Volume 1 Volume 5 Chapter 159

Volume 5 Chapter 159: Before the Beginning (Part 3)

"Taoist Friend Wang, please stop."

Hearing Xu Qingfan call out, Wang Zegang quickly halted his flying form and turned to ask, "Is there anything else, Taoist Friend Xu?"

Xu Qingfan smiled slightly and asked, "Taoist Friend Wang is a disciple of the ‘Xuanxu Sect.’ I assume you have already mastered the secret technique ‘Xuanyin Technique’ to its highest level, right?"

"The Xuanyu Sect" is a small sect, and the "Xuanyin Technique" is the only notable cultivation method of this sect. It is very gentle and stable, allowing practitioners to consume their lifespan slowly, yet it is still considered a very mysterious cultivation method.

Wang Zegang did not understand why Xu Qingfan asked this question, but reaching the highest level of a cultivation method should be a great honor. However, Wang Zegang’s expression suddenly showed a hint of bitterness as he slowly replied, "Taoist Friend Xu has sharp insight; I have indeed practiced the Xuanyin Technique to the fifteenth level."

The levels of cultivation methods indicate their complexity. For example, Jiuhua’s "Indefinite Sutra" reaches a peak of twenty-seven levels, while Xu Qingfan’s "Formula of Life and Death" has reached eighteen levels, and may go even higher. It is clear how esteemed the Xuanyin Technique is in the cultivation world. Wang Zegang felt bitter because he knew that with only the Xuanyin Technique, and unless he had another extraordinary opportunity, it would be hard for him to make further progress.

But sometimes, extraordinary opportunities can be very simple things.

Suddenly, Xu Qingfan flipped his right sleeve, and two green slips appeared in his hand. He walked in front of Wang Zegang, handed him one of the green slips, and smiled as he explained, "Your sect’s Xuanyin Technique is truly remarkable, but as they say, ‘a lonely yin does not last, a lonely yang has no future.’ Practicing just the power of the Xuanyin Technique can lead to slow progress in later stages. I have here a cultivation method that I obtained from a ‘Ming’ organization cultivator, called ‘Zhi Gang Zhen Jing.’ It is not a very advanced cultivation method, but it can perfectly complement your Xuanyin Technique. The other green slip contains some experiences I have gained over the years, summarized from my own work ‘Formula of Life and Death.’ It can be used for the merging of yin and yang. Using these two cultivation methods together, along with your Xuanyin Technique, will surely help you, my Taoist friend."

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Wang Zegang shuddered. He knew exactly what Xu Qingfan meant. If he could practice the Zhi Gang Zhen Jing to its highest level and use the other secret method to merge yin and yang, it would almost guarantee his breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage.

Automatically, Wang Zegang was about to thank him and accept, but as he reached out his hand, he felt embarrassed and said, "How can I accept this? This gift is too precious; I cannot take it."

Xu Qingfan shook his head and said, "My Taoist friend, do not act so distant. These two cultivation methods are not useful for me, but they will be of great benefit to you. Giving them to you will allow them to serve their purpose better; keeping them with me would just be for show."

After hearing this from Xu Qingfan, Wang Zegang gritted his teeth and ultimately accepted the two cultivation methods. Even though he owed Xu Qingfan another favor, the temptation of improving his cultivation was just too great.

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Wang Zegang reached out with his mind to observe the two cultivation methods in the green slip. He was suddenly shocked because he found that the method "Zhi Gang Zhen Jing," which Xu Qingfan seemed to think was not very impressive, actually had thirteen levels, not much worse than his own "Xuanyin Technique." The other method, which was about the balance of yin and yang, at first glance, he couldn’t understand at all. Although this was partly because he was not familiar with the yang-oriented methods, it was clear that this cultivation method was very advanced.

Without saying much more, Wang Zegang felt that he could not repay Xu Qingfan’s kindness with just words. He bowed respectfully to Xu Qingfan, said goodbye, and then turned to leave on a cloud, thinking that no matter when or where in the future, if Xu Qingfan called, he would do his best to help.

Watching Wang Zegang quickly fly away into the distance until he vanished, Xu Qingfan sighed silently. Sometimes, these small sect cultivators really had a hard time and were in a difficult position. A cultivation method like "Zhi Gang Zhen Jing" could only be considered mid-level at Jiuhua. A cultivator like Xu Qingfan, who was highly valued by the sect, looked down on it, yet it could make a small sect’s cultivator extremely happy. It was even more true for those rogue cultivators.

Suddenly, Xu Qingfan chuckled at himself and turned to walk back to his room.

If the positions of small sect cultivators and rogue cultivators were not so awkward, how could he easily make these people feel grateful?

To let them feel gratitude and gain benefits, to win their hearts and gain their trust, was part of Xu Qingfan’s plan regarding these cultivators like Wang Zegang.

After Xu Qingfan gave the order, Li Yuhan compiled a list of thirty names for him, all of whom were strong cultivators who had been saved twice by Xu Qingfan, thus feeling either grateful or respectful towards him. Xu Qingfan selected five of the strongest and most pure-hearted ones and asked Li Yuhan to introduce them so they could join the Southern Wasteland plan. Among them, Wang Zegang was the strongest and most valued by Xu Qingfan.

However, without Li Yuhan knowing, Jin Qinghan and Dongfang Qingling also introduced another thirty-four cultivators of similar backgrounds to Xu Qingfan. Besides the twenty-five from Li Yuhan’s list, there were also nine others with similar statuses, all of whom were brought to Xu Qingfan’s courtyard or to the teahouse at the foot of "Ronghua Mountain" to meet Xu Qingfan in secret.

In the following days, Xu Qingfan went back and forth, meeting each of these thirty-nine cultivators one by one, using methods similar to Wang Zegang’s, impressing them with his reputation and demeanor, moving them with kindness, and attracting them with benefits. As a result, all thirty-nine were willing to go through fire and water for Xu Qingfan and held even more respect and admiration for him.

However, at the same time, some delivered elixirs, others brought cultivation methods, and some gave magical tools. After meeting with thirty-nine people, Xu Qingfan had completely exhausted all the spirit stones, elixirs, magical tools, and cultivation methods he had collected since he began his journey as an immortal.

However, Xu Qingfan did not feel regret. Most of these things were rewards from his battles over the years with cultivators from the "Eight Wilderness Hall," "Beast Madness," and members of the "Ming" organization. They were no longer very useful to him, so he was happy to give them away. Moreover, Xu Qingfan understood that simply saving someone’s life would not keep them with him for long. One day, if these people felt they had repaid their debt of gratitude, they would slowly drift away from him. Only by taking advantage of this time to show more kindness could he strengthen their feelings for him and make them feel like they could never fully repay him, keeping them loyal.

Although in just over a month, Xu Qingfan’s wealth became completely clear, the results were also obvious. These thirty-nine cultivators were now wholeheartedly loyal to him, forming a small group of forty with Xu Qingfan at the center. For the first time, Xu Qingfan established a force that belonged to him outside of Jiuhua, completely his own, and no one knew about it. Even Jin Qinghan and Dongfang Qingling believed that Xu Qingfan was simply trying to handle the cultivators who had been wanting to meet him.

The reason Xu Qingfan did this was not because he wanted to become independent from Jiuhua. After nearly two hundred years of cultivating there, Jiuhua held almost all his friends. His master, his senior brothers, and even the grave of Liu Huaxiang, who played the role of a master, were there. His feelings for Jiuhua were no less than anyone else’s, and he would always be devoted to it in the future.

However, Zhang Hualing and Li Yuhan’s attitudes made Xu Qingfan feel the need to protect himself. He did not want to be discarded as a mere transition one day. He needed to leave a backup plan outside of Jiuhua.

If there was one person Xu Qingfan trusted the most since he began his journey as an immortal, it was undoubtedly Jin Qinghan. Xu Qingfan had considered letting Jin Qinghan join this small group, but ultimately he gave up. Jin Qinghan was essentially just a simple cultivator, wholeheartedly focused on his path, and his only ambition might be to defeat Feng Qingtian one day. This simplicity was good, and Xu Qingfan didn’t want to ruin it. It was enough for him to be hypocritical and fallen; he did not want to drag Jin Qinghan down with him. Besides, this small group was formed in case of any unforeseen events in Jiuhua, and he didn’t want to put Jin Qinghan in a difficult position when that day came.

On this day, Xu Qingfan gathered all thirty-nine people together, introduced them to each other, and encouraged them to take care of one another. This marked the official establishment of the small group. Some things didn’t need to be said; the thirty-nine understood.

After returning to his courtyard, Xu Qingfan finally felt a bit relaxed. He should have been used to the rituals of welcoming and seeing off guests over the years, but it didn’t match his true nature, and he still secretly resisted. However, reality was something he had to face.

As Xu Qingfan returned to his room and had just sat down on his bed to meditate, he soon heard an old yet wild voice calling out from outside his courtyard.

"Hey, Xu Qingfan, are you there? If you are, come out."

In the entire Righteous Alliance, only Old Beggar could speak to Xu Qingfan in such an impolite manner.

Although the tone was rude, it made Xu Qingfan feel a strange sense of comfort and made him question if he had a tendency for self-punishment; he felt uneasy when others treated him with respect, but calm when Old Beggar spoke to him this way.

Suddenly, Xu Qingfan thought about why Old Beggar might have come to find him. His spirits lifted, and he rushed to the courtyard entrance, also speaking to Old Beggar without any politeness, directly asking, "Old Beggar, have those materials been successfully crafted?"

Old Beggar rolled his eyes, seemingly annoyed, and said, "You asked me to stop everything and first help you make magical tools, but after the tools were ready, I looked for you three times and you were never there."

Even as he said this, the unmistakable pride in Old Beggar’s eyes showed he was very pleased with the crafting results.

"Were they successful?"

Old Beggar had a look that said "Do you even know who I am?" He scoffed and replied, "They are about to be finished, but for the last item, I need you to help a little. Come with me."

With that, Old Beggar flew ahead toward the workshop where the master craftsmen were gathered, and Xu Qingfan hurried to follow him.