Cultivation: From Servant to Revered Immortal

"And there is another matter, which is related to my niece!"

Song Zhishu said, pointing to the young girl beside him.

"Junior Song Yiqing greets Elder Zhou!"

Her voice was like a golden oriole, crisp as an echo in a secluded valley, and the young girl bowed slightly.

Zhou Xun waved his hand, and the girl felt a gentle force lifting her up softly.

"No need for such formality!"

Zhou Xun's gentle voice sounded in her ears. Looking at this serene and humble man, as warm and gentle as jade, her cheeks couldn't help but blush.

She couldn't resist taking a few more glances.

"Thank you, Elder!"

"Brother Song, feel free to speak your mind. After all, am I not an Honored Guest Elder of the Song Family now?" Zhou Xun smiled slightly.

"Alchemist Zhou, you are a Tier Two Alchemist, a title of much prestige. How can you have no one by your side? From a young age, Yiqing has been fond of alchemy and looks up to you. She hopes to stay by your side and attend to your needs!"

Song Zhishu spoke slowly.

It turns out the Song Family intends to send a woman to me!

Zhou Xun immediately understood.

Looking at Song Zhishu's expectant eyes and Song Yiqing's complicated expression.

"It seems news of my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment has made the Song Family decide to increase their investment in me!"

Even going so far as to send their female descendants by my side.

This is a hierarchical world where male cultivators of high cultivation often have several or even dozens of maids accompanying them.

Men like Zhou Xun, living solitary lives, are already rare.

As he was going to Wangchuan Lake Daoist Field soon, being alone would indeed be quite scant, and he would need one or two maids to help manage affairs.

After contemplating for a moment, he decided to accept.

However, the Song Family is a Foundation Establishment Clan and has a close relationship with Master Jin Hong. Miss Song Yiqing is the niece of Patriarch Song, so the status of a maid would truly be an insult to the Song Family.

The status of a concubine seems more appropriate.

Zhou Xun then said:

"Yiqing is the niece of the Song Family's patriarch, and the status of a maid seems too low. How about serving as my concubine? Would Yiqing be willing?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yiqing appeared somewhat bashful. Although it was their first meeting, she already had a considerable fondness for this handsome, otherworldly man.

Coupled with her family's arrangement, she softly murmured "Mm," her voice as faint as a mosquito.

Song Zhishu was overjoyed at this:

"This is wonderful, truly wonderful!"

Next, Zhou Xun had a chat with Zhou Jingsong and the others before arranging accommodations for them.

Zhou Xun's cave mansion was spacious and had many rooms, so there was no crowding in their living arrangements.

In the evening, Zhou Xun reserved a private room at the Yuelai Inn to host a welcoming feast for Jingsong and the others, also inviting Old Daoist Chuyun.

As the future shopkeeper of the Danhai Pavilion, it was necessary for him to get acquainted with Zhou Jingsong and the others.

"Junior Zhou Jingsong greets Elder Chuyun!" Zhou Jingsong raised a cup of spirit wine to toast Master Chuyun.

Old Daoist Chuyun and Zhou Xun regarded each other as equals, so Jingsong naturally regarded himself as a junior disciple.

The old Daoist, being exceptionally shrewd, had long seen through worldly matters and human nature.

"Junior Alchemist Zhou, there's no need for such formality. You and I will be working together in the Danhai Pavilion. You may call me 'Old Daoist,' and there's no need to mention the term 'Elder' anymore!"

After eating and drinking to their satisfaction, they got down to business.

"Master, when do you plan to open our Danhai Pavilion?" Old Daoist Chuyun asked seriously.

As the future shopkeeper, he still needed to prepare in advance.

"On this day next month!" Zhou Xun replied concisely.

With the assistance of the steward in White Cloud Immortal City, Zhou Xun had already arranged for staff to rearrange and refurbish the interior of the Danhai Pavilion.

It would be completed soon.

At that time, Jingsong's parents would come to reside in the Danhai Pavilion.

"And regarding the apprentices and Spirit Contract Servants you mentioned earlier, how many do you plan to recruit?" Old Daoist Chuyun continued to ask.

"Recruit ten apprentices initially, retain five after a six-month assessment. As for Spirit Contract Servants, recruit fifteen initially!"

After pondering for a moment, Zhou Xun concluded.

He intended to recruit candidates following the precedent set by the Pill Treasure Pavilion.

Regarding alchemy apprentices, once he announced the news, many people would surely come bearing connections.

Zhou Xun had foreseen this.

After some casual conversation, they returned to the cave mansion.

...

During the day, after Song Zhishu bid farewell, he left Song Yiqing in Zhou Xun's cave mansion.

Returning to the cave mansion, Song Yiqing came forward to greet him.

"Hu... Husband!"

She was still somewhat shy.

Zhou Xun looked at the cold-faced young girl and warmly asked:

"Are you getting used to it?"

"A bit... just a bit not used to it." Initially, Song Yiqing wanted to say she was used to it, but facing Zhou Xun's gentle gaze, she felt at ease and confessed her true feelings.

"I suppose in the Song Family, you were an esteemed young lady. Becoming a concubine might be an injustice to you!"

"It's not an injustice... Not an injustice at all!" Song Yiqing quickly waved her hand and then, with a slightly embarrassed look, added:

"Husband... Husband is very handsome, and Yiqing...!"

As she spoke, her voice grew softer until even Zhou Xun couldn't make out what she said.

Perhaps due to her change in status, as Zhou Xun's concubine, Song Yiqing soon grew much closer.

"Haha!"

Zhou Xun laughed heartily. Although Song Yiqing appeared cold on the outside, she was genuinely naive at heart.

"In the future, I might trouble you with some reception work and other odds and ends!"

"In another year, we'll receive a Spirit Vein Daoist Field, and then the management of some spirit fields, medicinal fields, and fisheries will be entrusted to you!"

Zhou Xun spoke about serious matters.

"These, Yiqing can handle!" The young girl spoke confidently, with conviction.

As a girl from a cultivation family, those with lower aptitude were often betrothed to other families. These skills, essential for the wives of large families, were something they excelled in.

"Very well!" Zhou Xun nodded in approval.

...

Three days later, news spread throughout White Cloud Immortal City that Zhou Xun's Danhai Pavilion was opening and was recruiting ten alchemy apprentices and fifteen Spirit Contract Servants.

People came seeking favors in an endless stream.

Some were neighbors from Golden Spring Lane, seeking a future for their offspring, while others were scions of noble families hoping to strengthen their connections with Zhou Xun, with the aspiration of becoming his disciples.

"Daoist Brother Liu, thank you for your guidance that day!"

A gaunt, long-faced middle-aged man cupped his hands in gratitude toward the elderly man with a long beard beside him.

The two had attended Zhou Xun's Foundation Establishment Ceremony together.

The middle-aged man, as per the elder's advice, had increased his original gift from fifty spirit stones to three hundred.

Thus, he was able to have this meeting with Zhou Xun today.

Zhou Xun also agreed to accept the middle-aged man's young son and the elder's granddaughter as alchemy apprentices.

The recruitment of alchemy apprentices was also Zhou Xun's intention to establish good relations with various forces.

...

After another half month passed, as the opening day drew closer.

This day, Xun Houqing came to visit.

Seeing Zhou Jingsong and Shi Wanying, he was slightly surprised.

"Who are these two?"

"These are two disciples I took in while at Qingyue Square. Zhou Jingsong—a Middle-Grade Alchemist, Shi Wanying—a Low-Grade Alchemist!"

"Since my Danhai Pavilion is about to open, I summoned them!"

Zhou Xun explained with a smile and then instructed the two disciples.

"Greet your Junior Martial Uncle Xun. Years ago, I learned alongside him under the same master!"