Gou Dao Changsheng: Starting from the Reincarnation of a Demon Cultivator

Chapter 621 Matters of the Treasure Pavilion, Da Cheng's Visit

In the ancient city of Dadu, the treasure pavilion gleams with jewels, and projections of various elixirs and magical artifacts appear around the pavilion.

Qian Huaijin wore a golden robe and had a round figure. As the master of the Treasure Pavilion, he was the most promising Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Qian family.

He stood on the second floor, watching the bustling hall filled with cultivators buying pills, calculating how many spirit stones he could earn that day.

"It's a pity the beast tide left early, otherwise the profits from the pills and talismans sold this year could have increased by another 30%..."

"The benefits I extract from this are enough to advance my cultivation further."

He felt a pang of regret. As the master of the Treasure Pavilion, he held a high position and wielded great power, leading nearly a hundred cultivators within the pavilion.

For every elixir or talisman sold in the building, a share of the profits can be earned.

Without the full support of the clan and the enormous price paid in favors, even someone with a Foundation Establishment Level 6 cultivation would not have been able to occupy this position.

"Uncle, Uncle!" A young steward dressed in black robes rushed over to Qian Huaijin's side.

He was breathing heavily, his face beaming with joy, when he took out a jade box and a visiting card from his sleeve.

"Uncle, Martial Uncle Zheng Xiaofeng from our sect has come to visit. This is the official document he brought..."

"Zheng Xiaofeng? That near-third-tier talisman master?"

Qian Huaijin took the jade box, pushed it with all his might, and the colorful spirit stones came into view.

He looked satisfied, put the spirit stones into his storage bag, and pointed at his nephews and nieces behind him.

"Junming, you have reached the peak of Qi Refining and are not far from Foundation Establishment."

Once you have established your foundation, I will arrange for you to take charge of a branch city of the Treasure Pavilion...

Did you know that Zheng Xiaofeng, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, is a Core Formation seed within the sect?

"In terms of cultivation and combat ability, you far surpass me, a mere Foundation Establishment level six cultivator. Why are you being so polite?"

Qian Junming, bewildered, guessed in a low voice.

"It's because my uncle is highly respected and good at management. Since he took over Duobaoge, the annual income he contributes to the family has increased."

"Highly respected? Skilled in business?"

No matter how many benefits there are within the sect, Zheng Xiaofeng won't get much of the profits.

Qian Huaijin chuckled and pointed out, "It's because your uncle, I, am in charge of the Treasure Pavilion."

No matter how powerful Zheng Xiaofeng is, if he wants to sell talismans at Duobao Pavilion, he still has to give me some face.

The sect's stipend is limited. Junming, after you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, if you want to improve your cultivation, you must be flexible and adaptable.

There's no need to violate the rules of the sect; just make good use of your position of power.

Seeing Qian Junming deep in thought, he pondered for a moment and then said, "Use my token to remove Junior Sister Xu's talisman from position number three of the Jia character."

Afterwards, replace Zheng Xiaofeng's talisman with his, and do not replace it for a year. Instruct the younger generation of the clan to recommend his talisman to any cultivators who are purchasing it.

Furthermore, the excessive accumulation of talismans in the building artificially inflated the merit of selling them.

Qian Huaijin calmly gave the order, saying that he had always operated with integrity, and Zheng Xiaofeng was sensible enough to follow the rules as well.

Only in this way can one make a name for oneself among the many ancient cities and the many people who have built foundations.

Qian Junming seemed to be deep in thought. He took the token and was about to leave when he suddenly stopped, recalling a ungrateful cultivator.

"By the way, Uncle, another Foundation Establishment cultivator from our sect came to visit, but he didn't bring any gifts, and no one introduced him."
"Nephew, according to custom, send him away."

Qian Huaijin didn't care about a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. With his status, countless cultivators in Dadu Ancient City would try to curry favor with him.

"What is that cultivator's name?"

"His name seems to be Huo Zhao."

"Huo Zhao?"
"Huo Zhao!" Qian Huaijin murmured, then his expression changed drastically, and he said urgently, "Quick! Lead the way!"

A quarter of an hour later.

Huo Zhao, dressed in a black brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist, leaned against a corner of the hall, watching the comings and goings of cultivators buying magical artifacts.

"Junior Brother Huo, please don't be offended. The younger generation in the pavilion is ignorant."

Qian Huaijin was all smiles, like a blooming old chrysanthemum, with the trembling Qian Junming standing behind him.

Huo Zhao remained calm and said, "Senior Brother Qian, Master has invited me to come."

"Do you have time to visit Xuanzhen Temple?"

"I'm free! I'm free! How could I not be free when my senior brother, the sect leader, invited me?" Qian Huaijin hurriedly said, reluctantly taking out a spirit-sealing jade box from his sleeve.

"I apologize for the poor hospitality earlier, Junior Brother Huo."

Huo Zhao scanned the jade box with his divine sense, his expression softening slightly. "In that case, I'll trouble you to make a trip to Xuanzhen Academy tomorrow evening, Senior Brother."

After Huo Zhao left, Qian Huaijin's face was gloomy, and his large, fan-like hand fell down.

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap rang out, and in an instant, Qian Junming's cheek was red and swollen, in disbelief.

"uncle?"

“Uncle? You are my uncle!” Qian Huaijin’s face darkened.

"You dare to neglect Fang Yi's disciple? Do you think I'm living too comfortably and want to seek some excitement?"
From this day forward, you are no longer responsible for anything in the Treasure Pavilion. The position of manager is handed over to Junhe.

Go back to your tribe, and don't let me see you again.

Qian Junming was struck dumb, ignoring the pain in his cheek. Qian Huaijin was about to give up on him completely.

Zheng Xiaofeng was also a potential Core Formation cultivator and wanted to curry favor with Duobaoge by giving them some benefits.

Even though Huo Zhao was the sect leader's disciple, he was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. How could he have provoked such a strong reaction from Qian Huaijin?

“Uncle, Huo Zhao is arrogant and doesn’t know the rules. You are in charge of Duobao Pavilion, so why should you care about him?”
Even if Fang Yi, as a potential core-forming seed, failed to form his core...

"Get lost!" Qian Huaijin didn't want to waste any more words. With a wave of his sleeve, a bolt of silk swept him up.

A cultivator who can seize the Shennong and Tiangong tokens from Tian Quezi is incomparable to an ordinary Core Formation seed.

The Qian family has many potential successors, and they are not without replacements.

Even though Huo Zhao didn't care much, just in case, he had completely given up on Qian Junming.

The next day, Xuanzhen Garden.

Beneath the withered bamboo, Huo Zhao, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with sword sleeves, stood with his hands at his sides, a look of reminiscence on his face.

Fang Yi stood with his arms outstretched, a vibrant green lotus swaying behind him. He watched the cultivators enter the garden, the meridian and acupoint diagrams formed by his spiritual light dissipating, and he stopped instructing his disciples.

He looked at the old, gray-haired cultivator in front of him and asked in confusion.

"Da Cheng, what brings you here?"

The Fan family settled on Black Abyss Island, and Fan Dacheng was busy all year round with the development of the family and the path of their descendants.

Because of his early practice of the "adding oil to light the lamp" method, his foundation was damaged, and his cultivation made no progress.

Even on Black Abyss Island, they had not sought themselves for a long time.

Fang Yi had a keen eye, and even though Fan Dacheng tried his best to hide it, he still saw jealousy in Fang Yi's eyes several times, perhaps even without Fan Dacheng's own awareness.

There was no malicious intent.

It was simply the envy and jealousy of an old cultivator who was full of vitality and whose path to enlightenment was not yet severed, and whose lifespan was long.

From then on, Fang Yi rarely saw Fan Dacheng.

He still felt some affection for this friend from his early years, who had risen from humble beginnings together, and did not want to create any sordid conflict over it.

"Brother Fang, it's been a long time since we last met."

Fan Dacheng's gaze swept across the lotus lake. Reflected on the water, his eyes were covered with fine wrinkles, his skin was loose, and his long hair, tied up with a jade hairpin, had lost its luster, resembling withered grass.

His gaze shifted to Fang Yi, whose face was like jade, whose aura was vigorous, and who resembled a young man. He felt a mix of emotions.

Both were over 160 years old and came from the mortal world, but he was like a withered bone in a tomb, never to advance any further.

Fang Yijin, on the other hand, was like a young man, youthful and carefree. More than a hundred years had passed, and it seemed that no trace had been left on him.

Black Abyss Island is located in Nanyunbo and is also the front line of the battle between humans and demons, so news travels slowly.

I just learned a while ago that Fang Yi's attempt to condense the elixir had failed.

He was secretly pleased, not unaware that Fang Yi's successful condensation of the core would greatly benefit Black Abyss Island and the Fan family.

Instead, seeing Fang Yi leave everyone else in the dust while he himself remained stagnant, he, being no saint, naturally felt jealous.

"Dacheng?"

Seeing the jealousy resurface in Fan Dacheng's eyes, Fang Yi frowned slightly and spoke.

"Hoo..." Fan Dacheng exhaled another breath of stale air, his expression solemn.

“Brother Fang, my son Deye has been found to have a golden spiritual root and is also exceptionally talented in divination.”

Master Yan previously sent a disciple to find me, expressing his willingness to accept Deye as his disciple.

"Deye?" Fang Yi felt a sense of unease. As the founder of a cultivation family, Fan Dacheng was undoubtedly qualified.

Despite his average cultivation level, he found a second-tier meridian for his family and made significant contributions to the family's growth and bloodline propagation.

Family, family...

Only when there are enough cultivators of the same bloodline can a family be called a clan.

Fan Deye was born to Fan Dacheng's thirteenth concubine. He was the twenty-ninth son and was the same age as the grandchildren of the Fan family. He just turned thirteen this year.

Having given birth to nearly a hundred descendants on his own, Fan Dacheng's life essence was depleted and his lifespan aged. This was closely related to his frequent depletion of his own essence and his procreation of offspring.

However, the birth of Van der Yee was enough to make up for all the losses and generate huge profits.

A superior spiritual root, with exceptional talent in divination!
If one does not perish along the way, entering the Foundation Establishment stage is easy; if one has a good master, even achieving a false Core Formation is not difficult.

"However, how did Yan Youtai determine Fan Deye's qualifications?"

Fang Yi seemed to be deep in thought. Did Tianji Peak have methods to detect divination talents?

"Congratulations on Da Cheng's wish coming true, with his son De Ye to uphold the family's honor."

The Tianji Peak lineage is powerful and influential. Under Senior Brother Yan's protection, once Deye grows up, the Fan family is expected to produce a Core Formation True Person..."

Fan Dacheng felt extremely excited when he thought about the benefits Yan Youtai had offered.

"Master Yan is wealthy, and the Xuan Yang Guards under his command are all highly skilled in magic and have a solid foundation."

He was willing to prepare a near-third-tier spiritual vein for the Fan family in Xuan Yang Mountain for De Ye.

"Oh?" Fang Yi's eyes narrowed slightly.

A near-third-tier spiritual vein, rather than a near-third-tier cave dwelling, yields vastly different benefits.

Tianji Peak lives up to its thousand-year heritage. He has been operating on Black Abyss Island for a long time and is at the top of the quasi-third-order spiritual vein, but he has not yet stepped into the third order.

"Uncle-Master Fan!"

Huo Zhao, who was serving behind Fang Yi, changed his expression slightly; he had already sensed something was wrong.

To prevent unrest on Black Abyss Island, news of Fang Yi's failed attempt to form his core was actively suppressed.

Even if a cultivator fails to form their core, and has prepared elixirs to protect their meridians and dantian and prevent damage to their foundation, their potential will be greatly reduced.

Even if he knew that Qi Jie's ability to condense a demon core and advance to the level of a demon king was less attractive than Yan Youtai's status as a disciple of a third-level diviner.

People strive for higher positions, just as water flows downhill. Fan Dacheng's dedication to his family is evident in the meaning of his visit.

“Uncle Fan, Yan Youtai is no ordinary person…”

Huo Zhao was feeling troubled. He possessed a golden bone body and had received guidance from Fan Dacheng in his early years before he had established his foundation.

Over the years, I have also provided some support to the Fan family, and I really don't want them to turn against each other.

But when they wanted to offer advice, they didn't know how to begin.

The Tianji Peak lineage is powerful and majestic.

Let alone the failure of their own master to form the Golden Core, even if they succeeded and the entire Ancestral Hall lineage provided the best assistance, it still couldn't compare to the foundation of Tianji Peak.

"Zhao'er!"

Fang Yi raised his hand, indicating that Huo Zhao did not need to say anything more.

Yan Youtai's offer was incredibly sincere: a disciple's status and family arrangements. Not to mention Foundation Establishment cultivators, even Pseudo-Core Formation cultivators would find it hard to refuse.

"Da Cheng, what brings you here?"

"Brother Fang, I refuse."

"Ok?"

"what?"

Huo Zhao and Qin Yu's expressions changed slightly, and they exclaimed in surprise. If they were in each other's shoes, they really couldn't have imagined the reason why Fan Dacheng refused.

My words of advice were merely a matter of doing my best and accepting fate.

Fang Yi's expression was also strange. "Da Cheng, you rejected Yan Youtai?"

Fan Dacheng raised his head, the jealousy in his eyes long gone, calm as still water, without a ripple.

“Brother Fang, I know that Tianji Peak is powerful and Yan Youtai is also in a high position and holds great power.”

But I don't want Deye to become his disciple; I wonder if it will cause trouble for my elder brother?

Fang Yi's robes fluttered in the wind, his aura profound and unfathomable, as he chuckled softly.

"Yan Youtai, as a third-level Celestial Master, has the support of Tian Quezi and holds a high position of power, but I am no ordinary person either."

"As a younger disciple, I can naturally protect you."

"That's good..." Fan Dacheng breathed a sigh of relief.

He had heard about the feud between Fang Yi and Yan Youtai, and out of consideration for Fang Yi's long-standing friendship, he impulsively rejected Yan Youtai.

Although he did not regret it, he was shocked by his own choice afterward and worried that Fang Yi would not be able to withstand the pressure.

Yan Youtai's status is among the top three or four among the Core Formation True Immortals in the sect.

Taking out the spirit-sealing jade box covered in runes from his storage bag, Fan Dacheng looked reluctant and said.

"Brother Fang, I heard that you failed to condense your core and were seriously injured."

"There's a nearly third-tier green plum in this box, good for nourishing the soul. Would it be suitable as a gift for Deye's apprenticeship?"

Fang Yi flicked his fingers, looking at the green plums swirling in the box, which had a faint hint of withering and were no longer fresh and tender.

He had a guess in his mind, which was probably related to the quasi-third-tier inheritance of the [Plum Blossom Divination Technique].

He pushed the jade box back into Fan Dacheng's arms.

“Deye can become an apprentice, but there’s no need for the formal apprenticeship ceremony.”

Fan Yong is also close to Foundation Establishment; give this item to him to perfect his divine soul.

……

In Xuanji Courtyard, between the waterside pavilions, the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drift gently.

Yan Youtai stared in astonishment at Chu Xiang kneeling on the ground.

"Fan Dacheng refused to let a junior join Tianji Peak?"

Chu Xiang's muscles tensed, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold jade brick, and he whispered.

"That Fan Dacheng is ungrateful and has gone mad."

Although Fan Deye possesses a superior spiritual root, there are countless other superior spiritual roots within the sect willing to become your disciples.

He's ungrateful and refused like that.

"He's just a high-grade spiritual root. He has excellent talent in divination, but without his inheritance, how far can he go?"

Yan Youtai remained calm, knowing that Tianji Peak was not lacking in disciples with outstanding talent.

His desire to recruit Fan Deye stemmed from his appreciation of talent.

"Chu Xiang, go to the Zhou family in Junluo Mountain and bring Zhou Qian here."

That junior, with his superior water elemental root aptitude, cultivated the Dao of Divination to the lower first rank at the age of thirteen.

Compared to Van der Yee, he is no less impressive.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey." Chu Xiang crawled backward on his knees, and after leaving the waterside pavilion, he transformed into a streak of light and sped away.

He breathed a sigh of relief; his master hadn't been angry and truly didn't care about Fan Deye.

Inside the waterside pavilion, the Heavenly Secrets Eight Trigrams Plate was activated, and Yan Youtai made hand seals with his fingertips, while the runes of the I Ching flowed in his eyes.

A moment later, a surprised voice rang out.

"Fan Dacheng, you actually didn't know that Fang Yi had condensed a True Core?"

"Interesting, truly interesting."

The Xuanzhen Temple was bathed in silvery moonlight.

Qian Huaijin bowed slightly, his face reserved, and looked at the cultivator in the stone pavilion, speaking cautiously.

"What are your instructions, Senior Brother Sect Leader?"

(End of this chapter)