Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: One Core, Four Requirements
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“This is Sister Miaoyun. She's the second young lady of the Zhou Clan from Stonecloud Town. Like us, she's also a Fishery Farmer for the Yun Clan.”
“Sister Miaoyun's cultivation is not only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, but she's also a low-grade Talisman Master.”
Stonecloud Town was three hundred miles north of Mirror Moon Lake and was also under the Yun Clan's rule.
The Zhou Clan was a Qi Refining family in Stonecloud Town, but not the only one. The highest cultivation level in their clan was only the sixth level of Qi Refining.
Otherwise, why would the second young lady of a respectable immortal cultivation clan come to the Yun Clan to be a mere Fishery Farmer?
Evidently, the direct descendants of some weaker Qi Refining clans also need to venture out to secure their own cultivation resources.
“I am Chen Jianghe. It is a pleasure to meet you, Fairy Miaoyun,” Chen Jianghe said with a cupped-fist salute.
“Yu Daniu, a pleasure to meet you, Fairy Miaoyun.”
A peculiar look flashed in Yu Daniu's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected Gao Peiyao to bring someone else.
Today was the day they were supposed to form an alliance. How could an outsider be present?
“Greetings, fellow Daoists.”
Zhou Miaoyun smiled and curtsied gracefully, showing none of the airs of a clan's young lady.
“Since Brother Jianghe and Brother Daniu are here, it seems you agree with my proposal and are interested in forming a mutual aid alliance.”
Gao Peiyao fluttered her long eyelashes, invited everyone to sit, and poured tea. “Sister Miaoyun is also interested in joining our alliance. I wonder what you two brothers think?”
At this moment, Gao Peiyao had clearly become the organizer of this small alliance.
“Fairy Miaoyun is from a clan, her cultivation is higher than ours, and she's a Talisman Master. If our mutual aid alliance could have Fairy Miaoyun join, it would be our honor,” Chen Jianghe said with a smile.
Gao Peiyao was the one who brought her, and her cultivation and background were both superior to theirs. Plus, with her standing right there, he couldn't very well refuse.
Besides, Gao Peiyao was the initiator of the alliance. It was only natural that she would bring someone in for her own benefit.
As things stood, the benefits Chen Jianghe could offer Gao Peiyao were far less than what Zhou Miaoyun could provide.
If he disagreed with Zhou Miaoyun joining, his only option would be to withdraw from this small alliance himself.
“Yes, yes, exactly.”
With Chen Jianghe's statement, Yu Daniu quickly chimed in with his agreement.
“Thank you, fellow Daoists.”
Zhou Miaoyun nodded in gratitude.
Her spiritual root talent was poor—a five-element miscellaneous root. Compounded by the fact that she was a woman, she was not highly regarded in the Zhou Clan.
The cultivation resources she could receive were limited, which had prompted her to leave her home and seek opportunities with the Yun Clan.
Of course, becoming a high-level Fishery Farmer was not her intended path of development.
Her true purpose in coming to the Yun Clan was to achieve a breakthrough in the way of talismans, become a mid-grade Talisman Master, and serve as a guest elder for the Yun Clan.
The reason she joined the mutual aid alliance formed by Gao Peiyao was that she valued Gao Peiyao's talent and future potential.
With her spiritual root talent and aptitude for talisman arts, she could see her future outcome at a glance.
At best, she would reach the late stage of Qi Refining and become a mid-grade Talisman Master.
Reaching the late stage of Qi Refining was contingent on first becoming a mid-grade Talisman Master; otherwise, she would never have enough resources to cultivate that far.
Gao Peiyao's spiritual root talent was good. If she reached the late stage of Qi Refining in the future, she could provide significant help, perhaps altering the predetermined outcome Zhou Miaoyun foresaw for herself.
“Since everyone agrees to establish a mutual aid alliance, let's discuss its rules and content.”
Everyone nodded.
“Peiyao, you initiated this mutual aid alliance. You must have a draft in mind. Why don't you share it with us for consideration?” Chen Jianghe said.
“Alright, I'll go first. If there's anything inappropriate, please point it out, Sister Miaoyun and you two brothers.”
Gao Peiyao nodded and then said, "The fundamental purpose of forming this mutual aid alliance is so that we can support each other and go further on the path of immortality."
“For now, the core objective will be to reach the late stage of Qi Refining. No matter who in the alliance reaches the sixth level of Qi Refining first, we should all do our utmost to help them purchase a Calamity Dispelling Pill to break through.
And whoever breaks through to the late stage of Qi Refining should, in turn, do their best to help the other members also reach the late stage.”
After she finished speaking, Gao Peiyao looked at everyone.
“I agree.” Zhou Miaoyun was the first to nod her assent.
Chen Jianghe pondered for only a moment before agreeing. For him, reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining was only a matter of time.
Those with five-element miscellaneous roots would all encounter a bottleneck when breaking through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining. It could take a minimum of ten years to overcome, or as long as fifteen to twenty.
With sufficient financial resources, a Spirit Accumulating Pill could be used to break the bottleneck.
Similarly, the bottleneck for breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining was even more formidable, requiring the purchase of a Calamity Dispelling Pill to aid the breakthrough.
Seeing that neither Chen Jianghe nor Zhou Miaoyun had any objections, Yu Daniu also expressed his agreement.
Seeing everyone agree, Gao Peiyao revealed a satisfied smile and continued, “Alliance members will need to abide by four requirements.
First, we will meet once a year at a fixed location to exchange cultivation insights and trade items of equal value. Hmm... let's tentatively set the location as the Welcome Inn.
Second, should anything happen to the Yun Clan, to prepare for any potential future incidents, the members must support one another. If one is in trouble, the other three will provide aid, and we will overcome the crisis together.
Third, members with higher cultivation should do their best to help those with lower cultivation, but this help will not be without compensation.
Fourth, for now, the mutual aid alliance will consist of the four of us. If anyone else is to join in the future, it will require the consent of at least three of us.”
Gao Peiyao laid out the one core principle and four requirements of the mutual aid alliance.
Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu exchanged a glance and both nodded.
The core principle and member requirements Gao Peiyao proposed were all based on equality and mutual benefit.
There would be no case of one person becoming dependent on another.
Nor would anyone hold a superior position.
At this point in time, the rules of the alliance were most beneficial to Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu.
They were the weaker party, the ones who would be supported.
Zhou Miaoyun had the highest cultivation at the fourth level of Qi Refining. She wouldn't be able to reach the sixth level anytime soon, so she wouldn't need help for now.
Although Gao Peiyao's cultivation was the same as Chen Jianghe's and Yu Daniu's, both at the second level of Qi Refining, her talent was slightly higher, and she had the resources left by Old Gao. She would soon surpass them.
Most importantly, with the sudden turmoil in the Yun Clan, if the waters were to descend into chaos in the future, they would have an ally in the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
And a Talisman Master at that.
There were certainly some benefits to be had.
Of course, in the short term, Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu were the primary beneficiaries. But in the long run, Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun stood to gain more.
Those two had the best chance of breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining.
“I agree with the one core principle and four requirements that Peiyao has proposed,” Chen Jianghe was the first to state his position.
His spiritual root talent was poor, but he had a long lifespan. For him, this mutual aid alliance would provide more help in the later stages.
“I agree.”
“I agree.”
Zhou Miaoyun and Yu Daniu stated their agreement one after the other.
“Alright then, we will establish our mutual aid alliance based on this one core principle and four requirements. Let us swear a heart-demon oath not to violate it.”
Gao Peiyao's expression turned solemn as she was the first to swear the heart-demon oath.
Afterward, Zhou Miaoyun, Chen Jianghe, and Yu Daniu all swore the heart-demon oath together.