Cultivation: I have an equipment slot

Chapter 45 Taking refuge
"I still believe in your abilities." Zhuge Wan had great faith in Zhang Yan.

Actually, that's just stating the obvious.

Zhang Yan learned all his skills from her spiritual plant set.

She is almost a carbon copy of Zhuge Wan.

Therefore, Zhuge Wan also had high hopes for Zhang Yan, hoping that he could make a name for himself in this competition.

Zhang Yan was more than happy to participate in a competition that was neither dangerous nor harmful, and where he could also gain benefits.

Most importantly, he was full of confidence in winning the award.

Although he didn't believe in his own abilities...

However, he believed in Zhuge Wan's abilities!
After all, as a Golden Core Ancestor, the art of cultivating spiritual plants is her forte, so it's impossible for her to be lacking in it.

After Zhuge Wan gave him some encouragement,

They let him go.

He returned to his thatched hut, only to find an unexpected person outside.

"Fellow Daoist Liu?"

Zhang Yan looked at Liu Yiting in surprise.

He thought Liu Yiting would be hiding at the Liu family home, but he never expected her to come looking for him.

Moreover, she was wearing clothes from the Qingheng Sect.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang."

Liu Yiting was overjoyed to see Zhang Yan and immediately bowed in greeting.

"You've joined the Qingheng Sect?"

Zhang Yan looked at Liu Yiting's Taoist robe with a surprised expression.

Generally speaking, disciples of cultivation families are not very willing to join a sect. Even if they are willing, they start from scratch to join the sect.

Generally speaking, unless it is a family whose own disciples have branched out, sects are not very willing to let disciples from other families join them.

It's truly rare to find someone like Liu Yiting who already possesses skills and becomes an apprentice.

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhang, you know about our family's situation. Our family patriarch has passed away, and the elders are nearing the end of their lives. In order to preserve our family, we have offered our family's secret techniques to the sect."

Liu Yiting's eyes reddened as she spoke.

Zhang Yan expressed his helplessness and could only offer quiet words of comfort.

That's how cruel the cultivation world is.

Without the protection of Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Liu family is destined to decline, and may even be swallowed up by their former enemies.

The Liu family has only just produced Liu Changfeng, and they are currently unable to train a second Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Under such circumstances, they had no choice but to join the Qingheng Sect.

They offered their family's secret techniques to the Qingheng Sect in exchange for protection.

"By the way, Senior Brother Zhang, the reason I came to see you this time is that our elders have something to discuss with you."

"Alright, Elder Liu should be at the Qingheng Sect, right?"

He wasn't surprised at all that Elder Liu wanted to see him, as if he had known all along.

“Yes, the elder is at the Qingheng Sect. Since you are willing, I will inform the elder to come see you.” Liu Yiting’s face lit up with joy when she heard Zhang Yan’s agreement.

Elder Liu was very fast.

Soon.

They arrived at Zhang Yan's residence.

In the small courtyard.

Zhang Yan activated a protective array, isolating the outside world.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, it's been a long time since I last saw you. Your cultivation has improved even more." Elder Liu, upon seeing Zhang Yan, showed no regard for his own Foundation Establishment cultivation level and treated Zhang Yan with humility.

"Elder Liu is still as valiant as ever. But Elder Liu, you didn't come here to reminisce with me, did you?" Zhang Yan said, gesturing for Elder Liu and Liu Yiting to sit down.

They offered tea to the guests.

"We're practically acquaintances now, Elder Liu, please just say what you need to say."

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhang is so agreeable, then I won't delay any longer." Elder Liu took a deep breath, then looked at Zhang Yan and said, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Zhang needs any spirit stones?"

“Spirit stones are naturally scarce; who doesn’t lack spirit stones?”

"Our Liu family is willing to offer 5000 spirit stones to Fellow Daoist Zhang." Elder Liu looked intently at Zhang Yan. "Then tell us your conditions." Zhang Yan was not surprised by Elder Liu's words. He had long expected Elder Liu to do this.

Elder Liu is the only Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Liu family.

But his lifespan is about to end.

Although he offered up his secret techniques, he gained favor with the Qingheng Sect.

But the Qingheng Sect will only protect them from being wiped out.

After he died, no new, influential person stood up to speak for the Liu family.

The Liu family has encountered a minor setback, and the Qingheng faction certainly won't interfere.

Therefore, Elder Liu needed to make arrangements for the Liu family before he died.

Zhang Yan was one of the powerful figures he had his eye on.

Although Zhang Yan currently only has the cultivation level of the early stage of Qi Refining.

But the other party is an apprentice disciple of the Golden Core Ancestor!

Unlimited potential for the future!

Most importantly, Zhang Yan is a good person.

He still took Liu Yiting with him when they encountered danger before.

This is enough to show Zhang Yan's character.

If it were a different cultivator, they might have thrown Liu Yiting out halfway to attract attention.

But Zhang Yan ran out with a burden in his arms.

Considering all of the above, Elder Liu decided to place a bet on Zhang Yan.

"Da da da."

In a small room.

The atmosphere was a bit tense.

Zhang Yan, who was in the early stage of Qi Refining, sat in the main seat, tapping his fingers on the table.

On the contrary, Elder Liu, who was in the Foundation Establishment stage, looked at Zhang Yan with some nervousness.

"I understand what Elder Liu means, but if something really happens that Zhang can't stop, there's nothing I can do."

"Of course, if that really happens, our Liu family will accept the loss."

Upon hearing Zhang Yan's words, Elder Liu's face lit up with joy.

"There is no need for spiritual stones."

"However, my master has bestowed upon me 100 acres of high-grade spiritual fields within the sect. I need someone to help me renovate them into a spiritual plant garden, and I also need some spiritual herb seeds."

Zhang Yan refused the spirit stone.

Instead, they proposed other conditions.

"These top-grade spirit fields are yours?"

Elder Liu looked surprised after hearing Zhang Yan's words.

He didn't expect that Zhang Yan would obtain a hundred acres of top-grade spiritual fields right after becoming Zhuge Wan's apprentice.

It seems that Zhang Yan was held in Zhuge Wan's eyes even higher than she had imagined.

"Alright, leave it to the Liu family." Turning a hundred acres of spirit fields into a spirit plant garden would cost far more than 5000 spirit stones, not to mention the spirit herb seeds.

But after learning of Zhang Yan's importance in Zhuge Wan's heart, he still resolutely agreed.

However, he also made a new request.

Keep Liu Yiting by Zhang Yan's side.

Elder Liu's plan was shrewd. Zhang Yan was an apprentice disciple of the Golden Core Ancestor and was highly regarded. Even if Liu Yiting stayed by his side as a maid, it would be a good outcome.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Yan smiled and said, "As long as Miss Liu agrees, I have no objection."

"I will do as the elder commands." Liu Yiting's face flushed slightly, but she did not refuse.

"Good, good, good. In that case, I, Liu, will begin arranging for people to start the work." Seeing Zhang Yan agree, Elder Liu was overjoyed and immediately began preparing to find people to start the work.

"Then I'll have to trouble Elder Liu."

Looking at Liu Yiting, whose features were delicate and whose complexion was rosy, Zhang Yan chuckled.

(End of this chapter)