Seeking a Master

Another month has passed, and Xuanwei City is as bustling as ever.

Over the years, the strength of the state court has increased considerably. Not to mention the gatekeepers' cultivation levels have improved and their Law Artifact are now dazzling, even the left and right gatekeepers who guard the four city gates have been replaced by mid-stage True Cultivator with years of experience.

Now, the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court can already mobilize eight mid-stage True Cultivator even in the small first-line city defense, no longer in the dire straits of the past when they had to use useless rich food to Gun Qiushou.

Even so, the Daoist Black Shoes and Kang Dabao and his son still received the courtesy due to these officials. This was because it wasn't just the state court whose strength had soared; the Daoist Black Shoes and the Sect Leader Kang Da were no longer comparable to what they used to be.

The Daoist Black Shoes deliberately arrived a few days earlier than the invitation indicated, just to avoid the tedious social obligations at Chu Yanran's banquet.

Even when facing Chu Yanran, a newly Golden Core cultivator, he thought the same way, so he certainly wouldn't waste his time on these very enthusiastic banquets arranged by Guan Cheng.

Therefore, Kang Dabao had no choice but to put on a smiling face and make excuses for a long time before he was able to get away with the old man and the child.

When Sect Leader Kang Da and his entourage arrived at the Qi residence, Master Qi was sitting idly inside. In fact, since he had reached the Foundation Establishment a few years ago, he had rarely been engaged in serious work.

After all, although he had already reached the Foundation Establishment, even this Azure Leaf Dao Foundation Chu Yanran something that Chu Yanran had spent countless efforts to earn for him. Objectively speaking, this could already be considered a stroke of luck.

The next step, to achieve the Golden Core, is neither possible nor even False Core, and there's almost no need to seek or even think about it.

Master Qi can simply take good care of Chu Yanran in the second half of his life, and ideally persevere in trying to give birth to a son or daughter, then he can be considered to have lived a fulfilling life and not wasted these two extra sixty years of lifespan.

As a result, Master Qi's enthusiasm waned considerably, and he no longer cared much about the weapon-refining shop that he used to find quite profitable.

Chu Yanran 'Golden Core Chu Yanran this time will not require a grand celebration, and Qi Buxiu need to prepare anything either.

So he was somewhat surprised by the sudden visit from this group of three generations at the door.

However, being a man of some standing, he did not show any surprise. After warmly addressing the three as "Brother Daoist" and "Nephew," and settling them in, he immediately went to Chu Yanran's place of seclusion to invite her to meet the guests.

Not long after Master Qi entered the inner quarters, Kang Dabao seemed to smell a fragrant breeze.

"Fellow Daoist in Black Shoes has arrived quite early." Although Chu Yanran had already reached the Golden Core, she still faced the three generations of the family with a smile and without any arrogance.

Whether it was a misperception or not, Sect Leader Kang Da felt that the beautiful woman's complexion had improved considerably since she completed her cultivation, and even her voice had become much clearer and more melodious, like a nightingale, sweet and pleasant to the ear.

Chu Yanran's attitude remained unchanged, and the Daoist Black Shoes also maintained his usual humble yet assertive demeanor, not even considering himself a junior when he spoke, "I have always preferred tranquility, which is why I specifically set this date to come and congratulate Fellow Daoist Chu. I hope Fellow Daoist will not blame me for coming without prior notice."

As soon as the Daoist Black Shoes finished speaking, Kang Dabao and his son bowed to Chu Yanran and said, "Greetings, Senior."

The latter's beautiful eyes swept over Kang Changyi's handsome face for a moment, and she quickly guessed Kang Dabao's intentions. The beautiful woman's expression softened further.

"Kang boy, have you thought this through? What you're asking for might not come to fruition. If it all ends up being a waste of your efforts, don't blame me."

Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Kang Da's expression became extremely respectful again. He pulled the flushed Kang Changyi to Chu Yanran and bowed twice.

"I earnestly hope that you, senior, will grant my father and me this wish."

Chu Yanran's smile widened, her beautiful face as radiant as when a hundred flowers are in full bloom.

"Ah, the hearts of parents are all the same, and you, as a father, are willing to spend this favor. However, whether this matter succeeds or not depends on the character of your son."

Although Dual Spirit Root is not bad, whether one can become my disciple still needs to be examined before we can know for sure."

"Father." Kang Changyi's body trembled, and the look in his eyes as he glanced at the Sect Leader Kang Da could hardly be described with just the word "shock."

Fortunately, although he was surprised, he knew that it was not the right time to ask Kang Dabao too many questions.

So after being startled and uttering a soft murmur, he resumed his bow with perfect decorum, not daring to show the slightest impoliteness.

Unlike the shocked Kang Changyi, the Sect Leader Kang Da, who already knew that Chu Yanran would be able to see through it at a glance, breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the beautiful woman's words.

He quickly pulled the still somewhat bewildered Kang Changyi back to bow his head, his tone even more respectful than before. "Of course, thank you for your kindness, senior."

This time, Chu Yanran did not accept the bow. She simply smiled and nodded, then gently lifted the two of them up with her soft hands, saying, "Go and rest for now. I will come back to talk to you later."

"Nephew, this way please." Master Qi and his wife were perfectly in sync. Before Chu Yanran could even finish giving him a signal, the former had already stepped forward to Kang Dabao and his son.

"Thank you Master Qi." When Master Qi led him and his son away, the Daoist Black Shoes and Chu Yanran remained still, so the Sect Leader Kang Da knew that the two must have something important to discuss.

However, since Chu Yanran wanted to send him away and the Daoist Black Shoes hadn't said anything to keep him, Sect Leader Kang Da didn't intend to investigate further.

The father and son were settled by Master Qi in a rather luxurious secluded courtyard, where the Spiritual Qi was abundant, even surpassing that of Kang Dabao's Little Ring Mountain, and could almost be considered Second-Tier Supreme-Grade Spirit Vein.

Master Qi escorted the father and son to their resting place, but he wasn't in a hurry to leave. He seemed completely unconcerned that his beautiful, ripe young wife was alone in a room with a man as handsome as Lord Xu.

Old Xiu was getting a little bored at home, so he chatted with Sect Leader Kang Da for a long time about everyday things.

In fact, he had already explained many things to his apprentice Yuan Jin when he last came to the Chongming Sect to celebrate Kang Changxi's birthday banquet, but he still chatted happily with the Sect Leader Kang Da.

The latter couldn't immediately discern the old cultivator's true intentions, so he could only respond with half-hearted words.

After speaking frankly for about half an hour, Master Qi finally changed his tone and revealed his intentions.

He raised an eyebrow and said:

"I've heard that you and your wife took the 'Spirit Offspring Radiant Color Pill' before giving birth to your son. I wonder if you still have any of these pills? If you do, could you please lend me one? I would be eternally grateful."

"The Spirit Offspring Radiant Color Pill?" Sect Leader Kang Da finally understood. He placed his teacup back on his seat, muttered almost imperceptibly for a while, and then gave a wry smile.

"Senior, you flatter me too much. This kind of pill is rare even in the entire Fei Household's She Mountain Hall. My wife and I are already very fortunate to have obtained one thanks to the kindness of our elders. How could we possibly have any left over?"

Master Qi's expression didn't change much after hearing this, indicating he had expected this answer, but he was still reluctant to give up. "Nephew, are you really without a solution? Just one will suffice. At that time, not only will I, but my wife will owe you a favor."

Kang Dabao smiled wryly as usual, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Senior, what you say is true. Which cultivator at the Golden Core stage wouldn't want to earn a favor? It's just that I don't have any spirit medicine on hand, otherwise why would I be so stingy?"

Upon hearing this, the old cultivator opposite sighed again:

"Nephew, what you say is very true, but it is indeed difficult for me to ask you for help. However, this Spirit Offspring Radiant Color Pill is extremely important to my wife and me. Unfortunately, the Pill Formula is controlled by the major Aristocratic Clan in the Capital Circuit, and it has hardly circulated outside. Therefore, I have shamelessly asked you for help."

Just when Sect Leader Kang Da thought that Qi Buxiu let the matter drop after saying those words, he heard the latter ask again, "If you see Sima Fei later, my dear nephew, could you please ask him for me?"

Upon hearing this, Kang Dabao hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "To be honest, given the many favors you two have shown me, I might give it a try. As for whether this matter will ultimately succeed or not, I dare not make any predictions."

While this was what Sect Leader Kang Da said to Qi Buxiu, he thought to himself, "Master Qi probably doesn't know that my reputation among the Fei Household is already bad, and I've lost a lot of trust in my Boyue. Even the Spirit Offspring Radiant Color Pill that Shuhe took, my family has to raise the money ourselves to pay it back."

In this situation, even if I spoke up for him, it would mostly be a waste of time. It would be better to let Madam Qi handle it; the favor she owes me is much cheaper than the favor she owes my Boyue -law! So that's how it is; this old man is full of schemes!

It's a pity, not to mention he wants the Spirit Offspring Radiant Color Pill. Even I am still hoping to retrieve the Azure Firmament Spirit Root for the Third someday. But ever since we abandoned our trip to Ying Prefecture, this matter has become incredibly difficult.

"Only after I achieve the Golden Core stage, and then offer some benefits to my Boyue, will I have any chance of getting it back."

Qi Buxiu Sect Leader Kang Da was inwardly grumbling, Qi Buxiu's face lit up with joy upon hearing the latter's acceptance of his request. Master Qi clapped his hands excitedly until they were red, clearly in high spirits.

After the initial excitement subsided, he realized that he had perhaps neglected his guests, so he personally brewed the father and son some top-quality spiritual tea as an apology.

Sitting idly chatting is not the way to treat guests, and the female musicians and dancers could not get permission from the true host of this place, so Master Qi took out a chessboard and said that he knew that Chongming Sect had always passed down chess and painting skills, and wanted to play a few games with Sect Leader Kang Da.

These words nearly made Kang Changyi, who was sipping his spiritual tea, choke. While Master Qi was taken aback, Kang Changyi also received a cold glare from the other side of the Sect Leader Kang Da.

However, once the game began, it didn't take long for Master Qi to understand the reason behind Kang Changyi's previous behavior.

"This chess skill"

Master Qi is, after all, the host of this place, and no matter what, he should not neglect his guests.

Even though he knew he had been tricked, he could only finish the game with a dark face, a game in which Sect Leader Kang Da had probably regretted countless moves, before he could make an excuse to leave.

Only then was Kang Dabao's chess addiction rekindled, and he could barely conceal the regret on his face.

But the moment he turned his gaze to his eldest son, the usually obedient and filial child quietly slipped the chessboard into his sleeve. In a rather subtle way, he refused the rare opportunity for the father and son to play chess.

However, while Kang Changyi wasn't in the mood for playing chess, he was certainly eager to have a long talk with his father. The young man took a deep breath, looking at Kang Dabao, who was still fiddling with a black jade chess piece between his fingers, his face full of lingering interest, and softly said, "Father,"

Sect Leader Kang Da raised an eyebrow and responded with a soft "hmm".

Kang Changyi bowed respectfully and said in a deep voice, "This time, I will surely be able to become a disciple of Madam Qi and bring honor to our family."

"It's alright, no need for that," Sect Leader Kang Da said with a slight smile, interrupting his eldest son who was patting his chest. "Being Golden Core disciple is not easy. If you succeed, that's great; if not, my son and I will find another place."

Kang Changyi, however, did not seem much relieved. Instead, his brows furrowed. "But if we do that, wouldn't we be betraying the favors that Father worked so hard to earn?"

"What's so strange about that? Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them." These words might have been better said by others, but when they came from Kang Dabao's mouth, they caused both father and son to blush slightly.

Sect Leader Kang Da only managed to say half of his sentence before he could no longer speak.

Kang Changyi, who was opposite him, was about to thank him again and bow again, but after Kang Dabao hesitated for a moment, he spoke up first, "Your mother from the Fei Household sometimes thinks a little inappropriately, but she doesn't mean any harm, so don't blame her."

As soon as Sect Leader Kang Da finished speaking, Kang Changyi's expression, which had just calmed down, suddenly turned solemn again. "Your son would never do that!"

"That's good," Kang Dabao nodded with satisfaction. Judging from his eldest son's reaction and choice of words, he knew that the latter did not harbor any resentment.

That makes sense. Whether before or after Kang Changxi's birth, Kang Changyi's expenses were always compared to those of the direct descendants of the She Mountain Hall.

To be honest, it's even more so.

After all, even among the disciples of the She Mountain Hall who were the same age Kang Changxi, very few of them could actually use the properly obtained Thought-Calming Incense from the Palace of Imperial Repose when they were cultivating.

As for the legitimate mother who would expend so much effort to find an opportunity for her illegitimate son to become an apprentice of a high-ranking cultivator, that would be even more remarkable.

Even if counted among all the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty, it wouldn't be considered a large number.

Cultivators aren't heartless. Because of these events, Kang Changyi has probably been closer to Fei Shuhe than to his birth mother Huo Ying, since childhood. However, the Sect Leader Kang Da's worries seem somewhat unfounded.

The worry in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a smile, "That's good, that's good. If you ever suffer any injustice in the future, don't forget to tell your father."

Seeing that Kang Changyi obediently agreed, Kang Dabao was pleased, but then he looked at his eldest son for a while and said, "I, your humble servant, have suffered for two lifetimes; it's only right that my descendants enjoy some blessings."

----Qi Residence Meeting Room

After Chu Yanran with the Daoist Black Shoes for a while and serving him several cups of tea, Chu Yanran's beautiful eyes lingered on him for a moment before she spoke, "Fellow Daoist Black Shoes, you didn't come here just to congratulate me on Core Formation the Core Formation, did you?"

The Daoist Black Shoes leaned back in his rattan chair, showing no sign of nervousness in front of a high-ranking cultivator. After hearing Chu Yanran's words, he simply chuckled softly, "But it cannot escape Madam Qi's discerning eyes."

The beautiful woman withdrew her gaze, a smile returning to her face, adding to her charm. She placed the teacup back on the table with her slender, delicate hand, and said crisply:

"Now that things are turbulent in Shannan Circuit, and you are by nature a man of detachment, it is beyond my expectations that you have waited until now to make your decision."

The Daoist Black Shoes nodded upon hearing this, seemingly agreeing with Chu Yanran's words. However, the latter then changed the subject, speaking softly:

"However, I'm afraid this matter is not something only I can see clearly. Anyone with a discerning eye should be able to see it clearly. Is there anything you need to prepare, fellow Daoist? Please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will certainly not refuse in the slightest."

"I was just about to ask for your help, Madam," the Daoist Black Shoes said, surprisingly abandoning his previous arrogant behavior and adopting the proper manners of a junior. "My only concern is for my elder brother's descendants."

The beautiful woman frowned, then sighed, "Fellow Daoist Black Shoes, the Chongming Sect is involved in too many things. Many people are eyeing it. I am but a lowly person with little power, and I may not be able to protect it."

The Daoist Black Shoes smiled faintly, "That's alright. Black Shoes will surely make many preparations before leaving, and I am not a greedy person. I only ask that you take care of me a little, Madam."

My junior is both brave and cunning. He has recently learned many lessons. As long as he is alive, Chongming Sect will not be driven to the brink of ruin.

Upon hearing this, Chu Yanran's tone became much lighter. "Fellow Daoist values that Kang boy so much?"

The Daoist Black Shoes's smile only widened, his words brimming with confidence. "He was chosen by my elder brother back then, so there's no doubt about it."

The beautiful woman didn't understand why the Daoist Black Shoes still held that young Qi Refinement cultivator in such high regard, but she didn't care or ask, simply assuming it was just his obsession.

Chu Yanran didn't speak again, but murmured a few words, and a roll of spiritual silk appeared in her rosy palm.

The beautiful woman slowly exhaled a fragrant breath, and as the fragrance lingered on the spiritual map, she extended her slender fingers and stroked and lifted it, causing the spiritual map in her hand to float into the air and slowly unfold, appearing before the Daoist Black Shoes.

"Fellow Daoist, please look," Chu Yanran said, pointing with her hand. "This main trunk, drawn with golden thread, is the path leading to the King Yu Circuit."

Fellow Daoist, you must be extra careful. Since the fall of the Great Ancestor, many places that had been developed into immortal mountains have fallen into the hands of demons.

Besides, there are also many Evil Dao sects along the way. Generally speaking, they are relatively well-behaved towards powerful cultivators, but fellow Daoist, please do not be merciful.

After all, those who reach the Golden Core on this path are nothing special. Fellow Daoist, your cultivation is not yet complete, so you must first protect yourself to avoid inviting disaster upon yourself.

Once you reach the King Yu Circuit, you can travel east to the Great Wei Sea Frontier. From there, continue east for another 30,000 li to reach the Myriad Stars Island Chain in the outer sea, a region I have never been to before.

I once heard from some senior cultivators that once you arrive there, there is an ancient teleportation array that leads to the outer sea and to forces outside the jurisdiction of Bitter Spirit Mountain, but I don't know if it's true or not."

Seeing that the Daoist Black Shoes's sharp eyes were fixed on the map for a long time, Chu Yanran reminded him:

"As for the ancient teleportation array, fellow Daoist, it's best to just listen to it and leave it at that. After all, there are many different legends and versions about it, and even ordinary Nascent Soul True Person have difficulty distinguishing the truth from the falsehood."

If you wish to make a name for yourself, fellow Daoist, you should be able to find something by searching the Myriad Stars Island Chain. Although natural disasters are frequent there and sea monsters often cause trouble, its resources are no less abundant than those of the capital region.

Among them are many spirit medicine herbs and divine Secret Method that have disappeared from the mainland, which may provide fellow cultivators with some unique experiences and help them in their cultivation.

"The journey has been truly arduous. I was protected by my elders back then, which ensured my safety. Now that you are traveling alone, you certainly need to be much more careful."

As the beautiful woman spoke, her face became quite stern, clearly recalling the many perilous times she had experienced in the past, followed by a touch of sadness. Even now, having achieved the Golden Core, the journey had not been entirely safe for her.

"Thank you for the reminder, Madam," the Daoist Black Shoes said, turning his gaze away from the map. He pointed, and the spiritual silk in mid-air transformed into a point of spiritual light and disappeared into the Storage Bag at his waist.

When do you plan to set off, fellow Daoist?

"We should wait until the right time to finish things before leaving."

"Fellow Dao Path is vast, far beyond my reach. I only hope that when you become an immortal and a patriarch, you will not forget our friendship and will offer you much guidance."

"Of course," the Daoist Black Shoes smiled upon hearing this, and said calmly to Chu Yanran, "When I return, I will definitely bring my juniors to thank you for your care."

"You're too kind, fellow Daoist." Chu Yanran smiled radiantly, but her heart sank slightly.

Both drank fragrant tea, and apart from the sound of sips, the room was completely silent.