Chapter 450 - 281: Foundation Establishment Pill
Even her own older sister, Gu Yuan, never got this kind of treatment—it’s something Gu Yuan likes to bring up, accusing her of favoring outsiders over family.
Knowing her sister’s just teasing, Gu Chan doesn’t mind at all.
Watching Gu Chan moving busily among the flowers, Li Nangua liked her more each time she looked over.
"No matter what, let’s settle things first. We can pick a date later, but I want a promise now." She rarely showed the demeanor of a matriarch, leaving Lu Chang’sheng momentarily speechless.
Seeing Lu Chang’sheng didn’t object, Li Nangua’s smile practically overflowed from her face.
In no time, Gu Chan finished up her work, smoothing out her messy hair; her cheeks were tinged red—whether from Lu Chang’sheng’s presence or something else, it wasn’t clear.
"Lu, what are you two talking about?"
Gu Chan had someone pack up the spirit bee honey to give to Li Nangua for later, all the while sneaking glances over.
"When Chang’sheng isn’t here, you always call me first. But as soon as Chang’sheng shows up, I get pushed to the back, huh?" Li Nangua put on a mock stern face, making Gu Chan turn beet red.
A woman who’s never been in a relationship collapses instantly before a seasoned veteran.
Li Nangua’s words today were absolutely pointed; ever since Gu Chan started blushing, her face only grew redder.
Seeing Gu Chan couldn’t take much more, Lu Chang’sheng finally had to step in with a bit of patriarchal authority.
"Alright, alright. Stop teasing Chan. I came here today to be honest with you both."
Lu Chang’sheng said.
Gu Chan seemed to think of something; her face went pale.
Li Nangua couldn’t contain herself and gave Lu Chang’sheng a sneaky pinch on the side—but Lu Chang’sheng, with Barbarian Armor Technique perfected, was tough as any ninth-level Qi Cultivation spirit beast and couldn’t feel a thing. He just shot Nangua a helpless look.
These past twenty years, Li Nangua had brought up Gu Chan more than once, but Lu Chang’sheng always managed to sidestep it.
So, seeing Gu Chan look so anxious, Li Nangua naturally felt bad for her dear friend.
Thinking this over, Lu Chang’sheng swallowed all his planned prelude, looked at Gu Chan, and said, "I never would’ve thought you could hold out for so long."
Gu Chan trembled, unable to react before Lu Chang’sheng continued: "If you don’t mind my lackluster spirit root talent or my age, I think we can settle the matter."
Li Nangua withdrew her hand from Lu Chang’sheng’s waist, beaming as she watched Gu Chan.
Gu Chan was at a total loss, not knowing what to do.
The thing she’d always dreamed of had finally come true, and yet, she couldn’t quite wrap her head around it.
"I... I don’t mind."
Right then, the courtyard echoed with Nangua’s joy-filled laughter.
Lu Chang’sheng didn’t linger in the courtyard; by tradition, arranging a concubine was normally handled by the first wife, but since Gu Chan was no ordinary person, Lu Chang’sheng wanted to take care of it himself.
Making Chan his concubine was settled; when to set the actual date was a separate question.
On one hand, cultivators don’t fuss over such complicated matters; on the other, he had to consider the Supreme Profound Sect’s stance.
In the days that followed, Nangua and Gu Chan grew even closer—almost like real sisters, but even tighter.
Lu Chang’sheng and Li Nangua planned to head out soon to Platinum Immortal City to inform the Gu Family of the arrangement.
They would also take a trip back to Great Yuan.
"Fellow Daoist Lu, want to visit the Beast Institute tomorrow?"
That night, while Lu Chang’sheng stepped out for fresh air, he saw Zhong Mountain walking over cheerfully from the direction of the Beast Institute.
"No thanks." Lu Chang’sheng shook his head. The Little Fire Cloud Beast relied on its strong talent and tended to act a bit wild; recently, Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun had been working hard on training it.
A few days ago when Lu Chang’sheng dropped by, the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s butt was redder than fire itself.
Back then, Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun said through Huang Ling, "It’s a good thing you warned me early. If we’d waited another year or two, this rascal’s wings would’ve grown too strong to discipline."
That time, the Little Fire Cloud Beast realized who he was, and even understood that it was Lu Chang’sheng’s fault he was getting punished.
Immediately, Little Fire Cloud Beast opened its mouth at Lu Chang’sheng, ready to spit out a flame spell—only to realize its magical power had been drained dry by Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun, managing just a puff of black smoke.
"My kid’s unruly." Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun was upset, apologizing to Lu Chang’sheng while smacking the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s butt with its broad paw.
Lu Chang’sheng chuckled, "It’s fine!"
Then, the rate of smacking on the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s butt sped up even more.
Spare the rod, spoil the child—Lu Chang’sheng thought Little Fire Cloud Beast would shape up soon enough.
"When it comes down to it, a spirit beast needs proper guidance to become a good spirit pet."
Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.
Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun knew this well, which is why she handled discipline personally. Only the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s mother could get away with this—anyone else would’ve gotten the Good Beast Sect involved in a heartbeat.
Lu Chang’sheng had just dropped by the Beast Institute yesterday, so he wasn’t keen to return again so soon. Too many visits might overstimulate the Little Fire Cloud Beast; better for its well-being to go every few days.
"Heh, works for me—I’d hate to get my hopes up."
Seeing Zhong Mountain’s cocky face, Lu Chang’sheng asked suspiciously, "Why’s that?"
"Haha, to be honest, these two days the Little Fire Cloud Beast has really warmed up to me. Before, it would just snatch my stuff. But now it even lets me get close."
Zhong Mountain gestured wildly, leaving Lu Chang’sheng speechless.
So that’s all it was, huh.
He’d already heard Ancestor Ning Yun mention it before.
"Don’t worry, that’s normal; with us, he’s not as free, so of course he tries someone else."
Lu Chang’sheng was a bit concerned Ning Yun’s strictness might make the Little Fire Cloud Beast rebel and try to sign a spirit contract with someone else—but Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun assured him, "No worries, I keep a close eye on them all day. No one gets the chance."
"Just thought you might get the wrong idea."
Overall, Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun was very particular about Lu Chang’sheng.
"It’s all thanks to that Perfect Pill." Lu Chang’sheng sighed to himself; whether alchemy or cultivation, building a solid foundation was everything.
As someone who’d been through it, Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun surely knew how to keep the right pace. That’s why, Little Fire Cloud Beast being close to Zhong Mountain was almost certainly just an act.
Thinking of that, Lu Chang’sheng felt a little sympathy and offered, "Daoist friend, maybe it’s time to quit feeding the Little Fire Cloud Beast so much?"
But Zhong Mountain gave him a look of pure disdain, "Here I thought Fellow Daoist Lu was all calm and detached. Turns out you’re just an ordinary guy—jealous of me, aren’t you?"
Lu Chang’sheng shut his mouth and dropped it.
Watching Zhong Mountain strut away, Lu Chang’sheng shook his head and flew off toward the Alchemy Institute’s peak.
The Alchemy Institute was where the Good Beast Sect’s alchemists refined pills—the entire mountain carried a kind of heat. He entered the Institute’s library and picked up some jade scrolls on alchemy.
It really was an immortal sect; thousands of years had built up a huge stash of jade scrolls on Foundation Establishment alchemy. Most were only grade two, entry-level stuff, but there was a lot for him to learn and reference.
Most importantly, it would boost his own alchemy experience.
...
"Alchemy: Foundation Establishment Pill (grade 2, low quality):
Entry: 12 years required.
Minor Achievement: 36 years required.
Great Success: 68 years required.
Perfection: 130 years required.
An immortal sect obviously wasn’t short on Foundation Establishment Pill formulas; after coming to the Good Beast Sect, Lu Chang’sheng exchanged for one right away in his first year.
But, the Foundation Establishment formula was complicated. He’d spent twenty years poring over every jade scroll on alchemy, and was still 12 years away from even entry level.
"Long way to go..."
Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.
Now, at ninth-level Qi Cultivation, it was about time to consider Foundation Establishment.
Not long after returning from the Alchemy Institute, every spirit stone he’d summoned from the clan had arrived. Then, Lu Chang’sheng traded nearly half his spirit stones in the sect for two Foundation Establishment Pills.
After sending a message to Nangua, he walked straight into the cultivation room and sealed the door.
The time had come to attempt Foundation Establishment!