Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

When Lin Zhao returned to the Immortal City, there were already people waiting for him in the villa.

Yan Chiheng was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, drinking tea.

A woman sat next to him, dressed in a simple blue dress, with delicate features and a gentle, serene air about her.

Behind her stood a boy and a girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old. The boy resembled Yan Chiheng, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a straight back.

The girl was like her mother, quieter, but with bright eyes, curiously observing everything in the yard.

"You're back?" Yan Chiheng stood up and beckoned to Lin Zhao. "Come, come, let's get acquainted. This is my Daoist partner, Shen Yun."

Shen Yun bowed gracefully, her demeanor dignified and elegant. Lin Zhao returned the bow with a cupped hand, noticing a green leaf embroidered on her cuff—the emblem of Qinglan Immortal City.

"These two," Yan Chiheng patted the boy's shoulder, "are my son, Yan Hui, and the girl, Yan Ning."

Yan Hui clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, his voice steady: "Greetings, Uncle Lin."

Yan Ning greeted him softly, her manners polite and well-behaved.

Lin Zhao took out two bottles of pills as a gift, and the two children accepted them with both hands after obtaining their parents' permission, expressing their gratitude.

Shen Yun said, "I have often heard Chi Heng mention Fellow Daoist Lin. It is an honor to meet you today."

Lin Zhao waved her hand: "Sister-in-law, don't be so polite, please sit down."

Everyone took their seats.

Lin Zhao looked Yan Chiheng up and down and found that he looked quite well.

That's true. With a partner and children by your side, life must be comfortable.

"Did you come to Immortal City specifically to attend the auction?" Lin Zhao asked.

Yan Chiheng nodded, exchanged a glance with his Daoist partner, and lowered his voice to say, "I bid on a third-tier lightning-type spiritual item."

He said this with a hint of pride and a touch of embarrassment, "My wife took out all the high-grade spirit stones that her lineage had accumulated over a hundred years."

Lin Zhao glanced at the Daoist partner.

The female cultivator lowered her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips, and remained silent.

Lin Zhao picked up her teacup and raised it to Yan Chiheng: "Good fortune."

Yan Chiheng chuckled and clinked glasses with him.

Lin Zhao had an idea and decided to host a small gathering while everyone was there.

-----

When the news got out, more people came than expected.

Lan Jingchi arrived first, bringing a young man with him, who said he was his nephew and had come along to broaden his horizons.

Zhou Jun also came, bringing two younger members of the Zhou family, who were clearly promising talents being carefully nurtured.

Yan Lie brought Luo Yu and He An with him.

Zhong Zhenyue came from the Yunxia Mountains without his juniors, but he was followed by someone—Yue Shan, the owner of Huxiao Market.

This person shamelessly followed us here.

"Brother Lin!" Yue Shan shouted as he entered the door, "Long time no see!"

Lin Zhao stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Brother Yue, how have you been?"

Yue Shan laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell.

He was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, with a profound aura, standing there like an iron tower.

We met once during the beast tide in Jinshafang Market years ago, and we even worked together to clear out the monsters that had invaded the dynasty.

This person is incredibly powerful, with few rivals among those in the Foundation Establishment stage. If Lin Zhao doesn't use any magic weapons, he might not be able to defeat him.

Chung Chen-yue smiled wryly beside him, "He heard you were here and insisted on coming along; we couldn't stop him."

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Guests are welcome, please have a seat."

Once everyone had arrived, the courtyard became lively.

The stone table wasn't big enough, so Lin Zhao asked Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao to move a few tables together.

A table was set with spirit fruits, spirit wine, and spirit tea. Zhou Jun also had several second-tier spirit dishes delivered, saying they were made by his family's spirit chef and tasted quite good.

As everyone took their seats, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Lin Zhao sat in the main seat, with Yan Chiheng's family on her left and Lan Jingchi and Zhou Jun on her right.

Opposite them are Zhong Zhenyue, Yue Shan, and Yan Lie, and below them are the younger generations of each family.

Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao sat in the corner, with Luo Yu next to them.

Luo Yu naturally sat down next to Ye Xiaoxiao.

The two were talking in hushed tones, their voices very low.

Lin Zhao glanced at it but didn't say anything more.

Lin Zhao leaned back in his chair, holding a wine glass, looking at the people filling the courtyard, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind—

The descendants of these people may become a network of relationships in a few decades.

If he can successfully form his core, several people present will also have the opportunity to reach the core formation realm, and the younger generation will benefit greatly from exchanging ideas and experiences.

He could tell that most of these people were there because of him.

He has the highest cultivation level, the strongest combat power, and the greatest hope of forming his core in the future, so he is naturally the core of this network.

Lan Jingchi is from the Bihai Chamber of Commerce, Zhou Jun is a direct descendant of the Zhou family of Xiancheng, Yan Chiheng is highly talented, and Zhong Zhenyue and Yue Shan come from the Yunxia Mountain Range—people from all walks of life are represented, and it is not easy for them to come together.

They chatted about all sorts of things, exchanging information and occasionally sharing their cultivation experiences.

Lin Zhao listened and gained a lot.

When the conversation turned to Qinglan Immortal City, Yan Chiheng's Daoist partner, Shen Yun, spoke up. Her eyes lit up when she talked about her hometown: "Our dwellings are all built in ancient trees, and the entire giant tree is an immortal city."

The Azure Mist Tree emits a faint glow at night, its pale blue light spreading across the streets and alleys. Every household plants Azure Mist Grass in their courtyards; its fragrance is soothing and can ward off low-level demonic beasts.

"Is it rumored that Qinglan Spring can cleanse the marrow and rejuvenate the meridians?" Zhong Zhenyue interjected.

"Exactly." Shen Yun nodded. "Low-level cultivators can cleanse themselves of cultivation hazards by soaking in the spring for three days. I bathed in it when I was young, and my cultivation went smoothly afterward. High-level spring water is even rarer, and a single drop is worth a fortune."

"The source of Qinglan Spring should be that ancient Qinglan tree, right?" Lan Jingchi asked.

"Fellow Daoist knows?" Shen Yun asked, slightly surprised.

"The Chamber of Commerce has long heard of it," Lan Jingchi replied. "The three-thousand-foot-tall Azure Mist Ancient Tree, a mid-grade fourth-tier spiritual plant, is personally guarded by a Nascent Soul True Monarch."

A hint of awe appeared in Shen Yun's eyes: "The age of this ancient tree is unknown, but it is said in our clan that living near it can prolong one's life. The lifespan of cultivators in Qinglan Immortal City is indeed far greater than that of those elsewhere."

Yan Chiheng added from the side, "There are quite a few ordinary mortals over there who live to be a hundred years old, let alone cultivators."

Lin Zhao nodded, silently noting it down in his mind.

Fourth-tier spiritual plants, life extension, marrow cleansing and meridian strengthening—indeed, every immortal city is extraordinary, with profound foundations.

He raised his wine glass and toasted the female cultivator from afar: "Sister-in-law, I've learned something new."

Shen Yun quickly raised her glass in return.

When the topic turned to the Yunxia Mountains, Yue Shan perked up.

"That place is no human being!"

He took a swig of wine and shouted as if he were in a ring, "When the beast tide comes, it's overwhelming, the whole mountain is full of monsters. Second-tier ones are in large groups, and third-tier ones occasionally show up."

I once killed dozens of second-tier demonic beasts during a beast tide, and I've also fought third-tier demonic beasts...

He began to speak at length, becoming more and more excited as he talked, spitting as he spoke.

The younger generation listened with shining eyes, especially the two children from the Zhou family, who looked on with longing.

"Senior Yue, is the beast tide very exciting?" a junior member of the Zhou family couldn't help but ask.

Yue Shan laughed heartily: "Exciting? That's incredibly exciting! Let me tell you..."

Lin Zhao glanced at Yan Chiheng.

Yan Chiheng understood and stood up, pulling Yue Shan aside to drink: "Come, come, Brother Yue, let me toast you. Let's go over there and talk."

Yue Shan was interrupted, and although he was somewhat unwilling, he was forcibly dragged away.