Juxian Tower, the Heavenly Private Room.
Yun Yao, Shen Lie, Lin Chang'an, Li Ernai, and Wei Buyi — five of them gathered around one table.
Wei Buyi was from the same batch that had taken the sect's assessment originally. Unlike the others, he was a son of one of Master Lu's old friends; they only met at the foot of the sect's testing mountain.
The other four had come together from the mundane world into this unfamiliar immortal cultivation realm.
Originally, this gathering wasn't meant to include him. But since he had also come to see Master Lu off one last time, and since they had been somewhat classmates before, they invited him along.
"Fairy Yun, please don't decline. Strength is respected in the cultivation world — please, take the seat of honor."
Yun Yao did not refuse and sat gracefully in the main seat.
Reuniting after twenty years, the five were filled with emotion. The faces of their youth had all matured significantly.
Yun Yao had changed the most, having now become a fully accomplished Qi Refining stage cultivator in their eyes.
"After twenty years, to gather again — let's first toast to ourselves."
Shen Lie, the young marquis who was usually best at networking, raised his cup with reddened eyes.
Only those who had struggled and clawed their way through the cultivation world could understand the bitterness behind it. To have all survived twenty years, and even reunite again, was luckier than most.
"To our health!"
Without much more said, even Yun Yao, usually cold and reserved, showed a subtle change in expression.
Lin Chang'an downed his cup with a sigh of emotion.
After the first cup, the unfamiliarity between them gradually faded, and the atmosphere warmed.
Especially after hearing that Ernai had broken through at the Zhou family and even had a son born with a spiritual root, Shen Lie and Wei Buyi both expressed admiration.
Who would have thought that the lowest-status farm boy back then would have done so well — truly rooted in the cultivation world.
Even Shen Lie felt a bit envious.
"If I had known, I would've gone to Qingzhu Mountain Market with Ernai and Brother Lin back then."
Though Shen Lie's cultivation was at the fifth level of Qi Refining, only he knew how hard the past years had been.
"But Lin Chang'an, I heard you were planning to return to the mundane world?"
Wei Buyi smiled but feigned surprise as he looked at Lin Chang'an.
This made Yun Yao and Shen Lie both frown — Wei Buyi had always looked down on them, the ones who came from the mundane world.
And now, twenty years later, he was still like that.
No, Wei Buyi's character had improved somewhat. At least his attitude toward Yun Yao and Shen Lie was no longer the same, and he no longer looked down on Li Ernai as he once had.
But Ernai shot Wei Buyi a glare — back then, Wei was the one he disliked most, and even after twenty years, nothing had changed.
"You, Wei, are mistaken. Brother Lin is already skilled at drawing first-rank lower-grade refined talismans — not like you, a half-baked alchemist."
Ernai snapped back unhappily, and Lin Chang'an smiled, nodding:
"I did intend to return to the mundane world at one point, but after letting go of my inner attachments, I suddenly had an enlightenment that made everything clear."
Lin Chang'an said this with a smile but was already thinking deeply.
His initial plan to give up and return to the mundane world had only been shared with Ernai and a letter sent to Master Lu — Ernai would never betray him, and Master Lu was not that kind of person.
Considering Wei Buyi's lackluster progress over the years, and Master Lu's recent passing and considerable estate left behind...
Lin Chang'an seemed to understand something, but he only smiled. With this princess here, protecting this little junior sister was easy.
"First-rank lower-grade refined talismans!"
Everyone knew this meant Lin Chang'an was already capable of learning to craft first-rank middle-grade talismans.
This embarrassed Wei Buyi, whose face flushed red; he awkwardly chuckled.
"I misspoke. Let's drink first."
Wei Buyi was quick to change his tone, able to both keep his pride and humble himself. He lifted his cup and drank deeply to show his apology.
"First-rank middle-grade talismans — Brother Lin, what are your plans next?"
Yun Yao's bright eyes looked at Lin Chang'an, a flicker of memories crossing her gaze.
Hearing the term "Brother Lin" made Lin Chang'an pause.
"The market will be expanding its development efforts soon, so I plan to visit the Zhou family."
Lin Chang'an smiled and, after some thought, decided to speak openly since the topic had come up. No need to hide it here.
Ernai's face brightened at this — so they would be together often again.
"Then congratulations in advance, Brother Lin."
Shen Lie excitedly raised his cup to congratulate him. Being a first-rank middle-grade talisman craftsman was far more valuable than his fifth-level Qi Refining.
"That's good as well."
Yun Yao nodded gently, as if lost in thought.
"We are all cultivators — no need to maintain worldly titles. Why not call each other Dao Friends from now on?"
Lin Chang'an smiled and raised his cup, making the suggestion.
Though his gaze was on Shen Lie, everyone knew who he meant.
"Yes, yes, may we still call each other Dao Friends a hundred years from now."
Under Shen Lie's smooth influence, the atmosphere gradually became more harmonious.
Yun Yao glanced at Lin Chang'an meaningfully, being the first to address him as Dao Friend.
As Lin Chang'an chatted with everyone with a smile, he silently sighed.
It wasn't that he was timid — he had simply been through too much.
In the cultivation world, a single careless moment could mean death.
A female cultivator like Yun Yao, gifted, powerful, and beautiful, was most prone to trouble.
"I just need to be steady now. Building the foundation later isn't impossible, but I can't be reckless and attract enemies."
Lin Chang'an thought to himself — his special advantage gave him unlimited potential, but not the strength to leap beyond his rank.
He had a bright future but must not waste it.
Wei Buyi also joined the discussion, exchanging cultivation insights and chatting about strange events in the cultivation world.
...
No banquet lasts forever. As Lin Chang'an and his group left Juxian Tower, they bid each other farewell, offering blessings for a long-lasting cultivation journey before parting ways.
Juxian Tower Loft.
Looking out the window at the departing figures, Yun Yao, dressed in simple white attire, whispered:
"Qingqing, you saw everything. What do you think?"
At Yun Yao's soft voice, Lu Qingqing emerged from behind a screen.
But on the delicate, refined face, her eyes carried a steady, mature gaze.
"Sister Yun, you once said Brother Lin was the most suitable, but what I see is someone who has endured twenty years of hardship without giving up, someone whose resolve remains firm even now. Yet, he's not suited for starting a family."
Lu Qingqing shook her head gently. She wasn't naive or blind. She knew well her own low-grade spiritual root aptitude.
Without strong assets of her own, climbing too high would only make her a mere accessory.
"And Wei Buyi — in the last two years, he's often returned to Qingshui Bay, maintaining contact under the pretense of old family ties. But I know his intentions — it's all about the inheritance. He's too calculating."
Though Master Lu had only reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, he left behind a lifetime of wealth and connections. Wei Buyi's father passed early, and Wei himself hadn't accomplished much outside — clearly he wanted to take advantage of the family's estate.
Lu Qingqing shook her head with some self-mockery:
"When Brother Lin sent his letter, Grandpa sighed sadly. Wei Buyi only caught wind of it and acted like this today.
In the cultivation world, even someone as gifted as you, Sister Yun, must be cautious. His attitude now may bring disaster."
It's one thing to have ill intentions, but the worst is to lack self-awareness.
Listening to Lu Qingqing's judgment, Yun Yao nodded softly, sighing.
"You're right. The cultivation world is ever-changing and unstable — nothing comes easily."
As Master Lu's granddaughter, Lu Qingqing had no grand ambitions, only a wish to live steadily.
She didn't mind Wei Buyi's greed — after all, how many in the cultivation world aren't greedy? But after observing him quietly today, she was disappointed.
Li Ernai was honest and reliable — the best choice — but he had long since become a son-in-law to the Zhou family, so was out of the question.
If Lin Chang'an knew, he would probably be frustrated again. He was rejected back then for his looks, and now for his resolute Dao heart.
Ernai's steady nature made him the preferred candidate all along.
The cultivation world was so unfair.
"The young marquis Shen Lie is smooth, good at networking, knows when to advance or retreat, and lacks great ambition. Grandpa's connections will fade over time anyway.
Maybe the young marquis and I could help Sister Yun set up a business association to earn some spirit stones for cultivation."
After a moment's thought, Lu Qingqing looked at Yun Yao and spoke softly.
"Have you decided?"
"Yes, I have."
Lu Qingqing smiled. Her greatest strength was self-awareness.
Right now, Yun Yao was her only support, but with time, that reliance would fade.
So for now, aligning with Yun Yao was the best choice.
Not only would it preserve her grandfather's legacy and connections, but if Yun Yao truly builds her foundation in the future, her backing would be even stronger.
As the saying goes, adding flowers to brocade is easy; offering help in snow is hard.
"Then I'll introduce you to Shen Lie. Whether it works out depends on your fate."
Yun Yao nodded gently, smiling.
She was perceptive enough to see Lu Qingqing's intentions, but precisely because Lu Qingqing knew when to advance and retreat, she never made things difficult.
After all, she was Master Lu's only descendant.
The best candidate was still Lin Chang'an.
As Lu Qingqing brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, she glanced at Sister Yun.
Yun Yao, looking out the window at the now vanished figures, felt the emotions in her eyes gradually fade.
The youthful romantic feelings of her childhood had long since matured and dimmed.
But this reunion was different — she did not see the imagined ruin and mediocrity but the confident dark eyes of old.
However, the gap between them was clear now.
Yun Yao smiled calmly — this was just a memory on her life's journey.
Her only firm goal now was:
Foundation Establishment!