At the beginning, I cleaned the Sutra Library and completed the incomplete skills.

Chapter 212: The Strong Reign Supreme

Three days later, in the early morning,

Li Lan got up early and arrived at Red Plum Pavilion as promised.

However,

he hadn't expected someone to arrive even earlier than him.

At this moment, there were already two figures in the pavilion.

“Brother Lu, the effect of this Qi Storing Jade is truly extraordinary. My speed of absorbing and converting Spiritual Qi has indeed increased significantly.

If I combine it with that Low-Grade Spirit Stone Immortal Cave, my Cultivation speed might actually be comparable to the Ding-grade area of a Medium-Grade Spirit Vein.”

A young man in green robes, who was sitting cross-legged, closed his eyes for a moment before speaking with pleasant surprise.

“Haha, that's natural. This treasure of mine was specially refined by an elder of my Family for junior Disciples to use when traveling far. Its effect is naturally beyond compare.

With this item by your side, you naturally won't have to worry about slowing down your Cultivation when you leave a Spiritual Vein.

At that time, the world will be vast, and you can roam freely.”

Opposite the young man in green robes, a Cultivator dressed as a scholar stood with his hands behind his back,

exuding an elegant and composed demeanor in his every move.

Upon hearing this, the young man in green robes

couldn't help but exclaim from the bottom of his heart:

“Zhuo County is truly a land of outstanding people, with countless talented individuals!

Especially the aristocratic Family Brother Lu belongs to, they can even refine such rare and precious treasures.

It truly fills me, Mo, with admiration.”

The scholar surnamed Lu smiled upon hearing this and humbly said:

“The seventy-two counties of Yu Prefecture each have their strengths and weaknesses, which is very normal.

It's true that the aristocratic Immortal Families of Zhuo County are skilled in Artifact Refining, but Brother Mo doesn't know why we are skilled.

It's only because the number of Low-Grade Spirit Veins within Zhuo County is far less than in your Jiuhua County.

Most low-level Cultivators find Cultivating extremely difficult, and out of necessity, they can only delve into this Dao to survive.

Furthermore, regarding Family strength,

as far as I, Lu, know, Brother Mo's Family also seems to be quite skilled in the Dao of Artifact Refining, right?

It's just that my Lu Family refines auxiliary Cultivation items,

while the Mo Family excels in the Dao of Puppet mechanisms.

The Mo Family's mechanism art is unparalleled in the world. Among the seventy-two counties of Yu Prefecture, who doesn't know it, who isn't aware of it?

In comparison,

my Lu Family's small trinkets are simply not worth mentioning and completely can't make it onto the stage.”

The young man surnamed Mo naturally heard the flattery in the other party's words.

He shook his head and praised:

“Brother Lu is too modest. Although Zhuo County has few Spiritual Veins, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the entire Yu Prefecture already ranks among the top ten.

How can it be compared to a remote, small county like my Jiuhua County, which is at the bottom?”

The two flattered each other for a moment,

and finally, with a cough from the young man surnamed Mo, they returned to the main topic.

“Cough, it seems we've strayed.

Brother Lu just said he wanted to trade this item at the Foundation Establishment convention?

How does Brother intend to trade it?

Does he want some Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, or other high-grade Magical Artifacts?”

After so much mutual flattery and build-up,

the scholar surnamed Lu had been waiting for this moment. Seeing this, he no longer kept them in suspense.

He said directly:

“I've long heard that the Mo Family's Puppet mechanism art is unique in the world, and I, Lu, have already collected one.

If Brother Mo truly wants this Qi Storing Jade, how about exchanging it for a Fourth-tier Puppet?”

The young man surnamed Mo was delighted upon hearing this.

A Fourth-tier Puppet is only equivalent to the strength of a Qi Refining Cultivator.

It might provide a significant boost to low-level Cultivators,

but it wouldn't be of much help to Cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Moreover, Puppets require a considerable amount of Spirit Stones to activate each time, which is quite troublesome.

In comparison,

this Qi Storing Jade is different.

Not only does it not consume any resources, but it can even greatly assist in Cultivation.

From this perspective,

he had taken a huge advantage in this private transaction.

However, before he could agree,

the scholar surnamed Lu proposed a new condition.

“I've heard that there seems to be a Junior in Brother Mo's Family who had interactions with Li Jiangchuan some years ago?

May I ask if Brother Mo could arrange for me, Lu, to meet him?”

The young man surnamed Mo's expression couldn't help but change, and the joy in his heart instantly vanished.

He was just beginning to realize

that the other party's motive for approaching him seemed not to be simple.

This surface transaction of treasures was fake; secretly inquiring about Li Jiangchuan's news was the real intention.

The scholar surnamed Lu had already anticipated his reaction.

Without waiting for a reply, he calmly continued:

“Brother Mo doesn't need to rush to refuse.

I, Lu, can swear on the lives of all the juniors of the Lu Family that I bear absolutely no ill will towards that Junior or the Mo Family.

Presumably, Brother Mo also knows why I, Lu, have traveled thousands of miles from Zhuo County to this place.

To be frank, I, Lu, came precisely for Li Jiangchuan.

What secrets does this person hold that even the unapproachable Yu Prefecture Branch Hall Master cares so much about him?

Isn't Fellow Daoist Mo curious?

Perhaps many Foundation Establishment powerhouses have already privately inquired about that Junior multiple times, right?

Many hands make light work.

I, Lu, also have some experience in tracking.

Allowing me to meet that Junior might lead to different gains, who knows?

As long as Brother Mo agrees to this condition,

not only can this Qi Storing Jade be traded, but in the future, if the Mo Family's juniors have needs, they can also go to the Lu Family to trade for more Spiritual Qi storage items.

What do you think, Brother?”

Hearing such generous terms,

the young man surnamed Mo was also somewhat swayed for a moment.

He sighed lightly and said:

“Brother Lu truly has vast connections! Although far away in Zhuo County, he knows every small detail that happened in Jiuhua County years ago. I, Mo, admire you!

Since things have been said to this extent, I, Mo—who is it?!”

The young man surnamed Mo had not finished speaking,

when his Divine Sense suddenly perceived other auras nearby.

He immediately narrowed his eyes and let out a sharp cry.

On the only secluded path leading to Red Plum Pavilion, a Cultivator dressed as a young master in blue robes slowly revealed his figure.

Beside him, a silly-looking yellow dog followed closely, step by step.

It was Li Lan, who had just arrived.

Seeing his whereabouts exposed, he no longer hid and stepped out openly.

He cupped his hands, made a Daoist salute, and said with a faint smile:

“My humble self is Lin Yuan, a Loose Cultivator from Lin Family Bay, north of Jiuhua County. I have come to attend this Foundation Establishment convention. Greetings to both Fellow Daoists.”

The scholar surnamed Lu returned the salute indifferently, quietly transmitting a message to his companion.

“Brother Mo, I, Lu, am new here and know little about Jiuhua County. Is there truly a Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivator in Lin Family Bay, north of this county?”

The young man surnamed Mo was clearly stumped by the question,

and he couldn't help but inwardly grumble.

If it were in the past, he might have been able to explain it clearly.

But in recent years, the entire Jiuhua County had been quite turbulent.

First, various Loose Cultivator Families fought fiercely over Low-Grade Spirit Veins,

then the Human Emperor Hall issued a demonic decree, causing unrest throughout the county,

and later, the Branch Hall Master personally offered a reward, pushing Jiuhua County completely into the spotlight.

Since ancient times, heroes emerge in troubled times.

In such a volatile environment,

it was not uncommon for many nameless Loose Cultivator Families to seize Opportunities, fall, and rise.

This Lin Family Bay indeed had a Low-Grade Spirit Vein, which was previously controlled by the Lingxiao Sect.

As for which Loose Cultivator Family's territory it was now, and whether any Cultivators had achieved Foundation Establishment there, the young man surnamed Mo had no idea.

However,

he naturally wouldn't voice these thoughts.

After a moment of contemplation, the young man surnamed Mo said ambiguously:

“There is indeed a place called Lin Family Bay. It is a Low-Grade Spirit Vein, so it's not surprising for one or two Loose Cultivators with astonishing talent and Comprehension Ability to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment there.”

The scholar surnamed Lu made no comment, cupped his hands to Li Lan, and said:

“I, Lu, greet Fellow Daoist Lin. May I ask what Fellow Daoist intends to trade at this Foundation Establishment convention?”

Although the two in front of him were both in the Early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm,

they might not necessarily have what he wanted, but Li Lan still held a glimmer of hope.

After all,

although this Fellow Daoist Lu's Cultivation was low, he was backed by a prominent Family in Zhuo County.

Since he could even possess rare treasures like Qi Storing Spiritual items, perhaps he really had something that could help with a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

With this thought,

Li Lan did not hide anything and honestly stated his needs.

“I, Lin, need some items for a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Anything will do, as long as it helps.

Do either of you Fellow Daoists have any clues?”

Although these words were calm,

they exploded in the ears of the two like a sudden clap of thunder.

Items for a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Late Stage?

Ordinary Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators would not need these things, and naturally would not want to trade for them.

Undoubtedly, the other party was most likely a powerhouse in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Neither of them was a fool; they judged the other party's Cultivation Realm from just a few words.

The young man surnamed Mo shivered in fear, nearly dropping the Qi Storing Jade he held in his hand.

Even the scholar surnamed Lu's expression changed, losing his previous composure,

and countless fine beads of sweat instantly seeped from his forehead.

If it were a Cultivator of the same Realm, with his Family background and numerous treasures,

he wouldn't need to pay too much attention to a Loose Cultivator who had Cultivated the Dao alone in this remote small county.

This was the confidence that came from being born into a prominent Family.

However,

a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage was entirely different.

Although there seemed to be only one small Realm difference between them,

the gap in strength was no exaggeration to call it a world of difference.

Leaving other things aside,

just in terms of the amount of Magical Power stored in the Dantian, a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator had ten times more than an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

It's no exaggeration to say that,

excluding external factors like Magic Treasures and magical techniques,

a powerhouse in the Foundation Establishment Stage could completely deal with ten Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators simultaneously in a fight without falling into a disadvantage.

This was the absolute gap in strength.

Precisely because of this,

after hearing Li Lan's words, the two instantly became respectful, much more obedient, and their attitude clearly improved by dozens of times.

“This Fellow Daoist, oh no, Senior Lin, I'm truly sorry.

Our Cultivation is shallow, and we do not have what you need to trade.”

The scholar surnamed Lu said respectfully with his head bowed. Where was the elegant and composed demeanor of a great Family Disciple he had before?

Li Lan was not at all surprised by the change in their attitude.

The Cultivation World was just like this: the strong reign supreme.

As long as one had strength, they would be highly respected wherever they went.

He had long been accustomed to this.