The Peak Master Selection

In the past, Lin Ye of Small Pill Peak was, in a sense, the person in charge of Wuqi Mountain.

Now, this identity and significance have fallen upon Lan Chang'an.

They left Small Pill Peak.

Lan Chang'an looked at Shi Manrong, who had flown out with him, and asked casually.

"Fairy Shi, it seems that Yellow Dragon Mountain's need for mages to cope with this Beast Tide is greater than expected?"

During his trip to Yellow Dragon Immortal City, he discovered that Yellow Dragon Mountain had recruited many experienced array masters with exceptionally generous rewards.

It's unclear what benefits were offered, but even an unconventional formation genius like Shi Manrong was moved and temporarily joined Yellow Dragon Mountain.

"Yes, Yellow Dragon Mountain has indeed recruited many array masters. Perhaps they predicted this small Beast Tide would be larger than usual, or there might be other reasons."

Shi Manrong nodded, but did not give a definite answer.

Lan Chang'an sensed that Fairy Shi must know something, and out of professional ethics, he concealed the unusual nature of the matter.

Given the current environment, Fairy Shi's talent and skill in array formations are enough to earn her the attention of the direct descendants of Yellow Dragon Mountain and make her a distinguished guest.

Back then, this woman had a brief affair with him. And now, she's actually joined Yellow Dragon Mountain's camp?

Because of the past grudge of being blocked from the road, Yellow Dragon Mountain was considered a semi-imaginary enemy force in Lan Chang'an's mind.

Shi Manrong stayed at Wuqi Mountain for a few days, and then went to Yellow Dragon Immortal City.

Half a month passed.

The formation on Small Pill Peak, where Lin Ye was located, was dismantled, and valuable spiritual items on the mountain and in the cave were taken away.

Lan Chang'an saw Lin Ye off.

Since Alchemist Hua's death, Lan Chang'an felt that Lin Ye had lost some of his energy and spirit.

"Daoist Lu, I'm entrusting Wuqi Mountain to you."

"Fairy Shi is a good candidate for dao companion; don't miss this opportunity..."

Before parting, Lin Ye looked relieved and said some things he had never said before.

Lan Chang'an suspected that Alchemist Lin, his neighbor, might have noticed his close relationship with Fairy Shi for a period of time.

After seeing Lin Ye off.

Lan Chang'an is now the only Peak Master left on Wuqi Mountain.

"We need a one-year grace period to finalize the selection of the Third Peak manager as soon as possible, and have someone share the rent burden."

Lan Chang'an pondered.

Lin Ye withdrew from the co-tenancy, paid the penalty Spirit Stone, and compensated both Peak Master Golden Cloud Valley and Lan Chang'an.

However, without a Second-Order High-Grade Alchemist, the agglomeration effect of Wuqi Mountain is much weaker.

In previous years, business came to him, Lan Chang'an could earn Spirit Stone while lying down in a stable and leisurely manner.

In addition, there are safety considerations.

In the past, Wuqi Mountain was always guarded by two or three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, so ordinary Evil Cultivator groups dared not make a move.

If there is only one Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lan Chang'an, the security will be somewhat compromised.

In case of danger or accident.

They were basically all going for Lan Chang'an, the Peak Master, without anyone of the same cultivation level willing to take the risk.

That day, Lan Chang'an chatted with Lan Lin, Wuqi Mountain's housekeeper, for a long time.

I have lived in Wuqi Mountain for over thirty years.

Lan Lin was already looking like a middle-aged woman.

She trained several young and graceful female cultivators to handle external receptions and manage the mundane affairs of Wuqi Mountain.

"Master Lu, rest assured, the geographical location and spiritual environment of Wuqi Mountain will not lack independent cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage to join us."

"I will post the rental information and assist in selecting a suitable tenant."

Lan Lin accepted the task with full confidence.

In the following two months, several Foundation Establishment cultivators expressed interest and visited Wuqi Mountain to inquire.

Lan Chang'an has a lot of free time. As long as he doesn't go out, he will personally meet with the Foundation Establishment cultivators who come for "interviews".

The selection criteria for the Peak Master include being a craftsman, with preference given to Second-Order Middle-Grade Alchemist.

Lan Chang'an first conducted an initial screening.

Those Foundation Establishment cultivators who are mediocre, lack skill, and have poor character will be eliminated in the first round.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Lan Chang'an went to Golden Cloud Valley again.

We will spread this message through the sect's channels to find Peak Master who is well-known and of higher quality.

Since Zhang Tieshan wasn't there this time, Lan Chang'an had a get-together with Zhao Siyao.

Actually, it happened more than a year ago.

Lan Chang'an attended Zhang Tieshan's and Zhao Siyao's 100th birthday celebrations and gave each of them a congratulatory gift.

Sects have different levels of understanding and perspectives, and therefore act with greater discretion.

Unlike cultivation Lineage, they don't hold ostentatious Foundation Establishment Ceremony or Centennial Birthday Banquet banquets.

For cultivators of a sect, Centennial Birthday Banquet is considered an even more meaningful birthday.

Their centennial celebration, like Lan Chang'an's, was similar to a family banquet, except that there were many more Foundation Establishment cultivators visiting.

Especially on Zhang Tieshan's birthday, two False Core even appeared.

The details of similar interpersonal interactions during Lan Chang'an's long life will not be elaborated upon one by one.

About half a year later.

Four Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived at Wuqi Mountain and took their seats in the main hall of Small Turtle Peak.

Lan Chang'an sat at the head of the table, intending to select one of the four shortlisted craftsmen to reside in Wuqi Mountain.

There are currently four Foundation Establishment cultivators, three men and one woman.

The only female cultivator Su Hongye, who was at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and was a mid- Second-Order Middle-Grade winemaker.

This woman wore a red dress, had a seductive figure, a radiant face, and eyes like autumn water, captivating all who beheld her.

Su Hongye was recommended by the housekeeper Lan Lin.

This woman is somewhat famous in "Liaoyuan Immortal City" in central Liang Kingdom, and has a stable clientele.

The spirit wine it brews can enhance cultivation, temper the body, and temporarily amplify Law Power.

The other three Foundation Establishment male cultivators are Alchemist, pharmacists, and weapon refiners, representing various cultivation professions.

The weapon refiner was an old man with a black beard named Kong Mao, who was at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and Second-Order Middle-Grade refiner.

The Alchemist was a handsome, effeminate man named Jiang Yechen, with Foundation Establishment Middle Stage level and Second-Order Middle-Grade Alchemist.

The pharmacist was a short-haired, lazy young man named Ye Fei, with Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation and Second-Order Middle-Grade pharmacist.

Alchemist and pharmacists share some similarities in their systems, but their emphases differ.

The former mainly focuses on alchemy, primarily for the needs of cultivation.

A pharmacist is an expert in pharmacology and usually knows how to concoct elixirs, but their expertise lies in healing injuries and treating illnesses, or in using poisons.

In the Cultivation World, besides various deadly poisons and plagues, there are also some strange and incurable diseases.

Even Celestial Person experience five signs of decay.

Unless one transcends mortality and becomes an immortal, one is essentially still a mortal and cannot escape birth, aging, sickness, and death.

"It is an honor to have four fellow Daoists present, and to give Wuqi Mountain a high regard."

Lan Chang'an glanced at the four people present and exchanged a few pleasantries.

Actually, he had a general idea of who to choose.

Today's visit is merely a final confirmation.

If the announcement is made too early, it would be awkward if the chosen person suddenly backs out.

There needs to be a backup plan.

Among the four Foundation Establishment Realm craftsmen.

Lan Chang'an first ruled out Su Hongye, the only female cultivator.

First, brewers have a lower priority than Alchemist, even if the other party has outstanding skills and a good reputation, it can be used as a compensation.

Secondly, this woman is alluring and charming, and it is said that she has no shortage of suitors in the Liaoyuan Immortal City.

Lan Chang'an was worried that attracting unwanted attention would bring unnecessary trouble.

The black-bearded old man "Kong Mao," Second-Order Middle-Grade refiner, should be prioritized lower.

Lan Chang'an mainly focuses on the Alchemist Jiang Yechen and the pharmacist Ye Fei.

Both of them possessed Second-Order Middle-Grade skills.

"Jiang Yechen comes from the Jiang Family, one of the Seven Great Cultivation Families. Due to certain reasons, he severed ties with his closest Lineage. High-Grade Spiritual Root aptitude and his skills are also quite good."

It's worth mentioning that Jiang Yechen knew Zhang Tieshan, who introduced them.

"Ye Fei, Rogue Cultivator, is known for his carefree and unruly nature. Decades ago, in an attempt to avenge his parents, he poisoned over a hundred members of a Qi Refining cultivation Lineage, resulting in a poor reputation."

The person chosen for Lan Chang'an was actually Ye Fei.

This person has a simple background; apart from avenging his father by poisoning a Lineage cultivators, he has no other obviously heinous acts.

For the past ten years or so, Ye Fei has been frequenting several major Marketplace and Immortal City, and has been in charge of several large pharmacies, without causing any trouble.

Other cultivators were wary of him, mainly because he was skilled in using poison.

However, Lan Chang'an's Evergreen Art has an extremely strong resistance to poison.

Those with strong Divine Sense are also more likely to notice clues.

In terms of personal ability, Lan Chang'an completely outclasses Ye Fei, and his cultivation and skills are also superior.

Although Jiang Yechen has more outstanding overall qualities, he has some ties with the Seven Great Clans and is also somewhat arrogant.

This person and Zhang Tieshan had only a casual acquaintance.

Just in case, when Lan Chang'an raised his sleeve to drink tea, he focused his mind on the Nine Imprint Tablet, receiving the blessing of his Second Life. His Divine Sense swept over Ye Fei and also glanced at the other three.

Previously, it was only a preliminary selection, and Lan Chang'an did not conduct a detailed investigation of each candidate.

During his absence, not all four people present personally received him.

"Ye Fei also cultivates Wood-Type Technique, which seem to possess both healing and detoxification abilities."

Lan Chang'an scanned Ye Fei with his Divine Sense but found nothing unusual.

"Hmm? This person..."

Lan Chang'an scanned one of the other three people with his Divine Sense and noticed something amiss.

The black-bearded old man who was a weapon refiner named "Kong Mao" had actually concealed his identity and cultivation level; he was actually in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

He wore an ultra-thin mask on his face, a disguise artifact capable of concealing himself from False Core cultivator.

Lan Chang'an advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Divine Sense was slightly stronger than that of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, but he had not noticed the problem before.

Furthermore, Jiang Yechen possesses a soul-path artifact, clearly indicating he is no ordinary person.

Lan Chang'an sensed it with his Divine Sense and did not force a breakthrough.

If the target possesses a Soul-path artifact, the effectiveness of Lan Chang'an's First Life's Divine Sense technique will be greatly reduced.

"Today, Mr. Lu is preparing to confirm the candidate for the Third Peak."

Lan Chang'an remained calm, put down his teacup, and smiled.

At that moment, he heard a seductive woman's voice in his ear.

"This humble girl wishes to offer two jars of second-tier spiritual wine, treasured for two hundred years."

Su Hongye secretly bribed him with several Spirit Stone.

Lan Chang'an was not surprised by this. Previously, when he received some Foundation Establishment cultivators with slightly worse overall conditions, some people had hinted at trying to bribe them.

"Fellow Daoist Ye Fei, would you be willing to settle in Wuqi Mountain?"

Lan Chang'an's gaze fell on the lazy, short-haired youth.

"Daoist Lu, choose me?"

Ye Fei was taken aback for a moment, then quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Ye.

The other three were a little surprised, but didn't complain.

Su Hongye looked slightly disappointed and tossed her hair behind her ear.

Jiang Yechen frowned slightly, seemingly displeased, but quickly regained his composure.

He was not impolite; he greeted Lan Chang'an and was the first to leave.

Su Hongye and the black-bearded old man "Kong Mao," who had concealed his cultivation level, then took their leave.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, please don't worry about it."

Su Hongye left the cave and caught up with the effeminate and handsome Jiang Yechen; the two had known each other since their early years.

"The selection of the main peak of Wuqi Mountain largely depends on the personal preferences of the mountain lord. Lan Chang'an's evaluation criteria may not prioritize strength."

"Sometimes, having superior strength can actually be a disadvantage."

"It doesn't matter, I was just acting on a whim."

Jiang Yechen understood the implication and didn't want to discuss the topic any further.

"The fellow cultivators competing for the Third Peak this time are truly hidden talents."

Inside the main hall, Lan Chang'an watched the three figures disappear into the distance, and said meaningfully.

"Daoist Lu, I am by no means any dragon or tiger. May I ask why you chose me?"

Ye Fei looked puzzled and asked for guidance.

He did indeed yearn for the geographical location and cultivation environment of Wuqi Mountain. However, he only approached it with a try-it-out mentality, knowing that his chances were slim.

This is mainly because he was proficient in poisons and had a history of taking revenge in a cruel way, which made people wary and uneasy.

(End of this chapter)