“Hmm, looking for a son-in-law?”
“Provide you with spiritual veins and cultivation secrets?”
A low murmur rippled through the dejected crowd. The words of the man in the green robe had sent a stir through the aspirants who had just been eliminated from the mountain.
Hearing this, even Feng Muchen felt a flicker of interest. He considered his situation carefully. Joining a cultivation family seemed like the best possible path for him right now. As for becoming a son-in-law… that was a small price to pay. The path to immortality was never an easy one.
Still, he remained silent, choosing to observe for now. Such incredible offers didn't just fall from the sky. Who was to say if this recruitment was a genuine opportunity or some kind of trap?
“Senior, if I may ask, are there any requirements for becoming your son-in-law?” someone in the crowd called out. “I was under the impression that established families like yours don’t typically bring in outside bloodlines.”
Among the rejected youths were many from wealthy or influential families, and even some from lines of itinerant cultivators. They had a certain understanding of how the world of cultivation worked.
“Haha, a fine question, young friend,” the man said, his voice smooth. “This Lu will not hide the truth. A few years ago, my Lu family suffered grievous losses in the younger generation, leaving us with a shortage of new talent. Thus, we are making an exception to recruit sons-in-law and bring in fresh blood.”
“As for the requirements…” he continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his face soft and refined. “Within twenty years, you must produce fifty descendants. If even one of them possesses mid-grade spiritual roots, or three possess low-grade spiritual roots, your task will be considered complete. During this time, my Lu family will not only provide you with a residence on a spiritual vein and cultivation techniques, but will also grant you a monthly stipend of cultivation resources.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of disbelief washed over the crowd. This sounded less like recruiting sons-in-law and more like hiring breeding stock. Such carnal pursuits were known to drain a man’s essence and vitality, especially a cultivator’s. Having already been rejected by the Jade Spring Sect, their prospects were meager enough. If they spent their days and nights on such things, what hope would they have of advancing their cultivation?
Hearing this, the corner of Feng Muchen’s mouth twitched. Fifty descendants in twenty years was… a demanding figure. Even if one sired a child every year, that would not come close to fifty in two decades. It seemed the Lu family’s arrangement wasn’t a simple one-to-one match. Each son-in-law would likely be paired with three or four wives.
Wasn’t that an unacceptable proposition?
On second thought, Feng Muchen decided it was perfectly suitable for him. He would have a place to cultivate, resources to use, and wives to help raise the children. It was the perfect solution for navigating the difficult early stages his system required.
In fact, the harshness of the requirements was reassuring. If the terms weren't so strict, why would a cultivation family ever give a chance to those who had already been cast aside?
Zhao Kuo, who was standing beside him, noticed the calculating look on Feng Muchen’s face. “Feng Muchen,” he said quietly, “I’ve heard of the Lu family of Red Maple Mountain. They’re a proper cultivation family, led by a Foundation Establishment ancestor. What he says is true. A few years back, they fought a major battle with the Chen family of Hongye Valley over a spirit stone mine. It cost them a generation of their youth. If you have no other path, this might be a good choice.”
His tone was completely different from before. As a nobleman, he had previously been dismissive of commoners like Feng Muchen, Qian Feng, and Wu Yanran. But now, with Qian Feng and Wu Yanran accepted into the Jade Spring Sect and himself rejected, his arrogance had evaporated, replaced by a harsh dose of reality. He was beginning to understand that once on the path of cultivation, the chasm between the high-born and the low-born was not as wide as he had once believed. If Feng Muchen joined a cultivation family, even one with modest prospects, he would make connections and open doors.
“Thank you for the advice, Brother Zhao.”
Hearing this confirmation, the last of Feng Muchen’s worries vanished. Becoming a son-in-law of the Lu family was an excellent choice for him right now. With his system, he just needed to get through this initial stage. After that, wouldn't his future be limitless?
Without further hesitation, Feng Muchen stepped forward to register.
“Brother Feng, let’s go together.”
The voice belonged to Sun Wujie, who spoke as if he had just made a momentous decision.
“Brother Sun, you’re joining the Lu family as well?” Zhao Kuo asked, surprised. He could understand the decision from Feng Muchen, who came from a peasant background. But Sun Wujie was the young master of the powerful Fierce Tiger Hall. His circumstances were far from dire. It was shocking that he would willingly lower himself to become a Lu family son-in-law.
“Life is but a dream of a hundred years. When a chance at immortality presents itself, you cannot let it pass you by,” Sun Wujie said, his voice deep with resolve. He knew his own situation all too well. While the Fierce Tiger Hall was powerful, his father did not have absolute authority, and the gang could not spare the immense resources needed for cultivation. If he returned, he might one day inherit his father’s position and live out his days as a mortal.
But having learned he possessed spiritual roots, how could he be content with that? He had seen his own father, a feared gang leader, bowing and scraping before a single cultivator. In the face of true power, status and martial skill meant nothing. They were all just ants. So, no matter how difficult the path, as long as there was a sliver of a chance, he would seize it. At the very least, he would have no regrets.
“Then I wish Brother Sun and Brother Feng a smooth journey on the path to immortality,” Zhao Kuo said, understanding their reasoning. He didn't try to persuade them otherwise. “If you need anything in the future, you can send a letter to the residence of Marquis Dingyuan.” As a nobleman, his family had more than enough wealth to support his cultivation without resorting to such measures.
A short time later, Feng Muchen and Sun Wujie stood before the man in the green robe and stated their intention to join the Lu family.
When the man heard that Feng Muchen possessed only a ninth-grade spiritual root, his expression flickered with hesitation. Better spiritual roots greatly increased the chances of producing talented offspring. However, seeing him together with Sun Wujie, who possessed a seventh-grade spiritual root, he eventually nodded.
“Have you truly thought this through?” the man said, his tone turning serious. “Once you arrive at Red Maple Mountain, there is no turning back. You will sign a binding contract. If you fail to fulfill its conditions within twenty years, you will not only owe us three times the resources we've spent on you, but you will also be indentured to the Lu family for a decade.”
“We have decided,” Feng Muchen and Sun Wujie replied in unison, nodding firmly.
Within half an hour, all twenty positions for sons-in-law had been filled. The recruits were all young men like Feng Muchen, without powerful families or significant backgrounds to speak of—the man in green clearly had no interest in anyone who might bring complications.
“I am Lu Yuanding, the head of the Lu family. From this day forward, you will address me as Family Head. Now, follow me back to Red Maple Mountain.”
With that, Lu Yuanding produced a pouch embroidered with gold thread. He opened it, and a stream of white lights flew out, transforming into magnificent yellow horses with golden manes and powerful, agile limbs.
“We’re riding horses?”
Surprised murmurs rose from the group. The deacon from the Jade Spring Sect had merely flicked his sleeves, and auspicious clouds had appeared to carry the chosen disciples into the sky. And yet here they were, with Lu Yuanding, about to ride horses like common travelers?
Feng Muchen, too, felt it was a bit of a letdown. To be a cultivator and still travel on horseback seemed uncharacteristically mundane.
“These are not ordinary horses,” Lu Yuanding explained, sensing their disappointment. “They are spirit horses raised by my Lu family, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day. Even a novice rider will have no trouble.”
He couldn't help it. The Lu family was only a small clan. Though they possessed a magical flying vessel, it was not something to be used casually. As for flying them himself, that was even more unrealistic. His own cultivation, at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, was insufficient for sustained flight, let alone for carrying so many passengers. For a group this size, riding was the most practical and efficient way.
And so, Feng Muchen and the others mounted the spirit horses and followed Lu Yuanding away from the mountain.
At the foot of the Jade Spring Sect’s mountain, five other Lu family cultivators were already waiting, ready to escort them and ensure no mishaps occurred on the journey home.