Seven days later.

A small spiritual boat carrying several people flew out from the south gate of the Yellow Dragon Immortal City, heading towards the rear.

A few late-stage Qi Cultivation disciples from Qiu Xuan Mountain took turns controlling the spiritual boat at the front.

Xu Ping sat at the back, resting with closed eyes.

In his mind, information about this Foundation Establishment family's stationing involuntarily emerged:

'This family's surname is Chen, originally a small Qi Cultivation family, but with the help of 'Qiu Xuan Mountain', they became a Foundation Establishment family.'

'Their family has one Foundation Establishment cultivator and nearly two hundred Qi cultivators, occupying a Second-stage Upper Grade spirit vein.'

'Their family's strength is naturally far from sufficient to occupy this Second-stage Upper Grade spirit vein, but with Qiu Xuan Mountain behind them, no one dares to lay claim on them."

I wonder what connection this small family has with the ancestor of Qiu Xuan, spending so much effort and time to help them.

Although Xu Ping wanted to know this gossip, as it concerned a Golden Core cultivator, he didn't dare to inquire.

...

The small spiritual boat flew for less than half an hour.

"Ah! Save me..."

The indistinct sounds of fighting and screams reached their ears.

"Elder Xu!" The Qi Cultivation disciples from Qiu Xuan Mountain couldn't help but look at Xu Ping.

Not having left the territory of Qiu Xuan Mountain, yet discovering robbers killing, by rights, they should intervene.

"Keep going!" Xu Ping didn't even lift an eyelid.

As long as the robbery wasn't aimed at him, he couldn't care less.

"Yes!" Although the Qi Cultivation disciples of Qiu Xuan Mountain were dissatisfied and secretly despised Elder Xu for being timid and selfish, they dared not contradict him and continued silently forward.

Xu Ping sensed their slight emotions but didn't care, only reflecting to himself:

"The security environment around Qiu Xuan Immortal City is deteriorating further."

"With the beast tide brewing, Qiu Xuan Mountain's energies are drawn away, and all sorts of monsters and demons are emerging."

To avoid trouble, Xu Ping didn't hide his Foundation Establishment aura.

They proceeded safely, and no one dared to make a move on them.

.....

Ten days later.

The group safely arrived at the Chen family's Foundation Establishment clan.

The Chen family's territory was built around a vast spiritual lake, scattered with villages and manors.

On the shores of the spiritual lake, Xu Ping saw some spirit fields growing spiritual grains and spirit medicines.

The true core of the family's territory was on an island in the center of the lake.

Beneath the island, there was a Second-stage Upper Grade spirit vein, suitable for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators to cultivate.

"This is truly a good place!" Xu Ping sighed inwardly.

With such a large spiritual lake, raising some spirit fish and growing some spirit medicines could bring huge profits.

"I'm afraid it wasn't easy for Qiu Xuan Mountain to find such a good place either!"

"After my twenty years as a guest minister in Qiu Xuan Mountain, I'll find a place like this to cultivate in peace."

...

"Fellow Daoist, you must be weary from your journey. I am Chen Li, the clan leader of the Chen family."

As Xu Ping and his group disembarked from the spiritual boat, a tall, hawk-eyed middle-aged man with a strong mana fluctuation approached with a warm smile, accompanied by seven or eight members of the Chen family.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, there's no need for such courtesy. I am Xu Ping, a guest minister of Qiu Xuan Mountain, here by command to support your noble clan." Xu Ping cupped his hands, appearing very polite.

After all, this family was related to Qiu Xuan Zhenren, and he didn't want to offend them.

"This is the sect leader's token, please verify." Xu Ping took out an ancient token from his storage bag and handed it to him.

"It's procedural, I hope you understand." Chen Li checked the token, found no errors, and returned it to Xu Ping.

"No problem." Xu Ping smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you must be tired from your journey. We have prepared a feast, please join us on the lake heart island." Chen Li extended an enthusiastic invitation.

"You're too kind, Fellow Daoist." Xu Ping responded with a broad smile.

Despite the Chen family's association with Qiu Xuan Zhenren, they displayed no arrogance, treating others with great courtesy and enthusiasm.

It seems their smooth transition from a small Qi Cultivation family to their current status was not only due to the aid of Qiu Xuan Mountain but also largely attributed to themselves.

...

Along the expansive spiritual lake, the group made their way to the lake heart island.

"Second-stage Upper Grade Array, Water Shadow Curtain Array!"

Xu Ping recognized the array at a glance.

A barely visible ripple of transparency enveloped the entire lake heart island, providing concealment, protection, and alert functions.

'With such an array, even without me, it would take several mid to late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to break this array.' Xu Ping marveled internally.

...

On the lake heart island, in a spacious grand hall.

Chen Li, along with seven or eight important family members, accompanied them.

Xu Ping and several Qiu Xuan Mountain disciples sat alone at separate tables, enjoying a feast of mountain delicacies and fine wines.

In the center of the hall, ten or so young maidens stepped onto the carpet, each graceful and elegant, with diverse physiques.

The air was filled with a pleasant fragrance.

Each girl, though non-cultivators, was beautiful and dignified, lacking the vulgar air of worldly rouge.

"These are our family's outstanding mortal women, skilled in dance, and they shall perform for our honored guests." Chen Li smiled.

Upon saying this.

The young maidens began to dance like fluttering butterflies.

Their graceful figures and beautiful dance moves attracted the eyes of several Qiu Xuan Mountain disciples, nearly mesmerizing them.

Having grown up rigorously cultivating at Qiu Xuan Mountain, their ingrained philosophy leaned towards austerity and relentless cultivation to achieve Foundation Establishment, leaving them unaccustomed to such spectacles.

...

An hour later, the welcoming banquet ended.

After declining Chen Li's offer of mortal women for company, Xu Ping went alone to the independent courtyard prepared for him by the Chen clan.

Although he turned down the offer, several disciples from Qiu Xuan Mountain accepted it somewhat reluctantly.

Xu Ping didn't say much.

After all, this was a personal matter, and he couldn't be bothered with it.

In the bedroom.

Xu Ping scanned the entire courtyard with his Divine Sense, and after detecting nothing unusual, took out an array plate from his storage bag.

Inserting a Spirit Stone, he activated the array.

A layer of light enveloped the entire courtyard but soon disappeared.

As the controller of the array, Xu Ping could naturally sense the presence of the light curtain.

This array was a First Rank Upper Grade Array, the 'Departing God Array', which could prevent Divine Sense probing by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Though such a cultivator could forcibly penetrate it, it would be sensed.

Having done all this, Xu Ping's expression eased somewhat.

Even though on Lake Spirit Island there was only Chen Li as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he certainly wouldn't rashly scan him with Divine Sense.

Better safe than sorry.

After all, he had many secrets that would be troublesome if discovered.

"With the beast tide soon to erupt, this place might be safer than Qiu Xuan Immortal City." Xu Ping silently took a sip of the spiritual tea on the table.

Though Qiu Xuan Immortal City was guarded by a Third-rank Array, it also resembled a cage.

Before the array was breached, one couldn't leave.

Here, if anything went wrong, one could immediately flee, providing much more flexibility.

However, this applied more to Xu Ping; ordinary Qi cultivators, or even Foundation Establishment cultivators, would certainly prefer staying in Qiu Xuan Immortal City.

"Though the Spiritual Qi here isn't comparable to Qiu Xuan Mountain, the Second-stage Upper Grade spirit vein is more than enough to meet my cultivation needs."

"I hope this beast tide passes peacefully." Xu Ping sighed slightly.

Honestly, the cultivation environment at Qiu Xuan Mountain was good, and he didn't want to leave easily.

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