Smokey Willow Lane, Building 87.
“Qianbei, you’ve actually reached Foundation Establishnt? Congratulations and heartfelt felicitations to you!” The Grapevine Fairy’s cherry-red lips widened in surprise, her face filled with bewildernt.
As she recalled her audacious flirtation with Fang Xi, unaware of his true potential, she felt an intense desire to find a crack in the ground and disappear into it.
“Congratulations, Qianbei, on achieving Foundation Establishnt!” Jin Ling followed the customs of the cultivation world by performing an ancient salute, her expression deeply mixed.
“Sigh… It was after hearing your account of Fellow Daoist Su’s determination that I, too, considering my approaching sixtieth year limit, decided to take this perilous leap…” Fang Xi wore a somber look, reflecting on the risks he had faced. “I rely got lucky…”
In reality, his Foundation Establishnt process had been remarkably smooth, almost as if he could have succeeded without needing the Foundation Establishnt Pill.
However, even given another hundred chances, Fang Xi would still choose to use the pill for the added safety! Longevity demands unwavering caution, like an old dog’s steady approach.
Any breakthrough with a risk of death would be utterly irresponsible towards his four hundred years of potential longevity!
“Su Lie…” Jin Ling seed to ponder sothing and shook her head sadly.
Her cultivation partner was already past sixty yet insisted on attempting the breakthrough without a life-saving Foundation Establishnt Pill. His fatal failure could indeed be seen as self-inflicted, reaping what he had sown…
“Furthermore…” Fang Xi smiled and took a sip of spirit tea before continuing, “I must apologize for troubling both of you esteed neighbors today. There is actually a favor I’d like to ask.”
“Qianbei, whatever your request, this junior stands ready to assist!” The Grapevine Fairy’s eyes imdiately brightened.
Running errands for a great Foundation Establishnt cultivator! Among the nurous Qi Refinent cultivators in the city, few have connections with those at the Foundation Establishnt stage. If she could impress him, it would elevate her status significantly, making her soone associated with a Foundation Establishnt practitioner, greatly enhancing her standing in the Outer City!
“As Qianbei commands, I am at your service!” Jin Ling responded gracefully.
Fang Xi couldn’t help but marvel at how distinctly one’s position changes after achieving a major breakthrough in the cultivation world - it truly felt like night and day!
He cleared his throat and said, “I’m not fond of commotion. With news of my Foundation Establishnt spreading, there will undoubtedly be nurous visitors in the coming days. I request both of you to serve as my greeters. Accept calling cards from ordinary factions, but for any influential groups that cannot be easily dismissed, please inform so I can personally receive them…”
“Oh, such a simple task! Qianbei, rest assured. Having spent over a decade in Baize Immortal City, I am well-acquainted with its major powers. Your wishes shall be fulfilled!” The Grapevine Fairy confidently patted her firm chest.
Serving as doorkeepers for a Foundation Establishnt cultivator was a coveted position many Qi Refinent cultivators could only dream of obtaining. After all, being a gatekeeper implied representing the Foundation Establishnt cultivator in welcoming guests, signifying a close relationship with them.
The Grapevine Fairy stole another glance at Fang Xi:
‘Might it be… this great cultivator intends to take us as concubines? We must gently persuade Jin Ling then… What an exceptional opportunity; she should seize it without hesitation.’
Given the vast disparity in status, the Grapevine Fairy didn’t dare harbor hopes of becoming his primary wife; instead, she rely envisioned herself as a secondary consort.
Unaware of Grapevine Fairy’s thoughts and her intention to befriend Jin Ling for future assistance within their shared quarters, Fang Xi had simply sought two random helpers out of convenience.
After giving them all necessary instructions, he promptly returned to his seclusion.
As expected, when news spread that another rogue cultivator achieved Foundation Establishnt in Baize Immortal City, it caused quite a stir in the Outer City.
Each successful Foundation Establishnt by a rogue cultivator greatly inspired countless others there.
Instantly, nurous cultivators wished to pay visits to Fang Xi.
Most were from small to mid-sized factions, aiming to make connections by presenting calling cards and gifts…
So tiny Qi Refinent factions even offered their leadership positions outright, provided Fang Xi would accept…
After all, having a Foundation Establishnt cultivator as their leader would instantly elevate them to significant influence within the Outer City.
Jin Ling and Grapevine Fairy, mutually overseeing each other yet occasionally collaborating, managed everything efficiently. They sorted and stored the gifts and calling cards neatly, awaiting Fang Xi’s review.
However, one individual who tried to gift servants and furnaces was t with Grapevine Fairy’s sarcastic rebukes. Seeing two exquisite goddesses present, he realized his attempt at flattery had backfired, and reluctantly departed…
Of course, these were all minor forces at the Qi Refinent level.
Once Foundation Establishnt representatives arrived, Grapevine Fairy and Jin Ling dared not act independently and had to request Fang Xi’s personal presence for reception.
Fang Xi waited anxiously for half a month, yet the individual he most desired to et did not appear.
Just as his suspicions grew, while feeding the Great Azure Fish by the pond, he saw Grapevine Fairy hastily approach with news: “Qianbei… Song Qing, the crown prince of the Song Clan, has arrived!”
“Oh?” Rubbing his chin, Fang Xi stood up, “I shall personally go out to welco him!”
Upon reaching the entrance, Fang Xi indeed spotted Song Qing from their previous encounter, still dressed impeccably with a jade folding fan in hand. Upon seeing Fang Xi, he smiled and bowed courteously, saying, “Song Qing offers heartfelt congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishnt, Daoist friend! Please accept this humble gift!”
Clearly, Song Qing did not recognize Fang Xi as the rogue cultivator who had disguised himself to purchase the ‘Longevity Technique’ earlier.
“Ah, it’s the young master of the Song Clan! Please, co right in!” Fang Xi feigned surprise and delight, inviting Song Qing into the courtyard and instructing Jin Ling and Grapevine Fairy to serve spirit tea.
“Your courtyard exudes a serene atmosphere, reminiscent of leisurely clouds and wild cranes…”
Song Qing exuded grace and charm, making everyone around him feel warmly welcod. As he tapped his fan against the pond edge, he comnted on the little azure dragon with admiration before smiling, “To be candid… my primary purpose here is to congratulate you on achieving Foundation Establishnt, Daoist friend. Secondly, I wish to invite you to join our Song Clan!”
“Join the Song Clan?” Fang Xi feigned contemplation, but internally felt quite puzzled.
He knew that after reaching Foundation Establishnt, nurous factions would seek to recruit him, yet he didn’t expect the first suitor to be the Song Clan!
‘What’s this? A narrow escape from fate?’
Noticing Fang Xi’s hesitation, Song Qing chuckled heartily and continued, “Being from the Yue Kingdom yourself, Daoist friend, you must surely be familiar with the seven great aristocratic families?”
“Fad indeed!” Fang Xi nodded affirmatively.
Song Qing elaborated, “Among the seven Foundation Establishnt immortal clans of the Yue Kingdom - Baiqiao Qi Clan, Verdant Xu Clan, Huangfeng Long Clan - all recognize the leadership of our Song Clan. Decades ago, the Blackwater Situ Clan and Heavenly Talisman Shen Clan declined, while the Tu Clan and Wan Clan erged as new powers… Their current Foundation Establishnt patriarchs were originally rogue cultivators, now elevated to influential positions, founding their clans and enjoying imnse prestige!”
“What does Daoist friend an by this?” Fang Xi’s eyes brightened.
“If you join our Song Clan, I, Song Qing, guarantee within twenty years… your Fang Clan will secure a place among the seven great aristocratic families!”
With a commanding presence, Song Qing declared, “Having lived at Wan Island Lake for several decades, Daoist must be aware that the Dragonfish Zhong Clan, once among the seven great aristocratic families, has now fallen from grace. Our Song Clan is actively seeking suitable candidates…”
‘So they want to step into the Dragonfish Zhong Clan’s storm!’ Fang Xi internally rolled his eyes. ‘And they expect to return to Wan Island Lake to establish my own clan… Yeah right… If Wan Island Lake was such a paradise, why would I have fled in the first place?!’
He knew all too well that Wan Island Lake had beco treacherously murky and unpredictable.
‘The Song Clan harbors ill intentions, trying to make fill their pitfall!’
‘I refuse to believe they’re completely unaware of the underlying situation!’
‘Furthermore, could this person also be ddling behind the scenes, preventing other Foundation Establishnt factions within the city from extending invitations?’
Fang Xi had no intention whatsoever of joining the Song Clan, but he feigned interest on the surface. “Well… since I’ve just reached Foundation Establishnt, please allow so ti to consider your offer, Daoist friend.”
“Agreed. This Gongzi will give you a few days to ponder. Rember, opportunities to join one of the seven great clans are rare…” Song Qing chuckled lightly, without even tasting the spirit tea offered by Jin Ling, and promptly took his leave.
“Gongzi!” A mber of the Song Clan approached from the doorway.
“Let’s discuss further inside the carriage!”
Song Qing stepped onto a vehicle pulled by two spirit steeds, his expression turning cold and distant.
The Song Clan servant followed suit, bowing respectfully before reporting, “We’ve thoroughly investigated… Fang Xi, a rogue cultivator from the Yue Kingdom, once worked as a spirit farr at Qingzhu Mountain Market. His appearance matches perfectly… After disappearing for two years following the Qingzhu Mountain incident, he reappeared at Wan Island Lake, assisting Peach Blossom Island’s Lady Ruan Xingling to reclaim her ancestral lands. In return, he was granted Jade Cliff where he fard and raised fish for thirty years. At age forty, he made a breakthrough to Late Stage Qi Refinent, and five years ago, left Peach Blossom Island for Baize Immortal City with a cultivation base already at the eighth layer of Qi Refinent. Recently, within the past few months, he reached Peak Qi Refining, rented a tier-2 spiritual vein immortal’s cave, and achieved Foundation Establishnt…”
“A rogue cultivator reaching Foundation Establishnt must have so luck on their side!” However, Song Qing remained unconvinced. “This individual has low aptitude; his rapid progress is undoubtedly due to seizing vast resources during the chaos at Qingzhu Mountain and the upheaval at Dragonfish Island!”
“It also helps that the Yue Kingdom has been unstable these past decades, with successive falls among its Foundation Establishnt cultivators. Otherwise, how would soone like him ever erge?”
As the eldest son of the prestigious Song Clan, Song Qing naturally disfavored rogue cultivators suspected of profiting off fallen Foundation Establishnt immortals.
“Five years ago, this person was still at the eighth layer of Qi Refinent, yet suddenly reached Peak Qi Refinent - it seems sowhat suspicious…” The Song Clan servant pointed out another concern.
“Perhaps he concealed his cultivation; upon leaving Peach Blossom Island, he likely reached the ninth level of Qi Refining… Even if not, there are nurous dicinal pills in the cultivation world to aid breakthroughs. Achieving Peak Qi Refining just before turning sixty suggests so hidden secrets, albeit not significant ones…” Song Qing casually stroked the Violet Accumulation Bracelet on his left wrist.
Every rogue cultivator capable of reaching Foundation Establishnt must harbor their own minor secrets. If soone with low aptitude still managed to succeed by their twenties or thirties, that would warrant genuine scrutiny!
“I suspect this individual stumbled upon a Foundation Establishnt spirit item during his ti at Dragonfish Island; otherwise, how could he have achieved success? It’s unfortunate we didn’t discover it sooner, allowing him to utilize it seamlessly.” Song Qing shook his head.
As for the Foundation Establishnt Pills? Their distribution was closely monitored, so he never considered them as a possibility!
“Crown Prince, your wisdom is comndable, but… do we truly wish to support such a person?” The Song Clan servant seed sowhat reluctant.
After all, Fang Xi hailed from the lineage of a venerable patriarch among the Foundation Establishnt Immortals!
“Wan Island Lake runs deep waters; let’s place our first move to test the currents…” Song Qing lightly tapped his fan, appearing confident and well-prepared.
Ultimately, which rogue cultivator wouldn’t yearn for rapid advancent? And who among them would dare reject an olive branch extended by the young master of the prestigious Song Clan?
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