Chapter 77 From now on, you are my half-brother!
"Miss Shao, would you be willing to be my maid?"
Lu Changsheng looked at Shao Yuyao and asked with a smile.
Although it didn't matter whether he asked or not, the woman in front of him had no right to refuse.
But perhaps it was hypocrisy, or perhaps it was a flexible moral bottom line, so he still asked.
After all, he, Lu, never forced anyone to do anything against their will.
Shao Yuyao's expression faltered slightly.
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Then, looking at Lu Changsheng, she forced a smile and said, "This humble woman is willing to be your maid."
"Alright, Steward Feng, I'm quite satisfied with her."
Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng didn't say anything more and nodded to Feng Jiuniang.
In his opinion, with her appearance and figure, plus possessing spiritual roots, 150 spirit stones was not expensive, but very worthwhile.
As long as she gave birth to a few offspring with spiritual roots, it would be an even bigger profit!
Immediately, Feng Jiuniang waved her hand, signaling the woman in the red dress to take Shao Yuyao out
to complete the remaining transaction with Lu Changsheng.
After Lu Changsheng paid the remaining spirit stones, she also gave him a spirit contract—Shao Yuyao
's indenture .
This spirit contract was much more domineering, capable of deciding Shao Yuyao's life or death.
Furthermore, within three years, if Shao Yuyao had any problems or karmic troubles, Lu Changsheng could take this spirit contract to Baiyulou for resolution.
"Young Master Han, please take care. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come again~"
Feng Jiuniang warmly saw Lu Changsheng and Shao Yuyao out of Baiyulou.
As the manager of Baiyulou, she could tell from Lu Changsheng's clothes, appearance, and temperament that he was a very promising client.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so polite for such a small transaction.
"Alright."
Lu Changsheng then took Shao Yuyao back to the spirit talisman shop.
It was noon, and Zhang Shan's wife, along with their child, arrived at the spirit talisman shop with a food box to deliver lunch.
Seeing a beautiful woman with demure features following behind Lu Changsheng, Zhang Shan's eyes revealed a hint of envy.
Upon reaching the third floor, Lu Miaoge saw Shao Yuyao and simply asked if she was the maid Lu Changsheng had bought at Baiyulou.
Lu Changsheng nodded and briefly explained Shao Yuyao's situation.
Hearing this, Lu Miaoge didn't say much.
She understood the cruelty of the lower-level cultivators in the cultivation world far better than Lu Changsheng.
Every day, there were stories of people being buried in the wilderness, families being destroyed, and wives and children being torn apart.
There was simply no room for sympathy.
In her opinion, this woman was already lucky to become Lu Changsheng's maid.
After all, although Lu Changsheng's reputation in Qingzhu Mountain was not good due to his many wives, concubines, and children,
his reputation for treating his wives, concubines, and children was still quite good.
Night fell.
Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge returned to the Lu family compound in the East District after work.
Shao Yuyao, the little maid, lagged half a step behind Lu Changsheng, following meekly behind him.
Li Shi and Wang Wu exchanged a glance at this scene,
both seeing a hint of sadness in each other's eyes .
Although they wanted to submit to Lu Changsheng, they understood
that a man like him had no shortage of women.
The people in the Lu family compound, seeing Lu Changsheng bring back a woman, naturally didn't say anything.
He was just buying a maid.
Only the second young lady saw it and, as usual, gave a cold snort.
And today, her snort was louder than usual, and her face showed even more disdain.
Lu Changsheng smiled and returned to the courtyard, directly instructing Shao Yuyao,
"Go fetch me water for a bath."
Since she was bought as a maid, she would naturally be used as a servant.
Although he had a moral bottom line, he wasn't morally fastidious.
He wouldn't treat the maids he bought with equality and impartiality.
A maid should naturally behave like a maid.
Shao Yuyao seemed to realize something, her eyes trembling slightly, and she hummed in agreement.
Then, carrying the bathtub and fetching hot water, her cheeks flushed, she began to undress Lu Changsheng.
She also pursed her lips, loosened her own dress, and amidst the splashing water, entered the bathtub with Lu Changsheng. Her two smooth, white hands began to wash his body.
As a cultivator, Lu Changsheng was wearing a robe, so there was no dirt on his body; whether he bathed or not was irrelevant.
But bathing was a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
If one had the means, one should naturally enjoy it; otherwise, why would one spend all day in arduous cultivation, only striving for immortality?
After washing Lu Changsheng thoroughly, Shao Yuyao's cheeks were flushed crimson. She gently wrapped her arms around Lu Changsheng's neck, her voice shy as she said, "Young Master..."
Although her movements and voice were somewhat stiff, it was clear that Bai Yulou had taught her well; she was very sensible.
Immediately, Lu Changsheng no longer suppressed himself.
After all, he hadn't been with a woman for almost a month.
Suddenly, the bathtub surged with water, splashing and vibrating violently.
The next day.
"Indeed, yin cannot produce life alone, nor can yang grow alone; one must balance yin and yang."
Lu Changsheng walked out of the room, feeling refreshed .
He needed someone by his side.
Without the warmth and softness of a beautiful woman in his arms, sleeping at night felt incomplete.
He didn't take Shao Yuyao to the spirit talisman shop.
Just as he stepped out of the courtyard, he ran into Lu Miaocheng.
"Changsheng!"
Lu Miaocheng saw Lu Changsheng and quickly stepped forward.
A slightly haggard smile appeared on his face as he said, "Changsheng, do you have any spirit stones on you? Lend me twenty."
"Uh..."
Lu Changsheng thought the other person was looking for him again to read and enjoy tea.
He hadn't expected to borrow spirit stones.
Twenty spirit stones right off the bat.
Although he spent money lavishly, twenty spirit stones was still a considerable sum.
After all, when lending money, one should be prepared that the other party might not repay it.
Although Lu Miaocheng also managed a shop, his monthly income wasn't much.
"Among the new teas from Chunmanlou last time, there was a female cultivator I really liked, so I've spent all my spirit stones lately, and that's why I'm here to borrow some from you."
"Changsheng, let me tell you, the female cultivators at Chunmanlou are not only all stunningly beautiful, but they can absolutely give you the ultimate pleasure in that area, far surpassing ordinary maids and concubines."
Lu Miaocheng continued, his handsome smile now appearing somewhat lewd.
Lu Changsheng had also heard of Chunmanlou.
He knew it was a brothel in the market.
The staff were all skilled in the arts of men and women,
so the prices were extremely high.
A single experience would cost several spirit stones, even dozens.
Lu Miaocheng had probably been there quite a bit lately.
It was normal for him to have spent all his spirit stones.
After all, this kind of place was a veritable money pit. No matter
how many spirit stones you had, you couldn't afford to go every day.
"Brother Cheng, I've almost used up my spirit stones these past few days, and I just bought a maid, so I don't have many spirit stones left."
"Take these twenty spirit stones. You should probably avoid places like this in the future."
Lu Changsheng feigned some reluctance, then took out twenty spirit stones.
After all, they were from the same family,
and they'd run into each other often. The other person had greeted him quite a bit these past few days.
Although they were just inviting him to read and drink tea, they still had some relationship, so he couldn't just refuse directly. If
the other person really didn't return them, it would just be like the twenty spirit stones were wasted.
"Good brother, thank you!"
"I'll return them to you when I have more spirit stones. Then I'll treat you to a good experience at Chunmanlou!"
Lu Miaocheng took the spirit stones and immediately smiled.
Then he turned and left.
"Sigh."
Watching Lu Miaocheng's departing figure, Lu Changsheng shook his head.
"This Brother Cheng is at least a Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivator, yet he's become so haggard from frequenting brothels and is asking me for spirit stones."
"It's best to avoid places like that if you can avoid it. With that money, wouldn't it be better to take a few concubines and buy some maids and servants?"
"No, I, Lu, am not one to indulge in pleasure and fleeting pleasures. Even if I take wives and concubines, it's for the sake of the Great Dao and longevity!"
Lu Changsheng muttered to himself, his eyes shining brightly, his posture becoming even more upright. He
then strode confidently to work with Lu Miaoge.
Arriving at the talisman shop, Lu Changsheng drew a few mid-grade talismans as usual.
He came to the Nine Dragons Market to manage the shop, but the Lu family's monthly talisman-drawing task for him was still there, which he needed to complete on time.
However, Lu Changsheng himself was unwilling to give up this task.
After all, this task not only yielded spirit stones, but also allowed him to pocket any surplus materials—a huge profit!
At noon, Lu Changsheng again invited Lu Miaoge to eat at Yu Shan Tang.
Although it was a bit expensive, the food was indeed delicious.
Eating there every few days was quite nice.
However, Lu Miaoge and Lu Changsheng hadn't let Lu Changsheng pay the bill on their last few trips to Yu Shan Tang, saying they would take turns.
Lu Changsheng didn't mind, and wasn't going to fight over the payment. At
the Qingzhu Lu Clan's Talisman Shop,
inside the talisman room, Lu Changsheng finished drawing a high-grade talisman, a dungeon talisman, looking somewhat surprised. He had almost failed at drawing this talisman. The reason was simple: there was a small flaw on the talisman paper, almost causing him to fail. Afterward, Lu Changsheng checked the remaining ten or so talisman papers; all of them were fine. Only the one he had just drawn had a small flaw. Seeing this, Lu Changsheng didn't pay much attention to it. After all, it was acceptable for one of the stacks of talismans to have a minor flaw. After resting for a while, Lu Changsheng thought about how he had been in Kowloon Market for almost a month. In a few days, he would inspect the goods he had brought in each month and then he could go home. "Since I'm going back soon, I should buy some gifts." He then said goodbye to Lu Miaoge and went out to buy some gifts for his wives, concubines, and children.
That night,
Lu Changsheng, his eyes slightly narrowed, lay back in the bathtub.
After a while, Shao Yuyao's head emerged from the water, covering her mouth and coughing softly.
Lu Changsheng raised his hand and, using his object manipulation technique, poured a cup of tea from the teapot on the nearby table, placing it in his hand.
He handed it to the maid before him and whispered, "Actually, there's no need... to swallow it."
"It's alright, young master,"
Shao Yuyao took a sip of tea, her eyes lowered as she spoke softly.
Those clear eyes were no longer as numb and lifeless as before.
Through these days of interaction, she knew that her young master was a decent person.
Especially yesterday.
The woman who had always given her young master a cold shoulder had even given her a few words of advice.
She said that her master, besides being a womanizer, was alright with women.
As long as she behaved well, apart from having a child, she wouldn't be mistreated.
(Spirit Talisman Shop)
"Boss, this is this month's goods."
"There are 496 basic talismans, 851 low-grade talismans, 388 mid-grade talismans, and ordinary talisman paper."
Zhang Shan handed a list and five storage bags to Lu Miaoge for her to check.
Lu Miaoge nodded, then went to the third floor and called Lu Changsheng over to check the goods together.
With so many goods, a full inspection was impossible.
Otherwise, it would take forever.
Moreover, most of the independent cultivators who cooperated with the Lu family's talisman shop were fixed, so a random check of each person's goods was sufficient.
Immediately, Lu Miaoge explained the inspection standards to Lu Changsheng.
For talismans, firstly, the talisman paper quality couldn't be too poor. Secondly, the
talisman lines should be smooth and free of bumps or knocks, and finally, the spiritual energy within should flow freely.
Talismans, once completed, can be used.
However, the materials, talisman lines, and spiritual energy used can result in a 10-20% difference in power and effect.
Previously, Lu Changsheng had sold his talismans to the spirit talisman shop because of their excellent quality, which explained the smooth sales.
As for the talisman paper and spirit ink, the requirement was that they be absolutely flawless.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng understood the spirit talisman shop's standards. He couldn't help but recall
the two stacks of talismans he had bought from the shop a few days ago, only to find that one of them was flawed.
Was this just bad luck, a coincidence, or a failure in quality control?
Immediately, Lu Changsheng began to inspect the talisman with greater care.
After all, he would soon be managing the spirit talisman shop.
It wouldn't be good if the quality of the goods and the shop's reputation suffered under his care.
"Sister Miaoge, according to the standards, is the spiritual energy in this talisman flowing smoothly?"
Lu Changsheng held a mid-grade talisman in his hand, gently stroking it to feel the flowing spiritual energy. He asked.
"This is just barely passing. If it were any worse, we wouldn't accept it,"
Lu Miaoge replied.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded and began working.
This round of work took the two of them two whole days to complete.
"Changsheng, thank you for your hard work. If it weren't for your help, it would have taken me another two or three days to finish the inspections,"
Lu Miaoge said with a slight smile.
"It's what I should do,"
Lu Changsheng smiled, then picked up a list and said, "These people's goods have problems, so return them. We won't cooperate anymore, right?"
During the two days of inspections, they still found some substandard talismans, talisman paper, and spirit ink.
"That's right. Running a shop in the market is all about reputation."
"If there are too many problems with the goods, the reputation will be bad, and the shop will be essentially ruined. So this aspect must be strictly controlled."
Lu Miaoge nodded, speaking earnestly.
"Okay, I'll control this carefully."
Lu Changsheng naturally understood this principle.
There's a saying: "Promotion and wealth come at the expense of competitors." Between competitors, there's naked hatred.
With so many spirit talisman shops in the Nine Dragons Market, the competition is quite fierce.
It's no easy feat for the Lu family's talisman shop to have achieved this level of success.
If any problems were to arise, other talisman shops would definitely take advantage of the situation, and their business could plummet.
"Uncle Zhang, I've already inspected all the goods. The quality rate of these few shops' goods is a bit low, so I've returned them all and terminated our cooperation."
Lu Changsheng said to Zhang Shan, holding a list.
"Yes, Second Master."
Shopkeeper Zhang Shan nodded, took the list, glanced at it, and seeing one name, couldn't help but say, "Second Master, this rogue cultivator named Jia Huai Ren has been cooperating with our shop for several years, and there have never been any problems."
"Could there be a problem this time? Should I ask him later?"
Zhang Shan said.
"Cooperating for several years, and never had any problems?"
Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"That's right. After the First Master took over this shop, this Jia Huai Ren has been cooperating with our shop, and there have never been any problems. The quality has always been good."
Zhang Shan said without changing his expression.
"Alright, have him send his goods back and let him check them all himself."
"I'll take another look later. If there are no problems, then let it go this time."
Lu Changsheng looked at Zhang Shan, his eyes narrowed slightly, and pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Yes, Second Master."
Zhang Shan immediately nodded in agreement.
Lu Changsheng then told Lu Miaoge about the matter.
Lu Miaoge thought it wasn't a big deal and was willing to give him a chance; Lu Changsheng could handle it himself.
She then said that she would set off back to Qingzhu Mountain in two days.
After returning to the Lu family compound, Lu Changsheng also told Shao Yuyao that he would be going back in a few days.
Shao Yuyao knew that her young master had a bunch of wives, concubines, and children in the Lu family, and obediently agreed.
Meanwhile,
in a small courtyard in the West District.
"Brother Zhang, why are all the materials being reworked this time?"
A burly man asked Zhang Shan.
"Why are you asking me after you've come back from rework?"
"The shop got a new owner this month, so they'll be keeping a closer eye on the goods these next few months. Keep a close eye on things and don't let them try to pass off inferior goods as superior ones again."
"If I hadn't spoken up this time, we would have terminated the cooperation directly."
Zhang Shan said irritably .
"Terminate it if you want, just change the name and we'll continue cooperating, right?"
The burly man said casually.
"Changing the name will cause problems during inspections, making things even more troublesome."
"Besides, I haven't figured out this new owner's personality yet. Have Lao Zhou and Lao Yang keep an eye on things too."
Zhang Shan continued, his face serious and unquestionable.
"Okay, Brother Zhang, I understand."
The burly man nodded seriously.
Two days later, early in the morning, Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge rode their Iron Feather Eagles back to Qingzhu Mountain from Kowloon Market.
It took them about two days, just like when they came, to return to the Lu family smoothly.
"Husband~"
"Husband is back!"
"Father, Father!"
As soon as Lu Changsheng entered the house, his wives, concubines, and children playing in the courtyard rushed over with great joy, surrounding him and hugging him.
"This is what home feels like!"
Lu Changsheng smiled involuntarily, patting his wives and concubines and hugging the children.
Afterwards, the other wives and concubines also came to see Lu Changsheng.
During this time, Lu Changsheng also saw a woman he had never seen before.
This woman looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, with an elegant and refined appearance, and seemed somewhat shy.
Later, through Lu Miaoyun's explanation, he learned that this woman's name was Guan Xin.
She was the woman Hong Yi had brought when he came to Qingzhu Mountain to trade talismans not long ago, and she possessed an eighth-grade spiritual root.
At this point, Lu Miaoyun pouted slightly, playfully saying that Lu Changsheng wasn't satisfied with having them, and even had people outside helping him find other women.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng immediately recalled the scene from that time.
Lu Miaoyun, heavily pregnant, went to trade talismans on his behalf, only to have Hong Yi send him a young woman instead. Given
this situation, it was understandable that Lu Miaoyun, as his legal wife, would be a little upset.
He immediately reassured her, saying he truly didn't know anything about it.
After Jiu'er and Shui'er, he had already told Hong Yi not to do such things again.
He stated that if he were there, he would absolutely not accept it. He
then showered Lu Miaoyun with sweet words, praising her for her strong character and how she was his perfect wife.
Of course, in his heart, he thought, "Hong Yi, what a good brother!"
Finding someone with spiritual roots in the mortal world is no easy feat,
let alone a young woman.
Now that Hong Yi had found one, he sent her to him—they were practically brothers.
Lu Changsheng also thought that now was a good time to sell some mid-grade talismans to Hong Yi. This would both
increase his income
and give Hong Yi some benefit.
After all, Hong Yi had treated him so well, like a brother; how could he not reciprocate?
Afterwards, Lu Changsheng chatted with Guan Xin, inquiring about her family situation, whether she had come voluntarily, and whether she had been forced into it.
The latter stated that her family was just an ordinary five-person household, and that she had voluntarily sold herself to the Ruyi Marquis's mansion to serve the immortal master.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng was relieved.
A gentleman takes a good woman in a proper way!
His bottom line was not to force anyone, also to avoid getting involved in any trouble.
Chapter 78 Okay, okay, I was wrong!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
That night, a series of intense battles
ensued, a tumultuous affair. The passion and tenderness of the experience were beyond words.
Since he would only be home
for three days, Lu Changsheng didn't focus much on cultivation or talisman-making, spending his time with his wives and children.
During this time, he also told Lu Miaoyun about buying a maid in the Nine Dragons Market.
There was no point in hiding it; his wives and children would find out sooner or later once Shao Yuyao became pregnant.
Lu Miaoyun knew her husband's temperament and didn't mind too much, saying nothing about it.
After all, she had been prepared for this when she agreed to marry Lu Changsheng. She
simply asked Lu Changsheng with concern how his life in the Nine Dragons Market had been this month.
Lu Changsheng felt a warmth in his heart at his wife's concern.
He said that apart from missing his wives and children, everything else was fine.
Afterwards, Lu Changsheng also paid a visit to the Fourth Elder, receiving guidance and instruction on talismans.
During the visit, the Fourth Elder inquired about his situation in Jiulong Market and whether he was adapting well.
Lu Changsheng naturally replied that he was fine.
On his way back, he stopped by the Fifth Elder to buy a batch of spirit wine.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge prepared to depart for Jiulong Market.
His twenty-fifth child was due to be born in the next few days.
However, Lu Changsheng did not stay home until the child was born before leaving.
Such situations would occur again in the future, and he couldn't always be by the child's side.
There had to be a first time for everything.
On the way back to Jiulong Market, a maid named Xiaoqing appeared on Lu Changsheng's Iron Feather Eagle.
He brought Xiaoqing to Jiulong Market for two reasons: firstly, Lu Miaoyun had previously mentioned that he should take Xiaoqing with him;
secondly, the birthing process couldn't stop, and having only Shao Yuyao by his side wasn't enough.
If it weren't for the fact that the Iron Feather Eagle couldn't carry too many people, Lu Changsheng would have liked to bring Guan Xin with him as well.
However, he wasn't in a hurry; he could bring her over next month.
Because he was bringing Xiao Qing, the trip took half a day longer than before.
Also, without the protection of a magic robe, Xiao Qing consumed three of Lu Changsheng's wind-avoidance talismans while traversing the Iron Feather Eagle's cloud formations.
If Lu Changsheng didn't have many talismans and wasn't short of money, those three wind-avoidance talismans alone would have cost six spirit stones—a considerable expense.
Upon entering the city, Lu Changsheng also obtained a long-term identity card for Xiao Qing.
He couldn't help but think to himself that bringing someone to live in the market was also a significant expense.
When he brought Xiao Qing back to the Lu family compound, Lu Changsheng encountered Lu Miaohuan again.
She once again gave him a disdainful snort.
This annoyed Lu Changsheng. "
You can snort once or twice normally.
But why the snort and disdain every time we meet?
I'm supposed to be the dream of countless future fairies, why am I so unwelcome?"
Besides, although he was wrong about the blind date, it was because you, Miss Lu, were too demanding, forbidding him from taking wives and concubines, that he refused.
Otherwise, with that face, that figure, those legs, and a sixth-grade spiritual root, if only her temperament were half as good as Lu Miaoyun's, Lu Changsheng felt he would have agreed.
"Miss Lu, is there something wrong with your health? Every time I see you, you have a frown and are whining."
"If there really is a problem, you should go see a doctor sooner rather than later, otherwise it won't be good if it drags on."
Lu Changsheng glanced at the Miss Lu and said irritably.
After speaking, he took Xiaoqing back to his courtyard.
Lu Miaohuan didn't expect that Lu Changsheng would not only not apologize or admit his mistake after so long, but would even mock her, and she was immediately displeased.
She said coldly, "I'm perfectly healthy, I just don't like you, is that wrong?"
Her voice was still clear and pleasant.
Hearing the Miss Lu's direct and self-righteous words, Lu Changsheng didn't know what to say for a moment.
Looking at Lu Miaohuan's cold, puffed-up yet still exquisitely beautiful face, Lu Changsheng couldn't help but reply, "Then don't look."
"I want to look, what's it to you!"
Lu Miaohuan's face was puffed up, her delicate chin slightly raised, her expression cold and noble.
"It's none of my business. You insist on making yourself suffer, so go ahead and be unhappy."
Lu Changsheng shook his head and walked away.
"Lu Changsheng, you stop right there!"
Seeing Lu Changsheng's attitude, Lu Miaohuan's delicate face puffed up with anger, like a pufferfish.
"Didn't you dislike me? Why do you want me to stop? To make yourself suffer?"
Lu Changsheng paused, turning his head to say.
"What kind of attitude is this!?"
Lu Miaohuan's face was like ice, her proud chest heaving with anger.
"Okay, okay, okay, I was wrong, I was wrong, alright?"
Lu Changsheng said dismissively, saying something that could make someone furious.
"What do you mean 'wrong'?! It's clearly your fault, is this an apology?!"
Lu Miaohuan was furious when she saw Lu Changsheng's expression.
A nameless anger surged within him, making him extremely annoyed.
Looking at the latter's demeanor, Lu Changsheng recalled that this second young lady was spoiled and had a terrible temper.
Social etiquette and manners were completely foreign to her.
Too lazy to argue with her, he turned around, slightly cupped his hands, and said earnestly, "Alright, it was my fault. I sincerely apologize to you, second young lady. Please forgive me."
Seeing Lu Changsheng's sincere apology, Lu Miaohuan's puffed-out cheeks shrank back, her lips pursed, she gave another cold snort, and then, in her high heels, she walked away with a haughty and aloof air.
Lu Changsheng was speechless at this scene.
Why was this second young lady acting like a child?
Although the eldest young lady seemed detached from worldly affairs, she was quite skilled in interpersonal relationships and had high emotional intelligence.
Lu Changsheng couldn't help but shake his head.
He also felt that he didn't need to argue with this second young lady; it was better to admit his mistake when necessary. "
Just treat it like coaxing a little girl, that'll do.
" "Young Master, this Second Miss seems to have a crush on you,"
said Xiaoqing, a maidservant, with a grin, seeing the two bickering.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Lu Changsheng flicked Xiaoqing's fair forehead.
"It is!"
The maidservant, knowing her master's temperament, covered her forehead and pouted.
Lu Changsheng chuckled, thinking that the Second Miss's behavior did indeed resemble a child trying to attract attention.
He didn't pay much attention.
After all, if the Second Miss truly had feelings for him and wanted to marry him, he wouldn't be able to control her, and he didn't have the energy to coax her.
After settling Xiaoqing in the courtyard, Lu Changsheng suddenly thought of a problem.
If he had many wives, concubines, and maids, should he consider renting a house in the market?
This side courtyard was only about a hundred square meters, quite small.
And with many wives, concubines, and maids, living together in such a large courtyard wouldn't be very convenient.
However, there were only three people now, so Lu Changsheng wasn't in a hurry.
If he planned to have more, he would consider renting a house in Kowloon Market.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Lu Changsheng spent his days cultivating, making talismans, and going to and from work.
Occasionally, he would go shopping with his maids and servants, and sometimes he would invite the young lady out for a meal. His life was quite leisurely and comfortable.
One day, Lu Miaocheng came to see Lu Changsheng again.
Lu Changsheng thought she was
coming to repay a debt. Unexpectedly, she came to borrow money again
. There's a saying: "A loan repaid is a loan easily obtained again; don't lend to the poor in urgent need."
Since Lu Miaocheng hadn't repaid the first time, and was likely borrowing again for tea, he naturally wouldn't lend her again. He
directly stated that he had no money either.
Not only did he have no money, but he also feigned poverty, asking when Lu Miaocheng would repay the spirit stones.
Under Lu Changsheng's acting, Lu Miaocheng could only leave disappointed.
After all, in the eyes of ordinary people, Lu Changsheng's income, considering supporting so many wives and children, didn't seem to amount to much.
"He came to borrow money from you? Avoid people like that. But you two seem to be birds of a feather, no wonder he came to borrow money from you."
At this moment, Lu Miaohuan, returning home from work, passed by and saw Lu Miaocheng leaving . Guessing what had happened, she sneered.
"How are we birds of a feather?"
"I have five wives, six concubines, two favorite concubines, and three maids. Do I need to go to a place like that?" Lu Changsheng sneered disdainfully at Lu Miaohuan's appearance. After speaking, he left. Hearing Lu Changsheng's words and seeing his departing figure, Lu Miaohuan felt her anger rise again for some reason, feeling extremely displeased. That night. Afterwards! Shao Yuyao and Xiaoqing nestled languidly in Lu Changsheng's arms. "Young Master, I think I'm pregnant." At this moment, Shao Yuyao said softly. "Pregnant?" Hearing this, Lu Changsheng's spirits lifted. As the saying goes, yin cannot produce life alone, nor can yang grow alone. These past few days, he had been harmonizing yin and yang with Shao Yuyao every night. Now that they had been harmonizing for so long, it was natural for her to be pregnant. Immediately, he pressed his head against Shao Yuyao's belly. He could faintly feel a weak life force developing within her. "Good, good, good!" Lu Changsheng exclaimed repeatedly, his face beaming with joy as he asked, "When did you realize it?" Shao Yuyao was also a cultivator, possessing the cultivation of the second level of Qi Refining, so it was normal for her to sense her pregnancy. "Just a couple of days ago, but I wasn't sure then. I only confirmed it today," Shao Yuyao said softly. She knew that her young master loved children. "Good, from now on, take good care of yourself and rest well." "Just tell me what you need regarding your diet and drink," Lu Changsheng said. Now that she was pregnant and becoming his mother, her status in his heart would naturally rise. Seeing this, Xiao Qing, her watery eyes filled with allure, looked at Lu Changsheng and said sweetly, "Young master, I want to have your child too!"
"Alright, alright, let's give birth!"
Lu Changsheng embraced Xiaoqing and responded.
In two more months, Lu Miaoyun's child would be born, and Xiaoqing was almost pregnant.
He then got up, determined to strive for the path to immortality!
The next day.
Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge went to work. Thinking of Shao Yuyao's pregnancy, he realized that only Xiaoqing was left by his side.
He hadn't let Xiaoqing get pregnant before because of Lu Miaoyun's pregnancy.
Now, if he didn't worry about that, he estimated that with the daily balance of Yin and Yang, Xiaoqing would get pregnant soon.
"Should we go to Baiyulou and buy some maids and servants?"
"Now that Yuyao is pregnant, she needs someone to take care of her. If Xiaoqing gets pregnant too, she'll need someone to take care of her as well,"
Lu Changsheng thought to himself.
He didn't think that buying maids and servants necessarily required them to have spiritual roots.
After all, he wanted to promote healthy births, but only if he had the means.
Right now, he clearly didn't have those means.
"However, the most urgent thing is to earn some spirit stones first."
Lu Changsheng shook his head slightly.
He had almost run out of spirit stones after buying magic tools, talisman brushes, talisman paper, spirit ink, and incurring other expenses.
Therefore, even if he bought ordinary maids without spiritual roots, he wouldn't have enough money.
Because if he wanted to buy maids, he couldn't just buy one or two; he had to buy many at once.
And if he had many maids, he would have to start looking for a place to rent.
"Sigh, wealth, companions, magic, and land—you really need money everywhere."
"If it weren't for my talisman-making skills and the many talismans I've accumulated over the years, it would be impossible to cultivate immortality."
Lu Changsheng shook his head and sighed, deeply feeling the difficulty of cultivating immortality.
If he was already in such a predicament, what about other ordinary cultivators? It was simply unimaginable.
Immediately after greeting Lu Miaoge, Lu Changsheng went out and, through disguise, visited several talisman shops, selling nearly two hundred talismans.
This time, he was even more cautious, avoiding shops where he had previously sold talismans to prevent attracting attention.
"Phew, this isn't a long-term solution."
"If I keep coming back, I'll have visited every talisman shop in Kowloon Market. Who knows, I might be targeted again."
Inside the inn, Lu Changsheng used a purification talisman to check his condition, confirming he wasn't being watched, and let out a light sigh.
"The Lu family's talisman shop buys talismans every month. In a few months, Miss Lu won't be at the shop every day, and I'll be in full control of it then." "
At that time, I can also sell the talismans I have through the Lu family's talisman shop, without having to run around like this, worrying about being targeted."
Lu Changsheng's eyes gleamed.
He had previously considered whether he could sell the spirit talismans he possessed through the Lu family's spirit talisman shop.
After more than a month of research, he increasingly felt it was feasible.
He only needed to forge a supplier, ensuring the goods were genuine.
Once he had full control of the shop, this would be incredibly simple.
That night,
Lu Changsheng also asked Xiaoqing to inquire about housing prices and rental situations in the Kowloon Market area, planning to rent a house of four or five hundred square meters.
Regarding location, he instructed Xiaoqing to look in the East and North districts, avoiding the West district.
The West district was a gathering place for independent cultivators, not only far away but also a mixed bag, with the possibility of unexpected dangers.
Therefore, he was willing to spend more money.
Although the North district was a commercial and entertainment area, a bustling area, there were still many houses for rent,
though the cost-effectiveness was relatively low.
His main consideration for the North district was to find one as close as possible to the spirit talisman shop for convenience.
This would not only save him time commuting daily but also make explaining the situation to the Lu family easier.
Two days later.
Xiaoqing showed Lu Changsheng several houses she liked and asked him to choose.
Looking at the houses and their prices, Lu Changsheng gained an understanding of the housing market in Jiulongfang.
In the East District, a house of 400-500 square meters, depending on the lease term, location, and environment, cost roughly between 60 and 100 spirit stones.
Houses in the North District were much cheaper, with annual rent ranging from 30 to 80 spirit stones.
After viewing the houses Xiaoqing had chosen, Lu Changsheng immediately made his decision.
He selected a house in the North District, not far from the spirit talisman shop,
about a 15-minute walk away.
This house was about 400 square meters, with a minimum five-year lease.
The annual rent was 50 spirit stones, payable annually, with a one-year deposit required.
After finalizing the rental, Lu Changsheng mentioned it to Lu Miaoge and the Second Elder that evening.
After all, it wouldn't be appropriate to rent and move out without informing them, given his comfortable living situation.
He had already prepared his explanation.
He plans to bring his wives and concubines to stay in the market town for a while, as the place here is a bit small and inconvenient.
He also doesn't want to walk around every day, so he plans to rent a house near the talisman shop, which would be much more convenient.
Upon hearing this, the Second Elder, who had initially suggested providing Lu Changsheng with a larger courtyard,
didn't say much after Lu Changsheng's insistence.
He simply inquired whether Lu Changsheng had rented a place yet and found one he liked, offering to have someone look around.
Lu Changsheng replied that he hadn't rented yet, but had already looked at several places and showed them to the Second Elder.
After inspecting them, the Second Elder found no problems, offering only a few suggestions and encouraging Lu Changsheng to visit more often.
The very next day, Lu Changsheng went to the housing and shop management center established by the Qingyun Sect, paid one hundred spirit stones, and signed a rental contract.
During the rental period, he had the right to enter and reside in the market without needing to pay for entry or obtain an identity card.
Moreover, based on the size of the house, he also received three additional exemptions from residency.
Such a large house, yet only three exemptions—Lu Changsheng couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, thinking it was stingy.
What he found even more frustrating was that the long-term identity cards he had previously obtained, and those for Xiaoqing, were non-refundable once issued.
After completing the house rental, Lu Changsheng returned to Baiyulou to purchase maids.
To his surprise, even ordinary maids at Baiyulou were incredibly expensive.
Even those without spiritual roots cost several spirit stones, with some costing tens or even hundreds.
After Feng Jiuniang's explanation, he understood why ordinary maids were so pricey.
Firstly, it was Baiyulou's brand reputation,
guaranteeing the maids' appearance, figure, and loyalty.
Secondly, these maids had been trained and honed by Baiyulou, possessing knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and intimate pleasures. They
were also proficient in martial arts, even practicing martial arts techniques that could strengthen their foundation.
For maids without spiritual roots, the selection was much wider; one could practically say that with enough money, Baiyulou could provide any appearance, figure, and personality one desired.
Among them, Lu Changsheng also saw women of different races like Jiu'er and Shui'er, as well as women of the demon race.
However, most of these demon women possessed some demon blood, which Bai Yulou had activated through some means, thus giving them demon characteristics.
These maids were only suitable as concubines and were basically infertile, which made Lu Changsheng somewhat regretful.
In the end, Lu Changsheng spent 116 spirit stones to purchase nine maids, each with their own unique characteristics.
Two of them were already with Bai Yulou, while the rest would be delivered later.
Immediately, Lu Changsheng settled the two maids into the house he had just rented, and that same day, traveling light, he moved in with Shao Yuyao and Xiao Qing, carrying only their bags.
Chapter 79 I, Lu Changsheng, a full-time craftsman!
After moving, Lu Changsheng used magic to give the house and yard a quick clean.
"This house only has a simple soundproofing array; it seems I'll have to buy a few smaller arrays later,"
Lu Changsheng thought to himself, looking at the yard.
Although the Nine Dragons Market is safe, it's still not as safe as living in Green Bamboo Valley, in the Lu family compound in the eastern district.
He still needs to be careful and take some precautions.
Otherwise, what if his wives and concubines encounter danger when he's not home, but when he is?
This book is first published on Taiwan Novel Network, super convenient, t͜͜͡͡w͜͜͡͡k͜͜͜͡͡a͜͜͡͡n͜͜͡͡.c͜͜͡͡o͜͜͡͡m͜͜͡͡, providing you with a reading experience without errors or disordered chapters.
Moreover, this kind of small array can be taken with you when you move.
The next day, before leaving for work, Lu Changsheng gave Xiaoqing twenty spirit stones.
He asked her to buy some spirit rice, spirit vegetables, and spirit materials to keep at home.
Now that he had Xiaoqing as his spirit cook, he could eat better, so naturally he would.
He also asked Xiaoqing to prepare lunch for two and deliver it to the spirit talisman shop.
On his way to the spirit talisman shop, Lu Changsheng saw an array shop and went in to inquire about the prices of small arrays, array tools, and array plates.
"Array artifacts all come with array flags, array plates, and array eyes. The exact price depends on the size of the area you need,"
the shopkeeper of the array shop explained.
Lu Changsheng then inquired about the cost of such array artifacts for a courtyard of four or five hundred square meters.
"There are many types of arrays. For this size, the most common first-tier low-grade array, a small maze array, costs 180 spirit stones. As for more powerful arrays, it's not enough to just have the array artifact; you also need an array master to set it up and inscribe the array patterns,"
the shopkeeper, who recognized Lu Changsheng, explained further, sharing some knowledge about arrays.
Lu Changsheng couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
A mere first-tier low-grade array artifact covering four hundred square meters cost 180 spirit stones.
A complete set of first-tier mid-grade array artifacts cost four or five hundred spirit stones.
As for a complete set of first-tier high-grade array artifacts, the price is generally over a thousand spirit stones.
Moreover, for more complex arrays, the price is even higher, because it also includes the cost of the array master setting it up.
"As expected, compared to array masters, alchemists, and weapon refiners, talisman masters are still a bit lacking."
"I wonder if I'll be able to draw an array technique in the future? If I can draw an array technique and become an array master, I won't have to worry about being raided once I'm settled."
After chatting with the shopkeeper for a while, Lu Changsheng shook his head and left.
He was currently broke and couldn't even afford a low-grade first-tier array weapon.
Moreover, in his opinion, low-grade first-tier array weapons were actually not very effective.
At noon, Xiaoqing brought a food box to deliver lunch.
Lu Miaoge smiled when she learned that there was a portion for her too.
Lu Changsheng had Xiaoqing prepare two portions, naturally one for this young lady.
Through their time together, Lu Changsheng knew that this young lady also had a bit of a foodie side and loved to eat.
Unfortunately, he himself didn't have any cooking skills.
He didn't think he could conquer her stomach and then her heart by cooking some dishes and using a roast chicken.
Unless he won a culinary skill in a lottery someday.
After the meal, Lu Miaoge offered to give Lu Changsheng spirit stones as payment
for his food. Lu Changsheng naturally refused.
However, unable to resist Lu Miaoge's insistence, he accepted twelve spirit stones as a token of appreciation for the last month.
Night fell.
When Lu Changsheng returned home from work that day, Xiaoqing told him that
a neighbor had come to visit that afternoon,
bringing three talismans and saying they would be neighbors from now on, and should keep in touch.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng was somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected this neighbor to be so hospitable.
He took the talismans from Xiaoqing and examined them; all three were low-grade talismans.
"Giving away talismans... could this neighbor be a talisman master?"
Lu Changsheng wondered to himself.
He thought that as the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative; at home, one relies on parents, but when away from home, one relies on friends. He would be staying here for quite some time.
This neighbor's initiative to visit suggested they were easy to get along with, and he thought it would be worthwhile to get to know them.
Moreover, maintaining good relationships with the neighbors wouldn't be a bad thing.
At least you'd know roughly what kind of people they are.
Immediately, Lu Changsheng picked up a basket of fruit, took out two gift boxes containing several talismans, and went to return the visit.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Lu Changsheng arrived at the small courtyard next door on the right and knocked
on the door. A moment later, the door creaked open.
"Uncle, who are you looking for?" The one
who opened the door was a little girl of about eleven or twelve years old, with chubby cheeks, two buns tied in her hair with ribbons, and wearing a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).
The little girl was very cute, with long, fluttering eyelashes and clear, bright eyes looking at Lu Changsheng, and said crisply,
"I'm the neighbor who just moved in next door. I've come to visit. Are your parents home?"
Lu Changsheng looked at the little girl, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
"The neighbor next door?"
Hearing this, the little girl tilted her head and then called out in a clear voice towards the house, "Dad, it's the uncle who moved in next door!"
A middle-aged man in his thirties, with a kind face and a somewhat plump build, came out of the house.
"I just moved next door. I heard you were coming to visit, so I came to introduce myself,"
Lu Changsheng said politely, handing over the fruit basket.
"So it's you, Fellow Daoist Lu. I am Gao He. Please come in, please come in,"
the middle-aged man said with a smile, making a welcoming gesture, giving off an impression of affability and prosperity.
This courtyard was a separate courtyard, only about a hundred square meters, not as large as Lu Changsheng's own courtyard.
However, Lu Changsheng glanced at it and saw that this family consisted of Gao He, his daughter, and two servants; this size was sufficient.
During their conversation, Lu Changsheng learned that the latter was a mid-grade talisman master, working as a resident talisman master in a spirit talisman shop.
Gao He, upon learning that Lu Changsheng was the owner of the Qingzhu Lu Clan spirit talisman shop, became even more enthusiastic.
They expressed their intention to do business together in the future.
The two then exchanged some insights on talisman making.
Through this exchange, Lu Changsheng roughly understood that Gao He was at the mid-level of a mid-grade talisman master, still some distance from becoming a high-grade talisman master.
After leaving Gao He's house, Lu Changsheng also paid a visit to the courtyard across the street.
An elderly man, an old servant, opened the door.
Upon hearing Lu Changsheng's purpose, he explained that his master was not home and would return after 7 PM each day.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng apologized for the intrusion and said he would visit again later.
He then knocked on the left side, preparing to pay his respects.
"Who are you?"
The woman who opened the door was about thirty years old, with a gentle face and a full figure.
She had snow-white skin, eyebrows like emerald feathers, a nose like distant mountains, and lips like flowers. Her long, black hair was styled in a bun.
Wearing a light blue dress, her slender waist cinched with a cloud-patterned sash, revealing her curvaceous figure, a gentle smile played on her lips, exuding the unique charm of a mature and beautiful woman.
"My name is Lu Changsheng, a recent neighbor who just moved in, so I've taken the liberty of paying my respects."
Lu Changsheng's face was gentle as he smiled and cupped his hands, presenting a gift box containing talismans.
Inside were three low-grade talismans and one mid-grade talisman.
After all, a small gift for a visitor didn't need to be too valuable.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Lu, please come in."
Upon hearing this, the woman invited Lu Changsheng into the courtyard, served tea and water, and also called her husband out to greet him.
Her husband was a tall and robust man in his forties.
This man was completely different from the amiable Gao He he had met before; he was rather taciturn.
Lu Changsheng could even sense a hint of fierceness about him, feeling that this man was not easy to approach.
After a brief chat, Lu Changsheng took his leave, indicating that he could contact him if Lu needed to buy talismans
in the future. The other party introduced himself as Zhao, saying he made a living by hunting demonic beasts.
He told Lu Changsheng to contact him if he needed to buy demonic beast meat.
After visiting the three households across the hall, Lu Changsheng returned to his residence.
After taking a bath, he called Xiaoqing and two maids to prepare for his ascension to immortality!
The next day,
just as Lu Changsheng was about to leave, he heard a knock at the door.
Opening the door, he saw a tall, handsome, and refined middle-aged man.
He was his neighbor across the hall, who had heard Lu Changsheng's visit yesterday and, thinking he was home, had come to pay his respects.
The man recognized him, knowing he was the new owner of Lu's talisman shop.
After the man introduced himself, Lu Changsheng learned that this was the owner of the Jade Dining Hall, which he had visited a few times.
Perhaps because he was a businessman, the owner of the Jade Dining Hall was very amiable.
They expressed their intention to maintain good relations in the future, offering discounts at Yu Shan Tang.
Lu Changsheng was the type who was easy to talk to both others and himself.
After exchanging pleasantries, he left.
He thought to himself that of his three neighbors, apart from the one on the left who seemed a bit intimidating, the other two were quite nice.
Time flew by, and
before he knew it, the end of the month was approaching. Zhang Shan brought the inventory list for the month's deliveries for Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge to inspect.
It took them two days to complete the inspection. They
still found some defective or substandard items, but not many.
This prompted Lu Changsheng to ask Lu Miaoge
why there were always defective or substandard items among the suppliers, since the shop's suppliers
were supposed to be long-term partners. Lu Miaoge simply explained that while they were long-term partners, only a portion were permanently fixed.
Changes sometimes occurred, requiring the search for new suppliers.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng nodded,
understanding that the Lu family's supply chain wasn't entirely stable.
Therefore, in terms of quality, this situation is simply unavoidable.
Thinking that Lu Miaoge wouldn't be here in two months,
and that he would have to spend three or four days each month inspecting the goods, Lu Changsheng was also a bit worried.
After all, this work was truly tedious and exhausting.
After giving Zhang Shan the confirmed list after the random inspection, Lu Changsheng also arranged with Lu Miaoge to return to Qingzhu Mountain in two days.
Two days later, Lu Changsheng and Lu Miaoge rode their Iron Feather Eagles back to Green Bamboo Mountain.
Xiao Qing naturally stayed in Nine Dragons Market; she couldn't possibly follow him around.
He would also need to bring Guan Xin with him when he returned to Nine Dragons Market, and having too many people would be inconvenient.
The two returned to Green Bamboo Mountain safely.
Upon arriving home, Lu Changsheng learned that his twenty-fifth child had been born.
Furthermore, on the third day after his return, his twenty-sixth child was born.
There were no unexpected surprises.
Neither child possessed spiritual roots.
Lu Changsheng was quite at ease about this.
However, Lu Miaoyun was due to give birth in a month.
Lu Changsheng felt a sense of anticipation and importance regarding the child in Lu Miaoyun's arms.
He even considered staying at Green Bamboo Mountain this month, waiting for Lu Miaoyun to give birth, and seeing the child before leaving.
However, considering that after Lu Miaoyun's birth, Qu Zhenzhen's child would be born in another month,
he couldn't wait for Lu Miaoyun and not Qu Zhenzhen, could he?
In such matters, it's not a matter of scarcity but of inequality.
But if he had to wait, he felt like he wouldn't be able to leave the house at all.
Ultimately, Lu Changsheng decided to spend these few days with his wife.
He then estimated the time and planned to return home early and stay a few more days.
It was a special privilege for his wife, he suppose.
During these three days at home, Lu Changsheng continued to spend time with his wife, concubines, and children, not focusing much on talisman making.
This time, when he went to listen to the Fourth Elder's instruction on talismans, the Fourth Elder also directly handed over the talismans he would use to replenish the shop each month.
There weren't many talismans: three top-grade talismans, thirty high-grade talismans, and thirty mid-grade talismans.
This made Lu Changsheng wonder to himself, "Does the Fourth Elder only draw one high-grade talisman and one mid-grade talisman each day?"
However, he also remembered that the Lu family had several shops in other markets, and the Fourth Elder would probably need to provide some talismans as well.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed, and Lu Changsheng returned to Kowloon Market with Lu Miaoge.
Seeing that Lu Changsheng had brought Guan Xin with him again, Lu Miaoge sighed slightly.
Just last month, she had told Lu Changsheng that cultivation and strength were fundamental.
Lu Changsheng had agreed firmly at the time.
But how long had it been? Not only had he bought maids in the Nine Dragons Market, but he had also brought maids from his home there.
However, she wasn't one to talk too much. She
would only mention such things once and not again.
After returning to the Nine Dragons Market, Lu Changsheng used the property deed to obtain a free residency permit for Guan Xin and settled her in.
He told her to talk to Xiao Qing about anything.
Now, Xiao Qing was the main person in charge here.
In the following days, Lu Changsheng resumed his comfortable life of daily cultivation, talisman making, having a baby, and commuting to and from work.
During this time, Gao He came over for a chat, seeking Lu Changsheng's insights on talisman cultivation.
Lu Changsheng was naturally polite to Gao He, a very amiable person, and chatted with him over tea for most of the hour, leaving Gao He feeling he had benefited greatly.
Ten days later,
Lu Changsheng learned that Xiao Qing was pregnant.
He was overjoyed.
After all, Xiaoqing possessed a ninth-grade spiritual root, making it highly likely she would give birth to a child with a spiritual root as well.
However, a faint worry arose in his heart.
He usually had Xiaoqing do everything.
Now that she was pregnant, it wouldn't be good to keep her busy.
He thought about how anyone who did his work would soon become pregnant and unable to work.
In that case, he would never have a stable person to do anything.
"I need to find someone to work specifically, to be the steward of this courtyard,"
Lu Changsheng thought to himself. He couldn't
help but think of the beast-eared girls from Baiyulou.
These beast-eared girls were cultivated by Baiyulou using special methods and secret techniques, making them infertile.
Buying one to work as a steward seemed like a good idea.
However, these beast-eared girls were quite expensive.
They generally cost tens of spirit stones, easily exceeding a hundred.
Finding one that suited his taste would cost at least a hundred spirit stones.
In Lu Changsheng's opinion, spending a hundred spirit stones on a beast-eared girl was too wasteful.
Besides, he urgently needed spirit stones right now.
"Wait a minute, I'm not a stud, and not every woman in my courtyard has to get pregnant. I can just assign two maids to do things and prevent them from getting pregnant."
Lu Changsheng snapped back to reality, speechless at his own thoughts. He felt like he was constantly giving birth, and he'd fallen into a mental trap.
As a cultivator, he might not be able to guarantee a woman's pregnancy,
but preventing her from getting pregnant was something he could do.
Thinking about the seven maids he still had at Baiyu Tower that hadn't arrived yet, which would probably be here in a few days,
Lu Changsheng planned to choose two of them to manage things.
The next day,
Gao He came over to chat with Lu Changsheng again, exchanging insights on talisman cultivation.
This made Lu Changsheng secretly shake his head.
In his opinion, as neighbors, such things were fine to chat about occasionally.
There really wasn't much to talk about in this area.
The two were simply not on the same level.
Asking him to exchange insights on talismans with Gao He was like a professor discussing elementary school homework with a student.
However, he knew this was because he had shown considerable insight into talismans during their previous two conversations,
helping Gao He gain some knowledge in the art .
This time, he was more careful, presenting himself as relatively ordinary.
One reason was to avoid Gao He frequently seeking his advice on talismans.
Another was that, as a mid-grade talisman master, he couldn't be too overbearing.
During their conversation, Lu Changsheng inquired about Gao He's talisman shop's business model and daily work,
hoping to find something of value .
Gao He didn't hide anything, answering truthfully.
His talisman shop operated similarly to the Lu family's,
only differing in supply, quality control, and the quality of the talismans themselves.
Lu Changsheng nodded slightly, understanding.
In fact, whether it was a talisman shop, a pill shop, a magic weapon shop, or an array shop, etc., all related shops...
As long as you have the ability, your business will be successful!
Like the Lu family's talisman shop, besides the reputation of the Qingzhu Lu family, their core competitiveness lies in the three top-grade talismans and thirty high-grade talismans from the Fourth Elder.
"If I keep drawing lots, maybe I can become a full-time craftsman."
"Then I can train my children in this direction, or train more craftsmen. This will not only guarantee a stable income for the family, but the children won't have to go out fighting and killing to earn resources." "After
all, what I seek is stability. Stability is paramount."
Lu Changsheng thought about his future path.
Three days later.
A servant from Baiyulou came to say that the maid Lu Changsheng had purchased had been delivered.
Hearing this, Lu Changsheng went to Baiyulou with the servant.
It was still the charming and alluring Feng Jiuniang who greeted him.
Every time Lu Changsheng saw Feng Jiuniang, he couldn't help but sigh, "A beauty!"
"Young Master Lu, are you satisfied?"
Feng Jiuniang led the seven maids forward and asked Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng didn't continue using the name Han Li and revealed his real name.
After all, he had only subconsciously used a pseudonym at the time.
Moreover, he knew that the manager of Baiyulou obviously knew his true identity, so there was no need to hide it anymore. Otherwise, every time he heard "Young Master Han," he would feel strange and would have to explain to the maids he had purchased afterwards.
"No problem."
Lu Changsheng looked at the seven charming and beautiful maids, each with their own unique style, and nodded.
These seven maids were not only of superior appearance and figure,
but some of them also possessed martial arts skills and had cultivated the "Charming Maidens' Yuan-Nourishing Technique."
Otherwise, they would just be ordinary maids, and he wouldn't have spent 116 spirit stones to buy nine maids.
In Baiyulou, you get what you pay for!
After paying the remaining spirit stones, Lu Changsheng took the spirit contracts of the seven maids and left Baiyulou with them, returning to his residence.
Following behind seven beautiful maids, Lu Changsheng attracted a lot of attention as he walked down the street.
"Whose young master is this? He's out with seven gorgeous young ladies."
"I don't know him, probably from some family."
"Looks like the new owner of the Qingzhu Lu Clan's Spirit Talisman Shop?"
"This life is my dream!"
"Hmph, just ordinary women. I could have as many as I wanted!"
"Judging by her looks, figure, and temperament, she's not an ordinary worldly woman."
"I just saw him come out of Baiyu Tower; he must have bought her there."
"Money, so good!"
"Indulging in lust and pleasure, how can he cultivate immortality like this!"
"That's right, this is nothing but depravity."
Passersby looked at Lu Changsheng with a mixture of envy, disdain, and strange glances.
Many women glanced at Lu Changsheng, their eyes sparkling with attraction at his handsome face, tall and slender figure, and composed and gentle demeanor.
Several female cultivators even mustered the courage to approach him directly,
inquiring about his marital status and intentions to marry.
While somewhat tempted, Lu Changsheng refused them all.
He stated that he was already married and had no intention of marrying again at present, though he might consider taking concubines and maids.
This wasn't just his own caution regarding marriage;
it was also out of consideration for the Lu family.
In his view, taking a few concubines and maids was one thing,
but continuing to marry would leave Lu Miaoyun and the Lu family in a bad light.
After all, he and Lu Miaoyun had only been married for less than a year.
Immediately, Lu Changsheng led the seven women back to his residence.
"It seems that from now on, when I buy maids from Baiyulou, I'll either bring them back in batches or have Baiyulou deliver them directly to my home."
"Otherwise, this situation is a bit conspicuous. Not only will I feel like I'm being stared at, but I might even be targeted as a fat sheep."
Back home, Lu Changsheng thought to himself.
He didn't feel any sense of pretentiousness at the envious glances and attempts to strike up conversations with passersby.
On the contrary, he felt uneasy, worried about being targeted.
Xiaoqing, Shao Yuyao, and Guan Xin, seeing their young master bring back seven more beautiful maids, were momentarily speechless.
But thinking of Lu Changsheng's abundant energy that night, they felt relieved.
They knew that soon, these seven would all be pregnant.
"From now on, your name will be Yelian, your name will be Hongmian, your name will be Zimei, and your name will be Canglan."
At this moment, Lu Changsheng named his seven new maids.
He had previously named the two maids Haitang and Baihe, so he wanted to unify their names.
"Yes, Master!"
These maids were all very sensible.
That night...
Lu Changsheng also began to learn about and experience the "famous instrument" that Lu Miaocheng had once mentioned.