For Chen Che, opening the gates to accept new disciples was a simple matter of saying the word. But to the mortals below the mountain, it was an immense, heaven-sent opportunity. From that day forward, countless mortals would embark on the path of cultivation.

As he passed the Beast Shop, Chen Che saw Meng Changyuan looking over his ledgers and greeted him.

The man had originally planned to return to his family after the auction, but now he had chosen to remain in the Market.

It went without saying that he was staying to guard against the Hu Family.

Admittedly, while the Hu Family had suffered a devastating loss and no longer dared set foot in Jinyun Valley, they would surely resort to some underhanded tactics.

Though Chen Che himself wasn’t concerned, having another familiar Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Market was more of a boon than a burden.

After finishing his tour of the Market, he collected some Spirit Grass from the Alchemy Hall and immediately began refining pills.

In this world, strength was the only true foundation. To outsiders, Chen Che might have seemed to be the master of Jinyun Valley, but he never allowed himself to slack off. His daily routine was extremely disciplined: cultivation, alchemy, tempering his Qi and Blood, and managing the affairs of Jinyun Valley.

After all, while it was rare for a Local Bully to devour an Overseas Dragon, it was far more common for the Overseas Dragon to swallow the Local Bully!

In the blink of an eye, February arrived. Willow trees sprouted tender buds, the river ice thawed, and one could even see the occasional ox plowing the fields at the foot of the mountain.

「On this day.」

Chen Che had been sitting in meditation for a long time when his body suddenly trembled. Countless streams of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rapidly converged from all directions, swirling into a vortex that poured into his body. After a long while, he finally exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.

"I’ve finally broken through!"

At the same time, the Micro Crystal Brain flashed.

[Realm: Foundation Establishment Third Layer (0.04%)]

[Qi and Blood: Foundation Establishment Second Layer (58.21%)]

[Divine Sense: Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer (99.89%)]

’What I lack in talent, I make up for with resources.’

The auction had concluded, and Jinyun Valley’s position was firmly established. While the Market might not have been raking in a fortune every single day, it wasn’t far off.

This was where the benefits of being fabulously wealthy became apparent. With a single order from Chen Che, all sorts of cultivation materials would be delivered right to Jinyun Valley’s doorstep.

Thanks to this, even though Chen Che was still using the Energy-Introducing Technique, his cultivation speed hadn’t slowed by much. As for his Divine Sense, it was constantly nourished by the Divine Court Incense and was now just one step away from reaching the Golden Core Realm.

One should know that the Divine Sense of a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivator had to reach a range of two thousand zhang. The standard for the Golden Core Realm, however, was ten thousand zhang!

’Unfortunately, the Divine Court Incense is almost gone!’

Chen Che frowned as he glanced at the incense burner, which was now filled with ash.

After all, there had not been much Divine Court Wood to begin with, and he had already used thirty percent of it just to formulate the recipe. He had asked Ding Fei to keep an eye on the auctions, but there had been no news so far.

’Looks like I’ll have to go through the Liu Family to find more!’

Chen Che shook his head.

’They’re a Spirit Plant Clan; they’re bound to have some leads.’

"SCREEE!"

Just as he was thinking this, a long cry suddenly echoed from the sky.

A Great Demon shot across the sky, slicing through the sea of clouds as it flew toward Jinyun Valley. It was two zhang in size, its feathers shimmering like they were forged from precious metal, glinting brilliantly in the sunlight.

It was Little Chick.

One moment it was on the horizon, and in the next few breaths, it was hovering above Jinyun Valley. It relaxed its talons, and a crimson, severed tail nearly a zhang in length plummeted to the ground, shaking the earth and kicking up a cloud of dust.

’Well now, this couldn’t be the Blood Feather Snake from the Dragon Cave, could it?’

Chen Che rubbed his chin as he sized up the severed tail.

Seven hundred li from the Meng Family’s territory lay a Snake Cave. Inside were thousands upon thousands of Snake Demons, the largest of which was over twenty zhang long, which was why the locals called it the ’Dragon Cave’. The Blood Feather Snake, a winged Yin Snake, was the master of this ’Dragon Cave’.

Meng Changtu had been trying to capture it for years, but he always returned empty-handed.

’Who would’ve thought Little Chick would just barge in there and, by the looks of it, win the fight.’

’Not bad. With a few more Spirit Grasses, I can refine a batch of Peiyuan Pills. Then I can continue opening up my meridians!’

Chen Che was very satisfied.

The Peiyuan Pill was a Tier Two High Grade Elixir, an enhanced version of the Leopard Embryo Elixir.

Of course, its main ingredient was a Foundation Establishment Elixir.

After placing the severed tail into his Storage Ring, Chen Che flicked a Celestial Spirit Pill from his hand. Little Chick excitedly snatched the pill from the air. With a flap of its massive wings, it landed on a wutong tree. The tree, which stood seven or eight zhang tall, groaned and creaked under the creature’s enormous weight.

"Master!"

Chen Che had just stepped out of the courtyard when he was met by a hurried Rong Zhongxuan.

"Lu Qinglian is here. She’s been waiting for you in the reception hall all morning."

"What is she here for?"

Chen Che was rather surprised.

"I’m not sure."

Rong Zhongxuan slowly shook his head, a hint of worry in his eyes. "She wouldn’t say anything, only that she had to see you. She also brought another cultivator with her. From his aura, it looks like he failed to reach Foundation Establishment. I’m worried she’s here to..."

’Cause trouble?’

Chen Che knew the words his subordinate had left unsaid.

The Foundation Establishment Pill provided by the Meng Family had been sold to Lu Qinglian for fifty-two hundred Spirit Stones. Once a pill is sold at auction, the transaction is final. You couldn’t just fail to reach Foundation Establishment and then come looking for trouble with the seller.

Besides, Lu Qinglian had inspected the pill herself before the sale.

"I’ll go and meet with them."

In the reception hall, Chen Che saw the pair.

Besides Lu Qinglian, there was an "old man" with a wizened face and grizzled hair. But a single sweep of Chen Che’s Divine Sense revealed that the man’s Qi and Blood were depleted, his True Essence was nonexistent, and his life force was exceptionally weak, as if he didn’t have long to live.

’This is more than just a failed Foundation Establishment!’

Chen Che thought as he walked over.

"Fellow Daoist Lu!"

"Valley Master Chen!"

Seeing Chen Che, the two of them quickly rose to their feet.

Lu Qinglian cupped her hands in greeting. "It’s been a while. You are as distinguished as ever."

The cultivator beside her echoed the greeting, then stood obediently, his hands and feet trembling slightly. He appeared to be quite nervous.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, I doubt you came here just to exchange pleasantries, did you?"

With a flick of his sleeves, Chen Che sat down opposite them.

"Then I’ll be direct."

Seeming a bit taken aback by his directness, Lu Qinglian paused for a moment before giving a wry laugh. "I would like to reside permanently in Jinyun Valley and serve as one of its Tributors..."

"A Tributor?"

Chen Che’s brow twitched. ’What is a Tributor?’

’It’s a position like a Guest Minister or retainer.’

’They’re usually members of outside factions seeking patronage, or talented individuals one actively recruits.’

’Take Xing Lin, for example. He had no one and nothing, so Jinyun Valley was his only option.’

’Or myself. Lu Yi saw my outstanding talent in the Alchemy Dao and recruited me to serve him.’

However, most who were willing to become Tributors were Loose Cultivators with no background or support, who were also in desperate need of cultivation resources. To use a term from Earth Element Star, they were ’temporary workers.’ All the dirty, exhausting jobs fell to the Tributors.

But Lu Qinglian was a Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer Major Cultivator. The Lu Family aside, she would be among the handful of people holding real power in any other clan.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, are you joking with me?"

Unable to discern her true intentions, Chen Che didn’t agree right away.

"I’m not joking. My son and I have come here in earnest!"

Lu Qinglian took a deep breath, then bowed deeply to Chen Che.

"Please, Valley Master Chen, take us in!"

"Mother and son?"

Chen Che glanced at the "old man," a thoughtful expression on his face.

"He is my son, Lu Ping’an."

Lu Qinglian let out a long sigh.

"He just failed in his second attempt to reach Foundation Establishment, and now he has less than three years of his lifespan remaining. His body is too weak to endure more travel, so we are looking for a place to settle down."

"Then you should take him back to the Lu Family!"

Chen Che couldn’t help but chuckle. How could staying with an outsider like him possibly be more reassuring than returning to her own family?

But when he saw Lu Qinglian remain silent, a bitter expression on her face, Chen Che’s brows shot up. He seemed to have stumbled upon a secret of a major Cultivation Race.

"Could it be..."

"That’s right."

Lu Qinglian glanced at the "old man" beside her, then waved her hand to cast a Silence Spell before nodding.

"I was once the matriarch of the Lu Family. During a journey overseas, I was trapped in a Maze Array at sea. There, I had a fleeting affair with a fellow cultivator... and Ping’an was conceived."

"I hid him in the Mortal World, but some secrets can’t be kept forever."

Chen Che had a sudden realization.

’So this was the scandal Hu Chaohong mentioned when he rebuked Lu Qinglian that day!’

Her expression dejected, Lu Qinglian recounted the story of Lu Ping’an’s origin and the Lu Family’s subsequent fury upon their discovery. She spoke for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn.

’So, she cuckolded the clan head. He was "deeply moved," I’m sure. But since Lu Qinglian was the matriarch and a Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer Major Cultivator, they couldn’t just dispose of her as they wished. They gave her two choices: kill the bastard child or get kicked out of the Lu Family. She chose the latter...’

Chen Che summarized the situation in his mind.

"Lu Ping’an has only an Inferior Spirit Root. I’ve already exhausted nearly all my assets to support his cultivation. For that Foundation Establishment Pill, I sold every last one of my Magical Artifacts for one final gamble... but it failed again!"

At this, Lu Qinglian rose and bowed deeply to Chen Che once more.

"Please, Valley Master Chen, grant us refuge. After my son passes on, I will serve Jinyun Valley for fifty years..."

There was no place left for her in Xuzhou.

She couldn’t trust any of the other powers, large or small. Though she had only interacted with Chen Che twice, she found him to be a man who valued loyalty and righteousness. So, she decided to try her luck at Jinyun Valley.

Moreover, Jinyun Valley was rich in Spiritual Qi and hosted auctions; perhaps she could even find a life-extending Spiritual Medicine there. If not, she would truly have no other options but to take Lu Ping’an to the Mortal World to live out his final days.

"...a Tributor."

To be sure, after receiving Meng Changtu’s suggestion, Chen Che had been hesitating about whether to establish a Sacrificial Hall. After all, foreign cultivators were a mixed bag; they could have ulterior motives or simply be spies for other powers.

Therefore, he needed someone strong to keep them in line.

Without a Major Cultivator to act as a deterrent, there would surely be a powerful backlash. Rong Zhongxuan had only just reached the Foundation Establishment First Layer; he could only keep Qi Refining Realm cultivators in check.

He himself was strong enough, but he couldn’t possibly stay in Jinyun Valley at all times.

Lu Qinglian’s strength and situation made her a perfect fit.

It’s just that...behind her, there was still the Lu Family.

"Valley Master Chen, please rest assured."

Lu Qinglian guessed Chen Che’s thoughts and said slowly, "From the moment I left the Lu Family, I cut all ties with them. The Lu Family no longer cares whether I live or die. I will bring absolutely no trouble to Jinyun Valley!"

"Oh?"

Chen Che’s eyes lit up.

If that was the case, then he had nothing to worry about. Taking in a Qi Refining Cultivator with less than three years to live in exchange for fifty years of service from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator... It was more than worth it!

At this thought, Chen Che made his decision instantly.

"Agreed!"