Life-Saving Talisman

Because Ye Han knew that Zhang Qingshan came from the same background as him, originating from a poor family and joining the Azure Profound Sect through a fortuitous coincidence...

Within the Azure Profound Sect, due to his low status and personality issues, he had suffered enough bullying from his fellow senior and junior apprentice-brothers, but with his resilient disposition, he had cultivated all the way to the present.

If he turned this Cave Abode into one shared by two people, then no matter who wanted to harbor designs on it, they would have to go through Zhang Qingshan, turning it into a matter concerning two people.

Therefore, he had honestly spoken of this matter, because he knew Zhang Qingshan's personality and the importance of this Cave Abode to a cultivator like him.

With this Cave Abode, Zhang Qingshan's cultivation speed would be even faster, and he might even have the chance to make a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm...

Once Zhang Qingshan became a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, wouldn't he, Ye Han, also have a powerful backer to lean on?

Thus, he needed to make Zhang Qingshan understand that as long as he, Ye Han, was around, Zhang Qingshan could use this place for cultivation...

In the Azure Profound Sect, any random cat or dog of an immortal cultivator could deal with him.

If others harbored designs on this Cave Abode, wouldn't that be harboring designs on Zhang Qingshan himself?

Because Ye Han understood very well that after witnessing the methods of immortal cultivators, he had already begun cultivating.

Hearing Ye Han's words, Zhang Qingshan opened his eyes wide and said, "Junior Brother Ye, did your Cave Abode really come about this way?"

Pausing for a moment, he furrowed his brows and said with worry, "Then... your situation might become dangerous. If people find out about your cultivation level and that you have no backer behind you, many will target you, which would be very troublesome."

Ye Han nodded with a half-smile and said, "Who says I have no backer? Senior Brother Zhang! After all, I came to the Azure Profound Sect holding the Azure Mystic Token. Even if I have no backer behind me, would the sect casually let those people bully me openly? Wouldn't that chill the hearts of the disciples at the bottom? Besides, don't I have Senior Brother Zhang to help me?"

Saying this, he looked sincerely at Zhang Qingshan and said, "Senior Brother Zhang! You have cultivated in this Cave Abode for so long, and you know the benefits of cultivating here. As long as I remain in this Cave Abode, Senior Brother, you can cultivate here too!"

Indeed, Ye Han was extremely clear about his own situation.

That Azure Mystic Token of his was actually a Life-Saving Talisman. After all, the Azure Mystic Token was something the sect bestowed upon its disciples and cultivators who had rendered great service, offering the descendants of the sect a chance at immortality and an immense reward.

Of course, this trinket was not casually issued either; one had to perform monumental deeds-contributions far exceeding the value of the Azure Mystic Token itself-to receive its commendation.

If disciple-cultivators in the sect knew they had performed hard-won feats of great merit, finally obtained the reward of the Azure Mystic Token, but then had their descendants come to the Azure Profound Sect only to have their Foundation Establishment Pill snatched away...

And having their descendants murdered into the bargain, who would ever bleed and risk their lives for the Azure Profound Sect again?

Even if they did risk their lives to achieve merit, they would no longer want rewards like the Azure Mystic Token, but would demand other recompense instead.

In truth, if the Azure Mystic Token went unused, to the Azure Profound Sect it was tantamount to a mere honorary accolade...

Therefore, no matter what, since Ye Han had come to the Azure Profound Sect holding the Azure Mystic Token, the sect ought to give him a Foundation Establishment Pill and protect his safety...

That was why the Azure Profound Sect Master had overridden all dissenting opinions and, even though Ye Han's talent was unremarkable, still granted him a Foundation Establishment Pill according to sect regulations, while simultaneously warning the elders in the sect not to harbor crooked ideas regarding Ye Han.

That was certainly not for Ye Han's sake.

Rather, it was because sect rules could not be broken; this was his principle as the Sect Master, even if this Ye Han appeared to possess no great talent for immortality.

Consequently, during this period of time, Ye Han was still quite safe within the sect.

Yet this could not stop the Fifth Elder from instigating certain people to deal with him. Of course, it was impossible for the Fifth Elder to act personally, and other Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators probably wouldn't easily harbor such thoughts either...

Because a mere Cave Abode was not worth Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators setting their sights on it; since Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators basically all had their own cave abodes, why bother targeting his?

Furthermore, doing so violated sect rules.

Naturally, this was primarily because the necessity of breaking the sect rules was insufficient; after all, Ye Han had already exchanged the Foundation Establishment Pill for a Cave Abode.

Ye Han felt extremely grateful to Teacher Lan Qing for his foresight, because it was Teacher Lan Qing who had told him to exchange the Foundation Establishment Pill for a Cave Abode.

He had also told him that a cave abode was the only thing he could hold onto; any other treasures, cultivation techniques, or even spirit stones and Foundation Establishment Pills were simply things his current cultivation level could not protect.

Because a cave abode was fixed in place and could not be moved. If someone usurped Ye Han to live in that cave abode, wouldn't that be equivalent to signaling to everyone who had harmed Ye Han?

Therefore, Teacher Lan Qing instructing him to trade the Foundation Establishment Pill for a Cave Abode not only failed to delay his cultivation, but also allowed him to win over a cultivator like Zhang Qingshan to help him.

Moreover, it could temporarily guarantee his personal safety. After all, an immortal cultivator's cave abode still possessed defensive capabilities, and within the Seven Profound Sect, who would dare touch his Cave Abode?

Unless it was those elders of extremely high status, but how could such people lower their dignity to engage in such conduct?

Immortal cultivators naturally possessed the dignity and pride belonging to immortal cultivators.

Sure enough, upon hearing Ye Han's words, a trace of honest, foolish smiling appeared on Zhang Qingshan's face as he said, "Junior Brother Ye, you are much smarter than I am! By trading the Foundation Establishment Pill for a Cave Abode, it will be very difficult for them to harbor designs on you!"

Having spoken, he patted his own chest and declared, "Don't you worry, Junior Brother Ye, you can rest easy! As long as I am here, no cultivator below the Foundation Establishment Realm can bully you. Rest assured, nobody can touch you!"

Indeed, he had been persuaded by Ye Han. As long as Ye Han was present, he would be able to cultivate in this Cave Abode-an effect nearly comparable to cultivating by consuming medicinal pills.

After all, though an inner sect disciple like him was not low in status, the path of cultivation valued wealth, companionship, method, and land.

Wealth naturally did not refer to worldly money, but rather to heavenly materials and earthly treasures-all expenditures and treasures possessing immense cultivation value for immortal cultivators. Spirit stones, treasures, talismans, and pills all counted...

Things like the Foundation Establishment Pill also counted as a form of wealth.

Wealth was naturally the most crucial link; with sufficient cultivation resources, opportunities were naturally greatest, but the others were all complementary.

Method referred to cultivation techniques. A top-tier cultivation technique allowed a cultivator to cultivate faster and grow more powerful.

For instance, the Azure Mystic Art practiced by Ye Han was no ordinary technique. After pondering over it for a time, Zhang Qingshan had gained insights and broken through to the Eleventh Layer of Qi Refining Realm.

This demonstrated the importance of cultivation techniques.

Companionship-many immortal cultivators mistakenly thought this meant dao companions. In truth, the so-called companionship referred not only to dao companions as dual-cultivation partners, but also to like-minded immortal cultivators who supported and helped one another. With many helpers, help comes easily; with few helpers, help is hard to find-this principle indeed held a certain truth.

Take Zhang Qingshan and Ye Han now, for example. The two of them achieving success through mutual support was actually a form of companionship...

In other words, immortal cultivators also needed friends to support and help one another, and it was impossible to accomplish every single action relying solely on oneself.

Lastly was land!

And this land was intimately related to the relationship between the two of them.