Senior, Please Show Some Respect

In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

Zhou Er had successfully broken through to the Eleventh Level of Qi Refining, and the magic power in his body had grown even more abundant.

At his current pace of cultivation, he would reach Perfection of the Twelfth Level of Qi Refining in less than a year.

His speed was already astonishing, but Zhou Er was not entirely satisfied. It meant he would have to endure another year.

So he still needed to gather new attributes as soon as possible and speed things up.

The trouble was, when he occasionally went out to browse, the items elsewhere, apart from those at Wanbao Pavilion, had weak attribute effects. They also wasted Equipment Slots and time spent solidifying them.

But the things inside Wanbao Pavilion were too expensive. His pockets were light, and he could not afford much.

Still, Zhou Er made visible progress every day. Even when he ran into minor bottlenecks, he could persevere instead of giving up on himself and wasting his days.

That alone set him apart from ordinary people.

Gu Fan, for instance, had failed to break through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer several times. She had wanted to slack off, but he had encouraged her to keep going, and she had eventually broken through.

His daily progress was decent for now, so Zhou Er had no plans to take risks. He continued cultivating in peace in Bashui Immortal City.

If one day he truly could not make any more progress, he would consider other, more aggressive methods.

Over the past month, Zhou Er had also been keeping an eye on many things.

For example, he followed the movements of Xie Jingyi, the Second-tier Talisman Master of the Xie Family, as well as the recent stirrings of the demonic path and Wugu Dao in Chu State.

The Wugu Dao affair had caused quite a commotion. It was said that one Wugu Dao inheritor had already reached the Golden Core realm and was secretly stirring up trouble.

The Chu State sects were hunting down these Wugu Dao inheritors, while the inheritors were trying to seize the spirit lands of the Chu State sects and reestablish their lineage.

To that end, the Wugu Dao inheritors were recruiting disciples from other sects.

If Wugu Dao produced a Nascent Soul, it really might manage to establish itself.

The Hehuan Sect, for instance, was also one of the Thirty-Three Daos of the Xiantian Demon Sect, the Hehuan Dao. It had occupied a spirit land and established a firm foothold because it had two Nascent Soul Devil Lords at its head.

Now, it was gradually distancing itself from the Xiantian Demon Sect, seemingly trying to rebrand itself as a neutral force.

Compared to other demonic paths, which were more destructive and dangerous, the Hehuan Dao was much milder.

Of course, many people still considered Hehuan Sect cultivators demonic cultivators.

As an unestablished Qi Refining disciple, Zhou Er had no say in the broader trends of the Cultivation World.

He merely used them to judge his own circumstances and whether Bashui Immortal City was safe enough for him to stay.

Given the current situation, the outside world might be in turmoil, but Bashui Immortal City had not been greatly affected. He could still cultivate here in relative peace for the time being.

Another half a year passed, and Zhou Er was halfway through his progress toward the Eleventh Level of Qi Refining.

The True Essence Flow and Blood Qi Abundance attributes had also finished solidifying.

Around then, he received word that the talisman masters of Bashui Immortal City would gather in a month.

Zhou Er happened to be studying Second-tier Runes, but had yet to make a breakthrough.

The gathering would be the perfect opportunity to ask the Second-tier Talisman Masters for advice.

On the day of the gathering, Zhou Er asked Gu Fan if she wanted to come along.

Gu Fan knew she would have nothing to talk about with those talisman masters. She would only interrupt Zhou Er's socializing, so she decided not to tag along and cause him trouble.

Zhou Er said nothing more. He went to find Gu Jiu first, then headed to the gathering with several Gu Family talisman masters.

The gathering was held at the Cave Mansion of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Xie Family. The meetings rotated among the various families.

Most of the talisman masters who came were from the Four Great Families of Bashui Immortal City or were connected to them.

Independent talisman masters were exceedingly rare. They usually gathered in small circles of three or five.

People from different families secretly competed with one another, but on the surface they were all perfectly amicable.

The gathering also featured many beautiful men and women, who sang, danced, and performed for the talisman masters.

Most of the talisman masters had not seen one another in a long while. They chatted together, and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.

"Old Brother Cang, didn't you want to ask Senior Xie about the Water Mirror Talisman?"

Seeing Xie Jingyi pass nearby, Gu Jiu gave Zhou Er a knowing look and said,

"That's Senior Xie Jingyi over there."

Zhou Er followed Gu Jiu's gaze and saw a female cultivator with a stunning figure. Her expression was aloof, and a handsome male cultivator followed behind her.

Though the man was burly, he kept his head lowered and seemed rather uneasy.

"Is that Senior Xie's Dao Companion?"

Zhou Er asked curiously.

"Hahaha, he's just Senior Xie's Cauldron. Don't mind him."

The others laughed.

Xie Jingyi had never had a Dao Companion, but she changed Cauldrons with great frequency.

Zhou Er did not concern himself with Xie Jingyi's private life and went forward to strike up a conversation.

"Senior, I'm a newly certified First-tier Talisman Master from two years ago. My name is Cang Er."

He introduced himself.

A gathering was a place for socializing, so Zhou Er did not need to be too shy.

Xie Jingyi had not wanted to pay attention to a newcomer, but when she saw that Zhou Er was rather handsome and seemed full of vitality, she decided to have some fun and said,

"You know who I am?"

"He's the Gu Family's son-in-law."

At that moment, a member of the Xie Family, who had met Zhou Er a few times, introduced him to Xie Jingyi.

"Oh!"

That made Xie Jingyi even more interested.

And so, she began chatting with Zhou Er.

The others did not dare interrupt and went elsewhere. The male Cauldron trailing behind Xie Jingyi was even less inclined to speak; he kept his head bowed the entire time.

"Little Friend Cang, it's not convenient to talk here. Why don't you come with me? I'll teach you how to draw the Water Mirror Talisman."

As she spoke, Xie Jingyi led Zhou Er toward an empty room.

This was a guest room in the Xie Family's Cave Mansion, and she was free to come and go as she pleased.

Unable to tell what Xie Jingyi was getting at, Zhou Er could only follow her inside for now.

It was a guest room that was usually unoccupied.

As soon as Zhou Er stepped inside, Xie Jingyi waved her hand to shut the door and activated the wards, sealing off the room from outside.

Then, her cheeks flushed as she said,

"Little Friend Cang, let me take a look at your Talisman Brush first."

As she spoke, she was even breathing heavily. Zhou Er could not understand why a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would act like this.

But since she had asked, he took out his best Talisman Brush, the Snow Fox Brush Gu Fan had given him.

Xie Jingyi took the brush and slowly ran her fingers over it. Then, as if playing with it, she shook her head.

"Too thin."

Watching her actions, Zhou Er understood. He said,

"Senior Xie, I have a Dao Companion. Let's go back outside and talk!"

"This gathering is so dull. Why don't we find something fun to do?"

Xie Jingyi looked at Zhou Er with tender eyes and an alluring expression, nothing like the aloof woman she had been outside.

"Senior, what did you have in mind?"

Zhou Er put away his Talisman Brush and eyed Xie Jingyi warily.

"What do you think?"

Xie Jingyi said enticingly.

Then she took out a Dual Cultivation Technique and smiled as she levitated it over to Zhou Er.

At first, Zhou Er had no idea what it was. But after glancing at it, he made his decision at once.

"Senior, please show some respect."

Zhou Er released the room's wards and fled the room as if his life depended on it.

Senior Xie was far too adventurous.

What a tangled mess.

Of course, he would never actually do anything outrageous.

This could be a minor affair, something everyone tacitly agreed to have a bit of fun with, or it could become a major scandal that ruined his reputation.

Besides, Zhou Er suspected that this was a test from the Gu Family.

So he was even less likely to do anything inappropriate.

"Old Brother Cang, how did your conversation with Senior Xie go?"

Gu Jiu asked.

"Uncle Jiu, I may be too dull to understand what Senior Xie meant."

Zhou Er said awkwardly.

Seeing that something was off with Zhou Er, the Gu Family cultivators did not press him further.

Afterward, the talisman masters chatted about many other things, watched beautiful female cultivators perform sword dances, and ate and drank until the gathering broke up.

Zhou Er also made a few new friends, but Xie Jingyi kept glancing at him from time to time, which made him feel extremely uneasy.

After returning home, Zhou Er told Gu Fan everything.

"Sister Fan, I had no idea Senior Xie was like that. Otherwise, I never would have followed her inside."

Zhou Er explained.

"Why does Senior Xie behave so outrageously?"

Gu Fan found it strange, and she was also somewhat skeptical of Zhou Er's account.

However, she had a way to check.

After checking, Gu Fan confirmed that Zhou Er had not lied and that nothing had happened between him and Senior Xie. She put her suspicions to rest.

"Don't interact with Senior Xie again. And don't speak ill of her. This matter would be embarrassing to bring up, after all."

Gu Fan reminded him.

"Of course."

Zhou Er nodded.

He more or less understood why Xie Jingyi could be so brazen without rumors spreading: it was because of her background and status.

But that left him with one less avenue for learning the Water Mirror Talisman.

Still, not getting in over his head was a good thing too.

For now, he would focus on cultivation and worry about everything else after breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Over the next six months, Zhou Er kept a low profile and went undisturbed.

[Name: Zhou Er]

[Cultivation: Twelfth Level of Qi Refining (0.01%)]

[Equipment Slot (3/3): Foundation Establishment Pill, Golden Cicada Slough, Storage Bag.]

[Unsolidified Attributes: Cicada Concealment (Green), Void Breaking (White).]

[Solidified Attributes: Foundation Consolidation (White), True Essence Flow (White), Blood Qi Abundance (White)...]

Since he could not find any useful attributes, Zhou Er focused on cultivation and set aside the matter of his Equipment Slots for the time being.

Perhaps better opportunities would come after he broke through to Foundation Establishment.

Now that he had finally reached the Twelfth Level of Qi Refining, he had also met the Solidification Condition for the Foundation Consolidation attribute and successfully solidified it.

He could now begin attempting Foundation Establishment. Further cultivation would bring little improvement and would merely waste time.

He had read the Foundation Establishment experience left behind by Gu Fan's parents. The process took anywhere from three to ten days, and one needed to choose a good location.

The Gu Family had many Seclusion Chambers available for Foundation Establishment, with no one to disturb him.

But after the attack on Fanhua Island, Zhou Er had begun to feel suspicious of the Gu Family as well.

There had to be people within the Gu Family who were unhappy with the two of them.

The chances might be slim, but it was not impossible that someone would interfere and cause trouble.

After considering it from every angle, Zhou Er decided to rent a Seclusion Chamber from the Wang Family. He would spend some Spirit Stones and rent one for his retreat.

That was still better than being stabbed in the back by someone within the family.

He even had to keep it from Gu Fan. He said to her,

"Sister Fan, I'm planning to go back home for a while. I'll probably be gone for over a month."

"Back home?"

Gu Fan asked, puzzled.

"I mean my hometown in Qi Kingdom. I haven't told my father about our marriage yet, so I plan to let him know."

Zhou Er said.

"I see. Do you need me to come with you?"

Gu Fan asked.

Although Zhou Er had married into her family, their relationship was equal, and she could go visit her parents-in-law as a daughter-in-law.

"Sister Fan, there's no need. I don't want anything from the Cultivation World to affect their lives."

Zhou Er shook his head and said.

Gu Fan felt a little displeased at that, but she understood his intentions and did not insist. She merely said,

"Then give my regards to your parents-in-law. While you're away, I'll go stay on Fanhua Island."

Gu Fan had been away from Fanhua Island for a year and was beginning to miss home.

Bai Zhuozhuo had been living back home for a year without any danger. The island had also been mostly rebuilt, so there was no problem with returning now.

"All right."

Seeing this, Zhou Er did not object.

The next day, the two of them left Bashui Immortal City together and returned to Fanhua Island.

After more than a year of recuperation, Bai Zhuozhuo had nearly recovered her strength. She had also grown used to her newly attached hand, and she was in excellent condition.

Seeing the two return, she welcomed them with joy in her heart.

"Miss, Master."

Bai Zhuozhuo said with a smile.

Zhou Er nodded. He stayed on Fanhua Island for a day, then left the island the next day.

After circling around, Zhou Er disguised himself and entered Bashui Immortal City from the other side.

Once inside the city, Zhou Er went to find the Wang Family's place for renting Seclusion Chambers.

The Seclusion Chambers were charged by the day, at one Spirit Stone per day. Rent for at least one month had to be paid upfront, and any unused rent could be refunded after leaving.

Zhou Er first followed a Wang Family member who managed the Seclusion Chambers to the one he intended to rent.

All the Seclusion Chambers had Second-tier Restrictions, and defensive arrays had been set up around them as well. Ordinary people couldn't get inside easily.

Besides that, arrays channeled in extra Spirit Energy, ensuring the chambers always had ample Spirit Energy and could meet the demands of Foundation Establishment.

"Fellow Daoist, what do you think of this place?"

A member of the Wang Family asked.

"This place is excellent."

After giving it some thought and inspecting the Seclusion Chamber, Zhou Er chose it.

"Excellent, then. Let's sign the contract right away!"

The Wang Family member said with a smile.

Afterward, the two signed a contract. Zhou Er paid one month's rent and gained the right to use the Seclusion Chamber for that month.

"Fellow Daoist, we'll open the Seclusion Chamber in a month. Keep track of the time yourself, and don't be late."

The Wang Family member reminded him before leaving.

During seclusion, one might lose track of day and night, but after cultivating for so long, cultivators generally had some sense of time.

Besides, one month was enough to make three attempts.

Zhou Er nodded, shut the Seclusion Chamber's door, and activated the restrictions.

What a pity I couldn't find more Foundation Establishment Spirit Items. Otherwise, I could have improved my odds of Foundation Establishment even further.

But Foundation Establishment Spirit Items weren't easy to find.

Rather than waste time searching for them, he might as well take a chance now—gamble and turn his bicycle into a motorcycle.

Taking out the Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhou Er prepared himself and carefully recalled the Foundation Establishment experience and insights he had read before. After sitting in meditation for a long while, he swallowed the pill in one gulp and began refining it.