Chapter 156: Chapter 156: The Terrible News Arrives

After the Foundation Establishment Ceremony ended.

Bai Lin proposed staying on Gaoji Mountain until after the new year before returning to Immortal Peach Mountain, and Li Ping approved.

Afterward, he left Yan Hengchuan with several years’ worth of cultivation resources and ordered Ji Shu Xuan to return to the Immortal City alone.

As for himself, he was in no hurry to go back.

Instead, at Cheng Yao’s earnest invitation, he visited the Wang family of Mist and Smoke Mountain along with Zhang Tie, Gumu Sheng, and the others.

Inside the rapidly speeding Floating Shadow Shuttle.

The five "siblings" of the Friends Association, plus Wang Xingwei—a total of six Foundation Establishment Cultivators—sat cross-legged, chatting idly. They shared common interests.

Zhang Tie was in charge of the Immortal City’s logistical affairs, while Gumu Sheng was the manager of the Ten Thousand Laws Tower, responsible for trade at the city’s largest shop.

Bai Qing and Wang Xingwei were the leaders of their respective Foundation Establishment Immortal Races. The unique resources produced on their families’ Spiritual Lands had to be sold in the Immortal City in exchange for other cultivation resources.

With Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng looking out for them, they could undoubtedly avoid a lot of trouble during transactions.

Meanwhile, Zhang and Gu could also gain certain benefits while completing their duties.

’Why wouldn’t they?’

After talking for half a day on the Floating Shadow Shuttle, the five of them quickly formed an alliance with Li Ping as their witness.

Li Ping simply smiled at this, saying nothing.

He had originally thought that once everyone in the Friends Association had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, the group would lose its specific purpose, its identity would slowly fade, and it would eventually be forgotten by all.

But he hadn’t expected this.

Without any need for discussion.

Zhang Tie, Gumu Sheng, Cheng Yao, and Bai Qing had automatically formed a community of interest centered around the Friends Association, seeking to secure more benefits for themselves.

The four of them had known each other since their humble beginnings and shared a deep bond.

For the past thirty-plus years, they had gathered annually, baring their hearts at these meetings. They trusted and understood each other completely.

So, their current cooperation was a natural progression.

......

"So this is Mist and Smoke Mountain?" Li Ping stood on the Flying Ship, looking down.

Mist and Smoke Mountain was a mountain range stretching for thousands of miles. Its main peak was a thousand zhang tall, and its summit was perpetually shrouded in mist and vapor, which was how it got its name.

Over the past few years, the several hundred Cultivators and tens of thousands of mortals of the Wang family had all moved here from the Immortal City.

As for the Wang family’s ancestral land within the Immortal City, it had been renovated and was now being rented out.

Originally, Cheng Yao had planned to sell the Wang family’s ancestral land directly, but she was forced to abandon the idea when an Elder Cultivator from the Wang family threatened to kill himself over it.

"Big Brother, let’s go down!"

Li Ping smiled and nodded. "Alright."

......

After staying at Mist and Smoke Mountain for several days, Li Ping finally returned to the Immortal City with Zhang Tie and Gumu Sheng.

As for Bai Qing, he returned to Gaoji Mountain on his own.

On the way back, Zhang Tie expressed his envy for the Spiritual Lands occupied by the Bai and Wang families.

His cave-dwelling on Cyan Dragon Mountain was situated on a Tier Two Upper Grade Spiritual Land, but its area was far smaller than Gaoji Mountain or Mist and Smoke Mountain. He couldn’t plant vast amounts of Spirit Medicine and excavate spirit mines like the Bai and Wang families could.

The freedom of monopolizing an entire immortal mountain was truly something else.

Hearing Zhang Tie’s words, Li Ping and Gumu Sheng showed their agreement.

Even Li Ping couldn’t help but consider whether he should also leave the city and occupy a Spirit Vein for his cultivation instead of continuing to rent a place on Immortal Peach Mountain.

But he quickly swept the thought from his mind.

’Occupying an immortal mountain, becoming a patriarch, and propagating a family—how could that compare to the freedom of pursuing the Immortal Dao?’

He possessed High-tier skills and didn’t lack cultivation resources, so there was no need to occupy and manage an immortal mountain. In fact, living in the Immortal City, close to the market, was more beneficial for his cultivation.

But Gumu Sheng thought differently. He proposed, "Second Brother, in the future, let’s work together to seize an immortal mountain outside the city for our descendants to live and prosper."

Zhang Tie nodded in agreement. "Alright."

Although they made a plan, the two had no intention of acting on it immediately.

They were disciples of a True Master and were bound to serve the Immortal City for life. They simply had no time to go outside the city to occupy and manage an immortal mountain.

They could only take that step after the number of Cultivators in their families had grown.

Of course, by that time, their thinking might have changed again.

After all, farming and mining were thankless tasks.

’With the connections of their two patriarchs, their descendants could run some businesses in the city or land a secure position within the Immortal City’s system. Wouldn’t that be easier than pioneering outside the city walls?’

It was just like the Wang family Cultivators before; if Cheng Yao hadn’t forced them, they probably would have never been willing to leave the city.

......

Upon returning to Immortal Peach Mountain, Li Ping entered seclusion to focus on his cultivation.

「In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.」

This year, Li Ping turned sixty, reaching an age of seniority.

At his age, mortals would already have graying hair. However, as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, sixty years was merely a quarter of Li Ping’s long lifespan.

He was still very young.

And at the end of this year, three travel-worn Cultivators arrived at the Immortal City to visit Li Ping.

"Uncle Li," the three called out in unison, their voices tinged with sorrow.

Li Ping’s gaze swept over them, recognizing them as the three outstanding Cultivators of the Ji family: Ji Shuwen, Ji Shu Xuan, and Ji Shuchen.

They brought bad news.

Not long ago, Daoist Ji had passed away on Little Plum Mountain.

Hearing of Daoist Ji’s passing, Li Ping felt a deep sorrow in his heart.

Daoist Ji was the one who had guided him onto the Immortal Dao. They had been both teacher and friend, their friendship spanning nearly fifty years.

Although Li Ping had long anticipated his passing, he couldn’t help but sigh in mourning now.

He had no doubts about the cause of Daoist Ji’s death.

After all, Daoist Ji was nearly one hundred and twenty years old when he passed, having lived to the absolute limit of a Qi Refining Cultivator’s lifespan.

Moreover, when he had come to visit Li Ping several years ago, he had already seemed to be making arrangements for his affairs. He probably knew then that his time was near.

While Li Ping was lamenting, Ji Shuwen began to describe the circumstances of Daoist Ji’s passing, tears welling in her eyes as she spoke. "Grandfather passed away suddenly after laughing three times upon hearing the news of my successful Foundation Establishment."

Ji Shuwen, standing before Li Ping, emanated the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage. She was now, impressively, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Li Ping sighed. "For Old Brother Ji to see you succeed in Foundation Establishment, he must have passed with no regrets."

Hearing this, Ji Shuwen broke down in tears.

’As a Loose Cultivator with Five Spiritual Roots, Daoist Ji must have been incredibly proud to have nurtured a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for his family before he passed.’

Li Ping silently guessed that it was perhaps the desire to hear news of Ji Shuwen’s successful Foundation Establishment that had given him the strength to hold on until now.

"Where is Old Brother Ji buried?" Li Ping asked after a moment of silence.

Seeing that Ji Shuwen was too grief-stricken to speak, Ji Shuchen, who was standing beside her, quickly answered, "According to Grandfather’s last wishes, his funeral was simple. His ashes were scattered on Little Plum Mountain."

He added, "Grandfather said he hoped to continue watching over the Ji family even after his death."

Ji Shuchen had been cultivating on Little Plum Mountain all this time. Back when Li Ping explored the Underground Spirit Vein there, he had slain a Demon Snake. He had refined the Demon Snake’s gall into a Pill and given it to Daoist Ji.

He had also left the snake scales for the Ji family.

Relying on those resources, plus the Qi Condensing Pill Li Ping had given Daoist Ji several years ago, he had successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Seventh Level, becoming a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

In addition, Ji Shu Xuan was also a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

Without anyone noticing, the Ji family had grown strong.

......

「That evening.」

Li Ping met with Ji Shuchen alone.

Over a decade ago, when Li Ping had met him on Little Plum Mountain, he was still a mischievous boy who liked to raid birds’ nests.

But now, he was over thirty years old, a man with a steady and mature disposition.

Before his death, Daoist Ji had passed the position of Clan Leader to him.

He had also told him, and him alone, about the secret beneath Little Plum Mountain.

Remembering his agreement with Daoist Ji, Li Ping took out the deed for the Little Plum Mountain Spiritual Land from his Storage Bag, spread it on the table, and pushed it toward Ji Shuchen.

He explained, "Shuchen, I made a promise to your grandfather. If your Ji family ever produced several Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators, or if Shuwen succeeded in Foundation Establishment, I would transfer the Little Plum Mountain Spiritual Land to your family. Now is the time."

"This..." Ji Shuchen was somewhat surprised.

He didn’t take the deed. Instead, he spoke with some hesitation, "Uncle Li, Grandfather never told me about this agreement. Besides, there is a Tier Three Spirit Vein beneath Little Plum Mountain..."

Hearing his words, Li Ping couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He knew Daoist Ji was a considerate man. Perhaps worried about putting him in a difficult position, Daoist Ji had not told Ji Shuchen about his promise.

After all, Li Ping might not care much about the Tier One Spiritual Land on Little Plum Mountain.

But underneath it lay a Tier Three Spiritual Land, a place capable of sustaining a Core Formation Immortal Race for generations.

’Would Brother Li really be willing to just give it to the Ji family?’

Thus, he had left the choice entirely in Li Ping’s hands.

If Li Ping was willing to give the Spiritual Land to the Ji family, then nothing more needed to be said.

If Li Ping went back on his word, then they would act as if this agreement never existed.

Coming back to his senses, Li Ping shook his head. "Perhaps your grandfather forgot to mention it. Go on and take the deed."

After a thought, he added a warning, "Also, remember to keep the matter of the Underground Spirit Vein a secret. Do not touch it. With your current strength, you can’t possibly protect a Tier Three Spirit Vein. It could bring disaster upon your family!"

"I understand, Uncle Li." Hearing this, Ji Shuchen’s expression turned grim. He nodded quickly in agreement and put away the deed from the table.

Clearly, he understood the gravity of the situation.

He also firmly remembered his grandfather’s dying instruction: The matter of the Underground Spirit Vein must not be told to anyone except Uncle Li.

After handing over the Spiritual Land, Li Ping asked about his Third Senior Brother and the Yan family.

From Ji Shuchen, he learned that although his Third Senior Brother was old, he was still in high spirits.

Hearing this, Li Ping nodded. He calculated that his Third Senior Brother was over seventy now. However, he had secretly used his Nourishing Life Skill Power to regulate his Third Senior Brother’s Origin.

Therefore, his body was still in excellent condition. Living another ten or twenty years would be no problem.

Next, Ji Shuchen spoke of the marriages between the Ji and Yan families.

Over the years, the children born from those unions had gradually reached the age to have their Spiritual Roots tested.

As a result, two children with Spiritual Roots had appeared in the Yan family, although both were Five Spiritual Roots. But once they grew up, the Yan family could, at a stretch, be considered a Cultivation Clan.

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