Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Flipping the Table

In a secret chamber within the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

Two figures were discussing something in low voices.

One figure had a face as pale as paper, with triangular eyes and an aquiline nose. The other, dressed in a red robe, possessed a magnificent figure.

They were none other than Guardian Yan and Miaorou. As the two were conversing, suddenly—

SHIIING—

A sword cry, like the roar of a dragon, pierced through layer after layer of Restrictions and entered their ears directly, causing both of their expressions to change slightly.

"That sword cry..." Guardian Yan’s face turned exceptionally grim after carefully recalling the sound he had just heard.

Seeing his grim expression, Miaorou tentatively asked, "Guardian, this...?"

Guardian Yan didn’t answer her immediately. A look of conflict appeared on his face, as if he were making a difficult decision.

After a long moment, he seemed to have finally made up his mind, and the look on his face gradually calmed.

’Lately, the spiritual sense warnings in my heart have been growing more and more intense. What’s worse is that I have no idea where the problem is coming from.’

’I’m worried Fenglan Master has left some kind of measure on the Cultivators from the Cyan Dragon Mountain lineage, so I naturally don’t dare to make a move against them again.’

’And that one person who might know something, the one who isn’t a Cyan Dragon Mountain Cultivator, is a complete turtle. I’ve tried to lure him out of the city multiple times, all to no avail.’

’I can’t wait any longer. If that woman, Dai Sangyu, really achieves Core Formation, our sect will face a powerful enemy. Who knows how many of our followers will die by her sword in the future. Heavy losses are a small matter. But my personal mission failing, making me ineligible to apply for the Core Formation Spiritual Object, *that* is the real problem. At my age, if I miss this chance, I’ll never be able to reach Core Formation in this lifetime.’

At this thought, a vicious glint flashed in Guardian Yan’s triangular eyes. ’Since I don’t know where the problem lies, I’ll just flip the whole table over and find out. And that cowardly turtle... he’s been infuriating me this whole time. I’ll take this chance to get rid of him too!’

Guardian Yan looked at Miaorou and said lightly, "Fairy Miaorou, next, I’ll need you to do me a favor."

Miaorou’s heart went cold when she saw the venomous look in his eyes. She quickly and respectfully said, "Please give your orders, Guardian."

...

At this year’s gathering, Bai Qing had also broken through to Middle-stage Qi Refining. Accordingly, his minimum contribution to the Foundation Establishment Fund had risen to 20 Spirit Stones.

Adding Li Ping’s 300 Spirit Stones, and 100 Spirit Stones each from Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng,

the total contribution from everyone in the Friends Association this year reached 580 Spirit Stones. Including the contributions from the previous year,

the total number of Spirit Stones in the Foundation Establishment Fund now came to 1,150.

In front of everyone, Li Ping gathered all the Spirit Stones into a separate Storage Bag.

Afterward, he took out eight bottles of Qi Gathering Pills from his own Storage Bag and gave two bottles each to Cheng Yao and the other three.

Then, under the expectant gazes of Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng, Li Ping took out another four bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, giving two bottles to each of them as well.

The six of them were overjoyed and said in unison, "Thank you, Big Brother!"

With two bottles of Cultivation Elixirs per year, their cultivation speed would increase significantly. Perhaps they could reach the Peak of Qi Refining sooner and begin preparations for Foundation Establishment.

They were happy, and Li Ping was happy to see it.

Once all six of them had each received an opportunity for Foundation Establishment, regardless of success or failure, he would have fulfilled the Friends Association’s oath and would no longer be bound by it.

Of course, this didn’t mean that after fulfilling the oath, he would no longer care if the members of the Friends Association lived or died.

After all, they were brothers and sisters. If they ran into trouble, he would still do his best to help them.

Besides, while the other six might not be able to keep up with his pace in the future, if they could reach Foundation Establishment, they could still provide him with some help.

For example, Gumu Sheng was skilled in business. If he successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he might be able to gather useful information for Li Ping.

The same went for the others.

...

After distributing the Pills, everyone, as usual, discussed problems they had encountered at work and in life, and talked about solutions.

Everyone else was doing fine, but Teng Feng brought up an idea. He felt his current job wasn’t helping him improve much, so he wanted to quit and strike out on his own.

"I want to venture outside the Immortal City and see if I can find a chance to capture and raise a few Demon Beasts with potential," Teng Feng said.

Teng Feng had originally been a Hunter. Before stepping onto the Immortal Dao, he made his living by hunting.

It was during a hunt that he accidentally lost his footing and fell off a cliff. At the bottom, he discovered the legacy left behind by a deceased Cultivator. As it happened, he possessed a Spiritual Root, and thus he stepped onto the Immortal Dao.

Compared to the monotonous, day-to-day life inside the Immortal City, he actually preferred the free and unrestrained days of his time as a Hunter.

Of course, the reason he was having such thoughts now was that he had achieved a certain level in his Beast Taming Skill, giving him the confidence to venture into the towering mountains and precipitous ridges outside the Immortal City.

The countless Demon Beasts in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range were the best resources for his cultivation.

Li Ping didn’t give him any advice right away.

Teng Feng had grown up in the mountains and wilds, developing an innocent, child-like heart, and was naturally close to nature. So, Li Ping could understand why he didn’t like staying in the Immortal City.

However, it was very dangerous outside the Immortal City.

This danger came not only from Demon Beasts, but even more so from the Loose Cultivators who roamed the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

While Li Ping was still thinking, the others had already started trying to dissuade him.

Advice such as, "It’s not easy to have a stable job in the Immortal City," "It’s very dangerous outside the Immortal City," "Your Qi Refining Fourth Level cultivation is too low," and "You still need to settle down and build your foundation," were all brought up.

Teng Feng smiled and accepted everyone’s advice, but it was clear that his determination hadn’t changed.

Li Ping was thinking about another problem: if Teng Feng were to have an accident before getting his chance at Foundation Establishment, what would happen to his contributions?

Would they just be cleared and not count? That seemed too unfair to them.

The Friends Association couldn’t let its members have such lingering worries.

...

After careful consideration, Li Ping decided that he had to close this loophole.

After all, if Teng Feng was insistent on venturing out of the city, Li Ping might be able to forcibly stop him once, but could he stop him forever?

For him, venturing outside the city was actually the most suitable way to cultivate.

Besides, even if they didn’t leave the city, they could still encounter danger. A failed attempt at breaking through to the next realm could lead to sudden death on the spot.

Also, although Cultivators don’t get sick, they can suffer from Qi deviation.

Once someone suffered from Qi deviation, they would be crippled. Even if they got a Foundation Establishment Pill, it seemed they would be unable to attempt Foundation Establishment.

Thinking of this, an idea began to take shape in Li Ping’s mind.

He was just about to speak up and propose a way to close the loophole.

Suddenly—

SHIIING—

A sword cry, like the roar of a dragon, treated the two layers of Arrays outside his cave residence as if they were nothing, passing directly into the ears of the seven people present.

The banquet fell silent for a moment. After a long while, no second sword cry followed, and everyone couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Ping, who had been ready to grab his valuables and run at a moment’s notice, also relaxed. He comforted himself, ’It’s probably just Fenglan Master practicing his sword. It’s not like an enemy is attacking.’

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