TheLazyDreamer
patreon
69. Plans and Predicaments
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 15:56:27 +0000 UTCDong Yue lifted a hand and caressed his cheek, her touch warm and filled with unspoken emotions, a mother's blessing conveyed through a simple gesture. A soft smile graced her lips, radiant and sincere. "Congratulations, my child. I wish you eternal happiness." Her blessing was simple yet carried a depth of sincerity no words could fully capture.
Su Kang lowered his head slightly, an indescribable warmth filling his heart, chasing away the last vestiges of his earlier tension. Dong Yue ran her fingers through his hair, a familiar, comforting motion, sensing the emotions within him.
Su Kang lifted his gaze, his eyes unguarded, reflecting the pure filial love he felt. "I just feel blessed to be your son. Mother, I love you so much."
Dong Yue laughed softly, a melodious sound full of affection. "You were never this expressive before. If this change is because of her… then give her my thanks." She smiled, gently smoothing his hair, her eyes brimming with warmth and a touch of maternal pride.
Then, her tone grew firm, her expression sobering slightly. "Kang'er, you are no longer just a son and a brother; you are a husband as well." She paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in. "She has left behind her old life—her family, her past—just to be with you. Do you understand how much she must have thought, how much courage it must have taken, before choosing this path?"
Her fingers brushed against his forehead, as if engraving her words into his heart. "Although it's a relief that your relationship is a secret and her son is not here, you must take responsibility for her.”
Su Kang nodded, his resolve strengthening, his commitment deepening with each word she spoke. "I will, Mother."
They sat together for a while longer, discussing her recent expedition in quiet, comfortable tones. She didn’t press him for details about the map of the realm, only sharing her own experiences within it.
"The family will hold a small banquet tonight. We couldn't openly celebrate the success of the mission, so we are planning to hold a banquet in celebration of the gathering of family members. Your second uncle also returned today. Many people have been busy these last few months. Now that they are back again, the family is planning to celebrate," Dong Yue told him as he was about to leave after a long time.
"I understand, Mother. I will join it," he agreed, then departed. Dong Yue lingered in the hall for a few moments before returning to Su Chen's study, her thoughts still turning over his assurance.
......
Su Kang returned to Bai Yunxi’s secluded residence. Before leaving, he had instructed Xian’er and the other maids not to step into Bai Yunxi's bedroom, as she wasn’t comfortable being seen by others in a vulnerable state. The servants, for their part, understood the nature of their relationship—even if they never spoke of it. The initial whispers had long been silenced by his quiet authority.
Inside, Bai Yunxi still lay asleep on the bed, her breathing soft and steady. Her delicate features held a rare peace in slumber. He didn’t disturb her. Instead, he settled at the nearby table, fingers tapping lightly on the wooden surface as his thoughts churned.
The family had managed to acquire some spiritual herbs and plants—valuable resources that could aid their growth. But mere possession of these materials wasn't enough. The true challenge lay in their utilization. Many in the family were already at the peak of the Foundation Building realm, yet they remained stuck, unable to break through.
What we truly need is an alchemist who can refine Core Formation Pills.
But Jiang State lacked such talents. Even if they sought external help, no alchemist from the Pill Tower would likely assist them. If we want a reliable source of pills, we’ll need to raise our own alchemist. Find someone with potential and help them pass the Pill Tower's entrance examination. That’s the only way.
If successful, the family might eventually produce an alchemist capable of refining the necessary pills for future growth. But that was a long-term goal—one filled with uncertainty. For now, it remained nothing more than wishful thinking.
He sighed quietly.
In the Central Plains, obtaining a Core-Formation Pill was effortless for powerful families. Their pills far outclassed the one he had used for his own breakthrough. Yet here, in Jiang State, he had to meticulously plan and struggle just for a single pill.
The gap in resources was suffocating. Still, what he needed to focus on now was strengthening his family. He could not ask Fate for cultivation techniques after going through all that himself. For techniques, he planned to ask Zhu Zhihao. But he decided to inquire about some artifacts. As for how to exchange them, he would think about that later.
He asked Fate in his mind. "Fate, do you have any defensive artifacts or array formations I can use?" he finally asked.
Fate's voice echoed in Su Kang's mind. "The artifacts in my possession are unsuitable for your current situation. Besides, you lack the necessary destiny to exchange for any significant artifact."
He had expected as much, but it was still frustrating to hear. "Can I exchange for them later, though?" Su Kang pressed.
"Yes, some of them can be exchanged, but they will cost you a lot," Fate responded.
"But what can I do now?" Su Kang muttered, feeling a familiar helplessness. He had failed to secure anything immediately beneficial for his family and had already expended more destiny than a third-grade spiritual vein could provide. If not for his strong emotional control, the desperate thought of plundering spiritual veins from other cultivation families might have taken root.
Should I take Xi’er out on an adventure, hoping to stumble upon something valuable? he mused. But then he shook his head, remembering Fate's earlier assessment of her destiny. She has 5% Purple, which is normal since her son is Heaven's Favored, but she isn't uniquely blessed enough to find treasure every time. Her 10% Blue and a large chunk of Yellow indicate her past struggles.
Fate hadn't known if the Blue and Yellow components in her destiny were always like this or if they had shifted after her marriage to him and her subsequent transformation.
With treasure hunting looking unreliable, Su Kang's thoughts turned to the cultivation techniques he had received from Fate. Should I then share my cultivation techniques with the family and hope they grow stronger quickly with them? This thought surfaced as he tapped his fingers against the wooden table.
His Star-Forged Physique technique was immediately out of the question; it was simply impossible for his family members to cultivate it without possessing a compatible spiritual body. The Soul Cultivation Technique and the Dual Cultivation Technique, however, remained viable alternatives, albeit not without their own limitations.
Thee soul technique could be broadly beneficial. Stronger soul power was advantageous in various paths like alchemy, talisman creation, and artifact refinement. Moreover, it could improve willpower and provide resistance against illusions or mind-control abilities, making breakthroughs to higher cultivation realms easier.
However, a significant restriction was that only cultivators at the late Foundation Building realm or higher could effectively practice the Indomitable Soul Pagoda because of their weak soul.
The Dual Cultivation technique, in particular, had even greater potential for rapid growth, especially for a family trying to gain a secure foothold. If both partners practiced the same technique, their mutual comprehension and cultivation speed would improve dramatically.
Crucially, it had no realm restrictions; everyone could practice it, though it demanded strong emotional bonds between partners. This, at the very least, was a good starting point.
He exhaled slowly before shifting his thoughts to a more personal matter. "What about my own Qi cultivation technique?" he asked Fate.
Fate's response came without delay. "Yes. I have selected a technique for you. It was originally incompatible with your current cultivation realm, but I have modified it to suit your present condition."
Su Kang raised an eyebrow. "You can modify cultivation techniques?"
"It is not difficult," Fate replied calmly. "I merely adjusted the technique to align more closely with this world's laws and ensured that none of its aspects would prove too overwhelming for you at your current level."
For Fate to be able to alter an advanced cultivation technique and tailor it specifically for him suggested it possessed capabilities far beyond what he had previously thought. However, Su Kang decided he would not ask for the Qi technique now. He needed to save his remaining destiny points for emergency use.
Furthermore, while his body cultivation was progressing, his soul was not in its best condition due to the cracked foundation. He couldn't risk trying to change his main Qi cultivation technique in this state. He resolved to revisit this decision after getting some advice from Zhu Zhihao regarding his soul injuries.
The Su family might not have the resources of the powerful clans in the Central Plains, but that didn't mean they would remain weak forever. With strategic planning and the unique advantages he now possessed, he would ensure their rise.
