Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 164 - 164 103 Ten Years_1

164: 103 Ten Years_1 164: 103 Ten Years_1 Shen Long returned to Qinglian Garden and saw Gu Tianhong and Tang Yuting standing at the entrance.

They were only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment and had not attended the Xuanyang Ceremony.

The news of Shen Long’s third-place finish at the Xuanyang Ceremony had already spread throughout the Spirt Control Sect, including his acceptance as a disciple by Ice Silkworm True Person.

Gu Tianhong and Tang Yuting never imagined that Shen Long would have such great ability.

Shen Long had not participated in the Sect’s grand competition and had been missing for over a decade; they had almost forgotten about the existence of Shen Long.

“Junior Brother Shen, congratulations!”

Gu Tianhong began to offer his congratulations.

“I heard Junior Brother Shen won third place at the Xuanyang Ceremony; this is the best result our Spirt Control Sect has obtained in a thousand years.

Junior Brother Shen, you have brought honor to our Sect,” said Tang Yuting with a smile.

Shen Long nodded and responded, “Senior Brother Gu and Senior Sister Tang, feel free to visit more often when you have time.”

“Definitely.”

Gu Tianhong and Tang Yuting beamed with joy and accepted the invitation.

Shen Long invited them into Qinglian Garden for tea and a casual chat.

Upon learning that Shen Long was in a business partnership with Qian Dafu, they all expressed their willingness to help and Shen Long directed them to Qian Dafu.

With a Core Formation Cultivator behind Lin Sisi, she naturally claimed shares in the partnership, but Tang Yuting and Gu Tianhong did not.

After chatting for half an hour, they took their leave.

Shen Long entered the Qinglian Pavilion and came to a secret chamber, where he entered the Spirt Control Tower and arrived on the second floor.

A sharp and ear-piercing bird cry rang out as the Gold-Winged Windroc descended from the sky and landed before him, stirring up a great amount of dust.

Shen Long took out two Beast Spirit Pills and fed them to the Gold-Winged Windroc, then fed it three hundred-year-old stalks of Qingfeng Grass.

His ability to cultivate multiple wind-related spells to Great Perfection was greatly assisted by the Gold-Winged Windroc.

Shen Long climbed onto the back of the Gold-Winged Windroc and blew a whistle; with a gentle flap of its wings, the bird created a gust of wind and soared into the high skies.

The flying speed of the Gold-Winged Windroc was very fast, the wild wind whistling past and causing Shen Long’s hair to dance wildly around him.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the Gold-Winged Windroc finally landed on the ground.

Shen Long jumped to the ground and allowed it to move freely while the Fire Rock Beast rushed over, emitting a low roar.

He fed the Fire Rock Beast a Beast Spirit Pill and a red ginseng, then left the Spirt Control Tower.

He sat cross-legged on the azure stone bed, beginning his cultivation.

In the following month, Foundation Establishment Cultivators came to visit every day, truly exemplifying the phrase “it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.”

Although Shen Long didn’t want to put on airs, he invited the visitors into Qinglian Garden for a chat.

These Foundation Establishment Cultivators invited Shen Long to their birthday celebrations, to travel with them, or to partner in business, doing everything they could to forge a closer relationship with Shen Long.

Shen Long declined their invitations using Ice Silkworm True Person as his reason.

He simply didn’t have so much time; a bit of courtesy would suffice.

Shen Long greeted Lin Shan and asked him to record the names and Sect locations of the visitors; then, he entered closed-door cultivation.

…

Zhao Country, Xu Family.

A secluded manor, a blue-robed elder of medium stature sat in a blue stone pavilion, while a tall, thin young man in a green shirt was reporting to him.

“Shen Long!

Jinning Mirror!

Shi Jin Ant!” the blue-robed elder said with a somber expression.

Xu Yunfeng, Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

“It should be him.

Some Shi Jin Ant corpses were left at the scene.

This person’s strength is too great; it’s no wonder Yunfeng’s ancestors were no match for him,” the green-shirted man said.

Xu Yiqing, Foundation Establishment Initial Stage.

“Being a disciple of the Spirt Control Sect, it will be very difficult for us to seek revenge,” Xu Yiqing sighed.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the opportunity will come.

If it wasn’t for this person, our Xu Family could have monopolized the Jinlang Jade Mine.

Now that we know who our enemy is, it will be easier,” Xu Yunfeng declared with a stern voice.

If not for Shen Long, the Xu Family could have had sole ownership of the Jinlang Jade Mine and developed even better, perhaps even producing a Core Formation Cultivator, but it was all too late.

Xu Yiqing nodded and said, “Understood.

Yu Yan has been accepted into the Hundred Ghosts Sect; if she advances to the Core Formation Stage, our revenge will be much easier.”

The Xu Family was also a subsidiary cultivation clan of the Hundred Ghosts Sect.

When the Hundred Ghosts Sect accepted disciples, several Xu Family members joined, with Xu Yuyan being the most talented among them.

“We must toughen our own iron for hammering; to seek revenge, we too must strive.

Send someone to inform Yu Yan about this,” instructed Xu Yunfeng.

“Yes, Uncle Yunfeng,” Xu Yiqing complied and left to carry out the commands.

…

As time flies, ten years had passed.

Spirt Control Sect, Qinglian Garden.

The door of a certain secret chamber opened, and Shen Long came out, frowning deeply.

Since returning from the Xuanyang Marketplace, he had dealt with visiting fellow sect members and then closed himself off for cultivation, but his Cultivation had stagnated without any signs of progress.

He was acutely aware that he had hit a bottleneck.

Bottlenecks vary from person to person in their frequency and duration.

Some Foundation Establishment Cultivators have no bottlenecks at all, some face them once, and those less fortunate encounter them multiple times.

There are many ways to resolve a bottleneck, but the amount of time each cultivator takes to do so varies.

Shen Long was still in the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

The good news was that the Iron Tail Scorpion, Gold-Winged Windroc, Shi Jin Ant Queen, and Hundred Eyes Cicada had all advanced to the second order Middle Stage.

With the number of Shi Jin Ants exceeding one hundred thousand, Shen Long wore the Soul Nourishing Locket, which significantly bolstered his Divine Sense.

There were over three hundred second-order Shi Jin Ants; each time they fed, they consumed materials worth several thousand Spirit Stones, which were used for Artifact Refining.

They were fed every few months, and Shen Long could afford it.

His business had grown substantially, and people like Tang Yuting, Gu Tianhong, Ye Yuqing, Ye Yutang, and Qian Dafu gathered around Shen Long.

Centered on Shen Long, they formed a small interest group.

Lin Sisi also invested, and the lion’s share of the business profits went to Shen Long.

Apart from business profits, the Spirit Fields and fishponds of Qinglian Garden created considerable benefits as well.

Shen Long didn’t need to attend to these himself, as Lin Cheng, Sun Furong, and others managed the Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Fish.

Sun Sen borrowed a substantial amount of Spirit Stones to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill for Sun Furong, who successfully underwent Foundation Establishment.

Lin Shan, having done favors for Shen Long, suddenly found that he had many relatives eager to assist him, lending him quite a few Spirit Stones.

Thus, Lin Shan could afford to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill, and he successfully established his Foundation.

After leaving Qinglian Garden, Shen Long brought out a blue flying boat that twinkled with light, and he stepped onto it.

With a flick of his spell, the Blue Flying Boat soared into the air and headed toward the high skies.

Before long, he arrived outside the Ice Silkworm Valley.

He sent a Sound Transmission Talisman, and the fog within the valley churned and surged, revealing a pathway.

Shen Long stowed away his Flying Artifact and strode into the valley.

At the entrance, a charming woman in white robes stood with a smile on her face.

“Junior Brother pays his respects to Second Senior Sister,” Shen Long said, clasping his fists in greeting.

“Shen Junior Brother actually recognizes me,” the woman in white robes said with some surprise.

Chen Bing, Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, the second disciple of Ice Silkworm True Person.

“Master has no descendants.

The only possibility for someone to appear here would naturally be Senior Sister Chen,” Shen Long explained.

Chen Bing nodded slightly and said, “You’re here to see Master, right?

Master is currently having a leisurely chat with Master Uncle Qin.”

“Master Uncle Qin?

Could it be the Master Uncle Qin who is the highest skilled at alchemy in our sect?” Shen Long inquired.

“Indeed, Junior Sister Qin is also here.

I heard from Senior Brother Xu that Junior Brother Shen is an Alchemist,” Chen Bing stated.

Shen Long nodded and replied, “I’ve learned a bit, but I’m not as skilled as Senior Sister Qin.”

“Come inside to talk,”

Chen Bing invited Shen Long in, leading him to the entrance of Ice Silkworm Pavilion.

“Is it Shen Long who has arrived?

Chen Bing, bring your Junior Brother inside,” the voice of Ice Silkworm True Person came from within the pavilion.

Chen Bing responded with an acknowledgment and led Shen Long inside.

Ice Silkworm True Person sat at the main seat, while a tall red-robed elder with a face like a red date and a presence as vast as the ocean sat beside him, with Qin Shuangshuang standing behind the red-robed elder.

“So this is Junior Brother Lin’s newly accepted disciple.

Not bad, truly a person of outstanding character,” the red-robed elder said as he sized up Shen Long and offered his praise.

Qin Shuo, Late Stage Core Formation.

“Disciple Shen Long pays his respects to Master and Master Uncle Qin,” Shen Long bowed.

Ice Silkworm True Person nodded and spoke, “Shen Long, haven’t you always mentioned to your master that you wish to consult Senior Brother Qin on the art of alchemy?”

Shen Long had never made such a statement; he was aware that Ice Silkworm True Person was creating an opportunity for him.

The chance to consult with Qin Shuo about alchemy was something that many second-rank Alchemists in the Spirit Control Sect dreamed of.

“Disciple indeed has many questions that he wishes to consult with Master Uncle Qin about,” Shen Long said politely.

“There are no outsiders here, Shen Shizhu, feel free to speak,” Qin Shuo said with a friendly demeanor.

Shen Long looked delighted, thanked Qin Shuo, and then expressed his confusion and problems.

Qin Shuo answered all of them, resulting in great benefit to Shen Long.

“Thank you, Master Uncle Qin, for providing guidance.

Otherwise, this disciple would have taken many detours,” Shen Long expressed his gratitude.

“Shen Shizhu, you can exchange alchemy techniques with Shuangshuang more often in the future.

Young people should interact more,” Qin Shuo suggested.

Shen Long, who had secured third place at the Xuanyang Ceremony, had brought honor to Spirit Control Sect and had also caught the attention of the sect’s higher echelons.

“Disciple has indeed been meaning to consult with Senior Sister Qin, but was concerned about interrupting her cultivation,” Shen Long said politely.

“Not a bother at all.

Shen Junior Brother, feel free to visit me more often.

While I dare not claim to be a teacher, exchanging knowledge is certainly no issue,” Qin Shuangshuang said with a smile.

She had met Shen Long twice before and thought him to be just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Shen Long had passed through numerous trials in the Xuanyang Ceremony, and being accepted as a disciple by Ice Silkworm True Person, he was now on an equal footing with Qin Shuangshuang.

“Certainly, I shall visit you another day,” Shen Long promised with a smile.

“Junior Brother Lin, I’ll be leaving that matter to you.

I have other business to attend to and must take my leave now,” Qin Shuo said, rising to take his leave.

“Chen Bing, would you see Master Uncle Qin off for me,” Ice Silkworm True Person asked.

Chen Bing replied affirmatively and personally escorted Qin Shuo and Qin Shuangshuang out.

“Have you encountered trouble in your cultivation?

Could it be related to Flood Dragon Essence Blood?” Ice Silkworm True Person inquired.

Shen Long honestly presented his issues, hoping Ice Silkworm True Person could unravel his perplexities.

“It seems you’ve hit a bottleneck.

There are many methods to overcome it, which typically involve traveling, attending gatherings of cultivators at the same stage, engaging in sparring with peers, or seeking treasures in dangerous places and battling formidable foes,” Ice Silkworm True Person said slowly.

He took out a green Jade Slip and handed it to Shen Long, “This contains the methods I used to overcome bottlenecks.

I hope it can help you.”

Shen Long accepted the Jade Slip with both hands, expressing his thanks repeatedly.