Advancing to the Sixth Layer

The ordinary young man from the manor came twice and saw that Su Changhe was still sleeping.

He thought to himself, "The master has married a beautiful wife, yet his health has deteriorated to this extent. It's truly a tragedy!"

Su Changhe only slowly awoke as the sun set.

He opened his eyes and asked, "Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?"

He quickly realized that he was Su Changhe, and that he was contributing to the Su Household by recruiting talented individuals.

Su Changhe shook his head. "These people are poor, Rogue Cultivator, destined for nothing in their lives, unless they can become Alchemist like Zhou Ning..."

"Hmph, that Zhou Ning is just a Rogue Cultivator, so arrogant..."

Upon realizing this, he felt a slight tingling pain in his head.

Unbeknownst to him, the Vine Puppet Seed was exerting its power.

"This person is Alchemist; let's avoid him for now, until Xi'er becomes Alchemist..."

Just then, the young mortal led two maids over, who were carrying a tray with a jade bowl on it.

The bowl contained slightly solidified rouge, which flowed in wisps as the maid moved, releasing a sweet, fruity aroma.

"Master, it's time for your meal!"

The young man, all smiles, offered the spoon, saying, "Sir, this is freshly harvested bird's nest, combined with honey made by the island's spirit bees, and brewed with Spirit Planting fruits..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Changhe grabbed the bowl, downed it in one gulp, and then strode out.

The young man stared in disbelief. "Sir, didn't you say that people over sixty should enjoy life slowly?"

Su Changhe scoffed, his voice booming, "What do you know? Sixty-something is the prime of life for striving!"

"I need to discuss with Yuan Dahu about recruiting a few more retainers."

After saying that, he quickly walked away.

The young man and the maidservant exchanged glances, not daring to say a word.

Zhou Ning stayed at the mansion for seven days, and only after confirming that Su Changhe was not acting strangely did he feel relieved.

He was secretly alarmed. "Damn it, Land of Wei's methods are truly unpredictable and hard to guard against!"

This method may seem harmless to the mind, but once planted, it directly locks in the target and path, subconsciously driving others to act.

It's even more advanced than controlling people to be puppets.

Fortunately, he was the one controlling others.

Zhou Ning clutched the last Vine Puppet Seed in his hand, already pondering who to choose.

"My current Divine Sense is comparable to that of the Foundation Establishment Realm. As long as their Divine Sense isn't stronger than mine, they should be able to plant..."

"Su Wen?"

"Never mind, it's too ugly."

Zhou Ning planned to keep it for later use.

With the threat posed by Su Changhe resolved, Zhou Ning could finally focus on his cultivation.

He returned to the courtyard and put up the sign indicating that he was in seclusion again.

He studied the Greater Ginseng-Nurturing Pill while simultaneously cultivating himself.

Time passed, and two and a half years later.

The wind blows the maple leaves, scattering them across the sky and landing in the courtyard, turning them a vibrant red.

Zhou Ning's body radiated a golden-fire color as his Law Power completed a Greater Celestial Circuit through his six meridians, ultimately returning to his Dantian.

His aura surged, and sensing the Law Power within his Dantian, he opened his eyes.

"Qi Refining Sixth Layer..."

"The He Household is truly extraordinary! The effects of this Greater Ginseng-Nurturing Pill are terrifying; the cultivation speed has almost reached four times its previous speed!"

"Even compared to Heavenly Spirit Root, it's not much worse, is it?"

However, he started too late. Zhou Ning has been cultivating for thirteen years and has just turned thirty.

The fastest Heavenly Spirit Root broke through to the Foundation Establishment at the age of twenty-four.

Let alone those with Heavenly Spirit Root, even Su Yuanye, the heir of the Su Household, successfully Foundation Establishment at the age of thirty.

"We started too late. I've heard of a cultivator with low-grade aptitude who consumed eight Foundation Establishment Pill and successfully Foundation Establishment at the age of twenty-five. He is truly a role model for us all."

"I'm still too slow. I need to overcome my arrogance and impatience."

During Zhou Ning's seclusion, many things also happened in the outside world. For example, the Three Households Divide Guo, but now it has become divided among eight families.

Even the Jade Countenance Sect joined in.

Even with the help of the Lei Household, the Guo Household still couldn't withstand the pressure from all sides. The Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator in the clan were ambushed and killed, and the Lineage's defensive formation was breached. A month ago, the eight families declared the Guo family extinct.

As one of the earliest forces to participate in the siege, the Su Household reaped a huge reward and made a fortune.

Zhou Ning was already unhappy, and then he heard that Guo Changying had escaped with a large amount of spiritual materials and, through the Lei Household's introduction, joined the Azure Mystic Sect and became a cultivator in the Law Enforcement Hall.

"If this person reaches the Foundation Establishment in the future, he might very well settle scores with me."

"However... the Su Household will protect me!"

He felt a fleeting pang of regret, regretting going into battle to kill the Guo Household members, but this regret was quickly dispelled.

The enemy is chasing after him, trying to kill him, yet he still stubbornly clings to life; that would be too cowardly!

He's not a real turtle, so why not kill him if you can? You could get a lot of resources that way.

Moreover, Guo Changying might not be as fast at cultivating as him... and Guo Changying's real enemies are those eight cultivator families, for whom they have been wiped out.

The eight families will definitely try every means to kill Guo Changying.

If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up; Zhou Ning didn't dwell on it too much.

He noticed several letters placed under the door, picked them up, and discovered they were communication talismans from the Azure Mystic Sect, the Ye Household, the Han Household, and the Su Household.

He first activated the communication talisman, and the voice of Su Junsong, the head of the Su Household, rang out.

"Alchemist Zhou, several Foundation Establishment Lineage have presented some gifts and request that you come to Luyou Island after you emerge from seclusion."

Zhou Ning chuckled, "Getting impatient, getting impatient."

Over the past two years, under Gu Xiangning's influence, the Ye, Han, Zhao, and other Lineage sent invitations to the Su Household, claiming that Alchemist were scarce outside and asking if the Su Household had any extra Alchemist for transfer.

Previously, the Su Household was busy with the war and had no time to deal with this, but now that they have annexed the Guo Household, they finally have the time to do so.

"They said they invited me to view the gifts, but weren't they actually trying to show off their power?"

That said, the Su Household is really domineering. The Yang Household and Yao Household families, who are also Foundation Establishment Lineage, actually offer gifts to the Su Household every year?

We're both from Foundation Establishment Lineage, so why are you so much more impressive?

Well, it's said that it's because the Su Household's Su Changshuo, has combat power comparable to False Core cultivator, and the Su Household has at least a dozen or twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The Yang Household and Yao Household families each only have one or two Foundation Establishment, and a few minor ones at that, which is really not enough to fill the Su Household's teeth.

Zhou Ning said coldly, "The Su Household, by bullying the weak, has already met their demise!"

He plans to take the Straw Puppet to Luyou Island today to discuss its value.

Zhou Ning then opened the letter from the Azure Mystic Sect.

Gu Xiangning claimed that there were still more than half a year left until the seven-year agreement, and she planned to keep the appointment early. She came to Cuiwei Lake with her fellow disciples, saying that she had important matters to discuss with them, which concerned alchemy.

Zhou Ning was puzzled. Although his alchemy skills were outstanding, the Azure Mystic Sect had no shortage of second- and third-tier Alchemist. Logically speaking, they shouldn't have approached him.

Unless it involves secrets, it cannot be known to the sect.

"This is interesting."

In her letter, Gu Xiangning also informed that she had successfully broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, becoming a Late Qi Refining cultivator.

Zhou Ning was secretly pleased. Although he was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, his Law Power had increased significantly compared to two and a half years ago.

He figured he wouldn't be afraid of anyone at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer in this world.

If [Xinsi Golden Scripture] were to break through to the Late Qi Refining... Zhou Ning thought of the woman in purple gauze and the man in white in the Withered Wood Grotto-Heaven...

With that kind of strength, shouldn't they be able to defeat Foundation Establishment in this realm?

Just as he was pondering, a green leaf- Law Artifact flew down from the sky; it was none other than Old Jia, whose robes fluttered in the wind.

The old man was really good at putting on an act; he stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom.

He landed in front of the door, and the wooden door opened by itself.

Old Jia took out six Spirit Stone from his Storage Bag, placed them on the stone table, and said:

"This time, the Black Boat sold for a full four Spirit Stone. I had my Storage Bag repaired, and with that flying fork, I got another two Spirit Stone..."

Over the past two years, Zhou Ning has gradually sold off most of the Guo Household's belongings that he seized years ago, through the hands of Old Jia.

They obtained about fifty Spirit Stone, enough to refine three batches of Greater Ginseng-Nurturing Pill.

There's no other way; his terrifying cultivation speed is entirely supported by Spirit Stone. He consumes fifty Spirit Stone a year just for cultivation.

"Not bad." Zhou Ning nodded.

Seeing this, Old Jia forced a smile and tentatively asked, "The alchemy that Wan'er?"

Zhou Ning felt quite melancholy thinking of the foolish Jia Tingwan, and said, "I'm going to Luyou Island. I'll talk to you when I get back."

"Very good, very good! Welcome back Alchemist Zhou!" Old Jia said joyfully.

Zhou Ning found his appearance somewhat amusing, even though there was a significant difference in their current status.

But Jia Xingwang did not become overly respectful; he could still crack many jokes.

fine.