Chapter 132 Danshan Preaching, Guest Invitation (Additional Update)
Sun Yihai looked around and saw that most of the people had arrived, so he coughed lightly and said, "Dear fellow Taoists, thank you all for coming to participate in tonight's trade fair."

"As usual, we will have a free trade here. You can take out your own materials, pills, or experiences to exchange or sell."

“I hope everyone can gain something from it.”

As Sun Yihai finished speaking, the trade fair officially began.

Many alchemists skillfully took out the items they wanted to trade from their storage instruments and placed them on the table in front of them.

It is somewhat similar to the stall areas in the market town and the fairy city.

The only difference is that when foundation-building cultivators bargain with each other, they rely on telepathy.

Therefore, outsiders have no way of knowing the specific content of the bargaining.

Ji often walked among the crowd, casually glancing at the items on each table.

Ji Chang is now only a second-level lower-grade alchemist. The spiritual medicines he needs for alchemy can basically be purchased in Baishuixian City.

Therefore, there was not much demand for the items sold at this small trade fair.

However, Ji Chang had to admit that many high-level spiritual medicines and elixirs appeared in this trade fair of Danshan Association.

Even Sun Yihai, who organized the auction, sold three second-grade top-grade elixirs.

As soon as this level of spiritual medicine appeared, many alchemists gathered around him and asked about the price of the medicine.

Suddenly, Ji Chang stopped and his eyes were fixed on several spiritual herbs placed on a table not far ahead.

Ji Chang walked quickly forward to the table and looked at the Hundred-Leaf Ganoderma Lucidum that was emitting a faint fluorescent light, feeling very excited.

"It's actually Hundred-leaf Ganoderma Lucidum."

Ji Chang remembered that the medicinal grade of this spiritual plant had reached the middle grade of the second level, and it was the main material for refining the breakthrough elixir that could help one break through the middle stage of foundation building.

Ji Chang first glanced at the female cultivator standing behind the desk.

There are not many alchemists in the Danshan Society, and even fewer alchemists attending this gathering.

This woman had visited me at home recently.

I remember that she was a foundation-building cultivator from a foundation-building family in the south of Zheng State, and her name seemed to be Jiao Yan'e.

Like himself, he is also a second-level lower-grade alchemist.

So Ji Chang asked, "Fellow Daoist Jiao, would you mind giving up this Hundred-Leaf Ganoderma?"

Jiao Yan'e had noticed Ji Chang a long time ago. She nodded, pointed at the spiritual herbs on the table and said, "If Daoist Han wants it, of course it's fine. But I need the Golden Dao Spiritual Medicine. Does Daoist Han have it?"

Ji Chang nodded upon hearing this. He did have quite a few of the golden spiritual objects in his hands.

When we held pill appreciation meetings a few years ago, several of the fellow foundation-building practitioners who came to celebrate presented second-tier golden spiritual objects.

Master Badan even directly gave away a second-grade top-quality golden snake fruit.

In addition, most of the golden spiritual objects were collected by Ji Chang at the request of Liu Xuexuan.

This is because Ji Chang plans to refine the Golden Snake Gu and the Golden Scale Gu.

The golden scale Gu is a defensive Gu insect. After it is refined, it can make up for Ji Chang's shortcomings in defense.

So Ji Chang took out three golden jade lotuses from his storage bag and completed the transaction with Jiao Yan'e.

After the transaction was completed, Ji Chang continued to wander around the trade fair.

While strolling around, he planted peeping marks on the many monks who came to participate in the trade fair.

Although he had made friends with many cultivators from the Danshan Society these days, there were still many cultivators that he had no chance to meet.

Today's trade fair gave him the opportunity to identify and fill in the gaps.

Suddenly, Ji Chang paused and looked at the young monk standing behind a stall.

Although his face had changed a little and looked a bit weathered, Ji Chang could still recognize that this person was Wang Changsheng, the only foundation-building cultivator in the Wang family of Jiaozhou.

When Ji Chang was still in the Qi Refining Stage, he once met this person by spying on the cultivators of the Chen family.

After many years, Ji Chang finally got to see this person in person.

Ji Chang remembered that Wang Changsheng also had a top-grade spiritual root. When he was still in the middle stage of Qi Refining, this person had already cultivated to the late stage of Qi Refining with the help of his family and his own talent.

Even the time he spent on building his foundation was several years earlier than mine.

You have to know that Wang Changsheng is a few years younger than himself.

But now, there is almost no gap between the two.

Even Ji Chang's skills and inheritance are much stronger than Wang Changsheng's.

At this time, Wang Changsheng noticed Ji Chang's gaze, and he bowed to Ji Chang.

Ji Chang nodded slightly and returned the greeting.

Ji Chang calmed down and took a peek at the situation on Chen Biqi's side.

"Ok?"

"Chen Biqi has returned to Jiaozhou."

At this time, Chen Biqi was actually practicing in a cave in Zhuya Mountain.

Ji Chang was slightly stunned.

Although he could spy on Chen Biqi, Chen Biqi was just a cultivator in the early stage of foundation building. Almost all of his inheritance had been obtained by Ji Chang, and he was far away in the south of Zheng State.

Ji Chang rarely pays attention to this person.

Over the years, I only paid attention to the changes in Jiaozhou when Wang Miaotong passed away.

But a year or two has passed.

Thinking of this, Ji Chang found a few alchemists who were chatting and joined them.

While chatting, I asked about the news about Wang Changsheng.

There was no need for Ji Chang to even ask specifically, as they had already talked about Wang Changsheng when they were chatting.

This is because Wang Changsheng is still quite popular in the Danshan Society.

In addition to the fact that Wang Miaotong was once the vice president of Danshan Society, it is also because Wang Changsheng not only has outstanding spiritual roots, but also has a very good talent for alchemy.

Before breaking through the foundation-building stage, he had already become a second-level alchemist.

He has been known as a genius in the Danshan Society circle since he was a child.

It’s just a pity that in the world of cultivating immortals, geniuses who have not yet grown up are the least valuable.

After Wang Miaotong's death, even though he had left behind many tricks during his lifetime.

However, under the instruction of the Taizhou Han family, the Wang family was forced to give up the sacred land of Zhuya Mountain and hand it over to Chen Biqi, who had become a guest of the Han family.

Moreover, Wang Changsheng was forced to marry a female Qi-refining cultivator from the Han family as his Taoist partner.

Today, the two major foundation-building families in Jiaozhou have, to some extent, become affiliates of the Han family in Taizhou.

Although Wang Miaotong is a second-level top-grade alchemist, he has left behind many connections.

But when he was alive, the monks who had received his kindness still gave him some face.

Now that he is dead, it is good enough that those monks do not take advantage of his misfortune.

These favors may even become the death warrant of the Wang family.

This is also one of the reasons why Wang Changsheng ended up like this.

However, it cannot be said that the favors left by Wang Miaotong were useless.

If it really had no effect at all, Wang Changsheng would have been eaten up by the Han family and enslaved as a tool for alchemy.

How could it be eaten away as slowly as it is now?

Seeing Wang Changsheng fall to this state, many cultivators of the Danshan Society sighed with regret, while many others gloated over his misfortune.

The trade fair lasted until late at night.

After the meeting, all the practitioners dispersed to prepare for the formal meeting the next day.

……

The next day, Ji Chang came to a hall in Xiaodan Mountain to attend a meeting of the Danshan Society.

In fact, the acquaintances with other alchemists of Danshan Society a few days ago and yesterday’s trade fair were both important parts of the Danshan Society’s gathering.

However, the Danshan gathering has been able to last for thousands of years, so it is certainly not just like this.

For the alchemists of Zheng State, the greatest benefit of attending the Danshan Meeting is that they can listen to the second-class top-grade alchemists explain alchemy.

It can be said that even if one does not have a complete second-level alchemy inheritance, as long as one joins the Danshan Society, one can attend the meetings every year and listen to the sermons of the Danshan Society’s president.

There is also a great hope of becoming a second-level upper-grade alchemist, or even a second-level top-grade alchemist.

In the history of Danshan Society, many presidents and vice presidents who were originally independent cultivators became second-grade upper-grade alchemists and second-grade top-grade alchemists through this method.

This is also the important reason why Danshan Society was able to gather most of the alchemists in Zheng State.

Although Ji Chang already has a complete second-level alchemy inheritance in his hands, relying on one's own research and having someone to guide you are completely different.

Ji Chang is not a genius in alchemy. If he had the guidance of a high-level alchemist, he would naturally be able to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

So Ji Chang arrived at the venue early, found a suitable seat and sat down, waiting quietly for the sermon to begin.

Soon, President Sun Yihai slowly walked into the hall surrounded by the crowd.

Sun Yihai walked to the podium in the center of the platform, looked around at everyone present, and after a few greetings, began to talk about his understanding of the Dao of Alchemy.

Sun Yihai began to talk about the essence and experience of alchemy, starting from the basic knowledge of alchemy, and gradually going into advanced alchemy skills and experience. Although he would not talk about the most powerful tricks, Ji Chang was fascinated by it and understood some knowledge that he did not understand before.

While listening attentively, Ji Chang recorded some of the knowledge Sun Yihai explained on a jade slip.

After all, Sun Yihai is a second-level top-grade alchemist, who has reached the pinnacle of second-level alchemists and has been immersed in the art of alchemy for more than a hundred years.

Many of the things he talked about were beyond my understanding with my own background, and I needed to write them down and savor them from time to time.

Sun Yihai's preaching lasted for three full days, but Ji Chang felt that time passed very quickly.

When Sun Yihai announced the end of the sermon, he was still immersed in the profound and mysterious knowledge of alchemy.

After the sermon, it was time for questions.

Every member of the Danshan Society can ask Sun Yihai about the knowledge they don’t understand about Dan Dao.

Other monks can also take this opportunity to find out their shortcomings and fill them up.

As everyone asked questions one by one, Ji Chang also bowed to Sun Yihai as a disciple and asked a difficult question that was bothering him.

Sun Yihai did not show any impatience and patiently answered Ji Chang's questions.

Although Ji Chang did not understand it immediately, he had some understanding.

After Sun Yihai finished his sermon, Master Badan and other skilled alchemists of the Danshan Society also announced that they would be ready to give sermons in a few days.

In this way, a month passed before the rally came to an end.

After the meeting, most of the alchemists left Xiaodan Mountain, but there were also some who stayed in Xiaodan Mountain.

While comprehending what I have gained from this rally, I am also looking forward to the next rally next year.

With so many second-level alchemists sitting here, the area around Xiaodan Mountain becomes quite prosperous.

Within the territory of Zheng State, it is almost second only to Baishuixian City.

"Perhaps this is the reason why the Sun family has been able to survive for thousands of years and prosper forever, and even have fake Dan monks appear from time to time."

Ji Chang couldn't help but sigh after seeing this scene.

The Jizhou Sun family is undoubtedly one of the most powerful families in Zheng State, except for the Jiedan Zhou family.

……

After the meeting, Ji Chang planned to leave Xiaodan Mountain and return to Baishuixian City with Master Badan and others.

However, Hu Qingsong came to the courtyard where Ji Chang stayed.

"Friend Han, are you ready to return to the Immortal City?"

Ji Chang nodded and responded, "Indeed, this trip to Xiaodan Mountain has been very fruitful, and I should go back and digest it."

Hu Qingsong immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Han, to be honest, my uncle sent me a message a few days ago. He admires you very much and hopes to invite you to the clan for a chat."

These words surprised Ji Chang a little. Hu Qingsong's uncle was the ancestor of the Hu family, Hu Rending.

He was a cultivator who had reached the late stage of foundation building and was about to become a second-level top-grade weapon refiner.

The status of this kind of cultivator is not much inferior to that of Sun Yihai.

I have had close relations with the Hu family over the years, so Hu Rending should not have any ill intentions in asking me to go.

So, Ji Chang thought about it for a moment, then nodded and agreed: "If that's the case, then I'll go to Yuzhou."

"Then Fellow Daoist Han, please come with me. I also need to go back to my clan to prepare medicinal materials. Please ask Senior Sun to refine the elixir for me."

After the two of them agreed, Ji Chang said goodbye to Sun Yihai and others, and set off for Yuzhou with Hu Qingsong.

Along the way, the two chatted and laughed, and exchanged methods of refining medicine and weapons, so they didn't feel lonely on the journey.

A month later, they arrived at Yuzhou.

Hu Qingsong brought Ji Chang straight to a mansion deep in the clan's territory. This was Hu Rending's residence.

A clan member had already informed the ancestor of the Hu family. As soon as the two of them entered the door, they saw an old man with white hair and beard but vigorous spirit coming to greet them.

"Qingsong, you are finally back. This must be Han Lin, fellow Daoist Han, right?"

The old man has a loud voice and is full of energy.

Hu Qingsong quickly bowed and said, "Hello, uncle. This is Fellow Daoist Han."

Ji Chang also hurried forward to greet him: "Junior Han Lin, greetings to Senior Hu."

Patriarch Hu Rending laughed loudly and said, "Very well, very well. Daoist friend Han, there is no need to be polite. I have long heard that you have made extraordinary achievements in the Dao of Alchemy. It is a great honor to meet you today."

After saying that, he extended his hand and said, "Friend Han, please come in. Let's go in and talk."

After the host and the guests were seated in the inner hall of the mansion, the tribesmen served them spiritual tea.

Patriarch Hu Rending took a sip from the teacup and put it down. He stared at Ji Chang with a sharp gaze and said, "I am deeply honored that Daoist Han can come to my Hu family as a guest this time. To be honest, I have a favor to ask of you."

Ji Chang's heart was moved, and he said calmly: "Please tell me, senior. As long as I can do it, I will not refuse."

"Okay! I like straightforward people like Han Daoyou."

Patriarch Hu Rending clapped his hands and smiled, "Actually, this matter is simple. I just hope that Fellow Daoist Han can serve as a guest official of our Hu family."

Ji Chang was slightly stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect Hu Rending to make such a request.

The position of guest official of a foundation-building family is generally only held by cultivators with superb skills.

Now that he has become a second-level alchemist, he is quite attractive to the Hu family.

After all, even in a foundation-building family, unless the art of alchemy is passed down from generation to generation, it is rare to have a second-level alchemist.

Do you want to serve as a guest elder of the Hu family?
Ji Chang began to think.

There are naturally benefits to joining the Hu family.

In addition to being able to settle down in a free second-level spiritual land, he also has the Hu family as his backer.

He can also collect many precious second-level spiritual objects through the Hu family.

Although Ji Chang was able to collect a lot of second-level spiritual objects through the channels of Baishuixian City.

However, in the world of immortal cultivation in Zheng State, many second-grade mid-quality and second-grade upper-quality spiritual objects are rarely available on the market.

For spiritual objects like the Hundred-Leaf Ganoderma Lucidum, it would be quite difficult to buy them at the auction in Baishuixian City if it weren't for the channels of the Danshan Society.

However, being a guest elder does not only have benefits.

Although as a foundation-building cultivator, he has basic rights after becoming a guest of the Hu family, and will not be used as an alchemy tool.

However, a large number of second-level pills still need to be refined for the Hu family.

Moreover, when the Hu family encounters difficulties, he will help the Hu family.

This will undoubtedly affect Ji Chang's cultivation progress.

What's more, as a cultivator from another family, even if Ji Chang became a guest of the Hu family, it would be difficult for him to get more resources from the Hu family.

What Ji Chang wanted was to cultivate the golden elixir, not to be famous for a hundred years.

So, Ji Chang planned to reject Hu Rending's invitation.

He had a close personal relationship with Hu Qingsong and other Hu family cultivators. Even if he rejected Hu Rending's invitation, he should not be enslaved by him directly.

Although these foundation-building families in Zheng State's immortal cultivation world are not considered righteous families, they still have to maintain basic dignity.

Even if he really intends to attack me, he won't do it openly.

So, after a moment of silence, Ji Chang spoke.

"Senior, I am very kind to you, but I am used to being idle and don't want to be bound by it."

“However, if Han plans to join a foundation-building family in the future, the Hu family will definitely be Han’s first choice.”

When Patriarch Hu Rending heard this, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he was not angry.

He knew very well that a forced melon would not be sweet. Since Ji Chang had already declined his invitation, it would be useless to force him.

Besides, Ji Chang is a close friend of his junior Hu Qingsong. If he forces him to join the Hu family, it will ruin their friendship, which would be a bad thing.

Hu Rending knew that he didn't have much time left.

After I pass away, the Hu family will have to rely on the younger generation like Hu Qingsong.

So Hu Rending laughed and said casually: "If that's the case, then I won't force it."

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Han. My Hu family is definitely not the kind of people who don't know how to show respect. Since you and Qingsong and the others are good friends, you are also my Hu family's friends. If Fellow Daoist Han needs anything in the future, just come to my Hu family."

Upon hearing this, Ji Chang felt relieved, and at the same time he admired the open-mindedness of Master Hu Rending.

He bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, senior."

Patriarch Hu Rending nodded, chatted with Ji Chang for a few more words, then lost interest and asked Hu Qingsong to take Ji Chang around the clan.

In the following days, Ji Chang stayed at the Hu family for a few days.

In the past few days, Ji Chang noticed that the atmosphere in the Hu family was much more tense than before.

Ji Chang relied on his ability of peeping and indirect inquiries from Hu Qingsong, Hu Qingyun, and Fairy Hong Ling during casual conversations to learn that the Hu family was preparing to go to war with the Cheng family.

So, Ji Chang planned to return to Baishuixian City.

Although Ji Chang has close ties with the Hu family, he does not intend to get involved in the war between the foundation-building families.

Just when Ji Chang was about to leave, Shen Yaoyu suddenly came to visit.

(End of this chapter)