Jade Moon Mountain Villa

This Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator had been killed single-handedly by Lan Chang'an.

He alone claimed the Spoils of War, and the Mu Family cultivators had no objections.

"Lan Chang'an, well done!"

Mu Yunfei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, unable to help seeing him in a new light.

Several Mu Family cultivators were surprised that Lan Chang'an had killed a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator.

But it was not shocking enough to shake heaven and earth.

Besides being a cultivator, Lan Chang'an was also a martial arts expert. The one he had killed was merely an inexperienced rookie of the Zheng Family.

"To briefly preserve his life while being hunted by someone at the Qi Refining Mid-Stage, his temperament and courage are quite exceptional. He is a talent."

The Mu Family Head secretly found it regrettable.

Immortal Seedlings like Lan Chang'an, who had been eliminated by sects, had already been proven lacking in potential. Their future accomplishments would be limited.

Even if there truly were a fish that had slipped through the net among them, the Mu Family would not focus on nurturing them.

For a cultivation family, loyalty mattered most. Cultivation seedlings were all selected and raised from among bloodline descendants.

Lan Chang'an had already passed the best age for cultivating loyalty.

That was also why immortal sect assessments had age requirements, rather than considering potential alone.

"Poor bastard."

Lan Chang'an finished counting the Spoils of War.

Besides that Inferior Magic Tool, he had obtained three and a half Spirit Stones and a first-order low-grade Wind Travel Talisman.

There was not even a Storage Bag.

"I need to get used to it. This is the reality at the bottom rung of the Cultivation World."

Lan Chang'an knew this haul was normal. The person slain had merely been one of the Zheng Family's new generation at the Qi Refining Early-Stage.

At that moment, the sound of something tearing through the air arrived.

Seven or eight Mu Family cultivators flew over from the direction of Jade Moon Lake.

"Maode, how are things?"

The leader was a tall Black-Robed Man with hawk-like eyes, powerful mana fluctuations emanating from his body.

"Second Elder!" Mu Yunfei and the others saluted respectfully.

The newcomer was the Mu Family's Second Elder, Mu Renlong.

He was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

Among the older generation of the Mu Family, he had the greatest hope of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Zheng Wugong led men in a sneak attack against us. Luckily, I had the Horned Beast as my trump card, or we would likely have suffered a crushing loss this time..."

Upon seeing Mu Renlong, the Mu Family Head let out a long breath of relief.

As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Lan Chang'an.

In truth, Lan Chang'an's contribution had not been small.

If he had not killed one person and held off the Ugly Woman at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer for a moment, the Zheng Family's plan would have succeeded.

"These are that batch of Immortal Seedlings?"

Mu Renlong possessed an imposing aura, and his razor-sharp gaze swept over them.

"Greetings, Elder."

The surviving youths' breathing tightened. They felt an invisible spiritual pressure bearing down on them, leaving them drenched in cold sweat.

Lan Chang'an revealed a timely show of reverence and lowered his head slightly.

Mu Renlong merely gave them a cursory glance, and the pressure quickly dissipated.

"Father, you were not hurt, were you?"

A clear and melodious young girl's voice rang out.

It was as though spring water had flowed through one's heart, soothing the spirit.

The surviving youths looked over instinctively.

She was a girl as gentle and flawless as jade.

Her dark brows curved in a delicate frown, her snowy face like a blooming lotus.

Her long dress brushed her shoes, her starry eyes and pearly teeth refined and unworldly.

The youths stared blankly. When had they ever seen a woman with such bearing and beauty?

"Xiuyun, why have you come? Your father is fine, only my mana has been overly depleted..."

Mu Maode's expression was stern, but a trace of affection showed in his eyes.

Xiuyun, Mu Xiuyun.

The youths silently committed the Mu Family's young lady's name to memory.

Lan Chang'an also looked at Mu Xiuyun a few more times.

Though the Nine Imprint Tablet was special, even after experiencing two lifetimes of reincarnation, he did not possess the mindset of some centuries-old monster.

His original heart remained unchanged. Just as when he had first crossed over, he still felt joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and he could still appreciate beauty.

It was simply that he had seen too much; ordinary beauties of this world found it difficult to move him.

Following the misty, vast Jade Moon Lake, the group headed toward the Mu Family's residence.

Mu Maode and Mu Renlong flew at the very front.

"Renlong, the Zheng Family's attack was likely not merely to intercept and kill this batch of Immortal Seedlings. Taking such a huge risk, they may have wanted to test the Old Ancestor..."

Mu Maode's tone was grave, his face full of worry.

"Hmph! A pack of clowns jumping on the stage! The Zheng Family's Old Ancestor is seriously injured too, yet they dare provoke us at the Mu Family's doorstep? We must answer blow for blow!"

Sha Qi surfaced on Mu Renlong's face.

The Mu Family Head shook his head. "We must still deliberate carefully! Our young and prime cultivators are inferior to the Zheng Family's. Do not fall into their trap."

The Mu Family's ancestral lands had been built along the lake, with villages, towns, and mountain villas scattered throughout.

Along the shores of Jade Moon Lake, Lan Chang'an saw some Spirit Fields planted with the lowest-grade Spirit Grain.

The true core of the ancestral lands lay on Moon Heart Island at the center of Jade Moon Lake.

Beneath Moon Heart Island was a Second-Order Spiritual Vein, capable of supporting Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in their cultivation.

Outsiders like Lan Chang'an naturally had no qualifications to enter Moon Heart Island.

They were settled in the lakeside "Jade Moon Mountain Villa."

This mountain villa was closest to Moon Heart Island, only a little over twenty li away.

Beneath the villa were two First-Order Spiritual Veins, branch veins of the Second-Order Spiritual Vein beneath Moon Heart Island.

"A first-order high-grade formation, the Water Curtain Light Shadow Formation."

Lan Chang'an recognized its layout at a glance.

A layer of transparent ripples, nearly invisible to the naked eye, enveloped all of Jade Moon Mountain Villa, providing concealment, protection, warning, and other functions.

"You may cultivate peacefully in the Mu Family."

Before leaving, the Mu Family Head said to the six Immortal Seedlings:

"So long as you fulfill the conditions stated before, you will be free to stay or leave in the future. If you wish to remain in the Mu Family, the Mu Family will treat you as one of our own."

"Yunfei, get them settled."

After giving his instructions, Mu Maode, clad in a green robe, flew toward Moon Heart Island in the heart of the family grounds.

"Follow me to obtain your Identity Tokens."

Mu Yunfei led the way, introducing the situation at Jade Moon Mountain Villa.

The Mu Family's Immortal Seedlings, as well as its lower- and middle-ranking cultivators, cultivated here year-round.

Mu Yunfei was no exception.

Only those at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer or above were qualified to apply to reside on Moon Heart Island, where the Second-Order Spiritual Vein was located.

Along the way, Mu Family members they encountered cast strange looks at them.

Some whispered behind their backs, their eyes carrying no lack of amusement and disdain.

Lan Chang'an had long been mentally prepared.

After all, they were outsiders, brought here to marry... marry into the family.

Besides, cultivation families were inherently less inclusive than sects.

In Lan Chang'an's understanding, if sects were multinational corporations, then cultivation families were family-run businesses.

Two hours later.

The six of them received their Identity Tokens.

Each chose a detached residence with its own courtyard.

The residences had only one floor and were not large. Including the courtyard, each occupied around half a mu.

"With the spiritual energy supplied by a First-Order Spiritual Vein, this barely counts as a small Dao Field."

Lan Chang'an's heart settled, and he relaxed considerably.

So what if he was living under another's roof?

As long as he had somewhere to cultivate, was freeloading not wonderful?

The courtyard he chose was relatively secluded, near the shore of Jade Moon Lake, though the moisture there was rather heavy.

Li Ergou deliberately chose a courtyard right next to Lan Chang'an's, only several dozen meters away.

"This silly kid."

Lan Chang'an had chosen the secluded area so he could cultivate in peace and deal with fewer people.

Still, Li Ergou was simple and honest by nature. Being around him required no scheming or mutual deception.

The night passed without incident.

Lan Chang'an cultivated the Ancient Wood Evergreen Art. His entire body seemed to turn into a withered log, blending into the vegetation of the courtyard.

The next day, Lan Chang'an's cultivation was interrupted.

The Mu Family was holding a welcoming banquet for them "new family members."

Everyone had to attend.

"A welcoming banquet?"

Lan Chang'an did not need to think to know it could not be that simple.

Inside a spacious hall at Jade Moon Mountain Villa.

The six outsider youths each sat alone at their own table, laden with delicacies from land and sea, fine wine, and exquisite dishes.

Several dozen young women gradually entered across the carpet in the center of the hall, each graceful in figure, some slender as swallows and others plump as ringlets.

For a moment, fragrance filled the entire hall.

Every woman was beautiful and possessed extraordinary bearing, without the powdery aura of the pleasure quarters.

Some were gentle and elegant, smiling without showing their teeth.

Some had cool, aloof temperaments, dressed in white like snow.

Others stood slim and graceful, pure yet charming.

There were also those with lush figures, draped in hazy gauze, seductive enough to ensnare souls...

"These are outstanding mortal women of my Mu Family. Every one of them has been taught by great Confucian scholars of the secular world. They are learned and courteous, proficient in the four arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting..."

"You may rest assured, they are all virgins!"

A Mu Family steward sat at the seat of honor, speaking with a beaming smile.

"Today, they shall welcome you all. If you encounter the one your heart desires, this old man will offer congratulations in advance."

Without needing instructions from the Mu Family steward.

These beautiful, graceful Mu Family women swayed elegantly toward the individual tables.

They poured tea and wine, recited poetry and matched couplets.

Their lips breathed orchid fragrance as they played the qin and blew the flute.

Most of these young Mu Family women were descendants of cultivators. They were not servants within the clan and possessed a certain status and freedom of choice.

They had come voluntarily, choosing Immortal Seedling youths they favored.

Lan Chang'an possessed a Mid-Grade Spiritual Root and was gifted in both talent and appearance, attracting several lovely Mu Family girls.

Lan Chang'an remained expressionless and waved away every beauty who approached.

He drank by himself, and no one came near him again.

Li Ergou, on the other hand, was surrounded by several Mu Family women. Red-faced and nervous, he wrapped his arms around the waist of one young woman, drawing a burst of warbling laughter.

An hour later, the welcoming banquet ended.

Li Ergou had taken a liking to a petite Mu Family girl with fair skin and pretty features.

"Brother Lu, what do you think of the wife I picked?"

Li Ergou walked over, unable to conceal the excitement on his face.

Lan Chang'an pondered it. You were asking my opinion on choosing a wife?

"What did you like about her?"

Among all the young beauties, the girl Li Ergou had chosen could only be considered below average in looks and bearing.

"She looks like Cuihua!"

"The prettiest girl in my village! And she's even prettier than Cuihua..."

Li Ergou looked thoroughly satisfied.

"She's quite good." Lan Chang'an fell silent briefly, then nodded.

He asked again, "When will you marry?"

Li Ergou rubbed his hands together. "The steward said that if I'm in a hurry, we can hold the wedding feast and enter the bridal chamber tonight."

Lan Chang'an:...