Chapter 6: Encounter with the Northern Mountain Fox

The door to the elegant chamber closed again.

"See, there's nothing to worry about now." Beishan Baiwei sat down directly, picked up the exquisite wine flask, and poured wine for Ji Ning. "With Zhou Li's help, you won't suffer after entering the Lichuan Sword Sect."

"Suffer?" Ji Ning raised an eyebrow.

"After all, it's a major sect with over ten thousand Zifu cultivators." Beishan Baiwei shook his head. "With so many disciples, you can imagine how fierce the competition is. Disciples are also ranked into different classes. Even if you've just entered, without someone to look out for you, you'll likely end up with the worst treatment."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

Indeed, wherever there are people, there is competition. The competition in a super major sect with tens of thousands of disciples would indeed be fierce.

"With Zhou Li's help, your start will be easier." Beishan Baiwei said. "But after that, you'll have to rely on yourself. Remember, opportunities are fought for—don't be soft at all. Although I'm not entirely clear, there are bound to be various competitions within such a major sect to rank disciples into different classes. In these competitions, try to take first place and become a core disciple of the Lichuan Sword Sect."

"Fight!" Ji Ning understood this principle.

In the Ji clan, he could get the best of everything.

But in other sects, he would have to fight for himself.

"You can often come to Anchan City, and I'll introduce you to some friends." Beishan Baiwei smiled. "The path of immortality is full of hardships. With powerful friends to help, it can be much easier. Look... the one coming in now."

Ji Ning looked out through the window.

That Lady Ziyi had gone to greet someone—a very handsome young man, followed by more than ten attendants.

"He has an extraordinary bearing." Ji Ning praised.

"This man is named Hun Wuqi." Beishan Baiwei said solemnly. "He's a formidable figure. His clan, the Hun clan, is a giant merchant conglomerate."

Ji Ning was surprised.

Giant merchant conglomerate? Merchants? Most major powers were sects, schools, clans, and the like, rarely specializing in commerce.

"The Hun clan is no ordinary merchant conglomerate." Beishan Baiwei said. "Their business spans almost the entire Great Xia dynasty. Though not the top in the whole dynasty, they are one of the foremost merchants in our Anchan Commandery. This clan rose to prominence only a thousand years ago."

Ji Ning was stunned: "Only a thousand years?"

"The founder of the Hun clan, Hun Tianyou, is still alive." Beishan Baiwei smiled. "How long do you think the clan has been established?"

Ji Ning was amazed.

Founding a clan and becoming one of the foremost merchants in the entire Anchan Commandery within just a thousand years, with business spanning the Great Xia dynasty, was indeed astonishing.

"The founder Hun Tianyou was originally an orphan, a street urchin." Beishan Baiwei smiled. "He gave himself the surname 'Hun,' representing his origins as a rascal, and the given name 'Tianyou,' since he was an orphan."

"This founder... wasn't talented enough in cultivation. After becoming a Zifu cultivator in his early years, he began to seriously manage his business. Unexpectedly, he made it big." Beishan Baiwei sighed. "Bold, cautious, ruthless... he's truly a warlord. Even when he was a Wanxiang cultivator, he hired three immortals to kill his enemies."

"Hired three immortals?" Ji Ning held his breath.

"With his immense wealth, the founder has now cultivated to the level of a Daoist priest." Beishan Baiwei said. "Though the entire Hun clan has only two Daoist priests, their wealth... compared to your enemy Snowdragon Mountain, is far greater."

Ji Ning nodded.

If he could hire three immortals as a Wanxiang cultivator, one can imagine his current wealth.

"The Hun clan is one of the top clans in our Anchan Commandery." Beishan Baiwei said. "To achieve this in just a thousand years is remarkable. The Hun Wuqi who just came in... is the outstanding younger generation of the Hun clan, highly valued by the founder. Such a friend is worth making."

"The Hun clan in our Anchan Commandery is like a god of wealth." Beishan Baiwei said. "Wealth is also important on the path of immortality."

Ji Ning nodded.

He understood—things like magical treasures, rare items, and even elixirs.

"Borrow strength from all sides." Beishan Baiwei said. "Use others' momentum to build your own, and your path will be smoother."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Ji Ning, I believe you will definitely become a great hero in the future." Beishan Baiwei was full of confidence.

"Brother Baiwei treats me so well; I don't know how to repay you." Ji Ning said.

Beishan Baiwei waved his hand: "This is what my father taught me: treat friends you value with sincerity; those I don't value, I ignore completely."

Ji Ning smiled too.

"You must be sincere with friends, or you won't make real friends. In critical moments, friends won't help you either." Beishan Baiwei said.

"Well said." Ji Ning agreed.

Treat others sincerely, and they may treat you sincerely in return.

"Make friends from all directions, and you'll naturally build momentum. Ji Ning, if you make powerful friends, with your own strength and help from friends, you might even become the leader of the Lichuan Sword Sect in the future." Beishan Baiwei smiled.

Suddenly, laughter came from outside.

"Hahaha..." The voice was deep and resonant, echoing through the hall that spanned several li.

Hearing this laughter, Beishan Baiwei, who had been chatting happily with Ji Ning, darkened his expression.

"Beishan Baiwei." The deep voice echoed throughout every part of the hall.

In the various elegant chambers along the suspended corridors of the great hall, many distinguished guests listened curiously.

"You want your friend 'Ji Ning' to enter the Lichuan Sword Sect?" The deep voice continued with wild laughter. "What a pity. I can tell you now, and tell that kid Ji Ning too. Kid Ji Ning, you'll never enter the Lichuan Sword Sect in your lifetime!"

"Beishan Hu!" Beishan Baiwei suddenly roared in anger.

"What?" The deep voice sneered. "Angry?"

"You worthless piece of trash!" Beishan Baiwei cursed.

"Losing your temper." The deep voice said smugly. "Too bad, your friend won't be entering the Lichuan Sword Sect."

"Hmph." Beishan Baiwei ignored the outside. The deep voice taunted several times, but seeing no response from Beishan Baiwei, it stopped.

Ji Ning frowned slightly and asked in a low voice: "Brother Baiwei, who is this?"

Beishan Baiwei's face was ugly. He quickly said: "Ji Ning, I'm truly sorry. I didn't expect my involvement to ruin things for you. This man is named Beishan Hu, also a member of our Beishan clan."

Ji Ning nodded.

"My father is Beishan Heihu, and his father is Beishan Yin." Beishan Baiwei shook his head. "His father and mine are both contenders for the next Marquis of Anchan."

Ji Ning gasped.

The next Marquis of Anchan?

Beishan Heihu's status was indeed high. No wonder Beishan Baiwei was greeted at the entrance of Wuyou Cave by a Wanxiang demon, with such a grand scene.

"His father and mine have always been opposed, so this kid and I have been at odds too." Beishan Baiwei sneered. "His father Beishan Yin is truly a cunning fox. He named his son 'Hu' (fox), but his son only has some petty cleverness."

"I'm really sorry this time. Because of me, you can't join the Lichuan Sword Sect." Beishan Baiwei said. "Since Beishan Hu dared to say that, he must be confident."

Ji Ning felt helpless inside. He had just been fantasizing about fighting hard, and now it was all for naught. He said: "This is just a small matter. Anchan Commandery is vast, with many sects. I have plenty of options."

"Mm." Beishan Baiwei said. "How about this: I'll gather information on all the sects in Anchan Commandery for you to choose from. Then, when the twelfth month comes and the major sects recruit disciples, you go alone. Without my involvement, things won't go wrong. With your abilities, joining a sect will be easy. This time, I overstepped."

Ji Ning smiled: "It's just bad luck, running into this Beishan Hu."

So what if he couldn't join the Lichuan Sword Sect?

Even the spirit of the ancient aquatic mansion had changed its attitude toward him after he achieved the Rainwater Sword Domain. Choosing another sect would surely be simple.

"Bang, bang, bang." A knock came at the door.

"Brother Baiwei, it's Hun Wuqi." A voice came from outside.

"Wuqi, come in quickly. Why knock?" Beishan Baiwei called out directly.

The door opened.

In walked a graceful young gentleman. Hun Wuqi wore a smile that immediately made people like him. He quickly said: "If it were just Baiwei here, I'd have barged in. But since Brother Ji Ning is also here, I didn't want to be rude."

"Ji Ning, come, this is my good friend Hun Wuqi." Beishan Baiwei said.

"Young Master Wuqi." Ji Ning cupped his hands.

"Brother Ji Ning, I just heard your name." Hun Wuqi also cupped his hands.

"You've seen a joke." Beishan Baiwei said helplessly.

"I had just sat down nearby when I saw the matter between Beishan Hu and you." Hun Wuqi sat down directly. "That Beishan Hu is truly foolish. There are so many sects in Anchan Commandery. He has close ties with the Lichuan Sword Sect and can prevent Brother Ji Ning from entering it. But what about other sects? Recruiting disciples is a major event. With so many sects in Anchan Commandery, he can only influence a few. Brother Ji Ning can still join a sect in the end."

"So he's just stupid, always jumping out to fight me." Beishan Baiwei shook his head. "As if that makes him better than me."

Suddenly, the decadent music outside changed, replaced by the sound of a zither.

The notes were like a babbling spring, cleansing the soul.

"Hm?" Ji Ning, Beishan Baiwei, and Hun Wuqi all looked outside.

Ji Ning looked down at the huge hall below and saw a woman in green sitting before a zither, playing. For a moment, the entire hall seemed to fall silent, leaving only the sound of the zither.

Such beautiful music.

Such a beautiful person.

Ji Ning immediately noticed that the woman in green was like a legendary fairy, and the music made his soul feel incredibly comfortable. Her skill had reached the Dao.

When the piece ended, the hall was quiet for a long time.

"It's the Zither Fairy." Beishan Baiwei praised and directly ordered the attendant waiting outside: "Go, ask the Zither Fairy to come over."

"Yes." The attendant outside acknowledged.

"Inviting the Zither Fairy to accompany us? That's no small expense." Hun Wuqi looked at Beishan Baiwei in surprise. Beishan Baiwei said: "I ruined Brother Ji Ning's chance to join the Lichuan Sword Sect earlier, so let's make him happy today."

Ji Ning was surprised. The Zither Fairy had been invited specially for him.

It sounded like quite an expense.

"Brother Baiwei is too kind." Ji Ning quickly said. "That was just a small matter, not worth mentioning."

"Hahaha..."

The deep voice sounded again. "The Zither Fairy's skill is truly unparalleled. Would the Zither Fairy care to come to my chamber, Beishan Hu's, for a chat?"

The voice echoed through the hall.

Inside the elegant chamber.

"Bang." Beishan Baiwei slammed the beast-head wine cup in anger, grinding his teeth. "I really should have checked the calendar before going out. Stepped in dog shit."