Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

"My mastery over the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula is only at the Entry level, but I shouldn't be far from Minor Achievement—at most one or two years." Lu Chang'sheng didn't want to make any reckless promises.

He liked to leave himself some room when dealing with things.

When Yan Yu heard Lu Chang'sheng say "but," her heart skipped a beat—thinking there might be some major problem.

But unexpectedly—

"Never mind one or two years, even if it's five or ten, I can wait." Yan Yu exhaled a long, heavy breath.

Huang Yun was already shaking his head with a sigh, "Fellow Daoist, you're really too cautious. In a Small Domain, as long as you've reached Entry with the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula, you're qualified to make the Foundation Pill. Back when I started making them for the sect, I was at exactly this level."

"Unless you're extremely lucky, anyone you find outside to help you make Foundation Pills is probably around that stage, too, Fellow Daoist Yan."

"Alchemists who've reached Minor Achievement in the Foundation Pill Formula actually aren't that cost-effective if you want them to refine a large number of pills," Yan Yu interjected.

"Of course, if there's a personal connection or favor involved, that's a different story."

The matter was quickly settled. The sect no longer considered hiring an outside alchemist to make the Foundation Establishment Pills.

Everything was left to Lu Chang'sheng to refine.

Lu Chang'sheng felt a surge of emotion—for better or worse, Yan Yu really trusted him; she simply accepted whatever he said.

Then again, it made sense. If he hadn't insisted, the Good Beast Sect would probably have been skinned alive today, if not outright destroyed.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, do you have any disagreement with my decision this time?"

Suddenly, Yan Yu spoke up.

Lu Chang'sheng looked surprised. "About what?"

"About the main ingredient for the Crystal Pill. Honestly, when I first got my hands on the stuff, I felt like it was blisteringly hot, but—"

"—But I just can't accept it. Last generation, Good Beast Sect had two late-Foundation cultivators. Sadly, both fell at the Golden Core stage. The funny thing was, it wasn't even a matter of talent—they simply couldn't get a Crystal Pill."

Lu Chang'sheng had been at the Good Beast Sect for decades. Naturally, he'd heard some stories. He replied in a low voice, "A real shame!"

"Exactly! A lot of Foundation cultivators find themselves in this awkward situation. If you save up to buy a Crystal Pill, you waste precious cultivation time. But if you keep cultivating, you have no money. The Crystal Pill is hard currency—there's a price, but rarely supply. Even in the Greater Domains, the top Immortal Sects clutch them tightly."

"Top sects have tons of juniors, but there are very few alchemists who can make Crystal Pills. That just makes the pill's price skyrocket."

"So most people can only hope for alternative methods. Sometimes, even with an opportunity in hand, they don't dare hold onto it long."

Lu Chang'sheng nodded. The main ingredient for the Crystal Pill is the single most crucial thing for refining them. For any Foundation cultivator, the temptation is immense.

That's why all those Foundation cultivators from other domains outside the Mountain Gate still refused to leave.

"Just like many Qi Cultivators, maybe I'll start collecting materials in mid-stage. Then I'll wait for the right time and find someone to make the medicine. I once thought if I held onto these, maybe, after decades or even centuries, the sect might have another late-Foundation cultivator. At that point, who knows? With these resources, we might just have a shot at Core Formation."

This was what weighed on Yan Yu's mind.

But now, he wavered.

"Sect Leader, you know it too—once the main ingredient for the Crystal Pill is exposed, there's no way to keep it safe."

"True." Yan Yu didn't ask further and rose to take her leave.

"Seems Fellow Daoist Yan has come to terms with it. Really, this is an opportunity—but the best chance was already missed."

Huang Yun shook his head as he spoke.

The best chance was right after they got the ingredient, to sell it off immediately. Then the Good Beast Sect wouldn't have gotten stuck in this mess.

But Yan Yu hesitated for a moment, so now there was only one path left.

Who could say how many sets of Crystal Pill main ingredients he got his hands on?

Who knows if he stashed some privately?

At this point, there was no way to explain; all he could do was take the goods back to the Mountain Gate and use the might of the Mountain Guardian Spirit Array to hang on a while longer.

Lu Chang'sheng escorted Huang Yun out. At first, he'd been planning to slip away quietly—risky, but doable.

Now with Yan Yu's decision, he could wait a bit longer, deal with the Crystal Pill main ingredient, and then leave.

The "opportunity" Huang Yun mentioned was nothing more than the sudden turmoil in Guangnan Domain; with so many domains involved, those real heavyweights might not have the time or energy to keep tabs on them.

Lu Chang'sheng's face clouded as well. If this matter dragged on, he'd have to risk a lot to leave and travel to the Greater Domain to find Nangua a top-grade Foundation Pill.

He really didn't want to take risks.

"First, let's get my Foundation Pill Formula up to snuff, and not neglect magic spells either."

Lu Chang'sheng thought to himself.

His Foundation Banquet was delayed after all. The next day, still in the courtyard, he heard Yan Yu instruct her subordinates to spread the news that in half a year, the Crystal Pill main ingredient they'd gotten would be auctioned.

The news stirred a huge commotion in and outside the Mountain Gate. Even the oppressive tension in the air lightened considerably.

······

Purple Ice Lake.

After decades of exploration, a small but bustling gathering spot had developed here. Though many high-level cultivators had left for bigger opportunities thanks to the Crystal Pill main ingredient,

many loose cultivators and scholars from small families still stuck around, hoping to scavenge something left behind by the Immortal Sect cultivators from other domains.

The Immortal Sect cultivators didn't care for those scraps, but these folks didn't mind at all.

At this moment, a team was searching an herb garden.

Suddenly, they spotted a figure standing motionless not far off.

"Fellow Daoist, did you find anything?" The lead cultivator's mind sharpened as he spoke.

At the same time, a piece of talisman paper appeared in his hand.

And not just any talisman—it was top grade. If a late-stage Qi Cultivator was careless and got hit head-on, they'd be seriously injured.

The other team members weren't surprised at all. The moment they saw their leader's signal, they quietly got ready to act.

Ever since the Profound Turtle Alchemist's abode had been exposed, the allure had driven more and more cultivators to greed—people turning into Evil Cultivators was a daily affair.

Within the gathering spot, folks still cared about appearances and feared the high-level experts, so rules were followed (more or less) in public. But step outside that zone, and spells and magical artifacts started flying with no regard at all.

No fewer than several thousand, maybe tens of thousands, domain cultivators had died here already.

Coming across a seemingly defenseless cultivator was a rare chance; the leader didn't hesitate—a heartbeat after finishing his words, he fired off the talisman.

"Whoosh~"

A blast of wind howled. The talisman turned into a fireball, hurtling at the cultivator.

But in the next instant, that figure simply vanished into thin air.

Blazing heat suddenly poured from above—an actual Fire Rain spell.

Sizzle—

The spell came fast and fierce; before the team could even react, they were drenched. Gaping, bloody holes opened all over their bodies and they melted away immediately after.

All except one female cultivator—the only one caught at just the edge of the fire rain. Drops of flame fell on her, burning away her clothes, yet not singeing a single hair on her head.

A stunning figure was revealed.

The caster eyed her for a few moments, then nodded in approval. "Not bad, not bad. Now that I'm back in the world, I need a little lackey to massage and knead my shoulders. Your looks and figure are just about passable. From now on, you'll tag along at my side."