Chapter 65

Five days later.

Qin Ming took the invitation sent by Master Liao and prepared to attend the banquet.

He had just opened the courtyard gate and stepped out when he happened to meet Huang Xishan, the chief armorer from the opposite courtyard, also leaving.

"Oh! Brother Qin, you're heading out?" Huang Xishan walked over and greeted him.

Qin Ming bowed slightly to Huang Xishan, "Yes, Brother Gu is holding a small celebration for his Foundation Establishment today; I'm on my way there."

"Oh? What a coincidence! I received an invitation too—why not go together?" Huang Xishan smiled.

Qin Ming showed a look of surprise, then laughed lightly, "That's perfect!"

"By the way, what about Master Yan and the others?" Qin Ming hesitated before asking.

Huang Xishan clearly understood his meaning and replied bluntly, "Hmm, they weren't invited. Apparently, only those who've reached the top tier in the Hundred Arts of cultivation, or high-level cultivators, received invitations this time."

Qin Ming understood and nodded.

Afterwards.

For this small Foundation Establishment celebration, Gu Qingzhao did not choose the venue within Ju Xuan Pavilion.

Instead, he arranged it at the Yunze Dahuang outpost of Jing Xue Pavilion—Yunmeng Mountain.

The two left Qingyang Market and took to the skies on their flying artifacts, heading toward Yunmeng Mountain.

If this were an immortal clan, any member achieving Foundation Establishment would hold a grand "Foundation Establishment Ceremony" to display the clan's strength.

Qin Ming's memories of it were vivid.

The very day he was abandoned by his clan and dispatched to accompany Lingyu Gate for frontier colonization happened to be the day one of his cousins held his Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

Qin Ming didn't even make it to the feast before being sent off on the magic vessel bound for Yunze Dahuang.

The resources used for that cousin's Foundation Establishment were acquired by trading low-tier clan members like himself—those with no hope of cultivation—with Lingyu Gate.

But in an organization like Jing Xue Pavilion, Foundation Establishment is merely a mid-tier rank.

Add to that Gu Qingzhao's aloof and cold personality, his dislike of noisy scenes, and it was likely only a small gathering of close fellow disciples, friends, and key partners.

Half an hour later.

The two rode their flying artifacts through the clouds, flying northwest, until a mist-shrouded mountain peak gradually appeared in their view.

Yunmeng Mountain was dotted with numerous independent cultivation caves, elegant in environment and rich in spiritual energy, covering a vast area.

Qin Ming and Huang Xishan landed their flying artifacts halfway up the mountain.

"This second-rank top-tier spiritual vein is truly extraordinary!" Huang Xishan inhaled deeply, filled with awe.

Qin Ming nodded along, sensing the dense heavenly and earthly spiritual energy—such an ideal cultivation environment naturally produced so many Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The two walked to the mountain gate guards and presented their invitations.

Someone immediately stepped forward to guide Qin Ming and Huang Xishan.

A short while later.

The two arrived before a lush, verdant bamboo grove.

After the welcoming cultivator announced them, the outer restrictions were lifted.

A graceful figure stepped out from within, radiating the aura of Foundation Establishment magic power, approaching the two.

After achieving Foundation Establishment, Gu Qingzhao's demeanor had grown even more noble—a plain white robe and long skirt, like a celestial immortal descending to the mortal world.

"Gu Gezhu."

"Brother Gu."

Qin Ming and Huang Xishan bowed respectfully.

"Brother Huang, Brother Qin."

"Don't be formal—please come in and rest."

Gu Qingzhao glanced at Qin Ming, then her beautiful eyes brightened, "Brother Qin, have you broken through to Qi Condensation Stage Six?"

"Lucky breakthrough!" Qin Ming replied humbly; compared to her advancement to Foundation Establishment, his minor progress meant nothing.

It was like a dwarf standing beside a giant.

"Brother Gu, congratulations on your Foundation Establishment. Here is our gift."

The two presented their gifts; Gu Qingzhao accepted them gladly. Passing through the bamboo grove, Gu Qingzhao's cave dwelling lay in a quiet, serene valley.

Inside: mountain streams and waterfalls, spiritual springs, medicinal gardens, and meditation chambers—all present.

The instant Qin Ming and Huang Xishan entered.

A wave of Foundation Establishment pressure slammed into them.

Huang Xishan turned pale, barely keeping his footing; Qin Ming, with his robust physical qi and blood, was barely affected, but he feigned great strain.

Outside the cave's courtyard, over a dozen cultivators had already gathered—all without exception were Foundation Establishment cultivators, including two senior elders from Lingyu Gate and Jinyun Valley.

Even without deliberately releasing spiritual pressure, the sheer weight of dozens of eyes fixed on them was overwhelming.

Qin Ming and Huang Xishan couldn't help but be stunned—Foundation Establishment masters, rarely seen outside, were all gathered here today.

In fact, apart from themselves and a few others, everyone present was at least at Foundation Establishment level or higher.

"Master Fang!" Huang Xishan spotted someone in the crowd and froze in shock.

After a moment's hesitation, he approached with extreme humility to greet the person.

Qin Ming followed his gaze—it was Fang Yezi, the famed second-rank armorer of Yunze Dahuang.

Fang Yezi was also the chairman of the Artisan Guild among the free cultivators.

The top-grade flying artifact in Qin Ming's storage pouch—the Spiritlight Flying Shuttle—was crafted by this very man.

"Brother Qin, Brother Huang, please take your seats here—these are our fellow Jing Xue Pavilion disciples," Gu Qingzhao arranged for them to sit beside their own people to ease their tension.

"Qingzhao, who are these two cultivators?"

A young man in Jing Xue Pavilion's silver cultivation robe asked; his own magic power aura was also at Foundation Establishment level.

"Oh, let me introduce you: this is Daoist Friend Qin Ming, an upper-grade spiritual planter and also a mid-grade alchemist; and this is Daoist Friend Huang Xishan, an upper-grade artifact refiner. Both are close collaborators of mine," Gu Qingzhao explained to the group.

Upon hearing this, the Foundation Establishment youth smiled and exchanged a few polite words with Qin Ming.

Shortly after, he casually scanned the magic power aura emanating from the two, only to discover they were merely at the Qi Condensation stage.

Once Gu Qingzhao departed, the cultivators at the table immediately lost all interest in the pair.

Subsequently, the Foundation Establishment cultivators at the table began conversing amongst themselves.

Qin Ming and his companion could only eat in silence, finding almost no opportunity to join the conversation.

Were it not for Gu Qingzhao's disregard for certain conventions, the two of them would already be addressing her as 'Senior.'

Indeed, the cultivators currently seated at this table all deserved to be addressed as Seniors.

After all, in the Immortal Realm, strength is supreme, and one's cultivation base is the most fundamental aspect.

All practices of the myriad arts of cultivation serve merely to enhance one's cultivation base and advance further along the Immortal Dao.

Although the two were not directly ignored by these high-level Foundation Establishment experts, they still felt as though they were sitting on a bed of needles.

While they prided themselves on mastering superior upper-grade cultivation arts and commanded considerable respect elsewhere, here, with only a Qi Condensation cultivation base, they seemed somewhat out of place.

Qin Ming had initially sought access to higher-level information and hoped to integrate into Gu Qingzhao's circle, but now it seemed that forcing one's way into an incompatible circle was unwise.

Just then.

Gu Qingzhao returned from outside, leading in a refined-looking middle-aged cultivator dressed in the silver dharma robe of the Mirror Snow Pavilion, whose cultivation base had remarkably reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

In an instant.

The gazes of all the cultivators present fell upon him.

"Protector Huangfu!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Mirror Snow Pavilion at Qin Ming's table, upon seeing this person enter, hastily rose to bow in greeting.

The two dared not be negligent either and followed suit, clasping their fists in salute.

Gu Qingzhao, accompanying the middle-aged cultivator, introduced him to the pair: "This is Protector Huangfu Qi of our Mirror Snow Pavilion; he will also be stationed at our branch within Yunze Xiancheng in the future."

"If either of you has intentions of cooperation in the future, you might as well get acquainted beforehand."

Hearing this, Qin Ming and his companion felt overwhelmingly honored and hurriedly agreed.

"Young Friend Qin, on my way here, I heard Qingzhao speak very highly of you. I happen to have a matter for which I need your help; I wonder if it would be convenient? Hehe." Huangfu Qi, speaking with gentle refinement, smiled as he asked Qin Ming.

……

(End of Chapter)