Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Tiannan Sect
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Pleasure Inn.
The usual spot on the second floor.
As Chen Jianghe and Yu Daniu led Yun Xiaoniu to the door, they could hear the cheerful laughter of Zhou Miaoyun and Gao Peiyao from within the private room.
“Fairy Miaoyun, Peiyao.”
Chen Jianghe walked in, nodding with a smile.
“Little Sister Peiyao, Fellow Daoist Zhou.”
Yu Daniu entered, holding Yun Xiaoniu's hand.
Yun Xiaoniu saw Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun and spoke politely, “This little one greets Auntie Yaoyao and Fairy Miaoyun.”
From Yun Xiaoniu's form of address, one could sense the distance between Yu Daniu and Zhou Miaoyun.
“Xiaoniu, come and sit. Order whatever you’d like to eat.”
Gao Peiyao said with a radiant smile, looking at Yun Xiaoniu, who was the height of a young boy but actually only five years old.
This year, Gao Peiyao was paying for the meal, and with a child present, they naturally had the food and drinks served first before discussing business.
Gao Peiyao showed her fondness for Yun Xiaoniu, ordering a full table of dishes and some expensive pastries.
Yun Xiaoniu was very well-behaved, eating quietly by himself without disturbing the four adults' conversation.
“Currently, the Yun Clan's sphere of influence has shrunk to a two-hundred-li radius. They must be preparing for Yun Bufan's Foundation Establishment.”
Gao Peiyao's phoenix eyes turned to Yu Daniu as she asked with a faint smile, “Brother Daniu, you're highly regarded on the lake's central island. Have you heard anything about Yun Bufan's current cultivation level?”
“Huizhen did mention Cousin Bufan. It seems he broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining a year ago and then went into secluded cultivation in the ancestral hall.”
Yu Daniu's wife, Yun Huizhen, and Yun Bufan were third-generation cousins. Yun Huizhen was also part of the Yun Clan's main lineage, but her branch had no elders who had broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining or higher.
Therefore, Yun Huizhen was arranged to be one of the women to take in a live-in husband.
A live-in husband would have had to address Yun Bufan as 'Young Master,' so it was clear that Yu Daniu was held in high esteem within the Yun Clan.
“If all goes smoothly, Cousin Bufan should achieve Foundation Establishment within the next few years.”
“It seems the Yun Clan's bold claim back then wasn't just talk. Yun Bufan really might achieve Foundation Establishment within ten years.”
Gao Peiyao nodded. “Then what about the Yun Clan's old ancestor?”
Seven or eight years ago, the Yun Clan's ancestor was ambushed by the White Clan. Not only was his Foundation Establishment Pill stolen, but he was also severely injured, and it was said his end was near.
Now, nearly eight years had passed, and the Yun Clan's ancestor was still "nearing his end."
“I suspect he won't last much longer.”
Yu Daniu shook his head, a look of disappointment on his face. “Lately, the clan has been rushing to various market cities in the area to buy life-extending spiritual pills and medicines, but with little success. It seems someone has been buying them up beforehand.”
He was doing very well in the Yun Clan now, so naturally, he hoped for the clan to prosper.
“Yun Bufan has a three-element true spiritual root. Even without a Foundation Establishment Pill, he can use other spiritual medicines as a substitute. His chances of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment are high, which can fill the gap for the Yun Clan while they lack a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
Chen Jianghe offered a word of comfort to Yu Daniu.
To outsiders, it now seemed as though the Yun Clan's ancestor was burning through vast resources just to hang on to his last breath, all to ensure Yun Bufan could successfully reach Foundation Establishment.
“Let's not talk about this anymore.”
Yu Daniu looked at Gao Peiyao and asked, “Little Sister Peiyao, why the sudden decision to leave Mirror Moon Lake?”
Chen Jianghe also turned to Gao Peiyao. He, too, was curious about what their youngest sister, the one with the highest spiritual root talent, was thinking.
The Yun Clan offered good treatment. Although the times were unstable, their foundation was strong, making it much safer than the outside world.
Gao Peiyao was meticulous, sharp, and intelligent; she couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
“I've received news that in one year, the Tiannan Sect will be opening its gates to recruit disciples. I want to give it a try.”
A trace of helplessness flickered in Gao Peiyao's determined eyes.
She had originally thought the spirit stones Old Gao left her would be enough to support her cultivation to the sixth level of Qi Refining. But after reaching the middle stage of Qi Refining, she realized things weren't as simple as she had imagined.
After reaching the middle stage of Qi Refining, Spirit Nourishing Pills were no longer very effective.
To continue taking a shortcut, she could only purchase Spirit Accumulating Pills to aid her cultivation, but a single Spirit Accumulating Pill cost five spirit stones.
With her four-element pseudo spiritual root talent, she would need at least ten Spirit Accumulating Pills to cultivate from the fourth to the sixth level of Qi Refining in a short time.
Fifty spirit stones.
An ordinary junior Fishery Farmer would have to save for a hundred years without eating or drinking to accumulate that many spirit stones.
Not to mention the resources required for the late stage of Qi Refining, let alone the Foundation Establishment resources she dreamed of.
Although being a Fishery Farmer for the Yun Clan was stable, her future was plain to see, and it was not what she truly desired.
“What? You're going to the Tiannan Sect!” Yu Daniu exclaimed.
Chen Jianghe was also surprised. He had heard of the Tiannan Sect.
Whether it was the Mirror Moon Lake region where he lived or the White Clan's Qiyun Mountain region, both belonged to the Tiannan Domain.
The Tiannan Domain was vast and boundless, stretching ninety thousand li from north to south, and home to countless immortal cultivation clans.
And the Tiannan Sect was the only sect in the Tiannan Domain.
It was also the sole hegemon of the Tiannan Domain, ruling over everything within it.
According to rumors, the Tiannan Sect was presided over by a Nascent Soul True Lord—a living fossil who could live for a thousand years, an immortal in the mortal world.
Generally, the Tiannan Sect rarely recruited disciples from the outside. Even when they opened their gates to recruit, the requirements were extremely strict.
First, one had to possess a talent of at least a four-element pseudo spiritual root.
Applicants had to be under twenty-five years of age and at the third level of Qi Refining or higher.
The Tiannan Sect would open its gates in one year, and Gao Peiyao, at the age of twenty-five, would just barely meet the age requirement.
Those who met the above requirements still had to pass an entrance examination.
Those who passed would enter the immortal sect.
Those who failed would be turned away at the gates.
“The Tiannan Sect is eight thousand li from Mirror Moon Lake. It's too dangerous for you to go alone.”
Yu Daniu shook his head, urging Gao Peiyao to reconsider carefully.
“That far? You should think twice.” Chen Jianghe also felt it was unwise. The journey was long, and anything could happen.
“This little sister thanks her two elder brothers for their concern.”
Gao Peiyao's mind was made up; she would not be swayed.
“Sister Miaoyun is also leaving Mirror Moon Lake for Qinghe Market City. I can travel with her for the first two thousand li.”
Zhou Miaoyun finally spoke up.
“Qinghe Market City is the largest market city within a three-thousand-li radius. There should be flying vessels that travel to the market cities near the Tiannan Sect. Yaoyao can take one from there.”
Hearing this, Chen Jianghe nodded. “Since Fairy Miaoyun is also leaving Mirror Moon Lake for Qinghe Market City, then Peiyao can go with you.”
Initially, Chen Jianghe had been puzzled by Gao Peiyao and Zhou Miaoyun's reasons for leaving. But when he saw the helpless and disappointed looks they gave Yu Daniu, he understood everything.
If she stayed at Mirror Moon Lake, Gao Peiyao would only ever be a junior Fishery Farmer.
If she were lucky, she might become a guest elder in the late stage of Qi Refining.
But she would have absolutely no chance at Foundation Establishment.
Zhou Miaoyun might become a Tier 1 Mid-Rank Talisman Master and, with that skill, raise her cultivation to the late stage of Qi Refining.
But she, too, would have no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.
One could say that their prospects were even worse than Yu Daniu's.
Gao Peiyao was an ambitious person. How could she accept such a fate?
If it weren't for his long lifespan, Chen Jianghe would likely have chosen to leave Mirror Moon Lake as well, to gamble on his future.
“Since you're both setting out on a long journey, I should repay the spirit stones I owe you. I've only just become a senior Fishery Farmer, so I don't have extra spirit stones to help with your travel expenses. I hope you'll understand.”
Chen Jianghe took out four spirit stones, pushing two toward Gao Peiyao and two toward Zhou Miaoyun.
“Brother Jianghe, I didn't mean to ask for the spirit stones.”
A flicker of hidden joy passed through Gao Peiyao's eyes, but she didn't accept them immediately.
“They say to be frugal at home but generous on the road. The journey to the Tiannan Sect is long, and it's essential to have extra spirit stones. I wish you a smooth journey and hope you become a sect disciple.”
“Brother Jianghe is right, Little Sister Peiyao. These two spirit stones are to repay you, and these five are a gift from me for your journey. I hope you pass the Tiannan Sect's entrance examination. That way, I'll have a connection in an immortal sect, hehe~”