Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 147 - 146: Invitation (Seeking Monthly Tickets) _1

Chapter 147: Chapter 146: Invitation (Seeking Monthly Tickets) _1

Smoke Willow Lane, House No. 87.

"Sir—or should I say senior? Have you really achieved Foundation Establishment? Congratulations, senior, my felicitations!"

Fairy Teng Luo’s cherry lips parted in shock as she looked at Fang Xi, her face a picture of bewilderment.

Especially when she thought about how she once flirted carelessly with him, she nearly wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Congratulations, senior, on your successful Foundation Establishment!"

Jin Ling followed the customs of the Cultivation World with an ancient salute, her expression very complex.

"Ah... It was only after hearing of Sir Su’s resoluteness, and realising my own sixtieth-year threshold was approaching, that I decided to risk it all..."

Fang Xi’s face was filled with a hint of lingering fear, "I was just lucky..."

In truth, his Foundation Establishment process was extremely smooth, almost as if he could have succeeded even without the Foundation Establishment Pill.

But even if given a hundred chances, Fang Xi would still choose to consume the Foundation Establishment Pill to break through, if just for the sake of safety!

A long life must be as steady as an old dog.

Every breakthrough that carried the risk of death was irresponsible to his own potential four hundred years of longevity!

"Su Lie..."

Jin Ling seemed to think of something and shook her head sorrowfully.

Her Taoist companion, already past sixty, had still insisted on forcing his breakthrough without the life-saving Foundation Establishment Pill. His death due to failure was really self-inflicted...

"Moreover..." Fang Xi smiled, taking a sip of Spiritual Tea, "I’ve asked both of you kind neighbors to come over because I need a favor."

"Whatever task senior has, this junior will not shy away from it!" said Fairy Teng Luo, her eyes immediately lighting up.

This was running errands for a major cultivator at Foundation Establishment!

There were many Qi Refining cultivators in the city; how many could claim to have a Foundation Establishment background?

If she could catch his eye, her status in the outer city would soar.

"Whatever senior commands!" Jin Ling replied softly and sweetly.

This made Fang Xi marvel internally; in the Cultivation World, a major breakthrough truly made one’s status incomparable to the past—like heaven and earth!

He cleared his throat, "I am not fond of noisy disturbances, and in the coming days, my Foundation Establishment will draw plenty of visitors. I would ask both of you to act as my welcomers. For most visitors, just accept their visiting cards directly. For the powers that cannot be easily refused, I will personally meet..."

"Leave it to me. I’ve spent over a dozen years in Baize Immortal City. I’m familiar with all the major powers and will surely handle this well for Sir!"

Fairy Teng Luo thumped her chest, promising.

To act as a gatekeeper for a Foundation Establishment cultivator was something many Qi Refining cultivators couldn’t even beg for.

After all, the gatekeeper, to some extent, represented the comings and goings of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, indicating a close relationship with them.

Fairy Teng Luo cast another stealthy glance at Fang Xi:

’Could it be... this major cultivator wants to take us two as concubines? I need to persuade Sister Jin Ling... What an opportunity, we must not let it slip away.’

Given the disparity in status, Fairy Teng Luo dared not even dream of becoming the legal wife, aiming only to be a concubine.

...

Fang Xi, of course, had no idea of all the thoughts brewing in Fairy Teng Luo’s mind, even contemplating on winning over Jin Ling to have an ally in future boudoir matters.

He was merely lacking manpower and had casually sought out two people for the task.

After giving his instructions, he returned to his seclusion.

Sure enough.

Once the news of another Individual Cultivator’s Foundation Establishment success was released in Baize Immortal City, it caused quite a stir in the outer city.

For the countless cultivators of the outer city, each Individual Cultivator’s success in Foundation Establishment was a tremendous inspiration.

Many cultivators wished to visit him.

Most were small or medium-sized forces, coming to familiarize themselves, presenting their visiting cards and gifts...

Some Qi Refining-level small factions even prepared to offer up their gang leadership, as long as Fang Xi would accept...

After all, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator leading, that would signify a major force in the outer city.

Jin Ling and Fairy Teng Luo supervised each other, occasionally collaborating, and managed to handle everything in an orderly fashion, categorizing the gifts and visiting cards for Fang Xi to check later.

Only one person intending to offer handmaidens and cauldrons was derisively rejected by Fairy Teng Luo; seeing the two enchanting fairies present, he realized he had made a faux pas and left in disgruntlement...

Of course, these were all minor forces at the Qi Refining level.

When powers at the Foundation Establishment level came, Fairy Teng Luo and Jin Ling did not dare make a decision on their own and went to ask Fang Xi to meet them in person.

Fang Xi waited for half a month and still did not see the person he had wished to meet.

Wondering about this while feeding the big azure fish by the pond, he saw Fairy Teng Luo hurrying in to report, "Senior... the Young Head of the Song Family, Song Qing has arrived!"

"Oh?"

He touched his face, then stood up, "I will personally go out to welcome him!"

Fang Xi went to the doorway and saw Song Qing as expected. The young man was still dressed as a dashing gentleman, holding a jade folding fan. Upon seeing Fang Xi, he greeted him with a smile and a bow, "Song Qing offers his congratulations to Sir on your Foundation Establishment success! I have brought a modest gift, please graciously accept!"

Clearly, this man had not realized that Fang Xi was the same Individual Cultivator who had bought the ’Longevity Skills’ in disguise.

"So it is the Young Head of the Song Family, please do come in!"

Fang Xi, naturally, wore a face mixed with surprise and delight as he invited Song Qing into the courtyard and ordered Jin Ling and another to serve up Spiritual Tea.

"Sir, your abode really has the feel of idle clouds and wild cranes..."

Song Qing was graceful and charming, making everyone feel as warm as the spring breeze. After tapping his folding fan on the edge of the pond and commenting on the Little Green Dragon, he smiled and said, "To be frank... My visit this time has two purposes: firstly, to congratulate Sir on your achievement in Foundation Establishment, and secondly, to invite you to join my Song Family."

"Join the Song Family?"

Fang Xi appeared contemplative on the surface, but inside felt quite odd.

He knew that after successfully establishing his foundation, there would certainly be no shortage of people coming to woo him, but he hadn’t expected the first would be the Song Family!

’What’s this, the irony of fate?’

Seeing Fang Xi’s hesitation, Song Qing let out a hearty laugh and continued, "Being from Yue Country as well, Sir must be aware of the Seven Major Clans, correct?"

"As familiar as thunder!"

Fang Xi nodded.

Song Qing went on to say, "In Yue Country, the seven Foundation Establishment noble families, the Qi Family known for their myriad skills, the Grean Leaf Xu Family, and the Yellow Wind Long Family all follow the lead of our Song Family. Decades ago, Blackwater Situ Family and Heaven Talisman Shen Family both fell one after the other, but then the Tu Family and the Wan Family rose... The Foundation Establishment ancestors of these two families were originally Individual Cultivators, but now they have become local strongmen, establishing families and claiming venerable titles, truly living the life!"

"What exactly do you mean?"

Fang Xi’s eyes lit up.

"If you join the Song Family, I, Song Qing, guarantee that within twenty years... the Seven Major Clans will surely include the Fang Family!"

Song Qing declared with an authoritative air, "You’ve lived in Thousand Island Lake for many years, so naturally you know that the Dragon Fish Zhong Family is also one of the Seven Major Clans. Now that they have fallen, my Song Family is looking for a suitable candidate..."

’I see, they want me to take the fall for the Dragon Fish Zhong Family!’

Fang Xi mentally rolled his eyes: ’And want me to establish a family back in Thousand Island Lake... Pfft... If Thousand Island Lake is so great, why on earth would I have fled?!’

He clearly understood that Thousand Island Lake was currently very murky and unfathomable.

’The Song Family harbors ill intentions, wanting me to fill the pit!’

’I don’t believe they are completely unaware of the in-depth situation!’

’Moreover, none of the other Foundation Establishment powers in the city have made a move to invite me; could it be that someone is sabotaging from behind?’

Frankly, Fang Xi had no intention whatsoever of joining the Song Family, but he still put on a greatly moved appearance: "This... I have just successfully established my foundation, please allow me some more time to consider your offer."

"Very well, I shall give you a few days to think it over. You should know that the chance to become one of the Seven Major Clans does not come by often..."

Song Qing let out a light chuckle, didn’t even drink the Spiritual Tea that Jin Ling had served, and left directly.

...

"Young Master!"

At the door, a member of the Song Family approached.

"Get in the carriage and then talk!"

Song Qing boarded a beast carriage pulled by two Spirit Steeds, and only then did his expression turn cold.

This servant of the Song Family followed him into the carriage, bowing as he said, "It’s all been checked thoroughly... Fang Xi, an Individual Cultivator from Yue Country, once worked as a Spirit Farmer in Green Bamboo Mountain Market. His appearance matches... After the chaos on Green Bamboo Mountain two years ago, he disappeared for two years. When he reappeared, he was in Thousand Island Lake, helping the Island Master of Peach Blossom Island, Ruan Xingling, reclaim her ancestral property, was conferred Jadeite Cliff, and then spent thirty years farming and fishing. After breaking through the late Qi Refining Stage at the age of forty, he left Peach Blossom Island five years ago and came to Baize Immortal City, already at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Months later, he reached Qi Refining completion, rented a second-tier Spiritual Vein Dongfu, and broke through to Foundation Establishment..."

"Any Individual Cultivator who manages to establish a foundation surely has some luck!"

Song Qing was dismissive, "This man’s talents are meager, yet his cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, which must mean that he secured a substantial amount of resources and benefits from the turmoil at Green Bamboo Mountain and the upheaval on Dragon Fish Island!"

"It’s also thanks to Yue Country’s unrest these past decades; Foundation Establishment noble families have been falling one after another, otherwise how would he have had the chance to rise to prominence?"

As for this type of Individual Cultivator who seemed to have fed on the downfall of noble families, as the leading Young Head of the Song Family, he certainly wouldn’t hold them in high regard.

"This person was at the eighth level of Qi Refining five years ago and suddenly reached completion. It seems a bit suspicious..." said the Song Family servant, raising a doubt.

"He may have been hiding his cultivation, when he left Peach Blossom Island, he must have been at the ninth level of Qi Refining... Even if not, the world of Cultivation is full of pills that can break through stages, to just barely reach Qi Refining completion before sixty, this person may have some secrets, but they are not that significant..."

Song Qing caressed the Purple Yunzhu Bracelet on his left wrist, completely unconcerned.

Which Individual Cultivator who manages to establish a foundation doesn’t have their little secrets?

If they are of poor talent yet manage to establish a foundation at the age of twenty or thirty, then that’s truly something that requires close attention!

"I suspect that this man once stumbled upon a Base-building Spiritual Object on Dragon Fish Island; how else could he have succeeded in Foundation Establishment?... It’s a pity we didn’t discover this earlier and let him use it successfully," Song Qing shook his head.

As for Foundation Establishment Pills?

The tracks of each one were closely monitored; he hadn’t even considered this possibility!

"Young Master is wise, but... are we really going to support him?"

The Song Family servant was somewhat reluctant.

After all, that was a patriarch of a local Foundation Establishment noble family!

"The waters of Thousand Island Lake are a bit deep, let’s just put down a piece and test the waters first..."

Song Qing tapped lightly with his folding fan, seemingly with a well-thought-out plan.

After all, which Individual Cultivator doesn’t want to soar to great heights, and which one dares to refuse the olive branch offered by him, the Young Head of the Song Family?