“Do you still wish to reach Foundation Establishment?”
Elder Yu Hui looked calmly at Li An.
Li An paused for a moment, then nodded. “Reaching Foundation Establishment is the dream of a cultivator’s life. Of course I hope to achieve it.”
Two days ago, Xu Qiuhui had already hinted that he should consider how to handle the Foundation Establishment Pill.
At that moment, Li An had understood—this reward from the sect… would not be easy to claim.
Especially something as precious as a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Someone in the sect clearly had their eyes on it.
He had already made two plans: if the person who came to negotiate had a modest background, like Xu Qiuhui, then he would try to hold onto the pill.
After all, a Foundation Establishment Pill could increase his chances of forming a core by 30%—for someone like him with only ordinary talent, that was invaluable.
Missing this chance might mean he’d never get another, or it would take tremendous effort and luck to do so.
But if the person had significant status, someone he absolutely couldn’t afford to offend—then he wouldn’t force the issue.
Otherwise, he’d be bringing calamity upon himself.
And now, the person standing before him was clearly the latter.
Yu Hui—one of the four Fake Core Elders of Clear Sun Sect…
But that didn’t mean he’d just hand it over easily.
This was a game—a negotiation—and the key was to extract as much benefit as possible.
“Your spiritual root is merely Low-Grade Yellow,” Yu Hui said dispassionately. “Forgive my bluntness, but with such talent, dreaming of reaching the peak of Qi Refining before sixty is just that—a dream.”
“In fact, you may never reach it in your lifetime.”
Li An’s expression turned ugly.
“Don’t blame me for sounding harsh,” Yu Hui continued, “I’m only thinking of your future. I don’t want you to miss a real opportunity.”
“You’ve made a great contribution this time. The sect plans to reward you with a Foundation Establishment Pill and a High-Grade Yellow-rank cultivation technique. But—”
She paused, then added casually, “I could help you gain a different kind of opportunity instead…”
Li An understood immediately—this was the offer.
He said, “I await your instruction, Elder.”
“An Inner Sect disciple’s identity,” Yu Hui replied calmly. “And I will accept you as a personal disciple under my lineage.”
She watched him for a response.
Li An began to think.
This old fox… really stingy.
Becoming her disciple? On the surface, it looked like Li An was leaping into success—but compared to a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was nothing. A hollow title at best.
As for the so-called personal disciple? He didn’t expect much. It was likely an empty promise. And truthfully, he didn’t care for it anyway.
Of course, that “title” wasn’t worthless. For others, becoming a personal disciple of Elder Yu would indeed be a big deal—within the sect, it meant walking sideways.
“This is also for your own good,” Yu Hui smiled. “With no backing, holding a Foundation Establishment Pill is a death sentence. Young man, you should think long-term.”
Li An sneered in his heart… so now comes the veiled threat.
If he didn’t agree, he might die without knowing how.
He lowered his head slightly and replied, “Elder, I dare not dream of entering the Inner Sect or becoming your personal disciple. After this ordeal, my fortune is ruined. I’m truly impoverished… If I cannot gaze upon the path to Foundation Establishment in this life, then I wish only for peace and wealth.”
Yu Hui blinked. This brat… was he asking for money?
Even Xu Qiuhui was stunned. Was he that broke?
He would trade such an opportunity for a pile of spirit stones?
“Li An, think carefully,” Xu Qiuhui said. “Even if not for yourself, think of Qingxue. If you joined the Inner Sect, her life would improve greatly.”
She would even be able to return to the sect from the market district.
Li An sighed. “After that battle, I truly ask for nothing else but peace and wealth.”
Xu Qiuhui looked disappointed, eyes filled with frustration.
Yu Hui, however, chuckled. So this little talisman master had no real ambition after all.
That made things easier—spirit stones were nothing to her.
“How much wealth do you think is enough for this lifetime?” she asked.
“Not daring to ask much,” Li An replied. “Three thousand spirit stones will suffice.”
Yu Hui nodded. A bit pricey—but acceptable.
“You know what you want. That’s good.”
She stood up. “Speaking of which, my granddaughter-in-law entered the sect the same year you did. She wanted to visit, but since your condition wasn’t good, I told her to wait a few days.”
“I’ll take my leave for now.”
She turned and left.
Li An frowned faintly.
That old fox didn’t hand over the spirit stones immediately?
Once she was gone, Xu Qiuhui sighed. “Li An… I truly can’t understand you. You’re clever, but why give up such a good opportunity?”
“If you couldn’t keep the Foundation Establishment Pill, joining the Inner Sect would’ve been ideal. You’d have peace and stability, raise a child with Qingxue, and stay in the sect. That’s a life others can only dream of.”
“Thank you, Senior Sister Xu. But every man has his own path,” Li An replied.
Xu Qiuhui gave up trying to convince him.
“Senior Sister, there’s something I don’t understand…”
Li An asked, “Why would Elder Yu even need my Foundation Establishment Pill?”
As a Fake Core expert, she could easily buy, refine, or collect the ingredients herself.
Xu Qiuhui explained, “Elder Yu’s grandson. You know him—Chen Cheng.”
“He’s not very talented. He’s already taken two Foundation Establishment Pills and still failed to break through.”
“He’s forty-nine. After two failed attempts, his vital energy is weakening. He wants to take one final shot before fifty. That’s why your pill is urgent.”
“Time waits for no one.”
Li An instantly understood.
Under normal circumstances, sixty was the upper age limit for Foundation Establishment. After that, the body weakened and success became extremely rare.
Chen Cheng, though only forty-nine, had already failed twice. His body was deteriorating fast. He needed one last chance.
Yu Hui, even with her status and wealth, would still need time to gather ingredients, hire alchemists, or make purchases. None of it could compare to Li An’s ready-to-use pill.
But Li An knew—after two failures, a third success was nearly impossible.
Still, when you had backing, anything was possible.
Even if Chen Cheng had terrible talent, his background meant he could marry a talented beauty to improve his spiritual root. He could afford to burn through multiple pills.
Meanwhile, Li An had no background or connections.
Even if he got a treasure, he could only hand it over.
And this was already the kind outcome—after all, he had rendered great service. Yu Hui couldn’t just seize it directly without harming the sect’s reputation.
Otherwise, even three thousand spirit stones would’ve been a pipe dream.
Another day passed.
Li An’s condition improved.
The sect issued an official decree to commend him and held a grand ceremony, where he was publicly awarded the Foundation Establishment Pill and a High-Grade Yellow-Rank cultivation technique.
This also signified that he had cleared all suspicion and safely landed.
After the ceremony—
Many familiar faces came to visit and congratulate him.
“Brother An! You’re incredible!”
Wang Dazhu was ecstatic. After more than ten years, he was now in his forties and had become a First-Rank Artifact Refiner in the Artifact Hall. He was burly, nearing the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, and had a promising future!
“Brother Li, to earn such merit—your future is wide open!” Zhao Xianchuan looked on with envy.
He had reached middle age. Beside him stood a graceful woman—his wife, Wang Yuezhu.
She had borne him a son. At this moment, her gaze was warm—her husband having a close connection to someone like Li An was surely a blessing for their future.
“Brother Li, congratulations!”
Suddenly, a cheerful voice rang out. A man and woman entered the room. The man—none other than Chen Cheng, and the woman, clearly Mu Qingwan.
Li An was surprised.
Years ago, when Mu Qingwan married Chen Cheng, she had worn a chastity bracelet reserved for furnace cauldrons. Li An had assumed she would die early.
Yet she was alive and well, even pregnant.
Seeing them arrive, Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan remained expressionless.
“Brother Li, congratulations! You've brought great merit to the sect—your future is limitless!”
Chen Cheng acted extremely warm.
“These past days, I haven’t been able to visit due to your injuries. I hope you won’t take offense.”
“Not at all,” Li An smiled. “Your wife is pregnant, and still you’ve come—this is too great an honor.”
He glanced at Mu Qingwan.
Her beautiful eyes flickered with complicated emotion.
She remembered the days when they entered the sect together…
Now, decades had passed, and their fates had diverged completely.
“Nonsense, Brother Li!” Chen Cheng said.
“Qingwan, hand over the gift we prepared.”
Mu Qingwan passed him a storage pouch. Chen Cheng gave it to Li An with a smile.
“A small gesture. Please accept it.”
Li An swept it with his divine sense. His heart gleamed.
Three thousand five hundred spirit stones.
“Such a generous gift… many thanks!”
He bowed gratefully.
It was five hundred more than Yu Hui had offered.
On the side, Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan’s faces changed.
Chen Cheng gave that much?
They weren’t even close!
And then—
“Now that Fellow Daoist Mu is pregnant,” Li An said with a smile, “I must offer my own congratulations.”
He pulled out the Foundation Establishment Pill and handed it to Chen Cheng.
“Please accept this, Brother Chen. Don’t refuse.”
“Brother An, you…”
Wang Dazhu’s face turned grim. That was a Foundation Establishment Pill!
Zhao Xianchuan just sighed softly. He didn’t know the details, but he could guess…
Li An had no way to keep that pill.
(End of Chapter)