The Dao Of Time

"What's all the commotion? What's happened?"

Just moments ago, during the Core Formation cultivator's attack on Black Lake Island, the Li Clan had evacuated in an orderly fashion, maintaining a semblance of discipline despite the panic. But now, what could have thrown the Li Clan Leader into such disarray?

Li Ren presented a Message Sword. Wei Zhong took it, examined its contents, and his expression shifted.

"The Old Ancestor of the Yan Clan recently achieved Core Formation, bringing great joy to their family. However, Yao Zheng Sheng, the Young Sect Leader of the Azurewood Sect, paid a visit and challenged him to a sparring match. After a fierce exchange of techniques, Yao Zheng Sheng defeated him. Had the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild not intervened at the last moment, the Yan Clan's Old Ancestor would have perished in the duel."

Wei Zhong now understood Li Ren's panic.

With the Yan Clan's Old Ancestor successfully reaching Core Formation, the Wild Plains Prefecture now had its third Core Formation power.

Han Bamboo City, being too distant and primarily composed of Loose Cultivators, posed no threat to the Azurewood Sect's vast territory.

Previously, families like the Yan and Li clans had been Foundation Establishment clans subservient to the Azurewood Sect. Now that the Yan Clan's Old Ancestor had reached Core Formation, the Azurewood Sect's absolute dominance over the region had been shattered.

The Yan Clan, driven by ambition, had brazenly moved to eliminate their rivals and reclaim their former dominance as a Foundation Establishment power.

However, the sudden emergence of the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild disrupted their plans. The region now hosted two local Core Formation powers, locked in a subtle but undeniable rivalry.

Caught in the middle, the Foundation Establishment families faced an impossible dilemma.

"Senior Chu, what should the Li Family do?" Li Ren asked, his voice trembling with anxiety. Even when treacherous usurpers had seized control of the family, he hadn't felt such unease.

Wei Zhong frowned. Lacking experience in such critical matters, especially those concerning the future of countless Li Clan members, he couldn't offer hasty advice.

The Azurewood Sect, an established Core Formation sect, undoubtedly possessed formidable power. Yet the Yan Clan, now puppets of the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild, were not to be underestimated either.

No matter which path the Li Family chose, it would be fraught with peril.

With no better course of action, Wei Zhong returned the Message Sword to Li Ren. "Patriarch Li," he said, "this matter requires thorough deliberation among all Li Clan members. As an outsider, it's not my place to interfere."

With these words, Wei Zhong turned and departed, leaving a flicker of disappointment in Li Ren's eyes.

Wei Zhong was nominally a Guest Elder of the Li Family, but the position was purely honorary, and he received no compensation whatsoever. He personally paid the wages of the spirit farmers and other laborers on Black Lake Island, and he purchased all the spiritual plants cultivated there from the Li Family.

Strictly speaking, Wei Zhong owed the Li Family nothing.

Li Ren's attempt to enlist Wei Zhong into the Li Family's faction with a few casual words, hoping he would join their battle against the looming Core Formation powers, was both delusional and presumptuous. The Li Family simply wasn't qualified to make such a request.

After seeing Li Ren off, Xie Linghua approached Wei Zhong. "Master," she said, "some workers wish to resign from their duties on Black Lake Island..."

"Then settle their wages and let them go," Wei Zhong replied. "It will lighten the island's burden. As for the maids under your supervision, dismiss anyone who wishes to leave as well."

"Yes, Master."

Wei Zhong wasn't surprised by these resignations. With Core Formation cultivators threatening to attack, even Foundation Establishment experts would be terrified, let alone those in Qi Refining. Fleeing from danger was only natural, and Wei Zhong held no resentment toward them.

Returning to his Cultivation Chamber, he found himself unable to focus on cultivation. Too many significant events had unfolded recently, each capable of reshaping the power dynamics of the entire region.

The Blood Body of the Blood Sea True Monarch, cornered like a desperate dog, was fleeing. Wei Zhong wondered what was happening in Han Bamboo City and whether the repercussions would reach Black Lake Island.

And then there was the Yan Clan.

Wei Zhong never imagined that the small Foundation Establishment family he had stayed with decades ago could produce a Core Formation cultivator. Although the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild had orchestrated it, it was still astonishing.

Core Formation wasn't easy. A single Dustfall Pill shouldn't be enough for a successful breakthrough. The Yan Clan must have been concealing significant resources.

Even if they had ascended to Core Formation status, their future prospects were likely bleak. During their Foundation Establishment days, they had groveled before the Azurewood Sect. Now, as puppets of the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild, they would become pawns in the power struggle between the sect and the guild.

But why would a Nascent Soul power like the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild bother with such convoluted methods to manipulate the Azurewood Sect? Could there be hidden motives Wei Zhong was unaware of?

Frustrated, Wei Zhong shook his head.

Enough pondering. Instead of worrying about these matters, I should focus on cultivating diligently and achieving Core Formation myself. Let them fight their battles—once I have sufficient strength, I can protect myself and stay far away from their conflicts.

He realized he couldn't afford to remain buried in single-minded cultivation any longer. It was time to revive his neglected skills.

Wei Zhong turned his attention to spirit wine brewing, particularly Azure Ganoderma Intoxication. If successfully refined, this brew could serve as a substitute for Qi Harmonizing Pills, significantly accelerating his cultivation.

He also needed to upgrade Azure Vine Intoxication to the Second-Tier as soon as possible. Even if he didn't sell it publicly, consuming it himself would greatly enhance his strength.

...

Wei Zhong visited the Lingzhi grove in his Grotto-Heaven. After over a year of nurturing, thanks to an abundant supply of spirit fish flesh and the dense spiritual energy within the Grotto-Heaven, the Flesh-Eating Mushrooms were thriving remarkably well.

They were now ready for brewing. Although their age was limited, it wouldn't hinder Wei Zhong's efforts to grind experience.

He harvested the oldest specimens and began the first round of brewing. Simultaneously, he instructed Xie Linghua to collect high-grade Spirit Medicines and initiated research into upgrading Azure Vine Intoxication.

Another year passed swiftly. Wei Zhong retrieved the freshly brewed Azure Ganoderma Intoxication, took a sip, and frowned.

"Weak... utterly weak. A jin of this spirit wine likely contains less spiritual energy than a single low-grade Qi Nourishing Pill. This is undoubtedly due to the mushrooms' lack of maturity."

However, his years of accumulated experience should now be sufficient to attempt brewing a higher-grade Azure Ganoderma Intoxication.

First-Tier Spirit Wine Brewing · Mastery (9%)

For a year, Wei Zhong had immersed himself in the art of spirit wine brewing. He not only repeatedly brewed Azure Ganoderma Intoxication but also experimented with several other spirit wine recipes from various Dao traditions.

Although he hadn't yet succeeded in producing any Second-Tier spirit wines, he had honed his First-Tier spirit wine brewing skills to the level of Mastery.

Now, it was time to use the Jade Marrow Mushrooms to attempt brewing Second-Tier Azure Ganoderma Intoxication.

In his Grotto-Heaven, beside the decaying Spirit Wood, Wei Zhong meticulously counted the Lingzhi mushrooms growing on it. There were two over five hundred years old, nine between three hundred and five hundred years old, and a staggering thirteen younger than three hundred years.

With a heavy heart, Wei Zhong plucked two of the three-hundred-year-old mushrooms and began his first attempt at brewing Second-Tier Azure Vine Intoxication.

As expected, the first round of attempts ended in complete failure.

While cleaning the brewing vat, Wei Zhong pondered his mistakes and the lessons he had learned.

Spirit wine brewing differed from ordinary winemaking. Its focus lay in achieving harmonious coexistence and mutual catalysis between the spiritual energies of various spiritual treasures, with alcohol concentration being secondary.

This process resembled alchemy more closely.

Compared to alchemy, however, spirit wine brewing offered advantages in conserving resources and creating a liquid form more easily absorbed by cultivators.

The efficiency of refining spirit wine far surpassed that of refining Medicinal Pills.

Lost in thought, Wei Zhong plucked two more three-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Mushrooms and began brewing again.

This time, whether by divine favor or accumulated experience, the process—though fraught with challenges—ultimately succeeded.

The second chapter for today has been posted. There will be no further updates this afternoon.

Moving forward, I will aim to post updates around noon. If unforeseen circumstances arise, I will notify everyone with specific update times.