The clear and transparent stream quietly flows through the lush forest, with two little fish swimming together in the water.
Suddenly, a gray stone moved abruptly, and the two little fish were swallowed by it.
It turned out that the gray stone at the bottom of the water was a disguise for the turtle.
The turtle, without parental education, possesses a formidable hunting ability, which may be attributed to its bloodline and innate talent.
Wang Xianzhou gained a superior spirit beast with greater talent, born as a demon, at the cost of losing a mid-level young turtle in the Hybrid Demon Realm. It was clearly a great deal for him.
"You were here, how did you sneak out?"
Baifish noticed the turtle in the distance and was slightly surprised. He then quickly approached.
The little turtle saw her coming and twisted its body to run back to the courtyard of the Jade Pavilion, but its four short legs were somewhat slow compared to the speed of a cultivator who has mastered the art of drawing qi.
Baifish picked up the turtle by its tail, pulled it out of the water, and placed it on her hand.
"Oh, is this your spirit beast?"
Looking at the little turtle with a strong sense of intelligence, Wu Faxian became interested.
It seems to be in great spirits, we can even sell it for a fortune!
"No, the little fish only occasionally feeds for Grandfather Wang, who had no idea it would wander out today."
Wu Faxian felt a bit regretful and said with a smile.
"Is it almost here?"
In fact, with his divine consciousness, he could slightly exert effort to see the courtyard of the Jade Pavilion, but this kind of thing is impolite.
When he encountered someone while using his divine consciousness to teleport, it's better to use the divine power to escape immediately rather than try to visit. Also, when visiting others, it's better not to use divine consciousness to scan the surroundings impolitely. These are all rules that cultivators must follow.
Of course, if someone doesn't want to follow that's fine, but the outcome is unpredictable.
"Um, it's right up ahead."
Baifish lifted the turtle by its neck, leading Wu Faxian to the courtyard of the Jade Pavilion.
In the courtyard, three Wushu practitioners of the Wanhouen realm were attacking King Wang Yu Lou, whose skin was gray.
Don't misunderstand; he is practicing the stone armor technique.
The old ancestor has prepared him 20 essential spells that cover five different attributes. They can help him achieve comprehensive offensive and defensive magic during combat.
However, due to the difference in spiritual roots, it takes more effort for Yu Lou to cultivate the three spells other than water and fire.
Feeling Wu Faxian's arrival, Yu Lou, who was being beaten while closed-eyed, opened his eyes.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Go down and rest."
The three Wushu practitioners quickly stopped their attacks and left in a hurry.
Outside the courtyard, Wu Faxian, who was climbing the stone steps, couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
Little King, you have quite the refined taste. First, you built a golden mountain to practice, and now you've moved to the river bay fishing village directly.
As for the ability to cause trouble, the collective of governing Wushu practitioners in Dihu Cave would not be able to match your single-handedly.
He knows nothing at all. Wu Faxian is just lacking in insight; he can't understand the ways of cultivation.
More advanced cultivators need to consider the relationship between their own talents and the environment when it comes to cultivation, breakthroughs, and daily living.
This is something that has a real impact, and it affects not only the cultivator's own state, but also the location for refining treasure and high-level spirit pills.
Even though Yu Lou is only at the Qi Refining stage, with a bit of consideration for the compatibility between the cultivation environment and his own state, there will always be some benefits.
Especially since he is now facing a bottleneck. It is better to be in motion than at rest. A slight movement might just be enough to breakthrough.
"Brother Wu, I hope you're well. Hurry over, Yu Lou just received a pot of eight-grade monkey wine today, waiting for a guest to share it with."
Yu Lou's voice reached him, and Wu Faxian immediately quickened his pace, leaping to the edge of the cliff where the courtyard was located.
"I don't plan to drink the wine, but today there are more important matters. It seems that your courtyard, Yu Lou, has also installed magical arrays."
The eldest brother also wants to set up a magical array in his home. Would you be kind enough to spare some time to help?
Of course, as for remuneration, I won't be stingy with you."
The array in the courtyard was laid down by Laozu of Xianzhou and is just usable. It can only block Qi Refining practitioners under the guidance of someone, and it's impossible to block at the Foundation Building realm.
But strangely enough, Wu Faxian wanted just that effect. He is a lone cultivator without any influence, so he couldn't afford a magical array that cost nine spirit stones a week.
Expensive arrays are not affordable, so we should use those with high cost-effectiveness.
"Hahaha, Brother Wu doesn't know, this was laid down by my clan uncle, using a special array disk made by our family, it can't be sold outside, I'm sorry."
Yu Lou took the little stone turtle from the little fish's hand and led the two of them into the courtyard.
His courtyard is located on the side of a mountain cliff at the halfway point, which was discovered by Wang Xianzhou when he was out hunting. This place has multiple spiritual forces, making it a gathering place for spiritual forces.
Yu Lou cultivates here. It's possible that he may breakthrough just by cultivating.
Of course, the River Bay Fishing Village is close to the Beautiful Water Lake and is selected by the sect. The spiritual energy conditions there are also quite good.
It's just a matter of choice. Yu Lou needs to breakthrough, needs to move, and thus this courtyard was established.
"No problem, no problem. If all else fails, I'll hire two of my fellow disciples from the sect to set up the array."
The three of them sat by the stream, where a simple tea table had been set up. Although it was rough, it still had a wild and primitive charm.
"Only Yu Lou younger brother, you don't know, the sect is good in every aspect, but in terms of calculating the disciples, they also calculate very well."
Hiring disciples from the sect to set up arrays often requires trading in merits.
Alas, I don't want to embarrass you, but even though I guard the Merit Pavilion, I cannot afford to use Merits myself."
Wu Faxian hadn't even settled into his seat when he began the main topic of his visit today.
I said that the sect calculates its disciples and makes their lives difficult, what do you think, Brother Yu Lou?
Baifish didn't understand but took some monkey wine with her finger to feed the little stone turtle. When the little turtle extended its head to drink, she retracted her finger.
After the little stone turtle's head was pulled back, she put her finger back in front of it again. In short, she was almost driving the little stone turtle crazy.
"Yes, everyone has their own difficulties."
Yu Lou began to drink with Wu Faxian with a smile on his face.
As a member of the Wang family, with the strong support of Laozu Xianzhou, and having absolute control over the River Bay Fishing Village, his cultivation speed has been three layers per year, which is like a thousand miles a day.
No matter how you look at it, Wang Yu Lou has nothing to do with 'not easy'.
But these comparisons in front are all methods of comparing with those below. Yu Lou is looking at the higher level and the further distance.
He who fails to plan for the future will be plagued by present troubles. Although he is living well now, he needs to prepare for the future in advance.
"The idea you had before, Brother Wu and I have communicated with several of our friends who are relatively close. They all gave it their approval."
Yu Lou, there is a big problem with it, and we haven't come up with a solution.
The Bi Shui Palace has 1,079 disciples. Excluding over 200 who are older in age, there are 800 who hold positions.
Among the 800, those from large families can go out for transactions.
Wu Faxian said this, and Yu Lou softly reminded.
"Not daring, the Sect Master has executed several disciples from the large families, and one of the foundation-building disciples from the Yuan family has also perished."
The atmosphere in the sect is incredibly strange now, with no one stopping.
"Sister Lin mentioned their current predicament when she spoke to me a few days ago."
Lao Wu looked deeply at Yu Lou and continued to analyze.
"Then including the 800, among them there are 70 who are on long-term missions outside and we can ignore them."
"More than three hundred are on duty in the three palaces. Their tasks are not busy, but they need to be on duty for a long time and cannot easily leave, of course, Brother Wu's case is a special one, haha."
Two hundred are serving as guardians. Well, Yu Lou younger brother, you are actually more special than I am. Most guardians cannot move around at will."
Wu Faxian awkwardly realized that he was analyzing and analyzing, and it seemed that both of them were exceptions.
Yu Lou smiled and watched the waiter silently lay out the dishes. After the waiter left, he opened his mouth and said.
"Brother Wu, Baifish is not an outsider either, and we will get married in a while. I'll be straightforward."
Excluding those no longer on duty, the disciples of Bi Shui Palace numbered thousands, and seven hundred of them are like us.
Large families have limited members, such as Brother Ji Yuan and Brother Wang Yaohai, who can be disciplined to build the foundation, are rare.
We are special, but it's because you have extensive connections and my background is suitable that this exchange meeting could be held!"
The Exchange Festival is actually a sheep in wolf's clothing. Yu Lou plans to hold a fair himself, earning more grain for himself.
Before, he and Laozu Xianzhou didn't know that Lao Cui behind the scenes was the Stone Ancestor, but they thought that Lao Cui could reach the Qi Refining realm because he had mastered the network of channels connecting the River Bay Fishing Village and the underground trade in Dihu Cave.
However, after Yu Lou's people made contact with those involved in the underground trade, he realized that the three palace system of Dihu Cave was indeed formidable.
Most cultivators are locked in their positions, and the restrictions of the rules and the presence of the patrol team are like a sword hanging over those who violate the rules.
Smuggling exists, but it's not much.
The resources that leak out of the Drip Cave system are more monopolized by the disciples, followers, and legitimate lineages of the large families.
This is a double gap, the three palaces' merit system cuts one, and large families violate the rules and smuggle freely, cutting another. After two cuts, the space left for cultivators without power or status is not much.
That's why Yu Lou ignored the differences in positions and identities, directly saying 'there are seven hundred people who are like us'.
"Who is our friend and who is our enemy is an important question."
Of course, Sister Lin, Brother Ji Yuan, and Brother Fan Zhuo are also friends of Yu Lou, but there are differences among friends.
"But Yu Lou, we hold the Exchange Festival. It's small in scale, safe, but we won't make much money."
On the other hand, if we scale it up, we'll make more money, but it won't be safe."
Wu Faxian belongs to the representative of the old saying "the braver one gets older in the martial world." However, Yu Lou understands him, and fully considering risk factors is itself a necessary part of achieving success.
"What can the sect object to when our fellow disciples gather together to exchange their experiences in cultivation?"
Yu Lou was sure that exchanging experiences in cultivation did not violate the sect's rules, and could Drip Cave Heavens really stop its disciples from cultivating?
"Everyone is locked in their positions and cannot easily leave, Yu Lou."
Wu Faxian continued to point out difficulties.
"We will hold it on a circuit, Brother Wu do you know about the markets in the human world?"
In human settlements, many villages and settlements cannot maintain long-term existence of some stores due to insufficient payment capabilities, thus, circuit markets have emerged.
Under the double scissor harvesting method of Dihu Cave Heavens, those cultivators without background also face the problem of insufficient payment capabilities.
They may have some resources and spirit stones, but a large part of them will be spent on cultivation, leaving very little labor surplus.
Therefore, in combination with the position arrangement that restricts the disciples' freedom of movement in Dihu Cave, Yu Lou's idea of 'Exchange Festival' naturally suits holding it in a circular manner.
"If we hold it on a circuit, who will be the host?"
Wu Faxian asked with bright eyes, "Yu Lou's plan is fine, but if someone else is going to reap the benefits, why should he take the risk?"
"Brother Yu Lou?"
Without benefits, where would I know Brother Wang Yu Lou!"
Yu Lou shook his head and said.
"Elite disciples of large families, our fellow disciples, and we ourselves, can all do it. Brother, we cannot eat alone."
Let's not talk about other things, but the existence of the Exchange Festival can revitalize the resources in our fellow disciples' hands. After the resources are revitalized, they will inevitably return to the Merit Pavilion of Bi Shui Palace to exchange for techniques.
"At that time, you can also earn a bit more of the exchange fee between merits-spirit stones."
Wu Faxian pondered for a long time and asked.
"How much can we earn each year?"
"The risks are too high."
The name "Exchange Festival" that Yu Lou chose for the mobile fair is very good. Brother Wu is still afraid, though.
"Each person participating once is worth one spirit stone, and if they participate twice a year, it's two spirit stones."
"Seven hundred people is 1,400 spirit stones. But in fact, disciples from the Huachu Palace will also participate, which will add thousands more."
"Even if we have to distribute a share to the hosts of different regions after holding it on a circuit, we won't lose much. What do you think, Brother Wu?"
Yu Lou's expectation for this business is to earn himself a thousand spirit stones in a year, which doesn't seem like much, just about his monthly cultivation resources.
"But two thousand spirit stones are the accumulated lifetimes of many cultivation disciples."
Yu Lou's achievements in Qingxi Fair with the help of Red Lantern platform and Wang family resources were Wang family's, not his.
Now, he has chosen to reach out and touch the leftovers from the dual scissor gap system left by Drip Cave, and whatever he earns is all his own!
"And moreover, Brother Wu, I have profound cultivation, and your magic circle is also extraordinary. We have other ways to earn spirit stones, don't we?"
Wu Faxian sighed bitterly.
"Ahh, making talismans can't compare to making tools. The problem with the cave is that it's too safe."
"When I was out before, I happened to be on the scene when Miao Feng Mountain and Valley Spirit Clan were fighting fiercely."
"Passing by the Mao Yuan Fair, the price of talismans was more than a third higher than in the sect!"
Zhu Chi said that keeping a certain number of beasts was necessary, and Wu Faxian said that the bad thing about the cave was that it was too safe. The sect atmosphere of Drip Cave really had its own characteristics, but Yu Lou naturally would not object.
"Everyone has their own destiny, there's no need to look for trouble. Respect each other, be friends, and work together to earn cultivation resources - that's the right path."
"Brother Wu, put your mind at ease. Once the Exchange Festival is on the right track, your opportunity to build a foundation will be close."
"Come on, Baifish, let's have a full drink of this cup. I'll wish for Brother Wu to establish his foundation as soon as possible so that I can call him my senior, hahaha."
Wu Faxian only realized what Yu Lou had just said when he remembered the words of Yu Lou. Just then, Brother Wu was so focused on thinking about spirit stones and resources that he even forgot that Yu Lou was about to get married.
Yu Lou is not an ordinary person. He is a terrifying demon with a three-year, three-level foundation. As long as there are no surprises in the future, he is destined to have a bright future.
This is also why Wu Faxian has always been proactive in befriending Yu Lou. Thinking of this, Wu Faxian hurriedly said.
"Look at me, Yu Lou, it's me who wants to apologize to you. The things on my mind have been pressing my chest."
"The exact date is not certain, but I will definitely come over and give you a decent wedding gift."
"Seventeen days from now, Ancestor Wu, seventeen days from now!"
Just as Yu Lou was about to answer, XiaoYu opened her mouth herself. Her eyes were bright, as if filled with endless anticipation.
The Exchange Festival, the rules of the sect, what the two men were worried about and contemplated, she didn't care much about.
If the sect's rules were effective, then why would the Cui family father and son mistreat her to that extent?
She only cares about
"Oh?" Wu Faxian was taken aback for a moment.
Then, he looked at Yu Lou and smiled.
"Yu Lou, XiaoYu is a good girl. Hahaha, I will definitely come over at that time."
But I can't stay here for too long today. I have to meet with other people about the fair event.
I plan to hold the first one on the first day of the next month. By then, you should also invite as many friends as possible, and we should try to bring in more people to make a big splash from the start.
Yu Lou calculated for a moment, "The fourteenth day after the first day of the next month."
"After my marriage, this time is for a concubine's ceremony, but the elders of our family will come. At that time, many things will be different."
Wu Faxian's eyes lit up immediately. He wasn't too familiar with the Anbei King's Wang family before, as the Wang family was just an Foundation Establishment family.
In the Red Lantern stage, a Foundation Establishment family like the Wang family is at the edge of the power stage and can even be compared to beasts and horses.
But after learning about the situation of Anbei King's Wang family, Wu Faxian no longer dared to look down upon them. This family had been the long-term vassal of Mengxiang's lineage, and at least two Foundation Establishment practitioners had joined Mengxiang's lineage under the tutelage of a true master.
Nowadays, there are even two senior Foundation Establishment cultivators, each of whom is capable of establishing a small sect within Drip Cave.
Take the Lin family for example, they currently have two Foundation Establishment cultivators, but neither of them have cultivated their divine abilities.
A Wang family like this, if they send someone to attend Brother Wang Yu Lou's concubine ceremony, will naturally have a certain endorser effect.
"Understood, Yu Lou, Brother Wu understands your meaning."
"Let's drink together, Brother Wu. We should all drink in this!"
——
Old Wu left with both anticipation and worry in his heart.
He looked forward to creating a business and achieving Foundation Establishment.
He worried that the so-called Exchange Festival would cause a major incident, and at that time, he who is in front will be in trouble.
But the cultivators' desire to become a Daoist is universal.
Just as the Red Eyebrow before the Fireworks in Golden Pavilion, Wu Faxian is also like this at this moment.
Yu Lou took advantage of him, and he knew it. He didn't want to refuse.
He posed so many doubts, just to make sure that his restless ambition wouldn't race too fast when he took the risk.
"Master Wang, what kind of thing is the Exchange Festival that you guys just talked about?"
After seeing off Brother Wu, XiaoYu, holding the small turtle shell, returned to the static chamber with Yu Lou.
"Why still call him Master Wang?"
Yu Lou, however, teased him in response.
XiaoYu lowered her head, fiddling with the little turtle shell on her face, twisting and turning her mouth to say.
"Husband~"
"Ha ha ha, okay okay, let me slowly tell you the story behind the Exchange Festival."
The male and female dogs embraced each other, and the small stone turtle broke free from its destiny's grasp and crawled away, shaking its buttocks like escaping.
"Drip Cave is a sect, and a sect is an organization. The existence of an organization itself has basic operating rules."
"However, in the end, it always comes back to the principle of 'the weak should be sacrificed to serve the strong', but human nature is very complex."
Therefore, the disciples who are restricted by the systems designed by the sect, like you and me, will try other opportunities hard."
Great cultivators are not necessarily kind people. Favors come with a cost, even the most generous favors are merely a prelude to taking before giving.
But exploitation like this cannot be carried out without the disciples seeing a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, the disciples can simply run away.
Even if the cave restricts the possibility of the disciples escaping, but passive slacking off is a clever way to resist exploitation.
Therefore, leaving some leeway is necessary.
Yu Lou earns this extra margin, but it's not by pounding away at the mosquito's legs hard. Instead, it's by creating a channel or platform for circulation, earning a 'channel fee'.
XiaoYu leaned against Yu Lou's chest, using her fingers to tug at the beard on his chin, and whispered.
"Husband, what if XiaoYu can't find an opportunity? What if you don't come?"
He tightened his arms and Yu Lou rested his chin on XiaoYu's cheek, saying.
"What's that talk? I'm here, aren't I?"
However, this girl, as if being stubborn, asked again.
"What if you don't come, what should I do?"
Yu Lou fell silent for a moment and sighed.
"We have to keep moving forward. The path of seeking the Dao is never smooth, and sometimes risk and opportunity do not coexist. That is to say, there are only risks with no opportunities."
The unfairness of fate lies in that it often does not favor any person who wants to be favored by it, even if that person's desire is so urgent.
"If I didn't come, you would also get through the difficulties, but you would have to face many more difficulties, but I believe in you."
XiaoYu did not speak; she just silently watched her great hero.
The eyes of the girl were like the stars, uncontaminated stars, and for a moment, even with all his intricate thoughts, Yu Lou found it difficult to understand.
Endless love?
Implicit longing?
Self-pity and relief?
XiaoYu has a special quality, as if she is incompatible with the character of wherever she goes, like a solitary and refined person walking alone in the world.
Yu Lou couldn't understand her.
"Ha ha, look, the little turtle really took off."
XiaoYu pointed at the little stone turtle that had climbed into the courtyard of the residence, excitedly saying.
Yu Lou let out a relieved laugh, indeed, sophisticated people cannot understand the pure innocence.
The two of them silently watched the little stone turtle climb and climb, until it reached a place they couldn't see.
Suddenly, XiaoYu looked up and asked.
"Husband, can we also escape from this cage?"
"Where is the cage?" Yu Lou Wang was puzzled. He didn't understand why XiaoYu suddenly became so serious.
Or, he had never truly understood this seemingly innocent girl.
"Here, there, and"
XiaoYu extended her hand, first pointing to the ground, then to the sky, and finally towards Drip Sky, where the Immortal Lord's residence is located.
"Wow, you scared me, hurry up and cover her mouth."
"Drip Cave is quite good, XiaoYu, you don't know, the disciples of Miaofeng Mountain are really in prison."
"There's no time to cultivate, and if you have a bit of cultivation, you have to go to the front line. Compared to cultivating within the cave, there are more rules, but it's safe!"
Facing Yu Lou's earnest teachings, XiaoYu asked.
"But why do you and Uncle Wu still want to escape so much?"
Yu Lou was taken aback. He thought of many reasons, but in the end, he chose to be honest.
"Maybe. We really do want to escape, but we can't show this attitude in front of outsiders."
"I've been friends with Brother Wu for two years, so I can speak freely today. You're not an outsider, so I can say a few things in good conscience."
The two of them talked for a few more sentences, and then XiaoYu left obediently.
Yu Lou needs cultivation, his cultivation cannot be advanced further, but body refining also requires the expenditure of energy.
However, as she reached the door of the other courtyard, XiaoYu saw the little stone turtle struggling to climb down.
She used spiritual energy to capture the little stone turtle in her hand.
"Little turtle, don't run away. Stay with me and my husband. Is there anything wrong with that?"
The little turtle retreated its limbs and head and tail into its shell, said nothing, but silently cursed.
-------------------------------
16 days later, outside the entrance and exit of Drip Sky.
A green beam of light approached from a distance, shimmering with green brilliance and moving at a tremendous speed. The several cultivators guarding the cave sky flew to meet it.
Among them, the cultivator with the highest cultivation level even grasped the warning talisman in his hand, ready to provide timely assistance if necessary.
Although Drip Cave does not attract many people in the Red Lantern Sect, in recent years, the friction between the Red Lantern Sect and the Red Light Temple has intensified. The elders of the sect have warned them repeatedly —— they must always be vigilant and treat first-level combat readiness as a habit.
"Young cultivator, there is no need to worry. I am Wang Rongjiang of the Wang family in Anbei Kingdom."
"Members of our sect will be married within the cave, so they are here."
As the sound approached, the hidden light also gradually slowed down, revealing that the person was riding on a lush tree.
Wang Xianmao rides on a fruit kernel, and Wang Rongjiang rides on a tall tree. The latter looks cool, but it has no other advantages except being tall.
However, for the guards, size means everything. They simply asked a few questions and let Wang Rongjiang in.
Foundation cultivation disciples must abide by the rules of the alliance. Drip Cave does not restrict visits from foundation cultivators outside, let alone Wang Rongjiang's nephew, who is to be married in the cave, so there is no reason to stop him from entering.
Holding the lush tree spirit tool, Wang Rongjiang stepped on an iron fan, assuming a demeanor of cultivation and divinity, and flew into the cave sky.
Giving Wang Yulou a platform requires showing your credentials.
In terms of foundation cultivation, Wang Rongjiang doesn't have an advantage in his cultivation level, but in other aspects, he's quite different.
After all, he is the most handsome of the Wang family, handsome from childhood to adulthood.
As Wang Rongjiang entered the cave, several of the guards began to discuss it.
"King Wang from Anbei Kingdom? Have you heard of him?"
"Don't know."
"Is there such a country as Anbei?"
Well, it can be said that the Wang family still needs more practice.
However, two hours later, another streak of light flew in.
This time, it's even more unusual. The previous green streak was brilliant, but the new gold one is dark.
When it was about 10 li away from Drip Cave, the guards felt the sky suddenly grow darker.
As it gradually approached, the sense of darkness grew stronger. In the end, the dark aura dispersed by the streak of light changed the sky from daylight to dusk.
The few guards were so scared that they were about to lose their souls – you're so fierce!
In fact, this is a legacy problem of Jing Yi Old Ancestor's refinement of the cave. His control over the diffused spiritual charm now lacks by far.
Once, when Yu Lou first saw her in Qingxifang, Jing Yi Old Ancestor looked almost like a ordinary mortal woman. There was a captivating sharpness in her eyes, but she had no trace of diffused spiritual charm at all.
Now, she seems much more imposing, but it's not a good thing. It belongs to the behavior of an experienced foundation cultivator exposing their weaknesses.
Of course, considering the level of Wang Jingyi's one-sword-one-Tang Bao change, whether or not she shows her weaknesses isn't really that important.
"I am here to visit friends. Is the head of the Qüzhǎng Gate here?"
Wang Jingyi stopped her streak of light and stood on the flying sword, shrouded in shadow, looking like a small shadow in the sky.
"Ancestor, may I ask..."
"Alright, I'll send him a message."
Wang Jingyi took out a spiritual weapon, a flying sword, and was about to send a message to Qu Yunjian, the uncle of Yuan Si's second cousin.
"No no no, there's no need to trouble yourself. It's just that it's our duty to record the identities of every person entering or leaving the cave sky."
"Red Light Temple's Wang Jingyi, the son of the Wang family will be married within Drip Cave, so he came here. Yes, on the way to visit friends."
Qu Yunjian: Jingyi, what do you mean? Do you think that our dignified head of Drip Cave is just a side stop for you?
As Wang Jingyi entered the cave, the few small cultivators around the door shivered and gathered together again.
"Brothers, this Wang family is not ordinary."
"Rubbish. With two foundation cultivators coming, that means the Wang family must have more than two foundation cultivators."
"At the very least, four?"
"Whew, the Yuan family, including its alchemic foundation, has a total of eight. That's already the largest foundation family in the sect. How could the Wang family be even more prestigious than Jie family within the sect?"
They actually guessed wrong; the Wang family now has five foundation cultivators.
Wang Xianmao and Wang Rongjiang, the two direct descendants, are both foundation cultivators. One is an experienced cultivator with supernatural abilities, and the other will certainly also have supernatural abilities in the future.
Wang Jingyi, half of the direct lineage, is currently working towards breaking through to the Zifu realm.
Tie Qinhe, and another newly recruited external alchemist guest elder, these two belong to the partners who have joined.
Of course, five is not the limit.
Master Mangxi sent out his favor, and the Wang family was full of energy to accept it.
Now, it is in the explosive stage of the transformation period for the foundation cultivators.
In the future, Wang Rongyuan and Wang Rongwen will likely become foundation cultivators with a high probability, as will Wang Rongheng and other members of the Wang family.
In the past, Wang Xianmao had started to expand the Wang family's financial resources from multiple angles, including opening a new treasure trove in Qingxifang, etc., in order to deal with the explosive situation of foundation cultivators.
——
At Qin Chu's mansion in the Gold Bay Fishing Port.
With the help of the maids, Qin Chu dressed in the robe customized for her by Wang Yulou.
Bright red, made from the dye of eighth-grade cinnabar stone powder.
Hewan fishing village is adjacent to the Da Hong Creek, and Da Hong Creek is called so because there's a cinnabar stone mine upstream, from which can be extracted once a year.
As the local boss of the downstream area, Wang Yulou collects one or two cinnabar stones a year. Is that too much?
Qin Chu's robe has a quality of medium-grade artifact level, with cinnabar stone powder used as the dye, and water candle spirit silk as the material.
Water candle spirit silk is made from water grass water candles, mainly of water nature, with a blend of wood nature. It is considered an extremely good existence among the nine-level spirit objects.
Simply from the material level, this robe has the potential to be an upper-grade artifact, but how to say it, not all smelters are as good as Wang Yulou.
Wang Yulou has the jade ruyi, even if the golden aura of the ruyi is not full, using just a third or even a quarter of it can greatly reduce the likelihood of blowing up during refining.
As one of the most profitable sub-directions among cultivators, the fabricator of artifact clothes needs to practice enchantments on fabrics made of spiritual energy threads and spiritual lines, which is extremely difficult.
Therefore, when making artifact clothes, they will usually give a larger error margin according to the difference of materials in order not to make mistakes.
After all, normal cultivators don't wear artifact robes for duels; they are purely social calling cards. The grade isn't important as long as they look beautiful and are comfortable to wear.
"Yet sister, you are really beautiful," Qin Chu's servant is staring blankly.
Although there was no phoenix crown and cloud cape, Qin Chu, who was already naturally beautiful, looked even more dazzling in the customized bright red artifact robe.
If Zhou Yingxi's beauty is the mysterious and elegant half-covered lute of mystery, then Lin Ying's beauty is a combination of outstanding demeanor and radiant vitality. Among them, Zhou Yingxi is more tranquil and reserved, while Lin Ying seems to be exuberant and passionate.
Facing girls like Zhou Yingxi, you feel a sense of nervousness to talk to her properly, as they are far from earthy and can only be admired from afar – not down-to-earth.
So even if Daoist Yingxi has indirectly confessed to Wang Yulou, Wang Yulou has not made any response.
In contrast, when facing Lin Ying, you don't even need to speak; she will start communicating with you through her eyes. Her passion is like fire, yet it's not fire; it's dangerous.
Such smart girls, if their intentions are slightly bad, can deceive many men to become foolish.
Therefore, Wang Yulou always feels some cautiousness in her heart when she communicates with Lin Sister.
Bai Xiaoyu is special. The feeling she gives to the tower is like an unopened lotus bud, bright and beautiful, as if she hasn't grown up yet, retaining much of her innocence.
However, if you carefully observe, it seems that her innocence is only her protective color. Underneath that layer of innocence, there is a heart that Wang Yulou can't understand.
Yes, under the coercion of Cui Dingyi the old thief, she can protect herself. How could she really be so innocent.
The most contrasting one has to be Qin Chu'an.
Little Qin Qin, first of all, she must be a good girl.
In the past few years, she has done a great favor to Wang Yulou, always devoting herself heart and soul, and doing things with great attention to detail.
She can be said to have earned half of the credit for Wang Yulou's current situation in the River Bay Fishing Village. This is really high, considering the particularity of her strength and status.
However, it's still this little Qin.
In terms of family background, she is far less outstanding than Zhou Yingxi - a purple palace that's close to collapsing is still a purple palace, and Shackled Dragon True master hasn't completely died yet. Under the circumstances of not reaching the peak of refinement, Shackled Dragon True master was in an invincible state in his dying moments!
In terms of intelligence, she is far inferior to Lin Ying - Lin Ying can casually unleash a spurt of power and handle two situations at once, and then she can return to drink wine and tea with Ji Yuan and Wang Yulou. She handles matters from cultivation to interactions with fellow cultivators extremely well.
In terms of cuteness, she is far inferior to Bai Xiaoyu - here, the term "cuteness" refers to the fact that Bai Xiaoyu excites Wang Yulou's protective instincts. Although Wang Yulou had thought that he had a firm cultivation heart, Bai Xiaoyu's recent embrace made him feel shaky.
Lastly, in terms of beauty. Fine, let's spare some face for Little Qin.
"Beautiful? Huh, I'll just take what you say as true," Qin Chu'an said with a hint of self-mockery.
The little servant maid immediately stopped talking.
In front of Wang Yulou, Little Qin is a well-behaved Little Qin, but not in front of Wang Yulou. In the River Bay Fishing Port, Little Qin is like a person above everyone else.
Are you asking about Zhang Xuewu?
Temporarily, they are on equal footing. Old Zhang is Wang Yulou's subordinate, while Little Qin is a servant concubine, but Little Qin is actually higher in status.
If Little Qin had qi cultivation, Old Zhang would call her Gong sister!
Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Qin Chu'an smiled stupidly.
She has always been an orphan, and has grown up alone in her cultivation. Today, under the passage of time, she is about to be married as a man's wife.
A bit fast, but not too fast to think about. Following Wang senior for nearly three years, getting a pre-brother-in-law identity is very worth it.
However, she still feels unfulfilled. Although her talent isn't bad, with three spiritual roots, she considers it mediocre.
However, it's still far from enough.
Thinking of this, Little Qin sighed softly, and her expression gradually grew cold.
Here, she doesn't have to act.
She doesn't know why, but her heart is filled with more bitterness than joy.
Leaning over, she looked through the window of her inner room and saw the imposing Golden Terrace.
She watched for a long time, and then some more.
Maybe, it's me who is too greedy?
At this moment, Wang Yulou, who had been temporarily dragged back to the manor by Xianzhou Old Ancestor, was discussing with Rong Jiang Uncle how to come back for a second round of Rong Jiang along the River Bay in the future.
"Uncle, it's not easy for me here, you..."
"Can't you pass the time? How can you be so diligent in your cultivation?"
"Uncle, what's the point of that? Golden Terrace is for the whole community of River Bay Fishing Village. I was just using it as a guardian cultivator with a critical view."
"Not easy? You even married two at once?"
"Uncle, you have to understand my predicament. Bai Xiaoyu has extraordinary talent, and Xianzhou Old Ancestor wants me to marry her to produce more strong boys for our Wang family."
"Little Qin is my helper in my career, saving me a lot of effort. If I don't marry her, I'm afraid she'll marry someone else, and I won't feel at ease."
"Ha ha ha, Young uncle, I knew why Wang Yulou suddenly wanted to take a concubine. It must have been you pushing him."
"Laugh, you even dare to laugh. It took three attempts to successfully cultivate the foundation, Wang Rongjiang. If you paid attention to your cultivation in your spare time, it wouldn't be so difficult to build the foundation."
The three of them chatted and ate a hearty meal together, enjoying themselves.
"Ah, young uncle, I've already started to repay. I'll return triple the resources I used from the clan!"
Wang Rongjiang tried to make light of his embarrassing behavior, with a bitter smile on his face.
A double spiritual root cultivator, under the condition of pure cultivation heart and deep foundation, would have a success rate of three to four times when breaking through the foundation realm on their own.
With the assistance of elixir pills, one can not only protect the spiritual foundation but also safeguard the yuan spirit and even improve the success rate of breaking through to the foundation realm, which can be pushed up to over ninety percent.
However, only nine out of ten, Wang Rongjiang needed to try three times before he succeeded, which can only be said that fate is something that humans cannot predict.
"Never mind that. The cultivation resources have increased in price again. Now it costs ten thousand spiritual stones for a whole batch, and you used two and a half batches, which is 250,000 pieces. How will you repay?"
Wang Xianzhou truly feels frustrated and cannot bear to see his protégé fail.
Tie Qinhei's foundation realm breakthrough twice, each time only exchanging auxiliary elixir pills for life-saving purposes, adding up to about 70,000 spiritual stone pieces in total.
Wang Rongjiang spent two and a half batches of foundation realm cultivation resources, and at the market price at the time, he must have consumed at least 150,000 spiritual stones.
Hmm, it's not much, just the amount needed for Wang Yulou's 15 years of cultivation.
Of course, the intense competition for time among geniuses is not comparable to the ordinary cultivator's breakthrough to foundation realm. Every second Wang Yulou has won by seizing opportunities is now worth ten thousand spiritual stones.
"Uncle Rongjiang, you need to go back to River Bay Fishing Port again."
You were too low-key just now, and no one noticed you had arrived except for the Old Ancestor.
That wouldn't be very appropriate, as Wang Yulou needs your support for his work!"
Seeing Wang Xianzhou training Rongjiang, Wang Yulou seized the opportunity to speak up.
Wang Rongjiang gave him a grateful look, and then discussed with Wang Yulou how to re-enter River Bay Fishing Port in a way that could help Wang Yulou achieve the maximum effect of 'supporting his work'.
Xianzhou Elder also offered quite a few suggestions and even lent Wang Rongjiang his now-unfavored high-quality elixir weapon robes to use for 'supporting the work'.
Formalism is a problem?
Yes!
Yes, formalism has never disappeared throughout the entire process of human civilization development. In fact, it has continuously innovated and reached new heights.
Why?
Because it's really very useful.
The Golden Terrace is the architectural manifestation of formalism, and Wang Rongjiang's second visit to River Bay to 'support Wang Yulou's work' is the dramatization of formalism.
So, when Qin Chu'an stared blankly at the Golden Terrace outside the window, her eyes were suddenly dazzled.
"Is this River Bay Fishing Port?"
A solemn yet melodious voice echoed, shaking the entire River Bay Fishing Port.
They wanted to find the source of the voice, but soon realized that they didn't need to look for it.
Because, Uncle Rongjiang was dressed in a lotus-colored high-grade elixir weapon robe and riding a white high-grade elixir weapon hover car, fully activating his spiritual resonance. In that moment, he appeared brilliantly.
Wang Jingyi's aura was an expression of her inability to control her own spiritual resonance.
Wang Rongjiang's aura was an expression of extracting all the spiritual resonance.
Wang Yulou is such a perceptive child, Rongjiang is fond of him, naturally willing to support his work.
Upon hearing that the clan elder had arrived, Wang Yulou naturally flew up to greet him. However, Wang Rongjiang suddenly retracted his spiritual resonance and looked towards the distant 'black clouds'.
Wang Xianzhou also quickly flew up, his face grave as he looked towards the 'black clouds'.
However, soon enough, they all heard Wang Jingyi's familiar voice.
"What are the three of you standing there for?"
Wang Yulou and Xianzhou Elder looked at each other in amazement, as it turned out to be Wang Jingyi who had personally come to support Wang Yulou's marriage.
"Wang Jingyi Dao Friend, this is the little Qin of your Wang Clan?"
Qu Yunjian flew with Wang Jingyi and, after arriving at River Bay Fishing Port, naturally realized that Wang Yulou was the main character for tomorrow.
He knew that the Wang Clan had arranged a clan member to enter the Drop Cave through the Zhu Family, but he didn't expect that this Wang Clan member's cultivation was only at the third level of Spiritual Qi.
Of course, even if Wang Yulou's cultivation was only at the third level of Spiritual Qi, in Qu's eyes, Wang Yulou was still the little Qin of the Wang Clan.
There's nothing special about it. Wang Jingyi is simply too formidable; after not seeing him for a few years, he has already achieved mastery of his divine skill and started cultivating a second divine skill.
Qu Yunjian is convinced that in the next two hundred years, Hongdaoshuo will have an extremely powerful foundation realm sword cultivator.
