Chapter 50: Azure Cliff Immortal City
The matter of inviting them for a drink at a brothel, as mentioned on the messenger paper crane earlier, was indeed just as He Song had guessed—never brought up again.
Seeing this, He Song and Wei Fan exchanged a knowing smile and didn't dwell on it.
They both understood Meng Guan's character well.
Drinking at brothels was simply not something Meng Guan would do.
At least, three years ago, the Meng Guan they knew wouldn't have done such a thing.
Even now, it seemed unlikely.
Skipping the brothel drinks aside, expressing gratitude in some other way was inevitable.
Since Meng Guan had said he would thank them, he certainly would. The only uncertainty was how.
On this point, neither He Song nor Wei Fan were worried.
After verbally expressing his gratitude, Meng Guan began to speak further.
Over the past three years, while stationed at the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine, he had met several wandering cultivator friends and witnessed firsthand the hardships of their lives and their astounding ability to earn spirit stones.
In the Immortal Market, the annual rent alone consumed most of the income of a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator.
This was why cultivators living in the Immortal Market were typically poorer than wandering cultivators.
Wandering cultivators didn't need to pay rent.
A monthly rent of ten spirit stones might not seem like much.
But over a year, it amounted to 120 spirit stones.
Currently, He Song's annual stipend only provided 90 spirit stones for discretionary use.
The ability to save so many spirit stones made the lives of wandering cultivators generally better than those living in the Immortal Market.
After all, the jobs available to wandering cultivators were typically high-risk, high-reward endeavors, often involving life-threatening danger.
As a result, compared to Immortal Market cultivators, wandering cultivators lived somewhat more comfortably but with far greater risks.
Cultivators in the Immortal Market lived safer, steadier lives.
wandering cultivators lived dangerously, yet wealthier.
At this point, Meng Guan turned his gaze toward Wei Fan.
He rose to his feet.
Bowed deeply.
"I left the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine this time because I have earned enough spirit stones. I wish to invite Brother Wei to join me in traveling to Azure Cliff Immortal City to purchase a Breakthrough Pill."
This formal bow underscored Meng Guan's seriousness.
Even though he and Wei Fan had been friends for years, Meng Guan was still deeply earnest.
Three years ago, before leaving the Immortal Market for the Crimson Spirit Gold Mine, Meng Guan was already 43 years old.
Now, three years later, he was 46.
With less than 14 years left until the optimal age of 60 for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, time was running short.
To advance from the sixth level of Qi Refinement to the ninth level within such a brief period and secure a Foundation Establishment Pill was extraordinarily difficult.
Even if he bypassed the pill and forced his breakthrough, with his Five-element root constitution, success would be uncertain. Even if he reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, advancing to the ninth level in such a short time would remain a near-impossible task.
However, in Meng Guan's view, since he had already resigned from his position in the Immortal Market and decided to take this leap, he was ready to stake his life on the effort.
Even if there was only a sliver of hope.
He would tread this thorn-filled path!
If he could successfully break through to the late stage of Qi Refinement this time, he was confident he could reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement before 60 and challenge the Foundation Establishment stage.
As for the final outcome...
Meng Guan didn't want to think too much about it.
Since he had resolved to risk it all, there was no need to worry about anything else.
The unwavering determination in Meng Guan's eyes made He Song sit up straight.
In front of him, faced with Meng Guan's formal and solemn bow, Wei Fan's expression also grew serious.
"Old Meng, there's no need for such formality between us. Fine, I will accompany you on this journey. A mere Breakthrough Pill—Wei can protect it."
After a long pause, Wei Fan finally agreed.
He had considered many things.
The dangers of traveling to Azure Cliff Immortal City.
The risks involved in purchasing the Breakthrough Pill.
The hazards during Meng Guan's breakthrough.
And the potential dangers of returning to the Immortal Market.
Wei Fan had considered nearly every possible scenario. Only after concluding that he could handle the risks and that they were manageable did he finally agree.
For a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator to purchase a mid-stage Qi Refinement Breakthrough Pill, there was certainly some danger, but not much.
Wei Fan was confident he could manage.
If Meng Guan succeeded in breaking through, the combined strength of two late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators would make them nearly invincible against most threats.
"Then I must thank Brother Wei. If I were to travel to Azure Cliff Immortal City alone, I might face considerable danger. But with you accompanying me, there will be no issues," Meng Guan said, visibly relieved after hearing Wei Fan's agreement.
A bright smile spread across his weathered face.
Although Meng Guan had anticipated Wei Fan's agreement, hearing the confirmation filled him with joy.
This reaffirmed that he hadn't misjudged Wei Fan.
It also meant there would be no lingering concerns about purchasing the Breakthrough Pill in Azure Cliff Immortal City.
More importantly, it proved that the bond between him, Wei Fan, and He Song had endured through the years.
Overcome with a sense of gratitude and reassurance, Meng Guan couldn't help but smile.
Yet, just as he was savoring his relief, Wei Fan spoke again.
He turned to He Song.
"Would you like to come with us to Azure Cliff Immortal City? It's not like the Immortal Market here—it's a place of true prosperity and grandeur."
Having already agreed to accompany Meng Guan, bringing one more person along was no trouble.
Besides, He Song had already reached the mid-stage of Qi Refinement, and his presence would add another layer of security to the group.
Even if Wei Fan knew that He Song's combat abilities were close to zero, other cultivators on the road wouldn't know that.
The appearance of a larger group might deter troublemakers.
It would also be an opportunity for He Song to broaden his horizons.
Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market was just a trading hub established under the jurisdiction of Azure Cliff Immortal City to serve the surrounding cultivators.
Most cultivators passing through were low-level Qi Refinement practitioners from nearby areas, and encountering a Foundation Establishment cultivator was a rare event.
He Song had been in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market for nearly ten years and had never seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator other than True Master Chengshan.
How could a place like this compare to an immortal city?
In Azure Cliff Immortal City, while Foundation Establishment cultivators were uncommon, there were at least a few who resided there permanently.
Occasionally, visiting Foundation Establishment cultivators would pass through as well.
The goods sold in the immortal city were also of a much higher caliber than those in the Immortal Market.
However, just as Wei Fan assumed He Song would accept his invitation, He Song quickly shook his head.
"Forget it, forget it. You two go ahead. The immortal city has its merits, but so does the Immortal Market. For now, I'd rather stay here," He Song said, waving his hands dismissively to quash Wei Fan's idea.
Azure Cliff Immortal City?
What would I do there?
Here in the small Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, I can do as I please.
Even if someone offends me, I can easily leverage my connections to make them disappear without a trace.
Why would I give up being a local overlord here to become a nobody in the immortal city?
In Azure Cliff Immortal City, my small network of connections would be worthless.
Even if Wei Fan were at the ninth level of Qi Refinement instead of the seventh, he'd barely make a mark in the immortal city.
If I offend a Foundation Establishment cultivator there, it might even drag Wei Fan into trouble. We'd have no way to escape.
Though such a scenario was unlikely, He Song still felt it was better to stay in the Immortal Market until he had the means to protect himself.
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