Bamboo Mountain wasn't just one towering peak but a sprawling range of rugged hills stretching far into the distance. Thick groves of bamboo, their stalks shimmering in translucent shades of green, blanketed the slopes.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the earth below, while a faint breeze rustled the stalks, creating a soft, whispering sound that filled the air.
As Su Cheng stepped into the mountains, he felt the air shift. It grew cooler, fresher. He inhaled deeply, his chest expanding as the crisp scent of bamboo and wet soil flooded his senses. Streams gurgled nearby, their waters winding through the valleys, sparkling under the sun like threads of liquid silver. Birds flitted overhead, their sharp chirps echoing between the peaks.
On the hillsides, terraced fields climbed in neat steps, patched with golden grains and vibrant vegetables swaying gently in the wind.
The Su Family had rooted themselves deep in these mountains, their villages and estates dotting the landscape like scattered jewels. Wooden homes with curved roofs peeked out from the bamboo, smoke curling lazily from chimneys, while winding trails connected each settlement.
Su Cheng and the other immortal seedlings were led to an outer region called Bamboo Mountain Manor.
A tall man with sharp features and a flowing robe stood waiting for them, "This Bamboo Mountain Manor rests atop a first-rank spiritual vein. From now on, this is your home. Focus on your cultivation here." His dark eyes swept over the group, "Rest easy. If you meet the terms we agreed upon, you're free to leave the Su Family or stay as you choose." He paused, then turned to an older man at his side. "Uncle Lu, get them settled."
With that, Su Fengyuan strode away.
The older man stepped forward, his back slightly hunched, gray hair thinning atop his head, "I'm the steward here at Bamboo Mountain Manor. Call me Uncle Lu. Follow me."
He waved a gnarled hand, beckoning them onward, and began shuffling down a wide dirt trail. Su Cheng fell in line with the others, his eyes scanning the surroundings as they moved.
The manor sprawled across a flattened hilltop, its wooden buildings framed by bamboo fences and low stone walls.
Uncle Lu led them past a courtyard where a small fountain bubbled, water trickling over smooth stones. He shuffled to a desk, pulling out a thick ledger, its pages yellowed and curling at the edges. "You'll register here," he said, dipping a quill into an inkpot with a faint scratch of metal on glass. As he scribbled their names, he explained the manor's workings in a low, steady tone.
The manor was large. Besides them, other immortal seedlings from the Su family resided and cultivated here as well. Though most were collateral descendants with average talent. Those with better aptitude generally lived in the core area of Bamboo Mountain, which had a second-rank spiritual vein with denser spiritual energy.
After registration, Uncle Lu lead them to their residence. Along the way, they saw Su Family Members.
They watched the newcomers pass, These individuals looked at Su Cheng and the others with curiosity like they were watching monkeys with hints of disdain and arrogance in their eyes.
Su Cheng didn't care about them, he knew what they thought.
To some, he and the others were outsiders welcomed through marriage, a polite way of saying they'd been brought to breed.
The Su Family needed fresh blood, and they were the stock. Still, he caught himself studying them back, his gaze lingering on their faces.
The men stood tall, their jaws strong. The women moved with quiet grace, their features soft yet striking high cheekbones, full lips. Not a bad-looking bunch, he thought, a flicker of relief easing the tension in his chest.
He'd failed to join a sect, his dreams of soaring through the cultivation world dashed against hard reality. But the Su Family had appeared in front of him, offering a different path.
All he need to do was produced fifty children in twenty years, and he would get resources for his cultivation. However, for a cultivators like them, it's loss of vitality.
Too much sex lead loss of vitality, which would make the cultivation slowly, and Su Cheng and other were already 9th, 8th or 7th Grade Spirit Roots, which were low level, so for them, it's not good, but with no other option they came here to be a breeding machines.
However, Su Cheng was different, as he had Many Wives and Children System. He could use this system to grow strong.