At the foot of the mountain.
A figure shrouded in Black Mist was racing into the distance.
Because numerous talismans were stuck to his legs, he ran extremely fast.
After running for who knew how long, the figure finally stopped.
"Huff! Huff!"
The figure braced himself against a tree and panted heavily. "I should have shaken off those fellows, right?"
"Junior Brother Wang, there's no one behind you!"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Who?"
The Black Mist-shrouded figure's expression changed as he abruptly looked ahead.
Qin Hao jumped down from a tree.
He looked smilingly into the Black Mist. The person inside was Wang Mazi, Wang Lin, who had just attended the Trade Fair at the foot of the mountain.
"It's you!"
The instant Wang Lin saw Qin Hao, his pupils suddenly contracted.
He had never expected this Nascent Soul Expert to come looking for him.
Wang Lin deliberately played dumb. "May I ask what business Senior Brother Qin has with me?"
Then, he secretly communicated with Situ Nan.
"Situ, didn't you say you were the strongest expert on Vermilion Bird Star? Can you get me out of here?"
Situ Nan said, "I really was the strongest expert on Vermilion Bird Star back then, but my injuries are too severe. Besides, this Heavenly Reversal Bead restricts me as well, so I can't use much of my strength at all. You can only fend for yourself."
"You, the strongest expert on Vermilion Bird Star, are way too fake, aren't you?"
Wang Lin muttered inwardly, growing incomparably nervous.
"Junior Brother Wang, I saw you trade away a great deal of Spirit Liquid at the Trade Fair."
Qin Hao slowly said, "I need that kind of Spirit Liquid too. Don't worry, I won't take it from you for nothing. I can give you a Foundation Establishment Pill."
"A Foundation Establishment Pill?"
Upon hearing those words, Wang Lin's breathing quickened uncontrollably.
According to Situ Nan, there were only three methods for ordinary Cultivators to establish their foundation.
The first was for a sect's Nascent Soul Ancestor to assist with Foundation Establishment.
The second was to use the Foundation Seizing Great Method to seize a Foundation Establishment Cultivator's Dao foundation.
The third was to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill, which was also how most people broke through to Foundation Establishment.
This was because only Cultivation Nations of level three and above possessed Nascent Soul-level Cultivators.
Those without a Nascent Soul Ancestor and insufficient talent could only find a way to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills if they wished to establish their foundation.
Now that the Hengyue Sect's Nascent Soul Ancestor was absent, exchanging for Foundation Establishment Pills to establish his foundation was undoubtedly a good option.
"May I ask how much Spirit Liquid Senior Brother Qin needs?"
Wang Lin gritted his teeth. "I have at most 500 drops of that Spirit Liquid left."
Qin Hao shook his head. "Five hundred drops aren't enough to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. You need at least 1,000 drops!"
This Spirit Liquid was far from ordinary. Consuming enough of it could preserve one's Eternal Youth.
If consumed over a long period, it could also increase one's lifespan by a small amount. It could not compare to improving one's cultivation, but it was better than nothing.
Furthermore, adding it while refining pills could increase the success rate of pill refinement.
"Then that really is a pity. This is all I have."
Wang Lin said with a regretful expression.
He still had plenty of this Spirit Liquid, but he did not want to expose it.
Who knew whether the other party would kill him for treasure once he exposed himself?
Qin Hao looked at Wang Lin with a faint smile. "Junior Brother Wang, you're not being honest."
"Senior Brother Qin, this is all the Spirit Liquid I have on me!"
Wang Lin said with a bitter smile, tossing him a gourd.
Qin Hao accepted it and inspected it, discovering that it contained more than half a gourd of Spirit Liquid—at least ten thousand drops.
He put away the gourd, took out a bottle of pills, tossed it to Wang Lin, and left directly.
There was plenty of time. He would have many chances to fleece him in the future.
After Qin Hao disappeared, Wang Lin opened the Jade Bottle in his hand. A rich medicinal fragrance that refreshed the heart and mind immediately wafted out.
Wang Lin saw that the Jade Bottle contained ten pills, each the size of a longan.
The pills were crystal-clear, and every one of them contained dense energy fluctuations.
Wang Lin asked, "Situ, is there anything wrong with these pills?"
"There's nothing wrong with them. They're all high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills!"
Situ Nan said, "Ten Foundation Establishment Pills should be enough for you to establish your foundation, no matter how poor your aptitude is."
[Ding!] Qin Hao had just returned when the Chat Group issued a notification. [Heavenly Demon Prefecture Emperor Sword has joined the Chat Group.]
"Heavenly Demon Prefecture? Emperor Sword?"
Qin Hao instantly recognized the newcomer's identity.
She was the Emperor Sword Spirit from Kyoto, Heavenly Demon Prefecture, in the Demon Spirit Land—a very adorable little girl.
She had originally been the daughter of Emperor Lord Gu Yundun's friend in Heavenly Demon Prefecture. Due to some unforeseen change, she had been forced to become the Emperor Sword Spirit.
Emperor Lord Gu Yundun had always treated the Emperor Sword Spirit like a daughter.
[Li Muwan: "Welcome, new fellow daoist!"] [Yao Xixue: "Emperor Sword? Isn't this the Peerless Beauty Chat Group? Why have so many strange things entered?"] [Emperor Sword Shuang'er: "You're the strange thing! I have my own name. I'm called Shuang'er!"] [Qin Hao: "Another newcomer? The group seems to be getting livelier and livelier."] [Yao Xixue @Qin Hao: "Shameless scoundrel, how do you have the nerve to remain in the group?"] [Emperor Sword Shuang'er: "Huh? Could there be a pervert in this so-called Chat Group?"] [Qin Hao: "I only asked you to demonstrate it, yet you sent a revealing photo yourself. How can you blame me?"] [Yao Xixue: "Ahhh! I'm going to kill you!"] [Qin Hao: "I wonder whether Miss Yao has heard of an item called an Image Recording Stone? You wouldn't want me to use one to copy your photo countless times and sell it throughout the entire Alliance Star Domain, would you?"] [Yao Xixue: "If you dare leak it, I won't let you go even if I must chase you to the ends of heaven and earth!"] [Qin Hao: "That depends on your performance!"] [Yao Xixue: "Hmph!"]
Blood Star.
Inside a palace chamber.
"Damn Qin Hao! This Young Lady is going to kill you!"
Yao Xixue was so furious that she stomped her feet.
In the end, she picked up another Qin Hao doll and began stabbing it frantically.
Qin Hao ignored Yao Xixue. He directly found Wan'er's Wife and started a private chat.
[Qin Hao: "Hello, Miss Li!"]
Luohe Gate.
Inside her bedroom.
"Ah?"
When Li Muwan saw the private message directed at her, she immediately became puzzled. What does Young Master Qin Hao want with me?
Though puzzled, Li Muwan hurriedly replied.
[Li Muwan: "Hello, Young Master Qin Hao!"] [Qin Hao: "Miss Li should be a pill refiner, correct?"] [Li Muwan: "How did Young Master know? (Surprised)"] [Qin Hao: "A guess."] [Li Muwan: "Young Master must have heard of our Luohe Gate, then?"] [Qin Hao: "Haha, indeed. Miss Li truly is exceptionally intelligent!"]
Upon seeing Qin Hao's praise, a smile immediately appeared on Li Muwan's exquisite face.
Her fleeting charm was enough to make all flowers pale in comparison.
[Li Muwan: "Young Master flatters me. Might you be looking for me to purchase pills?"] [Qin Hao: "No, I intend to purchase Pill Recipes!"] [Li Muwan: "Pill Recipes? Those are the Luohe Gate's closely guarded secrets and cannot be sold!"] [Qin Hao sent a Red Packet.] [Li Muwan: "??? What does this mean, Young Master?"]
Before you continue