Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Respective Decisions

Early the next morning.

Bai Lin no longer wore her hair in braids. Instead, she had coiled it into a bun, a change that signified her new status.

When she looked at Li Ping, her eyes held not only admiration but also a newfound happiness.

She called out softly, "Elder."

As if remembering the events of last night, a blush immediately crept across her face.

Li Ping smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Don’t call me Elder. From now on, you can just call me ’Young Master’."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Ping heard the girl in his arms obediently change her address, "Young Master."

...

Several more months passed, and Master Hu came to visit again.

The moment he saw Bai Lin, he was taken aback for a second before a knowing smile spread across his face. "Congratulations, fellow cultivator."

"Oh, right. I’d like you to have this bottle of Pills. I’m sure they’ll give you a bit of a boost." Master Hu winked as he handed a bottle of red Pills to Li Ping.

Li Ping verbally protested, but his hands moved with lightning speed to place the Pills into his Storage Bag.

As far as he knew, the Ten Thousand Marvels Yang Supplement Pills refined by Master Hu were highly acclaimed among the High-tier Cultivators of the Immortal City.

While accepting the Pills, Li Ping called out, "Lin’Er, serve Master Hu some tea."

...

Since taking Bai Lin into his household, aside from their occasional dalliances, Li Ping still spent most of his time on Talisman Making, Alchemy, and Cultivation.

Although Bai Lin had just tasted the forbidden fruit, she didn’t indulge excessively. Besides managing the spirit fields and handling transactions with the Meng family Cultivators, she spent most of her time cultivating diligently.

And when it came to his own people, Li Ping was never stingy with rewards.

With Li Ping’s personal guidance in her Cultivation, plus a sufficient supply of Pills to enhance her progress, Bai Lin’s Cultivation improved significantly before the New Year. She was not far from breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Level.

When the New Year arrived, Li Ping took a rare day off to stroll through the marketplace with Bai Lin. He bought her several Tier One Upper Grade Dharma Artifacts and a Tier Two Magic Robe.

Without Bai Lin even having to ask, he proactively waved his hand magnanimously and told her to pick out as many gifts as she wanted for her family and friends—Boss Li was paying for everything today.

But to Li Ping’s exasperation, the little lass didn’t pick the most expensive items, choosing cheap things instead.

Li Ping had to take matters into his own hands, picking out about two hundred Spirit Stones’ worth of gifts for her.

’He wasn’t a petty man. Someone’s daughter had already committed herself to him, so what was spending a few Spirit Stones?’

’Besides, with the skills of a Tier One Upper Grade Alchemist with a one hundred percent success rate and a Tier Two Middle Grade Talisman Maker, the speed at which he earned Spirit Stones now was terrifyingly fast.’

’He was not short on Spirit Stones.’

...

Back on Immortal Peach Mountain, after a round of tenderness...

Bai Lin curled up in Li Ping’s arms like a kitten and cautiously made a request, "Brother Ping, can you come home with me?"

Hearing this, Li Ping shook his head without hesitation. ’Are you kidding? Of course not.’

’Never mind the fact that I’m busy—I need to host the Friends Association’s annual gathering during the New Year.’

’Just the suspicion that someone is secretly watching me, waiting for me to leave the city to make their move, is enough to ensure I will never risk going out.’

Seeing Li Ping shake his head, a trace of disappointment couldn’t help but appear between Bai Lin’s brows.

Her subtle change in expression did not escape Li Ping’s eyes, and it instantly angered him. "What’s that look for? Have you gotten defiant? I’m going to have to teach you a proper lesson today."

Inside the spacious room, the Jade Tooth Bed soon began to rock rhythmically... CREAK... CREAK... CREAK...

...

Not long after, Bai Lin still went home alone with the Bai family elders.

Setting aside Bai Mingde’s mixed feelings of sorrow and joy upon seeing the new womanly charm in Bai Lin’s eyes, the ones who were most envious were the young Bai family Cultivators who had undergone their Ascension around the same time as her.

They were still stuck toiling away at farming for the family, only receiving the same pitiful amount of resources each year.

But Bai Lin? Not only had she become a Middle-stage Qi Refining Cultivator in a short time, but she was also so generous that even the Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators in the clan couldn’t compare to her.

’So jealous! Does Elder Li need another steward?’

...

In the Immortal Peach Mountain cavern estate, after a year’s time, the seven members of the Friends Association gathered once again.

Li Ping’s gaze swept across the other six. Over the past year, everyone had made decent progress.

Zhang Tie’s Cultivation had broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Level as he had hoped. He just needed to spend another year or two consolidating his Magical Power before he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment with the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Gumu Sheng’s aura had also grown much stronger. After two years of diligent cultivation, he was not far from breaking through to the Qi Refining Eighth Level.

Cheng Yao, just as she had planned last year, had successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Level, becoming a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

Li Ping guessed that her success was largely thanks to that sycophantic steward of hers.

Qi Hanmo had considerably consolidated his Magical Power at the Qi Refining Fifth Level.

Teng Feng had broken through to the Qi Refining Fifth Level.

Bai Qing had stabilized his realm at the Qi Refining Fourth Level and was now advancing toward the Qi Refining Fifth Level.

Of course, the changes in the others weren’t that significant. The one who had changed the most was Teng Feng.

After announcing at last year’s meeting that he would quit his job to go adventuring outside the Immortal City, he had actually done it this year.

Now, his long robe had been replaced with a short jacket made from the hide of some unknown beast.

His face also bore several new scars, likely mementos from the dangers he had encountered on his travels. A world-weary look had settled between his brows, speaking of the complex experiences he had endured.

Only his eyes were as bright as stars, shining with an innocent, earnest light.

Clearly, for him, adventuring outside the Immortal City was more comfortable and better suited to him than cultivating within it.

However, daring to venture out of the city meant facing its many dangers. The scars on Teng Feng’s face were a warning.

’He could run into a fatal danger and perish any day now.’

’I wouldn’t leave the city to save him. I feel I’ve already done more than enough, providing considerable help to the other six members of the association whenever it’s within my power.’

’Under these circumstances, if someone still managed to get into huge trouble and wanted me to solve it, I would absolutely not force myself to do so.’

...

As was customary, Li Ping distributed two bottles of suitable Pills to each of the six members, then inquired about the unfinished business from their last meeting.

After some consideration, Gumu Sheng designated a close relative as the heir to his contributions to the association.

Cheng Yao designated a close female friend of hers.

Qi Hanmo stated that he had no one in the Immortal City closer to him than his six brothers and sisters in the association. If anything unfortunate were to happen to him, his contributions should be divided equally among the remaining members.

This way, the others would have one less burden to bear.

Teng Feng spoke last. He said he had been raised on the charity of his entire village, and that aside from him, everyone there was a mortal.

If he were to unfortunately perish, he asked if "Big Brother" could return his share of the contributions to the people of his home village, as one last act of help from him.

The other six members, including Li Ping, all agreed to his request.

With Cheng Yao having broken through to Late-stage Qi Refining, the total in the Foundation Establishment Fund reached 1,740 Spirit Stones after this gathering.

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