qing and Xuan Lin, the two children with Medium Grade Spiritual Roots, out to find masters.

But the Qi Family was newly established with a shallow Foundation; sending descendants into large Sects required time to accumulate connections and undergo inspections.

Moreover, while Medium Grade Spiritual Roots aren't bad in large Sects, they are by no means extraordinary; the resources they could obtain might not be more than what the Family could provide by focusing all its efforts on them.

More importantly, Xuan Qing's Comprehension Ability was too low, and Xuan Lin's flighty Heart-Nature... Qi Yuan truly did not dare to send them into a Sect.

Relying on his Spiritual Sense, which extended forty zhang at the Late Stage Qi Refining, Qi Yuan was like a patient old fisherman, slowly "casting a net" through the crowds of Suibo County and its neighboring counties.

Qi Yuan's Spiritual Sense range was much higher than that of an average Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator; perhaps he could gain something.

The lives of the people in Linchuan Prefecture were indeed much better than those in the chaotic and impoverished Heishan Prefecture; at least most could feed and clothe themselves, which also increased the difficulty of his search.

Families who were doing well might not be willing to hand their children over to an "old Cultivator" of unknown origin.

Another half-month passed, and Qi Yuan finally returned to Green Cloud Mountain with three children.

Two girls and one boy, all between six and eight years old, sallow and thin, dressed in rags, with fear and a hint of hope for the future in their eyes.

This old grandfather had said they would be able to eat their fill from now on.

Among them, the girl whose features vaguely showed a hint of prettiness possessed Low Grade Four Spiritual Roots.

The other boy and girl possessed the more common Low Grade Five Spiritual Roots.

Qi Yuan had his own principles when choosing: they all came from families that were truly destitute or had suffered great tragedies and could hardly sustain themselves.

Although he needed to replenish the Family population, he was unwilling to commit the evil act of forcibly separating flesh and blood or robbing people of their hope.

As for the Jiang Family's practice of selling off their own clansmen with Spiritual Roots—an act of draining the pond to catch the fish—he had heard of it and could only secretly call them "crazy."

But he would not touch it—who knew how much filth and trouble was involved?

...In the Immortal Cave, Qi Yuan summoned his eldest son, Qi Xuanjin.

"The roots and bones of these three have been tested, and their Spiritual Root attributes are compatible with the Family's Cultivation Techniques."

Qi Yuan pointed to the three children standing quietly and uneasily below him.

"The one with pretty features has Low Grade Four Spiritual Roots; the others have Low Grade Five Spiritual Roots.

You arrange for them, following the Family's old precedents, to first be taught literacy and principles, have their bodies tempered, and their Heart-Natures observed, before gradually leading them into the Dao.

The necessary expenses shall be drawn from the public funds."

"Yes, Father."

Qi Xuanjin bowed in response, his gaze sweeping over the three children as he began to consider where to settle them and who should teach them.

He then remembered something and reported:

"Father, Concubine Su sent word the day before yesterday that she has reached an agreement with the Zhao Family of Kaoshan Town.

The Zhao Family agrees to let Miss Zhao stay on Green Cloud Mountain, and... they hope to establish a marriage contract with our Qi Family..."

Hearing this, Qi Yuan's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was as clear as a mirror.

This move by the Zhao Family could be described as clever and pragmatic.

Even if they hadn't mentioned it, once Zhao Qingwan was a bit older, Qi Yuan himself would have considered a marriage alliance.

Incorporating a woman of a different surname who possessed Spiritual Roots and had ties to his own Family was the most secure arrangement.

If it were a male, the situation would naturally be much more complicated, as it might strengthen an outside surname.

But Zhao Qingwan was a woman; marrying into the Qi Family made her a member of the Qi Family. This would not only consolidate the relationship with the Zhao Family but also add a cultivation Bloodline to the Family.

The Zhao Family must have seen this clearly; rather than waiting passively, it was better to propose it actively to maintain some dignity.

"Has Wan Tang investigated the Zhao Family's background thoroughly?"

Qi Yuan asked.

For outsiders who might be brought into the Family, especially marriage partners, it was necessary to clarify their roots.

Qi Xuanjin replied:

"Third Aunt has investigated carefully. The Zhao Family of Kaoshan Town is indeed a long-standing local prominent Family, a scholarly household with a good reputation, seemingly having no connection to the cultivation world.

However, 'Zhao' is the national surname. Whether this Kaoshan Town Zhao Family's ancestors had some connection with the imperial Zhao Family is untraceable due to the passage of time."

Qi Yuan nodded slightly, neither surprised nor particularly concerned.

The Zhao Kingdom's territory was vast; there were millions, if not tens of millions, of people surnamed Zhao, and countless individuals with some distant relation to the imperial Family.

Even if the Kaoshan Town Zhao Family's ancestors truly had a sliver of a connection with the imperial Zhao Family, after so many generations of dilution, it would carry no weight in the cultivation world, and the imperial Zhao Family would certainly not provide any care because of it.

The value of the marriage alliance lay in Zhao Qingwan's own Spiritual Root Aptitude.

Of course, if Zhao Qingwan had been tested to have High Grade or even Peak Grade Spiritual Roots, then everything would be a different story.

"Does the Zhao Family have a candidate in mind?"

Qi Yuan asked.

Since the other party had actively proposed the marriage contract, they likely already had a preference in mind.