43: Chapter 43 Shi Jian's Scheme!

Shi Jian's words, "If you do not abandon me, I am willing to follow the lead of the Temple Revered Master," caused the entire grand hall to fall silent for a moment.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator present had varied expressions.

Some secretly despised this bear demon for having no backbone and being extremely fawning; others secretly hated themselves for reacting too slowly, having their thunder stolen by a beast.

Such a thick thigh, yet it had been hugged by a bear right under their noses!

Daoist Master Yunxiao sat high in the main seat, his gaze lowered, with a faint, imperceptible smile at the corners of his mouth, looking quite pleased.

Under the pressure of a Golden Core Master, this bear demon could still respond so smoothly; it was truly extraordinary. Plus, everything before...

It all indicated that this was a bear that could be used!

"You silly bear, you are quite rare."

Daoist Master Yunxiao's voice was level, but he could not hide a hint of joy as he said, "For the Sun Clan to have today, you truly deserve the credit."

"I have always been clear about rewards and punishments. Since you have expressed loyalty on behalf of the Sun Clan, state any other requests you have!"

"I will not refuse!"

Shi Jian bared his large mouth and performed an extremely stiff bowing gesture: "Immortal Master, you overpraise me. Although I am a demon, I know that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring."

"White Cloud Temple has protected the Sun Clan for many years. Now that you have achieved Core Formation, I imagine you are in need of people. I am thick-skinned enough to ask for a favor on behalf of the Sun Clan."

Daoist Master Yunxiao stroked his beard: "Speak."

Seeing this, Shi Jian pushed Sun Yao, who was standing behind him, forward.

The young girl had just turned fifteen this year. The young lady had begun to mature; her figure was graceful, her appearance pretty. Being pushed by Shi Jian to the center of the grand hall, facing the hall full of Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Golden Core Master, her little face instantly turned pale.

But deep down, she possessed a resilience, and she performed a proper, respectful bow.

"This is the granddaughter of the Sun Clan Chief, Sun Yao."

"She has three Spiritual Roots and is currently at the fifth level of Qi Refining."

"Her talent is passable in a small place, but I fear it is not enough in your eyes, Immortal Master. I want to ask you to give this girl an Opportunity for immortality."

"Let her join White Cloud Temple so that she may serve you, Immortal Master, in the future."

Daoist Master Yunxiao swept his Divine Sense over her.

Fifteen years old, fifth level of Qi Refining, solid Foundation, pure spiritual power.

To have such progress with three Spiritual Roots meant the Sun Clan had spent plenty of resources, and the girl's Heart-Nature was decent; it was not bad at all...

Moreover, he had just achieved Core Formation and was currently in the moment of buying horse bones with gold; he needed to appease those under his rule. The Sun Clan had previously made great contributions, and this bear demon was so tactful; it was perfectly fine to grant a favor.

"Joining my Sect is no problem."

Daoist Master Yunxiao withdrew his Divine Sense, his tone softening a bit: "Besides, this girl's bone structure is decent; it would be a waste to be an ordinary Disciple."

"I will accept her as a Named Disciple. If she can reach Foundation Establishment within ten years, she will be transferred to a direct Disciple."

As soon as these words were spoken, a sound of gasping echoed throughout the grand hall.

A Golden Core Master's Disciple!

Even if it were only a Named Disciple, that was a status that allowed one to walk sideways in Baiyun Prefecture. With this layer of protection, the Sun Clan's status in Hongtian City would be as solid as a rock.

Upon hearing this, Sun Yao was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly kowtowed to perform the Revered Master-Disciple ceremony, her voice crisp: "Disciple pays respects to Revered Master!"

Daoist Master Yunxiao raised his hand, and a gentle gust of wind lifted the little girl up, while he casually bestowed a High Grade defensive Magical Artifact as a greeting gift.

At this point, both host and guest were satisfied.

Shi Jian had achieved his wish!

...

The third day after the Core Formation Ceremony.

The Baiyun Assembly held a grand auction.

One reason was to celebrate the Immortal Master's Core Formation, and the other was to take the Opportunity to scrape together resources to enrich the Sect's treasury. Cultivators from the Nine Counties gathered, and the scene was unprecedentedly hot.

Sun Boan sat in a VIP box on the second floor, while Shi Jian lay beside him, his body shrunk to the size of an ordinary black bear, eyes closed in a feigned sleep.

He had no interest in the High Grade, top-tier Magical Artifacts and Talismans on stage.

Not until a jade plate was pushed onto the stage, containing a Medicinal Pill the size of a Dragon's eye, dark yellow all over...

"Second-tier Medium Grade, Marrow-Cleansing Pill."

The auctioneer's voice was loud and clear, spreading throughout the venue: "Although this pill cannot directly help a person achieve Foundation Establishment Breakthrough, it can wash the marrow and strengthen the Meridians."

"If used in conjunction with a foundation establishment pill, it can increase the chance of Foundation Establishment by an additional ten percent! Starting bid, two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones!"

In the box, Sun Boan's breathing suddenly stalled, and he gripped the chair armrests tightly.

An additional ten percent chance!

Adding the two percent from the foundation establishment pill itself, that was thirty percent! For any Cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection, this was a fatal temptation.

But he touched the Storage Pouch at his waist; the congratulatory gift this time had cost one thousand five hundred, and the liquid Spirit Stones in the account were only six or seven thousand more. This was the working capital for the Sun Clan for the next few years.

"Two thousand one hundred!" Someone in the first-floor hall shouted.

"Two thousand two hundred!"

The price soared all the way, quickly reaching three thousand eight hundred.

"If you like it, take it."

Shi Jian opened his eyes and, for the first time, spoke up...

Sun Boan was stunned, turned his head, and whispered: "Old Ancestor, although this Medicinal Pill is good, isn't it too early for Sun Mao to attempt Foundation Establishment?"

"If I tell you to bid, then bid. Why so much nonsense."

Shi Jian frowned, feeling impatient. Seeing this, Sun Boan had no choice but to grit his teeth and shout:

"Four thousand five hundred!"

Suddenly, the whole venue fell silent.

Four thousand five hundred Spirit Stones to buy an auxiliary Medicinal Pill was clearly an overpayment.

In the end, the Marrow-Cleansing Pill fell into the hands of the Sun Clan.

Immediately after, a second-tier High Grade living Spirit Medicine, "blood bodhi," which was the Spirit Medicine once rewarded to Shi Jian by White Cloud Temple, appeared on stage.

"Buy it."

Shi Jian gave the order again. Sun Boan did not hesitate at all and spent another two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones to take the blood bodhi into his possession.

After one auction, the Sun Clan spent seven thousand Spirit Stones directly. Including the previous congratulatory gift, nearly nine thousand Spirit Stones were thrown in; it could be called spending money like water!

Subsequently, the Sun Clan group stayed in Baiyun Market for a few more days.

Until the ceremony ended, they returned with the flow of people.

...

Hongtian City, Immortal Cave behind the mountain.

The night was deep. Sun Boan respectfully placed the three jade boxes containing the foundation establishment pill, the Marrow-Cleansing Pill, and the blood bodhi in front of Shi Jian.

"Old Ancestor, everything is here."

"The clan's treasury is more than half empty, but with Daoist Master Yunxiao's rent exemption special permit for the market, we should be able to break even after seven or eight years of operation."

Sun Boan reported in a low voice, looking a bit pained.

Shi Jian stretched out his claw and pushed the foundation establishment pill and the Marrow-Cleansing Pill toward Sun Boan, while he pushed the blood bodhi to himself.

"I will eat the blood bodhi to replenish my blood Qi."

"As for these two Medicinal Pills, take them; prepare for Foundation Establishment during this period."

Sun Boan looked up sharply, his face full of astonishment, then waved his hands repeatedly: "Old Ancestor, this cannot be done. Little Mao is still young and is the most suitable for Foundation Establishment in the future."

"Even if it's too early for Little Mao, Wanqing of my generation can also shoulder the burden..."

"This Junior is already fifty-seven or fifty-eight; my blood Qi is beginning to decline. Even with the Marrow-Cleansing Pill, the hope of Foundation Establishment is less than forty percent; it's too wasteful."

"Old Ancestor, this conflicts with your previous plan!"

Shi Jian looked down at him from above, his vertical pupils calm and waveless:

"Boan, do you know why I wanted Yao'er to join White Cloud Temple?"

"How would this Junior dare to speculate on the Old Ancestor's plans."

Sun Boan lowered his head, not daring to speculate without cause. Seeing this situation, Shi Jian began to explain his concept:

"No matter how the Sun Clan manages and accumulates, the territory under its rule is only so big, and the resources are only so much; it is difficult to truly strengthen the Sun Clan..."

"I arranged for Little Yao to enter White Cloud Temple, firstly to bind us with White Cloud Temple. After all, we face the threat of retaliation from the Fenghe Sect at any time. With the identity of being Daoist Master Yunxiao's Disciple, it provides us with an insurance policy."

"Secondly, it is to share the pressure of resources within the clan."

"Little Mao and Little Yao'er both have the potential for Foundation Establishment. Sending one person to White Cloud Temple allows us to use the Sect's resources to cultivate our clan's Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"In the future, when she achieves success, she can naturally nurture the Family."

"This is the reason I let Little Yao'er join White Cloud Temple. And Little Mao is still young; he can wait another thirty or forty years..."

"And you, although you are fifty-eight this year, you have not yet passed the limit of sixty. Your cultivation has already reached Qi Refining Perfection, and you are the Sun Clan Chief. This Family cannot be without you at the helm in the future."

"Therefore, this bestowed foundation establishment pill is your Opportunity!"

Shi Jian stood up, his massive body bringing a strong sense of oppression:

"The Opportunity has been given to you."

"Whether you can grasp your destiny depends entirely on yourself..."

"The Family has not yet grown strong, and the younger generation has not yet risen. This Family still needs someone to hold up this sky!"