Immortality begins with inheriting the myriad arts of cultivation.

The patriarch of the Bai family slowly began to introduce the family.

"My Bai family possesses a second-grade low-level spiritual land. After gathering spiritual energy, it can reach the second-grade mid-level in a small area, which can be used for cultivation by mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators. As long as you agree to become a guest elder, you can cultivate in the spiritual land."

"In addition to the sacred land, my Bai family can provide one hundred spirit stones annually for your cultivation needs."

"If you have any instructions, you may also order my Bai family cultivators to handle them."

"Fellow Daoist, you haven't chosen your main cultivation technique yet after reaching Foundation Establishment, have you? My Bai family has collected several high-level cultivation techniques, all of which are available to you..."

……

Under the introduction of the Bai family patriarch, the benefits and treatment that the Bai family provides to guest elders were listed one by one.

Its contents are undeniably generous: spiritual land, cultivation techniques, spirit stones, power... Although he is called a guest elder, in reality, once he nods, Li Ping's status and power in the Bai family are in no way inferior to that of the family head.

All he needed to do was to remain in the Bai family as a Foundation Establishment cultivator and step in to protect the Bai family when it faced a crisis.

After stating all the conditions, the Bai family patriarch looked at Li Ping with a smile, seemingly unconcerned that he might not agree.

After all, as far as he knew, this fellow Daoist Li Ping had been turned away from the Immortal City, and not only did he lack high-level cultivation techniques, he also didn't have a suitable spiritual place to cultivate.

His suggestion is exactly what can solve their urgent problem.

……

To the surprise and dismay of the Bai family patriarch,

After hearing the numerous conditions he proposed, Li Ping refused without a moment's consideration: "Fellow Daoist Bai, I am truly sorry, but I am focused on my cultivation and dislike worldly affairs. I cannot agree to this matter of becoming a guest elder."

"Hehe... If Fellow Daoist Li is worried about worldly affairs being a nuisance, then you are overthinking it." The Bai family patriarch still refused to give up: "Actually, I don't like worldly affairs either. I spend most of my time in seclusion, and the worldly affairs are handled by the cultivators below me."

Li Ping's gaze fell on the purple-patterned wood on the table, and he couldn't help but sigh. Since the Bai family patriarch had said that he was going to use it to forge a few magical artifacts to leave for the younger generation of the clan.

So once he refuses the Bai family's invitation, this second-grade mid-level spirit wood will naturally be irrelevant to him.

Although reluctant to part with the purple-veined wood, he ultimately shook his head: "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to persuade me any further."

Seeing Li Ping's resolute attitude, the Bai family patriarch sighed and gave up on trying to persuade him further.

……

Just when Li Ping thought he would return empty-handed, the Bai family patriarch spoke up again: "Very well, since Fellow Daoist Li is unwilling to get involved in worldly affairs, I will not force you. However, if Fellow Daoist is unwilling to serve as a guest elder of my Bai family, I have another suggestion."

Then, with Li Ping listening patiently, the Bai family patriarch revealed the contents of his proposal.

That is, Li Ping nominally serves as a guest elder of the Bai family, but in reality, he does not need to be stationed at the Bai family's sacred ground, nor does he need to take action to resolve the Bai family's crisis.

However, he needed the Bai family to use his title as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and Li Ping could not deny it when asked.

If the Bai family really has something to ask Li Ping for help, they will prepare a generous gift as a reward. As for whether or not he will help, that is up to Li Ping to decide.

If Li Ping agrees, the second-tier purple-veined wood will be given to Li Ping as a reward from the Bai family.

Of course, the sacred site, the cultivation method, the annual offerings... are gone.

After a moment's thought, Li Ping readily agreed to the condition.

The Bai family is a legitimate cultivation family, not some evil cultivation force. They are just using the name. As long as he doesn't have to personally fight against others, he can accept it.

Upon seeing Li Ping agree to the matter, the Bai family patriarch finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately afterwards, both parties swore an oath to their Dao hearts in the courtyard, thus finalizing the matter.

In fact, this oath of the heart only applies to Li Ping. The two members of the Bai family had long lost hope on the path of cultivation, and their inner demons could not affect them.

Of course, Li Ping didn't intend to restrict them in this transaction.

……

Li Ping put away the second-tier purple-patterned wood and left, leaving only the Bai family patriarch and patriarch Bai Mingde in the courtyard.

Although they were unable to invite Li Ping to become a guest elder of the Bai family this time, the two sides reached an agreement that the Bai family could use Li Ping's title of Foundation Establishment cultivator in the future.

Moreover, the Bai family only contributed a mid-grade second-tier spirit wood, which Bai Mingde felt was acceptable.

After pondering for a moment, Bai Mingde couldn't help but ask, "Ancestor, do you think Senior Li is simply a coward, or... truly has a firm Dao heart?"

According to the conditions proposed by the Bai family, the other party essentially gained a cultivation family as a subordinate for free. If he wanted to, he could marry more wives and have more offspring. Hundreds of years later, there might even be a chance to change the Bai family's "Gaojishan" surname to Li.

But he remained completely unmoved by these conditions.

Upon hearing this, the Bai family patriarch also shook his head; he couldn't understand Li Ping's thoughts either.

For these Foundation Establishment cultivators, Foundation Establishment is actually the end point of cultivation. Even if they possess second-tier skills, they can only go further in the Foundation Establishment realm at most.

Forming the Golden Core? That's impossible.

In the Western Wilderness Kingdoms, there are hundreds of thousands of cultivators, but only a few are Core Formation cultivators.

The third-tier spiritual veins required to break through to the Core Formation stage alone are enough to stifle the vast majority of Foundation Establishment cultivators, not to mention the spiritual items needed to assist in Core Formation.

Those kinds of spiritual objects are all controlled by the top Core Formation forces in the Western Wilderness, and they are not even qualified to touch them.

The Bai family patriarch sighed, "Perhaps it's a combination of both. Fellow Daoist Li has just broken through and still harbors illusions. Once he lives a few more years, he'll realize that arduous cultivation is just a waste of time, and he might as well enjoy life sooner."

Bai Mingde nodded in agreement, then suddenly spoke up, "By the way, Ancestor, that purple-veined wood was clearly acquired by my Bai family from a rogue cultivator not long ago. Why do you say that you found it years ago and carefully nurtured it for many years?"

Upon hearing Bai Mingde's question, the Bai family patriarch laughed triumphantly: "Hahaha... If I didn't say it that way, how could this gift seem so valuable? You're too young; you still have a lot to learn."

"I see, Mingde has learned something." Bai Mingde showed an expression of sudden realization.

Seeing his expression, the Bai family patriarch smiled even more, his eyes narrowing as if he were extremely satisfied with his brilliant idea. Even his complexion became much rosier.

Little did anyone know, Bai Mingde was secretly sneering to himself.

As the saying goes, "Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family disputes." Having served as the head of the family for decades, dealing with all sorts of perplexing family matters every day, he had long since become a shrewd and calculating person. In contrast, the patriarch possessed two spiritual roots and was groomed as the future of the family from a young age. He spent most of his time in ascetic cultivation and rarely got involved in worldly affairs.

When it comes to handling interpersonal relationships, the old ancestor was actually no better than him, so how could he not see through the old ancestor's little tricks?

The reason for this behavior is actually to play the straight man and make the ancestors happy.

"Our ancestor is over two hundred years old, yet he still can't let go of the family and has to drag his frail body to arrange the family's affairs. Foundation Establishment cultivator, when will my Bai family be able to cultivate another Foundation Establishment cultivator?" Thinking of this, Bai Mingde sighed again.