Immortality begins with inheriting the myriad arts of cultivation.

After announcing his decision not to recruit any more new employees, Li Ping looked around at everyone, observing their reactions.

Everyone was clearly surprised, seemingly not expecting Li Ping to make such a decision.

Gu Musheng, in particular, had already selected a fifteen-year-old rogue cultivator who had just embarked on the path of immortality and was preparing to recommend him to Li Ping for qualification review.

But now that Li Ping has decided to stop hiring, it seems that this matter can only be put on hold.

"It seems that although my elder brother is not prepared to break his oath of Dao Heart, he is unwilling to pay more for the 'Fellowship Association.' After all, he has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and we have caught the last train," Gu Musheng thought to himself.

In fact, he had long been prepared for Li Ping to break his oath and leave the Immortal City for other countries after successfully establishing his foundation.

Having been in business for so many years, apart from the minimum annual contribution to the "Foundation Building Fund," he has accumulated quite a few spirit stones, although he is still far from being able to buy a Foundation Building Pill.

But once he cultivates to the peak of Qi Refining, that should be about it.

So, the fact that his older brother didn't run away is the best outcome for him; he doesn't care about anything else.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tie seemed confused about Li Ping's decision, asking in surprise, "Brother, why?"

Upon hearing Zhang Tie's words, Gu Musheng couldn't help but shake his head inwardly; his second brother really wasn't very bright.

Why ask such an obvious question? How many Foundation Establishment cultivators are there in Immortal City?

A single Foundation Establishment Pill costs several thousand spirit stones. Even if my elder brother doesn't consider further improving his own cultivation, he wouldn't waste time contributing more spirit stones to the guild.

The six people, including him, were almost the limit that the eldest brother could tolerate.

Besides, what good would it do for the boss to recruit more new members?

Li Ping glanced at Zhang Tie and saw that his expression didn't seem fake; he seemed to be just being straightforward. So he smiled and explained, "Now that I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage, I naturally contribute at least 100 spirit stones to the 'Joint Foundation Establishment Fund' every year, so there's no need to recruit any more members."

Seeing that Zhang Tie still seemed puzzled, he continued, "If we recruit more members, you will all have to contribute to his foundation-building process in the future, and I'm worried that it will affect your future cultivation. Therefore, stopping the recruitment of new members is beneficial to me and to everyone else. Do you understand?"

Zhang Tie nodded, suddenly realizing, "So that's how it is. Brother, you've thought of everything so thoroughly."

Gu Musheng rolled his eyes inwardly, but immediately blurted out his agreement: "I also agree with Big Brother's decision. Our Tongzhou Society is already a Foundation Establishment level force. If we just recruit members casually, wouldn't that be too easy for them? I think the seven of us are enough."

Li Ping glanced at Gu Musheng with admiration. Although his third brother had a relatively poor spiritual root, he was not entirely obedient to him and had many ulterior motives.

But he is very sensible and does things that satisfy him.

……

Li Ping, Zhang Tie, and Gu Musheng all agreed, especially Li Ping, so the decision to stop admitting new members was made. From now on, the members of the Tongzhou Society will be fixed as the seven siblings.

Next, the seven of them exchanged information, shared their plans for the future, and asked others to fill in any gaps in their knowledge.

After this discussion, it was already midnight before we knew it.

At the end of the banquet, Li Ping, as was customary, personally instructed the remaining six people in their cultivation, which brought great joy to all of them.

Having a Foundation Establishment cultivator guide your cultivation is an opportunity that not everyone can have.

They all took the opportunity to ask Li Ping for advice on the problems they encountered in their cultivation.

……

The banquet lasted until dawn.

Zhang Tie, Gu Musheng, Cheng Yao and others left one after another, until finally only Li Ping and Bai Qing remained in the courtyard.

Seeing that Bai Qing seemed hesitant to speak, Li Ping asked in confusion, "Bai Qing, is there anything else you want to ask?"

Bai Qing nodded quickly: "Brother, it's my Bai family patriarch who wants to invite you to meet him. He has something he wants to discuss with you. The patriarch is currently in the Immortal City. If it's convenient for you, I'll ask him to come and visit you right away."

"Your ancestor wants to see me?" Li Ping smiled and nodded. "It's no problem to meet him, but your ancestor is old, so it's only right that I visit him. Please lead me there."

Upon hearing Li Ping's words, Bai Qing's face lit up with joy: "Okay, big brother!"

……

As far as Li Ping knew, the Bai family had just celebrated their ancestor's two-hundredth birthday not long ago.

Two hundred years old is considered quite old, even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After all, the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is said to be 240 years, but for cultivators, battles are inevitable on the path to immortality.

Once you engage in combat, it's easy to get injured and lose your lifespan.

Therefore, very few Foundation Establishment cultivators can truly live to their death date.

Those cultivators who focus on health preservation and do not compete or fight can live longer than cultivators of the same level, but without competing or fighting, they may find it difficult to even reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

……

When Li Ping arrived at the Bai family's stronghold in Xiancheng, the Bai family patriarch personally stood in the courtyard to greet him.

He appeared to have white hair and a youthful face, with a ruddy complexion, but the faint dark aura between his eyebrows, along with the crisscrossing wrinkles and age spots on his face, indicated that the old patriarch of the Bai family was not in good condition.

"Haha... Fellow Daoist Li, I've heard Qing'er talk about how amazing his elder brother is many times. Today I'm finally meeting him in person." The Bai family patriarch laughed heartily as soon as Li Ping entered the courtyard.

Li Ping also smiled and said, "I am no match for Fellow Daoist Bai, who is still vigorous despite his advanced age."

"Fellow Daoist Li, you're too kind. Come in, come in!" The Bai family patriarch, upon hearing Li Ping say that he was still vigorous despite his age, showed a smug look on his face and invited Li Ping to sit down in the hall.

Not long after the two sat down, a cultivator from the Bai family served them spiritual tea, and then, at the patriarch's signal, they obediently left.

Even Bai Qing left on his own initiative, leaving only Li Ping and the Bai family patriarch in the hall.

Watching Bai Qing's departing figure, the Bai family patriarch suddenly bowed solemnly and said, "My Qing'er suffered a lot when he was young. Thanks to Fellow Daoist Li for taking care of him, I thank Fellow Daoist Li on behalf of the Bai family."

Li Ping quickly stopped the Bai family patriarch's actions: "Fellow Daoist Bai, what are you saying? Although Bai Qing is a cultivator of the Bai family, he calls me elder brother, so it is only right that I take care of him."

"What Fellow Daoist Li said makes sense; I was wrong," the Bai family patriarch said with a smile, readily agreeing.

After chatting for a while, the Bai family patriarch suddenly spoke up: "Speaking of which, there have been quite a few rumors about Fellow Daoist Li in the Immortal City these past few days. I'm afraid you're unaware of them."

"Oh? Rumors about me?" Li Ping asked, puzzled.