Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Chapter 216 - 166: Assaulting Foundation Establishment (2)

Zhao Liangde began to sing the praises of his eldest disciple, causing Fang Qingyuan, who was listening nearby, to chuckle inwardly. ’He’s trying to play matchmaker. I wonder if that senior brother of his can withstand Situ Jingyu’s fists.’

Situ Jingyu grew increasingly awkward as she listened. She glanced at Fang Qingyuan and then offered an excuse.

"I’ve been asked by Junior Brother Fang Qingyuan to go to Yuanling Mountain and take care of a few things. I won’t be able to stay on Celestial Gate Mountain for more than a few days."

Hearing this, Zhao Liangde finally said:

"I see. Since Qingyuan asked you, then by all means, go. Just don’t tell your master I was a poor host when you get back to your sect."

Situ Jingyu quickly assured him she would do no such thing. With that settled, Zhao Liangde had someone escort Situ Jingyu and Jinbao away to enjoy a fine meal, while he turned to Fang Qingyuan.

"Alright, now that we’re alone, what is it you need from me this time?"

Zhao Liangde’s tone was calm as he spoke, showing no sign of impatience. Ever since Fang Qingyuan had begun asking him for help, every favor had resulted in a great fortune for him. Over the years, the amount of Spirit Stones Fang Qingyuan had lavished on him was no less than two hundred top-grade Spirit Stones.

For the sake of the Spirit Stones, Zhao Liangde was naturally quite fond of Fang Qingyuan. At one point, someone had even suggested a scheme to him: get rid of Fang Qingyuan and replace him with one of their own to oversee Yuanling Mountain. Wouldn’t Zhao Liangde earn even more that way?

In response, Zhao Liangde had simply asked, "If I put you in that position, could you do a better job than Fang Qingyuan?"

If Fang Qingyuan hadn’t discovered the Crimson Iron Ore, it would still be lying underground, unknown. It certainly wouldn’t be bringing the sect an annual income of over a hundred top-grade Spirit Stones like it was now.

And what about the Yuanling Square Marketplace? Could anyone else have made it so prosperous?

The campaign against Jiuye Square seemed to go smoothly, but could anyone else have coordinated so many Cultivators?

If even one thing had gone wrong, it would have been an utter mess. Why hadn’t anyone else been able to replicate these successes—each and every one of them—elsewhere? In all these years, only Fang Qingyuan’s projects were flourishing. The other Cultivators sent out on similar missions had struggled for years, nearly inciting the local sects to rebel.

It was a classic case of ’That looks easy, I could do it.’ Only when they were actually put in that position did they realize they couldn’t handle it at all.

When Yuanling Mountain was in Jiang Kui’s hands, they barely scraped by on the meager income from the ore. But ever since that Foundation Establishment Cultivator left, Yuanling Mountain has developed by leaps and bounds, becoming a stronghold in the Southern Border second only to Celestial Gate Mountain itself.

Take, for example, the establishment of academies to educate the masses and enlighten the populace. If Fang Qingyuan hadn’t proposed these ideas, Zhao Liangde and Lechuan would never have even imagined such an approach.

On the surface, it might have seemed like Fang Qingyuan wasn’t doing much. But his way of thinking was invaluable to the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. Elsewhere, Fang Qingyuan would likely have been condemned as a heretic for his unorthodox ideas. But right now, the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect desperately needed a figure like him, someone who could carve out a new domain from nothing.

How could Zhao Liangde and Lechuan possibly kill the goose that laid the golden eggs? Without Fang Qingyuan, just think of how many Spirit Stones Zhao Liangde would lose each year.

Therefore, Lechuan and Zhao Liangde were in complete agreement: Fang Qingyuan was an invaluable asset. If not for his low cultivation level, Lechuan would have even considered involving him in the sect’s core affairs.

After all, Fang Qingyuan possessed thirty years of memories from a past life, a wealth of information from another world. He was a unique soul, a fusion of an industrial civilization’s mindset and a cultivator’s world. Given the right platform, he was always destined to stand out.

While these ideas were of no help to his own cultivation, when it came to managing worldly affairs, he was far more mature than those Foundation Establishment Cultivators who focused only on their training.

In response to Zhao Liangde’s question, Fang Qingyuan answered truthfully.

"I’d like to ask for your help, Martial Uncle. I need to find some disciples to buy merit points from. I’ve already sensed the opportunity to break through, and I want to borrow the sect’s third-rank top-grade spiritual land to attempt my Foundation Establishment."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Liangde sighed wistfully.

"In the blink of an eye, you’re already preparing for Foundation Establishment. I still remember when we first met; you were just a timid little disciple at the Qi Refining Fourth Level. Now, my cultivation has stalled completely, yet you’re about to become my peer."

Fang Qingyuan quickly expressed that he wouldn’t dare presume such a thing. Zhao Liangde had been stuck at the threshold of Core Formation for many years, never daring to take that final step. The breakthrough from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment carried the risk of death, but the danger of ascending from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core was ten, even a hundred times greater. Once the process began, there was no turning back.

After a moment of reflection, Zhao Liangde spoke again.

"I’ll issue a collection mission for you. You’ll be able to exchange materials for merit points. Just purchase the required spiritual materials from outside and turn them in to the sect. To be on the safe side, gather enough points for one year’s access to the spiritual land. I imagine that should be plenty."

"Thank you for your help, Martial Uncle. You have taken care of me for all these years, and I will never forget your kindness."

Fang Qingyuan immediately pledged his loyalty. He was relying entirely on Zhao Liangde’s backing; without it, other Foundation Establishment Cultivators would surely have given him trouble. This was why Fang Qingyuan was always so generous in his dealings with Zhao Liangde. But even so, he knew he was indebted to him for his support.

After Fang Qingyuan finished, Zhao Liangde studied him, pondering for a few moments before speaking.

"You don’t have a formal master to guide you, so as someone who’s been through it, allow me to offer a few words of advice about this Foundation Establishment business. It’s up to you whether you listen or not."