A Rift Quietly Grows

Kang Dabao was startled. He saw that Tie Xishan's eyes were still warm and friendly in the hall, and the gazes of his colleagues were coming from all around him, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

I don't know if the state court is determined to put me on a pedestal or to put me in a very difficult position.

"Perhaps this is the Earl of Nan'an's way of showing goodwill to Uncle-Master Black Shoes?" Kang Dabao didn't feel much joy.

Continuing to serve as the market commander of Chongming Market is certainly a lucrative position, but it would mean accumulating wealth for the Immortal Dynasty and making one an easy target for local powers.

The earnings might not be much more than before, but the risks involved are incomparable. This caused Sect Leader Kang Da to sigh inwardly, "Damn it!"

"Aren't you going to congratulate County Commandant Kang?" Tie Liuyun raised his voice and said with dissatisfaction when he saw that none of the cultivators present had expressed their congratulations.

Congratulations, County Commandant Kang!

"The county magistrate is so lucky!"

"With the Lord's favor, he has a bright future ahead!"

With his experience, Kang Dabao could naturally tell that these words contained insincerity and sarcasm, but none of them were genuine congratulations.

Even among his close colleagues in Tie Xishan, there was a hint of jealousy.

After Tie Liuyun succinctly finished explaining these four points, the meeting, which brought together the county officials of the thirteen counties of Cloud Horn Prefecture, came to an end without even a banquet being arranged.

After the meeting, Tie Liuyun didn't have much to say to Kang Dabao, but he did instruct him to do a good job and not to let down the Earl of Earl of Nan'an's cultivation.

Sect Leader Kang Da could only nod in agreement. The waters in Cloud Horn Prefecture were getting increasingly murky, and he was unsure of what to do. If he chose the wrong side, it could lead to the destruction of his family and the extermination of his clan.

This matter is of great importance; I think I should go back and discuss it with the Daoist Black Shoes as soon as possible.

After leaving the county government office, Kang Dabao called Jiang Qing and boarded the flying boat. He didn't even bother to return to the official temple and headed towards the Chongming Sect with a heavy heart.

--

"Oh, you saw the son-in-law the other day?" Fei Shuhe had just emerged from seclusion, having broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer after a month of seclusion, and was once again at the same level as Sect Leader Kang Da.

However, she was nearly twenty years younger than the latter, and their future prospects were incomparable.

For noble ladies like her, every step of the way is prepared by someone. Even if their talent, temperament, and diligence are mediocre, there is still a chance that they can smoothly and steadily advance to the Green Leaf Foundation Establishment.

This fate is worlds apart from that of a lowly Rogue Cultivator who has to resort to burning, killing, looting, cheating, and deceiving to even obtain a piece of land near spiritual Spiritual Qi.

At this moment Fei Shuhe was in a good mood and was teasing a little sparrow that had perched on her finger. The little sparrow was just an ordinary bird, but it could speak human language.

Fei Shuhe would only feed it a grain or two of spirit rice from time to time, and it would be so happy that it would flap its wings and keep calling out "Congratulations, congratulations" to itself.

"The nanny said that the young master's cultivation has improved again. Although it's slow, his foundation is solid, and he might have a better chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment than some of the guards and instructors in our courtyard," Yu'er, the eldest of the personal maids, added.

"Oh, I see." Fei Shuhe nodded slightly, not seeming to care too much.

Born into a noble family, she had many close relatives who were either Golden Core cultivators or False Core cultivators. Fei Shuhe didn't care much about the slight changes in her nominal husband, Kang Dabao, and was not as concerned about the sparrow in front of her.

"Has there been any news from home?" Fei Shuhe gently raised her finger and shooed the sparrow onto the head of the maid beside her, letting her play.

"Reporting to Miss, there have been no messages from home this month. Nanny Sun did ask some acquaintances and has compiled them here." Yu'er presented another Jade Slip, and upon hearing Yu'er's explanation, Fei Shuhe immediately lost the desire to pick it up and examine it.

"Now that there's not a single word from home, do we really have to trouble Nanny Sun to ask herself?" Fei Shuhe felt a thorn in her side. She shook her head at Yu'er and said calmly, "I won't look now. Granny will tell me when she gets back."

"Yes." The maids had all grown up with Fei Shuhe, so they could naturally hear the displeasure in their mistress's tone. They all agreed and remained silent.

At this time, Nanny Sun also heard the news of Fei Shuhe from the pass and came to pay her respects. The latter invited the former to serve tea and inquired about the recent situation of the Fei Household.

Nanny Sun seemed to have noticed that her young mistress's emotions did not seem to reflect the joy one would expect from someone who had just broken through to a higher realm, but she did not only share the pleasant news.

"Reporting to Miss, there are several important matters in the clan. First, Sima wrote to our family last month, saying that the Earl of Nan'an is short of manpower and that the various halls can send some of their sons to come and make contributions. Ancestor Ye Shui also thought that Sima's words made sense, but the sons in the family all felt that Cloud Horn Prefecture was remote Savage Wilderness, so few responded, which greatly displeased Sima."

Secondly, Nanxi, the elder of the Qiu River Hall, has achieved the third stage of the Golden Elixir Refinement, becoming True-Grade Golden Core. As a result, our Fei Household now has sixteen Golden Core Elixir cultivators in the world. The ancestral home in Ying Prefecture has sent a message to Sima, saying that Golden Core Elixir Ceremony will be held in Ying Prefecture at the beginning of next month. If he has time, he can also go back to visit his cousin.

Thirdly, Miss Yonglian of the Wushan Hall has set her wedding date for six months. Her husband's family is the Han Household of Ji County, and her fiancé is the grandson of Han, a Grand Master of the Capital Circuit, who has achieved the Ice Leaf Foundation Establishment.

Upon hearing this news, Fei Shuhe could no longer sit still. With a cold face, she abandoned everyone and walked out of the room, leaving the maids speechless with fear.

"Granny, you know Miss can't stand hearing about any legitimate daughter marrying better than her, so why are you spreading these rumors?" Yu'er couldn't help but speak to Nanny Sun when Fei Shuhe hadn't returned yet.

Upon hearing this, the latter merely tilted his head slightly, without needing to say a word, which terrified Yu'er so much that she immediately knelt on the ground, saying, "Granny, please forgive me. I'm used to speaking without thinking, and I misspoke."

"Knowing you're so outspoken, why don't you watch your mouth? It's fine if you say it to me, but if any of you with a narrow mind hear it one day, do you want to be beaten to death, or sold to those lowly brothels?" Nanny Sun said in a sinister tone, which frightened the other three maids into bowing down as well.

Ignoring the other ladies, Nanny Sun got up and chased after Fei Shuhe in the direction she had gone.

Fei Shuhe's face was ashen. Although she lost her father at a young age and did not receive the protection of her parents, she was raised and cherished by her uncle Fei Nanying.

Fei Nanying's branch only produced one Golden Core three generations ago, and there are still nearly ten False Core cultivators alive today. In terms of the direct lineage of the Fei Household, it is not particularly prominent.

Fei Shuhe's biological father, Fei Nancheng, and uncle Fei Nanying, are the most outstanding members of the Fei Household in this generation. They have repeatedly shown their abilities in front of Ye Shui, the head of the Fei Household, and have become the seeds of the Fei Household's Golden Core. This has led to Fei Shuhe's status rising accordingly, and she is now one of the most prominent daughters in the direct line.

In truth, in terms of background, family history, appearance, and talent, how could she possibly be inferior to Fei Yonglian of the Wushan Hall?

But the one who marries into a wealthy and noble family and will be able to obtain an imperial title in the future is the latter, while she herself can hardly receive any news and is about to be abandoned by her Lineage and die in this remote border state.

Such a disparity is difficult for anyone to comprehend in a short time.

At this moment, Nanny Sun, holding her cane, strolled up to Fei Shuhe and gently advised, "Miss, you are of noble birth. Even if you are in a difficult situation for the time being, you should not give up on yourself. You have disliked cultivation since you were young. If you could marry into a wealthy family and gain lifelong honor through your husband's family, that would be fine. But Miss, your fate has been unfortunate. You have been caught up in the scheming of the Marquis of Earl of Nan'an. You cannot rely on your husband's family for dignity, so you can only rely on yourself."

Fei Shuhe remained silent, and Nanny Sun continued, "Miss Yaqing is very close to Miss. She is only sixteen years old, yet she has already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Her marriage is not something that Sima can decide, and even Ancestor Ye Shui cannot interfere. If Miss strives to improve herself and forms Golden Core, even False Core, then these shackles will naturally be easy to break free from."

"Hmm, Granny is right." Fei Shuhe sighed softly, but cultivation is not such an easy thing. Yaqing is her uncle Fei Nanying's only daughter, the apple of his eye.

Her uncle claimed to treat her like his own daughter, but she was ultimately just an orphaned girl living under someone else's roof. How could her resources for spiritual practice truly compare to those of her cousin?

Whether one practices diligently or with dedication, and without sufficient resources, how much benefit can one truly gain in the path of Core Formation?

"Yaqing. Yes, why didn't Uncle bring Yaqing to Cloud Horn Prefecture?" Fei Shuhe felt a hint of resentment rising in her heart without realizing it. She turned to Nanny Sun and said, "Granny, let's go out for a walk and get some fresh air."

Thanks to Dadianzi and TKehc for the Extended Net Moon.

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