Chapter 84: Attempting Foundation Establishment
"Superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill!"
Inside the main hall, Alchemist Hua's disciple, Lan Chang'an, Zhao Siyao, and the newly arrived Fu Xuemei, all were either surprised or moved.
A standard Foundation Establishment Pill, with four dao patterns, can increase the success rate of foundation establishment by 20%.
A superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, with four and a half dao patterns, increases the success rate by approximately 25%.
A top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, with five dao patterns, increases the success rate by 30%, breaking the original limitations of the pill, a rare sight in the cultivation world!
Superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, while not as rare as top-grade ones, are still very scarce.
When the superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was produced, Lan Chang'an's first reaction was not joy.
Instead, he felt something was unusual!
His expectation had not been as high as to hope for a superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
If two standard Foundation Establishment Pills were produced, that would have met his mental threshold.
"Alchemist Hua, superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pills are rare. May this humble woman have a look?" Fu Xuemei's tranquil eyes, bright as stars at night, and her dainty fingers slightly tensed.
"Haha! This time, I performed exceptionally well."
Alchemist Hua said gleefully, holding the medicinal pills as if he could never let them go. He handed them over without consulting Lan Chang'an or Zhao Siyao.
At this, both Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao frowned slightly, while Du Wei's mustache quivered nervously, though he dared not say a word.
Fu Xuemei gazed at the superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill in her hand, her eyes somewhat obsessed, as if she had obtained a coveted treasure.
Seeming to realize something, she glanced over at Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao.
...
"Alchemist Hua, what is the background of that person?"
Fu Xuemei, returning to her serene demeanor, communicated with Alchemist Hua through sound transmission.
She visited today at the invitation of Alchemist Hua.
These past few days, Fu Xuemei learned that the priority for the Foundation Establishment Pill belonged to the young man in the white robe, who was at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.
Alchemist Hua replied to Fu Xuemei through sound transmission. After listening, Fu Xuemei turned her gaze towards Lan Chang'an.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, I am Fu Xuemei. I have been abrupt."
Fu Xuemei made a long and dignified bow, her light purple hair falling, covering her stunning face.
"Miss Fu, this is not necessary!"
Seeing Fu Xuemei bowing nearly ninety degrees, Lan Chang'an couldn't help but smile wryly.
Given her precious status, such a deep bow made her intentions clear.
He signaled with his eyes, asking Zhao Siyao to help Fu Xuemei up.
"Miss Fu, this superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill belongs to Fellow Daoist Lan." Zhao Siyao reminded.
"I understand."
Fu Xuemei, still holding the Foundation Establishment Pill, looked somewhat apologetic.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, have you heard about my younger brother?"
She looked at Lan Chang'an, her empty voice carrying a hint of sorrow.
"My brother's name is Fu Dong, with the 'Dong' meaning winter. In the winter decades ago, if he hadn't begged from door to door, my frail and sickly self would have died from hunger and cold."
"At the age of ten, he carried me, trekking for over ten li in the snow, to deliver me to the doctor, kneeling at the doorstep until dawn."
"At the age of thirteen, if not for his desperate fight, I would have been sold to a brothel by the elders of the beggar gang..."
Fu Xuemei took a deep breath, her proud chest rising and falling with emotion.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, if you had such a younger brother, could you bear to see him leave you halfway?"
"Miss Fu, your deep love for your sibling, Lan has heard of it. Unfortunately, I do not have such a younger brother." Lan Chang'an remained expressionless, but inwardly, Fu Xuemei's story of siblings bound by adversity had stirred something in his heart—yet not by much.
"If you were not Fu Xuemei, not an earth grade spiritual root genius and a disciple of Huanglong Immortal, in the harsh world of immortal cultivation, how many people would patiently listen to your tale of sibling bonds?"
Lan Chang'an did not say this aloud.
At the moment, he was not in a position to argue with Fu Xuemei. He couldn't, nor could Zhao Siyao.
In the Liang Kingdom's immortal cultivation world, Huanglong Immortal was renowned and powerful, not only a core formation cultivator but also possessing a third-rank Huang Dragon spiritual pet with a strong bloodline.
Apart from the Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Flame Departing Palace, most other Core Formation cultivators in various sects were not his match.
Moreover, Huanglong Immortal had extensive connections, with ties to several major sects and even the immortal cultivation world of neighboring countries.
Zhao Siyao was just an unimportant disciple of a Fake-Dan Immortal of her sect and could not be compared.
In Huanglong Immortal City, Fu Xuemei's status was even more elevated.
...
Lan Chang'an took another Foundation Establishment Pill from Alchemist Hua's hand, this one bearing four complete Dao patterns.
One standard Foundation Establishment Pill was a guarantee, meeting the minimum expectation.
"Miss Fu might as well be straightforward. Do you want to purchase this superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, or do you intend to take it directly?" Lan Chang'an didn't want to beat around the bush.
Fu Xuemei paused, then shook her head with a bitter smile:
"As Huanglong Immortal's final disciple, how could I resort to robbing or forcing a sale? If all of Huanglong Mountain's disciples were so rude, how could Huanglong Immortal City be as prosperous as it is today?"
Lan Chang'an remained noncommittal.
If he were a foundationless Qi-Refining cultivator, things might have been different.
Fu Xuemei might be proud and disdainful of such actions, but considering Alchemist Hua's earlier posture, it's hard to say.
Lan Chang'an's connections with sect Foundation Establishment cultivators and knowing Zhang Tieshan of the Law Enforcement Hall proved useful at this moment.
Even Fu Xuemei had to play by the rules when dealing with him.
"This humble woman has a standard Foundation Establishment Pill. Can it be exchanged for Fellow Daoist Lan's superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill? I am willing to owe a significant favor and offer another gift afterward." Fu Xuemei pleaded.
"What do you think, Fellow Daoist Lan?"
Lan Chang'an exchanged a glance with Zhao Siyao.
"Okay."
After pondering for a long time, Lan Chang'an finally agreed.
In fact, the moment Fu Xuemei bowed, he had made his decision. There was no other reason.
Living in Huanglong Immortal City, one must not offend Fu Xuemei. This alone was sufficient.
As for the favor and reward, those were secondary considerations.
Lan Chang'an couldn't agree too readily. He worried that she might grow suspicious, believing him to be crafty and harboring resentment.
"Alchemist Hua... Fu Xuemei... Huanglong Immortal City!" Lan Chang'an committed these words to memory.
Indeed, Lan Chang'an's initial expectation had been to receive a standard Foundation Establishment Pill, which would allow him to reach Foundation Establishment with a certainty of nine out of ten.
However, if he obtained a superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he could guarantee a ninety-nine percent certainty.
Who wouldn't want a higher chance for their Foundation Establishment?
Though Fu Xuemei's manner was courteous, her words soft and pleading, Lan Chang'an saw through her veneer. To him, her actions constituted an obstacle blocking his path, a grudge he would not soon forget over the course of his long life.
...
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lan, for your cooperation."
Fu Xuemei breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a look with Alchemist Hua.
She accepted the superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill and handed a jade bottle to Lan Chang'an.
Lan Chang'an opened the jade bottle and took out the crystal-clear pill inside, which was indeed a standard Foundation Establishment Pill of good quality.
"Miss Fu's affection for her younger brother has truly moved me. The only difference between these pills is the success rate; exchanging one for a personal favor does not place me at any disadvantage."
"I wish Miss Fu and your respected master a long and prosperous journey on the immortal path."
The transaction was complete, and the atmosphere remained amicable as Lan Chang'an continued to spout insincere yet flattering words.
Fu Xuemei and Alchemist Hua nodded with smiles, not caring whether his words were genuine.
Huanglong Immortal had over a hundred years of lifespan left.
Fu Xuemei, at the very least, would be a high-level decision-maker in Huanglong Immortal City, possibly even its leader.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators would eagerly exchange for such a significant favor.
Moreover, Lan Chang'an, an "ancient man," had a low probability of Foundation Establishment. Even if he harbored resentment, it wouldn't matter.
It's better to deceive old men than to mock the poor youth. After all, no one knows whether in the next thirty years the young will prosper.
Lan Chang'an did not fit the latter category; he was essentially an elderly man with no prospects, someone who could easily be taken advantage of.
...
After some formalities, Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao left Alchemist Hua's residence.
They returned to their cave mansion at the foot of Huanglong Mountain.
Only then did Lan Chang'an's face show a hint of gloom.
"Hmph! Alchemist Hua, Fu Xuemei. Do you think I am unaware of your schemes?" Lan Chang'an sneered inwardly.
He had insights from his past life as a Core Formation cultivator and several alchemy inheritances, he had access to several alchemy inheritances, including a special method by which to produce higher quality pills.
This technique sacrificed the quantity of pills to increase the probability of producing a higher grade one.
Master Hua's claim that he had "outdone himself" might have been true, but it was also likely that he had employed such a method.
In other words, what he had sacrificed was Lan Chang'an's potential yield of three Foundation Establishment Pills in exchange for a single, superior-grade product.
It wasn't difficult to deduce that Alchemist Hua's scheme had been motivated by his desire to curry favor with Fu Xuemei and producing a superior-grade Foundation Establishment Pill would bolster his reputation, making it a win-win situation for him.
Meanwhile, Fu Xuemei was fully aware of these implications. She had deliberately feigned ignorance, treating Lan Chang'an like an inexperienced Qi-Refining cultivator.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, don't let this incident cast a shadow over your attempt to reach Foundation Establishment." Zhao Siyao soothed him gently, concern in her eyes.
"No matter," Lan Chang'an replied. "Two standard Foundation Establishment Pills meet my expectations."
The Evergreen Technique cultivated both body and spirit; thus, this incident failed to disturb Lan Chang'an's peace.
After Lan Chang'an finished making some arrangements, under Zhao Siyao's worried gaze, he stepped into the secret room.
He activated his Evergreen Technique, his heart lake as tranquil as still water. Compared to the tribulations he had faced in his previous two lifetimes, the events of today, while humiliating, were hardly noteworthy. In the grand scheme of the cultivation world, they were commonplace occurrences.
Lan Chang'an settled into a meditative state, adjusting his posture and breathing.
Half a month later, he found himself in a state of profound enlightenment. His spiritual flesh and spiritual energy had never been stronger.
With a whoosh, Lan Chang'an wasted no more time and initiated the Foundation Establishment method. The Evergreen mana within him gathered speed, surging like a tide in his dantian region.
"Ancient age Foundation Establishment, success rate: ninety-five percent!"
His eyes shone bright, like twin suns, as an unshakable conviction welled up within his heart.
This conviction stemmed from two lifetimes' worth of experience, and the Evergreen Technique's deep reserves amassed over long years of cultivation.
...
(End of chapter)