Chapter 59

Investment Promotion

Now, as for Both Both Ruan Ci, after leaving the Purple Void Heaven, she did not ask the steward to send her off by carriage. She gathered her Qi and leaped, traveling on the wind. She fluttered up and down in the air like a butterfly passing through flowers, playing for a while. She only felt that after Foundation Establishment, the magic power in her body surged, her body felt as light as nothing, and with a single thought, her body and her escape light merged into one. It was another marvelous sensation; she had truly transcended the mundane and was 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 her spiritual nature, yet it was no longer as tightly bound to her true spirit as it had been during Qi Refining.

After Foundation Establishment, every time a cultivator ascends to a new layer of the high platform, there will be more manifestations. Both Both Ruan Ci had only just condensed half of the first tier, so compared to a cultivator at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, her feelings were vastly different. However, these matters of cultivation could wait to be arranged slowly after returning to her grotto-dwelling. At this moment, she dared not delay too long, so she went first 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 had a summons, and I dared not refuse. I ask all the stewards to please be accommodating."

The stewards had originally thought that Both Both Ruan Ci had only achieved five or six layers 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 jade register's secondary volume, and True Person Wang indeed had one more disciple under his name. Realizing Both Both Ruan Ci's background was not something they could afford to offend, they all smiled apologetically, "This is the True Person's favor, and there must be important matters to attend to. Since it has only been delayed by a few hours, it is of no consequence. Junior Sister Ci, please come here to offer incense and register, and release the Cleansing Spell."

Both Both Ruan Ci smiled slightly, first offering incense and bowing to the Dao Ancestor, then secretly pinched a seal. Her inner landscape slowly emerged, and she saw the jade pool shrouded in clouds and mist, making it impossible to see its size. On the high platform in the pool, there were eight layers, with the first layer condensed into a small solid patch, while the rest were all hazy phantoms. The stewards were all secretly shocked but dared not discuss it further. They first brought over a vermilion brush and, channeling their magic power, crossed out Both Both Ruan Ci's name from the outer sect register. They then wrote down Both Both Ruan Ci's master, age, and even the grade of her Foundation Establishment on the inner sect register, and presented her with a jade plaque, smiling, "Since Junior Sister has caught the eye of True Person Wang of Purple Void and has been admitted into the sect, I imagine you will soon move into the Grotto-Heaven to reside. However, according to sect rules, after Foundation Establishment, you may change to a grotto-dwelling with richer spiritual energy, and the provisions for inner sect disciples are also different. All of this is handled at Central Lu Peak. There is no rush for this; Junior Sister can handle it when you have the time. If you are busy, sending your servants or retainers to do it is also fine."

Previously, during the Qi Refining stage, she had only felt that Spirit Valley Peak was very broad, and the disciples' affairs were always ignored, yet the rules were extremely strict; many things were difficult to handle without the cultivator's personal presence. Unexpectedly, once she entered Foundation Establishment, the sect became polite, and even provisions and grotto-dwellings could be handled by servants. Both Both Ruan Ci thought to herself, "I wonder how much of this is for the sake of Purple Void Heaven."

Her status was indeed somewhat special; not only was her Foundation Establishment speed incredibly fast, but she had also spent her entire Qi Refining stage in closed-door cultivation within her grotto-dwelling. Spirit Valley Peak actually had many places where Qi Refining disciples studied and met friends, but Both Both Ruan Ci had never been there once. Recalling her ten years of Qi Refining, besides occasionally interacting 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 went personally to Central Lu Peak to choose her grotto-dwelling, then returned to Moon-Catching Cliff to give instructions to He Tong and the others. From the many items Tianlu had sent, she chose two hairpins and ornaments, and then went to Heavenly Eye Peak to find Green Silk, smiling, "Sister Green Silk, I have always been cared for by True Person Chen and Sister Lin Ji. Previously, I was focused on cultivation and had no time to attend to other matters. Now that I have finally reached Foundation Establishment, I want to go to Long-Shining Precious Light Heaven to express my gratitude, but I cannot find the way in. If you have some free time, could you take me there?"

This Heavenly Eye Peak was the place for alchemy in the sect, and there were many female immortal stewards there. Green Silk seemed to be quite useful among them. However, she was also very pleasantly surprised that Both Both Ruan Ci had come to find her, and holding Both Both Ruan Ci's hand, she smiled, "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 Both Both Ruan Ci, and flew toward the depths of Purple Essence Mountain. Both Both Ruan Ci thanked her, and Green Silk smiled, "It is I who should thank Miss Ci. We Grotto-Heaven immortal maidens, who among us doesn't usually seek opportunities to move around the Old Ancestor, fearing that our master might forget us? Today, Miss Ci is taking me to Long-Shining Precious Light Heaven; this is an opportunity I couldn't even ask for."

The two chatted along the way and soon arrived at the depths of Purple Essence Mountain. They saw a floating island standing proudly in the center, with a mountain gate upon it. It was one of the eight floating islands connected by mountain gates that Both Both Ruan Ci had seen when she first arrived at Purple Essence Mountain. Both Both Ruan Ci thought, "This True Person Qiu must have a very high status in the sect. The entrance to Purple Void Heaven is not this grand."

Green Silk took Both Both Ruan Ci and flew toward the floating island. Sure enough, the area in front of the mountain gate was silent, with only a light curtain flickering vaguely. Green Silk pulled a jade plaque from her sleeve and threw it into the light curtain. Before long, the light curtain flickered and shrank to the sides. Lin Ji flew out from the light curtain, took Both Both Ruan Ci's small hand, and smiled, "You heartless little girl, you've finally come."

Green Silk was very tactful; upon entering Long-Shining Precious Light Heaven, she excused herself to find her sisters to chat. Lin Ji pulled Both Both Ruan Ci to see Chen Jun and asked about her cultivation at Moon-Catching Cliff. Both Both Ruan Ci told her everything one by one, then took out the hairpins and ornaments, smiling, "I had wanted to come before, but my pockets were empty, and I couldn't afford Panpan's meal money, fearing that Sister Lin Ji would come to collect from me. Now that I have these two little things, I hope to please you, Sister. I imagine that if you loosen your hand, you will let me pass."

Previously, she had not opened her meridians and did not know Lin Ji's cultivation, only knowing that she could not beat her. Now, seeing her again after Foundation Establishment, she still felt that the aura around her was unfathomable, and her cultivation was likely far beyond her own at this moment. However, Lin Ji no longer treated Both Both Ruan Ci as a cub; although her words were affectionate, her actions were more measured. Unlike when they were in South Zhuzhou, where there was still a hint of protection, now she even walked slightly to the side, not daring to walk side-by-side with Both Both Ruan Ci. Hearing this, she smiled, "Oh my, so in Miss Ci's heart, I am a bad lady who embezzles, bends the law for personal gain, and doesn't take Young Master Jun's private treasury seriously."

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

Lin Ji sighed, shook her head with a helpless smile, and Both Both Ruan Ci knew that although Wang Panpan cried, it still sent messages in time, showing 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 past ten years."

Lin Ji smiled, "What are you saying? I would rather spend time with a straightforward person like Panpan."

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

It seemed Lin Ji was one step closer to her wish of becoming human, and Both Both Ruan Ci was happy for her. The two talked and laughed as they walked along the covered corridor into Chen Jun's grotto-dwelling, feeling that the distance was not very far. Seeing Both Both Ruan Ci looking back at the path, 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 closed-door cultivation, so it was his avatar that came out to meet her. Now that Both Both Ruan Ci had been admitted into True Person Wang's sect, she was considered to be of the same generation as Chen Jun, so Both Both Ruan Ci addressed him as Senior Brother. 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 closed-door cultivation for the past few days to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and has no time to be distracted, so it will have to wait until next time."

The Precious Light Heaven lineage bringing Both Both Ruan Ci into the mansion from South Zhuzhou was a natural karma. Although Chen Jun was indifferent toward Both Both Ruan Ci and there had been no signs of protection after she entered the sect, his willingness to keep Wang Panpan for ten years was already a significant favor. Now that Both Both Ruan Ci had reached the twelfth layer of Foundation Establishment, Chen Jun did not change his attitude, remaining as indifferent as before. Only regarding Wang Panpan was he very attentive. When Both Both Ruan Ci said she wanted to take it away, Chen Jun frowned slightly and asked, "Are you going to live outside Purple Void Heaven for a long time after Foundation Establishment? That 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. At that time, although you had just opened your meridians, you had already achieved a Flawless Golden Body, and naturally, you had no rivals in the Qi Refining stage. Do not think because of this that there is no one else in the sect. You must know that after Foundation Establishment, the difference in cultivation at every small step is immense. Some people were inconvenienced during the Qi Refining stage, but now is the perfect opportunity for them to make their move."

The rule of Langhuan Zhou Tian is that it is not good to bully the weak with the strong. During the Qi Refining stage, cultivators lack means of combat, and even if their cultivation is stronger, it is only a matter of having deeper magic power, with no real gap in combat capability. Those like True Person Ouyang, who would lose face and send out Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators, were ultimately few, and they were immediately punished by the Sect Master, losing all face in the sect. But now that Both Both 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 surrounding Both Both Ruan Ci would not be considered bullying the weak with the strong. Chen Jun's words were actually quite pertinent. Both Both Ruan Ci said, "Senior Brother is right, but Junior Sister has already received permission from my master to take Panpan into Purple Void Heaven—my master has also agreed."

Chen Jun could not help but be somewhat stunned, and after exchanging a look with Lin Ji, he finally smiled and said, "That is also fine. In any case, you have a grotto-dwelling in the outer mountains. Now that you have reached Foundation Establishment, it is different from before. Even if Panpan lives alone in the outer mountains, no one will make things difficult for you."

He hinted that Both Both Ruan Ci should not bring Wang Panpan before True Person Wang, and his meaning was already quite clear. But Both Both Ruan Ci did not want to cater to True Person Wang's mood in this way, so 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, saying, "The True Person has wanted to see you for a long time. Since you are here today, it is only right to pay a visit."

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

When he asked for Both Both Ruan Ci's name, Both Both Ruan Ci had not used the Great Mantra, and at the time she didn't feel anything. Now that she had lived in the Central Continent for a long time, hearing Chen Jun say it, Both Both 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 what she is called, I can ask her myself."

Although he was a Grotto-Heaven master, True Person Qiu was very kind to Both Both Ruan Ci, and his thoughts were delicate. This sentence made Both Both Ruan Ci feel very comfortable in her heart. He then smiled, "I know your name, so of course, I must tell you mine—I am called Qiu Yingmeng, and I count as your Senior Uncle, though I am much older than your master."

Both Both Ruan Ci did not have a bad impression of True Person Qiu, so she hurriedly paid her respects and exchanged pleasantries. Her heart stirred, and she thought to herself, "True Person Qiu told me his name the first time we met, but I have been True Person Wang's disciple for so long, and I still don't even know what he is called."

"I have heard several of my disciples speak of your affairs; ten years to Foundation Establishment, twelve layers on the platform—your talent is truly commendable." True Person Qiu asked Both Both Ruan Ci to sit beside him and encouraged her with a few words. He didn't say anything about wanting to see her inner landscape, but with a wave of his sleeve, he casually handed Both Both Ruan Ci a small jade bottle and smiled, "However, with such a high platform, even with many spirit pills and medicines, it will take you quite a bit of time to refine your magic power. Hehe, twelve layers of Foundation Establishment—those three extra tiers beyond the ordinary, how could they be so easy to ascend? This 'Mending Origin Jade Dew Pill' is made by refining spiritual energy and can help you condense one layer of the high platform. When you use it is entirely up to you."

For Both Both Ruan Ci, this could save at least twenty years of bitter 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 explicitly stated that this medicine did not contain Dao rhyme, so Both Both Ruan Ci could take it. She hurriedly bowed to thank him. True Person Qiu smiled again, "My place here is humble, and there aren't many good things. Your Senior Uncle, the Sect Master, is the real fat sheep. If you have the chance, you should take a few good bites out of him. Every disciple with nine layers of Foundation Establishment begs for help everywhere when cultivating. I imagine that with your twelve layers, you'll have to go begging inside and outside the sect, right? Chen Jun brought you back, so you can come here often in the future. I expect he wouldn't dare not give you anything."

Chen Jun's face turned bitter, but he dared not say anything. Both Both Ruan Ci smiled, "Alright, then when I take benefits from Senior Brother Chen, I will keep the favor in Senior Uncle's name."

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

As she spoke to Wang Panpan, 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'm telling you, you've been targeted by the Dao Ancestor. If Qingjun wants to use you as her vessel, she only needs one thought to kill Xie Xie Yan Huan—Xie Xie Yan Huan is also a Sword Seed, have you forgotten? She is also tainted with the Sword Spirit! If she can collect all the Sword Seeds in the world with one sword, why can't Qingjun do the same?"

Both Both Ruan Ci felt in her heart that the Qingjun of the past life did not seem to be able to do this, or perhaps had no intention of doing so, and Wang Panpan's speculation was merely its own opinion. 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 void? She only had her true spirit left to break through the air, which was already a life-and-death gamble, and I don't see you crying every day."

Wang Panpan thought about it carefully and found it had no rebuttal, so it gradually stopped sobbing. It blinked its eyes as it was carried into the jade basket by Both Both Ruan Ci, still feeling unwilling. It whispered, "Actually, even if she couldn't return alive after leaving Langhuan Zhou Tian, 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, that's fine, but she cannot be removed by the Dao Ancestor as a vessel for reincarnation. If she dies like that, I will never be convinced."

Both Both Ruan Ci heard this and felt there was much more to it. When she wanted to ask in detail, Wang Panpan refused to speak. Its two little paws rubbed its eyes, and it forced itself to cheer up, calling to Lin Ji, "I want to take many 'Shallow Cherry Crossing' 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 Both Both Ruan Ci, asking softly, "Purple Void Heaven..."

Both Both Ruan Ci shook her head slightly, and Lin Ji said no more, only covering her mouth and giggling. Wang Panpan asked suspiciously, "What's wrong with Purple Void Heaven? Oh, right, Both Both Ruan Ci, have you been apprenticed yet?"

Both Both Ruan Ci did not tell it yet, and only after leaving Long-Shining Precious Light Heaven did she mention that she would be moving into the Purple Void Grotto-Illuminating Heaven. Wang Panpan was indeed extremely reluctant, making a scene about wanting to return to Lin Ji's place. Both Both 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 flickering vaguely with no flaws, and let out a few whimpers from its throat to show its anger, but was eventually calmed down and accepted the facts. It asked again, "What benefits did you get when you went to see True Person Qiu?"

Both Both Ruan Ci said, "Long-Shining 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 'Mending Origin Jade Dew Pill' and gave me pointers everywhere, telling me to come to Senior Brother Chen more often to ask for benefits. It seems that knowing I have twelve layers of Foundation Establishment, the Precious Light Heaven lineage has decided to attach themselves to me."

Wang Panpan nodded, "Not bad. True Person Qiu has always been impartial. He is a master of alchemy and has an transcendent status in the sect. It's just that he raised two disciples with no background but very good talent. Chen Jun wants to achieve Grotto-Heaven in the future, and the sect can give him this opportunity, but Zhou Yanqing still wants to fight for the Grotto-Heaven. To support two Grotto-Heaven True Persons, his lineage's foundation is insufficient. You have twelve layers of Foundation Establishment and are a unique artifact cultivator among the Donghua Sword Envoys. Naturally, everyone is wondering if you have any connection with Qingjun. If you are truly chosen by Qingjun as 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 in celebration. True Person Qiu just happened to form a good karma with you, so naturally, he is trimming his sails and moving closer to the Sect Master's lineage."

Both Both Ruan Ci had already figured out a few of these calculations. She was no longer repulsed by this kind of attachment and show 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 stir up dissatisfaction among the other sect members and would also make Both Both Ruan Ci weaker in front of 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. This time, as she goes out to travel, she will inevitably have to settle old scores with Qu Qu Tan Yue. When they were bowing in South Zhuzhou, he also said that after returning to the Central Continent, he would make up for the betrothal gifts. Both Both Ruan Ci is really counting on this wealthy official.

"I don't know why the True Persons value twelve layers of Foundation Establishment so much," she thought of the long road ahead and the need to run around everywhere 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 bitter practice or by taking spirit pills and medicines. 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 go acting spoiled after getting the advantage." Wang Panpan was not used to her bad habits. It struck like lightning, leaving a scratch on Both Both Ruan Ci's hand, and huffed, "The Shangqing Sect has never accepted a disciple with the potential of a Dao Ancestor in so many years, and they would let you be delayed? Your cultivation matters will naturally be handled by your master when you go back."

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, and pulled the lid shut, buzzing inside the basket, "I'm warning you, you must not mention me in front of the True Person—hmpf, if it weren't for you being about to go out for training, I wouldn't have come with you..."

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

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 update, asking for a comment isn't too much, right~

Sigh, I am really picky about what I read. Actually, "Zan Ying Wen Ding" is written quite well; the fact that I didn't finish it is entirely my own 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 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: Time's Delusion, hamelji, True Sword Must Kill kira, Fish Fish Playing with Medicine, Seeing a BUG makes me want to ask, The Lychee That Had Its Account Stolen x1;

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Wang Cuizi x120 bottles; Xiaozhou x50 bottles; Yanxun Xiaopang sky, Baba x20 bottles; xiaoxiao, Lili, Jin·Gelongtai·Jiang x5 bottles; aw x4 bottles; Fengguang x2 bottles; baby Leyao, Mo, Zhaosheng Wu Guyou x1 bottle;

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