204: The Liu family is still the same Liu family

As soon as the news came out, it caused an immediate sensation.

Who is Zi Lan? Which Senior Sister of the Sect? Why hasn't her name been heard before?

Is she from the Nether Fire Sect? Or a member of the Zi Family, the previous Golden Core True Person of the Nether Fire Sect?

Rumors about Zi Lan's identity and background, as well as why she became Liu Xuan's Dao Companion, spread like wildfire—countless truths and falsehoods intertwined.

The news that the Liu Family of White Crane Lake had produced a Foundation Establishment Ancestor spread outward at an astonishing speed.

A Foundation Establishment Ancestor!

Even a Sect like the Red Pine Sect might not produce one in ten years. Zi Lan's appearance had an impact on all of Yongning and even the surrounding counties, so the news naturally spread quickly.

Coupled with Zi Lan's special identity—being both a member of the Nether Fire Sect and Liu Xuan's Dao Companion—even more people became interested.

...

Lake Heart Island.

Zi Lan was still in seclusion, stabilizing her cultivation, while the Liu family members, under Liu Xuan's orders, were already preparing for the Foundation Establishment celebration a month later.

A celebration for a major Realm Breakthrough is the most grand ceremony in the Cultivation World. It serves both as a celebration and a way to expand the Family's influence, so of course, it had to be a grand affair!

In recent years, the Merchant Alliance's development had been limited precisely because there was no Foundation Establishment Ancestor to oversee it.

Now that Zi Lan had achieved Foundation Establishment, the Liu Family became a true Foundation Establishment Family, and the Merchant Alliance could rise to an even higher level.

Lin Xue'er was in charge of arranging the celebration venue; She Xiaorong and Lu Ping were responsible for sending invitations to various forces; Liu Miao, Zhang Kexin, and others handled the celebration ingredients; Xia He, Yan Qingyao, and others took care of various ceremonies and attire...

The division of labor was clear. Except for Liu Xuan and children under ten, everyone was busy.

Five days later.

Cultivation Chamber.

Zi Lan opened her eyes, feeling the vast spiritual power within her body. The spiritual power in her Dantian's dao foundation seemed inexhaustible, and her strength had increased by who knows how many times!

"A seventh-grade dao foundation! What a pity. If I had achieved a middle-third-grade dao foundation, I might have been able to hope for the Golden Core Great Path."

The Cultivation Technique she practiced was the Zi Family's 'Metal Stone Poison Fire Art,' a Third-rank Low-grade technique, sufficient to forge a middle-third-grade dao foundation. However, her foundation was average, and her Breakthrough involved an element of luck. Achieving a seventh-grade dao foundation was already quite good.

This slight regret was soon swept away by the immense joy of the Breakthrough. Feeling her power-filled body, her active Divine Soul, and her extended lifespan... everything excited her.

"How does it feel to break through?"

A voice suddenly sounded beside her.

"You... how did you get in?" Zi Lan was startled, stammering as she spoke.

Liu Xuan pointed at the door. "You were too happy. You didn't even notice when I came in."

"Is that so?" Zi Lan looked at the door with a puzzled tilt of her head.

Now that she was at Foundation Establishment and had Divine Sense, how could she not have noticed if Liu Xuan had opened the door and come in?

"Husband... you wouldn't happen to be a Reincarnation of a great power, would you?"

Zi Lan stared at Liu Xuan with a strange expression for a moment before blurting out this question.

"Oh?"

"Why do you ask?"

Liu Xuan sat down on a chair and beckoned with his hand. Zi Lan obediently walked over and leaned into his arms.

"The feeling you give me, husband, is different from all other Cultivators. You treat everyone equally, as if you've never regarded other Cultivators as important."

A conflicted look appeared on Zi Lan's face, as if she didn't know how to describe her feelings.

Over the past few years, she had often been by Liu Xuan's side, engaging in deep exchanges, and had gained a relatively thorough understanding of him.

Although she couldn't figure out some of his secrets, she had more or less formed some guesses.

For example, regarding his cultivation, although she couldn't see any issues, she knew it was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

She had hardly ever seen Liu Xuan Cultivate, yet his cultivation steadily improved. She hadn't seen him study Talisman Drawing much, yet he was a top-tier first-rank talisman master. He hadn't studied Alchemy much, yet he could refine many Medicinal Pills.

Swordsmanship, Formations, spirit plants, beast taming... he was proficient in everything and talented in all of them!

When all of this was combined, it could no longer be explained by being a Genius. The best explanation she could think of was that he was the Reincarnation of a great power, and these things came to him naturally.

"That's right!"

"I am the Reincarnation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal from the Immortal Realm. In my past life, I was plotted against by a petty person and ended up in this state."

"Lan'er, if you fully assist this Immortal Venerable in restoring his strength, I will later appoint you as an Immortal Consort."

"As for now, Lan'er, your cultivation is higher. Your husband will live off you for a while!"

Zi Lan's expectant expression fell. Liu Xuan was sometimes serious, sometimes not—where was the semblance of a reincarnated great power? He seemed more like a playboy.

"Live off me?"

"Husband, do you mean..."

Zi Lan looked at Liu Xuan with confusion.

"It means that from now on, if the Liu Family runs into trouble, you'll step in and handle it. Your husband just needs to enjoy himself every day," Liu Xuan explained.

"How can that be?" Zi Lan wrapped her arms around Liu Xuan's neck and said coquettishly, "Your concubine will always be your Concubine. You are the head of the Family. Your concubine should be the one living off you!"

Liu Xuan was taken aback. "Do you really think that?"

After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, Zi Lan's aura became more profound, and minor imperfections on her body disappeared. Up close, she radiated beauty!

"Of course!"

"Husband~ Your concubine's Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment is a great joy. How about... we celebrate?"

With a beauty in his arms, and a rare Foundation Establishment Ancestor at that, Liu Xuan smiled slightly. "I was thinking the same!"

...

...

Afterward.

Both Liu Xuan and Zi Lan felt that the cultivation effect was excellent. Zi Lan, in particular, looked at Liu Xuan as if he were a priceless treasure!

The reason was simple: Liu Xuan's secret cultivation assistance method was still effective and could help her continue to improve her cultivation.

She could sense that her Breakthrough through the Bottleneck was due to Liu Xuan's help. Now that the effect remained, she still had room for further improvement.

Over the past few years, with daily companionship, she had already developed feelings for Liu Xuan. But feelings are feelings; with added benefits, the relationship could last longer, right!

Zi Lan was so understanding and hadn't changed from before her Breakthrough. The translucent spider imprint on Liu Xuan's hand slowly faded away...

The island was covered by the Star Array, and everything was under Liu Xuan's control. There was no need to go too far!

After a while, Liu Xuan and Zi Lan emerged from seclusion together.

"Greetings, husband. Greetings..."

Yang Xiaoyun, Da Shuang, and Xiao Shuang, who were waiting at the door, paused, unsure how to address her.

A Foundation Establishment Ancestor held a noble status; they had to bow deeply when encountering one—this was common knowledge ingrained in them from childhood.

"Three sisters, no need for formalities. Just call me elder sister!" Seeing the three women about to bow, Zi Lan quickly interrupted.

"Lan... elder sister!"

"Hello, Lan elder sister!"

...

The three women looked at Liu Xuan, then at Zi Lan, feeling a surge of admiration for their husband.

A Foundation Establishment Ancestor addressing them as sisters—this was something they had never dared to imagine before!

Liu Xuan took Zi Lan on a tour around the island, introducing her to all the Concubines so they could get familiar with each other and avoid any awkwardness during the celebration.

The Concubines quickly noticed that although Zi Lan had broken through to Foundation Establishment Ancestor, her status in the Liu Family had only changed from 'younger sister Zi Lan' to 'elder sister Zi Lan'...

For those who already called Zi Lan 'elder sister,' there was no difference at all.

The Liu Family was still the same Liu Family. Except for the addition of a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, everything else remained unchanged!