Yan Yuan had been blinded by greed; this disaster was no more than he deserved. It was only a pity for Fellow Daoist Yan Wenbo. His family had finally produced such a "talent," only for him to die so young.
Why had he needed to provoke an old man like me, one foot already in the grave?
Wei Zhong shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. From this day onward, the identity of Wei Zhong would be retired.
Still, for the sake of his cultivation, he needed to find another spiritual land to continue cultivating.
Wei Zhong altered his appearance, and Rogue Cultivator Chu He appeared in his place.
This time, he would find himself a great tree to lean against.
Wei Zhong changed the direction of his flying light and headed for Ruyue Market.
"Brother Luo, it has been a long time!"
Inside a pavilion in the market, Chu He cupped his hands toward a young man.
"So it is Brother Chu. Please, come in. We have not met for only a few days, yet Brother Chu has already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. You are only one step away from Foundation Establishment."
The two sat down at the tea table.
"Not at all, not at all. Foundation Establishment is fraught with difficulty. I am but a Rogue Cultivator with no fortuitous opportunity—how could I possibly succeed in Foundation Establishment?"
Luo Mingyan felt the same inward sorrow. He had remained at the ninth level of Qi Refining for more than ten years, never daring to claim any certainty of succeeding in Foundation Establishment. That was why he had been accumulating capital in Ruyue Market, hoping to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
His words to Chu He had merely been polite pleasantries. The chances of a Rogue Cultivator succeeding in Foundation Establishment were far lower than those of sect cultivators.
The Chu He before him possessed only Five Spiritual Roots. Though Luo Mingyan did not yet know the grades of those roots, since Chu He had not entered a sect, they could not have been much good.
He had only befriended him back then because Chu He was fairly capable in combat.
"To be honest with you, Brother Luo, I do not have much lifespan left."
Luo Mingyan was startled. Looking at the heavy twilight aura Wei Zhong had deliberately released, he said:
"How could that be?"
"Alas, if one walks by the river often, how can one keep one's shoes from getting wet? Some years ago, I encountered Robber Cultivators. They were formidable opponents and damaged my foundation, reducing my lifespan along with it.
I fear I will not live beyond five years. That is why I came to find Brother Luo."
"Brother Chu, what do you mean?"
"I have cultivated immortality until this day, yet there is only one young nephew I cannot set my mind at ease over. I hope Brother Luo can help him enter Azurewood Sect."
After saying this, Chu He took out a Storage Bag, placed it on the table, and pushed it before Luo Mingyan.
Luo Mingyan let out a breath of relief. He had thought Chu He wanted his help finding something that could extend his lifespan. Such rare items were worth a fortune.
He picked up the Storage Bag and swept it with his spiritual sense. Delight immediately rose in his heart, and he said with a beaming smile:
"That can be discussed, that can be discussed. May I ask about my worthy nephew's aptitude and age?"
"My nephew is named Chu Zhong. He has Five Spiritual Roots, all of them Low-Grade Spirit Roots."
Luo Mingyan's expression froze...
Wei Zhong's expression did not change as he continued, "He is already over eighty years old and at the fourth level of Qi Refining..."
Seeing that Wei Zhong still intended to go on, Luo Mingyan hurriedly cut him off:
"Stop, stop. Brother Chu, it is not that I will not help, but your nephew is... somewhat too ordinary. Even the outer sect of Azurewood Sect would be out of reach."
Wei Zhong pretended to frown, making Luo Mingyan exceedingly awkward.
Taking what belongs to another leaves one with a short hand; eating another's food leaves one with a soft mouth.
Yet Luo Mingyan was reluctant to return the spirit stones.
After weighing the matter, he said:
"How about having your worthy nephew farm Spirit Fields at Azurewood Sect for a few years? I have quite a few connections in the outer sect market..."
Chu He's face struggled, but he rejoiced inwardly. This was exactly what he had been waiting for.
Who wanted to enter Azurewood Sect? He carried secrets and had no desire for some old sect monster to strip him down to his very undergarments.
Still, although he had achieved his goal, he had to put on an act.
"How can my, Chu He's, nephew go and become some insignificant spirit farmer?"
Among Rogue Cultivators who licked blood from the edge of a blade, the people they despised most were cultivators who farmed and waited for death within the various cultivation Lineages.
Every year, the main family skimmed away most of their earnings. Not only did they make few spirit stones, but even their spirit for the Dao would be ground away completely.
"Brother Chu, though spirit farmers are looked down upon, farming at Azurewood Sect is a fine post. Not only is it safe and free from worries, it also offers opportunities to come into contact with more cultivation resources. If fortune favors him, it is not impossible for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to take him into their fold..."
Chu He lowered his head and pondered for a moment before finally sighing.
"Then we shall do as Brother Luo says."
Chu He took out a jade pendant and snapped it in half.
He handed one half to Luo Mingyan and put the other away:
"In a few days, if someone comes holding this half of the jade pendant along with a handwritten letter from me, then he will certainly be my nephew. I hope Brother Luo..."
Luo Mingyan cupped his hands.
"Brother Chu, rest assured. Since I have accepted the benefit, I will see the matter properly handled."
Chu He nodded.
"Then I shall take my leave."
"Travel safely, Brother Chu."
Wei Zhong transformed into a streak of flying light and departed Ruyue Market.
Sending himself to Azurewood Sect to farm had been Wei Zhong's decision after careful consideration. After all, he still had to plan for Foundation Establishment in the future. As a Golden Core force, Azurewood Sect producing a Rogue Cultivator who achieved Foundation Establishment was an ordinary occurrence.
If he instead achieved Foundation Establishment within a Lineage such as the Yan family or Chen family, he would likely face hostility at once. They might even secretly interfere and ruin his cultivation.
Moreover, Luo Mingyan was right. As one of Mangyuan Prefecture's Golden Core forces, Azurewood Sect was indeed extremely safe, and resources gathered there in abundance.
It was a good place for Foundation Establishment.
Although Wei Zhong had heard that there was also a Hanzhu City jointly established by Rogue Cultivators within the prefecture, that place was too far away and too close to Yunjiang Prefecture.
Wei Zhong feared that the Nascent Soul inheritance might spread disaster outward and leave even fish in the pond suffering.
Thus, Azurewood Sect was the best choice.
As for the spirit stones he had given Luo Mingyan, Wei Zhong felt only a slight pang of pain. Since killing those three fellow spirit farmers and Yan Yuan, his wealth had swelled once more. Spending a little to secure a good future for himself was worth it.
There had been quite a few spirit stones in the three men's Storage Bags. One glance was enough to tell that they often played the part of Robber Cultivators to earn extra income.
Thinking of the three men's methods—the passive defensive artifact, the first-rank mid-grade defensive Dharma robe, and that strange artifact that disturbed the soul—
Sure enough, even farmers could not be underestimated. Who knew what treasure they might pull out during a fight and turn the tide of battle?
Taking out that strange Pellet Drum, Wei Zhong shook it several times, producing drumbeats. Nine Colors on his shoulder immediately swayed unsteadily, as though it would fall off the next moment.
Wei Zhong stopped and removed the drum hide from the Pellet Drum.
Was this layer of drum hide the strange thing?
The hide was pale and smooth, and he could not tell what creature it had come from. Yet under the sunlight, its surface shimmered with fluorescent gleams; it was clearly no ordinary thing.
It was certainly a good item. Someday, he could find a master to refine this hide anew. Perhaps it would add another trump card to his arsenal.
Besides that, there were quite a few good things in the three men's Storage Bags: all kinds of spirit herbs and pills Wei Zhong did not recognize, and more...
Three days later, Wei Zhong restored his appearance from his middle-aged years and went once more to Ruyue Market.
Looking at the jade pendant and letter Wei Zhong presented, Luo Mingyan asked:
"You are Chu Zhong?"
Wei Zhong nodded.
"Why has Fellow Daoist Chu He not come?"
"My uncle has little lifespan left. Unwilling to accept it, he went in search of a fortuitous opportunity."
As he spoke, Wei Zhong revealed a mournful expression.
Luo Mingyan deeply understood the feeling as well.
"Very well. Since your uncle has entrusted you to me, I will naturally make proper arrangements for you.
I have business and will soon be returning to the sect. We shall set out in a few days."
"I will follow Uncle Luo's arrangements in all things!"
Yesterday, the author assistant sent me a notification saying ten people had read my novel. I was so excited I could not fall asleep until midnight.
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