Chapter 496 - 355: Occupying Territory
"Hong Chang, I’m so glad I didn’t stop you back then."
Recalling what had happened, Sun Hongchang’s father felt fortunate that he hadn’t insisted.
Whether it was planting or talisman crafting, he, as the father, had suggested that Sun Hongchang test his talent.
For the third test, Sun Hongchang wanted to try for Spirit Vein Master, the skill he was most interested in.
"Hahaha, I knew I had a talent for being a Spirit Vein Master!"
"Look at you, getting all smug."
"In half a month, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s annual recruitment will begin. You’ll become an Outer Sect disciple then."
The family of three was so excited that they stayed up all night talking.
Sun Hongchang’s parents also gave him a lot of advice on what he should and shouldn’t do after entering the Celestial Cloud Sect.
It was the perfect time to start talking about what would happen in half a month.
"I heard a Steward from the Celestial Cloud Sect say that as long as your talent in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation is good enough, you’ll receive many privileges. Even with Five Spirit Roots, you could hope to reach the Peak of Qi Refining within thirty years. If a Sect Elder takes a liking to you, you might even be granted a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill to help with your Foundation Establishment."
"Our son’s talent is more than enough!"
"I think so too, hahaha."
...
「Celestial Cloud Sect, Cloud Summit.」
Inside the living room of the largest cave residence.
Four people were currently seated here.
There was the Tao Companion pair, Fang Yun and Song Qiaoqiao, as well as the brother-and-sister duo, Huang Mengyang and Huang Mengzhu.
Two years and two months had passed since Fang Yun killed the Early-stage Core Formation Demon.
The siblings’ appearance here wasn’t because Fang Yun had discovered the blood essence of a Tier Three Demon Beast in the Early-stage Core Formation Demon’s Storage Pouch.
Fang Yun had already gotten the answer to that from Huang Mengyang two years ago.
The Tier Three Demon Beast blood essence he had obtained all came from an Iron-Arm Grey Ape.
In all likelihood, the bloodline transplanted into the Early-stage Core Formation Demon he had killed was that of an Iron-Arm Grey Ape.
"Brother Fang Yun, I plan to enter seclusion at the end of this month to attempt Core Formation."
Fang Yun smiled at his words. "That’s great news! It seems you’re all prepared. By the way, have you gotten the Middle-grade Golden Core Pill?"
"The Sect Leader has already given it to me," Huang Mengyang nodded.
Previously, the sect’s Core Formation Seeds all used Low-grade Golden Core Pills.
From him onward, they would all be using Middle-grade Golden Core Pills, most likely.
The sect still had Low-grade Golden Core Pills, but they had other uses.
This use, of course, was to trade them with other Core Formation Sects for Middle-grade or higher Golden Core Pills. Fang Yun had already accepted a commission to refine them for Star Moon Valley, and commissions from the Vast Sea Sect and Wind Ling Sect were expected to follow.
Not long after he last refined Golden Core Pills for Star Moon Valley, they sent an Elder at the Peak of Foundation Establishment over with some gifts to show their gratitude.
The items were ordinary, but they were in addition to his payment.
This was enough to show that Star Moon Valley was extremely satisfied with Fang Yun’s pill refining. It wouldn’t be difficult for the remaining Vast Sea Sect and Wind Ling Sect to hear about it.
"With your Abnormal Spirit Root and a Middle-grade Golden Core Pill, your chances of successfully reaching Core Formation are as high as sixty percent," Fang Yun couldn’t help but comment.
A Middle-grade Golden Core Pill can increase an Abnormal Spirit Root Cultivator’s chances of reaching Core Formation by more than thirty percent.
Huang Mengyang’s chances were even ten percent higher than Fang Yun’s had been when he broke through.
"Mengyang, with over a sixty percent chance, if you fail to reach Core Formation, don’t you dare call me your sister anymore."
"Mengzhu, don’t put so much pressure on Mengyang," Song Qiaoqiao said with a laugh.
The siblings were very close. They were also on very good terms with Fang Yun.
"Sister-in-law is right." Huang Mengyang naturally sided with Song Qiaoqiao.
The four of them chatted casually about a wide range of topics, and time flew by amidst their cheerful laughter.
Huang Mengzhu and her brother didn’t want to disturb Fang Yun for too long, so they left after a while.
Huang Mengyang was going into seclusion for Core Formation at the end of the month. If he succeeded, it would raise the Celestial Cloud Sect’s record for the highest number of cultivators reaching Core Formation in the same period to nine.
After the two left, Fang Yun and Song Qiaoqiao remained in the cave residence and chatted about the current situation outside.
"Husband, ever since you killed that Early-stage Core Formation Demon, many of the Foundation Establishment Demons the Celestial Demon Sect had sent to our territory have retreated. They haven’t made a move since. Have they completely turtled up? Or are they preparing for a bigger move later?"
Theoretically, the Celestial Demon Sect’s current behavior pointed to two possibilities.
"The possibility that they’ve turtled up is greater."
Fang Yun stated what he believed to be the most logical speculation.
’If it were up to me, though, I’d hope the Celestial Demon Sect would make a big move. That might bring me a large amount of Combat Talent Points. That month when the settled Talent Points exceeded fifty million was truly satisfying.’
"If they keep turtling up like this, we’ll have far fewer opportunities to find an opening."
"Far fewer, yes, but there will still be openings." Fang Yun paused here before continuing, "I think it’s time we changed our approach to the Celestial Demon Sect. We can’t just operate in their territory and then return to the sect."
"Husband, you mean... we should start encroaching on the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory?"
Upon hearing this, Song Qiaoqiao, who knew Fang Yun well, immediately understood his intention.
Fang Yun nodded. "Exactly. With the Celestial Demon Sect turtled up, it’s a good opportunity for us to seize some of their land."
Fang Yun had thought about this for a long time.
The first place he planned to strike within the Celestial Demon Sect’s lands was the former territory of the Stone Demon Sect.
’The masters of this territory have already changed twice in the last few decades. It could change one more time.’