Chapter 50: Concubine and Maid

Wow!

It's not only Hu Yuan.

Even the ninth‑layer Lian Qi cultivators behind Hu Yuan turned pale at the sound of Xiao Zhangqing's name, their aura weakening a few points.

Lin Ziyu, seeing this, recognized its usefulness and seized the moment: "Speaking of it, five years ago you, Hu Yuan, also saw both sides of Xiao Symbol Master. So you know that Xiao Symbol Master and I have long been acquainted; we were once neighbors."

Hu Yuan's expression wavered.

In recent years Xiao Zhangqing has risen like a cloud, becoming one of the most prominent figures in Nanshan Fang, and Hu Yuan naturally knows about it.

But back when he courted Lin Ziyu, Xiao Zhangqing had just become a regular at Lingfu Pavilion, a Basic Talisman Master, and his energy outside the market was rather unpleasant.

Who would have thought that within just a few years, Xiao Zhangqing would be promoted to First‑rank Talisman Master, and rumors say his talent is no less than that of the Second‑rank Talisman Master Lu Qiu back then.

"You're lying!" Hu Yuan paused for a moment, questioning: "What kind of status does Xiao Symbol Master have now that he would even look at you? With just you, you think you can climb the high branch and become Xiao Symbol Master's Dao Partner?"

Lin Ziyu had already thought of a response and said: "I am naturally unfit to be Xiao Symbol Master's Dao Partner; I am willing, of course, to be Xiao Symbol Master's concubine… or, if you prefer to call it a maid, I won't object."

"Concubine… maid?" Hu Yuan heard this and couldn't help but be somewhat convinced.

Given Lin Ziyu's beauty and temperament, she has never offered herself to anyone over these years.

Marrying her as a Dao Partner is impossible, but if she volunteers to share the bed, willingly becoming a concubine or even a maid, that Xiao Symbol Master presumably wouldn't refuse, right?

But thinking of this, Hu Yuan's heart again ignited with anger and jealousy.

This pretentiously lofty harlot, when she first rejected him, spoke so pompously, putting on the air of a chaste, fierce maiden, swearing she'd never endure her family's humiliation, making the thought of her becoming a concubine unthinkable.

Now? Isn't she just proactively serving other men! She refuses him because she thinks he's not strong enough, not promising enough, right? Yet no matter how angry and jealous he feels, he dares not act rashly now.

Now this matter involves Lingfu Pavilion itself and also concerns the currently prominent Xiao Zhangqing, who is likely to be promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master in a few years; Hu Yuan cannot afford to provoke him.

Even the ninth‑layer Lian Qi cultivators behind him were indecisive, and finally sent a message to Hu Yuan, telling him to temporarily refrain from touching sister Lin Ziyu and just capture Lin Zixi.

Hu Yuan felt something stir in his heart.

If he cannot obtain Lin Ziyu, the woman he has coveted for years, gaining her sister would not be a loss.

Lin Zixi not only matches Lin Ziyu in figure and looks, but she also once humiliated him, and he has long desired revenge.

Thus, Hu Yuan prepared to act against Lin Zixi.

In panic, Lin Zixi, unable to think of anything else, hurriedly said: "My sister and I are already Xiao Symbol Master's concubines!"

"?" Hu Yuan stopped again, feeling extremely choked with grievance.

Both of you sisters, is this how it is?

I originally wanted to lock both of you sisters in my chambers; you chose death over compliance. Once you gained power, you publicly humiliated me, leaving me with no face, forcing me to kneel and apologize.

Now you voluntarily go to become other male cultivators' concubines or maids?!

Both sisters, not a single good thing! Hu Yuan was angry and jealous, yet he dared not act directly, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two.

After a long while, he received a covert order, and with a reluctant expression said, "Don't think you can escape! Someone will be watching you! If it turns out that you sisters have nothing to do with Xiao Symbol Master and are deceiving me, then wait! There will be a time of irreparable regret!"

Indeed.

The ninth‑layer Lian Qi cultivators behind him instructed him not to act rashly for now, to let the two sisters go first, and to deal with the matter after the facts are clarified.

If, as the neighboring sisters claim, they have become Xiao Zhangqing's people, he must first return to consult Shopkeeper Zhou before taking action.

After all, Xiao Zhangqing is not only a First‑rank Talisman Master at Lingfu Pavilion, but also possesses immense potential; his talisman techniques improve rapidly, and he may become a Second‑rank Talisman Master in a few years.

By then, Zhou Changkong will have many requests of Xiao Zhangqing in various places.

The Lin sisters are actually no longer important; even if they are captured, it is unlikely to uncover the mysterious Symbol Master who collaborates with the Cao family's Fortune Shop. Zhou Changkong's refusal to let go is merely a matter of face, a rivalry with the Cao family.

…

…

"I didn't expect talisman techniques to outpace cultivation level breakthroughs."

Inside the studio, Xiao Zhangqing set down his talisman brush, gazing at the newest creation, the Ice Talisman, whose quality finally reached First‑rank Superior.

This signifies that Xiao Zhangqing's talisman techniques among First‑rank Talisman Masters have reached a level of integration, officially making him a First‑rank Superior Talisman Master.

But this is actually within reason.

It has been nearly two years since Xiao Zhangqing equipped the Dual‑winged Tiger Brush and became a First‑rank Intermediate Talisman Master.

Breaking through a minor realm in two years is not fast; compared to Lu Qiu, it may even be slower.

This shows that even with item‑slot Talisman Path talent and comprehension boost, Xiao Zhangqing is still inferior to Lu Qiu.

Of course, once Xiao Zhangqing's cultivation breaks through the Late Stage of Lian Qi and his equipment slots expand, he can instantly join the ranks of Second‑rank Talisman Masters! Even if Lu Qiu's talent were ten times stronger, it would still be hard to match.

"If I could still earn side jobs now, my monthly income would at least double, bringing in over a thousand Low‑grade Spirit Stones each month!"

"No wonder Wu Symbol Master was fined twenty thousand Low‑grade Spirit Stones, yet suffered no bodily harm; he was the most eager among the three to pay the fine…"

"What a pity. With the current crackdown, there's no chance now…"

Xiao Zhangqing muttered to himself in his mind.

"From now on, I will go all out to strike the Late Stage of Lian Qi."

"The medium‑quality Spirit Root aptitude is still a bit weak; even striking the Late Stage of Lian Qi feels clearly blocked. If later I cultivate to the ninth‑layer Lian Qi Great Perfection and strike the Foundation Establishment Realm, the bottleneck will be so solid it's unimaginable."

"No wonder in the Cultivation World, although there are many cultivators with medium‑quality Spirit Roots who reach Foundation Establishment, the success rate is only one or two out of ten, with most ending in failure."

"I now have the Great Achievement‑level Longevity Technique supporting me, which helps speed during regular cultivation. Yet at the crucial Foundation Establishment stage, the proficiency of Longevity Technique is of little use."

"The key still lies in the Spirit Root aptitude…"

"Xiao Zhangqing has a plan in mind: when his cultivation reaches the Late Stage of Lian Qi, he must find a way to raise his Spirit Root aptitude further! He doesn't need to reach Earth Spirit Root level, but at least an Upper‑grade Spirit Root, to attempt striking the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Although his plan is to complete Foundation Establishment before age fifty, allowing some margin for failure."

"But Xiao Zhangqing certainly still wants to push through in one go, not having to redo Foundation Establishment a second time."

Buzz! Suddenly, the cave residence's formation emitted a slight tremor—someone was visiting.

"Who could it be?"

Xiao Zhangqing stepped out of the cave residence and dispelled the formation.

He discovered that the ones standing at the door were actually the two Lin sisters.

They seemed a bit different from usual, their robes fluttering, eyebrows and eyes like a painting, obviously having been deliberately dressed up.

Whether it was the usually knowledgeable and generous Lin Ziyu, or the sly and clever Lin Zixi, at this moment both had their heads bowed, their flawless pretty faces flushed with rosy clouds, timidly standing at the door, like a pair of twin flowers.

When Xiao Zhangqing's gaze swept back and forth over them in puzzlement, the sisters' faces grew even more flushed, the embarrassment and shyness in their eyes impossible to conceal.

"What trick are you two sisters up to again?" Xiao Zhangqing said coldly without courtesy.

(End of chapter)