Immortality begins with inheriting the myriad arts of cultivation.

After the swords rang out, the banquet continued.

Li Ping looked at Teng Feng and said with a smile, "Teng Feng, it's good that you want to go out and explore. However, what they said makes a lot of sense. The mountains and valleys outside the Immortal City are full of dangers."

Hearing his elder brother's apparent admonition, Teng Feng hurriedly tried to explain, but Li Ping waved him off.

"Of course, I know that since you dared to leave the city, you must have some confidence." He continued, "Moreover, you have a pure heart, and cultivating within the Immortal City has only tarnished it."

Teng Feng suddenly realized something and said excitedly, "Brother, you're right. I knew I felt something was off when I stayed in the Immortal City. It seems I'm more suited to the mountain environment."

The other five were about to continue persuading Teng Feng, but after Li Ping spoke, they silently swallowed their words.

Li Ping waved his hand to calm Teng Feng down before continuing, "However, there's always a chance of something going wrong. Teng Feng, you've contributed quietly for many years since joining the Fellowship. What if something happens to you? What will happen to your contributions? Will they just be erased...? That's definitely not acceptable."

Upon hearing Li Ping's words, Teng Feng looked thoughtful: "My contribution..."

Yes, he has contributed to the Foundation for so many years. If he were to die unexpectedly, wouldn't all his contributions have been in vain?

Then he really lost out big time; it's like he lost a vast, clean expanse of land.

But why not venture out of the Immortal City to hone your skills?

Teng Feng felt that he could no longer bear the dull and boring environment in the Immortal City. Staying in the Immortal City was like a bird in a cage, unable to fly away even though it had wings.

Others also had different opinions.

Zhang Tie thought: "Big brother is right. If something really happens to sixth brother, what will happen to his contributions?"

Gu Musheng thought: The eldest brother has made the greatest contribution. If we lose a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, wouldn't the rest of us benefit even more?

Cheng Yao thought: I hadn't thought of this until my older brother mentioned it. I need to take good care of myself in the future, so that if something happens, others won't benefit.

Qi Hanmo thought: It would be more advantageous for his elder brother to have fewer people, but he still brought it up directly. His elder brother is truly a virtuous gentleman of ancient times.

Bai Qing thought: What my elder brother said makes sense, but I contributed the least to the association, so even if something happens, I won't actually have many spirit stones.

……

Li Ping's gaze swept over the six people, taking in their changing expressions, before he smiled and offered his solution.

He smiled and said, "To avoid everyone's contributions going to waste, I came up with a 'succession' plan."

"Succession?" The six people were puzzled.

Li Ping continued to explain with a smile to the six people: "This class refers to your membership in the Tongzhou Association. According to my idea, each of you can designate one person as your successor. In this way, if something happens to you, your contributions and Foundation Establishment opportunities will automatically be transferred to that person, who will take over."

"This is what succession is all about!"

"Of course, once you've chosen your successor, you mustn't tell him about the Fellowship," Li Ping added. "Only if something really happens to you will I personally consult him. If he's willing, he can take your place, which is called 'passing the buck.' If he's not willing, then his contribution will be forfeited."

With Li Ping's explanation, the six people quickly understood what "succession" meant.

This is a rule that ensures their contributions will not go to waste. Even if they die unexpectedly, the person they designate can take over their identity, enjoy the benefits they have made, and assume the responsibilities they should bear.

This rule is undoubtedly a good thing for them.

After all, the person they designate to succeed them must be someone with a very close relationship with them.

After one's unexpected death, it is the best outcome for loved ones to enjoy the fruits of one's labor.

But the clever Gu Musheng quickly came up with a problem.

If you've already used the opportunity to establish your foundation once, it's not worthwhile to designate a successor, because at that point the successor only has obligations, not rights, which is equivalent to making a contribution for nothing.

Instead, they don't designate a successor; the debt is cleared upon the person's death.

Thinking of this, he didn't hesitate to ask, "Brother, can this successor be changed or revoked?"

Li Ping nodded firmly: "Of course, anytime!"

Upon receiving a positive reply, Gu Musheng was the first to respond: "I agree with the new rules proposed by my elder brother."

After deliberation, the others unanimously agreed that the "succession plan" was beneficial to everyone except the eldest brother.

While secretly admiring their elder brother's selflessness, they all agreed with the plan.

Next, naturally, everyone took an oath to add this rule.

Li Ping then asked the six men who they wanted to appoint as their successor within their respective organizations.

As expected, Zhang Tie designated his master, Old Man Lin.

Gu Musheng said he needed to think about it some more.

Cheng Yao also needs to think about it some more.

Qi Hanmo is the same.

Teng Feng, same as above.

Bai Qing designated a cousin with whom he had a close relationship.

Li Ping wrote them down one by one and had others witness them. He also reminded Gu Musheng and the other three that if they had a choice, they should tell him in time.

Only after all this was completed could the banquet proceed.

In the next segment, as is customary, Li Ping will guide the other six in their practice.

The six humbly sought his advice, and Li Ping patiently guided them. Before they knew it, a night had passed.

As dawn broke, the six bid farewell to Li Ping and departed, and peace returned to Li Ping's cave.

Ignoring the chaos after the banquet, Li Ping returned to the main hall to continue his alchemy and cultivation.

These messy situations will be tidied up by Bailin, the housekeeper.

……

In a valley somewhere in the Gaojishan Mountains.

After staying at home until the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, realizing that her holiday was almost over, Bai Lin had no choice but to reluctantly say goodbye to her family and prepare to return to the city to work.

But when she went to hitch a ride with her tribesmen, the tribe chief Bai Mingde found her.

Bai Mingde smiled and waved: "Lin'er, the Ancestor wants to see you. I'll take you to pay your respects to him."

"Huh? The Ancestor wants to see me." Bai Lin was confused but also flattered.

The ancestor is the only Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Bai family, and is also the pillar of the entire Bai family. Moreover, due to his advanced age, the ancestor spends most of his time recuperating and rarely appears in public.

She has seen her ancestor very few times in all her years.

After a while.

Bai Mingde flew on his sword, bringing Bai Lin with him, and landed beside the spiritual spring where the Bai family patriarch was recuperating. He respectfully greeted, "Patriarch."

Bai Lin immediately knelt down and shouted, "Ancestor!"

"Oh, it's little Bailin." The Bai family patriarch said with a gentle smile, "Come, come, get up and sit here with me."

Bai Lin sat down next to the ancestor as instructed. Although the senior and the ancestor were both Foundation Establishment cultivators, she immediately noticed the difference when she got close to them.

The senior was a young man with skin as smooth as jade and a pleasant scent emanating from him.

The old ancestor appeared to have a youthful face and white hair, but upon closer inspection, one could see that his complexion was very dry, with many age spots, and a faint smell of decay emanated from him.