Translator: 549690339

The sudden success of the cultivator with the surname Yan in his Foundation Establishment brought no small shock to Wang Ba.

In his memory.

He vaguely remembered that about a year ago, this Yan cultivator was the same as him, both were at Qi Refining Stage VIII.

However, the former managed to break through successively in a short span of a year, moving at a speed that was as astonishing as if he was on a flying Magic Tool.

It always reminded Wang Ba of Lin Yu, who was initially used as cultivation material.

Of course, unlike Lin Yu, a young cultivator who did not really have a solid foundation, Yan, the cultivator, was older with a solid foundation, and had a profound talisman making skill, experienced and sage; he would not be easily deceived as Lin Yu was.

Therefore, Yan cultivator seemed more representative of the accumulative efforts over time.

After sighing in Lingshui Courtyard, Wang Ba did not reject Yan cultivator’s invitation.

He had intended to build a good relationship with him, as his talisman-making skill would certainly come in handy.

Isn’t the Spirit Stone he had casually handed to the man before also for this purpose?

Of course, it was also because the man had a solid character and worthy of being associated with.

If they all were like Lu Yuansheng, ungrateful and retaliating against gratitude, Wang Ba would have stayed far away from him.

Every time he thought of Lu Yuansheng, Wang Ba could not help feeling suffocated.

Had it not been for the fact that he had already cultured the top-grade Spirit Chicken, he wouldn’t be worried about the man’s demand, but feared that he might have to live in constant anxiety every day instead.

“The difference between Lu Yuanfeng and the Lu brothers is really too great.”

He shook his head secretly.

Then Wang Ba returned to the chicken farm.

After much thought, he finally prepared a pair of Class 1 middle-tier Yellow Throat Spirit Turtles as gifts.

In the Cultivation World, turtle-type Spirit Beasts are popular gifts because they live long and have spirituality, carrying a great significance for cultivators who crave longevity, hence are much loved by cultivators.

Not to mention some special breeds of Spirit Turtles, which have unique effects when consumed.

Like the Armored Giant-head Turtle.

It is said to be the favorite of Pleasure Dao cultivators.

When the day of Yan cultivator’s Foundation Establishment feast arrived.

Wang Ba brought the two Yellow Throat Spirit Turtles to a tavern in the market, where he usually didn’t dare to go.

Upon reaching the third floor, he found that the entire floor had been booked by Yan cultivator.

“Talisman makers are really rich!”

Wang Ba couldn’t help feeling a bit envious.

Yan cultivator might not have more Spirit Stones than him now, but his source is inexhaustible, unlike him who would eventually drain his resources.

After all, unlike his Spirit Chickens, which had immediately fallen out of favor after switching from East Saint Sect to Tianmen Cult.

Talisman makers, on the other hand, are always welcome wherever they go.

The same goes for alchemists, tool makers, Array Casters, Spiritual Lineage Masters, and so on.

Wang Ba really wanted to choose one from them to study intensively, but it’s a pity that to learn these, he needed to follow a mentor day and night.

It would be a pipe dream to think that he could master it with just a few books.

Besides, he is now focusing on attacking higher realms, where would he have so much time to waste.

It would not be too late to study them when his cultivation progress slows down in the future.

Yan cultivator was talking and laughing with a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the cult. Upon seeing Wang Ba, he immediately excused himself and happily walked up to Wang Ba.

“Haha, my friend, you’ve come at last, why bother to bring anything, don’t we have a close relationship.”

His face didn’t show any signs of looking down on old friends after Foundation Establishment.

This made Wang Ba, who was initially a little apprehensive, feel considerably reassured.

However, he dare not take the gentleman’s words seriously. After all, the two of them are now in different realms and their statuses have naturally drifted apart.

“I must insist, today is a joyous day for you, it’s just a small token of my sincerity.”

Saying this, he gave the pair of Yellow Throat Spirit Turtles to the other party. Immediately, a servant took it from him, baring his gums in a silly grin, and it was not easy for him to accept it.

After all, the mid-tier Yellow Throat Spirit Turtles are very heavy.

But it didn’t result in some other Foundation Establishment guests looking down on Wang Ba’s gift, and then making mindless mockery, a typical drama series plot.

Wang Ba scanned the room and found that the two Spirit Turtles he had gifted, though not considered luxurious, were still decent amid many other gifts.

“My friend, you’ve spent too much.”

Surprisingly, Yan cultivator didn’t just have a polite chat before moving on to accompany other people but started a conversation with him on the spot.

Even quickly bringing the topic to himself.

“My successful Foundation Establishment was a fortunate coincidence.”

Yan cultivator exclaimed, “Do you remember the Inherited Talisman Competition I participated in before?”

Wang Ba nodded inexplicably.

Yan cultivator quietly provided a sound-blocking talisman and whispered:

“At that competition, although 1 spent all my fortune, regrettably, because of my insufficient Cultivation Base, I finally ended up third. Fortunately, I was seen by a high-ranking Talisman Dao person and got a Foundation Establishment Pill. It was also lucky because I later learned from others that the Inherited Talisman of Talisman Dao was a pitfail in which the soul of the previous generation Golden Core Elder was hidden!”

“Oh? Doesn’t that mean, the winner of that competition is …”

Although Wang Ba was slightly surprised at the news, he was not too shocked.

Not because he had foreseen it, but because he found that these things were happening repeatedly and were habitual tricks of high-ranking cultivators.

Such as Elder Qin of East Saint Sect.

The Incense-burning Dao cultivator Ji Lin who possessed Pan Long.

Even the Fairy Dao cultivator who devoured Lin Yu, and so on.

The cultivators, each of them with hundreds of schemes, had tricks up their sleeves and they had a habitual tendency to trick people.

“Who would say it isn’t? I know the winner of that competition, we’re in the same line of work, we used to exchange information about talisman making. However, after he went to accept the talisman inheritance that day, when I met him again, his demeanor and temperament were completely different. Although he hid it well, my discerning eyes, honed over the years of making talismans, could instantly see through it!”

Yan cultivator could not help but exclaim, “We both came from the East Saint Sect, and you’ve done me a lot of favors. To be frank, in this cult, even if something good happens, you have to weigh it carefully. You never know what’s hidden beneath that supposed good fortune!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Ba instantly nodded in agreement.

Not only did he approve of what the Yan-named cultivator said, but he also approved of the person himself.

If the other party could say such things to him, it meant they truly considered him as one of their own.

Wang Ba could only sigh in relief that he had not misjudged the man. The Yan-named cultivator was indeed a worthy friend.

After chatting for a while, Wang Ba noticing the discontented glances from some Foundation Establishment cultivators around him, intentionally halted the conversation, letting the Yan-named cultivator to strike up conversations with others.

After all, as a newly-promoted Foundation Establishment symbol maker, many people planned to take this opportunity to establish a good relationship so they could rely on it when needed in the future.

Wang Ba glanced around, then chose a corner table and sat down.

On regular days, he spent his time either breeding Spirit Chickens and Spirit Turtles at the chicken farm or diligently practicing his craft at the Lingshui Courtyard. Hence, he wasn’t very familiar with the people present.

However, he soon recognized a few familiar faces.

Some of them had previously bought Spirit Chickens from him and exchanged cultivation resources with him.

Others, such as Meng Randao and Jing Kuang, were familiar faces. Even Dong Qiyu had come.

Meng Randao, once a famed figure from the East Saint outpost, was still unable to reach Foundation Establishment. The number of cultivators who accompanied him had also significantly decreased since the last time Wang Ba had seen him.

This time, he personally brought a pair of Jade Ruyi and handed them over as a congratulatory gift to the servant boy of the Yan-named cultivator.

Compared to his radiant past, Meng Randao appeared noticeably restrained and modest in front of the Yan-named cultivator, even performing the rituals of a junior.

No one found it out of place, considering it the norm.

The Yan-named cultivator made polite small talk with him, then went off to greet other guests.

Meng Randao looked around, then intentionally walked towards the table where a few Foundation Establishment cultivators were seated.

However, he didn’t seem to be well-received. Throughout, he wasn’t able to say much and kept serving tea and water to those jovial Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Whenever the Foundation Establishment cultivators burst into laughter, he would awkwardly force a smile onto his stiff face.

He seemed clumsy and lonely.

Watching this scene unfold, Wang Ba didn’t know what to feel.

Soon, Jing Kuang also carried his gift and went to congratulate the Yan-named cultivator.

Towards Jing Kuang, the Yan-named cultivator’s smile seemed even more perfunctory.

“You’re too kind, too kind indeed!”

“Nonsense, nonsense.”

Jing Kuang looked flattered.

After exchanging some pleasantries, his gaze swept across the room, seemingly intending to join the table with Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But as he was about to sit down, a cold glance from a Foundation Establishment cultivator made him hastily excuse himself and leave.

His gaze then swept over to Wang Ba, and he showed an unequivocal surprise.

He clearly recognized Wang Ba and seemed surprised that Wang Ba was qualified to attend such a high-level banquet.

After hesitating slightly, Jing Kuang finally walked towards Wang Ba’s table and sat down next to him.

Wang Ba responded with a simple smile to the person with whom he had once had an unpleasant encounter, acknowledging his presence.

Accutely aware of Jing Kuang’s cruel nature, he didn’t want to get involved with him.

Years ago, Jing Kuang had ruthlessly murdered one of his own followers, Chen Mian, just for merit. That was enough to show his cold-hearted nature.

However, a few years had passed, and facing Jing Kuang again, Wang Ba felt no fear.

In response to Wang Ba’s apparent indifference, Jing Kuang squinted, seeming offended. But under the circumstances, he had no choice but to suppress it.

Before long, the Yan-named cultivator managed to find some time to visit Wang Ba and reminded him to eat and drink well.

Wang Ba nodded immediately and urged him to go attend to the other guests.

After the Yan-named cultivator left, Jing Kuang looked at Wang Ba, shocked and looking complex.

He never expected Wang Ba to have such a solid relationship with the Yan-named cultivator.

This man was, after all, the only person who had successfully reached Foundation Establishment from the East Saint outpost.

This exceeded Jing Kuang’s perception of Wang Ba.

In his eyes, Wang Ba was still the Stage I Qi Refining cultivator who lived in a cave, like he had been a few years ago.

By now, Wang Ba could be at most only at Stage III or IV. Jing Kuang felt that even if Wang Ba wanted to chat with him, he would probably find him unworthy.

However, to his surprise, before long, Dong Qiyu also came to extend his congratulations. When he saw Wang Ba, his eyes brightened and he quickly walked over.

He enthusiastically struck up a conversation with Wang Ba, although it was unclear what he was saying.

However, it was clear that Wang Ba did not seem too interested in talking with Dong Qiyu.

Looking at this, Jing Kuang did not know what to say.

This was Dong Qiyu!

Although he hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment, it was simply because he didn’t want to use the Foundation Establishment Pill and intended to make a ‘Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment’ on his own.

If not, with the merit he had accumulated during the action at Jingyue Mansion last time, he could easily obtain three or four Foundation Establishment Pills, if not ten or eight.

Even in the eyes of the cultivators within the sect, Dong Qiyu was already considered a ready-to-be Foundation Establishment cultivator. It all depended on when he chose to break through.

As expected, before long, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from their table brought Dong Qiyu over to their table.

Such an enviable scene indeed!

Looking at Dong Qiyu, who was sitting with the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Jing Kuang’s eyes were filled with longing.

With the arrival of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from Xu Fu Dao, the atmosphere of the banquet finally reached its climax.

After the bustling banquet, which had little to do with himself, concluded,

Wang Ba stepped out of the restaurant.

Looking back at the slowly dispersing crowd, a firm resolve welled up in his eyes,

“Foundation Establishment….”