Chapter 501 - 359: Chu Wuying Appears
After a quiet word with Lechuan, Fang Qingyuan’s expression brightened, and he no longer seemed so cold and unapproachable.
Money made things easier. This Tu Dai’er was generous, so naturally, she deserved a certain degree of respect.
However, the Jixia City trial wouldn’t begin for another six months. Factoring in travel time, Fang Qingyuan still had four or five months of leisure.
And during this period, Tu Dai’er would be staying temporarily at the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect.
After exchanging pleasantries with Tu Dai’er, she smiled as a sect disciple respectfully led her away.
Once she was gone, Fang Qingyuan asked:
"Is she reliable?"
Lechuan raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded, but he still went over Tu Dai’er’s reasons for seeking them out one more time.
This time, with Tu Dai’er absent, Lechuan went into greater detail. As Fang Qingyuan listened quietly, he was, for some reason, reminded of the One-armed Nascent Soul from three years prior.
He seemed to sense a similar aura from Tu Dai’er. This wasn’t a scent from something like Flowing Fragrance Pollen, but a unique resonance that Fang Qingyuan’s own soul had with the Cultivation Technique she practiced.
Ji Yulang had been overwhelmed by the incident with Chu Hongshang. He had repeatedly questioned Fang Qingyuan about the events of that day, and it was through him that Fang Qingyuan learned the truth: the One-armed Nascent Soul, Tu Ling, was from Black Wind Valley.
Black Phoenix Valley was in a state of constant conflict with the Confucian Family, the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect, and even the Qi Yun Daoist Sect, so it was understandable that one of their Nascent Soul cultivators would target Chu Hongshang.
But now, a new Golden Core Cultivator from Black Wind Valley had appeared, and her eagerness to cooperate made Fang Qingyuan deeply suspicious.
Lechuan, on the other hand, hadn’t thought so deeply about it. He said:
"Three years have passed, and Ji Yulang of the Great Zhou Academy has already issued his ruling. Besides, neither of us were the main players back then. Even if Black Wind Valley wanted revenge, they should be going after Chu Hongshang.
We’re allies with Black Wind Valley. The people from there might have nasty tempers, but they wouldn’t go so far as to backstab an ally."
Fang Qingyuan continued to nod. ’It was just a bout of paranoia,’ he thought. But he couldn’t be blamed. Possessing the Immortal Mansion, he naturally viewed everything with extra scrutiny.
A moment later, after they finished discussing Tu Dai’er, Lechuan said cheerfully:
"Now that the three-year period is over, the ban on music, dance, and banquets on White Mountain has been lifted. You still haven’t held your Core Formation Ceremony since you reached the Golden Core realm. Why don’t we take this opportunity to finally have it?"
Hearing Lechuan bring this up, Fang Qingyuan thought for a moment before shaking his head and refusing. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but the time just wasn’t right.
A Core Formation Ceremony served two purposes. First, it was a way to announce his achievement and bring glory to the sect. Second, it was an opportunity to collect gifts of money and recoup some of the expenses from all the social obligations over the years.
Fang Qingyuan understood why Lechuan was so eager. If he had personally nurtured such an outstanding Golden Core Cultivator, he would also want the whole of White Mountain to know about it.
But the timing wasn’t right. As he had previously determined, he wouldn’t feel secure enough to hold the Core Formation Ceremony until Moyun Valley was truly and completely under their control.
"Bear Wind is growing impatient. The plan we agreed upon has been subject to one change after another, which has likely put some negative thoughts into his head. Fortunately, our connection through Jinbao and the one at the foot of Qingfeng Mountain have kept him in check for now. But further delays will only breed more trouble. Master, Moyun Valley must be taken for good."
As the conversation turned to serious matters, Lechuan’s expression grew solemn. He paced for a few moments before his face hardened with resolve.
"Fine. No more delays. Within three months, we will conquer Moyun Valley and finally put this matter to rest. Over the past few years, I’ve figured out the locations and habits of the few remaining Golden Core Demon Beasts within. I’ve even made specific preparations to deal with them. This time, I will make Moyun Valley change its name!"
Fang Qingyuan was in full agreement with Lechuan’s bold declaration. If it hadn’t been for the fall of a Divinity Transformation expert—an event not seen in centuries—the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect would have conquered Moyun Valley long ago.
"Once we take Moyun Valley, the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect will relocate its headquarters to the Fourth-rank Spiritual Land inside. Our current Spirit Land Grade is only high third-rank. The White Mountain Beast Taming Sect stands on equal footing with those Nascent Soul Sects, so how can we not possess our own Fourth-rank Spiritual Land?"
Lechuan began to grumble as he spoke of this. The Beast Taming Sect held a lofty position. Even as an enclave, its status was considered half a rank higher than other factions of equivalent strength.
Therefore, Lechuan didn’t consider his sect inferior to the ten Nascent Soul Sects on White Mountain. After all, weren’t they also led by Golden Core Cultivators who could summon Nascent Soul Battle Power?
Why should his sect’s Spiritual Land be so much worse? Take the Spirit Wood Alliance, for example—they occupied four such Fourth-rank Spiritual Lands!
A city could be built on every single Fourth-rank Spiritual Land, and such a land could support the massive power consumption of the arrays an Immortal City required.
In the eyes of the White Mountain People, possessing a Fourth-rank Spiritual Land was the true measure of a faction’s strength and capability.
"Then allow me to be the first to congratulate you on achieving your wish, Master. Are you planning to build an Immortal City afterward?"
Fang Qingyuan offered a word of praise, then asked about Lechuan’s plans. Possessing one’s own Immortal City was like owning a goose that laid golden eggs.
"We’ll see. After three years of war, the sect’s supply of Spirit Stones is nearly depleted. Building an Immortal City is immensely expensive. Where would I find the extra Spirit Stones for that now?"
The classification of cultivator settlements was based on population. Small gatherings were called markets, medium-sized ones were boroughs, and only the largest-scale settlements were considered cities.