Chapter 66: Shift in Mindset

The Mu family mansion.

Inside a pavilion.

Miss Mu Chunfeng is chatting with another young female cultivator from the Mu family.

She did not attend the Yizi Cave Residence cultivators' exchange today, not because she lacks qualification, but because she has nothing to trade or purchase.

Mu Chunfeng's cultivation level had officially broken through to the Ninth Layer of Lian Qi not long ago.

With at most another two years of refinement, she will cultivate to Lian Qi Great Perfection and can formally challenge the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Right now, the only thing she needs is a Foundation Pill.

But such a strategic item as a Foundation Pill cannot appear at the Nanshan Fang exchange; it only shows up at larger immortal city auctions.

If it were the old Mu family, obtaining a single Foundation Pill at auction would be extremely difficult.

First, the Foundation Pill is expensive and requires multiple bids; second, even if obtained, it may be seized by rogue cultivators or robbed by rival families mid‑way, turning good fortune into disaster.

But now, once Mu Chunfeng eventually challenges the Foundation Establishment Realm, she will almost certainly obtain a Foundation Pill.

The reason is, of course, her father Mu Renjie, who after emerging from the barrier made a stunning rise, possessing strength comparable to the late stage of foundation, and can barely be considered a top figure in the southwest Da Yu Cultivation World.

Given the Mu family's current strength and status, acquiring a Foundation Pill at an auction is not a big problem.

Among the current young generation of the Mu family, Mu Chunfeng's talent and cultivation are indisputably the best; with a Foundation Pill she would rank first.

"Sister Chunfeng, even though Xiao Zhangqing has excellent Talisman Path talent, it cannot hide the fact that his spiritual root is only lower‑grade. He will inevitably be unable to establish a foundation, not the partner I idealize. Moreover, I don't even know him—why arrange a match for us?"

The young female cultivator chatting with Mu Chunfeng is named Mu Yajing, the grand elder's niece.

Mu Yajing is also considered one of the more outstanding young female cultivators of the Mu family.

Although far less dazzling than Mu Chunfeng, she possesses a middle‑grade spiritual root, and despite her youth she has already reached the Sixth Layer of Lian Qi, giving her future hope of foundation.

Moreover, she is beautiful, and previously had many suitors at Nanshan Fang.

Now the Mu family's status keeps rising, and the Mu female cultivators are also gaining ground; Mu Yajing's outlook naturally becomes more far‑sighted.

The ideal Dao Partner she seeks must, in the future, at least be a foundation seed.

That so‑called Xiao Symbol Master might be helpful to the family, but he does not want it.

"Although Xiao Zhangqing has a lower‑grade spiritual root, his cultivation is already at the Seventh Layer of Lian Qi, progressing at a divine speed, faster than you," Mu Chunfeng says flattering words for Xiao Zhangqing.

Mu Yajing is not fooled: "What good is fast cultivation now? Once the foundation threshold arrives, a lower‑grade spiritual root will block him, impossible to overcome. Could he even break the four‑century record of the Da Yu Cultivation World?"

Mu Chunfeng smiled, shook her head, and consoled: "Fine, you're right; Xiao Zhangqing truly has no hope of foundation. However, his eventual promotion to Second-rank Talisman Master is almost a certainty. A Second-rank Talisman Master holds a status no lower than that of an ordinary foundation cultivator—though his lifespan and strength are a bit less, the Mu family might someday rely on you, isn't that good?"

Mu Yajing pursed her lips and remained silent.

Afterward Mu Chunfeng kept urging her, and she reluctantly agreed to the match.

Deep down she still does not want it. Yet she knows she cannot oppose it; it's what the family wants her to do, sacrificing herself to win over a future Second‑rank Talisman Master.

Moreover, even if she must be sacrificed, Xiao Zhangqing should be the one to court her proactively; why must she have to prepare herself mentally as if she were the one giving? Even when the Mu family previously underestimated her, she was never this cheap!

At that moment, the Mu family's grand elder, his face ashen, walked over and said bluntly, "Yajing, the marriage with Xiao Zhangqing is cancelled! Do not bring it up again!"

Mu Chunfeng frowned, "Grand elder, why are you reneging on what was agreed?"

Years ago she insisted on supporting Xiao Zhangqing, but this grand elder vetoed it; now he wants to stop her again.

"I reneged? If today, Miss, you also attended the exchange and saw Xiao Zhangqing's arrogant, petty grin, you would oppose me even more!" the Mu grand elder shouted angrily.

Then he embellished the story, describing how Xiao Zhangqing despised the Mu family and rejected his goodwill.

Mu Chunfeng, after listening, asked in doubt, "It shouldn't be that extreme, right? Is there some misunderstanding? From what I know of Xiao Zhangqing, he is not arrogant, quite modest."

The Mu grand elder, hearing this, grew even more displeased and said coldly, "Miss, you trust outsiders more than me?"

"Grand elder, Chunfeng doesn't mean that. It's just..." Mu Chunfeng tried to explain.

The Mu grand elder waved his hand outright, demanding, "There is no room for negotiation! Xiao Zhangqing, with a lower‑grade spiritual root, even if his Talisman Path talent is decent and he may someday become a Second‑rank Talisman Master, what of it? Does our Mu family need to beg him? Miss, if you persist in forcing a match between Yajing and Xiao Zhangqing, you must ask the family head to issue an order. When the head orders, I dare not disobey! Apart from that, it is impossible!" Hearing this, Mu Chunfeng felt deep helplessness, a surge of powerlessness.

Having her father issue the order? That makes it even more hopeless.

Convincing the grand elder to change his mind is even harder!

Because her father's current state is terribly off—extremely paranoid, even a bit sinister. As his daughter, Mu Chunfeng naturally understands him well.

In the past, Mu Renjie was broad‑minded but never blindly arrogant, nor filled with malice, cruel murder.

His past ruthless strikes against enemies were understandable, and Mu Chunfeng doesn't see fault in that. But now, if something is even slightly not to his liking, he resorts to killing at a whim—far too extreme.

Indeed, her father now is the undisputed number one of Nanshan Fang, with strength comparable to the late stage of foundation, able to act tyrannically.

Yet even that late‑stage foundation strength, when viewed across the entire Da Yu Cultivation World, or even just the southwest Da Yu region, does not truly place him at the pinnacle!

If he becomes overly arrogant and loses reverence for the Dao of Immortals, Mu Chunfeng sees that as not a good thing.

Although there is no concrete evidence, Mu Chunfeng believes in her heart that her father's change may be linked to the divine abilities he cultivates…

Under her father's leadership and influence, the whole Mu family now seems a bit off.

The grand elder is a typical example.

Having been stifled for years, once he gained power he became overly restless and aggressive, unable to settle his mind.

The Mu family is indeed the top family of Nanshan Fang now, but its foundation is still far from solid, not yet at a level to be contemptuous and carefree.

Just like the Cao family, which has two foundation lines, remains a lingering threat.

Not to mention the current turbulent external situation, with Demon Sect Evil Cultivators pressing in step by step; the Mu family's arrogance and flaunting may not be a good thing! (End of chapter)