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Kuang Liuting waited until Kang Dabao bowed and paid his respects before exchanging pleasantries with Fei Nanying, the newly promoted senior cultivator, and then stepped onto the newly arranged red embroidery floor to enter the Chongming Sect.

He glanced at Sect Leader Kang Da for a moment before speaking, his tone devoid of anger. "More than twenty years ago, I told you that I would come to congratulate you when your eldest son was born."

Kang Dabao could recall the scene when he and the Daoist Black Shoes returned from Tanggu County. After bowing twice, he respectfully replied, "Your Excellency's kindness is truly overwhelming; this humble official is filled with trepidation."

When Kuang Liuting saw Sect Leader Kang Da's actions, he only smiled on the surface, but in his heart, it seemed that he had truly no more grudges with the latter.

When he spoke again, his tone was relaxed, as if he were chatting casually. "I won't have many days of free time this time I'm out of the pass, so I can't come to your family's important event. Since you are familiar with Commander Qin, I will keep him as my envoy to attend in my place."

"Thank you very much, sir. It's just a trivial matter; I didn't mean to trouble you with your concern."

"Don't rush, don't rush. I haven't even given you a gift yet, how can I accept your thanks?" Kuang Liuting smiled slightly, and a magical light appeared in his palm, a dragon-patterned brocade box landing in his hand.

Kuang Liuting didn't boast about the treasures inside the brocade box; he simply gestured for Kang Dabao to take it. He didn't open it immediately, but carefully put it away.

Sect Leader Kang Da straightened his clothes and composed himself, intending to invite Kuang Liuting inside to rest for a while, but the latter's gaze had already fallen elsewhere.

"May I ask if the Marquis of Gucheng would be so kind as to invite me for a chat?"

Although Kuang Liuting's words were polite, there was an undeniable air of authority in them. Even Kang Dabao was standing nearby, could sense that the Earl of Nan'an did not seem to have changed his attitude towards Fei Nanying after Fei Nanying Core Formation.

Fei Nanying was slightly taken aback, but without hesitation, he said, "Of course, it's not impossible. As the Prefectural Nanying, I should obey orders. You're being too kind, Lord."

No sooner had he spoken than the two important figures tacitly abandoned the bewildered Sect Leader Kang Da and landed in a secluded spot.

Kuang Liuting was playing with a swallow-shaped jade pendant in his hand. Even when he was alone with Golden Core cultivator, his expression remained relaxed as always.

This clearly shows that this member of the royal family Fei Nanying, a promising new cultivator who has just achieved a mid-grade Middle-Grade Golden Core, with the same calm and ordinary attitude as always.

He turned his back, closed his eyes, and asked, "It's been quite a while since I last spoke to Sima, and we've become somewhat estranged. I wonder what he said to you when you last returned to your hometown to pay your respects to the Grand General?"

Fei Nanying did not seem to harbor any resentment towards Kuang Liuting's impolite behavior, and simply replied in a calm voice:

"Ancestor Ye Shui instructed Nanying to warn all the disciples of the She Mountain Hall to remember to cooperate with each other and serve their lord with utmost loyalty, so as to bring peace to the land and restore order to the world."

This answer was clearly not what Kuang Liuting heard; he shook his head and spoke again:

Even though Sima has become a high-ranking cultivator and has lived for eighty years, he still seems to lack vigor. Even if you are unwilling to tell me what the Grand Pillar of State has to say, you shouldn't use such high-sounding words to evade my concerns.

Fei Nanying smiled again and said, "My lord, you are wise. My ancestor did indeed tell me these words in person."

"Then let's assume you're telling the truth," Kuang Liuting, seemingly unconcerned about Fei Nanying's reply. He turned around, and the golden sunlight streamed through the clouds, bathing him in its glow and making him appear even more dignified.

Kuang Liuting lowered his eyes as usual, his voice very soft, and gestured. "At most, I will be able to Golden Core Formation Pill in this short time."

Fei Nanying's eyes narrowed, staring intently at Kuang Liuting's expression, not daring to look away.

Compared to Fei Nanying, who was unwilling to divulge any valuable information to outsiders, Kuang Liuting was much more candid, even willing to Core Formation such a secret as the formation of the Golden Core to the former.

But what he said next shocked Fei Nanying so much that his eyebrows twitched.

"This Core Formation, I'm about 80% confident I can achieve a high-grade Core Formation."

"Eighty percent?!"

Fei Nanying knew a little about the temperament of this Earl of Nan'an and was certain that the latter was not someone who spoke without reason or made baseless accusations. However, hearing Kuang Liuting's account so confidently, he still couldn't suppress his astonishment.

"Even on Bitter Spirit Mountain, throughout history, there have probably been very few Foundation Establishment cultivators who would dare to speak in such a tone. An 80% chance of achieving Upper-Grade Golden Core?!"

Just as Fei Nanying momentarily distracted, Kuang Liuting spoke up again, asking, "Now, Marquis of Gucheng, you should be able to tell me what your Grand General said to you, right?"

Fei Nanying a deep breath. Even though he had become a high-level cultivator, he still felt that the matter was of great importance, as several people were still trapped inside and had not yet come out.

He composed himself and said in a deep voice, "I hope you will forgive me, Lord. After all, this matter involves the Nanying, and I dared not speak lightly before. The Ancestor said that after you Core Formation, Lord, our Fei Household will wholeheartedly help you achieve your great goals."

At that time, half of the clan's Golden Core could emerge from Ying Prefecture, and the False Core Foundation Establishment cultivators from various branch clans could also be employed. It would only be necessary for the Earl to return to the capital and report to the Emperor before proceeding to the outer seas.

"Sima, please wait a moment," Kuang Liuting, waving his hand to stop Fei Nanying from speaking when he heard Fei Nanying mention the words "outer sea".

At this moment, his expression relaxed, and he changed his tone, asking in a low voice again, "Did the Grand General say anything about what the Fei Household would do if I didn't go to the outer seas?"

"Not going to the outer sea." Fei Nanying frowned, his heart sinking.

Back in Ying Prefecture, Fei Ye Shui and Lian Kuang Liuting had all the instructions on what to do if they failed to achieve a high-grade elixir.

However, it was conspicuously never mentioned what should be done by the people of the She Mountain Hall if this member of the imperial family did not go to the outer sea after achieving the elixir.

The two fell silent abruptly. Fei Nanying did not keep Kuang Liuting waiting for long. He spoke again in a deep voice, "If the Earl does not go to the outer sea after achieving the Golden Core, all arrangements of the Fei Household will remain unchanged."

At this moment, a faint smile finally appeared on Kuang Liuting's face, and his tone was no longer as low as before. He said with a sneer, "Sima, don't boast. You haven't even consulted the Grand General. Do you think you can make a decision on this matter?"

After Fei Nanying returned to his clan's territory in Ying Prefecture and heard Fei Ye Shui's personal instructions, he knew that his ancestor now held Kuang Liuting in extremely high regard.

Since the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, a first-class wealthy family, had already placed a heavy bet on Kuang Liuting ahead of everyone else, Fei Nanying could no longer maintain the same distance from Kuang Liuting as before, always wary of the Kuang Household's mean and ungrateful nature.

"Kuang Liuting comes from a noble family and has been a first-rate genius among the imperial family since childhood, so he is naturally arrogant. Many of your past actions cannot be hidden from others, and he must have remembered them all."

You must remember this: our Fei Household has done things like being outwardly united but inwardly divided in the past, but from now on, we must not do it again.

The Ying Prefecture Fei Household has produced outstanding scholars in every generation since the previous dynasty, without interruption. But we have been a powerful family for thousands of years. Will we be able to produce a True Person in the future, making our family a distinguished clan? This hope may well rest on Kuang Liuting's shoulders."

Fei Ye Shui's earnest instructions from Ying Prefecture echoed in Fei Nanying's mind. Thinking of this, his eyes suddenly became much more resolute.

Fei Nanying replied confidently, "The Ancestor must share the same thought."

Hearing his unwavering certainty, Kuang Liuting's smile faded. When the Earl spoke again, his tone was more True Intention: "Very well! When I ascend the throne, I will never forget what happened to the Fei Household today."

Fei Nanying immediately adopted a solemn expression, disregarding his superior status, and bowed twice towards Kuang Liuting.

At this moment, the mountain wind carried away the clouds and landed on the other side of the Little Ring Mountain.

The Sect Leader Kang Da was busy welcoming and seeing off guests at home, had no idea that these two important figures had, in a short period of time, settled a major matter in an ordinary mountain valley near his home that could shake the entire Great Wei Immortal Dynasty.

He had just seen off a guest who, like Kuang Liuting, could not attend the formal ceremony to offer his congratulations, and had just turned back from outside the archway when he saw his eldest son, Kang Changyi, waiting there.

The boy is now fifteen years old. His Dual Spirit Root allow him to thrive in his cultivation journey. In less than nine years of cultivation, he has already reached the threshold of breaking through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.

Kang Dabao was naturally very pleased with this, and could even be said to be quite envious. After all, when he, the Sect Leader Kang Da, was fifteen years old, he was still secretly anxious because he could not break through to the Third Layer of Qi Refinement and his cultivation was surpassed by Yuan Jin.

Moreover, Kang Changyi surpasses his father in many ways, far beyond just cultivation.

In terms of appearance, this young man resembles his mother quite a bit and can be described as handsome, quite different from the broad-faced and heavy-jawed Sect Leader Kang Da. When he grows up, he will surely attract many young ladies.

Unlike his father, none of the people in the household were acquired through normal means, and they even earned the reputation of "being good at bullying women";

In terms of family background, Kang Changyi was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his stepmother came from a renowned wealthy family in the capital region.

Kang Dabao was born into a minor mortal family. He lost his father at a young age and could only vaguely remember the faces of his parents in this life.

In terms of wealth, Kang Dabao was so poor back then that he scratched his head and cheeks over a small Qi Condensation Pill. After becoming the sect leader, he even considered more than once whether to sell Second to another family to be a live-in son-in-law, in order to raise enough money for Little Sanzi's cultivation in the Ming Household.

In such dire straits, what could he possibly have to compare with Kang Changyi?

Leaving aside the Fei Household matriarch who was always generous with Spirit Stone, which sect leader, from the Daoist Black Shoes to Duan Anle, wouldn't take good care of her?

With all these conditions in place, it would be strange if Kang Changyi's cultivation progressed slowly. Even his current Sixth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation is the result of Kang Dabao repeatedly urging him to build a solid foundation, which is why he was able to maintain this level.

Back when the Sect Leader Kang Da was a humble merchant, he couldn't stand young masters like Kang Changyi who had almost no shortcomings.

How much of this was due to the arrogant and disdainful behavior of such people, and how much was due to his own inferiority complex and envy, was something even Kang Dabao himself could not clearly explain.

Fortunately, Fei Shuhe and Huo Ying raised Kang Changyi's child to be of very good character.

Otherwise, the Sect Leader Kang Da might have raised his eldest son into the very thing he hated most, which would have been quite a laughing stock.

"Changyi, were you waiting for me?"

"Father, Mother wants you to go back; she says she has something important to discuss."

"I just stepped out, and she already has something important to discuss?" Sect Leader Kang Da muttered to himself, then led Kang Changyi back to Green Lotus Courtyard.

Neither father nor son spoke on the way. Compared to Kang Changyi's two mothers, Kang Dabao had spent very few times alone with them over the years.

Even when they occasionally sat facing each other, the words spoken by the Sect Leader Kang Da, who was used to being a strict father, were mostly exhortations about cultivation, with few moments of warmth.

The atmosphere on the way was a bit awkward. Kang Dabao wanted to speak several times, but looking at his eldest son who was silently leading the way, he didn't know what to say, so he had no choice but to remain silent.

Fortunately, the journey was not far. After seeing Fei Shuhe and Huo Ying, the father and son seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at the same time, feeling much more comfortable.

Upon seeing this, a hint of worry quietly appeared on Huo Ying's pretty face.

She was not much younger than Sect Leader Kang Da, and it was only because of the latter that she had been fortunate enough to take some anti-aging pills in recent years. However, that only slightly delayed the aging process. In terms of her current complexion, she was far inferior to Sect Leader Kang Da's other three wives and concubines who had already reached the Foundation Establishment.

Of the four, she was the only one who had been married, the only one who was a Qi Refinement cultivator, and the only one whose beauty was fading. How could he not be anxious?

Now that Fei Shuhe has her own child, and Kang Changyi and Kang Dabao are not close, what if Fei Shuhe, as the biological mother, affects her own child's future?

After Kang Dabao entered, he glanced at the infant son in Yu'er's arms before turning to Fei Shuhe and asking softly, "What brings you here, Madam?"

This gesture naturally pleased the noblewoman of the Fei Household. She beckoned Kang Changyi to sit down next to her, and as she spoke, a joyful expression appeared on her face. "This is wonderful news. There's progress on our Brother Yi's apprenticeship."

"What's the situation?" Compared to Fei Shuhe, Sect Leader Kang Da appeared remarkably calm.

Although Kang Changyi had no formal teacher, he was taught by several senior uncles in turn from a young age. Later, when the Daoist Black Shoes came out of seclusion, he also took him with him and raised him for half a year.

However, this child's comprehension in swordsmanship is not outstanding, perhaps even inferior to Han Yundao and He Yuanbing, making it difficult for him to inherit the mantle of the Daoist Black Shoes.

However, cultivation is never limited to Swordsmanship. Kang Changyi is outstanding in other aspects as well. In addition to cultivation, he has also become First-Tier Middle-Grade master. According to Nanny Sun, this young sect leader can be considered a first-class figure among his peers in the She Mountain Hall.

Therefore, regarding the matter of Kang Changyi becoming a disciple, compared to the very enthusiastic Fei Shuhe, the Sect Leader Kang Da was actually not very interested. He actually preferred to keep his own son in the Chongming Sect, so that he could grow into a pillar of the sect alongside Duan Anle and others.

Fei Shuhe could tell that Kang Dabao wasn't very interested, but she didn't care and continued, "My aunt just told me that she asked her family to inquire and praised our Brother Yi Shoushi the High Cultivator the skies. That's how she made Shushi Shangxiu, a second-class guest of the Yukun Han Household, somewhat interested."

This cultivator, Sushi, is quite skilled, having already reached the Middle Stage of Golden Core. In his early years, he sought Buddhist teachings at Original Response Temple Shoushi the High Cultivator the Snow Mountain Circuit, serving as Registered Disciple of the previous temple's abbot.

"I'm not going!!"

This was the first time Fei Shuhe had ever seen the words "furious" on Kang Dabao's face. The couple had always treated each other with utmost respect for many years; how could such a thing have ever happened to them?

Before Fei Shuhe could even get angry, she saw the Sect Leader Kang Da, so enraged that he grabbed Kang Changyi and dragged him away.

"This scoundrel, is it really necessary? Although the name of the Blissful Chan may not sound good, Original Response Dao Shoushi the High Cultivator is still True-Grade Golden Core cultivator. If he were to openly accept disciples, countless noble young men would be tempted. Yet he's been so picky."

Fei Shuhe glanced at Kang Dabao's departing figure with some dissatisfaction, comforted Huo Ying who was about to come and persuade her, then took the swaddled baby from Yu'er's arms and murmured:

"You mustn't follow in your father's footsteps. He hasn't learned his lesson enough outside of Learning Forest Mountain. He hasn't figured out that in this world, as long as your fist is big enough, you don't need to care about your reputation. What righteous path or Immortal Dynasty? Without True Person or a superior cultivator to oversee it, they're all Outer Dao. You must make sure..."