The Mountain Protector Elder was a white-haired old man in the late Golden Core stage, who, although he regarded Li Shiqing and his two companions with slight pride in his eyes, maintained a fairly amicable attitude without attempting to make things difficult for them or, to put it another way, he viewed such actions beneath him.
After a round of investigation and confirmation, it was determined that Li Shiqing, the newly advanced Golden Core, indeed ca from the Yunping State, originally a vassal power of the Yuanming Sect—the Li family of Da Rong Island.
"No problem," nodded the Mountain Protector Elder, summoning a disciple in charge of welcoming guests to lead them through the gates of Shen Leishan.
Compared to the Yuanming Sect, Shen Leishan was imasurably higher in status. Its core territory alone stretched over a thousand miles, larger than the entire Yunping State, not to ntion the peripheral areas.
And now, Li Shiqing and his two companions had arrived at the boundary between the outer region and the core territory—a tall Spirit Mountain specially prepared to accommodate vassals like them, or forces from other powers.
"A third-tier Spirit Vein?" As he stepped in, Li Shiren was stunned by the dense spiritual energy!
The Foundation Establishnt disciple leading the way proudly introduced it: "Fellow Daoist need not be so surprised. Inside Shen Leishan, there are over fifty third-tier Spirit Veins for the Inner Sect, and even deeper, there are fourth-tier Spirit Veins."
"It is deservedly Shen Leishan," Li Shiren muttered.
The guide seed eager to continue the introduction, but upon seeing a middle-aged man flying toward them from not too far away, he quickly warned, "The external affairs elder is coming."
"Li Shiqing greets fellow Daoist."
"Yun Qi greets fellow Daoist."
The two Golden Core cultivators exchanged courtesies, and after the others had paid their respects, Master Yu Qing said, "Since the family of the fellow Daoist is a newly advanced Golden Core, let first explain the rules of our sect."
"Firstly: the Sect does not forbid its vassal forces from battling each other, but they must not invite outside powers to join the conflict; otherwise, the Sect will personally intervene to eradicate any infiltrators!"
"Secondly: the Sect will not assign missions to vassal forces nor require tributes, but there will be calls to arms."
Li Shiqing frowned slightly, asking, "May I inquire, fellow Daoist, what are these calls to arms for?"
"To battle against the Yin Wind Cave, slay demon cultivators, and the like," explained Master Yu Qing. "During a call to arms, should any losses occur, the Sect will provide compensation."
Li Shiqing nodded, relieved that there would be compensation, "Please continue, fellow Daoist."
Master Yu Qing went on: "The third rule..."
"The ninth and final rule," he paused slightly before continuing, "the Sect will give ten mature Foundation Establishnt Spiritual dicines that contain Spirit Seeds to the newly advanced Golden Core forces, including the Pill Recipe for the Foundation Establishnt Pill."
Li Shiting and Li Shiren were ecstatic, but Li Shiqing just calmly asked, "May I inquire, fellow Daoist, what would my Li family need to offer in return?"
"You are kind-hearted, fellow Daoist," Yu Qing replied with a slight smile. "The Sect offers three choices: one, go to the battlefield and fight against the Yin Wind Cave for thirty years; two, slay a Golden Core demon cultivator; or three, enter the Wind Corruption Prefecture and eradicate a force of no fewer than twenty Foundation Establishnt demon cultivators.
This can be accumulated over ti."
"Besides, the Sect can also upgrade a third-tier Spirit Vein for the Li family for free, with the sa three conditions."
The Yin Wind Cave, sworn enemy of Shen Leishan—the battle between these two powers had persisted for many years, yet their strength was always more or less equal, with neither able to exterminate the other.
This situation eventually led to the current war of attrition, also a way to train the disciples within the Sect.
The three options presented by Shen Leishan seed at first glance to favor battling on the front for thirty years since wars didn’t erupt constantly, and small-scale conflicts wouldn’t affect cultivators at the Golden Core level.
But too many uncertainties exist on the battlefield, and no one can guarantee when the two sides would fully engage in conflict.
The second option, slaying a Golden Core demon cultivator, was the most dangerous choice, considering his freshly-earned Golden Core strength and the demon cultivators’ unpredictable tactics.
The last condition wasn’t easy to fulfill either; venturing into the Wind Corruption Prefecture bore the risk of being discovered and relentlessly hunted by nurous demon cultivators.
However dangerous, Li Shiqing was compelled to choose one of them. Missing this opportunity could an many years before his family could gather enough Foundation Establishnt Spiritual dicine.
Upgrading the Spirit Vein could wait, considering the Li family’s current rate of acquiring Spirit Stones, it wouldn’t take more than a decade or so to accumulate the necessary amount.
Not to ntion that the family now held two Spirit Islands with high developntal value, which would further reduce the ti.
During this period, he could use the Spirit Stones to cultivate or monopolize the second-tier Spirit Vein on Red Pine Island for his personal cultivation.
"May I consider the situation further before deciding?" After a mont of contemplation, Li Shiqing asked.
Yu Qing nodded with a smile, "Of course, you can bring the bodies of the Wind Corruption Prefecture’s demon cultivators to exchange for the rewards at any ti."
"Oh, and this too!" Yu Qing took out a set of communication Formation Array and explained how to use it.
"If there is nothing else, fellow Daoist, you might let that disciple walk about in the mountain gate; I have matters to attend to and must leave first."
It was only then that Li Shiqing produced an invitation, "This is for the Core Formation event I am hosting in half a month. I sincerely invite the Supre Ancestor."
"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, the Sect will send representatives," Yu Qing said before taking off into the sky.
At that mont, the welcoming disciple stepped forward and asked, "Does Senior wish to visit the Eight Sights of Shen Lei?"
"With nurous family affairs awaiting, we shall not linger," declined Li Shiqing, preparing to leave imdiately.
As splendid as Shen Leishan was, it was not Li family’s territory, and he felt uneasy, believing it best to depart sooner rather than later.
"Please follow , Senior."
Before departing, Li Shiqing offered the welcoming disciple a bottle of Water-Refined Consolidating Yuan Pills, and then, he took Li Shiren and the others and left.
Half a month had co and gone in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the normally tranquil Da Rong Island buzzed with excitent as several spirit boats descended from the sky bringing a handful of cultivators with them.
And this was the first ti Da Rong Island had been opened to outsiders.
With half a month’s worth of renovations, the Li family’s territory was completely transford, including a newly laid white jade stone path and the construction of a white jade square.
It wasn’t long before every Foundation Establishnt family from Yunping State had arrived, each bringing gifts of considerable value.
After a while, the Yuanming Sect arrived, led by the Golden Core cultivator Jiang Tianming.
As if by design, no sooner had he arrived than Master Yu Qing from the Green Sword Sect also made her entrance.
Jiang Tianming’s eyebrows furrowed slightly upon seeing Yu Qing, observing Li Shiqing who was currently greeting her with a aningful look.
The last to arrive, naturally, was a Golden Core cultivator from Shen Leishan.
No ceremony would be complete without fine food and drinks, so in front of everyone was laid out first-rank spirit food. Foundation Establishnt cultivators had a few second-rank Spirit Fruits and a jug of second-rank spiritual wine, while the Golden Core cultivators were treated to third-rank spirit fruit and spiritual wine.
Thankfully, there were only three Golden Cores present; otherwise, just purchasing the spirit fruit and spiritual wine would have cost a fortune in spirit stones!
After everyone had their fill, it was ti for the main event of the day—the sermon by Golden Core cultivator Li Shiqing!
This custom had been passed down from many years ago and was an essential part of every Core Formation ceremony.
Li Shiqing shared his insight and experience with wood-attribute skills. After all, aside from the inaccessible Core Formation insights, this was his most presentable knowledge.
This was actually good news for Li Zhirui, as he was primarily studying wood-attribute skills.
Once the sermon ended, the ceremony was nearing its conclusion.
After everyone had left Da Rong Island, besides cleaning up leftover food, the main task was to inventory the spiritual objects gifted by various forces!
The spiritual objects brought by the Foundation Establishnt families need no ntion—they were all second-rank spiritual objects, most of which were materials or mature Spiritual dicine.
"I wonder what spiritual objects those three Golden Core forces have brought." Li Zhirui excitedly opened the Jade Box from Yuanming Sect.
Inside the Jade Box rested a Spirit Beast Bag, accompanied by a Jade Slip. When he probed with his divine sense, he discovered a pale green Spirit Beast Egg inside and, after checking the contents of the Jade Slip, was imdiately overjoyed and said,
"This Spirit Beast Egg is actually a third-grade Cangfeng Hawk with wood and wind attributes!"
The Cangfeng Hawk, which ranked highly on Li Zhirui’s list of potential Contracted Spirit Beasts, t all his requirents for a second contracted beast in terms of rank, attributes, size, and offensive capabilities.
Moreover, since Xun belongs to wood, Xun wind is the Yin of wood, and Zhen thunder is the Yang of wood, the Cangfeng Hawk is considered a genuinely orthodox wood-attribute Spirit Beast.
Unfortunately, it was a gift for Li Shiqing and had nothing to do with the family, so he was not in a position to claim it.
And indeed, as a Golden Core cultivator, Li Shiqing should contract a superior Spirit Beast, otherwise, if the Green Pupil Tiger couldn’t break through the Golden Core stage, then he would be restricted by the "Wanling Sutra" and stand no chance of reaching the Nascent Soul in his lifeti.
As the Green Pupil Tiger was only a second-grade Spirit Beast, breaking through the Golden Core was as difficult as breaking free from bloodline shackles, a feat even more challenging than Li Shiqing’s own Core Formation!
Li Zhirui gently touched the Spirit Beast Egg and placed it back in the Spirit Beast Bag, handing it to Li Shiqing.
"This Cangfeng Hawk egg is for you," Li Shiqing said with a smile without reaching out to take it.
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He had witnessed all the changes in Li Zhirui’s expression and knew that he had been searching for a suitable Spirit Beast.
"Uncle, no!" Li Zhirui shook his head vigorously. He did desire the egg, but it was Li Shiqing’s property, and more importantly, it was related to his future path.
Li Shiqing looked firmly at Li Zhirui, speaking calmly, "My talents are limited, and achieving the Golden Core is already a fortune granted by heaven. Perhaps I can gradually advance my cultivation to the late Golden Core stage before I reach the end of my lifespan, but there is no possibility for to break the pill into a baby."
"Thus, a third-grade Spirit Beast Egg is of little use to ; rather, it would be a waste," he concluded.
Although Li Shiqing’s tone was steady, Li Zhirui and the others could still detect a hint of sadness.
Anyone who embarked on the path of cultivation aspired to break through to higher realms and extend their lifespan, didn’t they?
Li Shiqing wished for this too, but he had chosen to make a sacrifice for the sake of the family.
"Do not feel sorry for ," seeing the look of guilt on Li Zhirui’s face, Li Shiqing shook his head and softly said, "A Golden Core cultivator lives five hundred years. If you truly feel sorry for , then show that you’ve achieved the Nascent Soul within three hundred years."
"Uncle, I will not disappoint you!" Li Zhirui solemnly promised.
Although it was difficult, Li Zhirui felt it wasn’t impossible, especially with the mysterious space he possessed.
"Good!" In this mont, Li Shiqing was even happier than when he had achieved his own Golden Core.
Li Zhirui accepted the Cangfeng Hawk egg and then proceeded to inspect the spiritual objects from the Green Sword Sect, which were also a third-grade Spirit Beast Egg, said to carry a trace of the Honghu Bloodline, the Long-tailed White Bird.
Li Shiqing did take it this ti, but he wasn’t planning to contract it himself; instead, he intended to save it for Li Zhiyue after her breakthrough in Foundation Establishnt.
Both gifts might seem very valuable to the Li family, but for other Golden Core powers, these two third-grade Spirit Beast Eggs would be no more than white elephants.
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