Chapter 84: Who Took My Foundation Establishment Pill!
Six months later.
In the sixth year since Tianxuan City was founded.
After the snowstorm passed, all things revived, and once again there were signs of vigorous vitality.
However, the situation in Yue Kingdom grew increasingly turbulent and chaotic. First, the war among the three great sects intensified, and then Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle Sect in Tianxuan City had not been seen for a long time.
“Frontline fighting has intensified. All three sects are conscripting cultivators under their control.”
“Our Tianxuan City has Master Lu. The Palace of Blazing Fire and Pavilion of Mystic Sound shouldn’t forcibly conscript us, right?”
“They won’t conscript by force, but have you joined Master Lu’s faction?”
“Hmm, I wonder how Master Lu’s injuries are. We rogue cultivators finally have a pure land here.”
Within the city, rogue cultivators whispered among themselves. Some turned pale when discussing the situation, while others were itching to make a move.
Although Tianxuan City was nominally led by Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle Sect, everyone knew it was actually governed by three parties together.
As for the rogue cultivators living in the city, Master Lu had no reason to protect them without cause.
Only those who joined Tianxuan City as patrons or guest disciples could avoid conscription by the two larger sects.
But under Master Lu’s rule, not many were recruited. Now that the war had escalated, many cultivators who wanted to join were refused because there were no more cultivation resources available.
[Life: 56/208]
[Realm: Foundation Establishment early stage (6/100)]
Inside his cave abode, Lin Changan sat cross‑legged before the pill furnace, his expression indifferent. The minor disturbances outside could no longer affect someone of his Foundation Establishment realm.
But the escalating situation outside was not good news for him either.
“I’m fifty‑six years old. After a year of arduous cultivation, I only increased four points. That means if I cultivate steadily, from the early stage of Foundation Establishment to mid stage, it will take at least twenty‑five years.”
Lin Changan shook his head inwardly at his cultivation progress. Given the current situation, he only hoped that Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle Sect could hold on for several more decades.
“The pills are done.”
Lin Changan then nodded and looked at the opened pill furnace. A dozen or so pills emitting spirit light floated out—of excellent quality.
Upon seeing this, Lin Changan smiled broadly, unable to hold back a nod of approval.
[First‑rank Alchemist +5 (Expert 2/5000)]
“My pill‑alchemy skill has finally broken through to Premium‑grade First‑rank.”
Looking at the Premium‑grade First‑rank pill in his hand, Lin Changan’s face was full of joy.
Who would have thought that within just one year, he would raise his pill‑alchemy skill to such a level.
Besides his exceptional talent and continuous study during this time, much of it was due to the strength of Foundation Establishment cultivators, allowing him to refine pills in succession with ease.
“Next I need to prepare for the auction six months from now.”
Lin Changan thought to himself. Currently, the most exciting event in Tianxuan City was the auction scheduled for six months later.
…
After clearing away the lingering pill aroma, Lin Changan stepped out of his cave abode and happened to see Zhou Bingyun playing with the Azure‑Horned Bull by the water pool.
“Brother Lin, the Azure‑Horned Bull’s aura has already reached Late‑stage First‑rank completion. It shouldn’t take long to break through to Second‑rank.”
Zhou Bingyun said with a smile. She often came to feed the Azure‑Horned Bull. Over the past year, Lin Changan, soft‑hearted when fed, had inadvertently learned much about beast‑taming.
“Friend Zhou, tame‑beast technique is indeed vast and profound, but in the world of cultivation, strength still commands respect.”
Lin Changan spoke in the tone of an elder, sounding more worldly experienced.
Hearing this, Zhou Bingyun covered her mouth and smiled, nodding. “Brother Lin, you’re joking. I didn’t feed the Azure‑Horned Bull for nothing. The spirit qi here is already comparable to my father’s cultivation chamber.”
Zhou Bingyun had some ulterior motives. At the very least, everyone in the Zhou Clan knew she had a good relationship with Lin Changan, the Second‑rank Talisman Master, which had earned her considerable resources within the clan. Even marriage proposals were not brought up again.
Lin Changan shook his head lightly. That girl was not foolish—she knew that coming here to cultivate also meant dealing with people. Every time she came, she would bring spirit‑herbs and spirit‑fruits to feed the Azure‑Horned Bull.
It was like paying rent, in a manner of speaking.
“By the way, Brother Lin, this is the Zhou Clan’s Beast‑Taming Compendium. There isn’t much recorded on the Wind‑Chirp Bird clan. All we know is that this bird is a spirit of fire, the supreme yang bird, fond of eating poisonous insects, especially capable of overcoming yin ghosts and fierce phantoms.”’
Zhou Bingyun personally transcribed a copy of the clan’s Spirit Beast Compendium and handed it over, which made Lin Changan shake his head with a smile after reading it. “Be careful you don’t get punished when you return.”
Yet Zhou Bingyun, being scolded, wasn’t annoyed at all. Instead, she laughed and waved her hand.
“Don’t worry, Brother Lin. This isn’t some secret of our Beast-Taming Zhou Clan, just a few records. Using this to win over a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and even a second-rank Talisman Master—many in the clan would be more than eager to do so.”
In the pavilion, Lin Changan nodded with a soft chuckle, while Zhou Bingyun took the opportunity to ask cultivation-related questions when she saw his good mood.
As for the Azure-Horned Bull, after seeing there were no spirit fruits or spirit herbs, it lay down on the side in boredom, lazily swaying its tail.
The way the two interacted was quite pleasant. Although each had their own goals, one had to admit that this clever woman Zhou Bingyun always managed to make the relationship more harmonious.
The most important point was that Zhou Bingyun always understood that there was no such thing as a free benefit—she always offered something in return.
“You’re not lacking in talent. You should know that on the path of cultivation, one doesn’t only look at spiritual root aptitude. Comprehension is equally crucial.”
With Lin Changan’s experience, guiding a cultivator like Zhou Bingyun at the fifth level of Qi Refinement was nothing more than a breeze.
“And since the Wind-Chirp Bird was snatched away by a rogue cultivator, that person might still be within Tianxuan City, so we need to be better prepared.”
While instructing, Lin Changan didn’t forget to give a reminder.
Although Huang Shaohai had gone to the frontlines, this was also an excuse for him to investigate the Wind-Chirp Bird. After all, it might come up again in the future—better to be prepared.
“Brother Lin is right. Recently, there’ve been more rogue cultivators roaming outside. Even female rogue cultivators are going around using Ghost Three Blades’ name.”
Listening to Zhou Bingyun speak, Lin Changan couldn’t help but inwardly sigh for that Ghost Three Blades.
This man really had too many charges pinned on him. Not to mention others—even the Huang Clan was like this.
Now Ghost Three Blades had become a legend among rogue cultivators, seemingly everywhere, though no one truly knew if he was still alive.
Yet the legends about Ghost Three Blades had never ceased.
……
At this moment, within a residence in Tianxuan City—
“Tsk tsk, yesterday that rogue cultivator Ghost Three Blades committed another brutal crime outside.”
Amid raspy laughter, the man removed his bamboo hat, revealing the face of a middle-aged man—he was none other than He Yan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had long joined the Mystic Yin Sect.
Across from him, an old man in black coldly snorted, his indifferent pupils tinged with clear anger.
There were simply too many people impersonating him over the years.
“He Yan, remember our mission this time.”
“Don’t worry. Protector Xiang will arrive personally in half a year. All we’re doing is stirring the waters a bit.”
He Yan nodded calmly, a murderous aura radiating from him—it was evident that his experiences over the years had been anything but ordinary.
“Su Miaoyin really is enviable, having such a good father. She doesn’t even need to worry about forming her core.”
Recalling what he went through to reach Foundation Establishment, the black-clad Ghost Three Blades couldn’t help clenching his teeth. If only he’d had such backing back then, how would the Huang Clan have dared push him to such a miserable state?
“Ghost Bro, rein in your hostility, lest someone senses it.”
Seeing Ghost Three Blades getting worked up again, He Yan sighed and tried to console him. At the same time, he felt a bit lucky—thank goodness he had always been on his own.
“According to the intel, the auction hosted by Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle this time will even feature a third-rank demon core. It’s all to gather items related to Golden Core. We absolutely must get that demon core.
Protector will use the Golden Core item to stir chaos in Tianxuan City.”
Watching He Yan’s confident expression, Ghost Three Blades couldn’t help frowning and coldly snorted. “Kid, don’t get too arrogant. Foundation Establishment cultivators are but slightly bigger ants before Golden Core cultivators.”
“I understand.”
“By the way, didn’t you go back to Bamboo Mountain Marketplace to pay respects to your grandfather? Why did you come back with such a dark expression?”
It would’ve been fine not to mention it, but as soon as he did, the smile on He Yan’s face froze, and a nameless rage surged within him, leaving him feeling aggrieved.
He had finally made the trip back, intending to pay respects at his grandfather’s grave at Bamboo Mountain Marketplace and retrieve the Foundation Establishment Pill his grandfather had safeguarded for him.
He had planned to exchange it in Tianxuan City for some spirit stones, and with his own savings, forge a top-grade magical artifact.
But to his dismay—it was gone!
He had no idea which bastard had discovered it.
If not for his grandfather’s grave being intact, he might’ve gone on a rampage right then and there.
“Enough! That matter…”
Feeling aggrieved, He Yan recounted the whole incident, which immediately made Ghost Three Blades burst into laughter.
Now that He Yan was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator and the Foundation Establishment Pill was gone, there was nothing much to hide.
As for hiding the pill back then, it would’ve been an issue if he were weak. But now that he was at Foundation Establishment, was it really a problem?
In the Mystic Yin Sect, if you could snatch something, that was your own skill.
It might’ve been a bit brutal, but it wasn’t a bad thing. At least the constraints were few, and the rewards for meritorious deeds were real.