Chapter 55

Attracting Investment

As for Ruan Ci, after coming out of the Purple Void Heaven, she did not want a steward to drive her, so she gathered her Qi and leaped, riding the wind. She flew up and down in the air like a butterfly threading through flowers, playing for a while. She only felt that after Foundation Establishment, the magic power in her body was surging, her body was as light as nothing, and with a single thought, her body and the escape light merged into one. It was another wonderful feeling, truly having transcended the mundane, no longer the same as a mortal. Her physical body seemed to exist between being and non-being, as if it were a vessel for spirituality to reside in the world, yet no longer as closely combined with her true spirit as it was during Qi Refining.

After Foundation Establishment, every time a cultivator ascends a layer of the high platform, there will be more manifestations. Ruan Ci had only just condensed half of the first stage, so her feelings were very different from those of a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment. However, these matters of cultivation could be arranged slowly after returning to her cave dwelling. At this moment, she dared not delay too long; she still had to go to Spirit Valley Peak to report and register, and apologized to the stewards, "This disciple knows that after Foundation Establishment, I should have come to Spirit Valley Peak first, but my Master summoned me, and I dared not refuse. I ask the stewards to please be accommodating."

The stewards had originally thought that Ruan Ci had only reached the fifth or sixth layer of Foundation Establishment and feared that Purple Void Heaven would not accept her as a personal disciple. Unexpectedly, there had been a change in the sect's secondary jade register, and True Person Wang's name indeed had one more disciple. Knowing Ruan Ci's background was not something they could offend, they all apologized with smiles, "This is the True Person's affection, and perhaps there are important matters to instruct. Since it has only been delayed by a few hours, it does not matter. Junior Sister Ci, please come here to offer incense and register, and release the Cleansing Spell."

Ruan Ci smiled slightly, first offering incense and bowing to the Dao Ancestor, then secretly pinched a seal. The inner landscape world slowly emerged. She saw the Jade Pool shrouded in clouds and mist, unable to see its size. On the high platform in the pool, of the eight layers, the first layer was condensed and solid, while the rest were all hazy phantom images. The stewards were all secretly shocked but dared not discuss it further. They first brought the vermilion brush, exerted their magic power, crossed out Ruan Ci's name from the outer sect register, and wrote down Ruan Ci's master, age, and even the grade of her Foundation Establishment on the inner sect register. They presented her with a jade plaque and smiled, "Since Junior Sister has caught the eye of True Person Wang of Purple Void and been admitted to the sect, I suppose you will move into the Cave Heaven to live before long. However, according to the sect's rules, after Foundation Establishment, you can change to a cave dwelling with richer spiritual energy, and the provisions for inner sect disciples are also different. All these are handled at Central Lu Peak. There is no rush for this matter; Junior Sister can go and handle it when you have time. If you are busy, sending your servants or guests to do it is also fine."

Before, during the Qi Refining stage, she only felt that Spirit Valley Peak was very wide, and the sect never asked about what the disciples did, yet it was also very strict; many things were difficult to handle unless the cultivator went in person. Unexpectedly, once she entered Foundation Establishment, the sect became polite, and even provisions and cave dwellings could be handled by servants. Ruan Ci thought, "I wonder how much of this is for the sake of Purple Void Heaven."

Her status was indeed special; not only was her Foundation Establishment speed extremely fast, but she had also spent her entire Qi Refining stage cultivating behind closed doors in her cave dwelling. Spirit Valley Peak actually had many places where Qi Refining disciples gathered to study and meet friends, and Ruan Ci had never been there once. Recalling her ten years of Qi Refining, except for occasional interactions with Tianlu and Lin Xianen, she had spent all her time cultivating. Having finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment, she had no time to rest or play. After leaving Spirit Valley Peak, she still went in person to Central Lu Peak to choose a cave dwelling, then returned to Catching Moon Cliff, gave instructions to He Tong and the others, and picked two hairpins and rings from the many items Tianlu had sent. She then went to Heavenly Eye Peak to find Green Silk and smiled, "Sister Green Silk, I have always been taken care of by True Person Chen and Sister Lin Ji. I was focused on cultivation before and had no time to attend to it. Now that I have finally reached Foundation Establishment, I want to go to Longyao Precious Light Heaven to express my gratitude, but I cannot find the way in. If you have free time, Sister, could you take me?"

This Heavenly Eye Peak was where the sect refined elixirs, and there were many female immortal stewards. Green Silk seemed to be quite useful among them. However, she was also very surprised that Ruan Ci had come to find her. She held Ruan Ci's hand and smiled, "You wait for me a moment; I will give a few instructions and then come."

After a while, she released a magic tool, rode it with Ruan Ci, and flew deep into Purple Essence Mountain. Ruan Ci thanked her, and Green Silk smiled, "It is I who should thank Miss Ci. We Cave Heaven immortal maidens, who among us doesn't look for opportunities to walk around the Old Ancestor, fearing that the master will forget us? Today, Miss Ci is taking me to Longyao Precious Light Heaven; I couldn't even ask for such a chance."

The two chatted along the way and soon arrived deep in Purple Essence Mountain. They saw a floating island proudly situated in the center, with a mountain gate on it. It was one of the eight floating islands connected to the mountain gate when Ruan Ci first came to Purple Essence Mountain. Ruan Ci thought, "This True Person Qiu must have a high status in the sect. The entrance to Purple Void Heaven is not this grand."

Green Silk took Ruan Ci to fly toward the floating island. Sure enough, it was silent before the mountain gate, with only a light curtain faintly floating. Green Silk took a jade plaque from her sleeve and threw it into the light curtain. Before long, the light curtain flickered and shrank to both sides. Lin Ji flew out from the light curtain, took Ruan Ci's small hand, and smiled, "You heartless little girl, you finally came."

Green Silk was very tactful. Once she entered Longyao Precious Light Heaven, she excused herself to find her sisters to chat. Lin Ji took Ruan Ci to see Chen Jun and asked about her cultivation at Catching Moon Cliff. Ruan Ci told her one by one, then took out the hairpins and rings, and smiled, "I wanted to come before, but my pockets were empty, and I couldn't pay for Panpan's meal money, fearing Sister Lin Ji would ask me for it. Now that I have these two little things, I can please you, Sister. I think if you loosen your hand, you will let me pass."

Before, she had not opened her meridians and did not know Lin Ji's cultivation, only knowing that she could not beat her. Now, meeting again after Foundation Establishment, she still felt that the aura around her was unfathomable, and her cultivation base was likely far beyond her own at this time. However, Lin Ji no longer treated Ruan Ci as a cub. Although she was affectionate in her words, she was more measured in her actions, unlike when they were in South Zhuzhou, where there was still a hint of care. Now, even when walking, she slightly turned to the side, not daring to walk side-by-side with Ruan Ci. Hearing this, she smiled, "Good, so it turns out that in Miss Ci's heart, I am a bad woman who fills her own pockets, practices favoritism, and doesn't take Master Jun's private treasury seriously."

The two looked at each other and smiled. Ruan Ci asked, "Where is Panpan? Is it still crying?"

Lin Ji sighed, shook her head with a helpless smile, and Ruan Ci knew that although Wang Panpan cried, it still sent messages in time, which showed that even if it was sad, it was not excessive. She said, "Panpan is too willful. Sister Lin Ji has also had a hard time these ten years."

Lin Ji smiled, "Where does that come from? I would rather spend more time with someone as straightforward as Panpan."

She winked at Ruan Ci and whispered with a smile, "This servant is not very afraid of cats anymore."

It seemed that Lin Ji was one step closer to her wish of becoming human, and Ruan Ci was happy for her. The two talked and laughed as they walked along the covered corridor into Chen Jun's cave dwelling, feeling that the distance was not very far. Seeing Ruan Ci looking back at the road, Lin Ji smiled, "This is the restriction within Precious Light Heaven. It can follow your heart's desire. Wherever you want to go, the scenery changes as you step, and you arrive naturally."

Chen Jun's true self was in seclusion, so it was his avatar that came out to meet her. Now that Ruan Ci had been admitted to True Person Wang's sect, she was considered to be of the same generation as Chen Jun. Ruan Ci addressed him as Senior Brother, and the two sat down to talk about old times. Chen Jun said, "Yanqing is also in the mansion. I could have called him to meet you, but he has been in seclusion for the past few days to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and has no time to be distracted. We can only leave it for next time."

The Precious Light Heaven lineage had brought Ruan Ci into the mansion from South Zhuzhou, which was a natural cause and effect. Although Chen Jun was indifferent to Ruan Ci and there was no special care after she entered the sect, keeping Wang Panpan for ten years was already a significant favor. Now that Ruan Ci had reached the twelfth layer of Foundation Establishment, Chen Jun did not change his attitude from before, remaining indifferent. Only in the matter of Wang Panpan was he very attentive. When Ruan Ci said she wanted to take it away, Chen Jun frowned slightly and asked, "Are you still going to live outside Purple Void Heaven after Foundation Establishment? This is not very good. You must know that Foundation Establishment is only just stepping into the immortal gate; do not become arrogant and complacent because of this. I already know about the few things you did in the sect. Although you had just opened your meridians at that time, you had already formed a flawless Golden Body, so naturally, you had no opponents in the Qi Refining stage. Do not think that there is no one in the sect because of this. You must know that after Foundation Establishment, the gap in cultivation for every small step is huge. Some people were inconvenient in the Qi Refining stage, but now is the perfect opportunity for them to strike."

The rules of Langhuan Zhou Heaven were that it was not good to bully the small with the big. In the Qi Refining stage, cultivators lacked means of fighting, and even if their cultivation was stronger, it was just a bit more magic power, and no gap in combat power could be drawn. People like True Person Ouyang who lost face and sent Foundation Establishment and Jin Dan cultivators were ultimately few, and they were immediately punished by the Sect Master, having no face in the sect. But now that Ruan Ci had forged her Dao foundation, it was different. The first layer of Foundation Establishment is Foundation Establishment, the ninth layer is Foundation Establishment, and the peak of Foundation Establishment is still Foundation Establishment. Three or five peak Foundation Establishment cultivators besieging Ruan Ci would not be considered bullying the small with the big. Chen Jun's words were actually quite pertinent. Ruan Ci said, "Senior Brother is right, but Junior Sister has already asked for permission from my Master to bring Panpan into Purple Void Heaven—my Master has also agreed."

Chen Jun could not help but be stunned. He looked at Lin Ji, then changed to a smile and said, "That's fine. Anyway, you have a cave dwelling in the outer mountains. Now that you have reached Foundation Establishment, it is different from the past. Even if Panpan lives alone in the outer mountains, no one will make things difficult for you."

He hinted that Ruan Ci should not bring Wang Panpan before True Person Wang. The meaning was actually very clear, but Ruan Ci did not want to cater to True Person Wang's mood like that. Hearing this, she just smiled and said nothing. Chen Jun found it inconvenient to say more, so he took her to pay respects to True Person Qiu and said, "The True Person has wanted to see you for a long time. Since you are here today, you should pay a visit."

He personally took Ruan Ci over, casually introducing the exotic flowers and plants planted in the courtyard along the way. True Person Qiu was skilled in alchemy, and the spiritual plants planted everywhere in the courtyard were very precious. Ruan Ci listened with great interest and soon arrived at a quiet pavilion. A young man was sitting by the water fishing in the outer corridor. Chen Jun bowed and said, "Master, this is Ruan Ci."

When he asked for Ruan Ci's name, Ruan Ci did not hold the Great Mantra and didn't feel anything at the time. Now that she had lived in the Central Continent for a long time, hearing Chen Jun recite it, Ruan Ci felt a bit uncomfortable. The young man glanced at Chen Jun and smiled, "You child, you are just ignorant. If I want to know her name, I can ask her myself."

Although he was a Cave Heaven master, True Person Qiu was very kind to Ruan Ci, and his thoughts were delicate. This sentence made Ruan Ci feel very comfortable in her heart. He smiled again, "I know your name, so of course I must tell you mine—my name is Qiu Yingmeng. I am your Senior Uncle, but I am much older than your Master."

Ruan Ci did not have a bad impression of True Person Qiu. She hurriedly paid her respects and exchanged pleasantries. Her heart also stirred, and she secretly thought, "True Person Qiu told me his name the first time we met. I became True Person Wang's disciple, but until now, I don't even know what his name is."

"I have heard my disciples mention your affairs. Foundation Establishment in ten years, twelve-layered platform; your talent is truly commendable." True Person Qiu asked Ruan Ci to sit beside him and encouraged her a few times. He didn't say anything about wanting to see her inner landscape world. He waved his sleeve and casually handed Ruan Ci a small jade bottle, smiling, "However, with such a high platform, even with many elixirs, it will take you a lot of time to refine your magic power. Hehe, twelve layers of Foundation Establishment; those three extra stages beyond ordinary people, how could they be so easy to ascend? This 'Yuan-Supplementing Jade Dew Pill' is made by refining spiritual energy and can help you condense one layer of the high platform. When you use it, it is entirely up to you."

For Ruan Ci, this could save at least twenty years of hard cultivation. If used on the last few layers, it could save thousands of years of effort. The most precious thing was that True Person Qiu specifically pointed out that this medicine was not tainted with Dao rhyme, so Ruan Ci could take it. She hurriedly bowed to thank him. True Person Qiu smiled again, "My place is a humble home, and there are not many good things. Your Senior Uncle, the Sect Master, is the fat sheep. If you have the chance, you should take a big bite out of him. Any disciple at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment begs for favors everywhere when cultivating. I think you, with your twelve layers of Foundation Establishment, will have to go begging inside and outside the sect, right? Chen Jun brought you back; you can come here often in the future. I expect he won't dare not give you anything."

Chen Jun's face turned bitter, but he dared not say anything more. Ruan Ci smiled, "Fine, then when I get benefits from Senior Brother Chen, I will remember the favor for Senior Uncle."

After a few jokes, Ruan Ci took her leave and went with Lin Ji to pick up Wang Panpan. Wang Panpan was huddled in the corner, unwilling to pay attention to them. Ruan Ci stepped forward, forcibly hugged it, patted it a few times, and coaxed, "Alright, do you have so little confidence in Sister Xie? Are you that scared?"

She talked to Wang Panpan, and Lin Ji tactfully withdrew. Wang Panpan was still sobbing and choking, "What do you know? Do you really think your twelve layers of Foundation Establishment is a good thing? I tell you, you have been targeted by the Dao Ancestor. If Qingjun wants you to be her vessel, she only needs one thought to kill Xie Yan—Xie Yan is also a Sword Seed, have you forgotten? She is also tainted with the Sword Spirit! She can collect all the Sword Seeds in the world with one sword, why can't Qingjun?"

Ruan Ci felt in her heart that the Qingjun of the past life did not seem to be able to do this, or had no intention of doing so. Wang Panpan's speculation was just its own one-sided view. She said, "That may be so, but why aren't you worried that Sister Xie went to another Great Heaven and was killed, or that the Mother-Child Yin Coffin was gnawed by Heavenly Demons in the virtual number? She only had her true spirit left to break through the void; it was a narrow escape from death, and I don't see you washing your face with tears every day."

Wang Panpan thought about it carefully and found it had no rebuttal, so it gradually stopped sobbing. Blinking, it was hugged by Ruan Ci into the jade basket. Still unwilling, it whispered, "Actually, even if she couldn't come back alive after leaving Langhuan Zhou Heaven, I wouldn't be sad. But if she died like this, it wouldn't be worth it for me. Even if she is killed by you in the future, it's fine, but she cannot be removed by the Dao Ancestor as a vessel for reincarnation. If she dies like this, I will never be convinced."

Ruan Ci heard this and felt there was a lot to it. When she was about to ask further, Wang Panpan refused to say more. It rubbed its eyes with its two little paws, forced itself to be energetic, and called to Lin Ji, "I want to take many Shallow Cherry Crossing the River to eat! You just keep the fish in the Heavenly River Mist Universe Jar—"

Lin Ji smiled, "Yes, yes, whatever you want to eat, just tell Miss Ci to tell me."

She had already packed Wang Panpan's belongings and handed the Heavenly River Mist Universe Jar to Ruan Ci, asking softly, "Purple Void Heaven..."

Ruan Ci shook her head slightly, and Lin Ji stopped talking, just covering her mouth and giggling. Wang Panpan asked suspiciously, "What's wrong with Purple Void Heaven? Oh, right, Ruan Ci, have you been admitted as a disciple?"

Ruan Ci did not tell it yet. It was only after leaving Longyao Precious Light Heaven that she mentioned moving into Purple Void Cave Illumination Heaven. Wang Panpan was indeed extremely reluctant, making a scene about wanting to return to Lin Ji's place. Ruan Ci said, "We've already left, we can't go back. Look, the gate is closed, how can you go? Are you going to go over and knock on the door?"

Wang Panpan looked back at the mountain gate a few times, seeing the light curtain was dim and had no flaws. It made a grumbling sound in its throat to show its anger, but was eventually gradually appeased and accepted the reality. It asked again, "You went to see True Person Qiu, what benefits did you get?"

Ruan Ci said, "Longyao Precious Light Heaven keeping you for ten years was already a subtle show of goodwill to the Sect Master's lineage. This time, when the True Person saw me, the reward was also generous. He gave me a Yuan-Supplementing Jade Dew Pill and gave me pointers everywhere, telling me to come to Senior Brother Chen for benefits more often in the future. It seems that knowing I have twelve layers of Foundation Establishment, the Precious Light Heaven lineage has decided to attach itself to me."

Wang Panpan nodded, "Not bad. True Person Qiu has always been impartial in his actions. He is a master of alchemy and has an extraordinary status in the sect. It's just that he raised two disciples with no foundation but very good talent. Chen Jun will achieve Cave Heaven in the future, and the sect can give him this opportunity, but Zhou Yanqing still wants to fight for Cave Heaven. To support two Cave Heaven True Persons, his lineage's foundation is insufficient. You have twelve layers of Foundation Establishment and are the only tool cultivator among the Donghua Sword Envoys. Naturally, everyone is wondering if you have any connection with Qingjun. If you are really chosen by Qingjun to be her vessel, this might be a bad thing for you, but for the Sect Master and the Shangqing Sect, they would be beating drums and gongs to celebrate. True Person Qiu has already formed a good relationship with you, so naturally, he is trimming his sails and has become closer to the Sect Master's lineage."

Ruan Ci had already figured out some of these calculations. At this moment, she was no longer disgusted by this kind of attachment and showing of goodwill. After all, True Person Qiu had made it very clear that above the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, one cannot rely solely on one's own magic power to cultivate in the mountains; one definitely needs help. Moreover, what the sect can give is ultimately limited. Even True Person Wang has his own disciples and grand-disciples; being partial would only arouse the dissatisfaction of other sect members and would also make Ruan Ci more vulnerable before her Master. To maintain a certain degree of autonomy, she must cultivate her own connections, and these connections are not limited to the Shangqing Sect. On this trip out of the mountains, she will inevitably have to settle old scores with Qu Tanyue. When they bowed in South Zhuzhou, he also said that he would make up for the betrothal gift when he returned to the Central Continent. Ruan Ci is really counting on this wealthy official.

"I don't know why the True Persons value the twelve layers of Foundation Establishment so much," she thought about the long road ahead and how she would have to run around for external objects, so she couldn't help but sigh to Wang Panpan, "The first nine layers are fine, but just now, hearing True Person Qiu's advice, the last three layers are not something that can be cultivated by hard work or taking elixirs. I really don't know how I should ascend the high platform. I'm afraid I'll be stuck in the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Don't you get the benefits and then complain." Wang Panpan was not used to her bad habits. It struck like lightning, scratched a cut on Ruan Ci's hand, and hummed, "The Shangqing Sect has never accepted a disciple with the potential of a Dao Ancestor for so many years, and they would let you be delayed? Your Master will naturally find a way for you regarding these matters in your cultivation."

Mentioning True Person Wang, it couldn't help but shrink its neck. Seeing Purple Void Heaven in sight, it hurriedly burrowed into the jade basket, stretched out its claws, scratched a few times to close the lid, and buzzed in the basket, "I warn you, you must not mention me in front of the True Person—humph, if it weren't for you being about to go out for training, I wouldn't have come with you..."

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Updated, sorry for the long wait, everyone. I don't know what to say. I ate some watermelon at noon, is that worth mentioning? If I add an extra chapter, asking for a comment isn't too much, right~

Sigh, I am really picky about reading. Actually, "Zanying Wending" is written quite well. I didn't finish it, which is entirely my aesthetic problem. I just don't like the "loyal dog" attribute from the bottom of my heart, and I don't know why.

. Thanks to the little angels who cast overlord votes or irrigated with nutrient solution for me between 2020-08-14 11:42:32 and 2020-08-14 15:11:58~

Thanks to the little angels who cast landmines: Shijian de Wangyu, hamelji, Zhenjian Bisha kira, Yu Wanyao, Kandao BUG jiu xiang qiwen, The Lychee Whose Account Was Stolen, 1 each;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: Wang Cuizi 120 bottles; Xiaozhou 50 bottles; Yanxun Xiaopang sky, Dad 20 bottles; xiaoxiao, Lili, Jin·Grandet·Jiang 5 bottles; aw 4 bottles; Fengguang 2 bottles; baby Leyao, Mo, Zhaosheng Wu Guyou 1 bottle;

Thank you all very much for your support; I will continue to work hard!