Jiang Qing Takes Leave of the Fei Residence, Seeks Core Formation Materials in Phoenix Cry

"You're leaving already?!" Fei Nanying, who had just stepped out of the closed room, looked at the handsome man with a jade-like face in front of him, a hint of inquiry hidden in his eyes.

With his keen insight, he had already discerned that Jiang Qingdan's theory had reached perfection, and that forming the Golden Core was only a matter of time.

Those who could comprehend the "Primordial Unity Suppresses the Firmament" sword technique during the Foundation Establishment were rare talents, even among the Qi Household of the Immortal Dynasty. Fei Nanying couldn't help but wonder if this young man's brilliance could surpass that of his own son-in-law after he achieved the Core Formation stage.

Upon hearing the question, Jiang Qing offered no further explanation, but simply bowed deeply and said, "This junior has troubled you for many days, and has already received much kindness from the Fei Residence. I dare not linger any longer and disturb your peaceful cultivation, senior."

"What a pity, what a pity." Fei Nanying sat on the futon and sighed inwardly, his fingertips lightly tapping his knees. Suddenly, he chuckled and thought to himself, "Just as the Ancestor said, no matter how much affection one has for a person like him, it's hard to hold onto him with mere sentimentality."

However, Fei Nanying quickly regained his composure and spoke again with a more solemn tone, "Since you have made up your mind, young friend, I will not try to stop you. With your talent, I believe that Core Formation is just a normal step on your Dao Path. I imagine that soon you will be able to be my equal."

These were already extremely high praises, and even though Jiang Qing was upright and honest, he dared not accept such flattery. He could only bow even more respectfully.

Seeing that Fei Nanying would not give any further instructions, he simply smiled and waved his hand, then turned and stepped out of the Fei Household mansion. His back was as straight as a sword, showing no lingering attachment to the place where he had been treated so lavishly.

Fei Nanying watched the figure gradually disappear at the end of the alley, the smile on his face slowly fading, leaving only a soft sigh, "Why is it that my Fei Household has so few talented young men?"

The resources held by the Ying Prefecture Fei Household are many times greater than those of the Chongming Sect, yet in recent years, only their eldest daughter, Fei Wanqing, has been able to achieve the Golden Core.

Furthermore, in terms of potential for Dao Path, Fei Wanqing and the other members of the Fei Household of this generation are far inferior to Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing's exceptional talent is one reason, but the deep-seated problems within the Fei Household are also a significant contributing factor.

These elders and leaders already harbored their own ambitions while Ancestor Ye Shui was still alive. If Ancestor Ye Su were to pass away in the future, wouldn't the Lineage be even more mired in internal strife?!

The thought flashed through Fei Nanying's mind, but he quickly regained his composure and focused his attention back on the stack of brochures on the table.

That was a victory report sent back by Fei Tianqin from Mountain North Circuit, filled with tales of bloodshed and carnage.

His fingertips traced the pages, and a resolute look gradually appeared in his eyes. "Just as Ancestor Tianqin said in his letter, no matter how the matter of the Ninth Prince becoming an infant comes to pass, even if the Ying Prefecture Fei Household were to sacrifice all the lives of their children in this Mountain North Circuit, they must not have the slightest thought of changing their flag or their allegiance."

Although the current emperor enjoys prestige, he may not dare to defy public opinion and shake the foundation of the imperial clan. The future of Duke Kuang Liuting of Duke of Qin is unlikely to be bad. However, if something unexpected happens, could the chaos of the "Six Kings' Struggle for the Capital" truly be repeated?

Fei Nanying's heart sank as he recalled Fei Ye Shui's personal letter of instruction, "Even if it means sacrificing the foundation in Ying Prefecture, you must help the Duke of Qin emulate the past deeds of the Billowing Dream Palace in the southwest, to rival Great Abyss Capital, and in order to reclaim the Mandate of Heaven in the future."

Ultimately, since the time of their ancestor Ye Shui, the Fei Household has never cared who ultimately controlled the Immortal Dynasty; they only hoped that Lineage descendants would continue to follow the Kuang family and enjoy wealth and honor for generations to come.

With this in mind, Fei Nanying no longer hesitated. He immediately ordered the remaining disciples in Xuanwei City to be on high alert, and then turned back to his quarters. The war situation in Mountain North Circuit was urgent, and he could only make the most of every second to improve his cultivation in order to give his Lineage more confidence.

Unaware of Fei Nanying schemes for the nation and the people, Jiang Qing flew directly to the Xuanwei City Garrison after leaving the Fei Household residence.

Upon hearing the news, Duan Yunzhou hurriedly summoned his staff and personally went out of the mansion to greet him.

The tense atmosphere in Xuanwei City had been somewhat diluted by time.

The streets and alleys were bustling with noise, the shouts of vendors and the clamor of taverns blended together, and even the air was filled with the aroma of cooking.

The pedestrians were neatly dressed and mostly had smiles on their faces. The stalls selling spirit rice and Law Artifact artifacts were crowded with people, showing that the lives of the people in the city were gradually returning to normal and the market was more prosperous than before.

However, Jiang Qing was unaware that most of the credit should be attributed to Kang Xiangyi, the descendant of the Sect Leader Kang Da.

Not long after assuming the position of assistant garrison commander, the latter began to organize the trade routes of Cloud Horn Prefecture and Xian Prefecture, with Xuanwei City as the core.

He Degong, who used to be in charge of the Chongming Sect, was merely a diligent worker. With his talent and vision, he was able to manage this position to such an extent after his brother's death, which can truly be described as making the best of a bad situation.

Even so, He Degong did not match the results achieved by Kang Xiangyi after taking over and carefully managing the situation for several years.

At least Xuanwei City has visibly become the most important source of revenue for the Chongming Sect, as evidenced by the fact that Ye Zhengwen even sent messages of commendation.

However, Kang Xiangyi, who was full of expectations, did not receive any praise from Third Master Jiang disliked tedious affairs. The latter seemed unaware of the bustling changes in the city, and simply summoned Duan Yunzhou to his side, then ordered everyone else to leave the hall.

"My senior brother, the sect leader, wrote to me asking me to wait for him in the city. During this time, Yunzhou, please dismiss any idlers and do not allow them to enter the garrison headquarters."

"Yes, Third Grandmaster Uncle, Yunzhou understands." Duan Yunzhou replied respectfully, and Jiang Qing Qingsui did not give any further instructions, but simply chose a quiet room to cultivate diligently.

Just two days after Duan Yunzhou accepted Jiang Qing's request, a streak of light swept across the sky above Xuanwei City. When the light landed, it raised a little dust, revealing Kang Dabao's figure.

He ignored the monks who came to pay their respects and instead drove them straight into the garrison's residence.

Knowing that his master was coming in person, Duan Yunzhou suspended his cultivation and instead spent his time in the city lord's mansion studying Kang Xiangyi's recent policies and guidelines, carefully pondering and absorbing their wisdom.

Only then did he hear the commotion and hurriedly came out to greet them. He saw that Sect Leader Kang Da and Jiang Qing were already standing arm in arm in the courtyard, so he stopped and did not move, so as not to disturb the two brothers from having a heart-to-heart talk.

Kang Dabao made no attempt to hide his satisfaction; he truly hoped that the sect would produce another Golden Core cultivator. His own junior brother, whom he had raised in his own basket, was so promising—how could he not be delighted?!

However, upon seeing Duan Yunzhou come out to greet him, he smiled kindly and said, "Back when I appointed you, Yunzhou, as the garrison commander of Xuanwei City, your father was always worried about your ability to govern. Now that I've seen you, I realize he didn't need to worry about you at all."

Duan Yunzhou, though flattered by the praise, did not take credit for it, but simply bowed and said:

"Yunzhou dares not accept Grandmaster's praise. I only wish to let Grandmaster know that all the changes in this city are the work of Senior Kang Xiangyi. Yunzhou is merely benefiting from Grandmaster's favor."

"Ah, the ability to employ people is a skill; don't be modest."

When Sect Leader Kang Da was teaching his own disciples, he was much less strict. I wonder if his disciples would recall this and feel some emotion after seeing it.

"From the beginning of this year onwards, for the next two rounds, the regulations for the Chongming Sect's Immortal Ascension Assembly will be expanded further. Requirements such as the age of Lineage members and immortal seedlings can be relaxed."

Those who are recruited into the outer Rogue Cultivator can enter the sect as long as their background is verified to be clean, regardless of whether they are skilled in any craft. As long as they have outstanding skills, even those who come to the sect with their own skills can be admitted.

With the news out, the people attending the Immortal Ascension Assembly will inevitably be of mixed quality. Therefore, the county officials and the two major cities of Xuanwei City and Han City in the state must be even more serious and not take the selection process lightly.

Furthermore, although the sect is newly established, all the disciples are working extremely hard, and the various halls, including those producing pills, artifacts, talismans, arrays, Spirit Plant, Beast Garden, will gradually begin to produce.

Most of it will still be supplied to Mountain North for military needs, and the remainder, besides being used by the sect itself, will also be selected and sold in Xuanwei City.

Besides managing the auction Chongming Small Pavilion in the city also needs to do its best to recruit talented cultivators and practitioners of various arts. Times have changed, and the sect is now in dire need of rebuilding. It would be beneficial to have some capable retainers and servants.

In terms of scale, Xuanwei City was unmatched by Xian and Yun Prefectures, and the Xuanwei City Garrison needed to provide assistance in these matters.

The local militias in Cloud Horn Prefecture are already depleted, and with the chaos in various regions, there are bound to be ambitious individuals within the territory who will cause trouble. The reorganization of the Xuanwei City Army requires close monitoring of the local customs, and no Evil Cultivator or bandits should be let off the hook.

You must understand that it took me nearly a century to cleanse the customs of these thirteen counties. But if we sit idly by and allow those wicked villains to do evil, the cruel practices may return in just a few years. We cannot be careless.

The chief officials of all the counties in Xian Prefecture have gradually arrived, and all regulations must follow the example of Cloud Horn Prefecture. Yunzhou, you and Jin Tanglü of Han City must set a good example. Soon, all the chief officials of Xian Prefecture will need to come and study this."

Sect Leader Kang Da's style of doing things was different from that of Third Master Jiang. The former only glanced at him a few times on the way here, and combined with what he saw and learned in the city, he and Duan Yunzhou sorted out several things that urgently needed to be done.

None of these matters could be taken lightly; they were all of utmost importance. This made Duan Yunzhou feel a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and he dared not miss a single word, keeping them firmly in mind.

After Duan Yunzhou had answered all the questions from above, Sect Leader Kang Da spoke up again, asking, "Is there anything the sect can do to assist us?"

The former hesitated for a moment before saying, "Grandmaster, I know that many of my fellow disciples in the sect have attained the Dao Foundation, but there is a shortage of capable people in Xuanwei City. I wonder if I could ask some fellow disciples to come and help?"

"Yes, there are indeed a dozen or so Foundation Establishment, but that's still not enough to compensate for those who died on the battlefield. The sect itself is also short of capable people." Kang Dabao's tone turned serious at this point, but he didn't outright reject the matter; he simply stated:

"If that's the case, then you should go and ask your Grandmaster Ye to assign some tasks within the Merit Points Hall. That way, even if you don't have any fellow disciples permanently stationed there, there will still be some disciples who can come and take turns serving you."

Although Duan Yunzhou's wish was not fulfilled, he was still quite satisfied.

With the Sect Leader Kang Da so busy these days, it's already a rare treat that he could spare a few moments to speak with his disciples about these matters. Therefore, even though he had come wearily, he didn't say anything more to Duan Yunzhou, but only gave a few key instructions before setting off with Jiang Qing on a flying boat towards Phoenix Cry Prefecture.

The flying boat pierced through the clouds and mist, Swift Movement past the war-torn lands and heading straight for the outskirts of Phoenix Cry Prefecture.

The two brothers were perfectly in sync. The latter didn't ask any questions, but he already knew why Sect Leader Kang Da had come here, so they entered the city together.

This is the location of the Office of the Duke of Qin. Even though the battle at the front is extremely fierce, the bustling atmosphere here has not diminished much.

Without lingering, the two headed straight for Myriad Treasures Trading Company, which had the best location in the city.

This trading company is located in twenty-seven strategic locations throughout the Immortal Dynasty, and its comprehensive range of spiritual materials is unmatched.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the trading company, the manager in a blue robe greeted them with a smile. This time, Sect Leader Kang Da received much more respect than before.

The steward's face seemed to show a hint of flattery. "I didn't expect it to be the Marquis of Martial Peace who has come in person. I apologize for not being able to greet you properly."

While these polite words lacked originality, they were pleasant to hear at this moment. Kang Dabao knew very well that even if the old fox Fei Tianqin came in person, he might not be able to get away with anything at Myriad Treasures Trading Company, so he simply asked:

"I have come here today perhaps to see the manager of your guild in Phoenix Cry Prefecture."

The manager in the blue robe showed no surprise, but simply smiled and said, "Our shopkeeper has already heard the news and is waiting for you in the private room. We would be honored if Marquis of Martial Peace were to come into the city."

Kang Dabao nodded in agreement, and only then did he and Jiang Qing step into the trading company. They overheard the latter whispering, "Sect Leader, the war in Mountain North Circuit is raging, yet my brother and I still have time to come here seeking treasure. Won't we be criticized if this gets out?!"

"The Cloud Horn Prefecture expeditionary force has rendered meritorious service in defeating the enemy, and the Duke has personally granted them permission to rest and recuperate. Given this, even if one or two gossipy individuals were to speak ill of them behind their backs, would the Duke's mind possibly change because of this?"

"Don't worry, he values his reputation and dignity above all else. If it were truly up to us, we wouldn't hesitate for a moment! His words are law."

Jiang Qing's ability to think of this detail was enough to please Sect Leader Kang Da. The two followed the manager in green through the main hall of the trading company to the elegant room on the second floor.

The corridor is lined with traditional Chinese ink paintings of landscapes, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafts through the air, isolating it from the hustle and bustle downstairs.

As soon as they arrived at the door of the elegant room, a beautiful woman dressed in a crimson silk dress lifted the curtain and came out. A red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin was inserted in her hair. Her appearance was gentle and graceful, but her aura was calm and reserved. She was obviously a highly cultivated person.

"Marquis of Martial Peace, your presence is an honor. I Su Mei, have failed to greet you properly." The beautiful woman curtsied to the two, her expression alluring. "Please come in quickly. Freshly brewed Ancient Mysterious Circuit Yunwu tea is prepared in the elegant room. Please have a taste."

Kang Dabao and Jiang Qing followed Su Mei inside. After the maidservants served tea and left, Su Mei got straight to the point. "I heard that Your Excellency has come for materials for Core Formation? Is it for this fellow Fellow Daoist Jiang beside you?"

"This is my junior brother, Jiang Qing." Kang Dabao pointed to Jiang Qing beside him, "His Core Thesis has just been perfected. I would appreciate it if Manager Su could recommend some milder spiritual materials to avoid Core Formation."

Su Mei's gaze fell on Jiang Qing. He was indeed as rumored, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, his sword intent concealed yet not revealed. A hint of approval flashed in her eyes. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, you possess such cultivation at such a young age; you will surely be a top Golden Core cultivator in the future. As for milder Core Formation materials, I do have a few I can recommend."

Having said that, Su Mei spoke with confidence, calmly taking out three jade boxes from her Storage Bag and placing them on the table one by one.

The first jade box was opened, revealing a pure white Ganoderma lucidum with a faint purple tinge on its cap. "This is an 800-year-old Purple Mansion Dragon-Nurturing Ganoderma- Nourishing Ganoderma, growing beside Spirit Vein deep within Phoenix Cry Mountain. Its Spiritual Qi is pure and rich, making it ideal for cultivating Dao Foundation. Consuming it will gently nourish the Dao Foundation and slowly help cultivators condense their Golden Core, with minimal risk."

Jiang Qing leaned closer for a look and felt that the Spiritual Qi emanating from the Ganoderma lucidum was gentle and lingering, subtly resonating with his own Dao Foundation. A flicker of interest flashed in his eyes. Kang Dabao, however, was not in a hurry to make a decision and asked, "Manager Su, take another look."

Su Mei smiled and opened the second jade box. Inside was a bead the size of a pigeon's egg, pale blue in color and cool to the touch. "This is the Jade Water Core-Congealing Pearl, made from the inner core of the Third Tier Demon Beast, the Jade Water Clam, through Secret Method. Holding it in your hand during the formation of Core Formation golden core can stabilize spiritual energy fluctuations and nourish the nascent Golden Core. Its effect is even better when used in conjunction with the Purple Mansion Dragon-Nurturing Ganoderma -Nourishing Mushroom."

"The third jade box contains three-hundred-year-old Moonlight Grass," Su Mei continued, opening the last jade box. Inside were several silvery-white grass leaves, still glistening with dew. "Moonlight Grass can calm the mind and focus the spirit. Taking it during Core Formation can reduce the growth of inner demons. Although not a rare spiritual material, it is a Higher Vehicle aid during Core Formation."

"These Core Formation spiritual items don't seem to be plentiful for Myriad Treasures Trading Company; they're mostly ordinary goods,"

Seeing that what Su Mei took out was not only inferior to the Imperial Peak Stone used by Fei Nanying in the legend of Core Formation his Golden Core, but even inferior to the Golden Core Formation Pill used by Attendant Luan, the Sect Leader Kang Da was still somewhat dissatisfied, even though his trip was specifically to cover up his true intentions.

The beautiful woman, who was adept at discerning people's hearts, clearly sensed this unusual situation and spoke up again, "You are well aware of the recent state of the war, my lord. However, there is an auction about to be held, with some rare items that you will surely take a liking to."

Upon hearing this, a book of spiritual light appeared in Su Mei's hand. Sect Leader Kang Da merely glanced through it for a moment before nodding in agreement. "In that case, we two will wait a while."