SFS Chapter 264: Resonance
Chapter 264: Resonance
The 21st day of the first lunar month.
Lingxi Peak.
Yang Jiuli has been back for six days.
These past few days, he hasn't been cultivating; instead, he's been pruning spiritual plants and brewing wine by the mountain stream.
He also practiced copying ancient masterpieces in his elegant residence.
He appeared completely carefree and at ease.
He was clearly trying to calm his mind through this.
Do not let your increased strength make you arrogant, leading you astray and into an abyss of no return.
After all, too many people become arrogant and complacent after a temporary change in status and an improvement in their social standing.
No longer being cautious, they get caught up in trouble, offend those they shouldn't, and end up dead.
At this moment, Yang Jiuli was in his elegant residence, writing with a brush.
"I am 24 years old. After entering 'Tianyun Star,' I signed a contract with the Li family of Yunmeng Lake... to seek the path to immortality once more..."
"Thirty-seven years have passed since then, and on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the fourth-tier immortal foundation was established; 'Azure Wood Reaches the Heavens,' and the path to the Nascent Soul stage is within reach."
"However, we cultivators not only contend with fate, but also with humankind for salvation."
"The path to greatness is long, but resources are limited. Without a solid foundation, rashly displaying extraordinary potential will ultimately lead to failure."
"Just like the True Man Hongyan of Yunmeng Lake, who, despite being in a celestial sect and having the opportunity to achieve the Core Formation, ultimately caused turmoil and almost led to the destruction of the Li family... How much more so for us rogue cultivators? Therefore, even though I have achieved some success, I must still be cautious and prudent..."
"Only in this way can one seize a sliver of fortune among the masses... to glimpse the path to immortality... Moreover... there are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people. Don't you see... even a Nascent Soul True Monarch has a time when his body is as small as a chicken egg..."
"Now, I write this down specifically to reflect on myself..."
Having finished writing, Yang Jiuli put down his pen. He was completely calm, having withdrawn from the excitement of attaining the fourth-order Immortal Foundation.
He even felt a greater sense of caution.
He became more humble.
His resolve to follow the Dao grew stronger.
He picked up the book and glanced at it. Immediately, magical power surged in his palm, and he crushed it into ashes and it dissipated.
At this point, Yang Jiuli got up and walked out of the courtyard.
A lantern was hung outside the house.
……
At dusk.
Ye Xiyu came to visit.
Yang Jiuli was brewing wine in the courtyard.
A little fox and two ferrets were playing in the yard.
Sensing the beautiful figure outside the courtyard, Yang Jiuli waved his hand, and the restrictions in the air disappeared.
Ye Xiyu took graceful steps and stepped into the courtyard.
The two tiger weasels have already escaped.
Xiao Bing then submerged to the bottom of the pool and hid.
When Ye Xiyu walked over, she immediately noticed the two tiger ferrets and the little fox on the jade stool.
"Ah!" The little fox looked at Ye Xiyu, its eyes blinked, and it let out a soft "ah," its eyes showing a confused look.
His gaze followed Ye Xiyu the whole time.
"This little fox..." At this moment, Ye Xiyu's heart also stirred slightly.
In her eyes, one black and one white, two marks appeared, slightly misty, as if she had sensed something.
She looked at the little fox, a feeling she couldn't quite put into words.
"Could it be?" These subtle changes were noticed by Yang Jiuli. He put down his wine glass and pondered for a moment.
Ye Xiyu's eyes also showed confusion.
After observing for a long time, I still couldn't see anything wrong with the little fox.
The little fox felt the same way, but it found the woman in front of it to be inexplicably attractive.
Yet, a sense of apprehension arose within him.
At that moment, the little fox shrank back and moved closer to Yang Jiuli.
Yang Jiuli stroked the little fox, then looked at Ye Xiyu.
"Xi Yu greets you, sir!" Ye Xi Yu bowed to Yang Jiu Li.
"Ninth level of Qi Refining perfected... Not bad, it seems you've been quite diligent in your cultivation lately!" Yang Jiuli glanced at the woman before him and discovered that she had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining perfected and could break through to the tenth level at any time.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. I dare not slack off!" Ye Xiyu said.
Yang Jiuli nodded slightly and asked, "Has anything major happened in the Southern Ridge recently?"
He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and asked.
Ye Xiyu usually had important matters to report when she visited, hence his way of speaking.
"Several major events have indeed occurred in Nanling in recent years!" Ye Xiyu said.
"Oh!" Yang Jiuli said, "Tell me about it!"
"A year ago, the Southern Ridge Immortal City began to consolidate its resources and used various means to force the surrounding Foundation Establishment clans to join its ranks... Now, they have spread from the central region of the Southern Ridge to the southern region... and to the peaks in my southwest."
Ye Xiyu said.
"Oh, so Nanling Immortal City is planning to unify Nanling!" Yang Jiuli put down his wine cup, his gaze slightly narrowed.
Ye Xiyu nodded and said, "At this time, two clans that openly rebelled against the Immortal City in Nanling have been wiped out... The 'Seventy-Two Cities Markets' in Nanling have also been plundered by unknown cultivators, causing the rogue cultivators to dare not enter to trade, and now people are in a state of panic..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Jiuli frowned slightly.
Many Foundation Establishment clans and independent cultivators have settled in the "Seventy-Two Cities and Markets" of Nanling.
Although it's a mixed bag, some rare second-tier medicinal herbs occasionally manage to find their way in.
It also made it easier for Yang Jiuli to find materials for alchemy.
Now that things have escalated like this in Nanling Immortal City, it will inevitably affect efficiency in the future.
"Two months ago, the Southern Ridge Immortal City issued an order demanding that all the peaks in the southwest submit to the Immortal City. If they did not comply, they should be prepared to bear the wrath of the Southern Ridge Immortal City..." Ye Xiyu recounted in detail, her long eyelashes fluttering as she looked ahead.
They seemed to want to see Mr. Yang's reaction.
"The Ye family!" Yang Jiuli said.
"Thanks to your presence, sir, my Ye family has not received this order, but the businesses of the surrounding tribes have already been affected."
Ye Xiyu said, "Even my Ye family's pill shop is struggling to survive..."
Yang Jiuli said, "It seems that Nanling is really going to be in chaos!" He recalled what Zhu Yaqin and Luo Tianyi had said in the past.
Several years have passed since then.
Nanling Immortal City finally made its move.
"Sir, half a month ago, Foundation Establishment cultivators from various tribes in the Southwest came one after another to visit, hoping you would take charge of the overall situation!" Ye Xiyu said. "Because you were still in seclusion, I sent them all away, which is why I'm only informing you today!"
"They want me to take charge? These guys are quite shrewd!" Yang Jiuli narrowed his eyes, naturally knowing the intentions of the cultivators from various races. They simply wanted to use the Ice River Valley to intimidate Yu Dongqing, the fake Core Formation cultivator from Nanling Immortal City.
"I don't know, sir..." Ye Xiyu looked at Yang Jiuli.
"Since Nanling Immortal City has not made any move against the Ye family, we don't need to get involved in this mess!" Yang Jiuli said.
"Xi Yu understands, and immediately sent someone to deliver a letter, rejecting all the tribes," Ye Xi Yu said.
"Go!" Yang Jiuli said. "Since the Southern Ridge is not peaceful, you should also try to go out less to avoid causing trouble."
"Business can be done again, but if you lose your life, there's no going back."
"Yes, sir!" Ye Xiyu nodded, bowed, and withdrew.
Before leaving, he took one last look at the little fox.
"Strange, why do I feel an inexplicable sense of closeness to this fox, as if we were old acquaintances... or even close friends?"
Ye Xiyu pondered to herself.
……