Chapter 94: Giving Up Voluntarily

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Lan Chang'an had only recently started learning puppetry and was still at the beginner level.

That night, Mu Renlong and Li Erqing secretly visited the lakeside courtyard, carrying the spirit stones they had gathered.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, here are the spirit stones for purchasing the Foundation Establishment Pill." Mu Renlong handed over a storage pouch.

Lan Chang'an opened it and glanced inside. The bag contained twenty mid-grade spirit stones and three thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"This is the Foundation Establishment Pill. Please examine it." Lan Chang'an handed a white jade porcelain bottle to Mu Renlong.

After confirming it, Mu Renlong cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. "Fellow Daoist Lan, the Mu Family of Feiyue Lake will always remember today's favor!"

The transaction was a success. The Mu Family obtained the much-needed Foundation Establishment Pill, and Lan Chang'an made a discreet profit.

Although conducting such a significant transaction alone in the Mu Family's territory theoretically posed some risk, Lan Chang'an dared to do so not only because he trusted the Mu Family but also because of his own strength.

He was confident that even if the two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Mu Family joined forces, they wouldn't be his match.

Mu Renlong likely had some skill, while Li Erqing was considered a relatively weak Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Not to mention the Mu Family, even the Huang Family, with its four Foundation Establishment cultivators, couldn't intimidate Lan Chang'an. He was confident in his ability to protect himself.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, we must discuss how to determine who will receive the pill. When we have reached a decision, we will inform you." Before leaving, Mu Renlong spoke solemnly.

...

Two days later.

Li Erqing flew back from Moonheart Island and informed Lan Chang'an about the recipient of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"The head of the family, Mu Chengji."

Lan Chang'an wasn't surprised by this outcome.

Mu Chengji had similar aptitude to Mu Xiuyun but was ten years younger. He was Mu Renlong's favored nephew and had been diligently working for the family for many years.

His success rate with the Foundation Establishment Pill was higher than Mu Xiuyun's.

"Big Brother, actually the young miss, as a second-rank talisman master, has made significant contributions to the family. She has more seniority than Mu Chengji and should have had the chance to compete for the pill." Li Erqing spoke with a complicated expression.

"Sigh, but the young miss voluntarily gave up the opportunity!"

"She gave it up voluntarily?" Lan Chang'an sighed softly and remained silent for a long time.

He understood Mu Xiuyun's choice.

Putting aside various factors, Mu Xiuyun was first and foremost a cultivator of the family, always putting its interests above her own. Only after that did she consider her personal feelings and desires.

For the family's sake, she had been prepared to marry into the Maple Leaf Huang Family if they showed sincerity in their intentions.

More than twenty years ago, knowing that Lan Chang'an was going to leave, Mu Xiuyun tried to persuade him to stay and join her family but never mentioned leaving the family with him. Instead, she only strengthened her resolve.

Compared to women who ran off with their lovers without regard for consequences, Mu Xiuyun was more rational and mature.

This was something Lan Chang'an appreciated about her, and it also meant he didn't have to worry about future entanglements.

...

Three days later, a female visitor arrived at the lakeside courtyard.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lan Chang'an's residence was off-limits to ordinary members of the Mu Family, even if it was a temporary stay.

Therefore, he left the decision to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill to Mu Xiuyun herself.

Mu Xiuyun made a rational choice in line with the family's overall interests, she would continue to shine as a second-rank talisman master within the family, training future generations to carry on her legacy.

...

In the following half a month.

Mu Bingyun visited two or three times, seeking Lan Chang'an's guidance on cultivation and talisman art.

The young girl was very focused, carefully observing Lan Chang'an's every word and action, like a recorder.

Occasionally, she stared at him in a daze, lost in thought.

During this time, Lan Chang'an gathered information from the Mu Family about nearby spiritual veins and cultivation sites.

As a cultivator family, the Mu Family kept tabs on such resources.

In recent years, the number of new cultivators in the Mu Family had surged, and the spiritual veins of Feiyue Lake were barely enough. They also needed new spiritual veins.

Lan Chang'an obtained the Mu Family's collected information on spiritual veins.

"In the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world, spiritual veins are scarce resources. Only sects and powerful cultivation families have surplus veins for rent or sale." Lan Chang'an spread out a map and began marking it with a pen.

"Fox Valley, a second-rank high-grade spiritual vein, owned by the 'Flame Departing Palace.'"

Lan Changan's pen drew a small circle around a spiritual vein point slightly northwest of the center on the cultivation map of the Liang Kingdom.

"This spiritual vein is neither too close nor too far from Huanglong Immortal City, the Beast Taming Zhou Family, Jin Yun Valley, and Flame Departing Palace." Lan Chang'an was quite moved.

Fox Valley's location suited his preferences. An isolated spiritual vein cultivation ground offered more privacy than being in Huanglong Immortal City.

Safety and convenience were also crucial. Fox Valley belonged to the Nascent Soul-level power Flame Departing Palace, situated near the heart of the Liang Kingdom, making it safer than those on the borders.

Its proximity to Huanglong Immortal City, the Zhou Family, and Jin Yun Valley made it easy for Lan Chang'an to obtain cultivation resources and maintain his existing network of connections and collaborations.

"However, Fox Valley's rental price is quite high, and the minimum lease is twenty years."

Lan Chang'an shook his head; even with his current wealth, it would be a strain to afford it. A second-rank high-grade spiritual vein was something even early Foundation Establishment cultivators would consider a luxury.

"No rush; there are plenty of other options."

To possess a spiritual vein of one's own, to cultivate rare spirit plants, raise exotic spirit creatures, refine pills, and draw talismans—this was a dream many cultivators dared not even dream.

Half a month later, Lan Chang'an sensed a disturbance in the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth. Above Moonheart Island, the spiritual energy slowly gathered, forming an approaching small vortex.

"It's about time."

Lan Chang'an knew that the current family head of the Mu Family was attempting to reach Foundation Establishment, drawing the attention of many.

Returning to his room, he produced a talisman, into which he poured a drop of blood and some mana. The talisman activated, summoning a white-robed man who sat cross-legged within the room.

Only up close would it become clear that this white-robed man was an illusion, its aura identical to Lan Chang'an's.

"An Illusory Truth Talisman, a second-rank illusion-type talisman."

Lan Chang'an had informed Li Ergou of his plans to go into seclusion for a few days, requesting not to be disturbed.

That night, under the cover of darkness, Lan Chang'an slipped out of the Mu Family encampment undetected.

(End of chapter)