Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Called Him Uncle

As Ji Shuwen laid out the details, Li Ping quickly understood the gist of the situation.

It turned out that after joining the Crimson Flame Sect, Ji Shuwen had devoted herself to cultivation and finally broke through to the Qi Refining Ninth Level last year.

Breaking through to the Qi Refining Ninth Level meant she was just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Naturally, she began preparing for her own Foundation Establishment.

The most crucial part of this was the Foundation Establishment Pill!

The Crimson Flame Sect was a sect overseen by a Core Formation Cultivator, so it did not lack Foundation Establishment Pills.

According to the Crimson Flame Sect’s rules, all disciples were divided into different tiers based on their aptitude.

Disciples with an Abnormal Spiritual Root or better were True Disciples. They didn’t need any Sect Contribution and could receive one Foundation Establishment Pill from the Sect for free after reaching the Peak of Qi Refining.

Disciples with Dual Spirit Roots were Inner Sect Disciples. They could not receive a Foundation Establishment Pill for free and had to pay a certain price to obtain one. The specific method was to exchange three thousand Sect Contribution for one Foundation Establishment Pill.

Disciples with Three Spirit Roots were Outer Sect Disciples, and it cost five thousand Sect Contribution to exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill.

Disciples with Four Spirit Roots or worse were Servant Disciples, and it cost ten thousand Sect Contribution to exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill.

In short, as a Sect Cultivator, it was much easier for Ji Shuwen to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill than it was for a Loose Cultivator.

As long as she gathered enough Sect Contribution, she could directly exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill from within the Sect, without having to rack her own brains.

But Sect Contribution was not easy to earn. Ji Shuwen had diligently performed various Sect missions since she joined, but to this day, she had only saved up less than one thousand.

The gap to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill was huge. However, the Foundation Establishment Stage master she served had personally promised to give her one thousand Sect Contribution as assistance when she needed it.

Thus, Ji Shuwen was still about one thousand Sect Contribution short of what she needed for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Originally, she had hoped that the cultivators from the Ji family could spare some time to help her complete Sect missions to close the gap.

However, the Ji family was just a small Qi Refining family. They only had a few cultivators, all of whom were in the Middle-stage Qi Refining, with not a single one in the Late-stage. They simply didn’t have the spare manpower to help her.

That was why Daoist Ji had brought her to visit Li Ping, hoping to receive help from him.

After she finished speaking, Ji Shuwen looked at Li Ping with a composed expression, her gaze very calm.

"So that’s what this is about." Li Ping understood immediately. He couldn’t help but shake his head and say, "Brother Ji, why trouble yourself with a trip for such a small matter? You could have just sent a messenger to let me know."

Hearing Li Ping’s words, Daoist Ji simply smiled without speaking.

He was the one asking Li Ping for a favor. No matter how good their relationship was, there was a proper way to ask for help.

Besides, this matter concerned his granddaughter’s Foundation Establishment; it was no small thing. How could he dare to be careless?

Li Ping turned back to Ji Shuwen. "So, you’re saying that to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, Shuwen, you’re still about one thousand Sect Contribution short?"

"Perhaps not that much," Ji Shuwen explained thoughtfully. "I broke through to the Qi Refining Ninth Level last year. It will take another year or two to reach the Peak of Qi Refining. During that time, I can still perform Sect missions to earn more contribution."

Hearing her earnest explanation, Li Ping smiled and waved his hand. "No need to go through all that trouble. You don’t have to do any more missions. Just focus on your cultivation and aim for Foundation Establishment as soon as possible!"

In Li Ping’s view, Daoist Ji didn’t have many years left. If he could witness Ji Shuwen’s successful Foundation Establishment before he passed away, he would likely have no regrets in this life.

Li Ping certainly had to fulfill this small wish of his.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Can the Crimson Flame Sect’s Sect Contribution be bought and sold?"

Ji Shuwen shook her head. "No, it can only be gifted from a master to their disciple."

"Oh?"

’Hearing that Sect Contribution can’t be bought directly,’ Li Ping couldn’t help but frown slightly. ’If the only way to get Sect Contribution is to do missions myself, does that mean I have to make a trip to the Crimson Flame Sect?’

’A round trip, plus the time to do the missions, would probably take several years.’

’I’d rather spend some extra Spirit Stones to help this junior than delay my own cultivation.’

After a moment of thought, he asked again, "Within your Sect... there should be a service where you can hire people to complete missions on your behalf to earn Sect Contribution, right?"

"There is..." Ji Shuwen hesitated, but ultimately, she explained frankly, "In that situation, the cost is quite high and not very economical. It usually costs thirteen Spirit Stones to get ten points of Sect Contribution."

Normally, one point of Sect Contribution is worth one Spirit Stone.

If you hired someone to do the mission, you’d spend thirteen Spirit Stones to get ten points of contribution, a net loss of three Spirit Stones.

Hearing this, however, Li Ping’s frown relaxed.

He directly took out fifteen hundred Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and placed them on the table in front of him. The multicolored Spirit Stones almost formed a small mountain.

"This... this?" Ji Shuwen, who had been calm all this time, finally widened her eyes in shock. In disbelief, she asked, "Are... are all these Spirit Stones for me?"

Li Ping’s next words confirmed her suspicion. "Shuwen, I can’t leave the Immortal City for an extended period, so I can’t go to the Crimson Flame Sect to help you with missions. Here are fifteen hundred Spirit Stones. Take them, go back to the Sect, and hire someone to help you do missions and earn Sect Contribution. As for yourself, just focus on your cultivation and achieve Foundation Establishment soon."

WHOOSH!

Ji Shuwen shot to her feet, her voice filled with excitement. "Thank you for your help, Uncle Li! Shuwen is eternally grateful!"

Daoist Ji, standing to the side, still just smiled without saying a word.

’He had guessed this would be the outcome before they even arrived. After all, can my relationship with Li Ping truly be measured by mere Spirit Stones?’

"Sit down," Li Ping said with a smile, waving his hand to indicate that Ji Shuwen didn’t need to be so formal.

At the same time, he noticed her change in address. Previously, Ji Shuwen had called him "Senior," which was based on Li Ping’s Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

It showed deference, but not true respect. If she also succeeded in Foundation Establishment one day, the address would naturally change to "Fellow Daoist."

But now, she was calling him Uncle Li.

This meant she was treating him as an elder. Since he was an elder, never mind Foundation Establishment—even if she reached Core Formation in the future and surpassed Li Ping’s cultivation, she would still call him Uncle Li when they met.

Evidently, the fifteen hundred Spirit Stones Li Ping had given her were a huge help—a crucial stepping stone for her advancement!

Thinking of this, Li Ping smiled and said, "Go on, put the Spirit Stones away."

"Yes, Uncle Li!" Ji Shuwen complied, putting the Spirit Stones into her Storage Bag, her eyes filled with irrepressible joy.

At this moment, Daoist Ji spoke up, clearing his throat twice. "Ahem... Shuwen, go find Shu Xuan. I still have some things to discuss with Brother Li."

With the Spirit Stones in hand and a Foundation Establishment Pill within reach, Ji Shuwen was immersed in joy. Hearing her grandfather’s instruction, she quickly nodded in agreement, left Immortal Peach Mountain, and went to find Ji Shu Xuan, who was cultivating in the Immortal City.

After sending Ji Shuwen away, Daoist Ji smiled and said, "Brother Li, I really have to thank you this time."

"Brother Ji, what are you saying? If you hadn’t guided me onto the Immortal Dao, I might still be struggling in the mortal world," Li Ping said with a smile. "Between us, what are a few Spirit Stones?"

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Daoist Ji’s expression turned serious as he brought up another matter. "Brother Li, regarding the Underground Spirit Vein beneath Little Plum Mountain, I have already entrusted everything to that boy, Shuchen. After I’m gone, the position of Clan Leader will also be inherited by him. I hope you’ll look after him a bit, for my sake."

Li Ping could tell that Daoist Ji was entrusting him with his final affairs. He sighed inwardly but readily agreed on the surface. "Brother Ji, don’t you worry. I’ve met that boy, Shuchen. He’s someone who can shoulder responsibility. I believe he’ll be able to lead the Ji family to grow and prosper."

Daoist Ji smiled and nodded. "Then this old man can rest assured."

The reason he had specifically sent Ji Shuwen away before bringing this up was mainly that he didn’t want her to know about the Underground Spirit Vein at Little Plum Mountain.

After all, Ji Shuwen was a Sect Cultivator and also a Female Cultivator. In the future, after becoming dao companions with someone, she might not prioritize the Ji family’s interests.

The Underground Spirit Vein was a matter of great importance. To avoid any potential leaks, it was natural that she not be told.

Originally, the only people who knew about the Underground Spirit Vein were himself, Li Ping, and Ji Shuchen, who had accidentally discovered the passage. Once he passed away, only Li Ping and Ji Shuchen would know of this matter.

Right now, the Ji family and the Yan family were joined by marriage and were as close as one family.

Although Li Ping’s surname wasn’t Yan, in terms of both sentiment and interest, he was a member of the Yan family.

Daoist Ji believed that even after he passed away, Brother Li would not treat the Ji and Yan families unfairly. He could be at ease about his affairs after death.

...

Daoist Ji’s visit was sudden, and his departure was just as rushed.

A few days later, he left the Immortal City with his granddaughter.

Li Ping’s life returned to its usual tranquility.

Not long after, after several years of hard cultivation, Bai Lin finally reached the peak of the Qi Refining Sixth Level and could attempt to break through to the Late-stage Qi Refining.

However, she was a cultivator with Four Spirit Roots, so breaking through to Late-stage Qi Refining would not be so easy.

Fortunately, Li Ping had noticed this matter long ago. Considering he was surrounded by a few people with poor Spiritual Roots, he had been collecting the Spirit Medicines needed to concoct Qi Condensing Pills.

Just last year, he had finally gathered enough Spirit Medicines and successfully concocted a batch of Qi Condensing Pills.

When Daoist Ji left the Immortal City, Li Ping even made a point of gifting him a Qi Condensing Pill to take back to Ji Shuchen.

With the help of a Qi Condensing Pill, the probability of a cultivator with Four Spirit Roots breaking through to Late-stage Qi Refining was greatly increased.

After receiving the Qi Condensing Pill from Li Ping, Bai Lin obediently returned to her room to cultivate and attempt her breakthrough.

One month later, relying on the power of the Qi Condensing Pill, she successfully broke through to Late-stage Qi Refining.

This year, Bai Lin was thirty-six years old.

At this cultivation speed, she should be able to reach the Peak of Qi Refining before she turned fifty and attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Attempting Foundation Establishment at such an age was, of course, a bit late.

However, Li Ping planned to use a dual cultivation technique as a cover to regulate her Origin with his Nourishing Life Skill Power.

This way, he could restore her body’s functions to their peak condition, allowing her to challenge the bottleneck in her prime.

Even for a cultivator with Four Spirit Roots, as long as preparations were sufficient, success was not entirely impossible.

And not long after Bai Lin advanced to Late-stage Qi Refining, Li Ping’s Spirit Beast, the Desolate Fire Sparrow, which had been drowsy for several years, also finally began to advance!

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