Chapter 115: Holding a Thank-you Banquet for the Mid-stage Foundation Building
Inside the main hall, as soon as Sect Master Wen Jin spoke these words, the expressions of the Foundation Establishment disciples present all turned serious.
However, no one responded immediately.
Those who are accepted as disciples by the elders are not only talented but also smart.
You can't make a statement easily before you know the situation.
Xiang Zhaozheng looked at these foundation-building disciples and knew that these juniors would not express their opinions unless he stated the specific matters.
Xiang Zhaozheng's eyes were a little gloomy. This was the difference between the Hundred Cities Sect and those sects with a thousand-year heritage.
The disciples of the Hundred Cities Sect have no sense of belonging and will not really fight for the sect. It is more of a combination of interests.
"This sect master has decided to appoint a young sect master, who can enjoy the treatment of an elder."
Swish! As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Zhaozheng felt the burning gazes of the seven juniors, including his own disciple.
Even if he was an elder's disciple, he could not resist the temptation of the identity of the young master.
Status is secondary; the most important thing is the treatment of elders.
Every year, the Wenjin Sect relies on the spiritual stones earned from the inner city of Wenjin City. Thirty percent is kept in the treasury to reward the many disciples. As the sect leader, he takes twenty percent, and the remaining fifty percent is divided among the elders.
The number of spirit stones in Jincheng in a year is a terrifying number.
Not to mention that you can also get some precious materials and elixirs.
Among the elders and disciples present, except Chu Ning and Gu Fanzhou who are the only direct disciples of the master, the remaining five all have fellow disciples, but they are the most valued by the master among their fellow disciples.
Chu Ning's eyes were burning, purely to cooperate with the Sect Master. Otherwise, if he was careless and uninterested when other people's eyes were burning, wouldn't it spoil the Sect Master's interest? When the Sect Master proposed the Young Sect Master, he had already made up his mind not to participate.
What's good about being the young master of the sect? The treatment of an elder is not attractive to me. I am the only disciple of my master, so what belongs to me is also my own.
If the treatment doesn't attract him, then he won't care about the title even more.
"Are you interested in the position of Young Sect Master? If so, I will discuss with your master to see how to select the candidate."
Xiang Zhaozheng's words left the hall silent.
Chu Ning glanced at the other people and knew why they were silent.
It's not that these people are not interested in the young master, but they heard something from the sect master's words. The sect master might not have discussed this matter with their master.
If they say they are interested and the master objects, then they are standing against the master.
Although the leader is the most important person in the sect, their personal interests are still determined by their respective masters.
"If you are not interested, then let's forget about it."
As soon as these words came out, two of them could no longer sit still. Both of them were in the late stage of foundation building. They knew very well that if they wanted to break through to the golden elixir stage, it would be far from enough to rely on the help of the master. If they could enjoy the resources of the elders, they would have a chance to make a breakthrough.
"As long as the sect master and the elders have discussed this matter, we have no objection."
Once one person spoke up, the others followed suit. As long as the sect leader and the elders had confirmed it, we would obey.
"Very good, you are worthy of being the best of the younger generation in Wenjin City. This sect master will discuss this matter with the elders."
…
…
On the way back to the cave, Chu Ning was thinking as he walked, what exactly did the Sect Master want to do? Did he want to build momentum for Gu Fanzhou and make him the Young Sect Master?
The young sect master must be selected during the foundation building period. Gu Fanzhou is said to have entered the late foundation building period three years ago, but several elders' disciples have been in the late foundation building period for a long time. The two who were in the hall today have been waiting for twenty years after the foundation building period.
Why did the Sect Master think that Gu Fanzhou could take the position of Young Sect Master? Was there any manipulation in the selection process?
Chu Ning couldn't figure it out, so he decided to leave the problem to his master.
Xie Shouping listened to Chu Ning's story, his old eyes narrowed, and instead of explaining Chu Ning's doubts, he asked, "Do you have any idea about the position of Young Sect Master?"
"Master, don't you know me yet? I don't like false reputation. I don't have any idea at all. Besides, I'm only in the initial stage of foundation building. I guess if I wasn't your only disciple, the sect master wouldn't ask me to go."
Chu Ning curled his lips, but then his expression became serious: "Master, do you mean to support the sect having a young master?"
Having more young masters would mean taking away some resources from the elders.
Logically, the master and other elders should be against it.
"You stay in the mountains all day, and only go down occasionally, but never leave the city. You don't know what's happening outside the city."
Xie Shouping knew that his disciple was not stupid, but was limited by the information blockade and did not know what was happening outside the city. Naturally, he could not guess why Xiang Zhaozheng wanted to set up a young master.
"Master, do you mean that the Sect Master's appointment of a Young Sect Master is related to the events outside the city?"
"The mayor of Shanyang City, the neighbor to the left of Wenjin City, wanted to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage but failed. He only has a few dozen years left to live. The mayor of Shanyang City is different from our Wenjin Sect. He relied on his late Jindan cultivation to have a chance to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage and did not allow other Jindan masters to enter the city. In the entire Shanyang City, there are only two other Jindan masters besides him."
Chu Ning's eyes narrowed, and he guessed what his master meant.
"Master, are you planning to take over Shanyang City?"
"Our clan leader is not the only one eyeing Shanyang City."
Xie Shouping stroked his beard and smiled. The lord of Shanyang City had already reached the late Jindan stage two hundred years ago. He thought there was a great possibility of breaking through to the Yuanying stage, so he occupied Shanyang City.
Although other Jindan cultivators coveted Shanyang City, they chose to be tolerant in the end when they thought of the talent of the city lord.
A strong man in the late Jindan stage is very difficult to kill unless he is in the Yuanying stage. If we really attack Shanyang City and let the city lord escape, if the other party really breaks through to the Yuanying stage in the future, it will bring a devastating disaster to ourselves and our family descendants.
Don’t bully the young because they are poor.
This also applies to the monastic community.
Especially when there is a talented and powerful person who cannot be wiped out in the cradle, everyone will choose to give in.
If the Lord of Shanyang City really broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, it would be fine, and the surrounding forces would even take the initiative to surrender to him. But now that he has failed to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, he will suffer backlash.
The forces from several cities surrounding Shanyang City are all watching with eager eyes, waiting for the moment when the Lord of Shanyang City grows old, or his energy and blood completely decline and his cultivation regresses.
The reason why one has to compete with others on the path of cultivating immortals is that the further one progresses, the more massive resources are needed, and resources require territory to support them.
If everyone could quietly hide in a place with abundant spiritual energy and practice step by step, then there would not be a need for so many sects and forces.
"Among the four major cities surrounding Shanyang City, Wenjin City has the most Jindan masters. When it comes to making choices, the sect master is quite generous and is willing to give resources to the elders. But compared to the other three major cities, Wenjin Sect was founded the shortest time, so naturally the hearts are the least united."
When Chu Ning heard what his master said, he completely understood the sect leader's intention.
The position of young sect leader was offered to rally the hearts of the disciples of Wenjin Sect so as to prepare for the future battle for territory.
What about his master's attitude? Did the master call them over to test the attitudes of the elders?
I’m afraid it’s not that simple.
"Some things cannot be discussed openly for the time being. The sect master uses this method to test the attitudes of my teacher and others. If my teacher and others are willing, the selection of the young sect leader will be put on the agenda." Xie Shouping saw the confusion of his disciples and explained.
Chu Ning knew that this willingness did not refer to the establishment of a young master, but to support the clan leader's plan to seize Shanyang City.
"So what do you mean, Master?"
"The resources in Shanyang City are more abundant than those in Wenjin City."
Chu Ning understood. The master supported the sect leader's plan to take over Shanyang City. Even the master, an alchemist, supported it. He thought that the other elders should also support it.
"This is Zengquan Pill, which should be enough for you to reach the middle stage of foundation building. You don't need to worry about this matter, just focus on breaking through to the middle stage of foundation building first."
Xie Shouping did not continue the topic, but threw a few bottles of pills to Chu Ning.
"Thank you, Master."
Chu Ning has already made up his mind, he will run away when the time comes.
It will take time for the city lord of Shanyang City to gradually lose his vitality. If the war really breaks out, he will go find Tang Xiaoniu and stay in Riyue Mountain for a few decades.
One month later.
The leader of the sect ordered Xiang Zhaozheng to ask the current sect to select a young leader.
All disciples of the sect, regardless of inner or outer sect, under 200 years old and in the foundation-building stage can sign up.
The maximum lifespan of a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage is just over 200 years. With this age limit, it is naturally impossible to select a young sect leader, as he would die within a few years.
The entire Wenjin Sect and even the Wenjin City were in an uproar over this news. The young sect master had the same status as an elder and enjoyed the same treatment as the elders. This news alone made many Foundation Establishment cultivators fanatical.
The selection of the young sect leader lasts for ten years. Each elder can nominate a disciple to directly enter the final, and the remaining disciples must reach the sect contribution points.
Contribution points can be obtained by completing sect tasks. In order to allow disciples to gain more points, the sect’s top leaders also issued a variety of tasks at once.
There will be points reward for completing these tasks, and there will also be points reward for breaking through to the next level and improving your strength.
Originally, completing a sect mission might only earn 50 points, but within this ten-year period, 100 points can be earned.
Even if he doesn't get the chance to become the young sect master in the end, these points can be exchanged for the necessary cultivation items in the sect's treasury, and the exchange price has not increased.
Prepare for war and rally the troops.
Feeling the atmosphere of Wenjin Peak, Chu Ning thought of these two words.
With the master's advice, he knew the purpose of the sect master's doing this, which was to stimulate the foundation-building cultivators in the sect to improve their strength in order to prepare for the future competition for territory.
According to the master, when the time comes to fight for the territory of Shanyang City, the Jindan powerhouses will fight in the Jindan stage. The most important thing this time is not a fight between two forces, but a fight between four major forces.
No one dares to say that he can suppress the other three parties. Everyone is just fighting for new territories instead of defending their own territories. When their own interests are not harmed, in this case, the Jindan powerhouses play more of a symbolic role, while the foundation-building cultivators can come in handy.
When competing for external interests, as long as local interests are not infringed, no one will be the first to use nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
This is how Chu Ning understood it. Once the Jindan masters also joined the battle, the war situation would be escalated. This was something that Wen Jinzong and the Jindan masters from other major cities did not want to see.
All the foundation-building cultivators in Wenjin City became busy, and those outer disciples in the late Qi Condensation stage were also struggling to build their foundation.
These ten years of hard work are equivalent to twenty or even thirty years of normal years. No monk would waste such a good opportunity.
Except Chu Ning.
In the cave.
Chu Ning, like in the past, took the pills given by his master every day and made a breakthrough towards the middle stage of foundation building.
In terms of overall combat power, Chu Ning has already surpassed the middle stage of foundation building. Whether it is the amount of spiritual liquid or the distance of spiritual awareness, the general middle stage of foundation building cannot compare with him.
However, his realm shown to the outside world was still the initial stage of foundation building. It was not that Chu Ning hid his realm, but that Chu Ning's dantian had not yet opened up the second spiritual spring.
The liquefaction of spiritual energy is a sign of entering the foundation-building stage, and these spiritual liquids gather in the dantian to form a small spiritual spring.
If the spiritual fluid in the spiritual spring is used up, it can be slowly replenished by taking some recovery pills or absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but generally spiritual springs have a limit.
A spiritual spring can only store two hundred drops of spiritual liquid, and then a second spiritual spring must be opened to store more spiritual liquid.
Opening up the second spiritual spring is the sign of entering the middle stage of foundation building.
There is only one spiritual spring in Chu Ning's dantian, but the spiritual liquid has already exceeded two hundred drops, and the spring is still not filled up.
The Zengquan Pill he took was meant to open up a spiritual spring, but unfortunately, after taking half a bottle of the pill, there was no sign of the second spiritual spring appearing.
Chu Ning was not in a hurry. As long as the spiritual liquid continued to increase, his strength would increase even if he did not open up a second spiritual spring.
…
Although he was not interested in the position of young master, Chu Ning could not be too negative. He refined two furnaces of pills and exchanged them for some contribution points.
Spring goes and autumn comes.
Seven years passed like this.
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Chu Ningli lasted for twenty years.
On this day, Chu Ning stood in the pavilion on the lake, and the spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth was rushing towards him madly.
Chu Ning's body was like a bottomless pit, constantly absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. However, the speed at which the spiritual energy of heaven and earth came in could not keep up with the speed at which he absorbed it.
“Not enough!”
Looking inward at his own Dantian, Chu Ning saw the second spiritual spring just appear, but then it dried up immediately because there was not enough spiritual fluid.
With a wave of his right hand, the caps of several bottles of medicine on the table in the pavilion were all opened, and several pills were swallowed by Chu Ning.
After the pill entered the body, the energy was quickly absorbed by the mountain.
"This time, it should work."
In these seven years, this was not the first time that Chu Ning attempted to reach the middle stage of foundation building. He had already started to do so five years ago. Unfortunately, he failed the previous two times. This was the third time.
The reason for the first two failures was that there was not enough spiritual liquid to stabilize the newly opened spiritual spring.
He made full preparations for this time.
Top-grade Qingling Pill, Top-grade Zengquan Pill, Top-grade Hualing Pill...
Six kinds of top-grade elixirs.
Not only would they be worth tens of thousands of spirit stones in the outside world, it might not be possible to collect all of them.
For other people in the early stage of foundation building, even if one of the elixirs was taken, as long as there was enough spiritual fluid, a second spiritual spring could be opened up. However, this time, Chu Ning took all six together to be on the safe side.
It is extremely luxurious.
That is to say, he was able to do this because he had a master who was a third-rank alchemist and he was his only disciple.
After the elixir energy was absorbed by the mountain in his dantian, the waterfall in the mountain was no longer drops of spiritual liquid falling down the mountain stream. Instead, the majestic waterfall water rushed directly towards his dantian.
Boom! In Chu Ning's mind, there was a sound of a waterfall hitting a boulder, and along with this sound, a hole was directly smashed out in his dantian.
The water overflowed from the dantian and flowed all over the body. The black snake was now lying beside the spiritual spring, stretching out its tongue and constantly sucking the falling waterfall water.
One breath, two breaths...
Chu Ning felt that his body was being cleansed and washed by the spiritual liquid, and the strength of both his skin and bones increased a lot.
After reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, very few cultivators would cultivate their physical bodies anymore, because it would not significantly improve their realm. Everyone fought with their spiritual consciousness and magic, and the more spiritual fluid they had, the stronger the magic they could perform.
"Is this the energy from the Longevity Fruit or from this green mountain?"
Chu Ning was now a little confused. When the energy of the longevity fruit turned into a waterfall hanging above the mountain, he could no longer tell the difference.
…
…
Repeat the cycle.
One year later.
The entire Wenjin Sect's foundation-building cultivators were once again shocked by a piece of news.
Chu Ning broke through to the middle stage of foundation building.
In eight years, from the early stage to the middle stage, this breakthrough speed made many foundation-building cultivators envious, but when they thought that Chu Ning's master was the fifth elder, they felt it was natural.
With the Fifth Elder's training at all costs, this time is not particularly outstanding. As for why the Fifth Elder would allow Chu Ning to break through quickly at all costs, many disciples thought that it was for the position of the Young Sect Master.
However, it seems that the middle stage of foundation building is still a little short, and there are only two years left before the selection of the young sect leader.
The reason why these foundation-building cultivators of Wenjin Sect knew that Chu Ning had broken through to the middle stage of foundation-building was because they received an invitation.
Foundation building thanksgiving banquet.
All those foundation-building cultivators who had participated in Chu Ning's foundation-building banquet had received Chu Ning's invitation.
[On the day of the foundation building, I was honored to have you attend the banquet. Today, I was able to achieve a breakthrough, so I have prepared a banquet to thank you. I hope you can take the time to come.]
The invitation was full of sincere words, which meant that when I, Chu Ning, was building my foundation, all the senior brothers had shown me favor, and I, Chu Ning, was very grateful.
Now that I have broken through to the middle stage of foundation building, I specially held a banquet to thank all the senior brothers for their kindness and help in the past.
Xie Shouping looked at the invitation of his disciple with a strange expression. He had taken advantage of the Foundation Establishment Feast to get more money from the Foundation Establishment cultivators. Was he going to get more money from them again? It was written as a thank-you banquet, but would the Foundation Establishment cultivators who attended the banquet come empty-handed?
"Master, I have reached the middle stage of foundation building and will be going to Sun Moon Mountain. I would like to invite all the brothers to gather before I leave."
Seeing his master's strange expression, Chu Ning had no sense of shame at all and spoke in a high-sounding manner.
This is nothing. When I was a constable, I would hold a banquet to commemorate the 100th day of employment and the first anniversary of employment.
In other words, he was afraid that the way he ate would be too ugly, otherwise he would hold a foundation-building thank-you banquet once a year.
Xie Shouping was silent for a while, and after a while he took out something from his storage bag.
"This is the thank-you banquet gift from your master. It's just for this one time. If you organize another thank-you banquet for the late foundation building stage, I'm afraid I won't be able to help but clear the door."
Xie Shouping left. If he didn't leave, he was afraid he would have to clean up the mess, mainly because he felt he couldn't afford to lose face.
You are a dignified third-rank alchemist and the only disciple of a mid-stage Jindan cultivator. Why are you always thinking about the things in the pockets of those foundation-building cultivators?
"Master is still thin-skinned. What's this? If we don't hold a banquet to thank the late foundation building masters, then we can hold a banquet to help the golden elixir sprint masters."
Chu Ning shook his head. Master is already a Jindan realm person, doesn't he understand the principle of being thick-skinned and eating everywhere? As for the things in the pockets of foundation-building cultivators, don't underestimate them. Although they don't have as many good things as Jindan masters, they also have some precious things.
Besides, doesn’t he want the things of the Jindan strongmen? It’s impossible for him to want them.
"What kind of spiritual weapon is this?"
Chu Ning collected his thoughts and looked at the object in his hand. It looked a bit like a flying boat, but upon closer inspection it was not. When he immersed himself in it with his spiritual sense, after a while, there was a light in Chu Ning's eyes.
This is a flying... oh no, it's an underground boat.
Did the master really get it? This underground boat can travel underground, and as long as there are enough spirit stones, it can reach the fastest speed, comparable to the speed of the late stage of foundation building.
But this is not the most attractive thing about this underground boat for Chu Ning. What makes Chu Ning most satisfied is that this underground boat can block the prying eyes of spiritual consciousness.
As long as you don't move, it is impossible to discover the underground escaping boat unless you are a Jindan powerhouse.
This is simply a magical tool for home travel.
At that time, there will be a flying boat flying in the sky, but he will actually be underground. If someone attacks the flying boat, he can kill the opponent in return.
Well, when your spiritual awareness reaches 500 meters, you can do this when traveling in the future.
A month later, Chu Ning's mid-stage foundation building thank-you banquet was held as scheduled, and all the foundation building cultivators of Wenjin Sect attended.
After the banquet, these foundation-building monks left one after another.
"Brother Gu, is there something wrong?"
Looking at Gu Fanzhou who was still in the yard, Chu Ning asked with some confusion.
"Junior Brother Chu, I think you are the most suitable person for the position of Young Sect Master of this sect."
Gu Fanzhou's eyes were a little complicated. From today's banquet, it can be seen how popular Junior Brother Chu is in the sect.
Everyone in the city came, and those who were in seclusion or outside the city and could not make it in time also sent gifts.
“Don’t!”
Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat. Whoever wanted to be the young master could be it. He was going to run away to Sun Moon Mountain to find Tang Xiaoniu.
"Brother, you are joking. I am only in the middle stage of foundation building. How can I be the young master of the sect?"
"If you are willing, I can make a suggestion to Master. Together with the Fifth Elder, with your popularity, there won't be many people who would object to you becoming the Young Sect Master."
Chu Ning narrowed his eyes and looked at Gu Fanzhou. Was Senior Brother Gu testing him? You know, the most popular candidate for the position of Young Sect Master is Gu Fanzhou. He is the Sect Master's personal disciple, and he is in the late stage of foundation building. He also has a high reputation in the sect.
"Brother Gu, I am only interested in alchemy and have no interest in the position of Young Sect Master. Brother Gu, please don't put me on the volcano to roast."
Gu Fanzhou was also observing Chu Ning's expression. After confirming that Chu Ning was speaking from the heart, there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
He was not testing Junior Brother Chu, but he really felt that Junior Brother Chu was suitable.
Like his master, he wanted to develop the Wenjin Sect and make it a real sect.
"In that case, Senior Brother won't force it."
After Gu Fanzhou left, Chu Ning began to murmur in his heart. No, he had to leave early and couldn't stay any longer.
The next day.
Chu Ning went down the mountain, visited Miaoyin Pavilion, and finally learned the art of alchemy.
Under his guidance, the three female cultivators were able to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, which meant they had completed their apprenticeship.
The three girls held a special farewell banquet for Chu Ning to thank him for his generous teaching over the years.
Three days later, Chu Ning put all the good things in the cave into the storage bag and prepared to go find his master to run away. Oh no... he was going to Sun and Moon Mountain to propose marriage.
(End of this chapter)