Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments-Chapter 118 - 115: Xiao Chen: You’re Not Talking About Me, Are You?
The Sect’s Grand Hall.
Nearly all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators currently within the Sect had been summoned.
Mei Yong waited a moment. Once he confirmed everyone had arrived, he spoke. "I’ve called you all here today because there are two very, very important pieces of intelligence we need to discuss."
"The first concerns news from Qianzhu Market."
"According to reliable intelligence, the Purple Fire Golden Marrow Pill that Thousand Bamboo True Man of Qianzhu Market brought back ten years ago has been traded for by Gu Lihui."
The Purple Fire Golden Marrow Pill is a Tier Three Spirit Pill. Its most powerful effect is its ability to increase a Cultivator’s chance of successfully achieving Core Formation by ten to twenty percent.
It might not sound like much.
But when it comes to the Golden Core, even a five percent chance is priceless.
Upon hearing this, the various Elders and stewards present could no longer sit still.
"Gu Lihui... Isn’t that the Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator from eighty years ago, known as the Bright Moon Curved Saber?"
"How could it be him? If I remember correctly, he should be one hundred and sixty years old this year, right?"
"That Purple Fire Golden Marrow Pill can be preserved for fifty years, I believe. Why would he use it now?"
Although Xiao Chen didn’t know this senior, he started to get a general idea by listening to the surrounding discussion.
This Bright Moon Curved Saber was a Loose Cultivator who had become famous in his youth for his exquisite Sword Technique, which was renowned throughout Li State. He later joined Qianzhu Market.
Speaking of Qianzhu Market, one must first mention Thousand Bamboo True Man.
This Golden Core True Man did not belong to any of the three major sects of Li State. He was an extremely rare case of a Loose Cultivator who achieved the Golden Core realm and single-handedly established Qianzhu Market.
If one were to roughly divide Li State on a map into four quadrants...
The top-left would be the Li Huo Sect, and the bottom-left, the Azure Flame Sect.
The top-right would be the Four Seas Sect, and the bottom-right corner is precisely where Qianzhu Market is located.
Of course, in reality, Qianzhu Market only occupies about one-ninth of that region.
Furthermore, it has always remained strictly neutral, accepting Loose Cultivators and having no dealings with any of the sects.
"He’s already so old, yet he still has such drive."
An elderly Honored Guest Elder, thinking of his own situation, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
The older a Cultivator gets, the slimmer their chances of breaking through to a new Major Realm.
Many older Cultivators choose to give up, enjoying life as he did, or leaving behind cultivation resources for their descendants.
Mei Yong waited for everyone to digest the news.
Only then did he continue, "It is said that in recent years, Gu Lihui has been diligently handling all sorts of matters for Qianzhu Market, but he saved up all the contribution points he earned."
"Thousand Bamboo True Man did not go back on his word. He has already given Gu Lihui the Purple Fire Golden Marrow Pill and has even issued an order to act as his Protector."
"Whether he succeeds or not should be decided within the next month or so. Everyone should prepare."
Xiao Chen quietly asked Chen Tianfeng, "Martial Uncle, what does this have to do with us?"
Chen Tianfeng explained, "If Gu Lihui truly succeeds in his Core Formation, we, as Cultivators of this state, will naturally be expected to attend his Golden Core Grand Ceremony."
"Basically, we’ll be going to present a congratulatory gift."
"With this sort of thing, you’re not afraid they won’t remember you if you go, you’re afraid they *will* remember you if you don’t."
’Huh. So I have to give a gift even if I don’t know the person.’
But Chen Tianfeng had a point. If he was the only one who didn’t go, he would definitely be remembered for it.
’Unless you become an Immortal, you can never escape these worldly obligations.’
Xiao Chen could only try to look on the bright side. ’For instance, when I achieve Core Formation, I’ll get to rake in a ton of gifts too.’
’Hey, thinking about it that way, it doesn’t seem like a big deal after all.’
’Besides, speaking objectively, of all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in this hall, probably only one or two will ever manage to achieve Core Formation in the end.’
’The rest of them are the ones who are truly giving away gifts for free, with no chance of ever seeing a return on their investment.’
Fortunately, with his Augment, he was full of confidence about his own chances of achieving Core Formation in the future.
He asked again, "Martial Uncle, how many Spirit Stones should the gift be worth?"
Chen Tianfeng raised his index finger.
’One hundred? That seems too low.’
’Ten thousand? Isn’t that too much?’
"One thousand?"
"At least one thousand. A little more would be better."
Chen Tianfeng advised, "It’s best if the gift is something common, so they can recognize its value. Don’t worry about it being a duplicate; no one cares about that."
"Of course, if you’re willing to part with something good, you could give a better item. You might even catch his attention."
"If you’re short on cash, I can cover the cost of the Ice Sword for now. Don’t try to skimp on this."
Xiao Chen waved his hand. "It’s fine. I have some money on hand."
Chen Tianfeng narrowed his eyes at that.
’As a newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Xiao Chen seems a bit too wealthy,’ Chen Tianfeng mused. ’But then again, the cultivation world is vast. Who among those who manage to rise up hasn’t had a few fortunate encounters?’
Since Xiao Chen didn’t bring it up himself, he didn’t plan to press for details.
Mei Yong waited another moment before continuing.
"There’s another piece of urgent intelligence. Yesterday, during a Black Market gathering in Yellow Wind Valley, a trade dispute broke out between two mysterious Cultivators."
"Both are suspected to be outside Cultivators, and they used two different Escape Techniques to leave."
"Before leaving, the first person used the Splitting Sword Technique."
"It has been confirmed that it was an Upper Grade, Dharma Artifact Level, Wind Element Flying Sword. We surmise that this person is a Sword Cultivator, with a strength of approximately the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment."
"If you encounter any unfamiliar Wind Element Sword Cultivators outside, proceed with caution."
As he spoke, two portraits were distributed, one for each person present.
They were full-body and side-profile portraits of Wen Shishi and Xiao Chen.
Of course, due to a veil and a Stealth Cloak, only their general figures were visible.
"Of course, the first Sword Cultivator isn’t the main point. The crucial one is the second person."
Mei Yong held up Xiao Chen’s portrait and stressed, "According to reports from the scene, this person possesses an extremely fast Golden Escape Technique, with a speed that surpasses even the Sword Control Technique at the Great Success realm."
"This person is extremely dangerous and is suspected of having a volatile temper. Due to a disagreement during the trade, he chose to directly hunt down and kill the seller."
"If you encounter him in the outside world, you must act with extreme caution and do your utmost to avoid a direct confrontation."
? 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Xiao Chen looked down at the portrait in his hand.
’This extremely dangerous person you’re talking about... It couldn’t possibly be me, could it?’
The Grand Elder spoke up, asking, "Is there no information on his Cultivation level?"
Mei Yong shook his head. "No, there is very little intelligence about him."
"Aside from his Gold Escape, all we know for now is that the outside world calls him the Golden Light Wanderer."
"The only clue we can confirm at the moment is that he possesses a great many Spirit Stones. In Yellow Wind Valley, he spent a total of twelve thousand Spirit Stones to purchase various Spiritual Objects for his cultivation."
Upon hearing this sum, everyone present immediately grew serious.
A buzz of analysis and discussion erupted.
"To be able to take out so many Spirit Stones to purchase Spiritual Objects for cultivation, his Cultivation can’t be low."
"Generally speaking, Magical Artifacts are the most important thing for one’s survival and standing. He likely has a Top Grade Magical Artifact, or several Upper Grade ones."
"To be a newcomer and dare to resort to killing so readily... I estimate he must be at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, unafraid of any trouble from those below the Golden Core realm."
...
Several of the Honored Guest Elders, however, were worried about another aspect.
"Fighting a Cultivator like that would be incredibly troublesome."
"Isn’t that the truth. If we can beat him, he can run, and we can’t catch him. But if we can’t beat him, we’re finished—we won’t even be able to run away."
"To have cultivated the Gold Escape Technique to such a degree is simply unheard of. Could he be some reclusive old monster?"
"Senior Brother’s words are reasonable. A Gold Escape Technique that can surpass a Great Success Sword Control Technique must also be at the Great Success realm. Without thirty to fifty years of bitter practice, how could one possibly reach the Great Success Realm?"
