Chapter 662 - 60: Calm Before the Storm

"Congratulations, my husband, for advancing once again!"

Just as the magical power stabilized, Ning Sujin walked in.

"Haha, it’s delightful and congratulatory for us to advance together as a couple." Li Ji’an embraced her with a face full of contentment.

During these sixteen years, not only did he advance further, Ning Sujin also progressed with divine speed, having advanced to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment five years ago.

If things continue like this, in less than thirty years, Ning Sujin should be able to challenge Core Formation.

The cultivation efficiency of the Chaos Technique is increasingly evident.

However, given the current situation, it most likely won’t work anymore.

"Has Funiu Ascendant not exited seclusion?" Li Ji’an inquired.

Ning Sujin shook her head: "Not yet."

"Has the situation here worsened?" Li Ji’an asked again.

Funiu Ascendant has been in death seclusion for over twenty years without any news.

Moreover, despite the major event involving Qu Tianyang, he didn’t exit seclusion, resulting in unfavorable rumors spreading within Funiu Mountain since a few years ago.

With less than a hundred years of lifespan left, Funiu Ascendant is now suspected of having a big problem.

This has led to the various major forces within Funiu Mountain stirring undercurrents in recent years.

"Strangely, since the rumors started flying three years ago, everything suddenly quieted down, and it seems to have returned to calm. I wonder if this is the calm before the storm." Ning Sujin shook her head.

"What a pity." Li Ji’an sighed softly.

He was very satisfied with the spiritual Qi and cultivation environment here. Based on Funiu Ascendant’s remaining lifespan, staying for another sixty years or so shouldn’t have been a problem.

In that case, he could have almost reached the Late-stage Golden Core.

But things are unpredictable. Now, Funiu Ascendant’s situation isn’t as he expected.

However, this is also reasonable. After all, Funiu Ascendant is not a lone cultivator; he needs to plan for his legacy unlike ordinary loose cultivators who have no attachments upon falling.

He also needs to consider the future of the hard-won unity of Funiu Mountain and his disciples.

"What about that old bastard Chun Yuan?" Li Ji’an asked again.

When the Cyan Ox came out of seclusion, that old bastard left for unknown reasons and only returned two years later.

In the subsequent years, he repeatedly tried to lure Li Ji’an out, all ending in failure.

Two years ago, he even personally visited, but Li Ji’an avoided him, activating the Grand Array, giving him no opportunity.

"He has recently approached several times at night, but has never forced his way in."

"Looks like the Cyan Ox scared him quite a bit!" Li Ji’an chuckled softly.

Ning Sujin smiled in agreement, then recalled something: "Old man, by the way, that little girl Xiaojiu has reached Foundation Establishment Perfection and is now planning for Core Formation."

Li Ji’an nodded. Xiaojiu has extraordinary talent and is a cherished member with a solid foundation and a clear mindset, certain to have a smooth path to Core Formation.

"Xiaojiu is about to form her core?" Suddenly, Li Ji’an raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem?" Ning Sujin looked at Li Ji’an in confusion.

Li Ji’an slowly closed his eyes, contemplating for a moment before his expression gradually turned serious: "I’m afraid Xiaojiu’s Core Formation is the key point here!"

Ning Sujin slightly frowned, puzzled.

Li Ji’an didn’t keep her in suspense and patiently explained: "Funiu Mountain’s unification relied on Funiu Ascendant maneuvering between major forces back then. It wasn’t until his secret advancement to Late Period Core Formation, giving him the strength to face several major forces’ peaks head-on, did he make a stunning move, catching the major forces off guard.

Those major forces’ bases aren’t here, only coveting this place’s resources and geographical location, employing means to cultivate proxies to divide this place, so a peak confrontation is impossible.

Thus, over the past two hundred years, with Funiu Ascendant around, no major mistakes would occur here.

However, now over two hundred years have passed, and Funiu Mountain still hasn’t produced a second Core Formation Ascendant.

Once Funiu Ascendant perishes, Funiu Mountain, without a Core Formation Ascendant sitting on it, is nothing but a laughstock to several major forces.

These major forces have deep foundations, unlike the thin Funiu Mountain lineage, so they can afford not to mind two hundred years; they have enough time to wait for Funiu Ascendant’s fall.

Then, this place would once again become the fruits of victory for the major forces.

In fact, the better Funiu Mountain develops during Funiu Ascendant’s control, the happier the major forces will be.

As of now, out of Funiu Ascendant’s nine prominent disciples, except for Qu Tianyang, who fled in guilt, only Xiaojiu, who has not yet formed her core, has hope. Among the other seven disciples, the eldest disciple, True Man Fengyin, consumed many Core Formation Spirit Treasures due to being favored by Funiu Ascendant initially but only barely formed a Middle Level True Pill, exhausting his potential after advancing to the Middle Stage of Core Formation a hundred years ago with no further advancement hope.

Of the other six disciples, four have Lower True Pills, and two have Fake Pills, offering no hope.

Therefore, whether Funiu Mountain can maintain this unified state after Funiu Ascendant’s death now depends on whether Xiaojiu can form an Upper True Pill.

In the past, when Funiu Ascendant was at his prime, other forces might not have risked it, for even if they succeeded, another would emerge.

Now, however, with Funiu Ascendant having less than a hundred years of lifespan, there is no time to cultivate another prodigy, making Xiaojiu the crucial link. They will do everything to influence or even sabotage Xiaojiu’s Core Formation..."

"Xiaojiu... In this light, wasn’t Qu Tianyang’s escape also a strategy by these people?" Ning Sujin suddenly realized.

Li Ji’an shook his head: "The overall situation is already set. Whether it was related before or not doesn’t matter anymore. Now, the focus is on Xiaojiu."

"However, this indicates that Funiu Mountain has been heavily infiltrated."

As he spoke, Li Ji’an beckoned, collecting all items in the secret room into the Qiankun Ring.

"Old man..." Upon seeing this, Ning Sujin’s face showed a hint of hesitation.

"Don’t worry, I’m not planning to run now, just temporarily don’t need to cultivate in the secret room anymore. Moreover, given the current situation, regardless of how the major forces plot against Xiaojiu, they won’t pick a fight with a Tributor who has only a transactional relationship with Funiu Mountain. They’ll only offer better conditions." Li Ji’an reassured with a free-spirited smile.

"What about Xiaojiu then..."

Li Ji’an understood Ning Sujin’s mind: "Rest assured, since we’ve sown the seeds of kindness, there’s a chance for a good outcome. However, the specific result can only be seen when the time comes. If it’s not a death omen of great calamity, I will do my best to help."

"Thank you, my husband!" Ning Sujin let out a long breath, feeling assured.

Though she understood Li Ji’an’s principles and knew it might be the right approach in the Cultivation Realm, her nature couldn’t entirely change.

If she knew Xiaojiu was in trouble and did nothing, she couldn’t get past her conscience.

"Hm, that old bastard is here again!" Just as Ning Sujin’s heart relaxed, a familiar aura appeared again within her Primordial Spirit Sensing.

Chun Yuan, the old bastard, always approached at night within a range were Core Formation Ascendant’s divine sense couldn’t reach to ensure Li Ji’an wouldn’t sense him.

But this time, in Ning Sujin’s Primordial Spirit Sensing, he hesitated for a moment at the edge of the Core Formation Ascendant’s divine sense range and then advanced further.

The next moment, the old bastard’s aura also appeared within Li Ji’an’s divine sense perception.

"Impatient, are we?" Li Ji’an’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Now having advanced to the Mid-stage Golden Core, he felt more confident, not particularly fearing him.

Sensing the old bastard approaching bit by bit, Li Ji’an immediately summoned Gugu, entering its spatial pocket.

Having advanced to the Mid-stage Golden Core, his magical power surpassed expectations, making him eager to see if he could activate Upper Three Grades magical treasures.

Within Gugu’s spatial pocket, the Cyan Wood Magic Sword that Xiao Changfeng brought back from the Boundless Domain, the Black Water Magic Sword obtained from the Black Water Swamp’s Underground Palace, the Floating Light Fan that belonged to the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws, and the Dragon-Suppressing Cauldron in the depths of the Fallen Dragon Ridge suppressing True Dragon Essence Blood, were all artifacts he longed to use but couldn’t activate.

The grades of some other items were uncertain, but the Floating Light Fan was a confirmed Third Grade magical treasure.