Qingshui Bay.

Lin Chang’an went to the graves to pay tribute to some old friends who had passed away, as well as the master Lu who led him into the Immortal Sect.

In front of the tombstones, Lin Chang’an was silent, but scenes from the past continuously flashed through his mind.

He remembered Erniu’s honesty in his youth, Wei Buyi’s arrogance, and Shen Lie’s eloquence.

Later, as everyone experienced more, they slowly matured. In the turbulent Immortal Cultivation Realm, the initial disagreements turned into mutual support, and they walked this path together.

"Brother Lin, I believe you can definitely form a Core!"

"Brother Lin, you are the most outstanding cultivator among us; you will surely succeed in forming a Core."

"It was the Fire Palace’s biggest loss not to accept us back then!"

The voices and appearances of Li Erniu, Shen Lie, and Wei Buyi seemed to reappear in front of Lin Chang’an, bringing a smile to his face.

He slowly raised the spirit wine from Cyan Bamboo Mountain, its bitterness and spiciness burning down his throat. This time, after drinking it all in one gulp, Lin Chang’an let out a hoarse laugh.

"I’ve formed my Core!"

It was a simple statement, but he did not venture outside in vain — he had formed his Core.

If his three old friends could see this, they would certainly be happy for him.

Sitting alone on the tomb, Lin Chang’an poured spirit wine from Cyan Bamboo Mountain and spoke with a smile about his experiences over the years.

As old friends left one by one, there were fewer and fewer people he could chat with so freely.

At this moment, Lin Chang’an felt the loneliness of a cultivator and finally understood why many cultivators’ personalities became increasingly peculiar, quick to resort to violence at the slightest disagreement.

Because there were fewer and fewer people from the past they could remember and care for, on the lonely path, only one direction of cultivation remained.

The next day, Lin Chang’an attended a welcome banquet at the Gathering Immortals Tower hosted by Li Yifan, who was accompanied by the direct descendants of the clan, as well as Shen Fan and Wei Yingying, along with their descendants.

They did not go anywhere else; it was at the Gathering Immortals Tower.

Originally the property of Old Lu, later prepared by Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing.

Until now, Shen Fan and Wei Yingying, being Foundation Establishment cultivators, naturally wouldn’t show up in person but hired cultivators to continue running it.

Normally, the Gathering Immortals Tower was a renowned venue for Foundation Establishment cultivators to trade at the Qingshui Bay Market.

Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an prominently made his presence known at the Qingshui Bay Market, attracting Foundation Establishment cultivators from several nearby markets to pay their respects.

For these younger generations, this was also the way he could protect them within his ability.

...

After residing at the Qingshui Bay Market for three days, Lin Chang’an left.

As his cultivation became more powerful, many times, the past friendships with these younger generations were altered by various conflicts of interest.

The once-sullen Li Yifan could now be considered a competent leader of the Immortal Cultivation Clan.

However, those below him, especially the offspring born to Erniu with other concubines, many hoped to benefit from him.

This made Lin Chang’an shake his head repeatedly; none of them had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Level Perfection, yet they dared to dream of Foundation Establishment.

Some even boldly attempted to become his disciples.

"The world is never short of these bold cultivators willing to take a gamble."

For these younger ones, it was a no-lose situation, which also rarely angered Li Yifan in private.

Shen Fan had matured significantly compared to before, but Wei Yingying remained as shrewd as ever, never broaching the topic of instructing the next generation.

Riding his Cyan-Horned Bull, Lin Chang’an headed in the direction of the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, shaking his head.

His relationship with Erniu was indeed good, but it wasn’t to the extent of being a caretaker for all of Erniu’s descendants.

Among these younger generations, he only recognized Li Yifan, Wei Yingying, and Shen Fan; the rest had no such connection.

Moreover, he had already helped these juniors enough.

"The Zhou Family!"

Seeing the familiar Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market from a distance, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but reveal a nostalgic look.

However, unfamiliar faces and some changes in the market were evident.

The trees had grown more luxuriant.

First, he visited the back mountain, where weeds had overgrown Old He’s almost obliterated tombstone, leaving a bottle of Cyan Bamboo Spirit Wine.

"Old He, who knows when I’ll be back next time. He Yan is quite strong now, much stronger than you were."

After paying respects to Old He, Lin Chang’an sighed softly and turned his gaze toward the Zhou Family, now the most prosperous Beast Taming family in Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.

It was also the most powerful Foundation Establishment clan in a radius of hundreds of miles.

The Beast Taming Zhou Family, after lying low for so many years, finally raised a quasi Tier-Three Profound Water Turtle with Fake Pill Realm strength.

More importantly, the Profound Water Turtle’s life span of over a thousand years meant that for a millennium, the Zhou Family’s territory would always have a Fake Pill Realm Clan Guardian Spirit Beast.

...

The Zhou Family.

"Greetings, Master Lin."

When Lin Chang’an appeared at the Zhou Family riding his Cyan-Horned Bull, the whole family was thrilled; they hadn’t expected the Core Formation Master Lin to pay them a visit.

"Patriarch Zhou, it’s been a long time."

Seeing the Zhou Family’s patriarch, Zhou Renmao, once more, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

This once cultured patriarch now had hair turning white, his life span visibly within just a matter of years.

"Master Lin!"

Seeing that Lin Chang’an still remembered the past bonds, Zhou Renmao, who had worked tirelessly for the clan all his life, couldn’t help but have tears in his eyes.

It seemed that Patriarch Zhou understood why Lin Chang’an had come, a tinge of sadness in his demeanor, and waved the clan members away, then led him to the ancestral hall.

"Eight years ago, Bingyun went to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range to seek spirit fruit, encountered tribulation cultivators from the Li Huo Palace, and then..."

Seeing Zhou Bingyun’s memorial plaque, Lin Chang’an had a vague premonition about what happened. Yet, upon truly seeing it, he couldn’t suppress the flash of sorrow in his eyes.