Chapter 342: Chapter 258 Jiang Cheng’s Retirement Life
 

After Tongtian Sect tacitly acknowledged Liu Qing’s existence, Jiang Cheng also passed the Talisman Historical Compilation position exam smoothly, officially becoming an elder with an easy job at the Immortal Sect.

Although Jiang Cheng became an elder, the position of an elder in Tongtian Sect was just a title that didn’t affect the sect or come with assigned housing, so Jiang Cheng still lived on North Forest Peak.

He could enjoy an entire mountain top alone with Liu Qing whenever Yun Shu was away from home.

Even when Yun Shu was present, it didn’t matter, for the mountain top was so vast that they couldn’t hear each other even if they made a racket.

“Liu Qing, your previous visa is about to expire, we need to apply for a new one,” said Jiang Cheng.

According to the news from Yun Zaiyuan, Tongtian Sect’s higher-ups silently consenting to Liu Qing’s presence was true, but she still needed to follow the usual procedures.

So she was still staying at Tongtian Sect on a visa, except that previously Tongtian Sect was unaware of her presence, and now they knew but didn’t care.

To be precise, it wasn’t that they didn’t care, it was more that it was difficult to manage and could easily cause problems. It was better to maintain the status quo and let Jiang Cheng sign a guarantee agreement to conclude the matter.

“Okay,” Liu Qing nodded.

She had become used to applying for new visas with Jiang Cheng every so often.

Usually, after agreeing, Jiang Cheng would leave promptly, but not this time.

Uncharacteristically, Jiang Cheng dawdled: first tidying up everything, then going over it again, reluctant to leave.

But Liu Qing was not in a hurry, waiting quietly until Jiang Cheng was ready.

“Actually, er, I think applying for a visa every ten years is too troublesome. Tongtian Sect actually has a kind of supreme visa that needs updating only once every five hundred years. Shall we apply for that one?”

Liu Qing nodded without objection.

Not having to frequently renew her visa was good, she agreed.

But then Jiang Cheng added, “There might be a need for you to sign an agreement, though.”

“Okay.”

“A very important agreement.”

“Mm.”

“It’s related to matrimonial matters.”

After thinking for a moment, Liu Qing said, “Sure.”

Jiang Cheng spoke seriously, “I’m not joking, the companion visa requires registration of marriage at the Internal Affairs Hall first. If you agree, it means that we’ll be companions from now on, similar to husband and wife in the secular world. We’ll need to follow some strange rules, like supporting each other, never abandoning one another…”

After listening, Liu Qing thought that the “strange rules” mentioned by Jiang Cheng weren’t difficult at all.

Weren’t they already doing all that?

Now it was just a change of title, getting ready to sign an agreement where everything had already been accomplished.

However, she noticed that Jiang Cheng seemed to be quite nervous.

He urged her to think it over thoroughly.

Liu Qing didn’t see what there was to consider. If Jiang Cheng said it was okay, then it was. That’s how they had always managed until now.

She was very satisfied.

“Let’s go.”

“Are you sure you’ve thought it through? I mean, this can’t be taken back, it’s a lifelong commitment,” Jiang Cheng emphasized again.

“Yes, lifelong. No regrets.”

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and said, “Now I can finally hold your hand openly and rightfully.”

Liu Qing expressed confusion, saying, “But you could, always.”

The marriage registration and the new visa application went very smoothly, and afterwards, Jiang Cheng bought some fine wine and food, inviting Yue Linger and Shen Menghan to celebrate together.

Yue Linger and Shen Menghan weren’t surprised.

Rather, they thought Jiang Cheng had great self-control for guarding his tender tofu for so long before eating it.

During the banquet, Yue Linger even started to prepare to make signs for Jiang Cheng to decide when to go to bed.

But Jiang Cheng ordered a halt to this, citing it as harmful to public morals.

Though they didn’t have to use the signs in the end, going to bed was still followed through.

This part cannot be detailed.

The final outcome shattered Jiang Cheng’s dream of a relaxed retirement and forced him to regain his drive, starting to strive for a higher level of cultivation.

Jiang Cheng originally didn’t care about his cultivation because, in the peaceful times of the Cultivation World, there were not only fights but also the subtleties of human relationships.

But cultivation is something you only regret not having enough of when the time comes.

And more frighteningly, Tongtian Sect was not the only concern—Taixu Sect had Liang Lu and Lin Yao.

If Jiang Cheng didn’t raise his cultivation level, he wouldn’t be able to suppress those in Dayan Sect who want to “deceive their superiors and delude their subordinates.”

The good news was that Taixu Sect had a rule against breaking one’s virginity.

Before Liang Lu and Lin Yao became the Holy Maidens of Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng could still develop quietly in the dark for some time.

Although the landlord was wealthy, the house often lacked surplus grain.

Especially since Jiang Cheng often had to help Liang Lu with talismans for the Holy Maiden competition, all while sporting dark circles under his eyes.

Lin Yao was a bit easier since she, blessed with talent, did not need such external objects like talismans.

But Lin Yao’s ease was only relative; with Liang Lu’s reminder, Jiang Cheng suddenly remembered that he had an agreement as Sect Master with Lin Yao.

Jiang Cheng finally understood: Lin Yao wasn’t taking the easy path; she had been holding back a trump card the whole time.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jiang Cheng immediately took a temporary leave from Tongtian Sect, cultivated in seclusion for a while, and then successfully arrived at Taixu Sect.

Jiang Cheng’s reason for journeying alone to Taixu Sect was simple: he wanted to support Liang Lu to keep Lin Yao from becoming the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect too quickly.

At least he should attain Mahayana status before Lin Yao could become the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, right?

Otherwise, if Lin Yao and Liu Qing competed and his cultivation wasn’t sufficient to mediate, wouldn’t he be worked to death?

The Sect Leader of Taixu Sect was no trivial matter.

Its prestige ranked one or two levels higher than Yun Zaiyuan’s Pillar Mountain Gate Master.

If Lin Yao really became the Sect Leader of Taixu Sect, Jiang Cheng felt that the order of the Five Great Immortal Sects would be utterly disrupted by her.

At first, Jiang Cheng’s strategy of using Liang Lu to balance Lin Yao was very effective.