I proved immortality with thunder magic.

Chapter 79 An Old Friend Visits

For Zhou Tai at present, investing in Hu Qianqian is just a side move.

Only after he has successfully laid a solid foundation can this seemingly insignificant move be put into practice.

So after Hu Qianqian left, he resumed his previous lifestyle.

After more than half a month, Zhou Tai handed over the first batch of goods that had been rushed to completion to Li Hongzhi, and entrusted him and Guo Fucheng with the matter that Hu Qianqian had requested.

Silk weaving is not a particularly difficult skill, but the Yunxia School is the most skilled sect in this art.

Upon hearing Zhou Tai's request, Li Hongzhi immediately agreed to handle it as soon as possible.

Naturally, he also inquired about the outcome of Zhou Tai's trial, but Zhou Tai kept quiet and didn't reveal much.

A month later, when the two met again to make the transaction, Li Hongzhi brought over the silk that Hu Qianqian needed.

After completing the transaction, Zhou Tai returned to his residence and quickly summoned Hu Qianqian to his home.

"Junior Sister Hu, here is the silk satin you requested. You can decide how to make it yourself."

In the living room, Zhou Tai took the silk he had obtained from the transaction out of his storage bag and handed it directly to Hu Qianqian.

Looking at the exquisite silk satin in front of her, Hu Qianqian's face was filled with surprise and delight, and she was also secretly amazed by Zhou Tai's abilities.

She was an insider and knew how difficult it was to weave this kind of silk satin, and she also knew that you could never buy this kind of silk satin in ordinary shops.

In just over a month, Zhou Tai has managed to acquire such a large quantity of silk, demonstrating his considerable influence in the outer markets.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes. She quickly put away the silk, then bowed to Zhou Taifu and said, "Thank you so much, Senior Brother Zhou, for helping Qianqian out of her predicament. I have no way to repay this kindness. Please accept my bow!"

Seeing this, Zhou Tai simply waved his hand and said, "Junior Sister Hu, there's no need to be so polite."

She didn't try to keep Hu Qianqian any longer and quickly declined the invitation.

However, just a few days later, he was implicated because he helped Hu Qianqian.

On this day, Zhou Tai was on his way back from feeding frogs at Leihe Peak when he was suddenly blocked by a figure that rose into the air from the mountains below.

He looked at the person blocking his way back. The person looked to be about twenty or thirty years old, tall, with fair and handsome features. His robe was made of white thread with patterns of fierce beasts such as tigers, leopards, wolves, and bears embroidered with golden, red, and black threads. It was the famous Hundred Beasts Battle Robe in the Spirit Beast Mountain!

Zhou Tai was certain that he had never seen this person before.

The fact that the other party can fly by controlling their qi and float in the air indicates that they are at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

His mind raced as he considered all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in his sect who had or might have interacted with him, and he vaguely understood the other party's identity.

Having understood the other party's identity, he could roughly guess the other party's intention in stopping him.

So he immediately stood on the back of the black-feathered vulture, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Zhou Tai, an outer disciple of Yuanfu Peak, greets Martial Uncle. May I ask what brings you here, Martial Uncle, to suddenly stop me?"

"Do you really not know why Cao stopped you, or are you feigning ignorance?"

The handsome man looked coldly at Zhou Tai, his tone full of anger.

Zhou Tai could be said to be asking a question he already knew the answer to, but he genuinely didn't know the handsome man's name.

So, still looking puzzled, he said, "Uncle-Master, have you come to the wrong person? I have never met you before, Uncle-Master, and I don't even know your name. How could I have offended you?"

The handsome man had already investigated the situation and wouldn't listen to his explanation. He simply looked at him coldly and said, "I'm also curious about this. Where did you get the audacity to stand up for Hu Qianqian? Do you really think that just because you can draw a few thunder talismans, you can oppose me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he unleashed his Foundation Establishment level pressure without restraint.

Despite being at the eighth level of the Qi Refining stage and possessing a spiritual sense far superior to other cultivators of the same level, Zhou Tai, under his oppressive aura, was still able to withstand the pressure, though he felt some discomfort.

However, the black-feathered eagle beneath his feet could not withstand the pressure and immediately let out a mournful cry before plummeting to the ground.

Zhou Tai's expression changed instantly. He hurriedly reached into his storage bag, took out the white silk scarf magic artifact, and activated it to land at his feet to catch himself.

Then, disregarding the other party's status, he roared angrily, "Uncle-Master, you have intimidated me without cause and attempted to kill me. Do you consider the sect rules merely decorations?"

He was certain that the other party wouldn't dare to really hurt him, which gave him such confidence.

As expected, after hearing Zhou Tai's words, the handsome man's anger intensified, but he still did not make any further moves.

This is, after all, inside the gate of Spirit Beast Mountain. Although he had carefully chosen this location, he couldn't guarantee that no one would see him.

Moreover, he would inevitably leave behind his own magical aura when he made a move, which would not escape the sect's secret methods of investigation by the Punishment Hall.

For the moment, he could only suppress the urge to kill Zhou Tai with a single blow, and warned him sternly, "Junior, I don't care what your relationship with Hu Qianqian is, but if you dare to help her and oppose me again, ruining my plans, you'd better prepare your coffin in advance!"

Without waiting for Zhou Tai's reply, he turned and flew away from the place.

In the sky, Zhou Tai watched the handsome man's back as he suddenly appeared and then disappeared, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes.

His fears came true.

Even if he only offered Hu Qianqian some help within the bounds of friendship, the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Cao would still consider it as opposing him, thus threatening his life.

No wonder none of the fellow disciples that Hu Qianqian used to befriend now dare to associate with her.

The guy surnamed Cao did this with a clear intention: to force Hu Qianqian to submit by cutting off all external social interaction and assistance.

The only thing Zhou Tai can be thankful for now is that the guy surnamed Cao doesn't know that he and Hu Qianqian already know about the "Autumn Water Sunflower Body," so he still has the patience to force people to comply in this slow and steady way.

However, after this incident, Zhou Tai did have to temporarily cut off contact with Hu Qianqian.

Otherwise, it would be harmful and not beneficial to both of them.

After figuring this out, Zhou Tai immediately found the black-feathered vulture that had fallen to the ground and was trembling. It took him a while to calm it down.

Upon returning to Yuanfu Peak, Zhou Tai immediately sent a message to Hu Qianqian, informing her of the roadblock and warning he had received that day, and telling her to keep a low profile and endure for a few years while waiting for a change in circumstances.

Hu Qianqian could guess what the turning point was without Zhou Tai needing to say more.

She was secretly pleased to receive Zhou Tai's promise and hurriedly replied that she understood. She also informed Zhou Tai of the information she had gathered about the man surnamed Cao.

"So his name is Cao Yangyao? Judging from his background, he certainly has something!"

Inside the study, Zhou Tai finished reading Hu Qianqian's reply, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

According to Hu Qianqian, Cao Yang was exceptionally talented, possessing dual spiritual roots of fire and earth. Although he was not a disciple of a family of cultivators, his parents were both accomplished late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Therefore, he was sent to the Spirit Beast Mountain to cultivate from a young age and did not lack cultivation resources in the early stages.

With the full support of his parents and his own diligent cultivation, he successfully established his foundation before the age of fifty.

After successfully establishing his foundation, Cao Yang quickly became an apprentice of a Grandmaster of the Purple Mansion Realm, thanks to his advantage of having dual spiritual roots.

Cao Yang is now around 80 or 90 years old, and it is said that his cultivation is about to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Such a Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose future is promising, is indeed not comparable to ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, and it's no wonder that he dares to threaten various outer disciples everywhere.

However, for Zhou Tai now, Cao Yang is no longer an unattainable figure.

Once he successfully establishes his foundation, with his lightning spiritual root aptitude and status as a master of talismanic arts, he will almost certainly be able to become an apprentice of a great cultivator at the Purple Mansion level.

By then, Cao Yang will be on the same level as him, and there will be nothing he can't afford to offend.

So Zhou Tai quickly put the matter out of his mind and stopped caring about it.

In the days that followed, he continued to cultivate step by step while drawing talismans to sell and earn spirit stones. His life was stable and uneventful.

Several months later, the appearance of a communication talisman slightly disrupted his peaceful life.

After reading the message, Zhou Tai's face lit up with joy as he left the house and quickly rode the Black Feathered Vulture to the outside of the mountain gate.

Not long after, at the Spirit Beast Manor outside the mountain gate, Zhou Tai met a guest who had come from afar.

"Master Pei, no, I should call you Senior Pei now, congratulations on successfully establishing your foundation and transcending the mortal realm!"

Inside the villa, Zhou Tai, with a broad smile, cupped his hands in congratulations to the familiar yet slightly unfamiliar guest before him.

It turned out that the person he came out to meet today was Pei Hong, a disciple of the Lingxu Sect whom he had befriended in the trial grounds.

Only a few months have passed, and his former Qi Refining stage cultivator has now successfully established his Foundation Establishment and become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Upon discovering this, Zhou Tai felt a mixture of envy, joy, and encouragement.

Pei Hong was a few years older than him. Since the other party was able to successfully establish his foundation, there was no reason why he couldn't!

In response to Zhou Tai's congratulations, Pei Hong first nodded with a smile, then shook his head with a light laugh and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are too kind. We are sworn brothers. I have only just succeeded in Foundation Establishment ahead of you. With your talent and ability, Fellow Daoist Zhou, you will surely catch up soon. There is no need to flatter me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tai didn't stand on ceremony and immediately nodded and smiled, saying, "Then I'll call you Daoist Pei!"

After speaking, he looked at Pei Hong expectantly and asked, "Master Pei, your sudden visit today, is it because the matter I entrusted to you the other day has been resolved?"

"Indeed, that's exactly why I've come!"

Pei Hong smiled and nodded, then raised his hand and a blue-white jade bottle flew out of his storage bag and landed in his hand.

He handed the jade bottle to Zhou Taiyi, explaining, "This contains a Blood-Nourishing and Marrow-Strengthening Pill. Although it's not as effective as the Rejuvenating Pill from the Nanhua Sect, it can still greatly boost blood and vitality, making it no problem for an elderly person to regain the vitality of someone in their forties!"

After saying that, he added, "It was precisely because I took this elixir that my vital energy and blood surged, allowing me to successfully establish my foundation and achieve Dao in one fell swoop!"

Upon hearing his explanation, Zhou Tai was overjoyed. He immediately took the jade bottle and, without any hesitation, uncorked it to examine the elixir inside.

The elixir inside the jade bottle was reddish-brown and emitted a rich fragrance. Just smelling it made Zhou Tai feel refreshed and relaxed.

These extraordinary phenomena alone are enough to prove that this pill is definitely not a counterfeit.

He quickly put the stopper back in to prevent the medicine from losing its potency.

Then, he solemnly bowed to Pei Hong and said, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you; Master Pei is truly a man of integrity!"

Pei Hong smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you're too kind. Actually, I benefited a bit in this matter. This Blood-Regenerating and Marrow-Strengthening Pill just happened to be on our sect's exchange list, and it only cost me six Demonic Path Trial Tokens!"

His candor made Zhou Tai like him even more.

He immediately laughed and joked, "Then consider it payment for running errands for Daoist Pei!"

"Haha, since Fellow Daoist Zhou puts it that way, this humble Daoist will accept it with a thud."

Pei Hong laughed and readily accepted his explanation.

The two then moved to a quiet room in the villa for a detailed discussion.

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