"By the way, Junior Sister! While you were in seclusion, a disciple came by with letters for you. I took them on your behalf," said Zheng Shaosi, casually pulling two envelopes out of his storage pouch.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Chen Jinshu immediately knew who they were from—one was likely from her mother and second uncle, the other from Chen Qiaozhen about the Chen family's affairs.
Upon receiving the letters, Chen Jinshu quickly grasped the current state of the Chen family. It seemed they had managed to hold on—for if not, the message would have included a plea for help, not just a report.
Though Chen Qiaozhen had just established her Foundation, and had many methods at her disposal, facing the combined forces of the Lin family and several others would have been difficult.
"Why not read them now? Might be something urgent," suggested Zheng Shaosi.
"No rush. I'll read them later. For now, why don't you all try some freshly picked Qingning tea?"
Chen Jinshu stored the letters and immediately conjured a long table and eight chairs in the courtyard. She then summoned a tea set and began brewing. Although she hadn't practiced tea arts extensively, she had learned systematically. Her technique was smooth and steady.
"Junior Sister, you've got some skill! I should come by more often for tea," Senior Sister Bu Yuanxiang said with a teasing smile.
"You flatter me. I'm nowhere near your level of elegance, Senior Sister. If only my hands were as nimble as yours," Jinshu replied humbly.
Half an hour later, after sharing some advice about post-Foundation Establishment cultivation, her seniors took their leave.
Chen Jinshu then released Xiao Yin from the spirit beast ring, where it had been stored to keep it safe during her breakthrough. The environment inside the ring was relatively good.
After consuming the blood of a demonic bird with phoenix bloodline, the sparrow's once-blue feathers now gleamed with a brighter sheen. Its innate abilities had clearly improved, and its cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.
Still, she knew little about a spirit beast's Foundation Establishment. She'd need to consult the residual soul of the Qingluan.
"How was your time in the spirit beast ring?" she asked.
"Master! I've been cultivating inside, trying hard to keep up with you! But… my progress seems to have stalled."
"No worries. I'll ask the Qingluan soul."
Injecting spiritual energy into her Qingluan Pendant, a beam of azure light blossomed, and the soul emerged. It looked in much better shape than before.
"Xiao Yin cultivation seems stuck. What's the best way to help it break through?" she asked.
"For our kind—or even phoenix-type beasts—the best breakthrough materials are spiritual items from our own bloodlines. Such items are rare, but a second-tier one would suffice to push it into Foundation Establishment and evolve its bloodline further," the Luan soul replied.
"Has your soul stabilized?" she asked.
"More or less. I'm planning to merge myself with the Qingluan Pendant to become its artifact spirit."
Chen Jinshu had expected as much. Without doing so, the soul wouldn't survive much longer. This was indeed the best choice. She then returned to her room and took out the two letters.
"Let's read Mother and Second Uncle's first."
The letter was addressed specifically to her. Reading it brought mixed feelings—heaviness, but also relief.
The Lin family had joined forces with the Wang and others to annihilate the Chen family, but their plans were foiled by Chen Qiaozhen. Still, the attempt caused a scandal that affected the Chen girls married into other clans. Many faced humiliation and ostracism; several even took their own lives.
Her sister, Chen Jinfang, was reportedly being beaten by her husband and denied her promised monthly resources.
"These clans really are nothing but demons," she cursed under her breath.
But the letter also contained some good news—her second uncle was getting married in three months to the female cultivator he'd long admired. The woman had stood by his side even after the family crisis, proving she was not someone who abandoned others in hard times.
Her mother also thanked her for trading the Foundation Establishment Pill to Chen Qiaozhen, which prevented the family's destruction.
"Surprised Chen Qiaozhen didn't take all the credit for herself," she muttered.
Opening Chen Qiaozhen's letter next, she found further gratitude, along with updates. The old patriarch had stepped down, acknowledging his failures. Her father, the Grand Elder, had become the new clan head, and Chen Jinshu was offered the position of Twelfth Elder—with a generous gift to come.
"Twelfth Elder? No thanks," Jinshu muttered with a grimace.
At the end of the letter, Qiaozhen invited her to a Foundation Establishment banquet in the Ningyu Mountain territory, to be held in about four or five months.
Of course, Jinshu understood the underlying motive—to use her identity as an inner disciple of the Xuanming Sect to intimidate rival families and unruly rogue cultivators. She likely also wanted Jinshu's backing.
"A Lin family genius was accepted as a personal disciple by a Xuanming Sect Golden Core elder?"
"Huh. The Lin family made a big move in secret."
"Lin Hanyang… why does that name sound familiar?"
The name jogged her memory—he had participated in the sect's outer disciple competition, even made it to the top twenty. Back then, he was already at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, stronger than many.
He must be at Foundation Establishment now.
"I wonder if he knows who I am…" she mused.
She had kept a low profile, rarely leaving the Medicine King Peak, aside from her performance in the outer competition.
"Better stay cautious when I run into him…"
Two months flew by.
One day, Chen Jinshu received a message from a senior brother at Shuiyue Pavilion in Pingwu Market: the sect had officially delivered the Foundation Establishment Pills to Xieyue Tower's auction house.
"Li Chenliang definitely won't miss this chance. I must make sure he doesn't get them."
Her thoughts darkened. If she didn't have enough spirit stones, she'd intercept him on the road back to Insect Valley. One way or another, he couldn't be allowed to get away with those pills—he'd become a serious future threat.
A month ago, her master had found and sent her the upgraded Lüqi Zither for her forge chamber. The feel was identical to her old one. Still, she practiced for another month nonstop and managed to comprehend the fifth form of the Nineteen Melodies of Falling Sound—Cranes Cry in Empty Mountains.
"Didn't expect this auction to have so many good things…" she noted, scanning the item list sent by her senior brother.
Among the items was a Phoenix Blood Stone—a mysterious gem stained with phoenix blood, perfect for helping Xiao Yin break through.
Its grade wasn't confirmed but was certainly above tier two.
"This auction is now a must!"
She quickly put away the message and took Xiao Yin with her, flying swiftly toward Pingwu Market.