Foundation Establishment in Sight, Full Pill Loadout

Another early morning.

The rooster crowed, mist rose, and the queue at the pancake stall by the street corner had already formed a long line.

"Another beautiful morning!"

Zhao Huai got out of bed, yawned, and stretched.

Then he glanced at the snow-white, smooth back beside him and heard the faint sound of breathing.

He couldn't help but chuckle. They had an intense session late last night; she must be exhausted.

Zhao Huai put on his clothes, washed up, and then opened the pawnshop door. He flipped the "Open" sign, bought breakfast at the street corner – two meat buns and an egg – and prepared a portion for his wife.

Then he went out.

He still had a lot to do today.

He first went to a medical clinic in East ElmLane Alley next door. Before even entering, he shouted, "Brother Yan, I'm here to see you!"

Yan Jing, known as "Better than Yama," walked out smiling from the pharmacy, holding a medicinal ingredient in his hand.

"Well, well, it's Brother Zhao. With a beautiful wife at home, it's not easy for you to visit. What brings you here today?"

"Ugh! Stop saying that. Our relationship isn't like that," Zhao Huai said with a look of disgust, chiding him.

"Go on, what do you need my help with now? You kid, you only come to me when you need something. I know you too well."

Yan Jing chuckled and scolded him, having seen right through Zhao Huai.

"Help me take a look at what kind of medicine is in this bottle."

Zhao Huai took out a porcelain vase from his Mysterious Ring.

It was a product that came out at the same time as the sheepskin scroll and the unknown treasure sword.

After cultivating the sheepskin scroll, he discovered it was the Three Thousand Thunder Talisman Secrets.

After using the unknown treasure sword, he realized it was a Magical Treasure.

Therefore, he had a premonition that the medicine in this bottle should also be extraordinary.

That's why he brought it over first thing in the morning for appraisal.

Jin Province indeed had many kinds of alchemy shops, but he didn't trust them much.

How many scandals were there now about unscrupulous alchemists making fake medicine, shortchanging customers, and withholding ingredients?

And Yan Jing, besides being a doctor, was also a legitimate professional alchemist in secret, ranked eighth grade, essentially holding multiple positions.

Even if he couldn't refine the most precious pills, he could at least identify most of them by appearance.

A professional was better than an amateur. Zhao Huai felt that all pills looked the same, just brown mud balls.

Yan Jing took the porcelain vase, opened the stopper, fanned the air gently with his hand, and sniffed. His brow immediately furrowed.

"Wait a moment."

He then walked into the pharmacy and began to study it intently.

While waiting, Zhao Huai wasn't idle.

He took out a crystal-clear Jade Slip from his Mysterious Ring and began to study it.

This was the Soul-Subduing Mind Technique he had fought for with four masked men at the auction yesterday.

Although he didn't find out the whereabouts of those four Demons and Monsters in the end, the cultivation technique was in his hands, so why bother? They were probably just minor demons afraid to cause trouble in the human world openly.

He channeled True Qi into the Jade Slip, and lines of tadpole-like characters appeared. First, the dense block of text was quite discouraging.

Secondly, the content was obscure and profound, making it very difficult for ordinary people to understand.

But Zhao Huai was different. His Destiny, the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Eye, quietly activated, and his eyes seemed to gain a hint of brilliance.

This allowed him to see through the obscure text before him.

It was less like the Heavenly Heart Wisdom Eye and more like quantum reading.

After only a short while, Zhao Huai had grasped the general theory and effects of the Soul-Subduing Mind Technique.

The Soul-Subduing Mind Technique was essentially a mental power cultivation technique that integrated offense and defense.

Beginners could form a protective barrier in their Sea of Consciousness. Once proficient, they could use mental power to deter all external enemies. When cultivated to great mastery, it could form a terrifying pressure.

The name "Soul-Subduing" was very fitting.

As for why this technique attracted the attention of Demons and Monsters, Zhao Huai had no idea.

Instantly, Zhao Huai began to try to construct a decent mental barrier in his mind.

This would prevent enemies from directly invading his brain and attacking his Sea of Consciousness.

It wasn't as difficult as he imagined, and Zhao Huai completed the first step with ease.

The second step was to release his own powerful mental energy, forming a large net to attack. In terms of mental energy strength alone, Zhao Huai was still a little short.

He estimated that if he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could achieve this easily.

"Brother Zhao, tell me honestly, where did you get this medicine?"

After some time, Yan Jing's voice finally rang out from the pharmacy.

However, Yan Jing's expression was a bit off, very serious.

"We bought it at the pawnshop, just trying our luck, what's wrong?"

Seeing his expression, Zhao Huai's heart skipped a beat, and he secretly thought, 'Could it be some low-grade poison?'

"Then you really got lucky!"

Only then did Yan Jing break into a brilliant smile.

"Don't scare me like that."

Zhao Huai breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked, "What kind of medicine is in here?"

Yan Jing smiled faintly, "These are all good things. This porcelain vase contains various types of medicine. Take a look."

He poured out the pills and began to explain them one by one.

"This large, fragrant pill is called a Gathering Essence Pill. It can increase the True Essence within cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, greatly enhancing their Mana."

Zhao Huai frowned upon hearing this, "But I haven't reached Foundation Establishment yet, so it's not very useful for me right now."

"Don't rush," Yan Jing chuckled and poured out a second crystal-clear, gilded pill.

It seemed to be covered in a layer of hazy mist, looking quite extraordinary.

"What is this?"

Zhao Huai couldn't help but ask.

Yan Jing's eyes flashed with brilliance as he said, word by word:

"Found-a-tion Es-tab-lish-ment Pill."

"Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Zhao Huai's eyes suddenly lit up.

He then directly grabbed the gilded pill in front of him, holding it in his palm and examining it carefully.

As everyone knows, with a Foundation Establishment Pill, one can successfully break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

However, Foundation Establishment Pills are priceless and have no market; no matter how much money you have, you can't buy one.

Foundation Establishment Pills are refined from thirty-one precious Spirit Herbs and medicinal ingredients such as Jade Marrow Ganoderma, Purple Monkey Flower, and Heavenly Spirit Fruit.

Only some legitimate major immortal cultivation sects and high-level alchemists can refine them.

But there is a strict rule within immortal cultivation sects: they absolutely do not interfere in worldly affairs, which is why Foundation Establishment Pills are rarely circulated.

Every time one appears, it is met with a mad scramble in the mortal world! After all, having a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm is a qualitative change for any noble family or powerful clan.

"It's actually a Foundation Establishment Pill, then this deal is indeed worth it."

Zhao Huai said with a smile.

He felt that having just one Foundation Establishment Pill was better than anything else.

"It's not over yet."

Yan Jing chuckled and then revealed the other pills one by one.

"Greater Spring Return Pill, a Spirit Herb with miraculous effects on both internal and external injuries. No matter how severe the internal or external injuries are, as long as one takes this pill, even if it can't bring the dead back to life or instantly heal the wounds, it can greatly alleviate the injuries and save a life."

"Qi and Blood Pill, which can replenish a large amount of Bloodline Power. It is generally taken immediately after fighting and consuming one's vital blood."

"Spirit Detoxification Pill, which can detoxify hundreds of poisons. For ordinary poisons, just drinking a mouthful of water infused with the pill can cure the illness, and even the most potent poisons can be detoxified by taking it directly."

"Mind Calming Pill, which, after taking it, can dispel distracting thoughts and achieve a state of mental unity. It is usually taken before going into seclusion."

After the introductions, Yan Jing put all the pills back into the porcelain vase, tossed it to Zhao Huai, and said slowly, "These are roughly all the types. There's also a scarlet pill that I can't identify; you can study it yourself later."

Zhao Huai held the pills, unable to stop smiling.

He had struck it rich this time, getting a full set of pills, and wouldn't have to worry about medicinal supplies for a while.

Seeing Zhao Huai's expression, Yan Jing pouted and grumbled, "How many Foundation Establishment cultivators did you rob? How could a normal person sell so many precious pills to you? Unless they were an idiot."

"Well, he was indeed an idiot."

Zhao Huai smiled slightly and said no more.

"Make way! Make way!"

"Don't block the road!"

At this moment, a shout from outside the medical hall, accompanied by the "creak" of wheels rolling, attracted their attention.

Zhao Huai looked closely and saw a fully loaded merchant caravan passing by. The wooden carts were tightly wrapped, leaving no gaps.

The caravan was escorted by a large number of guards. Judging by their eyes, these guards were all tough individuals, and their weapons and equipment were excellent, clearly indicating a significant background.

Zhao Huai secretly thought, 'This caravan looks very strange. What are they escorting that they have to hide it so much?'