Chapter 25: The Beggar from a Stinky Outsider

In Mu Chunfeng's impression, Xiao Zhangqing may have become cautious and aware of when to advance or retreat because he has struggled in the lower levels of the Cultivation World for over a decade.

Or, in a less flattering phrasing, he is somewhat timid and cowardly, instinctively stepping back two steps whether faced with danger or opportunity, lacking the "fight" spirit that she admires in cultivators.

Mu Chunfeng believes that if a cultivator cannot press forward and fight for every seizeable chance, it will be hard for him to rise and see far.

In this Nanshan Fang, there are tens of thousands of cultivators, but only a handful have reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

If one does not dare to fight, how can he stand out and become the one to establish a foundation? So when Xiao Zhangqing just released two unsightly men, she was disappointed, thinking him unfit for responsibility and lacking prospects.

But she never expected…

Xiao Zhangqing is even more ambitious than she imagined, disdainful of using her as a tool for revenge.

Instead, he intends to wait until his cultivation is strong enough and his status high enough, then personally make Zhou Yun'e, who abandoned him, regret it, and make Hu Youquan, who offended him, terrified.

Mu Chunfeng snapped back to attention, reexamining Xiao Zhangqing, and said with interest: "Achieving what you say is not easy. Even if your cultivation later breakthroughs to the Late Stage of Lian Qi and your talisman technique advances to become a dedicated Symbol Master of the Lingfu Pavilion, it may still not be enough."

Xiao Zhangqing replied calmly yet forcefully: "If the Late Stage of Lian Qi doesn't work, then wait until Foundation Establishment succeeds. If a First‑rank Talisman Master doesn't work, then become a Second‑rank Talisman Master."

"Whoa! You really dare say that! Your tone is truly bold!" Mu Chunfeng seemed to tease mockingly, but her eyes held a hint of admiration.

Even if she thinks Xiao Zhangqing is bragging, speaking of goals that are impossible to achieve, she believes that daring to set goals and diligently training toward them is far better than being spineless and cowardly.

"Forget about Foundation Establishment; your spiritual root quality is too poor, there's simply no hope!"

Mu Chunfeng shook her head and earnestly advised: "You only need to focus on improving your talisman technique; in ten or twenty years you might still have a chance to become a Second‑rank Talisman Master. I trust Shopkeeper Hong's and Lu Symbol Master's judgment; they won't misjudge people. Once you become a Second‑rank Talisman Master, Foundation Establishment will still be hopeless, but the resources you can obtain will easily raise your cultivation to the Qi Refining Ninth Level Great Perfection, which is no problem. Moreover, by then the major Foundation‑establishing families in Nanshan Fang will all come to you with requests, and you can set any terms. Hu Youquan and Zhou Yun'e will become a well‑known joke throughout Nanshan Fang, living daily in pain and remorse."

"Ten or twenty years? That's a bit long; perhaps it won't take that long…" Xiao Zhangqing murmured.

After ten or twenty years, this body will already be around fifty years old.

Whether it's Foundation Establishment or becoming a Second‑rank Talisman Master, both are somewhat too late.

But thinking that way, Xiao Zhangqing does feel a sense of urgency.

Talisman technique can be broken through at any time, as long as the skill reaches the required level.

However, Foundation Establishment must be completed before the age of sixty.

At the current pace, having only just reached the Qi Refining Fourth Level, even with the aid of a Grand Achievement‑level Longevity Technique, progress will still be somewhat slow.

It seems one cannot just focus on the "Twin‑winged Tiger Hair Brush" equipment; a way must be found to obtain gear that aids cultivation improvement.

"Alright, alright, it's getting more and more absurd, huh? Still, I really appreciate your attitude."

Mu Chunfeng felt Xiao Zhangqing kept joking endlessly.

Lu Symbol Master is considered the most gifted Symbol Master in Nanshan Fang's history, and it also took him ten plus years to be promoted to Second‑rank Talisman Master.

This fellow, however, still complains that ten or twenty years is too long.

"From now on, don't call me Miss Mu; just address me as Mu Dao Companion."

Mu Chunfeng immediately said cheerfully.

This sentence shows that she finds Xiao Zhangqing to her taste, recognizing him as a person rather than merely a potential asset for the family.

…………

"Damn it! That useless Xiao Zhangqing, how did he become a Symbol Master of the Lingfu Pavilion and improve his cultivation so quickly, gaining the Mu family's attention?"

Leaving the Mu family courtyard cluster, he fled back home without pausing, and Hu Youquan finally felt a bit of safety, able to vent his anger by smashing things.

"What treasure does Xiao Zhangqing have? Do you know?"

A moment later, Hu Youquan angrily stared at Zhou Yun'e, harshly questioning.

Zhou Yun'e at this moment had lost her usual aloof goddess aura; her eyes were hollow, and facing Hu Youquan's questioning she sneered back: "If I knew he had a treasure, would I still have left him?"

Indeed.

If Zhou Yun'e knew that Xiao Zhangqing could achieve such success, would she have left him and followed him?

Hu Youquan's inner frustration and fear persisted, and he continued to ask angrily: "Now that you see him soaring to success, do you want to return to his side again?"

Zhou Yun'e, exhausted mentally, did not want to speak with a person who had lost reason.

Hu Youquan, however, seized her wrist hard, even began to wield his magical power, and, in a fit of rage, said: "Fine, you really want to reconcile with him, don't you?"

Pressed uncomfortably, Zhou Yun'e finally hissed: "Snap out of it! Even if I wanted to return to Xiao Zhangqing's side, do you think he would agree? Don't you know how I cut ties with him, a clean break?"

"…"

Hu Youquan finally came to his senses, released his grip, and chuckled dryly: "Indeed, a good horse doesn't eat the grass it has already passed. Xiao Zhangqing doesn't seem to be a fool."

Zhou Yun'e rubbed her reddened wrist joint, took a deep breath, and did not wish to argue with Hu Youquan.

"Youquan, you don't have to be so angry, being provoked by tonight's events into losing reason," Zhou Yun'e analyzed calmly: "It doesn't matter what treasure Xiao Zhangqing has, or what opportunities or who he aligns with… none of that matters. He only has a low‑quality spiritual root; no matter how powerful, what can he do? Does he still want to establish a foundation? I think he may not even break through to the Late Stage of Lian Qi! As for the Second‑rank Talisman Master that Miss Mu mentioned, do you believe it? A Second‑rank Talisman Master is not that easy to cultivate."

"So, even if Xiao Zhangqing is currently glorious, I believe he will eventually reveal his true nature and cannot match your family's abundant wealth and the accumulation of three generations of cultivators!"

"With our dwelling cave and the two shop storefronts, Xiao Zhangqing will never make any profit even until death!"

"Perhaps you shouldn't keep saving to buy a third storefront; instead, you should increase your cultivation resource supply, taking more Pills and Spirit Food. Strive to surpass Xiao Zhangqing in cultivation! With your current cultivation and age, the hope of Foundation Establishment is slim, but you should still try. Even if you fail, becoming a Qi Refining Ninth Level Great Perfection cultivator in Nanshan Fang would be enough to be influential and firmly suppress Xiao Zhangqing!"

"Today's grudge has a chance to be avenged!"

Hu Youquan nodded after listening, finding it very reasonable.

Originally, he had long made a plan to save money to buy a third storefront, cutting back on cultivation resources.

After being provoked today, his ambition reignited.

He certainly does not want to be trampled underfoot forever by a stinky outsider begging for food, a scattered cultivator! Zhou Yun'e, seeing this, also showed resentment and unwillingness in her eyes.

If Hu Youquan increases his cultivation resource supply, she of course can also benefit.

She is completely different from Hu Youquan; she never intends to store Spirit Stones. The reason she follows Hu Youquan is to obtain flower Spirit Stones.

Although her hope of Foundation Establishment is even more remote than Hu Youquan's, she firmly believes she should invest more in herself rather than hoarding Spirit Stones for future considerations.

(End of Chapter)