NOVEL NEXT 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.
"Senior Lan, this junior Mu Bingyun, representing my master, is here to visit." A young girl in a blue dress stood gracefully at the courtyard gate, her voice like a warbler's song.
The girl had snow-like skin, a gentle and delicate appearance; her dress fluttered in the wind, like light clouds emerging from a mountain.
"Please come in."
The courtyard gate opened, and a gentle man's voice invited her in.
Mu Bingyun walked lightly into the courtyard, noticing some scattered puppet parts.
Before the stone table sat a young man in white, handsome and refined, who had just set down a teapot and tea cups to signal for her to take a seat.
Mu Bingyun cautiously sat down, her eyes darting around the room, measuring this elder who appeared to be close to her own age.
"You may call me Uncle Lan." Lan Chang'an smiled kindly as he looked at the familiar, cold-as-snow face of the young girl. Mu Xiuyun had a gentler demeanor, while Mu Bingyun was slightly more aloof.
"Senior Lan, my master asked me to convey her gratitude for your kind intentions." Mu Bingyun didn't change her form of address, showing a polite smile.
Lan Chang'an didn't mind the girl's stubbornness or any prejudice she might have.
Mu Xiuyun had her disciple deliver the message meant that she had already known: Lan Chang'an had fought for her right to claim the Foundation Establishment Pill.
"This jade slip is from my master." Mu Bingyun continued, handing over a jade slip.
Lan Chang'an took the slip and scanned it with his spiritual sense. It contained a collection of second-rank talisman techniques, including Mu Xiuyun's lifelong insights and some other talisman masters' inheritance.
"Bingyun, please pass on my gratitude to your master. This jade slip will be of great use to me." Lan Chang'an said, expressing a kind lie.
"Mm," Mu Bingyun murmured, holding the teacup with her bare hands without taking a sip.
"By the way, when should I visit your master?" Lan Chang'an asked seemingly casually.
"No...no need! My master said she doesn't wish to be reminded of the past." Mu Bingyun stammered as if stepping on a nail, fearing that Lan Chang'an might insist on seeing her master despite the obstruction.
Lan Chang'an understood, Mu Xiuyun didn't want to face the young and unchanged him. Having her disciple, who resembled her younger self, visit Lan Chang'an was like Mu Xiuyun personally being there.
"Bingyun, you are very beautiful! Surely you have many admirers." Lan Chang'an praised.
"I aspire to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator and don't trust any man." Mu Bingyun's face turned slightly red, feeling a bit embarrassed being praised by the renowned ancient cultivator.
Suddenly, she realized Lan Chang'an's compliment wasn't directed solely at her. She represented her master. To be precise, she represented her master's younger self.
Mu Bingyun felt a strange resonance at the sight of this elegant man, whose face bore no trace of age. A sense of melancholy arose in her heart, and the corners of her eyes reddened.
"Bingyun, I'll be here for some time. If you have any questions about cultivation or talisman art, feel free to ask me." Lan Chang'an instructed.
"Yes, Uncle Lan."
Mu Bingyun finally changed her form of address, responding softly before leaving.
...
Lan Chang'an stood in the courtyard, watching the graceful figure of the departing girl.
"As you wished, the memories of you in my mind will remain the most beautiful." Lan Chang'an felt at peace, giving up the idea of visiting Mu Xiuyun.
As someone with a long lifespan, he needed to maintain a transcendent mindset. He could face the long years and countless acquaintances like watching movies, able to immerse himself yet also remain detached.
He had no regrets towards the Mu Family nor did he owe Mu Xiuyun anything.
In the Mu Family's herb garden and at Bamboo Leaf Mountain, he had already altered the course of her destiny twice.
Lan Chang'an had calculated that Mu Xiuyun's failed attempt at Foundation Establishment would impact her foundation; even if she consumed a Foundation Establishment Pill in her old age, her chances of success were slim, and she would likely suffer a great deal of damage to her vitality, which would affect her lifespan.
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)