Chapter 157: Future Days
She had thought that after successfully reaching Foundation Establishment and becoming an Elder of the Celestial Cloud Sect, a slight distance would grow between her and Fang Yun due to the status gap.
This distance would probably disappear once Fang Yun also reached Foundation Establishment.
’With this distance between them,’ she had mused, ’Fang Yun will probably become very formal in both tone and attitude whenever he speaks to me, not daring to joke around as he used to.’
But as it turned out, Fang Yun hadn’t changed at all.
Bai Qinying was very pleased by this.
Some of the disciples she had been close to already acted distant when they saw her now.
In this regard, Fang Yun was a lot like Song Qiaoqiao.
’Then again, Song Qiaoqiao has the confidence to back it up,’ Bai Qinying thought. ’And now that I think about it, it probably has something to do with her personality, too.’
Inside the house.
The two of them had already sat down.
Looking at Bai Qinying across from him, Fang Yun asked, "Elder Bai, now that you’re an Elder, will you be managing the affairs of Battle Peak like Elder Feng?"
Fang Yun knew there were currently only three Elders with the authority to manage Battle Peak. If Bai Qinying joined them, she could potentially become the fourth in command.
"It hasn’t been decided yet. I won’t know for another three months." Having only recently broken through to Foundation Establishment, Bai Qinying was also unaware of the sect’s arrangements. "This three-month period is for us new Elders to adapt to our Foundation Establishment Stage power."
"It’s definitely important to adapt to your new power first."
The breakthrough from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage, a major Realm advancement, was completely different from a minor realm breakthrough.
Most Cultivators could adapt quickly after a minor realm breakthrough.
"What’s this, Junior Brother? Are you offering to help me adapt to my new power quickly?"
"I’d be happy to oblige."
Hearing this, Bai Qinying looked Fang Yun up and down. "Let’s forget it. You’re only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. If I put even a little Spiritual Pressure on you, you’d be lucky to use fifty percent of your strength."
Now that she was at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Bai Qinying had no intention of sparring with Fang Yun in Magical Combat.
If she were to truly spar with him, she would have to wait until he reached Foundation Establishment.
"The restrictions really pile up after Foundation Establishment," Bai Qinying couldn’t help but say, referring to many things. She then added, "I can’t even go into the territory of the Evil Sects anymore."
Back in her Qi Refining Stage, Bai Qinying had often gone there while on missions.
But now that she was at Foundation Establishment, she could only carry out missions obediently within the sect’s own territory.
"During times like these, it’s best to avoid stirring up trouble," Fang Yun said.
As Fang Yun learned more about the world, he immediately understood what Bai Qinying meant.
During periods of relatively low friction, it was rare for Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivators from the Celestial Demon Sect, Black Ghost Cave, or Demon Spirit Sect to appear within the Celestial Cloud Sect’s territory.
Likewise, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Foundation Establishment Elders would almost never appear in the territories of the three major Core Formation Level Evil Sects that surrounded them.
The day that Bai Qinying, as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, received a mission to the territory of an Evil Sect would be the day friction between the sects began to escalate.
At that point, the external environment would become much more unstable.
Under such circumstances, the Celestial Cloud Sect wouldn’t participate in the Four Sects’ Trial, and it would have to be postponed.
"You’ll definitely have a chance to take action in the future," Fang Yun added.
Based on the patterns he had identified, there was always a period of intensified conflict every hundred years or so.
Fang Yun attributed this phenomenon to the generational turnover of Foundation Establishment Cultivators within the sects.
Foundation Establishment Cultivators can live for over two hundred years. Yet, from the moment of their breakthrough, most only have a little over a hundred years of their Life Span left, and very few actually reach the two-hundred-year mark.
Therefore, after a hundred years or so, all the Elders within a sect would be completely replaced. The same held true for the Evil Sects.
’My theory might not be one hundred percent correct,’ Fang Yun thought, ’but it can’t be too far off the mark.’
"I never thought you saw things so clearly, Junior Brother Fang." Bai Qinying gave Fang Yun a surprised look.
She always saw Fang Yun bustling about, spending most of his time either on Artifact Refining, Alchemy, or improving his Cultivation.
’I didn’t expect him to have time to study all these other things.’
Having frequently gone out on missions during her Qi Refining Stage, Bai Qinying was particularly sensitive to such matters.
"If you read enough history books, you can get a pretty good grasp of it."
"Impressive, very impressive."
The two of them chatted in-depth about the topic.
Through this exchange, Fang Yun also learned a great deal from Bai Qinying.
"Even though there are more restrictions after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and becoming an Elder, there are also more things I can do." As she said this, Bai Qinying’s gaze fell upon Fang Yun.
Fang Yun remained silent, just watching Bai Qinying quietly, waiting to see what she would say next.
"For example, I can help you, Junior Brother, pursue Junior Sister Song more effectively."
Fang Yun wasn’t surprised to hear her say that.
He had a feeling that when she looked at him and mentioned all the new things she could do, she would bring this up.
"As an Elder, I keep my word. Our original agreement is still valid." As she spoke, Bai Qinying gave him a meaningful smile.
’At first, I wondered how long it would take for Fang Yun to be able to withstand a single blow from me,’ she recalled. ’Later, that changed to whether I could break his defense while I was still in the Qi Refining Stage. Now, I’m just waiting for him to reach Foundation Establishment so we can have a proper match.’
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Elder Bai."
"What’s with that expression?"
"The future is long. For now, the most important thing for me is to break through to Foundation Establishment." Fang Yun wasn’t the least bit anxious.
’As long as I use my time well, I’ll only have more of it in the future.’ For him, the future was long indeed.
Bai Qinying nodded. "Fair enough. If you end up getting stuck in the Qi Refining Stage, then it’ll be impossible, no matter how much I help you."
Seeing how serious Fang Yun was, Bai Qinying didn’t press the issue.
"Just let me know if you need my help later on."
"I will, Elder Bai. Why do you seem more concerned about this than I am?"
"Because it was my promise to you," Bai Qinying replied, her expression also turning serious.
The topic ended there, and neither of them brought it up again.
Bai Qinying was in a visibly good mood when she left Fang Yun’s residence.
She had chatted with a few other junior brothers and sisters earlier, but compared to Fang Yun, they had all been so formal and reserved. She couldn’t even joke with them anymore.
After Bai Qinying left.
Fang Yun began the third round of refining and absorbing the Upper Grade Qi Enhancement Pill.
Since he entered the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, this particular Upper Grade Qi Enhancement Pill had remained in his body longer than any before.
「Two days later.」
「Artifact Casting Peak.」
Inside the cave residence of Management Elder Xiong Xingfeng.
Fang Yun was there, standing across from Xiong Xingfeng.
"Fang Yun, the date for your apprenticeship ceremony has been set. It will be on the twenty-first of this month. You can invite any disciples from the sect that you’re close with."