Inside the private room.
While making small talk, Ling Changqing was discreetly sizing up the gorgeous Female Cultivator before him. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, with a Cultivation at the Qi Cultivation 3rd Layer. Her aura was somewhat unstable, suggesting her foundation wasn't solid.
In terms of looks and figure alone, this Female Cultivator was indeed top-tier. Wang Po hadn't been exaggerating to trick Ling Changqing.
However, for a Cultivator, looks and a good figure were clearly not enough. Spirit Root Talent, Cultivation, and potential for growth were the primary considerations, along with the most important factor of all—character.
"…Alright, Fellow Daoist Ling, my impression of you is favorable enough. Shall we discuss the matter of the betrothal gift now?"
The gorgeous Female Cultivator sitting across from him smiled demurely. After so many matchmaking sessions at the Celestial Fate Pavilion, she had finally met a rather suitable candidate.
'He's good-looking, has a decent background, excellent Spirit Root Talent and potential, and he isn't lacking in Spirit Stone resources.' In her eyes, he could barely be considered a prize husband.
"A betrothal gift?"
'Here it comes,' Ling Changqing thought. Unflustered, he said, "I'm listening."
The gorgeous Female Cultivator nodded. "Three thousand Spirit Stones, a Spirit Vein Cave Mansion, a Top-grade Magical Artifact-level Flying Sword, and a Top Grade Magical Robe. The deed to the Cave Mansion must be in my name!"
"Also, your monthly Spirit Stone income should be handed over to me to manage. After all, Dual Cultivation Companions are one and the same."
"Furthermore, my current Cultivation Realm is unstable. For the sake of our future happiness, you should do everything in your power to help me raise my Cultivation. We can begin Dual Cultivation only after I reach the Qi Cultivation 4th Layer!"
"And before I reach Foundation Establishment, I don't want to consider having children. I hope you can understand…"
She listed a whole pile of demands. Judging by the fervent glint in her eyes as she looked Ling Changqing up and down, her gaze was no different from that of someone sizing up a fat sheep for slaughter.
"That's quite a list of demands,"
Ling Changqing said lightly. "You've given me so many conditions. What, then, can you offer?"
The gorgeous Female Cultivator looked stunned for a moment before saying, "After we're married, I'll have to serve you for a lifetime, accompany you in Dual Cultivation, and bear your descendants to carry on your bloodline. Isn't that enough?"
"Then what is your monthly income?"
"I'm a Steward at Xianwei Pavillion, so I earn twenty Spirit Stones a month. That's equivalent to a Male Cultivator earning two hundred a month. What could you possibly be dissatisfied with?!"
"And you still dare to make so many demands? Is that reasonable?"
"How is it unreasonable? With my talent and beauty, many High Grade Male Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation 7th to 8th Layers have pursued me, and I didn't even give them a second glance! If I didn't think you were an honest man of good character, do you think I would even be considering you?"
The gorgeous Female Cultivator argued self-righteously.
'An honest man again? Did an honest man eat your family's Spirit Rice or something?'
"Heh…"
Ling Changqing shook his head. "Fellow Daoist, you should go. We are not a good match!"
The gorgeous Female Cultivator's expression turned cold. "Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by this? With my talent and beauty, am I not good enough for you?"
"We are not a good match. Please find someone else."
Ling Changqing's tone grew colder. He lowered his head, sipped his tea in silence, and didn't spare her another glance.
The gorgeous Female Cultivator's face changed drastically. Arrogant as she was, when had she ever been ignored like this?
"Pah! What's so great about you? I refuse to believe I can't get married without you!"
The gorgeous Female Cultivator muttered resentfully, then rose and stormed out with a flick of her sleeve.
'Alright, another wisp of Divine Soul Origin acquired!'
Ling Changqing looked at the feedback from the Era Star Palace and realized this method was truly effective.
'These deludedly self-confident Little Fairies who spend all day fantasizing are just too easy to fleece.'
At a corner of the corridor outside, Wang Po was waiting with two maids. Seeing the gorgeous Female Cultivator storm out in a huff, she hurried forward to ask:
"Fellow Daoist Qin, how did it go?"
The gorgeous Female Cultivator said with an infuriated expression, "That guy actually… he actually looked down on me! He must be blind as a bat!"
Wang Po gave a helpless smile. "Fellow Daoist Qin, you've already been here over a hundred times. There really aren't many Male Cultivators whose personal qualifications can compare to this Brother Ling from the Ling Family, yet you've looked down on all of them…"
"Besides, you're already over forty. Your Cultivation Realm has been stuck for a long time. In the future, when your looks fade with age, it will only get more difficult for you!"
For Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Stage, their vitality begins to decline after the age of sixty. Not only does it become difficult to break through in Cultivation, but their appearance also begins to age.
Even with resources like Beauty Pills, they were not only expensive but also only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. They couldn't increase a Cultivator's Lifespan or Cultivation.
The gorgeous Female Cultivator huffed, "My conditions aren't high at all. If he's not willing, then so be it! Good things come to those who wait. I, for one, will never settle when it comes to finding a Dao Companion!"
With that, she turned and strode away.
Wang Po sighed and turned to signal a maid. "Let the next one go in. Let's hope she has a clearer head!"
The maid nodded and hurried off to inform the second Female Cultivator.
A moment later, Ling Changqing saw a tall Female Cultivator with a delicate, oval face and slender, upturned eyes walk gracefully into the room.
She wore a crimson dress, her features delicate and refined, her figure slender. She appeared to be in her early twenties and had clearly taken great care with her appearance. Her Cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation 4th Layer.
This Female Cultivator's surname was Su. Her cheekbones were slightly high, and her gaze was sharp and cold, as if everyone owed her a huge sum of Spirit Stones.
"Fellow Daoist Su, is there anything you'd like to ask?"
Ling Changqing asked lazily.
The Female Cultivator Su curled her lip and got straight to the point. "I'm in charge of an entire counter on one floor of Jinghua Tower, specializing in buying and selling various Talismans and materials. My monthly income is eighteen Spirit Stones, which is nowhere near enough to spend! How much can you give me a month?"
Ling Changqing was taken aback, finding it hard to believe. "So you came here for matchmaking just to find a Male Cultivator to give you Spirit Stones to spend?"
"Of course. Why else would I be looking to marry you?"
The Female Cultivator Su had a look of utter self-evidence. "You look honest and obedient, so I'll do you the favor of accepting you! Give me two hundred Spirit Stones a month for expenses. The Cave Mansion Blessed Land and the Flying Ship for getting around must both be purchased outright, with the deeds in my name."
"Oh, right, I also have over two thousand Spirit Stones in debt that I haven't paid off. You have to help me clear it. We can get married and start Dual Cultivation after that's taken care of!"
"Don't think these conditions are too high. What I want is security. Otherwise, why would I even need to find you?"
"Fellow Daoist Su, we are not a good match. You should seek your good fortune elsewhere!"
Ling Changqing couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on her and raised his teacup, a clear gesture of dismissal.
"You…"
Female Cultivator Su's willow-like brows shot up as she glared at him fiercely. "What do you mean? Am I not good enough for you? You have no Spirit Stones and no sincerity, so why are you even out here on a matchmaking date? You're just trying to mess with me, aren't you?"
Ling Changqing shook his head, unwilling to waste another word.
Gritting her teeth, Female Cultivator Su stood up, left, and slammed the door behind her.
The second portion of Divine Soul Origin was acquired.
Outside, upon learning what had happened, Wang Po said helplessly, "Since it's like this, let the next Female Cultivator go in and try!"
Soon, a third Female Cultivator appeared before Ling Changqing. Dressed in a white blouse and white skirt, her features were exceedingly pure, and her eyes held just the right amount of shyness.
She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with an outstanding face and figure. Her Cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer, and her Spirit Root Talent was Bottom Rank Character.
"Fellow Daoist Ling,"
This Female Cultivator, surnamed Bai, sat up straight and primly, speaking in a delicate and timid voice:
"I'm the type of person who warms up slowly, so how things develop from here will depend on your attitude! If you are truly sincere, then prove it with your actions!"
'The way she talks…' Ling Changqing felt a wave of gold-digging, two-faced bitchiness wash over him.
"And how would you like me to do that?"
Ling Changqing asked indifferently.
The Female Cultivator Bai said softly, "With your qualifications, the betrothal gift and the Spirit Vein Cave Mansion shouldn't be difficult to resolve. My demands aren't high, either. Five thousand Spirit Stones and a Spirit Vein Cave Mansion. The deed must be in my name!"
"Furthermore, I have two younger brothers at home. Their talent isn't good, and they are in desperate need of Cultivation Resources. You have to help them both reach the Qi Cultivation 5th Layer…"
Ling Changqing was utterly speechless. "But what do your brothers have to do with me?"
The Female Cultivator Bai stared right at him. "Why wouldn't they have anything to do with you? If we become Dao Companions, wouldn't they be your family too? If you're so selfish, then why should I marry you?"
"…"
Faced with such a "Brother Supporter," what could Ling Changqing even say? He could only hurry her out the door.
'It seems there's a reason these Female Cultivators are still single. They spend all day daydreaming to the point that their brains have gone haywire.'
"You are the most cold-blooded, heartless man I have ever met!"
Before she left, the Female Cultivator Bai threw this resentful parting shot at him and slammed the door.
Ling Changqing, however, didn't feel the least bit unhappy. Looking at the feedback from the Era Star Palace, he knew this trip to the Celestial Fate Pavilion was absolutely the right decision.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, let the next one in!"
Ling Changqing said with a smile, "Don't worry. No matter how many I see, I will pay the full amount in Spiritual Sand and Spirit Stones!"
"Excellent, excellent! Brother Ling is so straightforward! I'll go arrange another for you right away!"
Wang Po agreed with a cheerful laugh, swaying her full hips as she left.
According to the custom at Celestial Fate Pavilion, for every meeting between a Male and Female Cultivator, a certain fee in Spiritual Sand had to be paid to the matchmaker, regardless of whether it was successful or not.
Therefore, the more Female Cultivators Ling Changqing met, the higher Wang Po's income. Naturally, she was delighted by this turn of events and wished the young man would come for matchmaking every single day.