Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Purchasing Foundation Establishment Pill

In front of the grave, Lu Xuanwen knelt before his father, respectfully kowtowing.

Dong dong dong!

The sound was loud.

Then, he packed his bundle, turned back three times with each step, and left the Lu Family, venturing into the world outside.

Venturing into the world was not for play but to seek opportunities.

Outside, one could find some opportunities, seek some spirit medicines, hunt demon beasts, or find some seniors’ cave mansions–these were chances to change one’s fate.

In this world, Immortal Dao cultivators, Demonic Dao cultivators, Demon Race, and others coexist together, continually warring and fighting, with numerous opportunities scattered around.

It’s often said in the Cultivation Realm that if one day you fall off a cliff and find a cave, don’t panic. Move forward a few steps, and you may encounter a treasure, potentially becoming a future Nascent Soul True Monarch. Such cases are not false; in fact, they’re quite common.

Many powerful beings have risen thanks to fortuitous encounters, achieving the Golden Core and even the Nascent Soul.

Of course, more cultivators search for opportunities outside only to be double-crossed or killed for their treasures instead.

Yet, cultivators still venture forth one after the other, seeking opportunities outside in a continuous stream.

To strive is to have hope!

Not to strive, hope is slim!

…

“I hope you find opportunities outside!”

Lu Xuanji said.

Resources are finite, and the clan’s resources are prioritized for those with Three Spirit Roots or Dual Spirit Root. As for Four Spirit Roots and Five Spirit Roots, they are only given some resources and essentially abandoned. It’s not the clan being pragmatic; it’s the limitation of resources. With limited resources, they must be given first to those with strong talent and then to those with average talent.

No clan or sect possesses unlimited resources.

The Dan Yang Sect seems vast and rich, yet supporting three Golden Core Elders consumes many resources, leaving very few for the lower levels. True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples have somewhat better treatment, but Outer Disciples have much worse, sometimes even worse than the clan cultivator’s disciples.

The clan lacks sufficient resources to give much to those with Four Spirit Roots or Five Spirit Roots; they must rely on venturing outside to find their opportunities.

Collecting his scattered thoughts, Lu Xuanji returned to his Cave Mansion and entered into cultivation.

Changyuan Mountain returned to its calm.

Cultivating, inhaling and exhaling Spiritual Qi, refining Spiritual Liquid to elevate one’s cultivation.

Again, using the Heaven Mending Cauldron, tempering the flesh and True Essence, purifying the True Essence’s quality.

During leisure moments, tending to ten acres of spiritual fields, taking care of spirit medicines.

Each month, taking a day to preach to the clan cultivators, while simultaneously clearing the clan’s accounts, cleaning up various revenues and expenditures.

And inquiring about the Grand Elder’s progress in breaking into the Purple Mansion.

The news came that the Grand Elder was in secluded cultivation.

Life was leisurely and stable.

Time flowed like water, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Hoo hoo hoo!

The aura was changing, already at the Fourth Layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

At this moment, Lu Xuanji stepped out of the Cave Mansion.

In the main hall, some cultivators had already delivered some account books.

Lu Xuanji thumbed through the accounts, checking against the records, marking instructions on various revenues and expenditures.

In less than an hour, the accounts were settled.

Lu Jinxiu said, “Clan Leader, the Lu Family has three cultivators who have reached the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation and need Foundation Establishment Pills.”

“Who are they?”

Lu Xuanji asked, somewhat curious.

“Two juniors from the clan, one named Lu Dao’an, the other named Lu Daoling.” Lu Jinxiu said, “One is fifty-two, the other fifty-seven. They prepared half of the Spirit Stones, but still lack the other half.”

“Meet them before discussing further!”

Lu Xuanji pondered.

A moment later, two cultivators entered, one tall with a face marked by hardship; the other had a baby-faced, plump appearance.

The two bowed and said: “Greetings, Clan Leader!”

“I understand your situation!” Lu Xuanji said: “According to the clan’s rules, we will procure Foundation Establishment Pills for you. But first, we must check to ensure you cultivate Righteous Cultivation Techniques and not Demonic Techniques. Secondly, you must repay subsequent loans.”

“Naturally!”

Lu Dao’an said.

Lu Daoling also nodded in agreement.

Lu Xuanji stepped forward to inspect them; they were practicing Immortal Dao Techniques and not Demonic Techniques.

Then, they signed a contract stipulating the cost of Foundation Establishment Pills, how to repay, rights, obligations, etc.

Both parties signed two copies.

One copy was held by the cultivators for personal safekeeping; the clan leader retained one copy, kept in the Secret Pavilion.

With matters settled, Lu Xuanji headed to Purple Sun Mountain.

At the shop, he once again met Liu Hongyi, directly expressing his intention to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills.

“Your timing is impeccable, there’s extra Foundation Establishment Pill stock in the shop!” Liu Hongyi said: “Please wait a moment!”

A moment later, she retrieved two pill bottles and handed them over.

Lu Xuanji opened the bottles and examined them carefully, confirming they were indeed Foundation Establishment Pills of qualified quality.

“You must take note!”

Liu Hongyi advised: “These two Foundation Establishment Pills have less than a year until expiry, best to use them soon!”

“Thank you!”

Lu Xuanji said.

Elixirs always have a shelf life, and expired elixirs pose various issues, either by increasing elixir poison, reducing their efficacy, or causing different problems.

“How is the Grand Elder of my family?”

Lu Xuanji asked.

“In secluded cultivation, not expected to emerge for three to five years!” Liu Hongyi said: “But rest assured, with the overseer’s care, everything is manageable. No difficulty barring the resource expenditure, which is slightly costly!”

The thought of the resource expenditure brought a faint twinge of heartache.

But she couldn’t say anything.

“Ten years, quite a long time?”

Lu Xuanji contemplated.

Yet thinking of how Xiaoxue spent twenty-five years before becoming a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator, he understood.

“Two Foundation Establishment Pills are counted at forty thousand merit points, leaving Lu Family with thirty thousand merit points!”

Liu Hongyi said.

“Naturally!”

Lu Xuanji nodded.

During the last battle at White Tiger Mountain, Lu Family earned twenty thousand Spirit Stones in merit, with these merits not directly paid out in Spirit Stone form but used to exchange for items in the shop.

Exchanging greetings, he took his leave.

Returning to Changyuan Mountain, he greeted the two and handed over the Foundation Establishment Pills.

With joy, Lu Dao’an and Lu Daoling took their Foundation Establishment Pills and entered their Cave Mansions, starting seclusion.

Lu Xuanji sat directly at the cave entrance, waiting.

Swallowing the Foundation Establishment Pills, the breakthrough takes only three to five days, and the outcome soon becomes apparent.

Hong hong hong!

After three days, a terrifying aura leaked outside, then subsided.

About half a day later, Lu Dao’an appeared.

His Qi and blood were strong, eyes bright, looking remarkably different.

“Succeeded?”

Lu Xuanji asked.

“Succeeded!” Lu Dao’an responded.

“Good!”

Lu Xuanji said: “Later, I will issue your welfare and allocate tasks. However, let’s wait for Daoling to emerge before discussing other matters!”

Half a day later, the aura outside the Cave Mansion surged again.

After a while, it ebbed away.

And the Cave Mansion remained closed.

Three days later, still the Cave Mansion was closed.

Lu Xuanji could no longer bear it and directly opened the Cave Mansion.

Upon seeing Lu Daoling again, his aura was weak, Qi and blood drained, clearly indicating a failed Foundation Establishment.

“Clan Leader, I failed, I am sorry, I am sorry!”

Lu Daoling said.

“Rest for a few days!”

Lu Xuanji said.

There was nothing more he could say.

The success rate for swallowing a Foundation Establishment Pill is only thirty percent; it’s not guaranteed to establish a foundation.

Every year, many who swallow Foundation Establishment Pills still fail.

Two Lu Family cultivators attempted Foundation Establishment; one succeeded, one failed.

That rate is actually quite good!

In fact, there’s another option: swallow a second Foundation Establishment Pill, a third, swallowing several will eventually lead to success.

Many major clans’ cultivators succeed in establishing a foundation after consuming three consecutively.

Unfortunately, the Lu Family lacks the funds.

After all, not everyone is as fortuitous as Han Li, whose miraculous destiny allowed him to engage in dual cultivation with a female Golden Core cultivator and also consume eight Foundation Establishment Pills before success.

…

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