42: Chapter 42 Foundation Establishment Pill, here it is!

A few days after Daoist Yun Du achieved Core Formation, the gates of White Cloud Temple were opened wide.

Gilded message talismans flew out towards the Nine Counties.

On them were inscribed four words — 'Baiyun Assembly'.

These four words had been almost forgotten over the past few years, but now, their reappearance carried weight more than ten times greater than before!

The content attached to the message talismans was brief: The Sect Head of White Cloud Temple, Daoist Yun Du, now bearing the Daoist title 'Daoist Master Yunxiao', has decided to hold his Core Formation Ceremony in fifteen days, simultaneously summoning all Foundation Establishment Cultivator and above from the Nine Counties to attend the assembly and jointly discuss county affairs.

When Sun Boan received the message talisman, he was turning the soil in the rear mountain's medicinal garden.

After reading the contents, he set down his hoe and sat on the ridge of the field for half a day.

Then he got up and headed straight for the rear mountain.

'Old Ancestor, the invitation from White Cloud Temple has arrived.'

Shi Jian was lying by the edge of the valley sunning himself. Hearing the words 'invitation,' his ears twitched, clearly having anticipated it:

'Speak.'

Sun Boan repeated the contents and added at the end:

'According to custom, a Core Formation Ceremony requires a significant gift. I calculated that to maintain face, we would need to spend at least twelve hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.'

'Spend it.'

Shi Jian didn't even lift an eyelid.

'Old Ancestor, twelve hundred pieces...'

'That's too little. Make it fifteen hundred.'

Sun Boan's mouth twitched.

Shi Jian rolled over, exposing his furry belly: 'Think about it. How many forces in the entire Baiyun Prefecture sent him information before Daoist Yun Du achieved Core Formation?'

'We were the ones who offered help in a time of need. This gift isn't being spent; it's being invested.'

'What returns will only be more.'

Sun Boan hesitated no longer and turned to make preparations...

...

Half a month later.

The Main Peak of White Cloud Temple was decorated with lanterns and colored banners.

No, describing it as 'decorated with lanterns and colored banners' seems rather shabby.

The entire White Cloud Mountain was enveloped in a layer of pale golden misty clouds. The aura of a Golden Core Master empowered it, making even the grass and trees on the mountain glisten with a lustrous sheen.

Cultivators from all the families of the Nine Counties gathered.

All who could come, came.

Those who didn't come most likely no longer had the chance to...

Sun Boan led a group of Sun Clan members, dressed in brand new clan attire, appearing low-key yet appropriate.

The congratulatory gifts, purchased with fifteen hundred Spirit Stones, consisted of two second-grade Spirit Medicines, one High Grade Magical Artifact, and a congratulatory plaque personally carved.

Inscribed and embellished with talismanic scripts by Sun Wanqing, it contained an inner spiritual glow and was quite exquisite.

In terms of value, it couldn't compare to those of the established major clans.

But in terms of sincerity, not a single fault could be found.

As for the Core Formation Ceremony process, Shi Jian did not show himself. He lay peacefully in the beast-drawn carriage, quietly waiting.

The ceremony was lengthy and extravagantly splendid.

But its core was one thing: Daoist Master Yunxiao publicly displayed his Golden Core power, suppressing the entire assembly, thereby pacifying and reasserting control over his domain...

This is called legitimizing authority!

From today onward, the sky of Baiyun Prefecture once again had someone holding it up.

However, what came next was the main event.

After the grand ceremony, Daoist Master Yunxiao hosted a banquet to entertain the Cultivators under his rule...

The banquet was set in the main assembly hall of White Cloud Temple. All Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Nine Counties were present. Shi Jian counted...

Including him, the bear yao, there were a total of twenty-two Foundation Establishment Cultivator seated, twelve of whom belonged to White Cloud Temple itself.

The remaining ten belonged to the families of various counties.

Compared to the peak period of the past, this was nearly half less...

Daoist Master Yunxiao sat in the host's seat. His face was thin, his white hair tied in a crown, and he wore pure white Daoist robes adorned with intricate cloud patterns.

After achieving Core Formation, his entire demeanor had undergone a dramatic change. The weary, death-approaching aura of his twilight years was completely swept away. His eyes were clear, like stars...

A Golden Core Cultivator's Lifespan can reach five hundred years. He had gained nearly three hundred more years of Lifespan at least.

'Everyone, please sit.'

His voice wasn't loud, but every word clearly reached the ears of everyone present—neither too much nor too little, perfectly measured.

This was a Golden Core Cultivator's mastery over spiritual power—handling weight as if it were light!

After the exchange of pleasantries, Daoist Master Yunxiao picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip:

'These past few years, Baiyun Prefecture has suffered greatly.'

His opening sentence immediately quieted the hall.

'Yao Beasts ran rampant, demonic Cultivators caused chaos, and outside there were those with wolfish ambitions coveting our land... For all of you to have persevered until today is not easy.'

The seated Cultivators harbored various thoughts—some felt guilty, others were at ease.

'But some accounts must still be settled.'

Daoist Master Yunxiao set down his teacup, and the temperature in the hall immediately plummeted.

'The Chen Clan of Hong'an County.'

From the northern seats, Chen Yu's body tensed up sharply.

'During the chaos, they formed cliques for selfish gain, caused internal strife within the alliance leading to the death of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, resulting in the displacement of the common people under their jurisdiction...'

Daoist Master Yunxiao's tone was flat, as if reading from a ledger:

'Chen Yu, what do you have to say?'

Chen Yu's face turned deathly pale. He rose to defend himself, but two White Cloud Temple attendants had already stepped up behind him, one on each side.

Chen Yu's voice caught in his throat.

He understood—this wasn't an interrogation; it was a sentencing...

'Execute publicly tomorrow. Confiscate all Legacy of the Chen Clan. All Cultivators within the clan are to receive the death penalty. Hong'an County is to be reclaimed.'

As Chen Yu thought to resist, Daoist Yun Du pointed a finger, and his cultivation was completely crippled.

Immediately after, the Zhao Clan and the Liu Clan from the south were named.

These two families, after the chaos caused by Han Qing, secretly annexed much territory and even withheld spirit tax during White Cloud Temple's period of seclusion.

Their crimes were even worse than Chen Yu's.

The Clan Chief of the Zhao Clan was seized on the spot. The Clan Chief of the Liu Clan didn't even make it into the hall; he was intercepted by White Cloud Temple's people on the way.

With the three clans settled, plus the Wang Clan of Pingyang County that was destroyed during the Yao Beast tide, four counties among the Nine Counties of Baiyun Prefecture were suddenly vacated.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivator sat up straighter than the last.

Daoist Master Yunxiao swept his gaze around and continued, 'The vacancies in the four counties will be filled by four Foundation Establishment Disciples from our temple. Each will establish a new clan to govern the local area.'

Four names were announced, all direct Disciples of White Cloud Temple.

This move both filled the vacancies and deeply rooted White Cloud Temple's influence into every inch of land, reasserting control over its domain!

Having experienced this calamity,

Daoist Master Yunxiao clearly had no intention of allowing any cracks of out of control to appear in his domain again.

With the major moves settled, what remained was to reward merit.

'The Sun Clan of Hongtian City.'

Shi Jian's heart skipped a beat. He raised a paw in salute.

'The Sun Clan maintained stability under their jurisdiction, never defaulted on spirit tax. Various merits are remembered by this one. They deserve a reward!'

Daoist Master Yunxiao looked at Sun Boan, a trace of warmth in his gaze.

This was the only time he showed goodwill towards anyone present.

'Reward one foundation establishment pill as encouragement.'

foundation establishment pill.

The three words fell in the hall, and the expressions of all the Cultivators present changed.

'Additionally, grant three core shopfronts in Baiyun Market with ten years' rent exemption. In the future, all spirit resources produced by the Sun Clan can be sold in our sect's market.'

Shi Jian's expression changed to one of gratitude: 'On behalf of the old and young of the Sun Clan, I thank the Immortal Master for your generous gifts! We are willing to serve the Master of Baiyun Temple with utter devotion, even unto death!'

'If you do not find us unworthy, the Sun Clan is willing to follow your lead, Master!'