Xiangning Comes to Visit, Seeking an Audience

Time flies, and two years and six months have passed.

Little Willow Marsh, with its clear waters and blue skies.

Inside the courtyard, Zhou Ning sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, focusing his inner vision on his Dantian. The jade palace was suspended, with blazing flames soaring into the sky and the fire flowing endlessly. The golden fire Law Power contained within it was much stronger than when he had just Foundation Establishment.

It had almost reached the limit of the Law Power that the Foundation Establishment Early Stage could bear, yet it still only appeared as a phantom.

The [Que Flowing Fire] Immortal Foundation has three external manifestation stages: illusory image, semi-illusory and semi-real, and solid form.

These correspond to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, respectively.

"To break through to the mid-stage, one needs to solidify the Jade Palace, but this can only be achieved through arduous cultivation, slowly nurturing it day after day."

"The breakthrough pill, 'Settling Liquid Pill,' can help the illusory image of the Immortal Foundation condense qi into liquid, thus breaking through the bottleneck in one fell swoop."

"Why is the Billowing Water Mist Root so hard to find?"

For the past two years, Zhou Ning has inquired everywhere, not only with Black Husband, True Person Zhang Wan, Zhao Household, but he has been unable to find this item.

Without the Billowing Water Mist Root, it is impossible to refine the Settling Liquid Pill.

"I'm afraid the only option is to go to Land of Wei and trade with True Person Lu or the He Household," Zhou Ning thought.

His Realm-Breaking Jade Stone will be fully filled within two or three years.

Zhou Ning knew that if he didn't break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, his Immortal Foundation would no longer be able to bear Spiritual Qi if he continued cultivating.

"Alright, I'll skip the medicine for now; it'll save me some Spirit Stone."

That Great Replenishment True Pill, if taken for a year, would cost two hundred Spirit Stone.

In addition, maintaining good relations with Zhang Family Fort in the Jingshui River adds another expense each year.

Fortunately, Zhou Ning's alchemy skills were superb, and his profits were four to five times that of local senior Alchemist. In addition, he had his own unique Lesser Exploding Essence Pill, which was enough to cover his expenses.

"A business needs to be exclusive to succeed!"

"However, in Zhang Family Fort, as they purchased more pills, they gradually started making money."

In the past two years, after Zhou Ning received donations of spiritual materials from Pharmacist Lan, True Person Zhang not only exempted Zhou Ning from the support obligations of Foundation Establishment cultivator, but also traded rare spiritual materials with him.

Zhou Ning obtained another third-tier spirit jade, and now he possesses four powerful True Gold Talisman within his Immortal Foundation.

He thought to himself, "If Su Changshuo comes to attack me now that he has broken through to the Core Formation, I might be caught off guard and suffer a crushing defeat."

However, the old tortoise of the Su Household, after all these years of hiding, still hasn't been able to break through to the Core Formation; no one knows what he's up to.

Zhou Ning had consulted ancient texts and learned that cultivators who Foundation Establishment Perfection in this world often needed to spend twenty or thirty years repeatedly compressing and purifying their liquid Law Power to the extreme before they could attempt to Core Formation.

Even cultivators with average talent may need to seclude themselves for sixty years to successfully Core Formation.

If you calculate the time, Su Changshuo's seclusion period doesn't seem to have even reached fifty years, right?

Furthermore, treatment for the severed arm was also required during this period.

Zhou Ning suddenly had a funny thought, "Is it possible that by the time he successfully Core Formation, I might have already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage?"

In this realm, Core Formation Cultivator are those who condense liquid to form a core.

Zhou Ning's breakthrough to the late stage of Immortal Foundation also resulted in a physical Immortal Foundation.

In terms of size alone, Immortal Foundation is definitely larger than Golden Core cultivator.

Generally speaking, big means great.

"Now, I have gathered the Innate Copper Stone, Pure Yang Fire Clay, and Samadhi Sandalwood. I only need a Water Cloud Essence to refine a high-level Pill Furnace."

"At that time, if I also obtain the Foundation Establishment Late Stage alchemy inheritance from the He Household, my success rate in alchemy will skyrocket to a terrifying level!"

"After refining the Settling Liquid Pill and the Departing Flame Pill — Core Formation Cultivator? Nothing special!"

"I hope Black Husband will give me a surprise in six months."

Zhou Ning had been staying home for too long, so he decided to go out for a walk. He walked to the door and took the letter off the door.

I glanced at it briefly; it was sent by Gu Xiangning from the Azure Mystic Sect.

After Gu Xiangning Foundation Establishment last time, she invited him to a small gathering at the Azure Mystic Sect. Zhou Ning was worried that this would attract the attention of the higher-ups of the Azure Mystic Sect and cause unnecessary trouble.

Furthermore, he had just killed Ye Qin, and the Holy Maiden Hua Ran was still at his house, so he couldn't go there.

Later, the Pharmacist Lan sent five bottles of True Essence Pill as a generous gift to congratulate him.

"Hmm? Gu Xiangning's consolidation period after Foundation Establishment has passed. Recently, she accepted a sect mission and went to Hedong Commandery with her senior brothers and sisters to investigate matters related to Evil Cultivator."

"Isn't Hedong Commandery my hometown?" Zhou Ning wondered.

There are also several sects over there, such as the Wind Cliff Sect and the Long Wind Gate, which are Core Formation level forces no less powerful than the Lei Household, and are deeply entrenched in various factions.

"It seems this task won't be easy."

Zhou Ning a faint sense of superiority. "Disciples of sects are merely trapped in a cage, driven by others. How can they compare to the freedom of us independent Rogue Cultivator!"

Moreover, he is a top-tier Rogue Cultivator, possessing his own Daoist temple!

Whether you compare the best or the worst, Zhou Ning wins!

"He also said he'd be coming to Little Willow Marsh soon to bring me some spiritual materials."

What good stuff could a Foundation Establishment cultivator like her possibly have?

However, Zhou Ning was in a good mood. Most of the women he had met were grateful and repaying his kindness. Jia Tingwan day, often exhausting herself to the point of fainting.

Go.

The Pharmacist Lan gave him a belt and often traveled far and wide to collect spiritual materials and gather intelligence for him.

Only Su Youyou, all she knows is how to do nothing, and she even dares to tamper with his formation.

"Snort!"

His "Three Talents Azure-Guarding Formation" in Little Willow Marsh was deliberately set up by the Su Household. He specially found someone to inspect it, and once a loophole was found, he could take the opportunity to make trouble for the Su Household.

However, Su Youyou did not use any special techniques when setting up the formation; otherwise, with the Azure Mystic Sect above, they could have forced the Su Household to kneel in defeat.

"It's a pity, if only I knew about formations."

During the chaos in Gazing Immortal Port Land of Wei, Zhou Ning once extorted money from a powerful Devil Cultivator had a large staff. The cultivator, having no other choice, threw him a Storage Bag.

The bag contained Jade Slip about formations, as well as a set of formation flags.

Over the years, Zhou Ning has tried to study this, but it's like reading a book written in a foreign language; if he doesn't understand it, he simply doesn't understand it.

So he gave up.

"Judging by the days, Xiangning should be arriving soon."

My Nine-Bend Rabbit Berry should be ripe by now.

Outside Little Willow Marsh, a cultivator with a square face flew in. This person was Feng Shi, a poor Rogue Cultivator from Emerald Screen Mountain.

"Master, that stinking beggar is here again!"

Zhou Ning flashed and appeared in the pavilion on the pond at the edge of the island.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, isn't it time to send off the cranes yet?" Zhou Ning asked.

Feng Shi appears quite upright, but he is actually very cunning. In order to take over Little Willow Marsh's business, he secretly released Fuluo Eel into the wild, and then he pretended to be a good guy to discuss business.

Ordinary cultivators, faced with this situation, would have no choice but to catch Fuluo Eel, otherwise their pet spirit fish would be eaten up.

Moreover, the water area is large, and the Fuluo Eel in the mud, making it very difficult to catch, which will definitely delay its cultivation.

Fortunately, the Fuluo Eel was of great use to Zhou Ning, far more valuable than the Silver-Scale Spirit Fish.

In such a harsh environment, the Silver-Scale Spirit Fish that survive are all strong, battle-hardened, and have tender flesh. Zhou Ning only eats strong fish.

Feng Shi felt very depressed as he listened to Zhou Ning's words. He had bought the Cloudcrest Immortal Crane to raise, intending to sell it to other cultivators as a spirit pet.

Alternatively, it can be used to pluck feathers to make magical Law Artifact, while crane blood can be used to make talisman ink.

Turns out, Alchemist Zhou bought it to eat!

They even specifically choose to buy young cranes, saying they're tender to eat.

Feng Shi wanted to refuse firmly, but Zhou Ning's offer was so generous that he had no choice but to compromise in humiliation.

On his way here, he glanced at the Fuluo Eel and noticed that there were far fewer of them.

He originally thought that Alchemist Zhou looked down on spirit fish, but when he saw his maid helping to fish them out, Feng Shi was overjoyed. It seemed that Alchemist Zhou was not so indifferent to water!

So he released every single one of the prisoners he caught!

You're just a fish catcher? Do you think you can release fish faster than me?

And damn it, it really exists!

With nothing else to do, the maid went to the marsh to catch fish.

Even Feng Shi was speechless. Why waste all this effort? Wouldn't it be better to let me take over the contract? What are you after?

Thinking of all this, Feng Shi looked even more depressed and said, "Today's discussion isn't about the crane, it's about Chen Old Ninth from the Chen Household!"

Zhou Ning: "Oh? Is it that slut in women's clothing?"

For the sake of a mere bit of speed, Chen Old Ninth wore women's quicksand clothing every day, completely disgracing his old face as a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator!

Feng Shi angrily said, "Chen Old Ninth is the most despicable person I have ever met."

He began to explain the cause and effect.

Zhou Ning said, "Come on, Wan'er, bring a plate of Emerald Spirit Jujube and some spirit tea!"

Jia Tingwan worked quickly and presented it to him soon.

Zhou Ning enjoyed the gentle breeze, ate the crisp and sweet jujubes, and listened to the gossip with great interest.

Wan'er sat on the bench next to him, listening with him, and even refilling his tea and feeding him dates.

These days are so comfortable!

Feng Shi: "--"

In the past, Qi Refining cultivator who dared to sit at the table would be reprimanded by him.

But he dared not say much in front of Zhou Ning.

"As Fellow Daoist Zhou knows, I now run a rental business—"

Feng Shi was Rogue Cultivator, but he was quite shrewd in business, which allowed him to afford to rent a training ground on Emerald Screen Mountain for seven Spirit Stone a year. He kept spirit beasts and spirit fish there, and also cultivated spirit medicine.

In addition, he partnered with others to start a big business: renting out Pill Furnace.

Feng Shi was very eloquent and liked to deceive other cultivators, telling them that becoming Alchemist would make them superior and give them a glimpse into the Foundation Establishment path, and describing how much Spirit Stone Alchemist could earn and how promising their future was.

Many young cultivators listened with great enthusiasm and high aspirations, eager to immediately start refining pills and achieve success in one batch, becoming Alchemist admired by all.

Thus, Feng Shi was able to take the opportunity to rent them the Pill Furnace.

As for why it wasn't sold? Firstly, Feng Shi didn't have that many Spirit Stones in reserve, and secondly, cultivators who could be easily fooled generally couldn't afford Pill Furnace.

Back then, his business even extended to Cuiwei Lake. Even the Spirit Lotus Root Woman Jiang Xi was fooled by him, which led her to spend money to rent Pill Furnace and embark on a path of no return.

If she hadn't eventually married Steward Su, she probably would have been captured by Feng Shi's men. And why would they have captured her? To make her a female cultivator to pay off her debts, of course.

It is only right to pay back debts, and the Su Household will not interfere.

Feng Shi especially liked female cultivators. He often invited independent female Alchemist to give lectures to Qi Refining cultivators, telling them that this was what their future would be like if they became Alchemist.

They're too easy to fool, and female cultivators are easy to manipulate; there's absolutely no need to worry about not being able to repay the debt.

Feng Shi made a fortune during that period.

Until later, a cultivator named Daoist Mu appeared—

The market for Alchemist's dreams was shattered. Daoist Mu was extremely well-informed, Rogue Cultivator Alchemist had nowhere to hide. They were instantly killed as soon as they showed their faces, and were terrified of him.

Feng Shi hated him to death, but as a businessman, he could see that there was a powerful hand controlling things behind the scenes, so he dared not interfere.

He then left Leping Commandery and went to Hedong Commandery to do business.

As a result, being unfamiliar with the area, he was confronted and threatened, and slunk back to Leping Commandery.

After renting Emerald Screen Mountain, his luck improved again. The Daoist Mu disappeared, and he returned to his old profession.

Business is exceptionally good!

At this point, he glanced at Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning felt something was off; he'd been taken advantage of!

Why is business so good? Because a second-tier Alchemist has emerged in Leping Commandery, and that's the best advertisement!

Feng Shi was riding high, his business was growing bigger and bigger, and he had a bunch of Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators working hard to help him promote his business and collect debts. He was truly enjoying great success.

Human desires are endless. He recently expanded his business, signing a spiritual contract with the Chen Household of Mount Xiangtu, renting them a batch of Pill Furnace.

After the timely delivery, Feng Shi, as usual, demanded payment based on the amount of damage.

If the Pill Furnace is damaged but the furnace chamber is not damaged, one chip will be compensated with one Spirit Stone, and two chips will be compensated with two spirit stones.

At this point, Feng Shi became extremely angry. "When Chen Old Ninth returned the Pill Furnace, there were several Pill Furnace with three or four chips on them. I demanded compensation at the original price. Do you know what he did wrong?"

Zhou Ning asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Are you trying to renege on your debt?"

"He turned the three gaps into one big gap, and then offered to pay compensation of one Spirit Stone!" Feng Shi was furious.

Zhou Ning: "Talent."

Jia Tingwan stared with her almond-shaped eyes. "There really is such a genius in the world?"

Enraged, Feng Shi gathered two of his accomplices and started fighting with Chen Old Ninth on the spot.

However, Chen Old Ninth was a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator with extremely agile Movement Method, easily outmaneuvering them before tearing up the spiritual contract and leaving triumphantly. "So, Fellow Daoist Feng, you've come here today?"

Fellow Daoist Feng took out a Storage Bag containing twenty Spirit Stone and said resentfully, "Alchemist Zhou, you are renowned. Would you be willing to expose Chen Old Ninth's despicable deeds?"

He paid a hefty price this time, a full twenty Spirit Stone!

Many Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Rogue Cultivator can't even earn that much in a year.

"Simply have Pharmacist Lan issue a proclamation in your name!"

Zhou Ning glanced at him. "You called me out for something so trivial?"

Twenty Spirit Stone? Are you trying to give money to a beggar?

The benefits that Azure Mystic Sect would give for making him issue a statement would be far more than a hundred times the amount of Spirit Stone in front of him.

Zhou Ning declined, saying, "No need. I only wish to focus on refining pills and have no intention of fighting with anyone."

Feng Shi was stunned. He opened his mouth, and thought, "Twenty Spirit Stone in hand? Why wouldn't I make a profit?"

Zhou Ning knew that one's reputation should not be easily used. If one agrees to this today and that tomorrow, and keeps making a big fuss all the time, it will only make people disgusted.

When reputation is truly needed, it becomes useless.

Zhou Ning chuckled and said, "However, I can point you in a direction. You can ask True Person Zhang Wan of Zhang Family Fort. He has always hated evil as if it were his enemy. If you can add some money, he might be willing."

Through more than two years of contact, Zhou Ning has gained a deeper understanding of the situation.

True Person Zhang is on the front line against the Lei Household, and the consumption of Spirit Stone is enormous. The noble Aristocratic Clan of Leping Commandery can only stand by and watch, and the Azure Mystic Sect is even more outrageous. Some in the sect even suspect that Zhang Family Fort will rebel like the Lei Household.

Upon hearing the name of True Person Zhang, Feng Shi immediately shrank back.

He believed he was doing something great, helping people achieve their dream of becoming Qi Refining cultivators.

However, they did indeed commit a great deal of acts of violence, including threatening women and forcing them into prostitution.

He keeps a bunch of vicious rogue Rogue Cultivator under his command. If they dare to go see True Person Zhang, given True Person Zhang's methods, he would probably kill them on the spot.

Feng Shi couldn't swallow this insult, but he dared not assassinate the Chen Household cultivators.

If he actually did that, the Chen Household, under the guise of righteousness, would unite with other Aristocratic Clan to label him as Evil Cultivator, and anyone in Leping Commandery could then use that righteousness to punish him.

You, a Rogue Cultivator, dare to rob and kill scions of the Aristocratic Clan today? Would you dare to attack Azure Mystic tomorrow?

The saying goes, "A common man's anger can spill blood," which may vent anger, but then what? Does it mean he'll stop living?

Feng Shi felt very frustrated.

Zhou Ning ate a spirit date, his tone indifferent. "No need to worry, it's just a few Spirit Stone. With your livelihood on Emerald Screen Mountain, you'll earn it back in no time."

Those Rogue Cultivator whose cultivation Dao Path were ruined by this fellow's deception were burdened with lifelong interest debts and were forced to live in anonymity and wander far away from home.

Although Zhou Ning is not a good person, he will not aid and abet evil. The fact that he did not ask Feng Shi for an endorsement fee is already a sign of his kindness.

Feng Shi looked dejected, feeling that he would never get over this hurdle in his life.

He had just taken a sip of tea when he suddenly sensed a violent fluctuation of Spiritual Qi coming from afar, so he looked up.

Then a female cultivator with disheveled hair, above-average looks, and tattered clothes came running in a panic, stepping on spiritual light.

"Isn't this Zha Yuanyuan from Emerald Screen Mountain? What happened?"

Feng Shi looked surprised.

This Zha Yuanyuan is a Foundation Establishment female cultivator who went bankrupt in her business and is heavily in debt. In the past year or two, she's been associating with a lot of shady friends...

Feng Shi suspected she was a female practitioner, but he had no proof.

"Being chased?"

Feng Shi was about to discuss things with Zhou Ning when he saw that Zhou Ning had already taken his maid and hidden inside the island.

Holding the array flag in his hand, he waved it, Falling Ning Island was enveloped in a light blue, water-patterned light shield.