Foundation Establishment Ceremony

Jiang Qing's flying sword was much more effective than Sect Leader Kang Da's comforting words; if Spirit Stone were insufficient, using fists to make up for it was also a viable option.

Led by the cultivator surnamed Qin, the disgruntled cultivators diligently practiced military formations during the period when he was seriously injured and unconscious, showing no further unusual behavior.

Although the cultivator surnamed Qin was still unconscious, the magical Law Artifact had been entrusted by Sect Leader Kang Da to Yuan Jin to be properly "repaired," and would be returned to him whenever he recovered.

Kang Dabao had long coveted this Spirit-Striking Chain, never expecting that after it was sold back to Carefree Grotto at the Fish Mountain Treasure Fair, it would one day fall into his hands.

As his opponents grew stronger, the black dagger Kang Dabao had obtained from his Evil Granny was no longer very effective.

So he planned to keep the Spirit-Striking Chain for the Qin family cultivator for a while after Yuan Jin repaired it.

As for the cultivator surnamed Qin, Sect Leader Kang Da would certainly not treat him harshly. The Alchemist hired by the Thief-Catching Office was quite accomplished, and his alchemy skills were already at the First-Tier Superior-Grade, no less than Chen Yu, who was famous in Linghe Market back then.

The Shao siblings and the Second Feng Household Brother also benefited from the Qin family cultivator's good fortune, receiving meticulous care from this Alchemist.

After the Market Commandant Kang hosted two or three lavish banquets, the Qin-surnamed cultivator Alchemist stopped even looking at him, saying that he was beyond cure, and then never paid any more attention to him.

The Second Feng Household Brother suffered a brain injury from an ice spike last time, and although his mouth and eyes appeared to be crooked and serious, he was actually the easiest to treat.

The Alchemist took out three or five kinds of pills and instructed him to take them with warm spirit sprout wine. He felt much better after taking them, and if he persisted for seven or eight months, he would recover a great deal.

As for healing, it's not that the Alchemist lacks the ability, but rather that it would require too many Spirit Stones. For the Second Feng Household Brother, it's more cost-effective to continue with the crooked mouth.

Shao Wei's injuries were already fatal; according to this Alchemist, even Second Tier Alchemist would likely be unable to save him. However, the Alchemist also promised to provide some recuperation and alleviate his pain.

This ensures that even if Shao Wei's cultivation cannot advance further, he will not lose too much of his lifespan.

Shao Meng's injuries are much less severe. As long as he is willing to spend one or two thousand Spirit Stone to take some Spirit Stone, he should be able to recover in four or five years.

Not to mention that the cost of medicine for the three of them would be no small sum, and the Thief-Catching Office had no reason to pay for it for them, even a consultation with a high-level Alchemist would cost a lot of Spirit Stone, which the three destitute rogue Rogue Cultivator could not afford.

It was Sect Leader Kang Da who came up with a solution. He released a few of the weakest prisoners from the Thief-Catching Office control cell, then sent Shao Wei and his men out again, bringing back the heads of these prisoners and claiming that they were injured because of this incident.

The Alchemist, who was well aware of the situation, knew without even looking that Kang Dabao was trying to fool him. However, given the latter's status, he was happy to do him a favor, since Alchemist Spirit Stone wouldn't have to come out of his own pocket.

"These are just three worthless Rogue Cultivator, why is Kang Dabao so concerned about them?!" The Alchemist was somewhat surprised during the treatment.

He was also a fellow townsman from Ying Prefecture who had come from the capital region with Sima Fei. Looking at Shao Meng's beautiful appearance, he naturally became thoughtful.

Regardless of what the Alchemist was thinking, seeing how sharp Jiang Qing's flying sword was, and with Sect Leader Kang Da keeping his promise, Shao Wei and the others finally submitted completely and settled down to live peacefully in the Thief-Catching Office.

Although the Spirit Stone they used for healing don't need to be handed over to the Alchemist immediately, they will still be given to Sect Leader Kang Da at half price in the future.

If Shao Meng were to rely on her meager annual salary Thief-Catching Office, even if she worked her way up from a young woman to an old woman, she probably wouldn't be able to pay off the debt. From now on, she would have to work even harder to achieve new merits so that she could gain her freedom sooner.

After Jiang Qing rendered the Qin-surname cultivator bedridden with a single sword strike, Yuan Jin trained the cultivators with ease.

Ultimately, all of this is thanks to Jiang Qing's exceptional abilities.

If Jiang Qing hadn't emerged from seclusion in time, even if he and Yuan Jin had managed to defeat the cultivator surnamed Qin, they would likely have been in a much worse state, certainly not as relaxed and carefree as Little Sanzi.

They mostly couldn't control these unruly people below them.

Carefree Grotto was once a major sect at the Foundation Establishment, with a well-established lineage spanning nearly a thousand years. However, in recent years, the Foundation Establishment stage has been interrupted, which is why they had no choice but to become lackeys of the Feng Prefecture Ge Household.

The cultivator surnamed Qin was able to serve as an elder in Carefree Grotto, so he was certainly not an easy person to deal with. His methods were definitely not as simple as just showing off a top-grade magic Law Artifact.

If Sect Leader Kang Da doesn't use his best skills, he probably won't be able to defeat him.

It was precisely because Jiang Qing won so brilliantly that not only were those who had previously colluded with the Qin-surname cultivator and were eager to rebel subdued, but also the group that had been brought to their knees.

Even Xie Liusheng and Chu Huer, who had gained favor, worked even harder, hoping to earn a better future for themselves.

With just his sword, Jiang Qing managed to Yixin the entire Thief-Catching Office, proving himself far superior to his useless senior brother Sect Leader Kang Da.

Kang Dabao had only been training his troops with Yuan Jin at the Thief-Catching Office for a few days when the opening day of Double Brightness Trade Market arrived.

On the first day of the sixth month of the 427th year of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty, the gods Yutang and Zigan delivered joy.

Wearing brand-new official robes, Market Commandant Kang, along with the acting Shiwei Deng Baichuan, Zuo Zhuji Ye Zhengwen, You Zhuji Feng En, and Bu Liang Shuai Yuan Jin, arrived early at the market archway, waiting for the arrival of the Acting Sima Gun.

A gentle breeze carried a faint fishy scent, and a gigantic figure appeared in the sky—a black Mystic Falcon descended from the heavens. On its broad back stood a small building, its carved beams and painted rafters, its flying eaves and brackets dazzling and radiant.

Acting Sima Gun and his guests chatted and laughed all the way down the small building and arrived at the gate of the market.

In Cloud Horn Prefecture, where the prefectural court is gaining increasing influence, someone who can chat and laugh with someone like Acting Sima Gun is certainly not an ordinary Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

Ye Zhen, leader of the New Cloud Alliance; Tie Liuyun, commander of the Demon Correction Office of White Sand County; Gun Shide, cousin of Acting Sima Gun; and Buse, Original Buddha Sect.

Sect Leader Kang Da sized up these people, he was secretly alarmed, realizing that he had unknowingly begun to associate with these important figures.

Compared to before, Kang Dabao now feels much calmer when he looks at these powerful figures.

Acting Sima Gun arrived at the market archway and, as usual, offered some words of encouragement to Sect Leader Kang Da and his entourage. Then, he led the Foundation Establishment to the newly renovated Chongming Small Pavilion for a drink.

Despite his young age and relatively recent mastery of culinary skills, Jin Shilun's braised Red-Maned Mountain Boar from Jin Shilun Mountain is exceptional thanks to the abundance of raw materials and the personal instruction of Sect Leader Kang Da.

Cloud Horn Prefecture is indeed a small place, and there are not many chefs who have reached the higher levels. Those who can consistently surpass Jin Shilun in terms of taste are even fewer.

Although the dishes prepared by First-Tier Lower-Grade chef have no effect on Foundation Establishment cultivators in terms of spiritual energy, they can still satisfy their appetites, which is enough to make these cultivators, who can already Grain Avoidance for months and live on air and dew, quite happy.

Acting Sima Gun was enjoying his meal, and since it was an auspicious day, he asked Kang Dabao, who was sitting next to him, to summon Jin Shilun to see him.

Upon seeing that the visitor was a handsome young man with a face like jade, Acting Sima Gun was even more pleased and immediately rewarded him with two small trinkets.

Kang Dabao immediately made Jin Shilun thank him with a deep bow before taking the latter back to the kitchen.

He thought that he would have nothing to do after that, and that he would be able to relax after entertaining these Sect Leader Kang Da officials.

Unexpectedly, after the banquet, Acting Sima Gun was fine and left early to check on his family's shop.

Commander Tie, however, kept Kang Dabao behind.

Last time, this old man forced me to fight the Huo Household face to face. Although Chongming Sect benefited from the Blue Silver Mine, he really offended the Tanggu Huo Household.

From then on, the Cloud Horn Prefecture's Office assigned many difficult tasks to Pingrong County. County Magistrate Luo Heng always called Sect Leader Kang Da to discuss the matter, but the latter always brushed it off by saying that Double Brightness Trade Market was busy and needed someone to handle it.

But how could the powerless and insignificant Magistrate Luo possibly complete these tasks? They were tasks deliberately assigned by the Prefectural Governor's Office to make things difficult for him.

Therefore, in the end, this matter is often never completed.

He didn't care how Luo Heng would explain himself to Kang Dabao. As a son-in-law of the Huo Household, if Luo Heng couldn't even handle this simple matter, he might as well just stay a breeding pig.

The governor's office did send out documents to make things difficult for Sect Leader Kang Da, but the latter brushed them off.

Kang Dabao gradually realized that, as the eldest son-in-law of the Fei Household, regardless of whether he had slept in the same bed with Fei Shuhe, he was naturally labeled as an outsider within the state court.

Not to mention Huo Bing, a dying Foundation Establishment with neither future nor family influence, so I don't need to get too close to him, even this Commander Tie who has recently gained the favor of the Earl of Nan'an, I need to keep some distance from him.

But now that they've come to meet us, Sect Leader Kang Da doesn't have the luxury of hiding.

Seeing Tie Liuyun beckon, Kang Dabao immediately put on a friendly smile and strode forward to greet him, "Greetings, Commander."

"Stop with the formalities, I have good news for you!" Tie Liuyun took out a gleaming gold invitation and stuffed it into Kang Dabao's arms, continuing, "The fifth day of next month is the Foundation Establishment Ceremony in Xishui, don't forget to come."

Sect Leader Kang Da naturally agreed and dared not refuse.

"Tie Xishui has actually reached the Foundation Establishment?!" Kang Dabao was a little jealous, and the memory of when he and Yuan Jin were forced to stop Ge Yangfeng came to mind.

That True Disciple of the Feng Prefecture Ge Household was truly something else; I and my Second almost met our demise there.

"Damn it, that bastard almost killed me, and he actually reached the Foundation Establishment?!" Sect Leader Kang Da cursed inwardly, then continued thinking, "Not only that, I even have to give him a gift?! What bad luck!"

No matter how much Kang Dabao grumbled in his heart, he dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction in front of Tie Liuyun, for the other party was not as weak as Jia Wenze, who was only at the Foundation Establishment.

Among the local factions in the current state court, only a few, such as Tie Liuyun, can truly compete with the outsiders. They are not people that I, a mere Qi Refinement, can afford to offend.

Having accepted Tie Liuyun's invitation, Sect Leader Kang Da had only taken a few steps when he was summoned over by Buse and Gun Shide.

These two weren't after Kang Dabao himself, but were inquiring about the Daoist Black Shoes, though the reason for their inquiries was unknown.

Kang Dabao could only tell the truth: his Uncle-Master Black Shoes was still in seclusion. He would inform the two seniors immediately if he came out of seclusion and obtained his uncle's consent. Only then were the two satisfied.

Buse left immediately. Before leaving, Gun Shide made a promise to Sect Leader Kang Da, saying that if he found the Clear Eyes Treasured Liquid again, he would send it to him.

This concern left Sect Leader Kang Da puzzled, and he could only express his gratitude.

After dealing with these important figures, Kang Dabao had no time to relax. His younger brother, Little Sanzi, was about to Foundation Establishment, and as his senior brother, he shouldn't fall too far behind. He needed to True Cultivator and not slack off.

On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the moon was full and as clear as a mirror.

After nearly a month of True Cultivator, the pent-up pressure of the Sect Leader Kang Da was finally released today on the beautiful woman Huo Ying. After shivering, he felt incredibly refreshed.

As Huo Ying gasped for breath, she felt a sticky dampness on her full breasts, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her beautiful eyes.

However, she could understand it. The man on her body was the legitimate son-in-law of a prominent family. The first wife in the family had not yet given birth to any children. If she, as a mistress, were to have a child and the news were to leak out, she might be found and beaten to death on the spot.

Even so, Huo Ying still hoped to have an heir so that she would have someone to rely on in her old age. After all, once men have been laid to rest, how many will still have any lingering affection?

Thanks to Kang Dabao, the Illusory Sword Alliance has indeed stopped making things difficult for him, and he can now peacefully manage his business and cultivate in Double Brightness Trade Market.

It wasn't that Sect Leader Kang Da had enough influence, but rather that he had made things very convenient for the Illusory Sword Alliance's business.

In this world, everything is driven by profit. The higher-ups of the Illusory Sword Alliance have earned enough Spirit Stone; what value is there in the widow of a deceased True Disciple?

Since Market Commandant Kang is willing to play, let him play. If he enjoys it, what's wrong with sending a few more widows over?

Even if there is no widow, a widow can be created.

Huo Ying didn't get a long rest before the man on top of her started riding her again.

The beautiful woman, having been through many trials, already had a tacit understanding with Sect Leader Kang Da. The latter only needed to give Huo Ying a light pinch on her buttocks, Huo Ying would know to use her hands to support herself and lift up.

It wasn't until dawn that Sect Leader Kang Da emerged from his room, refreshed and invigorated. Despite his deep longing for the scenery, Kang Dabao had no choice but to hastily leave with Jiang Qing due to the Tie Xishui Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

The two traveled lightly and simply, arriving at White Sand County in Jingnan Prefecture. Along the way Sect Leader Kang Da visited Zhai Household Market he had met Second Sister Song and the others years ago.

Things have changed. Second Sister Song is dead; the heads of the Four Ghosts of the Liu Household have been converted into Spirit Stone; Zhai An, the gatekeeper Zhai He, is dead; and the Zhai Household ancestral hall is in ruins.

Only the Zhai Household family, after the death of the Foundation Establishment True Cultivator the major branch of the Zhai Household, seized this market and continued to operate as usual, yet it remained incredibly prosperous.

Internal strife among siblings has made them a laughingstock in the eyes of many outsiders.

After sighing, Sect Leader Kang Da also learned some lessons from the experience. Even familial bonds cannot withstand the test of self-interest. He could only hope that his Chongming Sect would not fall to such a state in the future.

The two brothers did not linger there for long before arriving at the Tie Household.

The hall was filled with guests that day, but the Sect Leader Kang Da was still personally greeted by Tie Liuyun. Such an important figure naturally did not have much time to spare for Kang Dabao. The fact that he could take the time to meet him was already an extraordinary honor. This was a genuine favor to treat his nephew with affection.

After saying only a few words, Commander Tie handed over the task of entertaining Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing to Tie Xishan. The main character of the day, Tie Xishui, did not show up, presumably because he was still preparing for the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

Sect Leader Kang Da was quite looking forward to this. The Daoist Black Shoes had been in seclusion recently, and he had not received any instruction from his elders for some time, so his cultivation progress was not as smooth as before.

It is certainly a wonderful thing to hear a newly promoted Foundation Establishment preach today.

However, Kang Dabao was curious about the level of Tie Xishui's Foundation Establishment and tentatively asked Tie Xishan, who simply shook his head, saying he didn't know.

Sect Leader Kang Da couldn't tell if it was true or false, but he didn't dare to ask any further.

Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing were given a very prominent position by Tie Xishan, second only to the many Foundation Establishment guests who came today.

At the Foundation Establishment in Tie Xishui, most of the people who came to congratulate him were local Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. To Kang Dabao's surprise, he even saw Huo Bing there.

Rumor has it that he has been keeping a low profile to conserve his energy, but it's unexpected that he would have time to come and congratulate Commander Tie today.

However, Commander Tie has Commander Tie Huo Bing quite a bit over the years. Not only has he interfered in the blue silver mine in Tanggu County, but many of the Huo Household's businesses have also suffered from Commander Tie "treatment".

Logically speaking, their relationship shouldn't be very good, right?

The old cultivator probably saw Sect Leader Kang Da, but he didn't seem inclined to call him over to talk.

Kang Dabao was naturally happy to accept this, but before he could close his eyes and gather his breath for a while, an acquaintance came looking for him again.

Thank you, Brother Baiyao, for the Extended Net Moon.

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