The crimson glow in the sky remained somewhat glaring, casting a faint layer of red light over the buildings of the market.

Ye Jingcheng and Ye Xingliu, along with others, had just exited the auction, looking at the crimson sky, their expressions mysteriously deep and thoughtful.

They did not choose to leave the auction hall immediately, as the conclusion of the auction is when cultivators are most numerous, and chaos can easily arise.

Although Taichang Market is an absolutely safe place, having purchased Cloud Silver Iron Crystal and Foundation Establishment Pills, they waited for half an hour to avoid the absolute crowd period.

The Xu Family also waited along with them, having purchased two sets of Foundation Establishment Pills, earning significantly more from Spirit Pills than the Ye Family.

This aspect reveals the Xu Family's ambition.

After all, they had just become a Purple Mansion Clan, continually increasing the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators within the clan.

As for the Wan Family, they seemed to have left early due to purchasing Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.

The group walked into the alleys of the North City District, only to find that the tide of cultivators was still ongoing.

Most of them were Qi Cultivation Cultivators, unable to buy Foundation Establishment Pills, nor did they have sufficient Spirit Stones to bid on treasures.

Of course, these Qi Cultivation Cultivators couldn't entirely be blamed; this auction was far larger than previous ones, with most auctioned spiritual objects being Tier Two Spiritual Objects.

But due to the auction's atmosphere, these cultivators roamed the shops of the North City District, seemingly prepared for a major shopping spree.

The majority of them were young cultivators, which Ye Jingcheng estimated were preparing for the competition two months later.

The Immortal Ascension Conference of the Taiyi Sect occurs every three years, and three years had passed since the last, but it was postponed because it coincided with the auction.

Ye Jingcheng's Divine Sense lingered at the entrance of the auction hall for a long time but ultimately didn't see the figure he hoped, so he turned his gaze back.

They quickly passed through the North City, arriving at the South City, which compared to the North City, was much calmer, though still quite bustling compared to usual days.

On the streets, alleys, and small restaurants, cultivators could be seen walking and conversing, with most discussions revolving around the auction.

The majority of the conversations praised and endorsed the Taiyi Sect, but the group paid little attention to them.

They proceeded in silence.

Ye Jingli, however, due to having won the bid for Earth Spirit Fruit and Foundation Establishment Pills, was exceptionally excited, repeatedly recounting the scene just now.

Ye Xingyi and Ye Jingyong, similarly, were smiling and agreeing.

After all, they all had won Foundation Establishment Pills, granting them the opportunity to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment without fearing mortal danger.

In some cultivation clans, if clan members lack Foundation Establishment Pills and attempt Foundation Establishment, they are not permitted to risk their lives for the breakthrough.

Clan cultivators are unlike loose cultivators; they may attempt breakthroughs freely, even if they fall, having died willingly on their cultivation path.

But for clan cultivators, due to the clan's investment and support, if every Ninth-level Qi Cultivation Cultivator were to risk a breakthrough, though one or two might succeed,

it's likely the clan's Ninth-level Qi Cultivation Cultivators would suffer complete annihilation.

Thus leading to a collapse of the higher levels.

The group soon returned to Chu Ye Pavilion, but Ye Jingcheng did not see the figure he imagined, sighed, and entered the courtyard.

"Jingcheng, we'll return in half a month; the shops here have passed their prosperous period, and the market will enter a purchasing lull for a while, so it's best to close the shops temporarily until Jingyong or Xingyi breaks through, then return!" Ye Xingliu advised.

According to the clan assembly arrangements, the clan meeting would occur in two months, during which the patriarch would be re-elected.

Since the market earned this wave of Spirit Stones, it indeed isn't necessary to rush; clan members can go home to participate in the grand gathering.

This also implies for Ye Jingcheng to stabilize his strength in recent days, no longer immersing in alchemy.

"Third Uncle, does the clan have any cultivators needing a breakthrough? I'd like to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill." Ye Jingcheng hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Regardless, from what he gained within the Secret Realm, Xu Xiuqing's help was significant, so he wished to sell a Foundation Establishment Pill to her.

"The clan doesn't need one right now; none need breakthroughs publicly, while those breaking through privately are not my responsibility!" Ye Xingliu directly handed over a Foundation Establishment Pill to Ye Jingcheng.

Extremely direct and neat, of course, Ye Jingcheng was deserving.

Currently, three clan members need breakthroughs: Ye Jingli, who just reached Ninth-layer Qi Cultivation, followed by Ye Xingyi and Ye Jingyong.

Ye Jingyong has been honing at Ninth-layer Qi Cultivation for five or six years.

Ye Xingyi reached the stage two years ago.

The remaining Ninth-layer Ye Clan members are all past sixty.

"Additionally, under normal circumstances, the Taihang Market clan can at least bid on a Foundation Establishment Pill." Ye Xingliu jovially added.

Every ten years, Foundation Establishment Pills are also sold at Taihang Market and Taiqing Market.

The quota for Taihang Market should be around five Foundation Establishment Pills.

Currently, Taihang Commandery only has the Xu, Ye, Chu, and Chen Families; the Chen Family, needless to say, the mere Foundation Establishment Clan, has no voice, enduring ill will from the Chu Family is quite fortunate.

Among the remaining three families, even if they jointly exclude the Ye Family, can still purchase at least one Foundation Establishment Pill.

Seeing this, Ye Jingcheng accepted the Foundation Establishment Pill and handed over his Token, allowing Ye Xingliu to deduct Contribution Points.

"Be careful these days; the sect might act recklessly." After deducting the Contribution Points, Ye Xingliu returned the Token to Ye Jingcheng, reminding him again.

This hinted to Ye Jingcheng that sect activities have been unusually frequent lately, whether it's the incident with the Zhong Family or the lack of news from the Zhang Family, both indicate that peaceful days may not last long.

Of course, the most critical thing is that he's afraid Ye Jingcheng will seek out the Corpse Daoist because of Chen Ya.

At this time, regardless of how much the Corpse Daoist's strength remains, he's in the shadows, not someone that the two Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators can confront directly.

Moreover, their secret realm excursion this time can be considered flawless, even if the cultivators from other families are soul-searched by the Corpse Daoist, no issues can be found.

Seeing Ye Jingcheng understand, Ye Xingliu did not say much more and drank the spirit tea in his cup in one go.

Then he returned to his room.

Ye Jingcheng nodded, and also finished his Spring Tea in one gulp.

He poured the leftover tea residue onto the Black Cloud Flower.

Just as he was preparing to use the Wisdom Fruit on the Stone Spirit and return to his room, his Divine Sense detected a figure slowly walking towards the shop.

The figure walked very slowly, seemingly hesitating internally.

Ye Jingcheng's lips formed a smile as he adjusted his clothing and walked towards the shop, arriving at the entrance.

Ye Jingyu and Ye Jinhao were a little puzzled at that moment.

But soon, Xu Xiuqing's figure also appeared at the entrance of the shop.

The latter was wearing a Tian Qing colored skirt, with bright snow-like eyes and exquisite features, still as beautifully charming as twenty-something years ago.

Standing at the shop entrance, even without doing anything, she was still a beautiful sight.

Ye Jinhao had his mouth wide open at the moment, wanting to speak, as he had seen Xu Xiuqing before.

But with Ye Jingcheng in front, he remained silent.

Ye Jingyu was also very interested at that moment, as Ye Jingcheng's major affairs concerned many Ye Family members.

She didn't dare to ask either, as Ye Jingcheng was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and soon to be the Patriarch.

"Come in, have some tea. Although it's not as good as the restaurants, it was planted by me personally!" Ye Jingcheng said.

Xu Xiuqing nodded. Today she did not disguise herself, instead, she carefully applied rouge powder.

Making herself look just as she did two decades ago.

The two entered the backyard, where Ye Jingcheng raised the array, and refilled the empty teapot with Spring Tea.

The tea liquid fell into the porcelain cup, the emerald hue of the tea also reflecting Xu Xiuqing's delicate face.

"Was the Foundation Establishment Pill successful?" Ye Jingcheng asked knowingly.

He also handed over the spirit tea.

Xu Xiuqing held the spirit tea without drinking it, instead shaking her head, with a little anxiety in her eyes.

"I heard you are about to become the Patriarch!" Xu Xiuqing cautiously asked.

She spoke carefully, her voice lacking the confidence of before.

"Yes, this is the decision of the family." Ye Jingcheng nodded, taking out a jade bottle directly.

"I'll count it as fifteen thousand spirit stones, as a reward for the Talisman Treasure you gifted me last time!"

Ye Jingcheng's words were not insincere. If he hadn't had the Profound Cyan Tower Talisman Treasure, he might not have been able to subdue the Golden Falcon, which could have led to an unexpected outcome when slaying the Corpse Daoist later.

Furthermore, the other party gifted him treasures from the Stone Square, enabling the Stone Spirit Grotto Heaven to successfully open.

"This was the agreement from last time, Fairy Xu wouldn't go back on her word, right!" Ye Jingcheng further added.

Back then, when he received the Talisman Treasure from Xu Xiuqing, he mentioned that if she failed to purchase the Foundation Establishment Pill, she should come to him.

This time, it wasn't Xu Xiuqing actively seeking him out.

"Alright!" Seeing this, Xu Xiuqing finally nodded, but she also took out a Storage Bag.

"However, I've used up all my spirit stones, so I'll exchange with these two items!" Inside Xu Xiuqing's Storage Bag were the remaining items from back then: the Magical Treasure Cyan Hong Sword and the Celestial Essence Fruit.

Xu Xiuqing had presented these two items once before.

The Celestial Essence Fruit is one of the three major spirit materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill, it not being sold was unexpected for Ye Jingcheng, but considering a Qi Cultivator selling these, success was indeed uncertain.

"Don't refuse, consider it a gift for you becoming the Patriarch. Once I break through to Foundation Establishment, I'll come to Lingyun Peak to congratulate you!" Xu Xiuqing directly blocked any chance of Ye Jingcheng rejecting.

Seeing Ye Jingcheng unmoved, she also placed the Foundation Establishment Pill down, then watched Ye Jingcheng.

Only after Ye Jingcheng accepted, did she take the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Elder Ye, may I see Xiaojin?" Xu Xiuqing hesitated for a while before speaking.

The Golden Scale Beast was brought out from the Taihang Mountain Range by her grandfather.

She hadn't seen it for over twenty years.

"The Golden Scale Beast is in seclusion, it's about to breakthrough." Ye Jingcheng hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Then after I breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, I'll go to Lingyun Peak, a year at quickest, two years at the slowest!" Xu Xiuqing finally said, then before Ye Jingcheng could invite her to stay, she bid farewell and left.

"Then it's a two-year agreement!" Watching Xu Xiuqing leave in haste, Ye Jingcheng did not insist on her staying. Unlike previous times when he didn't have the chance to see her off, this time, he accompanied her to the door, watching as she blend into the crowd and disappear at the end of the street.

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