Welcome Feast

Great Sword Sect.

With a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, the sect had already begun to transform. For a sect to endure, it needed disciples who felt a sense of belonging.

The best way to cultivate that sense of belonging was to raise native-born cultivators. The most direct method was to buy children with Spirit Roots, but that placed no small burden on the sect's finances.

Another method was to buy young people like them, those with good innate Spirit Roots, and then have them bear children here.

Children born to those with Spirit Roots had a far greater chance of possessing Spirit Roots themselves. If both parents were cultivators, the chances were even greater.

Within the sect, inside a spacious and elegant great hall.

One person per seat, with delicacies from mountain and sea, fine wine, and exquisite dishes.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Elder Lu, seated at the head, smiled broadly and waved his hand. "Today is the Welcome Feast arranged by the sect for all of you."

With a light clap from Elder Lu, young girls of stunning beauty and graceful figures, slim as swallows or lush as rings, filed into the hall one after another. Quite a few of the young men flushed scarlet at the sight.

For a moment, fragrance filled the hall.

What Welcome Feast? This is clearly a grand breeding banquet. Lin Chang'an sneered inwardly, secretly looking down on it. Great Sword Sect was plainly after their kidneys—but what came next...

Every woman was beautiful, possessed an extraordinary bearing, and wore different styles of makeup.

Some were petite and adorable, delicate as little birds nestling against another.

Some wore light makeup, gentle and refined, smiling without showing their teeth.

Some had brows like emerald peaks and wore fitted martial attire, looking dashing and valiant.

Some wore lavish floral palace gowns, their qingsi coiled up, dignified and generous.

Others had icy expressions like frozen mountains; some had full figures and seductive charm, dressed in hazy gauze with jade-white long legs that tempted the eye...

It could be said that among so many varieties, there was always one that would make your heart stir.

Even Lin Chang'an, who had been bombarded by such things in his previous life, could not help widening his eyes. What an enormous investment. These are all natural, unaltered originals.

"There really is something here." Lin Chang'an could not help casting an appreciative gaze, inwardly offering his upright assessment.

Seated high above, Elder Lu smiled as he looked at the blushing young men.

"These are all outstanding mortal women of the sect. Every one of them has been nurtured by great Confucian scholars of the secular world. Not only are they learned and courteous, they are also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting... all are untouched... Of course, there are also some..."

As he said this, Elder Lu wore the expression of an experienced man. The smile on his face was utterly different from yesterday's, making Lin Chang'an inwardly alarmed. This combination of favor and intimidation was formidable indeed.

At Elder Lu's clap, another, smaller group of women filed in...

Their quality was no worse than the previous group, yet Lin Chang'an's eyes widened. This batch carried a mature flavor between their brows—and some were ripe to the fullest...

One after another, they had voluptuous figures and seductive charm... some even came with young girls... a faint fragrance drifted through the air...

How had these young men ever seen such a spectacle? It was even more exaggerated than the previous group. Lin Chang'an's eyes were practically staring straight ahead...

The final wave left many inexperienced youths utterly dumbfounded, their eyes wide as they saw one after another with male faces and female features...

On the platform, Elder Lu smiled at everyone. "Today, they will welcome you all and wash away the dust of your journey. If you meet someone to your liking, this old man offers his congratulations in advance..."

After speaking, Elder Lu smiled at the crowd once more before leaving the great hall.

But the meaningful look he cast at Lin Chang'an before leaving caused everyone else to turn their gazes on him, making his face turn green. Why the hell are you all looking at me?!

Lin Chang'an felt utterly aggrieved. He liked older sisters, all right?

At this moment, the youths in the hall were all red-faced and breathing heavily, while the women's eyes gleamed as they fixed their gazes on those with the best Spirit Root aptitudes.

At the entrance, Great Sword Sect cultivator Zhang Qing cupped his hands toward everyone and said with a smile, "Those with High-grade Spirit Roots may choose first, with no limit on the number. Those with Mid-grade Spirit Roots may choose five first. Don't worry, there are only this many in this batch. If you still want more, there will be more next year..."

After speaking, Zhang Qing cast a reluctant glance at the beautiful young women. But when he thought of his own constitution, he gritted his teeth, turned, and left...

Gulp!

No one knew who had swallowed, but the sound echoed through the hall. One little fat man stared at everyone, red-faced and excited. "What do we cultivate immortality for? Isn't it for freedom and ease? Isn't this paradise..."

"Fellow Daoist Zhang is right. We were all deceived here by the deacon elders of Heavenly Sword Sect. We were lucky to come here. If we had gone to some minor force, who knows what kind of fate would have befallen us..."

Watching this scene, Lin Chang'an was inwardly shocked. Elder Lu's methods were truly formidable.

First, he used a round of tactics to intimidate them and break down their psychological defenses; then, he used benefits... and beauty to tempt them...

"This is..." Lin Chang'an sniffed lightly, then inconspicuously took a small sip from his wine cup. Just as he had expected, the wine carried a trace of aphrodisiac effect.

But it was merely an auxiliary effect. So long as one held firm to one's heart, there was naturally no need to fear the temptation of beauty.

"Chang'an." Behind him, Li Han lowered his head with a flushed face, not even daring to look at the scene.

Lin Chang'an merely chuckled. "They're all fine ladies here. Of course, if you like something more special, that works too."

Most of these young girls were descendants of cultivators. Some were from the sect's influence in the mortal world, only they lacked Spirit Roots.

They had all come willingly. After all, admiring the strong was human nature.

As the young men's hearts began to stir, the young girls shyly gazed at those with the best aptitudes, their eyes nearly dripping with affection as they slowly swayed their graceful bodies.

There were three people with High-grade Spirit Roots this time. The two young men both came from cultivation lineages, and with their firm wills, they silently ate and drank.

Just then, a sudden delicate shout rang out. Lin Chang'an, beside them, stared in astonishment.

"Would you be willing to follow me?"

The cold voice echoed through the great hall, and everyone's eyes widened.

The dignified woman in a lavish floral palace gown, with her qingsi coiled up, looked somewhat stunned. She looked around to either side, and once she realized the other party was pointing at her, her surprise gave way to a strained smile.

"This concubine is a descendant of the Great Liang Imperial Family in the mortal world." The dignified woman smiled gently, extending her jade-like arm to reveal her chastity mark, proving that she was untouched.

Looking at the woman approaching her, Murong Yue's breathing became somewhat hurried, and even her normally cold black eyes were veiled in mist.

"Good heavens!"

Lin Chang'an stared wide-eyed. He had truly never expected Murong Yue, who carried the air of a scholar, to play so wildly.

Sure enough, noble circles played extravagantly no matter what world they were in.

Afterward, when they saw that the other two young men with High-grade Spirit Roots remained silent, all the women set their sights on the youths with Mid-grade Spirit Roots, especially those who possessed a particular skill.

Lin Chang'an in particular, with his identity as an alchemist, became the target of countless young girls.

Cough, cough!

Lin Chang'an coughed twice. He shook his head and thought to himself, People's hearts are no longer what they used to be. This world is too chaotic.

He raised his wine cup and downed two cups in one go. Then he lifted his head, looked at the graceful figures whose eyes were already dripping with affection as they watched him, revealed a resolute expression, gritted his teeth, and closed his eyes. He kept chanting inwardly, Beauty is but a skeleton!

Damn it, if not for the cultivation technique he practiced, he would have chosen a few understanding older sisters and younger girls no matter what.

"Elder, is all this really necessary for these people?"

Outside the great hall, Zhang Qing asked in confusion what had been on his mind. Elder Lu merely gave him an indifferent glance.

"There are so many sects in Miaowa Kingdom, but how many can truly maintain their inheritance for a hundred years without changing? What do they lack? A foundation!"

As an experienced man, how could Elder Lu fail to see through Zhang Qing's little thoughts? He snorted coldly. "Put away those petty thoughts of yours. These people concern whether the sect can lay down an unchanging foundation for a century-long legacy. No mistakes whatsoever will be allowed."

"Yes!" Before leaving, Elder Lu glanced back at the great hall behind him. Yet that single glance made one's hair stand on end with terror.

It was a cruel, indifferent gaze that regarded life as ants.

Inside the great hall, just as Lin Chang'an was being dazzled by the swarm of older and younger sisters, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a cold bead of sweat slid down his forehead.

Thanks to Fellow Daoist 'King of Poetry Zhao Dabao' for the 2,000 Qidian Coin reward, Fellow Daoist 'Bookworm Fool' for the 100 Coin reward, and Fellow Daoist 'Rukong Little Scholar' for the 100 Coin reward.

Thanks to all Fellow Daoists for your rewarded monthly tickets and continued reading.