Daoist Guanshan dusted off his robes, bowed to Hong Baichuan, and said solemnly, "I have never forgotten how you took that palm strike for me all those years ago."

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan had a revelation. ’No wonder the Celestial Craft Cave chose to relocate to Lingnan Dao.’

The Sect Leader of the Profound Daoist Sect owed such a great debt, so of course he wouldn’t refuse. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, with a strong personal connection to boot.

The Celestial Craft Cave would naturally benefit from setting up here. At the very least, they wouldn’t face any obstruction—especially since Hong Baichuan had brought one of the Celestial Craft Cave’s foundational treasures with him today.

A nostalgic look appeared on Hong Baichuan’s face, and he couldn’t help but sigh. "Speaking of which, it’s been nearly forty years since we last saw each other, hasn’t it?"

Daoist Guanshan said, "Yes, it has been forty years."

"Forty years."

Hong Baichuan stroked the dark red, palm-shaped scar at his waist. His knuckles rapped against his Profound Iron Waist Guard, producing a metallic clang that echoed in Daoist Guanshan’s heart.

"Back then at the Desert South Quicksand Eye, if you hadn’t taken that old bald donkey’s Vajra Palm for me, I really would have fallen in."

"Haha, too bad for him! He never expected that my Celestial Craft Cave’s Horizontal Training is unmatched in the Northern Land. Killing me wouldn’t be so easy."

A smile finally broke across Daoist Guanshan’s face. His emotions, which had withered with age, now bloomed like a flowering iron tree. He stepped forward and grasped Hong Baichuan’s wrist. "Please! I’ve already had my people prepare a banquet. Let’s eat and talk."

"Wait!"

Hong Baichuan pulled his hand free from Daoist Guanshan’s grasp.

Just then, a mountain breeze swept through the tops of the ginkgo trees, and golden leaves rustled down onto the seven cold blades.

Under Daoist Guanshan’s astonished gaze, Hong Baichuan shook out his great cloak, clasped his fists, and announced in a clear voice, "The Celestial Craft Cave wishes to re-establish its sect at the Shu State Ghostly Wail Abyss and has specially brought the Pleiades Seven Stars Blade as a greeting gift. We hope the Profound Daoist Sect will accommodate us."

Daoist Guanshan was taken aback for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "You old codger, you really know how to put on a show."

A smile appeared on Hong Baichuan’s face.

"Business is business. If we don’t make things clear now and just muddle through, it could become a taboo topic later if our friendship ever fades."

Daoist Guanshan lightly swept his duster across the stone table, and with a CLANG, the seven blades returned to the iron box.

The old Daoist’s frost-white eyebrows rose slightly. A smile touched his face, and his voice was like an ancient bell.

"The Ghostly Wail Abyss has been ravaged by Gang Wind for a century. If your esteemed sect wishes to suppress the Earth Vein Evil Qi, you will need to forge no fewer than three hundred and sixty Dragon-Suppressing Stakes. The Profound Daoist Sect has seven thousand catties of Red Dragon Iron in its treasury. I will have disciples deliver it tomorrow."

From both a personal and practical standpoint, the Cyan Mountain Profound Daoist Sect would naturally not refuse. No sect would turn away a Great Foundry Sect looking to settle within its sphere of influence.

Especially not when someone like Hong Baichuan came bearing a high-grade Treasure Artifact as a greeting gift.

What Sect would refuse?

Daoist Guanshan spoke of it lightly, but Xu Yunfan saw Su Zhenhe’s folding fan freeze for a moment.

The Profound Steel needed for three hundred and sixty Dragon-Suppressing Stakes was enough to forge three thousand sets of Heavy Armor.

The Profound Daoist Sect was offering seven thousand catties of Red Dragon Iron right off the bat. Even though their sect didn’t have much use for it, such a lavish display of generosity made even Daoist Guan He shoot Daoist Guanshan a glare.

"Red Dragon Iron is volatile in nature. It must be quenched with South Sea Sinking Sand."

Hong Baichuan’s expression didn’t change. "What a coincidence. This old man collected ten boatloads of sinking sand from the Min River on my way here. It’s just the right amount for the forging."

Daoist Guanshan acted as if he hadn’t noticed Daoist Guan He’s stare. He pointed his duster toward the halfway point of the mountain. "The banquet is ready. Sect Leader Hong, if you please."

As they wound their way up the green stone steps, Xu Yunfan grew more and more amazed.

Upturned eaves and interlocking brackets were faintly visible through the clouds and mist. The Daoist temples on just a few of the nearby peaks were more magnificent than the entire Celestial Craft Fortress.

Seeing the surprised look on Xu Yunfan’s face, Su Zhenhe, who was beside him, pointed to the mountains with his folding fan.

"The Profound Daoist Nineteen Peaks. Each peak has over a hundred True Inheritors, and there are three thousand in the Inner Sect. There are quite a few Martial Artists your age, Brother Xu, who have just entered the Outer Three Harmonies. They would already be considered Inner Sect Disciples."

Xu Yunfan understood the implication in his words. He feigned ignorance, a curious look on his face as he asked, "Brother Su, you are also in the Outer Three Harmonies. How is it that you became a True Inheritor of your Sect Leader?"

Su Zhenhe’s expression was nonchalant. He flicked open his folding fan with a crisp, soft snap.

"I am different. My talent is number one in the sect. I have only been in cultivation for three years. If not for my desire to achieve Perfection in the Outer Three Harmonies, I would have long since driven my Blood and Qi Entering the Force, permeated my flesh and blood, and stepped into the Flesh Refining Realm."

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan nodded in agreement. "Brother Su makes a good point. Martial arts should be practiced one step at a time, building a solid foundation. Only by reaching Perfection in each realm before advancing to the next can one reach greater heights.

"As they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and a nine-story tower starts with a pile of earth."

"Well said!"

Su Zhenhe’s eyes gleamed. The more he mulled over the words, the more he felt they were a profound truth. Even the way he looked at Xu Yunfan became noticeably warmer.

"Brother Xu, your knowledge is profound to be able to speak such a deafeningly enlightening truth. I am impressed."

’I get it. He’s a pretentious literary type.’

Xu Yunfan gave a dry cough and waved his hand. "Those aren’t my words. I just heard them somewhere before and thought they fit the occasion."

"Do you know who said them? Might you tell me? If I have the chance, I must make a special trip to pay them a visit."

"...I imagine they’re just a pile of dust by now."

"Is that so? What a pity."

Before he finished speaking, a tiger’s roar suddenly erupted from the side of the mountain path.

Six bare-chested Warriors rushed past, heads down, carrying a Bronze Cauldron. The charcoal fire inside the cauldron illuminated half of an Exotic Beast’s leg bone. The bone was as thick as a pillar, and the muscles on its severed end were still twitching.

"A Bashan Swine, hunted just yesterday."

Su Zhenhe said nonchalantly, "The beast went berserk and knocked down two side halls. It did, however, provide the disciples with three extra days of meat. You’ve come at a good time. You can have a taste. It’s an Exotic Beast specially raised by the sect here on the mountain."

The banquet was held in the Star-Picking Pavilion.

The dome, crafted from dark wood, was inlaid with countless Luminous Beads. Hong Baichuan and Xu Yunfan had just taken their seats when eight Daoist Children entered in single file, carrying a jade platter over ten feet long.

On the platter lay a Spirit Fish, its entire body a shimmering crimson-gold. With every opening and closing of its gills, it sent out waves of scorching heat.

"A Red-Scaled Dragon Eye, raised in the Cyan Yue Cold Pool for a full sixty years."

Daoist Guanshan laughed. "Brother Hong, you’re in for a treat. Even an old Daoist like me only gets to eat this Spirit Fish a few times a year."

Su Zhenhe held his fingers together like a knife and lightly sliced across the fish’s belly.

The snow-white flesh of the fish congealed the moment it met the air, its cross-section revealing a pattern like a flower.

"Brother Xu, did you know that this fish’s bones can be used to temper the edge of a sword?"

"Oh, ah, is that so? How interesting!"

Xu Yunfan’s mouth was stuffed with fish, his cheeks bulging.

The Spirit Fish had an exquisite texture that left a lingering fragrance. A moment after he swallowed, great waves of warmth surged from his stomach into his limbs and throughout his body. Even the Inner Breath that lay dormant in his flesh and blood, refined by the Pure Yang Qi Skill, seemed to have grown a little stronger.

Feeling the changes within him, Xu Yunfan’s eyes lit up. He wished he could stuff the entire fish into his mouth.

’The Spirit Fish contains Primordial Spirit Breath!’

’This Profound Daoist Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a sect founded back when the Primordial Spirit hadn’t yet dispersed. Even a random item they bring out is unbelievably good.’

Su Zhenhe: "..."

He could no longer maintain his composure and quickly picked up a piece with his chopsticks.

He himself had only eaten the Red-Scaled Dragon Eye a few times.

After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food, Hong Baichuan, his eyes hazy from the Profound Daoist Sect’s specially brewed "Immortal’s Downfall," slung an arm around Xu Yunfan.