Worth the Gamble!

"Twenty-four years old, Foundation Establishment."

"Our Sun Clan has finally produced a prodigy!"

Sun Bo'an's tone was filled with sorrow, but also with relief and pride. For a moment, he seemed to feel much lighter.

"Thirty-five years faster than me."

Sun Bo'an sighed, feeling that he had no regrets in this life.

He was also grateful for his choice back then; perhaps this was fate. His one choice completely changed the destiny of his lineage!

The lingering guilt in my heart was completely relieved at this moment...

Three days later.

The news that White Cloud Temple had issued a decree caused an uproar throughout the nine counties.

Direct disciple, elder in charge, tax supervisor.

With these three labels pinned on them, the entire cultivation circle of White Cloud Commandery was collectively speechless for a long time, finally managing only a bitter smile.

Gifts from all families and clans poured into Hongtian City as if they were free.

Sun Bo'an accepted it without returning a single penny.

He knew in his heart that these gifts were not for Sun Yao, but for the Sun Clan, and even more so for the one in the back mountain.

The celebration is scheduled for seven days from now, and will be held in the Hongtian City.

Sun Mao personally oversaw the event; while not extravagant, it was certainly impressive.

All the prominent Lineage cultivators from the nine counties were present, and even White Cloud Temple sent two elders to deliver a congratulatory gift on behalf of Master True Person Yun Du.

Sun Yao didn't come back.

She sent a letter home containing only one line. "[I am too busy to return home. We will talk again when Yao returns home at the end of the year.]"

After reading the letter, Sun Bo'an folded it and tucked it into his sleeve.

He knew in his heart that this girl knew the rules.

He rushed home as soon as he took office; it wouldn't look good to others. As long as the intention was there, that was enough. After all, he was still officially a steward of White Cloud Temple.

He is a direct disciple of True Person Yunxiao!

The main character wasn't there on the day of the celebration, but the main character's reputation was already quite impressive.

Sun Mao raised his glass during the meal and said a few words, not long, but every word carried weight.

"My Sun Clan was nothing more than a small clan more than thirty years ago, barely making ends meet."

"Today's achievements are due to the protection of our ancestors, the unity of our clansmen, and the help of everyone!"

"Sister Yao's entry into the White Cloud Temple as an attendant today is not the end, but the beginning."

"From now on, the prices for transactions between the Sun Clan and other businesses will remain the same. Those who should offer concessions should do so, and those who should cooperate should cooperate!"

"The rules remain the same. Anyone who dares to break the rules shouldn't blame me for being ruthless!"

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Shi Mo lay prone at Sun Mao's feet, his vertical pupils half-closed, the Dark Gold fur on his back gleaming coldly in the lamplight.

No one responded, but everyone understood.

Sun Clan's stance was clear: We are stronger now, but the rules of the game remain the same, provided you don't do anything foolish.

After this warning, everyone understood the situation perfectly.

After the celebration ended, Sun Mao returned to the back mountain to report.

Shi Jian remained lying on the old rock in front of the cave abode:

"Good."

Then he tilted his head and gestured behind him.

A giant bear then slowly approached.

Shi Pan.

Of the three bear demons he had Enlightenment, this was the most robust.

Its fur is bluish-gray, its limbs are short and thick, and its temperament is more cheerful than Shi Mo's, but it is still sullen, possessing the bloodline of the Iron-Backed Bear.

They are friendly to those belonging to the Earth element and their bloodline is not weak.

It is definitely Foundation Establishment seedling, and its perception is extremely strong. It can detect spiritual energy fluctuations within a radius of hundreds of feet.

This is innate and has nothing to do with bloodline.

"Send the Shi Pan to White Cloud Temple for Yao'er. The little girl needs a reliable companion, and the Shi Pan can be her strongest shield."

"Shi Pan is quiet by nature and has keen senses."

"Keeping an eye on her surroundings is better than her having her own eyes."

Sun Mao opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

This is the second one.

Shi Mo gave it to him, Shi Pan gave it to Sun Yao.

Two of the three bear demons, personally trained and nurtured by the patriarch, have already been sent away; the last one, Shi Yin, remains...

"Ancestor, you kept Shi Yin..."

"Shi Yin will not see you off."

Shi Jian interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Shi Yin will remain in the back mountain. I have my own arrangements; you need not worry."

Upon hearing this, Sun Mao said no more and bowed to accept the order.

As he led the Shi Pan down the mountain, he glanced back at the cave abode. The old ancestor was still lying on the rock, looking no different from thirty years ago, still extremely lazy...

But Sun Mao always felt that something flashed deep within those half-closed bear eyes.

It was fast, very deep, so deep that he couldn't see the bottom...

On the day Shi Pan was sent to White Cloud Temple, Sun Yao didn't show much emotion. She just squatted down and looked at Shi Pan for a long time.

Shi Pan also looked at her, his vertical, bluish-iron pupils as still as two ancient wells.

"Did the Ancestor send you?"

"Yes, the Ancestor instructed me to accompany you."

Shi Pan lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her palm.

Sun Yao smiled knowingly and reached out to pat the fluffy head.

"From now on, you'll stay with me."

An equal contract was established, creating an invisible bond between the human and the beast. Many disciples from White Cloud Temple came to watch and discuss it.

Some say that the Sun Clan had a very generous hand.

Some people say that bear doesn't look very smart.

Shi Pan remained lying at Sun Yao's feet the entire time, ignoring everyone's comments.

Only it knew that among the onlookers just now, the spiritual energy fluctuations of three people clearly carried hostility...

It remembered.

After seeing Shi Pan off, the Sun Clan completely shifted their focus to two major matters.

The first thing is Sun Mao's Foundation Establishment.

His cultivation has reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, just one step away from perfection, but the process becomes slower and slower as you progress, taking at least two or three years.

In addition, managing clan affairs and being distracted by alchemy caused some delays, but these delays were not long and were still within an acceptable range.

Sun Bo'an began to systematically stockpile resources in preparation for Sun Mao's Foundation Establishment.

The second thing, too, was extremely costly.

The expansion of Thunder Essence Fruit.

Sun Caiya a proposal, and Sun Bo'an's hands trembled slightly after reading it.

The Thunder Orchard has been expanded to three acres, with the addition of Lightning-Guiding Spirit Wood and a Tier 2 Lightning-Gathering Array. The initial investment alone will require four to five thousand Spirit Stone!

A good second-tier grand formation costs at least several thousand to tens of thousands of Spirit Stone, almost as much as a Foundation Establishment Pill...

This doesn't even include subsequent maintenance costs.

But when the proposal was submitted to the back mountain, Shi Jian only replied with one word: Approved!

Sun Bo'an gritted his teeth and paid the money.

The more expensive ones are yet to come.

Sun Yao sent back a secret letter, saying that she, as an elder of White Cloud Temple, had found a second-tier mid-grade Lightning-Guiding Clan-Protecting Grand Array in the array shop of Linshui Commandery.

Price: 17,000 low-grade Spirit Stone.

Even with a 30% discount, purchasing under the name of White Cloud Temple would still cost 12,000 yuan.

When Sun Bo'an saw the figure, he sat in his study for the entire time it takes for an incense stick to burn without moving, but he finally approved it...

After all, this formation was meant for the ancestor.

Since returning from Clear Wind Mountain, the ancestor has been in seclusion, comprehending the Dao of Lightning. Deep, rumbling Lei Ming often echoes from his cave abode.

They planted Thunder Essence Fruit on the back mountain, collected Thunder- Spirit Plant, and now they need to buy Lightning-Attracting Grand Formation.

Everything points in the same direction: the ancestor is attempting to attain enlightenment through thunder, using the Dao of Lightning as a springboard...

This is the key to whether the Sun Clan can take the next step forward!

It's worth the gamble.

To buy these items, the Sun Clan emptied their coffers, investing all their savings from the past years.

But as long as it can help Shi Jian cultivate, then all the investment is worthwhile!