Chapter 662 - 523: The Grand Plan (Part 2)

His hands rested on the ship’s railing; without the support of his hands, he would soon feel tired.

Yinn Qiuyun stood behind her partner, a trace of sadness hidden in her eyes, while a young boy beside her looked around with a curious and excited expression.

The Flying Ship slowly descended, and Ji An was already standing by the Cold Pool, accompanied by Huang Feihu and Liang Hill.

He saw Wei Songnian’s aged face and sensed the heavy aura of death surrounding him, leaving Ji An quietly sighing in surprise.

The injury to Wei Songnian’s Dantian had never healed, though it hadn’t caused his cultivation to regress, it had still had a negative impact.

Putting aside the stagnation of his cultivation, it seemed now his life was also fading faster than usual.

After just a few years of absence, he had weakened to this extent, and it seemed his days were numbered.

Wei Songnian forced a smile, wryly saying:

"Have I changed a lot?"

Liang Hill opened his mouth, but felt a bitterness within, a nameless sorrow welling up inside.

His situation was better than Wei Songnian’s, but only to enjoy a few more years of prosperity.

Huang Feihu’s eyes also reflected desolation; not everyone’s path of cultivation is smooth sailing. His cultivation had reached late-stage Foundation Establishment, achieving more than his initial dreams.

But no one wishes to meet a premature end on the path of cultivation; he had worked hard for many years and now found it hard to see the white snow on an old friend’s head.

Ji An suddenly felt that gathering these old friends might have been a mistake. His face showed no signs of aging, with cultivation still the highest among them; he hadn’t genuinely considered the others’ feelings before arranging this gathering.

He originally wanted to say, ’birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order,’ but coming from him, it sounded insincere.

Liang Hill laughed lightly, half-jokingly saying:

"Among us, you’re the oldest; it’s normal to be a bit older!"

This line lightened the mood, and everyone laughed out loud.

Wei Songnian stepped forward, his face showing an unusual flush:

"Congratulations to the Daoist friend on achieving true mastery; it is an honor to know you, an honor for the Wei clan of Little Bamboo Mountain."

When hearing the news of his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, becoming an ancestor of the sect, he was dizzy; he had witnessed the birth of a legend.

After all, a Golden Core Cultivator stands atop the pyramid of the Western Continent.

Ji An kindly said:

"Haha, I couldn’t have achieved today without everyone’s support.

Today, we do not discuss cultivation; let’s drink to our heart’s content and sing under the moon."

He had Zhang Xueling and others place the spiritual food under the outdoor shade, opened Tier Two middle-grade Pine Nut Wine, Mulberry Wine, Spiritual Peach Wine, and Celestial Essence Pear Wine.

This wasn’t stinginess; Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t handle overly high-tier Spirit Wine.

Pine Nut Wine was red like fire, Mulberry Wine was flawless green, Spiritual Peach Wine had a tinge of pink, and Celestial Essence Pear Wine was icy blue.

The tastes were varied, but all lingered deliciously long.

The bright moon was clear, the evening breeze gentle.

Wei Songnian took a sip of Pine Nut Wine, feeling the pine nut fragrance spread in his mouth, warmth flooding him like sitting by a fire in winter.

He then took a sip of Celestial Essence Pear Wine, fruit aroma burst between his teeth, a chill sweeping from head to toe, indescribably refreshing.

"Haha, usually I wouldn’t indulge so extravagantly; thank the Daoist friend for the generous hospitality!"

The Wei clan had been brewing Spirit Wine for years, and despite using the same recipe, the Spirit Wine from Red Flame Peak was much richer flavored than elsewhere.

Now, the spirit wines and Jade Bee Pills at Little Bamboo Mountain, made primarily with honey, were renowned far and wide.

"Saying that seems distant; I first tasted Spirit Wine by Jade Water Lake when you guided Liu Yu and me.

In Old Huang’s courtyard, the four of us shared a drink, and the moonlight was as bright as tonight."

Wei Songnian’s eyes also flashed with remembrance, "Yes, we were young then; time really flies."

Yinn Qiuyun listened quietly, as her partner hadn’t mentioned these stories before. She did not expect the depth of the relationship between him and Elder Ji.

Everyone reminisced about past events, Liang Hill’s four dishes from one fish, Huang Feihu’s devotion at Red Flame Peak, recalling bygone days.

The moon leaned westward, the moonlight grew dim.

The table was in disarray, and everyone retired to rest.

,

The next day, after breakfast, Ji An led everyone to tour Red Flame Peak.

Seeing each top-grade spirit wood, everyone’s eyes were full of eagerness; these were Money Trees, Money Trees as far as the mountains stretched!

Huang Feihu was somewhat incoherent, "This must be the highest value area in the sect."

More prosperous compared to when he left, he couldn’t believe this fact.

Ji An smiled, "Given the current situation, that’s indeed the case!"

Sunrise Peak housed a Tier Three Treasure Plant, but the number of spirit plants at other tiers was far fewer than at Red Flame Peak.

After the tour, Liang Hill said:

"I must also leave the sect and return to my homeland; farewell everyone, who knows if we’ll meet again? Take care, Daoist friends."

He had converted all his accumulated resources into Spirit Stones and purchased a small Spiritual Vein a thousand miles outside the sect, becoming the elder of the Liang clan.

Everyone exchanged sincere farewells. Liang Hill and Huang Feihu piloted the Flying Shuttle and departed.

Wei Songnian pulled over a tiger-headed boy, saying:

"This is my son, Wei Baiyang, twelve years old, Top-Grade Talent.

I wanted to wait a few months for the sect examination before discussing this, but the invitation came, so I brought him along."

The young boy curiously glanced at Ji An, then quickly lowered his head.

His father hadn’t told him much coming here, and now he felt anxious, knowing the person in front of him was a Golden Core Daoist Master; previously, he hadn’t even qualified to meet him.

Ji An gently smiled, "He resembles you in your youth, Baiyang; evergreen pines flourishing under the golden sun—a good name.

Child, would you wish to take me as your master?"

Wei Baiyang suddenly lifted his head, incredulous, looking at his father, as if to say, ’why didn’t you tell me when we came?!’

Wei Songnian wore a loving smile; he understood his child’s thoughts, but he truly couldn’t disclose this.

Having a child of the Wei clan as a disciple was Ji An’s past promise, but now as a Golden Core Daoist Master, Wei Songnian wasn’t sure if he’d agree on accepting disciples.

If this meeting had not included it, Wei Songnian wouldn’t have raised it later.

Yinn Qiuyun glared at her son, saying:

"The Daoist Master is asking you!"

"Disciple is willing," Wei Baiyang immediately knelt in solemn respect; his father had taught this ritual on their way, and he had been puzzled—now it was all prepared.

"Good, you will be my third disciple. In a few days, I’ll send your senior brother to help you with the Sect Jade Token."

Ji An handed over a gift box, transmitting a message:

"Inside is a Nourishing Yuan Pill, and the promised second pill might take years to deliver."

Wei Songnian felt his mouth slightly dry; he swallowed, and his hands accepted the gift box:

"Though I have said it many times, I must say again that knowing you is my privilege, the Wei clan’s privilege.

The sect strictly regulates pills for breakthrough to the Great Realm; I understand how difficult it is to give me a Nourishing Yuan Pill, so there’s no need to hurry."

Honestly, he hadn’t quite believed Ji An’s promise of two Nourishing Yuan Pills.

Now, he wasn’t worried about this promise in the slightest.

The difficulty for a Golden Core Daoist Master to obtain two Nourishing Yuan Pills is far less than for a Chao Origin Stage Cultivator.

"The spirit plants you gifted me brought enough benefit to merit these returns."

Ji An nodded in approval; the Soul Nourishing Wood had been quite beneficial and would continue to offer more help.

To achieve Shattering the Pill to Form a Nascent Soul, a Golden Core Cultivator needs sufficient spiritual strength.

In the Little World, with help from the Gathering Essence Tree, he was confident he could cultivate the Soul Nourishing Wood to Tier Three.

The key was having the Gathering Essence Tree; Wei Songnian had played some role in acquiring it.

Wei Songnian put away the gift box, saying:

"Cultivating spirit plants to a high tier is quite difficult; fortunately, it’s you, as using it effectively wouldn’t happen with other cultivators."