Chapter 12: Returning to the Sect

Nanshan Fang.

Yi-level Cave Dwelling, No. 3.

Although, according to the A‑B‑C‑D ordering, a Jia-level Cave Dwelling is officially above all Yi-level Cave Dwellings, only cultivators with a certain standing in Nanshan Fang know this.

The top three Yi-level Cave Dwellings, in terms of spirit‑Qi richness, rent, and the status of their resident cultivators, are no worse than those in Jia-level dwellings!

Even if the owners of these Yi-level dwellings are not Foundation Establishment cultivators, their influence can certainly rival that of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In many places, even the Foundation Establishment cultivators of Nanshan Fang have to watch their moods.

For example, the owner of Yi-level No. 3 is the Lingfu Pavilion shopkeeper, Hong Jiantao.

Besides being the Lingfu Pavilion shopkeeper and a top First-rank Talisman Master, rumors say he also has a deep background in the Core Formation Sect Luoxia Sect! Rumor… strictly rumor: the current head of Luoxia Sect, the sole Core Formation True Immortal, is actually Hong Jiantao's junior brother! Their relationship seems quite good.

Therefore, in Nanshan Fang, even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators won't provoke Hong Jiantao; they'll give him great respect.

Today, two guests arrived at Hong Jiantao's dwelling.

They weren't strangers but the two recent luminaries of Lingfu Pavilion, Lu Qiu and Jiang Jiyue.

However, the two didn't come to Hong Jiantao's dwelling because of any celebratory breakthrough.

Normally, they're regulars here as well.

"There have been many people flattering and inviting you lately, haven't there? How do you feel?" Hong Jiantao asked Lu Qiu with a smiling face.

Lu Qiu isn't that old; he's just over forty.

For a Qi‑refining cultivator with a lifespan of 120 years, that's only a third.

If he later succeeds in establishing a foundation, adding another sixty years to his lifespan will make the rest of his life even longer.

But despite his age, Lu Qiu's face and demeanor appear markedly old‑fashioned, "Master, you know me well; I'm very averse to this kind of thing."

Indeed.

To outsiders, Hong Jiantao is at most Lu Qiu's patron, a benefactor.

It was Hong Jiantao who first uncovered Lu Qiu's Symbol Master talent and gave him some guidance.

But in private, Lu Qiu treats Hong Jiantao as his master.

"Before, you were only a First-rank Talisman Master; to Foundation Establishment cultivators and the lofty sects, you weren't that important, so you could cultivate in peace, draw talismans, and no one would bother you. But now you've been promoted to Second-rank Talisman Master, and that's a different story. Nanshan Fang now has six major Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet in terms of value, none of them surpass you. In fact, they all seek you, hoping you'll sell them a couple of Second-rank Talisman Scripts, which means they'll have to visit you with full courtesy."

Hong Jiantao laughed, "Later, when you join a sect, it'll be the same. The Foundation Establishment elders within the sect will often reach out to you, making it convenient to trouble you in special circumstances… you can't escape it."

Lu Qiu fell silent for a moment, then looked up seriously and asked, "Master, must I return to the sect? Can't I stay here in Nanshan Fang instead?"

Hong Jiantao sighed.

The disciple he secretly took under his wing is excellent in every way; whether it's cultivation talent or Talisman Path talent, he's not lacking, and his perseverance and character are top‑notch.

But he's too stubborn and holds grudges.

"Xiao Qiu, I know you're still angry about what happened back then. It's actually unnecessary; a sect operates according to its regulations. Before you demonstrate enough potential and talent, they won't spend big money on you. Otherwise, if a sect let everyone act on personal feelings and intuition, how could it grow strong and lead the masses?" Hong Jiantao consoled.

Now the cultivators of Nanshan Fang, including most members of Lingfu Pavilion, only know that Lu Qiu has an exceptionally strong talent on the Talisman Path, and he smoothly rose to become a Second-rank Talisman Master.

But few know that Lu Qiu once nearly perished halfway. At that time, to save him, Hong Jiantao tried to make an exception, attempting to let him join Luoxia Sect as a dedicated Symbol Master before he even became a First-rank Talisman Master.

The Luoxia Sect rejected him.

In the end, Hong Jiantao used his personal connections and spent a great many Spirit Stones to rescue Lu Qiu.

So since then, Lu Qiu has harbored a grudge against Luoxia Sect.

Of course, that's only one of the more significant reasons.

Another fairly important reason is that Luoxia Sect's attitude toward Hong Jiantao also displeased Lu Qiu; he defended Hong Jiantao.

"Fine. Even if I contributed nothing to the sect back then and wasn't worth their rescue, I understand. But you, Master—how much have you contributed to the sect, and how have they treated you?" Lu Qiu said with resentment.

Jiang Jiyue, standing beside them, widened her eyes and looked at the two, sounding a bit bewildered.

Regarding senior brother Lu Qiu's matter back then, she didn't know the details clearly, but had heard about it, so she could understand his attitude.

But how could Uncle also have a conflict with the sect?

Uncle is the sect leader's senior brother, right? I recall once returning to the sect, the sect head, as a Core Formation True Immortal, even gave Uncle a special audience; the treatment was quite good.

Yes.

Almost nobody in Lingfu Pavilion knows that the adored goddess Jiang Jiyue is Hong Jiantao's niece.

"Uncle, has the sect also shortchanged you?" Jiang Jiyue asked irritably.

"Not really; I just don't get along well with a few elders in the sect." Hong Jiantao waved his hand, simultaneously giving Lu Qiu a subtle glance, signaling him to stop and not say more.

Lu Qiu understood and fell silent.

Some matters truly can't be told to Jiang Jiyue.

Jiang Jiyue, sensing some hidden issues, snorted, "Senior brother Lu, I think you should go to the sect! Since you have grievances with the sect and enemies there, you should go, use the sect's resources, quickly boost your strength and talisman techniques, make yourself stronger! If one day your talisman skills break through to the third rank, or you become a supreme elder of the sect, any unpleasant matters would just be a flick of the finger…"

Hong Jiantao burst out laughing, "The wording may be rough, but the reasoning isn't; that's the point."

He gave Jiang Jiyue a thumbs‑up.

Then he turned to Lu Qiu, saying, "You're already at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. In another two or three years you'll start planning your foundation establishment. With your status as a Second-rank Talisman Master, once you return to your sect, the sect will prepare all foundation items such as foundation pills for you, so you won't need to hustle around."

Lu Qiu retorted, "I could get a foundation pill myself if I wanted…"

For ordinary Qi‑refining scattered cultivators, and even some foundation‑establishing families, a single foundation pill is crucial and may require exhausting half the family's wealth to obtain.

In the Cultivation World, many cases have occurred where foundation cultivators died over fights for foundation pills!

However.

As a Second-rank Talisman Master, Lu Qiu finds obtaining a foundation pill much easier.

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(End of chapter)