Early Return

On Fang Xiao's way back to Wangshu Pavilion, he detected no fewer than twenty people following him. They clustered around him, staring fixedly like wildcats that had caught the scent of fish. Still, they retained some sense and knew that making a move within the Immortal City was tantamount to courting death.

When they saw Fang Xiao enter Wangshu Pavilion, those with even a little backing changed expression and chose to withdraw. Of course, there were also desperate outlaws willing to take risks, as well as ignorant cannon fodder, who continued to lie in wait.

None of that concerned him anymore. A few days later, those people lying in wait for him would only watch helplessly as he departed atop the Mysterious Sky Crane.

After returning to his residence and activating the concealment array, Fang Xiao took out the gains from this Auction and laid them on the table.

The items that caught his eye most were undoubtedly the Foundation Establishment Pill and Copper Essence stored inside two crystal boxes.

He picked up the crystal box containing the Foundation Establishment Pill and examined it carefully. The pigeon-egg-sized pill was a deep blue. He slightly lifted the lid, opening a narrow crack, and dense spiritual qi and medicinal fragrance immediately spread out. Fang Xiao swiftly closed the crystal box again. As expected of a Foundation Establishment Pill—merely the medicinal power that leaked out was already so astonishing. Although his cultivation could not be raised for the moment, he still felt his spiritual power become a trace purer.

This also showed how well the sect cared for its disciples. Outside, Foundation Establishment Pills were fought over fiercely, costing thirty or forty thousand Spirit Stones each. Yet the sect only asked for twelve thousand Merit Points, truly charging only enough to recoup the cost of alchemy. That was why people fought tooth and nail to enter a sect. After all, beneath a great tree, one could enjoy the shade.

He put the Foundation Establishment Pill back into his Storage Bag, then picked up the Copper Essence beside it. Unlike the Foundation Establishment Pill, he did not need to worry about spiritual qi leaking from the Copper Essence. He directly opened the crystal box and held the grain of Purple-Gold Color Copper Essence in his hand, turning it over as he examined it.

The Essence of Five Metals was all refined bit by bit from their respective spiritual mines. Who knew how much high-grade copper ore it would take to refine a piece of Copper Essence no larger than a kernel of corn?

He recalled the refinement method recorded in the incomplete copy of the Taibai Sword Art, then began circulating the Sword Art. The Great White Sword Pellet within his body also began to turn, emitting hazy five-colored radiance. The Copper Essence in his hand seemed to be drawn by the Sword Pellet and trembled incessantly. Without further hesitation, he swallowed it.

Using Spiritual Sense for Inner Vision of his Dantian, he saw that after entering his Dantian, the Copper Essence revolved slowly around the Great White Sword Pellet like a satellite. A closer look revealed wisps of purple qi slowly being stripped from the Copper Essence and gradually merging into the Sword Pellet. The dark silver color of the Great White Sword Pellet was also gradually tinged with purple.

Fang Xiao had chosen to refine the Copper Essence now because the Great White Sword Pellet could refine it autonomously, without affecting his cultivation or daily travels.

The Copper Essence was not large. It would probably take five to seven days, roughly until he returned to the outer court. However, if he encountered battle during that time, he would be unable to use the Great White Sword Pellet. Still, he had come out with Li Daoyuan and had already prepared the Qingjin Sword in advance, so there was no need to worry.

The following Auctions had nothing to do with them, so Fang Xiao became more cautious over the next two days and chose not to go out. He instructed Fatty Han to keep an eye out for the things he needed, intending to remain at Wangshu Pavilion and await the group's return to the outer court.

Then, on the third day of the Auction, after the Core Formation stage Auction ended, Li Daoyuan returned to Wangshu Pavilion and used the Identity Token's messaging function to notify all disciples to return as quickly as possible. They would be returning to the outer court ahead of schedule the next day, and no disciple was permitted to delay. Though it was only a message, his tone was exceptionally stern. That very night, every disciple who had gone out returned.

Early the next morning, the Mysterious Sky Crane in Wangshu Pavilion spread its wings and took Li Daoyuan and the many disciples away from Wuji Immortal City, racing at top speed toward Mingxuan Outer Court before vanishing beyond the horizon.

The previous night, Fang Xiao had contacted the other disciples through Fatty Han. They had questioned one another, but none knew the reason. Seeing Li Daoyuan's grave expression ahead of them, the disciples were silent as cicadas in winter and did not dare ask.

They traveled even faster than they had on the way there, returning to the outer court in only a day and a half. After landing in the square, Li Daoyuan instructed the disciples not to venture far from the outer court during this period, then swiftly departed.

After seeing Li Daoyuan leave, Fang Xiao told Fatty Han to inform him immediately if there was any news and asked Xiao Yan to visit his residence when he had time. He then left the square. With nothing else to do, Xiao Yan followed Fang Xiao to his residence.

Once they reached the courtyard, Fang Xiao directly handed Xiao Yan a wooden box and motioned for him to open it.

"How is it? Do you like it?"

"Senior Brother, this is far too precious. I can't accept it."

Xiao Yan said that, but he could not hide the delighted look on his face. He held it in his hands and examined it over and over.

"I can't refine pills. I know you're still using a High-grade Alchemy Furnace, and I feel it's holding back your talent. I bought this especially for you. It didn't cost many Spirit Stones."

A chill ran down Fang Xiao's spine. Afraid that Xiao Yan might have some peculiar preference, he hurriedly urged him to leave.

"Then leave alchemy to you from now on. Hurry back and give it a try."

"Alright, alright. Senior Brother, if you have any instructions in the future, I will certainly do my utmost to carry them out."

Having received Xiao Yan's assurance, Fang Xiao nodded in satisfaction. Seeing that Xiao Yan was also impatient to experience the Top-grade Alchemy Furnace, he sent him off.

Thinking back to Li Daoyuan's expression, something major seemed to have happened. However, there was nothing he could do about it. The only thing he could do was increase his strength. He took out the Meridian Protection Pill he had bought from Myriad Treasures Pavilion and decided to break through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer that night.

Until evening, he meditated and regulated his breathing. He had recently obtained quite a few good things, and something major seemed to have occurred. Before breaking through, he first adjusted his state of mind. Once his heart was calm, he could make his breakthrough.

When he felt the time was right, he took out a Meridian Protection Pill and swallowed it. The instant it entered his mouth, its medicinal effect appeared. He did not delay any longer and began circulating his cultivation technique.

The powerful spiritual power within his body began to circulate, and he did not restrain it. After some time, the spiritual power in his body charged wildly through his meridians like wild horses breaking free of their reins. This Meridian Protection Pill was indeed more effective than the Purple Qi Meridian Protection Pill, but it seemed somewhat insufficient in the face of the current situation.

Fang Xiao's expression did not change. He took out another Meridian Protection Pill and swallowed it. The violent spiritual power was steadily restrained within his meridians. Seeing this, he knew the moment had come. He used his Spiritual Sense to guide the spiritual power and began attacking the bottleneck.

With the bottleneck before him, the powerful spiritual power directly transformed into the shape of a sword and thrust forward. For others, the bottleneck would require repeated assaults to gradually wear away, but before him it was like window paper, offering no resistance at all. It was pierced through on the spot, and the remaining obstruction was shattered to pieces beneath the subsequent wash of spiritual power.

Thus, Fang Xiao broke through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer without mishap. He was still four months away from turning sixteen. In the Cultivation World, he could already be considered a Heavenly Talent. Yet he knew that in a holy land like the Tianlan Sect, his cultivation speed only counted among the faster group. That person with the Heavenly Spiritual Root might already be preparing for Foundation Establishment.

But he did not take it to heart. Walking fast was useless; one also had to walk steadily. With his foundation, Foundation Establishment posed no pressure at all. As long as he proceeded steadily in the Foundation Establishment Realm, achieving a Superior Golden Core was practically certain. At that time, he could say that Nascent Soul was within reach, with even a sliver of possibility for Spirit Transformation.