Chapter 40: Foundation Establishment Ceremony
After the chaos, the marketplace once again returned to calm.
It wasn't that the drifting cultivators had grown used to it, but rather that Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace had become a rare stable rear base.
Now, the entire cultivation world of the Yue Kingdom was increasingly chaotic, with murder and robbery, and turmoil in marketplaces becoming routine.
Within the territory of Lihuo Palace alone, there had already been news of two or three marketplaces being breached and looted clean.
Therefore, in the minds of drifting cultivators, the turmoil at Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace meant little—as long as the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion remained steady as mountains, the place wouldn't fall into chaos.
One month had passed since the last upheaval.
"Foundation Establishment Ceremony?"
On this day, Li Erniu arrived with a beaming face to deliver the invitation, and seeing Lin Chang’an's surprised expression, he nodded and explained:
"Brother Lin, it's not just you—even the Minor Marquis and the Little Martial Sister have received invitations. I even went with Grandpa Taian to deliver one to Daoist Yun."
Seeing the joy on Erniu’s face, Lin Chang’an understood.
For great sects like Lihuo Palace, Foundation Establishment was considered a minor celebration, but for ordinary cultivation families, it represented the continuation of the family line for the next hundred years.
Its importance was self-evident, which was why cultivation families would often host a 'Foundation Establishment Ceremony' to showcase their family's strength.
At the same time, the Zhou Family clearly wished to use this opportunity to stabilize their internal morale.
"So that’s how it is—then I shall definitely attend in half a month."
Lin Chang’an nodded with a smile, and Li Erniu also left beaming with joy. After all, the better the Zhou Family fared, the more secure his own family would be.
"A Foundation Establishment Ceremony, huh? Seems like I need to make some preparations."
Not only would he need to bathe and burn incense every day, but he would also have to prepare a new robe, in case there were any traces left from his battle with Zhou Qing.
As he watched Erniu leave, the smile on Lin Chang’an's face gradually faded into solemnity as he fell into silent thought.
He still had a bright future ahead and could not afford to be careless.
…
Back in the secluded chamber, he looked at the bottles and jars on the table, especially a jade bottle that stood out. Lin Chang’an habitually applied a drop to his eyes each day.
"This spiritual liquid from the Zhou Family was clearly meant for cultivating rare spirit herbs, but now I’m squandering it."
Spiritual liquid—a resource possessed only by the Three Major Sects—was spiritual water drawn from the source of a spirit vein, called spiritual liquid. Even this small bottle would fetch at least a hundred spirit stones outside.
It was greatly beneficial to the growth and recovery of spirit herbs and was typically only used on precious spiritual medicine.
It also had miraculous effects on cultivation and healing, but it couldn't be stored long, so Lin Chang’an could only use it for cultivation.
After all, if unused, it would soon lose its spiritual energy.
[Spiritual Eyes +1 (Initiate 12/100)]
Immediately, a wave of clarity swept through his body, accompanied by a voice in his mind, prompting Lin Chang’an to close his eyes and meditate.
Using spiritual liquid to aid in cultivation allowed his mind to become clear, and his spiritual sense visibly grew. The unexpected awakening of Spiritual Eyes brought a smile to his face.
"Although this ability of Spiritual Eyes is somewhat useless, it's still better than nothing."
Spiritual Eyes, to put it plainly, was a foundational prerequisite for cultivating divine eye techniques. By washing one’s eyes with spiritual liquid over time, one could gain them. However, so-called pupil techniques and divine abilities were still too far beyond his reach.
Basic Spiritual Eyes had a single ability—to simply enhance sensory perception and allow for weak fog-penetrating and stone-seeing vision.
…
Half a month later.
The Zhou Family's Foundation Establishment celebration was quite grand.
They not only invited all the major families within the marketplace but even extended invitations to some outstanding drifting cultivators.
Foundation Establishment cultivators from Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion also made appearances.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist."
"Congratulations, Elder Zhou."
Amidst the chorus of congratulations, the Zhou Family Patriarch appeared ruddy-faced and full of vigor, smiling as he welcomed the guests.
He didn’t show the slightest sign of nearing the end of his lifespan.
Some congratulated sincerely, while others sneered inwardly—thinking the Zhou Family was just basking in the twilight of its former glory, and that its prime wouldn’t last much longer.
Though the Zhou Family had produced a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could that compare with one possessing a rare spiritual root?
Moreover, the Zhou Family was about to lose one of their veteran Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Brother Lin."
After Lin Chang’an took his seat, he saw the busy Shen Lie and the Little Martial Sister, Lu Qingqing. Shen Lie even stepped forward with a smile and said:
"This time, the Zhou Family’s Foundation Establishment banquet is co-hosted by Juxian Tower and Xuanyin Pavilion’s restaurant."
Hearing this, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smile. The Zhou Family truly handled matters flawlessly—offending no one.
Behind Juxian Tower stood Yun Yao, representing Lihuo Palace.
"I see. No wonder Brother Shen is so busy."
Lin Chang’an, for once, made a rare jest, then sat down.
"Brother Lin, look—even Daoist Yun is here."
Li Erniu came over with a beaming face and motioned with his eyes toward a Foundation Establishment cultivator seated in the distance.
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang’an nodded in acknowledgment and said with a smile, "Daoist Yun is already in Foundation Establishment. Naturally, she would be among those invited."
At this table, everyone was either in the Late Qi Refining Stage or an outstanding talent in the Cultivation Arts of All Kinds. Although Li Erniu was the host warmly treating everyone, he didn’t want to lose face.
So he brought up Yun Yao—sure enough.
The cultivators at their table, who had initially ignored and looked down on them, now all wore friendly and familiar smiles.
"So it's Talisman Master Lin."
"Fellow Daoist Li, now that you're managing the Zhou Family's industries, you’d better give us some discounts later."
Everyone at the table smiled warmly, aiming to make connections and offend no one.
At this Foundation Establishment ceremony, Lin Chang’an had also gifted two high-grade Golden Light Talismans.
Just those two talismans were worth a hundred spirit stones, and the Zhou Family treated him with extra politeness.
At the same time, Lin Chang’an’s generous gesture earned him praise for his sense of gratitude.
"Brother Lin, look at those two Black Wind Wolf cubs. Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion each gifted one. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to exchange for two Foundation Establishment Pills."
Li Erniu sighed as he spoke, and didn’t avoid being overheard by others.
"I see."
Lin Chang’an nodded in realization, but when he looked at Erniu, he couldn’t help but reveal a rare smile.
This Erniu—no! It was the Zhou Family—had deliberately organized this Foundation Establishment ceremony to show everyone that they had cozied up to the two great sects.
And Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion, making such a high-profile appearance, were cooperating with the Zhou Family to achieve their own goals.
It was a declaration to the outside world that the two great sects were now in a close alliance, and when it came to strategic resources like Foundation Establishment Pills, they wouldn’t be stingy with their own people.
It could be called a win-win situation.
At the banquet, Lin Chang’an also sighed. Ever since the three major sects began clashing, there hadn’t been peace for years. He just hoped for a few more years of stability so he could focus on cultivation.
After all, he didn’t want to live a life of wandering hardship.
However, just as the Foundation Establishment Hall was filled with joy and merriment and night had fallen, two cultivators from Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion suddenly entered the hall with anxious expressions, heading straight for the Foundation Establishment steward.
Everyone outside exchanged puzzled glances.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators at the main table inside the hall seemed to hear something and their expressions all changed.
For it to make Foundation Establishment cultivators change expression like that—something major must have happened.
War had broken out!