Trading Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid for Cultivation Methods

Xun'er was stunned.

As she understood it, the strength of a Dou Technique mattered, but its power ultimately depended on one's own Dou Qi reserves and the technique's rank. It couldn't keep multiplying by a fixed percentage forever.

If someone's cultivation kept rising, the power unleashed through a percentage boost would be unimaginable.

Take her father, for example. As a nine-star Dou Saint, what could he do with a 200% boost? She could hardly imagine it.

Xiao Xun'er was still trying to work out how terrifying this system of power could become when—

Thud!

Xiao Yan slid straight off his stool and wrapped both arms around Lu Chuan's leg, his eyes burning with fervor.

"If you'll have me, I, Xiao Yan, will gladly call you my foster father! Just let me awaken a Martial Soul so I can be invincible someday!"

Lu Chuan's face darkened. He kicked Xiao Yan away.

Xiao Yan landed on his backside, but he didn't care. He braced himself against the floor, ready to lunge forward again, his eyes full of longing.

"Senior! I'll do anything to awaken a Martial Soul! I want to get stronger so badly. I don't want to be useless anymore!"

"You want to awaken a Martial Soul? Fine. Bring me something in exchange."

Lu Chuan held out his hand and looked calmly at Xiao Yan on the floor.

Xiao Yan froze, then scrambled to his feet, his face anxious.

"An exchange? What do you want? If I have it, it's yours! Gold Coins, medicinal herbs, ore—if the Xiao Family can provide it, I'll do my best to get it!"

Awakening a Martial Soul was all he could think about. The thought of that terrifying percentage boost sent excitement surging through him.

Xiao Xun'er's expression grew intent. She looked at Lu Chuan's outstretched hand and wondered what he wanted in exchange. If she could meet his terms, she wanted to awaken one too.

Zhu Zhuqing sat quietly to one side, watching without a word. She was privately grateful that the senior had treated her more gently.

Lu Chuan stared at the ring on Xiao Yan's finger.

"I need Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid and its refining method."

"Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid? What's that?"

Xiao Yan scratched his head in bewilderment. He had never heard the name before.

"Ah... So you've already discovered me, young friend."

A sigh sounded.

The plain black Naji on Xiao Yan's finger suddenly shone with an eerie white light. The glow gathered into the translucent figure of an old man, floating in midair.

The old man wore a simple white robe. His hair was graying and his face weathered. It was Yao Lao, who had been sleeping inside the Naji.

Xiao Yan's pupils widened. He recoiled so sharply that he nearly fell off his chair, staring at the floating spirit in terror.

He yanked off the ring and threw it to the floor.

At that instant, a black-robed figure stepped out and swiftly placed himself in front of Xiao Xun'er, watching the spirit in midair warily.

It was Zhu Zhuqing's first time seeing a ghost. A little frightened, she backed away two steps, and her Martial Soul swiftly manifested around her.

Yao Lao paid no mind to Ling Ying's vigilance. Instead, he looked curiously at the Martial Soul behind Zhu Zhuqing.

"Hiss... Interesting. Things from another world truly are strange."

Lu Chuan stepped sideways to shield Zhu Zhuqing.

Yao Chen gently stroked his illusory white beard and spoke calmly.

"No need to be alarmed, young friend. I wouldn't attack a little girl."

"Hah. Who knows?"

Lu Chuan curled his lip. "Word of your shameful behavior has spread far and wide."

"What?! Who's been slandering my good name?!"

Yao Lao glared, bristling as though he had suffered a terrible injustice.

When no one paid him any attention, he coughed awkwardly a couple of times, then fixed Lu Chuan with a sharp gaze.

"How did you know I could refine Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid, young friend? Did that traitorous disciple of mine tell you?"

Lu Chuan folded his arms and stared right back.

"I'm a merchant who travels between worlds. I wouldn't get far without information. I even know how to become a Dou Di. Pay my price, and I'll tell you."

"...I'll pass. The more you know, the sooner you die. Besides, I have nothing worth the price of becoming a Dou Di."

Yao Lao withdrew his gaze from Lu Chuan. His illusory figure turned and drifted down before the terrified Xiao Yan.

"Little Flame, thank you for sustaining me these past three years. Without you, I don't know when I would have awakened."

Xiao Yan went rigid. His pupils contracted, and his lips trembled.

"Th-three years of sustaining you? Are you saying my Dou Qi has been getting weaker all this time because of you?!"

Anger and hurt surged through him. He clenched his fists so tightly that his eyes began to redden.

He sprang to his feet and threw a punch, but his fist passed straight through Yao Chen.

Unwilling to give up, he swung again and again, yet couldn't touch a hair on his head.

After several futile attempts, Xiao Yan stood panting, his arms trembling as helplessness swept over him.

Three years of humiliation and resentment burst out at once, yet he couldn't even take revenge.

Yao Lao hovered where he was, letting Xiao Yan swing wildly at him. Guilt showed on his face.

"Enough. I won't let you come away empty-handed. How about becoming my disciple? I can make you stronger and teach you Alchemy."

"Get lost, you rotten old man! I'd rather die than become your disciple!"

Xiao Yan roared, his eyes red and his chest heaving. Three years of pent-up anger and hurt had finally erupted.

Yao Chen hovered in midair, his expression barely changing as he spoke.

"Don't you want to awaken a Martial Soul? I can teach you to refine Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid."

Thud—

"Master, please accept this disciple's bow!"

Xiao Yan dropped to his knees in an instant and knocked his forehead against the floor three times.

Yao Lao stroked his beard with satisfaction.

"Mm. You may call me Yao Lao. From now on, you are my disciple."

The moment Xun'er heard the name Yao Lao, she understood who he was: Yao Chen, the famous Alchemist of the Central Plains known as Venerable Yao.

Xiao Yan... It was a good thing he'd taken Yao Lao as his master.

She turned to Lu Chuan and spoke respectfully.

"Senior, may I ask your name?"

"Lu Chuan."

"Senior Lu Chuan, what would I need to offer to awaken a Martial Soul?"

Lu Chuan glanced at Yao Lao and Xiao Yan, who were listening intently nearby, then stated his terms.

"I need Cultivation Methods. Earth Rank, Heaven Rank—either will do. Oh, and get Zhu Qing a dark-attribute Cultivation Method too."

Zhu Zhuqing paused, then hurriedly shook her head. She longed for a Cultivation Method she could practice, but what had she done to deserve such kindness from him? She spoke uneasily.

"Senior, I have nothing to trade. Please don't worry about me..."

Lu Chuan smiled, leaned close to Zhu Zhuqing's ear, and whispered a few words.

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened. A blush spread across her face, and she looked flustered. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded faintly and fell silent.

Hearing the price, Xun'er couldn't help feeling exasperated.

This senior certainly didn't hesitate to ask for the moon.

Heaven Rank Cultivation Methods were extraordinarily precious. Even within the Gu Clan, they were guarded closely and never allowed to leave the clan lightly. They were hardly things one could casually offer in trade.