Trading for Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid and Cultivation Methods

Xun'er was shaken to the core.

As she understood it, the strength of a Dou Technique mattered, but its power ultimately depended on the user's total Dou Qi and the technique's rank. It could not keep multiplying by a fixed percentage forever.

But if someone's realm kept rising and the increase remained percentage-based, the power they could unleash was almost impossible to imagine.

Take her father. He was a nine-star Dou Saint. If his power increased by 200%, the result would be unimaginable.

Xiao Xun'er was still working through how terrifying this system of power could become, her thoughts running wild, when—

Thud!

Xiao Yan slid straight off his stool and clamped both arms around Lu Chuan's leg, his eyes blazing.

"If you won't cast me aside, sir, Xiao Yan is willing to become your adopted son! All I ask is to awaken a Martial Soul and become invincible under heaven!"

Lu Chuan's face darkened at once. Black lines seemed to appear on his forehead as he kicked Xiao Yan away.

Xiao Yan landed on his backside but did not care. He planted his hands on the floor, ready to lunge forward again, his eyes full of yearning.

"Senior! I'll do anything if I can awaken a Martial Soul! I want to improve so badly. I don't want to be a waste anymore!"

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

Lu Chuan held out a hand and looked calmly down at Xiao Yan.

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

"An exchange? What do you want, big brother? Anything I have is yours! Gold Coins, medicinal herbs, ores—if the Xiao Family can get it, I'll do my best to bring it to you!"

Awakening a Martial Soul was all he could think about. Whenever he imagined that terrifying percentage increase, he could hardly contain his excitement.

Xiao Xun'er's expression grew intent. Her gaze settled on Lu Chuan's outstretched hand as she 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 secretly 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 the method for refining it."

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

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

"Sigh... It seems you've already discovered me, young friend."

A sigh sounded.

The unremarkable black Naji on Xiao Yan's finger suddenly shone with a ghostly white light. The light slowly gathered into a translucent, elderly figure floating in midair.

The old man wore a plain white robe. His hair had gone gray, and his face showed the marks of time. It was Yao Lao, who had been sleeping inside the Naji.

Xiao Yan's pupils widened. He jerked backward and nearly fell off his chair, staring at the floating soul 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 soul in midair with wary eyes.

It was Zhu Zhuqing's first time seeing a ghost. Frightened, she took two steps back, and her Martial Soul swiftly possessed 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 in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

Yao Chen lightly stroked his illusory white beard and spoke with an easy calm.

"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 disgraceful behavior has spread far and wide."

"What?! Who has been dragging this old man's name through the mud?!"

Yao Lao bristled, blowing into his beard and glaring as though he had suffered a monstrous injustice.

But 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 wretched disciple of mine tell you?"

Lu Chuan folded his arms and met his stare without flinching.

"How could I trade across worlds without a little information? I even know how to become a Dou Di. Pay the 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 slowly toward the terrified Xiao Yan.

"Little Flame, thank you for sustaining me these past three years. Otherwise, who knows when I would have awakened."

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

"Three... three years of sustaining you? Don't tell me my Dou Qi has been getting weaker these past three years because of you?!"

A surge of anger and grievance rushed through him. He clenched his fists until his knuckles ached, his eyes reddening.

He sprang up like a carp flipping out of the water and threw a punch, but his fist passed straight through Yao Chen.

Unwilling to give up, he swung again and again without so much as touching a hair.

After several futile attempts, Xiao Yan stood panting, his arms trembling. A profound sense of helplessness swept over him.

Three years of humiliation. Three years of resentment. It all erupted at once, yet he could not even strike back.

Yao Lao floated quietly where he was, letting Xiao Yan swing at him. Guilt showed faintly on his face.

"All right. I won't leave you at a loss. 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 take you as my master!"

Xiao Yan roared with red-rimmed eyes, his chest heaving as three years of pent-up grievance and rage burst free.

Yao Chen remained suspended in midair, his expression barely changing. He spoke softly.

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

Thud—

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

Xiao Yan dropped to his knees in a flash and knocked his head against the floor three times.

Yao Lao stroked his beard in satisfaction.

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

The moment Xun'er heard the name Yao Lao, she knew who he was: Yao Chen, Venerable Yao, the renowned Alchemist of the Central Plains.

Brother Xiao Yan... It was a good thing for him to take Yao Lao as his master.

She turned to Lu Chuan and asked 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 in with their ears pricked, then stated his terms.

"I need Cultivation Methods. Heaven Rank or Earth 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 treatment from the senior? Her voice was a little uneasy.

"Senior, I don't have anything to trade. Let's forget it..."

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

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened. Pink spread across her face, and she looked flustered. After hesitating, she gave a slight nod and said no more.

When Xun'er heard the price of the trade, she could not help feeling exasperated.

This senior was truly opening his mouth as wide as a lion's.

Heaven Rank Cultivation Methods were precious beyond measure. Even within the Gu Clan, they were kept under strict guard and never allowed to leave lightly. How could anyone simply take one out to trade?