Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Face and the Peach Blossoms

Gaoji Mountain spanned hundreds of miles. In addition to its steep cliffs, it also contained many fertile basins.

The Bai family had settled all their mortal clan members in these fertile basins, where they lived and multiplied.

The Cloud Mist Mountain Range was overrun with Demon Beasts and venomous creatures, making the natural environment far harsher than in the nations of the Western Wilderness. It was nearly impossible for mortals to get by here. Without the protection of Cultivators, they would quickly be devoured.

The same was true for the Bai family’s mortals. They could only live and multiply within the protective Arrays established by Cultivators.

With Arrays for protection and a Cultivator standing guard, the venomous creatures and Demon Beasts naturally couldn’t harm them.

Of course, while the Arrays protected them, they also restricted their freedom of movement.

They were destined to spend their entire lives in that tiny, isolated area.

Only if they were found to possess a Spiritual Root after turning twelve could they escape this cage and see the wider world.

Once the mortals of Gaoji Mountain came of age, Cultivators would arrange for them to marry mortals from other territories and have children.

For these mortals, having a Cultivator with a Spiritual Root born into their family meant a significant boost in status among other mortals, as they would benefit from that Cultivator’s care.

Whether or not one had a Spiritual Root was like winning a lottery. To increase their odds, mortals would have many children.

After all, with a Cultivation Clan to provide for them, no matter how many children they had, their lives would at worst be a little harder, but they would never starve.

On the first day of every new year.

Cultivators from the Bai family would descend upon the mortal settlements across Gaoji Mountain to test the clan’s twelve-year-old children for Spiritual Roots.

This event was known as the Ascension Ceremony.

It was at the Ascension Ceremony seven years ago that Bai Lin was discovered to have Four Spirit Roots, thus becoming a Cultivator.

Because of her, her parents and siblings received the various benefits the clan reserved for a Cultivator’s relatives. From that day on, they lived a life of affluence.

Having only started on the path of cultivation a short time ago, her parents were still alive, and her worldly ties remained intact.

Every year, Bai Lin chose to return home for the New Year’s celebration.

The day she came home was always the happiest day of the year for her parents and siblings, and not just because of the family reunion.

As the eldest daughter and sister, Bai Lin brought back many precious gifts for her family every time she came home.

This year was special, as her income had increased significantly after she began working in the city.

She had brought gifts for the clan elders who taught her and for her friends, so of course she wouldn’t forget her own family.

In front of her family, she proudly took out their gifts one by one from her Storage Bag.

For her parents, there were Supplement Elixirs that could extend their lifespans.

For her younger brothers and sisters, there were masterfully forged Divine Weapons for self-defense.

And for each of them, a Spiritual Jade accessory with the miraculous properties of keeping them warm in winter, cool in summer, and impervious to all poisons.

...

All mortals learned a martial art for self-defense.

While Martial Artists couldn’t handle Demon Beasts, they had no trouble dealing with ordinary wild animals. If they possessed a Divine Weapon specially crafted for mortals by a Cultivator, they could even fend off some Low-Tier Demon Beasts.

Clutching the Divine Weapons their older sister had brought them, her younger siblings happily rushed out of the courtyard to play.

Only Bai Lin and her parents remained in the house.

Bai Lin’s parents looked at her, their eyes filled with pride. At the same time, however, they were unconsciously wearing fawning expressions. Even though she was their daughter, and a very respectful one at that, they were still facing a Cultivator.

She made small talk with her parents.

Soon, Bai Lin’s mother cautiously brought up the question that was most on her mind. "Lin’Er, while you’re cultivating on the mountain, is there anyone you’ve taken a liking to?"

Mortals were generally considered adults when they reached the age of sixteen.

For instance, Bai Lin’s second-youngest brother had just turned seventeen. His marriage was arranged last year, and he was due to wed and start a family after the New Year.

So, her mother couldn’t help but worry that her promising eldest daughter was still unmarried at nineteen.

"Someone I like?" Bai Lin shook her head. "Mother, I’m too busy with my cultivation. I don’t have time for that."

But as she spoke, the figure of ’Senior’ uncontrollably surfaced in her mind. Thinking of him, her face instantly flushed red.

Like an intoxicating spring peach blossom.

Seeing the look on their daughter’s face, Bai Lin’s parents exchanged a knowing smile.

...

「The day before New Year’s, in Li Ping’s cave residence.」

The Friends Association’s annual meeting was held on schedule. All six members, aside from Li Ping, arrived early.

Li Ping had already spoken with the steward of Immortal Peach Mountain beforehand, arranging for the six of them to be allowed onto the mountain.

The steward of Immortal Peach Mountain was curious why Talisman Master Li would invite six Qi Refining Cultivators to a New Year’s gathering, but since Li Ping had made the request, he let them all pass.

The Meng family didn’t care who the Tier Two artisans on the mountain met or what they did, as long as they generated profit for the family.

Once the gathering began, the other six members, excluding Li Ping, each took turns describing their gains and reflections from the past year.

Li Ping’s progress went without saying.

Zhang Tie was close to breaking through to the Qi Refining Ninth Level and would likely succeed within the next year.

Gumu Sheng was still at the Qi Refining Seventh Level. After giving up on trying to cut in line, his urgency to catch up to Zhang Tie’s cultivation had greatly diminished.

Cheng Yao had reached the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Sixth Level and planned to attempt a breakthrough to Late-stage Qi Refining in the coming year.

Qi Hanmo had made a breakthrough in his skills as a Musician, which greatly increased his Spirit Stone earnings. Combined with the two bottles of Qi Gathering Pills Li Ping had given him at the start of the year, he had successfully advanced to the Qi Refining Fifth Level.

Teng Feng, also relying on the Pills from Li Ping, had reached the bottleneck of the Qi Refining Fourth Level. He was close to a breakthrough and estimated he could reach the Qi Refining Fifth Level next year.

Bai Qing had successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Fourth Level, becoming a Middle-stage Qi Refining cultivator. He had relied on Li Ping’s Pills, in addition to his own decent Spiritual Root aptitude.

Furthermore, Teng Feng had made a breakthrough in his Beast Taming Skill. He had now passed the apprentice stage to become a Tier One Lower Grade Beast Master.

...

’Everyone is making progress,’ Li Ping thought, very pleased.

’Even Bai Qing, who had the lowest cultivation level among the seven, has now broken through.’

’This means every cultivator in the Friends Association has now reached the Middle-stage of Qi Refining.’

’Moreover, according to Cheng Yao, she’ll attempt her breakthrough to Late-stage Qi Refining next year. With her Three Spirit Roots aptitude, her chances of success are quite high.’

’Teng Feng becoming a Tier One Lower Grade Beast Master was also within my expectations.’

’Unlike the professions of pill forging, artifact refinement, talisman crafting, and array formation, which are difficult to enter and consume massive resources.’

’For a Beast Master with some talent, it’s quite normal to achieve a tiered skill level at his age.’

’Of course, the income of a tiered Beast Master can’t compare to those four top-tier professions.’

’A Beast Master’s main advantage is in combat. If Teng Feng can raise a few High-tier Demon Beasts, he’ll be virtually unstoppable among Low-tier Cultivators.’

...

His gaze swept over the six of them, and Li Ping couldn’t help but nod, gratified.

’A scene of vibrant life, where all things strive and flourish, is right before my eyes.’

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