Chapter 123: Ten Thousand Years Green

Ye Luo couldn’t figure it out.

’How did a Junior Loose Cultivator like Li Chang’an get an invitation?’

"Daoist Ye, let’s head inside," Li Chang’an said with a smile.

Hearing this, Ye Luo could only suppress his doubts for the moment and follow him into the residence.

The view before them changed the moment they stepped inside.

After all, this was the residence of a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

This residence held a world of its own within.

Dense green bamboo grew all around, water murmured by, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air, making it feel as though they were in the midst of mountains and streams.

Zheng Qingqing, dressed in a long, bluish-green gown, was in a pavilion not far away.

Upon seeing Li Chang’an, a smile immediately blossomed on her lovely face.

"Daoist Li, come and have a seat."

"Alright."

Li Chang’an agreed and walked over.

Behind him, Ye Luo shuddered and rubbed his ears in disbelief.

’Daoist Li?’

’That form of address... it’s typically only used between Cultivators of the same realm.’

As everyone knew, the Cultivation Immortality Realm primarily used three forms of address: "Elder," "Daoist," and "Young Friend."

Even if Zheng Qingqing, a newly ascended Foundation Establishment Cultivator, held Li Chang’an in high regard, she should be calling him "Young Friend," not "Daoist."

’This Li Chang’an fellow is definitely hiding something about his identity!’

Ye Luo was secretly kicking himself. ’If I’d known, I would have traded the Fire Spirit Ginseng with Li Chang’an to build a better connection. Who would have thought he was hiding so much?’

"Daoist Li, wait for me!"

He hurriedly chased after him.

A moment later, Ye Luo sat down next to Li Chang’an.

The smile on his face grew warmer as he suppressed all his arrogance. He then quietly asked via Sound Transmission:

"Daoist Li, could it be that you already knew this Elder?"

"Mm."

Li Chang’an didn’t elaborate. His mind was elsewhere.

He was pondering whether he needed to get a better House Protection Array.

The fact that the Spirit-Breaking Alms Bowl could breach his Thundercloud Annihilation Array left him feeling a little insecure.

But Tier Two Arrays were too expensive. They were, after all, mainly used by Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators. The Tier Two Middle Grade Array he wanted started at nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones.

’Young Miss Zheng’s Array is quite impressive. It’s most likely a Tier Two Top Grade Array.’

Li Chang’an looked around.

The green bamboo and flowing streams were, in fact, all illusions created by the Array.

At his side, Ye Luo noticed Li Chang’an’s lack of response and assumed he was displeased with him.

He quickly said, "Daoist Li, after we parted ways yesterday, I gave it some thought. Keeping that Fire Spirit Ginseng is of no use to me, so I might as well trade it to you."

"Oh?"

That brought Li Chang’an back to the present.

He smiled and asked, "What do you need, Daoist Ye?"

"Daoist Li, some protective Top Grade Talismans will do."

"Alright!"

Li Chang’an immediately took out the Talismans and completed the transaction.

He didn’t shortchange Ye Luo.

In terms of value alone, these Top Grade Talismans were in no way inferior to the Fire Spirit Ginseng.

’The quality of this Fire Spirit Ginseng really is excellent!’

After the transaction was complete, Li Chang’an carefully examined the Spirit Ginseng in his hand, a look of satisfaction on his face.

This Fire Spirit Ginseng was far superior to the ones he had bought at the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. Its quality was simply superb!

Now, for the materials needed for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining, he was only missing the last two.

Namely, Blood Tempering Stone and Bone Tempering Grass.

These two materials were completely unavailable in Qinghe Marketplace.

Since arriving in Yellow Crane Immortal City, Li Chang’an had managed to buy a small amount.

However, the quality was poor, and he didn’t have nearly enough.

’According to the Cultivation Technique, the Blood Tempering Stone needed for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining has to be at least the size of a human head. Right now, I’ve only collected a few thumb-sized pieces. I’ll have to keep searching.’

Li Chang’an was not in a hurry.

After all, he had only recently begun the Eighth Stage of Body Refining.

He should be able to gather the Treasures needed for the ninth stage before he finished the eighth.

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

"Big Brother, you’re here so early?"

"Fugui."

Li Chang’an turned with a smile.

Like Li Chang’an, Xu Fugui had also signed a Spirit Contract with the Zheng Family, and the first Cultivation Technique he practiced had been provided by them as well.

So, it was only natural for him to attend Zheng Qingqing’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

"Big Brother, my master has decided to support me in reaching Foundation Establishment!" Xu Fugui’s face was alight with joy as he relayed this to Li Chang’an via Sound Transmission.

Li Chang’an wasn’t surprised by this.

He had seen a portrait of Elder Wang Fu’an, and the resemblance to Xu Fugui was simply uncanny.

An uninformed outsider would most likely assume Xu Fugui was Wang Fu’an’s direct descendant.

But the two were clearly not related by blood.

It must be fate.

"Fugui, you must seize this opportunity. Try to avoid conflict and make sure your body doesn’t sustain any major injuries."

"I know, Big Brother."

Xu Fugui nodded. He was already well-acquainted with the entire Foundation Establishment process.

Nearby, Ye Luo was even more astonished.

He knew that Xu Fugui was the disciple of a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

And yet, Xu Fugui called Li Chang’an "Big Brother."

’Who on earth is this guy?’

Ye Luo simply couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Not long after, Chu Daniu also arrived.

He carried a Jade Box containing a congratulatory gift for her Foundation Establishment.

"Young Miss, back when we were in Qinghe Marketplace, I knew you would reach Foundation Establishment."

"Big Bull, your presence is enough. Why bring a gift?"

Zheng Qingqing, of course, recognized Chu Daniu and gestured for him to sit with a smile.

She didn’t think much of Chu Daniu’s gift.

After all, Chu Daniu was just a Qi Refining Loose Cultivator; it stood to reason that he couldn’t possibly offer a particularly valuable gift.

But...

When Zheng Qingqing perceived the specific Treasure within the Jade Box, her expression shifted subtly.

"A Life-Extending Treasure, a Ten Thousand Years Green!"

This kind of Treasure could extend a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator’s life by at least ten years!

It was precisely what the Zheng Family’s ancestor, Zheng Yuandao, needed most.

Zheng Qingqing looked at Chu Daniu, her tone growing serious.

"Big Bull, how did you come to possess such a precious Treasure?"

"Young Miss, my master asked me to give this to you," Chu Daniu scratched his head and answered honestly.

"My master told me to thank you. If not for the Zheng Family back then, I would never have been able to start on the path of cultivation, nor would I be able to brew the wine that my master enjoys."

"Your master?"

Zheng Qingqing looked thoughtful but didn’t press the matter.

’To be able to produce such a Treasure... Chu Daniu’s master must be, at the very least, a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator with a profound background. Since this person hadn’t shown themselves, it meant they wished to remain anonymous.’

Afterward, Chu Daniu also came over and sat down by Li Chang’an.

...

Time passed.

More and more guests arrived for the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

Representatives from all Seven Great Noble Families were present, each an Elder with Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

In addition, many disciples from these Noble Families also attended.

Zhou Xuan of the Beast Taming Zhou Family was among them.

"Daoist Li!"

"Daoist Zhou, how are your injuries?"

"Thanks to you, Daoist Li, they’re almost completely healed," Zhou Xuan replied with a smile.

In fact, he hadn’t wanted to come this time.

After witnessing a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator go berserk, he was somewhat traumatized by such ceremonies.

But his family’s elders had practically dragged him here.

"Let me introduce you, Daoist Li. This is my uncle, Zhou Sheng!"

"Greetings, Elder Zhou!"

Li Chang’an’s expression was deferential.

’The Profound Crystal he needed was in Zhou Sheng’s possession.’

This man was also a Zhou Family Elder and a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

Without Zhou Xuan’s introduction, he would have had no way of meeting him.