Wei Zhong suppressed the impulse in his heart. His lifespan had not come for free; he could not waste seven and a half years of it over a bit of curiosity in a place like this.
Mm, but once I reach the late stage of Qi Refining, perhaps I can spend fifteen years to experience what Foundation Establishment feels like once, providing some experience for my future breakthrough.
"Ah!"
Right now, Wei Zhong truly wanted to take a few Jade Marrow Mushrooms outside and have some fun. He wondered whether he might run into some blind Robber Cultivators. If that happened, he could directly use the Years Dao Method—he would probably scare them senseless.
"No, no. There's still a mine in my grotto-heaven. I don't lack those three melons and two dates a Robber Cultivator has."
Speaking of which, ten years had passed. He wondered how Azurewood Sect's development of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range was going.
And he wondered whether that Second True Disciple had been fed to the demon beasts yet.
Wei Zhong considered himself not to be a grudge-bearing man, but Lu Yibin, who had mined his spirit mine and once hunted him down, was an exception.
It was time to go out and see what was happening, then have a heart-to-heart with Old Ning.
Over these ten years, Wei Zhong had devoted himself single-mindedly to cultivation. Even the harvesting and selling of the Spirit Rice in his Spirit Fields had been handed over to Rogue Cultivators who accepted the task.
With Ning CanKun's connections, Wei Zhong was confident that no one would dare embezzle his Spirit Stones.
After tidying himself up, Wei Zhong carried two jugs of Spirit Wine out the door.
"Well now, Brother Chu is a rare guest."
When Ning CanKun saw Wei Zhong come calling, he cried out in surprise. This was the first time Wei Zhong had visited him of his own accord in ten years, so such a reaction was only natural.
Taking the Spirit Wine from Wei Zhong, he brought out some side dishes, and the two began chatting about heaven and earth.
"Little brother, you've immersed yourself in cultivation these past years. You must have gained quite a lot, yes?"
Wei Zhong grabbed a Spirit Bean and tossed it into his mouth.
"Not much. I only barely broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining. I'm still some distance from the eighth level, though not too far."
Although Wei Zhong had already fallen to the sixth level of Qi Refining after switching cultivation methods, he used the Years Dao Method to borrow a skin from his past. He appeared to be at the seventh level of Qi Refining, but it was merely flowers in a mirror and the moon in water, devoid of the might of the late stage of Qi Refining.
"I never expected you to break through this bottleneck in barely more than ten years. That's much faster than ordinary cultivators. If you can maintain this pace, then Foundation Establishment may be within reach in your lifetime."
"The late stage of Qi Refining—hard, hard, hard!"
As if Wei Zhong's words had struck a sore spot, Ning CanKun seemed to recall something and fell silent, gripping his wine cup.
It was only when Wei Zhong clinked cups with him that he came back to himself.
"Along the way, I noticed that Bright Moon Market has become much quieter. I wonder what the reason is."
Ning CanKun put away his emotions and said,
"Little brother, you may not know this, but over the past ten years, thanks to the sect's development of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, we human cultivators have already gained a firm foothold in this stretch of the mountain range within Mangyuan Prefecture.
"Hunting demon beasts and seeking medicinal herbs have become much safer than before. Coupled with the abundance of resources within, it has drawn many cultivators there in droves.
"Now, Bright Moon Market is declining with each passing day.
"Perhaps one day, there won't even be any need for an outer sect steward like me."
"Brother Ning, you jest. Cultivators willing to take risks are a minority in the end. Plenty are still willing to cultivate Spirit Fields and pursue cultivation steadily. With you holding the fort, Azurewood Sect's Spirit Fields can remain peaceful."
Wei Zhong was not talking nonsense. At least, that was how he saw it.
Back when he farmed for the Yan family, he had often gotten into disputes with other spirit farmers over Spirit Fields.
But during his time at Azurewood Sect, Ning CanKun, as an outer sect steward, had handled such matters exceptionally well.
"I merely rely on the sect's prestige. Speaking of which, prices throughout the cultivation world have fallen recently due to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
"Spirit pills in particular. Ordinary pills have dropped by around ten to twenty percent. Even Foundation Establishment Pills, once hard to come by, can occasionally be seen at auctions now."
"Oh?" Wei Zhong became interested. "What prices are they fetching?"
Ning CanKun drank a cup of wine and said,
"Around five thousand Spirit Stones. The highest price was seven thousand Spirit Stones at one auction, bought by the nearby Li family, a Foundation Establishment Lineage."
"Foundation Establishment Pills haven't actually become much cheaper. The Li family paid such a high premium—did something happen in their household?"
Wei Zhong asked as he rubbed the cup in his hand.
"I heard the Li family ancestor's lifespan is nearly exhausted."
"No wonder. If the Li family cannot produce another Foundation Establishment cultivator, things will be difficult for them."
"Isn't that so? Once they lose their Foundation Establishment cultivator, their pillar holding up the roof, that Lineage becomes a great lump of fat. Who knows how many people will eye it like tigers eyeing prey."
Ning CanKun took a bite of demon beast meat, clearly unsurprised by such matters. As an outer sect steward of Azurewood Sect, he had seen who knew how many Foundation Establishment Lineages perish and rise anew.
"Speaking of which, little brother, do you plan to remain a spirit farmer forever?"
Wei Zhong's hand holding the wine cup paused slightly.
"More or less. I'll work hard to cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refining, then see whether I have an opportunity for Foundation Establishment. If not, I'll return home and leave behind an inheritance for my Lineage."
Seeing the wine cup Ning CanKun offered him, the two clinked cups and drained them.
"In my view, Brother Chu, rather than continue farming, you might as well find a post within Azurewood Sect. Doesn't that true disciple owe you a favor? Use it."
Wei Zhong merely held his cup without speaking.
Ning CanKun sighed, knowing that the little brother before him had not given up on Foundation Establishment.
"Good luck, Fellow Daoist Zhu!"
After leaving Ning CanKun's place, Wei Zhong began strolling through Bright Moon Market.
After all, what Ning CanKun had said was only one side of the story. Wei Zhong still needed to verify it himself.
After asking around, he found that most pills in the market were indeed much cheaper than before.
Take the High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pills Wei Zhong often used for cultivation. Their price had fallen from two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones per bottle to one hundred and sixty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
There were even discounts for buying in bulk.
Such a price cut made Wei Zhong regret endlessly. Had he known, he would not have bought such a large batch so early.
Though the Spirit Stones he had lost were but one hair from nine oxen compared to the spirit mine in his grotto-heaven, a Spirit Stone was still a Spirit Stone.
Frugal as he had been in his previous life, when had Wei Zhong ever suffered such an injustice?
"Ah, shopkeeper, give me three bottles of High-Grade Qi Nourishing Pills."
Based on experience from his previous life, Wei Zhong knew that this was the time to increase his holdings.
Afterward, he changed his identity and bought several more bottles from a few other shops.
With that, he had more or less secured what he would need for his upcoming cultivation.
"Shopkeeper, do you have any three-hundred-year Jade Marrow Mushrooms?"
Sensing that the mysterious cultivator before him possessed ninth-level Qi Refining cultivation, the shopkeeper did not dare slight him.
He quickly answered,
"Jade Marrow Mushrooms? This old Daoist doesn't have any in stock in this little shop. If Fellow Daoist is not in a hurry, a shipment will arrive from the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range in three months. You can come take a look then."
Wei Zhong thought to himself that times truly had changed. Even Jade Marrow Mushrooms, the primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, were no longer rare.
"I wonder what the price is?"
"The market price is two thousand Spirit Stones. If Fellow Daoist sincerely wants one, you can first pay a deposit. When the time comes, make up the balance, and the Jade Marrow Mushroom will be yours. There are quite a few people in this market with their eyes on Jade Marrow Mushrooms, just like Fellow Daoist."
For once, Wei Zhong did not find the Jade Marrow Mushroom particularly expensive.
Then he remembered that he was no longer a little Rogue Cultivator relying on Spirit Fields to make a living. He had a mine at home and was swimming in riches.
His mindset had naturally changed without him even realizing it.
No, I need to change. How can a spirit farmer act like this?
Wei Zhong immediately grew awkward.
"Could it be... a little cheaper?"
The shopkeeper's expression did not change.
"Fellow Daoist, this is already a price with a conscience."
Wei Zhong awkwardly scratched at his beard.
"Allow this poor Daoist to consider it further."
Then, under the shopkeeper's gaze, he left the store.
From behind him came a faint "poor bastard," which Wei Zhong, whose spiritual senses surpassed ordinary people, heard clearly.
Given Wei Zhong's cultivation, he naturally did not take the words of a mere shopkeeper to heart.
After making inquiries, he at least understood that taking out a Jade Marrow Mushroom now would not be anything particularly unusual.
Mm, once I cultivate to the great completion of Qi Refining, I'll take out a Jade Marrow Mushroom and find someone to refine pills.
Before you continue