Chapter 2265: Chapter 2267: Strength
Wu Fan had always been focused on the cultivators in the top tier, partly to gather some details, and also because he was in the second tier himself.
Emotionally, he wasn’t very anxious; after all, there were only nine people, and he ranked second in the second tier—as a disciple under Yuangang, he got a small advantage.
Then he watched as the number of people in the first tier increased from nine to ten, then eleven—as more arrived, some directly offered five hundred Spirit Stones.
Wu Fan’s ranking kept slipping, and he absolutely detested this but was powerless to change the situation—even though he was on friendly terms with a Nascent Soul Middle Phase cultivator in the sect, he couldn’t ask for help.
In such circumstances, the Spirit Stone was king; others offered more money, and it was not a matter of cutting in line, but a display of strength.
And Feng Jun made it clear that he only recognized Spirit Stones, so even as a disciple of one of the hosts, he couldn’t argue.
Actually, he did not consider this attitude as solely recognizing Spirit Stones. He even had Master Chen Xi announce it: this was a large-scale discounted event arranged through Xuanhuang Sect.
Indeed, he had some unpleasantness with Xuanhuang Sect before, but ever since obtaining the Xuanhuang Qi, the past was mostly bygone, and he didn’t mind promoting Xuanhuang Sect a bit.
However, the main purpose of such publicity was to lay the groundwork for future price increases—the formation deduction couldn’t remain so cheap.
In fact, raising prices was not the ultimate goal; his ultimate aim was to elevate the deduction to a non-marketable degree.
For this reason, he set a time limit for the current discount event—three months!
Performing a deduction for one Golden Core Peak each day would only amount to ninety, just in time to wait for the Xuanhuang Sect’s plan for linking the two realms.
For Wu Fan, on the thirteenth day, the ordeal finally ended. Feng Jun began deductions for the second-tier users, and barring any unexpected events, it would be his turn tomorrow.
However, very unfortunately, on that very night, someone came to invite Feng Jun. It was Master Yanhe from Xuanhuang Sect who felt the onset of core formation and wanted to invite the Mountain Master Feng for deduction support.
Master Yanhe was the third to receive deductions in the first tier. Though not particularly old, only six hundred fifty, he had made significant contributions to the Xuanhuang Sect, and the sect covered his fees this time, earning him a top-tier and high ranking.
Yanhe’s combat style was extremely wild, but he himself had much faith in metaphysics. Two hundred years ago, he was seriously injured and spent nearly a century recuperating. Later, someone helped him with deduction and told him he would have trouble forming a core in this life, but he had a sliver of destiny to seize upon.
So an almost comical situation unfolded. The notoriously ferocious Yanhe placed his hopes on core formation on finding this destiny, despite innumerable True Immortals advising him that destiny was important, but self-exploration was also crucial.
Yet Yanhe insisted, "I have reached Golden Core Peak, and I never slack off in honing myself, but I know I must seize the destiny. Twice have I conceived thoughts of forming a core, only to feel an ominous presence lurking."
Deduction experts within the Xuanhuang Sect had tried helping him, but Yanhe simply did not trust them. He believed the sect was kindly deceiving him, with good intentions to help resolve his mental knots; however—good intentions can also lead astray!
In short, he was a very stubborn cultivator, and one might say he had some psychological trauma about core formation.
Nevertheless, Yanhe had strong confidence in Feng Jun. First, because Feng Jun’s deduction capabilities were indeed remarkable—rumors aside, the Xuanhuang Sect had practically used intimidatory tactics and a valuable gift of Xuanhuang Qi to invite him.
Moreover, he could ascertain that given Feng Jun’s relationship with Xuanhuang Sect, it was impossible to be swayed by sect elder persuasion to use "benevolent lies" to deceive him—even if their relationship was mended, Mountain Master Feng was known for his stubbornness.
Thus, he readily accepted Mountain Master Feng’s advice and actually found a Nascent Soul Cave Mansion near Yellow Sky on the Yellow Water Plate to attempt seclusion to form a core.
Indeed, others were not wrong; Master Yanhe truly could form a core, only hindered by his psychological shadows.
Now that his self-accumulation was sufficient, his mental blockage completely eased, coupled with Feng Jun’s provision of relatively common core formation materials, Master Yanhe achieved core formation sensation after eight days of seclusion.
Yanhe was quite surprised by this, but aside from some uncontrollable psychological shadows, he was otherwise worthy of his cultivation and reputation, so he immediately sent for Feng Jun to assist with another deduction.
He had initially chosen the Yellow Water Plate thinking that should the destiny arise, he could conveniently invite Mountain Master Feng, and thus he had not retreated to the sect’s core but opted for the border region Yellow Water.
Yellow Water, while not as peripheral as the Yellow Sky Plate, managed to barely enter the sect’s top ten.
When Feng Jun received this invitation, he was quite surprised, "So quickly?"
He knew that Master Yanhe’s progression posed no significant issue, aware the psychological pressure hindered his core formation; he trusted his methods could help eliminate the shadows, but the actual pace... that was beyond his deduction.
No matter how you put it, Feng Jun said he would spend three months here on divination, but in just ten days, a feeling of infant Qi condensation emerged. Even if he’s reluctant to offer guidance, he has to show some effort.
Moreover, Master Yanhe did not choose the Xuanhuang Main Branch, so even if he wanted to refuse, there’s no reason.
Thus, Feng Jun arrived at the Yellow Water Plate that night. The place chosen for seclusion is naturally an important site of Xuanhuang Gate. However, at this point, Mountain Master Feng is already qualified to bring a few True Immortals outside Xuanhuang for close divination.
Feng Jun continued the divination for two days, confirming there were no issues in Master Yanhe’s infant Qi condensation process, so he greeted the other party and returned to the Yellow Sky Plate to continue divination for the cultivators in the queue.
Wu Fan knew where Feng Jun had gone, and was not anxious upon waiting two days for his return. He thought he was next for divination, but unexpectedly someone jumped the queue—by merit.
The one jumping the queue was a Master Xuanhuang. Feng Jun’s influence on Master Yanhe had already spread within Xuanhuang. Someone couldn’t sit still, and this was the one who jumped the queue by merit. He originally paid one hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones and was in the third section, but immediately added four hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones to move up.
Wu Fan gritted his teeth and endured it... After all, Xuanhuang Gate is the real landlord here.
However, the next day, two more Masters of Xuanhuang Gate came, paying five hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones directly, to jump the queue by merit.
Wu Fan felt he might explode, thinking this was... endless?
Indeed, it was endless. Someone heard from Xuanhuang Gate... It might have been Elder Cang Jing or Qing Ji’s people who spread it. Anyway, everyone knew Mountain Master Feng’s divination was immediate. Naturally, more Masters came to jump the queue.
Wu Fan waited day after day, and after seven or eight days, he suddenly found that a junior from his sect came, directly paying five hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones, even queuing ahead of him.
He felt somewhat indignant—I’m not using my seniority here to pressure you, but considering your status, shouldn’t you wait patiently in the third section? Giving five hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones at once, have you recently become prosperous?
This junior expressed regret: Sorry, brother. Mountain Master Feng only offers discounted divination for three months. If I only pay one hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones, I’ll be at the end of the queue by arrival order, and I worry I won’t get a slot before the divination period ends.
I don’t mind being behind senior you, but the problem is everyone else is jumping the queue... You’re not proactive enough; I don’t want to be dragged along.
While the two were speaking, two more Masters came to pay Spirit Stones, also from the first batch, paying just one hundred Intermediate Level initially, but recognizing the situation now, they paid four hundred Intermediate Level to jump the queue.
Wu Fan was so angry that he cursed loudly, "The market is disrupted by these clan practitioners; do you know how foolish such behavior is?"
While cursing, he fished out three hundred Intermediate Level Spirit Stones, "Who said I’m short of those Spirit Stones! Who’s afraid of whom!"
After adding three hundred, Wu Fan finally reached his original position— scheduled for divination that day.
This divination’s commotion had grown increasingly large; after fifty days, Feng Jun had to stop accepting registrations because the number of people registered reached ninety.
Considering he might have to visit the Yellow Water Plate once or twice in between, along with other matters, divining for these ninety people would likely take nearly four months.
It proved that Feng Jun wasn’t planning to ignore the low-ranked ones, hence he could only alleviate his workload by capping the registration numbers.
Some Masters who arrived thereafter were not pleased, but they were wise enough not to pressure Feng Jun—Cao Cao killed Hua Tuo because Hua Tuo couldn’t cure his migraines, but if not, no amount of drinking could have led to such action.
These people sought assistance from Xuanhuang or Yuangang Gates hoping to increase the slots.
Indeed, with pressure from all sides, Xuanhuang and Yuangang Gates approached Feng Jun, saying to increase the slots to one hundred.
This favor, Feng Jun granted, but after a few days, the other party wanted to raise the slots to one hundred fifty, but Feng Jun firmly refused, "I’ll grant you one more favor, increasing to one hundred and eight... any more, and I’ll leave!"
During the divination period, Feng Jun not only went to the Yellow Water Plate but also visited White Pebble Beach several times. Earth needed supplies there, and it needed divination for Pill Embracing at Outdust Peak.
This portion he couldn’t abandon—without continuous Pill Embracing, the comrades’ aura would dissipate quickly.
So, upon divining for the last Golden Core Peak intending to condense infant Qi, the entire divination process extended over five months.
As soon as he finished this task, Elder Duan Liang impatiently jumped out, "We’ve found the people to go to the Void; Moli has also rested sufficiently to embark directly on the journey."
(First update in October, during double period, seeking monthly ballots for a guarantee.)
