Gains

Two days quickly passed, and Li Yasi's name had already become widely known within the Li Family.

During this period, most of the conversations among the Li Family disciples after meals revolved around Li Yasi, marveling at this sudden dark horse.

As this matter quickly brewed, even some Elders learned of it, allowing him to make a small impression.

......

The scene shifts.

Li Tan also emerged from his seclusion, and his mood brightened as he looked at the clear sunlight: "Today is the day of the banquet, let me see how many fat sheep there are."

Secondly, he was hesitating between Cultivation Techniques and Magical Artifacts, as well as the progress of his Corpse Refinement. It was no exaggeration to say that he now held a high and powerful position.

He could completely scheme for the burial grounds of High Grade disciples! There must be a Building Foundation Cultivator's corpse there!

After this banquet, it will be time to make a move....

The “Fiend Corpse Condensation Technique” contains cultivation methods for both the Qi Condensation Stage and the Foundation Establishment Stage.

“It seems I need to find an opportunity to buy the Materials for the Foundation Establishment Stage. If I possess a Silver Armor Corpse from the Foundation Establishment Stage, my life will be greatly secured.”

The Materials for refining a Foundation Establishment Stage Fiend Corpse are: “Yin Desolate Wood, Yin and Yang Tree Heart, Kui Snake Fruit, and Evil Qi Stone, these four Materials.”

Even the lowest-priced Evil Qi Stone exceeds thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and to gather these four Materials, the consumption of Spirit Stones will likely reach a massive two hundred thousand!

“Furthermore, during the Corpse Refinement process, one is very vulnerable and cannot be disturbed, but with Li Yong's token, I am not afraid of this for now.”

“A Foundation Establishment Stage Corpse Fiend! If I can obtain one, I can even contend with a Foundation Establishment Grandmaster!”

The “Fiend Corpse Condensation Technique” records that a Corpse Fiend needs to be constantly nourished by Yin Qi, just like a Cultivator absorbs Spiritual Qi to nourish himself. This means a Magical Artifact for storing the Corpse Fiend must be obtained!

“It seems I will have to wander around Qingfeng City for a while....”

The four great Families all have their own merchant associations and also regularly hold joint auctions. Perhaps then he can scheme for something.

What troubled Li Tan was the master behind that merchant; this was the only loose end he currently had, and it was a persistent worry, yet he had no way to investigate it.

“The enemy is hidden, and I am exposed, but with my current status, I am not afraid.”

As Li Tan’s thoughts raced, he thought of Li Yasi again. Should he kill her or not? Li Yasi currently held no value, but he feared exposure if he acted, so he simply kept her confined.

Currently, Li Tan was utterly penniless, with only two valuable Storage Rings but very few Spirit Stones.

In his spare time, he also visited Li Yong, asking about some cultivation doubts and questions about Magical Artifacts and the like.

After all, Li Yong was a Grandmaster in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. The guidance he provided always brought Li Tan great gains....

............

Time quickly arrived at evening, the start of the banquet.

Li Tan chose a high-end restaurant in Qingfeng City for the venue, a place that offered Yao Beast meat and Spirit Wine not found in ordinary restaurants....

However, the prices were exorbitant; a single table of dishes cost several hundred Spirit Stones!

Ordinary disciples simply could not afford to dine there. The Cultivators who could come here were either rich or noble, all elite members of their Families.

Accompanied by the rising and falling sounds of a zither and the performances of dancing girls, platters of fragrant Spirit Beast meat, whose aroma wafted for miles, were served by graceful and dignified waitresses, and cups of fragrant, rich, and mellow Spirit Wine were poured into silver goblets.

The banquet officially began....

As guests took their seats one by one, the atmosphere gradually grew lively. If an outsider were present, they would surely be astonished.

Because they would discover that all the guests who entered were actually High Grade disciples of the Li Family!

Since this banquet was widely hosted by Li Tan, and his status as an Elder's successor candidate had been heavily publicized within two days, every Li Family disciple would show him some respect.

A rough estimate showed that there were more than forty High Grade disciples who came to attend the banquet!

Li Tan saw many familiar faces. He was surprised to find that, except for Li Shaojie, almost everyone from the talent assessment half a month ago had arrived.

These High Grade disciples, who were usually arrogant, all brought a congratulatory gift.

There is a saying that goes, “If you give a gift, others may not remember you, but if you don’t give a gift, others will definitely remember you.”

They were merely a bit simple-minded, not foolish. Exploitation existed everywhere, even among High Grade disciples.

After three rounds of drinks, the banquet atmosphere gradually relaxed. Initially, Li Tan had been disdainful of Yao Beast meat, until he tasted the thigh meat of a “Horned Deer Yao.”

The meat was very chewy yet not at all tough. As the thigh meat was chewed in the mouth, it was tender and not greasy, with bursting juices and splattering oils.

The flavor lingered, and after one bite, the aftertaste was endless, truly deserving the title of “a delicacy beyond compare.”

Just as the banquet was about to end, Li Tan's “shills” quietly began to act.

During the banquet, Li Na slowly walked over, and the next moment, she clasped her hands and bowed to Li Tan.

Then she presented a Qiankun Bag, and her mouth poured out flattery as if it cost nothing: “In the Cultivation world, strength is revered, so seniority must naturally be allocated according to strength. Little sister will presumptuously address you as Master Si.”

“Master Si is accomplished in both civil and martial arts, resourceful and wise, a rare treasure among men in this world! He is also a rare Dragon and Phoenix among men, exceptionally talented and influential, and will surely ascend to the position of Second Elder in the future!”

“This humble one knows her background is weak and her talent meager; compared to Master Si, it is no exaggeration to say I am like a mayfly seeing the vast sky! This humble one dares not compare herself to Master Si; merely being able to look up to Master Si’s back is enough to satisfy me.”

“Please, Master Si, accept this insignificant Qiankun Bag, otherwise, this humble one truly won't have the face to return.”

Li Tan, who was above, also felt a tumultuous wave in his heart, unable to calm down for a long time: “I asked you to act a bit, but who knew you would perform so excellently?”

“You truly are a master of words!”

For impoverished disciples and servants of the Li Family, storage items were merely cloth bags.

Ordinary High Grade disciples could use Qiankun Bags, which had small internal spaces and were not aesthetically pleasing on the outside. Only truly wealthy disciples would use Storage Rings.

At this moment, Li Tan, however, wore a troubled expression, stammering, unsure of what to say.

Li Na, seeing Li Tan's expression, instantly understood his thoughts. Then, she gave a subtle hint.

The second shill squeezed out from the crowd, and everyone's gaze instantly focused on him. This young man did not dare to meet Li Tan's gaze, merely standing silently in the center of the banquet.

Then, a fluent stream of flattery was spouted out, and finally, he also presented his Qiankun Bag.

Finally, this young man even said: “If Master Si does not accept my Qiankun Bag, then I shall kneel here and not rise!”

Li Tan had no choice but to reluctantly accept their kindness, as he could not bear to see others' distressed expressions.

From the perspective of the crowd, both individuals voluntarily offered their Qiankun Bags, having nothing to do with Li Tan, and there was no coercion, at least on the surface.

Even if some of them knew this was Li Tan's scheme, they could only fall into it one by one.

Under the circumstances, as more and more people offered Qiankun Bags to bribe Li Tan, the few who held out in the crowd appeared increasingly out of place, and as time passed, they gradually crumbled.

“If you give a gift, others may not remember you, but if you don’t give a gift, others will definitely remember you.”

After the banquet, Li Tan even waved his hand grandly, making a righteous guarantee!

“If any of you encounter difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me, Li Yasi. If I betray trust and burn bridges, then I, Li Yasi, am not a human being!”

....

On the luxurious streets, there was a group of out-of-place vagrants, dressed in ragged clothes, their hair matted with unknown substances, living hand-to-mouth.

They frantically snatched the leftover steamed bun crumbs from the ground, each one baring their teeth and grinning, wildly wielding weapons picked up from anywhere.

These dirty steamed bun crumbs, clearly trampled upon, had become treasures in the eyes of the vagrants at this moment.

They were life-saving medicine, for which they were willing to fight with comrades and break ties with close friends.

Corpses lay isolated on the roadside, strewn across the street, including elderly people and innocent children.

“Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste, while on the road, people freeze to death.”