Three wives!

Green Bamboo Mountain was not a single mountain, but a mountain range covered in crystalline green bamboo.

After entering the mountains, Lu Changsheng could clearly feel that even the air was much fresher and more moist.

Streams flowed through mountain ravines, kingfishers sang, and terraces carved into some of the slopes were planted with grain and vegetables. It was like a secluded paradise beyond the mortal world.

The Lu Lineage had built villages and manors throughout these mountains.

Lu Changsheng and the other Immortal Seedlings were settled in Green Bamboo Manor on the outskirts.

"There is a first-tier spirit vein beneath Green Bamboo Manor. From now on, you will live here and cultivate with peace of mind."

"You can rest assured. As long as you fulfill the conditions we agreed upon, you may either leave the Lu Lineage or remain here afterward."

"Uncle Fu, get them settled in."

After giving a few brief instructions, Lu Yuanding left.

"I am the steward of Green Bamboo Manor. You may also call me Uncle Fu. Now, follow me."

Uncle Fu was an elderly man with graying hair and a slightly stooped figure.

After introducing himself, he led everyone through the registration procedures while explaining a few things about Green Bamboo Manor.

Green Bamboo Manor was vast. Besides them, the Lu Lineage's own Immortal Seedlings also lived and cultivated here.

However, they were mostly collateral descendants with average talent.

Those with good talent generally lived in Green Bamboo Mountain's central region, where a Second-Rank Spirit Vein provided much denser spiritual energy.

Along the way, they saw quite a few Lu Lineage Disciples.

These people also watched Lu Changsheng and the others curiously, as though looking at monkeys, with a measure of contempt and arrogance in their eyes.

Lu Changsheng remained quite calm about it.

To put it nicely, they were outsiders marrying into the Lineage.

To put it bluntly, they were here for breeding.

Still, from what he observed, the Lu Lineage Disciples were all fairly good-looking, men and women alike.

That reassured him somewhat about the "breeding" to come.

Since he was already here to marry in and father children, couldn't he at least hope for a pretty wife?

Lu Changsheng admitted that he was a sucker for good looks.

Two hours later.

Under Uncle Fu's arrangements, Lu Changsheng and the others signed their marriage-in contracts, registered for identity plaques, received cultivation manuals, and were assigned their residences.

His residence was a private courtyard covering roughly two hundred square meters, complete with pavilions, towers, and everything else he needed.

Lu Changsheng sat down on the large bed in his room and took out his cultivation manual.

"Returning Origin Technique."

As soon as he opened the manual, the image of an elderly man in gray robes appeared. The man assumed a pose and began explaining how to cultivate in great detail.

"As expected of immortal methods. It even has a video function."

Lu Changsheng couldn't help examining the booklet in his hands. He could not figure out how it projected an image and produced sound, and found it quite marvelous.

Then, following the instructions of the figure in the manual, he began trying to cultivate.

Only after trying for a long time did Lu Changsheng enter the proper state. His mind became clear and empty, and he sensed wisps of spiritual energy in all manner of colors around him.

He knew he had completed the first step, sensing spiritual energy, and next tried drawing it into his body.

Under his control, the spiritual energy slowly gathered toward him and entered his body through the pores all over his skin.

This process was extremely slow. Moreover, after entering his body, the spiritual energy had to complete a full circuit before a single wisp could remain in the sea of qi within his dantian.

As the spiritual energy circulated, it also nourished his flesh, meridians, and bones, slowly expelling impurities from his body and thereby cleansing his marrow and tempering his bones.

A night passed.

"So this is what a ninth-grade spiritual root is like."

"At this rate, who knows how long I'll have to wait to reach the first level of Chain Qi."

Looking at the faintly cool wisp of energy in his dantian's sea of qi, Lu Changsheng smiled bitterly.

And this was while cultivating somewhere with a spirit vein.

Somewhere without one, his progress would be even slower.

At that moment, Lu Changsheng gained a profound understanding of how difficult cultivation was.

"Phew! Looks like I can only rely on the system."

Lu Changsheng let out a long breath.

He knew that relying on his own diligent cultivation was simply unrealistic. He could only depend on the system.

I wonder when the Lu Lineage will arrange a wife for me?

Lu Changsheng wondered.

Ding, ding, ding!

Just then, the bell in the courtyard rang.

Someone had arrived.

Lu Changsheng left his room and opened the courtyard gate.

"Lu Changsheng, our Lu Lineage has prepared a welcoming banquet to wash away the dust of your journey. Come with me."

Uncle Fu spoke from outside the gate.

Some of the other Immortal Seedlings were already behind him.

"A welcoming banquet?"

Hearing those words, Lu Changsheng had a faint inkling of what was coming. He nodded. "All right."

Then Uncle Fu gathered all twelve Immortal Seedlings and led them into a spacious, elegant hall in Green Bamboo Manor.

There was no one else inside. Only twelve seats had been arranged, with fine wine and delicious dishes laid out before them.

Not long after everyone sat down, young women began filing into the hall, some slender as swallows, others lush and full-figured, each with her own captivating charms.

Sure enough.

Seeing these women, Lu Changsheng immediately knew he had guessed correctly.

This welcoming banquet to wash away their travel dust was really an arrangement for "breeding."

Fifty or sixty women entered the hall, and all of them were good-looking.

Although none were as breathtaking as Lu Miaoge, quite a few were beauties, no less attractive than some internet celebrities and stars from his previous life.

These women had clearly put effort into preparing and dressing up, each with a different look and style.

Some were petite and cute;

Some wore understated makeup and were gentle and refined;

Some had brows like the edges of gleaming swords and wore fitted martial attire, looking valiant and spirited;

Some wore flower-patterned palace gowns with their dark hair pinned up, looking dignified and poised;

Others had icy expressions, like frozen mountains; graceful figures and enchanting allure; or sheer gauzy clothing, long legs, and high heels, looking seductive and enticing...

With so many different types, there was bound to be one that made your heart stir.

They've really put some thought into this!

Looking at the flock of beauties before him, their loveliness stretching as far as his eyes could see, Lu Changsheng inwardly marveled.

He felt the Lu Lineage had truly been generous in this regard. He had nothing to complain about.

It really was a respectable cultivation Lineage!

"These are all outstanding women from the mortal branches of our Green Bamboo Lu Lineage. Not only are they educated and well-mannered, dignified and virtuous, but they are also accomplished in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting... All are

untouched maidens..."

"Today, they will welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

"You may choose whoever pleases you, and I will arrange your weddings."

Uncle Fu spoke.

After saying that, he left the hall, leaving only Lu Changsheng, the other eleven men, and the women of the Lu Lineage.

There was no need for Lu Changsheng and the others to take the initiative. The women approached their seats of their own accord.

Although they were women from the Lu Lineage's mortal branches, most were also descendants of Immortal Cultivators.

Naturally, none had been forced to come here. They had all come willingly.

They hoped to choose an Immortal Seedling they liked, bear children with spiritual roots, and one day rise in status through their children.

Thus, at this welcoming banquet, the initiative lay more in their hands.

Born into a farming household in this life, Lu Changsheng was utterly unremarkable in appearance.

Coupled with his ninth-grade spiritual root, only three women came to his side.

He did not mind and simply gathered all three into his arms.

A person should know how to be content.

Three were about enough.

Besides, all three girls were quite nice.

One looked innocent and cute, with a playful personality.

One looked innocent and cute with a touch of allure, giving her an air of both purity and sensuality.

The last had a gentle face and a refined disposition, with the scholarly elegance of a well-bred young lady.

The first two girls looked seventy or eighty percent alike. They were probably sisters.

This will do!

If he could have found three wives like these in his previous life, his ancestral graves truly would have been sending up auspicious smoke.

Compared with Lu Changsheng's eagerness, the other eleven were much more resistant.

Li Feiyu, for instance, had seven girls approach him because of his handsome, heroic looks and seventh-grade spiritual root.

But he chose only one demure girl from a modest household and waved the others away.

Two hours later.

The welcoming banquet ended.

Everyone had chosen their "beloved."

Apart from Lu Changsheng, who had chosen three, the others had only chosen one or two.

They still harbored aspirations toward cultivation.

Only because they had signed contracts with the Lu Lineage did they temporarily choose someone to fulfill the obligation.

They hoped that once their cultivation amounted to something, they could change their standing.

Then, under Uncle Fu's arrangements, all twelve held wedding feasts that very day.

The weddings were kept simple. Once the formalities were complete, they entered their bridal chambers.

"My wives."

"Husband! ×3"

Inside the bridal chamber, Lu Changsheng looked at his three charming wives, each beautiful in her own way, and drew the bed curtains closed.

That year, Lu Changsheng was eighteen and married three wives.

The well-bred young lady was named Lu Lanshu.

The innocent yet alluring one was named Lu Zi'er.

The innocent and cute one was named Lu Qing'er.

Those two were sisters.