Black Lake Island

"Junior Sister."

Yao ZhengSheng softly called Nie Yuechan's name.

Although his master had told him to focus on preparing to form his core, he still had to come say goodbye before entering seclusion.

A woman dressed in black gauze lay on a jade bed. Hearing his call, she climbed to her feet.

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Her willow-leaf brows framed starry eyes, above a delicate nose and crimson lips, while long black hair spilled loosely down her back.

"Senior Brother, you're here?"

Yao ZhengSheng stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her slender waist, stroking her beautiful hair with heartache.

Then he cupped her face in his left hand. Looking at her pale complexion, he said guiltily:

"Junior Sister, you've suffered."

Yet she merely smiled, clasped Yao ZhengSheng's left hand with both of hers, and said softly:

"Senior Brother, you needn't blame yourself. If not for you this time, Yuechan would surely have met the fate of her soul scattering and spirit dissipating. The fact that Yuechan can speak with you here now is all thanks to you.

"And it isn't only Senior Brother. The elders and fellow disciples of our sect all care greatly about me."

Then she pulled a piece of soft white jade from within the folds at her chest.

"Look, Senior Brother. Uncle Yu even gave me this Soul Nourishing Jade. Junior Sister Lin must be so jealous she's going mad now, haha..."

Yao ZhengSheng gently rubbed her forehead, listening to her endless chatter without interrupting.

"Senior Brother, go form your core without worry. Yuechan will wait here for you to return after forming your core."

"Master already told you?"

Nie Yuechan nodded.

"Junior Sister, once I form my core, I'll seek treasures to heal your divine soul injuries. We agreed that we would become an immortal couple."

Nie Yuechan only giggled.

"Senior Brother, you're joking. Father is still counting on you to shoulder Azurewood Sect after you form your core... Yuechan is already satisfied that you have such intentions."

A day later, Wei Zhong looked at the Blood-Eating Bat King before him and murmured:

"A beast without a master is called a demon; with a master, it is called a spirit."

In this cultivation world, ordinary demon beasts and spirit beasts were actually the same thing. The only difference was whether they had been tamed by human cultivators.

"You bloodthirsty demon should obediently remain under my command, lest you be released and create slaughter."

With that, Wei Zhong cast the Beast Control Spell on it.

This Blood-Eating Bat King was the victor among that group of candidates for bat king. After winning, it had devoured the former bat king's remains and advanced into the late stage of the first rank.

To control this type of swarm beast, one only needed to control its king. When ordering it into battle, one merely had to command the bat king, and it would naturally direct the bat swarm to fight.

Wei Zhong was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his divine sense had already formed. Contracting such a tiny first-rank demon beast naturally took little effort.

A spiritual rune easily imprinted itself within its body. With a wave of his hand, Wei Zhong ordered it back into the cave. From now on, it would guard his home.

"Master, Master! Another Spirit Fish has taken the bait!"

Several maidservants sent by the Li Lineage were shouting nearby.

Wei Zhong looked over and indeed saw movement on the fishing rod. With a lift of his hand, he tugged, flinging a green Spirit Fish into the air.

Then, guided by spiritual energy, it was delivered to the maidservants beside him to be roasted.

Dajin blew bubbles as it emerged from the lake. This great lake had now become its habitat.

Wei Zhong casually flicked out a Spirit Feeding Pill as a reward for driving the Spirit Fish toward him.

Then he looked back at the lovely women around him and took a sip of Spirit Wine. Wei Zhong felt an indescribable ease.

Yesterday, upon learning that the Foundation Establishment cultivator on Black Lake Island had been slain by Wei Zhong, Li Ren, the Li Lineage's Clan Head, had been overjoyed and sent these maidservants over that very night. Most of them were members of the Li Lineage, merely of ordinary aptitude and barely at Qi Refining.

Still, each had her own unique charm, pleasing Wei Zhong's eyes.

A streak of rainbow light approached from afar, revealing Li Haowen's figure.

His expression was weary. Clearly, after receiving the notice, he had rushed back to the clan day and night without rest. This journey took Wei Zhong less than half a day, but for a Qi Refining cultivator like Li Haowen, it required more than ten hours.

The moment he saw Wei Zhong, he immediately lowered himself in salute.

"Many thanks, Senior, for saving my Li Lineage from the depths of fire and water."

Wei Zhong waved a hand to indicate that he need not stand on ceremony, then used spiritual power to lift a Spirit Contract and place it before him.

Li Haowen examined it for several moments, solemnly put it away, and cupped his hands toward Wei Zhong.

"Please wait a moment, Senior. I shall immediately seek the clan elders and have this agreement signed."

"Go on!"

Wei Zhong nodded and said nothing more.

He turned back to enjoy spiritual food with the maidservants. Seeing Dajin drive over another Spirit Fish, he irritably stuffed the catch into its gaping mouth.

"No need. Eat it yourself."

Then he looked toward Li Haowen's departing figure. The Spirit Contract he had given him required the Li Lineage to gift Black Lake Island and all nearby waters to him, transferring ownership completely.

Wei Zhong considered himself far more benevolent than Candle Daoren. He had not seized the other second-rank spirit island as well, leaving them hope of continuing as a Foundation Establishment lineage.

It was only one second-rank spirit island. The Li Lineage would likely be able to recognize reality. If they could not, he would have no choice but to help wipe their eyes clean.

A short while later, the Li Lineage's ancestral hall was filled with people. Apart from Li Haowen, most were figures who held power within the Li Lineage.

After reading Wei Zhong's Spirit Contract, some voiced their opposition.

"Impossible! Black Lake Island is our Li Lineage's most important spirit island. How can we simply hand it over to him for nothing?"

"Exactly! Even if he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he cannot bully our Li Lineage like this. We must seek justice—find someone to judge what is right! We should go to Azurewood Sect and ask one of its great figures to judge this matter."

Li Ren's ears were nearly deafened by the voices of these clan elders. In a fit of fury, he slapped the man clamoring for justice.

"Li Lao Ba, all you ever think about is that useless son of yours. All these years, what has he learned besides sucking the blood of our Li Lineage?

"Last time, did the Azurewood Sect steward you father and son brought in do anything other than extort a thousand spirit stones from our Li Lineage? Did he stop Candle Daoren in the slightest?

"What worthless trash. Your whole family is trash. Say one more word of nonsense at this Clan Elders Council meeting, and I'll tear your mouth apart."

After Li Ren's slap and furious scolding, the man immediately covered his face and did not dare make a sound.

The entire ancestral hall fell silent as well.

After calming himself, Li Ren looked down at Li Haowen.

"Nephew Haowen, what do you think?"

Li Haowen looked at the Clan Head's expectant gaze, then swept his eyes over the clan uncles before speaking.

"Give it to him. We must give it to him!

"We cannot afford to provoke Candle Daoren. Can we afford to provoke Senior Chu, who killed him?"

At this, the clan elders exchanged glances, while Li Ren nodded as well.

"And not only that. Although Senior Chu has long been a spirit farmer, his background is not simple. There are even rumors in Bright Moon Market that he is on good terms with two personal disciples of Azurewood Sect. Our Li Lineage absolutely cannot afford to provoke such a person."

Hearing this, Li Ren revealed a doubtful expression, while the clan elders began discussing among themselves.

"Chu Zhong actually has ties to Azurewood Sect? Not simple at all. We truly must consider this carefully."

In an instant, it seemed that the tone within the ancestral hall had been set, and everyone voiced their agreement.

Only then did Li Ren slam the decision down.

"Sign it!"

"Our Li Lineage's foundation cannot compare to the Yan and Chen Lineages. We must now have a Foundation Establishment figure as our facade, and we can borrow Senior Chu's prestige at just the right time.

"And we must quickly nurture a Foundation Establishment cultivator belonging to our own Li Lineage, so that we may gain a foothold.

"Haowen, later, go invite Senior Chu to become a Guest Elder of our Li Lineage. As for the remuneration... comply with Senior's wishes as much as possible.

"And all of you, stop hiding the outstanding younger women in your households. Have them visit Black Lake Island more often. If they can become Senior's concubines, it will be a blessing they could not cultivate for several lifetimes."