Shi Jian's Calculations!

Shi Jian's words, "If you will not turn me away, I am willing to follow the temple master's lead," brought the entire hall to silence for a moment.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators present wore a variety of expressions.

Some inwardly despised the bear demon for having no backbone and being utterly obsequious; others secretly cursed themselves for reacting too slowly, allowing a beast to steal the limelight.

Such a thick thigh, and right before their eyes, a bear had wrapped himself around it!

True Person Yunxiao sat high in the seat of honor, looking down with the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. He was deeply gratified.

Under the pressure of a Golden Core cultivator, the bear demon had still responded so smoothly. That was indeed remarkable, and combined with everything that had come before...

It all showed that this was a bear who could be put to use!

"You simple bear, you are a rare one."

True Person Yunxiao's voice was even, though he could hardly hide the hint of pleasure in it. "For the Sun Clan to have reached where it is today, your contributions cannot be overlooked."

"I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Since you have pledged the Sun Clan's loyalty, tell me whatever else you seek as well!"

"I will refuse nothing!"

Shi Jian grinned broadly and made an exceedingly stiff cupped-fist salute. "You flatter me, True Person. Though I'm a demon, I know that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring."

"White Cloud Temple has sheltered the Sun Clan for many years. Now that you've formed your core, True Person, I imagine this is just when you need people. I'll be thick-skinned and ask a favor for the Sun Clan."

True Person Yunxiao stroked his beard. "Go on."

Seeing this, Shi Jian pushed Sun Yao, who had been standing behind him, forward.

The young girl had just turned fifteen that year. She was growing into a young woman, with a graceful figure and delicate, charming features. When Shi Jian pushed her into the center of the hall to face a room full of Foundation Establishment cultivators and a Golden Core True Person, her little face instantly turned deathly pale.

But there was a toughness in her bones, and she properly performed a grand salute.

"This is Sun Yao, the Sun Clan patriarch's granddaughter."

"She has three Spirit Roots and is now at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining."

"Her talent is passable in a small place, but I'm afraid it wouldn't amount to much in your eyes, True Person. I'd like to ask you to grant this girl a chance at immortality."

"Let her join White Cloud Temple, so she can serve you like a dog or a horse in the future."

True Person Yunxiao swept his Divine Sense over her.

Fifteen years old, at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, with solid foundations and pure spiritual power.

For someone with three Spirit Roots to have made such progress showed that the Sun Clan had poured plenty of resources into her, and her temperament was acceptable too. All in all, she was quite good...

Besides, he had only just formed his core, and it was time to buy horse bones for a thousand pieces of gold. He still needed to reassure those under his rule, and the Sun Clan had rendered great service before. This bear demon also knew just how to conduct himself, so there was no reason not to grant the favor.

"Your joining my sect is no problem."

True Person Yunxiao withdrew his Divine Sense, his tone growing a little warmer. "Besides, this girl's Root Bone is fairly good. It would be a waste of her talent to make her an ordinary disciple."

"I will take her as a Registered Disciple. If she can reach Foundation Establishment within ten years, she will become my personal disciple."

As soon as he said this, a chorus of sharp intakes of breath rang through the hall.

A Golden Core True Person's disciple!

Even as a Registered Disciple, she would have the status to walk sideways in White Cloud Commandery. With this tiger skin to wear, the Sun Clan's position in Hongtian City would be as solid as a rock.

Hearing this, Sun Yao froze for a moment, then hurriedly kowtowed in a grand ceremony of apprenticeship. Her voice rang clear. "Your disciple pays her respects, Master!"

True Person Yunxiao raised a hand, and a gentle gust lifted the little girl to her feet. He then bestowed a supreme-grade defensive Law Artifact on her as a welcoming gift.

With that, both hosts and guests were delighted.

Shi Jian had gotten his wish!

On the third day after the core formation ceremony,

the White Cloud Minor Gathering held a grand auction.

First, it was to celebrate the True Person's core formation; second, it was a chance to sweep up resources and replenish the sect's treasury. Cultivators from all nine counties gathered, and the scene was livelier than ever before.

Sun Bo'an sat in a VIP box on the second floor. Shi Jian lay beside him, his body reduced to the size of an ordinary black bear, his eyes closed as he feigned sleep.

He had no interest in the high-grade and supreme-grade Law Artifacts and talismans on the stage.

That lasted until a jade tray was brought onto the stage, bearing a longan-sized pill that was dark yellow all over...

"Second-tier, middle-grade Marrow-Unblocking Pill."

The auctioneer's booming voice carried throughout the venue. "Though this pill cannot directly help someone break through to Foundation Establishment, it can cleanse the body and marrow and strengthen the meridians."

"If used together with a Foundation Establishment Pill, it can increase the chance of reaching Foundation Establishment by an additional ten percent! The starting price is two thousand low-grade Spirit Stones!"

Inside the box, Sun Bo'an's breath suddenly caught, and both hands gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.

A ten percent increase!

Added to the twenty percent from the Foundation Establishment Pill itself, that made thirty percent! For any cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection, this was a deadly temptation.

But he felt the Storage Bag at his waist. They had spent fifteen hundred on the congratulatory gift this time, leaving six or seven thousand Spirit Stones and some change available in their accounts. That was the Sun Clan's working capital for the next few years.

"Two thousand one hundred!" someone in the first-floor hall called out.

"Two thousand two hundred!"

The price soared, quickly reaching three thousand eight hundred.

"If you like it, buy it."

Shi Jian opened his eyes and, for once, spoke up...

Sun Bo'an was taken aback. He turned and said in a low voice, "Old Ancestor, this pill is good, but isn't it still a little early for Sun Mao to attempt Foundation Establishment?"

"If I tell you to bid, bid. What's with all the nonsense?"

Shi Jian frowned, a little impatient. Seeing this, Sun Bo'an could only grit his teeth and call out:

"Four thousand five hundred!"

At once, the entire venue fell silent.

Four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones for a supplementary pill was clearly something of an overpayment.

In the end, the Marrow-Unblocking Pill fell into the Sun Clan's hands.

Immediately afterward, a living second-tier, high-grade spirit medicine called "Blood Bodhi" appeared on the stage. It was the same spirit medicine White Cloud Temple had once bestowed on Shi Jian.

"Buy it."

Shi Jian gave another order, and Sun Bo'an did not hesitate in the slightest. He spent another two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones to pocket the Blood Bodhi.

By the end of the auction, the Sun Clan had spent seven thousand Spirit Stones outright. Counting the earlier congratulatory gift, they had poured in nearly nine thousand Spirit Stones, a truly lavish expenditure!

Afterward, the Sun Clan party stayed a few more days in White Cloud Market.

Only when the ceremony had ended did they return with the stream of people.

The cave abode on the back mountain in Hongtian City.

The night was dark. Sun Bo'an respectfully set three jade boxes before Shi Jian, containing the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Marrow-Unblocking Pill, and the Blood Bodhi.

"Old Ancestor, everything is here."

"The clan's storehouse is more than half empty, but with True Person Yunxiao's special exemption from rent at the market, we should be able to earn it back after seven or eight years of business."

Sun Bo'an gave his report in a low voice, looking somewhat pained by the expense.

Shi Jian reached out a paw and pushed the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Marrow-Unblocking Pill toward Sun Bo'an, then drew the Blood Bodhi over to himself.

"I'll eat the Blood Bodhi to replenish my Blood Qi."

"As for these two pills, take them. Prepare to attempt Foundation Establishment in the coming days."

Sun Bo'an jerked his head up, his face full of shock, then hurriedly waved his hands. "Old Ancestor, I can't accept this. Xiao Mao is still young and is the best suited to reach Foundation Establishment in the future."

"Even if it's still too early for Xiao Mao, Wanqing of my generation can also shoulder the responsibility..."

"This junior is already fifty-seven or fifty-eight, and my Qi and Blood have begun to decline. Even with the Marrow-Unblocking Pill, my chance of reaching Foundation Establishment is less than forty percent. It would be too much of a waste."

"Old Ancestor, this conflicts with your previous plan!"

Shi Jian looked down at him, his vertical pupils without a ripple:

"Bo'an, do you know why I had Yao'er join White Cloud Temple?"

"How would this junior dare speculate on your plans, Old Ancestor?"

Sun Bo'an lowered his head, not daring to make groundless guesses. Seeing this, Shi Jian began to explain his idea:

"No matter how the Sun Clan manages and accumulates its resources, the territory under its rule is only so large, and its resources only so plentiful. It will be hard to truly strengthen the Sun Clan..."

"I arranged for Xiao Yao to enter White Cloud Temple, first to tie us to the temple. After all, we face the threat of retaliation from the Fenghe Sect at any time. With the status of True Person Yunxiao's disciple, we have an added layer of protection."

"Second, it eases the pressure on the clan's resources."

"Both Xiao Mao and Xiao Yao'er have the makings of Foundation Establishment cultivators. By sending one of them to White Cloud Temple, we can use the sect's resources to raise a Foundation Establishment cultivator for our clan."

"When she succeeds in the future, she can naturally give back to the lineage."

"That's why I had Xiao Yao'er join White Cloud Temple. As for Xiao Mao, he's still young and can wait another thirty or forty years..."

"As for you, though you're fifty-eight this year, you haven't passed the sixty-year limit. Your cultivation has also reached Qi Refining Perfection, and you're the Sun Clan patriarch. This lineage cannot do without you at the helm in the future."

"So this Foundation Establishment Pill that was bestowed on us means your fortuitous opportunity has arrived!"

Shi Jian rose to his feet, his enormous body exuding an overwhelming pressure:

"The opportunity has been given to you."

"Whether you can grasp your destiny is entirely up to you..."

"The lineage has yet to grow strong, and the younger generation has yet to rise. This household still needs someone to hold up the sky!"