Returning to the Tianxu Mountain market, Elian excitedly sought out Chen Qinghe and handed him the Foundation Establishment Pill.
As he offered the jade box, he said with enthusiasm, "Uncle Qinghe, look what I've brought you!"
"A Foundation Establishment Pill."
The second elder opened the box and was momentarily stunned.
A flash of joy appeared in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by hesitation. He returned the pill and shook his head firmly.
"I don't know how you acquired this Foundation Establishment Pill, but its value is immeasurable."
"Even if I were to use it, my chances of success are less than five percent. It would be an enormous waste. You should take it back to Qingyuan Mountain and save it for Nianxu, Xianling, or Xianyan."
"No!" Elian shook his head resolutely, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"This Foundation Establishment Pill is mine. It did not come from the family, so I have full authority to decide how it's used."
"But…" Chen Qinghe hesitated again and ultimately declined.
"I'm already halfway to my grave. Even if I used it, I'm almost certain to fail. It's better saved for Lingyan and the others."
"Uncle Qinghe, please take it."
Elian's voice carried a hint of pleading.
"The Foundation Establishment Pill has a protective effect on the meridians. Even if your attempt to establish a foundation fails, it will preserve your life."
"You are far too sentimental. I don't know if that's a strength or a weakness."
In the end, Chen Qinghe sighed helplessly and accepted the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Seeing him take the pill, Elian smiled faintly. He knew it was an unlikely gamble and not a rational choice, but people are emotional beings. Over the years, his cultivation had been driven by the pursuit of inner peace and freedom. (The so called "perfect" cultivator doesn't exist, even immortals can make mistakes and are emotional beings, even immortal demonic cultivators are the same)
If he were to focus solely on immediate benefits and ignore his emotions, it would go against his true intentions. In such a case, even immortality would lose its meaning.
After Chen Qinghe accepted the pill, Elian rented a spiritual spring cave mansion for him to retreat and attempt his breakthrough.
By the time all this was arranged, it was early the next morning. Without resting, Elian headed to the Tianxu Pavilion.
The annual trading conference usually attracted fewer than twenty participants, but because of Jiang Linglong's plans to attack the wood-aligned leyline, this year's gathering had nearly fifty attendees.
Upon entering the pavilion, Elian scanned the crowd and noticed, aside from familiar faces from the battle of Demon Wolf Mountain, seven or eight new faces.
Years ago, Jiang Linglong had refined nineteen Foundation Establishment Pills. While six were used to compensate the families of fallen Foundation Establishment cultivators, the rest were sold to cultivators from Tianxu Mountain and the three counties of Bianzhou Region.
The seven or eight unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivators present likely owed their breakthroughs to those pills, as their cultivation levels were low, mostly at the first layer.
"Long time no see, Daoist Chen. Your cultivation has advanced astonishingly quickly."
As soon as Elian entered, a familiar face greeted him with a smile.
Over the years, Elian's exploits—slaying several of the Lin family's Foundation Establishment cultivators—had earned him a modest reputation in Bianzhou region. Many attendees regarded him with admiration.
After exchanging pleasantries, Elian took a seat in a corner to await the start of the trading conference.
It wasn't long—about half an hour—before the event began. A young woman in a green robe, the host and a prominent figure of Tianxu Mountain, stepped onto the stage.
Elian raised an eyebrow. He recognized her as Su Mingwei, a disciple of Jiang Linglong. With her cultivation at the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, she ranked among the top three Foundation Establishment cultivators of Tianxu Mountain.
"As the organizer of this trading conference, allow me to start things off," Su Mingwei said, taking out a treasure box. When she opened it, the crowd saw three pills inside.
"Green Yuan Pills."
The sight of the pills caused the attendees' breathing to quicken.
A single Green Yuan Pills could increase the chances of a sixth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator breaking through to the late stage by 30%, saving decades of painstaking effort to refine their true essence.
Due to their remarkable effects, such pills were extraordinarily valuable, often costing three to four thousand spirit stones, and even then, they were hard to come by. For Su Mingwei to present three at once demonstrated the wealth and power of Tianxu Pavilion.
Su Mingwei smiled at the audience and said, "I think everyone understands the value of these pills, so there's no need for me to elaborate. If you have treasures of equal value, feel free to offer them for exchange."
"Of course, second-grade or higher pill recipes will also be prioritized for exchange."
Elian's eyes flickered. He had long heard that Su Mingwei had inherited Jiang Linglong's alchemy skills and was a top-grade second-tier alchemist. Seeing this display confirmed the rumors.
Unfortunately, the efficacy of Green Yuan Pills only lasted for a few years, and no one in the Chen family currently needed them. Otherwise, Elian would have tried to acquire one himself.
The pills were highly sought after and quickly exchanged. Su Mingwei selected a high-grade second-tier pill recipe, a high-grade second-tier treasure, and several second-grade spiritual herbs, completing the three transactions to her satisfaction.
After Su Mingwei stepped down, several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators took turns offering their wares. The larger crowd at this year's conference meant that most attendees managed to trade for something they wanted.
Elian was the seventh to go up. He presented several low-grade second-tier artifacts, most of which were spoils from Lin family cultivators. They were considered valuable treasures.
After displaying the artifacts, he spoke directly.
"I'm looking to exchange for a Breaking Origin Fruit. If anyone has one, please bring it forward."
Unfortunately, no one did. While a few were tempted by the artifacts, they could only shake their heads regretfully.
Elian sighed in disappointment. He had anticipated this outcome. Tianxu Mountain monopolized most of the second-grade spiritual herbs in the area. With the superior alchemy skills of individuals like Su Mingwei, cultivators were more inclined to sell their herbs to the pavilion or commission them to refine pills.
As Elian prepared to leave the stage, a voice came from the crowd.
"I have a Replenishing Primordial Fungi. Are you interested?"
"Replenishing Primordial Fungi?" Elian's brow furrowed slightly.
The fungi was the primary ingredient for the Vitality Pill, a mid-grade second-tier pill that could restore 50% of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's true essence. The Chen family happened to have the recipe for it.
With this fungi, Elian could attempt to elevate his alchemy skills to mid-grade second-tier, improving his proficiency significantly.
If successful, the Vitality Pills would greatly enhance his combat endurance and strength. Thinking of this, Elian nodded.
"This herb is indeed useful to me. What do you want in exchange?"
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D