In fact, half a month ago, after his trip to Purple Magpie Valley ended and he returned to the Sect, Xu Xing had wasted no time. He immediately entered the Sea Waterlight Court for secluded cultivation to achieve a breakthrough to the Immortal Base. He did this because he was worried about an incessant stream of visitors.
At that point, whether he accepted or refused these visitors, neither would have been beneficial for him.
Furthermore, his reasoning was quite similar to Zhou Mingcang’s at the time.
His status before condensing an Immortal Base would be vastly different from his status after condensing a Flawless Immortal Base.
If fellow disciples wished to befriend him, the ’price’ they would need to pay would naturally differ based on his cultivation. As for the appealing notion of receiving one set of gifts before his seclusion and another after his breakthrough—such fortunate circumstances were rare in reality.
Xu Xing didn’t dwell on these thoughts for long.
The foremost among them, a beautiful Immortal Maiden, curtsied slightly to him and said, "Imperial City Peak’s True Lord Song presents Senior Brother Xu with a Starry Sky Daoist Robe and three top-grade Cold Smoke Fruits. We hope Senior Brother Xu will accept them with a smile."
Her addressing Xu Xing as ’Senior Brother’ wasn’t presumptuous, as she too was a cultivator of the Sect.
However, seeing no future in her own cultivation path, she had entered Song Knife’s Cave Mansion to serve as his maid.
By borrowing Song Knife’s resources, she had advanced from the Innate realm to the Immortal Base, thereby qualifying as an Inner Sect Disciple.
However, she had only barely reached the Immortal Base Realm. While this granted her over two hundred more years of lifespan, she had no hope for further progress.
Xu Xing, feigning surprise, accepted the jade tray from the Immortal Maiden.
Back when he first entered the Flying Feather Immortal Palace to pursue cultivation, he had already anticipated that Song Knife might send people to monitor him. Now that he had successfully established a Flawless Immortal Base, his path forward seemed unstoppable. Thus, it was only natural for Song Knife to seek a good relationship with him at this time.
"Concubine’s name is Yu Xue."
"If Senior Brother Xu has any instructions or is looking for True Lord Song in the future, please let Yu Xue know."
The Immortal Maiden curtsied once more, stating her name.
"Junior Sister Yu..."
"Xu Mou will remember."
Xu Xing nodded in response.
Being Song Knife’s close maid, Yu Xue was definitely Song Knife’s confidant.
There was a reason why Song Knife did not use his own descendants as confidants. Like Xu Xing, Song Knife came from a humble background and had not been part of any Aristocratic Family line. Securing resources for his own cultivation had been incredibly difficult; he scarcely had enough for himself, let alone the vast resources required to support a blood relative with low cultivation talent.
Even if Song Knife possessed such capabilities now, his distant descendants would be like strangers to him.
Yu Xue, willing to serve as an Immortal Maiden’s maid, might have seemed to possess lesser talent than her peers in the Sect. However, in reality, she was many times superior to some so-called martial geniuses in the Mortal World.
However, just as Yu Xue was about to leave, Xu Xing called out to her.
He took out a small mutton fat bottle, handed it to Yu Xue, and said, "Last time True Lord Song gave me the Nine Fragrance Jade Pill, but I never took it... Now that I have reached the Immortal Base Realm, the effect of this Pill has diminished a lot..."
Hearing this, Yu Xue’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She had been present when her master sent the Nine Fragrance Jade Pill. Was Xu Xing handing the bottle of Nine Fragrance Jade Pill back to her at this moment and stating that the Pill was useless, implying that he wanted to sever ties with True Lord Song? Had he just repudiated the connection right after receiving the gift for his breakthrough?
However—what Xu Xing said next made her smile immediately.
"Please give this bottle of Nine Fragrance Jade Pills to True Lord Song..."
"Can you help Xu Mou exchange these Pills for some suited to the Immortal Base Realm?"
"Xu Mou will be extremely grateful."
Xu Xing maintained a composed expression, showing no hint of embarrassment.
With his current status, he would not lack any Pills needed for the Immortal Base Realm in the future.
His reasons for saying this now were twofold.
Firstly, he pointed out that he had not consumed the Nine Fragrance Jade Pills previously sent by Song Knife. This was to tell Yu Xue that he had initially been wary of Song Knife; hence, he hadn’t taken a single Pill, despite them being able to enhance an Innate Martial Artist’s cultivation. His current request to Song Knife to exchange the Pills, however, signified his intent to ’melt away past grudges’ and proactively establish a relationship with him.
Secondly, he did indeed lack the subsequent Pills for the Immortal Base Realm, and it would be a waste not to take advantage of Song Knife’s resources.
"Senior Brother Xu, rest assured..."
"Junior Sister will definitely inform True Monarch of this matter."
Yu Xue accepted the Pill Bottle and spoke with solemnity.
After Yu Xue departed, a succession of congratulatory messages arrived from other Outer Sect Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples.
"This is Hundred Flowers Dew. A single drop will keep the Cave Mansion fragrant for three months."
"This is an Azure Fire Wolf Spider. It spins silk once a year, and its thread can be used to weave magic clothes. It’s a demonic pet that provides a continuous source of income..."
"This is a Hundred-Year Luminous Pearl, containing an inscribed array technique. Simply call out, and it will illuminate the Cave Mansion as if it were daytime."
Once the congratulations were done, the disciples presented their gifts one by one.
Compared to Song Knife’s generous gift, theirs were far more modest and humble. Most were small decorative items for his Cave Mansion, not truly valuable Treasure.
Seeing this, however, Xu Xing felt a sense of relief.
Accepting gifts would easily make him indebted to others. He didn’t mind owing favors to those of higher status, as such debts often translated into mutually beneficial arrangements. These connections would offer significant advantages for his future endeavors. If Inner Sect Disciples or Outer Sect Disciples offered gifts of high value, then... they were undoubtedly seeking something in return! Gifts of little value, however, suited him perfectly... In the future, should an easy opportunity arise to help these congratulatory fellow disciples, he certainly wouldn’t be stingy. Fawning over the powerful and trampling on the weak—such is the way of the world. No one is an exception. One must simply strive to do what one ought to do.
After exchanging farewells with the very last Outer Sect Disciple,
Gazing at the now-empty Cave Mansion Entrance, Xu Xing let out a turbid breath, a profound sense of weariness settling in his heart.