"This is... a Foundation Establishment Pill!"
Senior Sister Chen stared at the blue pill, excitement stirring in her heart. Suddenly, something occurred to her, and she hurriedly asked, "Does that mean you also reached Foundation Establishment with just one Foundation Establishment Pill?"
Lin He sighed inwardly but nodded. Otherwise, he had no way to explain where this Foundation Establishment Pill had come from.
Senior Sister Chen accepted the pill Lin He handed her. The more she looked at it, the more pleasing it seemed, and she could not help saying, "My eldest brother's aptitude isn't as good as mine, but with this third Foundation Establishment Pill, his chances of success will be quite high. He really needs this pill."
"Since he needs it, take it back to him. Consider it my gift to my future brother-in-law."
Yet Senior Sister Chen shook her head in refusal and said solemnly, "No! You risked your life in the Forbidden Land Trial to earn this Foundation Establishment Pill. How can you just give it away? It's not as though my brother has no spirit stones. He should pay for this pill, and pay a high price at that. After all, even money can't buy one."
Warmth flowed through Lin He's heart at her words. If Senior Sister Chen had been a gold digger, she would surely have said,
"I've been sleeping with you all this time. Isn't getting my brother a Foundation Establishment Pill the least you should do?"
Then she would have snatched the pill without so much as a thank-you. But Senior Sister Chen clearly was no gold digger. Though love might have gone to her head, she still looked out for Lin He when it mattered.
At that thought, Lin He's gaze grew even more tender. She naturally noticed, but misunderstood somewhat, hurriedly shaking her head as she said,
"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you in the mood? Not now, though. I need to get this pill to my brother first. If I'm too late, he might really have left. Could you hold out a little longer? Once I'm back, I'll spend some proper time with you."
Seeing her pleading expression, as though he really were burning with desire, Lin He did not know whether to laugh or cry. He could not be bothered to explain and simply said,
"In that case, hurry back to the Chen Family."
"Yes, but you're going to Sect Leader Zhong, and that's on the way. I can stay with you a little longer."
"All right. Come aboard, and I'll give you a ride. But I need to stop at the Kirin Pavilion first."
Lin He casually tossed out the Flying Spirit Boat. Now that he had reached Foundation Establishment, he no longer needed to hide a high-grade magical artifact.
Senior Sister Chen obediently boarded and nestled against his chest like a little bird seeking shelter. Peace and tranquility filled the Flying Spirit Boat. After the brutal competition of the Forbidden Land Trial, such beautiful moments stirred deep feelings in Lin He, and he could not help tightening his arms around the beauty in his embrace.
Feeling his affection, Senior Sister Chen suddenly had a bold idea. "Junior Brother, is holding back really that hard? If you truly can't bear it, why don't we do it here..."
Lin He was so startled that the Flying Spirit Boat nearly tipped over. He hurriedly said, "Senior Sister, you can't joke about that! Controlling a flying magical artifact takes a lot of concentration. If you really did that, we'd probably crash. The two of us would become the laughingstock of the entire Yellow Maple Valley for hundreds of years."
Senior Sister Chen could not help laughing, then blushed crimson. "Honestly, I was only joking, and you got this scared."
Lin He felt thoroughly awkward. If they really fell out of the sky and died because they were doing that, even the little ghosts in the underworld would probably laugh at them.
As they neared their destination, Senior Sister Chen suddenly pointed at a slender figure ahead and hurriedly said,
"Oh, isn't that Senior Sister Chang? What's she doing at the Kirin Pavilion?"
"You can't even look after a few low-level spirit beasts properly! What use are you? Utterly worthless!"
Among Yellow Maple Valley's lower-ranking disciples, attendant disciples occupied the lowest rung. They had never taken Foundation Establishment Pills, had low cultivation and poor combat skills, and could not distinguish themselves at the Sect Conference.
Above them were supervisory disciples. Although they had performed well at the Sect Conference and received Foundation Establishment Pills, their attempts at Foundation Establishment had failed. Still, both their cultivation and combat skills far surpassed those of attendant disciples. Some had also grown bad-tempered because they could not reach Foundation Establishment, such as this Senior Brother Tan.
Senior Brother Tan was at the peak of the thirteenth layer of Qi Refining. After failing to reach Foundation Establishment, he had become irritable and liked nothing better than venting his anger on the attendant disciples under him.
Senior Sister Chang had been unlucky today. She had only just been assigned to work at the Kirin Pavilion, yet Senior Brother Tan had insisted on picking bones out of an egg, finding some trivial fault to berate her over.
But Senior Sister Chang had no backing within the sect and could not defeat Senior Brother Tan in a fight. She could only swallow her anger and endure his scolding in silence.
Seeing that she dared not resist, Senior Brother Tan grew all the more smug and berated her with increasing relish.
"Have you finished?"
A sharp feminine rebuke rang out as a beautiful woman appeared, cutting Senior Brother Tan off. He flew into a rage.
"Who is it? Who dares meddle in my affairs? Ah... Martial Aunt Chen, you've graced us with your presence! I, Tan Ying, failed to welcome you. Please forgive me!"
"Senior Sister Chang has always been conscientious and responsible. Just what did she do wrong to deserve such a torrent of abuse? Go on, explain it to me."
Senior Sister Chen was now at early Foundation Establishment and had heard the entire exchange clearly. Naturally, she knew that Senior Brother Tan was merely finding fault to vent his resentment, so she showed him no warmth whatsoever.
Hearing this, Tan Ying knew he had kicked an iron plate today. He hurriedly slapped himself and said with a deeply ashamed expression,
"Martial Aunt Chen, I've been rather overheated these past few days, and my temper has been short, so my tone wasn't very good. It was my foul mouth. Please spare me, Martial Aunt Chen."
"Senior Sister Chang, how do you think we should deal with him?"
Rather than question him further, Senior Sister Chen turned to Senior Sister Chang. She shook her head. "Junior Sister Chen... no, Martial Aunt Chen, Senior Brother Tan was merely impatient and meant no harm. Please be magnanimous and let him off this once."
"Let him off?"
Senior Sister Chen looked at Senior Sister Chang in disbelief. Lin He, however, understood at once. He hurriedly stopped Senior Sister Chen and turned to Senior Brother Tan. "Martial Nephew Tan, do you still recognize me?"
Lin He had visited the Kirin Pavilion many times before and had met Senior Brother Tan, so he knew his temper well.
Only then did Senior Brother Tan look at Lin He. Suddenly recalling something, he blurted out, "You... you're Junior Brother Lin? No, your cultivation... you've reached Foundation Establishment?"
Lin He could not be bothered to waste more words on him and said bluntly, "Senior Sister Chang is a friend of mine and Senior Sister Chen's. Before we reached Foundation Establishment, she did us both a great kindness. Do you understand what I mean?"
Lin He spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
Senior Sister Chen listened in confusion. When did Senior Sister Chang ever do me a great kindness?
Senior Sister Chang, meanwhile, looked at Lin He with admiration. She now understood his intentions.
Senior Brother Tan's face turned the color of pig liver. He frantically slapped himself, so frightened that he kowtowed and admitted his fault.
"Please spare me, Martial Uncle and Martial Aunt! I truly didn't mean it!"
"Senior Sister Chang is a kind person. She doesn't wish to hurt you and has asked us to let you off. We can hardly go against her wishes. But if this happens again..."
Tan Ying hurriedly interjected, "There won't be a next time! From now on, anyone who dares bully Junior Sister Chang will be making an enemy of me!"
"You're quite quick-witted. All right, you may go."
As though a great weight had been lifted from him, Tan Ying immediately scrambled away in a sorry state.
Senior Sister Chen looked thoroughly displeased and said resentfully, "Junior Brother, why wouldn't you let me teach him a lesson and vent Senior Sister Chang's anger for her?"
Lin He shook his head. "Beating him would make you feel better, but Senior Sister Chang would suffer even more afterward."
"You mean... he'd take revenge on Senior Sister Chang? He wouldn't dare!"
"Not openly, of course. But what about behind our backs? We've reached Foundation Establishment. A single stretch of secluded cultivation could easily last several years. Can you stay by Senior Sister Chang's side and protect her all the time?"
"I..."
Senior Sister Chen was instantly at a loss for words. Taking Senior Sister Chang's hand with a guilty expression, she said, "I'm sorry, Senior Sister Chang. My impulsiveness almost brought you harm."
Senior Sister Chang shook her head and gave Lin He an appreciative glance. Looking at the golden boy and jade maiden before her, she could not help feeling inferior. She sighed and said,
"Neither of you needs to worry about me. After this, Tan Ying won't make trouble for me. On the contrary, he'll take good care of me."
Lin He nodded, then said, "I've come mainly to rent a Twin-Pupiled Mouse to help me find a place rich in spiritual energy. Here are three low-grade spirit stones. I'd like to borrow one for three days."
Senior Sister Chang was not surprised. She put away the spirit stones and immediately fetched a Twin-Pupiled Mouse, along with a bag of fruit to feed him.
They chatted casually for a while, then Senior Sister Chang left.
Watching her retreating figure, Senior Sister Chen suddenly said with a hint of melancholy, "I thought reaching Foundation Establishment would be a happy thing. But now... I realize how distant Senior Sister Chang and I have become."
"Because Senior Sister Chang will probably spend her whole life stuck at the Qi Refining Stage. We've reached Foundation Establishment, and not only have our lifespans increased greatly, we probably won't have much contact with her from now on."
Something suddenly occurred to Senior Sister Chen, and she said with lingering fear, "If the person who saved me that night hadn't been you, but someone else who took my Foundation Establishment Pill, would I have ended up just like Senior Sister Chang?"
Lin He hugged the beauty beside him and smiled. "No, because I was the one who saved you. You're so adorable. How could I bear to take your Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Junior Brother, I'm so happy I met you!"
Senior Sister Chen wound herself around him like a water snake. Just as things threatened to turn into a public spectacle, Lin He hurriedly coughed and said,
"People are coming and going here. This isn't suitable. We'd better get going."
Senior Sister Chen smiled and followed Lin He aboard the Flying Spirit Boat again.
Before long, they arrived at the sect's main hall. Senior Sister Chen stepped off the spirit boat and was about to say goodbye when an elderly man suddenly emerged from the hall.
At the sight of him, Senior Sister Chen immediately stepped forward to greet him. "Martial Uncle Ma!"
He was none other than Martial Uncle Ma, who excelled at cultivating medicinal herbs. Han Li was currently tending his medicinal garden.
Seeing Senior Sister Chen, Martial Uncle Ma hurriedly shook his head. "Ah, the young lady from the Chen Family. Since you've reached Foundation Establishment, don't call me Martial Uncle Ma anymore. Senior Brother Ma will do."
"Yes, Senior Brother Ma." Having only recently reached Foundation Establishment, Senior Sister Chen was clearly still unaccustomed to this. But Senior Brother Ma seemed familiar with her and paid it no mind. Instead, he turned to Lin He and asked tentatively,
"And this is..."
"This is Junior Brother Lin He. He reached Foundation Establishment not long ago and has come to collect his sect rewards from Sect Leader Zhong."
"Junior Brother Lin, so it's you. I've heard your name." Senior Brother Ma studied Lin He carefully and nodded. "Not bad. A little over six months ago, two disciples emerged safely from the Forbidden Land Trial with eleventh-layer Qi Refining cultivation. One was Han Li, who tends my medicinal garden, and the other was you, Junior Brother Lin He. I never expected you to reach Foundation Establishment so quickly. Your aptitude is certainly good."
"You flatter me, Senior Brother Ma."
Senior Sister Chen interjected, "Senior Brother Ma, my father plans to begin refining pills this month, but he's short of some medicinal ingredients. He asked me to find you several days ago, but you've been like a divine dragon whose head appears while its tail stays hidden. How fortunate to run into you today. Please take a look at this list."
Senior Brother Ma smiled. "I was away on business for a while. No wonder you couldn't find me. If you need anything in the future, just go to the medicinal garden and ask Han Li to pass me a message. As for these ingredients... apart from two or three, my garden has them all. I'll have Han Li deliver them to you in a few days."
Senior Sister Chen was delighted. She had not expected to settle the matter so quickly and hurriedly thanked him. "Wonderful! Thank you, Senior Brother Ma. Sorry for the trouble, but please have the ingredients delivered to Junior Brother Lin's cave abode. I need to return to the Chen Family and report this to my father. As for the price... we certainly won't let you lose out."
Senior Brother Ma chuckled. "Your father and I are old acquaintances. Would he let me lose out? Speaking of which, Junior Brother Lin's cave abode..."
"I still need to choose a location. Once I've done so, I'll be sure to let you know. If you're not in the valley, I'll send someone to inform Martial Nephew Han Li."
Only then did Senior Brother Ma nod in satisfaction before leaving, bobbing his head.
"I'll head back to the Chen Family, then." Senior Sister Chen gave him a reluctant glance.
"Go ahead. I still need to see the sect leader."
After bidding Senior Sister Chen farewell, Lin He entered the sect's main hall. Sect Leader Zhong rose and instinctively greeted him.
"Martial Nephew Lin, what brings you here?"
Lin He had signed up for the Forbidden Land Trial a little over six months ago, then emerged safely from the Forbidden Land with eleventh-layer Qi Refining cultivation. Naturally, Sect Leader Zhong remembered him vividly and had remained curious about him.
Seeing Lin He now, he instinctively scanned him, then let out a surprised exclamation. Seemingly unable to believe it, Sect Leader Zhong swept his spiritual sense over him several more times. Finally confirming Lin He's cultivation, he said in astonishment,
"Martial Nephew Lin... no, Junior Brother Lin, you've reached Foundation Establishment!"
"I merely got lucky."
Lin He only smiled, but Sect Leader Zhong could not help praising him. "Even with dual spiritual roots, to suc-
cessfully reach Foundation Establishment with just one Foundation Establishment Pill... Junior Brother Lin, you truly are blessed with great fortune."
By now, Sect Leader Zhong had guessed why he had come and promptly took the initiative to have someone fetch his sect rewards.
"Every disciple who reaches Foundation Establishment receives a one-time sect reward of three medium-grade spirit stones. After that, you'll receive one medium-grade spirit stone each year without having to perform any chores. This is a Lost Track Formation set. Although it's only the most basic formation, it can keep out wild beasts and the like. If you want better formations, you can look for them at the Heavenly Star Sect Market. As for choosing a site for your cave abode, you can rent a Twin-Pupiled Mouse from the Kirin Pavilion. He can help you find a suitable place rich in spiritual energy. Once you've chosen, just come back and let me know."
Sect Leader Zhong was clearly trying to show goodwill. Without waiting for Lin He to ask, he told him everything in one breath.
Seeing this, Lin He hurriedly thanked him. "Thank you, Sect Leader. I'll go choose a site for my cave abode right away."
After leaving the sect's main hall, Lin He relied on his foreknowledge of the plot to finally find the Spirit Eye Spring and began constructing his cave abode.
Three days later, an ordinary-looking, dark-skinned young man arrived there, still muttering to himself,
"Martial Uncle Lin? Could it really be him?"