1: The death of the master, the master's wife passed on the skills

Tianlan Continent, Eastern Region.

Qingshan Town.

Qin Family.

The Family's main hall was draped with white silk, and the Family members, dressed in mourning attire, bowed their heads in sorrow, the atmosphere heavy with sadness.

Three individuals stood at the very front.

They were a young man, a Beautiful Woman, and an old man.

After a long period of mourning, they raised their heads, gazing at the ancestral tablet on the offering table, their eyes filled with remembrance.

The person being commemorated today was the Qin Family Patriarch, Qin Ren.

The old man was the Qin Family Grand Elder, Qin Zhong.

Since Qin Ren's death, the Family's burdens had all fallen upon him.

"Madam, life and death are fated; you don't need to be overly sorrowful."

Qin Zhong turned to the Beautiful Woman and sighed, comforting her.

Her name was Gu Shuqin, the wife of the deceased Qin Ren.

Upon hearing this, the Beautiful Woman continued to stare at the ancestral tablet, tears welling in her eyes, and she softly whispered, "I know, Uncle Zhong, you don't need to worry about me."

Although she said this, others could hear the tremor in her voice, and her tone was filled with grief.

She was clearly in extreme pain.

After all, she was only a few decades old, considered quite young in the Cultivation world. To lose her loving husband at such an age, it was difficult not to be devastated.

The young man stood beside the Beautiful Woman, turning to look at his Revered Master's wife's sorrowful appearance, and couldn't help but sigh.

His name was Lin Yuan. In his previous life, he was a Blue Star native who died in an accident and was Reincarnated into this world.

Although he successfully Transmigrated, the eighteen years from his birth until now had not been smooth.

His parents went missing when he was young, leaving him an orphan, and he was adopted by a couple.

At fifteen, he participated in the Cloud Ripple Sect's assessment and, due to a slight Cultivation talent, was fortunate enough to be accepted as a Utility Disciple.

He thought he had finally turned his life around, like a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate.

However, he didn't expect that a Utility Disciple was not considered a formal Disciple at all.

Every day, he fetched water, cooked meals, and performed meaningless Mortal tasks, only receiving one Yuan Stone a month.

The work was tiring, and the pay was so meager that Lin Yuan felt exhausted several times and wanted to resign.

But he always managed to endure it.

No matter how hard or tiring being a Utility Disciple was, at least there was a chance for promotion. If he left the Sect, he might never have the opportunity to Cultivate in this life.

He had Transmigrated to a Xuanhuan world with such difficulty, so how could he be content with being a Mortal?

Driven by this obsession, he continued in the Utility position for two more years.

As the saying goes, Heaven never mistreats diligent people.

At seventeen, he was fortunately recognized by an Outer Sect Elder and taken in as a Disciple, officially becoming an Outer Sect Disciple.

This Elder was Qin Ren.

He thought he was finally going to begin his counterattack, advancing rapidly and reaching the Peak of his life.

Who knew that after only one year, his Revered Master passed away?

Lin Yuan was on the verge of tears.

What about the Transmigrator's halo he was promised?

Why was he so unlucky?

Although Qin Ren's Realm was not high, he was still an Outer Sect Elder.

Now that he was dead, Lin Yuan had lost his backing, and his life in the Outer Sect would certainly not be as comfortable as before.

Qin Zhong looked at the Beautiful Woman, his lips moved, and he suddenly sighed, "Madam, you should know that Qingshan Town has three great Families: the Lei Family, the Xie Family, and our Qin Family."

"Our three great Families have always been in competition. When the Patriarch was here, we could maintain a balance, but now that the Patriarch is dead, our Qin Family's strength has greatly diminished, and I fear it won't be long before we are swallowed by the Lei and Xie Families."

As the old man spoke, his face clearly showed signs of fatigue.

News of Qin Ren's death spread quickly, and after the Lei and Xie Families learned of it, they had already begun their plan to devour the Qin Family.

As the Grand Elder of the Qin Family, although he wished to support the Family, his strength was a bit lacking, and he was no match for the other two Families.

Gu Shuqin understood the meaning behind his words and clarified, "Uncle Zhong means you hope I can help the Qin Family deal with them?"

"Yes."

"The Patriarchs of the Lei and Xie Families should be comparable in strength to my husband, right?"

"Yes, they are both Condensing Core Realm Cultivators."

(Realm divisions: Body Tempering, Opening Meridians, Condensing Core, Qi Gathering, Core Formation, Dao Platform, Purple Mansion. Each Realm is divided into one to nine stages.)

Gu Shuqin smiled bitterly, "I am only at the Opening Meridian Realm. How can I be their opponent?"

Qin Zhong stroked his beard, "Although your strength is not as great as theirs, you are, after all, a person from the Cloud Ripple Sect. If you step forward and speak, they should not dare to do anything to us, right?"

"Elder Zhong, you think too highly of me. Although I have been in the Cloud Ripple Sect for a long time, I am actually just an Outer Sect Disciple with no influence. Why would they fear an ordinary Disciple?"

"This... do you know any other Elders?"

"I do."

"Then please ask them to come forward and help us."

"..."

Seeing him speak so casually, Gu Shuqin's expression was somewhat helpless.

The Cultivation world operates on interests.

Even good friends with deep connections would not help you for free.

If she were to ask those Elders for help, she would definitely have to pay a price.

And now, what else could she offer besides her body?

A hint of sarcasm touched her lips, and the Beautiful Woman sighed softly, "Alright, I will help the Qin Family overcome this difficulty."

Hearing this, Qin Zhong was overjoyed, "Thank you, Madam, for your help! It was truly the Patriarch's fortune to marry a wife like you!"

The Beautiful Woman waved her hand, "We are all Family; you don't need to be so polite."

With that, she turned and walked towards the Patriarch's room, muttering, "Lin Yuan, follow me."

"Yes, Revered Master's wife."

Lin Yuan respectfully followed her.

Inside the bedroom.

Gu Shuqin sat on the bed, her exquisite face showing a hint of hesitation.

Should she do this?

If so, she would surely be letting down her husband.

But if she didn't, the Qin Family would be in danger.

This situation truly put her in a dilemma.

Lin Yuan stood by, and seeing her struggling expression, he couldn't help but make a guess.

"Listening to Revered Master's wife's words just now, she intends to help the Qin Family establish itself in Qingshan Town, but her Realm is not enough. That means she can only ask for outside help, which will definitely require a price. Given Revered Master's wife's current situation, the only bargaining chip she has left is..."

At this thought, Lin Yuan couldn't help but feel regret.

Gu Shuqin had a beautiful face and a voluptuous figure, making her one of the top beauties in the Outer Sect.

Even though she already had a Dao Companion, it didn't deter the enthusiasm of her many suitors.

Now that Qin Ren was dead, those who coveted her would surely become even more frantic.

The thought of his beautiful Revered Master's wife sacrificing herself for the Qin Family made his heart ache.

She should have lived happily ever after with his Revered Master.

Why did Heaven punish her so?

"Lin Yuan..."

Gu Shuqin suddenly spoke.

Lin Yuan snapped back to reality and replied, "Revered Master's wife, I'm here."

"I will transmit a Cultivation Technique to you. You must Cultivate it well."

"Cultivation Technique?"

Just as he was about to ask what Cultivation Technique it was, she had already transmitted it using her Spiritual Sense.

As the information flowed in, Lin Yuan quickly learned the name of this Cultivation Technique—"Yin and Yang Creation, Extremes Turn to Prosperity, Heaven and Earth Divine Cultivation Technique."