355: Xiao Ran's purpose

Since he was interested in all of them, he would take them all. Even if they weren't suitable as Concubines, they could work as maids!

Looking through their information carefully, three of them caught Liu Xuan's attention.

One was named Qin Ruanyu, a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and a member of the Qin Family, where the Golden Core True Person Qin Mo belonged.

Her talent was average among Foundation Establishment Cultivators. At nearly two hundred years old, she had yet to achieve a Breakthrough to Late Foundation Establishment Stage, leaving her with virtually no hope of Core Formation.

She also lacked any immortal cultivation skills; her only advantage was her expertise in battle formations, and she commanded an elite unit of the Beast Taming Sect numbering three thousand.

With her background and military power, Qin Ruanyu logically shouldn't have chosen to become Liu Xuan's Concubine.

It turned out she was only from a branch of the Qin Family, distantly related to Immortal Master Qin Mo. Not only did she receive no help from the Qin Family, but she was also suppressed by the main branch.

Six months ago, she was assigned to a cannon fodder squad by the Qin Family's main branch and nearly died on the front lines. Since then, she only dared to stay in the rear, not even venturing to the front.

Of course, most of this information was provided by Qin Ruanyu herself, so its veracity was questionable.

Liu Xuan put down her file and looked at another girl's information.

Liu Qinghe, nineteen years old, from a very ordinary Qi Refining Family. Although her Spiritual Root talent reached the fourth grade, she had never received much cultivation.

In fact, compared to ordinary low-level Cultivators, as a Named Disciple of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor and a squad leader of the City Guards, she could be considered a Prodigy.

But human hearts are never satisfied. Once they have money, they want a car; once they have a car, they want a house; once they have a house, they want a position... It's just human desire, and there's nothing wrong with it.

The last woman to catch Liu Xuan's attention was named Cheng Nian, eighteen years old, with a seventh-grade Spiritual Root and a Qi Refining First Layer cultivation.

Her talent was mediocre, she didn't know any immortal cultivation skills, her techniques were unrefined, and she was very timid, not even daring to go to the front lines.

Her only merit was her extreme beauty; she was the most beautiful woman in this selection.

Straight bangs, long black hair, a very simple look, but paired with her exquisite, snow-white face and large eyes as mysterious as the night sky, she had an indescribable aura.

Only children make choices; I want them all!

After a brief look through their profiles, Liu Xuan instructed Xiao Ran:

"Bring them all in. Following the old rules, they will start as maids. Once we've investigated their backgrounds and confirmed their temperaments, we'll decide further."

The Liu Family now had a large business and household. Even if Liu Xuan took Concubines, he couldn't let them directly access the core of power.

Typically, they would first become special maids in the Liu Manor. After being favored, they would be promoted to Concubines and then gradually handle Family affairs.

"Yes!"

Xiao Ran had long expected this result and immediately went to handle it... Outside the Liu Manor.

Xiao Ran sent people to bring all ten female Cultivators over. Once they arrived, she announced to them:

"Except for Fellow Daoist Qin, your current status is Advanced maids of my Liu Manor, with a basic monthly salary of thirty Spirit Stones. As for what level you can reach in the future, it will depend on your performance!"

"Thirty!"

"So many!!"

"And that's just the base..."

...As soon as Xiao Ran finished speaking, the nine female Cultivators began whispering among themselves, overjoyed. A monthly salary of thirty Spirit Stones, and that was just the base; Liu Xuan was indeed as generous as the rumors said.

Thirty Spirit Stones might not seem like much, but it was actually quite a lot. An ordinary first-tier mid-grade Magical Artifact cost about that much!

Although Liu Xuan spent money like water, often dealing in millions or tens of millions of Spirit Stones, for ordinary low-level Qi Refining Cultivators, every single Spirit Stone was incredibly precious.

Most Cultivators couldn't learn Alchemy, Artifact Refining, or other immortal cultivation skills, nor did they have fixed assets like Spiritual Fields.

Maintaining order in the rear, managing shops, renting Spiritual Fields... without a background, one couldn't do any of these and could only go to the front lines as cannon fodder.

"Junior Sister Kexin, take them to their quarters to familiarize them with the environment and their duties," Xiao Ran instructed Zhang Kexin beside her, then smiled at Qin Ruanyu. "Fellow Daoist Qin, come with me. I'll personally show you around."

Qin Ruanyu was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and a Mid-stage one at that, so she naturally required special treatment.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xiao!"

As one of Liu Xuan's women, Xiao Ran's warmth made Qin Ruanyu a bit puzzled. However, it didn't matter; she only wanted to use Liu Xuan's power to gain a foothold, not to fight for power with these women.

Whatever Xiao Ran's purpose was didn't matter at all. What mattered was what kind of attitude Liu Xuan, this Third-Rank Alchemist, would have toward her?

A Third-Rank Alchemist and the Personal Disciple of True Lord Haoran—Liu Xuan's current status was higher than even the Golden Core True Persons of her Qin Family.

Rumor had it that Liu Xuan valued his wives, Concubines, and children very much. As long as she could gain his favor, the Qin Family's main branch wouldn't dare target her, and she might even be able to retaliate!

As the two entered the Liu Manor grounds, two massive building complexes appeared before Qin Ruanyu's eyes.

Xiao Ran pointed to a place that looked like a black fortress and introduced it: "That is the large Artifact Refining Workshop. It will soon be able to refine second-tier peak-grade large Flying Ships, and once fully completed, it can refine third-tier ships."

Then she pointed toward a tall building emitting smoke and fire. "That way is the Pill Refining Tower. There are currently over a hundred Alchemists refining Medicinal Pills there."

Qin Ruanyu followed Xiao Ran around the Liu Manor and gained a new understanding of the Liu Family's wealth.

A large Artifact Refining Workshop, over a hundred Alchemists, and the bustling Guanghui Tower outside—the Liu Family was not just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Family, but a massive Family power comparable to a Golden Core Sect.

An immortal cultivation Family! Because it was difficult for high-level Cultivators to conceive children, and the essence of cultivation was the pursuit of longevity, pure cultivation families usually peaked at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Once reaching the level of a Golden Core True Person, they generally wouldn't value a Family much, at most looking after one or two talented juniors.

For example, Xiao Changfeng; the Xiao Family was merely a tool for him to manage the Sect, not much different from those Disciples.

Even if he hadn't been controlled by the Puppet Gu back then, he wouldn't have cared much whether the Xiao Family lived or died.

In the entire cultivation world, all Golden Core True Persons belonged to a Sect. They either started their own or joined a Nascent Soul Sect. There was no concept of Loose Cultivators above the Golden Core stage, and naturally, no such thing as a standalone Golden Core Family; they could only be considered part of a Sect.

But Qin Ruanyu felt the Liu Family was different. The head of the Liu Family, Liu Xuan, was constantly taking wives and having children. Relying solely on his own Family, he could operate a Sect. She couldn't see what it would develop into in the future.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, how do you feel about our Liu Family's future? Can we occupy a place in the Beast Taming Sect in the future?" Xiao Ran asked.

Qin Ruanyu looked deeply at Xiao Ran for a moment and nodded. "Family Head Liu has extraordinary talent; the future of the Liu Clan is limitless."

Xiao Ran smiled slightly. "In that case, I won't waste any more words with you!"

"I know your situation very well. Following my husband, Liu Xuan, is definitely the right choice!"

"I can help you gain my husband's trust as soon as possible. The condition is simple: I want the military power in your hands!"