Early April.

Nearly three months had passed since Fang Yun became a Sect Elder.

On this day, Fang Yun was in his cave residence, reading books on Alchemy.

The more profound the content he read, the more Talent Points he earned after digesting and mastering it. For the past two months, the base Contribution Points he gained from reading books had consistently remained above five hundred.

After about four hours of reading, Song Qiaoqiao came looking for him.

About an hour later.

Song Qiaoqiao looked at Fang Yun and asked, "Junior Brother, do you have anything important to do today?"

"Something important..." Fang Yun thought for a moment before replying, "No."

"Then come with me to see my great-grandfather today."

After more than two months, Song Qiaoqiao had finally prepared herself.

She felt she could now face the upcoming event with a calm expression.

"No problem," Fang Yun agreed without hesitation.

Unlike Song Qiaoqiao, he had been ready to face her great-grandfather ever since he first made the proposal. Back when he was still an Outer Sect disciple, he had left a good impression on her great-grandfather. In the time since, he hadn’t been singled out for any special trouble, so he felt the chances of success were high.

"Let’s go."

The two of them soon arrived at Cloud Summit.

With Song Qiaoqiao leading the way, they came to the entrance of her great-grandfather’s cave residence.

Just then, Song Qiaoqiao stopped.

"Senior Sister, what’s wrong?" Fang Yun asked.

Song Qiaoqiao turned to look at Fang Yun and asked for confirmation, "Junior Brother, are you ready?"

"Of course."

Fang Yun replied with a smile. It seemed Song Qiaoqiao was even more nervous than he was. ’Thinking of that, I’m not so nervous anymore,’ he thought.

"Okay, then."

Moving slowly, Song Qiaoqiao finally knocked on the stone door of the cave residence. This time was different from all the previous occasions; she had brought someone with her to discuss the matter of marriage.

The Array dissipated, and the great door, refined from a special kind of rock, slowly swung open.

After Song Qiaoqiao entered, Fang Yun followed closely behind.

Zhong Yankun’s gaze first fell on Song Qiaoqiao, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Then he saw Fang Yun, and the smile vanished. His expression became exceptionally calm and majestic, the very picture of a Supreme Elder.

"Great-Grandfather."

"Supreme Elder."

The two at the entrance bowed simultaneously.

"Mm, come here," Zhong Yankun said with a faint nod.

The pair came to stand before Zhong Yankun, but now it was Song Qiaoqiao who fell silent.

Knowing Song Qiaoqiao as he did, Fang Yun understood that she wasn’t too afraid to speak, but rather she didn’t know how to begin.

Anticipating this, Fang Yun quickly spoke up in her place.

"Supreme Elder, I’m sure you already know the purpose of our visit..."

As he spoke, Fang Yun felt a psychological pressure of his own making. The source of this pressure wasn’t a Core Formation Stage Supreme Elder, but Song Qiaoqiao’s elder.

The commands of one’s parents held great weight in this world.

Song Qiaoqiao’s parents were not Cultivators, and Zhong Yankun had not established a Cultivation Clan. From the moment Song Qiaoqiao was discovered to have a Spirit Root and became a disciple of the Celestial Cloud Sect, her relationship with Zhong Yankun had clearly surpassed the one she had with her parents.

"...I hope you will approve of Senior Sister Qiaoqiao and me becoming Tao Companions."

Zhong Yankun had no reaction to Fang Yun’s direct approach, but Song Qiaoqiao’s reaction, in contrast, was huge.

She thought her Junior Brother would beat around the bush a little, laying some groundwork before bringing it up. She never expected him to be so blunt.

Sect Influence +4%↑

At that thought, Fang Yun quickly glanced at the light screen and immediately closed it.

His pressure instantly decreased. Even if Zhong Yankun remained silent, he could easily deduce the outcome from the prompt on the light screen.

This was an increase from his indirect influence, rising from 51% to 55%. A four-percentage-point increase from this base was extremely difficult to achieve, which was enough to prove he had already gained Zhong Yankun’s approval.

Zhong Yankun did not respond right away.

His gaze shifted back and forth, scrutinizing Fang Yun and Song Qiaoqiao.

Fang Yun looked as if he was certain of victory, while his great-granddaughter was fidgeting, clearly very nervous.

If he remained silent any longer, his great-granddaughter would definitely be the one to break.

Zhong Yankun didn’t agree directly. Instead, he looked at Fang Yun and asked:

"Can you guarantee that you will successfully achieve Core Formation?"

"I can’t," Fang Yun answered, well aware that for a Five Spirit Roots Cultivator, reaching Core Formation was as hard as ascending to the heavens. "But I will do everything in my power to try. Stopping at the Foundation Establishment Stage is not what I want."

"Mm." Zhong Yankun nodded in satisfaction. "In the history of the Qionglin Domain, it’s not as if there have been no Five Spirit Roots Cultivators who reached Core Formation. No one can say for certain that you, Fang Yun, won’t be the next."

"Supreme Elder, does this mean you will only agree to me and Senior Sister becoming Tao Companions after I reach Core Formation?" Fang Yun guessed.

"Wait for you to reach Core Formation? How long would that take? My Life Span would be exhausted and I’d be in my grave by then."

Zhong Yankun spoke in a rather lighthearted tone, as if teasing himself, which made the no-longer-nervous Song Qiaoqiao laugh out loud.

Only when she drew her great-grandfather’s gaze did Song Qiaoqiao manage to stifle her laughter.

"If you truly want to become Tao Companions with Fang Yun, I’ll give you one hundred years. In that time, you will break through to the Core Formation Stage." As he spoke, Zhong Yankun’s gaze returned to Fang Yun. "As for you, Fang Yun, before she breaks through to the Core Formation Stage, you must cultivate and break through to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment."

"As long as you can achieve the goals I’ve set for you, not only will I not oppose you becoming Tao Companions, but I will also give you a grand gift to bless you both."

"Great-Grandfather, reaching Core Formation within a hundred years... your requirement for me is too high." Song Qiaoqiao hoped to lower the requirement; she only had Dual Spirit Roots, she wasn’t an Abnormal Spirit Root Cultivator.

In her opinion, her goal should have been changed to the Peak of Foundation Establishment.

"It’s not high. You also have my help." During her time in the Foundation Establishment Stage, he would give Song Qiaoqiao his full support. "But as for you, Fang Yun, you can only rely on yourself. I believe that with your talent in Alchemy and Artifact Refining, this won’t be too difficult for you."

"Thank you for your trust, Supreme Elder," Fang Yun replied, while also signaling for Song Qiaoqiao to hurry up and agree.

This was not the time to negotiate. The goals Zhong Yankun had set for them were already a form of tacit approval, which also meant their relationship could advance further.

As for the final step, that would have to wait until after they reached their goals.

"Yes, Great-Grandfather. I will work hard."

"Mm." Zhong Yankun nodded lightly. "You two may sit."

Only then did the two, who had been standing, sit down.

Fang Yun knew this was another sign of Zhong Yankun’s approval. To be invited to sit and chat meant that in Zhong Yankun’s eyes, he was already considered a junior.

Much of what he knew about Zhong Yankun, he had heard from Song Qiaoqiao.

During the trio’s casual conversation, Fang Yun mostly listened while the great-grandfather and great-granddaughter spoke.

"Fang Yun, do you know why I so easily set that goal for you?"