Longevity: Starting From Getting Down The Mountain And Marrying A Wife

In the afternoon, at the hour of Shen.

Jiang Ping returned to the mansion from the martial arts hall and upon hearing the report from the maidservant, his expression changed multiple times. He immediately went to the backyard of the tenth courtyard.

"Xiaohuan, how is Master?"

"Madam!"

Jiang Huan put away his sword posture and smiled, "Master is fine! He just exhausted his strength during cultivation, but there is no major problem. However, Master said he wants to focus on seclusion for a few days to recover. He doesn't want to be disturbed unless it's something important..."

After hearing the details, Jiang Ping still had doubts, "Are you sure? If there's nothing wrong, why does he need to seclude himself?"

"It's true. Lady Wu and I have confirmed it repeatedly. He's not injured, just physically weak."

As she spoke, she pointed to the pile of stones in the courtyard, "Madam, look at these stones. Master must be practicing some powerful spell. With one forceful strike, this rockery exploded."

"That's good." Jiang Ping nodded and looked at Jiang Huan, "How is your training going?"

Jiang Huan looked somewhat proud between her eyebrows and casually swung her sword, "All thanks to Madam's excellent teachings! I estimate that I'll be able to break through to the sixth level of Body Tempering in another month or two!"

Previously, it took her nearly three years to reach the second level of Body Tempering, but now, in just over five months, she had reached the peak of the fifth level of Body Tempering. Her progress was undeniably significant.

In addition to talent and diligent hard work, the resources invested were also crucial. Every day, she used the blood of demonic beasts for Body Tempering, as well as precious medicinal herbs and pills to assist in tempering her tendons, fascia, bones, and flesh.

Not only her, but everyone in the Zhong family who practiced martial arts had made rapid progress, except for Tang Xiaoshu, who was stuck at the bottleneck of the ninth level of the Heavenly Realm due to his absence for business.

Yan Sandao was at the seventh level of the Heavenly Realm.

Zhong Xiaozhong was at the first level of the Heavenly Realm.

Jiang Ping was at the peak of the eighth level of Body Tempering.

Xia He was pregnant and had surpassed Zhong Xiaozhong, reaching the seventh level of Body Tempering.

Chun Yu was at the peak of the fifth level of Body Tempering.

The two newly arrived concubines were originally at the second level of the Heavenly Realm.

The overall combat strength of the Zhong family had greatly improved.

"It's your own efforts."

Jiang Ping smiled and reminded, "But you can't just focus on improving your realm. You also need to work hard on martial skills, body techniques, and swordsmanship."

"Yes, I remember!"

At this moment, a burly young man ran over from a distance and bowed, "Reporting to Madam, Lady Seven's carrier pigeon message!"

This person was Zhong Xiaozhong's childhood friend from the same village, named Liang Zhu, with a simple and honest face.

Jiang Huan quickly stepped forward, took the note, and handed it to Jiang Ping. She glanced at it and asked, "Does this mean that Lady Three and Lady Seven are coming back?"

After Jiang Ping opened the note and read its contents, his expression slightly changed. He glanced at the cultivation room and turned to go to the study.

"Madam, what's the matter?"

...

...

No. 6 Wutong Lane, Li Mansion.

With the departure of the cultivators, there was no need for the cultivation room anymore, nor the subsequent payment of spirit stones as rent. Three months ago, the Li Mansion moved here.

If it weren't for the fact that the seventh and eighth mansions also had cultivation rooms, Li Yangshi would have wished to live next door to the Zhong Mansion.

At this moment, important figures from the Li Mansion gathered together, each with an unpleasant expression.

Among them, a middle-aged man with a pale complexion sat on a chair with a gloomy face.

This person was Nie Baokun, the top expert of the Li Mansion's martial arts hall, at the peak of the Innate Fifth Level. An hour ago, the Li Mansion's martial arts hall was challenged and attacked, and this was not the first time.

There will definitely be more to come.

This situation is not limited to the Li Mansion.

Due to the collapse of the Qingyang Martial Alliance, Qingyang martial artists are now "individual practitioners" and are bound to form a new situation of power and interests. Therefore, the competition among martial arts halls is extremely fierce, and legitimate challenges are almost taking place every day.

It's just that the Li Mansion is weaker in strength, and occupying such a good location, such a large martial arts venue, naturally attracts attention and becomes an easy target.

Nie Baokun clasped his fists and said, "Master, please make a decision as soon as possible. If this continues, the disciples will lose interest in training, and the martial arts hall will be difficult to sustain."

At present, several martial artists have already left the martial arts hall.

Li Shangwu frowned, remained silent for a moment, and looked at Li Yangshi. "Mother, why not invite Uncle Zhong to come forward?"

The martial arts hall is impossible to close. It is the foundation of Qingyang. Not to mention the business in the city, the farmland and slaves in the countryside are prone to problems without the protection and maintenance of their own martial strength.

If the martial arts hall is closed, the defeat of the Li Mansion is only a matter of time. At best, they can move to the safest southern district and engage in small business to make a living. At worst, they will completely leave Qingyang City and seek another place.

As for the Zhong Mansion's martial arts hall, located in the chaotic western district of Qingyang, it has not yet encountered any challenges, naturally because of the reputation of the "Fierce Ape" and the vivid memory of the Xue Mansion incident.

There was a moment of silence.

Li Shangwen's biological mother, Li Qiu, said, "They have taken advantage of the fact that our Li Mansion is no longer as it used to be. Eldest sister, what Wu'er said makes sense. Even if we don't ask Uncle Zhong to come forward, at least let him come to the mansion for a visit."

After Master Li went out, Uncle Zhong has only come twice in total. As for the other immortals, except for Wu'er's wedding, they haven't come at all. These things have been noticed by those who are attentive, and naturally they will have ideas. The previous challenges were just tests, so they dared to use heavy hands and injure Master Nie.

Li Mansion's daughter, Li Jingqiu, spoke up, "Uncle has closed himself off and may not come out for a short time."

Li Yangshi was taken aback, "When did this happen? I saw him just the other day."

Li Jingqiu's lips moved, but she didn't say anything.

Li Shangwu respectfully clasped his fists and said to Nie Baokun, "Please allow Master Nie to go back first. I will give you a reply tomorrow."

After Nie Baokun led a few martial artists away, Li Jingqiu said, "Uncle seems to have been injured in his martial arts practice."

The crowd exchanged glances, and Li Yangshi's face changed slightly as she hurriedly asked, "Is it serious?"

Li Jingqiu shook his head, "At that time, Aunt Qiuxiang and I were talking in the tenth courtyard. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise from the backyard. I didn't dare to go closer to see, but I heard Aunt Qiuxiang crying. It seems to be serious, otherwise he wouldn't suddenly want to seclude himself."

They exchanged glances again, their expressions flickering uncertainly.

Li Yangshi frowned and pondered for a moment before saying, "Wu'er, it's not yet time for you to trouble your uncle. Quickly sell the martial arts hall in the eastern district and move it to the northern district, find a smaller courtyard."

"Also, tomorrow you personally go to the Zhong Mansion, bring a gift, and don't inquire about whether your uncle is injured or not. Just act as usual."

Li Shangwu said, "Okay."

"Wu'er, Qiur, you can go down first."

After the two younger generations left.

Li Yangshi looked at a group of concubines and sisters, and finally looked at the eighth and ninth rooms, "Eighth sister, ninth sister, it's hard for you to marry into the Li family."

The eighth room said, "Big sister, you're talking nonsense. Marrying into the Li family is our blessing."

The ninth room said, "After entering the Li family, we belong to the Li family. We will follow big sister's arrangements."

Li Yangshi nodded, changed the subject, and suddenly said, "Uncle has been in Qingyang for less than five years and has married concubines from the eighth and ninth rooms. When I was chatting privately with Ping'er, it seems that uncle has a preference for women and has a strong demand."

The group of sisters: "..."

Without mentioning their backgrounds and identities, the women who could enter the Li family were naturally trained and disciplined.

With this statement, it was easy to understand the meaning behind it.

Li Yangshi continued, "Uncle and the master have a good relationship, but he is still an outsider. If he wants to seek protection from others, he can only rely on those who are close to him. We all hope that the master can come back, but at present..."

Nowadays, news occasionally comes from Mangdang Mountain. Most of the eighteen teams have returned, and those who haven't returned can be easily guessed.

"Shangwu is still young, and his martial arts realm is difficult to improve for a while. We still have some foundation in Qingyang. If we go elsewhere, this whole family may be in danger."

After a moment of silence, the eighth and ninth rooms looked at each other and said in unison, "It's up to big sister to decide."

The third room spoke up, "What about Qiur, her status..."

Li Yangshi said, "The master has said before that when Qiur grows up, if uncle approves, they can get closer. As for status, a family of cultivators doesn't care about that, everyone has their own considerations."

After a pause, Li Yangshi swept her gaze over everyone's faces, "Not only the eighth and ninth rooms, uncle can choose anyone he likes, including me!"

A group of beautiful women couldn't help but blush, especially when Zhong Yan's appearance appeared in their minds, their thoughts were in chaos.

It had been such a long time since Li Henian left, the pure white lambs in the eighth and ninth rooms who hadn't eaten grass were fine, but the others were all thirsty for a long time, naturally having some expectations.

Li Yangshi said solemnly, "Everything is for the Li family, for ourselves!"

"Don't feel ashamed. Master is no longer here, and we are all free agents. The key is whether Uncle will pay attention to us or not."

"We don't know Uncle's true preferences and temperament. He had a close relationship with Master, so we don't know if he would mind this relationship or if he would mind us being women. Therefore, we need to plan this matter carefully and be prepared early."

...

...

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the cultivation room of the Zhong Mansion's No. 10 courtyard, Zhong Yan stood up, exhaled a breath of stale air, and had a refreshing smile on his face.

An unexpected joy.

He had completely recovered after depleting his inner vitality.

Now, his vitality had transformed into a stronger killing power. His cultivation had also made significant progress, as evidenced by a sudden increase of over four hundred experience points in the system.

It was even more intense than taking elixirs or practicing dual cultivation.

After some contemplation, Zhong Yan felt that this method was similar to the repeated tempering of inner vitality by those cultivators with good aptitude. Perhaps he could use this method to enhance his cultivation in the future.

However, it was not difficult to predict that the effectiveness would gradually weaken with repeated use until it became completely ineffective.

After all, whether it was the capacity, intensity, or solidity of the meridians and vitality, there was a limit at each stage.

"Regardless, I have taken another step towards the fifth level of Qi Refining!"

Zhong Yan glanced at the system panel. With the crazy consumption of elixirs in the past few months, at the current speed, he estimated that he would break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining by the end of the year, after putting aside the practice of secret techniques.

He left the cultivation room.

Jiang Huan, who was somewhat surprised, greeted him, "Master, you've come out of seclusion!"

In a good mood, Zhong Yan nodded and glanced at her, praising, "This dress suits you well."

Jiang Huan was taken aback, feeling joy in her heart. She lowered her head shyly, thinking to herself, "Master finally noticed me."

Actually, he had noticed her a long time ago.

This servant girl was practicing martial arts in the No. 10 backyard every day, and Zhong Yan was not blind.

He also guessed some of the reasons behind it, most likely due to his wife's influence.

"By the way, Master, something happened in the mansion!"

"What happened?"

"When you were in seclusion, Lady Seven sent a message back saying that Lady Three disappeared while recruiting disciples in Changli Town, and she still hasn't been found!"

...