He first made a trip to Li Huo Market, and as expected, found nothing.

He then went to the Merit Hall, but unfortunately, they didn’t have it either.

Fortunately, he was smarter this time.

Without needing a reminder from Steward Chen, he went straight to Elder Chen and asked, "Master, do you happen to have a Tier Two Spirit Grass called ’Yin and Yang’?"

Elder Chen had just returned from the Alchemy Hall.

He shook his head as he steeped some tea. "A Tier Two Spirit Grass? No, I don’t have anything like that. When it comes to Tier Two Spirit Grasses, the only one I know of is ’Rock Core Maitong’."

"But I’ve only ever heard of it; I’ve never actually seen one."

"Why do you need something so unusual?"

Xiao Chen was a little disappointed, but he explained, "I was looking at some Tier Two Pill Formulas recently and saw a Spiritual Object called ’Yin and Yang’ mentioned."

He then asked, "Master, is this ’Rock Core Maitong’ easy to find?"

Elder Chen shook his head again. "I’m afraid it will be very difficult. In all these years, I have only ever heard that such a thing exists."

’It’s hopeless!’

Xiao Chen was instantly disappointed. ’Looks like I shouldn’t get my hopes up about this after all.’

However, Elder Chen offered a suggestion. "If you really need that item, the upcoming Immortal Ascension Ceremony is the perfect opportunity to do some networking and look around."

’The Immortal Ascension Ceremony?’

Xiao Chen was puzzled. "Master, what’s the connection?"

Elder Chen explained, "The Immortal Ascension Ceremony isn’t just a formal event; it’s also a rare and massive trading fair."

"Think about it. The Foundation Establishment Cultivators of Li State are normally scattered all over. This time, everyone finally has a chance to gather in one place."

Xiao Chen immediately understood. "So, everyone can use this opportunity to trade for things they need and learn from one another."

"Exactly."

Elder Chen nodded. "And that’s not all. If you trade with others at the ceremony, you basically don’t have to worry about being ambushed by Tribulation Cultivators on the journey home."

"After all, no one in their right mind would stir up trouble on a day like this. It would be a slap in the face to the new Golden Core True Man."

"Because of that, many rarely seen Treasures will be put up for trade. This, in turn, attracts even more people to come, bringing even better items with them."

"Someone might just have a ’Rock Core Maitong’ to trade."

Xiao Chen’s eyes lit up with understanding. So that was the real reason behind it all.

’Before, I was actually wondering if I could skip it and just ask someone to deliver a gift on my behalf.’

’But since no one else brought it up at the time, I didn’t ask.’

’It turns out people aren’t just going to offer congratulations, but also to attend what is essentially the most high-end trade fair in all of Li State.’

’A trade fair that brings together nearly every Foundation Establishment Cultivator in Li State is bound to be a spectacular event!’

"Yes, if his breakthrough is successful, the ceremony should be in the next few days."

After a quick mental calculation, Elder Chen added a reminder, "For the next couple of days, try to avoid going out searching for Demon Cultivators."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, Master. I understand."

’Besides, I’m just a steward in name only. I don’t actually manage anything and probably can’t even recognize all the disciples of the Demon Extermination Hall. I’m a model slacker.’

.

「In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-eighth day of the first month.」

With the month drawing to a close, Mei Yong finally received a gold-stamped invitation from Qianzhu Market.

It invited Master Ming Yan and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Li Huo Sect to attend the Immortal Ascension Ceremony at Qianzhu Market on the thirtieth day of the first month.

Mei Yong finished reading the invitation and let out a soft breath.

’To think that Gu Lihui, at the grand old age of 161, actually succeeded in Core Formation.’

’From now on, Li State will have another Golden Core True Man.’

He immediately dispatched someone to inform the rest of the sect of the news.

He also informed Master Ming Yan via a specially crafted Sound Transmission Flying Sword.

’Master Ming Yue.’

Xiao Chen received the news as well. He also learned that the congratulatory messages were all to bear the same inscription: "Congratulations to Master Ming Yue on Attaining the Golden Core."

’I’d heard his nickname was the ’Bright Moon Curved Saber.’ He must have taken the first part of that for his title.’

’By that logic, does Master Ming Yan have an incredibly powerful Fire Technique?’

With this thought in mind, Xiao Chen hurried to Li Huo Market and bought a brand-new, high-quality Sandalwood Box worth ten Spirit Stones.

He still had a Four-leaf Golden Peach that he had acquired from One-Eyed.

Even though it was missing a leaf and could no longer serve as a Spiritual Object for Foundation Establishment, it was more than sufficient as a congratulatory gift.

「Two days later, at 7:00 AM on the thirtieth day of the first month.」

Many of the sect’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators were waiting together in the main plaza.

Since they were representing the Li Huo Sect as a group, they would naturally travel together, taking the sect’s large Spiritual Boat.

Members of the Five Great Clans, the Honored Guest Elders, and particularly the supervisors and stewards responsible for the sect’s holdings abroad—aside from those who truly couldn’t get away—had all arrived early.

In total, ninety-three people were present, arranged in six long lines.

The dense crowd was even larger than the group of disciples that had gone to the Flame Pool Secret Realm.

Standing in the Chen Family’s line, Xiao Chen scanned the crowd, taking in the many faces of fellow sect members he rarely had a chance to see.

He had never met more than half of them.

Long before he had joined the Li Huo Sect, these people had already reached Foundation Establishment and been dispatched to different locations to manage the sect’s assets.

He tried to memorize each face to avoid the awkwardness of not recognizing them in the future.

Xiao Chen then turned his attention to the Five Great Clans.

He noticed Jiang Cungang standing in the Jiang Family’s line; it appeared he had also reached Foundation Establishment.

Surprisingly, the Su Family’s old ancestor, Su Ruihe, hadn’t come. The one leading their contingent was the Patriarch, Su Huaitao.

’That’s a bit strange.’

"This is Xiao Chen. Come and meet him."

Elder Chen whispered as he approached with a middle-aged cultivator in tow.