I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely

Fang Yun and Zhong Yankun’s casual conversation mostly centered around Song Qiaoqiao.

Recently, there wasn’t much of note happening within the sect. Aside from increased activity from the Ghost Cultivators from the Black Ghost Cave, everything else in the sect’s territory was normal.

The number of Supreme Elders and Elders making an appearance began to increase.

Bai Qinying came to Fang Yun’s side.

Besides being on very good terms with Fang Yun, she was also close with Song Qiaoqiao.

Back when they were still disciples, Bai Qinying’s relationship with Song Qiaoqiao was clearly better. Later, during their time as Elders, her relationship with Fang Yun grew closer due to their frequent interactions, and the dynamic shifted.

"I say, Junior Brother, Junior Sister Qiaoqiao has successfully reached Core Formation. It’s your turn next." Bai Qinying addressed Fang Yun bluntly, right in front of Zhong Yankun.

Zhong Yankun merely furrowed his brow slightly, not saying anything more.

He was a man who valued propriety. His great-granddaughter had successfully reached Core Formation, so Bai Qinying’s way of addressing her wasn’t a big issue, but her way of addressing Fang Yun was problematic.

Fang Yun was still an Elder. She should either call him Elder Fang or just his name. Calling him "Junior Brother" was inappropriate.

Thinking that today was a happy occasion, he decided to pretend he hadn’t heard.

If Bai Qinying were to use such improper terms in public in the future, he would definitely say something.

In private, if he didn’t hear it, he couldn’t say anything about it.

"I’m almost there myself. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object, the Jade Dew Spirit Water, has saved me a lot of time."

At this moment, he was very close to the true Peak of Foundation Establishment.

If all went well, he would officially reach the true Peak of Foundation Establishment next year. After some thorough preparation, he could probably attempt Core Formation the year after.

With the aid of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object, Cloud Ink Water, a Middle-grade Golden Core Pill, and the Great Fire Lotus formed from nine Fire Lotuses combined...

...among the three of them—Bai Qinying, Song Qiaoqiao, and himself—he had the highest chance of successfully reaching Core Formation.

The other two had already succeeded in their Core Formation, so Fang Yun was quite confident about his own attempt.

As time passed, the celestial phenomenon vanished, and the surrounding Spiritual Qi returned to normal.

The Supreme Elders and Elders in the sky all gathered in front of the cave abode where Song Qiaoqiao had entered seclusion to break through to the Core Formation realm.

Unlike when Bai Qinying had her breakthrough, where Sect Leader Duan Qingyun stood at the very front, the one standing at the front now was Zhong Yankun.

There was a lot of significance to this positioning.

Sometimes, the upper echelons of the sect liked to do things by the book.

Fang Yun, for his part, didn’t care about such things.

Since he didn’t care and the sect’s upper echelons valued propriety, he would naturally go along with them. Unless he had an objection, he was happy to let them do as they pleased.

The stone door of the cave abode opened.

The first person Song Qiaoqiao saw was Fang Yun, standing just behind and to the side of Zhong Yankun.

She almost called out to Fang Yun first.

In this situation, calling out to him would have been rather problematic.

"Great-Grandfather!"

"HAHAHA, my good great-granddaughter, congratulations on your successful Core Formation!"

Zhong Yankun laughed heartily, the smile on his face never once faltering.

Following his lead, everyone from the Sect Leader and Supreme Elders to the Elders at the very back offered their congratulations to Song Qiaoqiao.

They were also celebrating the fact that their Celestial Cloud Sect had once again produced a Core Formation cultivator.

「Later, after everyone had left.」

Fang Yun and Song Qiaoqiao followed Zhong Yankun to his cave abode.

Zhong Yankun sat in the seat of honor, with the two juniors seated below.

"Great-Grandfather, why are you already drinking?"

"I’m happy today, so of course I have to drink later as well." Zhong Yankun continued to pour himself some Spirit Wine as he spoke. "What day have you two decided on?"

Zhong Yankun was, of course, referring to the day the two would become Tao Companions.

One was now a Supreme Elder of the sect, and the other was the sect’s most influential Elder.

Zhong Yankun felt that regardless of whether they were his descendants, the sect had to make this a grand event.

"How about the twenty-fifth of the fifth month?" Song Qiaoqiao chose the earliest auspicious date.

This was something she had already decided on after her Core Formation.

"That’s a bit too soon. It won’t be easy for some people to make it in time." Zhong Yankun shook his head.

He had quite a few people to invite; there were people from the Wind Ling Sect, Star Moon Valley, and the Vast Sea Sect that he needed to invite.

Hearing this, Fang Yun did a quick calculation.

"How about the seventh of the sixth month?"

"That works." Zhong Yankun nodded, then continued, "Leave the arrangements for this to me. You juniors can go on and do what you need to do."

At this, Zhong Yankun looked at Fang Yun.

He felt he needed to add a word of emphasis for Fang Yun.

"Fang Yun, remember to arrange your schedule. Don’t go into seclusion for Alchemy or Artifact Refining at that time."

"Don’t worry, Great-Grandfather."

"Mm."

「Afterward.」

As Zhong Yankun prepared to send out the news, Sect Leader Duan Qingyun came to talk with him.

Some matters could now be discussed.

...

「Spring Spirit Sect.」

One of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s subsidiary Foundation Establishment Influences.

When the Sect Leader of the Spring Spirit Sect received the news from the Celestial Cloud Sect, he immediately convened a meeting of the sect’s upper management.

Everyone at the meeting was a high-ranking Foundation Establishment cultivator of the sect.

"Sect Leader, is there a reason for this sudden meeting?"

"There’s joyous news from the Celestial Cloud Sect. Someone is becoming Tao Companions." The Spring Spirit Sect Leader deliberately kept them in suspense.

"Someone from the Celestial Cloud Sect is becoming Tao Companions? That doesn’t seem like reason enough to call a special meeting..."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Spring Spirit Sect who was speaking trailed off.

Suddenly, he thought of something.

"Could it be that one of the two becoming Tao Companions is Fang Yun?!" In his memory, Fang Yun didn’t have a Tao Companion yet.

"Correct! It is Fang Yun."

"Um... Sect Leader, could I ask you for a favor?"

"Speak."

"Let me go to the Celestial Cloud Sect to offer our congratulations on behalf of the Spring Spirit Sect."

The Spring Spirit Sect Leader first chuckled, then shook his head.

"You wish. To show the sincerity of our Spring Spirit Sect, it must be me, the Sect Leader, who goes personally. You can talk about it again when you take my position someday."

"But..."

"Alright, the reason I called this meeting is to propose that we send a grand gift for this joyous occasion at the Celestial Cloud Sect. Any objections?"

None of the Spring Spirit Sect’s upper management objected.

The item they were going to offer was precious to the Spring Spirit Sect, so the proper procedure had to be followed. This meeting was a necessary step.

They could afford to be neglectful toward others in the Celestial Cloud Sect, but they absolutely could not be so with Fang Yun.

To this day, the Spring Spirit Sect Leader couldn’t forget that when they had asked Fang Yun of the Celestial Cloud Sect to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, they had not only received Middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pills but also a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

That was a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill!

For a Foundation Establishment Influence like theirs, a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was incredibly significant.

It could be said that the current scale of their sect’s upper management was all due to Fang Yun’s influence.

They weren’t sending a grand gift just to curry favor with Fang Yun, but they absolutely could not afford to offend him.

The other subsidiary Foundation Establishment Influences of the Celestial Cloud Sect had varied reactions upon receiving the news, but their final decisions were surprisingly unanimous: to congratulate Fang Yun on his happy union, they had to send a grand gift.

...

「In Star Moon Valley.」

"Vice Valley Master Shi, news has come from the Celestial Cloud Sect. Fang Yun and Song Qiaoqiao are becoming Tao Companions. You will be in charge of going there to deliver the congratulatory gift..."

The Star Moon Valley Master hadn’t finished speaking when Shi Yaoyang, the Vice Valley Master, became displeased.

"Valley Master, just send a respected Elder from the valley for this matter. There’s no need for me to go, is there?"

It was just a happy event at the Celestial Cloud Sect. Even if Fang Yun had dealings with them regarding the refining of Foundation Establishment Pills, it didn’t warrant this. Sending a respected Elder was already giving the Celestial Cloud Sect a great deal of face.

As a high-ranking member of a Core Formation Influence, there was no need for him to make a trip for such a minor affair.

"I haven’t finished. This trip isn’t just to congratulate Fang Yun; there is a more important matter, which is why I need you to go."

"What matter?"

"To discuss the matter of refining Golden Core Pills with the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Sect Leader."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yaoyang exclaimed in surprise, "Fang Yun is already capable of refining Golden Core Pills?!"

"For them to send this information, Fang Yun must be able to stably refine Golden Core Pills."

"Understood, Valley Master! Leave this matter to me!"