Sweeping Away Doubts and an Invitation to a Celebration

As soon as Guo Changying's voice rang out, the discussions on the pavilion and terrace immediately fell silent.

All eyes were on the woman in leather armor with her ponytail flying in the wind.

Guo Changying, possessing High-Grade Spirit Root and exceptional marksmanship, is the sole heir to the Guo Household's estate and True Disciple of True Person Chang.

In terms of status, he is even above Fang Tianyu.

Gu Xiangning seemed to be deep in thought, and then asked, "What advice do you have for me, Senior Sister Changying?"

Guo Changying grabbed the Storage Bag and tossed it forward. "Little Willow Marsh Zhou Ning me to bring this to you."

With that, she deftly tossed her ponytail and walked away, her steps carried by the wind.

Thinking of Gu Xiangning's outstanding appearance, Guo Changying scoffed inwardly:

Zhou Ning is truly greedy and lustful. After reaching the Foundation Establishment, his true colors were revealed. It was bad enough that he recruited female cultivators in Little Willow Marsh, but he even seduced female disciples from other sects! He deserves to die!

After Guo Changying left, the pavilion remained quiet for a moment.

Fang Tianyu picked up his wine glass and looked over. "Junior Sister Xiangning, what did Brother Zhou bring you?"

Since achieving Foundation Establishment, Fang Tianyu's vision and State of Mind have reached a new level. A few years ago, when Zhou Ning came to participate in his Foundation Establishment Ceremony, he was certain that Zhou Ning only had a 20% chance of achieving Foundation Establishment in his lifetime.

However, instead of taking advantage of his cultivation level to bully the other party, he provided ample compensation for the secret Pill Formula.

Now that Zhou Ning has unexpectedly succeeded in Foundation Establishment and achieved remarkable results, he may be boasting a lot, but among the newly established Foundation Establishment, he is definitely a master.

Fang Tianyu was relieved that he hadn't offended this person.

Ye Menglong, Young Master Luo, and the others stared at the Storage Bag.

Seeing that Gu Xiangning silently put away the Storage Bag, Cheng Min suddenly said, "Junior sister, why don't we open it and see if Zhou Ning is reliable?"

"Yeah, the girls will give you their opinion!"

Gu Xiangning did not want to show it off. She was well aware of the atmosphere among female cultivators in the sect. Back then, there was a loving dao companion. The man had High-Grade Spirit Root and the woman had Middle-Grade Spirit Root. Their name was Yuxian.

As a result, Cheng Min and her fellow female cultivators were always inquiring about Yuxian, wondering what kind of cultivation materials her dao companion had given her.

They even boasted that the female cultivators around them had found dao companion, and those dao companion were given Spirit Condensation Pill as gifts. They added that someone as beautiful as Yuxian deserved even better.

Yuxian was constantly nagged, which gradually made her feel resentful, and she eventually broke up with her High-Grade Spirit Root.

Now, the male cultivator has become Foundation Establishment cultivator, while Yuxian is still in the Qi Refining Realm in anticipation.

Later, Cheng Min said behind her back that it was just a casual remark, a joke. What male Qi Refining in the Qi Refining stage would be so generous as to give away Spirit Condensation Pill? Even Three Flowers Pill are extremely rare, yet Yuxian actually believed it. It's really funny.

After learning the truth, Yuxian broke down in tears, missing her fortuitous opportunity.

Gu Xiangning would never fall for such a foolish scheme. She joined the circle only because her own Cultivation Method was geared towards support.

As Cheng Min and her group continued their conversation, they pressed on relentlessly, seemingly trying to portray her as someone who was essentially paying someone to pay them.

Gu Xiangning was displeased, knowing that rumors could sometimes kill without a trace. Brother Zhou had been generous when he was Qi Refining, so how could he be stingy now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment?

So what if he's stingy? He's just Foundation Establishment and needs resources right now. Little did he know, the fruit platter that Senior Brother Fang served to his guests was two grades lower.

She probed the Storage Bag with her Divine Sense and saw one of the items inside. Her lake-like eyes rippled slightly.

Gu Xiangning could still hear Cheng Min and the others talking. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a noble-looking girl with a long, slender neck and sculpted shoulders in the center of the crowd.

That person was Tao Lengyue, with proud and arrogant features, bearing the innate haughtiness of a princess.

Thinking of this man's past of being materialistic and distancing himself from Zhou Ning, Gu Xiangning's stubborn nature kicked in. She smiled faintly and said, "Then let's see."

As she spoke, she took out a jade bottle, removed the talisman wrapped around it, and twisted the stopper.

With a "pop!" sound.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a bright white pill with a bluish tinge and golden patterns on its surface, which floated out.

Then, a faint, sweet fragrance gently spread out.

Ye Menglong and Young Master Luo blurted out, "Foundation Establishment Pill!"

It's actually Foundation Establishment Pill!

Ye Menglong looked annoyed. When he Foundation Establishment, he had taken a Foundation Establishment Pill, but he failed at the step of liquefying Spiritual Qi energy. If he had had one more, he would have been able to easily pass the test of Law Power.

The subsequent Divine Sense barrier, where the Ye Household excelled at cultivating various spiritual objects to nourish the soul, such as the Pure Heart Wisteria Flower, was merely a formality.

Young Master Luo did not sign up for the Azure Ruins Secret Realm because he was afraid of it. Now, if he wants to obtain a Foundation Establishment resource, he needs to complete a sect mission or participate in the True Disciple Selection, both of which are extremely difficult.

Fang Tianyu had instructed him to participate in the next round of the Azure Ruins Secret Realm, but the Azure Mystic Sect stated that because Myriad Peace Valley participated in the previous round, too many spiritual herbs were picked from the secret realm. In order to protect the secret realm, the opening was deliberately delayed by ten years.

By then, Young Master Luo will be sixty! He can change his name to Master Luo!

At sixty years old, Qi and Blood decline, greatly reducing the chances of Foundation Establishment.

He stared intently at the Foundation Establishment Pill, forcibly suppressing the urge to reach for it. If he could obtain this Foundation Establishment Pill, he could instantly become Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a completely different lifespan, Law Power, and status!

Even Fang Tianyu was taken aback when he saw the Foundation Establishment Pill, and then his eyes lit up with envy.

Although they are Foundation Establishment cultivators and do not need to take it, a single Foundation Establishment Pill can be exchanged for a lot of resources.

Cheng Min's expression changed, and after a while, she suppressed her jealousy and pretended not to care. "You give Zhou Ning a Foundation Establishment main ingredient, and he rewards you with a Foundation Establishment Pill. Isn't that reasonable?"

At first glance, it seems reasonable, but having only one main ingredient is not easy to turn into Foundation Establishment Pill.

Finding others to refine the alchemy together requires hiring Alchemist and investing a lot of resources. Moreover, there's no guarantee of getting three alchemical pills from one batch. Therefore, those who possess Jade Marrow Ganoderma should be given priority.

Everyone knew the truth, but for various reasons, no one dared to refute it.

"Oh?" Gu Xiangning looked at Cheng Min's forced, strong smile.

Without further hesitation, she took out another jade bottle, and held a pill that shimmered with a soft pinkish-jade light between her fingers.

This pill was slightly smaller than the Foundation Establishment Pill, resembling a polished spiritual substance.

Fang Tianyu frowned, deep in thought, as if he had figured out something.

Cheng Min was completely stunned.

Originally carrying Tao Lengyue, upon smelling the delicate scent of begonia, parted her lips slightly in disbelief. "Could this be... a youth- Appearance-Preserving Pill?"

As soon as the words fell, the female cultivators on the terrace, whether they were Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivators, all focused their attention on the pill.

"Appearance-Preserving Pill?"

Gu Xiangning quickly brought it to her lips and swallowed it. It didn't need to be chewed; it melted slightly, soft and cool.

A gentle, cool breeze spread throughout my body, as if my skin was being gently soaked, bringing indescribable comfort and calming my mind.

The next moment, everyone saw a clear, faint light rise between Gu Xiangning's eyebrows and eyes. Her already delicate face blossomed with a clear, jade-white radiance, and she was radiant.

Upon seeing this scene, Cheng Min was absolutely certain that it was indeed the Appearance-Preserving Pill, exactly as rumored, and that unusual phenomena would occur after taking it.

She was so jealous she almost ground her teeth to powder. "How could you have eaten the Appearance-Preserving Pill?!"

No woman can resist this temptation; it not only preserves youth for thirty years but also nourishes the body!

Even if they are Foundation Establishment cultivators, unless they are geniuses who can advance in their youth at each realm, they will gradually grow old as time goes by.

Gu Xiangning said matter-of-factly, "Brother Zhou gave it to me, what use is it to me?"

"How can it be useless? Senior sister can help you figure it out--" Cheng Min was filled with regret.

Pshaw, you think you can just take it for a bit and it'll be yours? Gu Xiangning isn't stupid; anything belonging to Brother Zhou can only go into her stomach.

Tao Lengyue stared at Gu Xiangning's flushed face and couldn't help but ask, "What does it taste like?"

Gu Xiangning pondered for a moment and then said, "It's like chilled honey."

Tao Lengyue's throat was slightly dry. "That tasted very good."

Even more female cultivators, with smiles on their faces, inquired about Zhou Ning's whereabouts, hoping to obtain another Youth Preservation Appearance-Preserving Pill. Gu Xiangning gave a few perfunctory replies before taking her leave to return to her cave abode to refine the medicinal power.

Gu Xiangning, stepping on the small flying boat, smiled gently, thinking about how to repay Zhou Ning.

Sunrise and sunset, seasons cycle, and three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Little Willow Marsh, Falling Ning Island.

Zhou Ning gazed at the seven Jade-Casting True Gold Talisman suspended in mid-air before him. The pure gold contained faint fire patterns, and the smallest one in particular was dazzlingly bright.

This is a golden talisman refined from third-tier spirit jade, and it has been nurtured for more than two years.

"I wonder if this talisman can kill False Core cultivator?" Zhou Ning guessed.

He has only fought against Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in this realm. He would probably just throw out a second-tier spirit jade True Gold Talisman and kill them like a cannon blasting a mosquito.

"I've heard that those in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage are much stronger than those in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, so they don't need to offer gifts to the Su Household."

However—if there are no other means, a single talisman can easily kill it.

"A powerful Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, like Su Changshuo, can barely fight a Pseudo -False Core cultivator to a draw, but of course, he'll have to pay the price of losing an arm."

"So, does that mean I can use a regular golden talisman to False Core?"

Immediately, Zhou Ning shook his head. They couldn't keep adding to it like this; otherwise, it would be like buying a two-wheeled vehicle in his previous life and ending up buying a million-dollar luxury car.

He swallowed the True Gold Talisman, then introspectively examined the [Que Flowing Fire] Immortal Foundation, sensing its internal fire magic.

After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Zhou Ning began refining Great Replenishment True Pill, taking one every ten days. He also cultivated by absorbing the Spring of the Spirit Eye, but even so, it was far less rapid than the Qi Refining.

Even just reaching the Foundation Establishment Early Stage can take many years.

"Without breakthrough pills or the Settling Liquid Pill, I think I'd have to endure a lot to break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"

If a cultivator with average aptitude lacks resources, Foundation Establishment is hopeless. Even if they are fortunate enough to break through to Foundation Establishment, their cultivation during the Foundation Establishment Foundation Establishment Realm will be extremely difficult. Let alone Core Formation, many cultivators are stuck at the bottleneck of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage stage.

High-Grade Spirit Root are much better. As for Earth Spirit Root, they come with a 30% chance of Core Formation, while Heavenly Spirit Root come with a 50% chance. What's even more terrifying is that even Heavenly Spirit Root still come with a 30% chance of Nascent Soul Formation a nascent soul.

"Not only does he cultivate at lightning speed, but he also doesn't have to get stuck at any bottleneck—" Zhou Ning said enviously.

He could only honestly accumulate breakthrough pills. "The ingredients for Pill Formula Settling Liquid Pill are quite rare in Land of Wei, and can only be found within the cave heavens. Many cultivators simply give up and rely on arduous cultivation to break through."

"But Chen State is rich in resources, and I have gathered all the main ingredients, except for the Jade Saliva Flower and the Billowing Water Mist Root— "

Zhou Ning had asked Pharmacist Lan to collect Jade Saliva Flower, a third-tier spiritual herb, which is relatively common in the Core Formation Realm. Zhou Ning was wealthy and could exchange it with others.

Moreover, not much is needed, since it is only used once for breaking through to the next level. This flower can also be used later to refine pills for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

The only rare one is the Billowing Water Mist Root River. It is said that it has been passed down in the Myriad Peace Valley, but Zhou Ning is now a guest elder of the Azure Mystic Sect and cannot show his face.

"We need to get someone to start making it as soon as possible."

As Zhou Ning Divine Sense, he sensed that Jia Tingwan had prepared another batch of eel blood.

In the last two years, for some unknown reason, Little Willow Marsh have suddenly appeared in Fuluo Eel!

At first, Zhou Ning was amazed. This thing was an old friend of his. Although everyone hated it, Zhou Ning liked it very much. He grabbed it and refined it without hesitation.

Since he started selling the Essence Explosion Pill, his reputation has spread, and he blames everything on the ancient Pill Formula.

Fang Tianyu dared to use the Rejuvenation Pill when Qi Refining Essence Continuation Pill, and Zhou Ning has already Foundation Establishment, so it's normal for them to have some minor fortuitous opportunity.

Zhou Ning made simple improvements to the Essence Explosion Pill, cutting corners and replacing the Blazing Flame Ganoderma with eel blood that had been boiled with added medicine.

The blood of the Fuluo Eel contains abundant Qi and Blood, He Household has specific methods for processing this blood.

Zhou Ning named his improved pill the Lesser Exploding Essence Pill. When Qi Refining cultivator takes it, their Law Power surges, their Qi and Blood surge, and they become incredibly powerful when attacking.

As a result, Zhou Ning's Lesser Exploding Essence Pill sold out instantly.

One batch yields eight pieces, which can be sold for two Spirit Stone, with the cost being less than half a spirit stone.

After Qi Refining cultivator finishes a fight, he still needs to find Pharmacist Lan to prepare a prescription to treat his unbearable pain in his meridians, and he can make another profit in the process.

Zhou Ning's Little Willow Marsh is now thriving; who wouldn't call him Alchemist Zhou auspicious?

Zhou Ning then took out a letter from the Azure Mystic Sect, informing him that Gu Xiangning her Foundation Establishment and inviting him to the Azure Mystic Sect three months later to attend her Foundation Establishment celebration.

In the letter, she also mentioned that she had given him two wonderful gifts.

"A good baby? How good can it be?"

Zhou Ning was looking forward to Xiangning's gift of gratitude. Last time, she had given him Earth Profound Fruit, so perhaps she really had a spiritual item he needed.

"Should I go or not? Will the Azure Mystic Sect arrest and interrogate me?"

Zhou Ning decided to put it on hold for the time being, since there was still plenty of time.

He got up and went to the side courtyard to collect the eel broth that Jia Tingwan had prepared.

Then they went to the pavilion on the marsh to meet the guests.

The Pharmacist Lan, dressed in a white dress, presented a fruit platter.

When Jia Tingwan, she would do these kinds of chores, and they would take turns doing them.

"Alchemist Zhou, I have long admired your name!" Feng Shi was a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator, around thirty-five years old, with a square face and deep eyes, giving off an air of shrewd calculation.

Zhou Ning popped a sweet plum into his mouth and asked, "What brings you here?"

After some conversation, it turned out that Feng Shi was a tenant at Emerald Screen Mountain.

Since the ceasefire three years ago, Emerald Screen Mountain has been divided into seven training grounds. Each training ground is worth seven Spirit Stone per year. Within these grounds, spirit fields can be planted and spirit fish and spirit beasts can be raised, which is much better than a simple second-stage cultivation cave abode.

No wonder they fought so fiercely back then. If they could monopolize Emerald Screen Mountain and just sit there doing nothing, they would have forty-nine Spirit Stone in their hands every year.

His income was comparable to that of the worst second-tier Alchemist.

Moreover, there are also small Spirit Stone mines.

Feng Shi, who could afford to rent a Daoist temple, was considered to be of modest means. After chatting for a while, he finally stated his purpose. "I think Alchemist Zhou's Little Willow Marsh is a good place. It has spiritual willows, spiritual turtles, spiritual fish, and spiritual fertilizer at the bottom of the marsh. It's a pity that such a scourge as the Fuluo Eel has appeared. It's truly regrettable."

Finally, he proposed that he had extensive experience in managing spiritual lands, and that as long as Zhou Ning paid a certain amount of Spirit Stone each year, he would bring him substantial profits.

Zhou Ning sensed something was wrong. Little Willow Marsh hadn't had any Fuluo Eel all these years, so how come Fuluo Eel appeared as soon as the Daoist temple opened at Emerald Screen Mountain and a few Rogue Cultivator moved in?

It's possible that this person was behind it all!

Zhou Ning remained outwardly calm, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Fellow Daoist Feng, do you know how much money I can earn a year selling Essence Explosion Pill?"

Feng Shi couldn't figure out what he was thinking. Just as he was guessing, he suddenly saw Zhou Ning extend his thumb and little finger.

"Six Spirit Stone?" Feng Shi asked tentatively.

Zhou Ning stood up, hands behind his back. "It's sixty Spirit Stone!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Shi's lips twitched. Unbelievable! Pills for the Qi Refining Realm, so profitable?

"Fellow Daoist Feng, please leave. To me, Little Willow Marsh is nothing more than a grand garden!" Zhou Ning said indifferently.

Feng Shi refused to give up, saying, "Who would complain about having too many Spirit Stone?"

Zhou Ning, with nothing to his name, replied, "Spirit Stone? They're just external possessions!"

Feng Shi took his leave, feeling frustrated.

After he left, Zhou Ning asked Pharmacist Lan, "What did you think of his appearance?"

Pharmacist Lan was Zhou Ning's good negotiator. She immediately said, "This person's aura seems stable, but it's superficial and stagnant inside, with a hint of evil and hidden scheming. He's probably not a decent person."

Looking at the vibrant scene at Little Willow Marsh, Zhou Ning said, "Fuluo Eel is probably related to him."

Immediately, he sneered, "Hmph, just a third-rate Rogue Cultivator!"

The Pharmacist Lan was speechless yet amused; she realized that Zhou Ning perfectly embodied the meaning of forgetting one's roots.

She thought to herself, "Weren't you Rogue Cultivator before?--"