On Xu Ning's side, because he had just been promoted to elder, all the Foundation Establishment elders in the sect came to visit.
Reaching Foundation Establishment meant his lifespan increased to five hundred years, and they were all important figures in the sect's structure. They would inevitably cross paths, so they all came to visit and get acquainted.
Xu Ning welcomed everyone and cultivated good relationships with them all.
After all, these were all those who had reached Foundation Establishment earlier than him, and unless they formed their core, they would all surpass him.
If he befriended them now, they would all be his future spiritual roots for upgrading.
It took him a month to deal with most of the Foundation Establishment elders in the sect.
Looking at the mountain peak that had returned to peace, Xu Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
Next, he could peacefully live out his four hundred years.
From that day on, Xu Ning's daily routine consisted of refining legendary-level Yuan Power Pills for cultivation, while also practicing the Blood Demon Technique and the Nine Forms of Asking the Gods.
In his spare time, Xu Ning would also practice the Celestial Gazing Technique and refine spirit-grade divine pills.
Of course, such days were monotonous and tedious, so he would occasionally go out for a stroll, especially enjoying the miscellaneous tasks area.
Occasionally, he would encounter some elderly Qi Refining cultivators, whom he would take to Qingxuan Peak, treating them with great care and ensuring their comfortable retirement.
He was also constantly gathering materials to upgrade various items to legendary status.
In these peaceful days, two hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.
On Qingxuan Peak, behind the Peak Master's Hall, on the surface, there seemed to be nothing special. However, if one were to enter, one would find that it was shrouded in mist, which cultivators would recognize as the result of extremely dense spiritual energy.
Amidst the swirling mist, a large black ox lay on the ground, its long-haired tail swaying occasionally.
On its back, an eagle was preening its feathers.
Over the years, the cultivation levels of both beasts had reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage thanks to Xu Ning's accumulation of numerous spiritual herbs. However, this meant that the spiritual herbs needed to upgrade Tie Dan to legendary status remained elusive.
At this moment, Xu Ning was meditating cross-legged amidst the clouds, the surrounding spiritual energy surging wildly into his body.
Suddenly, the incoming spiritual energy accelerated, forming a vortex.
Xu Ning's aura also began to change at this moment, slowly transforming from the mid-Foundation Establishment stage to the late-Foundation Establishment stage.
After a long while, Xu Ning, having consolidated his cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Finally, late-Foundation Establishment! Decades later than expected."
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Cultivating continuously with legendary Yuan Power Pills, this speed was already considered slow.
If it were a top-grade Foundation Establishment cultivator, they would have already formed their core.
According to the estimate, it would take more than four hundred years to reach the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment.
As for obtaining divine-grade Yuan Power Pills to increase cultivation speed, Xu Ning couldn't do that yet.
The legendary spiritual herbs required to upgrade to divine-grade were too vast. Before his spiritual field was upgraded to Yuan-level legendary or divine-grade, he simply couldn't produce them.
Everything still needed to be done slowly.
A few days later, the sect held an elders' meeting, urging the elders to cultivate fresh blood for the sect.
Xu Ning was strictly supervised. After all, he had been an elder for two hundred years without taking on a single disciple.
Upon returning to Qingxuan Peak, Xu Ning couldn't help but ponder whether to accept two ordinary disciples.
Forget it, he thought. To appease the sect, I'll accept them.
However, Xu Ning wouldn't teach these two disciples anything else, only cultivation techniques and providing some protection.
As for their future achievements, that would depend on their own fate.
With the return of the elders who had gone out to recruit, Xu Ning, unusually, went to scout for them.
He didn't specifically choose, ultimately selecting Ye Shengjie, who possessed three spiritual roots, and Yu Shunan, who possessed four.
After bringing the two to Qingxuan Peak and holding the apprenticeship ceremony, Xu Ning passed on the core Qi Refining technique of the Ancient Oriole Sect to them.
He also taught them some ordinary cultivation techniques.
"Outside the Peak Master's Hall, you may choose any place to live, or you may cultivate spirit fields. The decision is yours."
"Behind the Peak Master's Hall is my secluded cultivation place. You are not allowed to enter. If you need anything, please report to me first."
"Besides cultivation and practicing techniques, if you are interested in alchemy, weapon crafting, or planting, you can come to me, and I will teach you."
Ye Shengjie and Yu Shunan bowed in unison. "Yes, Master!"
After waving them away, Xu Ning returned to his thatched hut to continue his cultivation.
Ye Shengjie and Yu Shunan built houses next to the Cave Master's Hall and began cultivating spirit fields.
The spirit fields were already there, but Xu Ning hadn't planted them, so they were all abandoned. They only needed to be cultivated again.
However, after half a month, Ye Shengjie seemed to have lost patience and often went out to do something unknown.
On the contrary, Yu Shunan worked diligently every day, managing the spirit fields quite well.
The thatched hut couldn't help but ask Xu Ning, "As their master, don't you give them any resources?"
Xu Ning shook his head. "Can I give them resources for a while, or for a lifetime? Resources definitely have to come from our own efforts. I'm taking on disciples, not sons. Am I supposed to support them?"
The thatched hut said, "That's true!"
The iron pot couldn't help but ask curiously, "You haven't taught them many of your real skills. Everyone, guess what they'll become?"
Xu Ning said, "You'll find out soon enough!"
In just one year, Yu Shunan's spiritual fields had begun to mature, and he was using the mature spiritual herbs to exchange for resources to accelerate his cultivation.
In contrast, Ye Shengjie often went out to engage in robbery and plunder, which Xu Ning shook his head at, but he didn't interfere.
The path of cultivation varies depending on one's personality.
Some people are peaceful and patient, suited to farming for resources for cultivation.
Others are impatient and restless, better suited to various adventures to acquire large amounts of resources.
Yu Shunan and Ye Shengjie were the most stark contrast.
Xu Ning didn't want to interfere with their paths. Their final achievements were up to their own destiny.
In the blink of an eye, it was the second year since Xu Ning took on his disciples.
Ye Shengjie was frequently seriously injured, but his cultivation rate was faster than Yu Shunan's, reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Yu Shunan was still only at the third level.
However, Yu Shunan's resource acquisition was very stable, with a fixed monthly resource income.
In comparison, Ye Shengjie was much worse off, frequently needing to go out on missions and adventures to acquire resources.
That day, Yu Shunan suddenly sent a message to Xu Ning. "Master, I want to learn alchemy!"
Xu Ning said, "Have you prepared the pill formula, the complete set of spiritual herbs, the alchemy furnace, and the flame?"
Yu Shunan was taken aback, then shook his head. "Master, I don't!"
Xu Ning said, "I have the pill formula and the flame here. You can prepare the rest yourself!"
Yu Shunan said, "Yes, Master!"
The next morning, Yu Shunan prepared his things and went to the alchemy room in the Peak Master's Hall.
Seeing Xu Ning come over, Yu Shunan quickly cupped his hands in greeting and called out, "Master!"
Xu Ning nodded gently. "Take out everything you've prepared. I'll demonstrate a furnace for you first!"
Yu Shunan nodded in delight and quickly took out his things.