Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 73 An Unexpected Encounter with the He Siblings (Please Subscribe)

In the morning, Zhou Ling slept in late, a rare occurrence, and only came out of her room when her parents were having breakfast.

With the end of the year approaching, the master also gave them a few days off.

"Ling'er, why don't you sleep a little longer!"

Upon seeing her son, Li Ru served him a bowl of spiritual porridge and asked with a smile.

Zhou Ling originally wanted to tell her parents about her breakthrough and make them happy.

But thinking about it, I'm not in a hurry. I'll wait six months until I pass the assessment and then surprise them.

"I'm going to the flower market with Xin'er today! Yuanhu is coming with us too!"

Zhou Ling replied.

Li Ru nodded and smiled, "Tiger is indeed reliable and clever. Your father and I discussed giving him two extra spirit stones at the end of the year."

"Next year, we'll raise it to five spirit stones per month."

"Ok!"

Zhou Ling naturally had no objection to these things.

Now, Yuan Hu earns a portion from the winery, but he earns even more from selling magical artifacts, which I had him sell.

Each month, I design tools for the workshop. If I have extra tools, I can also refine one or two mid-grade magic artifacts.

He also asked Yuan Hu to sell them, giving him one or two spirit stones as a reward for each mid-grade magic weapon.

All in all, that adds up to several spirit stones a month.

These are not your average apprentices; there are far more of them!
The family of three was eating when Zhou Shan, who had already finished eating, started reminiscing about his trip to the mountains.

"Old Li came over yesterday and bought two jars of the finest osmanthus wine."

"Tell me that you found a top-grade first-level spiritual herb on your last trip into the mountains, and that you'll have a prosperous year!"

Then he added bitterly, "But Lao Liu wasn't so lucky. It seems his injury is quite serious; one of his arms is ruined. He probably won't be able to go into the mountains again next year. I'll go check on him later!"

Li Ru sighed and said, "Lao Liu's two children are still young, and his wife only sells breakfast to supplement the family income. Now that she has suffered such a serious injury, how will she make a living in the future?"

“When you were injured before, Lao Liu gave us all the spiritual herbs he picked in the mountains. In the past two months, we have also earned some spirit stones.”

"Go over there later and bring him a jar of osmanthus wine. Also, lend him the spirit stones I was planning to use to buy the Three Purities Pill!"

Zhou Shan nodded, then said helplessly, "But you've been stuck at the fourth level of Qi Refining for too long, and you still need the Three Pure Pills to break through to the fifth level, which will only delay things further!"

"It's alright, so many years have passed, a little later won't have any impact!"

Li Ru shook his head and said.

Zhou Ling finished a large bowl of fragrant and delicious spiritual porridge, and was stunned for a moment when she heard her parents' words.

He also felt a pang of self-reproach, realizing that he hadn't known his mother was about to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He then said, "Mother, I'll take care of the Three Pure Ones Pill matter!"

"Xin'er is already able to refine mid-grade first-level pills. I'll buy the materials and have her help me refine them!"

"Also, Father, don't delay preparing the medicinal bath. I have spirit stones on hand!"

After saying that, Zhou Ling took out another spirit stone bag and handed it to Li Ru. Inside were one hundred low-grade spirit stones.

I should pay more attention to my parents' cultivation in the future!

"Ling'er, I'm still keeping the hundred-plus spirit stones you gave me last time!"

"Keep this spirit stone for yourself!"

Li Ru smiled and said.

Seeing her son now showing the responsibility of a man, a smile of satisfaction crept onto her lips.

"Mother, you keep this. I'll prepare the spirit stones myself when needed, so you don't need to save them for me. Use these to buy some cultivation resources for Father and you!"

Zhou Ling gave instructions.

Li Ru and Zhou Shan looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhou Shan felt both gratified and somewhat ashamed. "Ling'er has really grown up and become quite successful."

Li Ru smiled and said, "Ling'er is our son, of course he will be more successful than us."

Zhou Shan then said cheerfully, "We seek out pharmacists based on chance and luck. The greatest opportunity of my life is marrying you, Ru'er, and having such a sensible son as Ling'er!" Li Ru glanced at her husband with tender eyes, her heart filled with joy.

On the wooden table, the spirit porridge was still steaming, and the aroma of meat buns and spirit rice mingled and permeated the air.

The warm winter sun slowly shone into the main room, forcefully dispelling the chill of the morning.

A simple breakfast ended with the family showing each other warmth and care.

······.

After finishing their meal, Yuan Hu went to Zhou Ling's house, and the two of them immediately went to find Wang Xin.

After the three met up, they strolled along the street and visited the flower market.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, the streets were packed with people, decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and filled with a joyous atmosphere.

Within Lingxia Immortal City, some major markets and streets are covered by magic arrays, and there is no snow or ice covering them.

It won't be very cold!

The crowds mingled, and despite the cold winter, clusters of lush green plants could be seen everywhere, full of vitality, as if spring had arrived early, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Of the three, Wang Xin was the happiest. She stayed on the mountain for two months, only coming down once or twice a month.

After wandering around for most of the time, the three of them didn't look at many spiritual plants, but they did have a lot more things in their hands.

Five-colored spirit cakes, roasted chicken wings, meat buns, and so on—it seemed like they were eating wherever they went.

"Zhou Ling!"

As Zhou Ling reached a street corner, he heard someone calling his name, the voice filled with surprise and energy.

Zhou Ling turned his head and saw that it was the He siblings.

Zhou Ling never expected to run into He Zijian and his sister here.

They seemed to have told me last time that they lived in the east side of the city, which was quite a distance from the west side.

"Zhou Ling, I didn't expect to run into you here!"

He Zijian walked over, patted Zhou Ling on the shoulder, and said cheerfully.

"Zhou Ling, it's been a long time!" He Lingyun greeted him with a smile.

Her almond-shaped eyes blinked, curiously observing Wang Xin and Yuan Hu.

Wang Xin hurriedly swallowed the spirit cake she was chewing.

They also looked at the He siblings with curiosity.

"He Zijian! He Lingyun! Long time no see!"

Zhou Ling also greeted him with a smile.

Although the collaboration with the He siblings last time went well, it was just a collaboration and didn't count as a real relationship.

Therefore, he did not intend to introduce Wang Xin and the others.

"I've been saying I'd treat you to drinks, but we never managed to meet. This time, let's just bump into each other instead of making plans. There's a Four Seasons Restaurant up ahead, let's go grab a drink!"

He Zijian laughed heartily as he spoke.

"Four Seasons Pavilion!"

Zhou Ling was stunned for a moment. Sijilou was one of the top-notch restaurants in the Xicheng area.

He glanced at Wang Xin and Yuan Hu, wanting to get their opinions.

"Are these two your friends?" He Zijian asked.

Zhou Ling nodded.

"Since he's your friend, let's go together. It's more fun to drink with more people!"

He Zijian laughed, his tone cheerful and easygoing, without any airs of a scion of a prominent family.

Wang Xin always listened to Zhou Ling.

Yuan Hu was naturally eager to have something to eat, especially at a high-end place like the Four Seasons Restaurant.

The three of them then followed He Zijian and his sister toward the Four Seasons Restaurant, which was not far away.

(End of this chapter)