Having learned about Xiao Xiaofan’s situation, Xiao Jingting instructed Xiao Xiaodong to relay a message to Xiao Xiaofan, advising him not to rush into Foundation Establishment, while he himself roamed the various major spiritual medicine markets.
To refine the Soul-fixing Pill, they needed the Soul Condensing Grass. Xiao Jingting searched for more than ten days without much progress, leaving him frustrated.
Seeing Xiao Jingting looking haggard from early mornings to late nights, Qiu Yun pointed him to a hidden market where Xiao Jingting finally obtained the Soul Condensing Grass, making him immensely grateful to Qiu Yun.
With the Soul Condensing Grass in hand, indeed, a formula for the Soul-fixing Pill appeared in the jade pendant space.
The Soul Condensing Grass was delicate and slow-growing, which frustrated Xiao Jingting to no end.
Despite his impatience, Xiao Jingting could only wait patiently for the Soul Condensing Grass to mature.
Xu Mu’an and Xiao Jingting waited eagerly every day for the Soul Condensing Grass to mature. Xu Mu’an devoted himself to refining pills diligently, fearing that if the Soul Condensing Grass matured and he accidentally ruined the pill, it would delay matters.
Seeing his father and mother working tirelessly every day, Xiao Jin behaved obediently, cooking meals and cultivating diligently every day.
Xiao Jin enjoyed playing with Qiu Yun. At first, Qiu Yun didn’t like Xiao Jin much, but after being pestered by him a few times, he softened and sometimes even gave Xiao Jin fruits to eat.
Xiao Jingting was pleased to see Xiao Jin and Qiu Yun getting along well.
…
Ouyang Jinyue leaned on her chin, looking at Xiao Xiaodong, and asked, “Do you have any plans recently?”
Xiao Xiaodong replied lightly, “Work hard on cultivation.”
Ouyang Jinyue rolled her eyes at Xiao Xiaodong’s earnest appearance and said, “You’re working too hard.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “You can’t do it if you don’t work hard.”
He also wanted to help his little brother to train. But he’s still at the eighth level of Qi refining. How can he do this.
Xiao Xiaodong frowned, feeling somewhat worried. He had visited his father and mother several times recently. Although they tried to conceal it, Xiao Xiaodong could tell that something was weighing on their minds, apparently something significant.
Xiao Xiaodong didn’t quite understand why his father asked him to relay a message to Xiao Xiaofan, advising him not to rush into Foundation Establishment. However, he could sense his parents’ worries, which seemed to be related to this matter. Xiao Xiaodong didn’t know what his father and mother were concerned about, so he could only focus on cultivation.
Ouyang Jinyue said, “…Speaking of which, Lei Xuan has reached Foundation Establishment. He’s truly a talented figure from the Lei family.”
Xiao Xiaodong forced a smile and replied, “Indeed, he’s quite impressive.”
“If your little brother were more serious, perhaps he would have reached Foundation Establishment too,” Ouyang Jinyue remarked.
Xiao Xiaodong replied calmly, “There’s no rush. Little Fan is still young.” Xiao Xiaodong didn’t understand why his father seemed to discourage his brother from Foundation Establishment, but he knew his father must have had his reasons for doing so, all for his brother’s good.
…
Time flew by, and a year passed. Xiao Xiaofan and Xiao Xiaodong both advanced to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
At this time, Xiao Jingting finally succeeded in refining the Soul-fixing Pill.
Xiao Jingting turned the pill into sugar pills and handed them to Xiao Xiaodong, instructing him to watch over Xiao Xiaofan and ensure he took them.
With Xiao Jingting’s repeated instructions, Xiao Xiaodong naturally took this matter seriously.
Not long after Xiao Xiaofan took the Soul-fixing Pill, he finally advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage under the urging of his senior brothers.
Xiao Xiaofan was somewhat surprised to find that after he advanced to Foundation Establishment, his senior brothers seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, acting as if they were genuinely happy for him.
“Lei Xuan, it’s been a long time,” Xiao Xiaofan said to Lei Xuan.
Looking at Xiao Xiaofan, Lei Xuan’s expression flashed with some concern. “You’ve reached Foundation Establishment?”
Xiao Xiaofan nodded and said, “Yes! I just advanced yesterday, a little later than you.”
Lei Xuan frowned slightly, looking somewhat urgent. “Since you’ve advanced to Foundation Establishment, come with me for a mission. Don’t stay in the sect.”
After Lei Xuan advanced to Foundation Establishment, he had been concerned about Xiao Xiaofan. However, Xiao Xiaofan had been closely monitored recently, and Lei Xuan couldn’t see him. With his cultivation advancing, Lei Xuan gradually learned more, and his concern for Xiao Xiaofan increased.
For Xiao Xiaofan’s sake, Lei Xuan sought help from the elders of the family, but they were unwilling to offend the Qingyun Immortal Sect and ignored his requests. Some elders even advised him not to overthink, suggesting that things might not be as bad as he imagined.
“When will we go on the mission?” Xiao Xiaofan asked.
Xiao Xiaofan had been closely monitored and felt stifled. However, many people were watching him, so he didn’t dare to act rashly.
Lei Xuan thought for a moment and said, “We’ll leave immediately. Let’s go to the Cloud Heaven Secret Realm. That place has natural restrictions, only allowing those below the Golden Core stage to enter.”
Xiao Xiaofan hesitated and said, “I also want to go out, but my senior brothers won’t let me. They said I just advanced to Foundation Establishment and need to stabilize my cultivation.”
Upon hearing Xiao Xiaofan’s words, Lei Xuan became even more anxious.
“Xiaofan,” a voice called out.
Lei Xuan saw the person coming and felt alarmed.
“Master,” Xiao Xiaofan greeted the newcomer, feeling somewhat strange.
Xiao Xiaofan vaguely remembered when he first met this master, who had youthful white hair and looked very spirited. Now, however, he exuded an air of death, appearing much older.
Bai Lizheng lightly patted Xiao Xiaofan’s head, his eyes flashing with complexity.
“You’ve finally reached Foundation Establishment. It’s several months later than I expected, but it’s good that you’ve finally made it,” Bai Lizheng said, looking at Xiao Xiaofan with profound eyes.
Xiao Xiaofan felt a little shy at Bai Lizheng’s words. “I don’t like cultivation, so I advanced a bit late.”
Bai Lizheng sighed, whether in reprimand or regret, and said, “With such good aptitude, but not fond of cultivation, it’s really a waste.”
Lei Xuan felt his hair stand on end as Bai Lizheng gave him a meaningful glance.
“Elder, please spare Xiaofan,” Lei Xuan blurted out.
Bai Lizheng pointed at Lei Xuan’s forehead, causing him to faint.
Startled by Bai Lizheng’s actions, Xiao Xiaofan looked at him, asking, “Master, what are you doing?”
Bai Lizheng smiled and said, “Nothing, this kid is just too tired and needs a good rest.”
Taking Xiao Xiaofan with him, Bai Lizheng headed straight for his place of seclusion.
Bai Lizheng’s actions startled Xiao Xiaofan, and he felt a sense of unease. Even though Xiao Xiaofan was slow to react, he could sense the hostility emanating from Bai Lizheng.
…
After Lei Xuan regained consciousness, he hurriedly found Xiao Xiaodong, who had also reached Foundation Establishment. Their time of reaching Foundation Establishment differed only by a day or two. Xiao Xiaodong, seeing Lei Xuan’s worried expression, instinctively realized that something had happened.
“Xiaodong, Xiaofan was taken away by his master,” Lei Xuan said.
Xiao Xiaodong, sensing trouble, replied, “If I’m not mistaken, Xiaofan’s master intends to seize his body. I was going to take Xiaofan to the Cloud Heaven Secret Realm, but I didn’t have time…”
Xiao Xiaodong thought, Lei Xuan did indeed have good intentions, but unfortunately, Lei Xuan, despite his talent, was still too young and didn’t have the right to confront a Golden Core ancestor.
Lei Xuan looked at Xiao Xiaodong’s calm demeanor and couldn’t help but feel relieved. Xiao Xiaodong’s calmness suggested that he might have some confidence. “I’ll go and check,” Lei Xuan said.
Xiao Xiaodong said, “Alright.”
Lei Xuan went to the place where Bai Lizheng was in seclusion. The place had long been locked from the inside, and despite knocking for a long time, no one opened the door.
After a long time, Xiao Xiaofan opened the door and walked out in a daze.
Lei Xuan hurried over, tentatively grabbing Xiao Xiaofan’s shoulder and asking, “Xiaofan?”
Xiao Xiaofan stared blankly and said, “Lei Xuan.”
“How are you? Are you okay?” Lei Xuan asked.
Xiao Xiaofan, feeling somewhat frightened, said, “I’m fine.”
Lei Xuan saw that although Xiao Xiaofan looked panicked, he moved naturally. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. According to what the elders had said, once a possession was successful, it would take some time for the possessor and the possessed body to merge. Although Xiao Xiaofan’s movements were somewhat stiff, it should only be due to fear.
“Where is your master?” Lei Xuan asked.
Xiao Xiaofan looked up, his face pale, and said, “My master… isn’t moving.”
Lei Xuan: “…” Not moving? Was he dead? Failing to possess meant only one thing: death.
Bai Jingfan hurried over, looking at Xiao Xiaofan, and said, “Xiaofan, where is Master?”
Xiao Xiaofan shrank behind Lei Xuan and stammered, “He… isn’t moving.”
Bai Jingfan glared at Xiao Xiaofan fiercely and said, “What did you do? Grandfather couldn’t have failed.”
Xiao Xiaofan looked somewhat frightened at Bai Jingfan, and Lei Xuan grabbed him, saying, “Bai Senior Brother, Xiaofan has just reached Foundation Establishment. What could he have done?”
Xiao Xiaofan trembled, grabbing Lei Xuan’s hand. Although Lei Xuan remained calm on the surface, he felt relieved in his heart.
“Master.” Bai Jingfan entered the cultivation chamber, and soon, cries of grief could be heard. Bai Jingfan’s crying was full of bitterness.
Before long, Bai Lizheng’s relatives and disciples rushed over from all directions. Initially crying, they soon started fighting, with Lei Xuan hearing vaguely that it was over the spatial ring Bai Lizheng had left behind.
Bai Lizheng was a cultivator in the later stage of the Golden Core, second only to the two supreme elders of the sect.
Bai Lizheng’s death meant that his property behind would not be easy to deal with. Bai Lizheng had many relatives and disciples, including some unruly ones.
Inside the secret chamber, chaos reigned. Xiao Xiaofan was also targeted. Under Lei Xuan’s persuasion, Xiao Xiaofan handed over everything he had on him before being left out of the matter.
As the chaos escalated, it attracted the attention of the sect’s supreme elders.
The people who were arguing initially didn’t gain anything in the end. When the supreme elders arrived, they confiscated all of Bai Lizheng’s belongings.
The sect’s supreme elders probed Xiao Xiaofan’s sea of consciousness. Whether disappointed or relieved, they patted Xiao Xiaofan on the shoulder and said, “Now that things have come to this, focus on your cultivation and strive to form the Golden Core soon.”
The supreme elders came and went in a hurry, scolding a few noisy people before leaving.
Xiao Xiaofan looked at his senior brothers and seniors who were once friendly, only to find that they had varied expressions. Some seemed relieved, some gloated, some looked as if disaster had struck, and some glared at him with hatred.
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