“Haha, Xiaoxue, you are absolutely right!” Bai Fenghua’s heart swelled with joy. Although he had harbored similar thoughts for some time—which was why he had given Li Xue high-grade spirit stones as an investment—the path forward had never seemed so clear. This method of diversification could indeed resolve the lingering concerns of any great clan.
*No sect or clan lasts forever. Indeed, as long as descendants remain, what does it matter what storms come? I, too, can finally go out and live a life of leisure.*
Having resolved a knot that had troubled his heart for centuries, Bai Fenghua was overjoyed. He looked at Li Xue with a gaze full of tenderness. Although Li Xue had long grown accustomed to his peerless elegance, such an expression and look still made her lose her composure. He was simply too bewitching. Fortunately, she was now in the Core Formation stage and possessed a certain level of resistance; had she still been the mature woman of her past life, she surely would have snatched him away first and asked questions later.
Seeing Li Xue’s dazed expression, Bai Fenghua’s smile grew even more brilliant as he left with a hearty laugh.
Li Xue had no idea that her words had solved a problem that had plagued Bai Fenghua for hundreds of years. She finally managed to shake off the lingering effects of his devastating charm and took a deep breath. She hadn't felt it much in the moment, but now her face burned with embarrassment. *How pathetic, losing my cool again,* she thought. *It’s all Daoist Fenghua’s fault. For a man to be more beautiful and enchanting than a woman is just too much. How are actual beauties supposed to survive?*
Later, as she carefully recalled their conversation, Li Xue realized that Bai Fenghua’s worries were likely not unfounded. Was something significant about to happen within the Yuxuan Sect? Whatever it was, it had to be major; otherwise, he wouldn't be seeking a way out for the Bai family.
With this in mind, Li Xue became even more determined to buy a residence in the market. If she were caught in the internal power struggles of the Yuxuan Sect, someone without a background like her would surely end up as cannon fodder. Although the market was also the property of the Yuxuan Sect, being away from the center of power was bound to be safer.
A shop in the central district of the Yuxuan Market cost over a million mid-grade spirit stones for even a small one. Therefore, Li Xue planned to buy on the outskirts. Since she primarily intended to sell low-to-mid-grade pills, there was no need for an expensive central location.
Since Daoist Fenghua had been so generous, she purchased a medium-sized storefront. The courtyard behind it was large enough to accommodate about ten small cultivation dwellings, and the price was roughly two million mid-grade spirit stones.
The Yuxuan Market ran north to south, situated directly above a large spirit vein. Consequently, while the spiritual energy in the market’s center was not as dense as on Yuxuan Peak, it was superior to Dongyang Peak on Mangyun Star.
The courtyard Li Xue bought happened to be on the edge of the spirit vein, which was why it commanded the high price of two million mid-grade spirit stones. Otherwise, a location elsewhere would have only cost around five hundred thousand.
She named it the Xue Pill Pavilion, specializing in low-to-mid-grade pills. Its inventory ranged from Spirit Gathering Pills to Qi-Supplementing Pills, Qi-Nourishing Pills to Spirit-Restoring Pills, covering all five elements in mid-to-high quality.
Before leaving, after tossing the bag of spirit stones to Li Xue, Bai Fenghua had emphasized one thing: “These spirit stones are an advance I’m giving you on behalf of Bai Ruihua’s disciple. Remember, from now on, Ji Rufeng is the owner of your Xue Pill Pavilion, not the Bai family.” Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he departed elegantly, not taking a single cloud with him.
Li Xue was secretly delighted. Who was Ji Rufeng? He was practically family to her. It didn't matter who the "owner" was; what mattered was that they now had a foothold on Jinxing Star.
The sales at the pill pavilion were decent. They had a relatively stable clientele, mostly cultivators from small and medium-sized clans. These clans were all subordinates of the Yuxuan Sect. While low-to-mid-grade pills weren't difficult to refine, the demand was enormous. The pills supplied by Danxia Star to the Yuxuan Sect were mostly used internally and rarely reached the surrounding smaller powers. Thus, the low-to-mid-grade pills in the market mostly came from other sources, and supply generally met demand.
Li Xue and Li Lin were currently refining pills in the alchemy room when they suddenly heard Hei Yan’s excited cry: “Master, you’ve finally arrived!”
Hei Yan and Chi Ze had both been assigned by Li Xue to watch the shop. There was no helping it; they were short-handed.
Li Xue and Li Lin hurried out, and the sight before them left them stunned.
A large group of cultivators stood before the Xue Pill Pavilion, every face familiar. Daoist Yu Hong, Daoist Rui Hua, Yu Ming, Ling Xiaoyin, Ji Rufeng, Wang Yun, and Lin Fei. And... and... how was Dongfang Jing here too? Moreover, he had actually reached Core Formation! This was far beyond anyone's expectations.
“Mother!” Ling Xiaoyin immediately rushed forward and clung to Li Xue, her affection overflowing.
The onlookers gazed at the two identical women, filled with a myriad of emotions.
“Grandmaster, everyone, please come inside before we talk!” Li Lin said to the group.
“Yes, let’s go inside first!” Li Xue hurriedly beckoned them.
The size of the group was truly beyond Li Xue’s expectations. She hadn't expected her Master to travel together with Daoist Rui Hua.
As for Wang Yun and Lin Fei, they had come at Li Xue’s earnest invitation. The Lihua Palace had many disciples, and Wang Yun’s life there hadn't been easy; she had been stuck at the late stage of Foundation Establishment for a long time. Although Lin Fei had Li Lin’s support and no shortage of pills, her spiritual roots were mediocre, and without any great fortuitous encounters, her cultivation speed was only average.
They were very lucky. Because of their connection to Li Xue and Li Lin, they were able to come to Jinxing Star. One must realize that even Core Formation cultivators could not leave their posts at will. Furthermore, they were more than happy to help Li Xue manage the pill pavilion. The spiritual energy here was better than at Dongyang Palace, and the overall level of cultivation was higher, which offered them immense benefits.
“It’s just that Mingxuan failed his first attempt at Core Formation,” Ji Rufeng sighed. “He refused to come out and travel. Sigh.”
Li Xue, Li Lin, and Yu Ming all fell silent. They had already known about Yun Mingxuan’s failure since Yu Ming was still at the Yun Jing Sect. Li Xue had tried her best to invite him to Jinxing Star, but he faced many complications within the Yun family and chose not to come.
“His hands are tied by his family; he isn't his own master,” Yu Ming lamented.
Li Lin countered, “Xiao Xuan isn't the one in power in the Yun family. Who would tie his hands? I don't know what he encountered, and he didn't tell us.”
The others nodded. Indeed, unlike Daoist Rui Hua, who was burdened with the responsibility of guarding the entire Bai family on Mangyun Star, Yun Mingxuan shouldn't have been so restricted. He must have run into some trouble that he kept to himself.
“Sister Li, I’ve reached Core Formation, and you’re ignoring me!” Dongfang Jing finally couldn't help but interject from the side.
“Ha, hahaha!” Ji Rufeng and Yu Ming burst into unrefined laughter. They had thought Dongfang Jing might hold out a bit longer, but it seemed that even after reaching Core Formation, his personality hadn't changed a bit.
Li Xue’s heart twitched, but she was genuinely curious. Ji Rufeng had obtained the Ice Heart Divine Script, so his breakthrough was expected. But for Dongfang Jing, who usually kept a low profile, to reach Core Formation so quickly was truly surprising.
“Dongfang Jing, I didn't expect you to break through so soon. Well done!” Li Xue praised him sincerely.
Hearing Li Xue’s praise, Dongfang Jing’s spirits immediately soared. He said with a beaming smile, “I just kept thinking about breaking through quickly so I could come find you all to play. And then, I just... broke through. It was really too simple!”
Everyone felt a sudden urge to pummel Dongfang Jing. This guy truly talked as if it cost him nothing. *Core Formation is "too simple"? How are the rest of us supposed to live?*
