Chapter 72: Yun Yao

The next day.

Lin Chang’an visited the Foundation Establishment cultivator Yun Yao’s cave residence and explained his purpose.

“You’ve already gathered the Foundation Establishment materials?”

Upon hearing that he even had a demon core, a trace of surprise flickered in Yun Yao’s eyes. She knew well the difficulty of hunting a second-rank demon beast.

Back then, she had expended much effort. Yet this unassuming, unremarkable Lin Chang’an had somehow already accomplished such a feat.

She did not press the matter, only giving a pale nod.

“I thought you would ask me to assist you in hunting a second-rank demon beast, Fellow Daoist Lin.”

Lin Chang’an gave an embarrassed smile. He had indeed considered it—if he could not accomplish it alone, it would be foolish not to rely on a favor.

Of course, the idea of asking Yun Yao to hunt alone had never crossed his mind. She was not his maidservant, after all.

In the cultivation world, it was not rare for a Qi Refinement cultivator to expend great effort locating a demon beast, and then invite a Foundation Establishment cultivator to help slay it.

“Fellow Daoist Yun, as you know, I am but a rogue cultivator and easily targeted by others. I’ll be relying on you for the Foundation Establishment Pill this time.”

Lin Chang’an handed over not only the materials and payment for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, but also returned part of the unused mid-grade spirit stones from the last time.

Seeing this, Yun Yao raised an eyebrow and remarked with rare teasing,

“Fellow Daoist Lin is quite bold. A complete set of Foundation Establishment materials is highly valuable even to Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

“Fellow Daoist Yun’s character is trustworthy.”

Lin Chang’an nodded calmly. Were it any ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, he might worry. But a direct disciple of a Golden Core elder—would such a person covet these things?

Lin Chang’an would only sneer. Others might lack top-grade magical artifacts, but he did not believe a Golden Core cultivator’s disciple would.

Moreover, back at the Bamboo Mountain Marketplace, the spoils from eliminating Ge Li and the other remnants of the demonic sect nearly equaled the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill.

And yet this person remained indifferent, caring only for merit.

What he lacked, Yun Yao would not covet; what Yun Yao lacked, was of no use to him either.

“Alright.”

Yun Yao nodded with a calm expression.

“You’re injured?”

Seeing Yun Yao’s pale face, Lin Chang’an frowned slightly.

“If it’s inconvenient, we can delay the pill refinement.”

Though it would postpone things for a few months, it wasn’t a big issue.

“No need. I was slightly injured while clearing out some demonic sect remnants outside.”

Yun Yao waved it off nonchalantly, indicating he should come with her in two days to visit an alchemist. She also pushed the Foundation Establishment materials toward him, suggesting he hold onto them for now.

But Lin Chang’an didn’t take them. Instead, he cupped his hands with a smile and said, “In that case, I’ll visit you in two days, Fellow Daoist Yun.”

Don’t use those you don’t trust; don’t distrust those you choose to use.

Since the decision was made, any further hesitation would seem petty.

Moreover, ever since his cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement, many cultivators had begun visiting his cave residence.

Their purposes were obvious—either to hunt demon beasts together or to pool resources for alchemy. Some came with sincerity, others with ulterior motives.

But he had already prepared the materials, and given his low-grade spiritual roots, how could he afford to refine pills jointly with others?

At last, he could breathe a sigh of relief.

“I’ve already been this cautious. There shouldn’t be any mishap in refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, right?”

Lin Chang’an mused to himself. He had considered every possible contingency.

…

Inside the cave residence.

After Lin Chang’an left, Yun Yao gazed at his departing figure with a dazed expression. After a long while, she let out a faint sigh.

“Low-grade spiritual roots… I hope the pill refinement goes smoothly. If we get two or three Foundation Establishment Pills, reaching Foundation Establishment might not be so hard.”

Yun Yao also approved of Lin Chang’an’s decision to risk hunting a demon core. As a rogue cultivator with poor spiritual root aptitude—if he didn’t even have the courage to take risks, then he deserved to remain forever stuck before Foundation Establishment.

Previously, she had no confidence in Lin Chang’an achieving Foundation Establishment with his low-grade spiritual roots, but now she held some hope.

“Evergreen Art already has the effect of delaying aging and building a strong foundation through slow accumulation. Its mana is also gentle and thick. Though it falls behind other techniques in the early stages, it is not inferior in the later stages. Adding in his age…”

If luck was on their side during this pill refinement, and three Foundation Establishment Pills were produced, then the success rate for achieving Foundation Establishment could be seventy to eighty percent.

While Yun Yao was silently deep in thought, her face suddenly flushed red. Her throat surged, and a thread of crimson slowly flowed from her sandalwood lips, bringing a glint of cold light to her eyes.

“Damn it! The complete version of Water Yin Divine Art is so tyrannical. This yin-cold energy invades the organs directly. If it weren’t for the treasure I carry, I would have been severely injured.”

Fatigue filled Yun Yao’s brows. As the drops of blood at the corner of her mouth fell to the ground, they instantly formed patches of frost, emanating waves of chilling cold.

“Palace of Blazing Fire! And the Mystic Yin Sect!”

At this thought, a cold smile emerged on Yun Yao’s face. She knew that even if the Mystic Yin Sect had given her the so-called Water Yin Divine Art, it was likely not the complete version.

“You have underestimated the geniuses of the cultivation world. Perhaps I, Yun Yao, do not possess that aptitude, but the efforts of hundreds of years of cultivators from the Palace of Blazing Fire have long provided a method to complete it. This is all thanks to my dear master, Old Ghost Huang!

Since you’re so eager for our cultivation to grow, then I will not disappoint you.”

…

When Lin Chang’an left Yun Yao’s cave residence and passed by Danxin Residence, he couldn’t help but smile.

This time, he did not need to refine the pill with others, nor did he have to worry about accidents.

As Lin Chang’an passed Danxin Residence, Huang Yuntian and his son happened to be coming out as well.

“Father, I’ve troubled you.”

“Shut up! Of all the things you could’ve studied, you just had to choose the Core-stealing Technique. Do you think it's that easy? Look at you—still unable to establish your Foundation. Now I have to humble myself and plan on your behalf from all directions.

If you had even a shred of ambition, you would’ve reached Foundation Establishment long ago! How did it come to this!”

Huang Yuntian glared furiously at his son. If he didn’t have high hopes for this one child, he wouldn’t have gone this far.

Huang Shaohai hung his head awkwardly. Recently, a mishap in cultivating the Core-stealing Technique had caused the mana within him to become chaotic, and now he had to prepare an extra one or two Foundation Establishment Pills.

“The situation is tense. I’ll check elsewhere again later. But you had better get it together! If you can’t reach Foundation Establishment this time, then return to the sect!”

Upon hearing his father’s warning, Huang Shaohai’s expression changed instantly. He knew that if he failed this time, he would be abandoned.

“Rest assured, Father. Though the Core-stealing Technique caused a bit of a setback, my mana far surpasses that of cultivators in the same stage. Once I reach Foundation Establishment, my strength will be beyond comparison with ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.”

Huang Shaohai spoke firmly of his advantages, causing Huang Yuntian to suppress his fury with a sigh.

After all, he was his own son. Although the difficulty of refining the Foundation Establishment Pill had increased slightly, once successful, his mana would far surpass that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

By then, their father-and-son duo would both be in Foundation Establishment, and they would have the face to stand proud before the clan’s ancestor.

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