"With such massive, bulk shipments flooding the market, the prices of these spirit plants and herbs keep plummeting. There are even rumors that two more grotto-heavens of similar scale have been discovered near that wood attribute spiritual qi grotto-heaven." Jiao Xiuyuan shook his head, clicking his tongue in dismay.
"Just imagine—you've poured your heart into nurturing these spirit plants and herbs for over half a year. They finally mature, and you harvest them excitedly, expecting them to fetch a handsome price.
"But when you get to the market, you find their values have crashed to the prices of cabbages. You can't even recoup your initial investment."
"Who can withstand a blow like that?"
"In such conditions, who'd still want to cultivate their own spirit plants? Might as well just buy them from the market!"
Li Fan nodded. "So that's how it is. Then this Mini Medicine King Cauldron would be useless to me too. I’m not buying it."
Jiao Xiuyuan hurriedly tried to persuade him. "Fellow Daoist, please reconsider! Though spirit plant and herb prices have dropped now, what about the future? Could they surge again? No one can say for sure!
"Treasures like the Mini Medicine King Cauldron are met by chance, not sought by design! Miss this opportunity, and you might never find another!
"Even if you don't grow herbs, it would still be beneficial to keep it around for some flowers or plants!
Jiao Xiuyuan fully deployed his silver tongue, doing his best to make a sale.
"This..." Li Fan seemed slightly tempted.
Jiao Xiuyuan struck while the iron was hot, sweetening the deal. "Fellow Daoist, you must be a longtime patron of Thousand Li Hall. Tell you what, today I'll take a loss on a big sale! Buy one, get one free!"
As he spoke, he produced another small cauldron from who-knows-where and clanked it down on the table.
Li Fan eyed the two nearly identical cauldrons, then shot a skeptical look at Jiao Xiuyuan. "Fellow Daoist, you're not trying to fool me, are you? Did you really dig these so-called Mini Medicine King Cauldrons out from the ruins of the Medicine King Sect?"
Jiao Xiuyuan grew frantic. "They’re absolutely genuine! Our Thousand Li Hall does business across the entire cultivation world; why would we tarnish our own reputation? Look, the dirt hasn't even been cleaned off yet!"
He patted the two small cauldrons, shaking loose a shower of dust and soil.
"Five hundred contribution points, buy one get one free! Fellow Daoist, this deal is absolutely no loss for you!"
Seeing Jiao Xiuyuan pounding his chest in assurance, Li Fan pondered a moment but still shook his head. "Forget it. I don't have many contribution points to begin with. I came here today on other business anyway. I have no spare funds for this Mini Medicine King Cauldron."
"Hey now, don't be like that! Whatever it is, just say it! Let me be your advisor. After all, you're one of my regulars." Seeing Li Fan change his mind again, Jiao Xiuyuan grew anxious once more.
Only then did Li Fan state his purpose.
"Ah! So you're just looking for a place where many cultivators break through from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment? That's easy! Buy these two Mini Medicine King Cauldrons, and I'll throw in that information for free!" Jiao Xiuyuan said magnanimously.
"Fine, since you put it that way." Li Fan was all too eager. He immediately took out five high-grade spirit stones from his storage ring and handed them over.
"Swift and decisive! I like you!" Jiao Xiuyuan snatched the spirit stones as if afraid Li Fan might reconsider.
He then produced a blank jade slip, held it in his hand for a moment, and finally handed both the jade slip and the two cauldrons to Li Fan.
Li Fan stowed the Mini Medicine King Cauldrons away and began scanning the contents of the jade slip.
A Foundation Establishment Master? Interesting.
With his objective achieved, there was no time to waste. Li Fan prepared to head directly to the location indicated.
As for those two Mini Medicine King Cauldrons, they were only five hundred contribution points. He might as well buy them too. Jiao Xiuyuan had a point; they might come in handy someday.
After taking a few steps toward the entrance, Li Fan suddenly remembered something. He turned around and fixed his gaze on Jiao Xiuyuan for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. Then he quietly departed.
Jiao Xiuyuan paid no mind to Li Fan's actions, muttering under his breath, "I went through all the trouble of digging up thirty-six of these mini cauldrons and only sold ten. What rotten luck..."
***
The southeastern waters of the Congyun Sea.
This area of the sea was remarkably empty. Aside from a single nameless islet at its center, there were no other islands for thousands of li in any direction.
The Foundation Establishment Master Jiao Xiuyuan had spoken of was residing on this very island.
Though this individual was only at the late-stage Foundation Establishment realm, he was said to have profound insights into the Foundation Establishment process. He could guide cultivators, shortening the time required to establish their foundations.
Thus, many cultivators came to seek his advice, willing to give it a try. And surprisingly, it was genuinely effective.
But cultivators also cared about face. Most, after successfully establishing their foundation, were unwilling to admit they had relied on outside help. So they rarely spoke of it to others. The Foundation Establishment Master's reputation only circulated within specific circles.
Just as Li Fan was making his way toward the island where the Foundation Establishment Master resided, a sliver of consciousness he had left with Zhang Haobo sent a ripple of feedback.
Li Fan's mind stirred, his attention shifting back to Zhang Haobo.
By now, the wind and rain had gradually subsided, and the sky was clearing.
"Wind...” Zhang Haobo opened his eyes, murmuring softly. A tempest seemed to gather in his pupils.
A faint breeze brushed past.
"Rain..." Zhang Haobo murmured again. Drizzling raindrops began to fall once more from the sky.
"Wind and rain together..." A sharp light flashed in Zhang Haobo's eyes as he uttered the words lightly.
A clear wind blew, stirring the rain, and the downpour slowly intensified. Rain fell like a curtain of broken pearls dropping from the sky.
As the rain fell, the wind rose. The wind's mournful howl grew louder and louder, in turn driving the rain to pour harder.
Gradually, clouds were drawn from all directions across the sky, coalescing into thick, dark clouds poised to bring another sudden storm.
Fierce winds whipped up terrifying waves that churned and surged with increasing violence.
The rain borrowed the wind's force; the wind amplified the rain's power. Cycle upon cycle, each strengthened the other, as if it would never end. It seemed a new storm was about to be born between heaven and earth.
But suddenly, the clouds scattered. The wind ceased abruptly. The strange phenomena vanished in an instant.
Zhang Haobo let out a loud laugh, then collapsed as if drained of strength, falling backward from a high altitude into the sea. He plunged beneath the waves with a great splash, sinking all the way to the seabed, where all sound and movement ceased.
***
Wind and rain together... Li Fan, who had observed everything through Heaven Watches and Earth Listens, couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration.
Although Zhang Haobo's divine ability hadn't been fully executed due to his exhaustion, one could already faintly glimpse the power it would unleash once completely formed.
I hope you can bring me more surprises in the days to come. His consciousness returned to his true self, which continued its journey toward its destination.
Three days later, the island where the Foundation Establishment Master resided finally came into view.
The island appeared to host only a single, compound-like structure.
Li Fan slowed his flight, descending gently before the compound’s gate.
The gate stood open, and a listless young man was leaning lazily against it. He glanced at Li Fan and drawled, “With the Master’s help, your Foundation Establishment is guaranteed. We cheat no one, young or old.
“You’ll need to provide your own Curio of Heaven and Earth. Price is 2000 contribution points or equivalent spirit stones.”