Gu Fan

Putting Jiang Liyue out of his mind, Zhou Er began his morning cultivation.

[Mind Stabilization: Stabilizes the soul, increasing Spiritual Sense strength by 10%.]

[Solidification Condition: Meditate and cultivate for one thousand hours. (171/1000)]

After cultivating for two hours, Zhou Er glanced at the solidification progress of the Mind Stabilization attribute.

Since equipping the Calm-spirit Cushion, he had already meditated for 171 hours. He needed to cultivate for another 829 hours to complete its solidification.

With Zhou Er's current physical condition, he could endure more than four hours of cultivation daily, which would take just over a year.

Closing the progress of the Mind Stabilization attribute, Zhou Er looked at his panel again.

[Name: Zhou Er]

[Cultivation: Ninth Layer of Qi Refining (35.13%)]

[Equipment Slots (3/3): Calm-spirit Cushion, Ruyi Ring, Storage Bag.]

[Unsolidified Attributes: Mind Stabilization, Size Manipulation, Void Breaking (White).]

[Solidified Attributes: Defensive Guard, Taotie (White)...]

After reaching the late-stage of Qi Refining, the difficulty of cultivation increased sharply. Even with the buffs from various attributes, Zhou Er cultivated diligently every day, and it took him two days to increase his progress by about 1%. He was still a little short.

Zhou Er estimated that he would need another four months to break through to the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

He reckoned that reaching the Great Perfection of the Twelfth Level of Qi Refining would take at least two years.

Of course, two years was still much faster compared to others. What Zhou Er was worried about was whether he could get his hands on a Foundation Establishment Pill within these two years.

Fortunately, he had also become friends with Gu Jiu. He could visit him again after some time and subtly inquire about the Foundation Establishment Pill.

A few days later, Zhou Er visited Gu Jiu again.

Gu Jiu had just finished crafting a talisman and invited Zhou Er over to take a look and give his evaluation.

[Ice Arrow Talisman: Upon activation, can launch a magic ice arrow.]

[Equipped Attributes: Cold Resistance (White)]

[Cold Resistance (White): The ability to resist cold is improved.]

[Solidification Condition: Swim in icy river water for ten hours.]

[Equip?]

Zhou Er saw the information of the Ice Arrow Talisman. The attribute effect was somewhere between useful and useless.

Cultivators have spiritual energy flowing within their bodies, generating their own heat. Even in winter, they don't need to wear very thick clothes.

Of course, if there's nothing else to do in the future, this attribute can be solidified. You can save it for now.

"Brother Gu, this Ice Arrow Talisman is incredibly sharp. Just observing its runes, I can feel a biting cold."

Zhou Er said with a smile.

"Hahaha! It's Brother Cang who truly understands talismans."

Gu Jiu was clearly pleased.

After chatting about many things related to talismans, Zhou Er recounted his experiences from the past few days.

It mainly involved Jiang Liyue inviting him to the Jiang Family and the conditions she offered.

"Then Brother Cang is truly fortunate to gain an opportunity for free."

Gu Jiu, unaware of the underlying scheme, felt happy for Zhou Er.

"Brother Gu, I suspect there's a trap."

Zhou Er, however, changed the subject and said worriedly.

"A trap?"

Gu Jiu thought for a moment. It was indeed possible.

But, that was a Foundation Establishment opportunity after all. Gu Jiu continued:

"The time isn't right yet. I'll help Brother Cang investigate that person's background. Brother Cang can go and placate that Miss Jiang for now. If this person is truly a direct descendant of the Jiang Family, and Brother Cang misses this chance, it will be a lifelong regret."

After hearing Gu Jiu's words, Zhou Er nodded.

Gu Jiu was from the Gu Family, one of the four great families in Bashui Immortal City. Although he was only a concubine's son, he still had considerable connections.

Since Gu Jiu was willing to help him, he didn't mind spending some time on the Jiang Family woman.

Afterward, Zhou Er smoothly shifted the topic to the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Brother Gu, do you know how to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Zhou Er asked.

"The main ingredient for this Foundation Establishment Pill is very special. The materials needed can only grow in the Blood-colored Secret Realm. Even within our Gu Family, we only allocate three pills annually for family members to share. The other three immortal cultivation families are probably similar. I managed to get one a few years ago, but unfortunately, my Foundation Establishment failed, so I haven't received any since. If Brother Cang wants a Foundation Establishment Pill, you either have to marry into one of the four great families or sign a contract with harsh conditions, becoming a vassal of the family, to have a chance."

Gu Jiu said regretfully.

He even put it nicely; those contracts were basically no different from slave contracts.

Cultivation families, by exploiting this aspect of rogue cultivators, control them with Foundation Establishment Pills.

To reach Foundation Establishment, one must completely integrate into these families.

Zhou Er could understand this. Even in his past life, those big capitalists often engaged in monopolistic practices.

Important resources like Foundation Establishment Pills naturally wouldn't circulate easily.

"Is there no other way?"

Zhou Er understood Gu Jiu's meaning but still asked, unwilling to give up.

Of course, if he could marry into a family and obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhou Er would be willing to do so.

After all, for the Great Dao, this slight humiliation was nothing.

Cultivation requires employing any means necessary!

"There are other opportunities, like the auctions organized by Wanbao Pavilion, where Foundation Establishment Pills occasionally appear. However, the transaction price is extremely high. The last Foundation Establishment Pill successfully auctioned was three years ago, fetching a high price of fifteen hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, enough to buy a Top-grade Magical Tool. In my opinion, it's completely not worth it."

Gu Jiu shook his head and said.

Top-grade magical tools are items that even cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm can use.

Zhou Er calculated his current income. By diligently drawing talismans every day, if he didn't spend any Spirit Stones for a month, his income would be fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

It would only take thirty months to obtain one Foundation Establishment Pill, but one Foundation Establishment Pill doesn't guarantee success in reaching Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, these auctions for Foundation Establishment Pills don't happen every year.

Zhou Er's income ceiling was approximately fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones per month, as he also needed to cultivate and couldn't spend all his time drawing talismans every day.

Therefore, the fastest method now was still to rely on the Four Great Families of Bashui Immortal City, which was the most reliable and quickest.

However, it was not appropriate to rush things now; he and Gu Jiu had only just become friends.

After a brief chat about how to deal with Jiang Liyue, Zhou Er took his leave.

Before leaving, Zhou Er also bought one of Gu Jiu's Ice Arrow Talismans, saying he wanted to keep it for collection.

Gu Jiu was naturally happy and insisted on not taking Spirit Stones, gifting Zhou Er one.

Zhou Er insisted on paying Spirit Stones. In their stalemate, he finally accepted Gu Jiu's talisman, considering it a symbol of their friendship despite the age difference.

The next day, Zhou Er arrived at the West Courtyard and inquired around, eventually finding Jiang Liyue's residence.

Jiang Liyue welcomed Zhou Er into her home and poured him good tea.

"How is it, Fellow Daoist Cang, have you made up your mind?"

Jiang Liyue asked with a smile.

At this moment, she felt that she had everything under control.

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After all, if Zhou Er wasn't tempted, he wouldn't have come to her.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I'm still a bit hesitant. If Fellow Daoist Jiang could give me the Foundation Establishment Pill first, I would be at ease."

Zhou Er said hesitantly.

"Fellow Daoist Cang, you also know that Foundation Establishment Pills are not something that can be taken out casually. They are all kept in the family treasury. You need to return with me to see them. However, I admire you. We can spend a pleasant night together tonight. I'll give myself to you, and you still don't believe me?"

As she spoke, Jiang Liyue leaned in, her hands not stopping.

Seeing this, Zhou Er immediately took out an Immobilization Talisman, activated it, and pressed it onto Jiang Liyue's head, interrupting her actions. He said:

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, this makes me a little scared."

Jiang Liyue was immobilized by Zhou Er, her eyeballs unable to move.

Seeing this, Zhou Er moved her aside and continued:

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, with your cultivation, this Immobilization Talisman can only hold you for the duration of one incense stick at most. After one incense stick, you will be able to move again. Although I, Cang Er, am not a gentleman, I am not that kind of casual person either. Please conduct yourself with dignity, Fellow Daoist Jiang. As for becoming an Elder of the Jiang Family, I still need to consider it. Please stay in Bashui Immortal City for one more day, Fellow Daoist Jiang, so that I can make up my mind."

After speaking, Zhou Er hurriedly left Jiang Liyue's courtyard, lest she cause any more trouble.

After leaving the courtyard, Zhou Er felt much clearer-headed.

Just now, in Jiang Liyue's room, he had almost fallen for her trap.

Fortunately, his will was firm, and he resisted the temptation.

Indeed, next time he couldn't casually share a room with a woman; it was too dangerous.

In the afternoon, Zhou Er went to find Gu Jiu, wanting to ask what Gu Jiu had found out.

"Time is still too short, and I haven't found any useful information. However, there is a Golden Core family surnamed Jiang in the Wu Kingdom."

Gu Jiu said.

"Jiang Liyue is leaving Bashui Immortal City tomorrow. If it doesn't work out, we'll just have to let her leave."

Zhou Er said helplessly upon seeing this.

Time was too tight to find any useful information.

"It's good that Brother Cang stays in Bashui Immortal City. We can often exchange talismans in the future."

Gu Jiu knew that Zhou Er would definitely not risk going to the Jiang Family, so he said.

"Brother Gu is right."

Zhou Er nodded.

After chatting for a while, Gu Jiu began to ask about Zhou Er's personal matters.

"Does Brother Cang have a Dao Companion?"

Gu Jiu asked.

"No."

Zhou Er had long prepared for Gu Jiu to ask him these questions and answered very decisively, without hesitation.

As for Lin Shiyu's matter, Zhou Er could only conceal it for now and not let Gu Jiu know.

"Brother Cang is less than twenty years old and looks so handsome. How can he be without a Dao Companion? After some time, I will introduce a few juniors from my clan to Brother Cang."

Gu Jiu said.

For cultivators like Zhou Er, who had already reached Late-stage Qi Refining at such a young age, their Gu Family was naturally very willing to recruit him.

Only by continuously recruiting talents could the family prosper for a long time.

"If Brother Gu is willing to recommend, I have no objections."

Zhou Er knew that to get a Foundation Establishment Pill and to establish a foundation, he had to integrate into a noble family and gain their recognition. He did not refuse.

After a brief chat, Zhou Er left Gu Jiu's courtyard.

The next day, Zhou Er spent Spirit Stones to have someone investigate Jiang Liyue's residence. He himself did not dare to go, fearing that Jiang Liyue would cause some trouble again.

The person bribed by Zhou Er gathered information and told Zhou Er that Jiang Liyue had already checked out and moved away.

Zhou Er realized he had alerted the snake. Jiang Liyue probably also sensed something was wrong and left early.

However, this way, he could also conclude that Jiang Liyue was most likely a fraud, and he didn't need to regret not going to the Jiang Family with her.

"It's best not to leave Bashui Immortal City for the time being."

Realizing that this person was not right, Zhou Er made up his mind.

Since Jiang Liyue failed to deceive him, she would definitely find ways to retaliate later.

However, Zhou Er was not the type to wander around aimlessly. He could settle down and cultivate properly.

To avoid retaliation, Zhou Er specifically moved, relocating to a better location.

He spent twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones to rent a Detached Courtyard, equipped with a Restriction array to isolate the inside from the outside, allowing him to focus on cultivation.

Although the price was a bit steep, the Spirit Qi Concentration was higher, patrols were stricter, and security was better. No more random cats or dogs would bother him, so it was worth it.

For the next four months, Zhou Er diligently cultivated and successfully broke through to the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

Concurrently, with Gu Jiu's help, he mastered the production methods of the Ice Arrow Technique and Ice Arrow Talisman.

At this point, after such a long period of interaction, Gu Jiu had a deeper understanding of Zhou Er's character, knowing him to be a person of good character who was also diligent and eager to learn.

Therefore, he also scouted three female cultivators from the Gu Family for Zhou Er.

"This is the Third Elder's youngest daughter, Gu Zhilan, thirteen years old this year, with a cultivation of Qi Refining Fifth Layer. The Third Elder is our Gu Family's Disciplinary Elder, holding considerable power. Five of his offspring possess spiritual roots, and this is his youngest daughter."

Gu Jiu showed Zhou Er a portrait of Gu Zhilan.

The girl in the portrait was smiling happily, revealing a canine tooth, full of youthful vitality.

For these immortal cultivation families, only those who possessed spiritual roots were considered true descendants of the family; others, not even illegitimate children, were merely relegated to branch families.

"Miss Zhilan is lively and cute; I doubt anyone wouldn't like her," Zhou Er commented with a smile.

"That girl Gu Zhilan is quite mischievous, a real headache," Gu Jiu thought, frowning.

"This is the daughter of our current Gu Family Patriarch, Gu Po, sixteen years old this year, at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer realm."

Gu Jiu then showed Zhou Er another portrait. In it, the young woman held a magic sword, looking heroic and valiant.

"Brother Gu, to introduce the Patriarch's daughter to me, I am quite flattered." Zhou Er was surprised that Gu Jiu could introduce the Patriarch's daughter to him.

"The Patriarch has many wives and concubines and numerous children; I don't even know Gu Po's exact birth order," Gu Jiu said somewhat awkwardly.

In short, Gu Po was not a particularly important figure in the family, likely far less so than Gu Zhilan, so Zhou Er didn't need to be overly nervous or place too much importance on her.

"Even so, she is a legitimate daughter of a noble family," Zhou Er replied.

Gu Jiu no longer dwelled on the matter. After introducing Gu Po to Zhou Er, he took out another portrait.

The woman in the portrait wore plain clothes, her face clear and beautiful. Her eyes, lacking the youthful innocence of a girl, held a touch of quiet sorrow. Unadorned by makeup, her figure was slender, and a faint loneliness lay hidden in her gaze, gentle yet melancholic.

After showing the portrait to Zhou Er, Gu Jiu said:

"This woman's name is Gu Fan. She is twenty-three years old and has a Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivation. Although she has been married once, her Dao Companion passed away three years ago. Her direct blood relatives have also all passed away."

Hearing Gu Jiu's words, Zhou Er found it somewhat strange.

The gap between this woman and the previous two seemed too large.

Of course, Zhou Er did not dislike Gu Fan's age. Twenty-three was a woman's most beautiful age. Even Prime Minister Cao admired such women, and Zhou Er, having lived two lives, would not be picky.

It was just that the previous two were young girls, and now he was presented with a young married woman, and a widow at that.

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