Chapter 201 - 197: Suspicion of Wandering Dragon and Yin Ruozhen

"So, Wandering Dragon succeeded in his Core Formation?"

"Yes. Last month, his Core Formation Celestial Phenomenon ended, and he began to stabilize his Realm. A few days ago, word came from his cultivation dwelling that he’s preparing to come out of seclusion," Luo Jinyu replied.

Du Youqian felt he might have misjudged the success rate of Core Formation in the past.

’This guy Wandering Dragon was just fumbling around blindly. He dared to attempt Core Formation with less than a twenty percent chance of success, and he actually made it?’

’Who could he even complain to?’

Du Youqian didn’t doubt that Feng Xiaoyi’s information was wrong.

If Feng Xiaoyi said Wandering Dragon’s success rate was less than twenty percent, then it was definitely less than twenty percent.

Feng Xiaoyi’s own power wasn’t considered top-tier, but among the twenty-some Core Formation Grandmasters of the Holy Blood Sect, her Charm Skill and intelligence network were among the very best.

"Is there anything else? How is your own Cultivation coming along?" Du Youqian asked, showing his concern.

Luo Jinyu’s reply was honest, almost too plain. "I’m at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer, not far from the Ninth Layer. My aptitude can’t compare to yours, Brother, nor can it match Fang Hua’s. I’m just moving forward steadily, one step at a time."

In terms of Spirit Root quality, the order was likely Fang Hua, then Luo Jinyu, then Du Youqian.

As for Sword Dao Talent, Du Youqian felt he was just a notch below Fang Hua, but still ranked among the top geniuses.

As for Luo Jinyu... he couldn’t even be part of this comparison. It was like comparing an average student from an ordinary high school with a gold medalist from the International Mathematical Olympiad—they weren’t even on the same track.

When it came to talent for learning Magic, Luo Jinyu and Fang Hua were about on par, while Du Youqian was slightly better, but not by much.

In terms of Magical Combat, Du Youqian considered himself to be at the ceiling of what was possible. Even against an opponent with the same Cultivation and similar equipment, he would just win.

Under his guidance over the years, Fang Hua had also improved greatly and become more and more adept at Magical Combat.

Luo Jinyu could only be considered average in talent.

But Luo Jinyu had one good quality.

He was solid.

Incredibly solid.

His foundation was incomparably solid.

He took every step with great stability.

And his state of mind was frighteningly stable.

Du Youqian felt that if he had to use a single phrase to describe Luo Jinyu, only one came to mind: a late bloomer.

In the future, Luo Jinyu’s chances of reaching Core Formation would definitely not be low; they might even be higher than his own.

If he truly succeeded in Core Formation, he would likely shine with a new, different kind of brilliance afterward.

Luo Jinyu paused, and seeing Du Youqian remain silent, he asked, "What about you, Brother Yu? Since you’ve already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, when do you plan to attempt Core Formation?"

Du Youqian did a quick mental calculation.

In another eleven years, he would go to Garrison the Desolate Abyss for a ten-year term.

That period would be the perfect time to settle down, stabilize his Realm, and address his own hidden issues and shortcomings.

At the same time, he could accumulate contribution points to exchange for Core Formation Spiritual Objects and other items.

After returning from the Desolate Abyss and adjusting for another year or two, he would be nearly ninety years old. It would be the perfect time to charge toward Core Formation.

After Du Youqian explained his plan, Luo Jinyu’s smile became one of relief. "I was worried that you would be provoked by the news of Wandering Dragon’s Core Formation, Brother. If you were going to rush into it, I would have had to advise you against it."

"But it turns out your state of mind is as steady as a rock, as expected. I was overthinking things."

Du Youqian chuckled. "Who does Wandering Dragon think he is? Is he even worthy of provoking me?"

But the mention of Wandering Dragon was still a thorn in Du Youqian’s side.

A few inconspicuous clues could be strung together.

Yin Ruozhen, a disciple of the Taihe Sect, emerged from the Relics alive, and her progress since then had been astonishing, as if she had gained some great benefit.

Yin Ruozhen had an ambiguous relationship with Gu Xiaofang, was concerned with the Holy Blood Sect’s True Inheritor competition, and had even repeatedly asked about him.

Yin Ruozhen got together with Wandering Dragon, and soon after, Wandering Dragon became the Holy Blood Sect’s True Inheritor.

Yin Ruozhen broke through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and Wandering Dragon attempted Core Formation without much confidence, yet somehow succeeded.

The speed of both their advancements was a bit beyond reason.

After pondering with his head down for a moment, Du Youqian ordered, "Keep an eye on this Yin Ruozhen, and have Xiaogu gather intelligence on Wandering Dragon. As detailed as possible!"

"Yes," Luo Jinyu agreed, but he hesitated. "Brother Yu, I’m not as good as Xiaofang at gathering intelligence. Is it really appropriate for me to keep an eye on Yin Ruozhen? Besides, if Xiaofang finds out, will he think that you don’t trust him, Brother Yu?"

Du Youqian just shook his head and said nothing.

Luo Jinyu knew that trying to persuade him was useless, so he accepted the order and left.

When he found Gu Xiaofang and explained the situation, Gu Xiaofang laughed. "Brother Luo, I won’t take it the wrong way. After all, Yin Ruozhen and I have a history, so it’s right that I avoid any conflict of interest in this matter. Don’t worry about it; just do what you have to do. As for you not being skilled at prying for information or gathering intelligence, that’s not a problem either. So many people have pledged their loyalty to Brother Fei now. Just pick a few capable ones, assign them the task of keeping a close watch on Yin Ruozhen, and all you have to do is compile the intelligence periodically and report it back to Brother Fei."

It was like a sudden enlightenment for Luo Jinyu. He offered his sincere thanks and hurried away.

Once he was gone, the smile vanished from Gu Xiaofang’s face, and his expression grew solemn. ’Brother Fei never acts without reason. This arrangement means he must have extreme suspicion toward Yin Ruozhen and Wandering Dragon.’

’And if I’d already been turned by Yin Ruozhen, I would definitely be telling her about this secretly. So, Brother Fei’s move is also meant to flush out the snake by beating the grass. He must be secretly monitoring my movements right now... It’s fine. It’s normal for him to suspect me under these circumstances.’

’Besides, having Brother Luo tell me this implies something else—he wants me to secretly supervise Brother Luo to prevent *him* from being turned by Yin Ruozhen.’

’...Then again, after I came out of the Relics, I was with Yin Ruozhen for a while. Although we didn’t become Dao Companions, we had plenty of intimate contact. Is it possible she used some kind of trick on me?’

At this thought, Gu Xiaofang broke out in a cold sweat. He couldn’t sit still any longer. He immediately sent someone to request an audience with a Core Formation Master who specialized in the Qi Observation Art, asking the Master to observe his qi and see if there was anything abnormal.

The Master looked and said everything was normal.

Still worried, Gu Xiaofang flew to the Hundred Herbs Sect and asked a Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivator, renowned for their healing arts, to examine him. They also found nothing wrong.

Only then did Gu Xiaofang suppress his worries and begin to arrange for the collection of intelligence on Wandering Dragon.

~~~~~~~~

Du Youqian quietly left Gu Xiaofang and returned to his cultivation dwelling. After some thought, he summoned Fang Simin to assess his progress.

After a few words, he learned that Fang Yuantang had died while he was in seclusion. Before his death, he had desperately wanted to see Ancestor Fang Zhongying one last time, but sadly, his wish was not granted.

He then checked Fang Simin’s Cultivation and found that the young man was already at a level equivalent to the Qi Cultivation Nineteenth Layer, possibly not far from Core Formation.

Fang Simin shared some of his Cultivation insights and his thoughts on the Seven Transition Sky Dancing Technique.

Du Youqian was very pleased.

He quickly changed his identity to Fang Zhongying and appeared again, comforting Fang Simin before giving him the two peerless beauties previously sent by Shuyue Hua to be his concubines.

He encouraged Fang Simin to spread the branches and scatter the leaves for the Fang Family by producing heirs.

Fang Simin was naturally deeply grateful.

The two beauties from the Xi Family that Du Youqian had previously given to Fang Simin had each given birth to several children, the oldest of whom was now eighteen.

Unfortunately, none of these children had a Spirit Root and were now being raised in a Mortal City within the Blessed Land.

However, the two beauties from the Xi Family didn’t have Spirit Roots themselves, so the probability of them giving birth to an heir with a Spirit Root was very low.

These two beauties from the Hundred Flowers Sect, being Cultivators with Spirit Roots, had a much higher probability of producing an heir with a Spirit Root with Fang Simin.

Du Youqian had lived several lives, and the people he felt most guilty toward were his parents from his life as Fang Zhongying.

His current care for Fang Simin, and his plan to help him establish a Cultivation Clan in the future, was actually born from a sense of compensation.

Allowing the Fang Family bloodline to continue and prosper was his way of giving an account to the Fang Family and making up for some of his regrets.

Besides, in the end, everything he gave Fang Simin—be it Spiritual Artifacts, Elixirs, or beautiful women—were all external objects that were not important to him.

Helping Fang Simin would not affect or slow down his own Cultivation.

If Fang Simin could reach Core Formation with the Seven Transition Sky Dancing Technique in the future, it would also be of great help to him.

If he viewed this as an investment, it was one where he was guaranteed to profit.

~~~~~~~~~~~

After sending Fang Simin off to continue his arduous Cultivation, Du Youqian began to schedule his own breakthrough to Tier Three Cultivation Techniques.

Back when he had just advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, his Divine Sense range had already reached 1,800 zhang—nearly double that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator.

Advancing to Foundation Establishment Perfection hadn’t brought about a qualitative leap in his Divine Sense, but over the years of continuous Cultivation, coupled with the effects of the Secret Technique "Profound Void Sun and Moon Qi Root Strengthening Technique," his Divine Sense range had broken through 2,200 zhang.

Although he was still a considerable way off from a Core Formation Master, he now met the conditions to attempt a breakthrough to Tier Three Cultivation Techniques.