Dual Cultivation: Family Edition.

The next day,

The morning mist had yet to fade when a blinding golden scroll floated into the sky above the Ye Clan estate, pulsing with spiritual energy.

The clouds parted. Birds scattered.

A voice boomed across the Karki Mountain Region, shaking even the walls of distant sects.

"Heaven's Calling. The Ye Clan Rises."

"By decree of Patriarch Ye Chen, the Ye Clan seeks cultivators, talents, beauties, and warriors. Spirit stones shall rain upon the worthy; 2 high grade spirit stones every year. The weak shall be refined. The talented shall be uplifted. And the beautiful shall sleep beside the lord and bear him children."

"From this day forth, Ye Clan accepts new disciples, servants, wives, concubines, alchemists, smiths, talisman crafters, array masters, and more.

All shall kneel or perish."

—Signed: Ye Chen, Patriarch of the Ye Clan.

The scroll burst into a golden lotus and scattered down as radiant sparks, leaving many across the mountain range stunned into silence.

..

Mountain Town of Lianxing,

At the edge of the region, where poor rogue cultivators drank watered wine and dreamed of cores they had never touched, the tavern went dead silent.

"…Did he say wives and concubines?"

"Is this for real? Two high-grade spirit stones per year for mere servants?"

"Forget it! Even inner disciples at the Purple Orchid Sect only get one thousand middle-grade spirit stones every month."

( math: 1.2 high grade SS in 1 year )

A young rogue cultivator with scars across his face stood up.

"Damn it! I'll sell my sword, my skills, and even my soul if needed. I'm going to the Ye Clan!"

...

Ye Clan,

Steward Lin sat at the training arena, where rows of guards had already begun preparations.

Banners were raised. Disciplinary elders stood ready to test each one ready to join Ye Family.

Spirit Root Assessment

Talent Manifestation

Beauty Selection

Women who passed the third were escorted directly to a different courtyard... the Red Lotus Pavilion—soon to be Ye Chen's personal harem quarters.

He can pick any qiarter and fuck the concubine all night.

Steward Lin stood calmly with a jade brush in hand, flanked by two inner guards and an old appraiser cultivator. A record slab levitated before him, slowly inscribing accepted names.

First came a woman.

A dozen lined up. Some dressed modestly. Some had clearly painted their faces just for this.

A long-legged girl with fox-like eyes stepped forward, bowing lightly.

"I am Yan Xiaoqing, a disciple expelled from the Blue Willow Pavilion for offending a Young Master. I possess a fourth-grade spirit root and am… still pure. I offer myself as a concubine."

Steward Lin looked her over. Her posture was elegant, but her gaze was sly.

"Age?"

"Eighteen."

"Background?"

"Father was a minor talisman dealer. Died two years ago in a beast attack... Mother missing."

Lin tapped the record slab. "You may enter the Red Pavilion. You will be tested later."

Xiaoqing's eyes sparkled. "May I… serve the Young Patriarch directly? Will I get higher cultivation resources if I give him a child?"

Lin gave a cold glance. "Do well. Perhaps your name will enter his memory."

Next came two sisters—identical twins with third-grade spirit roots.

"Both virgins," the appraiser confirmed.

Steward Lin smirked inwardly. The Patriarch will be amused.

"Assigned to the Red Pavilion as well. You'll be purified and evaluated."

Then,

A group of seven rogue cultivators pushed forward, all wearing worn robes and battered swords. Their eyes burned with greed.

"We heard there's payment in high-grade stones," one of them sneered. "We're strong, loyal, and dirt cheap."

Another laughed. "I once fought off a Qi refining bandit with just a broom. What more do you want?"

Steward Lin narrowed his eyes. "Name and realm?"

"Ma Tong. The late stage of the fourth stage of Qi Refining, will make a breakthrough within months."

"And your spiritual root?"

"…Uh, grade-1."

"Rejected."

"What?!" Ma Tong stepped forward. "I can work! I can carry water! I can—"

"Carry yourself out," Lin said coldly.

The guards moved instantly, dragging the man off as he cursed and flailed.

. . .

Among the noisy crowd, a quiet girl stood. She wore a pale green robe with a hood and held a bamboo zither.

She stepped forward and bowed silently.

"I am Luo Ning. I forge spirit talismans. My root is a third-grade mutated spirit root. I do not wish to be a concubine. I only ask for a quiet room and access to beast skin ink."

Lin looked up.

"You know runes?"

She nodded. "Beast-runic style. I taught myself."

A test was given immediately—she crafted a simple wind acceleration charm using minimal materials.

It worked perfectly.

"…Red Pavilion is not your place. You'll be sent to the Rune Workshop once it's built. The Patriarch rewards usefulness... However, I can't say much."

She nodded again, still silent.

After that,

A muscular man approached, flanked by two women.

"I'm Jin Wu. Late Qi Refining, used to be a guard in Three Fang City. I brought my wives. They want to be concubines. I'll serve as outer guard."

Steward Lin raised an eyebrow.

The women smiled flirtatiously.

"Are your wives… virgins?"

Jin Wu coughed. "Once?"

"Rejected."

"What?! We offer three loyal souls—"

"Take your used goods and get out," Lin said icily.

"Bastard..." The man roared however, Stewrad Lin raised his fist and instantly attacked him, killing him in a single punch.

"No, please don't kill us." Both woman got on their knees, seeing their husband die like that.

Steward Lin smiled. "It's okay, I won't kill you but you have to work as maids for 20 years in the Lin family without any salary."

He signaled the guards and the guards threw the dead body out.

By night...

20 concubines were selected, 35 servants were selected, and 2 disciples were selected.

One talisman girl and another weapon forging boy.