107: Chapter 107 Xiong Meng's 'Invitation'

He examined his internal state with his Divine Sense.

Xu Changsheng's Face was filled with joy.

"Heh."

The corners of his mouth curled into a slight arc.

"Haha."

His laughter became increasingly unrestrained.

"Hahahaha."

Xu Changsheng raised his hands, feeling the surging spiritual power circulating throughout his body.

Finally no longer suppressing his excitement, he laughed out loud.

"Finally, finally, I've taken this step!"

Becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator meant he was no longer that Qi Refining Cultivator whom anyone could push around.

No longer a bottom-tier lackey with no rights in the cultivation world.

"It really wasn't easy."

Xu Changsheng recalled the journey he had taken step by step since Liuyun Market, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He didn't dwell on his emotions for long; after a mere fifteen minutes,

"But..."

He raised his head, looking into the distance with infinite determination.

"The road is long and difficult, but persistence leads to the destination. Today, I've merely caught a glimpse of the threshold."

"It's just one small step for me, Xu Changsheng, toward immortality."

With this thought,

He tucked away the emotions floating deep within and restrained his overflowing spiritual power.

He stood up and walked out of his Immortal Cave.

The moment the entrance of the Immortal Cave slowly opened, he froze.

He had expected people to come watch or even disturb him, so he had already fully activated the Great Cloud Rain Formation. After releasing Ink Shadow and probing slightly with his Divine Sense, he knew people had arrived outside.

But he never expected...

Why were there so many people!

Outside the Formation, as far as the eye could see from the mountainside to the valley, there was a dense, dark mass of bobbing heads.

"Is it really this exaggerated?"

Xu Changsheng rubbed his chin and narrowed his eyes slightly.

The noise was tumultuous.

He could faintly hear terms like 'Dao Rhyme Foundation Establishment'.

He was confused.

But he also knew he had caused quite a stir just now.

"No wonder the Spiritual Qi during this breakthrough was so much more violent than Tanger's. There must be something strange going on!"

He took a deep breath.

He strode out of the mist and stood openly before everyone.

Cupping his hands in a salute, he said, "This Xu has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment during this seclusion. I thank all Fellow Daoists for coming to witness it."

Li Hongxuan stepped forward with a radiant smile. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Xu, on achieving a Dao Rhyme Foundation Establishment, something unprecedented in Yellow Ox Immortal City!"

Hearing the term again, the confusion in his heart deepened.

"May I ask, Fellow Daoist Li, what is a Dao Rhyme Foundation Establishment?"

Li Hongxuan scratched his head. "As the one who did it, you actually don't know?"

Just as he was about to ask further,

A familiar voice came from the horizon.

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Xu, I hope you've been well."

A sturdy man in a short-sleeved shirt stood atop a piece of Black Rock Wood, looking down at the crowd from above.

Cultivators who could fly so freely within the Immortal City were either heads of various departments or simply disciples of Yellow Ox.

The newcomer was none other than...

Xiong Meng, with whom he had a grudge from the Yellow Ox Auction.

Quite a few people also recognized this disciple of the Immortal Master.

Speculative voices rose up.

"The people from the Immortal City have indeed come. It seems they want to recruit Fellow Daoist Xu. I wonder what kind of good position they'll offer him?"

"He wouldn't directly become Yellow Ox's eighth disciple, would he?"

At this moment,

As if meeting Xu Changsheng for the first time, Xiong Meng steered the giant wood to descend slowly and walked forward.

He slapped his palm heavily onto Xu Changsheng's shoulder.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you certainly caused quite a commotion just now."

Xu Changsheng acted as if it were nothing and said humbly, "It was my rudeness that caused trouble for everyone."

Xiong Meng chuckled. "To make a long story short, Fellow Daoist Xu, I've come on behalf of my Senior Brother to offer you a great Opportunity."

"What Opportunity?"

Before Xu Changsheng could speak, Li Hongxuan's eyes were already shining.

He also guessed that Yellow Ox was taking Xu Changsheng as a disciple. Given his neighborly relationship with the latter, it meant he had gained a precious connection out of thin air!

The former then cupped his hands slightly, his eyes also holding an inquiring look.

Xiong Meng said loudly, "Senior Brother Jin sees your extraordinary potential and specially invites you to serve as the Captain of the North District Guard. Are you willing?"

His voice, infused with magical power, echoed across the mountainside of Huangniu Mountain.

"So it's not the Immortal Master taking a disciple. It seems the rumor that Fellow Daoist Chu was Yellow Ox's last disciple is somewhat credible."

"But the Guard Captain is also a good job; there's plenty of profit to be made!"

Although Li Hongxuan was slightly disappointed, he urged him to accept. "Fellow Daoist Xu, this is a once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity. If we Loose Cultivators can latch onto the Immortal City, there's hope for the Golden Core!"

However, Xu Changsheng's reaction greatly disappointed him.

He saw him shake his head with an apologetic look. "My apologies, This Xu is used to a leisurely life and cannot bear the rules and regulations of the guard."

Upon hearing this,

The scene became noisy again.

"He actually refused? If it were me, I would have agreed immediately."

"I said this guy was no good. Just because he got some damn 'Dao Rhyme Foundation Establishment' with a bit of luck, he really thinks he's someone important! Looking down on this, looking down on that."

"An ignorant fool who doesn't know the heights of the heavens. Once Senior Xiong gets angry, he'll have a hard time!"

Li Hongxuan's Face tightened with worry. "Fellow Daoist Xu, do you know how great an Opportunity you've given up?"

Xiong Meng clearly hadn't expected to be rejected either; his expression shifted from confidence to astonishment.

His tone suddenly sank. "So, you're not giving this Xiong any Face?"

The undisguised threat, carrying a bone-chilling coldness, made the breathing of several nearby Cultivators hitch.

Xu Changsheng remained as calm as a light breeze. "I wouldn't dare."

He was no longer that minor Qi Refining Cultivator from before, and his Body Refining cultivation wasn't bad either; he had no fear of Xiong Meng at all.

Seeing him unmoved,

"Wouldn't dare? I think you dare quite a lot!"

An anonymous fire rose in Xiong Meng's heart.

Recalling the scene that day when Chu Linger treated the two of them differently—protecting this man in every way while being cold to him—humiliation consumed his heart like a venomous snake.

Why? Back then, this man was just a Qi Refining Loose Cultivator. Now that he's luckily reached Foundation Establishment, he dares to step on my head?

"Acting so arrogant just after reaching Foundation Establishment. Do you really think it's like back then? Do you have Chu Linger to back you up?!"

Unable to suppress the fury in his heart,

"It's time I made you remember my Heavy Straight Punch!"

He roared, his voice like a thunderclap that made ears ache.

Blood energy gathered in his fist.

As soon as he finished speaking, he struck out violently!

His movements were faster and more ruthless than before, a sudden ambush aimed at Xu Changsheng's Dantian.

He was determined that even if he couldn't cripple him, he would make him spit blood in public and lose all Face, showing him the meaning of absolute power!

The onlookers gasped, as if they could already see Xu Changsheng being sent flying by a punch, coughing up blood in a pathetic state.

But in the next instant,

Something unbelievable happened.

"Pfft."

A muffled sound rang out, not particularly heavy.

Xu Changsheng had raised his palm at some unknown moment and steadily caught the iron fist.

His five fingers were like iron pincers, pinning the fist firmly in mid-air, unable to move an inch forward.

The hideous triumph on Xiong Meng's Face suddenly froze, turning into shock.

His full-power punch as a Second-rank Body Refiner had been caught so effortlessly?

Slowly pushing the fist back, a very faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Xiong still takes me for a Qi Refining Cultivator? One who couldn't take this punch?"