Chapter 145: Chapter 53: Seeking Guidance from a Senior

After confirming Zhang Ruoyu’s identity as a high-level cultivator and his character, Jiang Li chose not to play any tricks. Instead, he personally came to visit, keeping it hidden from other members of the Island Lord’s Mansion.

Li Jizhou scanned with his Divine Sense. Outside the courtyard, a woman dressed as a humble fisherwoman was standing respectfully at the door, maintaining a bowed posture.

Though her attire was vastly different, he clearly remembered her as the female Island Lord who, half a month ago, had led the high-ranking members of the Island Lord’s Mansion to respectfully welcome the esteemed guest disembarking from the Spirit Ship. Her face under the Disguise Skill was identical.

Li Jizhou pondered briefly, raised his brows slightly, and a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

“It seems the benefits of scaring away the Four Ghost Old Demon from the Spirit Ship have become apparent.”

He came to this island intending to settle down and cultivate, but while on the Spirit Ship, he heard the steward say that to gain special privileges and stability, one had to be employed by the Island Lord’s Mansion.

This made him somewhat displeased, so he decided to wait and see for the time being.

Over the past half month, he had grown fond of the cultivation and living environment on this island.

The local customs and culture were also relatively satisfying.

In fact, he already had a plan in mind, intending to use Zhang Ruoyu’s most adept medical skills to negotiate with the Island Lord for fewer responsibilities and more freedom.

And now, the disguised female Island Lord had come alone, and respectfully at that, which might make the matter of settling down much easier.

He put away the squawking Bai Yi and set aside the Tier Two Golden Strange Fish. Li Jizhou waved his hand lightly to activate the Array: “Please enter!”

Jiang Li stepped into the small courtyard and gazed at the elderly man with an immortal aura before him, filled with reverence, and immediately performed a grand salute: “Junior Jiang Li, current Island Lord of Linglong Island, pays respects to Elder Zhang.”

“Isle Master Jiang, you give too much credit. Please skip the formalities. However, this old one has left the Golden Sun Sect, so the title of elder is unnecessary.” Li Jizhou raised his hand in a polite gesture.

“Yes, thank you, Senior Zhang.” Jiang Li stood up, quite fond of Zhang Ruoyu’s calm and gentle demeanor.

At the same time, his peripheral vision was inadvertently drawn to the Golden Fish Demon nearby, causing a slight shock in his heart.

This kind of Golden Fish Demon was a notorious scourge in this Sea Domain. Especially after advancing to Tier Two, its entire body of golden scales became impenetrable by blades or swords. Compounded by its atrophied cerebellum, it had almost no intelligence and acted purely on instinct. Once it set its sight on someone, it would pursue them relentlessly, without fear of death.

The poisonous fish spine on its head was especially lethal, posing a risk of death and departure from the path for ordinary Early Stage Foundation Establishment fishermen if stung.

Almost every few years, Linglong Island had to invite high-level metal element cultivators from the main island to help clear them out.

But even for those cultivators skilled in high-level metal element spells, killing a Golden Fish Demon wasn’t easy, as the fish would fight back with its last breath, often requiring them to chop it into small pieces to finish it off.

The Golden Fish Demon before him was completely intact; not a single scratch was visible on its body.

One could even sense the faint trace of life within it.

“This… to be able to capture such a Tier Two Golden Fish Demon unharmed, his power… is unimaginable!”

In an instant, all the speculation about the mysterious expert from the past half-month aligned with the immortal figure of the elder standing before him.

“I wonder what business brings the Island Lord to this old one?”

“Please, Senior, teach me!” With that, Jiang Li immediately knelt down, pressing his head firmly to the ground, unwilling to raise it.

Li Jizhou frowned slightly; this was a bit beyond his expectations.

“Isle Master Jiang, your gesture is too grand. Let me declare first that this old one is nothing more than a cultivator of advanced age in the Foundation Establishment stage. Even within the Golden Sun Sect, you can inquire about this old one’s desire for health, seeking longevity, enjoying peace and not disturbance, and unwilling to be entangled in any grudges.”

“Senior, you misunderstand. I naturally understand Senior’s nature, which is why I have come alone in disguise to find you. What I seek will not affect your seclusion, nor involve you in any grudges. It is purely a personal cultivation difficulty.” Jiang Li hurriedly explained.

“A cultivation difficulty? You overestimate me, Isle Master. This old man is, like you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and may not be able to help you,” Li Jizhou replied with a gentle smile.

“Senior, I am willing to pay whatever price within my capability!” Jiang Li said with determined eyes.

Unfazed, Li Jizhou gestured slightly: “This old one has already made things clear. If the Island Lord remains persistent, go ahead and speak, as long as you harbor no resentment afterward.”

“Rest assured, Senior. Regardless of whether you can resolve it, I am willing to swear on my Heart Demon never to hold any grievances!” Jiang Li raised his head, his face resolute.

Li Jizhou nodded slightly: “If so, then swear on your Heart Demon first.”

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment, then immediately swore without hesitation.

No matter the outcome, no grievances will be held against Senior Zhang.

“Then go ahead and speak.” Once the Heart Demon vow was made, Li Jizhou nodded in acknowledgment.

Jiang Li proceeded to detail his predicament thoroughly.

With the vigorous development of the Five Elders Association’s Sea Domain, the flaws inherited over millennia began to surface in the present age.

The most prominent issue was the Side Skill Foundation Establishment method, causing cultivators in the Five Elders Association’s Sea Domain to stop at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. Even some descendants of the Five Elders Association on the main island resort to the Side Skill due to the difficulty of acquiring resources for Foundation Establishment, rendering the Side Skill method more successful yet riskier even with obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Particularly in the last hundred years, the neighboring Pearl Jade Island domesticated Purple Crystal Salamanders and bred them in large numbers. This made the Side Skill Foundation Establishment method increasingly easy and successful.

More Sea Domain cultivators chose the Side Skill Foundation Establishment method.

If there were no communication with the mainland, this scenario would appear to be of no concern.

However, in recent years, the frequent interactions with mainland cultivators alerted the previous Island Lord of Linglong Island to a crisis.

Without a True Core to guard, the abundant Spiritual Qi on the island, equivalent to a Tier Two Spirit Vein, including the main island’s Tier Three Spirit Vein, might become hard to preserve.

For now, a few old fellows on the main island barely manage,

but over the long term, perhaps centuries later, there might be no True Core to guard the entire Five Elders Association’s Sea Domain.

At that time, this blessed land cherished by generations could become a hell.

The former Island Lord actively lobbied the Five Elders Association, finally yielding some results.

It was established that the future Lords of the Seven Islands must be orthodox Foundation Establishment cultivators, preferably those with the potential to form a Core.

However, this move also made certain shortsighted and narrow-minded individuals within the Five Elders Association wary of the old Island Lord. While they supported him openly, they secretly posed some obstructions.

The former Island Lord never saw any hope until his death, thus placing all his hopes early on Jiang Li.

She was demanded to establish Foundation through the orthodox method,

Fortunately, Jiang Li possessed extraordinary talent, with a Top-Grade Water Element Spirit Root, reaching completion in Qi Cultivation at the age of thirty.

Then the former Island Lord personally traveled to the Chu Kingdom on the mainland, at a significant cost, to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Celestial Spirit Sect for him, successfully establishing Foundation.

After Foundation Establishment, over eight years, he advanced to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment without using any Breaking Rank Pill,

which, given the Top-Grade Spirit Root, is quite remarkable.

It was believed that, following this trajectory, advancement to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment would take at most ten years.

However, he has been stuck at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment for twenty years now, far beyond expectations, unable to break through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

As a result, he specifically purchased a Tier Two Late Stage Breaking Rank Pill from the mainland, but still failed to breakthrough.

After countless attempts to remain composed without results,

he is gradually growing anxious!

If the orthodox Foundation Establishment keeps him stuck at the Middle Stage, how is it any different from the Side Skill? All the effort the old Island Lord put in, all the hopes he pinned, would it not all come to nothing?

The uncles and elders from the old Island Lord’s generation are also hoping for him to become the first Core Formation Lord among the Seven Islands.

Especially in recent years, he has been unable to sleep at night. Whenever the uncles inquire about his progress, even when they comfort him, it makes him feel deeply ashamed.

After hearing Jiang Li’s narrative, Li Jizhou fell silent.

Establishing Foundation at thirty, advancing to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment in only eight years…

He himself established Foundation at forty and took fourteen years to reach the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

“This is the innate gap brought by the Spirit Root!” Li Jizhou sighed quietly to himself.

However, when it came to Jiang Li’s cultivation troubles, Li Jizhou had no experience to offer.

Generally, small realm bottlenecks could be worn down over time, and since she had already consumed a Breaking Rank Pill without effect, the issue was harder to define.

Moreover, being equipped with a Top-Grade Spirit Root, normally, she wouldn’t need a Breaking Rank Pill.

Initially, upon half-hearing her story, Li Jizhou had considered selling her the newly crafted Tier Two Advanced Premium Breaking Rank Pill for a high price, but ultimately, he had to discard that thought.

“Please, Senior, teach me!” With those words, Jiang Li once again kowtowed deeply before him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep