A Wish Fulfilled, an Old Acquaintance Pays a Visit

"Master, why do you always get into fights every time you come back?"

Zhou Ning snorted, "Kindness is often taken advantage of."

"Oh, I understand, Master is a great philanthropist."

"This child is teachable. Go and cook; I, Zhou, want to eat fish."

"Yes, Master."

Zhou Ning played with the little fool for a while, and was in a good mood, feeling that it would be beneficial to his cultivation.

The distant beam of light finally flew slowly to the island, revealing itself to be Old Jia robes fluttering in the wind.

Old Jia landed on the ground, looked at Zhou Ning, and was very respectful.

He only learned of Zhou Ning's Foundation Establishment after Zhou Ning killed three Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Su Household.

You can imagine how shocked Old Jia was.

It is already extremely rare for a lowly disciple to become a Late Qi Refining, let alone Foundation Establishment!

A story I've never heard of before.

Old Jia's sour feelings had vanished; the difference was simply too great.

Fortunately, his beloved granddaughter became Zhou Ning's apprentice medicine boy and has now broken through to the Late Qi Refining. Even if the Su Household retaliates against Zhou Ning, given Zhou Ning's character, he will probably take Wan'er away.

It should be fine now.

Zhou Ning glanced at Old Jia. He looked much older, probably over eighty years old. He used to have black hair with some white hair, but now his hair was completely white.

He knew that a thick barrier had already formed between them.

"Wan'er made Honey Zha and sliced Clear Yang Melon at Wan'er, it'll probably take a while, why don't you come for a walk with me?"

Old Jia readily agreed.

The two walked to the edge of the island, where the sunset was magnificent, illuminating the water in a dazzling display.

Old Jia gazed at the old turtle in the water, thinking how wonderful it would be if he could live as long as the old turtle, and perhaps he could see the day when Wan'er becomes Alchemist.

"Sigh! As you get older, you become more sentimental."

Looking at this scene, Zhou Ning said, "The Su Household and the Chen Household have already transferred Little Willow Marsh to me. I'll call the small island in the ze Falling Ning Island. What do you think?"

Old Jia was taken aback. "The Su Household is being transferred to you?"

This is a first-tier spiritual land, and it even has specialties like spirit turtles, spirit fish, and spirit willows. Even if it were rented out, it would bring in a considerable income.

"They will come within a month to set up an array for me and nurture my Spirit Vein," Zhou Ning said with a smile.

Old Jia clicked his tongue in surprise; he believed it.

The older people get, the more they value a place that truly belongs to them. "Great, great, I have a home!"

Just like more than a decade ago, Zhou Ning asked, "In your opinion, Old Jia, who is better, me or the renowned Su Yuanye of the Su Household?"

This time, Old Jia did not lie. He sincerely praised, "That Su Yuanye only managed to reach the Foundation Establishment because of his outstanding Spirit Root and the protection of his family. He is nothing but a caged bird. How can he compare to you? Among all the heroes in the world, only Senior Zhou is worthy of the title!"

Zhou Ning clapped his hands and laughed. He flicked out a pale white pill and said, "Old Jia, it's time to raise your cultivation level."

Old Jia was stunned. The Spirit Condensation Pill, the Spirit Condensation Pill he had dreamed of all his life.

Because he missed this pill, he was stuck at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer for half his life, unable to make any progress.

"This, this—" he stammered.

He wanted to say, "I'm already this old, isn't this a waste?"

Zhou Ning patted him on the shoulder and said, "I'm worried about the Su Household. I'll be counting on you to keep an eye on things for me from now on!"

After saying that, he turned and went back to the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Old Jia felt a sudden pang of sadness, and tears streamed down his face.

After a long while, clutching the pill, he roared to the sky, "This old man is indulging in a youthful madness; my temples are slightly frosted, so what!"

Zhou Ning saw this scene in the courtyard, smiled slightly, and thought, "Eighty years old is the age for striving, why act so old?"

More than half a month later.

Zhou Ning sealed the last wisp of his Law Power into a second-tier spirit jade, and the golden talisman in front of him shone brightly.

He kept Hand Seals, compressing it layer by layer until it was the size of a fingernail.

This golden talisman is different from those condensed Qi Refining Realm. Its surface is not pure gold, but carries a trace of fire, as if it has been influenced by the immortal Immortal Foundation of [the Que Flowing Fire].

"However, with such power, even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage would die on the spot after a single strike, right?"

From then on, Zhou Ning had a real trump card.

"Give it a little more nurturing, and even False Core Formation cultivator will perish!"

However, the upper limit of second-tier spirit jade is too low, and there is not much room for nurturing and improvement, so he still needs to find someone to buy third-tier spirit jade.

"Zhao Ruoxue is organizing a spiritual material trade fair for the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. I can showcase my alchemy skills and legitimately sell Foundation Establishment Realm pills."

The profits here are terrifyingly high; Zhou Ning estimates they're enough to support his cultivation using Great Replenishment True Pill.

If he were to add the breakthrough pills, he would soon be able to reach the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and his Law Power would increase greatly once again.

As Zhou Ning was pondering this, he Divine Sense two figures flying in from the sky.

"Oh, here comes the formation."

"Wan'er, cook me a table of the best dishes, and then cook a table of awful dishes!"

"Master, isn't this a waste of ingredients?"

"Hmph, why didn't you complain about wasting spiritual materials when you were refining pills?"

Jia Tingwan pouted, sulking, and went to cook, feeling utterly pathetic.

Zhou Ning swallowed the Jade-Casting True Gold Talisman in one gulp, straightened his clothes, and walked outside the courtyard.

Su Zundao stood on a flying sword, looking down at the marshland below.

The water reflected the willows, the reeds swayed in the wind, and the air was warm and humid, like a paradise on earth.

"Is this Little Willow Marsh?" Su Zundao thought to himself, "What a treasure trove!"

Although this place belongs to the Su Household, he has never been here before.

"I didn't expect you to come in person, fellow Daoist. What an honor!" Zhou Ning said, cupping his hands in greeting. It wouldn't hurt to go through the formalities.

Su Zundao glanced at Su Youyou, who was standing on a white silk Law Artifact beside him. This woman was the family's array master, second only to Su Changshuo in importance. Even Su Yuanye was not as important as her.

It's a pity that Su Youyou almost severed ties with the Su Household because of the Lei Household incident.

Even this time, it was only after Su Junsong had persuaded and coaxed him to come.

Unfortunately, second-tier array masters are scarce, and array masters skilled in Vein Nourishing Technique are even scarcer.

He didn't trust anyone else, so he decided to escort them himself.

Su Youyou maintained her aloof and elegant demeanor. Even when facing Zhou Ning, Foundation Establishment Realm, her lake-like eyes remained unmoved. She said matter-of-factly, "Remove the array plates, otherwise it will affect the setup."

Zhou Ning had already withdrawn his second-tier formation, after all, Su Youyou was a true formation master, and he couldn't afford to be careless.

What he has revealed to others is Old Jia's first-tier array plate. He had intended to return it to Old Jia, but Old Jia said that he wanted to do his part for his granddaughter's safety.

Zhou Ning couldn't help but chuckle when he thought of Old Jia breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining the other day. Not only had the old man broken through, but his spirit and energy were completely different, and his black hair had started to grow again, as if he had been given a second spring.

As soon as he made the breakthrough, he couldn't wait to go out and have some fun, as if he was planning to find old friends and show off.

After dismantling the formation, Su Youyou, stepping on a white silk ribbon, flew around the island, probing the energy in various places and searching for the best location to set up the formation.

Zhou Ning then invited Su Zundao into the courtyard. Su Zundao had a thin face and wore a faded scholar's robe, exuding the aloofness and pride of a scholar despite his poverty.

As the current true head of the Su Household, he possessed exceptional insight. Looking at the Snow Cherry tree blooming with small flowers, he said meaningfully, "Fellow Daoist Zhou also has expertise in Spirit Plant plants?"

Zhou Ning: "I only managed to find some spiritual soil by chance; how would I know how to plant trees?"

Su Zundao did not investigate further. He sensed the Spiritual Qi in the courtyard and looked at Su Youyou, who was busy setting up an array in the distance.

He took a sip of the spiritual tea and said, "Your Little Willow Marsh is quite a nice place."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

Su Zundao said, "Now that the Lei Household has betrayed us, Myriad Peace Valley is using them as a spearhead to strike directly at Leping Commandery, and many Aristocratic Clan are in grave danger."

"Look—" He wiped his hand, and a drawing appeared on the table.

"The Zhao family, who have Core Formation Zhao Household, guards the north of Little Willow Marsh; the Su Household and other clans watch over it to the south; the Forget-Return Market locks its gates to the east; and the Lei Household is further east. If we rashly venture into Little Willow Marsh, we'll be walking right into their trap—"

Zhou Ning listened with great interest. In the past, Little Willow Marsh was surrounded by powerful figures, each wanting a piece of the pie. But now that the Lei Household has betrayed them and become a major threat, Little Willow Marsh has been granted to Zhou Ning by the Azure Mystic Sect and is now protected by various forces.

Two days later, the formation was completed, and all the earth vein spiritual items such as Spirit Embryo Stone, Spirit Paste, and Earth Mystic Soil Essence were thrown in. Zhou Ning clearly felt that the Spiritual Qi had increased by a large margin.

He also witnessed Su Youyou putting in a bag of Spirit Stone, which he estimated to be over a hundred.

If a single order from the Azure Mystic Sect could enable Aristocratic Clan to act to this extent, just how powerful is that Nascent Soul puppet?

Zhou Ning found it hard to believe.

If he were to implant the Vine Puppet Seed into the Nascent Soul puppet, wouldn't it be able to take off immediately?

Su Zundao, "Alchemist Zhou, now that the matter is settled, we will take our leave."

Zhou Ning cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's just my duty." Su Zundao's face remained lean, but his eyes brightened slightly, and a sense of leisure lingered between his brows.

He withdrew his gaze, sighing inwardly, "This lad is quite talented, what a pity—"

So he released his flying sword and stepped onto it, catching up with the white silk Law Artifact that had gone ahead.

Zhou Ning watched the two leave. In his conversations with Su Zundao over the past two days, he had gained a general understanding of the major powers in Leping Commandery.

Su Zundao possessed an extraordinary demeanor, and his speech was imbued with a unique set of theories.

Even though Zhou Ning was his enemy, he couldn't feel any disgust towards him.

There aren't many truly evil people in the world; most feuds arise from differing stances.

However, even after leaving Little Willow Marsh, once his cultivation greatly improves, he will still kill Su Zundao.

As for Su Youyou, Zhou Ning chuckled, "She really takes it all in stride; she didn't even eat a single meal."

These past two days, the three of them have been eating lavish meals, while Su Youyou was given a separate table of unpalatable food, which she vomited up after just one bite.

After that, I only took Grain Avoidance Pill.

Zhou Ning even used veiled sarcasm against her; is he planning to create loopholes in the formation as well?

Jia Tingwan chimed in from the side, "No way! That's not what true detachment is."

Zhou Ning looked at the charming Wan'er and asked, "What are your thoughts?"

Jia Tingwan said, "Fairy Su is angry. When I was little, I would have conflicts with my family, and I would deliberately refuse to eat, deliberately going hungry, hoping they would coax me!"

Zhou Ning laughed out loud, "That Fairy Su is different from you."

"Not necessarily," Jia Tingwan firmly believed.

As the two were debating, a beautiful figure flew in from afar, heading straight for Little Willow Marsh.

Zhou Ning: "Huh, it's actually her?"

Jia Tingwan asked, "Master, has someone challenged you to another fight?"