Several more months passed in a flash.

On this day, Lü Zhong went out.

While trying to expand the market for his Flying Talismans, he had happened to hear a useful piece of information from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator he had recently met. It turned out that not all the Golden Core Cultivators in Lingyue Immortal City were difficult to approach.

In the city, there was a Golden Core elder named Liuu Piaoniang who could be considered approachable. One only needed to present her with a tribute of five hundred Spirit Stones, and in return, one could learn many secrets that only those at the Golden Core level were qualified and had the opportunity to know.

Upon hearing this news, Lü Zhong’s mind immediately started turning.

After reaching the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, his cultivation speed had slowed down considerably.

He thought it over and over, but he couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason.

This kind of situation had happened before, but Lü Zhong’s Spiritual Power had a self-purifying characteristic, so he wasn’t afraid of Pill Poison accumulating in his body. Because of this, he had always been able to forcefully raise his cultivation by consuming and refining large quantities of Pills.

By consuming a massive number of Pills, even with his Four Spirit Root Talent, he could still maintain a cultivation speed comparable to those with Three Spirit Roots, or even an Earth Spirit Root.

But now, the situation had changed.

’I clearly have the Spirit Forging Fire to aid me, I take one Profound Yuan Pill—worth fifty Spirit Stones each—every day, and I even have a Spirit Gathering Array in my Spiritual Land. So why is my cultivation progress still so slow...?’ Lü Zhong was completely baffled.

Thus, he decided to visit Liuu Piaoniang, hoping he might get some useful help from the Golden Core Cultivator.

He rode a Beast Vehicle through the streets and alleys, and soon arrived before an impressive cave mansion.

In front of the cave mansion’s main gate was a small table, where a Female Cultivator was sitting.

To Lü Zhong’s surprise, the woman was none other than Su Xu’Er, whom he had met not long ago. Her cultivation had improved slightly since their last meeting; she was now at the Perfect Qi Refining Stage.

Upon seeing Lü Zhong, Su Xu’Er’s gloomy expression instantly brightened. She quickly stood up and said with a cheerful smile, "Xu’Er greets Elder Lü! Thanks to that Insect Pill you gave me, Qing’Er has made a full recovery!"

"That’s wonderful news!"

Lü Zhong had guessed her identity, so he politely clasped his hands and said, "I wonder if Elder Liuu is available at the moment? I would like to request a meeting."

A mischievous smile played on Su Xu’Er’s lips, and her face lit up with a confident grin. She giggled and said, "Normally she wouldn’t be, and anyone else would be told to wait for three to five months at least. But since it’s Elder Lü who has come, I can’t possibly let you make a trip for nothing. Please wait here for a moment!"

"Hey..." Lü Zhong started to stop her.

After all, rashly disturbing a Golden Core Cultivator was not a wise move.

But with a turn, Su Xu’Er vanished on the spot, leaving him no chance to stop her.

A moment later, Su Xu’Er returned with good news.

"My Master is ready to receive you in the rear garden. But... even though I’m the one who asked, Elder Lü still needs to have a gift ready. Otherwise, Master will still get angry!"

As she spoke, Su Xu’Er puffed out her cheeks, mimicking the fierce look her master had when angry.

Lü Zhong almost laughed at the sight but managed to hold it in.

They walked onward.

The scale of a Golden Core Cave Mansion was truly immense. Even though it was built in the inner ring of Lingyue Immortal City where every inch of land was precious, the front courtyard alone was about ten acres. Moreover, the concentration of Spiritual Qi was nothing like that in Immortal Intent Square—there was at least a hundredfold difference between the two.

’If I cultivated in a place like this, I probably wouldn’t even need Pills, would I?’ Lü Zhong thought to himself.

But by the same token, the annual rent for such a cave mansion was also astonishing.

Thinking of the price, which started at five digits, he dismissed the idea of moving to a new residence.

Following Su Xu’Er, he soon arrived at a garden shrouded in swirling Cloud Qi. The ground was covered with spirit flowers and herbs, including many rare Spirit Medicines over a hundred years old. The clouds of qi were formed by the Spirit Plants breathing in and out Spiritual Qi.

Stalk after stalk of Spirit Medicine made Lü Zhong’s eyes burn with envy; he wished he could just pull them out and claim them for himself.

Of course, that was just a passing thought.

If he were actually told to do it, he really didn’t have the guts to pluck the whiskers of a Golden Core Cultivator.

After walking for a while, he finally saw Liuu Piaoniang, the Core Formation Stage Cultivator, in a pavilion in the garden.

Although she had a Core Formation Stage Cultivation and was rumored to be over three hundred years old, her appearance was no different from that of an ordinary married woman. Her figure was even more impressive than the youthful Su Xu’Er’s; she was like a perfectly ripened honey peach, possessing a charm in her eyes that no ordinary Female Cultivator could match.

Lü Zhong didn’t dare to look for too long, lest he anger her.

He presented the gift he had prepared in advance, bowed deeply, and said, "This junior pays his respects to Elder Liuu!"

The woman didn’t speak immediately. Instead, she sized Lü Zhong up with great interest. After all, he was the very first person for whom her precious apprentice had ever proactively made a request.

Being scrutinized like this by a Golden Core Cultivator, Lü Zhong truly felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

The Core Formation Stage was a full Great Realm higher than the Foundation Establishment Stage, meaning the former possessed the power to utterly crush the latter. What’s more, this Elder Liuu was a Veteran Golden Core who had lived for over three hundred years.

Fortunately, Liuu Piaoniang only sized him up for a moment before she spoke slowly, "You, junior. Judging by the nature of your Magical Power, you must have come from the Heling Sect, correct?"

’How did you know?’ Lü Zhong was slightly startled, but then he remembered she was a Golden Core Master, and his surprise vanished. Thinking about how the Lingyue Sect hadn’t taken any action against former Heling Sect cultivators, he boldly admitted, "Elder’s eyes are as sharp as a torch. This junior did indeed cultivate at the Heling Sect for a time!"