Ling Qiyue and Fu Yin Xue talked for two hours.

Seeing that it was nearly noon, the green-robed beauty generously treated them to lunch. There was high-quality second rank Spirit Rice, all sorts of second rank Demon Beast Meat, and more than enough fine Spirit Wine to go around.

Ling Changqing didn’t say much. After taking his seat, he simply ate heartily.

The benefits to his Cultivation from such a feast, rich in Spiritual Qi, were self-evident. He certainly wasn’t going to waste the opportunity.

"Take your time, little one,"

Fu Yin Xue said with a gentle smile, looking at the handsome, purple-robed youth across from her. "You can eat as much as you like. In the future, as long as you’re willing to come, there will always be a spot for you here."

It wasn’t that she had any particular designs on him; she simply wanted to foster a good relationship. She suspected this young man’s future achievements would likely not stop at Foundation Establishment; the Golden Core Realm was even a possibility.

"Yes. If I have the chance in the future, I’ll come with Senior Sister Ling."

Ling Changqing said, his expression unchanging.

Ling Qiyue shot Fu Yin Xue a meaningful glance. ’This Senior Sister... surely she isn’t entertaining certain ideas, is she?’

’It seems I can’t just bring this guy out with me so casually next time...’

Ling Qiyue mused to herself. ’Truth be told, if I didn’t need to borrow Ling Changqing’s Luck and Fortune, I wouldn’t have made this mistake.’

In fact, in the mortal realm, all sorts of divination, fortune-telling, and qi-gazing Secret Techniques were passed down, and there was no shortage of masters proficient in these arts.

There were countless examples of powerful individuals identifying "hidden dragons" in advance, aiding them in their rise to power, and helping them establish imperial dynasties.

The Divine Secret Techniques of the Cultivation Realm were even more formidable in this regard. It was not at all unimaginable to be able to see through a low-level Cultivator’s background, potential, and future achievements with a single glance.

Therefore, with the perceptive abilities of Ling Qiyue and Fu Yin Xue, it wasn’t difficult to discern some of Ling Changqing’s extraordinary qualities. The same was true for that Luo Ji.

Although specific Secret Techniques and Magical Artifacts could be used to conceal one’s secrets, their effectiveness was extremely limited when the gap in Cultivation was too great.

To avoid this, the best solution was, of course, to raise one’s Cultivation as quickly as possible. With sufficient strength, others would naturally be unable to see through the truth of one’s abilities.

"...Sister, how is the organization’s plan to develop the Underground Dark Spirit Realm progressing?"

Ling Qiyue hesitated for a moment before asking the somewhat sensitive question.

Fu Yin Xue smiled. "There’s no need to hide this from you, Yue’Er. Overall, the development is progressing quite smoothly. It’s just a few minor, lingering issues that haven’t been resolved yet."

"To completely conquer that world and establish it as the organization’s new territory, I’d estimate it will still take another thirty to fifty years."

"That’s very smooth progress, then!"

Ling Qiyue nodded slightly.

Fu Yin Xue looked at her with a hint of regret. "I recommended you for the pioneering team back then, but it’s a shame you refused. If you had accepted, you would have probably already broken through to the Golden Core Realm by now, don’t you think?"

"Or I might have already died there."

Ling Qiyue snorted. Pioneering a new world was never an easy task; death was a common occurrence.

Moreover, plans to pioneer and conquer a new continent often lasted for thousands of years.

The Underground Dark Spirit Realm was one of many small worlds the Cultivation Realm had discovered in the last ten thousand years, renowned for its abundant resources and the fierce, uncanny power of its native inhabitants.

Though called a small world, its actual territory was anything but. Rank Four and Rank Five Spirit Veins were everywhere, and there was no shortage of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures valuable even to Divinity Transformation Ancestors.

The mysterious organization behind Fu Yin Xue had painstakingly schemed and operated for nearly a thousand years, investing incalculable wealth and resources. They had even mobilized numerous Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation Level experts, and only now were they beginning to see the light of victory.

Of course, Ling Qiyue didn’t fully believe Fu Yin Xue’s account. She had spoken of it so casually, Ling Qiyue estimated that they still hadn’t cracked some of the final tough nuts.

It was also fortunate that their main focus was tied up in that underground world, preventing them from pulling out any time soon.

Otherwise, once they were freed up, the outside world would likely know no peace—including, for example, the Feiyu Sea Region where the Ling Family resided.

Beside them, Tang Qiu Yao glanced at Ling Qiyue, the worry in her eyes difficult to conceal.

If the Ling Family was to continue its lineage into the future, its current foundation was far from sufficient. She also wondered what heights Ling Qiyue’s Cultivation Realm would ultimately reach.

She glanced again at the handsome, purple-robed youth beside her. He was still just a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator, and she feared there wouldn’t be much time left for him to grow.

Sighing silently, Tang Qiu Yao raised the Azure Jade Wine Pot in her hand and drained it in one gulp.

The meal ended on a pleasant note for both hosts and guests. As Ling Qiyue was finally taking her leave, she subtly voiced her request to purchase certain resources.

Fu Yin Xue laughed. "Yue’Er, you know I’m only in charge of the intelligence business, and I also handle some Spirit Stone loans. Resource trading isn’t my area of jurisdiction."

"However, for the sake of our past relationship, it’s not out of the question for me to help you this once. Just give me the list."

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Sister!"

Ling Qiyue breathed a sigh of relief and handed her a Jade Scroll she had prepared in advance.

Fu Yin Xue took it and glanced at it, saying, "The quantities are a bit large, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Just bring enough Spirit Stones with you next time to make the trade."

"It’s a deal!"

Ling Qiyue nodded in satisfaction. In the end, her Senior Sister still cherished their past friendship.

After leaving Fu Yin Xue, Ling Qiyue went on to meet several other Cultivators, most of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Level. They included Puppet Mechanicians, Talisman Masters, Array Masters, Artifact Refiners, and others.

The meetings were largely successful. Ling Qiyue’s primary goals were to buy or sell certain resources, exchange cultivation insights, and gather information.

A Foundation Establishment Clan has a limited foundation. To continue developing, let alone advance further, it must maintain contact with higher-level factions and engage in mutual exchange.

It wasn’t until nightfall that Ling Qiyue returned to the inn with her two companions.

"...Senior Sister, it feels like there are quite a lot of Loose Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level in the Hanyue Continent Marketplace, doesn’t it?"

In their room, Ling Changqing said with some confusion.

Loose Cultivators faced a harsh existence. Resources were scarce, Cultivation was difficult, and dying prematurely was a common occurrence.

Someone had once done a study, and the average lifespan of a low-level Loose Cultivator was less than sixty years, about the same as an ordinary mortal.

A Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator’s maximum lifespan could reach one hundred and twenty years, yet very few low-level Loose Cultivators ever lived past one hundred.

Furthermore, Loose Cultivators who managed to reach the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer in their lifetime were few and far between. Reaching Foundation Establishment was little more than a pipe dream.

"What’s so hard to understand about that?"

Ling Qiyue said gently, "The population of Loose Cultivators in this realm is simply enormous. Out of ten thousand, or even a hundred thousand, there are bound to be a few with decent talent and potential, aren’t there?"

"And there will always be some who obtain certain opportunities and successfully reach Foundation Establishment. Didn’t our own Ling Family ancestor establish our clan’s foundation as a Loose Cultivator?"

Tang Qiu Yao added, "You’re still in the Qi Cultivation Stage, so you haven’t had any contact with the circles of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Once you reach Foundation Establishment yourself, you’ll find that there are far more of them than you imagine."

"I understand."

Ling Changqing nodded. ’It’s like in my past life,’ he thought. ’Back in my hometown, you might not see many college students. But once you went to a university town, weren’t you surrounded by tens of thousands of them?’

’It’s the same principle as you go higher up, with master’s students, doctoral candidates, and postdocs. Only when you have the ability to enter those circles do you discover how many other people are just like you.’

’An ordinary person can hardly imagine the world of multi-millionaires and billionaires. But if you’re lucky enough to one day step into that echelon, you realize there are actually quite a few wealthy people, and no small number of people who are even more incredible than you.’

’So there’s no need to complain about tropes like ’Foundation Establishment cultivators are as common as dogs, and Golden Core masters are everywhere.’ In such a vast, magnificent, and immeasurably mysterious world, there would never be a shortage of breathtakingly brilliant individuals.’

’No matter how bitter, difficult, or dark it was at the bottom, there would always be people who struggled, fought their way through, and rose above the rest. And these weren’t isolated cases.’

’From his perspective, only by advancing bravely and diligently, step by step, to the Foundation Establishment and even Golden Core Levels would he have the power to see more of the magnificent sights this world had to offer.’

"Alright, we’ll set off for home tomorrow,"

Ling Qiyue said. If they stayed any longer, people from the Paradise Celestial Maiden Palace might actually come looking for them. For now, it was better to avoid trouble.