Bayue Weiban

Chapter 481 Song Jiuan's Thoughts

Months after Song Jiuan entered his seclusion, and after he officially began his breakthrough, another half a year quickly passed.

The anomalies above the Song family's residence had also persisted for a full half a year.

Finally, on a certain day, all the anomalies vanished. Silently, a powerful aura permeated outwards.

Various factions received news of this location at the first possible moment, and countless people sighed in unison.

Song Jiuan... had successfully broken through!

A newly promoted Golden Core great cultivator was thus born into the world, and moreover, a Grandmaster of Talisman Arts!

Another two to three months passed, and Song Jiuan, having initially stabilized his own cultivation and realm, finally emerged from his seclusion.

It was on this very day that the Song family widely sent out invitations, inviting various factions from within and outside the prefectural city.

"This Song Jiuan didn't turn hostile immediately after breaking through."

Ji Yuan looked at the invitation in his hand and then revealed a brilliant smile.

However, these words were only spoken in his heart and not uttered aloud, as he was still seated before a young master of the Song family.

"On the day of the banquet, please have Your Eminence sit beside my father."

Song Mingze said with a smile.

This arrangement caused the few people in the reception hall to exchange glances.

Sitting beside a Golden Core great cultivator, especially at a celebratory banquet for his successful breakthrough, was indeed a great honor.

In this way, Ji Yuan would also become the focal point of all factions within and outside the prefectural city on that day.

"Then please thank Fellow Daoist Song on my behalf."

He spoke slowly, not changing his address just because the other party had broken through.

It was not that he was being presumptuous; rather, given the existing relationship between them, such formality was unnecessary.

After a period of casual conversation, Song Mingze rose to take his leave, and Zhao Yuebai escorted him out.

"Master of the View, you must be extra careful on your journey."

After a while, Wu Xiong suddenly spoke up, reminding him.

Song Jiuan's action appeared to be a good gesture, but sometimes fortune and misfortune are intertwined. If the other party harbored any ulterior motives, a good deed could turn into something bad.

Ji Yuan nodded; he naturally would not make any mistakes in matters that required caution.

However, setting aside any potential incidents, the other party's actions were indeed commendable.

Among cultivators, there were not a few cases where individuals with originally excellent relationships would fall out after one of them broke through.

For the other party to remember certain unspoken understandings with Ji Yuan after advancing to the Golden Core realm was, while not commonplace, certainly not rare.

"This person likely sees my value."

Ji Yuan murmured to himself, then smiled and said, "Regardless, it is a good thing."

No matter what the other party valued, as long as he could handle it, it would only be a good thing with more benefits than drawbacks.

As for how to handle it, he had been preparing for so long that he was naturally fully prepared.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. This day was precisely when Song Jiuan was hosting the banquet for cultivators and factions from all sides.

Having calculated the time, and with more than an hour remaining before the banquet, Ji Yuan, accompanied by Zhao Yuebai, Li Junxian, Wu Xiong, and Tian Lianshan, arrived outside the Song family's mansion in a carriage.

Accompanying them were four outer disciples from Xuantian Peak and four cultivators recruited by Xuantian Temple, belonging to Wu Xiong and Tian Lianshan respectively.

Upon entering the Song family's premises, Ji Yuan was led to the rear hall, while the others were escorted to the side reception hall, where exquisite spiritual tea and fruits were served.

Seeing the other party again after more than a year, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Before this, Song Jiuan had been a cultivator at the late stage of the third realm; now, upon their reunion, he had successfully advanced to the Golden Core realm.

The difference between realms was a gap that countless cultivators might never bridge in their entire lives.

"Congratulations on your successful breakthrough, Fellow Daoist."

Ji Yuan cupped his hands in a smiling salute, then presented several bottles of elixirs as congratulatory gifts.

These bottles of elixirs were none other than the Nine Dragon Spirit Nurturing Pills, totaling nine pills.

Such a gift was considered extremely generous.

"It is also thanks to your elixirs, Fellow Daoist, that I could not have broken through smoothly."

Song Jiuan said with a hearty laugh.

And what he said was indeed the truth. Had it not been for the Five Energies Returning to the Origin Pills to restore his True Essence and replenish his years of depletion, combined with the assistance of the Divine Observatory Heart-Sky Pill and the Nine Dragon Spirit Nurturing Pills,

It was likely that he would have had no hope of breaking through to the Golden Core realm in his lifetime.

As Song Jiuan led Ji Yuan to a seat, he handed the nine Nine Dragon Spirit Nurturing Pills he had received to Song Mingze, who was standing nearby.

The latter was overjoyed and then quietly withdrew, to handle some matters while also going to attend to Zhao Yuebai and the others in the side hall.

"At the banquet later, I will inform all the factions that my successful breakthrough this time is largely due to your elixirs, Fellow Daoist."

As soon as they were seated, Song Jiuan slowly began to speak.

In truth, the efficacy of the elixirs was secondary; the primary factor was his own sufficient accumulation and his profound understanding of the Dao.

With such a combination, coupled with various aids, he was able to successfully break through.

Otherwise, for a cultivator lacking a strong foundation, even with the help of various heavenly materials and earthly treasures, breaking through to the Golden Core realm would not be smooth.

"I thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist."

Ji Yuan returned his smile, his eyes narrowing slightly.

It was naturally a very good thing that the other party remembered the tacit understanding they had previously reached.

However, since he had brought it up, there was likely more to come.

As expected, after a moment of pause, Song Jiuan said with a slightly solemn expression, "Speaking of which, I still have a matter I wish to discuss with you, Fellow Daoist."

Although Ji Yuan had already deduced many possible scenarios in his mind, the conversation that followed still exceeded his original expectations.

Song Jiuan's intention was to cooperate with him and secure a foothold in the prefectural city.

While it was somewhat beyond his expectation, upon careful consideration, it was within reason.

Although the Song family held a certain status within the prefectural city, compared to truly established sects and major powers, they were still significantly weaker.

It was understandable; how could Song Jiuan alone contend against a vast power?

Even with his status as a Grandmaster of Talisman Arts, his influence could only be limited to the prefectural city.

It was only with his current Golden Core realm cultivation that he could make some changes.

However, with just this, at best, he could establish a force, but it would be difficult to achieve any great success.

"The benefits that can be distributed within the prefectural city have already been claimed by various factions. It is not an easy task to get a share of the pie,"

Song Jiuan sighed.

If it were before his breakthrough, he would not have had too many ideas. Relying on his status as a Grandmaster of Talisman Arts and the Song family's accumulated resources would have been sufficient for himself and those under him.

But after his breakthrough, this wealth was barely enough to support his own needs. Even his daily cultivation resources might not be guaranteed.

Once one's cultivation reaches the Golden Core realm and above, the amount of spiritual energy required daily for cultivation becomes immense.

If he were to only absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth, the Prefect would likely expel him from the city immediately.

And if he relied on elixirs and other means, the daily expenditure would be extremely vast. Accumulated over time, a single Song family would not be able to support it.

Unless Song Jiuan spent a large portion of his time continuously drawing high-grade talismans.

But even so, the Song family would find it difficult to accumulate wealth, and even more difficult to ensure the supply for their subordinates.