Chapter 147: Invitation (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Chapter 147: Invitation (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Willow Lane, Building Eighty-Seven.
"Fellow Daoist, no, Senior! You've actually achieved Foundation Establishment? Congratulations, Senior, truly congratulations!"
Teng Luo Xianzi's cherry lips parted wide, and she gazed at Fang Xi, a look of utter bewilderment on her face.
Especially as she recalled how she had once recklessly provoked him without knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
"Congratulations, Senior, your Dao of Foundation Establishment is complete!"
Jin Ling, adhering to the customs of the cultivation world, offered an ancient courtesy, her expression complicated.
"Alas. . . I merely heard fellow Daoist speak of Su Lie's fierce resolve, and considering my own sixty-year lifespan limit was fast approaching, I decided to risk my life in a desperate gamble. . ."
Fang Xi sighed with a hint of lingering fear, "It was just a stroke of luck that I succeeded. . ."
Yet, even if he had to do it a hundred times over, Fang Xi would still choose to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill for his breakthrough, just for the sake of certainty!
To live long, one must be as steady as an old dog.
Any breakthrough carrying a risk of death is an irresponsible gamble with over four hundred years of one's lifespan!
"Su Lie. . ."
Jin Ling shook her head sadly, thinking of something.
Her Daoist companion had clearly passed sixty years of age, yet still insisted on foolishly attempting a breakthrough, and without a Foundation Establishment Pill to safeguard his life, his death from a failed Foundation Establishment was self-inflicted, a deserved fate. . .
"Furthermore. . . " Fang Xi said with a smile, taking a sip of spirit tea, "My reason for troubling my two charming neighbors to come here is to ask for a small favor."
"Senior, whatever your command, this junior will not hesitate! " Teng Luo Xianzi's eyes immediately lit up.
This was a chance to run errands for a mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator!
There are countless Qi Refinement cultivators in the city, but how many can boast a Foundation Establishment backer?
If I can only catch his eye, I'll have a Foundation Establishment connection in the future, and my standing in the Outer City will instantly be transformed!
"As Senior commands! " Jin Ling also delicately and softly replied.
This made Fang Xi sigh with emotion; the clear distinction in status after breaking through a major realm in the cultivation world was truly a world of difference!
He coughed once: "I dislike noise and commotion. Now that the news of my Foundation Establishment breakthrough has spread, there will surely be many visitors these next few days. I'd like to ask the two of you to act as greeters. For ordinary forces, simply accept their visit invitations directly. For forces that are difficult to refuse, I will personally come out to receive them. . ."
"So it's this! Senior, please rest assured, this one has resided in White Peace Immortal City for over a decade and is perfectly clear on the ins and outs of all major forces. I will certainly handle everything for fellow Daoist!"
Teng Luo Xianzi patted her perky chest and guaranteed.
To serve as a doorkeeper for a Foundation Establishment cultivator was a privilege many Qi Refinement cultivators could only dream of.
After all, a doorkeeper, to a certain extent, represented the Foundation Establishment cultivator in welcoming and seeing off guests, signifying a rather intimate relationship with their master.
Teng Luo Xianzi secretly glanced at Fang Xi again:
'Could it be. . . this mighty cultivator intends to take us both as concubines? Then I'll have to properly persuade little sister Jin Ling. . . What a splendid opportunity, I absolutely must seize it! '
The disparity in status was too vast; Teng Luo Xianzi didn't even dare to aspire to be a proper wife, content with merely becoming a concubine.
...
Fang Xi, naturally, was unaware of the myriad thoughts swirling in Teng Luo Xianzi's mind, much less her plans to first curry favor with Jin Ling, anticipating a helper in the boudoir later.
He simply had no one on hand and had merely found two convenient laborers.
After instructing everything, he turned back to continue his secluded cultivation.
As expected.
When the news of yet another rogue cultivator successfully achieving Foundation Establishment in White Peace Immortal City was released, it instantly caused quite a sensation in the Outer City.
For the countless cultivators in the Outer City, every successful Foundation Establishment by a rogue cultivator served as a tremendous source of encouragement.
For a time, many cultivators wished to pay a visit.
Most of these were minor or mid-tier powers, seeking merely to make an acquaintance by presenting visit invitations and gifts. . .
There were even some small Qi Refinement-stage gangs, prepared to directly offer him the position of sect master, if only Fang Xi would accept. . .
After all, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator leading, they would instantly become a major power in the Outer City.
Jin Ling and Teng Luo Xianzi, supervising each other and occasionally cooperating, managed the affairs with impeccable order, carefully categorizing and storing all the gifts and visit invitations, awaiting Fang Xi's review.
Only one fellow, who brazenly attempted to offer maidservants and 'cauldron furnaces,' was met with Teng Luo Xianzi's passive-aggressive barbs. Upon seeing two enchanting, alluring fairies already present, he instantly realized he had severely misjudged his flattery and slunk away dejectedly. . .
Of course, these were all small forces of the Qi Refinement level.
However, when forces led by Foundation Establishment cultivators arrived, Teng Luo Xianzi and Jin Ling dared not presume to act on their own, and could only request Fang Xi to personally greet them.
Fang Xi waited for half a month straight, yet the person he truly wished to see never appeared.
Lost in thought, as he fed the large green fish by the pond, he suddenly saw Teng Luo Xianzi rush in to report, "Senior. . . Young Master Song Qing of the Song Clan has arrived!"
"Oh?"
He touched his face, a slight adjustment, then stood up, declaring, "I will personally go out to greet him!"
Fang Xi arrived at the entrance and, as expected, saw Song Qing from that fateful day. The man was still dressed as a dashing young master, holding a jade folding fan. Upon seeing Fang Xi, he smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful bow: "Song Qing congratulates fellow Daoist on your successful Foundation Establishment! I have specially brought a humble gift; please accept it with a smile!"
Evidently, the man had not realized that Fang Xi was the very rogue cultivator who had once disguised himself to purchase the 'Longevity Art'!
Fang Xi, naturally, wore a facade of mingled surprise and delight as he invited Song Qing into the courtyard, then instructed Jin Ling and the other to serve spirit tea.
"Fellow Daoist's courtyard possesses quite the tranquil ambiance of idle clouds and wild cranes. . ."
Song Qing was utterly refined, his demeanor and interactions making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze. Tapping his folding fan against the pond as he commented on the little green dragon, he then smiled and said, "To be frank. . . this young master's visit this time is, firstly, to congratulate fellow Daoist on your successful Foundation Establishment, and secondly, to invite fellow Daoist to join my Song Clan!"
"Join the Song Clan?"
Fang Xi feigned contemplation, but inwardly, a truly peculiar sensation arose.
Although he knew that after successfully achieving Foundation Establishment, a throng of recruiters would inevitably come calling, he had never expected the first to be the Song Clan!
'What is this? An unexpected encounter with an old adversary? '
Seeing Fang Xi's hesitation, Song Qing chuckled, then continued, "Fellow Daoist is also from the State of Yue, surely you're aware of the Seven Great Clans, no?"
"Their names echo like thunder!"
Fang Xi nodded.
Song Qing then continued, "Among the State of Yue's Seven Great Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans, the Hundred Arts Qi Clan, Green Leaf Xu Clan, and Yellow Wind Long Clan all follow the lead of my Song Clan. Decades ago, the Black Water Situ Clan and Heavenly Talisman Shen Clan successively declined, but then the Tu Clan and Wan Clan rose. . . The Foundation Establishment ancestors of these two clans were originally rogue cultivators, yet now they have become powerful magnates, establishing their own families and founding lineages, quite a joyful sight!"
"Is fellow Daoist implying something?"
Fang Xi's eyes lit up.
"If fellow Daoist joins my Song Clan, I, Song Qing, guarantee that within twenty years. . . your Fang Clan will undoubtedly secure a place among the Seven Great Clans!"
Song Qing declared with an overbearing aura, "Fellow Daoist has also resided in the Myriad Islands Lake for decades, so you naturally know that the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan was once one of the Seven Great Clans. Now that they have fallen, my Song Clan is actively seeking a suitable replacement. . ."
'So, he wants me to take the fall for the Dragon Fish Zhong Clan! '
Fang Xi inwardly rolled his eyes: 'He wants me to return to Myriad Islands Lake to establish a clan. . . Bah! If Myriad Islands Lake were such a paradise, why would I have fled in the first place? ! '
He naturally knew that Myriad Islands Lake was currently an absolute quagmire, unfathomably deep.
'This Song Clan harbors ill intentions; they want me to fill a pit for them! '
'I refuse to believe they're completely unaware of the true situation! '
'And this time, the other Foundation Establishment powers in the city haven't extended an invitation to me—could this person also be interfering? '
Fang Xi, in truth, harbored no intention whatsoever of joining the Song Clan, but on the surface, he maintained a facade of considerable interest: "This. . . I have only just achieved Foundation Establishment; please allow me some time to consider."
"Very well, this young master shall grant fellow Daoist a few days to consider. Remember, opportunities to become one of the Seven Great Clans are rare indeed. . ."
Song Qing chuckled softly, did not partake of the spirit tea Jin Ling offered, and departed directly.
...
"Young Master!"
At the entrance, a Song Clan member approached.
"Get in the carriage; we'll talk there!"
Song Qing boarded the beast carriage, pulled by two spirit steeds, and only then did his expression turn chilling.
The Song Clan servant followed him into the carriage and bowed, saying, "All has been investigated. . . Fang Xi, a rogue cultivator from the State of Yue. He once served as a spirit farmer in the Green Bamboo Mountain market town. His appearance matches perfectly. . . After the Green Bamboo Mountain upheaval that year, he disappeared for two years. When he reappeared, he was already in Myriad Islands Lake, helping Peach Blossom Island Island Master Ruan Xing Ling reclaim her ancestral lands. He was granted Emerald Cliff, then spent thirty years cultivating fields and raising fish. After turning forty, he reached late-stage Qi Refinement. Five years ago, he left Peach Blossom Island and came to White Peace Immortal City, already at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement cultivation. Then, a few months ago, he reached Qi Refinement Perfected, rented a second-order spiritual vein cave mansion, and broke through to Foundation Establishment. . ."
"Rogue cultivators capable of achieving Foundation Establishment always possess a measure of luck!"
Song Qing, however, was dismissive: "This person's innate aptitude is low, yet his cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds. He must have seized a significant amount of resources and benefits from the Green Bamboo Mountain upheaval and the changes on Dragon Fish Island!"
"It's also thanks to the State of Yue's unrest these past few decades, with Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans successively falling. Otherwise, how would someone like him have the chance to rise?"
As the young master of the venerable Song Clan, he naturally held little regard for such rogue cultivators, who were suspected of feeding upon the remnants of fallen Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans.
"This individual was still at the eighth layer of Qi Refinement five years ago, then suddenly reached Qi Refinement Perfected. It seems somewhat suspicious. . . " The Song Clan servant noted a point of doubt.
"Perhaps he concealed his cultivation; he should have been at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement when he left Peach Blossom Island. . . Even if not, there are too many pills in the cultivation world for breaking through realms. Barely reaching Qi Refinement Perfected before sixty, even if this person harbors some secrets, they can't be terribly significant. . ."
Song Qing absently stroked the 'Purple Jade Bracelet' on his left wrist, utterly unconcerned.
Which rogue cultivator capable of achieving Foundation Establishment doesn't harbor a minor secret or two?
If, however, someone with low aptitude manages to achieve Foundation Establishment in their twenties or thirties, that truly warrants close scrutiny!
"I suspect this individual fortuitously acquired a Foundation Establishment spiritual item from Dragon Fish Island back then; otherwise, how could he have successfully established Foundation? It's somewhat regrettable that we didn't discover it beforehand and he managed to use it."
Song Qing shook his head.
As for Foundation Establishment Pills?
The whereabouts of every single one are meticulously tracked; he hadn't even considered that possibility!
"Young Master is wise, but. . . do we truly intend to support this individual?"
The Song Clan servant seemed somewhat reluctant.
That would be the ancestor of a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan!
"The waters of Myriad Islands Lake are somewhat deep. Let us first place a piece to test them. . ."
Song Qing lightly tapped his folding fan, seemingly already possessing a well-laid plan.
After all, which rogue cultivator doesn't dream of soaring to prominence, and which would dare refuse the olive branch extended by a young master of his Song Clan?
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