Chapter Thirty: Moving House?

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“Wei, is the Foundation Establishment master still present within the Immortal Market?” He Song suddenly felt a desire to leave this place, but after some thought, he decided to ask the question.

If the guardian Foundation Establishment cultivator of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market remained, perhaps there was no need to flee.

But if the guardian had gone to the Scarlet Spirit Gold Mine, He Song feared he would have to run without delay.

Otherwise, should anything happen, and no Foundation Establishment master remained to oversee the market, chaos would break out immediately.

In such disorder, a minor cultivator like himself at the initial stage of Qi Refining would be left to fate.

It was not a situation He Song wished to experience.

He only desired to cultivate in peace.

He had no wish to be drawn into any deadly conflict.

“Of course, still here—I caught a glimpse of him from afar just yesterday. Why do you ask?” Wei Fan replied in surprise.

“The Scarlet Spirit Gold Mine is right beside the Immortal Market. If something happens and no Foundation Establishment master remains to guard it, I worry evil cultivators may run rampant,” He Song’s expression relaxed slightly as he replied.

Still here. Still here.

He Song breathed a great sigh of relief.

As long as a Foundation Establishment master resided in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, no trouble would arise.

Even if evil cultivators attacked, they would be as moths to a flame before such a master.

Yet, even after learning there was still a guardian present, He Song began to consider whether he should leave the market to avoid calamity.

The location of the Scarlet Spirit Gold Mine, in He Song’s eyes, was nothing short of a powder keg.

If nothing happened, life would continue peacefully.

But should trouble erupt... the nearby Immortal Markets would surely be affected.

Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market was not far from the mine, within easy reach of any fallout.

With his early-stage Qi Refining cultivation, remaining here indeed carried unknown risks.

“No need to worry, friend. Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market belongs to the Earth Sect—a sect with Golden Core cultivators. Who would dare cause trouble? Your cautious nature hasn’t changed at all,” Wei Fan said with a smile to reassure him.

But then, as if struck by a thought, his expression stiffened briefly, and he quickly added,

“If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to move in with me. We can look after each other. Even if chaos erupts in the market, I can keep you safe.”

In the five years of friendship with He Song, Wei Fan was well acquainted with his cautious temperament.

Indeed, there was one occasion when, thanks to He Song’s prudence and advice at their monthly gathering, Wei Fan had avoided a moderate crisis.

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For this reason, Wei Fan had no objection to He Song’s careful ways.

And given his own suspicions about the strange happenings at the Scarlet Spirit Gold Mine, he found himself agreeing with He Song’s caution.

That was why he extended the invitation to live together.

It was both for the sake of their friendship and because caution often meant survival.

Having a naturally cautious friend nearby could prove invaluable if disaster struck.

As Wei Fan finished speaking, He Song’s train of thought was abruptly interrupted.

He had been pondering how to leave the market, how to survive in the mundane world with only third stage Qi Refining cultivation, and how to avoid both disaster and unwanted attention.

But before he could finish his musings, Wei Fan offered a solution he had never considered.

Move house?

Not out of the Immortal Market, but into Wei Fan’s residence to live together?

This...

Thoughts flashed through his mind, and after serious consideration, He Song’s eyes brightened.

Even if chaos broke out at the Scarlet Spirit Gold Mine, this area was under the jurisdiction of the Golden Core Earth Sect, with several Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed nearby.

If trouble came, the fighting would surely be near the mine.

He Song had never witnessed a Foundation Establishment battle, but he imagined it would not spread to Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.

Though the market was not distant from the mine, it was still several hundred miles away.

A Foundation Establishment battle would not span such a distance.

Moreover, the Earth Sect had Golden Core cultivators!

Should anything happen at the mine, there was always a Golden Core master to rely on.

Thus, even if a Foundation Establishment war broke out at the mine, at worst, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the market would go to reinforce.

This was He Song’s primary concern.

The safety of the market depended on Foundation Establishment cultivators, deterring evil cultivators.

But if the guardians left to aid at the mine and evil cultivators attacked, Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market’s defenses would be lacking.

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In that event, as a minor Qi Refining cultivator, he would be left adrift amidst the chaos.

Yet, when Wei Fan invited him to live together, He Song’s worries vanished.

Wei Fan’s cultivation was at the seventh stage of Qi Refining, considered late stage.

His residence lay in the area of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market with the densest spiritual energy, closest to the Foundation Establishment master.

There, the neighboring cultivators were nearly all late-stage Qi Refining, with only a few weaker, mostly family members or friends.

With nearly all late-stage cultivators around, even if evil cultivators attacked, they would not dare cause trouble here.

A single late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was not intimidating.

But a group of them together was formidable.

When a cluster of late-stage cultivators joined forces, none below Foundation Establishment would dare provoke them.

“Very well, I’ll trouble you for your hospitality,” He Song replied, having quickly decided after a moment’s thought.

He had already established himself in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market; leaving now would be detrimental to his future.

In the mundane world, spiritual energy was scarce, and cultivation would slow dramatically.

Spirit stones were rare in the mundane world; he would never again receive the annual stipend of one hundred and fifty spirit stones.

There were also evil cultivators roaming the mundane world; with his meager cultivation, he would surely die if targeted.

Moreover, if he left, returning and reclaiming his position as a spiritual plant attendant would be far more difficult.

Even though he had a good relationship with Zhao Lin, who managed the recruitment of attendants for the Herb Pavilion, no one could say whether Zhao Lin would survive any ensuing chaos.

Moving in with Wei Fan was inconvenient, but for now, it was the best option.

First, he need not leave the market, and his cultivation speed would remain unchanged.

Second, he would not have to resign his position and could still collect his annual stipend of one hundred and fifty spirit stones.

Third, with Wei Fan, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, by his side, his personal safety was assured.

Fourth...

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