"Young Master, I had hoped to form an Immortal Golden Core, but I couldn’t manage it. I was just a half-step shy, so I ended up forming a Half-step Immortal Golden Core."
"A Half-step Immortal? That’s excellent!"
A Golden Core of this quality was a rare sight, even within the Purple Mist Sect.
She was now qualified to be considered a Nascent Soul Seed.
To the side,
Mo Qingxue’s expression dimd slightly.
Years ago, she had rushed her Core Formation for the sake of her family. Because her preparations had been insufficient, the quality of her Pill was diocre. It was only a Mid Grade True Pill, aning she had no hope of ever reaching Nascent Soul Formation in this lifeti.
Her Spiritual Root was actually quite good—a Top Grade Abnormal Spirit Root. Her talent for cultivation was nearly on par with that of a Celestial Pride possessing an Earth Spirit Root.
If she had been fully prepared, she too might have had a chance to form a Half-step Immortal Golden Core.
But now, what was done was done, and it could not be changed.
"Daoist Jiang, congratulations."
Mo Qingxue cast aside those stray thoughts. A smile touched her lips as she congratulated Jiang Muyu on her successful Core Formation.
Jiang Muyu smiled gracefully. "Sister Mo, I might stay to cultivate with the Mo Family. I hope you won’t mind having around."
Mo Qingxue smiled in return. "Why would I? With another Golden Core Cultivator, the Mo Family will have that much more power to deter outsiders."
And so, the two ca to an agreent.
Jiang Muyu would cultivate using the Mo Family’s Spirit Vein, while the Mo Family would leverage her status as a Golden Core Cultivator. It was a mutually beneficial arrangent.
「In the days that followed.」
Representatives from the various powers of the Southern Domain arrived to offer their congratulations.
They were all sowhat surprised to learn that this mysterious new Core Formation Cultivator was not a mber of the Mo Family and that no Core Formation Ceremony would be held.
Nevertheless, they still presented congratulatory Treasures.
「For a while after that.」
Within nearly every Golden Core Influence, discussions were taking place about Jiang Muyu’s specific identity.
"The Mo Family has put out the word that the mysterious Core Formation Cultivator is a friend of their ancestor, Mo Qingxue."
"If that’s the case, she’s most likely a Loose Cultivator."
"Sigh... Why don’t I have friends like that..."
In the great hall of the Mu Family residence, Mu Chengsong let out a deep sigh.
His only hope now was for the Mu Family to produce a Core Formation Cultivator soon and overco their current predicant.
"Yuanchen, if there’s anything you need, just tell or the Ancestor. You don’t need to worry about material things. Just focus on reaching Foundation Establishnt Peak as soon as you can."
He looked at Li Chang’an, who was disguised as Mu Yuanchen, and couldn’t help but feel a sliver of anxiety.
This was because the cultivation level Li Chang’an showed to the public was still at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishnt, a long way from the Foundation Establishnt Peak.
All the Mu Clan mbers were worried that Li Chang’an wouldn’t have enough ti to achieve Core Formation before their ancestor, Mu Song, reached the end of his lifespan.
Without a Golden Core Ancestor to protect him, the Tier Three Array alone would likely be insufficient to guarantee his safety.
Outsiders wouldn’t need to breach the Array; they could severely affect his Core Formation just by creating a disturbance from outside.
「In the days that followed.」
Whatever Li Chang’an asked for, the Mu Family did their utmost to provide.
It reached the point where, despite his thick skin, even he began to feel a little awkward.
’After all, I’m not the real Mu Yuanchen. I’m just an outsider.’
’If the Mu Clan mbers ever found out that the Celestial Pride they were pouring all their resources into was just an imposter, I wonder what they would think?’
「That evening.」
Li Chang’an stared at the Treasure that had just been delivered to him, lost in thought for a long while.
Mu Yuanru asked curiously, "Brother, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
Li Chang’an replied with a smile, gently shaking his head.
「In the years that followed.」
He did not simply take from the Mu Family, but also helped them out a great deal.
Disciples of the Mu Family had been trapped deep in Secret Realms on several occasions, and each ti, it was he who ca to their rescue.
Furthermore, he wrote down two sets of insights—one on the cultivation of Spirit Plants and the other on the traditions of a Spirit Doctor—and placed them in the Mu Family’s Library Pavilion.
Both sets of insights provided a direct path to the Tier Three level in their respective fields.
Any Cultivator studying these two disciplines could avoid many pitfalls simply by reading what he had written.
Previously, many of the clan mbers had only acknowledged his strength.
But following these actions, more and more Mu Clan mbers ca to accept him for who he was. They had practically started to see him as the next ancestor of the Mu Family.
...
In the blink of an eye, another two years passed.
「On this day.」
A vortex of Spiritual Power once again ford over Changqing Mountain.
Chen Da’an, the Chen Family’s prodigy with a Middle Grade Spirit Root, successfully reached the Foundation Establishnt Stage, becoming a Foundation Establishnt Ancestor for his clan.
With this, all three major families at the foot of the mountain had beco Foundation Establishnt Clans.
Furthermore, due to the earlier earth tremors, many new Tier One and Tier Two Spirit Veins had appeared across the Southern Domain.
The three great families had all seized the opportunity to occupy a Tier Two Spirit Vein near Changqing Mountain, allowing them to thrive and prosper in these chaotic tis.
Imdiately after his Foundation Establishnt Ceremony, Chen Da’an selected several Treasures from his congratulatory gifts and ascended the mountain to pay his respects to Li Chang’an.
"Ancestor, these Treasures are all Wood Elent Treasures, perfect for refining Wood Elent Elixir Pills. Please, accept them."
Chen Da’an’s face was filled with reverence.
Even though he was now a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, he still addressed Li Chang’an as "Ancestor," identifying as a cultivator of the Changqing Mountain Lineage.
Li Chang’an gave a slight nod and accepted the Treasures.
"Cultivate diligently. Don’t grow complacent just because you’ve reached the Foundation Establishnt Stage."
He raised his hand and pointed a finger, sending a beam of Spiritual Light directly into Chen Da’an’s Sea of Consciousness. It contained countless Cultivation Insights pertaining to the Foundation Establishnt Stage.
"Thank you, Ancestor!"
Chen Da’an was overjoyed, thanking him profusely.
After asking for guidance on so cultivation matters, he departed from Changqing Mountain and returned to the Chen Family’s Tier Two Spirit Vein.
Luo Yunshu and Wang Lingjing, however, remained on Changqing Mountain. They did not move to their own families’ Spirit Veins, simply because they preferred life on the mountain.
「A few days later.」
Li Chang’an used the materials he had recently acquired to refine a batch of Elixir Pills.
He transford into a streak of Spiritual Light and traveled to Yellow Crane Immortal City, heading to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower to sell his wares as usual.
"Manager Jin, could you price these for ?"
"Elder Li..."
Shopkeeper Jin Yue was ancient and frail, his body withered and gaunt. He did not have much of his lifespan left.
He smiled and calculated the price for Li Chang’an as he always did.
Once the deal was done, Li Chang’an was about to leave.
Jin Yue suddenly stopped him. "Elder Li, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Li Chang’an halted and turned back to ask.
A bitter expression surfaced on Jin Yue’s ancient face.
"Elder Li, I have very little of my lifespan remaining; I won’t live much longer. But a descendant of mine, one I have high hopes for, has still not reached the Foundation Establishnt Stage. I truly cannot rest easy."
Li Chang’an found this rather odd.
’Why is everyone trying to entrust their descendants to ? Do I look like I’m good at babysitting?’
Jin Yue looked at Li Chang’an, his eyes filled with anticipation, and asked hesitantly, "Elder Li, that descendant of mine... he’s not very accomplished. After I die, could you perhaps look out for him a bit?"
Li Chang’an nodded slightly. "Alright. I’ll do what I can."
At these words, Jin Yue breathed a sigh of relief.
He suddenly held out a Jade Scroll. "Elder Li, this Jade Scroll contains a piece of information that I cannot conveniently tell you directly."
"Hm?"
Li Chang’an took the Jade Scroll, giving him a quizzical look.
He extended his Divine Sense into it.
Inside the Jade Scroll.
...were a few lines that Jin Yue had recorded in advance.
"Elder Li, outsiders all call you a coward who hides in his shell, but I know you are no ordinary Foundation Establishnt cultivator. You are far stronger than the rumors suggest, and perhaps you are even plotting your breakthrough to the Core Formation Stage."
"Zhang Qingrong, the Celestial Pride of the Talisman Zhang Family, once chanced upon a great opportunity for Core Formation. It was a Core Formation Spiritual Object called ’Golden Cloud Qi,’ which can increase the success rate of Core Formation by a full twenty percent."
"He obtained two wisps of Golden Cloud Qi at the ti. He has only used one, so the other is still in his possession!"
Upon reading this, Li Chang’an’s heart leaped with joy.
Golden Cloud Qi!
This was a top-tier Core Formation Spiritual Object.
A full twenty-percent increase to his success rate—that far surpassed any of the Core Formation Spiritual Objects he currently possessed.
He looked up at Jin Yue and said with great solemnity, "Manager Jin, my deepest thanks!"
A smile appeared on Jin Yue’s face.
"I’m glad it will be of use to you, Elder Li. But you must be exceptionally careful. That man is, after all, an entire realm higher than you."
"Rest assured, I won’t get into trouble. And this matter will not be traced back to you."
With a small exertion of force, Li Chang’an shattered the Jade Scroll.
He understood Jin Yue’s concerns.
After all, to get the Golden Cloud Qi, he would have to make a move on Zhang Qingrong.
Anyone else would have had to find a way to kill Zhang Qingrong. But Li Chang’an possessed the Wood Seed Technique; he didn’t need to take a life.
He transford into a streak of light, heading straight for the Ancient Sect Ruins deep within the Black Dragon Mountain Range.
...
「anwhile.」
Inside the ruins, Zhang Qingrong was exploring a stretch of debris with Liu Xuanfeng and several others.
Liu Xuanfeng had been in a foul mood recently.
It was simply because he still hadn’t found an opportunity to deal with Li Chang’an.
"Doesn’t that Li Chang’an need to seek out opportunities? Why does he spend all day hiding inside that Array on Changqing Mountain?"
"You may not be aware, Daoist Liu, but Li Chang’an earned the nickna ’Turtle’ many years ago."
"From the ti he reached the Foundation Establishnt Stage to now, he has barely ever left the mountain..."
The others chid in, recounting tales of Li Chang’an’s cautiousness.
Hearing this only made Liu Xuanfeng more frustrated.
"What kind of a Cultivator acts like that!"
Before coming to the Southern Domain, he never imagined he would encounter such an opponent.
Back in the Central Domain, all of his opponents liked to take the initiative and attack. Who would cower all day like Li Chang’an?
"If it weren’t for that damn turtle shell of his, I could kill him with a single palm strike!"
"Indeed..."
Zhang Qingrong sighed in agreent.
"Without the protection of that Array, I could cut him down with a single, casual strike."
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