To achieve the status of a Martial Arts Grandmaster or even to progress further, in addition to ascending realms, one often needs spiritual pills and elixirs made from treasures like the Transformed Spirit Ginseng to aid in cultivation.
Such treasures are nearly impossible to find alone.
Thus, top Refining Internal experts and even stronger Martial Arts Grandmasters who wish to advance further would rely more on secular powers to gather the cultivation resources they need.
This is the case for Martial Arts cultivation, and even more so for Dao Skill cultivation.
However, compared to Martial Arts, masters of Dao Skill have an advantage in establishing religions and winning people’s hearts, and can easily build powerful religious forces with their own strength, even participating deeply in the contest for supremacy in turbulent times.
Feng Wu certainly knew what a Three Curves Spiritual Ginseng meant for a cultivator; she hesitated for a moment, then declined: "Uncle, you’re going to Lingnan, where there are many miasmas and poisons; you should keep it for yourself."
Although she was reluctant, she still declined.
Moreover, she harbored a big secret.
"Once my Divine Soul is cultivated to Manifestation, I can open the Xuantian Treasure Vault that Master mentioned. By then, I will definitely find treasures better than the Three Curves Spiritual Ginseng."
The Xuantian Treasure Vault was an earth-shattering secret accidentally discovered by her master, the Blue-eyed Fox. It not only contains vast treasures and weapons but also the heavenly treasures and spiritual pills and elixirs that cultivators dream of.
Academician Zhou said, "I have another portion here, and since you’re marrying over, I must prepare a generous gift; otherwise, your mother’s spirit in heaven would blame me."
Feng Wu shook her head: "Uncle, don’t deceive me. This kind of Spirit Ginseng isn’t something one can have more of unless you show me another portion."
Academician Zhou was momentarily speechless.
He had tried several times to give it, but Feng Wu firmly refused to accept.
Academician Zhou could only give up, saying, "Since you won’t accept the Three Curves Spiritual Ginseng, I will give you a painting instead."
"What painting, it must be very expensive."
Academician Zhou smiled, "It’s the portrait of the Chongyang Ancestor Master, once enshrined in the Chongyang Palace by the now-disbanded Quanzhen Dao, which even the Chaotian Temple Master wanted but I did not give. I heard that Gongming likes these things, so I will give it to you as a wedding gift. This time, no refusals."
"Um, thank you, Uncle." Feng Wu happily said.
Although this portrait has a significant origin and is extremely precious, antique paintings are not life-saving items, and the Taicang Zhou Clan houses many rare treasures; gifting one portrait of the Chongyang Ancestor Master does not hurt them.
Besides, when her mother married her father, the Taicang Zhou Clan did not provide a dowry.
This gift seemed to amend her mother’s regret.
This was also why Feng Xifeng hoped that Xu Qing would pass the exams and then marry Feng Wu afterward, although it might invite gossip; it also made up for his past regrets.
If he had been the Top Scorer of South Zhili or even just the Five Classics Leader back then, their marriage would have been recognized by the Taicang Zhou Clan.
Now he had these titles, but his wife was no longer alive; what use were these to him?
Therefore, he did not want people from the Zhou Family to point fingers when Feng Wu got married.
After all, aristocratic families often cared most about benefits.
Academician Zhou obviously anticipated Feng Wu’s refusal of the Spirit Ginseng; the painting was already with a servant accompanying him. He instructed the servant to hand the painting to Miss Feng, before leaving to assume his new role, bringing carefully selected scholars to Lingnan.
Among these scholars, there were members from the Recovery Society.
Feng Wu accepted the painting and returned to the rear hall of the house.
Feng Xun’an saw that she had accepted the gift but did not inquire further, instead saying, "After the Xu Residence sends someone to propose, try to get married before the New Year."
Feng Wu was surprised, "Dad, don’t you want me to accompany you through the New Year before I leave?"
Feng Xun’an said, "Sooner or later I have to go; it doesn’t make a difference this year."
Feng Wu suspiciously said, "Is it that you already have someone else in mind, and are afraid that I might be in the way if I stay?"
Feng Xun’an drew a straight face. "Look at you, staying at home just to annoy me. Knowing this, I should never have let you study Dao, culminating in your unruly character now."
Feng Wu pouted, "I’m just following you and mother."
Feng Xun’an was choked with frustration. After a long while, he slowly said, "No matter what kind of person Xu is in the future, since you are marrying him, you should follow the lead. I only have one daughter. No matter what, we share weal and woe, so rest assured to be the lady of the Xu Residence. Your father won’t be a drag."
He felt that Xu Qing’s journey, although repeatedly turning danger into safety, was carried out hastily. Such a person, in their actions, either achieves great success or suffers great failure.
But since his daughter had made her choice, he had no regret to speak of.
In matters of marriage, he and her mother were examples; could he use this to reproach her?
In any case, whatever the outcome, he could only accept it.
He hoped that Xu Qing was merely youthful and could not tolerate insults. After getting married and having children, he might become steadier.
Actually, he did not know that Xu Qing, worried he might not live many years, would once having descendants, strive more desperately for time to pave the way for his offspring.
But Feng Xifeng, like many old foxes, wondered, Xu Qing is clearly a wise man, why does he act without considering the long term?
Merely the impulsiveness of youth is also hard to explain.
Feng Xifeng remained puzzled.
The situation was set in stone; what else could be done?
Moreover, Feng Wu’s divine soul injury was also healed by Xu Qing.
No matter what, he was the noble one in Feng Wu’s life.
Meanwhile, Feng Xun’an was waiting for the Xu Residence to send someone to propose.