Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Phoenix Mountain?

A sense of doubt arose in Li Mufeng's heart. He waved his hand to remove the cave's restrictions and, sure enough, saw a familiar-looking Han family cultivator standing respectfully outside the door.

After receiving the invitation, Li Mufeng returned to his cave and slowly unfolded it.

It turns out that Han Qinxue has successfully completed her foundation building.

After using the Water Dragon Talisman to repel Wu Youcai, the head of the Han family of Fengming Mountain immediately blocked the news and went into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Now, three years later, we have finally succeeded.

In the invitation, Han Qinxue spoke sincerely, not only inviting him to Fengming Mountain to participate in the Foundation Establishment celebration, but also expressing her deep gratitude for the help she received from the Water Dragon Talisman that day, and praising him highly in her words.

Li Mufeng put down the invitation, a sense of emotion welling up in his heart.

Both attempts were to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, but the outcomes were completely different.

When Liu Yan'er broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm in a hurry, her family was beset by internal and external troubles. Even after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill, she ultimately failed.

Han Qinxue first used the Water Dragon Talisman to intimidate powerful enemies and eliminate any worries, and then took the opportunity to go into seclusion. Although she also shouldered the heavy responsibility of her family, she always maintained the initiative, and her state of mind was naturally incomparable to that of the other day.

In the path of cultivation, while aptitude is certainly important, timing and mindset can sometimes determine success or failure.

If that Water Dragon Talisman had been delivered to the Liu family earlier, perhaps everything would have been different.

......

Three days later, at Phoenix Mountain.

Li Mufeng, carrying carefully prepared congratulatory gifts, once again ascended Phoenix Mountain.

Compared to my last visit, the Han family home has been completely transformed.

Red silk lanterns hung inside and outside the mountain gate, auspicious birds circled around, and auspicious energy swirled around. Cultivators came and went in an endless stream, creating a joyous scene.

Along the way, among the pavilions and towers, many cultivators gathered in small groups, drinking and discussing the Dao, their laughter echoing throughout the Han family, who were immersed in the joy of the Foundation Establishment celebration.

Upon arriving outside the Han family's main hall, Li Mufeng handed his congratulatory gift to the Han family member in charge of registration.

The man glanced at it briefly, his expression immediately changed, and he loudly announced the name:

"Master Li of Fuyuzhai presents a second-tier spiritual material: one pound of Crimson Marrow Refined Gold!"

As soon as the voice fell, many cultivators in the hall turned to look.

Crimson Marrow Essence Gold is a second-tier refining material. Although there is only one pound of it, it is still quite valuable and not something that ordinary Qi Refining cultivators can easily produce.

This gift alone is enough to show that this person is no ordinary rogue cultivator.

At the head of the main hall.

Han Qinxue wore a snow-white robe, her skin as white as snow. After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, her aura became even more ethereal and otherworldly. In her every move, she already showed some of the demeanor of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

At this moment, she was talking with a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators dressed in the robes of various sects. When she saw Li Mufeng arrive, she specially waved to invite him over and introduced him to everyone.

"Fellow Daoists, this is Master Li Fu."

"When Wu Youcai came to the Han family to coerce them, if it weren't for the water dragon talisman drawn by Fellow Daoist Li, the Han family probably wouldn't have been able to survive until today."

"Fellow Daoist Li is now only one step away from becoming a second-tier talisman master."

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze fell upon Li Mufeng.

However, I only glanced at it a couple of times.

To these Foundation Establishment cultivators, a quasi-second-tier talisman master at the eighth level of Qi Refining is ultimately just a Qi Refining cultivator.

They usually come into contact with many second-tier rune masters, so they don't really take a near-second-tier rune master at the eighth level of Qi Refining seriously, especially since he's just a rogue cultivator.

One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, dressed in the robes of the Myriad Beasts Sect, laughed:

"Even after Fairy Qinxue achieved Foundation Establishment, she still did not forget those who helped her in the past. Such loyalty and righteousness are truly admirable."

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed and echoed his sentiments.

However, his words were all praising Han Qinxue, while Li Mufeng was only mentioned incidentally.

Li Mufeng didn't care at all.

In the cultivation world, strength has always been paramount. With his current cultivation level, the fact that he was even noticed by a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators is already a blessing from Han Qinxue.

After congratulating Han Qinxue with a cupped-hand salute, he tactfully stepped aside and began to drink and enjoy the spiritual food by himself.

The Han family has clearly gone to great lengths to celebrate the patriarch's foundation-building achievement.

The spiritual dishes laid out at the banquet were mostly made from first-grade high-level demonic beasts, and there were also several spiritual wines and fruits of considerable value, which ordinary cultivators rarely saw on ordinary days.

While drinking, Li Mufeng subtly observed everyone in the hall.

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators came from Qingxuan Sect, Danxia Sect, Wanshou Sect, and even Tianque Immortal City.

It seems that the Han family's network of connections over the years is far more extensive than outsiders imagine.

Now that Han Qinxue has successfully established her foundation, she can be considered to have truly taken over the network of relationships left by the previous generation of the Han family.

The Han family of Fengming Mountain will likely rise to a higher level in the future.

Just then, a hearty laugh suddenly came from the corner.

"Haha, fellow Daoist, we're not from the same circle, yet we've forced ourselves to merge."

Li Mufeng looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that a rogue cultivator was sitting in the most secluded corner of the main hall.

The man was about forty years old, with an ordinary appearance. He wore a faded blue robe and looked unremarkable. His cultivation level was only at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining.

But when Li Mufeng's gaze fell on the other person, his heart stirred slightly.

With his current perception, which is comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could faintly sense a dangerous aura emanating from this person.

The feeling was so faint, almost like an illusion, yet the other person's expression was so natural, with a gentle smile always on their face, that it was hard to feel any ill will towards them.

Li Mufeng secretly took note of this, but outwardly he cupped his hands and smiled:

"I wonder who you are?"

The man raised his wine glass and laughed:

"He's just a wandering cultivator who drifts around, making a living by drinking spirit wine."

"If you don't mind, fellow Daoist, would you like to sit down and have a couple of drinks?"

Li Mufeng didn't refuse and sat down directly.

During their conversation, the other party introduced himself as having the surname Tian and the given name Mu. He was a wandering cultivator who had only recently arrived in Tianque Immortal City.

After several rounds of drinks...

Tianmu suddenly smiled and looked Li Mufeng up and down a few times.

"Judging from your appearance, fellow Daoist, you possess profound blessings and a long-lasting vitality, indicating that you will live a long life."

Li Mufeng simply smiled upon hearing this.

The two then chatted about all sorts of things.

To Li Mufeng's slight surprise, this person was extremely knowledgeable and knew everything about the major sects, aristocratic families, and even independent cultivators in the Yue Kingdom.

However, most of what he said was not about cultivation secrets.

Rather, it might be that an elder of a certain family traveled with a female cultivator in his youth, leaving behind a bloodline that was lost to the outside world; or that a peak master fought with his fellow disciples for decades to seize a spiritual herb, only to have it ultimately benefit someone else...

He described each and every detail vividly.

Li Mufeng listened to the conversation while drinking, unable to suppress a smile.

Cultivators who reach the Foundation Establishment or Golden Core stages thought they had already transcended worldly affairs, but now it seems they have only gained longer lifespans and greater supernatural powers.

They too have seven emotions and six desires, and are bound by grudges and affections; ultimately, they cannot escape the word "human."

……

The banquet gradually came to an end.

The guests gradually took their leave.

When Li Mufeng turned around again, Tianmu had already quietly left his seat, leaving only a pot of unfinished spirit wine on the table.

Just then, Han Qinxue finally broke free from the crowd and walked over.

"Fellow Daoist Li, would you mind moving to our private room for a chat?"

Li Mufeng nodded slightly and followed her to the elegant room in the back hall.

He came to Fengming Mountain hoping to take this opportunity to have a private conversation with this newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator and ask him some questions about Foundation Establishment.