The core area of the Lin Family was the most mysterious and solemn place in the entire estate. Apart from the main branch and a few privileged collateral lines, most members of the family would never see what lay within its borders in their entire lives.
From a certain perspective, for a matrilocal husband like Zhou Luo to enter the core area was an extraordinary feat in itself.
Zhou Luo followed the attendant down a long, winding corridor, heading deeper into the compound. Along the way, he encountered numerous guards. Every single one of them exuded waves of powerful spiritual pressure.
Even as a cultivator at the first layer of Qi Refining Grand Perfection, Zhou Luo felt a heavy pressure weighing on him.
These guards were clearly at the second layer of Qi Refining at the very least.
Using second-layer Qi Refining cultivators as mere guards—such was the grand display of a Longevity Family.
At the end of the corridor, a soft spiritual glow shimmered, revealing the presence of a defensive formation.
As Zhou Luo stepped through the barrier, he felt a subtle, imperceptible force sweep across his body, scanning him from head to toe.
Once he cleared the formation, the view before him suddenly opened up.
He had finally arrived at the legendary core area.
Here, the Spiritual Qi was incredibly rich, and spiritual light flickered across elegantly arranged pavilions. The air carried a faint, refreshing fragrance that put his mind at ease.
Architecturally, there was not much difference between the core area and the outer compound.
The only real distinction was the sheer density of the Spiritual Qi.
Before long, the attendant led him to a grand hall.
The hall’s interior was sparsely decorated but exuded an ancient, heavy aura. A profound sense of gravity pressed down on Zhou Luo, making him brace himself.
Stepping further inside, he spotted an old man seated upon a grand throne at the far end of the hall.
Though his hair was snow-white, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, instantly locking onto Zhou Luo as he entered.
In that single instant, Zhou Luo felt a pressure as heavy as a mountain bear down on him.
He quickly bowed in respect. “Disciple Zhou Luo pays respects to the Family Head.”
“Rise,” a calm, resonant voice echoed through the hall.
Zhou Luo respectfully stood up, keeping his head lowered and holding his breath.
This was the patriarch of a Longevity Family. Though Zhou Luo did not know the man’s exact cultivation realm, he was certain the patriarch could crush him with a single hand.
The best course of action was to remain absolutely obedient and agree to whatever was asked.
“Zhou Luo, you have been with the Lin Family for over a year now, have you not?” Lin Tianxiong asked leisurely.
“Replying to the Family Head, yes,” Zhou Luo replied humbly.
“Then… do you resent the Lin Family?” Lin Tianxiong asked suddenly.
The calm question struck like a bolt of thunder in Zhou Luo’s ears, causing his heart to skip a beat.
Here it was.
The life-or-death question.
Zhou Luo’s mind raced at lightning speed. He lowered his posture even further and replied with utmost sincerity, “At the very beginning, I indeed felt some minor grievances. But after seeing how highly the family regards me, my heart has long been filled with gratitude. How could I dare harbor any resentment?”
“Mhm,” Lin Tianxiong murmured softly, seemingly satisfied with the response.
He continued, “I have kept an eye on your performance since you joined the Lin Family. To be honest, I have always thought highly of you.”
Zhou Luo could not help but complain internally: Old man, with how busy you are, when would you ever have time to watch me? Cut the pleasantries and give me some real rewards. Get faster updates on NovelPing.
Despite his thoughts, he maintained a respectful posture, clasping his hands. “I am deeply honored by the Family Head’s favor.”
“In light of your outstanding performance, I plan to officially elevate your status to a true son-in-law of the Lin Family. What do you think?” Lin Tianxiong finally revealed his true purpose.
A true son-in-law was entirely different from a matrilocal husband.
The former was treated as an actual member of the Lin Family, enjoying a status similar to that of the family’s own descendants. The latter, however, was treated as a mere tool for reproduction, devoid of any real standing.
“Thank you, Family Head!” Zhou Luo smiled, his gratitude genuine.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
“Very well. This is the new contract.” Lin Tianxiong flicked his sleeve.
A light yellow parchment shot forth, drifting gently down like a falling leaf into Zhou Luo’s hands.
The contract clearly outlined his transition to a true son-in-law of the Lin Family.
As a son-in-law, he was no longer bound by the obligation to sire forty descendants with spiritual roots within ten years. He could freely choose his own path of marriage, and any children born to him from now on would carry his surname, Zhou.
Furthermore, he would enjoy the same monthly resources as the Lin Family’s own descendants. His monthly allowance of Spirit Stones would increase from five to fifteen, and he would also receive a bottle of Fasting Pills each month.
Most importantly, he was granted the right to cultivate within the Spiritual Vein Blessed Land for five days every month, and this time could be accumulated.
These were his new privileges.
Naturally, there were obligations. As a son-in-law of the Lin Family, he was required to refine a set quota of pills for the family each month and act in their best interests.
Furthermore, when the family faced a crisis or had an urgent need, he could not refuse their summons.
This last clause was rather overbearing.
But upon reflection, Zhou Luo found it reasonable. He was currently only a novice alchemist, so the Lin Family could not possibly grant him unconditional freedom.
To receive such generous benefits was already an incredible gain.
As for the obligations, as long as he did not plan to betray or leave the family, they would not affect him much.
In any case, he had no intention of leaving before he reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
And once he achieved Foundation Establishment, a mere parchment contract would no longer be able to bind him.
After a brief moment of consideration, he signed his name, sealing the pact.
Seeing Zhou Luo sign the contract, a rare smile finally broke through Lin Tianxiong’s stern face. “From this day forth, the Lin Family is your home.”
*
News of Zhou Luo’s elevation from a matrilocal husband to an official son-in-law spread like wildfire through the circle of live-in husbands.
Those who had previously harbored jealousy and envy now lost all thoughts of comparison.
They knew that from this moment on, a vast, insurmountable chasm had opened between Zhou Luo’s status and their own.
Some of the quicker-witted matrilocal husbands immediately came to his courtyard to offer congratulations and gifts, hoping that their former peer might show them some favor in the future.
However, Zhou Luo was not there to receive them.
He had already entered the Spiritual Vein Blessed Land to cultivate.
The visiting guests could only leave their gifts with the three heavily pregnant women and Lin Qinghan, who was holding her child, before departing in disappointment.
Zhou Luo did not stay in the Spiritual Vein Blessed Land for very long this time.
In half a month, Lin Yiyi and her two sisters were due to give birth.
Right before that, Lin Lan had also successfully conceived, granting Zhou Luo another draw from the system.
Coincidentally, perhaps due to their close blood relation, the three sisters began labor on the exact same day.
This left Zhou Luo running ragged.
Because Lin Qinghan was naturally cold and disliked noisy environments, they had never hired extra servants, leaving only Lin Lan to help around the courtyard.
Now that Lin Lan was also pregnant, there was no one else to assist. Doing everything himself, Zhou Luo deeply regretted not hiring more hands earlier.
Just as he was rushing about, a baby’s sharp cry echoed from the delivery room, followed shortly by others.
[Congratulations, Host! Your second child has been born. You have received a 10-year lifespan bonus!]
…
[Congratulations, Host! Your third child has been born. You have received a 20-year lifespan bonus!]
[Since this child possesses a ninth-grade spiritual root, you have received 1 Talent Point!]
[Current Talent: Ninth-grade Spiritual Root (2/100)]
…
[Congratulations, Host! Your fourth child has been born. You have received a 20-year lifespan bonus!]
[Since this child possesses a ninth-grade spiritual root, you have received 1 Talent Point!]
[Current Talent: Ninth-grade Spiritual Root (3/100)]
…
[Congratulations, Host! Your fifth child has been born. You have received a 10-year lifespan bonus!]
…
A rapid succession of system notifications chimed in his mind.
Zhou Luo stood frozen in place.
Two more of his children possessed spiritual roots?
Though shocking, it made sense upon further reflection. Both Lin Qinghan and the three sisters were cultivators who possessed spiritual roots themselves.
When two cultivators conceived, the probability of their offspring inheriting a spiritual root was significantly higher.
What excited Zhou Luo most was that with the birth of these four children, he had gained another sixty years of lifespan.
One had to know that cultivators only gained about fifty years of lifespan upon reaching the mid-stages of Qi Refining.
Yet, he had achieved and surpassed that milestone simply by fathering four children.
If this news ever leaked, it would probably drive countless Qi Refining cultivators to spit blood in envy.
Zhou Luo also noticed a pattern.
A normal child granted him ten years of life, while a child with a ninth-grade spiritual root granted him twenty years.
By that logic, would an eighth-grade spiritual root child grant him thirty, forty, or even more years?
And what if he eventually fathered a child with a first-grade spiritual root? How massive would that reward be?
At this thought, Zhou Luo’s blood ran hot with excitement.
This was his true path to immortality.