Chapter 59: Exchange Conference

The mist ahead cleared, and a slender, beautiful figure slowly emerged—it was Lin Ziyu.

Today's Lin Ziyu dressed even more outrageously than last time; not only was she wearing a sheer violet gauze dress, but she seemed to have no underclothing at all!

Her full, curvy silhouette, alabaster skin that outshone frost and snow, a pair of slender jade legs hinted through the dress, and a face flushed with rosy light and an intellectual charm—she was practically a blend of a fairy and a femme fatale.

The rising mist from the spirit spring added an extra layer of mystery.

Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help but exclaim, the Cultivation World really knows how to have fun! It's ten thousand times better than whatever Victoria's Secret he knew in his past life. "Give my shoulders a rub."

Xiao Zhangqing squinted slightly and did not refuse.

After a few months, the two Lin sisters had been trained to near completion.

Having set her status straight, she tucked away all her petty schemes; even after doing so, she wouldn't dare voice any improper demands, nor would she become arrogant from favor.

This mattered a great deal to Xiao Zhangqing.

He was a normal man; the path of cultivation is long, and of course he didn't want to become a hermit.

But the Cultivation World is so perilous that, even though he now held some standing in Nanshan Fang, he was still a mere ant in the whole Da Yu Cultivation World.

If a woman brought him countless troubles and dangers, Xiao Zhangqing would never accept it.

"Yes."

Lin Ziyu slowly stepped into the spirit spring pool, her face flushed as she moved behind Xiao Zhangqing; at first her delicate jade fingers pressed earnestly on his shoulder, but soon she couldn't help pressing her body against him, turning the massage into something else.

"Snap!"

Her hips and the water surface rippled in circles; Xiao Zhangqing seized her pink arm, pulled her into his embrace, and asked with a half‑smile, "Where did you learn that massage technique?"

A soft whimper escaped her; the once unattainable neighbor beauty now lay limp in his arms, a burning pain throbbed somewhere, and despite her mental preparation, an indescribable shame made her avoid meeting Xiao Zhangqing's eyes.

"Lord, accept me as your concubine. I admire you and submit willingly. No matter what happens, I will remember my place and obey the rules."

Lin Ziyu spoke with a faint sob.

It's hard to imagine that a few years ago they were neighbors in Peng Hu Qu; back then, despite living in Peng Hu Qu, Lin Ziyu was at the mid‑stage of Qi refinement, held herself in high regard, and was determined to reel in a golden‑shell husband, never sparing Xiao Zhangqing any courtesy; their only connection was Xiao Zhangqing borrowing a Spirit Stone from her.

Now, she regards Xiao Zhangqing as her lord, throws herself at him, willingly enduring any flogging.

Having said that, Xiao Zhangqing rose solemnly.

No longer restraining himself, he began to unleash the ancient primordial power he had long suppressed.

In an instant, the mist in the spirit spring churned, the water surface rippled without wind, and the violet dress was torn to shreds with a "shhh" sound, scattering everywhere.

A plaintive, whimpering gasp drifted faintly into a nearby room.

Younger sister Lin Zixi covered her head, trying to hide, but the clear, seductive humming kept threading into her ears.

Unaware, her cheeks flushed, she clenched the blanket with her legs and muttered, "Sister… why are you making that sound! So shameless!"

…

…

The following days.

Lin Ziyu continued as before, rising early each day to tend to Xiao Zhangqing's meals and daily needs, unchanged by last night's battle.

Her attitude toward Xiao Zhangqing remained deferential, truly treating herself as a serving concubine. Xiao Zhangqing was, of course, very satisfied.

Indeed, Lin Ziyu kept her word, remaining consistent and not letting deeper contact alter her mindset.

Xiao Zhangqing felt even more at ease delegating more tasks to her.

That day.

Xiao Zhangqing returned home from Lingfu Pavilion with a heavy expression.

Under Zhou Changkong's high‑pressure policy, several Symbol Masters inside the pavilion banded together to pressure, threatening a strike to restore the old rules, only to be forcefully suppressed.

Zhou Changkong first threatened that anyone dissatisfied with his rules could leave, but he guaranteed that after leaving they'd find it hard to gain footing in Nanshan Fang. He then announced a system: Symbol Masters who performed well and produced more would receive extra rewards, while those at the bottom would face fines.

In short, Talisman Script output must increase, and they could no longer draw whatever they wished; they had to strictly follow the sect's directives.

Under this carrot‑and‑stick policy, the Symbol Masters of Lingfu Pavilion dared not resist, swallowing their grievances.

Good performance brings rewards; would opposing Lingfu Pavilion ever be beneficial? Especially since Zhou Changkong made it clear that there would be no foothold left for anyone in Lingfu Pavilion, no one dares truly break away.

Xiao Zhangqing wasn't particularly worried about the matter itself; with his Symbol Technique skill and potential, he was always among the most favored. Zhou Changkong might appear benign on the surface, but secretly he kept courting him.

What concerned Xiao Zhangqing was that Lingfu Pavilion's current moves reminded him of his past life as a corporate drone: a poor macro environment and weak company performance leading to the so‑called "cost‑cutting, efficiency‑boosting" model! Moreover, with Luoxia Sect behind Lingfu Pavilion, demanding massive Talisman Script reserves, perhaps Luoxia Sect was also in a critical state, needing "increase revenue, cut costs, boost efficiency"? If that were true—

As a top‑tier Core Formation sect—one of the strongest in the southwest of the Da Yu Cultivation World—such a sense of crisis indicated that the turmoil was far worse than what the cultivators of the modest Nanshan Fang could perceive!

The previous clan wars over Foundation Establishment in Nansan Fang were mere skirmishes compared to a true great power struggle. Should a crisis arise, Xiao Zhangqing must plan ahead.

"Lord, Zhu, the Pill Master from the Yi‑9 Cave Dwelling, has sent an invitation for you to attend the annual exchange conference seven days from now."

Lin Ziyu approached holding a gold‑embellished invitation and said.

"The annual exchange conference?"

Xiao Zhangqing felt surprised.

Having been here, including himself, for nearly twenty years in Nanshan Fang, it was his first time hearing of any exchange conference there. After reading the invitation and hearing Lin Ziyu's inquiries, Xiao Zhangqing finally understood.

It turned out the minimum requirement to join the conference was to be among the roughly fifty cultivators residing in Yi-level Cave Dwellings!

Cultivators in Bing-level or Ding-level Cave Dwellings were not even eligible, so they never heard of it.

Moreover, even residing in a Yi-level Cave Dwelling didn't guarantee an invitation.

It also required assessment and voting by veteran members of the conference.

Therefore.

Generally, Yi-level Cave Dwellings ranked beyond the top thirty, and newcomers wouldn't be invited.

Thus, Xiao Zhangqing's fame and promising potential, with a likely promotion to Second‑rank Symbol Master and residence in Yi‑10 Cave Dwelling, would earn him an invitation.

As for the conference's content, besides cultivators exchanging information and fostering bonds, its main purpose resembled a private auction!

Anyone with unwanted treasures could bring them to sell or trade, with everyone quoting prices.

Rumor has it that several times, Foundation Establishment cultivators have also taken part in the exchange conference!

After listening, Xiao Zhangqing felt moved; only then did he truly make contact with the top tier of Nanshan Fang. He was also secretly pleased, as if a pillow had arrived just when he felt sleepy—he needed just such an opportunity to see if he could buy any 'Divine Skill' equipment. (End of chapter)