Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lin Zhao put the high-grade spirit stones into his storage ring and silently did some calculations in his mind.

Tier 3 spirit items typically fetch between 100 and 300 high-grade spirit stones at major auctions.

With his five hundred-plus coins, he should have no problem acquiring two third-tier spiritual items.

enough.

Unbeknownst to Lin Zhao, while he was plotting his bid for the spiritual item, many acquaintances in Tongming Immortal City had already arrived.

A group of people arrived from the Yunxia Mountains and Tianyun Market.

The leader was Zhong Zhenyue, the head of the Zhong family.

He piloted the Blood Slaughter, a second-tier top-grade spirit boat, which carried more than ten people.

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Zhong family, personnel from Tianyun Market, Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao, and Yue Shan, the master of Huxiao Market.

Lin You is Lin Zhao's niece. Dressed in a blue robe, she is spirited and looks to be in her early twenties.

Ye Xiaoxiao was a disciple Lin Zhao had taken in years ago. She was quiet, wore an apricot-colored Taoist robe, and had gentle features.

They originally came to Tongming Domain with a third-tier spirit ship from another large merchant guild comparable to Bihai Merchant Guild, Jiuding Merchant Guild.

As a result, an accident occurred halfway through the journey. The fleet was targeted by a mid-stage third-tier demonic beast, and the spirit boat fleet scattered and fled.

They happened to meet Yue Shan, the master of Tiger Roar Market, and then they traveled together.

Yue Shan is at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage and also possesses a spirit beast, the Golden Winged Tiger. He is renowned in the Cloud and Mist Mountain Range and is incredibly fierce in battle, no less powerful than Princess Blood Phoenix, who wields a third-tier magic weapon.

But this venerable master had a flaw—he liked to hunt demonic beasts and obtain their cores.

Along the way, in order to collect demon cores for the Golden Winged Tiger, he traveled east and west with the spirit boat, attracting wave after wave of second-tier demon beasts.

Several times it almost triggered beast tides.

What should have been a journey of just a few days was dragged out for half a month.

If it weren't for his formidable combat prowess, Zhong Zhenyue would have loved to kick him off the spirit boat.

When the outline of the Tongming Immortal City finally came into view, Zhong Zhenyue's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"I'm never going to walk with him again," he said through gritted teeth.

Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao stood to the side, unable to suppress their laughter.

---

After entering the Immortal City, Yue Shan left.

Zhong Zhenyue led the Zhong family members to settle in, and before leaving, he specifically instructed Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao: "I have already processed your city entry tokens. If you need anything, send a message. The Immortal City is very large, so don't wander around."

Lin You accepted the token and nodded.

Chung Chen-yue glanced at them, seemed about to say something, but then swallowed his words.

He had worried that the Lin family's establishment in Tianyun Market would threaten the Zhong family's position, and he had even entertained some ulterior motives.

But that's all in the past.

He was also an inner disciple of the sect, and information circulated very quickly within the sect.

Lin Zhao's strength is undeniable—a Foundation Establishment cultivator who defeated a Core Formation cultivator, a guardian of Cangyun Mountain, and a peerless genius of the sect.

His little schemes have long since faded away.

Moreover, Senior Brother Mingxuan, the guardian of Tianyun Market, specifically instructed us to take good care of these two girls.

He dared not disobey the order.

He came here because he had been stuck in the late Foundation Establishment stage for too long and wanted to auction some pills to help him break through, since the resources in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range were simply too scarce.

After the Zhong family left, Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao stood at the city gate, looking at the crowds coming and going, somewhat bewildered.

The immortal city is too big.

They had never been to such a big place before.

The city gate was over ten zhang high and was constructed entirely of a special material with a dark golden metallic luster, its surface engraved with countless array patterns.

People came and went at the city gate, mostly Qi Refining cultivators, but Foundation Establishment cultivators could also be seen everywhere.

Everyone walked obediently, forming streams of people that surged into the city.

Lin You took a deep breath: "Let's go, let's find a place to stay first. We can slowly find out information about the auction."

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded.

The two walked into the city gate side by side.

---

Half a month later, Lin Zhao finished dealing with his own affairs and returned to Tongming Immortal City from the sect.

The auction is still a few months away, there's plenty of time.

He planned to stay in the villa for a while, cultivate, adjust his state, and think about which spiritual items to bid on later.

As soon as they returned, a group of people arrived at the villa.

Zhou Jun led the way, followed by three others.

Luo Yu.

Ye Xiaoxiao.

Lin You.

Lin Zhao stared at the three people in front of him, momentarily stunned.

"How did you guys all end up together?"

---

The aroma of tea wafted through the courtyard.

Several people sat around the stone table. Zhou Jun took a couple of sips of tea and then excused himself, saying he had something to do.

Lin Zhao looked at Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao with a mixture of surprise and relief in his eyes.

Fifteen years.

He has been away from Tianyunfang Market for fifteen years.

Lin Zhao achieved Foundation Establishment at the age of twenty-eight and left the sect to return to the Yunxia Mountain Range at the age of thirty-three.

He returned to the sect at the age of forty-three after completing a ten-year mission, and broke through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment at the age of fifty-five.

Now he is fifty-eight years old, his combat strength has just reached the Core Formation stage, he owns a market town, and his wealth is comparable to that of a Core Formation cultivator.

And those two little girls from back then have grown up.

Ye Xiaoxiao remained as quiet as ever, dressed in an apricot-colored Taoist robe, with gentle features, looking to be in her early twenties.

Lin You was dashing and spirited, dressed in a blue robe, vaguely resembling Lin Zhao.

Both of them were at the tenth level of Qi Refining.

However, none of them broke through to the Divine Gate and reached the eleventh level of Qi Refining.

"Tell me," Lin Zhao put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. "What brings you to Immortal City? How are things back home?"

Ye Xiaoxiao glanced at Lin You.

Lin You spoke up.

"Uncle, things haven't been peaceful back home for the past ten years or so."

Lin Zhao frowned slightly.

Lin You continued, "The beast tides in the Yunxia Mountains are becoming more and more frequent, with monsters rushing out every few days."

The Lin family has suffered considerable losses over the years; items like Foundation Establishment Pills are now even harder to obtain.

Lin Zhao remained silent.

He recalled that when he left, Shaoyangfang was still relatively peaceful.

I never imagined that fifteen years later, things would turn out like this.

Lin You paused, glanced at Ye Xiaoxiao, and continued, "Two years ago, my grandparents attempted to establish their foundation..."

Lin Zhao's heart tightened.

"It failed."

Lin You spoke calmly, but Lin Zhao could hear the caution in her tone, as if she was afraid of upsetting him.

"They failed, but they're unharmed. It's just that they're older, making it harder for them to build a foundation again."

Lin You said, "We discussed giving the Foundation Establishment Pill that you asked someone to bring back, as well as the spiritual items you've accumulated over the years, to our grandparents."

Lin Zhao picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said nothing.

Lin Zhao was very clear about his parents' talents, and he had long anticipated their failure to establish their foundation. One of the reasons he came to the Immortal City this time was to purchase some pills and resources to assist in establishing his foundation.

But what he didn't expect was that Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao gave their Foundation Establishment resources to Lin Zhao's parents.

Lin You continued, "My grandparents didn't want it at first, but we said we were still young and there would be other opportunities in the future."

They were getting old, and if they didn't establish their foundations now, they would truly have no more chances. That's why they accepted them last.

Lin Zhao put down her teacup.

The teacup landed on the stone table with a soft thud.

"They didn't tell me."

Lin You shook her head: "My grandparents said that you are preparing for the formation of your core and they can't disturb you."