Three days later, the rain stopped and the sun came out.
Zhao Sheng strolled into Qidan Pavilion.
As soon as he stepped into the shop, he was recognized, and the shop assistant immediately ran to the backyard to inform the manager.
Before long, the short, stout old man trotted into the front hall. Upon seeing Zhao Sheng, he said with a fawning smile, "Senior, you've come at the perfect time. Please come with me. The special envoy has been waiting for quite some time."
"Oh, please lead the way."
The short, stout old man nodded in agreement, bowed, and led Zhao Sheng to the back, through a courtyard, and into a unique and elegant room.
The short, stout old man took his leave, and a maidservant served him some spiritual tea.
At this moment, Zhao Sheng sat on a wooden chair, took a sip of spiritual tea, and glanced around at the furnishings of the elegant room.
The room's walls were constructed from uniformly sized pieces of redwood. Several potted passionflowers stood neatly in the corners, and against the east wall was a display shelf holding over a dozen strangely styled and antique redwood tripods. In the center of the room was a round redwood table and several redwood chairs.
There was nothing else besides that. A white light curtain hung at the entrance to the private room, which should be some kind of soundproof barrier.
Before long, the light screen at the entrance suddenly rippled, and then a burly man in a red robe broke through the light screen and walked into the room.
The burly man in the red robe was over ten feet tall, his muscles bulging. Despite his fierce face, an unusual calmness emanated from his brows, and the faint scent of medicine couldn't mask his refined air. This contrasted sharply with his towering physique.
Upon seeing this person, Zhao Sheng couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
He couldn't fathom the other person's depth; this person's aura was like a vast ocean, ethereal and unfathomable.
Zhao Sheng stood up, cupped his hands and said, "This humble Taoist, Cen Hezi, greets Senior."
"Young friend, there's no need for such formalities. My surname is Qiu, and my given name is Chi Jiu. Those who know me well call me Old Qiu Jiu. As for those who don't, outsiders call me Master Jiu Chi."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng's expression changed, and he immediately bowed again, saying, "Junior Cen Hezi greets the Nine-Foolish Immortal!"
"No need, no need. Please sit down!"
The great man, also known as the Nine-Foolish Immortal, flicked his long sleeves, sending out invisible true energy, and easily helped Zhao Sheng up.
Zhao Sheng rose to his feet, secretly astonished. He hadn't expected that a mere Golden Core would prompt the Qidan Sect to send a True Person as a special envoy.
Although Qiu Chijiu was just a fake cultivator, a fake cultivator is still a real person, and cannot be easily summoned.
Once the two were seated, Master Jiuchi cut to the chase: "Young friend, are you really going to buy a Golden Core Pill?"
"I dare not deceive you, Master. I have indeed come here to form the Golden Core. I just don't know what conditions your sect has in order to spare a Golden Core?"
"Hehe! Acquiring a Golden Core Pill isn't so easy. These pills are extremely rare in any market in the Shattered Star Sea. Even if they occasionally appear at auctions, not only is the quality uncertain, but the price is also astronomical. So, young friend Cen Hezi, what treasures can you offer in exchange for a Golden Core Pill? I've brought one with me this time," Nine-Foolish Immortal asked with a smile.
"How about a million spirit stones per stone?" Zhao Sheng asked calmly.
"Haha, young friend, you seem to be a generous person. In theory, a million spirit stones are more than enough to exchange for a Golden Core. However, the world is in turmoil these days, and a million spirit stones are just a passing cloud. Why don't you exchange it for something else?" Master Jiuchi chuckled, looking like he had him completely under his thumb.
"Please don't tease this junior, Master. You've been testing me from the very beginning. It seems you had this plan in mind before even meeting me. Just state your conditions." Zhao Sheng said with a faint smile.
"There are conditions, but it depends on whether you are qualified. Show me your full strength, and I will make my move!" Master Jiuchi said coldly, his smile fading.
Seeing this, Zhao Sheng's mind raced, and he had a slight understanding of the situation, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.
"please!"
His expression turned solemn, but suddenly his eyes flashed with a powerful light...
...
After a short while, the elegant room was a mess, filled with steam. The only thing still intact in the room was the cinnabar wood chair where Master Jiu Chi had sat.
Opposite him, Zhao Sheng's face was slightly pale, but his breathing was steady, and the light in his eyes gradually faded.
"Very good! I didn't expect you to last for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea in my hands."
The Nine-Foolish Immortal's eyes gleamed with a strange light, and he stood up with a joyful expression, his eyes filled with admiration for Zhao Sheng.
Zhao Shengping calmed his surging blood and qi, and the spiritual energy in his limbs returned to his dantian. At the same time, he calmly asked, "Master, I wonder if I am qualified?"
"Of course it's enough! I can give you the Golden Core, but before that, you have to sign a contract with this sect?" True Master Jiuchi first affirmed, but then changed the subject.
Zhao Sheng's eyes flickered a few times, and he said softly, "What contract? May I take a look at it first before making a decision?"
"Of course!" With that, Master Jiuchi flipped his hand and tossed it again. A golden plate emitting a faint golden light flew out and landed steadily in Zhao Sheng's hand.
Zhao Sheng looked down at the golden plate in his hand, and lines of ancient and simple Taiyi spiritual script came into view.
...
Half an hour later, Zhao Sheng left Qidan Pavilion with a blank expression.
In the backyard of Qidan Pavilion, Master Jiuchi gazed westward with a strange light in his eyes. His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of walls, landing on the departing Zhao Sheng. He muttered to himself, "How strange. This little fellow seems to have many secrets. I almost couldn't see through his background. And... what's with those blue eyes? Could it be... another spy planted by the High Priest? Would he really be willing to let him go?"
No, this matter must be reported to Ancestor Lingyuan immediately.
Thinking of this, Master Jiuchi flashed and instantly disappeared from the Qidan Pavilion.
A moment later, Zhao Sheng hurriedly returned to the Qiong Turtle Treasure Ship, closed the cabin again, and set up a barrier. In his hand, a golden-glowing pill bottle appeared.
Zhao Sheng's expression was solemn yet tinged with excitement. With a flick of his hand, the seal on the pill bottle flew off with a "bang," and a bright golden light immediately emanated from the bottle, followed by a rich fragrance of pills spreading out from it.
When Zhao Sheng saw the perfectly round, gleaming golden pill in the bottle, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Although this Golden Core was of low grade, obtaining it so easily was incredibly lucky. Therefore, despite signing a hundred-year protection contract and paying nearly a million spirit stones worth of talismans, pills, spiritual artifacts, and a whole host of other treasures, Zhao Sheng still felt it was well worth it.
The so-called Hundred-Year Protection Contract means that after Zhao Sheng advances to the Golden Core realm, he must serve as the protector of the Qidan Sect for a period of one hundred years.
The position of protector is common in major sects of the cultivation world. It usually serves as the foundation of the sect and will secretly protect the sect's laws and regulations. It will not usually appear in public unless it is a critical moment of survival.
The Qidan Sect used the formation of the Golden Core as bait to lure Foundation Establishment cultivators like Zhao Sheng into forming a protective contract.
The price is not bad,
As long as someone successfully forms their Golden Core, the Qidan Sect gains a Golden Core-level combatant effortlessly, increasing its fortune by a hundred years for no reason.
To this day, almost no one knows how many protectors the Qidan Sect has.
However, throughout history, these protectors have repeatedly turned the tide and saved the Qidan Sect from the brink of destruction.
The Qidan Sect has been doing this kind of business, which only makes them profitable, for thousands of years.
After a short while, Zhao Sheng finished inspecting the Golden Core, resealed it, and gently placed it on the table, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"One isn't enough; a few more would be best. I wonder how the news is going. Before setting sail back, I need to go to Xibifang again. But..."
Thinking of the deflated storage bag, Zhao Sheng's expression became uncertain, his eyes gleaming as if he were pondering something.
A moment later, his gaze sharpened, and with a flick of his sleeve, a small, jet-black cauldron shot out. After spinning once in the air, it transformed into a massive, three-legged cauldron, two zhang tall. A crimson-gold fire dragon suddenly appeared on the cauldron's body, circled three times, and then transformed into a blazing golden flame, sinking into the cauldron and burning quietly. This was none other than the Nine Dragons Cauldron.
With a wave of his hand, Zhao Sheng suddenly had a pile of bottles and jars in front of him.
With a flick of his hand, the Thousand-Patterned Star Algae Fruit instantly fell into his grasp. Then, with a flick of his finger, the spiritual fruit shot out and flew precisely into the cauldron.
Zhao Sheng formed hand seals, unleashing streams of spiritual energy. The Burning Gold Spiritual Flame surged, filling the cabin with golden light and quickly raising the room's temperature.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhao Sheng, his body still fragrant with the scent of elixir, stepped out of the cabin.
At this moment, the Zhao family members were waiting outside with tense expressions.
Upon seeing the person emerge, Zhao Dingda, a disciple in name only, immediately stepped forward, bowed, and greeted him: "Welcome back, Master, from seclusion."
The others breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward to bow in greeting.
Zhao Sheng waved his hand, dismissing the formalities, and then offered a few words of reassurance to the crowd.
Seeing this, Zhao Dingda asked, "Master, everything has been bought. When would you like to set off?"
Zhao Sheng frowned slightly and said softly, "Wait a few days. I have something to take care of."
Upon seeing this, Zhao Dingda immediately nodded in agreement, and no one else dared to raise any objections.
Fifteen minutes later, Zhao Sheng landed on his sword in the central square of Xibi Immortal Workshop.
Without lingering, he turned and walked towards a large pharmacy near the square.
...
A moment later, in a private room of the pharmacy.
Zhao Sheng stood tall and elegant, smiling as he said, "Since your shop doesn't have it at the moment, I might as well go and look elsewhere."
"By the way, this is a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills that I have just refined. Shopkeeper, you have an excellent eye. Please take a look and see what you think?"
As he spoke, he took out a pill bottle from his pocket, poured out a fragrant red elixir, and presented it to the white-haired shopkeeper opposite him.
"Eh, Daoist Master, you can actually refine Foundation Establishment Pills! I was blind to your true alchemy skills just now, please forgive me!"
The white-haired shopkeeper apologized repeatedly while carefully taking the Foundation Establishment Pill. He examined it closely, and a look of shock gradually appeared on his face.
He discovered that the Foundation Establishment Pill still retained its fiery essence, indicating that it had only been refined a few days ago. What was even more remarkable was that its quality had reached the level of a mid-grade pill.
This is incredible!
"Shopkeeper, if your shop has any more Golden Core Pills in the future, please reserve them for me for a while. I can sell you this Foundation Establishment Pill at the normal price," Zhao Sheng said calmly and composedly.
"Very well! If I ever obtain a Golden Core in the future, I will certainly allow you some time, but no more than a year. I'm sure you know that this thing is extremely dangerous and you would never dare to keep it in your hands for too long!"
"Yes, I know."
"It's good that you understand, Daoist Master. Please wait a moment. I'll be right back."
...
Half an hour later, Zhao Sheng left behind a Ten Thousand Miles One Line Talisman, took a large bag of mid-grade spirit stones, and leisurely left the shop.
After walking for a while and turning halfway down the street, he slipped into another shop.
In the backyard, the shopkeeper, a man with a long face, smiled broadly and patted his chest, assuring the shopkeeper, "No problem. If there's any Yuan Heavy Water left, we'll definitely reserve it for you first, Daoist. By the way, do you have any extra Foundation Establishment Pills to sell?"
"That's all for now." Zhao Sheng smiled faintly, then swept his sleeve and put the pile of mid-grade spirit stones in front of him into his storage bag.
"Well... besides the One Yuan Heavy Water, does the Taoist priest have any other needs? Our shop has everything—artifacts, talismans, pills, and arrays—and we'll even offer discounts!" The horse-faced shopkeeper deliberately lowered his voice, tempting her.
"You're too kind, shopkeeper. I haven't thought of anything else I need at the moment, but I'll definitely come back to your shop to buy it if I do. Well, I have other things to attend to, so I won't stay any longer and will take my leave now," Zhao Sheng said, offering no comment.
Next, Zhao Sheng went downstairs, personally accompanied by the horse-faced shopkeeper.
As soon as he left the shop, he disappeared into the crowd through a maze of turns.
So he selected three more shops with powerful backgrounds and repeated the same process several times, his aim being to form a Golden Core or obtain One Yuan Heavy Water.
Zhao Sheng deliberately revealed that he could refine Foundation Establishment Pills.
If it was only suspected before, his actions today have made it clear.
The major families on Biluo Island will soon hear the news that a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who is about to form his core has arrived on the island. He is also a true Foundation Establishment alchemist.
Only by demonstrating one's own value can one attract those who are interested.
The bait has now been cast; it will only reappear after a period of fermentation.
Half an hour later, Zhao Sheng returned to the treasure ship.
Before long, the Qionggui Treasure Ship slowly started moving, passing by the many ships that were entering the dock.
After passing through the bustling bay, the treasure ship gradually moved away from Biluo Island. The three brand-new sails on the mast were billowed high by the wind, and a thin layer of white light rose on the surface of the treasure ship.
With a whistle, the Qiong Turtle Treasure Ship suddenly accelerated and sped toward the distant horizon.
During the month-long voyage that followed, Zhao Sheng made five separate attempts, repelling five waves of attacks from medium to large-sized sea monsters.
During the return voyage, although there were several dangerous incidents, no one died again.
A month later, the battered and bruised Qionggui Treasure Ship finally returned to the long-lost Qionggui Island.
...
The treasure ship returned successfully, ending the food crisis. The entire Zhao clan erupted in cheers, and the island was filled with a celebratory atmosphere.
Zhao Sheng declined the invitation from Zhao Yunxian and others, and returned to Dianjing Mansion as soon as he disembarked, where he secluded himself in seclusion.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the stars were dim and the night was deep and quiet.
In the cultivation room of Dianjing Mansion, Zhao Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, a look of horror flashing across them.
Just now, a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz suddenly rang in his ear: "Don't be alarmed, come outside the cave and meet me! I am Jiu Chi."