Gazing at the increasingly deserted Bright Moon Market City, Wei Zhong felt a pang of melancholy, as if the place had become a ghost of its former self. It felt familiar, yet fundamentally changed, like seeing an old friend aged beyond recognition.
After spending a considerable number of spirit stones to gather the remaining ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, Wei Zhong visited Ning Cankun. He was surprised to see that Ning's face had aged noticeably.
Upon inquiring, he learned that Ning Cankun was over 130 years old, nearing the 150-year lifespan limit for a Qi Refining cultivator.
"Brother Chu must be getting on in years as well, no?" Ning Cankun remarked.
Wei Zhong nodded. In truth, his actual age far exceeded Ning Cankun's, but under the guise of Chu Zhong, he appeared two or three decades younger.
"I heard Pill Master Shen has gone to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range?" Ning Cankun confirmed.
"That's right. The situation there has been stable for years. The sect intends for him to leverage the mountain's abundant resources to advance to a Second-Tier Pill Master."
"Moreover, Hall Master Duan Delong, the head of the Pill Hall, accompanied him."
"If you need any pills refined, Old Brother, you can seek out other Pill Refiners in the Pill Hall. While their skills may not match Hall Master Duan's, they can still handle most common medicinal pills."
"To be honest, Elder Brother, I specifically want to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill."
Ning Cankun's expression shifted to surprise and doubt. "Could it be that you...?"
Wei Zhong promptly revealed his perfected Qi Refining cultivation base.
A wry smile spread across Ning Cankun's face. "Over a hundred years old and finally achieving Foundation Establishment... truly remarkable."
Perhaps reminded of his own dwindling lifespan, Ning Cankun's melancholy deepened. Wei Zhong remained silent, patiently waiting for him to regain his composure.
After a moment, Ning Cankun spoke, "Foundation Establishment Pills are notoriously difficult to refine, requiring at least a Second-Tier Pill Master. Currently, Pill Refiner Qi is the only one in our sect capable of refining them."
"You can visit the Cloud Pill Pavilion, Pill Refiner Qi's own shop. Simply make an appointment with the shopkeeper there. Commissions for rare pills like Foundation Establishment Pills are rarely refused."
Wei Zhong clasped his fist in gratitude. "Brother Ning, I'll come back to drink with you once I achieve Foundation Establishment."
A faint smile crinkled Ning Cankun's weathered face. "Then I'll be waiting." After a moment's contemplation, he added, "Remember, Old Brother—at your age, if you fail Foundation Establishment once, you'll have another chance. Don't force the breakthrough and risk injury."
"Thank you for the advice, Brother Ning. I'll head there now."
"May your Foundation Establishment succeed!"
"May your Foundation Establishment succeed!"
They parted with clasped hands.
Following Ning Cankun's directions, Wei Zhong easily found the Cloud Pill Pavilion. Having previously purchased pills there while concealing his identity, he was familiar with the place.
This time, he approached as Chu Zhong.
As soon as he entered the shop, the shopkeeper hurried forward eagerly. Business had plummeted recently, with most customers only buying low-tier pills that yielded meager profits. Only high-level Qi Refining cultivators like Wei Zhong brought in substantial revenue.
"Can your shop undertake the refining of Foundation Establishment Pills?"
The shopkeeper startled, then beamed with delight. "Yes, yes! Please come upstairs, esteemed guest. I'll summon Pill Refiner Qi immediately."
"Pill Refiner Qi is one of the Azurewood Sect's renowned Second-Tier Pill Masters. He's successfully refined Foundation Establishment Pills multiple times and will surely meet your expectations, Fellow Daoist."
Wei Zhong followed the shopkeeper upstairs. Soon, a maid served spirit tea, and the shopkeeper hovered nearby, chatting amiably and maintaining a polite smile.
When he learned Wei Zhong was a local spirit farmer, his enthusiasm only grew, with not a hint of disdain.
Even the maid massaging Wei Zhong's shoulders chimed in, "Senior, your perseverance in cultivation to this level must stem from extraordinary resolve."
Wei Zhong simply smiled without replying, continuing to savor the spirit tea.
Before long, after a few more pleasantries, Pill Refiner Qi arrived.
As soon as he entered, the shopkeeper and maid discreetly excused themselves.
To Wei Zhong's surprise, the pill refiner was far from elderly, appearing no older than middle-aged with a youthful, masculine face. Noticing Wei Zhong's astonishment, Qi Yun explained, "Forgive my appearance, Fellow Daoist. I am Qi Yun. My youthful looks are merely due to consuming a few Youth Preservation Pills in my younger years."
Youth Preservation Pills? Wei Zhong's interest was piqued.
"Let's get down to business about the Foundation Establishment Pill," Qi Yun said, his impatient nature cutting straight to the point. "Fellow Daoist, have you prepared all the necessary materials?"
Wei Zhong nodded and handed over a Storage Pouch.
Qi Yun accepted it and probed the contents with his spiritual sense. After examining the materials, a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face. "Fellow Daoist, your preparations are meticulous. The types and ages of the Spirit Medicines all meet the requirements. I can begin refining the pill within a few days."
Wei Zhong asked, "What is your price for refining this pill?"
"Three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, regardless of success or failure."
Wei Zhong frowned. "What is your success rate?"
Qi Yun raised his right hand, extending four fingers. "Forty percent. I dare say no one in the Azurewood Sect's territory is more skilled than I am in refining this pill. Even Hall Master Duan Delong himself achieves only a sixty percent success rate—just twenty percent higher than mine."
Too low.
Wei Zhong was shocked to learn that even these so-called "elite" Pill Refiners had such a low success rate. A mere forty percent chance of success meant that sixty percent of the medicinal herbs he had painstakingly gathered could go to waste, potentially costing him an additional three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
Wei Zhong, with his vast wealth, could afford such losses without concern. But Chu Zhong, a humble Spirit Farmer, would certainly feel the pinch.
After a moment's contemplation, Wei Zhong nodded and handed over the three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. "Then I'll entrust it to you, Fellow Daoist."
He couldn't afford to wait for Hall Master Duan Delong to return; who knew how long the man would remain in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range? Besides, Hall Master Duan's success rate was only twenty percent higher—hardly a significant improvement.
Sensing Wei Zhong's resolve, Pill Refiner Qi smiled as he accepted the spirit stones. The two then signed a Spirit Contract, agreeing that Wei Zhong could collect his pills in three days.
"Safe travels, Senior!"
Returning to his small courtyard, Wei Zhong surprisingly refrained from cultivation. Instead, he spent the next three days drinking and playing with his spirit beasts. Nine-Colored grew increasingly annoyed by his antics, but Big Gold thoroughly enjoyed Wei Zhong's company.
I heard that relaxing like this can improve the success rate of Foundation Establishment. I wonder if it's true.
In any case, Wei Zhong had effectively wasted three days.
Three days later, Wei Zhong returned to the Cloud Pill Pavilion to collect his Foundation Establishment Pills.
"As promised, Fellow Daoist," Qi Yun said, "I successfully refined two pills: one mid-grade and one low-grade."
Wei Zhong was slightly surprised. He pulled out a hundred spirit stones and offered them to Qi Yun.
Qi Yun smiled and politely declined. "Three hundred spirit stones is the agreed-upon price, Fellow Daoist. There's no need for such generosity. If you ever require medicinal pills refined in the future, feel free to seek out this Qi."
Wei Zhong shook his head. "I have no intention of asking Fellow Daoist Qi to refine this pill again."
Qi Yun laughed heartily. "Then I wish you success in achieving Foundation Establishment!"
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."
Unable to offer Qi Yun a gift, Wei Zhong instead tipped the shop assistants and maids with a few spirit stones.
The staff beamed as they happily accepted his generous reward. Cultivators as lavish as Wei Zhong were rare in the Cloud Pill Pavilion.
Wei Zhong left the shop, barely able to contain his joy.
The shopkeeper ascended to the second floor and hesitated before speaking to Qi Yun.
Qi Yun said calmly, "Let them keep the tips. It's not every day someone offers such a reward. As for Fellow Daoist Chu, let him be. The Immortal Path offers no hiding places. If he ends up a pile of withered bones, who can he blame but himself?"