As Before

Six months later.

Outside the Cold Mountain Valley, a powerful aura erupted from a lake within a cave abode, attracting disciples of the Zhuang Household to come in droves.

After the crowd gathered outside the cave abode, the gates suddenly opened, and Zhuang Xian, exuding the aura of a Foundation Establishment Zhuang Xian, stepped out.

The many sons of the Zhuang Household were overjoyed and offered their congratulations.

"Congratulations, Patriarch, on Foundation Establishment..."

"Great! Another Foundation Establishment Ancestor has appeared in our Zhuang Household!"

"Congratulations to our ancestor!"

Hearing the congratulations and expressions of awe from the many Lineage members, Zhuang Yun felt no joy, but rather some unease.

This achievement of Foundation Establishment was extremely dangerous; I almost failed at the last minute. Although I was fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment, it is almost impossible for me to advance further. I am afraid I will be stuck at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage for the rest of my life.

"I've only managed to reach the Foundation Establishment by sheer luck, what's there to be happy about? Disperse!"

Zhuang Yun dismissed his many Zhuang Household and arrived at the entrance of Cold Mountain Valley. He took a deep breath and loudly proclaimed, "Zhuang Yun requests an audience with Ancestor Danyang!"

Soon, the great formation opened a gap, and Zhuang Yun slipped inside. As usual, he skimmed along the ground to the tea table of the Ancestor Danyang, who was still drinking tea in the valley. He bowed and said:

"Zhuang Yun was fortunate enough to Foundation Establishment, and has come to express his gratitude to the Ancestor!"

The next moment he heard a voice. "Fellow Daoist Zhuang, please have a seat!"

Zhuang Yun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and hesitated as he looked at the extra futon opposite the tea table.

While brewing tea, Fang Yu said, "Fellow Daoist has now advanced to the Foundation Establishment, making us peers. From now on, please do not address me as Ancestor; simply call me Fellow Daoist."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yun's tense nerves relaxed. Although he had advanced to the Foundation Establishment, he was only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Facing Danyangzi, who was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, it would still be difficult for him to turn the tables. Now that he saw that the other party had asked him to sit on equal footing, he breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and sat down opposite him.

Fang Yu picked up the tea and poured the tea into a teacup. With a gentle push, one of the bowls was placed in front of Zhuang Yun.

"Thank you for your trouble, fellow Daoist!" Zhuang Yun immediately thanked him, somewhat startled.

Seeing this, Fang Yu picked up his teacup and said, "Have some tea," and then slowly sipped it.

So far, he is still quite satisfied with Zhuang Yun's attitude. Whether the man is genuinely like that or just pretending, he doesn't care. As the saying goes, a gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. As long as he maintains a respectful demeanor on the surface, that's enough.

He would naturally no longer consider himself an ancestor. He still had to give him the respect due to his Foundation Establishment. If he continued to treat him as he had before, denying him even the right to sit down, it would surely cause resentment. In the future, the other party would inevitably shirk their duties and even plot to get rid of him, needlessly creating trouble for himself, increasing variables, and raising the cost of his rule.

Only by giving them the respect they deserve can we continue to have the Zhuang Household work for us and provide us with spiritual materials at the lowest cost. Of course, we still need to test the waters a bit.

After finishing his cup of tea, Fang Yu poured himself another and said, "When I was a Zhuang Household of the Zhuang family, I said that I would leave this place once the Zhuang Household had established their own Foundation Establishment. Now that you have achieved Foundation Establishment, it is time for me to leave. I will return this Cold Mountain Valley spiritual land to the Zhuang Household so that you can continue your cultivation."

"No, senior!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xian exclaimed in surprise, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Our Zhuang Household owes its current prosperity entirely to your protection, senior. Although I have been fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment, my foundation is still shallow. How can I bear the responsibility for the entire Zhuang Household? I beg you, senior, to continue your cultivation here in consideration of the bond between our ancestors and you, and to protect the Zhuang Household."

Although I have broken through to the Foundation Establishment, my potential has been exhausted, and I have no need for this second-tier spiritual land. The quasi-second-tier cave abode outside the valley is sufficient, and it is more convenient for handling clan affairs without disturbing your cultivation."

"Hmm..." Fang Yu frowned upon hearing this, and said with some difficulty, "Wouldn't that be too unfair to you, fellow Daoist?"

"If you, senior, could stay, it would be an immense blessing for my Zhuang Household. I would be more than happy to accept it, so how could I feel wronged..." Zhuang Xian Zhuang Xian said, kneeling down as he added, "As the head of the Zhuang Household family, I beg you to stay, senior!"

Seeing that the other party was really about to kneel down, Fang Yu quickly brushed him off, "Fellow Daoist, what are you doing? Are you trying to humiliate this old man? Quickly get up and sit down to talk!"

Zhuang Xian used that Law Power to get up, bowed again, and then sat down again.

"Alas!" Fang Yu sighed deeply and said, "Since you have said so, I have no choice but to continue to stay here as a guest. However, I cannot stay here for nothing. Fortunately, I have the skill of alchemy. If Zhuang Household need pills in the future, please come to me. I will do my best. Perhaps I can even refine a few Foundation Establishment Pill so that Zhuang Household can reach the Foundation Establishment."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xian was overjoyed and said, "It's wonderful that Senior is willing to help. Please rest assured, Senior, my Zhuang Household will send you all the spiritual materials we acquire as soon as possible so that you can improve your Dao of Alchemy."

Fang Yu nodded, poured Zhuang Yun a cup of tea, and said, "Have some tea, have some tea!"

After finishing the pot of tea, the matter was pretty much settled, and to sum it up, everything remained the same.

"This junior takes his leave!"

Zhuang Xian rose to take his leave, and Fang Yu followed suit, seeing him off outside the great formation. "Fellow Daoist, take care!"

Zhuang Xian stepped out of the great formation, sensing the formation behind him gradually closing. He reached up and touched the fine beads of sweat on his forehead. As a breeze blew by, he suddenly realized that his undergarments were completely soaked.

'The old patriarch was right after all. Although Danyangzi appears kind on the surface, his words are full of traps. If I had shown any intention of letting him leave today, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to leave this ancestral land.'

'Everything remains the same now, except that the offerings will have to increase several times over in the future. Fortunately, I am now at the Foundation Establishment, and the Zhuang Household has two Foundation Establishment Ancestor. The various benefits brought by their power and influence can support even if the offerings increase several times over.'

'Most importantly, Danyangzi is still willing to help the Zhuang Household refine Foundation Establishment Pill. This promise alone is enough. Once we obtain the ' Gold Jade Lingzhi ' or a second-tier Demon Beast 'Inner Core, we can ask him to refine Foundation Establishment Pill so that our Zhuang Household can produce Foundation Establishment again.'

Zhuang Xian took out the patriarch's token and notified the elders of each branch of the clan to come to the ancestral hall to pay respects to their ancestors. He also took the opportunity to discuss how to use the intimidation brought by his advancement to the Foundation Establishment to seize more resources.

*****

After seeing Fang Yu Zhuang Xian went to a vegetable garden in the valley and watered the newly sprouted chives.

These leeks grow very vigorously and taste great. They can grow back immediately after being harvested. As long as you don't uproot them, you can get a continuous supply of leeks.

"Let's have stir-fried chives and green onions for today!"

He muttered something, took out his sickle, glanced at the vegetable patch, cut down the best-growing batch of chives, then went to the riverbank to collect a few green-shelled duck eggs, and came to an open-air stove in the valley.

Wash the chives, gather dry firewood to start a fire, and soon the aroma of stir-fried chives with green peel wafts through the valley.

Fang Yu served the dish and eagerly took a bite, exclaiming, "It smells so good!"